Kenilworth's 2022 in 12 stories and photographs
By James Smith
2nd Jan 2023 | Local News
Having published over 1,500 stories about Kenilworth this year, we have picked one story from each month to help summarise 2022.
The news locally this year has been dominated by Colin the White Wallaby, new businesses, HS2 and major housing developments.
But we have tried to reduce each month to just one story and one photograph.
January
The year started with major council decisions, including car parking charges increasing, 13 Kenilworth housing sites put forward for the new local plan and 2,500 houses in Stoneleigh given the green light.
But the story we have selected for January is 'Plans to build new 'parklet' on Station Road revealed by Kenilworth Town Council'.
The town centre road has remained closed since the pandemic and has been a major talking point throughout 2022.
A decision on whether it remains closed is expected in early 2022.
February
The campaign to ensure there are safe cycling routes to the new Kenilworth School stepped up in February.
Councillors and Sir Jeremy Wright MP gathered at the old school to receive the 2,000-strong petition.
Since then the pair have spoken at the county council and Warwick District Council, and continue to call for action with the new school set to open in September.
March
Perhaps the least exciting - but one of the most talked about - stories of the year was the introduction of the new bin collections.
While the 123+ waste service came into force in August, the district council announced fully how it would work in March.
Following a shaky start that saw the collections begin before all residents actually had their bins, councillors have since praised the success of the project.
April
Plans to demolish the Woodside Hotel were first revealed in April.
While the scheme was turned down, the hotel was sold again later in the year to Vistry Group.
A fresh application for the site is expected to be submitted.
(Image via Maypm via wikimedia commons)
May
It was hard to chose a major story from May - mainly because there were so many to chose from.
Plans to build 83 houses around Warwickshire Police's headquarters were refused, the Woodside Hotel application was refused, an inquest heard an 87-year-old man killed his wife before setting himself on fire in their garden and the councils stepped up action against the Garden Bar at the Pavilion.
But the story we have chosen for May is 'HS2 plans to build new 30 hectare compound at Stoneleigh'.
Any roundup of the news around Kenilworth could hardly leave out HS2. And while the developer has hit the local headlines with increasing regularity through the year, the A46 compound has continued to feature since the spring.
Whilst the High Speed Rail developers say it will be a temporary site, it is expected to be used for at least four years if approved.
June
The start of June saw residents turn out in huge force to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee along Warwick Road.
The street was filled with food and drink vendors, entertainment and families having picnics.
The town then came together in September following the death of Queen Elizabeth II for the public reading of the Proclamation of the Accession of King Charles III.
July
July was one of the easiest picks of the year and featured our best-read story of the year.
The month saw Wetherspoon announce it would open a pub at The Square.
The pub giant is set to invest £2 million in the former Poundland shop in the centre of Kenilworth.
A planning application was submitted, withdrawn and then resubmitted - it remains awaiting approval.
But the alcohol license for the venue has been granted.
August
Again, August stood out for one major story - the community's response to the fish dying in Abbey Fields.
Approximately 650 fish were eventually removed from the lake as a group of volunteers took it open themselves to keep the water levels topped up and the lake oxygenated.
The community efforts were applauded across the town and the district council has been called on to make sure there is no repeat next year.
September
While September saw the return of the Kenilworth Half Marathon, we seemed to be writing about housing developments more than anything else.
Chief among them was the five showhomes and sales office for a new 620-house estate which began to be built.
Outline planning permission was granted for the major housing estate and primary school on Glasshouse Lane in April 2021.
But planners gave the go-ahead for the model homes for the 'Stoneleigh View' development in April 2022 ahead of the estate launching fully this winter.
Built by Linden Homes, the sales office is being constructed alongside three detached and two semi-detached homes.
October
Following over a year of ongoing disputes with local residents and councils, the owner of an outdoor bar said she has "lost the will to fight" to keep her business running.
The Garden Bar at the pavilion was slapped with a legal ruling that prevents it from running the venue without planning permission.
Now owner Gabrielle Parry says she will not continue to keep running the popular events.
November
For the first time since 2019, Kenilworth held its Christmas light switch on events in November.
And the town made up for missing the previous two years by having separate events on High Street and Warwick Road.
The lights were switched on by Mayor of Kenilworth Cllr Sam Louden-Cooke, Sir Jeremy Wright MP and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lewis Williams.
December
And the community were out again in force at the start of December to see nearly 60 tractors blaze through the town to raise money for two local charities.
The vehicles, decked out with festive lights and paraphernalia, paraded through towns and villages on December 13 to raise money for The Warwickshire Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs and Warwick children's charity Molly Ollys.
The Tractor Run kicked off at 5.30pm from Berkswell & Balsall Rugby Club, taking in Burton Green, Kenilworth, Leek Wootton, Warwick, Leamington and Cubbington and ending at Stoneleigh.
More than £5,000 has so far been raised from tractor drivers, passengers and spectators and the money keeps rolling in.
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