Residents urged to put their bin out on time

The time waste and recycling bins are collected across Wychavon may change for some residents next week.

Changes are being made to all waste and recycling collection rounds across Wychavon to further improve efficiency and ensure the current high standard of service is maintained.

Only Chawson residents in Droitwich Spa will see a change to their collection day and residents have already been contacted about this.

Across the rest of the district, collection days will remain the same but the time bin crews arrive may change from what people are used to.

To make sure nobody misses their bin collection, residents are being urged from Monday (7 November) to make sure their bin is out by 7am on the day of their scheduled collection. Crews will collect anytime between 7am and 6pm.

 

Cllr Emma Stokes, Executive Board Member for Resident and Customer Services on Wychavon District Council, said: “We know some residents are used to collection crews arriving in their street at a certain time and so will delay putting their bin out until then. Because of the round changes, crews may arrive at a different time from next week.

“Please make sure your bin is out by 7am on your scheduled collection day. If you don’t do this then unfortunately we cannot come back to collect your bin until the next scheduled collection.

“I thank residents for their patience while we make these necessary round changes to further improve the high quality service we already offer.”

 

Anyone who would like to check their collection day and what bin to put out should visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling for more information.

Consultation starts on SWDP Review
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SWDPR Notification Reg 19 covering letter

A six-week public consultation has started on a key planning document that will shape the future development of South Worcestershire.

The revised South Worcestershire Development plan allocates land for 13,240 additional new homes and 290.7 hectares of employment land to be delivered by 2041. This will help meet the Government requirement to allocate land to build 26,360 new homes and 350.5 hectares of employment land across South Worcestershire from 2021 to 2041. Not all sites in the Plan are new, with some being carried over from the last version of the SWDP and sites that already have planning permission being taken into account.

The majority of the new housing will be met through strategic growth sites at Worcestershire Parkway, Throckmorton, Rushwick and Mitton.

The public are being asked to comment on whether they consider the review of the South Worcestershire Development Plan is sound and legally compliant. To be considered sound the Plan must have been positively prepared, based on robust, credible evidence, show a clear deliverable vision and be consistent with national planning policies.

On top of this the three South Worcestershire Councils – Worcester City, Malvern Hills District and Wychavon District Councils – must also show they have complied with planning legislation including the legal duty to help neighbouring councils meet their strategic housing needs.

Comments can be made from Tuesday 1 November until 11.59pm on Tuesday 13 December 2022. Only comments made during the consultation can be considered.

People can comment by filling in the online comment form available on our website at www.swdevelopmentplan.org/review.  Paper copies are also available from Customer Contact Centres, local libraries and some parish and town council offices.

A series of public information events are being held to help describe the proposed growth at each of the strategic sites and give people the chance to ask questions.

These will be held on the following dates:

• Rushwick expanded settlement – Thursday 3 November 1200-2000 at Rushwick Village Hall, Bransford Road, Rushwick, WR2 5TA
• Worcestershire Parkway new settlement – Wednesday 9 November 1200-2000 at Norton Parish Hall, Wadborough Road, Littleworth, WR5 2QB
• Mitton – Friday 11 November 1300-2000 at Bredon Village Hall, Main Road, Bredon, GL20 7QN
• Throckmorton new settlement – Monday 14 November 1300-2000 at Bishampton Village Hall, Broad Lane, Bishampton, WR10 2LU

After the consultation all comments will be passed on to the Planning Inspectorate. The Plan will then go for Examination where it will be scrutinised in detail to make sure it is sound and legal. A series of public hearings may also be held where people will have the chance to make representations and ask questions providing that they have responded to this consultation.

It is expected the plan will be formally adopted by the South Worcestershire Councils in late 2023.

 

Cllr David Harrison, Chairman of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Joint Advisory Panel, said: “At this stage we are seeking views on whether people feel the Plan meets the test of soundness and is legally compliant. We cannot make changes to the Plan at this time; however, all comments will be passed to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration. There is a lot of information available through the SWDP website and in local libraries to help people understand what is being proposed and how to comment. I urge people to get involved with the consultation and to make their views known.”

