DRAGONS, jousting, cinema under the stars, family fun, live music and fireworks are all back as part of Tamworth Borough Council’s 2018 programme of outdoor events.
The council’s Arts & Events team has been working hard to create another fantastic programme of entertainment for Tamworth residents and visitors to the area to enjoy this year.
Dates for the 2018 calendar have now been confirmed and they are all listed here for people to add to their diaries.
St George’s Day – Saturday, April 21
The outdoor events programme kicks off with the return of the massive St George’s Day extravaganza on Saturday, April 21. This huge family event has become known across the country, attracting thousands of visitors for wall-to-wall medieval-themed fun, including live jousts, a living history encampment and endless family activities. Back by popular demand, this year sees the return of the five-metre animatronic red dragon that delighted crowds in 2015.
Dosthill Park Outdoor Theatre – Saturday, June 23
The outdoor theatre will be back in Dosthill Park for a third year after successful performances in the community location for the previous two years. Entertainment will be provided by Quantum Theatre with a delightful new adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s The Reluctant Dragon. This enchanting tale of bravery, friendship and adventure is perfect for the whole family.
Summer bandstand concerts – June to September
Local bands, singers and musicians will take to the historic Castle Grounds Bandstand for a series of weekend performances throughout the summer. Audiences will be able to enjoy picnics in the park accompanied by a variety of music to suit all tastes. Dates and full details of the programme will be announced nearer the time.
Outdoor Cinema – Saturday, August 4
Audiences will again be able to enjoy classic movies on a big screen in the picturesque outdoor setting of the Castle Grounds. The open air cinema has been a big hit in Tamworth for the past five years and is usually quick to sell out. Movie lovers are again being given the chance to choose the two films that will be shown this year. A shortlist of classic movies can be voted on via the Tamworth Arts and Events Facebook page between January 18 and January 25.
We Love Tamworth – Saturday, September 1
This popular family event is back on September 1st bringing fairground rides, stalls, games, inflatables, a dog show, children’s zone and much more to the Castle Grounds in a celebration of the people and organisations who make Tamworth a great place to live and visit.
Fireworks – Saturday, November 3
The free fireworks event is always one of the most popular on the town’s calendar, but this year will be extra special as the event celebrates its 10th anniversary in the current format. The whole family will be able to enjoy an evening of fun and entertainment, including fire performers, face painting, a sparkler zone, family activities, food stalls, fairground rides and an impressive display of fireworks.
Christmas Lights Switch On – Sunday, November 25
Another jam-packed day of festive fun for the whole family has been planned to start the Christmas season in style. Starting at 1pm, festivities will include a programme of live music, a festive market, nativity, St Editha’s Church Christmas Tree Festival, dance performances and more.
For more details of the Tamworth Arts and Events programme visit www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk.
As well as all the entertainment organised by Tamworth Borough Council, the Castle Grounds is also home to a number of external activities which return year on year. These include the Gate Gallop, Tamworth Food Gusto Festival, the Lucky Stars line dancing event and the new Tamworth Fake Festival.
For more details on all events taking place in Tamworth please visit www.visittamworth.co.uk, where organisers can request to list events free of charge.
Cllr Joy Goodall, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Environment and Culture, said: “Tamworth has become known across the region and even across the country for its outdoor events – many of which are provided for residents and visitors to enjoy free of charge. We remain committed to ensuring we provide a variety of fun and affordable entertainment and activities for families and have extended the arts and events budget this year to enable the programme to continue at the level and quality that people have come to expect.
“The Arts and Events team have been working hard to bring together another packed and varied programme and all the popular events are back. We hope people save the dates and come along to join the fun.”
Visitor numbers to the annual programme have risen over the last few years and are expected to exceed 60,000 this year. As well as the outdoor events organised by Tamworth Borough Council, the Castle Grounds has also been booked by more than 30 external hirers for events throughout 2018.
SCHOOLS in Staffordshire will be moving to the Government’s new National Funding Formula, after measures were agreed by the county council’s Cabinet.
With an extra £9.5million going to Staffordshire schools, the county council have decided to move to the Government’s new funding formula, which will determine how the money is distributed.
This follows on from a Government announcement in July 2017 that additional £1.3bn would be given to schools nationally by 2019/20, with £416m being announced for 2018/19.
After consulting with schools and gaining agreement from the countywide School’s Forum, the county council has agreed to adopt the National Funding Formula, which will see schools move from the existing Staffordshire formula.
By embracing the National Funding Formula, all Staffordshire schools will benefit from an increase in funding for every pupil in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
County Councillor Philip White, Cabinet Support Member for Learning and Skills said: “Historically, Staffordshire has been one of the lowest funded authorities in terms of schools. For years we have been campaigning at a local and national level for fairer funding for our schools, to help ensure Staffordshire children receive the best education possible, and these new Government measures represent a real step in the right direction.
