Regular readers will remember that PC Andy Whitehall and his police colleagues organised a very succesful community litter pick at the beginning of the year. Well, it was so succesful that there have been numerous requests for another . So here’s advance notice that the next litter pick will take place on Saturday 21st June. Meet in Market Square at 10.00 a.m.

If the last event is anything to go by, there’ll be dozens of folk turning out. Come along and spend an hour or so tidying up the town. Everything is provided but don’t wear your Sunday best!

As I walked into town this morning I was amazed to see our ‘Streetscene operative’ - Kev to you and me! - proudly cleaning the street with a brand new Green Machine! OK - so it isn’t a ’sit on’ machine and Kev does have to push and steer it - but it’s better than him having to keep the town clean with just a litter picker and brush!

Although he was feigning indifference, I’m sure he’s actually rather taken with it! He was eager to show me the various bits of kit including a suction hose - so we should see fewer cigarette ends around the town. With flashing orange lights and a bleeping siren we should all know where to find Kev in future!

Yesterday afternoon I spent a very interesting hour or so with the working group which has been formed by the Town Council to decide upon the way to create a wildflower meadow on Crown Meadow.

We’ve had the meadow inspected by an expert who has recommended that we create ’scrapes’ and sow or plant wildflowers that thrive in damp and boggy conditions around the edges. We had to decide how to do the job. We could simply buy seed and scatter it hoping that some of it would germinate. Or we could buy lifted ‘clumps’ or, better still, pot grown specimens. Obviously there is quite a diference in costs so we decided to make some more enquiries particularly with regard to coverage.

We then became engaged in a lengthy debate about the ethics of planting a fritillary meadow. This had been suggested at an earlier stage but when we were told that fratilleries did not exist in their natural state as far north as Stone the majority of the group thought that to plant them on Crown Meadow would create an artificial environment. So fratillaries will remain in gardens and only idiginous wild flowers will be seen on Crown Meadow.

It is hoped that work on the scrapes can be completed in time to sow and plant later in the season.

Two or three times a year, the Common Plott trustees organise a Sunday morning community working party. Teams of volunteers set to and carry out maintenance projects such as hedge planting, fence and gate repairs and cutting back weeds and shrubs. Janet and I have been helping out for many years now and we always enjoy these events.

Yesterday was quite an event! PC Andy Whitehall had brought along a dozen or so lads and lasses from his Reel’em In fishing project and there was another dozen or so helpers to help Adrian, the Plott keeper, to tackle some major jobs.

Andy took some of his team off to plant trees in the woodland whilst the rest of us tackled the cutting down of overgrowing trees on the bottom path. Three chain saws were in operation at one time and were having a job to keep up with the speed at which we were clearing the branches away! By the end of the morning two very large areas had been cleared much to Adrian’s delight. The clearings will allow fresh growth and will encourage wildlife, insects and butterflies in the summer.  

I’ve known for a long time that there are many people who quietly go out on a regular basis and carry out litter picks in their own area. There’s a gentleman who cleans Nannygoat Lane every day and another who keeps Granville Terrace and the footpaths into town clean. I also know of a couple of others who regularly walk over Crown Meadow with a plastic bag which they fill within minutes. I do my little bit in Oulton Road.

But the interesting development has been the knock on effect of the community litter pick a couple of weeks ago. Last night I went to a concert in Hanley and had a lovely conversation with a friend from Airdale Road who wanted to know when the next litter pick was being held. She’d been speaking to a friend who also wanted to get involved. And since that Saturday she’d been out on her own and had collected over five bags of litter on one occasion!

And on Thursday evening I walked to a meeting in Newcastle Road and used the footpath across the railway line off Station Approach. There in the dusk I came across a couple who’d also taken part in the litter pick and had decided to try and clear up this particular path in their own time!

Clearly litter picking is becoming contagious! The combined effect of the work of these unsung heroes is already being noticed. The town is definitely looking tidier. Let’s hope we can encourage even more people to do the same. Copngratulation and keep up the good work!

Stafford and Rural Homes have done a magnificent job on the Priory Estate over the last couple of years and Julie, the kingpin of the whole scheme, willl shortly be moving on to her next project in Stafford. However before she leaves, she arranged a walkabout yesterday so that any outstanding issues could be logged and action authorised.

