Cannock Chase Council is reminding owners that an empty property loan is available for properties in the Cannock Chase District, this empty homes week (16-22 October).

The Council have developed an interest free loans scheme to assist owners whose properties have been empty for 2 years or more. Owners may be able to loan up to £10,000 to renovate their property to the Decent Homes Standard.

Residential properties that stand empty within Cannock Chase could be providing homes for the many people who need one.

Cannock Chase Council has helped to secure over £13million of investment in the District during 2016/17, a record amount that shows significant progress in the local economy.

The figures have been highlighted in the Council’s Annual Report 2016/17, alongside key information about achievements and service delivery during the year. 

Work by the Environment Agency is nearing completion on rebuilding the former collapsed footbridge.

This work is complementary to the Rugeley Flood Alleviation Scheme which is currently under construction at Hagley Park and due for completion in December 2017.

Cannock Chase Council has provided funding of circa £100,000 to enable the bridge to be re-built, and with the help of the Environment Agency and their contractors the bridge has been reinstated.

Hednesford Park has been awarded gold in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom awards.

Britain in Bloom award is a nationwide community gardening competition which gives local community groups the opportunity to showcase their achievements in community participation, maintenance and development and the environment.

Nominees are judged on:

The Community – Must demonstrate/indicate community involvement and support. This includes the fundraising and events programme linking to the sites development plans.

Achievements over the last 12 months...

Over the last 12 months, people living with dementia in Cannock Chase have seen an increase in awareness and help thanks to a number of successful initiatives delivered by the local Dementia Action Alliance.

Cannock Chase Council has been working with Staffordshire County Council and voluntary sector agencies towards making the District dementia-friendly.

Cannock Chase Council is teaming up with Recycle Now this Recycle Week to encourage the District to recycle bathroom items like empty deodorant cans and perfume bottles.

Whilst we do well in Cannock Chase to recycle what we can, certain items around the house somehow evade the recycling bin.  Recycling just a few more items can make a big difference and the bathroom is a good place to start.  In the UK, almost 90% of packaging is recycled in our kitchens, while just over half (52%) of items are recycled in the bathroom.

Representatives from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) were treated to a whistle-stop tour of the regeneration priorities for the Cannock Chase District earlier this month.

Hosted by Cannock Chase Council, the purpose of the visit was to highlight the priority projects and visit areas which have already benefitted from GBSLEP investment.

Cannock Chase Council in collaboration with Cannock in2 Work Group and Job Centre Plus are hosting a jobs fair in Cannock this month.

The jobs fair will be free for everyone and aims to bring together jobseekers and providers with vacancies and give them the chance to talk about any employment opportunities available.

Councillor Gordon Alcott Portfolio Leader for Economic Development and Planning said “We are looking for local employers, who have any job or apprenticeship opportunities to exhibit at our jobs fair.”

Representatives from Cannock Chase Council and Biffa recently visited West Hill Primary School in Hednesford to donate brown bins to help them dispose of the waste from their school garden.

The donation followed a number of letters received from school pupils, who requested the brown bins to help them to dispose of waste from their garden and outdoor area correctly.

Residents living in Hillsprings, Moss Road, Carfax and Ravenhill are being encouraged to ‘love your block’ as part of a campaign urging tenants and leaseholders to take pride in where they live.

The campaign relaunched last month in Hillsprings, Green Lane and the Moss Road Estate and has been in Carfax, Cannock today. The campaign will also be visiting Ravenhill, Rugeley on Friday 29 September, 10am until 1pm.