SPRING UPDATE

Joint blog from the Chair of Meriden Parish Council and the Chair of Meriden Parish Appraisal Steering Group

Last year, the Parish Council together with a group of residents came together to work out ways to improve the area, its environment and the life of our community. The Parish covers Meriden Village, Millison’s Wood and the surrounding areas.

In September, following a well attended public meeting, a Steering Group was formed and successfully applied for grants from the National Lottery Awards for All and from Solihull Borough Council to undertake a Parish Appraisal. This is a review carried out by local people of all aspects of the community – its assets and strengths; its deficiencies, problems and needs and its future challenges.

An appraisal is the first step in enabling local people to shape the future of our area and our community, identifying the issues that people care about and the actions they want to see taken. It leads to a Parish Plan in which the people of Meriden area will set out our vision for the future and a plan of action to improve the life of our community.

Over the winter we have been focusing on the question “what are the issues?” We have been asking people what they really like about Meriden/Millison’s Wood and what they wish to see changed to improve the area and its community. Through meetings with community organisations, consultations with people of different age groups, including the children at the Primary School and through the pages of the Meriden Mag, we now have a pretty clear idea of the issues. See the reverse side of this letter for some examples of these.

The next stage is most important and involves everyone in the Parish. In April there will be a questionnaire survey of every household. This is your chance to have your say. One of our volunteers will deliver and collect the survey form – or you will be able to complete it on-line if you wish. Before then you will receive another Appraisal Newsletter explaining what to expect.

The Appraisal is a big task. The more people involved the better. We are all volunteers doing this in our spare time and would welcome all the help you can give. Just get in touch – you will be very welcome – and it’s fun!

Just one final point: the Parish Appraisal imposes no cost on the Meriden Council Tax payer.

Kind regards

Rosie Weaver and Iain Roxburgh
Chair, Meriden Parish Council and Chair,Meriden Parish Appraisal and Plan

Any questions or should you wish to volunteer, please contact:

Iain Roxburgh
Tel: 01676 522496
Email: IainRoxburgh@btinternet.com



Meriden Parish Appraisal Spring Update

In the first round of consultation, we asked people two questions:

“What do you really like about Meriden/Millisons Wood?”
and

“What would you wish to change to improve the area and its community?”

Here is just a small selection of the answers:-

Some of the things you really like:

. The Green, village/rural feel and good environment.
· Its location, with easy access to the countryside
· Good range of local shops (but not in Millison’s Wood!) and good local

restaurants
· Library, post office and surgery
· Friendly and a good sense of community
· Good primary school
· The Meriden Mag
· The Taxibus



Some of the changes you’d like to see to make it a better place/community:

· Reduce the speed of traffic and improve road safety
· The 900 bus back to a 20 minute frequency
· Better bus service to Solihull
· Better pavements and wheelchair access
· Less litter and dog foul
· Better provision for young people
· Tackle anti-social behaviour
· High quality sports and play facilities
· Play our part in tackling global warming





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