Kenilworth council roundup: Castle Farm, Pavilion bar and Station Road

By James Smith

21st May 2022 | Local News

Here is our regular roundup of all the local council decisions affecting Kenilworth (Image by James Smith)
Here is our regular roundup of all the local council decisions affecting Kenilworth (Image by James Smith)

Here is a roundup of the biggest decisions that have been made by the three local councils in the last month.

Alongside a host of planning decisions, the last four weeks have seen more updates on the collapsed South Warwickshire Council as well as major housing developments in the area.

Kenilworth Town Council

In the town centre the council has started work on its 'pocket park' with new benches installed on the currently closed Station Road.

Whilst the town centre murals now look in doubt.

Councillors have also supported a legal battle that make it harder for the Garden Bar at the Pavilion to hosts events. But the owner, Gabrielle Parry, said the council was 'clutching at straws'.

Cllr Sam Cooke has been elected as the new Mayor of Kenilworth (Image by James Gray)

At the annual assembly the outgoing mayor Cllr Peter Jones gave his roundup of the year, including his top ten achievements by KTC from the past 12 months. He has now been replaced by Cllr Sam Cooke.

As the town gears up for the Jubilee celebrations, a map has been produced showing where trees have been planted in Kenilworth as part of the Queen's Green Canopy.

And at the end of the month KTC's annual Naturewatch Week will return for its second year.

Warwick District Council

At the end of April it was revealed that the planned merger between Warwick and Stratford District Councils had collapsed due to 'irreconcilable differences' between the two councils.

The fallout has shown that WDC spent nearly £160,000 chasing the merger and has left Green Party councillors calling on the Conservative cabinet to focus on residents and services.

That may be difficult as the council no longer has a majority of any sort, after two Warwick councillors resigned the Tory whip.

And following a vote this week the merger request has officially been withdrawn from the Government.

In Kenilworth the district council has announced that work has started at Castle Farm Recreation Centre ahead of its demolition. And the council said contracts would be signed 'imminently' for this and the redevelopment of Abbey Fields.

A local councillor has also said that a £200,000 'masterplan' for developments north of Kenilworth must include local people.

The red line shows the boundary of the area to be investigated by the masterplan (Image by google.maps and WDC)

Whilst on the other side of town WDC's plans to demolish the Woodside Hotel - through its property company Milverton Homes - were blocked by planners.

A £100,000 homeless scheme has also been approved, before the council had to give back government funding.

Meanwhile road closures have been announced for the local jubilee celebrations and residents have been invited to apply for new green bin permits.

Cllr Mini Mangat has also been elected as the new chair of WDC.

Warwickshire County Council

To start the new civic year, former paratrooper Cllr David Humphreys was elected as the new chairman of WCC.

Cllr John Horner was supposed to take over the role this May, however he passed away from a short illness on May 10. Councillors paid tribute to him this week.

A new on-demand bus service has been announced to replace the number 16 service. The decision has been criticised by MP Matt Western, whilst Cllr Sarah Boad has said their needs to be a county-wide rethink on public transport.

Cllr Horner died on Tuesday 10 May 2022 aged 70 after a very short illness

The council has also announced major cycling investment, with a 'mini-Holland' survey set to take place for the whole of Warwickshire.

Despite the council voted on a 20mph speed zone recommendation earlier in the month, a follow up meeting has seen councillors criticise the decision.

But the council has also announced that it has written off £2million in pension overpayments, stating it would be too costly to recover the money.

Whilst WCC has invested in a new business park scheme which is set to create 100 local jobs.

     

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