News & Updates

We have a few exciting updates at the Practice. We recently welcomed Dr Ruth Oldroyd as our Senior Partner following the retirement of Dr Beresford after 27 years as a GP. Dr Oldroyd is not far behind having joined us here in 2001 and is about to celebrate her 23rd...

The Armed Forces Outreach is designed to provide help and support to all military personnel, veterans and their families. Working with the service charities and organisations, the outreach assists and facilitates for the purpose of ensuring that current and former...

West Mercia Police are promoting the use of early intruder alert systems and trail cameras for rural victims of crime or those wanting to protect their property/field sites which is traditionally hard to do. Trail cameras must be well hidden from view as criminals...

Being a member of Rural Watch can help to protect you from crime as you can access security advice and information, which will help you to keep your property safe. As a member you will receive information on farm, rural or equine related incidents and incidents from...

Shropshire Council has now launched a consultation into the future of the School Library Service, with schools and members of the public invited to share their thoughts.    In Shropshire, the School Library Service (SLS) operates as a traded service, which schools can...

Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a ticket fraud awareness campaign, warning people to be alert to fraudsters trying to catch out people planning for popular and sold-out events. Last year more than 8,700 people reported...

Residents in the Shropshire Council area will need to show photo ID to vote in the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) election on Thursday 2 May. This will also be the case for the next general election, for the local elections in May 2025, and for any...

The Wem Branch of the Royal British Legion are celebrating 100 years of the service with a parade and they are looking for  a few more volunteers to help marshall the road closures. Please get in touch if you're able to help with their parade on Saturday 27th April....

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recently launched the next phase of their loneliness campaign activity, as part of the Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign. This follows the success of last year’s national campaign which encouraged young...

Wem Rural Parish Council would like to invite you to attend the Annual Parish Meeting. This is your opportunity to meet other parishioners and local councillors and to raise questions, matters of current concern or future ambitions for the Parish. The theme for this...

Data from Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, shows that 22,530 people reported that their online accounts had been hacked in 2023, with victims losing a total of £1.3 million. How are accounts hacked? On-platform chain hacking This is...

The number of “Nuisance” calls has risen in recent years from 21% to 40%, and according to OFGEN, nearly 40% of Scams start with a phone call. These scams involve fraudsters trying to gain your personal and financial information, and are often referred to as...

With February breaking records as one of the UK’s warmest and wettest, it’s clear that now is not the time to slow the pace of action. The Great Big Green Week, taking place in just three months’ time, will be a chance for communities across the country to come...

It's Village Hall Week this week and is a great opportunity to share the vital role that village halls play in local communities. Edstaston Village Hall has some major developments over the last few years - with more exciting projects to come and to help celebrate...

Election of the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Mercia Police Area Latest Time for Submission of the Election Addresses of Candidates to the Police Area Returning Officer 12 noon on Friday 5 April 2024. Candidates in the Police and Crime Commissioner...

Several Parish Councillors and local residents met on Saturday 16th March for the Big Spring Clean Event. They picked up litter from Edstaston, The Lowe, Horton, Ryebank, Lowe Hill and Ossage Lane and a BIG thank you goes out to everyone that helped to clean up our...

On 10 February a public lecture was delivered in the Church of Ss Peter and Paul, Wem; repeating a lecture before dignitaries in The City of London on 18 January. This article sets out some of what was spoken into the record at that event. ________ A recent lecture...

West Mercia Police, Shropshire Council, Shrewsbury BID and Shrewsbury Town Council have collaborated on a campaign to make the streets of Shropshire safer for women and girls. Autumn 2022 saw the introduction of Town Rangers, Taxi marshals and Quarry security, and the...

Members of the public are being warned to be on their guard against criminals claiming to be from the police in a scam known as ‘courier fraud’. Courier fraudsters will attempt to convince people they are legitimate police officers, often claiming to be from the...

Young wildlife photographers and artists are urged to showcase their skills in a popular University Centre Shrewsbury competition for the chance to win top titles and prizes presented by an award-winning naturalist, TV producer and author. Entries are now open for the...

Wem Rural Parish Councillors have been out and about meeting lots of the parishioners to hand deliver the previous edition of the Rural Review in order to save costs on postage. Apologies if your home was missed due to the bad weather. This was a great opportunity to...

Readers of previous editions of Rural Review will have seen reports of WACA activities before. The main aim of Wem Area Climate Action is to is to work with individuals and groups to develop local knowledge and awareness on practical steps to reduce our contribution...

After being closed for over 14 months, The Horse and Jockey pub at Northwood finally re-opened its doors in its new incarnation as a Community Pub just in time for Christmas.    Upon hearing the pub was to be put up for sale in October 2022, a community...

If you’ve been to Edstaston Village Hall you will have seen our lovely extension (completed in June 2022) with its accessible automatic entrance door leading to a lobby and through into the bright extension to the main hall. Bifold doors open out onto the new patio...

As promised in the Autumn Rural Review I donned my walking boots and warm clothes and have completed 4 of the walks around Wem that the Parish Paths Partnership have both repaired and documented. All of the walks I did start and finish at the Co-op car park and apart...

Wem Rural Parish Council is committed to supporting local community groups and each year it runs a Community Grants Scheme and is inviting voluntary organisations and community groups to apply. Application forms can be downloaded from the Wem Rural Parish Council...

Every year Parish Councillors and Volunteers meet up to pick up litter from areas within the parish. This year they will be meeting at The Lowe Noticeboard on Saturday 16th March at 10am. Bin bags and litter pickers will be provided. Please wear high-viz clothing if...

