Warwickshire News Mine

Residents are invited to come and have tea, scones and strawberries and say how they feel about living in Whitnash and how it can be made better.

They can have a one-to-one chat with their Councillor, the Whitnash Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, officers from Warwickshire County Council, Warwick District Council and Whitnash Town Council.

Whitnash enjoys a strong community spirit and through the Community Forum, the partners involved would like to build on this. The emphasis this time is on ‘Our Community’.

Councillor Bernard Kirton, Chair of Whitnash Community Forum, said: “Whitnash has got a strong community identity, which is why we wanted ‘our community’ to be theme of the next forum meeting. Having a strong identity adds value to any community and it is very easy to lose it. We have worked hard to keep our identity in Whitnash.

“We are one of the first to be working on a town plan and want to know what residents would like for Whitnash. We have already launched a survey so people can let us know what they think.

“We also have one of the most successful Safer Neighbourhoods teams in the country, and Whitnash has now achieved quality town status for the second time.”

The first Community Forum in September 2008 focused on the needs of older people. Over 40 residents attended to say what they wanted to be improved in the area.

Cllr Kirton said: “One of the requests at this meeting was for an extra bus stop, as some of the older people felt it was too far to walk between the existing bus stops. We contacted Stagecoach and got the new bus stop within two weeks.

“The older residents also wanted somewhere to meet for tea and biscuits. This was set up and has now evolved into a luncheon club that meets every Friday at St. Margaret’s Chapter House.”

The second community forum in February 2009 focused on the needs of young people in Whitnash, with some very positive outcomes. 

Cllr Kirton said: “We have a very successful youth club in Whitnash. The young people wanted a basketball court and somewhere to play 5-a-side football, which we have now got, through a combination of fundraising and grants.”

As a result of youth feedback, Youth and Community Service - Warwick District have also added the following activities to the ones that already run:

• Snax ‘n’ Sports (Positive About Young People, PAYP) ages 8 - 13
July 23rd and 30th 11am -1pm
August 6th, 20th, 7th 11am -1pm
September 3rd 11am -1pm

• Street Sportz (PAYP) ages 8-13
Friday 29th May 12pm-1pm

• Learn to Ski (Youth Service and PAYP) ages 8 to 13
Tuesdays 5.15pm to 8pm
November 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
October 1st

• Learn to Snow Board (Youth Service and PAYP) ages 13 to 15
Tuesdays 6pm to 9pm
January 12th, 19th, 26th
February 2nd, 9th

• Ice Skating trip (Youth Service) ages 13 to 15
Friday 26th June and 10th July 6pm to 9.30pm

• Club/Music night to be arranged

The sessions will be available to all young people living in Whitnash and participation will be on a first come first served basis. Young people will be asked to make a voluntary contribution of £1.50 for all evening sessions.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact Anita Kendall on 01926 456102 or email anitakendall@warwickshire.gov.uk, or davejones@warwickshire.gov.uk.

Link to WCC