Store wars could be breaking out in Sutton Coldfield when a second discount supermarket takes over a former Waitrose store in Mere Green.
A new Aldi will soon join the new Lidl supermarket currently under construction in Mere Green, the discount rival bringing a fourth supermarket into Mere Green, together with Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer. Include Poundland, which also sells food and groceries, and there will be five.
While building work progresses on Lidl at the former Lucas site on Mere Green Road, rival German firm Aldi has secured the Waitrose store on Belwell Lane and could convert the premises into its third store in Sutton Coldfield.
Top, work progressing on the new Lidl and above, Poundland and M&S in Mere Green
It would not be the first Waitrose store to have been snapped up by Aldi as the John Lewis chain has struggled with falling sales over the years. It bought up a former Waitrose in Camden, London in 2018.
The store in Belwell Lane, which has been an upmarket grocery store feature for four decades, is part of the Atlas House block which also houses the Flints bar and various offices with a large car park to the rear.
It is thought to have been snapped up for just £1. A spokesman for Aldi would not confirm nor deny this but said: “We are always looking for and considering sites for our future stores network.”
The move could spark more anger with local residents as traffic would certainly increase again in and around Mere Green island adding to fears of traffic chaos with the new Lidl coming on line in the next couple of months.
The last time there were more than two supermarkets in Mere Green dates back to before the construction of Mulberry Walk, when the area hosted an Aldi, which is now Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and a Safeway store which was demolished as part of the new development.
A multi-million pound funding boost to promote active travel, including walking and cycling in the Sutton area, has been given a cautious welcome.
It comes as Sutton residents were taking part in a month-long cycling initiative which is due to go Midlands-wide next week.
Birmingham City Council has been awarded nearly £4.5m as part of the second tranche of funding from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund.
A Sutton councillor says full consultation with all local interested parties over the new transport funding, must be open and inclusive.
Councillor Maureen Cornish also criticised the council for the installation of a cycle scheme on Brassington Avenue in Sutton town, since removed, for launching a proper consultation.
The new funding comes from a £13 million allocation to Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
An engagement programme with residents and businesses on how they would like to see the funding used in their communities is already underway.
Cllr Waseem Zaffar MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, said: “This second tranche of funding gives Birmingham a real opportunity to continue transforming our transport network, reduce air pollution, and provide our citizens with more opportunities for active travel.
“We want to focus on supporting a green recovery and will seek community input at every stage, with future schemes being delivered throughout 2021.”
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “We all know that cycling and walking are good for our physical health and good for the environment, especially as we face up to the climate emergency in the region.
“Many have taken to two wheels throughout the pandemic, but some are not yet confident enough because they do not believe the right infrastructure is in place. That is why the money we have secured from Government for the Emergency Active Travel Fund is so important, and I look forward to seeing what improvements Birmingham City Council are going to propose for Sutton Coldfield.
“With our West Midlands Cycle Hire scheme trial already up and running in the royal town, and the full scheme launching next week, these are really exciting times for cyclists in Sutton.”
Councillor Maureen Cornish
Councillor Cornish, who represents Four Oaks ward on Birmingham City Council, said: “I would support reducing pollution and encourage active travel including cycling and walking, but proactive consultation is the key.
“This is essential for all wards across the city particularly in Sutton Coldfield. Sutton Town Council, the B.I.D, and local residents must be allowed sufficient time to absorb all plans.
“The previous installation of a cycle route, without full consultation within Brassington Avenue, Sutton Coldfield, resulted in its removal. This was inappropriate use of tax payers money.
“This could have been avoided if consultation was implemented well in advance of installation. Information provided states that consultation will commence later this year, therefor we need to keep a close eye on all aspects of the procedure .”
The Active Travel Fund supports the improvement of active travel (cycling and walking) provision and safety in towns and cities.
Formal consultation on the proposals will take place later this year after lockdown restrictions have eased to ensure inclusive, meaningful engagement with communities and key stakeholders can be carried out.
