17th May The agenda for next week's Planning and Open Spaces & Cemetery Committees can be seen from the above link. 16th May Three cancellations have been received for Upton in Bloom's coach trip to the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday 20th May. If you, or anyone you know would like to go on the trip, please ring me on 592336. The latest newsletter from Upton Customer Service Centre (the Hub) can be seen from the above link. 15th May Upton upon Severn will be judged in the Heart of England in Bloom Large Village Category on Friday 6th July. Upton Primary School's eco-greenhouse is in the Worcester News. A link from the Upton in Bloom link above. 14th May 'Think Local in Worcestershire. Wherever you live Think Local really means people coming together to do things for themselves.' A WCC web page with information on meetings (none in Upton as yet), questionnaires, and other information from the above link. Several of the riverside flood gates were installed today. 11th May The latest Primary School newsletter can be seen from the above link. The latest What's On from MHDC TIC is available from the above link. A press release and link to photos from the Environment Agency has updated the information about the fish stranded on the Ham. What a great job the EA have done in rescuing so many fish. 10th May The latest newsletter from Citizens Advice can be seen from the above link. 8th May The Environment Agency have released a statement and picture of the fish stranded on the Ham. A link above. Warning - I just received an email, ostensibly from Paypal. I sent it to spoof@paypal.com and they have confirmed it was a phishing attempt. The subject of the email was 'Update to the User Agreement, Privacy Policy & Acceptable Use Policy.' The EA managed to save a lot of large fish stranded on the Ham when the flood receded. Well done to all of them. The latest newsletter from Upton Primary School is available. 6th May Some pictures from the Folk Festival today from the above link. There is only a small stretch of water left in New Street lane. The road is very dirty. I think it is a shame that the ditches haven't been cleaned out for many years as the water has to soak away rather than draining into them and flowing away. 5th May Pictures from the Folk Festival from the above link. The New Street flood gates have been opened and the entrance to the Hanley Road car park is clear, athough still water beyond it. 4th May From the Folk Festival Committee: "Unfortunately our Emergency camp site is FULL. We have plenty of festival tickets but are not able to provide any more camping." The Primary School's Eco-greenhouse was officially opened by the Mayor this morning. A real community effort coming to fruition thanks to help from a lot of people. Some pictures from the Upton in Bloom link above. The MHDC Events List has been updated and can be seen from the above link. 3rd May Hanley Road opened during the morning. 7.30am Hanley Road is still closed although the water has gone from the road - it may need cleaning. The river level has dropped overnight. 2nd May The river level has dropped slightly during the day. 4.30pm Hanley Road is still closed. Highways have been reinforcing the fencing across the road, and the Police have been in attendance. The latest newsletter from Pepperpot Players is available from the above link. Information on the emergency camping arrangements for Folk Festival are available on their website. The link to the website is at the top of the page. 8.00am I've added a couple of pictures of the Hanley Road gauge. The road is still closed. 1st May 6.30pm Hanley Road is now closed. Fencing in place, as someone who ignored the sign at the roundabout found out when he got to Pool House. The results of the Upton in Bloom 100 Club draw can be seen from the above link. 5pm Hanley Road is in the process of being closed. 3pm Hanley Road is partially flooded by the cottages. Traffic getting through on one side of the road only. The glass panels are being installed between the Plough & Kings Head. Work continues despite the flood. I've added pictures of the work, and flood, to the riverfront flood defence link above. The river has come up overnight - the rise can be seen from the above link to pictures of the gauge on Hanley Road. 30th April I've added a couple of videos of the Amphicar in New Street lane to the 'Flood pictures' link above. 20.00 STOP PRESS - Upton Folk Festival is ON. "Thanks to the generosity of a local farmer we have the offer of an alternative field as the sports ground in Upton is likely to be un-usable. This is about a mile out of Upton and we will be organising a complimentary bus service over the weekend. Watch the web site for further details." 15.00 An important notice regarding contingency plans for the Folk Festival has been put on their website. The poster at the top of the page goes direct to the notice. I had a ride in New Street lane in David Chapman's Amphicar today. I'll upload a video later. Thanks David! Charles Delf, of Countrywide Stores is cycling to all Countrywide stores over 12 days, aiming for 100 miles a day, raising funds for Riding for the Disabled, which is Countrywide's Charity of the year. On his first day, accompanied by John Hardman (CEO of Countrywide) Charles cycled from HQ in Evesham to Defford and then Upton. More information on Charles' route and a picture from the above link. The water has reached the New Street gates. The contractor's compound in HAnley Road car park is flooded. The HR gauge is showing a large rise in the river. Under the bridge is covered with water. The river is against the wall by the MV Conway Castle and a large pump is working from the 'dry side'. All the openings for the gates are blocked to prevent water coming through. Some pictures from the above link. 29th April 15.30: The New Street gates have been shut even though the water is still at the far edge of the entrance to the car park. The gauge on Hanley Road shows only a tiny rise since this morning. Updated pictures from the above link. No alerts or warnings on the EA website. New Street lane now has 'Road closed' signs although the water hasn't moved much. The car park entrance is still well clear. The river level gauge on Hanley Road shows the river has risen about two marks since yesterday. Under the bridge is still dry. (And to the driver of the campervan that drove through the large puddle on Hanley Road and completely drenched me, I do so hope you get a puncture.) The contractors are working today. 