About Wrinehill

 Those who regularly pass will have noted that the re-development of this site is now underway.  An approved plan submitted some time ago for three flats, one detached bungalow and five mews houses (last time we looked) is now being implemented.   However, already, an application for variation of materials in terms of bricks to be used has just been submitted - a cheaper type of smooth brick is being requested.  The planning application can be seen on the NBC Planning website - reference number  23/00240/ful should anyone be interested and/or wish to comment.     

Since Monday of this week, Checkley Lane at the Wrinehill end has been closed for 'road works'.  It was hoped that this was to fix the flooding issues being experienced, now on a regular basis.  However, it was to install a cable to the recently installed telephone mast.  The work extends beyond the bridge into Cheshire East.  I spoke with the site manager to ask if the work would include sorting out the water gushing out at the base of the mast.  His view was that it was nothing to do with his operation, and they were not very pleased about it since it appears that either an underground natural spring has been disturbed or a water pipe has been punctured - as if we did not have enough water swirling around the Lane in the first place!  It was understood that the Parish Council had required the NBC to 'ensure' that the work would not make the flooding and surface water drainage conditions in Checkley Lane any worse.  Clearly some one has not been payin...

 It appears that at some point between between y4.00 pm yesterday and this morning three large loads of rubbish were deposited in Checkley Lane on the Wrinehill side of the bridge.  If anyone saw any suspicious vehicles in the Lane (which has been closed since Monday)  would they please get in touch.  Many thanks.

  I have received two requests from residents in Den Lane regarding the speed of vehicles.  Many thanks for your input.  I have rolled them into one below.:   It has been requested that one of the SIDS be situated at the entrance to Wrinehill since vehicles come in at speed from the open stretch of the A531 from Madeley.  There is a 30mph speed limit on Den Lane from the Main Road to the Rooster Day Nursery.  But there appears to be an increasing  volume of traffic which exceeds this limit.  There is also a Comunity Speed Watch area which does not appear to be enforced at the moment.   Higher up Den Lane where HS2 work is taking place, at the bridge there are now lights.  Traffic tends to speed past Fog Cottages to catch the green light.  I think the speed limit here is higher than 30 mph, but residents feel that it should be reduced.  It is also an area used by cyclist, walkers and runners.        ...

 A grant has been received for solar powered SIDs which indicate a motorist's speed. At the last count the number of vehicles speeding through the village according to the police, was 3.5%.    At the moment there are three flashing signs along the main road, although I am reliably informed that there are five - but this number could reduce to two when the new SIDS arrive, unless the five are kept in which case there could be seven. (There might be one for everyone!).   Hopefully one will be situated at the entrance to the parish at Wrinehill, since too many come in to Wrinehill at speed, off the  stretch of the A531 from Madeley.  The last accident at this spot in 2022 lifted the speed camera sign out of its concreted hole on the grass verge (outside of the former garage site) and the car bounced its way down to Nelson Cottage.   Not a pretty sight.  Fortunately, no-one was injured.   Thanks to Amey who picked up the ...

Part of Checkley Lane has been closed from 20 March to 7 April.  At first it was hoped that the County Council were going to resolve the flood.  Seems not.  We now have two blocked drains under the bridge forming yet and another puddle, and a fast flowing streamlet from the  telecom mast to the roadside drain - which could become another flood if the drain blocks up with silt.  Wellies at the ready!  

  The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 came into force 22 May and increased the penalty for obstruction of the highway to include a prison sentence not exceeding 51 weeks. The increase of penalty was government's response to obstruction of the highway by protestors, but insertion in   Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980   extends the penalty to obstruction of any public right of way. Words in s. 137(1) inserted (12.5.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 80(2)(a), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 4(b) (with reg. 8) mean that the updated S137(1) Penalty for wilful obstruction now reads: If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine or both. (1A) In relation to an offence committed before the coming into force of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration of...

Today some action was noted on the former garage site at Wrinehill.  It seems that the work to create several mews houses some flats and a bungalow is now about to happen.  I was informed that the work will take six months (which sounded somewhat optimistic to me).  Who knows?  We shall see.  

