Following the well‑attended and successful public meeting on 19 July, I would like to thank everyone who came along, contributed to the discussion, and showed support for the formation of a residents association.
Building our contact list
We collected over 70 email addresses on the night. These are currently being compiled into a database so that we can begin circulating updates, consultations, and relevant information to residents.
Initial priorities
Below is a summary of the key matters we will be addressing as the Association takes shape.
Association boundary
Since the meeting, I have confirmed that the official Parish Ward of Shottery is far larger than many of us realised. It extends from Cottage Lane in the north to Wetherby Way in the south and includes a wide range of roads, some of which experience very different issues.
My view is that an association covering the entire ward would be unwieldy and ineffective, and that many of the concerns affecting residents north of Evesham Road are unlikely to be shared by those further south.
I therefore propose that we form a North Shottery Residents Association, covering the following roads:
- Cottage Lane
- Church Lane (to the Church)
- Tavern Lane
- Shottery Road
- The Willows
- St Martins Close
- St Andrews Crescent
- Hathaway Lane
- Hogarth Road
- Gainsborough Road
- Pine Close
- Quineys Road
- Seymour Road
- Brookvale Road
- Orchard Way
- Brownlow Drive
This would exclude roads on or south of Evesham Road, allowing the Association to remain focused, manageable, and relevant to shared local concerns. Feedback on this proposal is very welcome.
Constitution and next meeting
A draft constitution, based on a template from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, has been prepared and will be circulated for comment.
The intention is to send this to our mailing list alongside notice of our first Annual General Meeting, at which we will invite nominations (including self‑nominations) for the following roles:
- Chair / Vice Chair
- Secretary / Vice Secretary
- Treasurer / Vice Treasurer
Please let me know if you have any dates in September when you are unavailable, so that we can choose a date that works for as many people as possible.
Committee roles and social media
I propose appointing at least one additional committee member as a Social Media Officer. Many residents have already captured footage of traffic congestion and dangerous driving. A coordinated social media presence would allow members to share this evidence and make it available to councillors and other decision‑makers.
This role will suit someone with greater technical and social‑media expertise than I possess!
Learning from Berkswell
I have been researching successful traffic‑calming schemes elsewhere and have been particularly encouraged by the Berkswell Village traffic‑calming project.
Berkswell faced long‑standing issues with excessive traffic speed and risk to residents and school children. In 2016, the Parish Council commissioned ARUP to develop a master plan. Their recommendations were incorporated into the Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan and adopted by Solihull Council. Funding was approved by the West Midlands Road Safety Fund in 2020, with works completed in 2021.
Berkswell Parish Council paid approximately £11,000 for the ARUP work. I will be meeting Berkswell’s leaders on 19 August to learn more about how this was achieved and what lessons might be applied in Shottery.
I am pleased to report that we already have pledges totalling £1,000 towards similar professional support – leaving just another £10,000 for us to raise!
Next steps
This is very much the beginning of the process, but the level of engagement so far has been extremely encouraging. With a clear structure, good evidence, and continued community involvement, I am confident we can make meaningful progress.
Thank you again for your interest and support.
Richard Morgan, Chair
North Shottery Residents Association