Two Excellence awards put us head and shouldersabove the rest!

Oakley Wood preserved for the future

Page 08-09The Corporate Strategyplans for the year ahead

Page 12-13Althorpe StreetRegeneration Scheme

Page 15Looking ahead – Warwick District in 2026

Contents�Assisted travel scheme 456827

Benefits 456837

Building control 456340

Car parks 456317

Choice based lettings 456430

Councillors & committees 456005

Council tax & rates 456066

Conservation 456508

Electoral registration 456111

Engineering 456343

Food & occupationalhealth & safety 456712

Housing management 456437

Housing repairs 456456

Licensing 456107

Payments 456845

Pest Control 456137

Planning appeals 456525

Planning development control 456538

Public conveniences 456316

Sort-It Refuse & Recycling 456339

Town centre & markets 456202

*All numbers 01926 prefix.

Alternatively call the switchboard on 01926

450000

Our Customer Service Centre is open

Monday to Thursday 8.00am - 7.00pm

Friday 8.00am - 6.00pm and

Saturday 9.00am - 1.00pm

A-Z of services*

Page 02-03Council tax 2008/9 How your money is spent

Page 04-07Recycling & RefuseCollection Services

Page 11New Customer ServiceCentre for Warwick

Welcome to the Spring edition of Warwick District Council’s magazine for local residents.This edition includes a big feature on

the new waste and recycling scheme.

It spells out exactly what we need to

do to help reduce, reuse and recycle!

We also take a look at the Council's action plan for the

next financial year, the new customer service centre in

Warwick and a special Faith Trail on 5th April.

We’re always keen to hear your views on the magazine.

You can email focus@warwickdc.gov.uk or write to us

at, Focus Magazine, Warwick District Council, Riverside

House, Milverton Hill, Leamington Spa, CV32 5HZ

Mystery caller surveyDuring November last year we commissioned aseries of independent mystery shopper phonecalls to the Council. The results were excellent:-

• 91% of calls were rated as either

‘good’ or ‘excellent’

• 74% answered within twenty seconds

• Staff answering the calls were rated as

“friendly, professional and courteous”

• Most calls were answered fully by the

Customer Service Centre team

• All advisors demonstrated excellent

listening skills

Overall, the Customer Service Centreachieved a satisfaction rating of 94%,against a local authority average of 86%.

Front cover photographs, Dr. David Bellamy and Oakley Woods taken by Helen Ashbourne

Oakley Wood saved!

Page 01

The Council is proud to announce that one

hundred and sixteen acres of ancient woodland,

with an Iron Age fort, has been preserved for

future generations to enjoy.

Oakley Wood,

located just off

M40 Junction

13, forms part of

the Crematoria

Service HQ,

already located

in this peaceful

part of Warwickshire. When the woodland came

up for sale last year we looked to our savings to

see if it could be purchased, on a sustainable

basis, for current and future generations to enjoy.

Last month the sale finally went through.

The woodland suffered from deforestation in the

post war years, when all the mature oak trees

were taken out and replaced with ever greens.

The new woodland management plan will seek to

selectively thin available timber. This will be partly

sold to offset the purchase price, but also used

as bio-mass for heating the crematoria site,

saving some two thirds of the heating bills.

The Council will be working closely with

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and the Forestry

Commission to ensure compliance with all the

necessary safeguards and adopting best

practice. The aim is to return the area to a quality

broadleaved woodland over the next twenty years

as part of a sustainable Management Plan.

We ask one thing of visitors, particularly

those with dogs, take only photographs and

leave only footprints!

• Book GP appointments

• Search for local jobs

• Find information about

Homechoice, council housing,

leisure, benefits, local news

• Find real time bus and train

information

How to access looking local...

