Emily Davies

A drive to prevent suicides in Shropshire will see the launch of a new information card later this year.

Changes to rates relief will save Shropshire Council almost £300,000. But councillors have allayed fears that it will impact village halls as previously feared. The unitary authority’s cabinet approved the changes last week. Cllr David Minnery, portfolio holder for finance, stressed it is aimed at “businesses masquerading as something else”. He continued: “I must stress that this is not being done as a means of finding more money or making savings or anything of that nature; it is a three-year review. “We have no intention whatsoever to change the position that village halls find themselves in, but the changes that are being proposed will affect a small number of potentially sports clubs or large scales activities going on in communities where there is a suspicion that maybe they are not operating on the same basis as those that are genuinely entitled to relief. “There is no target set here; it is a matter of being fair to everybody.” The scheme allows the authority to award rates relief and discounts at its own discretion, including charity shops investing in the community and some social enterprises. Under the changes only enterprises where directors are not remunerated would qualify, along will sports clubs registered as being community amateur organisations, and top-up relief for housing associations. Currently it costs £1.2 million across the county with the taxpayer funding 49 per cent at a cost of £574,000. Cllr Peter Nutting, leader of Shropshire Council, added: “Village halls will not be affected by this decision. They will continue to get 100 per cent rate relief and that needs making clear.” A consultation on the changes to rates relief launched last week [DEL July 5] and is available at shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved until August 15. The policy will then be brought to full council on September 20 before a fill review takes place in the autumn ahead of the 2019/20 financial year.

A pledge to increase visitor numbers to Shropshire libraries has been made. Figures revealed last week confirmed more than 111,000 fewer people visited the county’s libraries in 2017/18 compared with the previous year – a drop of almost 11 per cent. It continues a long-term reduction in library visits. But Councillor Lezley Picton, portfolio holder for culture and leisure, said Shropshire’s library teams are already working on ways to bring people back. She said: “This is part of a national trend where the number of people visiting libraries is decreasing. “But what this report doesn’t show is the significant increase in digital loans. One of the major issues is the number of young people who are securing their books via a digital version.” Digital loans allow library users to download a book to their mobile phone, tablet or computer. But they can do this without needing to enter a library. Cllr Picton explained that she is in discussions with organisations to look at how visitor and loan figures can be increased which would involve introducing facilities in library buildings or offer library services in other facilities. She continued: “I am not unduly concerned about the drop in people visiting because the overall numbers have actually gone up, but it is one that we are all struggling with. “Our numbers are not dropping as fast as other libraries, and our librarians and library teams are looking at other ways to encourage people to go into their libraries, but digital is the way of the future.”

A consultation on closing some family hubs across Shropshire has had a “mixed” response, according to a senior councillor. The six-week discussion was launched at the end of May to look at withdrawing Early Help services for children under five and their families from 20 sites across the county in a bid to save £875,000. It has included several public information sessions at some of those venues, giving people the chance to speak to Shropshire councillors and officers. Cllr Nick Bardsley said some had been well attended, while others had not. He continued: “It has been very mixed. I have been to two and I am sure there have been others where nobody or not many people attended. “But then in Wem on Monday it was packed and it was a really energetic and lively event.” As part of the proposals the centres at Richmond House and Crowmoor, both in Shrewsbury, The Centre in Oswestry and Rockspring Community Centre in Ludlow would be retained, along with centres in Whitchurch and Bridgnorth at locations still to be confirmed. Services would also be provided from community venues and home visits, and under the proposals could be extended to support children and young people aged up to 19, and up to 25 with disabilities or special educational needs. But it would mean some redundancies. With just days to go until the consultation closes, Cllr Bardsley is urging people to have their say. He added: “I have said to everybody, the more people who take part the better. “If responses come in a week after the closing day then I’m not going to mind, although it would be better if they could meet the deadline. “And if they would rather write or email instead of using the online survey then that is fine as well. “This is an open discussion and we welcome new suggestions – it is not just a paper exercise and I am very keen to hear people’s views. “Not all suggestions will be practical, but with previous consultations we have had some really helpful suggestions.” Cllr Bardsley said a report with the results of the consultation will be produced in September. The consultation is available at shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/early-help-family-hubs-strategy

COME ON Oswestry, you can do better than this. You went to some trouble to put up a plinth for local war hero Sgt Harold Whitfield - but fell at the last hurdle. As reader Sara Cox of Whittington pointed out in her scathing last week letter to the Advertizer, Sgt Whitfield was awarded the Victoria Cross for extreme bravery in 1918. But the plinth doesn’t even start to tell of his bravery.

A major revamp may be on the way to a town centre building in Whitchurch.

A major development at a garden centre near Whitchurch has been given the go-ahead.

A feast for all the senses returned to Whitchurch over the weekend as it hosted the annual Food and Drink Festival.

The sun came out as Richard Kay took the bragging rights in the second round of the North Shropshire Wheelers 10-mile time trial series last week.

Malpas players took part in the Chess Rapidplay tournament on Sunday.