WORK to transform Tamworth Assembly Rooms into a modern theatre fit for 21st century audiences is progressing well as the historic building’s interior is cleared to make way for a new design and layout.
Many noticeable changes have taken place since the official appointment of principal contractors Novus Property Solutions at the end of last year, who have been busy removing all fixtures and fittings inside the Corporation Street venue.
Internal features such as the bar, box office, tech box and auditorium seating have all been ripped out and the dressing rooms block at the back of the building has been completely demolished, ready for the new extension to be built.
The next phase of the development will see scaffolding erected around the building while a 12-strong on-site team remove and replace the roof.
The £3.38m building contract to refurbish, extend and modernise Tamworth Assembly Rooms is part of a £4.8m makeover to preserve and enhance the 128-year-old theatre.
Novus Property Solutions is working as part of a project team made up of architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and a project manager.
Their task includes the creation of a café bar and exhibition space, a new box office, glazed double doors at the front and a brand new glass extension on the side of the building, which will be used as a studio space.
Accessibility will be enhanced with a new access ramp outside and an improved layout throughout and the current tiered seating will be replaced with new state-of-the-art retractable seating to create a contemporary and flexible theatre space. Back stage areas will be improved for performers and the building will be decorated throughout.
Seating removed from Assembly Rooms
Although the theatre is being significantly refurbished and updated, its ornate historic features will be conserved.
Cllr Steve Claymore, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration, said: “It’s now full steam ahead on the Assembly Rooms refurbishment and people will definitely start to notice some of the changes taking place. Inside, the building looks completely different after being cleared out ready for its complete redesign.
“This is a major project, representing a significant investment in Tamworth town centre which will help to secure one of our key attractions for future generations.”
The Assembly Rooms refurbishment is part of the wider Enterprise Quarter project, which is a joint initiative between Tamworth Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council.
The overall £6.1million scheme includes the creation of Tamworth Enterprise Centre, a new restaurant in the Carnegie Centre and the development of new ‘public realm’ open space. It is being funded by the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent LEP’s Single Local Growth Fund (£2.95m), the Heritage Lottery Fund (£903,400), Arts Council England (£365,000) and the remainder from Tamworth Borough Council.
Mark Foxall, contracts manager at Novus Property Solutions, said: “This is an incredibly complex project that includes extensive refurbishment works. We’re working closely with the council to ensure that this valuable building will be refreshed and become the perfect anchor for Tamworth’s new enterprise quarter.”
The construction phase is expected to take around 14 months and will be followed by further internal and technical work. If all goes to plan, the theatre should reopen during 2019, but further updates will be issued as the project progresses.
Other members of the project team include Brownhill Hayward Brown Architects, who have worked on the designs for the landmark building, Keelagher Okey Klein quantity surveyors, Cundall structural engineers and mechanical and electrical engineers BWB Consulting.
The whole project is being managed by Rider Levett Bucknall UK.
For updates about the Assembly Rooms project, you can follow our dedicated blog at www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk/blog.
SCHOOLS in Staffordshire will continue to rise to the challenge of higher standards when it comes to GCSEs, the county’s education chief has said this week.
The news comes as new GCSE result statistics are revealed by the Department for Education. Instead of being graded A*-G, pupils are now being graded 9-1 in English Language, English Literature and Maths, with a grade 5 as the benchmark.
Pupils in Staffordshire who have achieved a level 9-5 pass in English and Maths is 39.3%, compared to 39.6% nationally.
The average Attainment 8 score in Staffordshire is 44.9, compared to the average national score of 44.6. Attainment 8 is a new performance measure, which measures a pupil’s average grade across eight GCSE subjects.
County Councillor Philip White, Cabinet Support Member for Learning and Skills said: “The new higher standards at GCSE level have really tested schools and students, and I think this is reflected in the results on both a local and national level. This is only the first year of the new exams and it will take time for the new standards to bed in.
“Over the past five years there has been great progress in Staffordshire schools, with 89% of schools being rated “Good” or “Outstanding” in 2017 compared to just 65% in 2012 and this has pushed our exam results up to around the national average as these results reflect.
“Our teachers and school leaders have been working hard to improve standards and I believe they will continue the upward trajectory and take us further up the performance tables in years to come.
“Every good grade represents a student unlocking their potential and increasing their chances of securing one of the many high-skilled jobs we have available in Staffordshire today and we are determined to continue to support and where appropriate challenge our schools as they continue on their improvement journey.”
SPACE 2018 is set to be the biggest and best yet – with Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis continuing to support the summer activities project for young people.