SKY - Interactive>Skyactive>A-Z>Looking

LocalVirgin TV

(Telewest) - Interactive>Community>Local

& Government>Looking Local

Virgin TV (ntl) - Interactive>Virgin

Interactive>Community>Local &

Government>Looking Local

Get local information andservices on Digital TV

Once you’re in Looking Local, justnavigate to the Midlands area and find Warwick DC’s pages

Page 02

Each year Councillors

agree how our annual

budget of around £13.5m

will be spent. The majority

of this money, around 60%,

comes directly from the

government in the form of

a grant, together with

refunded Business Rates.

The amount of grant we

receive has been reducing

each year, but we have

maintained our Council tax

increases at below 5%, or

an increase of around £6

per household a year!

Our Band D (average) Council tax

is just £138.03, the lowest in

Warwickshire based on the 2007-

08 council tax! We are also the

63rd lowest charging district

council in England, out of 238

Councils. If charges for Town and

Parish Council’s are included we

do even better, ranking 33rd

lowest.

Environmental Services

Planning and Development Services

Highways, Roads and Transport Services

Housing

Central Services

Cultural and Related Services

Our Council tax is almost 20%

below the national average!

Council tax 2008/9 how yourmoney is spent

32%

12%

28%

18%5%5%

On average, our services cost you justunder 33p per day

77%Warwickshire

County Council

10%Warwick

District

Council

12%Police

1% Town & parish

Some of

the services

we provide

Four leisure centres

Planning services

Committee management

Legal services

Electoral registration

Waste management

Recycling

Licensing

Land charges

Food safety

Pollution control

CCTV

Award winning parks and gardens

Royal Pump Rooms and Spa Centre

Fraud investigation

Car parking

Oakley Wood Crematorium

Emergency Planning

Economic Development

Tourism

Customer Contact Centre

Communications

Community Safety

Policy & Performance

Top rated website

Housing

Benefits

Page 03

Council Tax bill

composition

Page 04

Recycling & RefuseCollection ServicesNew Services from 31st March 2008

Non-recyclable waste - Grey binBy using your red recycling box and green bin, you will greatly reduce the

amount of waste you put in your grey refuse bin for disposal.

From April 2008 onwards the waste from your grey bin will be collected every other week.

When you put your grey bin out for collection the lid must shut firmly. We will only collect

waste contained within the Council issued grey bin and will not take away any additional

waste left anywhere around or on top of the bin.

Non-recyclable waste can be put into bags before going into the grey bin. Garden

waste must not be put into the grey bin. Please do not put hazardous waste, rubble,

stone, or soil, liquids including paint and oil, heavy metal items, tyres, gas canisters

or DIY materials into the grey bin.

� Grass cuttings

� Weeds

� Leaves & Bark

� Plants & Cut flowers

� Hedge Clippings &Prunings

� Twigs & Small

branches (no wider

than your wrist)

� Animal Beddingfrom herbivore pets

(e.g. rabbits, guinea

pigs etc.)

� Meat & Fish - raw &cooked including

bones

� All dairy products

� Processed foods

� Raw & cookedvegetables & fruit

� Bread, cakes &pastries

� Rice, pasta & beans

� Uneaten food fromyour plates & dishes

� Tea & coffeegrounds

� Soil or turf

� Slabs, stones orbricks

� Plastic bags of anysort, even if

biodegradable or

compostable

� Plant pots

� General rubbish

� Garden tools &fixtures (e.g. fence

panels)

� Cat and dog faeces

� Nappies

� Plastics

� Ceramics

� Metals

� Oil or liquid fat

� Food packaging ofany kind

� Plastic bags of anysort, even if

biodegradable or

compostable

TOP TIP!Wrap food waste in

paper to reducemoisture & keep the

green bin clean.

� yes please � no thanks

Garden & food waste - Green Bin

We will only collect garden and food waste contained within the Council issued green

bin with the lid firmly shut and will not take any additional waste left anywhere around

or on top of the bin. The waste from your green bin will be going to an in-vessel

composting facility that can safely compost food.

Starting from 31st March 2008 we will be collecting your waste differently.

One week we will collect your recycling from the red box and your garden

and food waste from the green bin, and the following week we will collect

your non-recyclable waste from the grey bin.

