Members of the public are most welcome to attend and to raise issues relevant to the parish.

AGENDA

1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

2 PUBLIC SESSION
(a) POLICE REPORT.
(b) SHROPSHIRE COUNCILLOR REPORT. Report from Cllr Duncan Borrowman.
(c) MATTERS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC. A period of 15 minutes is set aside for members of the public to speak on any matter on the Agenda, or to request items to be placed on a future Agenda.

3 DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST OR BIAS. In accordance with section 29 of the Localism Act 2011 Members are personally responsible for deciding whether they should disclose an interest where a matter arises which directly relates to them. They should not participate in any discussion nor vote on the matter and must not remain in the room unless granted dispensation.

4 PLANNING. To consider comments on the following:
Application 26/03579/FUL – The Garth, Pant – conversion of garage outbuilding to living accommodation.
Shropshire Local Plan – Gateway 1 This involves a self-assessment of readiness to start the 30-month plan process, summarised on the Council website at:
https://next.shropshire.gov.uk/planning-policy/next-local-plan/gateway-1
commencement/
26/03131/FUL – Charon – Granted.
26/03235/OUT – Hillside 2 dwellings – comments on planning site.
26/02601/FUL – Larch House, Pant – fencing – Granted.

5 HIGHWAY MATTERS. To raise matters of concern or interest.

6 BUTE ENERGY WIND FARMS. Objection to the proposed transportation of Turbines, Structures & Cranes for the Banc Du Energy Park wind farm.

7 FRANKTON SUB STATION – Letter from Helen Morgan MP regarding proposals for major new electricity infrastructure in north Shropshire.

8 PUMP TRACK. Update from Clerk on contractors and arrangements for a way forward.

9 MINUTES. To Approve Minutes of the meeting held on the 22.9.2026.

10 FINANCIAL MATTERS. To approve payment of accounts as below totalling: £2,689.31

11 LLANYMYNECH BOWLING CLUB – to discuss information requested by the Parish Council following the Bowling Club Chairman’s attendance at the September Council Meeting, and to arrange a date for a meeting.

12 CORRESPONDENCE: 1) SALC AGM Date correction 3.11.2026 at 4.00pm in the
Sovereign Suite, at the Crowd Meadow Oteley Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ST.
2) Cross Guns CBS Donation towards defibrillator costs of £361.25. 3) Letter from resident – objection to application 25/03235/OUT

13 BRYN OFFA SCHOOL – FIELD FENCING.

14 LLANYMYNECH HERITAGE AREA ENTRANCE. Report on meeting of 14.10.26 and Shropshire Council response on provision of bin by Parish Council.

15 PANT REPLACEMENTS – Broken bin in QE11 playground and seat at Walnut Close.

16 COUNCIL REPORTS OR ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS.

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After her talk last year about her deployment to look after the hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan in 2011, Vic presented a talk titled ‘Remembrance in Oswestry: Past and Present’. While studying for a Masters degree in history, Vic wrote her thesis on remembrance and, in particular, why we remember World War II differently from Word War I.

The Cenotaph (from Greek words ‘empty tomb’) in London was originally built as a temporary structure, made out of wood and plaster, to remember those who had died in the First World War. Early on in the war, a decision was taken not to repatriate the bodes of the fallen – indeed many could not be identified or had simply disappeared – but to bury them in war cemeteries near to where they fell. There were simply too many to bring home.

Designed by Edward Lutyens, the cenotaph was constructed to provide an immediate focus for the nation to share its grief and somewhere where families could visit to remember their loved ones. The memorial made such an impression on the public that there was an outcry when it was announced it would be taken down. The government agreed to replace it with a permanent structure of Portland stone, which was unveiled by King George V in 1920.

Vic then showed members slides of the various memorials built overseas. For example, the Menin Gate in Ypres, Tyne Cot on the Passchendaele Ridge, and Thiepval – the memorial to the missing of the Somme.

Closer to home, Vic told the history of the Memorial Gates in Oswestry which were dedicated in 1921. A public fund was started to pay for them; however, at the time of their construction, there was not enough money for the gates that we see today – just the sandstone pillars. The gates had still not been erected by the end of the Second World War. One reason for the missing gates was the overriding demand for metal during that conflict. Another reason was the low level of public conscription.

