Please note essential tree work is planned for Leddy’s Field, Hall Street, Audley on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th August (next week) to prune trees which are growing close to the overhead power lines.  A wildlife assessment will be carried out before the work starts and the necessary consents are in place.

The work is being carried out by Western Power.  Footpaths will be signed and taped off while work is underway. The overall site will still be accessible, but there may be some areas closed off temporarily due to H&S.

All of the Parish Council owned play areas are now back to normal with the removed equipment reinstated, following the rule change on 19th July 2021 for Covid measures.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Please note the new play equipment at Albert Street has been completed earlier than expected due to the good weather and is now open for the children to use.  The cantilever swing will be installed at a later date.

Thank you to the local schools for their input in selecting the pieces of equipment for the site – we hope you enjoy using them!

Apologies for any inconvenience caused during the works.

AUDLEY RURAL PARISH COUNCIL

NOTICE OF A CASUAL VACANCY (AUDLEY (PARISH) WARD)

Notice is hereby given that by reason of the resignation a vacancy has occurred among the members of the Parish Council. Any person willing to fill this vacancy should apply to the Clerk in writing on or before the Friday 23^rd July 2021

Further information may be requested following your application

The applicant’s name must appear on the current register of the Voters List or the applicant should during the whole of the twelve months preceding the relevant date resided in

or within three miles of the parish

or the applicant’s only place of work during the whole of the twelve months preceding the relevant date is in the parish.

The applicant must not be debarred from standing as a Councillor.

PUBLIC elections cannot be held until May 2022 but for the interim period election to the aforesaid Council will be voted for by the present sitting number of Councillors.

The address to return applications to is:

Mrs C Withington
Parish Clerk & Proper Officer
Audley Rural Parish Council
The Croft
Barthomley Road,
Audley,
Staffs ST7 8HU

Dated:  01.07.21           Signed  Mrs C T Withington      Parish Clerk & Proper Officer

It’s free for children and young people aged 5 – 16 years who receive benefit related free school meals.  Staffordshire County Council are writing to all parents/carers of eligible children (via their school) with a unique code to register their interest and receive a timetable of activities.

How do I register my child for a free place?

The places are limited and to help manage the demand, we’ve set up an easy system requiring you to register each eligible child using the registration code as shown at the top of this letter.

Once registered, you can view the timetable of events and booking details. If you need help registering, you can contact your local Family Hub or library

View the PDF version of the poster here for school holiday activities for Kids 

CAR PARK CLOSURE – NEXT TO BUTCHERS ARMS, CHURCH STREET

As part of the plans to improve the car park, please note the site will be closed to all vehicles from 8am until 6pm on Monday 28^th June 2021 and again on *Tuesday 29^th June 2021 (*unless the work finishes sooner)

This is due to tree removal work on the boundary to the Nursing Home and a cluster of small trees near to the entrance to the car park.  All work has received permission from the Borough Council.

Please do not park your vehicle during the work, as there will be a high risk of damage, which we will not accept responsibility for.

Please note a wildlife assessment will be undertaken prior to the work, if there are any birds nesting the work will be postponed.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Audley Rural Parish Council

Letters have been sent to nearby residents in the post today.

Following the design consultation with the local school children in the Parish, we are now able to move forward with the installation of the play area improvements to Albert Street play area.

The appointed contractor is Horticon Limited, and it is expected that work will start on Monday 7^th June 2021 for a period of up to 6 weeks.    The fenced play area, public footpath and football pitch should remain open during this time, however please be mindful of the construction work taking place if you visit the site.  Site notices will be displayed informing people of the work.

We would ask that you avoid parking in front of the gateway to the park during this time, as large goods vehicles will be looking to access the site.  Large deliveries will take place on Monday 7th, Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9^th of June 2021 while they set up the compound – so please park carefully and allow enough room for access.

Please click here to view the new play equipment – subject to minor tweaks when on site

Please click here to view 

The old cameras (on hire) in the village have now been removed as they were not considered fit for purpose despite repeated attempts to resolve the issues.  On 15th April 2021, the Parish Council appointed a new contractor to install 3 new CCTV cameras in the same locations.  These will improve on the downloading, accessibility and also security of the footage in accordance with Data Protection Act 2018 and also the Surveillance Camera Commissioner code of practice.  Due to privacy and Data Protection Act 2018 we can only accept requests* for footage in relation to a suspected criminal activity from Staffordshire Police which should be supported by a Crime incident number.  The new cameras will be installed as soon as Eon (the streetlight column owners) have provided the requested approval following electrical testing.