Your new collections will be on the same day of the week.

A collection calendar will be arriving in the post soon.

PLEASE NOTEDo not use the grey

bin until the newservice starts!

Page 05

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

� Newspapers &magazines

� Junk Mail

� Catalogues &Brochures

� TelephoneDirectories

� Please remove anyplastic wrapping

� Wallpaper

� Wrapping paper

� Books

� Metal or plasticbindings

� yes please � no thanks

� Glass bottles

� Glass jars

� Please rinse

� No lids, corks orcaps

� Labels can be left on

� Broken glass

� Drinking/wineglasses

� Pyrex

� Window & mirror

glass

� Lightbulbs

� Spectacles

� All metal cans & tins

� Household aerosolcans

� Aluminium foilincluding foil

containers

� Please rinse

� Scrunch your foil into balls

� Crisp packets orsimilar (these are

metalised plastic

which are not

suitable)

� Paint, varnish orsimilar cans

� Gas canisters

� Other metal items

� Household batteries

� Car batteries

� Put your batteriesinto a clear plastic

bag & leave them on

top of your box

Use rechargable

batteries

� Engine oil � Please present oil ina sealed container

� Any other type of oil(e.g. cooking oil)

� Cereal boxes

� Toilet roll/kitchen rollinserts

� Food packaging

� Brown corrugatedboxes

� Greetings cards

� Don’t worry aboutstaples, but remove

any tape

� Cardboard with food on it

� Foil lined food ordrink cartons (e.g.

tetrapak, juice and

milk cartons)

� Polystyrene

� Plastic film or shrink-wrap

� Plastic or metalbanding

� Drinks bottles

� Cosmetic bottles e.g.shampoo & shower

gel

� Household productbottles e.g. bleach

& soap

� No lids or caps

� Please rinse &squash

� Margarine, ice creamtubs or yoghurt pots

� Plastic bags

� Plastic trays

� Polystyrene

� Plastic packaging

� Any other plastic

!

!

!

Tip

!

Tip

Tip

Tip

Tip

!

!

!

Sort It Team 01926 456 339 www.warwickdc.gov.uk/recycling

sort-it@warwickdc.gov.uk

Recycling - Red Box

TOP TIP!Please separate yourmaterials in the boxwhere possible so we

can sort safely

� Any other textiles(e.g. curtains,

blankets, duvets etc.)

� Clothes & pairedshoes (even if

damaged)

� Please put in aplastic bag to keep

them clean & dry

� Please tie shoestogether

!

!

What is a food caddy?We can provide you with a

food caddy (whilst stocks last)

to collect your food waste in

the kitchen. Once the caddy

is full, empty the contents into

your green bin. The food

waste can go into the green

bin loose or wrapped in paper.

Please contact the Sort It

Team to request a food caddy.

If you can't fit everything in your red box

we can provide you with a second red

box and/or reusable red bag for your

plastic bottles, card and cardboard.

You can put out as much recycling as

you have for collection. If you are still

struggling for space then any

extra materials can be put into plastic carrier bags

(not black refuse sacks) next to the red box and bag.

Please note that the Council will not be held responsible for the loss

of any non-Council containers or bags that are put out for emptying.

Can’t fit it all in the box?

Composting raw and cooked food waste

If it’s bottle shaped, plastic and contained a

liquid we can recycle it!

What is a plastic bottle?

Page 06

Here are a few

examples:

Milk bottles

Squash bottles

Fizzy pop bottles

Water bottles

Shower gel bottles

Shampoo bottles

Bleach bottles

Sauce bottles

Yogurt/milkshake

drinks bottles

Fabric conditioner

bottles

....and more

Recycling & Refuse your questions answered

Approximately 40% of the waste in an average household bin in Warwick District is food waste,

most of which could have been eaten – it’s not just peelings, cores and bones. Rather than

harmlessly decomposing as many people think, rotting food in landfill actually releases

methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

From April, you will be able to put all of your raw and cooked food waste in your green bin

along with your green garden waste. Food waste can be wrapped in paper or put into the green

bin loose.

