Come along and Have your Say!

Burford and Tenbury Wells Communities

Joint Toolkit Evening Event

Tuesday 22nd November 2011

6.30.pm – 9.45 pm

at

Tenbury Wells Primary School

There will shortly be an opportunity to tell the Tenbury Area Partnership your thoughts on what it is like to live or work in the communities that together make up the Burford and Tenbury Wells area and to give your views about what would help your community to develop now and in the future.

30 to 40 people are invited to sign up for a ‘community toolkit’ group discussion event. This will be organised by Shropshire Council with Worcestershire and Malvern Hills Councils. 

The event will help the Tenbury Area Partnership (which includes the Councils as well as voluntary groups, schools and the Chamber of Trade) to gather up-to-date information about the area, which will help in guiding ongoing and future work in the local communities. 

The event is the first joint one of its kind and is building on consultation carried out by the Tenbury Area Partnership conducted throughout 2011. 

Representatives of all age groups are welcome and ideally from across the whole area, ranging from 11 years old through to parents with children and retired people are being sought and the organisers are especially keen to hear from people who may not have been involved in anything before, as well as from those already active in their community. Teas and coffees will be available from 6.30pm and there will be a midpoint break for light refreshments including cakes.

If you would like to take part, please get in touch by noon on Thursday 17th November 2011 with Mrs Lois Dale at Shropshire Council (01743 255667)lois.dale@shropshire.gov.uk

  

Tenbury to get a makeover

In a surprising development Worcester County Council have announced that Tenbury is at the top of their list for the next round of Public Realm makeovers.

Tenbury Civic Society & Tenbury Area Partnership along with the Town Council have been lobbying Worcester County Council for a number of years to make improvements to the street scene in Tenbury.

Alan Eachus who is the Civic Society representative on the Tenbury Area Partnership commented " Peter Blake from WCC announced that money was now available for a PR (Public Realm) scheme and works to the bridge. This of course is great news for the town and the County are keen to proceed as fast as possible. It’s been hard work getting to this stage but I remain very positive!"

Tony Penn, the Town & District Council's representative on the Tenbury Area Partnership, announced the news to the Tenbury Town Council on Monday night. He said that the improvements could start within 18 months and will include the Bridge Works.  Other improvements will include alterations to the pavements, road resurfacing and street signs and furniture.


Shropshire Star 

Multi-Use Building One Step Closer

The "Open Space" meeting held today to discuss the proposed Health & Well Being Multi Use Building, helped to move the project one step closer to realisation.

Although the meeting was not as well attended as had been hoped, more than 20 people, who represented most of the interested parties gathered to discuss what key points needed to be incorporated to make the project a success. 

A comprehensive list was produced, but by the process of the "Open Space" format, key elements emerged.

1. Design 

The initial design is of paramount importance, with the particular needs of all the user groups to be taken into account.  The building must be rugged to withstand the use, but must be built in a sympathetic way to encourage use and be 'fit for purpose'.

2. Management

The building must be economically sustainable and professionally managed to get the best use for cost.

3. Storage & Facilities

Very high on many user groups wish list was for large amounts of secure storage facilities and catering facilities (kitchens).

4. Car Parking

With the possibility that the build would reduce the available parking area, then the creation of additional parking was seen as vital.

I was especially please to hear from the project architect, that Green issues were to be given a very high priority, with possibility of creating a building that was revenue neutral in respect of utility bills, by incorporating such features as Solar and Ground Source heating, PV (photo-volteric) electricity generation, heat exchangers etc.

The business case for the building will now be produced, and inevitably there will be need for some compromises along the way.  Much will depend on how the potential user groups can embrace the concept of a multi-use building and adapt their existing way of working.

For instance the Rugby and Football clubs may wish to have their own changing rooms, but if these are to only be used by them for a few hours a week, they will need to be usable by, for instance, people using the Gym or taking aerobic classes.  The Scouts may wish to have storage for Tents and Camping equipment and room to dry tents, but as this is only for a few days per year, this may have to be done at another location.

It is also probable that groups will have to change their financial structure, as those with their own (or shared) facilities, will have to move from Capital and maintenance expenditure to rental and hire costs, and income generated from sub-letting will be lost.

The new facility is nowhere near a "done-deal" but even though we live in difficult financial times, this project is achievable, but will require a degree of partnership working (and compromise) never before seen in Tenbury.

Don't say you weren't consulted!

Additional information

New Multi Purpose Building

Its full speed ahead for the new multi purpose, health and well being building planned for the Palmers Meadow area of Tenbury.

The new building, which will incorporate new changing facilities for the football and rugby club has been given the green light and it is hoped that a design architect will be appointed soon, once suitable funding has been found.

The second multi purpose, art and culture building, proposed for the Regal site appears to have stalled.