Motorists in Tamworth Town Centre can expect weeks of delays as the latest improvement works to ‘The Upper Gungate Corridor’ start next week.
Earlier this year, Staffordshire County Council announced a string of improvement works for what is describes as ‘The Upper Gungate Corridor’ and the scheme now moves on to its final stage at the junctions of Lichfield St / Aldergate, Bell Corner and the Offa Drive / Gungate junction.
The Upper Gungate Corridor runs roughly north-south through the Tamworth urban area, carrying traffic from the A513 (along part of the Corridor) and B5493.
The corridor runs from Fountains junction, where Comberford Rd and Ashby Rd meet, along Upper Gungate and Aldergate to Lichfield Street at the western side of the town centre. Estimated cost of the whole project is £1.8 million and is due to be completed by Spring 2015.
The purpose of the scheme is to implement a package of improvements to reduce congestion and provide better highway capacity along this Corridor.
Works to the Upper Gungate / Croft St junction as well as the Fountain Junction were completed earlier in the year and the final stage is due to begin on January 5, lasting approximately 12 weeks.
The plans for the improvements at the junction of Aldergate and Lichfield St. (click to enlarge).
What’s happening at Lichfield St / Aldergate Junction?
It is proposed that the present junction will be widened to the south side of Lichfield St so that traffic can move from Lichfield St to Aldergate and from Aldergate to Lichfield St at the same time. (With the present layout this cannot happen as large vehicles from Lichfield St need to use both sides of the road to get around the corner by the White Lion Public House.) The traffic lights will remain in place and will allow turning traffic to enter Silver Street and exit Church Street and Silver Street when required.
What’s happening at Hospital St / Aldergate (Bell Corner)?
Traffic signal equipment is being upgraded to give better timing control and thereby reduce delays to traffic. These signals will be linked with others along the length of the corridor and co-ordinated to act as a single system.
What’s happening at Offadrive / Gungate Junction?
As at Hospital Street junction, traffic signal equipment is being upgraded to give better timing control and thereby reduce delays to traffic. These signals will be linked with others along the length of the corridor and co-ordinated to act as a single system.
What will the benefits be?
Traffic travelling between Aldergate and Lichfield Street will have a green light most of the time. The only times when this will not be the case is when vehicles wanting to turn out of Silver Street or Church St are detected or pedestrians want to cross the road. When one of these happens, a different phase of the traffic lights will trigger to allow the pedestrians or turning traffic to proceed safely.
What disruption will there be?
The Lichfield Street/Aldergate junction normally operates under traffic signals. During the construction work this will still be the case, however passing through the junction is likely to take longer than usual.
Areas of footway will be closed or restricted at various times during the construction work. Diversions will be signed.
Towards the end of the construction work, there will be local road closures to allow re-surfacing to take place. These will be at quiet times for a short duration.
Comment
If you would like to comment on the scheme or suggest improvements, please contact Neil Porter (01785 276573 - [email protected]) or Guy Pryer (01785 276684 - [email protected] ).
TRADERS, shoppers and visitors to Tamworth are being reminded that they can park for free Tomorrow in the Town Centre.
Parking will be free in all of Tamworth Borough Council’s car parks tomorrow, Saturday December 20 in addition to two weeks ago on December 6.
The car parking fees have been waived on those two days in a bid to boost town centre trade by encouraging more people to come into Tamworth to shop.
The first free parking Saturday on December 6 has been timed to coincide with Small Business Saturday. This is a nationwide campaign to encourage people to shop with independent traders. Every town centre shop taking part in the campaign will display a Small Business Saturday poster in their window.
Small Business Saturday began in the USA four years ago and has grown to become a national event. It aims to promote small independent traders and encourage people to support their local businesses.
The initiative is being spearheaded in Tamworth by the Destination Tamworth team, with the support of Tamworth Borough Council and Christopher Pincher MP.