A handful of councillors (yes - unbeknown to one of my colleagues - part of the estate is in my ward!) and a couple of residents followed Julie around the estate looking for ’snags’ to list on her clipboard. The fact that she was unable to complete one full side of paper must be testament to the brilliant job she’s been doing. A bit of graffiti here, a broken fence panel there, a couple of small painting jobs requiring completion - but nothing very serious. Apart from the ongoing issue of the fence alongside the Cricket Club. Apparantly there is a longstanding dispute as to who is liable for repairs - and whilst the argument goes on, the fence remains an eyesore and, in my mind, a potential danger. Julie has undertaken to try and get the Borough’s legal department on the job as soon as possible.

The whole estate is really looking good now. Stafford and Rural have spent a great deal on refurbishment of the housing stock and the improvement is so obvious. New roofs and windows must surely be making for a more comfortable life for the residents. And new garden fences and tarmac parking spaces certainly improve the outward appearance of the estate as well. Well done S&R and Julie, in particular.

As part of the public art project being sponsored by Groundworks, the canal tow path contractors, invitations have gone out most Stone schools, churches and voluntary bodies to each produce a tile. Which is why this morning Jill Hood and I, wearing our Food and Drink Festival hats, went along to the Youth Centre to make a tile depicting the logo. When I arrived I was amazed to find dozens of children and their parents plus repreentatives of local groups all busy transferring their designs to tracing paper and then onto soft clay tiles.

Some of the designs were wonderful! Several of the youngsters had drawn canal pictures, others had drawn local landmarks and one six year old had designed a tile solely depicting our Farmers’ Market. His mother explained that he just loves the Farmers’ Markets each month - and I thought we only appealed to the more mature customer!

Jill and I (well, it was actually all Jill!) created our tile which will now be fired and brought back next week for painting prior to its final firing. Then I do hope that all the tiles will be affixed to a suitable piece of artwork - not the proposed seat which I and many others consider inappropriate, unoriginal and downright ugly. But that’s another battle!

Today the final surface was being rolled flat on the tow path above Star Lock and I guess that the barriers will be removed later today. There is still a small stretch of work to be done below the Star but we are not far away from the whole scheme being completed.

Thanks to funding from Stone Market Town Initiative and British Waterways, the tow path from Workhouse Bridge to the end of Westbridge Park will be smooth tarmac, new moorings will be available alongside Westbridge Park and disabled access created into the park. A new winding point will also allow craft to turn below the lock thereby saving many thousands of gallons of water.

The only outstanding item will be the installation of signage. Following a meeting earlier in the week when the details for Information  Boards and Direction Signs were agreed, I am confident all signs will be in place well before the boating season starts in a couple of months time.

I’m sure the completed project will be much admired by townsfolk and visitors alike and will encourage more visitors to stay longer in the town.

I’ve attended many funerals at Stafford Crematorium and, like most people, have often wondered what exactly happens ‘behind the curtain’. Well, today I was able to find out. Borough councillors were given the opportunity of a guided tour and very interesting it was, too.

The ‘crem’ is about to undergo a major refurbishment to lift it out of its 1960’s decor and to improve the facilities for the bereaved. The work is to be carried out over the next few months in a phased timing designed to ensure no disruption to services.

The ‘working parts’ were extremely interesting and surprisingly clinical and clean. I’m not sure what I was expecting but I came away very impressed with the procedures. Open Days are held each year so if any member of the public wishes to ‘do the tour’, look out for the advertisement.

This afternoon I took a trailer load of garden waste up to the Household Recycling Centre in Opal Way where I was assisted by the usual gang of very helpful and polite assistants. Our brown wheelie bin was already full as Jan has spent the last few days in the garden clearing up ready for the Spring.

After the lads had helped us to unload, they handed us a leaflet setting out new opening times with effect from 31st March. The major change is that the site will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (not Wednesdays and Thursdays as now). However on the days that Stone is closed I note that the Stafford site in St. Albans Road will be open.

And throughout the summer (i.e. until the end of British Summer Time) on the days when the site is open, the opening hours will be from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Janet had not seen the site before and was extremely impressed. She has been saving our empty Tetrapacs (fruit juice cartons) and was delighted to find a recycling bin solely for them! I can see more trips are in store!

Following the success of last week’s community litter pick, a handful of town councillors decided to do another litter pick today to clean up the Wharf car park. The town council rents this car park from British Waterways and it’s been a bit of a disgrace for a while now. Cleaning up areas of the town last week has only highlighted the need to ‘get our own house in order’!