The plans support the Council’s vision for a cleaner, greener city – as set-out in its Route to Zero Action Plan, which was approved last month.
New bike stands have appeared at Sutton Park as part of the new cycle hire scheme in the town.
The stands have appeared at the park’s Banners Gate and Boldmere Gate entrances as well as Sutton town centre and customers will hire the bikes via an app at a cost £1 to unlock a bike and 5p per minute after that. This means a 20 minute cycle will cost £2 and an hour £4.
The Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, has welcomed the initiative. He said: “I know the people of Sutton will be itching to get involved now they can see the docks and bikes, and I look forward to seeing the first residents of the royal town trying the bikes out when the scheme launches to members of the public on March 8.”
Chance to celebrate lives of loved ones at St Giles Hospice special memorial this spring
Gavin and Angela Farley with Gavin’s mum Sheila and top, the Celebrate Lives Lived Gerberas
Families in Sutton Coldfield can remember their loved ones and celebrate the lives they lived at a special St Giles Hospice memorial garden this spring.
Relatives and friends are being invited to dedicate a unique Celebrate Lives Lived orange Gerbera peg, which is personalised with the name of their loved one, in return for a donation which will help to fund the work of St Giles supporting patients living with a terminal illness.
The Gerbera pegs will then be placed in one of the beautiful memorial gardens created at the hospice sites in Sutton Coldfield and Whittington.
Gerbera is also commonly known as the African daisy in yellow, orange, white, pink or red colours.
For 2021, St Giles has also set up a special virtual garden display for people who are self-isolating or who do not wish to visit in person, with the name of your loved one displayed next to an orange Gerbera in an online memorial display which can be viewed at any time.
The Whittington and Sutton Coldfield gardens will create a colourful display of Gerbera pegs dedicated to the memory of loved ones, whether they have been cared for at St Giles Hospice or not, which will then be open to visitors throughout May, following the current Government COVID-19 guidelines.
Chloe Herbert, Head of Fundraising at St Giles Hospice, said: “Celebrate Lives Lived offers a special way to remember your loved ones each spring and everyone is welcome to join us as we commemorate those we have lost.
“The orange Gerbera represents ‘sunshine of life’, which makes it a beautiful, fitting tribute to the memory of your loved one.
“Your Gerbera peg will be placed in the Celebrate Lives Lived garden of your choice throughout May, creating a wonderful display of celebration and remembrance in the beautiful display of Gerberas. You can come along to visit the garden in a safe and socially-distanced visit and at the end of the month you can take the Gerbera home as a special keepsake or to plant in your own garden.
“By taking part in Celebrate Lives Lived you are also helping to fund the vital support St Giles Hospice offers to local families. We need to raise £850,000 each month to pay for our services and because we’ve had to close our shops and cancel fundraising events during the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve never needed your help more than we need it today.”
Lichfield police officer Gavin Farley (52) is supporting Celebrate Lives Lived this year in memory of his mother Sheila Watson, who died at St Giles Hospice last June (2020) at the age of 74.
Sheila with nurses at St Giles Hospice
Sheila, from Sutton Coldfield, who had leukaemia, was admitted to the hospice in January 2020 just weeks after her husband Jim, who had dementia, passed away on Christmas Day.
Gavin said: “When she first arrived it was a difficult time because Mom was grieving for my stepdad and wanted to go to his funeral, but she wasn’t well enough to go.
“But the staff did everything they could to help. I went to the funeral and filmed it all and they set up a screen in the chapel and people came back to St Giles rather than going to a wake and we replayed it there for Mom and did another service for her.
“Obviously it was a very sad occasion, but Mom was absolutely beaming – she was so glad that she was able to see the funeral after all and that her friends could be with her. It was so special because she knew that she probably wouldn’t see many of them again.
Gavin added that although most people see going into a hospice as marking the end of life, for his mother St Giles was the beginning of a new phase of her life. “Despite her illness she enjoyed being there and made so many new friends,” he said. “It wasn’t just a place of sadness, it was a place of joy as well.
