Repair works on the historic Bidford-on-Avon River Bridge are nearing completion with the road scheduled to reopen to vehicular traffic on Friday 13 December a significant local landmark and ancient monument was damaged in an accident in August 2024.  “I’m delighted that the repair works on Bidford-on-Avon River Bridge are almost finished,” said Cllr Jan Matecki Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning.   “This has been a complex and challenging project requiring specialist skills and careful planning We’re grateful to everyone involved for their hard work and dedication in ensuring the bridge is restored to its former glory.”  The traffic management at Binton Bridge will also be removed on the same day as the road reopens improving journey times for motorists considerably.  “This is great news for local businesses and residents ahead of the Christmas period,” added Cllr Matecki “We know that the road closure has caused some disruption so we’re pleased to be able to lift these restrictions and allow traffic to flow freely once again.”  visitors and businesses for their patience and understanding during these essential repair works.  More information about the Bidford-on-Avon river bridge can be found online: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/major-transport-construction-projects/b4085-bidford-avon-river-bridge   The Old Falcon in Bidford-on-Avon isn't just steeped in history It's also a large characterful family home except that we rented the entire pub on AirBnB and actually stayed there I’ve always dreamed of living in a pub If someone asks me what I would do if I wont the lottery and money was no longer an issue I had to worry about then I would likely buy a pub and work there meeting new people and I could make it just the way I like it I know that doesn’t sound particularly extravagant for someone who has just potentially won millions of pounds The next best thing, perhaps, would be to live in a former pub or coaching inn. Something like The Old Falcon on the High Street of Bidford-on-Avon in Warwickshire. It’s currently for sale for £850,000 with Hamptons Before we get through the nuts and bolts of the property it is also a site of serious historical importance it was upon the steps of this Grade II*-listed property that King Charles II rallied his supporters on December 2 It is also rumoured that Shakespeare once drank there and had to have a nap under a tree nearby as he was a bit of a lightweight.  And that is very much reflected in the walls of this five-bedroom semi-detached home the property is now a much loved family home in the heart of Bidford-on-Avon and there’s even a stained-glass window of The Bard in the entrance hall It has everything you could possibly want from a characterful local home and the five bedrooms are supplemented by a study all the various amenities of village life are on the doorstep.  The Old Falcon is for sale with Hamptons for £850,000. For more information and pictures, click here All houses change a little over their lifetimes — and some end up unrecognisable as the centuries pass James FisherDeputy Digital EditorJames Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life Warwickshire County Council has given an update on the schedule for repairing the historic Bidford on Avon River Bridge.  The bridge on the B4085 Honeybourne Rd was damaged in August when a car collided with the inner walls and became wedged damaging the parapet and cutwater and compromising the structure.  A final date for completion of work has been estimated as being the end of November in line with the early estimates after the incident.  The road is currently closed to vehicular crossings while engineers carry out the significant ‘behind the scenes’ work that  This includes instruction of specialist stonemasons sourcing appropriate materials and design of scaffolding and access arrangements to carry out the work.  The bridge is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and applications for consent to the repair work have been made to Historic England and the Avon Navigation Trust with the application to ANT still pending.  temporary traffic lights were put on Binton Bridge in Welford-on-Avon to control traffic making its way from the Evesham Rd.  Remaining ongoing repairs to that bridge have been suspended for the duration of the works to repair Bidford Bridge and Honeybourne Rd (B4805) can be reopened.   Disruption will also be minimised with additional necessary maintenance to the bridge being carried out at the same time as the forthcoming repair National Grid is starting works on Barton Road to install a new underground electricity cable associated with the adjacent housing development.  Works will start on 23 September under temporary traffic lights for one week followed by a two week closure of Barton Road starting 30 September with a fresh diversion route to be put in place.  portfolio holder for transport and planning at Warwickshire County Council said:  “We know that people have been wondering when the work would be carried out and I can assure commuters that there has been a lot of work going on to get repairs done as quickly as possible and reopen the road.   “We are committed to supporting businesses and the message that the town is open is paramount.  A request to upgrade signs on various approaches to Bidford's High Street has been actioned.  “I would like to extend our thanks to adjacent landowners and the Parish Council who have provided space and access around the bridge to co-ordinate repairs.  That will be critical in getting work done as quickly as possible.”  Home   News   Article HOPES of having Bidford Bridge opened by the end of next month have suffered a setback after vital repair work on the structure was hit by technical issues caused by rising river levels The bridge was closed for repair after an Uber driver crashed and wedged a Toyota Prius on the structure in August At the time Warwickshire County Council estimated that repair work would take until the end of November based on engineer reports which highlighted the damage caused to the parapet and cutwater where a large crack had appeared motorists have had to endure travelling extra miles along a diversion route while shops and services in the village have been left fighting for customers and telling the area that Bidford is still open for businesses There is concern that if the repair work isn’t completed by the end of November and with winter approaching the bridge will not be open in time for Christmas or even early next year In a statement this week the county council said: “While we continue to work towards reopening the road as per our original timescale we are somewhat at the mercy of the weather and subsequent rising river levels which could potentially impact upon the programme We’re working with the contractors to explore options to expedite delivery of the programme of repair “We can assure residents that we will have the road open as soon as possible once the bridge can structurally accommodate it and keep all those affected informed as work progresses.” With the work at the mercy of river levels Steve Burgoine wrote on social media: “In short the bridge has been bodged so much in the past it now requires major structural work in order to have something sound to build on This will take ages as the river levels are virtually always in flood during winter.” Tracy Atherton was concerned the bridge won’t be opened until next spring She added: “I was trying to work out the other day how much this one person’s stupidity has cost so many of us It’s such a pain not being able to use the bridge and shops must be suffering too “The amount of increased petrol bills for us all must be staggering over such a long period.” A 200-word technical update by the council detailing the works being undertaken has also drawn criticism on social media from residents for its lack of clarity Robbie Hill wrote: “Long story short… don’t expect the bridge to be open this side of Christmas.” And Simon Currell observed: “So to summarise and I’ll keep this short…the bridge will be open by the end of November as promised… now for the big question… which year?” the county council is considering making a claim against the Uber driver’s insurers to cover the costs of the bridge repair Bidford-on-Avon Bridge is closed to vehicles following the impact from a vehicle on Saturday 10 August which caused significant structural damage.  