This year, shoppers are being offered another incentive to support local traders by buying a Destination Tamworth Loyalty Club card, which provides discounts and offers. They are available from the Tourist Information Centre.
Tamworth Borough Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Rob Pritchard, said: “We are keen to support the town centre, especially at important times like Christmas. We made the decision to waive parking charges on these two very busy shopping days because we want to support traders and boost town centre trade.
“There has been a lot of support for Small Business Saturday in previous years, and I hope that a lot of people will support it again this year. Please tell your family and friends so we can make this the busiest Christmas for the town centre ever. Please come out and support YOUR town centre.”
Extra markets will also be take place in the run-up to Christmas. As well as the usual Tuesday and Saturday markets, there will be additional markets on Friday December 19, Monday December 22 and Wednesday December 24.
THE first phase of a major project to open up and improve the links between Tamworth’s town centre and Ventura Park is due to get underway in the spring.
The Gateways project aims to improve the physical links between the town centre, Ventura Park and the railway station, making the routes more attractive and increasing the number of pedestrians and cyclists using them.
The project is a partnership between Tamworth Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council and has been in the planning stage for the past two years.
Work on the first phase, between Ladybridge and Ventura Park, is due to start in the spring and will include footpath and cycleway resurfacing, installation of new benches, bins, signposts, interpretation boards and lighting.
Work will also be carried out to open up and improve the views to the Castle along Ladybridge for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Gateways project is part of the long-term vision for the regeneration of Tamworth town centre, drawn up by Tamworth Borough Council and its partners. Aims include:
- The creation of a prosperous town centre with a wide range of businesses, retailers and services, alongside the provision of new homes within the town centre
- To encourage independent and niche retailers to move into the town
- To develop and improve on our existing leisure and heritage assets
- To broaden the night time economy and encourage more restaurants
- To improve connections between the town centre and Ventura Park.
The vision has been developed over a number of years and is a long-term project which will continue to grow and develop. It is linked to a series of connected projects which include the physical regeneration of Tamworth town centre, as well as support for businesses to help refocus the town centre (please see attached graphic).
Tamworth Borough Council is only one of the partners involved in the regeneration programme, working with other public sector bodies, the private sector and community groups.
Other projects which are already underway or in the pipeline aimed at helping the town centre to grow and thrive include:
- The development of a Creative Quarter, including major improvements to Tamworth Assembly Rooms, a restaurant in the Carnegie Centre, 15 business incubation units to help establish small and new businesses in the Philip Dix Centre, improvements to the library and the creation of a new square between the library, Assembly Rooms and Carnegie Centre. The ambitious plans for Tamworth Assembly Rooms were approved in September and an application for the business incubation units is expected to be made in the next couple of months.
- The redevelopment of the Spinning School Lane area, to complement the former Gungate precinct scheme.
- Working with the Ankerside Shopping Centre to support and develop the town centre.
- Exploring the opportunity to create a Business Improvement District to include both the town centre and Ventura Park.
- Tamworth Castle submitting bid to Heritage Lottery Fund to upgrade and improve the exhibition on the top floor.
Cllr Steve Claymore, Cabinet member for Economy, said: “Improving Tamworth town centre is a long-term, ongoing project and something to which Tamworth Borough Council is fully committed.
“The first phase of the Gateways project is a huge step forward and will provide long-awaited improvements to the linkages between the town centre and Ventura Park.”
He added: “This sits alongside a wide range of public and private sector regeneration projects, both ongoing and in the pipeline to secure the future of the town centre.
“Tamworth town centre is not dying. It – along with other town centres throughout the country – is changing, as the needs and demands of customers change. The changes in Tamworth town centre are driven by consumer demand, not council policy.
“It is a widely-held – although incorrect – belief that Tamworth Borough Council owns most if not all of the shops in Tamworth town centre, so can set rents as it chooses. We in fact own only 16 premises, mostly in market Street and Church Street. The majority of shops and premises in the town centre are owned by other landlords, and we encourage them to set affordable rents, which many do.