“As we move towards embracing the National Funding Formula, the news that schools in Staffordshire will get an extra £9.5million is a welcome step forward. We will be working closely with schools to implement the new formula over the coming months.
“We will continue to push for fair funding for education in Staffordshire to give our schools, teachers and children the resources they need.”
THIS year’s Staffordshire Day extravaganza is set to take place over a week to give as many people as possible the chance to get involved.
As the official Staffordshire Day (1st May) will fall on a Tuesday, coordinators Destination Staffordshire, working with Staffordshire County Council and other local authorities on the programme, have extended the celebrations.
They will now begin the weekend before Staffordshire Day, on Saturday 28th April, and run until the weekend after – Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May.
It is hoped this will give people the opportunity to tell the world why they love Staffordshire, even if they are busy at work or school on Staffordshire Day itself.
Events already organised include the Staffordshire Plate Raceday at Uttoxeter Racecourse, and a major exhibition dedicated to Newcastle-under-Lyme’s Philip Astley, the Father of the Modern Circus.
Last year, over 60,000 people attended Staffordshire Day events, generating an estimated £1m for the county’s economy.
Mark Winnington, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth at Staffordshire County Council and Vice Chair of Destination Staffordshire, who are backing the celebration said:
“Our first two Staffordshire Days were a huge success with thousands of people turning out for hundreds of events right across the county.
“Last year we were also trending on Twitter on the day but this year we want the celebrations to be even bigger and better.
“Because Staffordshire Day falls on a Tuesday this year, not only will we have lots of fun activities planned for the day itself but also the weekends before and after.
“And, like previous events, the celebrations are a great opportunity to shout about our great county, so make sure the date Tuesday 1st May is in your diary and stay posted for some wonderful activities.”
For more information on Staffordshire Day, visit www.enjoystaffordshire.com/staffsday
THE Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s ongoing campaign to tackle cybercrime continues to gather momentum – with figures showing an increase in the number of reported cases.
The PCC has been at the vanguard of ensuring Staffordshire business leaders across public, private and third sectors are wise to online fraud.
And the message is hitting home with figures showing a rise in action fraud reports – which effectively means more crimes are being reported due to the public’s vigilance and understanding.
In what is viewed as a positive, the value of the losses are decreasing as an overall trend.
This follows the recent Online Fraud Conference at the County Showground, which drew more than 400 Staffordshire and West Midlands-based industry champions and business leaders.
The most recent figures, for November 2017, show 430 action fraud reports. This was an increase from 359 in August the same year and a rise from just over 300 in August 2016.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Arnold, speaking at the recent Online Fraud Conference, which drew more than 400 Staffordshire and West Midlands-based industry and business leaders.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Arnold said: ‘The rise in cybercrime and online fraud has been alarming.
‘Hacking is a cottage industry on a global scale and we’ve all been having to play catch up.
‘So it is important that businesses, commercial managers and the general public are aware of the dangers of online fraud.
‘I invited business leaders across the public, private and third sectors to attend a conference in Stafford at the end of November and I hope this will be reflected in future figures.
‘But our ongoing campaign to underline the importance of being streetwise to cybercrime is already paying off – as reflected in the rise of reported frauds.
‘It’s important Staffordshire continues to be vigilant against such crime.’
CONSULTATION meetings over the best way to manage some of Staffordshire’s libraries begin this week.
A drop-in session yesterday (Tues 16th) at Penkridge library is now followed by a host of public events next week and beyond at other libraries and at mobile and travelling library stops.
Discussions will include potentially using technology to maintain and extend opening hours with an automated service, increasing the number of community managed libraries and reviewing how the mobile and travelling service is used.
Gill Heath, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Communities, said: “We’ve worked very hard in recent years to keep all Staffordshire’s 43 libraries open and this discussion about the next steps is part of that process to keep the service flexible and relevant.
“We want to talk to as many people as possible to explain what the options mean and to hear what they think about them.”
Since 2014 23 of the county’s libraries have been transferred, or are in the process of being transferred, to community groups which take over the management and day-to-day running of the building, while the council remains responsible for agreed utility bills and maintenance costs. These 23 libraries are not being considered in this consultation.
People will be asked to comment on possible options for each of the remaining 20 libraries, specifically:
maintaining and extending existing opening hours by using technology to allow registered users access to the library outside core hours. No library would become completely self-service;
maintaining and extending existing opening hours by using more volunteers;
becoming a community-managed library, where a group takes over the management and day-to-day running, with access to all the council’s library resources, while the authority remains responsible for agreed utility bills and maintenance costs.
All 20 libraries involved in the process will be considered for the options involving maintaining and extending existing opening hours. The four ‘least busy’ libraries of Cheadle, Clayton, Eccleshall and Penkridge will also be considered for suitability to become community-managed libraries.