The vehicle struck the inner side of the bridge on the B4085 Honeybourne Rd before becoming jammed which form part of the bridge’s support structure.  The bridge has now been closed to all vehicles while engineers assess the damage and then organise a programme of repairs Scaffolding has been erected to enable a closer inspection of the stone to assess the damage and the timescale for the repairs will be published once this has been completed It will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists.  Drivers wishing to access the village’s businesses are advised that car parks are available to the south (Big Meadow) and north (Saxon Fields) of the bridge Both are within a short walk to the village.   National Grid has deferred resurfacing work at Binton Bridge in Welford-on-Avon to offer motorists a diversion using Barton Road Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning at Warwickshire County Council said:  “I’m very grateful to County Council officers who worked with the Police over the weekend to stop any other vehicles from trying to use the bridge preventing any additional damage to the structure while its bearing capacity is compromised.  we don’t yet know when the bridge will reopen I would ask drivers to please bear with us and follow the signed diversions We fully understand the inconvenience this will bring and we will do all we can to ensure the bridge is safely reopened as soon as possible.  “I’d also like to extend our thanks to National Grid who deferred work at Welford to allow us to use the road by Binton Bridge as a diversion.”  For further updates, visit the council website here.  Bidford Bridge has been damaged by an Uber car crashing into it and becoming wedged early this morning While the car has not been able to be removed yet it has been budged enough to allow pedestrians and cyclists access The latest update comes after an inspection from Warwickshire County Council’s bridge engineer Councillor Daren Pemberton said: “I have been with the county council engineer and can update as follows The car has been moved sufficiently to allow a pedestrian access this afternoon The car will be barriered off later this afternoon “There is significant damage to the bridge and will take some time to be assessed and the work itself will also take some time As a result the bridge will be closed to vehicles indefinitely “Once the car has been removed heavy duty barriers will be put in place to preclude vehicle use Temporary road signs are going in at Barton crossroads and at the fire station island A formal diversion will be in place from Monday.” Praising those who helped with the situation Cllr Pemberton said: “I also just want to thank the county surveyor the PCSO and the Big Meadow security guys for all their hard work today.” A small piece of good news is that Sunday’s duck race will go ahead at 3pm as planned Cllr Pemberton added: “This access will allow the duck race to go ahead and I have spoken with one of the organisers this morning at the bridge and they will have a plan to launch the ducks.” The incident with the Uber occurred early this morning and has caused widespread concern over the delays that will be caused Denni Sullivan said: “It's made some very concerning cracks in the bridge They [waited] for a structural engineer before the attempt to move the car Bidford will most likely suffer a long bridge closure again now while it is repaired Hope the businesses can cope with the hit.” It was unclear how the Uber driver managed to get his car wedged but speculation was that he clipped the side of the bridge which spun the car causing it to be wedge in the narrow roadway Simon Barrier shared a picture of some of the damage which showed a gap had formed between the road and bridge He observed: “It’s not minimal ,it’s cracked down to the bottom again!” The Grade I listed bridge dates back to medieval times Residents know all too well the misery of its closure It was shut after being partially destroyed in June 2015 when an agricultural vehicle crashed into a wall of the structure and sent masonry flying into the River Avon below The bridge had to be closed for several months while specialist repair work was carried out The bridge was also damaged in 2021 by a ‘trade vehicle’ although it largely remained open to traffic during repairs to a parapet Amanda Griffiths said: “I hate to be that person but do we think the council should be less concerned about the meadow and more concerned about the only easy way to get to it being constantly damaged?” BIDFORD Bridge could be open to traffic again by the end of November Warwickshire County Council said repair work is due to start after the structure was damaged by an Uber driver who crashed and wedged a Toyota Prius on the Scheduled Ancient Monument Engineers have been inspecting the damage to the parapet and cutwater – a large crack could be seen on part of the bridge – following the incident on 10th August and have sourced specialist stonemasons to carry out the work Other maintenance work on the bridge will be carried out at the same time adding that the estimated finish at the end of November is subject to weather and river levels The bridge will remain closed with a diversion in place until the work in finished the traffic on the diversionary route will also have to cope with some roadworks – and a road closure National Grid is starting work on Barton Road to install a new underground electricity cable Work will start on 23th September with traffic lights for one week followed by a two-week closure of Barton Road starting on 30th September A new diversion route will be put in place said: “We know that people have been wondering when the work would be carried out and I can assure commuters that there has been a lot of work going on to get repairs done as quickly as possible and reopen the road “We are committed to supporting businesses and the message that the town is open is paramount on various approaches to Bidford's High Street has been actioned “I would like to extend our thanks to adjacent landowners and the parish council who have provided space and access around the bridge to co-ordinate repairs That will be critical in getting work done as quickly as possible.” The full cost of the bridge repair work is currently not known However a spokesperson told the Herald: “We will be chasing recovery of the costs.” WHEN the shout went out to support businesses in Bidford It’s almost a month since an Uber car smashed into the bridge causing structural damage that will take months to fix particularly for the businesses on the High Street and up on the industrial estate They rely on both their workers and people buying their services and this is the last thing that businesses need The business owners are really not very happy When the bridge closed for months in 2015 after it was hit by a farm vehicle it’s estimated that business fell by 20 per cent Describing how they are feeling the pinch now Annabel Richardson of Annabel Sarah Bridal said: “Bidford is quite a sleepy village normally but this has made it so much worse “Brides that would normally travel over the bridge are having to park on the Honeybourne side and pay for parking And the car park near us is full of people that would normally park on the Meadow and made our brides’ experience a little bit more hectic when normally it’s smooth-going.” She said: “We’ve already had clients saying they won’t keep paying the parking fee on the Meadow to visit us but we are fortunate as the majority will still support us while the bridge is closed However I do feel that the takeaways and other businesses that rely more on spontaneous trade while lose out.” The issue of parking is proving