Good afternoon

Despite its name Shipston SCAN (Stour Community Awareness Network) exists for the benefit of residents of local villages and not just for Shipstonians. We try to arrange a programme of talks on interesting and relevant topics.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday September 8. We hope to have four speakers, a councillor from each of the town council, the district council and the county council as well as member of staff from the district council. We would love to welcome more members from villages and believe that this meeting will cover a subject of importance to us all.  I should be very grateful for any help you can give in bringing SCAN and its programme to the attention of your residents or any suggestions how we can better publicise SCAN whether on your noticeboards, in local magazines, on local social media or any other way.

There is absolutely no cost involved in attending our meetings – no admission charge, no subscription and no charge for refreshments.

I attach a copy of the poster for our next meeting. Thank you for your attention.

Kind regards

Laurie Grove
Chairman

07779 151947

Dear All

Brailes Regeneration Project Trial Extended

A few months ago, the administrator of this website put forward a project proposal to the Brailes Parish Council to improve the aesthetics of the village where we could. This project proposal is available to read below. After completing the Trial, the Parish Council gave permisson to extend to the Type A Village signs across from the Primary School and up Castle Hill Lane.

These were completed on Friday August 7th, with very much appreciated help from Councillor Ronan Woods, Ralph Moyes, and another local resident. Please see the before and after photos below

On July 27th the Parish Council, with one seat free owing to the recent retirement of Councillor Louise Appleton, co-opted local resident Ben Goren onto the Parish Council as the 7th Councillor, after no other candidate put themselves forward for election to the seat.

Next Meeting: Monday 28^th September at 7:00pm in the Pavilion.
 
Contact:
 
Clerk Amanda Wasdell – Email: br****************@*****ok.com
 
Website: https://brailes-pc.gov.uk

The Parish Council met on the 29^th June in the pavilion. 
 
School Safety Zone 
 
We have had confirmation that the flashing signs for the School Safety Zone have been ordered. We are still pressing the County Council for a date for their instillation as well as confirmation on when the remaining “school zone” markings will be painted on the road. It is vital to have the safety zone set up before the next school term. Thanks again go to Roy Rogers and the efforts of the Community Speed Watch group for pursuing the matter. 
 
We are investigating potential employers for a lollipop person, as it was discussed at the meeting that for the PC to take on the role would require significant legal work. One solution could be to ask the Warwickshire Local Authority’s School Crossing Patrol Service to be the employer on the village’s behalf. 
 
Housing Needs Survey 
 
Thank you to everyone who filled in the survey. The results will be used in conjunction with the neighbourhood development plan to shape our approach to future housing projects in the village. We plan to meet with Compton Estates again, now the survey is complete, to discuss the next steps in developing site ‘A1’ (opposite the industrial estate on Saltway Lane). 
 
For those in need of social housing, applications can be made through “Home Choice Plus” which allocates housing when it is available. 
 
Telephone: 01789 260861
Website: homechoiceplus.org.uk 
 
Lighting 
 
The PC has agreed to upgrade the lighting on the high street with energy efficient and cost saving bulbs as well as upgraded columns where necessary. It remains to be seen how many councillors it will take to change a light bulb. 
 
Annual General Meeting and Annual Village Meeting
 
Thank you to all those who attended the meeting and provided reports on behalf of their village groups or organisations. The PC would also like to thank Martin Cole for standing in as chair over the last year despite only committing to 6 months. His advice as a long-standing member of the village is invaluable to us. 
 
After a short stand off I (Ronan Woods) volunteered to chair for this year and Darren Mellor-Clark has volunteered to be vice chair. For a detailed break down of the meeting please refer to the minutes on the parish council website.
 
Thank you Louise!
 
We were all very sorry to hear that Louise Appleton had decided to step down from the council. An inspiration to us all, she has served the village with dedication and enthusiasm for several years, as a councillor and as chair, and played a key role in getting the neighbourhood development plan over the line.
 
Upcoming Meetings
 
Monday 27^th July and Monday 28^th September at 7:00pm in the Pavilion. All are welcome to attend, and anyone can raise a topic for discussion. 
See you there!
 
Ronan Woods
 
Contact:
 
Clerk Amanda Wasdell – Email: br****************@*****ok.com
Call: 07710 554 987
 
Website: https://brailes-pc.gov.uk

Dear All

Brailes Regeneration Project Pilot Trial Phase Completed

A few months ago, the administrator of this website put forward a project proposal to the Brailes Parish Council to improve the aesthetics of the village where we could. This project proposal is available to read below. After consideration, Brailes Parish Council decided to inform Highways that they intended to implement a PILOT TRIAL of the project, whereby two sets of ‘entrance signs’ to the village be painted.

These were the 30/50 signs on Holloway Hill and Fant Hill.

For these signs, identified as ‘Type A Village Signs” in the proposal (the actual signs for, respectively Upper Brailes and Lower Brailes are attached to the white fences in front of the 30/50 signs) each sign post pole underwent the following treatment:

• Day 1 – All the sign boards themselves washed and wiped down
• dirt, dust, flaking plastic, flaking rust removed from the poles
• sandpapering, and apply masking tape to cover the sign board clamps
• multi-purpose, anti-mould primer coat of light grey applied to the pole
• Day 2 – undercoat of dark green
• Day 3 – top coat of Doncaster “Apple Green”
• Day 4 – final coat of all weather glossy black paint, painted 30cm from base upwards
• Day 5 – masking tape removed, final touching up

The total cost of this paintwork was roughly £180, but with enough paint left over to paint another two sets of Type A Village Signs.