“Everyone is so caring and nothing is too much trouble. To mark VE Day, the hospice held its own celebrations and the staff did my mum’s hair and makeup, which she really appreciated. Plus, when they found out that Monsters Inc. was her favourite film, they set it up on a laptop so that she could watch it in her room. It’s these little things that made such a massive difference.
“The staff at St Giles really went above and beyond what they had to do for their jobs – they were carers but became friends to us all, because they were as thoughtful and supportive to the families just as much as their patients.
“We’ll definitely be supporting Celebrate Lives Lived this year, not only to thank St Giles for the way they looked after my mum, but as a way of celebrating her life and memory too. Despite the sadness of her passing, St Giles has so many good memories for us.”
The successful team, from left, Practice Educator and Development Nurse Practitioner Kelly Boden, Head of Education and Training, Theresa Barker, Head of Clinical Education and Quality Toni Flanagan and Practice Educator Kari Burton
St Giles Hospice claims prestigious award
St Giles Hospice has received prestigious national recognition for the excellence of its education services. The hospice Education and Training department has been awarded a Certificate of Endorsement from Skills for Care, an independent charity supporting workforce development in the adult social care sector and helping organisations across the country to find the best training for their staff.
St Giles, which has a care centre and two shops in Sutton Coldfield, provides training on a wide range of topics, helping people to develop skills and confidence in supporting patients, families and carers who are living with a terminal illness.
It offers clinical and non-clinical education to hospice staff, volunteers and external staff working in all sectors of health and social care. This includes study days, accredited courses, work placements and training towards higher education qualifications.
The hospice also works with schools, colleges and universities to encourage and inspire future generations to consider the needs of people with terminal illnesses, running popular summer schools and enrichment days to encourage young students to learn more about hospice care, build their confidence and consider palliative care as a future career option.
Theresa Barker, Head of Education and Training at St Giles Hospice, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Skills for Care has recognised the strength of our training services. Our education department has been established for over 25 years now and is well known both locally and nationally for its expertise.
“Education and training have always been a key part of St Giles, and we have a deep commitment to providing excellent support while continuing to learn and build upon our experience as we train our own teams as well as other professionals who want to learn from us.”
Skills for Care endorsement is the bespoke quality mark given to the best learning and development providers in the adult social care sector, awarded by a charity with more than 18 years of experience in workforce development.
To become endorsed by Skills for Care, which works in partnership with the Department of Health, providers have to show that the training they deliver makes a significant difference to the person accessing care and support as well as the learner.
The endorsement was developed following a Government review which revealed that employers wanted a website directory where they could easily find high quality training providers – taking away the uncertainty and the need to trawl through a wide number of existing providers.
The seven-day vaccination programme at Sutton town hall which has been a huge success, was temporarily scaled back to allow for vaccines to be diverted to assist other areas.
The vaccination rollout was suspended last Monday, as the vaccine was sent to other centres further behind with vaccinations.
Since opening as a vaccination centre for Sutton Coldfield Group Practice, the site has been open seven-days-a-week and last week started vaccinating over-65s, well ahead of schedule
Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, which is responsible for organising the Covid vaccine roll out in the area, said people in Sutton Coldfield was ahead other areas.
At the end of last week, Sutton Coldfield Group Practice, said it had vaccinated to 17,842 patients across the town. The include:
80 years of age and over
75 – 79 year olds
70 – 74 year olds OR clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
Care Homes
If you, or someone you know, fall into one of the above groups and still haven’t heard from from your practice, please make sure your contact details are up to date so they can get in touch. You can easily update your details via your practice website under Reception & Enquiries.
The practice reported that with some support from the Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust (BCHC) staff, it has now vaccinated the majority of our housebound patients. This means they have now protected those most vulnerable within the top four eligible groups across Sutton Coldfield.
There were a few housebound patients that we were unable to get in contact with. If you are housebound and were not vaccinated at home last weekend (6th-7th February) or know someone who wasn’t, please do get in touch with the usual surgery in order for us to record your up to date contact details. We can then arrange for someone to call you to organise a suitable time for us to come and visit you administer your vaccine.
