Starting on Friday 3 February Dawley Town Hall is set to gain a new lease of
life.

A keen group of volunteers including, Capgemini and the Phoenix secondary
school, will be rolling up their sleeves to start to clean up the much loved
Dawley Town Hall and its grounds.

Residents are invited to attend the clean up event between 10.30am-2pm to talk to the volunteers and representatives of the Dawley Regeneration Partnership sub group about fond memories they hold of the building and their ideas for its future.

Plans are to develop ‘A Friends of Dawley Town Hall’ group with those residents and local businesses who want to be involved in securing the buildings future. If you would like to get involved please contact a member of the Priority Action Team on 01952 382131.

Neil Stonehouse, Head teacher of The Phoenix School, said: “Like Phoenix school, the Dawley Town Hall has played a significant part in the community for a number of years. Working in partnership with others in this way will help us all improve facilities and opportunities for the Dawley community. We are really excited to be part of the project.”

Councillor Shaun Davies, Cabinet Member for Environment, Co-operative Council and Partnerships, said; “Talking to residents in Dawley it is absolutely clear that the Town Hall has played host to many important and cherished family occasions throughout the years.

“From fond memories of weddings to family gatherings and functions the Dawley Regeneration Partnership aims to keep these memories alive by restoring this iconic building so that more people can enjoy this facility.

“Working in partnership with local people, schools, and businesses; to name just a few, is exactly what the Co-operative Council’s vision is and I know that together we will be able to give this building the best chance of survival and success.”

At least one parish council is to help maintain library opening hours at one of five Telford & Wrekin Council neighbourhood libraries, where hours are set to be reduced to help the Council save money.

Late last year Telford & Wrekin Council contacted parish and town councils to see if they would want to work co-operatively with the Council and help maintain opening hours at neighbourhood libraries in, Dawley, Donnington, Hadley, Oakengates and Stirchley.

Telford & Wrekin Council had proposed reducing each neighbourhood library’s opening hours rather than make library closures to reduce staff costs to help save money following unprecedented cuts in Government funding. It must close a £40 million savings gap by 2014 and £17 million is planned to come from staff savings.

Great Dawley Parish Council has now offered funding to help maintain Dawley library’s opening to 21 hours a week. This library’s hours had been proposed to reduce to 16 hours a week.

At Stirchley library, Stirchley & Brookside Parish Council is also looking into the possibility of co-locating its offices there, helping it to save money and to share the running costs of the library with the Council.

This library is still proposing to reduce its staffed opening hours from 27 hours to 16 hours, however with the parish council sharing the building this would allow the library to be open for longer unstaffed and to run a “self-serve” library service outside of these hours.

The library service’s review also shows that reductions in library opening hours are now proposed to go ahead at Donnington (21 to 16 hours), Hadley (27 to 16 hours) and Oakengates (42 to 16 staffed hours). At Oakengates a self-serve option will be available outside of these times as the library is part of Oakengates Theatre and theatre staff will be able to support the public gaining access to books even though the librarians won’t always be there.

The Council’s main libraries at Madeley and Wellington will increase hours slightly while Newport will reduce slightly. The Council’s main Telford library will move to a new temporary location later this year as part of the Southwater redevelopment before moving into new premises in the Community Hub building in 2014.

Cllr Arnold England, cabinet member for Leisure and Wellbeing, said: “Given the scale of savings we face we have no choice but to find ways of making savings in our library service and I am pleased that we are in a position where, unlike many other councils across the country, none of our libraries are closing.

“It’s great to see that our co-operative council approach has borne fruit and we are extremely grateful to Great Dawley Parish Council for their support in helping to protect and maintain library services in their parish and are confident that we can build on this further in the future.”

Cllr Brian Duce, chairman of Great Dawley Parish Council, said: “We recognise the importance of this service in the community and the very difficult financial situation that Telford & Wrekin faces where it has to make savings.

“Our council has therefore voted to provide funding for two years to ensure that Dawley library remains a well-used and much loved service for local people until a new library opens as part of the Dawley regeneration.”

Meet at 2:15 pm in Burton Street Car park, under the Yew tree.

Wear sensible shoes and a coat. (bring tea & cake – optional)

The walk will take between 1 1/2  – 2hrs and we go at a speed that suits everyone!  

So if you are intrested in meeting new people and having a laugh, while keeping fit and health, why not join us.

Open to everyone.

The Big Garden Birdwatch is coming to Dawley Library next week and is free for everyone to enjoy.

Come along to Dawley Library on Friday 27 January, 10.30am – 11.30am and enjoy the Dawley Library’s Chat ‘n’ Choose session, but with a special twist we have a wildlife special, in partnership with Shropshire Wildlife Trust.

Enjoy the Library garden, take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch and make a bird feeder, discover books and online information about nature and chat over a cup of tea or coffee. What a lovely way to spend your morning.

The Dawley Library Big Garden Birdwatch has been organised as part of the national Big Garden Birdwatch by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).

