Motoring, Transport

Cupra has new SEAT at luxury table

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It may have slipped people’s notice with the pandemic going on that a new, well newish, car brand has appeared.

Cupra is a name well-known to SEAT enthusiasts and was the badge given to more sporting models, being a combination of Cup and Racing, ergo Cupra.

Now, a bit like DS with Citroen, it has split and become a brand of its own, while remaining part of SEAT, and as the new kid on the block, offering a shiny new badge.

It has become unashamedly high end and sporty and the firm has announced a number of updates for the 2022 model. And with the curiously named all-electric Born on the horizon, it ticks most boxes for drive options.

There are four models which Cupra showcased on a driving event, the Cupra Ateca, Cupra Leon hatch and estate and the Formentor SUV.

It is fair to say that the Spanish firm’s sporty tradition is in safe hands with Cupra as all feature sharp, angular styling, distinctive alloy wheels and striking light clusters. Interiors are classy and the car delivers the kind of drive you would expect from Cupra.

I drove four of the vehicles, the Formentor 1.5 TSI V2 150PS DSG, pretty much the entry level for this model and featuring a  150PS 1.5 TSI petrol engine and capable of hitting 60mph in a smidge under nine seconds.

 This was followed by the all wheel drive powerhouse Leon Estate 2.0 TSI. Priced at 40,535, the 310PS two litre power unit here propels the car to 60mph in just under five seconds, while still delivering economy in the mid-30s mpg. 

Next up, the same power in the SUV Formentor, just over £100 more expensive, at £40,620, with virtually identical performance, but as its a heavier car, a slight drop in economy into the lower 30s mpg.

Last up was the Leon hatchback, priced at £36,760 and again delivering hot performance.

This time the two litre unit develops 300PS  and hits 60 in 5.7 seconds with economy in the mid to late 30s mpg.

Even the entry level at a little over £31k offers a comprehensive list of standard kit while still delivering an excellent drive.

In true SEAT style all offer hot performance while the 310PS models, particularly when mated to the four wheel drive, offer exhilarating performance.

The separation looks to be a shrewd move by the VW-owned Spanish firm, offering traditional SEAT sporty performance, but now with an altogether more upmarket feel, while the Cupra badge is stylish enough to rouse people’s curiosity.

All variants of the Leon and Formentor equipped with a DSG-auto gearbox also get a heated steering wheel as standard, while on the Formentor an electric tailgate is now an available option on V1 and V2 trims, and a top view camera can be added to the VZ2 and VZ3 trims.

Prices for the CUPRA Leon start at £31,555 for the Leon hatch VZ1 trim 2.0-litre TSI 245ps DSG-auto and rise to £40,535 for the range-topping Leon Estate VZ3 2.0-litre TSI 310ps DSG-auto 4Drive.

Formentor prices start at £27,745 OTR for V1 1.5-litre TSI 150ps, rising to £42,990 OTR for VZ3 2.0-litre TSI 310ps DSG-auto 4Drive.

Business, Food and Drink, News

Opening date for store

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The new store nears completion and will feature a rapid charging point in the car park

Lidl announces August 5 opening

Discount grocer Lidl has confirmed that its new store in Mere Green will open on August 5. The German-owned giant will provide competition for Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and Poundland in the area.

A new Aldi is also planned for the former Waitrose on Belwell Lane.

Around 40 jobs, both full and part-time, will be created at the new Sutton Coldfield store and the news comes after a new Thai tapas style restaurant, the Giggling Squid, opened this week (July 26).

Workers are rushing to complete inside of the store and the car park will see the first rapid electric car charging point on the car park.

A Lidl spokesman said: “Once opened, the store will create around 40 full and part time jobs for the local area and we look forward to delivering our fresh, quality and affordable produce to the local community.”

The new supermarket is on the site of the former industrial premises in Mere Green Road, which has lain derelict for more than 10 years.

The store has not met with universal approval with fears of traffic chaos.

