Last Meetings Minutes
LOCATION – Grange Farm School
DATE – 5 March 2026
PRESENT John Archer - Chairman, Councillor John Blundell, Mick Fitzpatrick - Treasurer, Councillor Mattie Heaven, Councillor Tim Sawdon, Sheila Weare – Minutes Secretary.
Plus 24 members of the Association.
WELCOME – John A welcomed members to the meeting and thanked them for attending and supporting SGRA.
APOLOGIES – Ann Brown, Judith and David Cule, Heidi Elliott, Jayne Every, Walter Neal, Dianabasi Nkantah, Jane Oakley, Jane Parfitt, Pratibha Reddy, Manjit Singh, Wendy Sneath, Sathya Subramanya, Lynn Thomas, David Whitelock, Paul Woodcock.
MINUTES – The minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2026, having been posted online and circulated, were accepted.
MATTERS ARISING – 118 Alpine Rise – following the submission and deferment of the planning application, Tim Sawdon advised the meeting that all children’s homes are currently ‘on hold’ to enable planning officers to hold discussions with children’s services. If the application is eventually approved, the landlord will then be required to liaise with the police, the fire service and the Council. In addition, Ofsted require the submission of monthly reports. John and Mick have spent some time trying to find reports for 3 Cornwall Street but cannot find anything online. John A thanked members for highlighting what could potentially be a hazardous situation for vulnerable children. 18 Dewsbury Avenue – there is nothing further to report. School Streets – following David Keaney’s visit (Coventry City Council) to our February meeting, it is apparent that Grange Farm is not suitable for inclusion in the scheme as there is no other location where the cars could park. Styvechale Grange residents are custodians of the public green spaces so it is unlikely a car park could be created on any of the green areas on the estate. SGRA has received a lengthy outline of the school streets scheme, including the criteria for inclusion. A Deputy Head at a school in Leamington who attended our meeting advised that he and the Head Teacher regularly patrol outside their school and we have received a copy of the bright yellow notices they hand out. They also include the children and the PTA in their considerations. At the PACT meeting in February, a PCSO who had worked with schools in Birmingham advised that the police are keen to help us and agreed to patrol outside Grange Farm and, if necessary, issue parking tickets. They are happy to liaise with Grange Farm School. Coat of Arms Bridge Road has been seriously flooded recently, perhaps due to blocked drains following excavation for cable work. Following the permanent closure of the water feature at the War Memorial Park, an accessible multi-use games area and a new children’s play area is to be developed. The Council are providing a 15-year lease to developers to provide 4 Padel courts.
LOCAL POLICE UPDATE – The latest crime figures available for Wainbody/Westwood/Whoberley/Woodlands are for January 2026 and totalled 298: 142 Violence and sexual offences, 31 Other theft, 25 Criminal damage and arson, all other 100. Styvechale Grange had only two offences reported, one in Barnack and one on Kenpas Highway. Dial 999 for urgent calls and 101 for non-urgent offences.
SpeedWatch – our local police can carry out SpeedWatch using a radar speed gun. A community SpeedWatch can also be arranged, although SGRA feels these are probably ineffective due to the advance warnings we are required to give.
COUNCILLOR JOHN BLUNDELL/COUNCILLOR MATTIE HEAVEN – 118 Alpine Rise – John confirmed that Grace Goodman (Planning) had advised that all children’s homes are currently ‘on hold’ to enable planning officers to hold talks with children’s services. 3 Cornwall Street, Hillfields – this address provides for adults and therefore reports to Ofsted are not necessary. Flooding in Coat of Arms Bridge Road (Earlsdon Ward)– John has spoken to Coventry City Council who have promised to clear out the gulleys and display flood warning notices at both approaches to the affected area. The problem could have been caused by previous ground works. He will follow this up, as the flooding persists. School Streets – the ANPR vehicle had been off the road for some time – it is the only one covering all Coventry schools. John will request a copy of the schedule of visits the vehicle has made. Mattie thinks it would be advantageous for Councillors and SGRA members to meet again with the Head Teacher of Grange Farm to ascertain his thoughts and see if we can assist him in any way, so that a solution to the parking problem may be found. Mattie has been involved with an air-pollution- outside-schools study but the degree of pollution outside Grange Farm was acceptable. Tim Sawdon commented that the problem is exacerbated because many of the children live outside the catchment area. Potholes – Mattie reported that due to an unusually wet January combined with the cold weather, there had been a huge increase in the number of potholes reported. It is essential that these are repaired quickly and properly. Our Councillors had highlighted savings in the Council budget which could be allocated elsewhere. All homes will receive a new food waste bin by September 2026 because food currently being put into brown lidded bins contaminates the garden waste. Local elections will be held on Thursday 7 May 2026.
STREETWATCH – No update has been received. SGRA is grateful to the team for helping to keep our area safe. Mick referred to an email just received from West Midlands Police via Neighbourhood Alert concerning an aggravated burglary in Leasowes Avenue. The incident is being investigated. John A will enquire at the next PACT meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Finances –we currently have £1,192.63. Facebook – Mick has posted two items on Styvechale Grange history which has increased the number of views from 182 to 548. Website – this has received 341 views, including from Bangladesh, Iraq, USA, China, Germany, Vietnam, Brazil and 105 from the UK.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS – several advance notices of road closures have appeared in Hexworthy, Bywater and Arnold Avenue. This is part of the highways improvement programme. SGRA members are concerned for the future of Morrisons Daily as empty shelves and the lack of basic food items are being reported. This is disappointing after such a strong start. SGRA is the only outside organisation to use the school hall so cannot share the rental cost with anyone else. King’s Hill – this development could adversely affect Styvechale Grange. A copy of a flyer will be posted on SGRA website. 4,000 houses are planned with potentially 8,000 vehicles but there is no detail about the infrastructure, schools or medical facilities. Tim Sawdon advised that these may follow once some of the houses are built. It has already been agreed that the No.9 bus will serve the new development, which could cause timetable difficulties for Styvechale Grange. There has already been damage and removal of hedges and a tree. Details of the Masterplan can be viewed in Finham Library. John B wants to ensure that a vehicle weight restriction is brought in for Green Lane. The deadline for submission of residents’ comments is midnight on Friday 27 March 2026. Finham Parish Council is holding information sessions on Tuesday 10 March 2026 in St Martin’s Main Hall, 10 am to noon and Friday 13 March 2026 in St Martin’s Fellowship Room 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm. Coventry may well incur expenditure from which Warwickshire will benefit. All primary schools in Kenilworth are reported to be increasing the number of pupils. Styvechale Open Gardens - Sunday 7 June 2026, 12 noon – 6 pm, a possible 21 gardens to visit. See SGRA website for more details.
The meeting concluded with the raffle.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday 23 April 2026 at 7.30 pm.