HISTORY was made last week when Mappleborough Green finally became its own parish after years of living in Studley's shadow.

The village, north of Studley, has been granted the right to have its own parish council.

It came into being last week when Stratford Council chief executive Paul Lankester attended the first meeting of councillors elected on June 10.

The council represents 700 residents from Gorcott Hill in the north to the Abbeyfields estate in the south.

Newly elected council chairman Shaun Regan said: "We've come under Studley for quite some time, yet we do have our own identity.

"We have our own village hall, school and church, so it's right and proper we have our own voice."

Mr Regan added: "The first task will be to get residents' views on the quality of public services and ask them what they would like us to focus on.

"I suspect the dominant issue will be the outcome of the public enquiry into the protection orders for the route of the Studley bypass. Whatever the outcome, we'll certainly continue to campaign for measures to take heavy traffic away from the village."

The parish council has its own budget to spend on things like lighting, paths, playgrounds, allotments and other community projects.

It also has lobbying powers to district and county councils, government and a say on planning issues.

Meetings will be held in public on the third Monday of each month in the village hall at 7.30pm. The next meeting is Monday July 19.

Studley Parish Council's Dot Mitchell will be clerk until a new one is appointed specifically for the village. She can be contacted on 853204.