This afternoon was spent in Atherstone on Stour on the easterly edge of our ward. The people I met were willing to take the time to talk about their lives and their community. Some were long time residents, others had arrived recently, but they all had one thing in common; they were all warm and welcoming.
Like its neighbour, Preston on Stour, Atherstone is a part of the Alscot estate and many of the homes are owned by the estate, rented by the residents.
The river location does threaten flooding for some of the residents. Mercifully, most properties in the village are above the level for flood risk, but I noticed that some properties had home made flood barriers for their front doors. Alscot estate also provides sand bags for residents to use.
I left with the impression of a close knit community with a warm and friendly outreach. I would be proud to represent them on the district council.