The waste from your green bin will go to an in-vessel composting facility that can safely

compost food. At this facility the garden and food waste is shredded, water is added and it’s all

mixed together. It is then put into a bay where special equipment monitors the temperature and

moisture to ensure the compost reaches 70˚C for 4 consecutive days. If the temperature drops

more air is forced into the compost. At this point the food waste has been safely composted.

The compost is formed into large heaps outside and allowed to mature for 6 – 10 weeks.

Please ensure

your box(es) and

bins are out at the

kerbside for

collection by 7.00am

and returned at the

end of the day.

What happens to your old dustbin?Re-use it! You can easily turn it into a compost bin,

water butt, storage drum, planter, etc. Cleaned and

sterilised, you can also use it to make beer and

wine! If you have a metal bin why not take it to

your local Household Waste Recycling Centre for

recycling. Alternatively, the refuse crew will take

away your unwanted bin. Just leave a note on your

bin saying ‘unwanted - please remove’ before the

new services start on 31st March 2008 and the

refuse crew will take it away with your rubbish.

KenilworthSainsbury’sWarwick Road, KenilworthWednesday 26th March

11am - 3pm

Leamington SpaASDA, Chesterton Drive,Sydenham, Leamington SpaSaturday 29th March

11am - 3pm

SomerfieldClemens Street, Leamington SpaThursday 3rd April

11am - 3pm

Have your name removed

from mailing lists. Write to

the Mailing Preference

Service, DMA House, 70

Margaret Street, London

W1W 8SS or visit

www.mps-online.org.uk

A Sort It Roadshow will be near you:

Stop junk mail

Cotton on …to CottonNappies

If you have any queries contact the Sort It Team

01926 456339sort-it@warwickdc.gov.ukwww.warwickdc.gov.uk/recycling

Come along and findout more from theSort It Team

“8 million disposable

nappies are sent to

landfill every day in

the UK”

Why not switch to cotton nappies?

They’re easy to use and wash, can save you

money and help to reduce the amount of

rubbish going to landfill.

By the time your baby is potty trained you

could have used 6,000 disposable nappies

and spent as much as £700. By comparison

you only need 25-30 real nappies costing as

little as £185 including the washing!

Warwickshire County Council even offers

you £25 cash back when you spend over

£50 on cotton nappies.

Details available at:-

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/cottonnappies

or tel: 01926 412458

Page 07

What is it?

• Top level document detailing the agreed

improvements Councillors have set as priorities

to achieve before the next District elections in

May 2011.

• Based on consultation with our citizens panel,

feedback from customers and assessments.

• Agreed with councillors, council officers,

partners and stakeholders.

What does it contain?

• 7 key areas to focus on with a different

councillor (Portfolio Holder) responsible for

each.

• Each area has a long term objective, a small

number of key priorities and clear performance

measures from which progress can be

monitored and managed.

These are:

Our plans and priorities

for the next few years

Assessed by

the Audit

Commission as

“excellent” in

2004, we have

continued to

move forward.

In April last

year we

achieved the

Investors In

Excellence

Standard in

recognition

of our work to streamline our systems and

manage our performance.

We were, therefore, delighted to win both the

Midlands Excellence Public Sector Award

and Corporate Social Responsibility Awards

at the regional awards ceremony earlier

this year. This award is open to both private

and public sector. Our final score was higher

than anything the private sector have

achieved!

But we’re not stopping here. We are

committed to continuous improvement and

aiming to be World Class by 2012!

All Councils are facing challenging times

ahead. Tough decisions on spending priorities

have to be balanced with excellent service,

quality and good value for money. Our

ambitious plans aim to concentrate on the

most important areas for the people who

live in and visit the district. We have put

these plans into our new Corporate Strategy

(2007-2011).