NOTES

The current South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) covers the period 2006 to 2030 and is based on extensive evidence and previous consultations. It has been jointly prepared by the three partner councils – Malvern Hills, Worcester City and Wychavon.

The Review will extend the period the plan covers from 2030 up to 2041.

The SWDP Review includes policies for dealing with four broad areas:

• Creating jobs and economic prosperity
• Meeting housing needs
• Transportation
• The environment.

Most of the new housing will be provided through new settlements, known as strategic sites. These will be located close to existing or new railway links. Clear layout (concept) plans have been prepared for each area. Providing new greenspaces will also be a key part of the Plan. A range of house types will be provided to meet the future requirements of our area’s population. Consideration has been given for people of different age groups and with health needs.

Development will be completed in phases over time and developers will be asked for payments known as “developer contributions” to support, and where necessary, deliver local infrastructure.

The strategic sites are as follows:

 

• Worcestershire Parkway – Up to 2041, 5,000 new homes will be built at this location with up to 40% affordable housing and 50 hectares of employment land to build a new settlement based on garden community principles. Another 5,000 homes are planned after 2041. The settlement will be carbon neutral with renewable energy providing the development’s energy needs. The focus will be on making sure residents’ needs are met near to where they live including a new town centre, schools, local neighbourhood centres and community facilities. Together with investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, it will promote sustainability and reduce dependency on the car.
• Throckmorton – A carbon neutral settlement of 2,000 homes with 40% affordable housing and 20 hectares of employment land will be created by 2041. In the second phase after 2041, another 3,000 new homes are planned, as well as 40 hectares of employment land. Again, the focus will be on delivering sustainability with a town centre, schools and community facilities forming part of the proposals. New infrastructure will include direct walking and cycling links to Pershore Railway Station to reduce the need to travel by car.
• Rushwick – 1,000 new homes are planned as well as 5 hectares of employment land, a new railway station, primary school, retail and other supporting services including a new or improved village hall, community park, allotments and orchards. Up to 40% of the housing will be affordable and no development will be allowed before land necessary to enable the railway station to be built and other critical infrastructure has been secured.
• Mitton – Land near Mitton close to Bredon and next to Tewkesbury town, has also been identified to provide 1,000 new homes, 500 of which will be to meet neighbouring Tewkesbury Borough Council’s housing need. This agreement is part of the legal Duty to Cooperate which requires councils to support each other’s strategic planning needs. A new primary school, community facilities and walking and cycling links are included in the proposal.

 

Smaller sites have also been identified for new housing in each area during the plan period. In Worcester City 866 new homes are planned, 594 in Malvern, 10 in Tenbury and 376 in rural villages across the Malvern Hills District. In Wychavon 916 new homes have been allocated to Droitwich Spa, 255 in Evesham, 212 in Pershore and 1,069 in rural villages across the district.

As well as housing, the new Plan provides 290.7 hectares of new employment land to support business growth, renewed protections to prevent development on the Green Belt and around 179 hectares of new recreational open green space for people to enjoy.

 

There are also new and enhanced policies supporting each councils’ efforts to protect the environment and tackle climate change. Measures within these policies include:

• Developments must be designed to minimise car use
• Developers must provide the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles in each new home
• Sustainable materials and construction techniques must be used
• At least 20% of predicted energy use by a development must come from renewable or low carbon energy sources
• Sites for new solar farms have been identified
• Sites for Informal Areas of Recreation (AIRs) have been identified
• Developments must provide measurable net gains in biodiversity
• Polices to protect valued landscapes and landscape character
• Policies to manage and mitigate against flood risk
• Policies to make the most effective use of land

 

Full details of the Plan are available at http://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/review

New King is proclaimed in Wychavon

Dignitaries and the public gathered outside the Civic Centre in Pershore on Sunday (11 September) to hear King Charles III officially proclaimed King in Wychavon.