It does seem inevitable there will be a big increase in traffic on the busy stretch of road, with Mulberry Walk fully open with gym, shops, bars and restaurants. With a busy garage also at Mere Green island, it looks like delays will be on the way.

The Giggling Squid has opened with discounted prices for a limited time. For booking info, visit the new website at https://www.gigglingsquid.com/restaurant/mere-green/

Business, News

Hokey Cokey for hospitality in Sutton

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It’s becoming a bit like the hokey cokey for hospitality venues in Sutton Coldfield. They’re in, they’re out, then they’re back in again and who knows, maybe out again?

The Butlers Arms on Lichfield Road only reopened last weekend after the pub closed due to Covid-19 and The Bracebridge in Sutton Park was also forced to close its doors until July 24 for the same reason.

Now another popular venue, the Farmhouse Bistro at the Mitchell Centre on Weeford Road, has been forced to close and in another development, Mocha Coffee Lounge in Streetly has done the same.

A message on the Farmhouse Bistro website made this announcement: “We regret that the Bistro is now closed for a few days due to enforced staff isolation. We thank you for your understanding and look forward to seeing you again soon. Watch this space for an announcement on reopening”

The Mocha Lounge also added a similar message on Facebook.

It would appear that this is going to be a running theme. There are reports that a popular hospitality venue in Sutton Coldfield has told staff, via a memo, that if they attend a nightclub, they should not return to work for at least three days to try and prevent infections.

News, Schools

Red letter day on climate change

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Wednesday 21st July, 2021

Andrew Mitchell talks to pupils at Hill West Primary, watched by headteacher Dr Beth Clarke

MP visits after children write to PM

Sutton Coldfield youngsters have taken their concerns over climate change to the very top of the UK Government.

Year 5 children at Hill West Primary School felt so strongly about the issues, that they wrote to the Prime Minister, asking him to uphold his responsibilities as a Duty Bearer to take positive action to support the rights of children around the world.

The school has since received a letter of thanks from Number 10 Downing Street.

As a result, pupils and staff welcomed Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell to the school in response to children’s handwritten letters to Boris Johnson.

Mr Mitchell visited the school after he passed on the letters – which focused on climate change and the impact on children’s rights globally – to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The MP joined pupils and staff at the school on Friday 16 July to talk about a range of topics, including the UNICEF Outright campaign, which looks at how climate change can impact negatively on children’s rights, and supports children to voice their views.

The letters were initially sent to Mr Mitchell, as he is both their constituency MP and also has a strong record of campaigning for the rights of people around the world, with pupils asking him if he would consider forwarding them to the Prime Minister.

Acting deputy headteacher, Rhian Warrack said: “We were thrilled to learn that Mr Mitchell did support the rights of the children at Hill West to express their views and opinions, and to have their voices listened to, as he forwarded their letters to the Prime Minister in early July.

Acting deputy headteacher, Rhian Warrack, right, next to Andrew Mitchell and headteacher Dr Clarke and pupils from year 5,

“We were absolutely delighted to then be contacted by Mr Mitchell, asking if he could come to Hill West and meet some of the children who had written letters, and we welcomed him in school on a beautiful sunny afternoon.”

Hill West Primary School, part of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership, is working towards the UNICEF Rights Respecting School Gold Award. Mr Mitchell spoke to the children about a range of subjects, sharing some of his experience of supporting human rights during his career.

The children asked insightful questions on matters including climate change and how Mr Mitchell has been supporting those living in poverty in the UK, especially during the pandemic. Pupils also asked how the MP and the government are supporting children’s right to a high quality education now and moving forwards after COVID.

The children were interested in why and how Mr Mitchell became a Member of Parliament. They heard about the work he has been doing to try and prevent the government from reducing the International Development Budget, and his decision to keep Sutton Park open during the pandemic.

Dr Warrack added: “The children relished their opportunity to express their views and feelings in all matters affecting them to their Member of Parliament and to have Mr Mitchell take them seriously. They are also extremely grateful for his support in putting their views forward to our Prime Minister and sincerely hope that they are taken seriously by Boris Johnson, as they have been by Mr Mitchell, so that they can have a positive impact on children’s rights, both here in Sutton Coldfield, the UK, and around the world.”