Official Big Garden Birdwatch is on the weekend of Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 January. The aim of the day is for people to spend one hour watching and counting the birds in their garden and sending in the results to the RSPB.

It helps judge national trends, keeps an eye on species who may be suffering/ increasing in numbers and encourages people to take an interest in their garden wildlife.

Dawley Library is lucky enough to have its own garden created as part of the BBC Breathing Places a few years ago and is well used by birds all year round. Visitors to the Chat ‘n’ Choose Big Garden Birdwatch session on 27 January will be helping us with our Dawley Library bird count and can collect information and log sheets to do the count at home over the weekend as well as making a bird feeder to take home.

Refreshments will be provided. All is free and everyone welcome.

Cllr Arnold England, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Well-being, said: “This sounds like a perfect morning for anyone in the Dawley area on 27 January. Visit the library and discover how libraries have developed recently, make your own bird feeder for free and enjoy a coffee, whilst helping the RSPB. I hope many of you can go along.”

An exciting new state of the art play area and ball court at the old Shropshire Lad pub bowling green site in Malinslee has been completed by Telford & Wrekin Council.

The project replaced the previous children’s play area and ball court, which were removed to make way for the new Old Park Primary school.

Children in Malinslee now no longer have to travel to Telford Town Park to play now they have a facility much closer to home.

The new play area and ball court replaces the previous facilities and will allow local children and young people to engage in healthy activities and promote play, sport and recreation as a lifelong activity.

Facilities include a wide range of exciting play equipment for all ages of children which includes the ‘G Force’ roundabout, a Flymobile spinner and The Dizzy. Football and basketball are features of the Ball Court.

The new facilities cost £148,000 which includes a £10,000 contribution from the Playbuilder scheme. The remaining funding was provided by Telford & Wrekin Council.

Councillor Shaun Davies, Cabinet Member for Environment, Co-operative Council and Partnerships, said: “This facility will provide far more than just much needed play and recreational facilities for the area.

“Providing purpose built facilities will allow local children and young people to engage in healthy activities and promote play, sport and recreation as a lifelong activity.

“The project has involved children and young people inputting into and choosing the designs and is also giving local children and young people the opportunity to make a positive contribution to their community and take pride in their environment.”

Telford & Wrekin Council is working with a range of partners to take the first steps to secure a bright future for one of the borough’s neglected landmark buildings.

Dawley Town Hall will be subject to an immediate tidy up by next month while long term plans are being drawn up for a major bid for lottery cash to invest in the building.

Telford & Wrekin Council is working with business technology firm Capgemini, Great Dawley Parish Council, the Phoenix School and Telford College of Arts and Technology to develop a solution for the building, which is currently closed.

The organisations have come together under the umbrella of the Dawley Regeneration Partnership and a key focus is identifying a suitable way forward for use of the Town Hall.

The Partnership plans to develop and submit a six figure bid for a lottery grant to fund further improvements to the hall with the long term plan of it becoming a thriving community facility available for organisations, residents and private groups to hire for a variety of services and activities.

Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for Environment, Co-operative Council and Partnerships, said: “Dawley Regeneration Partnership is committed to honouring the Town Hall’s proud history by ensuring it has a bright future going forward.

“This is already a fantastic example of how organisations can work together to produce positive results and we now have a clear plan to clean up the hall as well as an ambitious scheme for the medium term to generate significant investment in the building.

“I am delighted that we have got this far already and it is excellent news that Capgemini see this as a key community project for the company.”

Ian Dosser, Vice President of Capgemini, said: “We take our role in the community very seriously and are more than happy to support the restoration of a building that has such a great tradition.

“It’s also a great volunteering opportunity for our employees who are looking forward to working as part of the Dawley Regeneration Partnership.”

The Friends of Telford Town Park (FOTTP) are thrilled at the new designation of the Arena in Telford Town Park as the first Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Field In Trust in the West Midlands.

The Fields In Trust initiative is aiming to safeguard at least 2,012 outdoor recreational spaces for future generations in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee – a scheme which also links to the London 2012 Olympics.

By becoming a Field In Trust the Arena is now protected as a green public space for use by the community which prevents any future development of the Arena.

The Friends of Telford Town Park have been instrumental in the success of Telford & Wrekin Council securing the Fields In Trust status and worked closely with the Council to drive the plans forward.

Chris Pettman, chairman of Friends of Telford Town Park, said: “Friends of Telford Town Park have proactively supported the approach to protect the Arena from development for the enjoyment of the whole community and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamone Jubilee Fields In Trust programme presented the ideal opportunity to do this.

“As a voluntary group we have worked closely with Telford & Wrekin Council throughout the process and are delighted that the Fields In Trust status has now been officially designated.”

Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, Kuldip Sahota, added: “The Fields In Trust status is excellent news for the borough and especially for Telford Town Park.

