Kempsey Parish Council update: Solar power, playground repairs and a call for more councillors

Kempsey Parish Council has shared its latest community update, with developments ranging from a major new solar installation at Plovers Rise to playground repairs, the return of autumn food at the Pavilion Café and another push to recruit new parish councillors.

One of the biggest projects is the completion of new solar panels at the Youth Centre at Plovers Rise.

The installation, delivered by local company Solar Severn and project managed by Kempsey Parish Council, is expected to generate around 20,000 kWh of electricity each year, with most of the electricity produced expected to be exported to the National Grid.

The project has been supported by a £40,000 Malvern Hills District Council Community Legacy Grant, alongside £10,000 of Parish Council funding.

According to the council, the investment should significantly reduce the cost of operating the Youth Centre and new IT & Youth Hub, while also reducing its carbon footprint. The savings should allow more resources to be directed towards youth services and other community activities.

There has also been work taking place at the Plovers Rise playground, where essential repairs to the wooden tower and bridge frame have now been completed.

The Parish Council says the work has restored the equipment and ensured it remains safe and sturdy for families to use.

Anyone wondering why much of Plovers Rise and the commons has been looking considerably less green recently probably won’t be surprised to hear the prolonged hot and dry weather is being blamed. The council hopes the grass will recover as conditions improve, although it says the longer-term effects of the drought are difficult to predict.

Meanwhile, the Pavilion Community Café is getting ready for autumn.

After iced coffees and milkshakes proved popular during the hot weather, the café is introducing hot food including freshly toasted paninis and other savoury options.

The community café is run as a Parish Council enterprise with the help of volunteers and currently opens Fridays from 10:30am until 5pm and Sundays from 10:30am until 2pm.

There is also another chance for residents to help make Kempsey considerably more colourful next spring.

A community daffodil planting event will take place on Friday 16 October, continuing work on the village’s “Golden Mile” along the A38.

Residents can volunteer for an hour or two, with tools and bulbs provided. No gardening experience is required - just a willingness to get stuck in.

The annual display has quickly become a familiar sight through Kempsey, with thousands of daffodils bringing colour to the A38 each spring.

The Parish Council is also looking for volunteers to help bring back computer gaming sessions for young people as work on the new IT & Youth Hub progresses.

The sessions are intended to provide young people with a safe and supervised place to meet, socialise and enjoy gaming. Anyone interested in gaming, working with young people or simply helping with a community project is being encouraged to get involved.

Finally, there’s another appeal for something the Parish Council says it particularly needs - more councillors.

KPC says additional people are needed to help shape future projects, maintain local services and influence decisions affecting the parish.

Residents who care about Kempsey, have ideas about how the village could be improved or simply want to become more involved in the community are being encouraged to consider joining.

So, quite a bit happening around the village - solar panels generating electricity, playground repairs completed, thousands more daffodils on the way and hopefully some new faces joining the Parish Council.

We’ll keep you updated with what’s happening around Kempsey.