to be a tricky one Although residents have free parking on Big Meadow potential customers from outside the village find that free options are either full or further away As Annabel pointed out: “People are parking at the free car park near the High Street and staying there all day – so there should be a time limit and all of the Meadow car parking should be free all day to everyone.” Bidford Parish Council said it is aware of the plight of business and was doing its utmost to support them including making extra parking arrangements Chair Rob Williams said: ‘We’re aware that the closure of the bridge has hit local businesses hard and we’ve opened the winter car park – the tarmac area in front of Big Meadow to encourage visitors The car park is open all day from Monday to Friday and from 5pm to 7am at weekends enabling drivers from south of the river to leave their cars and walk across the bridge to the High Street “The parish council has also put up banners on the advertising gates at various entrances to the village reminding visitors and shoppers that the High Street remains open for business and encouraging them to support Bidford and its local businesses through this difficult time “We hope that repairs will be carried out as quickly as possible but in the meantime we want to make it as easy as possible for people to use the High Street and the shops and businesses there,” added Cllr Williams There were no further updates this week on the progress on the repairs of Bidford Bridge The most recent statement from the county council said: “The bridge will only reopen once it is structurally safe again The duration of repair work has not been determined yet An early estimate for the repair programme indicates three to four months in duration weather and availability of qualified stonemasons and materials.” SHOPPERS at the Co-op in Bidford were given a surprising view this afternoon (Thursday)… a car stuck on a bollard just by the area where the supermarket trolleys are kept no one was hurt when the BMW i3 hit the bollard and was lifted into the air - although the driver was reported to have been left shaken by the incident Emergency services were at the scene in Salford Road this afternoon and propped up the vehicle until it could be safely removed The incident sparked concern on social media as well as suggestions that the incident was a result of an Uber driver - a reference to the crash involving an Uber car in August which has left Bidford Bridge closed ever since Once person joked: “Keep away from Bidford and the crazy drivers.” Others praised the Co-op staff for taking care of the BMW driver businesses in the village are still open and need your custom A 29-year-old man from Bidford was arrested yesterday (Monday) at 12.30pm yesterday on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply He has since been bailed until 14th December while enquiries continue.The stash of cannabis cocaine and money was found in a branded supermarket carrier bag Arresting officers shared a jocular post about the arrest on Facebook no there’s no raffle for these… liking and sharing won’t give you a chance of winning.” DRIVERS have been asked to “bear with us” as the county council looks to put together a repair programme for Bidford Bridge after it was damaged by a car at the weekend announce one good piece of news for motorists Planned roadworks on the diversion route which drivers will need to use while the bridge is closed have been postponed Bidford Bridge was damaged at the weekend when an Uber driver crashed into the side Warwickshire County Council said the collision has caused significant structural damage to the parapet and cutwater which form part of the bridge’s support structure The bridge is closed to all vehicles while engineers assess the damage and then organise a programme of repairs Scaffolding has been erected to enable a closer inspection of the stone to assess the damage and the timescale for the repairs will be released once this has been completed The bridge is open to pedestrians and cyclists Resurfacing work had been planned on Binton Bridge said: “I’m very grateful to county council officers who worked with the police over the weekend to stop any other vehicles from trying to use the bridge preventing any additional damage to the structure while its bearing capacity is compromised “We fully understand the inconvenience this will bring and we will do all we can to ensure the bridge is safely reopened as soon as possible “I’d also like to extend our thanks to National Grid who deferred work at Welford to allow us to use the road by Binton Bridge as a diversion.” Drivers wishing to visit Bidford and its businesses can still use the car park at Big Meadow and walk across the bridge or park at Saxon Fields A HISTORIC 600-year-old bridge has been forced to close when an Uber became stuck after crashing into it The route survived everything from the Civil War to The Blitz but was briefly taken out of action by a hapless hybrid The crossing on Honeybourne Road in Bidford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire has been standing almost untouched since the 15th Century But it was brought to a standstill earlier this week after it was damaged by a wayward Uber driver Reports suggest that the white Toyota Prius crashed into the inner part of the bridge before becoming jammed in by its walls Photos from the scene show the car strewn diagonally across the narrow road Unfortunately for anyone hoping to use the bridge the logjammed Prius had completely blocked it off Social media commenters were left rather unimpressed by the motoring mishap One wrote: "I've taken a class 1 HGV over that bridge a couple of times. Another added: "How did they manage to do that The Prius has since been moved but Warwickshire County Council confirmed that the road would remain closed due to the damage A diversion route has been put in place for cars while pedestrians and cyclists are still allowed to use it Drivers have been urged to use the nearby Big Meadow and Saxon Fields car parks to access the village instead A council statement on Facebook read: "Bidford-on-Avon Bridge closed to all vehicles after the structure was damaged by impact from a car "Access still available to pedestrians and cyclists and car parks (north and south of bridge) open to support access to local businesses." It comes after a major UK airport used by millions every year introduced a controversial new parking policy Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ THE people of Bidford are counting the cost of yet another driver smashing into their historic bridge as they also face months of misery waiting for it to be repaired Shock and disbelief were the overwhelming reactions from residents on Saturday (10th August) when they woke to the sight of a white Toyota Prius firmly wedged sideways on the historic bridge Worse still was the appearance of an ominous crack zig-zagging down the 15th century bridge wall The car was only able to be moved safely on Monday after structural engineers had begun extensive surveying work Speculation was rife on how exactly the Uber driver had managed to arrive in such a position in the early hours “It’s something only the driver can account for,” noted one observer Police were called around 5am to the scene Warwickshire Police were yet to confirm if charges would be brought against the man The bridge is expected to be closed until at least November meaning motorists face a seven-mile detour to cross the river at Binton Bridge to access Bidford It is the third such incident in recent years was partially destroyed when a crop-sprayer crashed into a wall and sent masonry flying into the River Avon below It took Warwickshire County Council two years to recoup costs from the driver’s insurance company And it is currently battling to get recompense from an incident in 2021 when a van struck and badly damaged one of its parapets As the case is ongoing the council said it could not reveal the figures involved However it confirmed that it would be pursuing another insurance claim