In 1945, the Mayor of Oswestry started the Remembrance Parade that takes place in the town each year and, with the gates still not in situ, the poppy wreaths were instead laid at the foot of the stone pillars. A local ‘Welcome Home Fund’ for war veterans was also started but, by February 1946, it was – again –poorly subscribed. This led to its committee being angered by people not donating and reporting their dismay in the local press. With many families suffering losses over two generations, both World Wars had had a devastating effect on them. They were ‘exhausted by war’, had no money and, of course, were still subject to rationing. As well as country-wide, this apathy is reflected in the number of war memorials in Shropshire: there are 5,507 remembering World War I and fewer than 2,000 for World War II. So, that’s the reason why the names of those who died in the second war were added to the Memorial Gates on white plaques on the rear side of the pillars – to save money.

As a participant each year in the town’s parade, Vic’s photographs reminded members of the importance of remembrance and how our impressive Memorial Gates are an expression of our thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. With more young people joining the parade each year – whether individually or as part of the various youth groups – it was important to keep the tradition alive and everyone is looking forward to the cascade of poppies being installed at the Guildhall next month. Pride of place will be a large number made by Pant WI members.

The competition was ‘Old Oswestry – any image’. Janet Jones took first place, Eiry Roberts was second and Jane Thompson was third.

New members or anyone who is interested in coming along and finding out more about Pant WI, please get in touch at pantwi1931@gmail.com. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 7.15pm at Pant Memorial Hall. At November’s meeting, the speakers will be Amanda and Graeme Roberts who will talk about the charity The Lullaby Trust.

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AGENDA

1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

2 PUBLIC SESSION
(a) POLICE REPORT.
(b) SHROPSHIRE COUNCILLOR REPORT. Report from Cllr Duncan Borrowman.
(c) MATTERS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC. A period of 15 minutes is set aside for members of the public to speak on any matter on the Agenda, or to request items to be placed on a future Agenda.

Council in Session

3 DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST OR BIAS. In accordance with section 29 of the Localism Act 2011 Members are personally responsible for deciding whether they should disclose an interest where a matter arises which directly relates to them. They should not participate in any discussion nor vote on the matter and must not remain in the room unless granted dispensation.

4 PLANNING. To consider comments on the following:
Application 26/03131/FUL – Charon, Rhiw Refail, Pant. Proposal: Single storey rear extension and rear dormer Applicant: Mr & Mrs Bass.
Application 26/03235/OUT – Proposed Residential Development Land West of Hillside, Pant. Outline application for 2 No. open market dwellings, with access, layout and scale for approval. Applicant: R D Griffiths.

5 HIGHWAY MATTERS. To raise matters of concern or interest.

6 MINUTES. To Approve Minutes of the meeting held on the 23.7.2026.

7 LLANYMYNECH HERITAGE AREA. To arrange a meeting with Hayley Garrod of CRT concerning the entrance area of the site.

8 KGV FIELD FACILITIES. Consideration of changes to equipment and formation of a sub-committee to investigate updated facilities, funding etc.

9 FINANCIAL MATTERS. a. Banking – Report from Clerk.
b. To approve payment of accounts totalling: £4,111.87
c. To receive Statement of Expenditure v Budget to September.

10 LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES PAY AGREEMENT 2026/27. To Approve the NJC salary increase of 3.3% to note implementation from 1.9.2026 plus backdated pay from the 1.4.2026.

11 CORRESPONDENCE: 1) Invitation from Shropshire Union Canal Society to informal get together to celebrate their 60th Anniversary on Friday 6 November 2026, 1pm, at the Dolphin Inn, Llanymynech, SY22 6ER to which you are cordially invited. Refreshments, tea and coffee will be provided. Guided tour of the progress at Malthouse Bridge/Waen Wen may be arranged on request
.
2) Invitation to SALC AGM on 3.9.2026 at Croud Meadow (Shrewsbury Town FC) at 4.00pm

12 2025/26 ACCOUNTS – CONCLUSION OF AUDIT – The External Audit has been completed and the AGAR sections 1 – 3 displayed on the website together with the Notice of Conclusion of Audit.

