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Weekly News 268

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Council and district news

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South Staffordshire ready for a right royal celebration

South Staffordshire is preparing to paint the town red, white and blue as residents across the district gear up for a right royal celebration this summer. 

Thousands are set to take part in occasions marking The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, with a total of 33 functions granted more than £17,600 in funding from South Staffordshire Council’s Community Innovation Fund from money raised through the South Staffordshire Community Lottery.

For more information and a list of more than 30 events taking place, click here

Time Trial: Information event on planned road closures and parking restrictions

The Time Trial men’s event passes through part of the district on Thursday, August 4, and will involve some road closures and parking restrictions.

It will come into the district along Dudley Road, north along Stourbridge Road, and west back towards Wolverhampton on Wodehouse Lane.

Residents and businesses along the route will be directly contacted to make them aware and they will be advised on how to best prepare for the closures.

Information and engagement drop-in sessions are also being set up. The first one take place on Monday, May 23, at Wombourne Library between 3pm and 7pm. A second session is being planned for July.

For more information, see the full press release here

£372,000 boost for South Staffordshire businesses

A partnership to get more money and support to businesses needing help during and after the pandemic has spent over £372,000 in South Staffordshire.

As part of a unique partnership, Staffordshire County Council and South Staffordshire Council came together as part of the Staffordshire Means Back to Business scheme to pool resources and funding to support businesses to survive and grow.

Together, the councils supported businesses to recruit 20 apprentices, upskill 162 employees with the skills for the future with fully-funded training, and helped 16 businesses with growth grants to help them survive through lockdown and grow. The county council has funded £25,000 in loans for businesses to start-up, alongside professional advice and support for entrepreneurs and young people to set up their own business.

For more information, see the full press release here

Climate Change Survey

South Staffordshire Council has set a target of being a net zero carbon producer by 2050.

There are changes which we as a council need to make to achieve this, but we also need to support our residents and businesses to bring about positive changes in their everyday lives.

Please take a few minutes to complete this short questionnaire to help us gauge how aware people are of climate change, how this impacts their lives, and what steps they are already taking. There is also a free text section for you to share your ideas.

Please complete the survey via this link

Motorway closed: Expect long delays

National Highways will be closing the M6 motorway in both directions between the junction 10 (Walsall) exit and entry slip roads from 8pm on Friday, May 20, to 6am on Monday, May 23, to demolish the old north bridge. 

They will also be closing the M6 junction 9 northbound entry slip road to reduce congestion on the approach to the closure.

National Highways has warned motorists to avoid using the M6 if possible, as they are expecting severe delays. They have also said roads in the area are expected to be significantly busier, so have asked drivers to avoid the area if they can.

For more information, click here

Waste and Recycling

Blue Bags: Paper and card recycling

Many of you will have now received your blue bag for paper and card recycling.  

Once you have your bag, it is important that you only put paper and card products in your bag, and do not put any paper or card in your blue bin.

If you have had a blue bag, we will not empty your blue bin if it contains paper and card. Bag deliveries will continue over the next couple of weeks to a small number of households.

The bag can be presented next to the blue bin, or inside the lid of the blue bin, on your normal collection day.

Please also note that we will no longer collect additional recycling and cardboard from the side of the blue bin/bag. The bag provides more capacity than was previously collected in the form of additional recycling next to the bin. If an extra bag is required for paper and card, please wait for two collections before contacting us to request one.

If you are unsure what to put in the blue bin and blue bag please view your new recycling calendar (if you have received it). Your calendar can also be viewed online here.

For a more detailed list, please see our online Recycling Finder by clicking here

Garden Waste Collection Service 

The new garden waste collection year begins on July 4.

If you have not done so already, you can sign up online now to continue having your green bin collected via this link.

  

Leisure latest

Huge savings with Shape Up for Summer scheme

Join South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres now and pay just £10 until the summer.

Offer ends June 12 and normal payments start July 1.

For full details, click here

Join our team

South Staffordshire’s leisure centres are recruiting.

The leisure centres are looking for people to join their teams with positions currently available for reception, swimming teachers and leisure assistants. For more information, click here.

We also provide training courses to allow people to train up as qualified swimming teachers and lifeguards. For details on up-and-coming courses, click here.

Couch to 5k

Fitness instructors Brogan and Sam will be at Cheslyn Hay and Wombourne Leisure Centres every Wednesday (starting May 25) for nine-week Couch to 5k courses.

The courses are perfect for beginners who are new to running or for people who have not ran for a long time. Brogan and Sam will gradually build participants up to a steady and continuous run.

Places are limited and going fast.

  • To book a course at Cheslyn Hay, call 01922 417790
  • To book a course at Wombourne, call 01902 898202

For full details, click here

Partnership updates

Dogs die in hot cars

The Great British staycation is here to stay, with up to 30 million Brits expected to holiday in the UK in 2022.

And it’s likely many of us will be taking our four-legged friends along.

But dogs aren’t welcome everywhere, so the RSPCA is urging you to plan your outings carefully. A little forward thinking could save your dogs from heatstroke this summer.

Even if you’re just popping to the local high street, NEVER leave your dog alone in your car when shopping, even just for a few minutes. This heat is deadly; protect your best friend by leaving them at home.

If you see a dog in distress in a hot car, call the police on 999 as they have the power to force entry into a vehicle.

For more information, click here

South Staffordshire Libraries’ Jubilee celebrations

Libraries across South Staffordshire will be joining in with the celebrations of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this June.

There will be displays, activities and you can find Big Jubilee Reads at your library or available to order and some are available from the Borrowbox App or the eLibrary.

There will be lots going on at Perton Library over the Jubilee Weekend of June 4 and 5, including a crown craft workshop with local artist Hannah Reynolds. Limited edition Jubilee craft kits will be available over the weekend.

Plans are still developing, but contact Perton Library on 01902 506050 for more information.