Thursday, July 10th, 2014
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, has welcomed the launch of the ‘Green Deal Home Improvement Fund’ which offers up to £7600 money back for installing energy-saving measures such as insulation and efficient heating systems.
Commenting Mr Pincher said, “This new home improvement fund is another great addition to the Green Deal which have already helped many people across the country make energy-saving home improvements, saving them hundreds of pounds every year on their energy bills. Even simple measures, such as loft insulation can save you up to £300 every year on your bills.
“I would encourage anyone in Tamworth to find out what help is out there and make energy-efficient saving home improvements to reduce bills. I hope they will do it now in the summer and not wait until the weather turns colder.”
Almost 3000 applications and £8.5million has been spent in the first fortnight alone and over 800 companies have signed up to provide energy-saving home improvements. For more information, please visit www.gov.uk/greendeal or call the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300123124.
Thursday, July 10th, 2014
A whole host of sporting events run by Conservative controlled Tamworth Borough Council are taking place to keep youngsters entertained, busy, fit and healthy during this year’s summer holidays.
And other sporting and leisure groups in the borough are being urged to let the council know about any activities and events they are organising so they can be advertised – free of charge – on the council’s website and social networks.
It is hoped by putting all the events in one place, council and non-council, it will make it easier for people find out what’s available this summer and easier to get involved.
It doesn’t matter if it is a sporting event, voluntary activity or a community fun day, whether it is free of charge or needs to be paid for, all events will be added to the council’s summer activity list.
All groups need to do is email jane-eason@tamworth.gov.uk or natalie-missenden@tamworth.gov.uk to have their event listed, free of charge. Please include a contact name and phone number, along with dates and times of the event.
Any events listed, which are run by outside groups, are not endorsed or supported by Tamworth Borough Council. It is up to parents and individuals to decide whether it is a suitable activity for them or their children to take part in. Parents are encouraged to contact the groups for more information to help make their decision.
Cllr Robert Pritchard, Deputy Leader of Tamworth Borough Council, said, “I hope as many groups as possible let us know what is taking place over the summer. This means we can give local groups a hand to advertise their events and let people know how many fantastic events are taking place during the school holidays.
“As ever, Tamworth has lots of activities taking place and I would like to see people have an easy way to find out what is available to help plan their summer activities. So if you are running sports events, community fun days, heritage events or wildlife activities please let us know. That also includes events that are outside Tamworth which are open to local residents.”
Tuesday, July 8th, 2014
Bikers from Tamworth and across Staffordshire are being targeted in a new campaign to help promote safer riding and improve road safety.
The ‘Staffordshire Bikers Breakfasts’ events are part of a new campaign being rolled out by the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership. The campaign aims to promote safer riding amongst the county’s bikers, with the events offering advice, the opportunity to access training courses and the chance to have their riding skills assessed.
Cllr Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure and a biker himself said, “Keeping our roads safe is one of our top priorities and this includes helping our bikers to improve their riding skills when out on the county’s roads.
“The breakfast events we’ve held so far have been very successful and are giving bikers a great opportunity to learn more about the importance of safer riding. And all over a bacon bap and coffee with their fellow bikers.
“Recent figures show that Staffordshire is still amongst the top three counties for road safety in England, which is a record we are proud of and will continue to work hard at to improve even further.”
This event is just one of a number of schemes that the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership runs, which has seen a steady fall in the number of motorcyclists killed or injured on the county’s roads. Rider error accounts for a high proportion of all motorcycle deaths and serious injuries and campaigns such as our Bikers Breakfasts, ‘Ride it Right’ and ‘Bike Sense’ help bikers develop the necessary skills to ride safely.
Tamworth’s Biker Breakfast is being held on Saturday 19th July at Sutton Motorcycles and will run from 9am to 3pm. For further details on the event search for Staffordshire Bikers Breakfasts, email bikers@staffordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 111 8012.
Thursday, July 3rd, 2014
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, spoke up for the importance of work during an Opposition Day debate in the House of Commons on the performance of the Department for Work & Pensions.