So this morning, Jan and I joined Mark and Kristan Green, Jill and Steve Hood and Karen Wyatt from the boatyard. Between us we collected over twenty bags of litter from around the perimeter and, by gosh, the difference was noticeable.

I’m a bit worried that litter picking might be addictive! Mark Green now wants to attack the area around the A34 and the entrance to the Whitebridge estate next week - and I jumped at the chance to join in! Do you think I should get out more often?!

As a member of Stafford Borough Council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee, I heard an update on the new recycling and refuse collection  arrangements at last night’s meeting in Stafford. We were given a presentation showing the results of the first two week’s operation and very impressive it was too! Recyclables are up 66% and garden waste and cardboard up over 50%. And if these figures are maintained Stafford Borough will jump up the ‘league tables’ for recycling from fairly near the bottom up to among the top three authorities in Staffordshire. Of course there have been teething problems (including an unanswered complaint from me a fortnight ago!) but it looks as if most issues have been sorted. I was pleased to hear that all the new vehicles had been delivered and that the difficulties around Stonefield Park were being resolved.

And I am fairly confident we may be able to persuade an officer from the Borough - and perhaps one from the County - to come to Stone and give a presentation at a public meeting. I explained to the committee that I had been asked by several people what happened to all the different recycled materials after they had been collected and that I felt there were many who were genuinely interested in recycling and would be interested in learning more. The reaction was positive so I intend to follow up the idea. Watch this space!

I never cease to be amazed by the community spirit in this town! Yesterday morning about forty folk turned up at ten o’clock in the the Market Square to go around the town to pick up litter! Young people from the Reel’em In fishing group, more lads from the Right Stuff boxing project, founder memebers of the Den, members of Stone Lions and Stone Ramblers, Town Councillors, PC Andy Whitehall with his sergeant and PCSO’s and several members of the public - all eager to tidy up the town.

And a couple of hours later a mountain of full bags began to rise in Market Square! Squads of litter pickers had ‘attacked’ the church yard and Church Street; Stafford Street and the banks of Scotch Brook; the footpaths at the back of Bromfield Court and surrounding shrub beds; paths around Morrisons car park; Crown Meadow; and nooks and crannies all over town.

And the end result was over 150 bags of litter taken away in the Streetscene lorry! What a fantastic event. The young folk really enjoyed themselves and everyone who took part wants to do it again! I’m sure Andy Whitehall will be up for it! Congratulations to Andy for all the organisation and a big Thank You to Martyn Corfield of the Good Food Chain who has agreed to pay £1 per bag to the Right Stuff and to The Den, Stone’s new youth cafe. And a really big Thanks to everyone who took part.

Hidden away in a previous posting, I mentioned that PC Andy Whitehall was arranging a Community Litter Pick involving the young people who are involved in his Reel ‘Em In fishing and The Right Stuff boxing projects.

The litter pick starts at 10.00 am this Saturday in the Market Square and everyone is welcome to take part. Martyn Corfield of the Good Food Chain has agreed to sponsor the event by paying £1 for every full bag of litter and he will also be providing sandwiches for those taking part.

I’ve spoken to several members of the public who are going to turn up so I’ve a feeling it’s going to be a great event. Come along and help to keep our town tidy.

I’ve just received an email from the Borough Council reporting on the progress of the introduction of the new blue bins. Yesterday the scheme had been in operation for nine days and already there has been an increase of 105% in dry recyclables in the blue bins and a 60% increase in the collection of garden waste. Quite impressive!

And they also point out that until Biffa take delivery of their new fleet of vehicles, paper and recyclables are being collected together. However they are separated at the depot.

Whilst this is positive news, I am receiving comments that suggest that there are many people who still are not too happy with the change. A lot of people seem to object to rinsing out tins, bottles, jars and plastic containers. I really don’t understand this. We’ve always done it - it is so easy and prevents any possible danger of smells. As far as I’m concerned, the new scheme is a great success. If you don’t agree, get in touch and let me have your comments.

Reading the front page of last week’s Newsletter, I was taken aback by the headline “£14,000 spent on Whitebridge marina survey”. Oh no, I thought, just like London buses, you haven’t got a single marina one moment and then the prospect of three being built takes place within weeks! Planning permission has already been granted for one south of town at Aston and there have benn hints and rumours that the Borough Council are about to announce plans for another in Westbridge Park. Surely there’s no demand for a third at Whitebridge, north of the town? But no, all’s well. The Newsletter was confusing Whitebridge with Westbridge and the story itself was all about the Borough Council paying consultants to see whether a marina in Westbridge Park is a practical proposal.