The Government confirmed that everyone in the top four priority groups in the JCVI’s phase one list, more than 15 million people, have been offered the Covid vaccine by February 14 – a day ahead of its target.
Those in the eligible categories can book their Covid vaccination at two mass vaccination centres in Birmingham, at Millennium Point and at Villa Park.
The new bikes ready for the off outside Sutton Park’s Banners Gate entrance
New bike hire scheme ready for trial run
Sutton Coldfield residents are getting on their bikes this month as a cycling initiative gets under way in the town. New bike stands have appeared at Sutton Park as part of a new cycle hire scheme in the town. The docking stations will include normal three-gear pedal bikes, with 10 per cent electric bikes available.
The Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, has welcomed the initiative saying ‘the bikes, made here in the West Midlands, will be supporting local jobs and businesses.’
The stands have appeared at the park’s Banners Gate and Boldmere Gate entrances as well as Sutton town centre and customers will hire the bikes via an app at a cost £1 to unlock a bike and 5p per minute after that. This means a 20 minute cycle will cost £2 and an hour £4.
Following a link up with the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) there will be a limited trial in the town this month followed by a full public launch across the West Midlands from March. Up to eight docking stations have been installed in key locations around the town centre including those at the park.
From March 8 the distinctive grey and green West Midlands Cycle Hire bikes will be available to the public and the scheme will be rolled out in Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Stourbridge, West Bromwich, Solihull and Walsall by the end of July.
They will be available to hire 24 hours a day, every day of the year. With docking stations at major bus, metro and train stations, visitor attractions and city or town centres.
The operator of London’s Santander Cycles has been appointed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) to offer bikes in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Wolverhampton and Walsall from next Spring.
The pedal cycles will all have three gears to cope with the hilly parts of the region and fitted with high quality laser safety lights that project an image of a bicycle five metres in front of the bike.
TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has agreed a five-year contract to offer more people the opportunity to enjoy cycling and provide a convenient alternative to the car for shorter journeys.
Work is under way with partner councils to find sites for 170 fixed docking stations across the region. There will also be some virtual geo-fenced docking areas which can be moved to meet demand or for large scale events such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Mr Street, who is standing for re-election in May’s mayoral election, said: “Lockdown has shown there is a huge appetite for cycling among the people of the West Midlands as many take the opportunity to get out and about on two wheels.
“It is therefore great to see the docks and bikes finally on the streets of Sutton Coldfield with the closed trial of our Cycle Hire scheme now well underway. I know the people of Sutton will be itching to get involved now they can see the docks and bikes, and I look forward to seeing the first residents of the royal town trying the bikes out when the scheme launches to members of the public on March 8.
“As well as providing a great opportunity for more people to take up cycling – these bikes also made here in the West Midlands, supporting local jobs and businesses.”
The bikes are manufactured in Stratford-upon-Avon by Pashley Cycles who also work with Serco to provide the bikes for London and Edinburgh. Supporting technology will be provided by British micromobility operator Beryl who also work with Serco in London.
A sign at Banners Gate giving bike hire instructions and a row of the machines in Sutton town centre
TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has agreed a five-year contract to offer more people the opportunity to enjoy cycling and provide a convenient alternative to the car for shorter journeys.
Cllr Waseem Zaffar, cabinet member for transport and environment with Birmingham City Council, said: “The West Midlands Cycle Hire will offer a more affordable alternative to buying a bike and give more people the opportunity to try cycling and contribute to improving our air quality and easing traffic congestion.”
The scheme is expected to create up to 25 new local jobs supporting the operation and maintenance of the bikes.
A full technology platform for the service, including the rider app and GPS connectivity on the bike which will integrate with the Swift travel card system, will enable customers to use their Swift accounts to hire bikes in the West Midlands, a first for a major UK bike share scheme.
Cllr Simon Ward, leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, said: “We are delighted to be at the forefront of this scheme in partnership with TfWM, the city council and Serco to bring cycle hire to Sutton Coldfield.
