Cannock Chase District played its part in the national Remembrance Day commemorations yesterday (11 November) with a Beacon Lighting outside St Luke's Church in Cannock (pictured here) - one of 1,000 beacons lit at different locations across the UK at 7pm last night to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1. Church bells rang out after the lighting.

Cannock Chase Council is consulting on updated Draft Conservation Area documents which have been prepared for the following areas: Church Street, Rugeley Conservation Area; Talbot Street/Lichfield Street, Rugeley Conservation Area; and Trent and Mersey Canal (Cannock Chase District) Conservation Area.

One of the country’s most accessible distribution sites has turned to drone technology to help market a `state of the art` highly-sustainable warehouse which is seeking its first occupiers.

CONNEQT Alpha is a 153,800 sq ft unit with 16 loading doors on the Kingswood Lakeside Business Park in Cannock, beside the M6 toll motorway. Owned by Bridges Fund Management and Opus Land, it was completed last month and is now available for occupation.

Around 160 tradespeople and local suppliers have attended a Meet the Buyer event involving Bowmer & Kirkland, the main construction contractors responsible for building the new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cannock due to open in 2020.

The event, held today, was organised by Cannock Chase Council as part of its ongoing role to maximize the benefits the Outlet can offer to the local economy.

Nearly 35 different trade requirements have been identified by Bowmer & Kirkland and the hope is to match these opportunities to as many local suppliers as possible.

The multi-storey car park in Cannock town centre which closed recently to all users will see further restrictions imposed from today (Thursday) in order to repair an adjacent service ramp.

Structural engineering advice given to Cannock Chase Council has resulted in the Council having to impose a weight limit of 3 tonnes maximum on all vehicles using the ramp. As a result, a 2.6m height restriction barrier is being installed, alongside signage, to prevent and advise vehicles of the limit and to not use the service ramp.

The Leader of Cannock Chase Council, Councillor George Adamson, has made a full public response to a petition submitted by Amanda Milling MP requesting the abolition of charges for street furniture such as A boards and tables / chairs, which are seen by some as a direct tax on businesses.

Access Covers Ltd based in Rugeley has been awarded the Small Business of the Year Award at the Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards 2018.

The event was organised by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and saw 37 small businesses enter the Small Business of the Year category, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub.

This category is awarded to the company that has achieved consistent growth backed by strong financial performance, while demonstrating a clear understanding of the market it operates in, as well as evidence of commitment to staff.

Funding provided to Cannock Chase Council following the granting of planning permission to Tesco for its store in Rugeley is set to benefit walkers, cyclists and canal users using the town, the nearby canal and a major business park.

Members of the Council’s Cabinet have agreed that £218,960 can now be spent to complete pedestrian and cycle links between the store, town centre, Towers Business Park and the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Cannock Chase Council’s Economic Development team has won a prestigious award from the Federation of Small Business (FSB) following its work on town centre business rates to attract retailers into empty retail units.

The team achieved the `Best in Class` category at the FSB Local Authority Small Business Friendly Awards 2018 held in Birmingham last Friday, when the FSB annually recognises councils for their support for small firms.