Series of closures for weeks on A453 for work on HS2
Motorists in Sutton Coldfield face weeks of road chaos as major road closures loom for the next two months. The main A453 route between the town and Tamworth will have a series of closures for construction work to continue on the HS2 high speed rail line.
Despite the northern leg being scrapped, the controversial line still being developed north of the city to just south of Handsacre where trains will go back on the West Coast mainline.
The route travels from Birmingham to Water Orton and on through Staffordshire.
It crosses the A453 Sutton Road between Bassetts Pole near Sutton Coldfield and Mike Oak in Tamworth. But that road will soon cross the proposed rail line.
To enable works to be carried out a section of the A453 Sutton Road and Drayton Lane, which runs off it will see a series of closures. The A453 Sutton Road will shut overnight between 8pm to 6am every night from next Monday (February 12) to Sunday (March 31).
It will also close for two whole weekends from 8pm on Friday, March 8 to 6am on Monday, March 11. And from 8pm on Friday, March 15, to 6am on Monday, March 18.
While Drayton Lane will be shut from 8pm to 6am from Monday, February 26 t March 1, and also from Monday, March 4 to Friday, March 8, from Monday, March 11 to Friday, March 22 and from Monday, March 25 to Friday, March 29.
Marks and Spencer has announced that its Sutton Coldfield store, the M&S Foodhall located at the Princess Alice Retail Park in New Oscott, will undergo a significant refurbishment. The store will close its doors on February 3rd and remain closed for a month while the refurbishment takes place.
A statement from the company said: “Your local M&S Princess Park store is closing on Saturday 3rd February 2024 to get an exciting new make-over throughout the coming month. This exciting transformation will see a brand-new fresher store, with a new fresh market feel and a new look bakery when we re-open on Monday 4th March 2024 at 9am. During this time, why not follow us on Facebook or TikTok for the latest updates on the progress, and be the first to get news on the exciting new products arriving in your new store when it opens.”
The store will have a new fresh-market feel, providing customers with a unique shopping experience. The new look store will feature modern, stylish, and comfortable seating areas where customers can relax and enjoy their shopping experience.
It will also offer a click-and-collect service for M&S Clothing & Home products, making it easier for customers to shop online and collect their items in-store. Additionally, a brand-new digital Click & Collect service will be introduced to make shopping even more convenient.
The store is scheduled to reopen on March 4, and in the meantime, customers are advised to visit the M&S Foodhall in Mere Green, or other M&S shops in Tamworth, Cannock, or Wednesbury during the closure.
Parents looking to keep their children occoupied this half term have plenty of choice in Sutton Coldfield. The town hall is hosting events this February holiday with Art Workshops for Children and Cartoon Circus Live!
Do you have children aged 5-14 years old? The town hall is hosting various art workshops led by artistic professionals this half-term. Unleash your child’s artistic potential through painting, drawing, crafting and 3-D modelling.
The events take place on Monday 12, Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 February from 10am-4pm
At the same time the venue on Upper Clifton Road will be presenting Cartoon Circus Live! a show filled with slapstick comedy, illusions, magic and more. This half-term offers the the thrill of the circus on Tuesday 13 February. Doors open at 12:30 pm for a 1.30pm show.
Visit the town hall website for more information and to book tickets.
You can also book your tickets online, by calling thebox office or by visiting the box office in person:
An artist’s impression of what Gracechurch Shopping Centre may look like after a major revamp
Homes, leisure, retail and commercial plans for major revamp
Sutton Coldfield rundown Gracechurch Shopping Centre is set to get a new lease of life with a multi-million pound investment. Plans to transform the 1970s-built centre with new homes, leisure, retail, commercial and other uses are being backed by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The WMCA has agreed, in principle, to make the investment in the 250,000 acre shopping centreto help re-energise the town centre in line with the vision set out in the Royal Town Council’s masterplan.
It will be the latest in a series of WMCA investments focused on breathing new life into the region’s town and city centres.
The decision will now trigger detailed negotiations between the WMCA and the developers, Birmingham Property Group and the London-based SAV Group, to finalise a deal.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, and Chair of the WMCA, said: “It’s wonderful to have good news to share about the well-known Gracechurch Shopping Centre site in Royal Sutton Coldfield.
“I’m so pleased to see that the new owners have exciting plans to breathe new life into the town centre.
“We will continue to work in close collaboration with them to help them realise their vision for Gracechurch – benefitting local people through job creation, leisure options and overall regeneration in the months and years ahead.”
