For those of you who enjoy the great outdoors, why not try our Lawley and Overdale History Trail?

The trail is split into 6 manageable sections, has wheelchair accessible routes and a wealth of history. Booklets, with maps, can be picked up from the Parish Council Office on West Centre Way, Lawley.

Pete Jackson, local to the area has created a video of the history trail which can be found from this link: http://youtu.be/–fcUdBvmMY

Please tell us if you enjoyed the history trail and we’d love to see any photo’s!

The roadworks on West Centre way are proving to be shambles! The work is under the management  National Grid / British Gas and has been on now for over 3 weeks. We have had dialogue with TWC highways who were not aware of the works initially but are now involved. The main support has been received from Lawley Village Developer Group who have tirelessly challenged why the works are being carried out causing great disruption to the local area.

Taken from an email sent to National Grid:

“As requested previously can you please refer this matter back to whoever is responsible at National Grid and get them to explain exactly why this work is being carried out now given that the Birse contract was completed six years ago and understand from your site operative Scott that there is no leak on the main. We also need to know why no advance warning was given to anyone regarding this work.”

No explanation has been forthcoming at this time.

The only response received is:

“Due to difficulties on site regarding the location and depth of the gas main at the junction of Lawley Drive (A5223) and West Centre Way the work cannot be carried out as per the current scope of works. Following discussions with the local Senior Traffic and Street Works Engineer we will be closing down the current works. It is proposed to redesign our scope of works to replace a longer span of pipe to the gas governor on the other side of Lawley Drive in Pepper Mill. This work will take place at a later date.”

This seems to say that the disruption over the last 4 weeks and continuing is to no avail and we can look forward to more disruption in the near future! If we do get an explanation why the works are being carried out we will let you know!

Well, Spring is trying to make its appearance-but it’s not just the flowers that we should be welcoming; here at Lawley and Overdale Parish Council, we have two new Assistant Clerks who have bravely joined the ranks in March.

Joining Sharon in the office is Helen Barker and Laurren Wood-Bennett – A warm welcome to you both.

Due to our increase of staff, we are also able to extend our office opening ours, and therefore our accessibility. You can now find the office manned between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday beginning the 30th March 2015.

Why not drop in and meet the team?

We  successfully bid for funding from the Pride in your Community initiative and after extended dialogue with TWC regarding the lease are close to agreement. The Parish having a new lease was one of the many conditions attached to this funding.

One of the first works to be done was to replace the windows as they are certainly past their best and we have now been informed by the Council that we will require planning permission to do this! This building belongs to TWC and they are asking us for planning fees and drawings at a cost of circa £1000 to upgrade/improve their asset – not a good use of taxpayers money! This will also delay any works whilst we wait for that permission. We have put in a request to the Council to reconsider the need for planning permission or for them to foot the bill – the plan was to replace the windows with UPVC frames, still arched and in keeping with the age of the building and for this we need planning permission but if we replace the windows with timber frames we do not require permission! It beggars belief doesn’t it! Watch this space for an update