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Slow Ways Walking Routes
Have you heard of Slow Ways ?
It's an ambitious crowd-sourced, community-verified national walking network that connects all of Britain’s towns, cities and national parks.
Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, their mission is to make it easier for people to walk and wheel between places with a network of recommended and trusted routes is key to unlocking this - and we al have the power to help.
Citizens from across the country have already drafted 9,000 routes that stretch for over 130,000km (80,000 miles).
Now these routes need checking on the ground to make sure they are good enough for people to follow.
So far 1 in 5 Slow Ways have been checked and verified by people across the country. This is an incredible collective achievement.
We now need your help to scale-up our national effort and verify the whole the network. Each route requires at least three positive reviews and a survey for it to become part of the Slow Ways trusted network.
The aim is for every place in the network to be 100% checked. Once that’s happened we’ll have jointly created a national network that everyone can use. Every place in the network has a place page like Kimberley does, why not search for a local town here to see how it’s getting on?
The Withybrook Parish Council is planning to colaborate with our local Conservation Group to set up colunteer walking groups. If you would like to take part in this too, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To find out more information please visit the Slow Ways website.
Rural Crime Prevention
The very lovely Jack Deaves of the Warwickshire Rural Crime Prevention Police Department has been out to offer us some great advice on keeping ourselves protected from opportunistic crimes.
He describes effective prevention as being in layers. The more layers of protection we each have, the harder it is for them to penetrate and so the less likely you are to be targeted.
Here's some effective layers to add to your existing security (starting with the most obvious, but equally the most commonly relaxed);
> Lock your property and vehicles doors and windows, keeping vehicle keys in a cupboard out of sight and easy reach
> Put locks on out buildings and garden sheds
> Forensically mark your valuable belongings with something like 'SelectaDNA', 'RedWeb' or 'SmartWater' and place the relevant signage that comes along with your kit in obvious places as a visual deterrent. Or any other visible marker such as engraving, stensils, permenant marker pens and waterproof paint can act as a deterrent
> If you don't use a forensic marking kit, the UV pens or waterproof paints can help to identify any siezed goods. Painting your postcode on the roof of trailers/vans/horsebox is both a good deterrent and aids easy identification for the Police when using their drone
> Make an inventory and take photos of valuable items and tools so that any siezed items can be confirmed as yours and returned to you
> cctv with visual signage in obvious places
> Dogs, llamas, guinea fowl and geese are a fabulous sound alert deterrent (Llamas are apparently more agressive at night)
> Alarms to alert you to a trespasser on your property
> Alarms in out buildings to sound a loud noise, disturbing any intruders
> Join the village alert/notification group on 'WhatsApp Community' to keep immediately up to date. This is not a 'group chat' and does not display your details to anyone else within the group (staying in line with GDPR rules). Only the admin can post a comment. To join the group, text Vikki (Clerk) on 07518 974 966 and also message or ring her if you spot anything suspicious or have anything you feel is of benefit to our community
For those who keep horses, we have been loaned a tack marking kit for our parishoners to use. It effectively imprints your postcode into leather goods. Should you wish to borrow this kit, please message Vikki (your parish clerk) asap on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 07518 974 966 to arrange access.
Signing up to the Horsewatch community is also advisable as they have useful preventative signage and advice especially for horse owners.
For those who are on a Farm or Small Holding, we have some additional information and resources to offer. Please contact Jack Deaves on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange a visit. He is able to offer specific individual advice, signage and resources to assist.
New Community Notice Board for Withybrook
Following our recent meeting with PCSO Tony Winters regarding improving safety within the village of Withybrook, it was decided that we would trial a village wide alert & notification system.
Having looked at many available options, the best and most easily accessible option was clear! WhatsApp.
The way this Notice Board will work is this;
- A WhatsApp 'Community' group has been created
- To join the group, click on the 'invite' link here. Or message Vikki (Clerk) on 07518 974 966 and she will send you a link to your phone.
- The group complies with all GDPR rules
- Within the WhatsApp Community Group, members can only see themselves, the admin (Clerk) and any other contacts that are already within their own phone contact list. All other member details are unavailable
- Any villager can notify Vikki the Parish Clerk on 07518 974 966 of something they wish to put out to the village. The Clerk will then add that notice/alert to the group as soon as possible
Notices can be anything relevant to the village or villagers, such as notifying others of;
- a suspicious vehicle or activity in the area
- a break in or burlgary in the area
- a road closure
- a village event
- Parish Council news or reminders
- a village service or trade (although not used for adverts or spam)
- or anything else you might feel is relevant (e.g. box of free surplus apples at the end of the drive, etc)
NOTE: The Clerk and other moderators (Parish Councillors) reserve the right to refuse to share a message based on what is deemed to be 'appropriate' and within GDPR rules.
A5 Road Closures Planned;
Letter recieved from National Highways; As follows:-
NOTIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL SAFETY DRAINAGE MAINTENACE WORKS A5 Soar Brook Culvert
I am writing to let you know that we will be carrying out essential drainage maintenance works to the A5 at Soar Brook Culvert.
During our scheme of work, we will:
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clear all vegetation
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repair drainage system, installation of a new headwall and safety barrier
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reinstate verge
When will the work take place?
This work has now been re-scheduled with revised dates now due to start on 8thMarch 2023 and is scheduled for completion by end of April 2023.
Please note that all our planned roadworks may be subject to change due to weatherconditions or unforeseen circumstances.
How will the work affect traffic?
To keep our programme for these works as short as possible and to minimise disruption to the local community, residents, businesses, and road users we will work under full carriageway overnight closures between 8pm and 6am, Monday to Friday.
Some elements of the work will require full weekend closures from 8pm Friday to 6am Monday and these have been programmed as follows;
• Friday 17 March to Monday 20 March 2023 • Friday 24 March to Monday 27 March 2023 • Friday 31 March to Monday 3 April 2023
We will also have in place a contingency midweek closure planned for Tuesday 2 May to Thursday 4 May 2023 to cover any unforeseen circumstances due to weather or clashes on the network.
There will be a temporary speed limit for the duration of the whole scheme from 50mph to 40mph. Also all Lay by’s within the work extents will be closed 24/7.
During these closures fully signed diversion routes will be in place, which have been agreed with the Local Authority.
How will the work affect traffic?
During these closures, fully signed diversion routes (please see below) will be in place, which have been agreed with the local authority. All carriageways and slip roads will be open as usual outside of our working hours.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and will do our very best to complete the work as quickly as possible, keeping disturbances and noise to a minimum.
Contact us
If you have any questions or if you would like further information about this work, please contact Leanne Gibson our Public Liaison Officer, as follows:
• Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. • Telephone: 07568 605103
Time to get walking again!
With Spring on its way we start to think about getting out to walk in the beautiful English countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks?
John Harris is part of a team who manage a website filled with walks across the country says;
"There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Warwickshire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you."
Walking in Warwickshire https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/warwickshire has loads of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place.
With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.
So home or away, check out the websites and get walking!
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