Tamworth Blog

River Anker - Pic: Paulette Sedgwick.

Tamworth’s first big tidy up took place Saturday Feb 6th 2010, was a success.

130 bags of rubbish were collected and two Derby vans filled by the river operations team who fished out dumped shopping trolleys, traffic cones, metal bed frames and car exhausts from the river Anker.

The day’s event co-ordinated by Ian Owen, Development Officer, Tamworth Borough Council (TBC) was the culmination of months of planning and collaboration between Tamworth Borough Council, Environment Agency, The Angling Trust, Sea Cadets, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Staffordshire County Council.

50 enthusiastic volunteers in three teams led by Chris Fitzsimmons, Street Scene TBC; Alan Freeman, Sea Cadets and Mark Owen, Environmental Campaigns Officer from The Angling Trust, cleared the stretch of the river bed from Bolebridge to Tamworth Castle and a drainage channel at the rear of the Jolly Sailor Car Park.

Overhanging tree branches catching river surface debris were cut back by the tree gang aided by sea cadets and volunteers and shredded to make bark chippings.

Councillor Lee Bates said

“I was delighted by the turn out and positive attitude.Everyone quickly got into the spirit of the day and took great pride in being able to get involved in a local project to benefit the community.
The outcome of the day and feedback has been extremely encouraging.”

A follow up meeting is being planned to discuss the event, lessons learnt and the next steps.  The project has certainly put Tamworth on the map as part of the first “BIG TIDY UP”, all part of the national Keep Britain Tidy campaign, who have been notified of it’s success.

Full details of the national campaign can be found at www.thebigtidyup.org and it is hoped that future litter picks will be branded under this banner across Tamworth as a positive step to getting involved in environmental issues and making a difference.

River Anker - Pic: Paulette Sedgwick.

Multi Agency River Clean up of Tamworth Town Centre Water Ways involving Tamworth Borough Council, Sea scouts, Fire Service, Police,Street Wardens (TBC), Street Scene(TBC),Environment Agency, The Angling Trust, HSBC Volunteers, Staffordshire Youth Service and more.

Anyone wishing to volunteer for the day meet at Holloway Car Park 9.30am for registration and health and safety brief.

Main activities will include litter picking, helping collate items recovered from the river, scrub clearance, information awareness on litter, fly tipping and pollution plus more plenty for everyone.
It will be a good day drinks provided, people are asked to dress appropriatley.

High Water in the River Tame by Strykers

After the deluge of rain over the past week the Tamworth rivers are close to bursting their banks.

Whilst there are no flood warnings from the Environmental agency, it might be worth baring this in mind over the next couple of days.

You can keep up to date with the Flood Warnings for Tamworth by visiting the Environmental Agency website here.

UPDATE – Nov 16 – 11am

There are still no Active Flood Warnings for the Tamworth area.  Keep your eye on Tamworth Blog for information as it happens

Jumpers taking the plunge into the Anker - Photo: Paulette Francesca Sedgwick

The last weekend was the warmest of the year so far, strange for a Bank Holiday weekend. and for a group of Tamworth teenagers, the heat got to much and were cooling off jumping off a bridge to cool down into the Anker River below.

A group of girls felt pressured by the rest of the group to also jump even though they clung on to each other and the bride edge that crumpled under there tightly gripped finger tips obviously not wanting to do this.

There are plenty of notices NOT to do this because the currents are so dangerous. The water may seem very tempting and inviting but this should be avoided as it could result in deaths.

Not wanting to be the odd ones out the scared young girls eventually also jumped, having to then form a chain to climb out the side of bank, because the currents were so strong.

Rivers may look safe but Police are advising NOT to jump as fun could turn into a loss of life.

Photo and Story Reported by Paulette Fracesca Sedgwick (follow Paulette on Twitter)