Apparently the results were positive and the Environment Agency has approved the report subject to ‘flood defence work’ being carried out on the canal. This is good news. There have been so many rumours about what is going on behind the scenes about future developments on Westbridge Park that it is reassuring to actually hear some hard facts. We all know that there have been several surveys over the last couple of years (the latest only a couple of weeks ago) at a cost, on my calculation, of over £50,000. It’s time we we were told what’s going on!

For some reason, the issue of litter in the town seems to have been raised in numerous conversations and situations over the last few weeks. Litter has always been near the top of the list of complaints but the current debate seems to have started a couple of weeks ago when the Stone Post, one of the freebie weeklies, carried a front page story with two large photographs showing two areas of litter. Interestingly, in one of the photos there was clearly visible a large bundle of what appeared to be free newspapers that had thrown away, presumably, by a delivery person!

The thrust of the story was that ‘the council’ had failed to clear up the litter and a couple of residents were quoted and gave the totally false impression that Stone was knee deep in litter. I am in no doubt that both photos showed litter on private property and, for that reason, are not part of our town’s street cleaner’s duties. I do accept however that the land owners have a responsibility and I have received numerous complaints that our major supermarket could do more to keep it’s premises more litter free. I agree.

I was quoted in the story as saying that the street cleaning machine had been off the road for repairs but was expected back within days. Indeed, by the time the Post hit the door mats, the machine was back in action! But, imagine my despair when a couple of days ago a recovery vehicle entered the High Street and winched the machine on board. Yes, it’s broken down again. This piece of equipment seems to have spent more time off the road for repairs than it has in use. It’s high time we had a more reliable machine so that our street cleaner could do the job he’s employed to do. It is unrealistic to expect him to keep the town clean on foot with a hand held litter picker.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Yesterday Jan and I took Jan’s daughter for a good walk over the back of Redhill to Cotwalton and back home. We started by walking along Nanny Goat Lane and I am delighted to report that there was not one piece of litter along it’s whole length from Longton Road to The Avenue. Not even a cigarette end! Now I know that this is due entirely to at least one volunteer litter picker (and maybe more) and what a fantastic job he is doing! And I am aware of anther volunteer who keeps Granville Terrace neat and tidy. I do my bit in Oulton Road between Princes Street and the school and the Lions regularly litter pick the canal towpath and the amphitheatre. Are there other litter pickers out there who regularly keep their neighbourhood tidy?

However within a few hundred yards of leaving Nanny Goat Lane, we encountered the bad news. The litter along the path between Mill Street and Church Lane is awful. Perhaps this week I might have a word with the manager of Morrisons to see who owns the land in question. It’s an eyesore and needs to be dealt with.

Which is a timely reminder that PC Andy Whitehall is organising a community litter pick on Saturday 23rd February starting in Market Square at 10.00 a.m. Andy is bringing along a group of young people who want to join his boxing training club, The Right Stuff, and, true to his word, he is insisting that these lads take part in community activities in return for free boxing tuition. Members of the public are also welcome to attend and a good turn out of town councillors is expected. And I am delighted that The Good Food Chain from Walton Business Park have offered Andy sponsorship and free rereshments for those who take part.

It’s good to raise the profile of the litter issue. It is, of course,  a national issue and Stone does not have a major problem. But we must keep tackling the issue. And involving the younger generation is an important part of the package - instilling a sense of civic pride is essential if we are to educate people not to drop the litter in the first place.

Perhaps the meeting on the towpath today will be the last! I had hoped that today we would achieve a consensus as to where the ‘artwork’ (see my previous posts) would be positioned and what form it would take. Sadly, there were as many different opinions as persons present so I’m not sure how this will all turn out!

Perhaps I’m a cynic but I got the distinct impression that this belated consultation exercise is actually a bit of flannel. We discovered that the three ’selected’ schools had already had their workshop and had already produced over a hundred tiles to be used in the artwork. Whilst funding had now been obtained to arrange a further workshop for the schools previously left out, the artist let it be known that he already had enough tiles to do the job!

And as to the shape of the artwork itself, the artist appeared to be adamant that he was going to create a seat - despite the fact that the only point most people present were agreed upon was that we definately did not want a seat.

Oh well, perhaps I’m just in a grumpy mood today!

