Members of Cannock Chase Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund were joined by the architects and building/landscape/play contractors yesterday, as well as local community groups/schools and churches to officially open parts of Hednesford Park.

The refurbished pavilion (Café), skate park, parkour and multi-use games area were officially opened by Councillor Christine Mitchell the Portfolio Leader for Culture and Sport and Sue Beardsmore from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Following on from the excellent re-launch and Love Your Local Market event in May, a Home & Garden Fair is to be run to complement the already existing street market, which is located in the centre of town. This event will benefit from the current footfall of the street market, plus further traders.

The market will see attractively dressed stalls and pop ups. The thriving retail market runs every Friday and currently has stalls which sell plants, bulbs, flowers, candles, incense oils and more.

Chase Community Partnership and Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles launched ‘Chase Active Inclusive Cycling’ at Chase Leisure Centre today (Friday 8^th July).

The exciting new project funded by Chase Community Partnership will offer everyone the opportunity to cycle through a programme of instructor led sessions at locations across the District.

The project followed a consultation carried out by Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles during ‘Chase Active Friday’, which identified a need for a cycling programme in the District. 

Cannock Chase Council has contributed £10,000 to support the ongoing development of women’s refuge, ForWard House.

ForWard House is a new purpose built refuge providing quality accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence, which opened its doors in February this year.

The project was developed over 10 years in partnership with local councils and housing trust, following a consultation with women and children who had lived in the previous Staffordshire Women’s Aid refuge.

A programme aimed at helping hundreds of existing businesses to expand and grow has launched, and is available to businesses in the Cannock Chase District.

Councillor Gordon Alcott, Portfolio Leader for Economic Development and Planning said “There is a lot of money out there for local businesses.  It is imperative that businesses know that they may be eligible for some funding, should they wish to expand their current business. 

A landlord of a house of multiple occupancy in Cannock has been prosecuted and sentenced to pay over £5000.

Syed Masum Ali appeared in Stafford Magistrates Court on Wednesday 29^th June 2016 and was prosecuted under the Housing Act 2004 for contravening prohibition orders and an improvement notice at the property on Walsall Road, in Cannock, above Spices restaurant and was sentenced to pay a total of £5,180.

Space 2016 has launched in the District with hundreds of fun and free activities for 11-17 year olds over the summer holidays.

The Space scheme will run between Monday 25th July and Friday 2nd September.  Free activities in Cannock Chase include; judo lessons, street dance, football, swimming, white water rafting, DJ and mixing, plus trips to Wembley and the home of Harry Potter and much more.

To find out what events are available in the District and book your place, visit www.staffordshirespace.uk for more information.

Cannock Chase Council is supporting this year’s Food Safety Week (4^th-10^th July), which aims to help people better understand how to waste less food safely, by making more use of their freezers.

New research from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revealed that 68% of UK adults report that they have thrown food away in the past month.

Looking for summer holiday activities for your children?  The Chase It! programme is packed with events and activities for 5-15 year olds in the Cannock Chase District.

The Chase It! Summer 2016 brochure will be available from Monday 4^th July, and has a fantastic variety of great days out, activity camps, arts activities and sports sessions for 5-15 year olds in Cannock Chase.

Staffordshire Police is appealing for people to ‘Bin the Blade’ with a four-week knife surrender, starting at 9am on Monday 27 June 2016.