Stafford Borough Council has released a Press Release about proposals that are being considered to protect Cannock Chase. For more details and to view the Press Release click here press release
| Cannock Chase AONB would like to hear from artists, art advisors, art venues and others involved in the arts and cultural sector who are interested in developing stronger emotional connections between people and Cannock Chase using the arts.
Cannock Chase is a cultural landscape of local and national value. However, its beauty is often intangible and can be difficult to express. Yet we know that it enriches our lives, lifts our spirits, and makes us feel better! The arts are one means by which people can experience, connect with and better understand Cannock Chase – its landscape, nature and heritage. Cannock Chase AONB Partnership wishes to explore that relationship and actively promote opportunities for projects with artists and producers in order to ensure that this precious place is more accessible to people and more widely understood and appreciated. If this interests you please drop us a line at cannockchase@staffordshire.gov.uk Our plan is to hold an informal virtual workshop of interested people in January to share thoughts and ideas and discuss the scope for collaborative action. We look forward to hearing from you. Find out more about Cannock Chase AONB |
The next meeting of the Cannock Chase AONB Joint Committee is taking place on Monday 6th December 2021 at 10.00am at the Rising Brook Community Church, Burton Square, Stafford ST17 9LT.
If you wish to ask a question during Public Questions you must inform the AONB Team in writing by electronic email (addressed to cannockchase@staffordshire.gov.uk) no later than close of play Monday 29 November . Questions must relate to the business of the Joint Committee and the statutory purpose of the AONB to ‘conserve and enhance’ Cannock Chase. Only questions that have been received in advance in writing will be permitted at meetings. Please read the full protocol for public questions.
The AONB is governed by the Joint Committee which has devolved authority from the five local authorities that cover the Chase (Staffordshire County Council, Cannock Chase Council, Lichfield District Council, South Staffordshire Council and Stafford Borough Council). It leads on preparing, monitoring and reviewing the AONB Management Plan for Cannock Chase.
If you wish to ask a question during Public Questions you must inform the AONB Team in writing by electronic email (addressed to cannockchase@staffordshire.gov.uk) no later than close of play Monday 29 November . Questions must relate to the business of the Joint Committee and the statutory purpose of the AONB to ‘conserve and enhance’ Cannock Chase. Only questions that have been received in advance in writing will be permitted at meetings. Please read the full protocol for public questions.
The AONB is governed by the Joint Committee which has devolved authority from the five local authorities that cover the Chase (Staffordshire County Council, Cannock Chase Council, Lichfield District Council, South Staffordshire Council and Stafford Borough Council). It leads on preparing, monitoring and reviewing the AONB Management Plan for Cannock Chase.
The next meeting of the Cannock Chase AONB Joint Committee is taking place on Monday 6th December 2021 at 10.00am at the Rising Brook Community Church, Burton Square, Stafford ST17 9LT.
The full agenda and papers for the meeting can be viewed here.
Members of the public wishing to observe this meeting in person are welcome to do so. Social distancing rules may be in operation.
If you wish to ask a question during Public Questions you must inform the AONB Team in writing by electronic email (addressed to cannockchase@staffordshire.gov.uk) no later than close of play Monday 29 November . Questions must relate to the business of the Joint Committee and the statutory purpose of the AONB to ‘conserve and enhance’ Cannock Chase. Only questions that have been received in advance in writing will be permitted at meetings. Please read the full protocol for public questions.
The AONB is governed by the Joint Committee which has devolved authority from the five local authorities that cover the Chase (Staffordshire County Council, Cannock Chase Council, Lichfield District Council, South Staffordshire Council and Stafford Borough Council). It leads on preparing, monitoring and reviewing the AONB Management Plan for Cannock Chase.
The next meeting of the Cannock Chase AONB Joint Committee is taking place on Monday 6th December 2021 at 10.00am at the Rising Brook Community Church, Burton Square, Stafford ST17 9LT
The full agenda and papers for the meeting can be viewed here.
Members of the public wishing to observe this meeting in person are welcome to do so. Social distancing rules may be in operation.
If you wish to ask a question during Public Questions you must inform the AONB Team in writing by electronic email (addressed to cannockchase@staffordshire.gov.uk) no later than close of play Monday 29 November . Questions must relate to the business of the Joint Committee and the statutory purpose of the AONB to ‘conserve and enhance’ Cannock Chase. Only questions that have been received in advance in writing will be permitted at meetings. Please read the full protocol for public questions.
The AONB is governed by the Joint Committee which has devolved authority from the five local authorities that cover the Chase (Staffordshire County Council, Cannock Chase Council, Lichfield District Council, South Staffordshire Council and Stafford Borough Council). It leads on preparing, monitoring and reviewing the AONB Management Plan for Cannock Chase.
Stafford Borough Council has released details for an online Covid memorial.
A memorial book has been launched to remember the lives lost and the impact on communities in Stafford Borough as a result of Covid-19.
The online ‘Book of Memories’ allows residents to share their memories and tributes for inclusion on the council’s website. A postcard is also being made available for residents who do not have access to the internet to record their memories so they can be added to the book. Postcards can be obtained from the Parish Clerk.