The CorporateStrategy (2007-2011)

Page 08

Corporate & Strategic

Leadership - Clear and effective

Leadership and Management

Housing - Efficient

management of our housing

stock and the provision of

more affordable housing

Culture - Participation

and attendance in sporting

and cultural events

Environment - Clean and

sustainable environment

Development - Thriving town

centres and pleasant villages

Community - Safe and

vibrant communities

Customer & Business

Improvement - Efficient

customer focused services

Building anexcellentfuture

Council Chairman & Leader with former England Rugby Captain Martin Johnson

Our aims and objectives for 2008/09

What are they?

• A way to break down the long term plans of

the Corporate Strategy into annual actions

• Help us to stay focused on what is most

important each year.

• Prepared annually by each portfolio holder.

What do they contain?

• The Objectives, priorities and targets from the

Corporate Strategy relevant to each portfolio.

• Details of the council services they

include / cover.

• Key projects and actions which will be worked

on in the coming 12 months.

Main Aims for this year:-

• Corporate & Strategic Leadership

Thorough evaluation of how resources are

used and aligned to priorities.

Consultation with customers, partner

organisations & stakeholders.

• Housing

Focus on reducing rent arrears and empty

properties.

Support for the provision of more affordable

new homes.

• Culture

Sports events and activities specifically

targeting the under 18s and over 50s.

Cultural events attracting all parts of the

community.

• Environment

Education and awareness raising to support

the new waste collection arrangements.

Improving energy efficiency of council

facilities and properties.

• Development

Work with our local Colleges and

Universities to ensure skills development

helps attract inward investment.

Promote planning guidance to encourage

sustainable and renewable energy use.

• Community

Focused initiatives to tackle anti-social

behaviour.

Support and promote rural engagement

through the Rural Excellence Initiative.

• Customer & Business Improvement

Increase the number of multi-agency one stop

shops.

• Make our services easier to access and more

user friendly.

Page 09

Want to know more?

• Next month both the Corporate Strategy

and the Portfolio Holder statements can

be found online at

www.warwickdc.gov.uk/performance

• Contact our Policy & Performance team

on 01926 456065 to talk about our

ambitious plans for the future or email

citizenspanel@warwickdc.gov.uk

Portfolio Holder Statements

Page 10

It has brought many benefits, including:-

• Eased traffic flows

• Easier to find a parking place to shop

• Residential areas not clogged up with

commuter parking

From 31st March the current government

legislation that underpins the scheme will be

replaced by the Traffic Management Act 2004.

The emphasis of the new scheme is on

transparency and clear information for road

users. It also provides a set of guidelines with a

fairer and firmer approach.

Lower Penalty Charges

The good news is that for most parking

contraventions, the charge will reduce from £60

to £50. This is discounted by 50% if paid within

14 days. This covers things like not clearly

displaying or over staying the time on your pay

and display ticket. However, for a small number

of more serious contraventions such as parking

on double yellow lines or in a Disabled person’s

parking space without authorisation, the charge

increases from £60 to £70. Again this is

discounted by 50% if paid within 14 days.

In essence, parking inconsiderately will result

in the higher charge being applied.

The new legislation will also give the Council

powers to issue penalty charges to vehicles

parked on marked zig-zag areas at

pedestrian crossings.

Appeals

No one likes getting a ticket. Our Civil

Enforcement Officers, as the new Act calls them,

have limited discretion. However, if you believe

that the penalty charge notice should not have

been issued there is an appeals process to help.

Either use the online system at our website

(www.warwickdc.gov.uk/parking) or write us a

letter. Our Parking Team considers each case on

an individual basis and if there are grounds

found for cancelling a penalty charge, we will. If

the Parking Team rejects the representation the

owner of the vehicle also has the right of appeal

to an independent adjudicator. See

www.parking-appeals.gov.uk for further details.

Open and honest

As part of the new scheme we will publish an

annual report, including details of penalty

charges, appeals and future developments for

the service.

Almost six months on, and

District drivers are used to

the pay and display system

for on-street parking.