(*Please note this is in relation to criminal matters – please viewhttps://www.gov.uk/request-cctv-footage-of-yourself to see your rights regarding footage of yourself)

Audley Rural Parish Council 

Announcement

10 June 1921 to 9th April 2021

Audley Rural Parish Council  joins the nation in mourning the death of Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh

The Parish Council, and on behalf of the Parish residents, send their condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and to all her family

Mr Nick Hayes

Chair of Audley Rural Parish Council

PDF document of the advert for Volunteers to join

Audley Rural Parish Council resolved in November 2020 to designate the Parish of Audley as a Neighbourhood Plan (NP) area.  Please click here to view the Audley NP Area Designation Map

What is a Neighbourhood Plan?

Neighbourhood planning was introduced in the Localism Act 2011 (click here to view). It is an important and powerful tool that gives communities statutory powers to shape how their communities develop.  A neighbourhood plan is a community led document which puts in place planning policy for a neighbourhood area to guide future development. A neighbourhood plan is about the use and development of land and may contain a vision, aims, planning policies, proposals for improving the area or providing new facilities, or allocation of key sites for specific kinds of development. It may deal with a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues (such as housing, employment, design, heritage and transport) or it may focus on one or two issues only.

Click here to visit https://neighbourhoodplanning.org for further information  

More information can also be obtained by visiting the Locality website by clicking on the picture further down the page.

Next steps (as at 21st January 2021)

The preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan will need to involve the community and is expected to take a couple of years before it can reach the stage where it can be adopted by Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council.

Over the next month or so a Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group (of approx 10 people) will be formulated and its Terms of Reference will agreed by the Parish Council.  The Steering Group will represent the whole Parish and will steer the production of a Neighbourhood Plan, working with an external Consultant.  The Steering Group will consist of a mix of skills, abilities and experience.  The Steering Group’s purpose is to oversee the production of a Neighbourhood Plan in order that this will then progress to Independent Examination, and following a successful community referendum, be adopted by Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council to become planning policy.

The activities may include:

liaising with the local planning authority;
publicity, community and stakeholder engagement and consultation at various stages;
building the evidence base;
setting aims and writing the plan;
site allocations and Local Green Space designations;
pre-submission consultation (Regulation 14);
other activities

The Steering Group will have a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, who will be elected by members of the Steering Group at its first meeting. In addition, the Steering Group will need skills in all areas ranging from planning, community consultation, local issues and publicity.  Some Steering Group members will act as a link with the individual Focus Groups which may be set up to look at aspects in greater detail.

One of the first tasks will be to consider the appointment of a Neighbourhood Plan consultant.

If you are interested in joining the Steering Group please send your details to the Parish Clerk before 31st March 2021 by emailing audleyparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk 
You will be asked to provide information on your background, what part of the community of Audley Rural Parish you represent and what skills you can bring to the Steering Group.  

We would also like to identify key local stakeholders and any potential
partners. These are local organisations, groups and individuals that have a particular interest in the area.

If you would like to join the general mailing list to keep updated or as a key local stakeholder – please contact the Parish Clerk by emailing audleyparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk

Staffordshire County Council have just opened up nominations for this year’s Dignity In Care awards, They opened on Monday 1^st February 2021 (https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Care-for-all-ages/Dignityincare/home.aspx)

People across Staffordshire are being invited to nominate carers, work colleagues, young people, friends and family members for a prestigious award.

The Staffordshire Dignity in Care Awards recognises groups and individuals who care for or support the most vulnerable of us, and who treat everyone with dignity, kindness, respect and compassion. We welcome nominations from anyone who receives support and care in Staffordshire, their families, friends, or those who provide support and care to Staffordshire citizens

We want to celebrate the achievements of as many people as possible especially during the current pandemic.

Staffordshire Police is inviting residents and businesses across the county to take part in a new survey designed to help the force achieve its vision of a safer Staffordshire.

The ‘Your police. Your voice.’ survey, which launches on Friday 22 January and closes on February 8, provides the public with an opportunity to share their views on crime and policing locally.

This will enable the force to get a better understanding of the issues which matter most to local communities to ensure that services and resources are being delivered in the best way to address people’s concerns.

The survey is anonymous and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. You can complete it online at www.staffordshire.police.uk/yourpoliceyourvoice until noon on Monday 8th February 2021.

If you are unable to complete this electronically you can request a hardcopy by emailing campaigns.engagement@staffordshire.pnn.police.uk

The census is a survey that happens every 10 years and gives a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) runs the census in England and Wales and the next one will happen on Sunday 21 March 2021. Leading up to March, job opportunities will be available to help carry out and support the census process in Staffordshire. Vacancies and how to apply can be found at census.gov.uk/jobs

Audley Rural Parish Council resolved in November 2020 to designate the Parish of Audley as a Neighbourhood Plan (NP) area.  Please click here to view the Audley NP Area Designation Map

What is a Neighbourhood Plan?

