As we begin a tentative step forward back into normal life, the parish council have continued to work towards providing and improving facilities for the village.

Firstly, the parish council have three new staff who have already made their mark. Danny Burley and Kray Dewsbery started working for the council at the beginning of July as village caretakers. They both coincidently, moved into the village just at the start of the first lockdown. Having both been busy during that time with their own properties, they then found the opportunity to use their skills and knowledge by applying for the vacancies for village caretaker. The parish council are very pleased to have them on board and they are both proving to be stepping up to the mark on the work required.

Kray has a young family and two dogs and is very keen on sport and fitness. Danny lives with his wife and son and also has a dog. Both men enjoy the outdoors and their enthusiasm is being put to good use with the work they are carrying out in the village. 

Hanane Belbeda who also joined in July, is the pavilion cleaner and has been doing a wonderful job of ensuring that all the sanitising and cleaning precautions have been met since lockdown regulations started to ease. Hanane also lives in the village, she has a young son and many of you will no doubt know her husband Paul Bellis.

The parish council have agreed to take on the responsibility and maintenance of the newly landscaped War Memorial site. Planting will be carried out by the Water Orton in Bloom volunteers. 

The council have been working through the list of facilities and improvements included in this year’s financial budget. This has included refurbishing the brick bush shelters on Birmingham Road and obtaining quotes for replacing the bus shelter by the entrance of the village car park. A new defibrillator and cabinet are being purchased and the council have received approval from North Warwickshire Borough Council for it to be installed outside the Community Centre in George Road. It was believed that this would be an appropriate place to serve both the Maud Road/George Road estate and surrounding areas including Watton Lane, The Grove, Turnpike Drive and Overton Drive. It is hoped the defibrillator will be available by October. The parish council will be discussing with and taking advice from North Warwickshire First Responders, who work alongside NWBC, on the purchase and installation.

The Neighbourhood Plan is continuing to be progressed and it is hoped that the process will be complete by February 2022.

As you are all aware, the pace of the work on Hs2 is accelerating. Notifications of works being carried out in Water Orton are posted on the parish council website. You will also find the link for Hs2 on there. Please use this link if you have any complaints you wish to make or questions you may have for Hs2. 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding village issues you can contact the parish clerk. Tel: 07444582592 or email clerkwopc@gmail.com