following the latest incident A spokesperson told the Herald: “Costs incurred and arising from the county council's response from point of incident which include the emergency response repairs to the bridge and traffic management associated to the incident will be part of the insurance claim pending.” Speaking to the Herald in the aftermath of the incident Bidford East) spoke about the impact on the community particularly for the businesses on the high street and up on the industrial estate “This is the third major strike in six or seven years I think there’s an element of weariness about it The only irony is that it’s not a 38-tonne HGV He continued: “It’s going to be a huge challenge You can imagine the business owners are really not very happy officials have currently said the bridge will remain closed to traffic until November but Cllr Pemberton feared that could be extended Structural engineers and experts from the county council and Historic England are currently investigating but this could take weeks before a report on what is needed is fully drawn up “I think it’ll probably be a month before we know what the likely closures will be,” said Cllr Pemberton “But we know from the past it’s been months rather than weeks restaurants and other businesses saw a 20 per cent fall in trade Cllr Pemberton appealed to people to still try and support Bidford outlets but I’d urge everyone to keep on coming to Bidford and support the businesses at this crucial time and they need their customers more than ever.” Cllr Pemberton said he was exploring ways the businesses could be helped financially “This is the second hit in probably four years that these businesses have had but we’re going to ask the questions and see what can be done to support businesses at parish district and county levels – whether that’s interim financial support or putting on extra markets.” many called for a new bridge to be erected that could better cope with the increased traffic generated by a growing population resident Wayne Gould said: “The bridge is obviously not fit for purpose anymore yes it’s the identity of the village but it is 500 years old There is only so much damage it can take before it is completely written off Something new or a complete makeover is needed.” she commented: “Can we all come together to lobby [Warwickshire] council and highways to turn the old bridge into a pedestrian and bike only crossing and we get a bridge for cars and lorries put up further along the river to cross We have had so many issues with this now and the poor bridge is being destroyed.” While the call for a new bridge was a popular idea Cllr Pemberton said it was just not realistic He told the Herald: “The reality is it’s not feasible to have a new bridge in Bidford With buildings and private land either side widening or replacing the bridge isn’t possible Even if hypothetically the bridge was replaced the traffic might cross over even more quickly.” He continued: “And if it were outside Bidford by the time you take a road across the field and out to the A46 and across the river I bet you wouldn’t have much change out of the cost of the proposed South West Relief Road (SWRR) Plans for the SWRR were largely abandoned due to a lack of funding around three years ago I struggle to envisage a scenario where the money could be found for that So that’s just not realistic,” said Cllr Pemberton “I think what we have to do is to make it more difficult for drivers to travel too quickly across the bridge and using different measures to make it safe “All three of the major incidents have been vehicles approaching the bridge from the Honeybourne Road side “I’m going to try as hard as I possibly can to get some changes on either side of the bridge to make it less likely that this happens again.” He continued: “It’s challenging and may take some time you can’t nip to B&Q and get some breeze blocks and fix it in a weekend.” Cllr Pemberton’s final thoughts were for all those that stepped up at the weekend to help He said: “County officers really moved very quickly and moved the car slightly so that the bridge could be used the next day “And even developer Kendrick Homes up in Welford changed its planned works THE end is nigh for barbecues on Bidford’s Big Meadow Their use has been a hot topic in recent months with many saying they were a key reason for a rising tide of bad behaviour at the treasured green space by the Avon And after its recent survey showed supporters were in the minority Bidford Parish Council has agreed to ban the barbie from 1st August The unanimous vote took place at an extraordinary meeting of the council on Monday A spokesperson said: “This decision was made after careful consideration of the effect of barbecues on the meadow and taking into account the response from residents to the consultation “The issue of barbecues has been a contentious one in the village with a number of residents strongly opposed to barbecues for various reasons mainly because of the number of visitors it has brought in over the summer months A few residents are sorry to see barbecues go And further action could follow on another contentious issue: “Other changes to the Big Meadow are being considered including parking “These will take into account the responses to the consultation but no decisions will be made until the effect of the barbecue ban has been monitored.” four-fifths of Bidford residents wanted barbecues out And almost two-thirds of people living in the town wanted to see a car-free area for pedestrians and park users - with a resounding 86 per cent wanting to see designated parking areas The campaign against barbecues and open fires had raged for weeks with a petition launched on the change.org website earlier this year parish council chair Cllr Penny Taylor said: “We’re proud of Big Meadow both as a valued riverside amenity for residents and as an attraction for families in the region “But the sheer number of people wanting to visit has brought problems over the last few months “We’re hoping the changes we are looking at will enable us to cope with the visitors and also protect the meadow for local people who love it.” BIDFORD-ON-AVON is again full of colour this summer following the hanging of decorative banners along High Street depicting different features of the riverside village as well as its history The Herald reported online last week about a vehicle again hitting the historic Bidford Bridge closing the vital crossing for several hours Thankfully traffic continues to flow over the historic 15th century structure allowing visitors to enjoy the delights of the village which sits on the banks of the River Avon in south Warwickshire ... Look out for more news about Bidford-on-Avon and the surrounding area in future editions of the Stratford Herald OVERCROWDING and antisocial behaviour are turning Bidford’s Big Meadow into a ‘no-go area’ on weekends, according to residents. But a plan to deal with the problems by installing £11,000 of fencing has caused anger among some villagers who have demanded a public meeting before any changes are made to the open space which runs alongside the River Avon. Bidford Parish Council, which had suggested installing the fencing as part of a trio of measures, met with 50-60 people at Big Meadow on Monday (3rd July). Chair Cllr Penny Taylor set up the meeting as the council tries to deal with issues at Big Meadow, including disposal barbecues and food waste being thrown into the river, people defecating in the open, loud music and noise, and drivers performing doughnuts where children play. During the heated meeting residents complained that the extra fencing would not only be an eyesore, it wouldn’t address the overcrowding. Bidford resident Simon Hopkins said: “The meadow is a lovely open space which we’ve used for years in this village. It’s fabulous because it brings families together from the village and elsewhere. It’s beautiful.” He suggested cheap car parking had contributed to the overcrowding. “Until recently it was £3 for the day, which is fine during normal circumstances but