Neighbourhood planning was introduced in the Localism Act 2011 (click here to view). It is an important and powerful tool that gives communities statutory powers to shape how their communities develop.  A neighbourhood plan is a community led document which puts in place planning policy for a neighbourhood area to guide future development. A neighbourhood plan is about the use and development of land and may contain a vision, aims, planning policies, proposals for improving the area or providing new facilities, or allocation of key sites for specific kinds of development. It may deal with a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues (such as housing, employment, design, heritage and transport) or it may focus on one or two issues only.

Click here to visit https://neighbourhoodplanning.org for further information  

More information can also be obtained by visiting the Locality website by clicking on the picture further down the page.

Next steps (as at 21st January 2021)

The preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan will need to involve the community and is expected to take a couple of years before it can reach the stage where it can be adopted by Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council.

Over the next month or so a Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group (of approx 10 people) will be formulated and its Terms of Reference will agreed by the Parish Council.  The Steering Group will represent the whole Parish and will steer the production of a Neighbourhood Plan, working with an external Consultant.  The Steering Group will consist of a mix of skills, abilities and experience.  The Steering Group’s purpose is to oversee the production of a Neighbourhood Plan in order that this will then progress to Independent Examination, and following a successful community referendum, be adopted by Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council to become planning policy.

The activities may include:

liaising with the local planning authority;
publicity, community and stakeholder engagement and consultation at various stages;
building the evidence base;
setting aims and writing the plan;
site allocations and Local Green Space designations;
pre-submission consultation (Regulation 14);
other activities

The Steering Group will have a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, who will be elected by members of the Steering Group at its first meeting. In addition, the Steering Group will need skills in all areas ranging from planning, community consultation, local issues and publicity.  Some Steering Group members will act as a link with the individual Focus Groups which may be set up to look at aspects in greater detail.

One of the first tasks will be to consider the appointment of a Neighbourhood Plan consultant.

If you are interested in joining the Steering Group please send your details to the Parish Clerk before 31st March 2021 by emailing audleyparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk 
You will be asked to provide information on your background, what part of the community of Audley Rural Parish you represent and what skills you can bring to the Steering Group.  

We would also like to identify key local stakeholders and any potential
partners. These are local organisations, groups and individuals that have a particular interest in the area.

If you would like to join the general mailing list to keep updated or as a key local stakeholder – please contact the Parish Clerk by emailing audleyparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk

Audley and Alsagers Bank Remembrance Day Services

Sunday 8^th November 2020

Copyright Around Audley

Sadly, this year we are unable to hold a Remembrance Day service

Please stay at home

Remember on your Doorstep

Please stay at home and remember on your doorstep for this year.  You can watch a live tribute by clicking here to view Audley St James Facebook page. Listen out for the church bells toll from St James at 11am and the trumpets from Audley Brass and then you’re invited to join Audley St James Facebook page at 11.02am for a Memorial Tribute from Audley Brass, Audley Male Voice Choir, Ravensmead School and St James Church.

If any individual wishes to lay a wreath, please ensure the restrictions allow you to do this and if so, ensure it is at a quiet time (avoiding peak times e.g. morning of 8^th and 11^th November).

Thank you for your understanding.

Audley Rural Parish Council

Churches of St James & St Johns and Halmer End Methodist & Audley Methodist

 2 November 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Parish Play Areas are open (as at 5th November 2020) but MUGAS, Outdoor gym equipment and Skate parks must close

The Government have now issued updated guidance (as at 5th November 2020) on play areas and outdoor gyms, plus how to minimise the risk of Covid-19 when using play areas. You can see it here at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-managing-playgrounds-and-outdoor-gyms/covid-19-guidance-for-managing-playgrounds-and-outdoor-gyms

We have worked hard to get the play areas ready to reopen following the first lockdown and most reopened from Saturday 4^th July 2020 (with Halmer End on 22nd July 2020).  During the second lockdown from 5th November all play areas remain open with the exception of Queen Street (CARA) which will stay closed due restrictions on the skate park and outdoor gym equipment, Miles Green play area outdoor gym equipment (only) will be closed and also Rileys Field MUGA. 

Door2Door Community Transport Scheme in Audley Rural Parish

Do you need help getting about?  Do you know someone who needs help getting about?

Audley Rural Parish Council have now subsidised the costs to use the Door2Door community transport scheme to help those who need it the most.  We want to help those who do not have any means of transport, support and cannot use public transport due to health, medical and in some cases for financial hardship reasons.  If you need help to get to an important medical appointment, essential shopping supplies or even just to get out and meet other people – call 01782 621936, visit the website at www.door2doortransport.org.uk or email info@door2doortransport.org.uk for assistance.

Do you enjoy helping others, have spare time and a vehicle?

The scheme works best when we have a bank of local volunteer drivers to help.  Do you have spare time, a vehicle and like helping people who need it most?  All expenses are covered such as mileage and parking.  Please click on the below images for more information.

Please click here to view the Door to Door leaflet in PDF format