Dear Residents,

I hope you are all enjoying the recent spell of sunshine and making the most of the summer weather.

Parish Council Administration

Some of you may have noticed that the June Parish Council meeting was cancelled. Unfortunately, our Clerk, who was serving a probationary period, decided that the role was more complex than she had anticipated and chose to step down.

I am delighted to share that Ray Evans, a highly experienced Clerk, has rejoined us. Ray worked with the Parish Council briefly in February but had to leave due to unforeseen circumstances. Those issues have now been resolved, and he resumed his role on 16 June 2026. We are very pleased to welcome him back and look forward to working with him once again.

Village Planters

At long last, our beautiful new planters have arrived and are already brightening up both The Green and the verge opposite Mary Arden’s Farm. They look magnificent.

A huge thank you goes to Pat and Alan Kingsland, who joined me in selecting the plants, helping to create the displays, and now overseeing their ongoing care and watering. I would also like to thank Martyn Hunt, who has kindly taken responsibility for watering the planter on The Green.

If the displays continue to thrive, we hope to purchase two additional planters next year for Aston Cantlow Road and Billesley Road.

Land Transfer Negotiations

Negotiations regarding the purchase of the land continue. Stratford District Council is currently in the process of appointing a solicitor with experience in transfers between public authorities at a nominal fee. We are hopeful that this will help move matters forward more quickly, and I will continue to keep you updated on progress.

District Council By-Election

Some of you may have heard that I am standing as a candidate in the forthcoming Kinwarton Ward District Council by-election, following the resignation of Thom Holmes. The election will take place on 9th July 2026.

While this is not the appropriate forum for election campaigning, I wanted to reassure residents that, should I be fortunate enough to be elected, I would remain Chairwoman of the Parish Council. Holding both positions would not present a conflict of interest, and I would continue to serve the village with the same commitment and dedication.

Traffic Management

I am sure many of you have noticed the increasing volume of traffic and instances of inconsiderate parking within the village. Like many residents, I share your concerns.

To address these issues, I have written to the Director of Highways at Warwickshire County Council requesting a meeting to explore potential solutions. Topics I hope to discuss include:

• A possible weight restriction on the Station Road bridge to protect this already fragile structure from heavy vehicles.
• Reduced speed limits on Featherbed Lane, Station Road, and Church Road.
• Other measures that could improve road safety and reduce traffic impacts within the village.

If you have suggestions that you would like me to raise during these discussions, please do get in touch.

South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP) Update

Many of you will already be aware that the BW site is no longer being considered as the location for a large new settlement. This is a significant achievement, and I would like to thank everyone who supported me and participated in the campaign. Our collective efforts have made a real difference.

Stratford District Council has publicly identified Long Marston as its preferred location for a large settlement, together with a proposed relief road to accommodate the increased traffic generated by the development. A formal vote on this proposal will be taken by both Stratford and Warwick District Councils on 15 July 2026.

However, there are still matters that require our close attention.

Within the recently published 700-page consultation document, I identified two proposed policies DS8 and DS13, which directly affect Wilmcote. The Parish Council had not been informed of these proposals, and they could easily have gone unnoticed.

The policies propose removing Green Belt designation from land within the village’s Built-Up Boundary (BuB). This would mean the loss of Green Belt protections and the planning safeguards currently provided through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). In practical terms, it could make further development on available green spaces within the BuB significantly easier.

I have already met with the Leader of Stratford District Council, Susan Juned, to express my concerns and have requested a further meeting with planning officers. We must remain vigilant, and I can assure you that I will continue to monitor developments closely and challenge proposals that could negatively impact our village.

Upcoming Meetings

The next Parish Council meeting will take place on:

Wednesday 15 July 2026
7:00pm
Wilmcote Village Hall

Please note that the Parish Council does not meet during August.

Finally…

As we head into the summer months, I would like to thank everyone who continues to contribute to village life, whether through volunteering, attending meetings, sharing ideas, or simply looking out for our community.

I wish you all a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing many of you around the village.

Kind regards,

Janine Lee
Chairwoman, Wilmcote Parish Council