during warm weekends and bank holidays it gets rammed,” he explained. “We’re talking hundreds of vehicles. And it’s not just locals getting frustrated because they can’t get onto the meadow, it’s a bun fight. “The council needs a meeting where people can air their views, bring other ideas to the table, as a lot of people are angry because they think it’s a done deal.” Responding to residents, Cllr Taylor said: “We were trying to find some extra capacity for cars while protecting the playing fields.” She added: “People are unhappy about the fence, but I don’t think that created this level of passion. I think it’s much bigger than that. They are concerned that the meadow has become very, very popular and we are trying to manage that. It’s how do we do it so it doesn’t become overcrowded but at the same time is open to give pleasure to people from outside [the village] as well. “We’re torn between the argument to do something urgently because of numbers [at Big Meadow] and responding to criticism that we are only doing things piecemeal.” At a meeting on 26th June, the council agreed other measures for Big Meadow including increasing parking charges to £6 per day, installing portable toilets during the summer and exploring if a larger toilet block could be built. Following Monday’s meeting, former parish councillor Suze Meredith said she would organise a public meeting at Crawford Village Hall. She said: “I’ve been a councillor and want to represent my neighbours and the people of Bidford, let them have their say, write it up as minutes and send them to the council for a response. I am hoping in that way, the residents feel that they can have their say and the parish council will listen.” Parish clerk Elisabeth Uggerloese told the Herald on Tuesday that the fencing plan was on hold and added that the council would soon decide about a public meeting. “We want to thank all the residents who came to meet the councillors,” she said. “Their wide-ranging ideas and comments have been noted and will be discussed in detail in the next few days.” new proposals will see the system remain in parts of the county The Fire Service said at the beginning of the year that they needed to restructure the service to make sure they are putting more crews where most incidents happen and because they say they cannot recruit the number of on-call fire crews that they need On-call crews work part-time alongside other jobs and can be at their local station within five minutes when they are on call The Fire Service has now responded to the public consultation on the proposed plans and have amended them following feedback It means that instead of getting rid of on-call firefighters all over the county the new proposal would see them stay on at night only in Polesworth Four fire stations which are currently on-call only stations will now get full-time crews based there during the day Overall the number of fire crews available would be 14 in the day and 13 at night That is an improvement on the current proposal of 12 in the day and eight at night but a change from the current system which has 11 in the day and nine at night with the option of up to 12 more when on-call fire crews are on duty The amended proposals would also still see response times lengthen in some parts of the county The proposals will cost an extra £0.5 million a year with an additional £600,000 needed to modify station facilities These finances are currently unbudgeted for The Firefighter's Union the FRSA say that for this reason 'These proposals will result not only in a worse service The Association President Mark Palmer says the plans 'will make the on-call teams in seven stations redundant the proposal will marginally improve response times in three districts and worsen it in the two districts with the longest response times All this will cost council tax payers at least £2.3 million over three years which they freely admit is unbudgeted and will have to be taken from other services.' 'The future is bleak for the on-call crews at Stratford Coleshill and Atherstone now facing redundancy Gaydon and Fenny Compton stations will effectively close for normal business.’ The amended plans will now be discussed at the Resources and Fire and Rescue Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday 26 June before going to Warwickshire County Council's Cabinet meeting for a decision on Tuesday 16 July FOUR-FIFTHS of Bidford residents don’t want barbecues on the Big Meadow – and that’s official The stark verdict is the main finding from recent research commissioned by the parish council published on Bidford Parish Council’s website last week found 81 per cent say there should be ‘no barbecues at all’ at the popular beauty spot versus just 16 per cent in favour of ‘restricted use’ Almost two-thirds of people living in the town want to see a car-free area for pedestrians and park users A resounding 86 per cent want to see designated parking areas and 81 per cent want a car-free area Chaotic parking on the Meadow is seen as a real danger according to comments gathered during the research and there’s a feeling car parking should be kept well away from the river front A fifth of all comments highlighted dangers to pedestrians from cars while a similar number claimed cars and groups are ruining the Big Meadow Two-thirds of residents (67 per cent) are in favour of picnic areas while 65 per cent want more sports facilities The main reason for wanting to ban barbecues is the damage they cause to environment and danger to children Many didn’t like the way barbecues bring large crowds and large groups And almost two out of three who filled out the survey would like a mobile café next to the toddler play area while four-fifths (82 per cent) want nature trails and walks which took place from Friday 24th May to Friday 21st June The figures quoted show results for the 729 residents of Bidford parish who filled in the questionnaire Well over two-thirds of those who took part were in the 30-64 age group and almost two-thirds of all respondents were women A third of all those who answered the questionnaire visit the Meadow once to six times a week More than half (55 per cent) take children with them The top four activities are walking or jogging (64 per cent) dog walking (47 per cent) and playground (40 per cent) The results will be discussed at the next Bidford Parish Council meeting on Monday 22nd July BIDFORD residents were left fuming again after last weekend’s hot weather brought crowds of day-trippers Anger has been building about whether barbecues should be allowed on the Big Meadow noise and people parking where they shouldn’t has aggravated the heated debate Some locals described the area near the river as “like a festival” across the 11th and 12th May One woman told how she’d picked up 70 empty plastic bottles on Friday but “gave up counting at 42” on Saturday morning She described herself as “appalled at the lack of respect for the environment of our wonderful Meadow” Seeing rope barriers ripped down so that cars could park where they shouldn’t made one man angry and he complained: “I don’t even walk my dog down there on nice days because it’s an obstacle course of cars parked bumper to bumper in a large circle and… rubbish all over grass” a petition calling for barbecues and open fires at the Big Meadow to be banned has attracted almost 600 signatures who launched the petition on 20th March via change.org said it was prompted by witnessing “the deterioration of our beloved Big Meadow” Bidford Parish Council has invited residents to a presentation and drop-in session from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday 22nd May at its meeting room in Bramley Way to mark the launch of a four-week Big Meadow consultation which will run until 21st June Residents will be encouraged to share their views and the responses will be assessed and published in a document produced by an independent third party The results and findings will be discussed at the PC’s July meeting Bidford Parish Council clerk Elisabeth Uggerloese said some people tend to forget