Mr Mitchell said: “It was wonderful to meet the pupils and staff at Hill West and to learn more about their work with UNICEF’s ‘Rights Respecting Schools’ and ‘Outright’ campaigns. I was very impressed with their letters – huge congratulations to the children for all their hard work and tenacity. These future citizens care about the rights of all children globally and are empowered to instigate change by using their collective voice.

“The pupils are politically and environmentally aware, so it was an excellent opportunity to talk to them about politics, the world they live in and the issues that impact them and others across the world. There is no doubt that we have some young leaders in our midst.”

Lifestyle, News

Pedal power for hospice

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David Batchelor (front left) and Stuart Payne (front right) with members of the team
FUNDRAISERS HIT THE ROAD FOR 210-MILE CYCLE RIDE TO SUPPORT ST GILES

Fifteen fundraising cyclists have raised £16,000 to be split between St Giles Hospice and three other charities in an epic three-day bike ride through the heart of England.

The riders all work for Wills & Trusts Wealth Management Group, which organised the trip to support its charitable foundation.

Wills & Trusts Chief Operating Officer, Stuart Payne, from Sutton Coldfield, took part in the 210-mile ride and has a personal connection to St Giles Hospice as his father-in-law, John Simpson, received end-of-life care at St Giles Hospice in 2018.

He said: “The care my late father-in-law received at St Giles was just tremendous – I cannot praise the team there highly enough, whether it is for the way they looked after him in his last days or the support they offered to the rest of the family. They have such a wonderful bedside manner.

“We all know how hard charities have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, so supporting hospice care along the way seemed like a great way to make a difference on our cycling challenge. 

“We came up with the idea of the bike ride as things opened up again after lockdown. For the past year our Wills & Trusts team has been forced to work from home due to Government guidance, so this cycle trip seemed like a great way to bring everyone back together and get the team bonding again.”

The team’s route took them from the company’s office in Ashby-de-la-Zouch to its head office in Thame, near Oxford, visiting its other offices along the way on a route through Henley-in-Arden, Moreton-in-Marsh and Winchester. 

The money raised will be split between St Giles Hospice, Florence Nightingale Hospice in Aylesbury, Helen & Douglas House Children’s Hospice in Oxford and Winchester Hospice, four hospices based near the company’s offices.

Wills & Trusts Wealth Management Group founder David Batchelor said: “In our business we help families to plan for the future, whether it’s planning for retirement or passing money down. We help people to prepare for all of the different journeys through life and inevitably hospice care is a part of some of those journeys, so raising money to support our local hospices made perfect sense to us.

“Our team included both serious riders and people who had not been out on a bike until six weeks ago, and their dedication and determination has been matched by the generosity of our supporters and donors who have helped us to race past our £10,000 target and raise this fantastic total.”

St Giles Hospice Income Generation Director, Elinor Eustace, said: “We are so grateful to the team at Wills & Trusts Wealth Management Group for their amazing fundraising effort, which will help to support the care we offer to patients and their families living with a terminal illness.

“Their dedication and hard work are truly an inspiration to us at a time when we have never needed our community more, following 18 months when we have had to close our shops and cancel fundraising events due to the pandemic. If any other businesses would be interested in helping St Giles then we’d be delighted to hear from them.”

For more information about St Giles Hospice and the expert care it provides, please visit www.stgileshospice.com

News

Jobs boost with double opening

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Restaurant and store to open in Mere Green

With the hospitality industry still struggling with closures due to Covid infections, there will be a double opening to lift the gloom in the next couple of weeks with a new store and restaurant creating jobs in Mere Green.

Discount grocer Lidl has confirmed that around 40 jobs, both full and part-time, will be created at its new Sutton Coldfield store when it finally opens at the end of this month and a new Thai tapas style restaurant, the Giggling Squid, opens its doors next week.

