🏡 Salford Priors Parish Council – Chairman’s Annual Report 2024/25

✍️ Introduction from the Chairman

It’s a privilege to present this year’s Chairman’s Annual Report, reflecting another productive and progressive year for Salford Priors Parish Council.

As the closest level of government to our community, the Parish Council continues to play a key role in delivering services, representing local views, and acting swiftly on issues that matter to residents. With ongoing local government devolution, we’re taking on more responsibility—something we view not just as a challenge, but as an opportunity to shape the future of our parish.

🚧 Key Projects & Improvements

• Road Safety Scheme: Implemented the long-awaited Evesham Road and Station Road speed reduction scheme in partnership with Warwickshire County Council.
• Improved Footway Access: Created a new footpath from Willow Park to the bus stop with dropped kerbs for improved accessibility.
• Leisure Trail: After over a decade of planning, construction began on the Leisure Trail between Salford and Wixford. Negotiations with landowners continue to bring this to completion.
• TOPs Roof Repairs: A significant investment was made to restore the roof of this valued community building.
• Street Lighting: Installed three new lights on School Road, with two more scheduled between Park Hall Mews and Tothall Lane.
• Defibrillator Installed: Our fourth defibrillator was installed at Rushford, enhancing emergency response across the parish.

🏡 Community Engagement & Advocacy

• Warm Hub Success: Our Warm Hub & Community Café continues to thrive—1,772 visits were recorded between September and March, with hot lunches and refreshments served every Thursday morning.
• A46 Safety Campaign: In February, we hosted a multi-agency meeting after engaging with our MP to address growing safety concerns on the A46.
• School Places: Raised concerns over secondary school place allocations, especially regarding Alcester Academy, to support local families.
• New Benches & Tree Planting: Several new trees and three benches installed on Priors Crescent Public Open Space; two additional benches placed in Salford and Dunnington.
• New Noticeboard: Installed a replacement noticeboard at Rushford.

🌐 Digital Presence & Planning

• Website & Social Media Improvements: Our website has been redesigned to improve accessibility, and we’ve expanded our presence on social media, our new virtual noticeboard.
• Open Space Adoption: Ongoing discussions with Stratford District Council on the adoption of Priors Crescent and Bomford Way Public Open Spaces, delayed by staffing shortages at the District Council.
• Planning Observations: We submitted 26 planning observations to the District Council this year as a statutory consultee.

🌱 Allotments & Financial Oversight

• Allotment Demand: All plots are taken, with a waiting list in place. We issued new lease agreements this year to promote good upkeep and fair use.
• Finance & Audit: The Finance & Audit Panel meets quarterly, and this year we adopted stronger financial scrutiny processes, reviewing budgets, spending, and reserves carefully.

👥 Council Attendance Record

💬 Final Reflections

Not every decision we make is popular—there are legal and financial limits to what we can do, and we often must weigh what benefits the wider community. While some requests may come from a few, our role is to ensure fairness and value for all residents.

That said, I believe Salford Priors is fortunate to have such a committed, proactive council. Our councillors put in countless hours behind the scenes, and that dedication shows in everything we achieve. I’d like to thank my fellow councillors, and of course, our Parish Clerk, whose tireless support is instrumental to our success.

These achievements show what can be done when a Parish Council doesn’t just sit back—but steps up. After four decades of service, I remain proud of what we’ve accomplished, and confident that, with your support, we will continue to meet the challenges ahead.

Cllr. Kim James
Chairman, Salford Priors Parish Council