The remaining unpainted Type A Village Signs are :

• Entrance to Upper Brailes from Lockes, Caution Corner, Old Brickyard Pond
• Entrance to Upper Brailes, Castle Hill Lane
• Entrance to both Upper and Lower Brailes, across from Brailes primary School
• Entrance to Lower Brailes, Sutton Lane
• Entrance to Lower Brailes, Saltway Lane (Lower Brailes sign is missing but two good condition 30/NSL signs remain and could be painted)

Scroll down below the proposal to see the BEFORE and AFTER photos. Please feel free to leave comments!

Dear All

Temporary Road Closure B4035, Brailes and Castle Hill Lane

Highways has announced their road surface lining works between The Park and Orchard Close, and along Castle Hill Lane will be conducted on WEDNESDAY 29TH JULY between 9am and 5:30pm. Expect diversions, road closures, and extensive delays.

Dear All

Temporary Road Closure of Henbrook Lane, Brailes

Please find attached the proposed diversion for the above road closure from 12/05/2026 to 13/05/2026 to enable works for urgent repairs to a leaking water pipe.

The emergency services will be informed, and the contractor will notify residents and businesses directly affected by the closure.

Kind regards
Tim Hillman

Network Coordination Road Closures Technician ​
Network Management
Environment, Planning & Transport
Communities
Warwickshire County Council

The Parish Council met on the 30^th of March in the Pavilion. 
 
Housing Needs Survey
 
The housing needs survey has been delivered, thank you to those who distributed the copies and to those who have filled it in and returned it. If you did not receive a survey please contact us.
 
The survey is not just for Brailes folk but anyone, especially those with a local connection, wishing to reside in the parish. If you know someone who may need a step down property (bungalow or otherwise) or a young person in search of a first house or flat please let them know so we can include their voices.
 
School Safety Zone 
 
Works for the school safety zone have been ordered, you may have spotted “School Zone” painted at the bottom of Sutton lane. Flashing lights indicating a 20mph zone at school drop off and pick up times are next to be installed. The Parish Council is inquiring as to why road markings have not yet been painted along the main road too. 
 
We are pleased to hear that funding has been sourced for a lollipop person before more permanent traffic calming measures can be installed. 
 
Keeping warm
 
With any luck by the time this is published we’ll be less dependent on our heating however if you or someone you know is struggling to keep up with rising heating costs the Local Welfare Scheme run by Warwickshire County Council could help. Alternatively the Brailes Charities will consider one off payments for those in an emergency.  
 
Local Welfare Scheme: 0800 4081 448
 
The Brailes Charities: an********@********et.com 07816604051
 
If purchasing oil we have been advised the cheapest way is to buddy up with a neighbour to arrange delivery at the same time to save on costs.
 
Parking Outside School 
 
The PC would again like to urge those dropping children off for school to use the village hall car park. There is a path that was installed from the car park to the school gates for the purpose of preventing traffic congestion and more importantly to keep children safe and off the roadside.  
 
Meetings Dates
 
As always all are welcome to attend our meetings and raise a topic for discussion. May is the annual village meeting, so for a good summary of what has been going on in the village over the past year please do come along! Following on is the PC’s AGM which you are also welcome to stick around for.
 
If you are interested in standing as a parish councillor yourself please contact our clerk (details below). 
 
27^th April 7:00 pm Pavilion 
 
20^th May Annual Village Meeting and Annual General Meeting 6:00pm Village Hall
 
 
Contact:

Clerk Amanda Wasdell – Email: br****************@*****ok.com
Call: 07710 554 987
 
Website: https://brailes-pc.gov.uk
 
 

David Fenton has kindly sent this to us and we reproduce here for the benefit of Parishioners who use heating oil.

As soon as I realised we who use Heating Oil were in for a rough ride, I contacted our MP, Manuela Perteghella. I have to say she has been incredibly helpful.   

I am now sending this to all our members, although I know many will fall outside the governments criteria  for help with the current sudden increase in heating oil. However, some may not fall outside, and if you are finding sudden financial problems with difficulty in heating your home, feeding and supporting yourself or family, the Crisis Resilience fund, just announced by this government, in theory, should be there to help. Let’s see if it works in practice. Or if any of your neighbours are struggling, please pass this information on. 

I will do all I can to help and guide anyone who is in that situation through to active and actual financial support. 

The name I have been given is;                               Paula Thompson 

The number I have been given is;                           01926 359182.

And the email address I have been given is;              pa***********@**************ov.uk – or –lo****************@**************ov.uk

The latest news I have just received today from Red Horse is that prices went up again yesterday from 135p a litre to 140p, they are prepared to deliver 200 litres as a minimum to spread the cost, but unfortunately the price for that is 150p a litre. They are currently not in a position to accept group orders so there is no point in my trying to collate a group order this month. Evesons price today is 137.50p, Cotswold Petroleum are not giving online quotes. Boiler Juice are quoting 140p, but stick on an admin charge. Long gone are the days of 52-55p a litre.  

The current situation leaves a lot to be desired, whose fault it is, is open to debate  – or is it – and those 1.5 – 1.7 million of us in England who use Heating Oil seem to be taking the brunt. So if you need help, use the links I have given you and let me know how you get on. If I find out any more information, I will pass it on. 

With kind regards, 

David