Workers are busy working on the inside of the store, with completion set to be imminent while the finishing touches are being put to the Giggling Squid venue prior to its opening on Mulberry Walk.

A Lidl spokesman said: “Once opened, the store will create around 40 full and part time jobs for the local area and we look forward to delivering our fresh, quality and affordable produce to the local community.”

The Giggling Squid is opening with celebratory offers. Bookings are now open and diners will be notified the moment bookings go live for the opening week which includes a celebratory 50 per cent off all meals. For booking info, visit the new website at https://www.gigglingsquid.com/restaurant/mere-green/

News, Opinion

Covid closures a sign of things to come

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The Butlers Arms was temporarily close because of a Covid-19 infection
The Bracebridge in Sutton Park has closed its doors temporarily

COMMENT: We are facing chaos over reopening as cases surge and businesses shut down

As pubs are forced to close their doors again in Sutton Coldfield because of Covid-19 infections, there’s a sense of deja vu as so-called ‘Freedom Day’ looming large.

Last summer’s reckless early reopening of venues and the ridiculous ‘eat out to help out’ scheme should have served as a warning. This was followed by the autumn lockdown and the botched Christmas messaging which led to the catastrophic January and February death toll.

Yet again, this blundering government is leading us down a path to who knows where, as infections rocket.

At the time of writing this there were nearly 50,000 daily infections of the killer disease across the country.

The Butlers Arms on Lichfield Road had to close after a member of staff contracted the virus and reopened on July 16. The Bracebridge in Sutton Park has been forced to temporarily close and will reopen on July 24. It has informed the public on Facebook and with notices posted in the park itself.

The sign announcing The Bracebridge closure

A statement from the Butlers Arms said: “Unfortunately, we were made aware last night that one of our team members has tested positive for Covid-19. Thankfully, they are not seriously unwell.

“We have made the decision to close temporarily with immediate effect for the safety or our team and our guests.

“So far, no other members of the team have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace but we have decided to close as a precaution.”

You don’t have to be an epidemiologist to figure out they are just the first of many more to come as the virus runs amok throughout the population. Nearby Lichfield has already experienced several pub closures.

This commentator agrees that the country should continue with the gradual reopening, but opinion polls show that people are unhappy with the lifting of all measures and support continuing with face covering and the social distancing, whether it be two metres or ‘one metre plus.’

Sadly, those fears are being dismissed with ridiculous comments from government ministers about being on your own on long journeys on a train where you can take your face covering off and ‘expecting’ people to wear masks.

That might be OK for travelling first class back to your leafy constituency in Middle England, but doesn’t address the reality of the dangers of travel for the general public. Or the fact that many workers in hospitality could be in a constant on/off employment state without the necessary financial help to see them through this continuing nightmare.

Not to mention the actual businesses, like these venues, who have been clobbered hardest by the effects of the pandemic, with many forced to close permanently, while others teeter on the edge. They have the dilemma of self policing, balancing making a living against keeping customers and staff safe.

A reply to a my letter of concern about premature relaxation of all rules to local MP Andrew Mitchell received a reply which trotted out the same tired out lines.

I don’t often agree with Mr Mitchell, but admire his stance on foreign aid, in this case though we are miles apart.

In his reply, he said: “It is clear that we will need to learn to live with Covid and as Chris Whitty and others have outlined, continuing the restrictions beyond July 19 is unlikely to reduce the number of Covid deaths and could potentially lead to a worse peak in the winter months.”

Chris Whitty’s body language implied something else. England’s chief medical officer has warned that Covid hospitalisations were doubling every three weeks and could hit “scary numbers” in future.

Mr Mitchell continued: “Ultimately, although these are not easy decisions to make, I believe that we are now in a position where we can use our own judgement and common sense and I support this approach rather than continuing legal diktat.”

In other words, ‘it’s not our fault guv, blame the public for not using common sense.’ Unbelievable.

With the exception of the furlough scheme, the handling of the pandemic has been catastrophic, but one thing I think we can all agree on is that this is a long way from over.

