Madeley Matters May 2003

Madeley Matters

Madeley Matters

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Special 4 page insert

May 2003

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Dear Editor, I was very pleased to see your article on the subject of waste recycling in South Telford. I, too, have wondered how long it would take for our local council to get around to providing us with the same service as in the North of the town. After all, we are paying the same taxes. About a year ago I telephoned Malinslee House on the same subject and after the usual run around I got the stock reply, “We are planning to widen the service in the future after evaluating the present scheme”. I would urge the Parish Council to do all that it can to persuade the Telford & Wrekin Council to extend the service to South Telford. The future of our environment relies upon measures being taken now to recycle and not to bury our waste.

Landmark Trees of Madeley Green opposite Russell Road: Sycamore Possibly 70 to 75 years old, planted around 1930. This tree stands where ponies once grazed. Russell Square: Horse Chestnut Could be between 130 and 140 years old. Possibly planted in the 1860’s. Was it planted at the junction of Russell Road and Park Avenue to celebrate an anniversary of Queen Victoria? It would have been a large tree within living memory – did you collect conkers from underneath it? Victoria Road/Shelsey Court: Copper Beech Could be 120 years old, planted in the 1880’s. Was it once within the garden of The Villa? Gypsy Lane (behind Coronation Crescent): Lime This tree may be 150 years old possibly planted in the 1850’s The trees were aged by measuring the circumference of the trunk 1.3m from the ground and dividing by a figure from a standard table.

Tree Facts Trees are the tallest freestanding organisms in the world. They can live longer and become more massive than any other organism ever to live on the earth. However, trees are much more easily endangered than many people might imagine. Trees are important, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, they provide food and shelter for birds, insects, fungi and other species including human beings, they move huge quantities of water from the earth and liberate it into the atmosphere and they harness the energy of the sun and convert it into food. Communities may often plant trees for symbolic reasons for example in order to commemorate an event or person’s life. Trees may be planted in the countryside, in parks or gardens to provide shelter or for their beauty.

Woodside Rats Rule OK? WHAT HOPE is there for the Woodside Regeneration scheme when the Rough Park stables are being turned into an unsightly heap of rubbish and rubble? The picture on the left tells the story. Since becoming vacant the listed building on this land has been severely vandalised and set on fire on several occasions. The fence which surrounded the land has been systematically torn down. Windows have been broken, doors smashed in. These are now bricked up. The remaining roof, fire-damaged, is in danger of taking off in a high wind. If this happens then somebody could be killed. Now the fly-tippers have moved in to deposit old three piece suites, assorted fridges, washing machines and other bits of furniture as well as a stripped-down caravan chassis. There is increasing evidence that the ground is becoming infested with vermin such as rats. Fly tipping is illegal, but the perpetrators here seem to be allowed to carry on their anti-social activities without let or hindrance. Have our local police given up on basic law enforcement? And what about Telford and Wrekin Council? Both the police and the Council have powers to act here. It’s time they started using them. One heartening fact is that after months of complaint a TWS team has recently taken away the rubbish that has been dumped on this site. But how long before the yobs are back? Finally, it is well known that some deranged crawling rats tend to destroy their own environment. Looking around Woodside it is clear that the disease can spread to humans.

Hallett's Shop, Park Street, Madeley... Closed its doors for the last time on Saturday 19th April. Mr & Mrs Hallett who are well known to many people in the parish have run the shop for fifty years. Halletts was one of the last traditional style shops in the area, selling everything from fabric to fly paper! Mrs Hallett said she would ‘miss her chats’ with the many generations of Madeley people who have frequented the shop over the years. ‘We have had some lovely cards and bouquets’ she said ‘for which we would like to say thanks’. I am sure many local people will agree that Mr & Mrs Hallett and their unique shop will be sadly missed.

Madeley’s Trees The rich variety of trees in the area are the result of a number a factors – some of the more exotic species are survivors from the extensive gardens of the many large houses which once belonged to the ironmasters and mine owners, whilst others are the result of natural recolonisation of old mine waste heaps. The large numbers of Scots Pine on the waste heaps are the legacy of the depression of the 1920’s and 1930’s – unemployed men were paid a few shillings a day to plant tree seedlings on the pit banks, to stabilise them and provide timber for the mining industry. Despite the huge changes that took place in Madeley during the development of Telford New Town in the 1960’s many old trees survive and many more were planted as part of landscaping schemes. Today the Woodland Officers at the Borough Council have begun a schedule of tree removal where street trees have become overgrown or footpaths, underpasses, etc need to be “opened out”. Hopefully we can have a good relationship with trees in our parish remembering our landmark trees and planning plantings to enable trees to feature in the lives of future residents of Madeley. If you have any stories or poems about any of the trees in Madeley Parish please let us know and we will publish them in Madeley Matters.