Maxstoke Lane Development

On Monday night, 26 October, we had a record turn out at the Parish Council meeting.  Residents were concerned over the planning application and voiced their opinions accordingly.  If you have an opinion on the development go to the planning pages on Solihull Council's website using this link http://bit.ly/3nVcde

Community Speed Watch

Meriden's Community Speed Watch has had two patrols so far.  Thursday 15 October and Wednesday 21 October.  On each occasion, starting around 10am, at least six speeding offenders were recorded.  Last Wednesday on Fillongley Road near the school, eight were captured with one driver doing well over 50mph.  The speed watch initiative still needs more volunteers, so contact Julie, our Parish Clerk on 522727 or email her at info@meridenparishcouncil.org.uk.

Meriden duck pond project

Some more photos were sent in from the chair of our Parish Plan Steering Group, Iain Roxburgh.  He managed to snap Solihull's Lord Mayor Norman Davies admiring the work of the council, npower and Meriden Primary School's Eco Club.  Cabinet Member for the Environment Councillor Kate Wilde was also in attendance and will be featured later in our blog when more photos come through.  What a great effort by all who are featured in the team photo.  By this time, students from Meriden Primary School's Eco Club were back at their desks.

It's important that residents understand Meriden's wild fowl need proper feeding.  The project team erected an information board featuring the wild fowl it attracts and how to feed them responsibly.  Basically, the old tradition of using white bread is dangerous to their wellbeing.  Grain, wheat, carrot, lettuce, and seeds are what they need.  And remember, any uneaten bread will attract uninvited guests - the rats!  There's a link to the RSPB website for further feeding tips http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/

Let's get blogging - in earnest

Has it really been so long since our last post? As so much has happened since the spring of 2008 this may be the reason why. As the Parish Plan nears completion, one of our actions is to keep our communication channels up to date. So, as chief blogger, it’s now time to do just that.

This autumn is going to be busy and it started last Wednesday 14 October with the Meriden Duck Pond project coming to fruition. This was a true partnership effort. Susan East, our Neighbourhood Co-ordinator from Solihull Council worked with her colleagues Trish Willetts, Environment Champions Co-ordinator, Lorna Teager, Streetcare Officer and Neil Cameron, Park Ranger to bring together the clean up of the pond with Meriden Primary School and Npower. Npower’s finance team volunteered to do most of the hard work on the day such as painting benches, clearing debris and posting our new information panel on the local wild fowl and safe ways to feed birds.

Meriden Primary School’s Eco Club joined them during the day to plant spring flowering bulbs and with the help of the park rangers, hang their bird boxes which the rangers helped them make.

Susan will be sending us more photographs and as soon as we have them, they’ll be posted on our blog.