13 POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER: Annual parish council survey – The Commissioner has launched his annual survey amongst parish & town councils. The survey can be Completed online Closing date is midday on 14th October.

14 COUNCIL REPORTS OR ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS.

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While many think that – once a book is written – it’s the proofreader who is the only person to be involved in correcting errors, Sarah explained that it is actually a copy-editor who sees the raw and draft text first. Working directly with the author, the copy-editor does the first read-through to correct errors (such as with grammar and punctuation) and check facts; ‘shapes’ the text so that it is appropriate for the intended readership; ensures it follows the publisher’s house style and writing guidelines; and marks up the various elements (eg font and style of headings, positioning of illustrations etc) for the typesetter.

The role of a proofreader is as the final pair of eyes before the book goes into print and hits the bookshelves, so it’s the last chance to catch any errors that may have been missed by the copy-editor or been created by issues with the typesetting process – for example, nonsequential page numbers, missing tables and figures, or incorrect fonts. Working purely on non-fiction books, as opposed to novels, Sarah gave an overview of the parts of a book that need checking and also emphasised how important it was that the text was consistent across the whole manuscript. Times of the day could be presented in various ways: 9.00am, 9am, 9.00AM, 9AM etc. Initialisms could be presented with or without full stops, or with spaces – for example: BBC, B.B.C., B B C. Quotation marks could be single or double. A decision had to be made as to which style would be used. While such style decisions were initially made – and hopefully incorporated – at the copy-editing stage, it’s the proofreader who ensures that consistency has been applied throughout the book. A reader would find it irritating if the text was inconsistent and that would obviously impact their enjoyment of reading the book.

As Sarah also works on books published in US English, she demonstrated some differences between UK and US English aside from the obvious colour/colour or defence/defense that are familiar to everyone. She also busted the popular myth that spellings such as ‘realize’ and ‘organize’ – using the letter ‘z’ rather than ‘s’ – had infiltrated UK English from our friends across the pond. In fact, the ‘z’ spelling has its roots in Ancient Greek and can be found in the King James Bible and Shakespeare’s works. It is also the preferred spelling of both Oxford and Cambridge University Presses. So, over time, UK English has evolved to use the ‘s’ spelling.

The competition was ‘Most inspirational book’. Janet Jones took first place, Margaret Williams was second and Eiry Roberts was third.

New members or anyone who is interested in coming along and finding out more about Pant WI, please get in touch at pantwi1931@gmail.com. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 7.15pm at Pant Memorial Hall. At October’s meeting, the speaker will be Victoria Graham who will present a talk on ‘Remembrance in Oswestry: Past and Present’.

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Run Chums has designed the “Return to Running” course for those who may have previously completed Couch 25K or used to run regularly need a bit of help and motivation to get them up and running again.

The eight week course starts in Four Crosses near Oswestry on the 7th September, and has been created by qualified run leader Caroline Johnson, who also runs the club’s annual Couch 25K course. She said “if you haven’t been running for a while then taking those first steps can be pretty daunting. The Return to Running course will give you the excuse you need to put your trainers back on”.

The course isn’t as structured as Couch 25K, and Caroline said “ it’s been designed to meet the runners where they’re at, we’ll be starting off at an easy sustainable pace, which will also include walk breaks when needed. The aim is to help you rebuild your confidence and stamina, and we’ll celebrate at the end by taking part in a Parkrun”.

Those who sign up can also take part in the club’s weekly Wednesday run skills sessions which aim to improve run fitness, technique and speed.

The launch of “Return to Running” comes at the end of a busy month for Run Chums, which has held its first Plogging session during which they filled three bags of litter whilst out for a run. Members also scaled Rodney’s Pillar for the partial solar eclipse, and took part in an early morning run to watch the balloons taking off from the Oswestry Balloon Carnival.

Club Chairman Chris King said “we’re not the biggest club in the area, but we’re certainly one of the friendliest, and our members are always really welcoming. We also have very experienced leaders who are always available to offer support and advice when needed, so “Return to Running” is a really good way for people to see what we’re all about”.

The course costs £10 but you get the first 2 weeks free, those taking part can also become full time members and continue running with the club allowing them to keep the momentum going.