He said the debate reflected “the state of mind” of the Labour Party because nowhere in their motion did they mention jobs. Mr Pincher pointed out that since 2014 the unemployment rate in Tamworth has fallen to just 755 or 1.6% of the working population.
He said, “Nowhere in the motion does it mention work, the engine of growth in our country. It is also the best mechanism to raise people up out of dependency and despair, on to the road to achieving their aspirations.
“In 2005, when Labour last won a general election in Tamworth, my constituency was bedevilled by dependency. Because the Labour Government failed to reform welfare and relied too much on public sector work and the financial services industry-and because they spent more than they earned-unemployment was twice the rate that it is today.
“Those were meant to be Labour’s good times. Fast forward a couple of years to the bad times and unemployment had risen to 8%. Firms were going to the wall, jobs were being lost and down the Tamworth road or the Glascote road, house after house bore repossession notices.
“Under Labour, people were not simply losing their jobs: they were losing their homes as well. That is the grisly welfare and work legacy that Labour bequeathed to us in 2010.”
After the debate Mr Pincher added, “Since 2010 Jaguar Land Rover have recruited in Tamworth and John Lewis have set up in Tamworth. Now we have BMW coming to town and Tamworth has become the automotive hub of our county with a state of the art automotive centre planned for the Torc Vocational Centre. Skilled professional jobs are coming to Tamworth which is good news.”
“That is why we need to press on with our reforms to the welfare system so it always pays to work and continue to invest in apprenticeships whilst getting taxes and regulation off the backs of local businesses so they can continue to expand.
“Sadly Labour has still not learned the lesson of their last government where an over reliance on public sector jobs (important as they are) and the financial services sector, together with a “spend, spend, spend” mentality led to an almighty crash. We cannot risk them doing that again.”
Saturday, June 28th, 2014
A project, which tackles domestic violence at an early stage and a young people’s substance abuse service, has received £50,000 in funding from Conservative elected Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis.
A total of £85,525 has been awarded to the Tamworth Community Safety Partnership for 2014/15, to fund projects, which help to make Tamworth a better and safer place to live. The funding comes from the office of the PCC, which is now responsible for the funding of community safety projects across Staffordshire.
From a total grant of £85,525 for the Tamworth Community Safety Partnership, £50,000 will be allocated between the Pathway Project and T3.
The Pathway Project provides an early intervention service to tackle domestic abuse before it escalates, while T3 provides an outreach service to young people who may be using drugs and alcohol, leading to anti-social behaviour. Both of the projects will be based at the Community Safety Hub at Tamworth police station.
The remaining £35,000 will be used to fund an ongoing project to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the misuse of motorbikes, mopeds and cycles on footpaths and public open spaces.
The PCC has also undertaken to retain the same level of grant funding for the Tamworth Community Safety Partnership for a further two years, up to March 2017.
Cllr Stephen Doyle, Cabinet member for Community Development, said, “I am very pleased to see extra resources being made available to combat domestic violence and substance abuse, as well as tackling the anti-social behaviour that can blight lives in Tamworth. It is vital that these issues are addressed at an early stage, before they begin to escalate into further criminal and anti-social behaviour.”
Tuesday, June 24th, 2014
Monday, June 23rd, 2014
Family, friends and politicians from across the political divide came together today, Monday 23 June, to say a sad goodbye to former Mayor of Tamworth Gerald Pinner.
The funeral service for former Cllr Pinner, who passed away on 3rd June aged 66, took place at St Editha’s church in the centre of Tamworth this morning and was tinged by both sadness and humour. Gerald’s coffin entered the church to the organist playing the theme to Match of the Day and two of his grandson’s paid moving tributes to him, telling stories of Gerald’s sense of humour and how he liked to embarrass his family with his varied musical tastes.
Tamworth’s current Mayor, Cllr Richard Kingstone, was in the congregation along with the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Maureen Gant, and several former Mayors, current and former Borough Councillors and Tamworth Borough Council staff including the Chief Executive Dr Anthony Goodwin.
After the service, Gerald was laid to rest in Wilnecote cemetery at a private ceremony just for his family.
Sunday, June 22nd, 2014
Over 2,000 vehicles have been seized by Staffordshire Police officers in the first year of a landmark crackdown on car insurance dodgers.