The consultation lasts until April 1 and information about events can be found at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/connectedlibraries . People can also use the same website to leave their comments, fill in a questionnaire at any library, or email [email protected] to have their say.
Events at libraries in forthcoming weeks include:
Penkridge: Jan 16, 3-6pm
Uttoxeter: Jan 22, 3-6pm
Cannock: Jan 23, 7-9pm
Lichfield: Jan 25, 3-6pm
Wombourne: Jan 29, 3-6pm
Stone: Jan 30, 3-6pm
Clayton: Feb 5, 3-6pm
Biddulph: Feb 6, 3-6pm
Stafford: Feb 7, 7-9pm
Rugeley: Feb 8, 3-6pm
Kidsgrove: Feb 13, 3-6pm
Codsall: Feb 15, 3-6pm
Tamworth: Feb 20, 3-6pm
Burton: Feb 22, 7-9pm
Cheadle: Feb 26, 3-6pm
Burntwood: Feb 27, 3-6pm
Leek: Feb 28, 7-9pm
Eccleshall: Mar 6, 3-6pm
Newcastle: Mar 20, 7-9pm
Perton: Mar 22, 7-9pm
Events at mobile & travelling libraries:
Standon – All Saints School, Jan 18, 10.15-11.30am
Cheddleton – Grange Road, Jan 24, 11.15am-1.15pm
Rolleston Club, Feb 1, 10am-noon
Branston – Blacksmith’s Arms, Feb 9, 1.30-3.30pm
Abbots Bromley – Bagot Arms, Feb 14, 3.15-4.45pm
Great Haywood – Clifford Arms, Feb 19, 2.30-4.30pm
Featherstone – Children’s Centre, Feb 27, 10.30-noon
PEOPLE in Staffordshire are being encouraged to help shape and design a healthy living app.
The My Kin wellbeing mobile phone application is being developed by technology company Sentimoto, with help from Staffordshire County Council.
The app helps people to ‘self-assess’ their health and well-being, using trusted NHS tools, and signpost them to appropriate local activities and organisations.
People will also be able to create their own support network to help motivate them into leading a healthier lifestyle.
The latest version of the app now includes a location feature which will let users know about wellbeing activities going on in their local area.
Two small trials of the app were carried out last year, with the feedback gathered from more than 100 users directly influencing changes. Now, more people are being sought to use the app and feedback on how it should work.
Volunteers should be aged over 40, live in Staffordshire and have a mobile phone that runs Android applications.
Alan White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Well-being at Staffordshire County Council said: “One of our key priorities is to help people lead healthier and happier lifestyles and this new App will give people more choice and control in how they do this.
“Our Public Health team are working closely with the developer to make sure we get it right and that it has everything that people need to help them improve their health and wellbeing. The two small trials we held last year meant the App could be tweaked and adjusted based on people’s feedback, and we now want to hold another trial to see what people think.
“I would encourage anyone who fits the criteria and has an interest in being healthy, to download the app and let us know what they think of it.”
For more information on the app, visit: https://www.sentimoto.com/staffordshire-pilot/
FUNDING is still available to help owners of listed and historic buildings in Tamworth maintain and reinstate important features of the town’s heritage.
There is still cash in the pot as part of the 2017/18 Conservation Grant Scheme which can deliver grants of up to £10,000 for people who own statutory listed buildings, locally-listed buildings or any historic buildings within one of the borough’s Conservation Areas.
Grants can be used towards the cost of a variety of work, including:
Repairs to roofs, doors, windows, shop fronts, internal and external architectural features
Reinstatement of architectural features
External walls, stone and brickwork, including repointing
Structural repairs such as foundation work
Repair and replacement of boundary walls, railings, stone setts and traditional brick paving
Cllr Steve Claymore, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration, said: “It’s important to protect and preserve the town’s historic assets where possible, but it can be very costly to maintain a listed or historic building. The Conservation Grant Scheme is designed to help owners meet some of those costs.
“Especially in areas such as the town centre, work done to preserve and restore historic buildings can have the wider benefit of improving the street scene, as well as protecting the town’s heritage for future generations.
“Funding is allocated each financial year and there is still some in the pot for 2017/18 so I would encourage property owners to consider the scheme and see if they are eligible. It could enable you to carry out vital work that you perhaps didn’t think was possible financially.”
Grants can be awarded for listed buildings anywhere in the borough, or historic buildings situated in one of the town’s dedicated Conservation Areas. These include Tamworth town centre, Hospital Street, Albert Road/Victoria Street, Amington Green, Amington Hall, Dosthill and Wilnecote.
More information about grant eligibility and how to apply is available via Tamworth Borough Council’s Conservation and Heritage pages at https://www.tamworth.gov.uk/conservation-heritage. Financial assistance is currently offered to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis. Grants typically fund up to 50% of the cost of work and cannot be given for work that has already taken place.
