Tamworth Blog

Chris Pincher MP, Cllr Rob Pritchard @ Belgraves ARCH project

Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher paid a visit to the ARCH project in Belgrave, to get a behind the scenes tour with local Councillor, Robert Pritchard.

The ARCH project in Belgrave has been setup by Tamworth Borough Council as a hub for community organisations and groups is run by local residents and is based in the old housing office in the Exley Centre on Wilnecote Lane, of course, it’s been renovated for use.

Local Councillor Robert Pritchard, who has championed the project, said:

“The Belgrave ARCH is open to all local residents. The centre is run by local residents and so far has been decorated and staffed by local people. It is used as a community meeting place for local groups, organisations and services and above all it does not charge for users.”

The Belgrave ARCH is the newest ARCH in Tamworth. A similar ARCH has been running in Amington for two years and now offers a huge range of local community run services. The ARCH is now looking for local people to get involved and help shape Belgrave. The centre can provide a venue for local activities and will provide support and assistance to help local groups grow. Importantly, it is free to organisations that offer services such as health advice, citizens’ advice, carer support and many others.

Mr. Pincher said:

“I had a really interesting talk with Mark Aston who is setting up the Belgrave ARCH. He gave me an insight into some of the challenges, especially health challenges, facing residents in Belgrave where the mortality rate is higher than elsewhere. The project looks very promising and gives a great opportunity to local residents to give something back to their community. I hope the Belgrave ARCH becomes as successful as previous projects because it could be a great community facility.”

The new ARCH centre will also act as a base for street wardens and other local agencies supplying residents with ready access to many of the services they need right in the centre of their community.

If you would like to find out more information on the Belgrave ARCH contact 01827 709316 or Katie-niblett@tamworth.gov.uk or mandy-summers@tamworth.gov.uk.

A Tamworth motorcyclist has been tragically killed on the Isle of Man during a motorbike race.  Traffic police officer Chris Bradshaw, 39, from Tamworth, died in hospital after the crash, which also claimed the life of a second motorcyclist, James Adam, 28, from Ayrshire.

Both men crashed on the second lap of a race in the Manx Grand Prix.

A joint statement issued by Isle of Man Constabulary and the Manx Motorcycle Club said:

“Both riders were involved in a racing accident at Alpine Cottage on the second lap of the Junior race shortly before 11am.  The race was later abandoned.

“The next of kin of both families have been informed.  The Manx Motorcycle Club extends their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of both men.”

Whilst two lives were lost, none of the spectators of the popular event were injured.

New Parking Structure at Tamworth Station - Pic: Debbie Murphy

Tamworth Train Station has benefited from a huge investment from London Midland (The stations operator) on their stations, with the addition of 79 new car parking spaces through adding a deck to the car park.

Many mornings, commuters pack out the car park as they commute to either Birmingham or London.  Astonishingly the structure only took one weekend to construct and was open to cars within one week.

Alex Hynes, London Midland’s Commercial Director said:

“Tamworth is the latest station to benefit from the £8million being spent to improve car parks across our network. We are committed to delivering 1000 additional spaces for London Midland’s passengers. The opening of the additional spaces at Tamworth keeps us firmly on track to deliver on our promise.”

On top of the new spaces, London Midland are also providing benefits to those who use the train and leave their car in Tamworth.  Parking permits are free for those who have electric cars and their are discounts for those whose cars are registered as producing less than 120g of Carbon Dioxide per KM.  For those who use the train at the weekend, the station is also offering cheaper weekend parking from 10am Friday morning thru till 4am Monday mornings.

Thousands of people flocked to Tamworth’s Castle Grounds to take part in this year’s Sumer Festival.

Despite a wet start to the day, nothing dampened the crowd’s spirits who came out in their droves to support the day.

Events took place thorughout the day, including displays from clowns, dance crews, skateboarders and a parade through the town and Castle Grounds.

The Council videod much of the day, which can be viewed on their Blog or below.

Odeon Tamworth

The kids are back at school next week, maybe one last treat before they go back to School?  Or maybe catch one of the final summer blockbusters.  All your times are here.

Cats And Dogs:Revenge Of Kitty Galore 2D (U)
1hr50m
Sat-Sun 11:40

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid (PG)
1hr50m
Sat-Sun 11:20 13:30

Dinner For Schmucks (12A)
2hr20m Some sexual content, some partial nudity and language
Fri 15:00 17:40 20:20
Sat-Sun 12:10 15:00 17:40 20:20
Mon-Thu 15:00 17:40 20:20

Grown Ups (12A)
2hr00m Contains moderate sex references.
Fri 15:30 18:10 20:40
Sat-Sun 13:10 15:30 18:10 20:40
Mon-Thu 15:30 18:10 20:40
Subtitled Screenings
Sun 13:10
Mon 18:10

Inception (12A)
2hr55m Contains moderate violence
Fri-Thu 16:50 20:10

Jonah Hex (15)
1hr45m
Fri-Thu 18:30 20:50

Marmaduke (U)
1hr50m
Fri 16:20
Sat-Sun 11:10 13:40 16:20
Mon-Thu 16:20

Piranha 3D (18)
2hr00m
Fri 16:30 18:50 21:20
Sat-Sun 14:00 16:30 18:50 21:20
Mon-Thu 16:30 18: 50 21:20 Read the rest of this entry »

Money - Photo Warren H

The economic downturn has put pressure on many local charities to raise funds.  Having to turn raising funds to a new direction.

A Headway Day Clinic in Staffordshire is part of a national charity that aims to help and support people affected by brain injuries.  Now a series of fundraising activities have been set up by the very people that benefit from its services.