the Big Meadow is a public space Pointing out 2023 was the first summer with no Covid-related restrictions she said it’s misleading to compare it with quieter-than-normal previous summers And as well as highlighting a 30 per cent growth in Bidford’s population she cast doubt on some ‘evidence’ including pictures and videos posted on social media which claims to be from last weekend Ms Uggerloese said: “People have forgotten the Big Meadow has been a holiday destination for people from the West Midlands for 50-60 years “One of the things being put around is that the Big Meadow is for local residents only and it’s not It’s a public open space that’s open to everybody “Then there’s this thing that barbecues are new they’re not – there have been barbecues on the Big Meadow for years others have banned them in designated areas and that’s what the parish council is exploring.” She added: “It’s also about what’s feasible because if you make a policy It’s a very large area and the independent third party working with us says he doesn’t know of any other parish or town council that has to manage such a large area.” Ms Uggerloese urged anyone who’s signed the petition to also take part in the consultation She said: “Social media tends to be populated by the vociferous – they don’t necessarily represent the majority of residents.” THE Bidford community were shocked to wake up on Monday morning (14th October) to the news that the village fire station had been burgled A Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson confirmed: “Bidford Fire Station was broken into during the early hours of Monday “Warwickshire Police are currently investigating the break-in and we are fully cooperating with their efforts “Our equipment is essential to our operations and our ability to respond effectively to incidents and keep the people of Warwickshire safe We urge members of the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or information related to this theft to Warwickshire Police.” are stolen by thieves to use during raids on ATM machines and other crimes resident Ros Morris said: “Let’s hope they never to call for help and find the service hasn’t got their equipment to do their job properly.” THE new Shakespeare Hospice charity shop in Bidford opened its doors last Saturday with hospice patron Tim Cox Based in Waterloo Road on the Bidavon Industrial Estate the shop will sell a range of pre-loved items said: “We are absolutely delighted to bring our charity shop experience to Bidford and can’t wait to welcome both loyal supporters and new visitors “The response from the local community has been overwhelming with so many people reaching out to offer donations and volunteer support This shop isn’t just about raising essential funds it’s about creating a vibrant hub for the community to come together and support a meaningful cause.” The Bidford unit is the hospice’s seventh charity shop including the specialist bookshop in Stratford town centre The stores play a vital role in helping the hospice provide its services including the hospice-at-home care and the support and counselling it offers loved ones of people with life-limiting illnesses The Bidford store is open Monday to Saturday 9.30am-4.30pm Elisabeth Uggerløse is the parish clerk for Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council and has seen how the village has coped with the severe challenges of the COVID-19 crisis.She explains how the village's strong sense of community shone through during lockdown and how Bidford is carefully reopening and welcoming business once again  "Like all sorts of villages and small towns the people and businesses of Bidford found it difficult during the coronavirus pandemic "Many of our shops and businesses had to shut completely while some had to operate either a limited service or at reduced capacity what was amazing during lockdown was the incredible community spirit the village showed in helping its most vulnerable residents meaning there are plenty of people here who were at much greater risk if they were to become infected with COVID-19 "As many people will have no doubt experienced getting a convenient time slot for a grocery delivery was extremely difficult when the lockdown was at its peak it was wonderful to see how many volunteers from Bidford stepped up to solve this problem for those who needed the most help "They took grocery orders from vulnerable residents and delivered it to their door while obeying social distancing the town's volunteers made around 2,500 deliveries which is testament to the community spirit of Bidford would offer a takeaway service on Tuesdays and gave meals away for free to vulnerable residents too "Bidford's businesses have also lent each other a helping hand through the Bidford-on-Avon Business Forum on Facebook - an example of social media playing a positive role we will do as much as we can to help our many organisations in Bidford such as our sports clubs and voluntary groups A high number of these organisations would have made a lot of their money in the spring and early summer when everything was closed things are cautiously starting to reopen in Bidford A fair number of people are still a little bit nervous about coming out again and spending their money but we would encourage people to do so if they feel confident enough We are hoping to open our playgrounds again very soon and an outdoor theatre performance from a local amateur dramatics group will be coming to Big Meadow "The high street was struggling a little bit before COVID-19 hit us but this crisis has shown us how important it is to support one another "Now things are slowly starting to get back to normal it is time for Bidford's residents and its visitors to support the village even more by shopping locally while taking care at the same time but the village banded together during lockdown so Bidford needs to band together again as it comes out of it." Stratford-on-Avon District CouncilElizabeth House inspectors described the nursery as remarkable and added: “Children are greeted with smiles and enthusiasm by the staff with whom they have developed warm Ofsted also highlighted the nursery’s use of its outside area for play and learning saying it was “expertly planned and skilfully resourced” and allowed children to “develop important physical skills” Staff were highlighted as excellent role models which filters down to the children who were described as consistently polite and considerate to one another The report continued: “The inspirational manager and her dedicated team have a strong vision of what they want children to learn play-based curriculum that they have designed to reflect children’s developmental needs and personal interests “The curriculum is skilfully planned to ensure that children have vast opportunities to practise and embed each step of their learning across all areas of the provision.” There was also praise for the nursery’s SEND provision which allowed children to be “supported exceptionally well… and make excellent progress as a result.” Ofsted concluded that Willow Tree children “are exceptionally well prepared for their transition to school” CONCERNS are being expressed about the length of time it is taking for Warwickshire County Council to recover the £390,000 cost of repairing Bidford-on-Avon Bridge after it was severely damaged by a crop-sprayer The bridge — which dates back to medieval times — was partially destroyed in June 2015 when the agricultural vehicle crashed into a wall of the structure and sent masonry flying into the River Avon below The police decided no law had been broken and no charges were brought against the driver But the bridge had to be closed for several months while specialist repair work was carried out Closure of the bridge – particularly for such a long period – caused serious inconvenience to traders in the village and to motorists who used it on a regular basis The situation even led to local traders getting together and forming Bidford Chamber of Trade and Commerce as a body that could speak with one voice on their behalf As a result