“Similarly with business rates – there have been many letters in the press asking why the council cannot offer rate reductions to certain businesses to encourage them to open in the town centre. National Non-Domestic Rates are set by the government, and are something over which we can have no say – although we do promote national schemes, including Small Business Rate Relief.
“While Tamworth town centre may not be the centre for retail that it once was, it is still the administrative, historical and leisure time centre. There is still a very large amount of economic activity taking place in Tamworth town centre, which we will continue to support and encourage.”
SHOPPERS and visitors to Tamworth are being given more choice about where to buy their Christmas presents and festive essentials this year – with extra markets being held in the town centre in the run-up to Christmas.
Town centre market operators LSD Promotions Ltd, in conjunction with Tamworth Borough Council, will once again be hosting the extra festive markets, in addition to the normal Saturday and Tuesday markets.
Additional markets will be running in the town centre on Friday December 19, Monday December 22 and Christmas Eve (until 2pm).
The stalls will be dressed in festive style, and on Saturday December 20, there will be a special performance by Amington Band under the Town Hall. Parking is free in all town centre car parks, including Ankerside, on that day.
Cllr Steve Claymore, Cabinet member for Economy, said: “Tamworth Market is a vital and popular part of the town centre economy, and I am delighted that we are able to offer extra markets leading up to Christmas.
“I hope they will be very well supported as they are an excellent place to pick up last minute Christmas presents and festive essentials.”
TRADERS, shoppers and visitors to Tamworth are being reminded that they can park in the town centre for free this Saturday.
Parking will be free in all of Tamworth Borough Council’s car parks on Saturday December 6 – with a further free parking day later in the month on Saturday December 20.
It has also now been confirmed that parking will also be free in Ankerside Shopping Centre on these days as they wish to take part in the event to support the Town Centre.
The car parking fees are being waived on those two days in a bid to boost town centre trade by encouraging more people to come into Tamworth to shop.
This weekend’s free parking day has been timed to coincide with Small Business Saturday. This is a nationwide campaign to encourage people to shop with independent traders. Every town centre shop taking part in the campaign will display a Small Business Saturday poster in their window.
Small Business Saturday began in the USA four years ago and has grown to become a national event. It aims to promote small independent traders and encourage people to support their local businesses.
The initiative is being spearheaded in Tamworth by the Destination Tamworth team, with the support of Tamworth Borough Council and Christopher Pincher MP.
This year, shoppers are being offered another incentive to support local traders by buying a Destination Tamworth Loyalty Club card, which provides discounts and offers. They are available from the Tourist Information Centre.
Tamworth Borough Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Rob Pritchard, said: “We invest in and support the town centre, especially at important times like Christmas. We are waiving parking charges on these two very busy shopping days because we want to further back traders and boost town centre trade.
“There has been a lot of support for Small Business Saturday in previous years, and I hope that a lot of people will support it again this year. Please tell your family and friends so we can make this the busiest Christmas for the town centre ever. Please come out and support YOUR town centre, because at the end of the day it’s only customers who can keep our town centre thriving.”
Extra Markets for Christmas
Extra markets will also be take place in the run-up to Christmas. As well as the usual Tuesday and Saturday markets, there will be additional markets on Friday December 19, Monday December 22 and Wednesday December 24.
A safety campaign aimed at providing useful help and information, as well as reducing crime, will be taking to the streets of Tamworth on the night of Saturday December 13.
Operation Safer Nights Plus will see staff from organisations - including Tamworth Borough Council, police, fire service, domestic abuse groups and drug & alcohol counselling services - patrolling the streets of Tamworth town centre from 6pm until 10pm.
The operation is aimed at informing and educating revellers about how to stay safe, while at the same time supporting the town’s night-time economy by making Tamworth a much safer place to be at night.
The police run Operation Safer Nights every weekend throughout the year. The aim of the campaign is to interact with night-time revellers to ensure that people can enjoy a night out without fear of crime or disorder. It runs throughout the night until the early hours of the morning.