Introduced to Staffordshire in 2015 by Mr Ellis, following a successful scheme in the 1980s, the Space programme brings together police, public, voluntary and private sector organisations to help nurture, support and guide Staffordshire youngsters and discourage the potential for anti-social behaviour (ASB)
The PCC’s commitment and funding of Space will be formally recorded at Monday’s Staffordshire Police and Crime Panel (PCP) meeting at the County Buildings in Stafford.
More than 18,000 attendees in activities across the summer holidays in 2017 – an increase of 5669 from the previous 12 months - with the age range of youngsters eligible due to be extended this year, for 8-17-year-olds (previously 11-17-year-olds).
Furthermore, statistics show a drop in police-related youth-related ASB throughout the Force during the period when Space was in operation, with 1091 recorded cases between mid-July and early-September 2017, compared to 1768 during the same period 12 months earlier. These are influenced by a wide range of factors, including weather, opportunities to engage in activities of interest, operational activity together with changes to Force recording practices.
PCC Matthew Ellis watches on as youngsters enjoy ‘Zorbing’ activity as part of the Space scheme.
The PCC office is also exploring the potential to extend the coverage of Space to other holiday periods.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said: ‘Space is part of the ongoing promise to do more for young people.
‘We’ve had huge numbers attending and levels of recorded youth-related ASB were significantly reduced compared to the previous year.
‘Staffordshire, like many areas, experiences higher rates of ASB during summer holidays than at other times and I’m keen that efforts are made to tackle the annual spike which happens year after year.
‘I was inspired by memories of the 1980s when officers from Staffordshire Police engaged in sport and other fun activities with local youngsters throughout the summer holidays.
‘For youngsters of today, my approach to Space is very different. I first introduced the Space programme in 2015 by bringing together police, public, voluntary and private sector organisations to help nurture, support and guide local young people and to keep communities even safer.
‘Now, three years on, Space is going from strength to strength and my plan is to grow investment in the programme and widen its approach, while extending it to beyond just the summer holidays.
‘Success for the youngsters is seen by the smiles on their faces, opportunities experienced for the first time and the things they’ve learned.
‘Space 2018 is aimed at increasing skills, improving health and wellbeing, and creating opportunities for young people to take part in positive activities to make communities safer and has previously run during the summer holidays.
‘I believe joint investment in positive engagement will change attitudes and mindset of those participating and ultimately make the communities of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent even safer.’
PHILIP Green of BHS and Carillion. These are just two recent examples of potentially inappropriate risk-taking by large company directors which leads to the worker losing out on their pay and entitled pension.
This week Theresa May announced that tougher sanctions against “executives who try to line their own pockets” at the expense of UK company pension schemes will be introduced following the collapse of the construction group Carillion.
This, I hope, will be seen as a welcome initiative to look in to why these financial behemoths are able to go bust, but more importantly not provide the financial compensation to the worker which was promised when they signed up for the job. The Prime Minister said a white paper, which is expected to be published by the government in March, would set out “tough new rules” for company directors who put “their workers’ pensions at risk”.
Quite often the daily business of Parliament doesn’t get covered by national newspapers. This is quite fair, for example the ‘Telecommunications Infrastructure (Relief from Non-Domestic Rates) Bill - Consideration of Lords Amendments’ Bill which happened on Tuesday this week is unlikely to send pulses racing.
However this week Parliament really was at its best when Baroness Tessa Jowell, the former Labour Minister who has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, gave one of the most moving speeches I have heard in the House of Lords on her own treatment and that of others.
On Thursday in the debate on evaluating the innovative cancer treatments, MPs gathered in the Lords’ gallery and even Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, watched from the foot of the throne. This was an example of somebody in the public eye, using her position to eloquently and passionately call for something that is so personal to her. Baroness Jowell, in an immensely calm and stoic manner, said:
“In the end, what gives a life meaning is not only how it is lived but how it draws to a close,”
Also that “I hope this debate will give hope to other cancer patients like me. So that we can live well with cancer, not just be dying of it. All of us. For longer.”
Hundreds of Members of the Lords were wiping back tears as they rose to give a warm one-minute long round of applause. If you can spare ten minutes to watch this incredibly emotive speech, then the link is here.
STAFFORDSHIRE County Council has said that they will spend a record £310 million on care this year by as it looks to present a balanced budget for 2018/19.
Despite the huge pressures of funding care for a growing ageing population and children in care the council has managed to close a £12 million shortfall and balance its books.
