Tenbury in Flood

Current River Level:  5.147m, rising. Increase in last hour  0.049m

The highest level ever recorded at the River Teme at Tenbury is 5.97m

Update: 5.32m at 10:00pm Saturday 26 October 2019.

Tenbury Election is a non event!

The recent local council elections in Tenbury turned into a non-event.

As the number of people standing for election was equal to or less than the number of spaces available the elections were not put to the vote.

Only two people stood for election to Malvern Hills District Council (both Conservative) so both were "elected"

District Councillors: Tony Penn (Conservative) & Bridget Margaret Louise Thomas (Conservative).

For Tenbury Town Council only 11 people stood for 13 places.

The newly elected Councillors will take up their seats in May. 

Tenbury Town Councillors (Town Ward): Andrea Brittain (Independent); Maggie Davies (Independent); Diann Dowell (Independent); Mary Drummond; Janet Margaret Fielder; Philip Alexander Heath; Natalie Maria McVey; Jonathan Pryce Morgan (Labour); David Patrick; Alan Gordon Wilkinson (Independent).
Tenbury Town Councillor (St Michael's Ward): Eric David Hudson (Independent).


There are still vacancies for one Councillor for Tenbury Town (Town Ward) and one Councillor for Tenbury Town (St Michael's Ward). These vacancies will be filled by co-option if there are any volunteers.

Barclays to close Tenbury Branch

Barclays Bank are to close Tenbury branch on Friday 8th December 2017.

This decision is of probably little surprise the anyone who has tried to use the branch in recent years, with all but the very basic transactions unavailable at the branch.

The biggest impact is probably for business customers who wish to pay in cash on a regular basis. 

With cash machines available at Tesco, Co-op, Bowketts and TSB, and cash-back being offered by all the major retailers, the impact should be minimal to most customers.

Tenbury in shock at the death of Andrew Mortimer. Landlord/Chef of the Pembroke House.

Very sad to hear of the death today of my neighbour Andrew the landlord/patron/chef of the Pembroke House Inn, Tenbury Wells.

Statement from the Pembroke House Inn

It is with great regret from all the staff here at the Pembroke house pub that our dearest boss and best friend Andrew past away today! Needless to say we are all heartbroken and are going to miss him beyond words! Thank you for all your calls/texts and kind words, will get back to you all when I can! We will be in touch about any meal bookings tomorrow morning and be open for drinks as soon as we can - Thank you for all the support xxxxx

A different kind of Christmas Lights for Tenbury

Once again our travelling lives are controlled by TTLs (Temporary Traffic Lights) and for probably the next four weeks.

The lights that arrived yesterday controlling traffic on the A456 and Teme Bridge are to allow works by Western Power.  The work is scheduled to last two weeks.  Once this work is complete (if it runs to schedule) they will immediately be replaced by more lights whilst contractors for Tesco make the changes to the junction to assist a better flow of traffic wishing to turn left onto the A456 towards Ludlow.

All work is scheduled to be completed by 2nd December and then no further road works are anticipated until the new year.

In other news the much promised and continuously delayed over-flow car park destined for Palmers Meadow, which should have been completed before the cattle market was closed is again promised to be finished by Christmas.

Eastham Bridge Collapses

A Grade II listed bridge which has been in place since the 18th Century has collapsed.

Picture: Ryan Parkes

Picture @WorcsTravel

See drone footage of the collapsed bridge.

Police were called out to Eastham Bridge over the River Teme following reports it had caved in at about 15:30pm

The bridge was built in 1793 and was originally a toll road, which the county council took ownership of in 1907 when it was made free to access.

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said: "Highways engineers are on site to assess the damage and ensure the area is safe.

"Diversions are currently being arranged. An investigation has started to look into what happened."

Luckily it collapsed shortly before some of the school transport buses were due to use this route.

Tenbury finally gets a modern recyling centre

Back in January 2009 I first highlighted the need to move forward on a new Household Recycling Centre for Tenbury.

Now after years of date sliding, excuses and general lack of progress, the site is finally ready to open next week.

Severn Waste managed to sit on the money paid to them under the WCC contract since 1998.

Under the contract agreed by Severn Waste Management signed in 1998, they are obliged to build and manage a new waste site for Tenbury Wells to replace the old fashioned and unsuitable site currently located on the Town Car Park.

