My inbox has been full this month, mostly about the price of oil. The council is now running a scheme to provide financial support for those people who need to replenish their tanks. It is means-tested, but with households of income below £38k having 100% support on the difference between a “normal” minimum delivery and one with these elevated prices, it is generous, offering maybe £300. If you are running low, call the team on 01432 260401; the process is remarkably easy and payments are typically being made within 48hrs. I’ve been working with officers and those operating pool buying schemes to make sure that the scheme works for them, and it should now work (although please do contact the council before ordering as they can’t typically make retrospective grants). If there are any problems, please get in touch.
In January next year, the analogue telephone system is to be turned off, with everything transferring to digital. For most consumers and businesses, this change will be straightforward:
- If you already have an internet connection, the change may be as simple as plugging your phone into your broadband router, rather than the socket on the wall.
- If you need to upgrade your phone system, your provider may need to arrange for a telephone engineer to come to your home to install a new system.
- If you have other devices connected to your phone line, such as an alarm and digital / tele-healthcare system, your alarm or healthcare system provider might need to upgrade your alarm device to make sure it's compatible.
I’ve been told that your telecoms provider (eg Virgin Media, O2 or BT) will contact you ahead of the switchover to let you know what you need to do to make sure your service isn't affected, and that you do not need to take any action until your provider contacts you directly. Please do get in touch if you or anyone you know is worried about this.
I’ve escalated a request to the Chief Executive to address the unresolved sewage issues in Dilwyn Common and have been assured he will be taking this to the CEO of Welsh Water later this month. It’s complicated, with lots of different public bodies involved, but the progress has simply been too slow and there’s still no clear agreement on accountability.
I’ve also been looking at the slow delivery of section 106 programmes for traffic calming; it is taking an interminable amount of time in two of my parishes, including Canon Pyon, and there is a similar pattern across the county. In many cases, schemes are held up because of their complexity and it just takes one dependency for the whole thing to pause. I’ve asked the Leader to consider a different approach; simply to deliver asap the bits we can. It sounds simple – time will tell.
In a similar vein - after months of raising concerns, earlier this month I was delighted that the flashing lights outside Weobley school were at last working. The broader safety issues remain, as does the concern about the bus network with a particular eye towards exam season – I’m working on both.
On roadworks: in the last few days, remedial works have been undertaken on the A4112 above Dilwyn, where the initial resurfacing wasn’t up to quality. I am glad to have assurances that the costs of the remedial works are not being met by us - the council and ultimately residents/tax-payers. As raised last month and assured the parish council, I am still awaiting a similar assurance regarding the works in Westhope.. I continue to raise problems with paint being washed away, or cats-eyes not being replaced. This recurring theme of work not being done properly first time is something I’ve raised with the Leader of the council in light of the new contract replacing Balfour Beatty.
Finally – a bit of personal news; our third child is imminent, due early May. Although my role as a councillor isn’t a “job”, so I don’t have formal paternity leave, I will be taking some time off to be with my family. If there is anything urgent/important please do of course still get in touch (as always, [email protected] or 07884 268624), but please forgive me if lack of sleep means I drop anything.