Elford Village

Village News

Sign up for 2022 garden waste collections

Green-fingered folk across Lichfield District are being encouraged to subscribe again for the garden waste service.

Online registration at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/mygardenbin is now open for the garden waste service, and Lichfield District Council is urging local residents to sign up again to have their brown bins emptied in 2022.

The council has held 2021’s price and it will cost £36 per brown bin for fortnightly collections in 2022. Next year’s garden waste service will run from 31 January to 16 December and customers will receive a maximum of 23 collections.

 

Councillor Ashley Yeates, Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Recycling, said: “Thank you to everyone who signed up to our garden waste service in the last year.

“We’re now reminding all our residents that they will need to sign up again if they want their brown bins emptied in 2022.

“It costs the same regardless of when you register during the year, and your annual subscription will always end in December. This is why it makes sense to register before the first collection in 2022, so you can get a full year’s worth of collections.”

Sign up for the garden waste service at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/mygardenbin or call the Lichfield and Tamworth Shared Waste Service on 0345 002 0022.

“It is important to remember that your brown bin will not be emptied in 2022 unless you are signed up and have displayed your new sticker on your garden waste bin.

“We are also encouraging anyone who signs up not to cover up their 2021 sticker with their new one, so our crews know to continue to empty your garden waste bin for the rest of this year,” added Cllr Yeates.

Funding for Leisure and Hospitality Businesses

There is still funding available in Lichfield District Council's latest Additional Restrictions Grant round, focusing on the leisure, events sector (inclusive of hospitality) and their supply chain:

If you are:
- A Lichfield District micro or small business within the leisure, events sector (inclusive of hospitality) and their direct supply chain.
- Haven't received support from the Local Restrictions Support Grant, previous Additional Restrictions Grant rounds and the Restart Scheme.
- Seen a reduction in your net profits of at least 25%.

You may be interested in applying.

For the full eligibility criteria and the application form, visit: https://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/coronavirus-2/support-businesses-coronavirus-covid-19/7  

It is a limited funding pot which is first come, first serve. If applications outweigh the amount available, the application process shall be closed.

Report on July 2021 PC Meeting

The rearranged Parish Council meeting took place on 26th July at the Village Hall.

New plans had been submitted for the former Social Club site to address the concerns of the Planners and Conservation Officer, and the developers had been asked to provide evidence of how an alternative community facility could be provided to replace the closed club. A meeting had been held at the Cricket Pavilion to prepare a plan of work required for its use by the wider community.

Maintenance and electrical safety work had taken place at the Playground and new picnic benches had been delivered. It was agreed to begin enquiries about replacing the surfacing and the equipment in the longer term.

A resident had contacted the Parish Council regarding overgrown and impassable parts of the Rights of Way, these would be reported to the County Council Rights of Way team.

The Councillors agreed to discuss ideas for the long term needs of the village at the next meeting. Any residents wishing to suggest ideas please contact any Councillor.

There had been recent incidents of car theft and vandalism. Concerns would be raised with the PCSO and crime prevention advice would be shared with residents. Cllr Turley offered to investigate CCTV and report back to the September 13th meeting.

For further information please see the Minutes.

Grants on offer to help protect local homes from flooding

If your home or business flooded in February 2020 you may be entitled to a grant to help prevent your property from being flooded again.

 

After an extension to the national scheme, Lichfield District Council is inviting owners of homes or businesses that flooded in storms Ciara or Dennis in February 2020 to apply for a property flood resilience grant of up to £5,000.

 

 

Councillor Rob Strachan, Cabinet Member for Finance, Procurement and Revenues & Benefits, said: “We know how heart-breaking it is to have your home or businesses flooded, and we want to help make sure local properties are able to withstand possible future flooding events.

 

 

“This is why we’re inviting anyone who owns a property in the district that flooded in February 2020 to apply for funding to install measures to help make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

 

 

To be eligible for a grant, an independent surveyor will need to assess the property to advise on the best way to make a property more resilient to future flooding, such as putting in flood doors and raising electrics from ground level.

 

 

The funding can only be spent on flooding mitigation measures and cannot be used for repairs.

 

 

To find out more and how to apply for a property flood resilience grant, go to www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/floodrelief.

Crime prevention

The Parish Council was concerned to hear about the recent car crime in the village. If you have been affected please report all incidents to the police so that they can build up a picture of what has happened and increase patrols of the village.

Please see our downloads area for advice on preventing thefts from keyless vehicles and for general crime prevention advice. This will help everyone take measures for their own security. We have contacted PCSO Costas Karpi to invite him to the next Parish Council meeting which takes place in September and will pass on any advice from the police in the meantime.

 

Post Office info

Don't forget therre is a Post Office at the Village Hall every Tuesday morning 10-12.

Send your parcels, do your banking and much more!

 

Dog walking advice

Help is on hand to make dog walking as enjoyable as possible for you and your canine companion.

With many households buying or adopting a lockdown dog, Lichfield District Council is offering advice to new dog owners who may be struggling to keep their recent additions to the family under control.

Over the last year, the council has received a number of complaints about dogs off the lead that are giving cause for concern in local parks.

There are simple ways to make sure dogs follow commands, including enrolling on a dog obedience course.

The Dogs Trust - a registered charity - offer a four-week virtual and in-person Dog School for £65. Find out more at www.dogstrust.org.uk/dogschool.

Lyn from Lichfield said: “Puppy training really helped my dog Oakley, giving invaluable tips and support in a controlled socialising environment. The outcome was a fantastic and responsive pet. He is amazing off the lead and going back on it, especially when passing anyone who looks uncomfortable or if we come across dogs and I’m unsure of their temperament.”

Oakley, a three year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Japanese Spitz mix, is the face of Stay Pawsitive by Hegdesigns. You can find out what he gets up to over on his Instagram account at _oakleythedog.

For reactive dogs keeping them on a lead can be the best option. The Respect the Lead campaign offers the following advice:

  • Don't let your dog run over to a dog on a lead, they may be on a lead for a reason
  • Don't let your dog off the lead if you cannot easily recall them
  • Don't ignore warnings from other owners about their dog
  • Check with other owners before letting your dog interact
  • Remember a seemingly friendly dog may lash out if approached while on a lead

To find out more about Respect the Lead, go to www.respectthelead.com.

Online Safety Advice for Parents

The Polce have sent a useful guide for keeping children safe online 

Click here Advice

 

Community Lottery holiday prize

Win a luxury break with community lottery!
Players of Lichfield Community Lottery are being offered the chance to win a UK holiday worth £1,000 this summer.

Sign up and support Lichfield Community Lottery today for just £1 a ticket. On top of the chance to win weekly cash prizes up to the £25,000 jackpot, players who enter before 28 August could win a luxury forest staycation. 

The prize is a break worth £1,000 with Forest Holidays that have a variety of locations in some of the UK’s most beautiful forests, from Scotland to Cornwall, Snowdonia to Norfolk and more.

Since the pandemic hit, local good causes need even more support to recover over the coming months, even years.

So far 47 good causes in Lichfield District have signed up to be a part of the community lotter, and since launching in April, it has raised more than £13,000 for local groups, clubs, charities and organisations.

Councillor Richard Cox, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, said: “Playing Lichfield Community Lottery is a fun and easy way to support your community.

“You can choose which cause to support while being in with a chance of winning a cash prize or even a luxury forest holiday this summer.

“With 50p from every £1 ticket going to your chosen good cause and a further 10p going to We Love Lichfield, it really is win-win for you and the local community.”

The Forest Holidays draw is on 28 August. To choose which local good cause to support and buy tickets, go to www.lichfieldcommunitylottery.co.uk.