Traffic and parking issues to be discussed at town meeting

RESIDENTS have been invited to a town meeting to discuss traffic and parking issues in Henley-in-Arden, tonight (Monday 31st October).

Beaudesert and Henley Joint Parish Council's traffic and working party, will meet at the Memorial Hall, in Station Road, at 7pm.

Topics will include illegal parking outside One Stop, in High Street, control of all car parks, additional car parks, as well as a 20mph speed limit on High Street.

The traffic and working party will discuss their recommendations at tonight’s meeting.

Meanwhile, the ball is rolling for the Joint Parish Council (JPC) to change its status to a town council.

The JPC has proposed that the grouping order of the JPC be dissolved and a town council would be established as ‘Henley-in-Arden Town Council’.

The town council would comprise of two town wards – with seven councillors in the Henley ward and five councillors on the Beaudesert ward, each with its own electoral roll. Additionally, there would be one town council meeting.

Following discussion, it was recommended by Stratford District Council on Monday (24th October), that the Community Governance Review for Beaudesert and Henley commences, with a view to reporting back to the district council on 27th February.

Bill Leech, chairman of the JPC, said: “The reason we want to become a town council is that we have had three Royal Charters going back to the 1100s, making us a market town.

“Everyone gets confused whether we are a town or a village, and it would be more logical if we were formally known as a town.”

Herald reporter Sarah Evans will be at Henley Library tomorrow (Tuesday 1st November) from 9am until 1pm, as part of an initiative to bring our office to your town.

Please pop in to say hi, let me know your news and views about Henley, including about traffic and parking issues, as well as the proposals to become a town council, or let me know of any forthcoming events in the town.

As Christmas is such a busy time and is fast-approaching, tomorrow will be Sarah’s last library visit until the New Year.

If you can't make it tomorrow, but would like to speak to Sarah, please e-mail sevans@stratford-herald.com or call her at the Herald office, on Mondays and Tuesdays, on 01789 266261.