 

Nicholas Wentworth Stanley, Deputy Lieutenant representing the Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, His Majesty’s representative in the county, opened proceedings.

 

He told the crowd: “We come together this afternoon following the death of our late Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth the Second. Our sadness at this time is shared by people across the globe, as we remember with affection and gratitude the lifetime of service given by our longest-reigning Monarch.

“But the basis on which our monarchy is built has ensured that through the centuries the Crown has passed in an unbroken line of succession. Today’s ceremony marks the formal Proclamation to the people of the County of Worcestershire of the beginning of our new King’s reign.”

Before reading the proclamation Cllr Alex Sinton, Chairman of Wychavon District Council, told those present: “In an age where modern methods of communication convey news around the globe in an instant, the proclamation is no longer the means by which people learn for the first time that they have a new Monarch.

“Today, however, is one of the first occasions when communities have an opportunity to come together and reflect on the moment in our nation’s history when the reign of our longest-serving Monarch came to an end and our new Sovereign succeeded.”

The proclamation was then read out before cheers of God Save The King.

Ali Duggan then led the crowd in singing the first verse of the national anthem before three cheers were given for His Majesty The King to end the event.

The Union Flag outside the Civic Centre was raised during the proclamation period and has now returned to half-mast where it will stay until after HM The Queen’s funeral.

Books of condolence are available to sign across Wychavon and will remain open until after Her Majesty’s funeral. Visit www.wychavon.gov.uk to find out more about how to pay tribute to HM The Queen in Wychavon.

This month’s key message relates to INVESTMENT FRAUD

What is Financial Investments fraud?

There are many different types of investment fraud. They usually involve criminals contacting people out of the blue and convincing them to invest in schemes or products that are worthless or do not exist. Once the criminals have received payment, they cease contact with the victim.

How to protect yourself from Financial Investment fraud:

Investment opportunities: Don’t be rushed into making an investment. Remember, legitimate organisations will never pressure you into investing on the spot. Where people have made investments, you should not have to pay money in continually to get money out.

Fraudsters initially start by saying they need, say, £100 to withdraw the money – then £1,000 – then £10,000 and so it escalates very quickly.
Always seek advice first: Before making significant financial decisions, speak with trusted friends or family members, or seek professional independent advice.

FCA register: Use the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) register to check if the company is regulated by the FCA. If you deal with a firm (or individual) that isn’t regulated, you may not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if things go wrong and you lose your money.

For more information about how to invest safely, please visit: https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart

The Fraud & Scam Bulletin
August 2022
Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest scams and frauds

What to do if you’ve been a victim of Financial Investment fraud:

You could be targeted again: Fraudsters sometimes re-establish contact with previous victims claiming that they can help them recover lost money, this is just a secondary scam. Hang up on any callers that claim they can get your money back for you.

Identity theft: If you suspect your identity may have been stolen, you can check your credit rating quickly and easily online. You should do this every few months anyway, using a reputable service provider and follow up on any unexpected or suspicious results.

Legal advice: In many cases of fraud there is a close correlation between what may be considered fraud and the civil tort of deceit and/or breach of contract, for which there are civil litigation options. You should always seek professional legal advice, or contact Citizens Advice to understand your options.

You can also contact the Financial Conduct Authority’s consumer helpline on 0800 111 6768 or report suspicious businesses or individuals by using the reporting form on their website.
Useful links:
Citizens Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) www.fca.org.ukFor more information on how to protect yourself from fraud and cyber-crime, or to update your crime report, visit actionfraud.police.uk.
GENTLE REMINDER
Yes, we have put out messages about the WHATSAPP scam, but the public are still
being targeted and losing money. Over £1.5milion has been reported lost in the first half of this year alone.

Please continue to make family members and friends aware of this Scam, especially the elderly and vulnerable.
IF YOU THINK YOU ARE BEING SCAMMED OR DO NOT RECOGNISE THE CONTACT
 STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

 CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

 PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud
If you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.
Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take early action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks.

Forward Fake Emails received to further information visit:
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk