There was a small but bright light at the end of a long tunnel for our district this week, with the announcement of major funding to support hosting the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in Royal Leamington Spa.
A sum of almost £1.8 million has been awarded by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, for a series of infrastructure improvement projects to be put in place ahead of Victoria Park’s role as an official venue for Lawn Bowls and Para Bowls competitions in summer 2022.
Despite the current challenging circumstances, Warwick District Council is keen to progress a number of schemes and projects in conjunction with local partners including Warwickshire County Council, Chiltern Railways and Network Rail.;
Warwick District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Culture, Councillor Moira-Ann Grainger commented;
“In these unprecedented and extremely worrying times for the District’s businesses the Council’s priority is to assist with the current emergency situation. However, over the coming months we will also be working on a number of ambitious infrastructure schemes with the aim of boosting and securing jobs in our local economy and ensuring that competitors and spectators visiting Royal Leamington Spa in 2022 have transport and facilities which are truly world-class.”
The Leader of Warwick District Council, Councillor Andrew Day added;
“The clock continues to count down the days until athletes and visitors from across the Commonwealth will visit for an exciting fortnight of international competition and community celebrations in 2022. While this Council’s immediate priority is our response to the coronavirus pandemic, we have not lost sight of securing a lasting legacy from hosting the Commonwealth Games in Royal Leamington Spa by helping to provide more sustainable transport options for the benefit of future generations.”
Nick Abell, the interim chair of the CWLEP, said:
“The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will put Royal Leamington Spa on the global stage with thousands of spectators arriving at the town’s railway station. It is proposed that the allocation from the Local Growth Fund will be used to improve the public realm space and areas around Leamington Spa Railway Station as well as enhance wayfinding for visitors linking the station to
Victoria Park and town centre. The funding will also enhance the existing bowling greens and buildings within Victoria Park to provide world-class facilities for players, officials and visitors alike.”
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Further details of the infrastructure projects will be announced in the coming months.

We are pleased to announce that tonight Cllr Pam Redford has been elected as the Vice Chair of WDC for the period 2020-21 working along side Chair Cllr Martyn Ashford.
Cllr Pam Redford who has worked hard in the past year to ensure that the issues and voice interests and concerns  of Rural Communities  will be represented and voiced as we go through what will be a challenging and difficult time.
As you know we are dedicated to supporting our communities and with this important appointment we will hopefully continue and strengthen the overall understanding of the difficulties faced by our community.

Residents in Warwick district will receive a revised Council Tax bill this month following the cancellation of the planned Council Tax referendum due to the coronavirus pandemic.
 
In February this year, Councillors unanimously approved a Council Tax increase of £57 for the year (based on a band D property) a move which made it a constitutional requirement to call a referendum. The increase comprised £52 for a ring-fenced ‘climate action fund’ plus a £5 per annum rise (Band D property) for the Council’s other core service services (which include housing, refuse & recycling, street cleaning, parks and open spaces). 
 
Despite the fact that referendum wasn’t due to take place until 7 May and was subsequently postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a legal ‘quirk’ from central government meant that all Council Tax demands issued by the Council in March 2020 had to include the ‘climate action fund’ increment. 
 
Now following confirmation that the referendum will be deferred, the Council has reset its charges to a moderate 3% rise, meaning that for the financial year starting in April 2020 a band D household will pay Warwick District Council £171.86 a year in Council Tax (compared to £166.86 in 2019/20).

All bills have now been revised and will be reissued in the next few days, by post or online.

Councillor Andrew Day, Leader of Warwick District Council, said:
 
“Never before has the funding we receive through Council Tax been so important, enabling us to provide support to the vulnerable and local businesses whilst continuing essential front-line services during this national crisis. Although our response to the coronavirus pandemic remains our top priority, the Climate Emergency is still with us and the lessons learned and behaviour changes made during this time will be very much in our thinking as we move our district towards a brighter, cleaner and healthier future.”

If you are suffering domestic abuse, remember you are not alone. Help is at hand and support services continue to be available across Warwickshire during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rules around social distancing do not prevent someone from leaving home to seek help if they are suffering abuse. Refuges remain open and the police will provide support to all individuals who are being abused – physically, emotionally, or otherwise.
If you are in immediate danger, always call 999 in an emergency.
 
If you are unable to speak on the phone, when prompted, you can press ’55’ if ringing from a mobile to use the ‘Silent Solution’ system. More information on the silent solution can be found below
www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Documents/research-learning/Silent_solution_guide.pdf
 
REFUGE
Warwickshire Domestic Violence Service is a countywide service that is still offering help and support to women, men and children experiencing domestic violence in Warwickshire.
 
 If you live in Warwickshire, you can call 0800 408 1552 to speak to a support worker.
 
If you are not able to call, please email DVSW@refuge.org.uk
 
You can also contact the Police, on 101, or Refuge, via the number above, if you have concerns about a friend, relative or neighbour.
 
Please do report any concerns as those who are being abused may not have the opportunity to safely reach out for support themselves at the current time.
 
More information, and links for more support services, relating to domestic abuse can be found on our dedicated Talk2Someone website.
 
Please be sure you are not alone and there is help available.
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