“It is great news for our Royal Town to be one of the first places in the region to launch this cycle hire scheme and it enables the Town Council to deliver on its priorities of improving cycling infrastructure, promoting active travel and healthy lifestyles.”
The vaccination programme at the town hall bee praised by residents Above right, free parking is available
Sutton residents praise rollout
Residents in Sutton Coldfield have praised the Covid 19 vaccination programme currently being rolled out in the town ahead of schedule.
People over the age of 65 are now having their jab in what one resident described as an operation being run with military precision by Sutton Coldfield Group Practice.
The town hall set up is impressive, with a small army of vaccinators, aided by another small army of volunteers operating an efficient one-way system that sees people in, vaccinated and out in as little as five minutes.
It comes after another busy week last week at at the town hall, where the practice, which includes Tudor Practice, Ley Hill Surgery, Four Oaks Medical Centre, The Vesey Practice, Sutton Park Surgery and Falcon Medical Centre, managed to administer another 3,142 first vaccines for patients across Sutton Coldfield.
Resident Patrick James is one of the first cohort of over 65s to get his jab, along with wife Joan.
The 66-year-old from Four Oaks said: “It’s a hugely impressive operation. You pull up at the free car park, where stewards guide you on how long you have to wait. That was no time all in our case, as they were ahead of schedule.
“The other volunteers guide you through registration and then into cubicles where the shot, either the Pfizer or Astrazenca, is administered. You are given a your instruction leaflet and after a quick check, sent merrily on your way. Very slick indeed.”
A member of the medical team said the transfer of vaccinations from Falcon Lodge Medical Centre to Sutton Coldfield Town Hall had allowed the medical teams to triple current rollout.
“We are well ahead of schedule and it’s been extremely busy,” she said.
Mr James added: “We were surprised to get the call from the GP earlier this week to come in and get the jab, considering the target for the over-70s was due to be completed next Monday. It just shows what a slick operation it is.”
New fleet of machines to help keep Sutton Coldfield tidy
The streets of Sutton Coldfield will soon be getting a clean sweep with when a fleet of cleaning machines comes on line.
Ongoing efforts to improve Birmingham’s neighbourhoods have been bolstered by a deal that has seen the city council start to take delivery of 31 new street sweeping vehicles.
The vehicles will be deployed across the city and they replace ageing machines that had reached the end of their operational lives.
The roll-out to the city’s four waste depots is due to be complete by the end of March and the vehicles are replacements as part of an ongoing lease deal.
Cllr John O’Shea, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Parks at Birmingham City Council, said: “Clean streets are consistently a high priority for people in this city, so it is important that our hardworking crews and teams have the tools available to them to achieve the aspirations that residents have for Birmingham.
“We are always looking at how we can best utilise technology and innovation to improve the cleanliness of our neighbourhoods – and street sweeping vehicles are one of the well-established ways to help do this.
“Our fleet was in need of an upgrade and we will now be able to deliver a more reliable and effective service in the future. Keep a look out for the vehicles on a street near you soon.”
Juliet Dubberley, Online Retail Manager at St Giles Hospice, packing a fragile item ready for safe delivery
St Giles Hospice call for eBay support
Online shoppers are being asked to support a local charity during the latest lockdown by visiting the St Giles Hospice eBay charity shop.
Although St Giles, which offers care at tis centres in Whittington and Sutton Coldfield and in patients’ own homes across the region, has had to temporarily close its high street shops in response to the Government’s latest Coronavirus safety measures, the hospice’s popular online eBay shop currently lists more than 550 items for sale.
St Giles Hospice Head of Retail Lynwen Truesdale said: “The money raised by St Giles Hospice shops plays a vital role in funding the services which we offer our patients. But as we have had to close our high street shops and cancel many fundraising events during the COVID-19 crisis our message to our online shoppers is that we’ve never needed you more than we do right now.”
