Community engagement works at its best when council and community have the ambition to improve and evolve. Sometimes the council leads a process, asking for input from the community and at other times the impetus for change comes from residents with the support of the council.

We do rely on the observations, suggestions and enthusiasms of people and we regularly ask you what we can do to best improve this area. In one instance, the restoration of the flower tubs in our area began with an email from a resident. The Council was pleased to support the campaign and has reinstated the refurbished tubs.

There is a lot of hidden community activity in the area and this Council would like to acknowledge the people who are good neighbours. These are residents who do the unseen things such as picking up a discarded piece of litter, to those who organise weekly community activities. By being active in the community these people are improving the lives of all who live here.

Meriden Parish Council own two red telephone boxes in Meriden Village Centre and Millisons Wood. The community of Millisons Wood is semi rural, on a bus route, but without shops or other public amenity. The parish council decided to utilise the telephone box as a first response station and installed a defibrillator with the support of WALC’s grant scheme for community projects. Because the telephone box is owned by the parish council and the electrical supply was live, it was an easy fix for our local contractor to run electrical checks and install the defibrillator. It is a welcome addition to the local community with many positive comments received including a local resident who is an NHS Coronary Nurse offering to be a “First Responder” and deliver free training to residents who wish to be included as “Responders”. As we come out of Covid lockdown and our community buildings re-open, we look forward to setting up training sessions for the local community. Additionally X2 Connect the only BT approved reseller of K6 Payphone Kiosks, has registered our telephone box location for the Millisons Wood defibrillator on a map from around the world.

Thank you for everyone that turned up for the litter pick. The rain stopped for us! We had Councillor Diane Howell join us along with 3 children from Meriden Primary School, Volunteers from Woodlands View, Barbara Bland Clerk to Meriden Parish Council, local residents and 1 dog. We collected 11 bags of rubbish from Maxstoke Lane, Meriden Gate, Hampton Road and around Meriden Pool in just over an hour. Thank to Budgens Meriden for the children’s refreshments

Cllrs Weaver, Woollard and Hughes met to put together a plan to engage the young people in our community. Watch this space for more news …

Meriden Parish Councillors and Clerk attending joint Parish Council and SMBC conference on Climate Change where we heard an update from the leader of SMBC Cllr Courts and conducted workshops on action we can all take together.

Meriden Speed Watch headed by Cllr Jon Barber with the help of local volunteers have carried out numerous watches over January and February at various locations in the paris. So far over 60 letters have been sent out by the poice warning drivers of there speed.

Cllr Weaver and Cllr Barber putting up new signs warning of Covid-19 around the sports park and play area.

The allotment site at Mulberry Gardens, Leys Lane, managed by the Parish Council comprises 14 plots. Many allotment holders are longstanding and therefore plots rarely change hands. However there is currently full occupation of allotment gardens with 3 people on the waiting list for plots.

Please contact the clerk to register your interest in being placed on the waiting list.

Lead volunteer from Meriden Action Team delivering food boxes at Christmas 2020 to vulnerable people.

Barbara Bland the parish clerk receiving our certificate for winning silver in heart of England in Bloom.

Barb Bland the parish clerk receiving her certificate for achieving the silk award certificate in local council administration.

Poster showing Meriden receiving the award of best to village in Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom 2014

Public engagement session in the pavilion showing the public the plans for the new biomass plant at Cornets End Lane.

Photo of the parish clerk, Solihull’s Mayor and Carole Webb the lead resident, showing off the certificate of winner of Solihull neighbourhoods in bloom 2015 first prize.

Local Meriden residents who won certificates For their hanging baskets and floral displays in Solihull neighbourhoods in bloom 2015

Poster of second prize certificate in the village category won in Solihull neighbourhoods in bloom 2016

Participation with Meriden primary school eco-group planting containers with plants for the village. Other local residents helping the children.

Re-enactment for commemoration of 100 yrs of World War One April 2016 Organised by the Parish Council it also included a field hospital from that time.

Participation With the Parish Council by a company offering ‘payback’ to their local community. Weeding and cleaning up Meriden Pool was a very successful day

Keys for the new Sportspark and Pavilion being handed over from David Wilson homes to Rosie Weaver, chair Meriden Parish Council.

Employees of Newlands Bishop Farm putting in the new planter made by them into the sports park.

Employees of Newlands Bishop farm completing the new planter in situ

Pupils from Meriden primary school helping plant new trees and hedgerows married in pool with the Parish Council and the pool volunteers

Pupils from Meriden primary school helping to plant out the memorial poppy with dovetail representatives and Carole Webb the lead volunteer designer.

The parade from Saint Lawrence church Meriden to the memorial and books well Road on Remembrance Sunday.

Rosie Weaver Chair of Meriden Parish Council at the ceremony of receiving her British Empire medal with the Mayor of Solihull and the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire May 2016.