Bidford-on-Avon Parish includes the village of Bidford-on-Avon and, to the north, the village of Broom, as well as the hamlets of Barton, to the southeast and Marlcliff, to the southwest. Both Bidford and Broom are mentioned in the well-known Shakespeare drinking rhyme where they are referred to as Drunken Bidford and Beggarly Broom

Bidford has grown quite considerably during the last years and now has a population of over 6000.

Its main feature is the River Avon – Bidford, Barton and Marlcliff were all built on the riverside, although Bidford has now far outgrown this and sprawls away to the north. To the north, Broom is by the River Arrow.

The village is blessed with a a number of Public Open Spaces, the largest of this being the Big Meadow, a 26 acre recreational park by the River Avon. There are other play areas scattered round the village as well a sports field (they belonged to the old High School, which closed in the 1980s) which became a Field in Trust during the Queens Diamond Jubilee.

The village still retains a Fire Station, which is a great community asset; Bidford Primary School; Bidford Community Library (saved from closure and managed by volunteers); Crawford Memorial Hall (Bidford Village Hall) and Broom Village Hall.

All 4 settlements have Conservation Areas and Bidford’s Parish Church, St Laurence, dates back to 1276. Another Grade 1 Listed Building is Bidford Bridge, which crosses the River Avon and links Bidford with Barton and Marcliff.

Bidford is represented by Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council, which has been in existence since 1895 and belongs to Stratford-on-Avon District. Its 10 Councillors are elected every 4 years and, as the third tier of local government, it is the one closest to its community.

Agendas for meetings will be available below a few days prior to each meeting:

Planning Committee

• Planning Committee Meeting on Mon 9 November 2020

Parish Council

• Virtual Parish Council Meeting on Mon 30 November 2020

"Bidford rocks!" was a regular comment during lockdown as Bidford's Facebook pages filled with gratitude for so many volunteers in the village.

This included:

• 2,500 shopping deliveries for vulnerable and elderly people
• Hundreds of face masks and laundry bags made
• Pharmacy pick-ups
• Surprise hampers sent to the vulnerable and to care workers,
• Dementia café’s weekly phone calls to members
• Free ice-creams for children of the village and many, many hundreds of other individual acts of kindness by residents of Bidford, Broom, Barton and Marlcliff.

How many of us know about the many regular enthusiastic volunteers we have in our villages such as our Fire-fighters, Dementia Friends, Rubbish Friends, Brownies, Bidford Banners and the Jolly Teapot? Then there’s the Youth Club, Christmas Lights, St John’s ambulance, the Library, the Derby & Joan Club, the Senior Citizens Party Group, Barton Village Fund, the Rotary club and Church groups. Added to that are all those who give their time and enthusiasm to make all the sports and social clubs so successful and inclusive. There are so many people in our community to be thankful for – not all of them known about.

So, after the months of lockdown the Parish Council has decided to celebrate and tap into this community spirit by setting aside a special fund for the village.  The £25,000 "Brighter Bidford” fund has been created as a positive way of demonstrating pride in our parish as well as encouraging visitors to come back to support our businesses when they can.

We’re looking for ideas that will have real impact!

Early suggestions have included improving the look of roads into the village with planters and the sowing of wild flower 'bombs'. The roundabout is already having a general tidy up and we’re working with Warwickshire Highways to try to improve the chevrons.

Residents of Bidford, Broom, Barton and Marlcliff are encouraged to come up with ideas which can be sent to brighterbidford@gmail.com or by post to:

Bidford Parish Council
c/o Post Office,
Salford Road,
Bidford-on-Avon
B50 4AW