Village Information
Village News
Staffordshire County Council update
Come on Staffordshire...let's do it for what matters
Everyone has a reason to want to see the back of the Coronavirus pandemic.
You may want to cuddle your grandchildren, get a business up and running again or simply get back into the gym.
We’re all different, but we can all do some simple things to stop the virus in its tracks.
We know that changing guidance can be confusing, but three things won't change:
-
Hands – keep them clean. COVID virus can stay active on surfaces for up to 24 hours. You could pick up or pass on the virus by touching a contaminated surface. Washing your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer kills the virus.
-
Face – wearing a face covering over your mouth and nose can help protect other people from droplets containing the virus. If you have the virus you’re less likely to pass it on.
-
Space – spreading the virus is much less likely to happen if you stay more than two metres apart from someone who has it.
Infections are falling in Staffordshire thanks to your efforts during the national restrictions, but we've still got more cases per 100,000 people than the West Midlands and England.
With national restrictions coming to an end on 2 December, we need to do everything we can to stop the spread and get back to what matters most.
Find out more
Rapid testing roll out begins
When you’ve got coronavirus, you can infect people for two days before you show any symptoms - and that’s if you get symptoms at all. Many people don’t.
That’s why testing for people with and without symptoms is so important.
The first of the new rapid Covid-19 tests were rolled out in the Staffordshire Moorlands today as part of a pilot.
The new tests, which can provide results in less than an hour, will help to quickly identify people who have the virus but may have no symptoms, and isolate any further cases.
We’re busy recruiting people to help deliver more of these tests, which will eventually see up to 80,000 people in the county tested every single week.
Over the next two weeks we will be looking to focus on a number of large businesses, sixth forms and community settings across the county.
Look out for local testing centres in the coming days and weeks.
Support for businesses
Local Restrictions Support Grants available for applications
Many local businesses that have been forced to temporarily close due to the national restrictions are eligible for a grant of between £1,334 and £3,000 a month.
Lichfield District Council has launched its Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme after receiving almost £1.5 million of government funding to support local businesses.
The latest grant scheme is aimed at businesses that have been required to close due to the national restrictions that started on 5 November 2020.
It is for businesses including non-essential retail, personal care services, hospitality venues, leisure facilities, accommodation providers, entertainment venues and more.
Grants will be awarded to eligible businesses to support them during the temporary closure. They will receive:
- £1,334 a month for properties with a rateable value of £15k or under
- £2,000 a month for properties with a rateable value above £15k and below £51k
- £3,000 a month for properties with a rateable value above £51k
Councillor Liz Little, Cabinet Member Responsible for Economic Development, said:“We’re once again set to distribute grants to local businesses that have been required to close. The funding will go some way to protecting a variety of businesses across the district.
“Businesses can be confident that we will get their grants out to them as quickly as possible. They can help us to do this by providing all the relevant information we need for fraud checks, and waiting patiently for the grants, as contacting us to check on progress will slow down our ability to make the payments.”
The council is also working to set up the Additional Restrictions Grants application process. This is to fund additional business support through discretionary grants. More information about this scheme will be available soon.
For the Local Restrictions Support Grant eligibility criteria and to apply online, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/supportingbusiness.
News from the November Meeting
News from the November Parish Council meeting
Now that the Parish Council meetings are being held online, various residents have watched recent meetings from the comfort of their own homes and have spoken at Open Forum about issues in the village. If you’d like to comment or just observe, the link to the next meeting on December 14th will be on the agenda on our website, and villagers are welcome to join.
During the November meeting a resident attended to comment on the state of Brickhouse Lane. One of the organisers of help for residents during lockdown spoke about how the volunteers can assist and said that leaflets would be delivered around the village giving contact details for those who need help with deliveries or just a friendly word.
During the meeting matters such as local planning applications, playground maintenance, a plan to install a canoe platform on the River Tame, and planting of saplings at the Sportsfield were discussed. Details of a Christmas Lights switch on event for residents were given, and the Parish Council agreed to assist with co-ordinating this. An update was given on the traffic concerns raised at the last meeting, matters had now improved and a meeting would be arranged with the farm.
Councillors raised further issues including an on-going issue about dog waste on the grass at The Avenue, due to a few owners who did not clear up after their pets.
For further details please see the draft minutes via the Parish Council tab
Alarming rise in Covid cases in the Mease Valley
Services at Lichfield District Council during lockdown
Lichfield District Council Services during national lockdown
We are really pleased that nearly all of Lichfield District Council services will continue to operate as normal during the national lockdown but there are some changes that we have had to make
· Waste collection services will continue to operate as normal and Staffordshire County Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres in Lichfield and Burntwood will remain open.
· Streetscene and grounds maintenance teams will continue to work to ensure the district remains clean, tidy and well presented.
· Parks and playgrounds will remain open to support physical activity and mental wellbeing but visitors must adhere to social distancing guidance.
· Organised sports – football, tennis, golf, bowls etc. cannot now take place. Outdoor gym equipment and skate parks cannot be used during the lockdown.
· Face to face sessions organised by Active Lichfield including the Getin2it project have been suspended but the Healthy at Home programme has been re-launched - www.activelichfield.co.uk/
· Burntwood and Friary Grange Leisure Centres will be closed. More details regarding the closure arrangements can be found at: www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/
· The Visitor Information Desk at St Mary’s will be closed. More information is available at - www.visitlichfield.co.uk/
Support for businesses and residents will continue throughout the national lockdown. The Council’s customer service reception is closed to visitors but the majority of council services can be accessed online at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk.
