Telford GUARDIAN

1 Out of 10 for vocal delivery . 30 seconds of "um" in a speech lasting less than 110! That’s the official rating for Cllr Mark Boylan’s pitch for the long overdue community centre residents have waited 21 years for. He told the Borough Planning Committee: “We’ve given them every opportunity… five and a half thousand surveys.” "Them"? Not "our" What he didn’t tell "them": ❌ Online replies timed out . Residents couldn’t submit detailed feedback ❌ We spoke to dozens. Not one had received a leaflet. After more than 10 years in office, this is the standard of representation we get?  Low energy. Unprepared. No command. And a community asset delayed 21 years defended in under two minutes of filler words. We deserve better than "sort of" representation. Then we move on to his use of words which reveals his true view of people! Referring to residents as “ them ” is a telling choice—and it indicates distance, (not necessarily malice...

Living in Harmony: A Balanced Approach to Managing Rat Populations Rats—love them or loathe them, they’re a part of our urban and suburban ecosystems.  With building and landscape works taking place at the top of Rock Road for the new supermarket, and further down too, for the much anticipated and delayed Sportsfield off Spring Terrace and Waterloo Road, you can be sure that a great many rats have been disturbed, and are looking for new homes, espeacily around Overdale, Newdale, The Rock and Lawley.  The council has recently had contractors around butchering local flora and fauna where people have spotted rats. While they’re often seen as pests, they’re also a key part of the food chain, providing meals for owls, foxes, and even snakes. The challenge isn’t about wiping them out (which is nearly impossible anyway) but about managing their numbers in a way that keeps our gardens and homes safe without harming other wildlife and our pets.   Why Rats Thrive in Our Spaces...

A Lifeline for Nature: Will Our MPs Listen to the Lords or Party Orders? In a week where it felt like the government was ready to trade our natural world for a quick concrete fix, the House of Lords threw a much-needed spanner in the works. Peers from across the political spectrum stood up and gave a lifeline to our wildlife, voting through crucial amendments to Labour’s reckless Planning and Infrastructure Bill. But the fight is far from over. And as always, the actions—and inactions—of our local representatives tell a story all of their own. Let's talk about Amendment 130. This wasn't some obscure piece of political paperwork; it was a vital check on a deeply flawed plan. The government, in its rush to “get spades in the ground,” wants to use something called ‘Environmental Delivery Plans’ (EDPs). Sounds good, right? Don't be fooled. As Protect the Wild’s Tom Anderson has explained, EDPs are essentially a ‘pay-to-pollute’ scheme. A corporation can bulldoze a local wildlif...

The recent complaints (Sept 2025) from students and parents in and around Lawley about being left stranded at bus stops due to full buses made the local press, and sparked a reaction from both Lawley and Overdale Parish Council and Telford & Wrekin Council, but this situation raises critical questions about the borough council's approach to public transport management. While both councils were quick to respond, the underlying issue seems to be a lack of proactive planning. Immediate Reaction vs. Proactive Planning Telford & Wrekin Council has stated that it took "immediate action" after reports surfaced regarding students being unable to board buses on the 101 route. The council acknowledged an "unforeseen" surge in demand for bus services, particularly in Lawley, leading to the deployment of larger buses to accommodate the increased number of passengers. However, this reactive approach highlights a significant flaw in the council's tran...