The idea was one of the suggestions from a cross-party working group of Stafford Borough Councillors which was set up to put forward proposals to commemorate the lives that have been affected by the pandemic.
The ‘book’ and information on how to leave messages can be found at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/onlinememories.
The cross-party working group was put forward by council leader, Patrick Farrington, who said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had, and continues to have, a huge impact on the lives of residents living in the borough. The scale and effects of covid are different, the knock-on effects are vast, especially for people who have lost loved ones and for those who are living with long covid.
“I hope that residents across the communities find sharing their memories and experiences in this online book will help or bring some comfort to them and others, as well as being a lasting tribute to a loved one.”
Other initiatives will include areas of dedication and reflection – which could see benches installed in Stafford Market Square and Stone High Street as well as in Local Nature Reserves. And memorial woodlands created, for example, at Westbridge Park in Stone and the newly designated Local Nature Reserve at Fairway in Stafford.
The Cannock Chase AONB Partnership is calling on local communities and visitors to help care for Cannock Chase by following a new Code.
Cannock Chase is one of England’s finest landscapes – a beautiful yet fragile place with rare wildlife and important cultural heritage. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status ensures this outstanding landscape has the highest level of protection to conserve and enhance it for the nation and for present and future generations to enjoy.
The AONB Partnership worked with the Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Partnership, public and charitable landowners and the emergency services to create the Cannock Chase code.
The code features 12 simple ways that visitors and residents can help care for Cannock Chase.
The organisations backing the Cannock Chase code include the AONB Partnership, SAC Partnership, Cannock Chase Council, Forestry England, Lichfield District Council, West Midlands Ambulance Service, National Trust, South Staffordshire Council, Stafford Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.
Frances Beatty, Chair of the AONB Joint Committee commented: “By following the Cannock Chase code we can all help to keep this wonderful place special. Everyone can make a difference”.
The code can be downloaded from the Cannock Chase website.
Paperless season tickets are being rolled out for motorists on surface car parks run by Stafford Borough Council.
Drivers will now be able to get permits instantly and at any time on four car parks in Stafford and Stone – a move that will reduce paper use and costs for the local authority.
Pay by phone is already used on most council-run car parks in Stafford and has become increasingly popular with customers. This is now being extended to purchasing season tickets on a number of surface car parks from 1 August.
The four sites are Doxey Long Stay, Gaol Road, and North Walls in Stafford, and Christchurch Way in Stone. And a new QR code at the sites will take motorists directly to ‘Pay by Phone.’
Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, Councillor Frances Beatty, said there were so many positive elements to the initiative – including saving council money at a time when authorities were recovering from the financial impact of the pandemic.
She said: “As well as reducing costs, there is the environmental impact of using less paper; being able to buy a permit round the clock and not just in office hours, and the permit is issued instantly – you don’t have to come and collect it or wait for it to arrive in the post. And there is now the option to receive a text reminder to renew your season ticket when it expires.”
The permits can be for one, three, six or 12 months and can be purchased through ‘Pay by Phone’ via the app, website, phone or text – www.paybyphone.co.uk. For more information go to www.staffordbc.gov.uk/parking.
Councillor Beatty added: “We will be contacting the existing permit holders to let them know this is being done as well as putting information on the website and across social media.”
Press Release No 5792
Senior councillors in Stafford Borough will be discussing a report on the work being carried out by the authority to help tackle climate change.
Stafford Borough Council set a 2040 date to be carbon neutral from its own activities. A ‘Climate Change and Green Recovery Strategy’ was approved by the council last November which outlined its commitments over the next 20 years.
And the authority also added ‘Climate Change’ as one of its top four priorities as part of its new business plan which was launched earlier this year.
An update on the council activities is contained within the Climate Change and Green Recovery Progress Report that will go before a meeting of the council’s cabinet next week (Thursday 5 August).
Councillor Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for Environment, said that tackling climate change was everyone’s responsibility and the council was already heading in the right direction to being a ‘zero carbon’ authority.
A dedicated full time Climate Change Officer has been appointed recently and the council has partnered with Keele University, the Centre for Alternative Technology and other Staffordshire councils to look at what is required to achieve the zero carbon targets.
A carbon audit has already been carried out to identify which parts of the local authority produce the most emissions to help achieve their ‘net zero’ commitment. And proposals will be put forward to help remove carbon from the atmosphere – for example planting more trees where appropriate and improving local habitats.
Previous measures included replacing cremators which more than halved gas consumption at the crematorium on the town’s Tixall Road and installing solar panels to the roof of the Civic Centre in Stafford.
Councillor Price continued: “We have made tackling climate change a priority and I am pleased to be able to share what we have done, and are doing, to contribute to this. But I must stress that we are a very tiny cog in a global wheel and locally we need our community, businesses and organisations to do their bit to contribute to this agenda.
“Our role as a leader in the community is to lead by example and this report demonstrates we are doing this and the importance of our climate change and green recovery agenda and I am pleased with the progress we have made especially as our officers have been at the fore of providing support during the covid pandemic.”
More information can be found from our website
The full report will be available before the meeting at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/cabinet
A copy of the Corporate Business Plan is at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/corporate-plan
Press Release No 5791