The telephone contact number for customer services is 01543 308000 and for council tax and housing benefit 01543 308900.
Covid-19 information and guidance is also available at https://www.lichfielddc.gov.
Helping older people with everyday tasks
People who want to be more independent in their own homes are being urged to try out a new interactive online tool.
The innovative ‘Happy at Home’ house will help highlight the range of simple and affordable assistive technology equipment available to people who may be struggling with everyday tasks around the home.
The resource allows users to take a tour around a typical home, prompting them about difficult situations and day to day tasks they could encounter. Users are then presented with a range of ideas and solutions that they can then easily compare and acquire.
Simple and inexpensive gadgets that can help someone to prepare food, get washed or dressed or feel safer around their home are examples of the kind of products being highlighted.
The new resource is part of a wider campaign by Staffordshire County Council to help support people who want to live independently in their own homes for longer.
Dr. Johnny McMahon, Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing at Staffordshire County Council said:
“One of our main priorities is to help people lead healthier and happier lives and to support them to be able to live well at home for longer.
“Technology is really transforming many aspects of everyday life. Today there are many clever and affordable devices available to help older people or people with a daily living need to stay safe and independent at home.
“We’re very excited about the new online tool which we hope will make it even easier for our residents and their loved ones to find daily living products that can help to make their lives just that bit easier. And of course, at this time of year, it’s a perfect way to find a useful and meaningful gift for a neighbour, friend or family member for Christmas.”
As well as the interactive house, the new online service includes a range of independent living gift ideas, a library of video demonstrations of assistive technology products, and an opportunity to compare a wide choice of solutions.
People can explore the online interactive house and find out more at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/happyathome
Use of playground and outdoor gym
There has been further clarification of government rules about the use of playgrounds and gyms during the current lockdown.
We have now been informed that outdoor gyms must be closed so please do not use the adult exercise equipment during the 4 week lockdown.
The guidance for playgrounds states that they can be open with social distancing measures in place so please continue to limit the numbers at any time. We are not able to clean the equipment regularly so please ensure children's hands are sanitised before and after touching the equipment, gate etc.
It is permitted to exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place – with the people you live with, with your support bubble, or when on your own, with 1 person from another household (children under school age, as well as those dependent on round-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on 2 people meeting outside)
Surviving Winter Appeal
The Covid-19 Pandemic and lockdowns have brought home to us all the problems that many people face every year in winter.
In winter older people can become more isolated than usual, spending more time in their homes. They are less likely to travel, even for shopping and medical appointments. There are still many people that experience fuel poverty who have to make a daily decision about whether they will eat that day or have their heating on, and this can affect older people, children and families. The pandemic has meant that many more people than usual are facing these problems.
Holiday hunger has also become more pronounced, and across the UK an estimated 8.4million people will struggle to get enough food to eat. This can affect working households, as well as those made up of older people, or those on low or fluctuating incomes
How can you get involved?
We need your help to raise funds and help thousands of people across our county. Every penny raised in Staffordshire will go to support the most vulnerable people in the Staffordshire. Every penny raised in Shropshire will go to help the most vulnerable in Shropshire.
You can help us to support people through our Justgiving Campaign for Staffordshire or Shropshire. You can also donate by text message by using Donr.
If you are not able to support the campaign financially you could still get involved through volunteering, or by helping to spread the word about this vital campaign which could save lives this winter.
Text SWSTAFFS to 70085 to donate £5
Text SWSHROP to 70450 to donate £5
Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £5 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SWSTAFFSNOINFO to 70085 or SWSHROPNOINFO to 70450.
Fly tipping warning
Residents reminded of duty of care after rise in fly-tipping
With a 60 percent increase in fly-tipping across the district, local householders are being asked to be alert to rogue traders who offer to remove waste for a fee, but then go onto dump it.
After seeing fly-tipping incidences steadily increase, Lichfield District Council is reminding local people that they have a duty of care around their waste.
Councillor Richard Cox, Cabinet Member for responsible for Waste, said: “It’s unacceptable and really disappointing that so much fly-tipping is happening on local roads throughout the district. It is both unsightly and expensive for our teams to clean up.
“Judging by the waste that we’re finding, we suspect rogue traders are going door-to-door and offering to remove household rubbish and then dumping it on local roads.
“Everyone can help us to keep the district free of fly-tipping by making sure they only use properly licensed companies to dispose of waste on their behalf.
“So, when employing a gardener, tree surgeon, builder or house clearance company, it’s important to check they have a waste carriers’ licence, which means they can legally remove your waste. If they cannot produce this paperwork, don’t use them as they could go on to dump your waste.”
As well as local household recycling centres in Lichfield and Burntwood, local households can use the council’s bulky wastes service to dispose of unwanted bulky items. It costs £15.50 for the first item and £6.40 for every subsequent item. The service can be booked online at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/bulkywasteor by calling 0345 002 0022.
People who may have seen rubbish being dumped locally are also being urged to come forward.
“We always try to gather evidence by going through fly-tipped rubbish and if we identify the culprits we will seek to prosecute. If you have any information, please report it to us as soon as possible to help us with our investigations,” added Cllr Cox.
Useful information needed includes the date, time, location and type of waste being dumped, vehicle details, a description of the people involved, as well as any photographic or video evidence of the offence taking place.
To report fly-tipping or if you have information about a recent fly-tipping offence, please call Lichfield District Council on 01543 308999 or visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/report.
