ALBRIGHTON & DISTRICT CIVIC SOCIETY (ADCS)

(Albrighton, Boningale, Donington-with-Boscobel and Tong)

  

Goodbye to the Shoe Shop, Station Road
A large group of Civic Society members gathered in Station Road on the final day of the shoe shop on 24th January to bid farewell to Charles and Hilary Smith who have run the shop for the last 38 years. They had decided the time had come to hang up their shoes, put on their slippers and retire. Our Civic Society Chairman presented them with a framed certificate of Life Membership of the Society and thanked them on behalf of the community for their service to the village. We invited a
photographer                 from
Shropshire Star/Express & Star to record the event and the journalist also recorded a video interview which we understand is available on
their         website.         Many
residents will recall that both Charles and Hilary have played a large part in general village life not just with the shoe shop but many activities - including Hilary’s service as leader of the Guides for many years.
Platform Ale House
We were sorry to see the closure of this real ale pub after all the work which Alison and her family had put in. Alison was also instrumental in starting the Friends of Albrighton Station. We wish them best wishes for the future.
Shropshire Council’s public meeting to consult about housing from now to 2036  SC arranged a meeting in the Red House on 22nd January as a consultation exercise but did not publicise it very much. About 50 residents turned up and some said that the two presenters had not done their homework as they seemed unaware of the problems which are needed to be resolved before more housing is built – flooding, parking for the Station and the High St and a Professional Review of Traffic Issues in the District.
Development East of Shaw Lane
As reported in a previous article, Jessup’s Planning Application No. 17/03774/FUL was opposed by the Albrighton Development Action Group (a spin off from the Civic Society), the Parish Council and many residents. It was refused and not only that it was refused by the vote of every member of the Shropshire Council South Planning Committed. SC told us that Jessup had until the end of January 2019 to appeal and that if he did they would advise the Action Group immediately. Since then you will have seen that Jessup made a second Application – identical to the first except that it did not include the enormous Extra Care Apartments building – this Application was also

refused, again by every member of the SC Planning Committee. We found out, by chance, at the SC Housing Consultation Meeting on 22nd January that Jessup had indeed initiated an Appeal for Application No. 17/03774/FUL. We immediately contacted the SC Planners who then confirmed that it is with the Inspectorate to decide if his Appeal is valid and if it may proceed – we are now waiting for this decision and if it proceeds the Action Group will mobilise and fight the appeal. However we were disappointed that we found out by accident about the appeal and the the planners had not informed us as they promised they would.
Civic Society Flower Competition
The Society will once again organise this competition for front gardens, window boxes, hanging baskets/containers. Details will be announced in future editions of the magazine but judging will probably be in June so please get weeding, get planting and get gardening!
Civic Society School Awards Competition
We are pleased to say that all three schools have again welcomed the annual competition and this year the topic is: A Walk around the Nature Reserve. Only individual entries will be accepted and these may be in any medium including a
painting, drawing, essay, poem, model..... or whatever a pupil can think up.
For more information please see www AlbrightonAndDistrictCivicSociety.co.uk or contact: Peter Woodman – Chairman (T: 372225) 31/32 High St or Rod Smith - Secretary (T: 372765)