Cllr Ian Courts, leader of Solihull Council, and portfolio holder for housing and regeneration at the WMCA, said: “Our town centres and shopping areas are at the heart of our communities and it’s important that we help them to prosper so they offer the retail, homes and services local people need.
“The WMCA is playing an active role across the region, investing in centres like Sutton Coldfield, to support our local economy as well as providing new homes for our people.”
Anton Nikolaenko, investment director of SAV group, said: “We have been working closely with Frontier and the WMCA and are grateful for their support of our ambitious proposals in Royal Sutton Coldfield.”
Emilios Tsavellas, development director at SAV Group, added: “The Gracechurch Centre holds enormous potential, and Andy Street has been integral in facilitating conversations within the WMCA and with other key stakeholders.
“We look forward to continuing our work with the WMCA to ensure that our proposals are delivered and integrated with other plans in Royal Sutton Coldfield and the wider region.”
Cllr Simon Ward, leader of Sutton Coldfield Town Council, said: “It is great to see such a significant vote of confidence in the regeneration of Royal Sutton Coldfield town centre.
“Andy Street has been a strong supporter of our plans since we began this journey six years ago.
“We look forward to working with BPG/SAV to deliver their ambitious and exciting plans, which will boost retail, bring in new and exciting leisure and food offers, and mean The Royal Town becomes a real destination for visitors.”
Access to funding for the project was provided by Frontier Development Capital Ltd, a fund manager working closely with property developers to arrange investments from the WMCA’s Commercial Investment Fund (CIF) and Residential Investment fund (RIF).
Second Sutton Park venue to get makeover ad rebrand
A second Sutton Park hospitality venue is set for a huge facelift if plans are agreed by Birmingham City Council. The landmark Park House in Sutton Park, home of the Toby Carvery is set to be replaced by a new restaurant if city planners give the go-ahead.
It follows the closure and imminent reopening of Bracebridge restaurant, also in Sutton Park and adjacent to Bracebridge Pool.
The Carvery, near Town Gate, will become a Mitchells & Butlers Browns restaurant.
According to a Birmingham Mail report, the company, which leases the Grade II listed building from Birmingham City Council, has applied for listed building consent to make alterations, including a new floor, and external redecoration, as well as for permission to make changes to the rear extension.
A planning, design and heritage statement by JTS Partnership on behalf of M&B, reveals the proposed changes to what was an 18 th century mill house, which has had several extensions and changes since.
The statement says: “Little remains of the layout and footprint of the original mill house. The few original features are potentially limited to fireplaces and ceilings.” The plan is to turn the carvery into a Browns Bar and Restaurant, like the one by the Bullring in Spiceal Street in the city centre.
The exterior of the venue will be redecorated in colors appropriate to the late 19th-century additions in the Tudor style. The applicants assure that the internal changes to the historic core will not impact the heritage significance of the building.
Sutton Coldfield Town Hall hosts celebration of female anthems
From Quatro to Joplin, Cher to Turner, Pink to Blondie, Heart to Benatar, fans of female rock are in for a treat next week in Sutton Coldfield.
Women in Rock will be on stage at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall next Friday, January 12.
Since 2016, Women in Rock have been wowing audiences across the UK & Europe with their sell out show. Having just returned from a hugely successful global tour on board celebrity cruises, they are back in the UK and ready to take you on a journey featuring soaring vocals, choreography, audience interaction, striking costumes and backed by a band of world-class musicians, Women in Rock has built a reputation one of the most enjoyable music shows now touring the UK theatres.
The show celebrates decades of the world’s greatest female rock legends with the set list featuring one classic after another and has something for everyone.
BEFORE AND AFTER: Above, the main Bracebridge building is closed and fenced off. Below, work under way for the January reopening
Popular Sutton Park venue The Bracebridge to open again under new ownership
The Bracebridge restaurant in Sutton Park, which closed suddenly in October, will open again at the end of January, under new ownership.
One of the region’s most famous and picturesque restaurants and noted for its fine dining, The Bracebridge and its associated kiosk snack area, closed suddenly with a Facebook message saying they were closing with a ‘heavy heart’.
It has now been acquired by a consortium involving the Open Restaurants group and is undergoing a refit with work well under way at the venue.
The Liverpool-based group runs several high end eateries including 8, Black and Green, OXA and The Craft Bar.