Cars Behind Bars was instigated by Staffordshire’s Conservative elected Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis and has proved popular with people across the county.
The campaign carried out by Staffordshire Police has seen 2,004 cars, vans, motorcycles, mopeds, lorries and even a tractor seized, with 665 vehicles scrapped, since it was launched in May 2013. A total of 60 higher value uninsured vehicles have been sold off at auction raising over £35,000 in the last 12 months – with the proceeds going back into local communities in Staffordshire.
Mr Ellis said, “Since its launch a year ago, the crackdown on insurance dodgers has been far and away the most popular thing raised with me by people I’ve spoken to across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
“Over 2,000 people have now had to learn their lesson the hard way thanks to tremendous work by officers from Staffordshire Police. Those who drive without insurance can’t hide in Staffordshire. They are being caught and dealt with by having their vehicles seized and, in many cases, scrapped.
“It’s definitely struck a chord with law-abiding motorists who are hit by rising premiums because of these law-breakers. Why should all pay more because some people don’t pay at all?
“It’s clear that the message is hitting home as the number of insured motorists on Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent roads has risen significantly during the crackdown.”
Some of the vehicles seized since the campaign launched can be viewed at www.staffordshire.police.uk/carsbehindbars.
Thursday, June 19th, 2014
Tamworth’s MP Christopher Pincher, together Burton MP Andrew Griffiths met Health Minister Dr Daniel Poulter earlier this month to discuss issues at the Burton NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, which runs the Sir Robert Peel hospital in Fazeley.
Mr Pincher also organized representatives of the Burton Hospital Trust and the GPs Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to join the minister to highlight the help they need. Dr Poulter agreed to put Department for Health expertise at the disposal of the Burton Trust to help them organize their funds. He also promised to write to NHS funding agencies encouraging them to look at the funding formula for Burton. Funding is decided on a two-year basis and determined by a formula operated by arms length agencies, so ministers are not able to simply order further funding.
After the meeting Mr Pincher said, “I am very pleased we were able to secure this meeting so we could impress on the minister the importance to the hospital and the CCG of getting the right funding to provide the services. We also discussed the importance of proper community engagement.
“So I am pleased that the Burton Hospitals Trust has now agreed to set up a much wider Advisory Board to reconsider any changes to services, such as day surgery and endoscopy services, at the Sir Robert Peel. Local CCGs, who commission services from local hospitals, will also be involved.”
The Advisory Board will meet four times between June and September and will consider all services around the Trust. The Board will consist of a wide variety of interested parties its proceedings will be fully transparent. It is hoped that this approach will provide much more local input about what kind of services can and should be operated from the Sir Robert Peel which, as Burton Trust executives have been at pains to point out, is not going to close.
Mr Pincher has asked that the Friends of Sir Robert Peel, or an equivalent local volunteers group, is included on the Board to ensure the widest representation of views.
Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust also runs the Samuel Johnson hospital in Lichfield.
Thursday, June 19th, 2014
Ten new apartments for rent are to be built in Halford Street, Tamworth after Conservative controlled Tamworth Borough Council passed the plan.
The apartments will be built and run by Midland Heart, a Registered Social Landlord, and will be made up of eight one-bedroom flats and two flats with two bedrooms. The site in Halford Street, next to the Progressive Club, is currently occupied by a 1970s office building, which will be demolished to make way for a new three-storey building to house the apartments.
The new apartments will go some way towards meeting the recognised need for affordable housing for rent in the borough, particularly in the town centre and was passed by a unanimous vote.
The Planning Committee, which has a majority of Conservative party councillors, resolved to grant planning permission subject to the developer making a financial contribution towards open space in the town centre, for example, the Castle Grounds.
Cllr Steve Claymore, Cabinet member for Economy and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee, said, “This is an excellent proposal, which will create exactly what is needed, one and two-bedroom rented housing in the town centre.”
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Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, has welcomed the launch of the ‘Green Deal Home Improvement Fund’ which offers up to £7600 money back for installing energy-saving measures such as insulation and efficient heating systems.