For more information you can email info@runchums.co.uk or get in touch via our Facebook or Instagram pages.

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Walk 1 on Saturday, 12 September: Restoration Walk along the Montgomery Canal

Chris Hesketh, trustee of the Society, will lead another of his popular and knowledgeable restoration walks. This time, it will be from Crickheath to Pant and return, along the stretch of the Montgomery Canal currently undergoing restoration.

The total distance will be about five or six miles. Walkers should meet at Crickheath Bridge at 10am. Parking will be available in the field to the north-east of the bridge (what3words: diver.magical.decimal). Please bring a packed lunch if desired, clothing to suit the weather and comfortable shoes. Walking surfaces are firm and fairly level throughout though care needs to be taken at times. Toilets will be available at the Schoolhouse Bridge compound.

Walk 2 on Sunday, 20 September: Heritage Walk from Llanymynech to Pentreheylin Hall along the Montgomery Canal

Steve Clews, vice-chair and trustee of the Society and local resident, will lead this walk from Llanymynech to Pentreheylin and return via Carreghofa Locks and the Vyrnwy Aqueduct. Expect to hear stories of past working lives and present renewal plans along the Montgomery Canal.

The total distance will be five or six miles and will take approximately three hours. Walkers should meet at 10am at the Llanymynech Limeworks Heritage Centre car park, North Road, Llanymynech, SY226EZ (what3words: rhino.february.proud). Please bring a packed lunch if desired, clothing to suit the weather and comfortable shoes. Lunch can be taken at the picnic area at the limeworks (depending on the weather). The towpath is firm and level throughout. Toilets will be available the Heritage Centre (for a small donation).

To join or find out more about either of these tours, please email tour@shropshireunion.org.uk. Alternatively, contact the Society Secretary Sue Ball on 07874 072984.

Please note that due to the terrain, these walks may not be suitable for people using mobility aids.

Llanymynech Canal Wharf

On both days, the visitor centre at Llanymynech Canal Wharf will be open for light refreshments, small gift shop and exhibition from 1.30pm until 4pm. There are currently no boat trips available at the wharf as the George Watson Buck has just started major refurbishment works. Why not find out more from local volunteers? https://themontgomerycanal.org.uk/george-watson-buck/

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If you visit or work in larger cities you may be aware of Citymapper. It’s a free mobile phone app that guides you from a to b with a choice of methods. It’s particularly useful if you are using public transport somewhere unfamiliar, as it will give you directions to the bus stop or train station, tell you which service to catch and when it is leaving, and how long the journey will take. The app also gives walking and driving routes and times.

In a piece of excellent news – Citymapper now covers Shropshire!

After a post-launch tweak from customer feedback, services from Tanat Valley and Arriva Wales have been added to the app, joining those from Arriva England. This means that the app makes things a lot easier for those of us on the border – no more need to puzzle over three separate timetables if you are planning to catch a train from either Gobowen or Shrewsbury or want a day out. You can set the app for a future departure time so that you can plan journeys ahead. The app will plan journeys to Birmingham and Wrexham in one ‘hit’ before asking you to switch areas. It does not yet cover west Wales.

There is also an online version for those who don’t have a smartphone but do have a laptop or tablet, allowing planning ahead.

This integrated approach makes using buses much easier. Together with our recently expanded service (including Sundays for the first time in years) and well-spaced bus stops through Pant and Llanymynech, why not give the bus a try?

Citymapper is available on your app store.

Mobile library stop extended for Pant

The mobile library visits Pant every two weeks on a Thursday morning, stopping in the Cross Guns car park. Due to the popularity of the service in the village, the stop time has recently been extended and now runs from 10:40am to 11:20am – one of the longest stops on the round.

Librarian Doug (and his colleagues) are always happy to help both new and established library users. All ages are welcome – the van carries a big selection of childrens books as well as fiction and non-fiction to cover all tastes. Stock changes regularly so there’s always something new to read. You can order a book from the Shropshire Library catalogue for pickup on the van and renew your books online if you miss a library visit.

The visit dates and stops are posted on the outside noticeboard on the village hall and available on line. This service is a classic ‘use it or lose it’ so please support it; having free access to books is a huge privilege so let’s make the most of it.

