David Smith

Last week, the men and women who make the local business world tick, gathered together at this year’s Midlands' Business Awards, to celebrate the very best in West Midlands’ business.
 
Sponsored by some of the biggest businesses in the region, including phone box, Aston Villa and Challinors Solicitors, the awards include categories ranging from retailer of the year, through to employee of the year.
 
This year, the Lichfield Community Support Award, sponsored by Lichfield District Council, was awarded to The Lichfield Festival. We were delighted to sponsor the Lichfield Community Support award, and even more delighted that the Lichfield Festival scooped the top spot. From helping local school children to get involved in the arts, through to offering hundreds of volunteering opportunities, The Lichfield Festival is a key part of the local community.
 
Other Lichfield District winners include Heritage Stairlifts - winners of the New Business award, Robert Carr Jewellers who were highly commended in the retailer of the year, and St Johns House - one of Lichfield’s most luxurious bed and breakfasts, which was highly commended in the ‘new business’ and ‘customer service’ categories.
 
The Midlands' Business Awards is not just about winning, it is also about raising money for a local charity. This year’s chosen charity was The Midlands Air Ambulance, which is responsible for funding and operating three Air Ambulances serving the Midlands and Welsh border region. Flying its first mercy mission in 1991, the organisation is regarded as one of the longest established and busiest Air Ambulance operators in the UK. This year’s awards helped to raise £4,000.

Photo: In the photo I am presenting Midlands' Business Award to The Lichfield Festival team

Lichfield District Council, the University of Birmingham and partners celebrate winning prestigious environmental award
 
Lichfield District Council and its partners are celebrating after winning a prestigious Bronze Green Apple Award at the House of Commons this week, in recognition of the partnership initiative ‘Chasewater Green Park Projects’.
 
The trophy was presented by The Green Organisation at the sixteenth annual international awards ceremony on Tuesday (17 November). The ceremony was hosted by The Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP, and the presentations were made by star of screen and stage, former Bond girl Alexandra Bastedo.
 
Cllr David S. Smith, Leader of Lichfield District Council, explained: “As a council we are passionate about our role as a community leader in tackling the causes and impacts of climate change, both locally and further afield. We helped to set up Chasewater Green Park Projects in late 2008, and the Green Apple award firmly cements the initiative’s role at the forefront of helping to cut carbon emissions and the amount of non-renewable energy sources we all use."
 
The award comes only days after the Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Birmingham, which will see students and staff from the university working as part of the initiative to research and develop greener technologies and approaches. 
 
Professor Nigel Weatherill, Head of the University of Birmingham’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, says, ‘The University of Birmingham is delighted to be involved in the Chasewater Green Park Projects.  Energy and climate change are key themes for our researchers and the expertise of our scientists and engineers is crucial in tackling the serious global challenges we face. This is an example of a project where our research can have a real and direct impact on the local community.’

Chasewater Green Park Projects includes projects ranging from researching greener ways to energy manage historic buildings, such as Lichfield Cathedral, to looking at ways to create carbon neutral business parks, through to demonstrating how to harness unused energy from coal fired power stations.
 
“The Council is also working to help fight climate change at a local level, by fostering and creating low carbon community action groups in parishes across the district, in partnership with Whittington & Fisherwick Environmental Group (WFEG) and Low Carbon Lichfield (LoCaL). We firmly believe that local businesses and public partners, as well as residents, need to come together to tackle climate change, and Chasewater Green Park Projects is helping us and our partners to achieve this, ” continued Cllr Smith.

Partners involved in Chasewater Green Park Projects also include Advantage West Midlands and Staffordshire County Council. A number of private partners including Lichfield Cathedral and Lingfield Developments are also involved and set to come on board.

Congratulations to Lichfield District's Tourist Information Service for scooping a silver award for the second year running at this year's Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards, that took place in October. Hosted by BBC presenters Nick Owen and Suzanne Virdee, the awards celebrate the very best in tourism from Birmingham, the Black Country, Staffordshire, Coventry and Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Herefordshire.