Page 11

Where can you go to see someone about

Council services? The answer is at a

Warwickshire Direct near you.

There are now two Warwickshire Directs open;

Warwickshire Direct – Kenilworth opened in

October 2005 and Warwickshire Direct –

Whitnash opened in December 2007.

People in Warwick will also be able to take

advantage of joined up services when a brand

new ‘Warwickshire Direct’ centre opens in the

former reception area of Shire Hall in April.

Warwick Connection will move from Warwick

Library to be part of this new facility.

Whitnash residents also benefit with the Town

Council and Police Safer Neighbourhood Team

being located in Warwickshire Direct – Whitnash.

Which services are available through

Warwickshire Direct?

• Apply to go on the Electoral Register

• Register for Council Tax

• Claim Housing and Council Tax Benefit

• Register for Home Choice

• Apply for a Bus Pass or a Disabled Parking

Badge

• Find out about planning applications

• Report environmental health issues, faulty

street lighting, abandoned vehicles and

problems on the highway.

• Arrange collection of large or bulky unwanted

household items.

And more...

Additionally there are surgeries and regular events which take

place at each Warwickshire Direct: simply visit

www.warwickdc.gov.uk/customerservices

for more information.

If you have any suggestions for improving our service to you or

any additional services you would like to see on offer at

Warwickshire Direct please either;

Email - contactus@warwickdc.gov.uk or

Text – ‘COMMENT’ followed by your feedback to 07781 481302

Warwickshire Direct -Bringing services closer to you!

Warwickshire Direct – Whitnash

Monday 9.30am – 5.30pm

Tuesday 9.30am – 7.00pm

Wednesday 10.30am – 5.30pm

Thursday 9.30am – 7.00pm

Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm

Saturday 9.30am – 12.30pm

Warwickshire Direct – Kenilworth

Monday 9.00am – 7.00pm

Tuesday 9.00am – 5.30pm

Wednesday 10.30am – 5.30pm

Thursday 9.00am – 7.00pm

Friday 9.00am – 5.30pm

Saturday 9.00am – 4.00pm

An artists impression of the new Warwick Centre

Page 12

Althorpe StreetRegeneration Scheme

Althorpe Innovation and Enterprise Centre

Last month saw the demolition of an old eyesore - the disused BT depot on Althorpe Street, pictured

above. In its place, a brand new facility is being constructed, providing office facilities for new hi-tech

and creative industries. The Enterprise Centre will offer a wide range of fully furnished office

accommodation ranging from single office units to a business “start-up” unit - with desk space

available on an hourly basis. The vision for the Centre is to provide new businesses with all the help

they need, especially in the early stages. Building continues over the Summer with completion

estimated for December this year.

Regeneration in Leamington Spa continues apace, developing much needed business

premises in the historic cultural quarter of Old Town. The project also brings over

£2million worth of investment in the form of funding from Advantage West Midlands.

It all adds up to a huge new push to make the area a centre for culture, innovation

and enterprise.

Page 13

Enterprise in the Community - Brunswick Healthy Living Centre

Over 2,000 people visit the Brunswick Healthy Living Centre in Shrubland Street every month. Now,

as a result of a partnership between the Council and the Healthy Living Centre, local people will be

able to get business advice and facilities right on their doorstep at a purpose-built “Enterprise Hub”.

The creation of the Hub will involve building a small extension to provide workspace, interview

rooms, training and IT facilities, all of which will be available to help people get their business idea

off the ground, assisted along the way by a Community Enterprise Officer. The Healthy Living

Centre, which is independently owned, will close temporarily as it is being refurbished and extended.

Arrangements for the closure and re-opening of the Healthy Living Centre later this year will be well

publicised nearer the time. Centre Manager Tracey Neumann, can be contacted on 01926 422123.