Since its launch in February 2006, the St Giles eBay shop has raised more than £850,000 to support the hospice in its work caring for patients living with a terminal illness and their families, and it sells a range of books, magazines, toys and games, jewellery, shoes and clothing, collectibles and more.
Lynwen added, “We have a wide range of books, toys and games which are just the thing for keeping everyone engaged and entertained during lockdown. We also have make up, beauty and healthcare products and gift sets, perfect for Valentine’s Day gifts.
“Our high street shops may be closed at the moment but people can still support us by shopping online in our eBay online charity shop, which is still very much open for business.”
Lynwen added that the charity has ‘top-rated seller’ status on eBay, meaning that St Giles Hospice is one of eBay’s most reputable sellers, consistently delivering outstanding customer service with a five-star rating and positive feedback.
As well as more mainstream items, quirky and unique items go up for sale frequently on the online charity shop. Over the years these have included a 1608 leather-bound ‘Geneva Bible’ which sold for £850; a rare Royal Doulton Sir Francis Drake Toby Jug which sold for £483; and a Royal Doulton Ali Baba figurine, which sold for £1,500.
One donated item sold on the eBay online store raised an amazing £4,256 for St Giles Hospice – a pair of rare Zeiss WWII German U-Boat commander’s binoculars.
“We can’t wait to re-open our high street shops, but until then, please continue to shop with us online,” said Lynwen. “We’d ask all of our supporters to spread the word to friends and family so that they can support us too.
“Although our shops are currently closed, we need to raise £850,000 every single month just to keep our services going and our dedicated care teams are still out there working 24/7 in our hospices and out in our community.”
You can find out more and visit the St Giles Hospice eBay online charity shop at www.stgileshospice.com/ebay
Sutton Coldfield Town Hall will allow for a huge increase in vaccinations from Monday
Venue to triple the number of jabs
AS the success of the Covid-19 vaccination programme gathers pace, Sutton Coldfield Group Practice has announced a change of vaccination arrangements from next Monday, February 1.
The practice has been granted permission by NHS England to change the designated Falcon Lodge Medical Centre to the town hall, which will enable it to triple current rollout capacity, which currently stands at 2,300 per week at Falcon Lodge.
That site will revert to a surgery and be open to patients again, while Ley Hill Surgery will continue to provide vaccinations.
“Once again we are indebted to the patience of the patients of that site for the loan of their medical facilities,” a spokesman said.
There will be also be free parking in the pay and display car park on Anchorage Road opposite the town hall and The Townhouse (Royal) pub has also granted free parking there for people attending for vaccination. A temporary pedestrian crossing will be put in place in the vicinity in the next few days. Either the Pfizer or Astra Zeneca ‘Oxford’ vaccines, both of which are very effective, will be administered depending on the deliveries received.
A spokesman for the practice said that permission for the change had been granted after a lot of work behind the scenes aided by University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) Trust, Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (BSOL CCG), Sutton Coldfield Town Council and local MP Andrew Mitchell.
A spokesperson added: “To avoid any confusion we are continuing to vaccinate at Falcon Lodge right up to this Sunday, so please turn up if you have an appointment for vaccination this weekend.
“We have a wide pool of vaccinators including retired doctors and nurses, paramedics, nurses seconded from different organisations, physios, podiatrists etc to enable us to continue to deliver medical services from our individual sites. The site will be active for 9 hours per day 7 days a week vaccine supply permitting.
“We are pleased to report that Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust (BCHC) staff have also begun doing home visits to vaccinate our housebound patients who are not able to travel to any vaccination centres.”
The practice said it has received positive feedback from patients who have had their vaccinations at Millennium Point in Birmingham city centre. There is free parking right next to the centre and it is well signposted and marshalled with short waits.
So if patients are invited to be vaccinated there you should do so if you are able to travel there fairly easily but if you cannot then we will be calling for you to have your vaccine given locally so please don’t worry.
Also some patients are being invited to M W Phillips pharmacy in Great Barr for their vaccinations, with further updates in due course.
Sutton Coldfield Life 