Bill McCarthy

Entertainment, Food and Drink, Lifestyle, News

Thai restaurant opens doors

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The new Giggling Squid restaurant will open in Mulberry Walk on July 26

New venue opens in Mere Green with 50% discounts

Sutton Coldfield’s newest restaurant has announced the opening date for its new venue in Mere Green and is offering a 50 per cent discount during its first week.

The new Thai tapas-style restaurant, Giggling Squid, will take over from a former Italian restaurant in Mulberry Walk, and will open to the public on July 26.

As part of their launch celebrations, they will be hosting an exclusive first look at the restaurant over on their Instagram channel on July 23, before fully opening to the public on the following Monday.

Bookings are now open and diners will be notified the moment bookings go live for the opening week which includes a celebratory 50 per cent off all meals. For booking info, visit the new website at https://www.gigglingsquid.com/restaurant/mere-green/

The chain, began in the basement of a fishmerman’s cottage in Brighton in 2002,

Founded by Pranee and Andrew Laurillard, Giggling Squid now operates 38 venues across the UK.

A spokesperson for the chain said Giggling Squid has established a strong reputation for bold Thai cuisine, complemented by a stylish and relaxed setting. The varied menu comprises a competitively priced lunch menu and a more extensive evening offer, as well as separate children and vegan menus.

Co-founder, Andy said: “Thai mealtimes are energetic, informal, adventurous and where food is celebrated. It’s relaxed and there’s no standing on ceremony. Every Giggling Squid has its own personal touch to it, and this restaurant is no different; it’s a beautifully designed space that we hope will bring a lot of pleasure to our guests. We can’t wait to welcome everyone.”

The spokesperson added: “Catering to the community during the new normal, Giggling Squid guests will still receive the same great food, service and atmosphere the restaurant chain is known and loved for, but with even more stringent health and safety policies in place, making it the safest place possible for all guests and staff.”

Giggling Squid is expected to open Monday-Thursday 12pm – 10pm, Friday-Saturday 12pm – 10.30pm, Sunday 12pm – 9.30pm.

A wide takeaway menu will also be available for click & collect or telephone orders as well as delivery.

News, Transport

Mayor backs cycle scheme

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Anger over dumped bikes and pricing

 The Mayor of the West Midlands has lauded a new cycle scheme which has been introduced across Sutton Coldfield and the wider West Midlands.

Andy Street praised the West Midlands Cycle Hire scheme, despite evidence that some of the bikes were not being returned to their docking station and dumped in the street, particularly in Birmingham city centre.

People have also complained about the pricing which amounts to £4 for a one hour hire period, which includes an unlocking fee.

Safety campaigners have warned of a new danger to pedestrians in Birmingham city centre because of the ‘abandoned’ bikes.

But users say that when trying to return the bikes, the docking bays are already full.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Our cycle hire scheme is providing incredibly popular in Sutton Coldfield, far exceeding our expectations at this stage.

“People who hire our bikes in the Royal Town are using them for nearly an hour on average, cycling more than 4.5km each time.

Mayor Andy Street

“These are impressive usage figures and we expect them to continue to grow as more docking stations are introduced. New docks have not long been installed at Good Hope hospital and Four Oaks Station, whilst we hope to get our planned one for Sutton Station in ASAP.”

On top of a £1 unlocking fee via an app, users are then billed at the rate of 5p per minute (£3 per hour).

So it is £4 for the first hour and then £3 per hour thereafter.

Sutton Park enthusiast Patrick James said the bikes were a good idea, but the fees were too high, especially as its a new venture.

He said: “You would have thought they could have started with a discounted price and if that proved popular, then perhaps look again at the pricing structure. But for a couple of hours riding around the park, or anywhere that hires them out for that matter, £7 is too much.”

The mayor defended the prices and said: “West Midlands Cycle Hire is a new scheme and we are confident that our pay as you go prices are competitive – especially with our offer of the first 30 minutes being free for new users.

“However as we continue to roll-out more bikes and docking stations across the region, we will of course be exploring the pricing structure and seeing if we can offer subscription packages to provide better value for regular users.”