As the county council moves to becoming self-financing, due to the loss of Government grants, Leader Philip Atkins said it was crucial that the county council continues to grow its economy, encourage more building of homes and support efforts to find a national solution to funding care if it is to meet the significant financial challenges which still lie ahead.
Philip said: “We have a good story to tell here in Staffordshire. We have low unemployment, a good children’s service and our economic programme has brought in almost £400 million of investment - with every pound from the county council being matched by £15 from the private sector or Government and once complete it will see the creation of over 13,000 jobs.
“We will continue to do everything we can to build on this achievement. However, as a local authority we cannot spend more money than we have coming in and, in order to try and close the increasing financial gap caused by increasing demand in social care over the next four years, we will all have to work together to help each other more in our communities and take steps now to live out our lives longer, healthier and more independently where we can, so the county council can focus on those who really need our help.”
Part of the wider proposals in the five-year plan from 2018 and 2023 include:
Investing a record £310 million on care of the elderly, people with learning disabilities and children in our care
Increasing county council tax by 5.95 percent this year, which includes the Government’s 3 percent ring-fenced precept to be spent on social care – equivalent to an overall rise of around £1.30 per week in county council tax on a Band D property
Building on the extra £5m investment to tackle potholes
Bidding to be part of the Government’s next round of business rates pilot, which would bring in an extra £10m to the county council
Roll out of the Smart Staffordshire programme – maximising the use of digital technology to benefit residents and businesses
Encourage a programme of housing development to support growth and investment in the county
Mike Sutherland, Cabinet Member for Finance added: “While nobody likes to pay more, Staffordshire will still have one of the lowest county council taxes in the country and it simply comes to a point when we all have to do a little more to support our friends and neighbours and also pay a little more to be able to protect the most vulnerable people in Staffordshire.
“Over the coming years, we will help continue to reshape public services, encourage less demand on the public purse and will work with Government to address long-term funding issues for both social care and for supporting children in the council’s care.”
The final budget and the council’s medium term financial strategy for 2018-2023 will be presented to Cabinet before being recommended for approval by Full Council on February 15.
NEW plans submitted to Tamworth Borough Council appear to show that the extension to the current Matalan store is not to go ahead… with a completely new unit proposed for the earmarked land.
The proposal will see an EIGHTH unit added to phase one of Ventura Retail Park with the new store new store stretching around the side and rear Matalan.
Previously we have published news of plans for the Matalan store to be extended - but this shows a change of direction by the developers.
Originally the planning committee granted permission for the side extension and mezzanine floor inside the matalan store on 20th April 2017.
Earlier this month, Matalan confirmed that they had no plans to close their store, even for a temporary time whilst their current store is extended. This indicated the possibility of a change to the original idea of a larger Matalan store - with some readers speculating that a larger retailer like Primark may take the larger store.
The proposed creation of Unit 8 will create 4,500 square meters of floor space which will be split over two floors.
The plans showing the creation of Unit 8.
Further Developments
Permission has been granted for the units on that phase of the Park to have new cladding to the outside and to modernise the look. The units look will be sticking to the appearance of Next. The plans show that the new frontages of the stores will be predominantly glazed and use new, modern materials.
In addition, units 2, 5 and 6; currently occupied by Halfords, Mothercare and Toys ‘R Us are to have Mezzanine floors installed. In the case of Halfords, extended.
The car park will also see a facelift, with extra spaces added and an improved access road; moving the main road away from the front of the stores to increase safety to pedestrians. An additional 146 parking spaces will be created.
An artists impression of the new look stores (prior to the change of heart for the Matalan store).
The planning statement which was prepared by the developers at the time of application stated that the whole development would bring significant economic benefit to Tamworth with the creation of around 66 jobs based on the additional floor space and the assumption of one full-time employee per 90m of floor space. This could add around £2.5 million to the local economy.
It is hoped by developers that the plans will ensure the major retails brands remain in Tamworth for years to come, securing existing employment.
A reminder that this work is being funded by a private company, J.B. Auctott, and not Tamworth Borough Council. The proposals, securing employment and big names is surely a good thing for the town!
Yes, as residents, we would love investments from big names in the Town Centre, but we cannot force the hands of the big names, they choose where they want to do business.
STAFFORDSHIRE Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault in Tamworth on Monday (22 of January).
The assault took place at around 11pm, outside of McDonalds in Ventura Park, and following a brief altercation, an 18-year-old man was punched to the head.
The victim sustained a serious head injury and he was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where his condition is currently described as critical.
A 24-year-old man from Tamworth was arrested in connection with the incident. He has since been released under investigation pending further enquiries.