Court Street Creative Arches

Many of Leamington’s Victorian railway arches,

pictured right, are derelict or under used. However,

they offer great potential as workspaces. We have

obtained funding from Advantage West Midlands

enabling us to refurbish thirteen arches, leased

from Network Rail, between Clemens Street and

Court Street. These are currently being

transformed to make them suitable for a wide

range of creative uses. The refurbished high-

spec arches will appeal to creative businesses

such as artisan workshops and people in the

music recording industry. Potential tenants are

invited to speak to the Project Manager about

adapting individual arches for specific use.

Availability is anticipated late Summer 2008.

For further information about any of these

projects please contact Ray Smith,

Manager, Business Development.

Telephone 01926 833908,

or email enterprise@warwickdc.gov.uk

www.warwickdc.gov.uk/business

Page 14

Start paying your Council Tax by

Direct Debit before 14th May 2008

and we'll donate £3 to the

Chairman of Warwick District

Council's chosen charities - the

Acorns Children's Hospice and the

Warwick Hospital Cancer Ward

Appeal

And don't forget, paying by Direct

Debit also benefits you, the

Council Tax payer

• It's flexible

• It saves time

• It's safe

• It's convenient

sign up at :-

www.warwickdc.gov.uk/directdebit

or call us on 01926 456066

So why delay, sign up today!

Faiths TrailVisit to local Faith Centres

Direct DebitScheme Help us to help local charities...

New travel pass for theover 60’s

The new pass will give people the freedom to

travel regularly on the bus without having to

worry about cost. This should also offer drivers

a real incentive to leave the car at home for a

variety of trips both local and further afield.

Local residents who already hold a

Warwick District Council bus pass do not

need to do anything; a new style pass will

automatically be issued prior to April 2008.

Further details are available via the Council

website at:- www.warwickdc.gov.uk/buspass

or phone 01926 456826

*The Faiths Trail Programme will be

as follows:

St Mary’s Church 9.00 – 09.45

Radford Road

Church10.00 – 10.30

Sri Krishna Hindu

Temple10.45 – 11.30

St Peter’s Church 12.00 – 12.45

Leamington and

Warwick

Sikh Gurdwara

13.00 – 14.00

* (including ‘langar’ – vegetarian lunch)

A special family event will take

place, on Saturday 5 April,

when people from different

faiths, including Christian,

Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Catholic,

Buddhist, Pagan and Quakers

will participate in a Multi Faith

Trail around Leamington Spa.

To assist in achieving one of

it’s aims of raising awareness,

understanding and learning

about different faiths in the

area, the Warwick District

Faiths Forum has arranged

and organised a follow up to

the Faiths Trail which took

place last year. This day will

enable people from different

faiths to walk, talk and learn

about each other and

different faiths.

A minibus will be available to

assist people with disabilities

with travelling to the various

faith centres and helpers will

be available to assist those

with needs. A coach will take

people from St Peter’s Church

at 12.45 to the Leamington

and Warwick Sikh Gurdwara.

From 1st April everybody aged 60 and over will be entitled

to travel free on local buses anywhere in England!

Further information from Jatinder Birdi Tel: 07891 610465 or email: wdfaithsforum@yahoo.com

Page 15

Looking ahead – Warwick District in 2026

In the last issue we asked you what you wanted

Warwick District to be like in 2026. This is all

part of our work on our Core Strategy; the new

Plan that will set a framework of planning

policies for the district to 2026 and decide where

new development should go.

These are some of the things you said:

• Your three top priorities:-

i) To meet the housing needs of the whole

community, including providing adequate

affordable housing

ii) To protect and enhance green spaces and

the natural environment

iii) To protect and make best use of land

• 55% of people felt it would be acceptable to

allocate some green field land on the edge of

towns for development to meet growing

needs.

• When asked what facilities would most benefit

our town centres, car parking scored highest

in Leamington and Warwick, but in Kenilworth

the top priorities were more indoor leisure

facilities, shops, offices and employment

opportunities.

• The loss of local shops and services was

considered the most important issue facing

rural areas.

• 63% of respondents thought that the density

of new housing should recognise and reflect

local character. Only 6% said we should be

supporting high density development.