The Winter edition of the Parish Newsletter, Rural Review is ready and being delivered to households in the parish. The latest issue contains stories of the Chair's walks in the parish, the litter-picking event (The Great British Spring Clean), information about the...

Would you like to nominate someone for the 2025 BBC Radio Shropshire Make A Difference Awards? The deadline for nominations is Sunday 10 March 2024. It’s very simple and quick to fill in the form and say why you are nominating this person or group of people. All the...

Shropshire Council’s Affordable Warmth & Energy Efficiency team have seen an alarming rise in cold calling and canvassing by companies offering free energy efficiency improvements. If you or someone you know is in doubt about a letter or a call you or they have...

Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin NHS are working to improve cancer care services for the local population through the implementation of their Integrated Cancer Strategy 2022 - 2027. To help with this aim and to ensure that the patient voice is at the centre of...

NHS searching for volunteers to help ensure local people are involved in service changes Do you have the skills and qualities to support the local NHS to ensure it properly involves local people in service changes? Do you have an awareness and understanding of the...

The NHS and the Government have published a plan to recover NHS dentistry setting out a major new focus on prevention and good oral health in young children, and an expansion of dental workforce. Healthwatch Shropshire, the local health and social care champion has...

After being closed for over 14 months, The Horse and Jockey pub at Northwood finally re-opened its doors in its new incarnation as a Community Pub just in time for Christmas.    Upon hearing the pub was to be put up for sale in October 2022, a community...

Wem Rural Parish Council would like to invite you to attend the Annual Parish Meeting. This is your opportunity to meet other parishioners and local councillors and to raise questions, matters of current concern or future ambitions for the Parish. The theme for this...

Healthwatch Shropshire has analysed GP appointment data released by the NHS. The data was a snapshot of the appointments offered during August 2023 by all practices in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin (STW). It covers the number of appointments offered, waiting times...

With darker nights still upon us, we are sharing some simple ways to protect your home.   Popping out of the house? Close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you’re only going out for a few minutes! Double-lock any door Make sure that any valuables are...

It's been brought to our attention that the noticeboard in Barkers Green has been damaged and is now need of a replacement. Wem Rural Parish Council are currently considering whether this may be an opportunity to relocate the noticeboard or whether to keep it in it's...

The Council is committed to supporting local community groups and where possible, financially.  The Council invites applications on an annual basis with deadlines published in the Rural Review. It was agreed at the January Parish Meeting to open the 2024...

We had an extremely busy year at the cemetery in 2023.  Many thanks to Wem Rural District Council for kindly supporting us with a community grant, which helped us to make such amazing progress.  It is hugely encouraging to our hard-working team to be...

We have enjoyed an inspirational afternoon at the Horse & Jockey planning our International Woman's Day event on Friday 8th March in Wem.   We spent the time talking to solicitors, councillors, artists and business women about their experiences whilst...

  The UK is now in the grip of a cold plunge of Arctic air which has moved in from the north across the whole of the country. The northerly airflow is also bringing very cold conditions for all, with snow showers for some areas at times. A number of National...

The High Sheriff’s Outstanding Young Citizen Awards, which this year is being organised on behalf of The High Sheriff by Shrewsbury Colleges Group is now open for nomination. Now in its eighteenth year, the awards are a great way to showcase and celebrate the many...

Like councils up and down the country Shropshire Council faces a very tough financial position and needs your help in shaping some difficult decisions that lie ahead.  Nationally councils face a £4 billion shortfall over the next two years, while one in five councils...

"Rural crime has an impact that is more than just financial. It can make people feel isolated and unsafe, affecting the wellbeing of individuals and communities. As commissioner I want you to be safe and feel safe. We are fortunate that our communities across...

Wem Rural Parish Council, along with other partners, are hosting an International Women's Day on Friday 8th March 2024 at Wem Town Hall. This global event happens very year and is about raising awareness of gender equality. There is also a theme for every year and in...

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can...

Shropshire Suicide Prevention Action Group are asking organisations and partners to help promote the support available throughout the Christmas and New Year period, for those who are struggling to cope or know someone who is. The festive season can be a difficult time...

Whether you celebrate a big family Christmas, or you just give out a few cards to your friends and neighbours to wish them a happy time, here are some quick tips for a greener Christmas! Buying gifts can be a challenge at the best of times, but don’t panic! Making...

This winter, the NHS is encouraging people to get to the help they need by using NHS 111, and we want to remind you of the window stickers that are available to order. This is part of the partnership with the NHS to encourage people to use 111 online or call 111 when...

Here's some tips on how to protect your home this Christmas. In the unlikely event that you do experience a burglary then don't forget to report the crime to West Mercia police.      

During December, a month when people often celebrate festivities with their family, friends, loved ones, and community, we want to encourage our supporters and members to reach out to their neighbours and say hello. For some, December’s colder weather and longer...

Would you like to help keep your community safe, get some exercise, and meet new people? West Mercia Police aree looking for more volunteers to join the Street Watch scheme!   As a Street Watch volunteer, you will walk your local streets in groups and provide...

Together, we want to keep Shropshire a healthy and happy place to live. We want you and your loved ones to feel good and have everything you need to stay healthy. In Rural Wem and your community, we care about what you value and what makes you feel healthy and well....

The annual Crime and Community survey is now available. The survey is in its fourth year, and you can share  your views on crime, community, and your experience of Neighbourhood Watch. The survey is open to everyone across England and Wales, regardless of whether...