|  Parking permits could be introduced in Shrewsbury town centre in a move to cut down on drivers trying to avoid hefty fees by parking in side streets and outside other people’s homes.
Under a review of car parking across the county,Shropshire Council is considering bringing in permits which would allow Shrewsbury town centre residents to use some of its car parks for about £150 a year. Councillor Simon Jones said:“Hopefully it will deter people from parking on the street and get them to park in the car parks.” The plans would also see the scrapping of a voucher parking system which the authority inherited from the former Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. The review of parking follows news that the council saw a £470,000 drop in profits from its car parks in the past financial year. 
The red dot in the town centre is where I live and using www.mybroadbandspeed.co.uk I measured 6.9mbs download. The Shropshire Star is creating a map of BB speed throughout the county and you can log your results with Todd Nash at starfeatures@shropshirestar.co.uk – don’t forget to also send him your postcode.  The organisers are facing a funding crisis and still need to raise £35,000 to pay for this festival.
The three-day event is scheduled to take place on from August 31 to September 2,when it is expected more than 30,000 visitors will flock to the town centre to watch street performers,dancers and acrobats strut their stuff. But festival director Bill Ferguson said he faced an uphill battle to find cash to pay for the extravaganza – and warned it may have to scaled back this year as a result. The festival is expected to cost £50,000 to stage this year,and so far only £15,500 has been secured. Meanwhile organisers faced a double blow after grant funding from both the Arts Council and Shropshire Council was denied this year. Mr Ferguson said:“We are actively fundraising and need as much money as we can get. We are still planning to put on the event this year,I will not let it be cancelled. If we don’t have all the money it will be a much smaller event. It is very stressful and takes up a large part of my life. I spend every day going around businesses in Shrewsbury town centre looking for sponsorship. I am very community-minded and want to put on this event,but at the end of the day I have to pay my bills. This festival brings in £1.7m into the local economy every year and it is disappointing it is so hard to get funding.” Organisers are seeking £5,000 from Shrewsbury Town Council and £5,000 from the town’s local joint committee.  Please note we have our monthly litter-pick this coming Sunday 17th May 2012.
Top of Pride Hill,9am to 10am,free coffee after at McDonald’s.  Friday 18th May,Old Hall,Shrewsbury High School,Town Walls – 6pm
The Upper Sixth of Shrewsbury High School invite you to their final concert on 18th May.
Tickets are £5 on the door which will go towards a gift to the rest of the school from the leaving Upper Sixth. Refreshments will be available and we will be selling raffle tickets up to and on the night. Please come along and support us,it promises to be a great evening!  People will be given the rare chance to enjoy breath-taking views from the top of one of Shrewsbury’s best-known churches as part of its restoration campaign.
Officials at St Chad’s are offering guided tours of its tower to raise cash for the on-going work. It is the first time members of the public have been allowed to climb the tower and church leaders have promised spectacular views. John Patrick,chairman of the Friends of St Chad’s,said:“It is the first time that people will be able to look out from the church roof. I went up there myself in glorious sunshine and it looked as though you could pluck The Wrekin and put it into your pocket. “There are also great views of the Stretton Hills and the Long Mynd. It is simply wonderful.” A trip up the tower will cost £18 per person and visitors will be provided with hard hats and high visibility jackets. Church leaders have also advised visitors to wear sturdy shoes for the climb. Contact St Chads One tour will take place every day until May 24,with a full day’s worth on May 26. To date the Friends of St Chad’s have handed over £72,000 to the campaign to restore the Grade I listed Georgian building. The money is the culmination of three years of fundraising on behalf of the St Chad’s Campaign,which is seeking £2.5 million for urgent work to conserve the church tower and repair long-term damage to the lead,stonework and bricks caused by the weather. Building work is currently under way on the tower. A talk on Georgian Shrewsbury by former Shrewsbury Chronicle editor John Butterworth will take place at St Chad’s on Monday at 7pm to raise funds for the campaign. Tickets cost £10. If you want to go up phone 01743 249303 and speak to John Patrick,Chairman of the Friends of St Chads  I’m pleased to report that we now have some great new stickers –for windows in the car,at home or businesses –and we need all the help we can in getting our message out as far and wide across the county as possible!
We would be extremely grateful for anyone who can display a sticker in their car or business premises etc. –and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would be happy to do so! Stickers are available in white or black –and can be viewed here for reference: http://hiveonline.org.uk/sticker/ Please help us promote the Hive! I look forward to hearing back from you all in due course. Many thanks as always! Habib  The Shrewsbury Car Share Scheme will have a public meeting on Monday 28 May at 7:00pm at Coleham School,Greyfriars Road,Belle Vue.
Following the initial meeting in September 2011,it has been agreed that
* a new social enterprise will be set up to run a car club for Shropshire * the first cars will be in Shrewsbury,Ludlow and Bishop’s Castle where the strongest initial interest has been shown * there is a small local steering group in each town to make sure that there is a local identity and to help with recruiting members and deciding on the locations of the cars. More people are needed to get involved in this way. * There is a website and online survey at www.shropshirecarclub.co.uk. Please encourage people you know to complete the survey,either online or on paper.
* A leaflet including the survey will be delivered to some streets in Castlefields,Belle Vue,Coton Hill/Greenfields,Cherry Orchard/Underdale,and Mountfields,in the next couple of weeks. These are the areas where cars are most likely to be located in the first instance;exact locations and types of vehicle will depend partly on the response to the survey and public meeting. Membership of the car club will not be restricted to people in those areas. * Leaflets will also be available in the library and other places in the town centre. Your feedback and suggestions are both valued and welcome.
The Car Share scheme welcomes any members from the Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents whom may wish to become involved.
Please contact Emma Bullard -Travel Shropshire Promotions Manager,Shirehall,Abbey Foregate,Shrewsbury,SY2 6ND,01743 255435 if you have thoughts about any of the above,would like to become involved,or have any questions.  The 1100th Anniversary of Foundation and the completion of restoration works at St Alkmunds Church will be celebrated by a service of thanksgiving led by the Bishop of Lichfield at St Alkmunds on Sunday,May 20th at 10:00 am. Rev Richard Hayes invites and welcomes any member of STCRA that would like to attend.
Shropshire Council is urging residents to bag a bargain home compost bin. The Council has just signed up to a new contract with UK manufacturer Straight to provide discount compost bins to people in Shropshire.  Bins are available from just £16 (half the RRP). There is also currently a special offer of Buy One Get One Half Priced,which makes them even better value. There is a wide selection of products available including plastic and wooden compost bins,wormeries,kitchen digesters,water butts and other accessories. All products are delivered direct to your door.
To order a bin visit www.shropshire.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444. If more people to compost their waste at home because it reduces the need for waste collection and treatment,cuts CO2 emissions,and saves taxpayers money. | |
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