We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who was in the restaurant or car park area between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on Monday evening.
If you witnessed this assault, or have any information please contact us on 101 quoting incident 136 of 23 January.
You can also report information about crime by contacting the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
A PLANNING application has been submitted to redevelop the Co-operative supermarket site at Ninian Way in Wilnecote.
The application follows an extensive period of pre-application engagement with the local community and stakeholders.
The £20 million investment will comprehensively redevelop the site of the existing store to create a new retail and community facility including a Lidl food store, a range of retail stores, leisure, crèche, post office and new restaurant/café units. The regeneration is being led by the Central England Co-operative and Hawkstone Vale Developments Ltd.
In images sent to Tamworth Informed, an artists impression shows a Lidl Supermarket located within the development; is this the first name to be confirmed on the site?
An artists impression shows a new Lidl store at the location
Andrew Kirton, Managing Director of Hawkstone Vale, who is leading the proposed development said: “I am pleased to have reached this important stage in the planning of the Ninian Way site.
“Our £20 million investment will bring a new retail offer to Ninian Way, offering residents a greater variety of shopping choice as well as new leisure and community facilities. The development will also create a significant number of new jobs.”
An Artists impression of some of the stores at the location.
The submitted plans have been informed with feedback from local residents. A public exhibition was held on the proposals in July last year during which residents were asked for their feedback on the proposals. More than 140 responses were received, many of which supported the plans and comments were also received regarding the loss of the existing Post Office on site.
Andrew continued: “It was clear through the consultation exercise that the local community were keen to retain a Post Office at the site. In response to the public consultation, a permanent Post Office is now included within the scheme. We are grateful for this input which has resulted in an improved proposal for residents”.
In addition to the inclusion of the Post Office in the new development, a number of other changes have also been made to the final scheme in response to community feedback. They include:
Flexibility in the application to allow for a gym, leisure or a community based sports use;
Increasing the number of parent and child car parking spaces from 7 to 39;
Improved pedestrian permeability; introducing designated pedestrian routes between the proposed retail units, foodstore, restaurants/cafes and crèche;
Including a new pedestrian route from Ninian Way via steps to provide direct access into the centre of the site; and
Replacement of the existing zebra crossing to the north-east of the site, across Ninian Way, with a toucan crossing to provide a safer option for local residents to access the proposed development and neighbouring Tame Valley Industrial Estate.
A planning application for the proposals was submitted to Tamworth Borough Council in mid-January. Dependent on gaining planning consent, Hawkstone Vale Developments expects to start demolishing the Co-op building in the autumn, with building work due to start before the end of the year.
Lots of landscaping seems to a feature of the plans.
Andrew Buckley, Head of Property at Central England Co-operative added: “Following the closure of the Ninian Way store there is now an opportunity to comprehensively redevelop the site and bring forward a new retail and community facility that, once operational, will boost the local economy and create around 242 jobs directly, with a further 109 jobs created indirectly.
“We welcome the opportunity to be part of these exciting proposals, which we believe will greatly benefit the local community”.
STAFFORDSHIRE’S Police and Crime Commissioner confirmed today he is to ask local people to pay more towards policing across the county.
Matthew Ellis is one of only three PCCs nationally to freeze the policing part of council tax bills for four of the five years, since being elected in November 2012.
From April he is seeking to increase average bills for policing by 95p a month (Band D). This equates to an average annual rise of 1.4% since 2013.
Additional investment in armed response capability for Staffordshire is one of the reasons extra money is needed.
‘My strong instinct has always been not to raise taxes. However, crime is evolving and becoming more complex,’ said Mr Ellis.
‘The internet, technology and societal change have all affected the way harm can be inflicted on victims. It’s made the job of investigating, and the job of policing generally, more time consuming and more costly.
‘Despite that, Staffordshire Police has coped well and because money has been spent more effectively over recent years, neighbourhood policing numbers have remained broadly the same in Staffordshire since 2013.
‘But that increasing demand and evolving criminality has meant the most local day-to-day reassurance policing in the heart of communities has suffered.
£100 million is being spent between 2016 and 2023 on the core police ICT infrastructure replacement, including mobile devices and bodycams.
‘My proposed increase of £11.40 a year will allow Staffordshire’s Chief Constable to invest in critical areas of policing, provides continued investment in modern technology and crucially, a much-needed boost to policing at the most local community level by increasing officer numbers.’
