Cannock Chase Council is able to support retailers planning to re-open from 15 June with practical advice and information on how to manage customers queueing and entering the premises and protecting retail staff with appropriate hygiene measures.

The Council’s Environmental Health Teams have already been working with food premises providing a take away service and are on hand to support all non-essential shops across the District due to open soon.

A new grant scheme is now available to small businesses who may have missed out on previous government funding.

The new £1million cash pot is aimed at businesses with high property-related costs who have suffered a substantial drop in income as a result of Covid-19 but could not access existing grant schemes.

The Friends of Hednesford Park have this week received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

This award is the highest recognition that can be given to volunteer groups across the UK.  A total of 230 organisations have been given the award this year.

The award coincides with Volunteer’s Week, which takes place from 1-7 June.  The award celebrates groups whose work has enhanced and supported local communities over a number of years.

Outdoor markets in Cannock and Rugeley are set to re-open this month, following updated advice from the government.

Rugeley Outdoor Market managed by Darren Clapham will re-open this Tuesday (2 June).  All traders have been briefed, there will be signs displaying social distancing measures, hand sanitizer will be available and all hard surfaces will be sanitized regularly.

Cannock Street Market operated by Sketts, will also open earlier than originally anticipated on Friday 19 June, following adequate risk assessments and plan for a new layout.

Environmental Health Officers from Cannock Chase Council have been visiting businesses in Cannock town centre to find out what measures have been put in place in response to COVID-19 restrictions and understand the challenges faced.

Lindsey Ellison, Senior Environmental Health Officer, Food and Safety Team said:

With the unemployment figure for Cannock Chase District rising to 4.8 per cent in April’s figures, Cannock Chase Council is signposting those unemployed to local organisations for information and advice to help them get back into work.

The last time the District’s unemployment rate was this high was January 2010.

The Council works closely with organisations supporting businesses and the local economy including local enterprise partnerships and local colleges, all of whom – including the Council – will do all they can to help the area recover from coronavirus.

Cannock Chase Council and its waste collection partner, Biffa Municipal Ltd are asking residents for their continued help and support to reduce the level of contaminated waste currently being found in their blue dry recycling bins during the pandemic.

Following the devastating impact coronavirus has had on Cannock Chase District, in common with other areas, the Council’s Cabinet has agreed a framework for recovery which will be key to the Council, local economy and the community all moving forward.

It has been agreed that `Supporting Recovery` will become the overarching priority for the remainder of its Corporate Plan covering 2018-23 and four key areas of focus have been identified: economic recovery, community recovery, the Council’s financial recovery and the Council’s organisational recovery.

Cannock Park Golf Course will re-open this Saturday 23 May with strict safety measures in place to protect the players.

The course will open on Saturday 23 May from 8am until 6pm by advance booking only, there will strictly be no turn up and play.

There have been a number of changes made to enable the course to open under the current government guidelines.  These include:

The owner of the former Rugeley Power Station site, ENGIE, has submitted a revised planning application for the redevelopment of its site which includes the addition of either an All Through School (ATS) serving nursery pupils up to post 16 students or a stand alone primary school, along with new sports provision for both school and community use.

The revised outline planning application made to Cannock Chase Council and Lichfield District Council follows the granting in January 2020 of outline planning permission by both councils for the mixed-use redevelopment of the site.