In theory, any bicycle not ‘docked and locked’ will charge you £37 for the first 24 hours it is not put back into position.

The company website show four steps for hiring a bike:

How to ride

It’s easy to hop on a bike to get to work, pop to the shops, or even to discover new places to explore!

1. Unlock

Unlock using the Beryl cycle hire app

 2. Ride

Have fun and be safe!

 3. Dock

Find your nearest docking station to park up

4. Lock

Close the lock to end your ride

On the dumping of bikes, Mr Street added: “Hundreds of cycle hire customers use our docks without problem every day. The very small number of users who do leave bikes out of docking stations receive a fine. We’ve found that following a fine the instances of bad-parking are greatly reduced.”

News

Martha plea in memory of grandpa

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Martha Davis on holiday with her grandpa Alan Bird

Sutton Coldfield woman urges people to support St Giles Hospice

A Sutton Coldfield woman, whose beloved grandpa died at St Giles Hospice, is calling on local people to support the “amazing” charity which cared for him through his final days.

Martha Davis, aged 24, who works as an NHS Communications Officer, has been a passionate supporter of St Giles since her grandfather Alan Bird received end of life care at the Whittington hospice.

Martha said: “St Giles is such an amazing local charity and they recognise that good end of life care is so important, not only for the patient, but for the whole family too. My grandpa had been there for me all my life, and it means so much that I was able to be there with him in the last moments of his. It’s the moments together that matter the most.”

As well as fundraising for the hospice after her grandpa was cared for by St Giles, Martha also joined the hospice’s weekly lottery, and was delighted to get a phone call a couple of months later telling her she’d won the £1,000 weekly jackpot prize.

Martha said: “Grandpa always wanted to give me a bit of pocket money – even after I’d started earning a wage – as he was worried about whether I had enough cash after I’d graduated.

“I like to think that he’s looking out for me even now and used the lottery as a way to make sure I’m alright even though he’s no longer here!

“I was lucky enough to win the weekly jackpot prize not long after signing up, which was completely unexpected! It’s helped me towards a house deposit and it’s so nice to think that a donation in memory of my grandpa has enabled me to do something I know he would have wanted.”

Martha was very close to her grandpa throughout her childhood and they shared many memorable family holidays together. Sadly, he was diagnosed with cancer and in 2018 was admitted to St Giles Hospice in Whittington for end of life care. 

Martha was devastated by his illness but was comforted by the “truly personal care” she says he received at St Giles and the support her family was offered both in his final days and after he passed away.

“I absolutely worshipped my grandpa and the staff understood that and treated him just as our family would’ve wanted,” she said. “It’s hard to express just how much grandpa’s amazing care meant to us as a family. You simply can’t put a price on the love, support and peace of mind that we all received.

Martha at St Giles Hospice with Ward Sister Ruth Abell.

“Every member of staff was a specialist in their field and we trusted them completely. It was so reassuring for us as a family. When we left the hospice we never had to worry – we always knew that grandpa would be cared for just as attentively and lovingly as though we ourselves were still at his bedside.

“We could concentrate on being with grandpa until the end, knowing that all his needs were taken care of and, when the time came, we were given all the time we needed to say goodbye to him and begin to grieve.

“It’s vital for everyone to support St Giles; you just never know when you might need their care. Nobody plans on becoming seriously ill, nobody plans on dying, but because of the support of the local community, St Giles can be there for patients and families when they’re at their most vulnerable.”

Chloe Herbert, Head of Fundraising at St Giles Hospice, said: “The support of local people means so much to the patients and families supported by St Giles, particularly when our income has been so badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last 18 months.

“There are so many different ways to support St Giles and we’d like to say a big thank you to our community for ensuring that we are able to provide care for patients and their families living with a terminal illness. We are hoping our community will be there for us again this summer, supporting Martha’s Moments Together campaign to help the hospice care for more families like hers in the future.”

For more information about St Giles Hospice and how you can help, please visit www.stgileshospice.com/momentstogether