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Weekly News 249

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This week’s news from around the council

This is the last issue of the Council News Round Up for 2021 – so let us start by wishing everyone a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

The first issue of 2022 will be on Friday, January 7.

WATCH: Video shines light on South Staffs’ high streets

Stay local, stay safe – and support South Staffordshire high streets.

Watch South Staffordshire District Council’s Christmas 2021 video here

Festive period

We’re still here for you

The council offices will be closed from 5pm on December 23 to January 4, 2022. 

We will be working as usual on Christmas Eve, but our offices will not be open.

Some services will still be running as usual over the festive period.

Information can be accessed via our website – www.sstaffs.gov.uk – or by emailing info@sstaffs.gov.uk

If you have an urgent matter that cannot wait until January 4, please call 01902 696000.

Covid update

Weekly Covid updates bulletin

We are now sending out a weekly update on the latest regulations surrounding Covid-19, local walk-in vaccination centres, and testing.

If you haven’t already signed up to receive these, please do. Simply input your email address when prompted and select Covid Updates.

Sign up here

Council news

Local Plan Review update

The six-week consultation period for the Preferred Options closed at 5pm on Monday, December 13, 2021. 

During this consultation, the council has undertaken a record number of consultation engagements with residents, both online and in-person.

The Local Plans Team will now read through all the responses made and comments reviewed as we move forward with the review. Once the comments have been read and redacted to remove personal information, they will be made publicly available. This may take some time due to the level of responses – we will update the website and social media when they are published.

We will automatically write to anyone who has made a comment to let them know when the next stage of consultation will take place in 2022. 

Many thanks to all those who participated in the consultation by sending in their views or attending our in-person appointments and online Q&A sessions.

Waste and recycling updates

Bin collection calendars

A new printed calendar will be issued in Spring 2022 to include information on the new blue bags for recycling card and paper. 

In the meantime, bin collection dates can be viewed on our website.  Simply pop in your postcode and select your address from the drop-down menu. 

A downloadable, print friendly calendar is also available online. Follow the same process as above and scroll down the page to your downloadable calendar. 

Please note there are no changes to your bin collection day or pattern to be aware of in this interim calendar (except for the usual changes over Christmas which are detailed below).  You can continue to present your bins on your normal collection day, in the normal pattern.

Christmas waste and recycling collection dates 

Waste and Recycling bins will be collected Monday to Friday as normal over this Christmas and New Year period.

With Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on Saturdays this year, there will be no change to your collection day.

For example, if your bin collection day is normally a Monday, please continue to present your bins on every Monday over Christmas and New Year as normal. 

We will also be collecting grey bins every week until Monday, January 10, 2022. You can present your grey bin on your normal grey bin collection day, and alongside your blue bin until this date. 

Find your Waste and Recycling Collection Day here

Garden Waste Collection Service

The garden waste collection service is now suspended over the Christmas holidays as normal. 

In place of the green bin, all residents can present their grey bin weekly (both on the normal grey bin collection day and alongside the blue bin on recycling collection day). 

Green waste collections will recommence from week beginning Monday, January 10, 2022. 

 Find your Waste and Recycling Collection Day here

Real Christmas tree collections 

Residents who have signed up for a green waste permit can recycle real Christmas trees on their first green waste collection day after Christmas. 

On your green waste collection day between Monday, January 10, and Friday, January 21, simply put your green waste bin out for collection and leave your real tree next to it. 

Please ensure all decorations, lights, stands etc. are removed from the tree. 

Wombourne Enterprise Park re-development 

The re-development of Wombourne Enterprise Park took a step closer when the council exchanged contracts with Quantum Construction Ltd this month to undertake construction of new retail and industrial units at the Enterprise Park.  

The scheme, which will see retailer Lidl taking a large retail unit, is planned for completion in early 2023.

An additional 10,000 sq ft of retail space will also be created as part of the development and discussions are ongoing with prospective occupiers. 

Two of our existing tenants will relocate and take occupation in the re-developed part of the Enterprise Park when construction of three new industrial units is completed in Summer 2022.

Phase one of the development will commence in January 2022, with demolition of existing buildings and creation of the new industrial units. 

Business Place Partnership on tour at Halfpenny Green 

Last week, the council’s Business Hub team collaborated with the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub to host a business support drop in event at Halfpenny Green Wine Estate.

The event saw qualified business advisors provide direct one-to-one advice and support to local businesses on finance and funding, HR, marketing, skills in addition to general business support. 

For more information on the South Staffordshire Business Hub, click here

Council job vacancies

Leisure News

Christmas rewards for leisure centre members

South Staffordshire leisure centres are rewarding their members every day until Christmas Eve. 

All leisure centre members will be automatically entered into daily draws with fantastic prizes up for grabs.

Leisure facilities Christmas opening times 

The opening times for Baggeridge Country and the leisure centres can be found at Leisure Centre and Baggeridge Opening Times South Staffordshire Council (sstaffs.gov.uk)

Christmas activity camps

From Monday, December 20 to Thursday, December 23, South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres are providing children’s activity camps. 

For information about camps at Codsall and Wombourne leisure centres visit Active Camps | Aspire Sports (aspire-sports.co.uk) 

For camps at Cheslyn Hay and Penkridge, visit Booking Page | The Playscheme

Holiday Activities and Food Scheme

The Holiday Activities and Food Scheme is available for families in receipt of free school meals, providing free activity camps plus a free hot meal. 

Food at Codsall is being provided by The Kitchen Bilbrook and food in Wombourne is being provided by The Springhill.

To find out more and book your free place and hot food visit Holiday Activities and Food – Staffordshire County Council 

Partnership updates

Could you care for people in their homes this winter?

Become a Home Care Worker and make a difference today!

The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Health and Care People Hub is searching for people to join as Home Care Workers in North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent at this important time.

This winter, they need caring individuals who can help look after people in their own homes. This might include delivering personal care, administering medication, providing a listening ear and companionship – and raising the alarm if things don’t look right. Could that be you?

For more information and to apply, please visit NHS Jobs for the application process or visit the campaign landing page.

FREE play pack and TV subscription for kids

Staffordshire County Council has teamed up with Bee Active, so that children who are eligible for the council’s Holiday Activity and Food Programme can access a FREE Bee Active Play Pack and FREE subscription to Bee Active TV.

The packages are designed to help families keep themselves healthy and active over the festive period.

The whole package is worth £45 and is completely free to eligible families – order yours here: beeactive.co.uk/scchaf

For more information please contact info@beeactive.co.uk or call 01782 205915.