• 92% of respondents saw energy efficient

buildings as important or very important in

tackling climate change. 80% of people

wanted to see facilities for generating

renewable energy incorporated into new

development.

All the results and more from our public

consultation can be found on our website.

What happens now?

We now need to think about where the new

development will go in response to the issues we

have identified. We hope to be consulting on

these in April and May when you can make your

views known.

How can I find out more?

On our

website

You will be able to read more

information about your options at

www.warwickdc.gov.uk/corestrategy

At local

libraries

Copies of the options paper and

questionnaire will be available at all

local libraries and other local venues.

See press for details.

By

telephone

Call us on 01926 456505 to send you

a copy of the options Paper, or if you

have any questions.

Your entertainment news and listings for Warwick District

Royal Spa Centre, Box Office: 01926 334418

www.warwickdc.gov.uk/royalspacentre

The Royal Pump Rooms, T: 01926 742700

www.warwickdc.gov.uk/royalpumprooms

Witches BogeyTues 1st April

Forces

SweetheartsSun 9th March

Off The WallThu 13th March

Essence of

IrelandFri 14th March

Nick Ross

OrchestraSat 15th March

Beyond the VoidSun 16th March

Dave SpikeyWed 19th March

Swan LakeSun 23rd March

Royal Spa CentreEvents for Spring 08

Develop your artistic talents at

Leamington Spa Art Gallery &

Museum this spring with our

exciting programme of arty activities

for families.

On Thursday 20 March, 2 - 4pm,

take part in our Easter Art Club

and experiment with marbling to

decorate eggs with colour and crazy

patterns. Art Clubs take place every

school holiday and offer families the

chance to experiment with all kinds

of materials and techniques in a

creative environment. Everyone has

great fun and the artwork can be

taken home.

We are also introducing new

creative sessions using our mobile

Art Cart. Art Cart Family Fun will

take place on the last Saturday of

every month from 2 - 4pm, starting

on Saturday 26 April. Surrounded

by exhibits in the gallery, the Art

Cart contains exciting art materials

and objects to enthuse and inspire

children about art and history.

During the sessions families can get

crafty and create artwork with the

help of our friendly Gallery

Assistants. There will be a different

activity every month and children

can take their artwork home with

them.

Art Club workshops and Art Cart

Family Fun sessions are free -

there is no need to book, just turn

up and join in the fun! Both are

recommended for children up to 12

years who must be accompanied by

an adult.

For further information visit

www.warwickdc.gov.uk/royalp

umprooms, or call Leamington

Spa Art Gallery & Museum on

01926 742700. Opening times

are: Tuesday, Wednesday,

Friday, Saturday 10.30am –

5pm. Thursday, 1.30 – 8pm.

Sunday and Bank Holidays,

11am – 4pm. Monday, closed.

Get creative at LeamingtonSpa Art Gallery & Museum

Newbold Comyn Golf Centre, Newbold Terrace EastRoyal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 4EW

Call 01926 421157Bookings not always necessary

Come along to Newbold Comyn where you can play 18 holes and pay for 9.This great offer is available every weekend from 29th March until the end of September 2008 after 1pm.

And then, after 12noon from the 4th of October 2008 until the end of March 2009.

The midlands premier public courseDavid Playdon our course PGA professional

Play more & Pay lessat

Newbold Comyn Golf Course

If your name is not on the

electoral register you cannot

vote. You may find also that

your credit rating is affected

Contact your Council listing to check if you are on the register

North Warwickshire Borough CouncilElectoral Services 01827 719221democraticservices@northwarks.gov.uk

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough CouncilElectoral Services 024 7637 6230democratic.support@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk

Rugby Borough CouncilElectoral Services 01788 533595 elections@rugby.gov.ukwww.rugby.gov.uk/registration

Stratford District CouncilElectoral Services 01789 260209elections@stratford-dc.gov.uk

Warwick District CouncilElectoral Services 01926 456111elections@warwickdc.gov.uk