Operation Safer Nights Plus builds on that work throughout the year and involves a number of partner organisations joining together for a high-profile education and information event.
It will run from 6pm to 10pm, after which time, the police’s Operation Safer Night will continue.
During Operation Safer Nights Plus, a mobile police station will be set up in St Editha’s Square as a focal point where people can get help and advice on a range of services including domestic abuse, sexual health services, drug & alcohol counselling and general safety advice.
Police officers will also be available at the mobile station and are encouraging people to go along and speak to them.
Staff in the CCTV control room will be monitoring the streets of the town centre and will be in constant communication with the organisations involved to alert them to unfolding situations.
Similar events just before Christmas in previous years have been highly successful, with around 200 people each year spoken to or asking for information.
Cabinet member for Community Development, Cllr Stephen Doyle, said: “Operation Safer Nights Plus aims to make people more aware of their safety when they are out for the night. Tamworth is a safe place to be at night and this operation will help to show people to huge amount of work which goes into ensuring that safety.
“It builds on the great work carried out by the police done in the town centre throughout the year with Operation Safer Nights and I am pleased that we are able to support this event.”
ARMED men held a knife to the throat of a pub manager and then left him tied up before fleeing with the contents of the safe during a robbery last week.
Two men, armed with knives were responsible for the robbery at the popular Tamworth Arms pub on Lichfield Street which is also known to locals as ‘The Bottom House’ in the late evening of Thursday last week, November 20th.
The manager of the Lichfield Street pub who wishes not to be named due to the ordeal was finishing up for the night and getting ready to lock up when the raiders struck at approximately 1045pm.
He was taking the rubbish bags and bottle bin out to the back of the pub where the robbers were waiting for him outside, they grabbed him around the neck and dragged him back in to the kitchen where they held a knife to his throat and demanded to know if there was anyone else on the premises.
The armed men then dragged him in to the bar at knife point where they forced him to his knees and continued to hold the knife to his throat whilst they emptied the till of the days takings.
Raiders then made the manager take them to the safe which they emptied, taking a what is described as a ‘considerable amount of money’. They then tied him up with tape in the office before fleeing the location.
It is believed that the offenders were waiting out of view of the CCTV cameras as he was not aware of them previously.
The offenders are described as white men, one wearing a blue hooded top and jeans, described as being short and stocky with the other wearing a black hooded top with grey tracksuit bottoms, described as tall and slim. Both men were wearing gloves and balaclavas.
Ian Walker, the owner of The Tamworth Arms has told Tamworth Informed: “This has effected all the staff that work here and have worked here for a long time, everyone is scared and very wary.
“We have a lot of good regular customers that use this pub and a lot of residents staying here that have been here for some time. Everyone is disgusted that two thugs can cause this much upset.
“The manager is holding it together as best he can, being held at knife point doesn’t disappear from your memory overnight, having watched the CCTV coverage I can see why he is struggling. I am truly shocked.”
The pub has now increased it’s security and changed its procedures. Ian has told us: “They will not get away with it again!”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Staffordshire Police on 101 or pass information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ELDERLY Tamworth residents got crafty to help create a grotto for Santa at Ankerside Shopping Centre.
The pensioners at Ankermoor Court sheltered housing in Bolehall were busy with scissors and paintbrushes to create a range of decorations to grace this year’s Christmas grotto at the centre, which will be welcoming youngsters from Thursday November 27.
Helping them out was Ankerside Shopping Centre administrator Lucy Harvey, who took along paint and glitter from Rymans, and plus gift wrap donated by the Card Party store.
Ankerside Shopping Centre administrator Lucy Harvey with Dolly Unwin, 88 create parcels for the grotto
Lucy said: “We enlisted the help of the residents last year, and it was a great success, so I wanted to do it all again for 2014, but with a different theme.