“Close by Southwater is seeing significant development and I am pleased that the Arena is helping to provide the vital mix of green space that will be protected for this and future generations.

“I wish to thank the Friends of Telford Town Park for their ongoing support throughout this process and I know we will continue to work closely with the group over the years to come.

“This is a prime example of how co-operative working is taking shape in the borough and benefitting the wider community.”

Telford Town Park Arena has been designated as the first Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Field In Trust in the West Midlands.

The Fields In Trust programme protects outdoor recreational spaces in communities as a permanent living legacy of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

This will mean that the Arena is guaranteed for future generations and today saw the official signing of the deed to confirm the designation.

As part of the Fields In Trust programme, people are being challenged to help permanently protect parks, playing fields and playgrounds by taking part in an online vote.

The campaign – Save A Space For Me – is the next phase of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge to mark both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Fields In Trust is led by its patron the Duke of Cambridge and supported by ASDA as its principal partner.

In total, 2,012 public spaces will be protected throughout the UK and the Town Park Arena.

The signing of the deed was attended by:
•Mr Algernon Heber Percy, Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire
•Alison Moore-Gwyn, Chief Executive Officer of Fields In Trust
•Councillor Malcolm Smith, Mayor of Telford and Wrekin
•Councillor Kuldip Sahota, Telford & Wrekin Council leader
•Richard Partington, Telford & Wrekin Council Interim Chief Executive
•Rosie Battye, ASDA Corporate Affairs Manager
•Mark Pritchard, Wrekin MP
•David Wright, Telford MP

The deed specifies that no more than nine commercial events can take place in any financial year and that all monies received from the hiring of the arena will be reinvested into the arena.

The deed was signed by Councillor Malcolm Smith, mayor of the borough of Telford and Wrekin, and Alison Moore-Gwyn, chief executive officer of Fields In Trust.

“I am extremely proud that we are the first Council in Shropshire to be awarded this unique status. It enables us to protect the Town Park Arena for future generations,” said Telford & Wrekin Council leader Kuldip Sahota.

“Together with our partners, the council is investing more than £3m to improve the conservation and preservation of the cherished green space at Telford Town Park .”

“This will improve the visitor experience for all ages and abilities and result in the Park becoming one of the best of its kind in the area,” said Councillor Arnold England , Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Leisure and Wellbeing.

“This dedication will be a permanent reminder for the town of Her Majesty ‘s Diamond Jubilee.”

Telford & Wrekin Council today welcomed Sport England’s announcement of £1.5m investment into the new Dawley Learning Community.

The cash will come from Sport England’s Iconic Facilities Olympic legacy fund, part of the £135m Places People Play fund that is bringing the magic of the Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the country.

Dawley Learning Community is being built as part of Telford & Wrekin Council’s vision to transform the borough’s educational estate.

It will replace the existing Phoenix School on a new site and the Sport England money will be used to fund:
•A new eight court sports hall, health and fitness suite and national standard BMX outdoor track
•A new artificial grass pitch and high quality sports pitches
•A major regional base for cycling, rugby league and table tennis and county netball hub
•Co-location of sport with education and health services and improved school and club links

Councillor Arnold England , Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Leisure and Wellbeing, said: “I am delighted at the news that Telford & Wrekin Council will be receiving this money and it is a real boost for our plans for the Dawley Learning Community.

“It will mean that we can create fabulous sporting facilities at the new site for use by both school pupils and the local community.”

Work has now begun on the first stages of the redevelopment works in Malinslee.

Ground works are now underway on the site of the former Shropshire Lad public house for the construction of retail and leisure facilities in the area.

The regeneration follows the delivery of a new Primary school and following a fire at the supermarket in May 2010 which left a lack of local shopping provision for the community.

The development will comprise of a new supermarket, take-away and hairdressers, with leisure facilities including a ball court and children’s play area. Planning approval was granted in July 2011.

The Council are pleased to confirm One-stop Stores as the retailer who will be occupying the new supermarket.

These new facilities follow on from significant investment which has already been made in the Malinslee area with the Old Park Primary School, Community facilities and Stepping Stones Centre opening.

Further development may come from the redevelopment of the doctors’ surgery who have recently submitted a planning application at their existing site.

Cllr Richard Overton, Cabinet Member for Borough Town Development & Policy, said: “The fire at the supermarket in 2010 was a real blow for local residents.

“I am really pleased that work has now begun. The redevelopment will greatly enhance Malinslee for its residents and I look forward to seeing the work progressing even further over the coming months.”

Cllr Kuldip Sahota, Leader of the Council, said: “I am delighted that so much regeneration is taking place in Telford & Wrekin. We have some fantastic schemes in the borough which are making the area much more pleasant for its residents.”

The retail development is being undertaken by Bow Construction who has an excellent record with delivering projects of this kind. Specialist contractors will install the leisure equipment.

The redevelopment scheme is scheduled for completion and opening to the public during spring 2012. The play area and ball court are expected to be completed in December.