If you didn’t spend your Monday evening reading 10+ pages of council minutes, don’t worry — we’ve taken one for the team. Here’s what was discussed, approved and moved forward at the May meeting.
One of the biggest topics remains the growing list of community projects currently underway across the village.
The proposed IT & Youth Hub at Plovers Rise continues to progress, with councillors agreeing to move forward with quotations for the design, build and installation of a new facility. If successful, this could become one of the largest new community investments the village has seen in recent years.
The much-discussed Pump Track project also remains on the agenda and continues to move through the funding and development process. Love it or hate it, it’s fair to say no project has generated quite as much discussion in Kempsey since somebody suggested changing a traffic layout.
The Sports Pavilion refurbishment is still moving forward, alongside plans for improved energy efficiency at the Youth Centre. Behind the scenes, there is clearly a significant amount of work taking place around community facilities and future-proofing village assets.
The Pavilion Community Café was also discussed. The café has quickly become one of the more visible community projects and continues to develop following its successful launch. For those still unaware it exists, it proves that yes, Kempsey does actually have a café – it’s not just a rumour shared on Facebook.
Infrastructure also featured heavily.
Openreach has requested access across Stonehall Common and Kempsey Common to improve fibre broadband delivery. Councillors agreed to support the proposal in principle, subject to further clarification. For residents still waiting for faster broadband, this could be one of the most important items discussed all evening.
The council also authorised further work relating to funding for the replacement bridge in The Rocky. It’s perhaps not the most glamorous project on the list, but bridges tend to be one of those things people only notice when they’re no longer usable.
On the finance side, councillors reviewed budgets, bank reconciliations and spending plans, including consideration of a £500 donation to South Worcestershire Citizens Advice. The parish also received confirmation of over £40,000 in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, which can be used towards local infrastructure and community improvements.
Elsewhere, Friends of Kempsey Primary School requested permission to hold their annual fireworks event at Plovers Rise in November, subject to the usual approvals and safety requirements. This means local dogs still have several months to prepare their formal objections.
The meeting also heard updates relating to proposed parking restrictions around Kempsey School, tennis court improvements, community centre activities and preparations for the Annual Parish Meeting.
Looking at the bigger picture, the council appears to be focusing heavily on three themes:
• Improving community facilities
• Delivering youth-focused projects
• Investing in long-term infrastructure
Whether every project succeeds remains to be seen, but there is certainly no shortage of activity currently taking place behind the scenes.
The question for residents is simple:
Which project do you think should be the council’s top priority over the next 12 months?
The IT Hub? The Pump Track? Broadband upgrades? The Pavilion? Parking issues? Or something else entirely?
Let us know in the comments.