 It seems that mixed messages are being received from the national government re the rights of way application cut-off point destined to be introduced in 2026.  The notion was that any applications not logged for adjudication or even determined by 2026 could be lost.  It is unclear.  At the moment Staffordshire County Council has more than 250 ROW applications awaiting adjudication.  At the current rate of processing these, it would take more than 100 years!   However, now there is talk of repealing this cut off point - more confusion so many applicants will be left wondering what happens or will happen next.  At the moment no-one knows - not even the Government, it seems!   The Department of   

 Given the rise in the Community Charge this year and the precept it is understood that the powers that be are now considering supplying vehicles to those communities which are fraught with potholes in their roads and impassable pavements, as part of the new Highways Strategy.   Beat the rush - sign up for one right now!  Ideally suited for the aged within the community and can be supplied with machine guns afore and aft on request to deter speeding motorists.  A must have for every parishioner.  You know you want one!

 A Consultation was begun on the above strategy some weeks ago with the deadline for closure on 20 March 2023.  This consultation can be found on https://bit.ly/3Ke9Iwf  or contact flood.team@staffordshire.gov.uk.  Wrinehill suffers from localised flooding now, on a regular basis.  As a parish councillor for Wrinehill I have submitted eight reports on roads and pavements for this particular part of the parish.  As soon as a resolution is agreed with an SCC officer, the matter is taken higher up the authority chain and things are almost immediately placed on hold.  The usual explanation is 'a lack of funding'.  Given the amount that is paid in Community charge and precept (the latter up 5 per cent for the coming year) then perhaps we need to ask where this money is going since the SCC take the lion's share of the former.  Is this a case of poor management?  We need to know?   Much of the Strategy is about flood management - whic...

On  Friday 3 March I was invited to the Hand and Trumpet to attend the handing out of the Bonfire Committee Awards.  Those who received an award were very pleased. The Working Party who are attempting to sort out replacement gates for the stiles, had made an application and they were happy to receive an award.  The Parish Council had awarded the project one thousand pounds; £3500 had been requested.   That was a bit disappointing because it now means that  we are £2000 short.   The Parish CounciI contribution was financed from the unspent Highway budget. Surprising, since some highways and pavements are also in need of urgent attention.   The Betley Bonfire Committee provided a very good buffet supper, catered by the Hand and Trumpet.  A good night was had by all who gave grateful thanks to the Bonfire Committee and to the Speed family who hosts the bonfire each year on their land.

 The sign at the entrance to Wrinehill has now been cleaned, and whilst it is an improvement a new sign is needed since the lichen has eaten into the metal.   It also looks a bit battered around the edges.  A tall person needed to clean the speed and other signs above!        

 Residents should have received  a letter from Network Rail re work they are undertaking to their line in Wrinehill.  The work will be replacing railway stones and there will be some noise and light disturbance from machinery and vehicles.  Core work will take place at night on the following dates: 23.45 Saturday 18 March to 8.00 am Sunday 19 March 22.10 Tuesday 28 March to 6.15 am Wednesday 29 March * 22.10 Wednesday 29 March to 6.15 Thursday 30 March* 23.45 Saturday 01 to 8.35 Sunday 2 April 23.45 Saturday 08 to 8.35 Sunday 9 April The two dates asterixed will be days when core work takes place and there will likely be the most noise.  The other dates are for prep and follow up work and will not cause as much noise. From 27 March a compound is being set up for welfare cabins at Madeley Old Yard CW3 9PE which will remain in place for the duration of the work and will be used as the access point to the track, so there might be increased activity here. For more d...

 In response to a comment received re the Section 106 Agreement monies (see page):  whilst the £40000+ might not have been spent on Checkley Lane (although with some persuasion it might have been) it could have been spent on affordable housing in Wrinehill/Betley given that this was a stated need in the Betley neighbourhood plan.   The suggestion that information on this blog are 'potentially misleading' are some what mischievous, in my view.   I have found reading the Minutes of the Parish Council meetings can also be misleading - although they claim to be true.  This does not necessarily mean that they are accurate.  It seems that there is not only one version of the truth these days, but several.  Read everything with care.  Preferably attend meetings and get your information first hand, then make up your own mind rather than have someone else make up your mind for you and tell you what to think.