Let's hope they have put the 18 years of interest on the money to good use.

Tenbury finally gets back the much needed additional car parking spaces and the majority of people will be able to recycle more, with less effort.  If you are one of the people who used to walk your waste to the old site in a wheel barrow, then I guess you'll not be happy, but most people will, I'm sure be greatly relieved not to continue climbing the metal stairs!

Splash Point still not fixed after 11 years.

The splash-point in Kyrewood Road just over Kyre Bridge is still very much in evidence despite numerous attempts by WCC to solve.

In fact if you ask them they have solved the problem!  I beg to differ.

Previous stories

3rd March 2008 Regular Splash Point is not a priority.

3rd October 2008 Four Year Battle Won

21st January 2009 Splash Point Still Not Fixed

2nd March 2009 Kyrewood Road Splash Point

6th September 2010 Splashpoint Downgraded

21st September 2010 Is the six year wait nearly over? 

Don't say you weren't told.

The official notices regarding this summer's Tenbury music festival have been posted.  So to those who will complain about the noise, now is the time to make your representations, and not on the day when you can't get to sleep at 9pm.

Waste Site Fiasco

As previously reported

New Waste Site For Tenbury 5th January 2009
Notice to Quit June 2011
More Parking 15th December 2011

19 December 2007

 I took this photo in 2007, but I probably could have taken it at any time over the last 20 years. Certainly nothing much has happened at the Tenbury Wells Business Park (apart from a few changes of tenants) for a long time.

In 2009 the County Council announced that Tenbury would get a new waste site.  It was after all in the contract drawn up with Severn Waste.  As often happens after the announcement nothing much happened.

In June 2011 I suggested that perhaps the Town Council should force the hand of the County by giving them notice to quite their existing site on the car park. As often happens nothing much happened.

Finally in 2013, the Town Council decided so serve notice.

Things started to happen.  Plans were drawn up by WCC & Severn Waste and submitted to the planning authority, MHDC.  The plans were supported by the local District Councillors and the Leader of MHDC, the County Councillor, The Town Council and by the public at an exhibition.  It looked like the plans would be passed this summer and the site would be built and be open by Easter 2015.

Suddenly two other companies whose names are secret due to business confidentiality also want space on the business park, so that plans for the waste site have been put on hold.

Some would say good news for Tenbury as more businesses on the park should bring additional jobs. Could this be evidence of the green shoots of economic recovery?  Or is this Tenbury getting stitched up yet again by the officers at MHDC!  Well certainly some Town Councillors, although trying to choose their words carefully through gritted teeth, at the very least thought "here we go again!"

No Tesco for another three years...

Tesco have confirmed that the Tenbury site is not on the list of 100 stores that they are cancelling. 

They have also confirmed that the site is not up for sale, but they still cannot confirm a date by which the store will be opened, or indeed when building is likely to start.

The indications are that the work will not start until at least financial year 2016/2017.

Some work will have to be started, otherwise the planning permission will lapse, but it seems once again Tenbury will be left waiting.

Army Units on Standby At Tenbury Wells?

Three Army lorries arrived this morning in Tenbury Wells.  They joined a huddle of Worcester County Council and other yellow jackets teams.

Up to 80 troops have been mobilised and are available to help out in the Tenbury area.  It is likely that they will be billeted at Tenbury High School, which will also be used as the local control centre for the emergency team and for anyone evacuated from their homes.

The next storm is due to hit Tenbury about 4pm on 14th February 2014.

At 1.15pm the river level was 2.45 metres.  Flooding in Tenbury usually occurs at 5 metres so there is reasonable "headroom" but our fate is usually dictated by the rainfall around Newtown in mid Wales.

Keep up to date with the river level at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/riverlevels/120742.aspx?stationId=2005

A Very Rare Sight

It seems that once again a number of businesses in Tenbury are playing "musical chairs".

Buttons, Books & Bangles are leaving their "Old Forge" site.  The Little Dress Shop is moving from Teme Street to Market Street and there is "moving in" action in the old Flower Shop.

The old Dyke Ruscoe shop has become the Charity Christmas Card shop. The recent Books Books Books shop becomes a "pop up" shop for the Mistletoe Festival.