of the matter never being brought to court no-one has any idea what caused the accident it was generally assumed there would be no problem retrieving the cost of the repair bill from the driver’s insurance company because it seemed like an open-and-shut case the taxpayers are still waiting to get their money back A spokesman for Warwickshire County Council — which was the highways authority responsible for overseeing the repair work — told the Herald: “Warwickshire County Council solicitors are still in discussions with the other side “To reveal any further information at this stage could be prejudicial to the process keep you and your readers updated when an outcome is reached.” the chairman of Bidford Chamber of Trade and Commerce said: “I can’t understand why the insurance company are making a fuss about it "The farmer was not doing anything illegal and had an accident Plans to create a new village centre for Bidford have been revealed During last week’s Cabinet meeting at Stratford District Council a new Site Allocations Plan was presented to members detailing a number of interesting new development proposals in the district which still has to go through a number of hoops before it is adopted is seeking to safeguard a site in the heart of Bidford It says the land on Waterloo Road would include public space and a mix of retail the plan explains that while Bidford has seen significant growth in recent years it lacks the services and facilities of other similarly sized rural centres such as Alcester and Southam With the busy B439 running through the village the historic high street is separated from the newer residential and employment areas to the north The plan states: “The High Street is now on the southern edge of the village rather than at its heart “Whilst both the Core Strategy and the made Neighbourhood Plan rightly seek to strengthen the high street as a focus for retail Bidford-on-Avon lacks a civic centre directly accessible to the majority of its population It adds: “By focusing local facilities in a location where they can better be sustained helping to support a thriving local economy this proposal could also help to revitalise the historic high street as a destination for leisure related retail activities.” Only last month an application to build up to 50 affordable houses on the site of the proposed new village centre with Bidford councillor Daren Pemberton arguing passionately against the idea citing the loss of potential employment land in the village said: “This is something we certainly support we want to safeguard that land as a commercial site Since the 2011 census the number of houses in Bidford has grown by 36 per cent “We have to acknowledge that the centre of gravity in the village has moved but much of the housing has been built in the north Everything is a bit on hold at the moment because of Covid but we’d like to develop a bit of a café society at this new site.” TAXPAYERS are still counting the cost of repairing Bidford Bridge — more than two years after it was seriously damaged when a farm vehicle ploughed into it Warwickshire County Council has confirmed that it has still not recouped the £388,000 repair costs which it has already paid out to contractors Criticism has also been levelled this week at new efforts to stop overweight HGVs from using the bridge A council spokesperson said this week: “The claim made by Warwickshire County Council to the insurance company and their representatives for the costs incurred is outstanding “Many claims do take a long time to resolve particularly where there are significant amounts involved and issues which require specialist advice We are continuing to work to bring this matter to a conclusion.” There was widespread disruption locally during the six-month closure in 2015 while the bridge was repaired with diverted traffic causing problems in nearby villages with some reporting a 25 per cent drop in trade No action was ever taken against the driver who damaged the bridge after Warwickshire Police concluded that no offence had been committed and nobody had been hurt The driver had not exceeded the speed limit and the vehicle was not over the bridge weight limit said he was “surprised” the claim was taking so long Bidford residents have been vocal in their calls for HGVs Some residents even took to stopping offending drivers in their vehicles and reminding them of the weight restriction on the bridge The issue was also identified as a priority for local police for a time A county council survey into the issue last year concluded that significant numbers of HGVs were not incorrectly crossing the bridge but it did identify a pattern of movement for those that did Although locals had called for traffic calming measures to be introduced on the bridge such as cameras to spot those defying the weight limit the council decided a cross-border signage scheme would be most suitable That improved signage scheme was installed last month and its effect on traffic is currently being monitored by the council The scheme involves signs being placed close to existing industrial sites reminding drivers to use the council’s suggested HGV routes across the county Mr Marshall added: “If they really cared about saving the bridge they would find a way of preventing HGVs coming over it they could put up cameras or impose fines or something but it seems the council seem unwilling to spend any money on it “Every time a heavy vehicle goes over it can damage the mortar there’s nowhere to turn around so there’s nothing the drivers can really do about it There’s no physical barrier on the bridge or any width restriction that is actually stopping them.” Action to tackle HGV drivers who flout the ten ton weight limit on Bidford Bridge has been undertaken by Warwickshire Police amid heightened concern about the issue Earlier this month police carried out checks at the site to detect weight restriction offences The action will be welcomed by local residents who believe if the situation does not improve it is only a matter of time before the bridge is put out of action again In 2015 Bidford Bridge was closed for around six months after the ancient structure was badly damaged by a farm vehicle which crashed into its side The cost of repairing the bridge was £388,000 and local businesses claimed that the closure cost them thousands “the rest is silence” in Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare’s Birthplace closes for two weeks to catch up on conservation The team at Shakespeare’s Birthplace worked hard to clean out every damned spot from the collection in preparation for a new display about the mythology around Shakespeare the curator at the Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust about the conservation project and how it offered a chance to explore a different side of the legendary playwright This year we’re focusing on one particular narrative which is linked to the Falcon Inn chair. The folklore story is that a group of men known in Bidford-on-Avon challenged the men of Stratford-upon-Avon to a drinking contest People believed that the chair was sat on by Shakespeare while he drank at the Falcon Inn in Bidford-upon-Avon.  Apparently Shakespeare got a little bit worse for wear and he had to sleep off the effects overnight under a crab tree This legend became so prominent that the crab tree became a tourist attraction in its own right People would cut off pieces to take home as a souvenir Eventually there was only a stump left of this tree with a note attached to it from the person who was given it in 1824 We also have two new acquisitions in the display case one of which is a beautiful cross that was made of oak from Shakespeare’s Birthplace In 2022 we acquired a miniature version of the Falcon Inn Chair made out of oak from Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare was baptised We check that it could withstand at least a year on display because putting a chair of that age and that prominence on display is a risk in itself and also pollutants from traffic from being in a town – that can damage a piece of furniture We’ve cleaned it using a conservation grade detergent and that removes any dust that we can’t remove using natural fibre brushes.  