“It was great fun and while we were wrapping parcels for around the grotto, plus drawing elves, the residents had lots of stories to tell me about how they celebrated Christmas when they were younger.
“Thanks to their help, the grotto will once again be looking stunning when it opens on November 27. Christmas really is the highlight of the year here at the centre. We put a lot of planning into making it a fun, enjoyable event for the whole family, so there’s something for everybody.”
The residents and staff at Ankermoor Court thoroughly enjoyed their time making the decorations, said Brenda Reader from the sheltered housing base in Rene Road, Bolehall, which is home to 46 residents aged 67-96.
“It went down very well, and they continued with making the decorations once Lucy had to go back to Ankerside - they have just finished making some elves,” said Brenda.
“We like to put on a lot of activities for our residents, but this was a different challenge for them. One of our residents Dolly also took part last year and she’s looking forward to doing it again for 2015!”
Santa will be welcoming youngsters to his Workshop Grotto at Ankerside Shopping centre from 9.30am to 11.30am on November 27 as part of the centre’s regular Mummy Morning.
He is back at the grotto from Friday November 28-30 from 11am to 4pm, and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday December 5-7 plus December 12-14 and December 19 to Christmas Eve.
Donations are already pouring in for the centre’s Operation Christmas, with presents for sick children and vulnerable families being left in the massive collection box outside the H Samuel store.
The appeal for donations of new toys and games for children up to the age of 14 plus toiletries runs until December 14. The donations will be divided between two charities - youngsters at Acorn Children’s Hospice plus vulnerable families supported by Pathways Project.
Tamworth Rotary Club will again be running its Tree of Lights stand from November 25 alongside AB’s Coffee and Cakes Café at Ankerside. Over the coming weeks the tree will be adorned with stars bearing messages from people in memory of loved ones – from friends and family through to pets. The Tree of Light this year has been donated by H Gold & Sons Timber Merchants of Fazeley.
More than £10,000 has been raised in the past eight years by the club, thanks to donations for the Tree of Light. The money is divided between local and UK charities supported by the club - such as St Giles Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support, through to international campaigns on eradicating polio and bringing water to areas affected by drought.
Ankerside Shopping Centre is also backing the Shop Local initiative, encouraging people to support Tamworth’s retailers when heading out to pick up festive presents for family and friends. The centre is offering all-day free parking on December 6 and December 20 to help deliver a boost to the town’s businesses.
Sherry and mince pies on offer on Tuesday December 9 from noon to 1pm, while for last-minute shopping, stores will open late until 9pm on Monday December 22 and Tuesday December 23.
More details of what’s on at ankerside.co.uk or at facebook.com/ankersidetamworth
Rosemary Skitt, 71, gets busy with the glitter and paint
Chris Stephenson, 78, shows off her festive elf for the grotto
Jenny Murray, 68, joins in with creating the grotto decorations
Edna Ryde, 89, gets to work on drawings of elves
TICKETS are still available for this weekend’s Castle By Candlelight event – which is back by popular demand.
Castle By Candlelight ran for more than 20 years until 2009 – with up to 800 people of all ages visiting Tamworth Castle as it was lit with hundreds of candles.
And this year, following a number of requests to bring it back, Castle By Candlelight is once again lighting up the rooms of Tamworth Castle this Saturday and Sunday (November 22 and 23).
The theme of the event is The History of Light and will see the castle in all its splendour lit by more than 300 candles. Visitors will explore the castle and meet guides, who will be talking about some of the weird and wonderful ways in which buildings were illuminated in the days before electric lighting.
Castle By Candlelight will run from 5.30pm to 8pm on both evenings, with tours taking place every 15 minutes. Some tickets are still available, but they are selling fast and numbers are limited to 22 for each slot.
Tickets are available in person from Tamworth Information Centre in Corporation Street, by calling 01827 709618 or emailing [email protected]
Prices for admission to Castle By Candlelight are:
- Adults (including OAPs) - £7.50
- Children aged five and over - £5
- Children aged 2-4 - £2
- Children under two – free admission (please inform us when booking if you are bringing children under two).
