Old Arley Residents Society

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OARS update Nov 2011

Click here for the latest News about the closure of Herbert Fowler School.

 

 

OARS update Dec. 2010


OARS has been hit very hard by the death of our Vice Chairman, Phil Collins. He was a founder member and his personality shaped OARS. Phil always felt that we could do more and, with a smile, would persuade us that we could make ourselves heard for the benefit of the residents of Old Arley.  As an ex-councillor and mayor he knew everyone and was always prepared to use his connections to make sure we knew what was going on in North Warwickshire, and who would listen to us. We will miss Phil, but he will still be an inspiration to us.

We are also sorry to lose Helen Duff, our Chair, who has resigned because of work commitments.

At the moment the Rectory Road development is going ahead. The bungalows are being built, and, as far as we know, the Medical Centre, including a pharmacy, will follow. We do not know when the estate of houses will be built. One third of the site has been designated as a Village Green and can never be developed; OARS is currently fundraising to place a bench on the green.

We applied for initial funding to draw up plans and costing for the proposed pavilion on the Recreation Ground, but unfortunately were turned down by the Heart of England Community Fund. The possibilities for getting grant aid have changed dramatically in the last few months, a number of schemes have closed and, in the current economic climate, have not been replaced. At the moment the OARS committee does not feel it has the numbers, or the expertise, to pursue this project but we will return to it later.

 

Old Arley Residents Society was formed with the aim of representing and promoting the interests of the residents of the village, and improving conditions in the area as a whole. It came into being in 2007 after North Warwickshire Borough Council proposed to develop the open space on Rectory Road without consulting local residents. With the support of the villagers and the Parish Council we were able to persuade the Borough Council to negotiate a more appropriate settlement, which includes leaving one third of the site protected in perpetuity as a Village Green, for the use of the people of the village.

 *Click here for a detailed review of the Rectory Road campaign.

We are currently organising support for the local medical centre to ensure that they do not lose their right to dispense medicines; an important service in a rural area where many residents would find difficulty in travelling to a pharmacy in another village.

Old Arley Residents Society is also leading a campaign to get the pavilion which used to stand on the Recreation Ground, and which was demolished a few years ago, replaced. We envisage a building containing changing rooms, and a community room with a balcony and a kitchen which can be used by cricket teams.

OARS, as the society is known, tries to represent the views of villagers. To this end we always consult the residents of Old Arley by giving out questionnaires and going door to door to find out what people think. We know that it is very important not to make assumptions about villagers’ opinions but rather to ask directly, to ensure that we are clearly articulating the views of the people of Old Arley.

 

John Birch                                    birchjohn@yahoo.co.uk
Gillian Guy (Secretary)                 gillian.guy1@btinternet.com


 Nov. 2009