But the rarest sighting of all must be a car actually pulling in at the Teme Street Garage. It's certainly the first time I've seen that happen ever!

The passing lady on the mobility scooter was so surprised I thought she might wipe out the row of Santa's.

Charging rumpus at The Regal in Tenbury

You may have see the headline article in the Tenbury Advertiser (Click to read)

Visit the news section of the Regal Trust website to see the full details.

Let me know what you think.

Clever Con @O2

Is it just me (and four others) that have suddenly found that there is no longer any 3G signal in Tenbury, in fact often no 2G signal either?

Until a few weeks ago, I was able to get an EDGE data signal and a strong "4 bars" phone signal.

Then, almost nothing.

Complaints to O2 get returned as nothing wrong here!  Their website now shows that Tenbury only gets a 2G signal, so they are supplying what they are advertising!

I cannot categorically say what their website used to say, but I've been with their network for many years and apart from the odd engineering fault had a good service.  Now I struggle to make a call outdoors.

Anyone else having problems?

Any recommendations where to try next?

Update: 11th August

It seems that EDGE travels by 2G, so the map is probably correct.  Also the local transmitter has come back online. (Officially it never went off!) My phone is now picking up the EDGE signal and once again knows I'm in Tenbury not Woofferton (the next nearest mast)

The Church of England is in crisis

An interesting article in theguardian.com

Featurng Tenbury's own Rev Claire Lording and a picture of George as well.

Worth a few minutes read.

Public Realm - Shared Space - Tried & Tested

The public realm scheme for Tenbury is still limping along in the background.  Much of the delay is due to Tesco's delay in starting their project, but there is also no firm decision on the concept of shared space.

It would seem that many of the traders and the vocal public are against the concept.  I too have my doubts that such a scheme can be used on a relatively busy road.

However the video below, goes a long way to alleviating my doubts.  It's quite long, but worth watching to the end.
Let me know what you think.

Barry Cryer in fall at the Regal

Barry Cryer fell about 4 feet from the side of the stage at the Tenbury Regal tonight after misjudging the exit into the wings.

The audience gasped and then fell completely silent as they saw him fall.  One of the first to react after the accident was a nurse who was in the audience and who stayed with Barry until he had been attended, first by the local first responder and then by a paramedic.

Thankfully, he only sustained a cut to his hand, but was understandably very shocked.

Initially he wanted to continue with the show, but was persuaded to rest and not attempt to continue.

The audience applauded loudly as the announcement was made as they were in agreement with the decision.

When Barry finally left the theatre he was laughing and joking and promised that a return date would be arranged, so that he could come back and finish the show.

Up until the time of the accident, Barry was on fine form, and had been performing his butterfly brain, alphabetical, hypothetical journey from A to Z, with Colin Sell at the piano. or as he put it the P & O!

The Regal Management have said that they will contact everyone in the audience about the new show once a date has been arranged.

Tesco Delayed Again

Work on the new Tesco store in Tenbury Wells has been delayed until 2014. The store is likely to open by end of Tesco 2015, although this date is still rather vague and could be as late as February 2016.

Whether this delayed timetable will impact the planned public realm work is, as yet unclear.

Funding Sought For Tenbury Flood Defence

Harriett Baldwin MP has asked the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to find flood defence funding for Tenbury Wells. She is hoping that Tenbury will receive about £5m from £120m funding for flood defences announced by the government in November.

Ms Baldwin said: "Upton's schemes have passed some rigorous testing over the last few weeks and I am told that savings delivered for insurers means that the investment has paid for itself twice over already." "All eyes now turn to Tenbury where we need to find a permanent solution and I have asked the department to look at ways we can find funding for this scheme in 2013"

Hopefully, once the funding agreement is in place, the action plan will be significantly revised from the outline plan published sometime ago. This involved huge lengths of permanant earth bunds.

This is how a Horsham Cllr reacted when a landowner created a bund on his land.

“The bund has to be seen to be believed. It is an outrageous scar on the landscape, both from the road and on the site."

and another said

"“The bunds are incongruous and an unnatural feature, many hundreds of metres in length. The land should be put back to where it was."

Yet, seemingly no one locally has any objection to huge earthworks behind the Church or across the Burgage?  I can understand that people don't want their family graves flooded or their properties, but must the town suffer the addition of these permanent unnatural features?