We do ask visitors not to handle the furniture It’s just a risk of being a house open to the public We have thousands of visitors through Shakespeare’s Birthplace every year and if everyone touched the chair then the oil from their hands would build up to such a degree that it would damage the furniture we might have to clean up any oil deposits that have built up We might choose to put a coat of protective wax over the top as well to give it a little bit of extra protection We have to make sure that the interpretation is legible We take our knowledge of the collections for granted but sometimes you have to take a step away and put yourself in the visitor’s point of view We’ve chosen to display the chair on a plinth so that you understand that this is an object that is precious which you shouldn’t touch It makes people aware that this is a special chair We are in the second year of a three-year project about the Women Who Made Shakespeare and that’s given us an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve done in the past and our approach legends and stories focusing on Shakespeare from the 1700s onwards which is when you get a resurgence in his popularity People wanted to know more about Shakespeare as a man These mythological stories tried to make him as human as possible.   The Falcon Inn chair has been on display before It’s a new opportunity to tell a different story Most Museums Journal content is only available to members Join the MA to get full access to the latest thinking and trends from across the sector To say artist Fiona Parkinson is flying high with her art would be an understatement The Bidford-based artist sells her unique artworks made from sustainably sourced butterflies moths and other insects all over the world She has attracted much media attention too including an entry in the latest Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Ahead of opening up her shopfront studio on the town’s High Street the warm and friendly artist told Herald arts about her work over a cuppa Tell us about the family and how long you’ve been in Bidford We’ve been in Bidford about a year and we love it We were in Stratford before that but I’m from Sheffield I did my university and master’s degree in fine art at Lincoln and enjoyed it While on the course I taxidermied little mammals and birds before and then I got into this For one of my degree projects about ten years ago I did one of the little butterflies - it was a jigsaw one and put my first piece up online and sold it within in 15 minutes I actually learnt from Andrew Hales in Lincolnshire That was pretty amazing because he did his courses in a disused chapel in the grounds of his farmhouse There were all these taxidermied trophy heads on the walls above the pews I experimented with lots of different things at university I grew bacteria for art and magnified them and made them into prints – the microbes looked like big abstract pieces of art I’ve done quite a lot of things but the dissectology seems to be my thing and has grown into a bit of an obsession You use the term dissectology to describe how you cut and create your artworks from butterflies tell us about how you’ve perfected your technique A dissectologist is someone who enjoys doing and solving puzzles I find that creating something puzzle-like allows me to look at the puzzles in my own life Collectors have been pinning and preserving butterflies for years so certain techniques that I use have been well established I don’t give too much away about what I do – I get messages online especially from people who sell generic framed butterflies just asking me how I do it because they want to do it But I don’t tend to give it away because it’s difficult to find something that hasn’t been done before so I am a bit cautious of that It’s delicate to do and I have to do a lot of repair work – I’m holding my breath a lot of the time when I’m working I think I’d love a job in the Natural History Museum fixing the collections or something What pieces are popular with customers and who do you appeal to Because we’re online we’ve fallen into a few camps We’ve got people who are into Lepidoptery and taxidermy and that kind of thing And a fair few people who have just found us from an art perspective as well There’s a couple of people who are stocking a variety of pieces The next step is to make some larger pieces for exhibitions and things I’m making one at the moment that’s a spiral galaxy so there’ll be a lot more butterflies in it like 40 or 50 How many copies do you make of each artwork and what are the prices I do make ones that are the same but I limit it to about 50; I also do big unique pieces and work on commissions And we’ve started doing prints as well which are more affordable The sewing is new and it’s surprising how well that went down [delicate stitched messages on wings reading such things as ‘til death do us part’] I wasn’t expecting the response for that one What do you say when people ask about the demise of the butterflies and if it is cruel There’s always going to people that have a problem with it But to an extent the emotional response is what led me to working with the specimen They’re mostly bred in conservation projects all over the place and the butterflies only live a week or two – so they have died naturally Lots of people very strongly argue it is brilliant for the specimens because it means they increase in population and the indigenous natural population are protected Allowing local people to breed species endemic to where they live provides them with a source of income while also reducing poaching and the destruction of the natural environment Their colour is just stunning and their structure is so complex that scientists are studying them to develop holograms that can’t be counterfeited I also really love the death’s-head hawkmoth They were made famous by The Silence of the Lambs fluffy creatures when you look at them up close When and where: Fiona’s studio is open for the Warwickshire Open Studios event from 18th June to 2nd July. Find her at 24 High Street, Bidford, B50 4BU. More details at fionaparkinson.com A ROGUE trader who vastly over-charged an elderly and vulnerable Bidford-on-Avon resident to pressure wash her roof and carry out other unnecessary work has been handed a suspended prison sentence was sentenced to ten months in prison sentence ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court on Thursday to Fraud Act and Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations Offences It followed an investigation by Warwickshire Trading Standards an 80-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimers disease agreed to Birch undertaking work on the roof of her property the son of the elderly victim noticed that his mother had written two cheques totalling £7100 He asked her what the payments were for and she was able to tell him that it was for work to her roof The son was concerned and contacted Warwickshire Trading Standards who launched an investigation Officers employed an expert to examine the work alleged to have been carried out which included ridge tile repointing The expert concluded that the trader had vastly overcharged for work that had not been carried out properly and wasn’t in any case required Warwickshire County Councillor John Horner said: "Tackling rogue traders who prey on vulnerable Warwickshire residents is a priority for our Trading Standards team We will continue to take strong action against dishonest traders." Warwickshire County Councillor Philip Johnson chair of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee added:"Follow the advice of Warwickshire Trading Standards to help avoid rogue traders.” Adam Butler representing Birch said that his client had refunded the money to the victim He further stated that Birch had no formal building training or training to price jobs and had set up own business to provide for wife and children