It is understood The Kiosk, a popular stop-off point for walkers and cyclists in the park, is being converted into a cafe and bakery, while the restaurant is redecorated and the refurbished outside terrace will feature a bar area.
The Bracebridge, situated in the heart of the 2,400 acre Sutton Park overlooking the pool, was previously run by the Stonnall-based Brough family. it is unclear what the reason was for the closure, but the hospitality industry has been suffering a torrid time, first with the pandemic, staff shortages and then rocketing energy prices, putting pressure on profits.
Before closure, the waterside restaurant, formerly known as The Boathouse, comprised two dining areas, including the main dining room and the adjoining terrace and the kiosk, with seating for up to 150 people.
It looks like the reopening of one of Sutton Coldfield’s most iconic restaurant is gathering pace. The popular restaurant and kiosk overlooking Bracebridge Pool has been a popular eatery for years, with the hugely popular kiosk also a halfway house for walkers, dog walkers and cyclists traversing the area.
Following its sudden closure in October, the venue is set to reopen under new ownership with a renowned chef at the helm, according to previous owners, the Brough family.
Activity has been taking place in the last week or so, with groups of people seen meeting amid paperwork and laptops in the main restaurant area, with cars and people with briefcases spotter nearby.
Currently the area is closed off with metal barriers. Those who use the park will welcome the return of the kiosk in particular, a popular starting and finishing spot for a couple of hours walking, cycling or riding in the park.
It provided snacks and drinks and a seating area to view the spectacular view of Bracebridge Pool.
The restaurant and kiosk closed with a previous Facebook message saying they were closing with a ‘heavy heart’.
It looks like the venue could be opening soon and will be a welcome move for park users.
Demolition of former Waitrose and Flints in Mere Green begins
The bulldozers have moved in again in Sutton Coldfield as work get under way to build a new Aldi supermarket. The former Flints and Waitrose buildings complex is being demolished to make way for the discount supermarket in Belwell Lane, Mere Green.
Blue fencing went up around the block of buildings including the former Atlas House, early this month. Waitrose closed in 2020 and the building have remained empty.
The new Aldi is one of two in Sutton Coldfield, with a large store also being built on Brassintgon Avenue in the town centre.
The Mere Green store wukk join the existing Lidl, Sainsbury’s, and Marks & Spencer Foodhall as well as Poundland, for food shopping.
The site is being cleared with the new Aldi to be built to the left of the site, with car parking to the right-hand side and at the back, as the former Waitrose had.
The construction of the shop will create 100 jobs, with the new store set to offer 40 more jobs in the area when it opens. The new Aldi will open 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays like its other shops.
Gaynor and Liz, healthcare assistants at St Gile, are urging people to support the raffle
Team urges people in Sutton Coldfield to support raffle in aid of local people living with terminal illness.
A local charity is urging Sutton residents to support a local charity. Gaynor and Liz, healthcare assistants in the St Giles Hospice at Home team, are calling on people to support the local charity by participating in its Christmas Raffle.
Gaynor said “I’ve worked at St Giles for 16 years and have worked every Christmas Day – for some families we support, the day is full of festivities, but we see the other side too.
” Throughout the day I’ll experience the sadness and pain of people who just can’t get into the Christmas spirit because of what they’re going through. Sometimes it is simply about getting through the day.” As part of the Hospice at Home team, Gaynor and Liz visit terminally ill patients on Christmas Day, to help them manage their condition, provide pain relief, and support their loved ones.
Liz said: “Christmas really makes you appreciate what you have, and I am privileged to witness patients celebrating in whatever way they can with loved ones despite their heartaches.
“It’s a very emotional time for the families, as many will be sharing their last Christmas together, so it’s important that we do what we can to make sure people have something to hold on to and remember forever.”
Every year, the St Giles team dedicate their time to care for local people and their loved ones, living with a terminal illness at Christmas.
Hannah Fahy, Head of Fundraising at St Giles, said: “Playing our Christmas Raffle is a fun and easy way to support St Giles, with the chance to win some fabulous cash prizes.
“Whilst we receive some funding from the Government, we still rely heavily on donations and income generation from our local community. Tickets cost just £1 each, and every ticket sold helps St Giles to continue to be there for people when they need it most.”
Raffle tickets can be purchased until =January 3 2024 and the draw date is January 17 2024. For more information, or to purchase your raffle tickets visit http://www.stgileshospice.com/raffle or call 01543 434020.
Sutton Coldfield Life 