A couple of days ago I wrote about a rather disappointing meeting organised by Groundworks, the company carrying out the canal improvement scheme on behalf of Stone Market Town Initiative and British Waterways. Well, it is obvious that my views were shared by several others because yesterday I was asked to attend another meeting - and what a difference!

Instead of just three schools being involved, Groundwork are now hopeful that an invitation can be sent to all Stone schools and many other local groups and organisations in the hope that they too might wish to take part in the scheme. This is a major breakthrough and answers many of the criticisms raised at the first meeting.

We also discussed the location of the piece of artwork and a proposal of a different location was received with interest. Obviously, others need to be consulted but I came away feeling a lot more optimistic. We have another meeting arranged for next week when hopefully firm decisions will finally be made.

I received an email this morning from the Senior Waste Management Officer this morning telling me that the new blue recycling bins are going to be delivered in Stonefield and Christchurch ward over the next week. And, a couple of hours later as I was delivering the lunches for the Age Concern Luncheon Club, I drove past three very large lorries loaded high with the bins in Newcastle Road.

The introduction of the blue bins and the associated fortnightly household waste collection has been rather controversial, to say the least. Personally, I don’t think it will cause Janet and me any major problems. We are avid recyclers and compost everything compostable anyway. I do however understand the concerns especially of large families. This is clearly an issue that will need to be carefully monitored.

The email from the Borough Council did state that if anyone has any queries they should contact the Council’s Customer Contact Centre on 01785 619873

In the same envelope as the Christmas refuse collection details was a leaflet announcing that the new Blue Bin scheme will commence on the 4th February 2008. The new blue bins will be used to collect all dry recyclables in one bin. There will be a caddy for paper and all other items will be placed in the bin. This includes plastic food containers and plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars and steel and aluminium tins.

The introduction of the blue bins will also herald in the ‘alternate week collection’ arrangements for the green household waste bins. For ‘alternate week collection’ read fortnightly! I am personally in favour of the new scheme. There is no doubt that in areas where such schemes exist, recycling rates are considerably higher. And I have yet to see any hard evidence of problems with vermin or smells.

Obviously I shall be monitoring the introduction of the new scheme. I’m sure lots of people are going to be baffled by the three different coloured bins -  blue for recyclables, brown for garden waste and cardboard and green for household waste - and different collection dates. The Borough Council still has a lot of work to do to educate and inform residents.

All residents in the Borough will have received details through the post this week about the revised arrangements for the collection of refuse over the Christmas period.

Just in case you have mislaid the letter amongst the cards and wrapping paper, I am copying the arrangements here for you. Further details are on the Borough Council’s website.

Gosh - was I cold! John Moss had asked Jill Hood and me to meet him on the canal towpath yesterday morning so that we could meet a couple of people from Groundwork, the firm carrying out the canal improvement scheme, and Phil Hardaker who has been commissioned by Groundwork to produce a piece of ‘community artwork’. So, for the best part of an hour and a half, we walked the towpath and shivered!

Phil has  produced various examples of similar work and was looking to us to provide some ideas about the town’s history and heritage. He plans to involve local groups, businesses and schools in producing ceramic tiles depicting various aspects of Stone’s past and future which he will then use to produce a suitable piece of public art. I think we were able to give him a few of our thoughts and ideas. It sounds an interesting project.

Whilst we were on the canal-side, Jill and I went to see how Groundwork were getting on in Westbridge Park. They only started work this week but already they have excavated for the new path down to the towpath from the path beside the tennis courts. This will provide pedestrian and disabled access from Westbridge Park to the towpath.

Four years ago I was asked by Stephen Gay to propose that the Town Council investigate the possibility of building an identical path and put down a member’s item for debate. The then controlling Tory party, led by Cllr. Mike Carey, voted my suggestion down. Today I pondered how much more the path was costing due to a four year delay!

The whole canal project will cost £340,000 - two thirds funded by Advantage West Midlands through the Stone Market Town Initiative and the rest by Stafford Borough Council, British Waterways and the European Social Fund- and will involve the creation of additional moorings by Westbridge Park, a turning point south of Star Lock, new linking footpaths in Westbridge Park and to the anglers car park, towpath resurfacing and lighting under Star Lock Bridge. Hopefully all work will be completed by the beginning of the season in March 2008.

As I drove into town this morning, I thought I would just drive into the new car park to see whether it was being used by many motorists - only to be greeted by a group of residents from Bromfield Court and a huddle of Council officers and employees.

