Notice of the period for the exercise of public rights

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Dear electorate,

The accounts for 2025/26 have been submitted to the external auditor, PKF Littlejohn. The accounts are currently unaudited.

You have a period of 30 days in which to exercise your public rights to inspect and make copies of the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates. This period is set: 3rd June 2026 to 14th July 2026 inclusive.

Please see the notice for further details.

Kind regards,

Louise Harris – Clerk and RFO to the parish council.

ACT NOW!….. PHONE LINE SWITCH TO DIGITIAL FROM JANUARY 2027
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Dear resident,

You may be aware that by January 2027, the UK’s old copper phone network will be switched off. For older or vulnerable residents, particularly those with telecare alarms or no mobile phone, it can be confusing and potentially risky if they’re not prepared in time.

These changes will affect everyone who has or relies on a home phone, particularly for a telecare alarm, medical device, or burglar alarm. With less than a year to go before the switchover, ignoring provider messages mean the services you rely on may be disrupted. It’s important to take action when BT, Virgin Media O2 or your landline provider, like TalkTalk, Sky, Zen, EE, PlusNet or any other provider contacts you, or even better – DO NOT wait to be contacted and instead contact your provider today. For most, it’s as simple as plugging your phone into your router instead of the wall socket.

Further information and support are available on BT’s Connected Together site www.bt.com/about/all-ip/connected-together, or by calling 0330 1234 150.

Don’t put off switching and make sure you and your loved ones are supported throughout the process.

You can also watch BT’s Digital Voice Expert explaining how to prepare for the UK Landline Switchover www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFYk2cVGgOU&t=13s It is a simple guide explaining what to expect.

There is a checklist attached below to help you begin the process of change to digital NOW!

Cars parked on pavements could be fined by the Police

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Residents can take a photograph of a parked car obstructing a pavement and submit it to West Mercia Police using the Operation Snap website

Click on https://www.westmercia.police.uk//police-forces/west-mercia-police/areas/west-mercia/campaigns/campaigns/2019/operation-snap/

Parked cars should leave 1.5m for pedestrians, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, pushchairs to pass safely on the pavement without stepping onto the road.

Completion of audit review of the Annual Governance & Accountability Return for year ended 31st March 2025.

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Notice of the period for the exercise of public rights, Accounting Statement and Annual Governance Statement, 2024/25

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Dear resident,

The accounts for the year 24/25 are currently unaudited but you are welcome to exercise your public rights from 18th June 2025 to 29th July 2025 inclusive to view the parish council accounts for the year 2024/25. Please get in touch if you would like to at clerk@churchillandblakedown-pc.gov.uk

Kind regards,

Louise – Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer.

Jim Long – Obituary

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It was with great sorrow and shock that we learnt of the death of our fellow Councillor Jim Long on 15th March, following a road traffic accident on the A456 as he returned home after the March Parish Council meeting.  Throughout the 30+ years that Jim had lived in Blakedown, Jim was a dedicated and hardworking member of the community and of the Parish Council.  It was Jim who instigated the development of the Neighbourhood Plan, who started the ball rolling to rescue and reposition the Signal Box, and who galvanised volunteers to develop a Local List of protected buildings and characteristics, and we can thank him as well for the litter bins and the programme of regular grass cutting in the villages.   Involved in Planning and Development issues, he worked tirelessly to represent residents’ interests in contentious planning applications, getting to grips with the technicalities of Planning Law, liaising with District and County Councillors and officials, and always ambitious to preserve, enhance and improve our villages as a great place to live.  His major achievement was to be the founding member of the successful Churchill and Blakedown History Society, with regular monthly talks from visiting lecturers, and increasingly popular bi-monthly coffee mornings in the Signal Box.  He was active, committed, tenacious and proud to be part of Churchill and Blakedown.  He made a huge contribution, and he will be very missed.  Our thoughts are with his wife Vicki, and his family at this very difficult time.

C&BPC Chairman, Brian Hession & fellow councillors.

Maintenance of watercourses for riparian owners

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Dear resident,

As you may or may not know, under the Land Drainage Act 1991, it is the responsibility of all riparian owners to maintain the watercourses that are within or adjacent to the boundaries of their properties. Please inspect the watercourse in your ownership and undertake any necessary maintenance work; you should ensure that the watercourse is in such a condition that flow can discharge unobstructed.

You may also find the following information helpful, please click on this link to read it:-

https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-10/managing_ditches_and_watercourses_leaflet.pdf

Kind regards,

Churchill & Blakedown Parish Council

Councillor Vacancies

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Dear Resident,

The parish council currently has one vacancy to be filled.

Would you like to contribute something to your local community and have your say on matters pertaining to the parish council? You can, simply by becoming a parish councillor. You give as much or as little time as you wish and as a volunteer and will have first hand opportunity to make your contribution. We are currently revising our Neighbourhood Plan to revisit how we want to see the parish shaping up over the next 10 years from 2026. If you have any experience in Planning or Environment matters, your skills would be greatly valued during this time. This is not a requirement though, so please, if you can see yourself making a contribution to the parish council, please get in touch with the clerk for more information, at clerk@churchillandblakedown-pc.gov.uk.

Kind regards,

Louise

Clerk to the Council

Notice of Conclusion of Audit for 2023-2024

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Dear Resident,

This parish council duly displays a notice of conclusion of audit for the year 2023-24 together with copies of the AGAR, Sections 1, 2 and 3 for your information.

Kind regards, Louise Harris

Clerk and RFO to the parish council.

C&B PC’s commitment to Biodiversity, to conserve, protect & enhance our nature-rich, beautiful parish.

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In accordance with recent changes in the law, C&B PC has adopted a Biodiversity Policy. Although the parish council does not own much land to speak of, it aims to protect biodiversity across the parish by increasing awareness amongst residents and working with the wider community, businesses, landowners and other local authorities. For further details, please see the policy on the parish council website.

The Signal Box Garden will be undergoing some changes soon to support biodiversity in that local neighbourhood area. With funding from Natural Networks, this area will be a wonderful example of how small changes can impact the natural environment for the better. Gardens are important habitats for wildlife and low impact practices can make all the difference. Keep an eye out on the website for developments at the Signal Box.

Do you have any views on what you would like to be done to conserve biodiversity within the parish? Write in to clerk@churchillandblakedown-pc.gov.uk