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Local people are encouraged to attend, not just to raise important local issues, but also to find out more about the role and responsibilities of the Parish Council.

AGENDA

1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

2 PUBLIC SESSION
(a) POLICE REPORT
(b) SHROPSHIRE COUNCILLOR REPORT. Report from Cllr Duncan Borrowman
(c) MATTERS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC. A period of 15 minutes is set aside for members
of the public to speak on any matter on the Agenda, or to request items to be placed
on a future Agenda.

Council in session.
3 DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST OR BIAS. In accordance with section 29 of the
Localism Act 2011 Members are personally responsible for deciding whether or not they should disclose
an interest where a matter arises which directly relates to them. They should not participate in any
discussion nor vote on the matter and must not remain in the room unless granted dispensation.

4 PLANNING. Application 26/02589/VAR Cae Bryn, Llanymynech, Variation of Condition
No.2 (approved plans) attached to 25/03233/FUL for alterations to the design.

5 BANKING. Report from Clerk on TSB account change etc.

6 PLAY EQUIPMENT SURVEY REPORT. Play Safety annual inspection.

7 KGV FIELD FACILITIES. Consideration of current equipment and new opportunities.

8 LLANYMYNECH HERITAGE AREA – Refuse Bin and Meeting.

9 FINANCIAL MATTERS. To agree payment of accounts as list below totalling £5,439.40
To receive Statement of Expenditure v Budget to June.

10 DONATIONS. Request from Music MOB towards music lessons at Bryn Offa School.

11 ENGLAND WELCOME FEATURE / CARREGHOFA COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

12 CORRESPONDENCE.

13 ROCKWELL WILDLFOWER MEADOW. To arrange installation of signboard and other
matters.

The post July 2026 Parish Council Meeting appeared first on Pant Today - About the village of Pant in Shropshire.

Members heard how the NGS started in 1927 and were surprised to learn that its foundation came about because of the need for funding of district nurses. A Liverpool merchant and philanthropist, Willam Rathbone, had employed a nurse to look after his wife at home during her final illness. Recognising that not everyone had access to care at home, he worked with Florence Nightingale to develop such a service. As Douglas noted, many members would remember well the sight of a district nurse on her bicycle making house visits.

As a result, the Queen’s Nursing Institute was founded, which coordinated national standard for district nurses. In order to raise money for this fledgling service, it was suggested that people opened their gardens and, in 1927, 609 gardens did so and charged ‘a shilling a head’. The famous yellow guidebook was first published in 1932 and in 1980 the NGS scheme became independent of the QNI and started to raise money for a range of nursing and health charities. Macmillan Cancer Support joined their list of beneficiaries in 1984 and nearly £20 million has been donated to the charity to date. In 2025, the list of beneficiaries also included Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Carers Trust, Parkinson’s UK. In 2025, the money raised for distribution to all the charities was an amazing £4.5 million.

Accompanied by photos of many he had visited in Shropshire and beyond, Douglas gave an overview of the many types of gardens that open as part of the scheme: private gardens; country houses; designer gardens; and allotment gardens. Also gardens in a particular village often come together to open on the same day. It will be the 150th anniversary of the NGS in 2027 and they would like to get as many of the 609 original gardens to open as part of the celebrations. Douglas and his wife, Jane, open their garden in Pant each year for group visits and members are looking forward to a tour in August followed by a pub meal.

The competition was ‘A small vase of three garden flowers’. Jane Thompson took first place, Eiry Roberts was second and Amanda Roberts was third.
New members or anyone who is interested in coming along and finding out more about Pant WI, please get in touch at pantwi1931@gmail.com. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 7.15pm at Pant Memorial Hall.

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The events take place in Pant Memorial Hall and offer locals a space to get together and socialise. There’s no entrance fee but organisers are grateful for any donation or contribution to the costs of putting on the events.

Currently, the Pop-Up Pubs are being organised on a ‘Bring your own’ basis meaning everyone can enjoy their favourite tipple, whether mocktail or scrumpy! Organisers have also used the events to raise vital funds for local organisations and charities.

Please support the volunteers who are putting on these events and follow their Facebook page for more information and to see future dates. The next one is Friday 3 July from 7pm.

Everyone welcome.

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