The officers were there to decide what was needed by way of shrub and hedge planting now that the contractors were off site. This was good news in view of the fact that I am very concerned at the loss of the main hedgerow. I was told that there would be interplanting with new hedge species and that the Bromfield Court boundary would also be planted with native species to fill in the gaps. I just hope the available budget will allow a full and proper planting scheme to be carried out.

Whist this news was welcomed by the residents, they were very concerned at anti-social behaviour which had taken place over the weekend. Obviously the young folk of the town have latched onto the fact that the new car park is an ideal area for skate boarding. Large, smooth,  downhill pieces of tarmac are perfect for the skaters but, sadly, they bring other problems with them. Damage to the borders and retaining wall, drinking of alcohol and urinating in public were all witnessed by residents. They called the police who responded very swiftly but the residents are naturally concerned that this sort of behaviour will become the norm.

I agreed to contact the Borough Council and request that signs be erected to prohibit skateboarding. I also agreed to ask the CCTV control room to monitor the car park from the two adjacent cameras and to  record any incidents. I was pleased to hear from one of the officers that the four lights on the Bromfield Court boundary were to have timers fitted so that they switched off at night. And I promised to speak to the police to ensure that the car park was visited on a regular basis.

We held our very first Farmers’ Market during our first Food and Drink Festival in October 2005 - in beautiful sunshine. And we have held monthly Farmers’ Markets since January 2006 - all in dry weather. We once had snow early one morning and we’ve had strong winds - but we’ve never had rain! Looking at the weather forecast last night I was convinced that we were going to lose our record today but -no! We had black clouds and at one point there was a sort of moisture in the air but no rain! Our record is intact!

And today’s market was the biggest yet  - 29 marquees housing over 40 stallholders many of whom had sold out by lunchtime. Although the market bookings are handled by Jon Webb, the Borough Council’s Market Manager, Stone Food and Drink Festival play a very large part in promoting the market. We put up banners and information boards, place ‘A’ boards around the town and issue press releases on a regular basis. Jill Hood and I are around the town on Farmers’ Market days ‘networking’ with the stall holders and generally making ourselves available to sort out any problems. Judging by the continuing success of the Market we must be doing something right!

Stone’s Farmers’ Markets are held on the first Saturday of the month (except January) in the High Street and Market Square.

On Thursday the contractors were rolling the last of the tarmac, yesterday they were painting the white lines - and today the extended Christchurch Way Car Park was open for business! Just in time for today’s Farmers’ Market.

An extra 70 parking spaces in the town will surely be welcomed by traders and shoppers alike - but many will wonder why it’s taken the Borough Council ten years or more to get this work done. However much I welcome positive news, I am very concerned that the original plans appear to have been disregarded in that large sections of the hedge between the new car park and the footpath have been ripped out - despite the plans showing the hedge as “to be retained”. And surely there should be a fence erected in the border to protect the remaining hedge from being damaged?

The good news, however, is that no charges are being imposed until January 2nd next year - an early Christmas present to our shoppers! Coupled with the no charge on Saturday afternoons until Christmas announced by the Borough, Stone is obviously the place to come to for your Christmas shopping!

That’s what my wife told a telephone caller I was doing this morning. What she could have explained is that I am a member of the Borough Council’s Public Appeals committee and that we were hearing two appeals against the making of Tree Preservation Orders.

Before hearing evidence the committtee normally carries out a site visit to view the trees in qusestion and today we traveled in a minibus to the far northern reaches of the borough. We travelled to a site north of the Blythe Bridge bypass and to another in the Dairyfields in Trentham - sites which most people would have guessed as being in Stoke-on-Trent but not so!

So having looked at all the trees in question we returned to Stafford to deliberate.  And all the business was transacted before lunch.

But lest anyone should think that I’m about to take David Cameron’s advice - don’t worry! I only looked at the trees - I didn’t hug any!

Stone’s new £1 million Household Recycling Centre was opened to the public this morning. The need for such a facility has been obvious for years but finding the right site has always been the problem. However,  having  seen the facilities on offer today,  I’m sure the waiting has been worthwhile.

The site will accept almost every type of household waste and I anticipate that it will become very popular - particularly at weekends! No more trips down to Stafford with my trailer! The site is well signed off Beacon Road on the Stone Business Park.

Opening hours are between 9 am and 4.30 pm but the site is CLOSED on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The site is operated by Staffordshire County Council. For further details on recycling visit www.recycleforstaffordshire.org