Headway is a charity set up to promote understanding of all aspects of brain injury and to provide information, support and services to people with a brain injury, their families and carers to give help and support to people affected by brain injury.

There objectives are:

• To increase awareness of brain injury and its consequences
• To initiate activities and campaigns which will reduce the incidence of brain injury
• To provide information and support for people with brain injuries, their relatives and carers and concerned professional people
• To promote improved approaches to brain injury screening, acute care, assessment, rehabilitation and social re-integration
• To assist people with brain injuries to return to community living, including access to appropriate accommodation, social outlets, and productive activity
• To support and help to establish Headway groups throughout the UK in furtherance of the charity’s mission statement

One such person is Wes Turner.  He admits that he owes a lot to Headway and he has recently raised over £2,000 by shaving his chest.  Wes attends a weekly class in Stafford. He says it’s really helped him with his swearing.

“They used to not talk to me in front of a group and patronise me in any way.

“Just offer me words of wisdom and have quiet words with me every now and again when I started talking badly.”

Many of the other members of the Staffordshire branch of Headway are getting in on the act to help fill the charity’s coffers.

At the end of August, they’re all chipping in to play their part in a charity golf day at the Izaak Walton golf course in Staffordshire.
When people receive a brain injury, it has a devastating effect on their life.  Their confidence can disappear overnight, they may have problems speaking and also find it very difficult to get work.

But this charitable organisation works hard to change all that and it’s making a big difference in Staffordshire.  BBC Radio Reporter Chris King went along to the Headway Day Clinic to meet some of the people whose lives have been transformed and in 2011, they’re planning to even enter their own team.

There web site for more information http://www.headway.org.uk/home.aspx
You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook

Cmon Everybody Flyer

Tamworth Assembly Rooms plays host to C’mon Everybody, the UKs No.1 Rock ‘n’ Roll show (as told by UK Rock Magazine) on Thursday September 16.

All the greatest musical stars of the 50’s and 60’s come amazingly alive in this spectacular, vibrant, action packed, non stop, live, rockin’ show. Allowing you to re-live the best loved hits of Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, Brenda Lee, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Connie Francis, Duane Eddy, Bill Haley and many more.

So why not take a nostalgic trip back in time at the towns Assembly Rooms and go back to the greatest era of Rock ‘n’ Roll and enjoy top class tributes performed from the heart by high quality musicians, including the legendary Chris Fender Black.

Tickets are on sale for £15 (£12.50 concession) from Tamworth Information Centre or on the telephone from the Box Office on 01827 709618.

The show starts at 7.30pm on Thursday 16 September, with doors opening at 7pm.

Four events held in July and August, 2010, aimed at bringing communities together, attracted hundreds of visitors to Tamworth.

The ‘Community Together’ events were organised by Tamworth Borough Council’s Community Development team and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, with support from a number of partner groups.

The fun days were held in Stonydelph, Glascote Heath, Amington and Belgrave, where the crowds were attracted by activities including a football tournament, a petting zoo, food tasting, inflatables, sumo suit wrestling and arts and crafts activities.
Visitors also got the chance to climb inside police cars and fire engines, take part in live singing and dance activities or even handle snakes, cockroaches, rats and ferrets from Dudley Zoo.

As well as the fun element, the community days were aimed at providing vital information, with a number of stands including Citizens Advice, Credit Union, Volunteer Centre Tamworth, Tamworth Community Safety Partnership, Sure Start, Home Start, the youth service, council housing, West Midlands Planning Aid, St John Ambulance and Community Development.

There was also a chance to get free health advice from the lifestyle services and smoking cessation groups.

Tamworth Borough Council’s Community Development Manager Peter Smith said:

“These events were planned as an opportunity to bring the community together in a social setting and to share information on the services which are available.

“All of the events were well attended, despite some poor weather on two of the Saturdays. These events have shown that the people living in these neighbourhoods want to help build a sense of community and that partners should be adding to the services on offer so that local people can access advice and support as well as having some fun together.”

Outside Gym just before opening - Pic: Paulette FS

The last Bank Holiday weekend in August the outside gym was in full use, with the help of added warmth from the sunshine.

It cost £19,000 so I was expecting a little more than what my eyes actually saw.  Instead of the state of the art gym equipment Tamworth Council eagerly described it as, it was just an older version children’s play area.

Watching children climb all over it and not use the out side gym equipment for what it actually was built for, I personally found this off putting to use.

Nor could I see any staff on site to advice anyone who was new to this kind of equipment, who had never been to a gym before but would like to try it out to find out how to use each machine, what it actually did, so no injuries happened.

As the night draw in no security could be found instead just metal fences pulled around, the type found on building sites.  The new state of the art out side gym is situated back of the toilet buildings next to the bowling green.  But CCTV are scattered around the Tamworth Castle grounds, so perhaps Tamworth Council feel this is adequate.

Drayton Manor Lemur Celebrating the Parks 60th Anniversary

Drayton Manor Park played host to a tea party with a difference last week, with the zoo’s animals celebrating the parks 60th anniversary.

Ranging from games of pass the parcel for the gibbons, an edible party popper for the racoons, cupcakes and sandwiches for the lemurs, and papier mâché balloons with nuts on the strings for the parrots, there was something for them all to enjoy.

Zoo education officer, Kiri Charlton, comments:

“It’s really important to enrich the lives of the animals in our zoo with activities like the tea party as it not only provides stimulation by adding something new to the surroundings, but it’s also a great source of fun for the animals and their keepers too.”

Drayton Manor Theme Park is celebrating it’s 60th anniversary all year, so if you want to get involved with the festivities get down there before the season ends at the end of October.