News: schools, lane closed, housing, convent, SVP and more

A quick round up of some bits and bobs of local interest:

Photos: Woodcraft Folk Willow Elfin group rafting in Chalford this evening and below Open Studios exhibitions closed on Tuesday - a truimph - well done to all who made it possible.

The Vine Tree pub fundraiser for Mesothelioma UK - well done to Naomi Hawkins and all who raised money for the charity by designing and selling calendars and more.

Stroud District's Land Availability Assessment - this evening after work I was off to make rafts with Woodcraft Folk - see photo - then arrived slightly late for the Policy Panel on land availability in Stroud - basically Stroud District Council have appointed consultants Roger Tym & Partners to undertake a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) for the District. The study should provide up-to-date information on the future housing potential in the district up to 2026 - and will form part of the evidence base on housing potential. It will also inform the emerging Local Development Framework and will contribute to how the housing provision figures in the South West Regional Spatial Strategy can be met. Lots of stuff then and important. It includes a list of sites, cross-referenced to maps showing locations and boundaries of specific sites plus an assessment of the deliverability/ developability of each identified site (i.e. in terms of its suitability, availability and achievability) to determine when an identified site is realistically expected to be developed. Plus the potential quantity of housing that could be delivered on each identified site or within each identified broad location (where necessary) or on windfall sites (where justified) and the constraints on the delivery of identified sites with recommendations on how these constraints could be overcome and when. Of course of most interest is where the housing is going - will for example Ruscombe fields be included? However this is only about availability not whether it will be developed - lots more needs to be considered but it is an important step that I will be following up....

The Lane closed in Randwick - Highways have alerted me this afternoon to the fact that they will be undertaking vegetation clearance/maintenance works at Randwick School Retaining Wall. This work is "to enable inspection work to be carried out on the wall and any required repairs to be undertaken thereby ensuring the future stability of the retaining structure, and therefore the safety of road users and residents. The works are programmed to start on the 27th July 2009, should last for approximately 3 days. There will be a no parking policy in the vicinity of the work while the works are being undertaken, though all access to local properties will be maintained. Prior to the vegetation clearance a contractor will be carrying out herbicide spraying during the week commencing 6th July 2009. This work will not require and any traffic management or road closure but we request that consideration be taken whilst driving along The Lane during this week to ensure the safety of the workforce."

Randwick Mayor to Visit Randwick - yes Mayor Bruce Notley-Smith of the City of Randwick in Oz is due in the village later this month - more details soon.

Belties at Risk - front page of the Runner had news that the Belted Galloways cattle, a traditional rare breed at the field at the top of Ash Lane have been put at risk by the litter and fires - cows are inquisitive and will seek out new things in their environment - this threatens their mouth and feet. The Runner asks us to either let those lighting the fires know about the impact of their actions or to please report fires to the National Trust warden on 01452 810052 or teh Community Police Officer on 0845 0901234 - these cattle are v important as they help ensure that our grasslands remain full of wild flowers and wildlife.

Whiteshill Primary School - Pupils will sing and dance in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Cotswold Playhouse on the evenings of 7th July and 8th July. The children were inspired to put on the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic after seeing a performance of the musical at the Bristol Hippodrome earlier this year.

Randwick CofE Primary School - reports in local papers show that it has made a good impression on an Ofsted inspector who found pupils' academic and personal development was outstanding. Here is what Stroud Life had to say: The 84-pupil school was marked good in its overall effectiveness after a visit by Shirley Billington. She said: "This is a good school. Pupils do well academically and their personal development is outstanding. Pupils make a first rate contribution to the school and local community, showing a keen awareness of the part they need to play in the wider world." If that was not enough, Randwick school was then judged outstanding when a second inspector – Muriel Griffiths from the Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools – toured its classrooms a month later. "Randwick is an outstanding church school. Christian values underpin the whole life of the school and ensure that everyone feels cared for and valued," she reported. "There is a delightful family atmosphere that permeates the whole school. The distinctiveness and effectiveness of Randwick as a Church of England school are outstanding." Headteacher Fiona Montacute said everyone was delighted with the outcome of both inspections. "They help build a picture of Randwick as an outstanding church school," she said."Randwick is a small village school and special to everyone involved within it. It is great to have the opportunity to celebrate our achievements both within the school and the community."

More Hall Convent Open Day - I missed it this year but by all accounts it was great - the nuns even turned their talents to Morris dancing during the annual fete. Here is the local press report: "The Indian and Sri Lankan sisters from the Benedictine Order of Grace and Compassion twirled, jumped and hopped to the admiration of visitors to the fundraiser. The sisters also made spicy samosas to their own recipe that were served as tasty snacks to the crowd, said More Hall spokeswoman Joanna Boddington. More Hall, founded in 1968 in Cashes Green, is home to half a dozen nuns led by Sister Elsy and cares for 10 elderly men and women. The fete provides money for extras for residents. This year's event drummed up £1,000 and will be used to provide raised flower beds in the garden.

Stroud Valleys Project - who have just celebrated their 21st birthday have also just got a grant of £5,000 to run wildlife workshops and surveys at The Lawns and Hamwell Leaze (booth on the Ruscombe Brook) along with a couple of other sites.