Weekly News 291
What’s on
Festive events across the district
Christmas Shopping Fair
Those looking to snap up some Christmas gifts can do so at our Christmas Shopping Fair today (Friday).
Running till 3pm at Codsall Community Hub, the event will feature a range of small businesses.
Mrs B’s Cafe at the Hub will also be selling hot sandwiches.
Christmas Food and Craft Fair
Weston Park will host a Christmas Food and Craft Fair this weekend.
The event will include music, a miniature railway and artisan food. Younger guests can also enjoy Festive Fun Craft Workshops, where they can make Christmas decorations from natural items they have found around the estate, such as twigs and pine cones.
Tickets to the event will also include admission to the house, which will be fully decorated for Christmas.
For more information, click here
South Staffordshire Council’s Environmental Health and Licensing Team has worked with the organisers, with a view to helping them deliver a safe and successful event.
Perton Christmas Fair
A Christmas fair, complete with live entertainment, takes place in Perton tomorrow.
Featuring a fun fair, craft stalls, a Santa’s grotto and more, the event will run from 1pm till 4.30pm in Anders’ Square, the church, Perton Civic Centre and Perton Library.
Money raised will go towards buying Perton Christmas lights for next year, and to support local good causes.
Codsall Christmas Fair
Music, street entertainment, a Santa’s Grotto and more will entertain families at Codsall Christmas Fair today (Friday).
Featuring fairground rides, a bouncy castle, a roundabout and more, the village event – running from 4pm till 8pm – will give little ones the chance to meet Santa, receive a gift and post their Christmas list.
For more information, click here
Jingle and Mingle event
A food and dance event takes place at Wombourne Civic Centre tonight (Friday).
Running from 7pm to 1am, the event will include a three-course meal, live music and a disco.
Tickets cost £35 or £262 for a table of eight.
To book, call 01902 869300.
Snow White pantomime
Panto fans can enjoy a festive performance of Snow White at Wombourne Civic Centre this Saturday.
Doors to the event open at 6pm for a 6.15pm start. There will be a licensed bar.
Tickets cost £5 for children and £8 for adults. To book, call 01902 896300.
Christmas Tree Festival
A Christmas Tree Festival takes place in Enville this weekend, where visitors are invited to discover creative displays and Christmas trees from village traders and clubs.
The festival, at St Mary’s Church, runs from 10am to 5pm this Saturday and Sunday.
Kinver Small Business Saturday event
Support local businesses this Saturday with a day of celebration. Explore Kinver’s historic high street with its range of individual shops, tearooms, pubs and restaurants.
Entertainment throughout the day includes carol singers at 10am, folk singers at 10.30am, and Ukes on the Edge at 11.15am.
Council and district news
Local Plan Review
The Publication Plan consultation runs until 12 noon Friday, December 23rd, so there is still good time to make your comments to us.
| We’ve made it really easy to view the plan and supporting documents online.
Just go to the main page of the council website, click on the consultation banner towards the top of the page and it takes you straight to the consultation page. Here you can view the plan itself, or read the FAQs, Local Plan summary, guidance note for making comments, or response form and there are links to our consultation events and the supporting evidence. Hard copies of the documents are also available at parish council offices and libraries in the district, and at the Community Hub in Codsall. The next public events being held are an online Q&A session on Tuesday, December 6th between 6pm and 8pm, and a face-to-face session at Wombourne Civic Centre on Wednesday, December 7th. To book an appointment for Wombourne, call 01902 696423. This is the final stage of consultation before the new Local Plan is submitted to the Government and an independent planning inspector is appointed to carry out a public examination into whether it is sound and legally compliant. The Publication Plan, FAQs and supporting documents can be found here: Local Plan Review Publication Plan South Staffordshire Council (sstaffs.gov.uk) Details of all consultation events and Q&A sessions are here: Publication Plan Public Engagement South Staffordshire Council (sstaffs.gov.uk) All comments made to the plan must be made in writing, and during the 6-week consultation period. For more information see the council website www.sstaffs.gov.uk/localplanreview or email localplans@sstaffs.gov.uk |
Community Bulb Planting Events – thank you
A big thank you to staff and volunteers, (including staff from the Wombourne branch of Co-op Funeralcare), that came along to plant bulbs and sow wildflower seeds at Sytch Lane Cemetery in Wombourne and Strawberry Lane Cemetery in Great Wyrley last week.