Anyone who is planning on carrying out any work to or within a heritage asset is advised to contact the council’s conservation officer or planning department via 01827 709709 to see whether planning permission and/or listed building consent is required.
Tamworth Borough Council has also produced a guide to preventative maintenance which offers advice on maintaining historic buildings, including tips for employing the right people to carry out the work. This can also be viewed via the council’s conservation and heritage web pages.
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a serious road traffic collision in South Staffordshire last night (15 January).
Officers from our Collision Investigation Unit were called at around 9.35pm after a white Suzuki Jimny collided with a white Mercedes articulated HGV on the A5 Trunk Road at Four Ashes at the junction with Vicarage Road.
A 37-year-old woman from Telford was taken to Newcross Hospital with head injuries. Her condition is described as stable.
Although the HGV has been recovered the A449 junction with Station Road is still closed whilst Highways assess the damage caused to the central barrier.
Although this is a few miles away from Tamworth, some of our readers will commute long this road on a regular basis and so may have been in the area at the time or seen the vehicles involved ealier along their route.
If you witnessed the collision or have any information that could assist our investigation please contact us on101 quoting incident 681 of 15 January.
Our thougths are with all involved in this incident.
TAMWORTH Informed are very pleased to bring you the next two videos which we have commissioned as part of our ‘Politics and Representatives’ series, to help bring greater understanding of various roles.
We bring you lots of news throughout the year and mention various roles and people that make decisions on our behalf and represent us; but does everyone know what all these people do?
Through this series of videos, we aim to give people a greater understanding of what everyone does and why. In the series, we will bring you information about the role of an MP, Councillors, Leader of the Council and Opposition, Police and Crime Commissioner, Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff.
ON SATURDAY (13 January), soldiers of The Mercian Regiment paraded through the City of Lichfield, in one of a number of events to mark the 10-year anniversary of the regiment’s formation.
Saturday’s event was also in order for the former colours of the 3rd Battalion, Mercian Regiment, to he ‘laid up’ in the Cathedral after the battalion was disbanded back in 2014.
Exercising the Mercian Regiment’s freedom of the city, the soldiers marched with colours flying, led by The Band of the Mercian Regiment, and the new Regimental Mascot, Private Derby XXXII, a Swaledale Ram, for whom this was his first parade.
Also taking part in the parade were veterans from the Mercian Regiment Association and the antecedent regiments, including the Staffordshire Regiment Association, and also Army Cadets from affiliated cadet units.
During the parade, the Colonel of the Regiment, Brigadier Williams took the salute outside the Guildhall. Below, you can see him speaking to Edna about the day.
The Colour Party carried the colours of the former 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (The Staffords), disbanded in 2014 as part of the Army 2020 restructuring plans and following the parade, a service was held in the Cathedral during which the Colours were ‘laid up’.
Below you can see the march past of the Mercian Regiment and others who took part in the parade.
Although this event was at Lichfield, Tamworth Informed were keen to cover the event as the Mercian Regiment is very much seen as being Tamworth’s regiment.
Staffordshire provides a large number of personnel to the Mercian Regiment and of course, with Tamworth being the ancient capital of Mercia, it really does hold a place in our hearts. Even more so for our cameraman, who himself, has served in the Staffordshire Regiment.
Below you can see the Colors of the 3rd Battalion in their final salute.
The Mercian Regiment was formed on 1 September 2007 at a parade held in the Tamworth Castle grounds. It was formed from the three antecedent regiments: the Cheshire Regiment, the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment; and the Staffordshire Regiment.
Known as ‘the Heart of England’s Infantry’, the Mercian Regiment is one of the most decorated and operationally experienced regiments in the British Army.
3rd Battalion Mercian Regiment: The Staffords
The Staffords as a regiment continued until 2007 when they merged with the Cheshire Regiment, the Worcester and Sherwood Foresters Regiment and West Midlands TA regiments to form the 3rd Battalion of the Mercian Regiment. An armoured Infantry Battalion, part of 7th Armoured Brigade, based in Bad Fallingbostel, Germany.
Since it’s formation the 3rd Battalion has served with distinction in Afghanistan. The Mercian Regiment has spent more than two-and-a-half years in Afghanistan. The Regular Battalions have served on Op HERRICK 6, 10, 12, 14 and 15 and the TA Battalion has deployed the highest number of territorial soldiers in the British Army.
By 2014 the men had merged into the 1st (Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters) and 2nd (Cheshire) Battalions.
You can read more about the history of the Stafford’s here.
Below you can see Edna talking to Colonel Richard Spibe, former Commander of the 3rd Batallion, Mercian Regiment.
Further videos
Watchman V and his handler Greg.
Staffords Regimental Assn Chairman on the laying up of the 3Bn Mercian (The Stafford’s) Colours.
