Last Meetings Minutes

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LOCATION – Grange Farm School
DATE – 30/4/2026
PRESENT John Archer - Chairman, Councillor John Blundell, Mick Fitzpatrick - Treasurer, Councillor Mattie Heaven, Councillor Tim Sawdon, Heidi Elliot – Minutes.
Plus 23 members of the Association.
WELCOME – John A welcomed members to the meeting and thanked them for attending and supporting SGRA.
APOLOGIES – Sheila Weare, Babu and Kusum Mistry, Wendy Sneath, Ann Brown, Sathya Subramanya, Jayne Every, Walter Neal, Nagin Prajpati, Mark and Helen Hughes, Brian Croome, Bernard and Jane Every.
MINUTES – The minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2026, having been posted online and circulated, were accepted.
MATTERS ARISING – 118 Alpine Rise – John Blundell has some good news from the Planning office. All current applications for change of use of domestic properties to children’s homes have been put on hold. The flooding on coat of Arms Bridge road had drained away. Awaiting further rainfall to see if the flooding continues. Morrisons Daily continues to have stock problems. The manager says that Morrisons control stock available. Hexworthy and Bywater Road refurbishment needs the white lines to be repainted.
LOCAL POLICE UPDATE – No police attended the meeting. John Archer attended the PACT meeting on the 7th of April at St Martins Church. PC Tyrone stated that Police presence outside of the school was to be on 3 occasions am and pm. No evidence of this happening. A speeding car driving along Dewsbury during school hours was seen by John Archer speeding at 50 mph. John Archer to raise this at the next PACT meeting. A suggestion that speed humps could resolve the problem. The latest crime figures available for Wainbody/Westwood/Whoberley/Woodlands are for March 2026 totalled 394: 192 sexual offences, Criminal damage and Arson 31,Vehicle crime 30, Burglary 27, Other 114, this was the lowest in the City. 1 Galmington, 1 Easdale, 3 Hexworthy Shops, 2 Dewsbury reported crimes. The December figures were 278 and increased month by month. January 298, February 351, March 394. John Archer will ask at the PACT meeting what is triggering the crimes? Antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and speeding are the main concerns in our area.
COUNCILLOR JOHN BLUNDELL/COUNCILLOR MATTIE HEAVEN – 1 18 Alpine Rise – John Blundell had received a letter from the Planning office. All applications of this nature are to be more scrutinised. The Planning office and Social services are to work closer together. It takes 18 months to be registered with OFSTED to look after children and need to provide various evidence to the application. The house is now expected to be returned to normal occupancy and let out. The house is being refurbished currently
Councillors are to follow up on:
ANPR use on the estate. Flooding on Hexworthy Ave. A resident provided photographs of the problem. Gibbet Hill flooding. Coat of Arms Bridge Road resurfacing. Mattie stated that this was not on the planning register to be done. Complaint by a resident relating to the Brown fence erected in Stivichall Croft from the Blacksmiths Cottage towards the bridge. The owner of the Bridge cottage had pushed the boundary wall outside of its boundary. That the garage had been changed into a gym/home. The Meadow fence gate has been replaced by bollards enabling access by powered bikes and possibly travellers.
John Archer thanked residents for objecting to 118 Alpine rise as this was not appropriate for a children’s home. Manjit asked are speed humps totally ruled out on Dewsbury? Concerns were raised about electric silent cars and children using mobile phones. Rubish outside of 22 Barnack Ave and had been reported . The school caretaker informed us that contents had identified who the owner due to a letter in the rubbish. Mattie stated that people pay a company who then dump the rubbish. No owner’s name was made available to us. School headmaster was prepared to attend our meeting. This has yet to be arranged.
STREETWATCH – No update has been received. Anant is now supported by 4 residents and was seen walking along Baginton Road to Stivichall Croft to the meadow and then to Dewsbury. Mick took a photo of the team and will add it to the web page.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Finances –we currently have £1,2005.65. CBS Interest of £19.37 to be added. The School is to increase the session fee by £5. Facebook – Mick has posted details of the Bridge Cottage having views of 400. Website – The Elephant in the memorial park has been relocated to the Bowling Green in readiness for the Paddle Court development. Bollards have replaced the original fence in the Meadow. Concerns that this will enable powered bikes to enter. Views dropped by 20% in UK. Views increased in USA by 25%. The animal pound was on Facebook by Scott Duggins who remarked about the state of the pound and that the sign was unreadable. Mick sent him details. Parks department have not been involved for some time.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS – John was given a letter from the school finance department. An incremental increase as agreed with the school governors last May of £5 per session. Previous session fees £17.54, £22.54. Other venues charge significantly more. John Archer stated that this does not cover the overtime payment to the caretaker. Ann Duffy the finance manager is leaving. It is hoped that the new person sees SGRA favourably. John Archer congratulated Coventry football team on their success and that a tour of the City will be finishing at the Memorial Park. A reminder that Vaisakhi and a music festival will take place in the park at the weekend. Tim Sawdon wished us all well and that this would be his last meeting as a Councillor for 52 years. Councillor John Blundell stated that SGRA are one of the best resident’s association, well organised and kept the Councillors active.
The meeting concluded with the raffle.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday 4th June 2026 at 7.30 pm.