Tamworth Borough Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Rob Pritchard, said: “We decided to bring back the hugely popular Castle By Candlelight after we received a number of requests from people who used to enjoy it so much.
“There is a huge amount of interest in the event – which is returning in a new form - and I would encourage people who are hoping to come along to book their tickets now so they don’t miss out.
“Come along and be amazed by the beauty of Tamworth Castle in a way you may not have seen it before - lit by a blaze of candles.”
NEW jobs are being created at Tamworth’s Ankerside Shopping Centre with the opening of new stores.
Ten staff have been recruited by gifts, books and craft company The Works, which was opened today (Nov 14) by 12-year-old Tamworth schoolgirl Grace Norris. In addition homeware firm Cargo will take on six staff when it starts trading on November 20.
Nick Wood, retail operation director of the Works, Grace Norris, 12, of Glascote who opened the store. Peter Barber, centre manager at Ankerside.
Ankerside Shopping Centre manager Pete Barber said: “These new stores and new jobs are a double boost for the centre and for Tamworth as well.
“It helps to widen the range of goods that we have on sale here at Ankerside. Plus the new stores are right on cue for Christmas, as they will be stocking plenty of items that will make great presents for family and friends.
“The Works is also a great destination for stationery, books, cards and wrapping paper, plus crafts to keep youngsters occupied over the Christmas break. Cargo is full of contemporary homeware for inspired interior design.”
Grace won the honour of cutting the ribbon to formally open The Works new store following a social media competition.
The 12-year-old from Glascote, a pupil at Landau Forte Academy in Amington, wears two hearing aids, after being diagnosed deaf as a toddler.
She said: “I am very nervous and excited about being asked to open The Works. I like the shop because it has lots of books that I like to read, plus it has loads of art and crafts things to buy.”
Her mum Gemma added: “Grace used to go to Lichfield to visit The Works store there - they had books like Sign Language for Dummies which I used to help me learn it. Plus there were other story books about children with hearing aids.
“Grace gets frustrated about not being able to talk to people and so loves doing things with her hands, such as arts and crafts. The Works is perfect for this.”
Kevin Keaney chief executive of The Works, said: “The West Midlands is an important region for us, and we’re delighted to open another new in the area, here in Tamworth. We have had great success with our existing stores based in the region to date, and this new store will further demonstrate our commitment to this location.
“Tamworth – and Ankerside particularly - was selected due to its ever-increasing commercial potential and its proximity to the beautiful Tamworth Castle, which attracts out-of-towners and locals alike. We’re really excited about the positive effect the opening will have on the community.”
The 2,000sq ft store was previously an Adams children’s wear shop. The company, based in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, now has 300 stores across the UK.
Some of the homeware selection on sale at Cargo’s new store at Ankerside Shopping Centre
The 3,500sq ft Cargo store, which opens on November 20, is in the former HMV branch. It stocks contemporary home furnishings, from sofas to tables and chairs, plus cushions and other interior design inspirations.
Dave Waring, Head of Retail, said: “At Cargo, we’re all about helping our customers to express themselves for less – and that’s why we’re pleased that from November 20 we can offer our range of stylish furniture and homewares to the residents of Tamworth.
“As part of our expansion plans across the UK, we spotted great growth opportunities in the town and we’re confident that there will be something for everyone at our brand new store, no matter what their style or budget. Plus with the festive season fast approaching, we’re helping customers get Christmas ready with glasses, tableware and decorations as well as gifts for all the family.”
Established in 1876 by J W Carpenter in Paddington, Cargo has over 130 years of history. It is now part of the Steinhoff group, one of the world’s largest furniture and homeware retailers, which also owns Harvey’s and Bensons. Now based in Thame, Oxfordshire, it has more than 40 stores across southern England, with new ones recently opening in the Midlands.
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