Chase Chase Chamber Patrons
Contact: Chris Plant T: 0845 603 6650
Rugeley town centre
Winners: Crown Highways celebrate winning Lichfield Business of the Year 2018
Crown Highways invests in new fleet of vehicles
A Staffordshire-based highways contractor has spent £400,000 on a new fleet of vehicles to boost its services. Crown Highways, based at Queens Drive
Industrial Estate, Chasetown, is a specialist sub-contractor which provides a wide range of services to its clients, including drainage, lighting and signage. Crown’s investment will see the addition
of five new vehicles added to its 90-strong fleet. Two of the vehicles are known as ‘loop wagons’ and they include a fully self- contained welfare unit which features a toilet and seating area for the workforce whilst on duty. Managing director Mike Dale said: “We
are extremely pleased to bring these new vehicles through to our workforce. “We are especially happy with the new
welfare facilities in the loop wagons as this is something we are being asked to provide by our clients. The reaction from the team has been positive and we will strive to invest further in more new vehicles over the next few years.”
Chamber backs campaign to end street furniture levy
The Chamber is backing a campaign by a local MP to persuade a council to reverse a decision to hit local retailers with a ‘street furniture’ levy. The levy has been introduced by Cannock
Chase District Council, and will force retailers in Cannock, Hednesford and Rugeley town centres to pay a charge for any pavement advertising signs (‘A boards’) outside their shops. The charge also applies to restaurants or cafes
who have tables and chairs on the pavement, something which could net the council £500 per year in fees from every establishment affected. Cannock MP Amanda Milling and local
Conservative councillors have now launched a campaign against the levy, which they say is ‘anti-business and are damaging the fabric of our High Streets’. Ms Milling said that she had been ‘flooded’
with angry complaints from retailers about the issue, and a petition calling for the levy to be scrapped has gained more than 1,600 signatures. She said: “The number of people who have
already signed the petition shows the strength of feeling about our town centres and support for our local independent small businesses. “Our town centres are an issue which is
commonly raised with me and we need to do everything we can to support our local small businesses, not tax them into closure.” Following the outcry against the levy, the district
council has established an all-party working group to review the ‘Street Furniture’ policy. Chase Chamber is backing the Conservative campaign, and director Chris Plant said: “We agree with Amanda Milling on
this.Retailers in the High Street are going through a tough time so we must do everything we can to support them. Anything that helps our small independent retailers encourage more visitors is welcome.” Cannock Chase Council said that the levy had
been introduced following a widespread consultation exercise in February 2017, and the various responses to this had been considered at a full council meeting last October.
College and council agree education hub plan
Just weeks after reversing a controversial decision to close a further education campus in Cannock, the local council and the college involved have revealed how they plan to go forward. Cannock Chase Council and South
Staffordshire College have now signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’, to set in stone the principles that the re-opened Cannock Chase Skills and Innovation Hub will follow. It also sets out how the partnership between
the college and the council will work, and how the Hub will help boost skills levels in the district and meet the needs of local businesses. The first students are due to commence study
in September and will eventually be able to access further (and in some cases higher) education across seven areas, as well as take advantage of apprenticeship opportunities.
36 CHAMBERLINK September 2018 The courses range from advanced
manufacturing to health and social care. Council leader George Adamson said: “We are
pleased that further education opportunities will soon be available again locally. “The partnership is also about finding new
ways of working with schools in Cannock Chase and ensuring there can be genuine progression into work or to gain higher level qualifications.” College principal Claire Boliver said: “The
district’s economy is growing, and our intention is that the new Skills and Innovation Hub will boost it further by equipping learners with the skills and qualifications they need to meet the needs of employers. “This is a really positive initiative for Cannock
Chase, and we look forward to working with the council and welcoming the first intake of students in September.”
Partnership: Steve Burgin (left), chairman of Governors at South Staffordshire College with Councillor George Adamson
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