Cannock Chase Council’s Countryside Services are celebrating after winning the first ever Natural England West Midlands Region Conservation Award.

The award was presented at a ceremony held at Wyre Forest Discovery Centre in Worcestershire on 28 March 2018, by the Chairman of Natural England, Andrew Sells.

Organisations are being invited to bid for more than £4 million of funding to help thousands of disadvantaged people and long-term jobseekers get into work, with £211,221 provided for delivery in Cannock North.

The opportunity is open to a broad range of organisations, including Local Authorities, Colleges and independent training providers.

The money is being made available to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to give people tailored job advice and specialist support in the heart of their own communities.

Cannock Chase Council is supporting the 2018 ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) campaign which urges the public to help the police tackle terrorism and save lives by reporting suspicious behaviour and activity.

Communities defeat terrorism. With the enduring terrorist threat, it is now more important than ever that everyone plays their part in tackling terrorism. Your actions could save lives.

Representatives from Cannock Chase Council and Opus Land were invited to view the new £20 million premises of First Choice Group at Kingswood Lakeside in Cannock last month.

First Choice Group moved to the 100,000 sq.ft, purpose built industrial facility in 2017 after outgrowing their previous premises in Hawks Green in Cannock.

First Choice have been based in Cannock for nearly 20 years and have consistently expanded during this period, as well as establishing themselves as the UK’s unrivalled number one, spare parts supplier for the commercial catering industry.

Voters in Cannock Chase will go to the polls on Thursday 3 May 2018 to elect local Councillors to 13 of the Council’s 15 electoral wards; with only Hagley and Hednesford South not having an election. 

Tony McGovern, Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer for Cannock Chase, said “Only people who are registered to vote can take part in May’s elections.  The majority of eligible people are already on the register, but those who aren’t won’t be able to have their say on polling day.

Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet and Council Members have agreed to a Local Plan review. 

A man who was witnessed smoking in a works van and discarding the cigarette ends from the van window has been fined hundreds of pounds.

Sean Townley from Glascote in Tamworth was witnessed smoking three cigarettes whilst he sat in his works van outside McDonalds on Church Street in Cannock, each of which he dropped from his open window onto the car park before driving away.

Mr Townley was issued with two fixed penalty notices but failed to pay them.

A man from Walsall has been given a fine from Stafford Magistrates Court after enforcement officers witnessed him dropping a cigarette end in a local car park.

In June 2017 George Coldicott was witnessed dropping a cigarette end in a local car park.  Mr Coldicott was issued with a £75 fixed penalty notice, which he accepted, to avoid court proceedings.  However, 6 weeks later he was witnessed discarding another cigarette end in a local takeaway car park.

Cannock Chase Council has successfully prosecuted a local man after building waste was dumped on land off the A5 in Cannock, costing the Rugeley man over £700 in fines.

In November 2016 building waste was dumped overnight on land off the A5 in Bridgtown, Cannock.  Documentation was found in the waste, which linked it to a property in Stafford.

Following investigations officers found that Mr Smith had advertised his waste disposal services on Facebook and that he had been paid to remove the waste and dispose of it correctly.

The community allotments and building at the former Cannock Stadium Site are now complete, as part of the £1.3m redevelopment project.

The allotments consist of 14 large plots, with some that can be split and some raised beds and disabled planters.  The allotment building has access to electricity and water and is heated so could be used as a community room or classroom in the future.