Staffordshire’s new Chief Constable Gareth Morgan, who was appointed by Mr Ellis six months ago, is in the midst of re-organising the force to provide extra capacity and capabilities, including more consistent and effective response policing, in addition to the extra investment in community policing.
IT was the end of an era on Saturday as the Co-op on Brent in Wilnecote closed it’s doors for the final time - two hours earlier than expected!
After over 37 years of trading, the last customers were served and the staff were ushered out of the back doors as the store closed at 4 pm on Saturday 20 January - two hours earlier than the scheduled 6 pm closure.
Tamworth Informed were there to cover the event but Senior Managers from Central England Co-op refused to speak or comment on the closure and, well, were not very co-operative!
Staff from the store did speak to us, on the understanding that they could remain anonymous; you can see what one of them had to say, further down this page.
Anyone wishing to still use a Co-op store can use the nearby Tamworth Co-opertive Society owned stores on High Street in Dosthill or Glascote Road. Tamworth C0-op also have a number of other stores in and around the Borough, including Bolehall, Church Street in the Town Centre, Kingsbury, Wood End, Whittington and Dordon.
Tamworth Co-op is an independant co-operative that has been trading in Tamworth since 1886 - long before the supermarket at Wilnecote was built and it will hopefully be here long after its gone.
The Post Office within the Wilnecote store closed its doors on Wednesday 17 January and one of our reporters, Chris, posted the last ever letter over the counter at the store, capturing the beginning of its journey on film.
In true ‘first class’ style, the letter arrived in our office the following day.
This is what one of the members of staff had to say:
“Well, what can I say about the Co-op Superstore? It’s been in Tamworth for over 37 years and, sadly, it’s time has come to close.
“It was on Tuesday 3rd June 1980, at 10.00 am that the doors opened to the public and, being the first Superstore in the town, there was great excitement at the launch. It was inspirational to others that have followed since.
“The first manager at the store was Mr Tom Terry; he and his department managers were very forward thinking and went far and wide to study shopping habits. They were not afraid to try out new things at Tamworth; they were all so committed to their work that it wasn’t like work to them. It was an exciting new approach to shopping that hadn’t been tried in this town before. It was the first store in Tamworth to have a video library – whatever happened to them?
“Freezer events were a big thing and it was a big risk by management to reduce prices on not just frozen goods but also TVs etc. Thankfully, those risks paid off, as customers turned up in droves to take advantage of the great bargains on offer. Happy memories – queues at every till – there were 17 in those days! It was a great atmosphere for staff and customers alike.
“After Tom, there were a number of other managers that followed, each one putting their stamp on the store. Many people have worked there, most of whom (I hope!) have good memories of the place. There are even some who have been there from the start and, now, are there at the end -that shows real loyalty. Long friendships have been formed by staff and also some loyal customers, who are equally sad to see the closure of such an iconic landmark of the town. There have been many charity events held in the store and lots raised for good causes, so, many people have benefitted from these.
“As other big name stores arrived in Tamworth, the trade that the Co-op had enjoyed started to decrease. Even though there were concessions within the Co-op it was hard to fight off local competition. One of the longest running shops in the store was the jewellers, which occupied a place there for over 25 years – it was a much-loved shop which, sadly closed 3 years ago. The Co-op also had an optician, a florist, a carpet shop, shoe shop, and even double glazing. More recently, the Post Office has been patronised by many people and was ideally situated for everyone who used it, with easy access and good parking. Also, with the inclusion of the National Lottery a few years ago, that was a big boost for trade as well. In the early days, we also had the Co-op Bank (or Handy Bank) which was a great convenience for customers.
“With lots of social events that the staff have organised over the years, there are lots of happy memories to cherish. You could even book your holidays at Coop Travel, which was on the premises until recently. The petrol station has also been a useful facility, and, in the early days it was so busy, there were always 2 members of staff operating at each side of the kiosk to process customers quickly.
“Yes, although the Co-op’s time has come to an end on this site, there will always be the many memorable times to cherish, and funny stories to exchange; these will live on forever. There are not many stores that can stand the test of time for as long as our beloved Co-op Superstore has.
“Whatever happens in the future, the Co-op will always have a special place in many peoples’ hearts, especially mine, gone, but not forgotten…”
The member of staff that spoke to us now intends to memorialise some of the stories from her days at the Co-op in a small book. Anyone who has stories they wish to share can email [email protected] and we will forward them on.
Click images to enlarge:
Reader Louise Moses told us “We will really miss the co op breakfasts we have been regulars for 15 years and even our children will miss it ☹️ end of an era ☹️ I wish all your lovely cafe staff all the best for the future xxx”