Congratulations also to Drayton Manor who were awarded The Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award 2009. Find out more at www.tourismawards.visittheheart.co.uk

Following the release of an independent report into the Regional Spatial Strategy, the Leader of Lichfield District Council has stated the council’s intention to oppose any increase in local housing numbers, should the Government accept the report's findings.
 
Lichfield District Council has received the news that it will have to find space for 2,000 more new homes within the district, which would severely impact on the local countryside.
 
The news comes on the back of the release of the independent inspector's report into the review of the West Midlands’ Regional Spatial Strategy - a document that amongst other issues defines the number of new houses that need to be built across the West Midlands up to 2026. The report is being considered by the Secretary of State, and the council could find out later in the year whether or not the Government will accept the report's findings. 
 
Over recent years, Lichfield District Council has strongly opposed any major hikes in housing numbers, but accepted it would need to find space for 8,000 new homes from 2006 to 2026. Planning for where these homes will be built has been taking place as part of the council's 'I Love Lichfield District' public consultation on its emerging Local Development Framework. The independent report has now proposed that 1,000 of these homes should go towards Cannock Chase district’s targets, and an extra 1,000 needs to be found within the district to meet Tamworth's needs. As a result, Lichfield District will need to find space for 2,000 more homes to meet these new requirements.  
 
Councillor David S. Smith, Leader of Lichfield District Council, said: “We are shocked at the report's proposals to alleviate the difficulties Cannock and Tamworth are facing by suggesting sites for 2,000 more homes are found within our district. If accepted by the Government this will take the district's total new housing numbers from 8,000 to 10,000. 
 
“We are even more concerned that the inspector suggests that we look into development opportunities to the north east of Lichfield City. In effect, this would mean developing homes on Greenfield land in open countryside to achieve our target. We have worked hard to involve local people in our decisions on where to build new houses, and this dictatorial approach would mean much of the consultation we have carried out with local people, to find the best place for new homes, would be overridden. The resulting housing development could also irreparably damage the character of our district. 
 
“We will strongly oppose the increase in housing numbers, should the Government accept the inspector’s recommendations. We would also call on our local residents, who I am sure will be as upset about these proposals as we are, to oppose any possible increase when the Government’s Proposed Modifications to the Regional Spatial Strategy comes up for public consultation.”

Hundreds of local people took part in a north Lichfield’s lantern procession on Friday 30 October

Around 500 people took part in a spectacular lantern procession, parading over 160 handcrafted lanterns through the streets of north Lichfield.

The lantern procession was organised by North Lichfield Initiative and North Lichfield Community and Learning Partnership, with lots of support from local groups, agencies and volunteers.

Mike Kinghan, Chair Person of North Lichfield Initiative, said: “Seeing so many community members join in this year’s procession was brilliant. The lanterns were beautiful and it was plain to see all the hard work that has gone into creating them. This kind of event shows what can be done when we work together to create something wonderful. A huge thank you must go everyone who helped to make it such a success.”

Deputy County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Ian Parry, added: “Staffordshire County Council is proud to be involved in this year’s procession which proved to be a real success and I am delighted with such a high turnout. I am certain that all those involved enjoyed themselves immensely.”
 
The lantern procession has been made possible by the kind support of: North Lichfield Community and Learning Partnership, Staffordshire County Council, North Lichfield Initiative, Lichfield District Council, B Arts, Adult and Community Learning Partnership, Lichfield & District CVS, Lichfield City Council, Curborough Community Centre, St John Ambulance, Staffordshire Youth Service, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue,  South Staffordshire Age Concern, Lichfield District Community Safety Partnership, Staffordshire Police, HomeZone Living, Lichfield Adventure Playcare Association (LAPA), Midlands Heart, and plenty of volunteers.