28th April Although there aren't any warnings for Upton, I've added a link to the EA flood warnings page for interest. At about 3.30pm, New Street lane was flooded from the rear of Hanley Road car park. The river is quite high, although a long way to go before it overflows it's banks. There is some water in New Street lane, but tarmac is still visible beyond it. 27th April The latest newsletter from the Environment Agency has been added. Upton Primary School's newsletter is available from the above link. The time capsule was buried today and included various items from today, and historical ones. A link above. 26th April The latest newsletter from Rev Geoffrey Moore can be seen from the above link. The vandalism to fences & trees has been reported to the Police. The incident number is 22CC-26851K-12 if you can help. 25th April Next week's agenda for the Town Council Hall & Finance Committee meeting is available. The agenda for the Annual Town Meeting can be viewed from the above link. There is a lot going on in Bushley on the weekend 16th/17th June! More information on the Calendar. 23rd April A press release from the Environment Agency about a time capsule to be placed in the riverside flood defences can be seen from the above link. Some new pictures of Bluebell Farm Bed & Breakfast from the Accommodation menu. On Friday morning, Upton in Bloom and Friends are going to the nursery at Twyning to help plant our hanging baskets. If you would like to help, please contact me so I can give you directions. 22nd April The agenda for next week's Town Partnership open meeting can be seen from the above link. 21st April The International Space Station (ISS) can be viewed over Upton for the next few nights. A link to the times above. 20th April Hannah Jones from Upton upon Severn, has won the Petplan Equine Elementary Restricted Championship of the Petplan Equine Area Festival Finals on 19th April; held alongside the NAF Winter Dressage Championships at Hartpury Arena in Gloucestershire. A press release from the above link. Upton Primary School's newsletter is available from the above link. The MHDC Events List has been updated and can be seen from the above link. 19th April Worcestershire County Council are holding a consultation on 'Think Local in Worcestershire'. Individuals, member of community groups, representatives of a parish, town or district council or from local businesses are welcome to take part. A link above. 18th April The agenda for next week's Town Council meeting is available from the above link. 17th April Apparently use of certain words to do with the Olympic Games have been copyrighted. A link above to the information in case anyone is unwittingly breaching copyright. Someone has been vandalising fences and newly planted trees around the Sports Field. Firstly, the new fence between the Sports Field and the farmer's field used by the bund contractors was cut from top to bottom. Now, the new fencing between the same field and the footpath which runs along the side of New Street has had a length cut out of it, and the stile to access the footpath has been sawn off. The majority of the young trees have had most of their branches cut off. This includes three large disease-resistant English Elms which were planted at the Fire Station end of the Sports Field, and the fruit trees planted between the Old Street car park hedge and the bund. A pictures of the remains of the Elms from the above link. Two new additions to the site - Number 24 Old Street and The Little Gift Box. Links to both are above. 15th April Charles Cornelius Dempsey, known to many as Neal Dempsey, was born on 15th June 1934 and died on 13 August 2005. The story of his life, written in his own words can be seen from the above link. The last chapters refer to his life as a Police Officer in Upton upon Severn. 13th April Following correspondence with Severn Trent, they have had their land in Hanley Road car park tidied. More information and pictures from the Upton in Bloom link above. The MHDC Events List has been updated and can be seen from the above link. 12th April The latest news from Pepperpot Players can be seen from the above link. 11th April St Richard's Hospice are holding two charity collections; one on Saturday 21st April and the other on Saturday 28th April. They are in desperate need of as many volunteers to help out with this collection as possible. Each volunteer collects for only an hour, they collect their bucket and tabard from our Hospice shop (on the High Street), then it's just a case of positioning themselves anywhere along the High Street. If you can help, please ring Lizzie Brazier on 01905 763963, or call in at the shop. The agenda for next week's Open Spaces & Cemetery Committee meeting is available from the above link. An announcement from Upton in Bloom about The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Rose Bed from their link above. Some interesting information on Bank Holiday working from the latest Citizens Advice newsletter. The Friends of The Upton Jazz Festival are holding a Senior Citizen's Tea Party as part of Upton's celebrations for The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. More information from the above link. 10th April The Environment Agency are advertising a range of jobs in the Midlands. A link above. The MHDC Events List has been updated and can be seen from the above link. A history of the Drum & Monkey (The Rose and Crown) at Newbridge Green, by Simon Wilkinson, can be read from the above link. 9th April As in many other parts of the country, Upton has a problem with dog owners not clearing up after their dogs. The Town Council have discussed the ongoing problem again and this has been reported in an article in the Malvern Gazette, which can be seen from the above link. If you see anyone offending, please inform the Town Council. 8th April The presentation of Upton Marina's 4 Gold Anchor Award took place yesterday. A press release from the above link. 7th April Upton in Bloom's Giant Easter Egg draw takes place at 12 noon outside the old HSBC bank. Tickets will be on sale beforehand. 5th April The April newsletter from the Environment Agency can be seen from the above link. 4th April The latest 'advertorial' from MHDC can be seen from the above link. The Drum and Monkey at Newbridge Green closed a while ago following a leak of kerosene in the cellar. Unfortunately, it appears the problem was not resolved and a notice has been seen in town about the ongoing problems. 'The last beat of the Drum' can be seen from the above link. Approved minutes from last week's Town Council meeting are available from the Town Council menu. 3rd April The latest newsletter for Easter from the Ref Frances Wookey is available from the above link. The results of Upton in Bloom's 100 Club April draw can be seen from the link above. 2nd April A list of regular events and courses at Upton Library can be seen from the above link. 1st April A few local residents are undertaking challenges for charity, so I've put them in their own area above. All are very worthwhile charities and good luck to the participants.