Monday at Strawberry Lane was very wet, but the volunteers carried on despite being soaked through. Friday at Sytch Lane saw a total change in the weather with beautiful blue skies and winter sunshine.
Everyone enjoyed getting some fresh air and gentle exercise, connecting with people from the local community and making a difference at our cemeteries.
Small Business Saturday
It’s Small Business Saturday tomorrow – so why not get those Christmas gifts bought, while supporting the local economy.
Make a small business owner smile and shop locally.
To find out more about the businesses on your local high street visit www.virtualhighstreet.uk
Community is the Best Medicine fund
A fund has been set up to assist households which may be faced with challenging choices due to the rising cost of living.
The scheme is run by South Staffordshire Council, in partnership with the Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT) and The Staffordshire Community Foundation.
Find out more about the scheme and how to apply via this link
The Hub Café Christmas Carvery
With the festive season almost upon us, Mrs B’s Catering will be hosting a Christmas Carvery in the Hub Café.
It will take place on December 13th, 14th and 15th at 12pm or 1.30pm.
Food on offer includes stuffed turkey breast, sliced roast leg of pork, or cauliflower and chickpea roulade, with a range of festive accompaniments.
A selection of festive desserts are also included.
Each Christmas dinner, complete with trimmings and dessert, cost £17.50 per person. Please book in person at the Hub Café.
Council job vacancies
- Environmental Health Officer (Housing Lead), closing on December 12th.
- Benefit Assessment Officers, closing on December 9th.
- Cleaning Assistant, open application date.
- Relief Leisure Assistants at Codsall, Wombourne, Penkridge & Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centres, open application date.
- Swimming Instructors, all leisure centres, open application date.
All vacancies info and details how to apply can be found on our website: Current Vacancies South Staffordshire Council (sstaffs.gov.uk)
Leisure latest
Free holiday food and activities for kids
Codsall and Wombourne Leisure Centres will be holding Aspire Active Camps for young people aged 5-14 years old.
| The Active Camps will be on offer at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre from Monday, December 19th to Thursday, December 22nd.
The camps at Penkridge Leisure Centre will be available from Tuesday, December 20th to Friday, December 23rd. For more information and to book visit https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps People in receipt of free school meals are also eligible to free active camps and hot food parcels which will be available Monday to Thursday at Cheslyn Hay, Codsall and Wombourne; this scheme will be available at Penkridge Leisure Centre from Tuesday to Friday. Registration for the free camps and hot food opens on December 1st. For more information visit https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Educational-awards-benefits/Holiday-activities-and-food/Holiday-Activities-and-Food.aspx?Rating=3 |
Leisure centre Christmas opening times
For Christmas opening times at South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres, visit https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure/leisure-centres-opening-times.cfm
Baggeridge Country Park visitor survey
Let us know what you think of Baggeridge Country Park and help us to improve the facilities and services on offer.
By completing this short survey, you can choose to be entered into a draw to win one of two annual parking passes.
Partnership updates
Call 111
If you’ve got an urgent, but not life-threatening, medical need, visit www.111.nhs.uk for immediate advice and support.
The service is available 24/7 and can advise dental issues, information about prescriptions and medication, get help for symptoms or an injury – and get a face-to-face appointment if needed.
Call 111 if you can’t access the website.
West Midlands people urged to take up vaccine after rise in flu patients needing intensive care
West Midlands people eligible for the free flu vaccine are being urged to take up the offer, after latest data shows many people in the most vulnerable groups remain unprotected.
This comes as nine per cent of patients in hospital with flu in the region have needed to be moved to intensive care units (ITU) or high dependency units (HDU) over the last week.
Parents of two- to three-year-olds are being reminded to protect their youngsters from flu, as latest figures show that children under five years old make up the highest rate of hospitalisations for flu in the country.
Pregnant women in the region are also at greater risk of hospitalisations due to severe effects of flu, and complications for their unborn child.
Find out more about the flu vaccine: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/