Sutton residents promised more efficient service with first of new fleet
Residents in Sutton Coldfield have been promised an improved bin collection service as the first of 76 new environmentally-friendly waste and recycling vehicles have started to roll out on the streets.
The vehicles have been supplied to the city council by West Midlands-based Dennis Eagle and represent an £11 million investment into Birmingham’s waste collection service.
Their arrival in the city heralds the start of the rolling replacement of a fleet that was last upgraded in 2014 and will see the remainder of the service’s vehicles refreshed by 2024.
All the new vehicles will be compliant with the city’s Clean Air Zone, which is set to be introduced from June 2021.
Cllr John O’Shea, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Parks at Birmingham City Council, said: “Our hardworking crews do a great job as part of our effort to keep the streets of Birmingham clean.
“But they need the best tools possible in order to do this – the refresh of our fleet is long-awaited and will help improve the reliability of the collection rounds, reducing our dependency on hire vehicles to shore up the service.
“Just as importantly, these are vehicles made right here in the Midlands. They are cleaner and greener and will improve our wider environmental ambitions related to air quality and carbon emissions.”
Dennis Eagle’s Sales & Marketing Manager Lee Rowland said: “It’s great to be supporting an operator right on our own doorstep, in a place where many of our own staff live.
“This is a very significant order for Birmingham City Council as these vehicles will be much cleaner and more efficient than their existing fleet. They will play a key role following the introduction of a Clean Air Zone next June which will benefit everyone who visits or lives in Birmingham.”
WHEN it comes to combining luxurious comfort with electric performance, BMW has few peers.
But now the firm has taken that electric performance further, literally, with a big push in diverging from the combustion engine alone technology.
Take that technology and add it to one of its most enduring models, the X5, and this plug-in version and you have a vehicle that has literally electric performance together a massive economy and ultra-low CO2 emissions.
In this case the vehicle has a claimed theoreticl economy of a 180-230-odd mpg combined with just 31g/km of CO2, producing big savings on the day to day running of the vehicle, particularly for business users.
BMW claims it can travel up to 54 miles purely on electricity which means on the company car tax scale – for PHEVs now calculated on electric range as well as overall emissions – that its benefit-in-kind rating is just eight per cent.
Of course the mpg is theoretical unless you are driving less than the electric range miles and are charging the car every day and with very little use of the three-litre V6 twin turbo-charged petrol engine. It would seem obvious, however, that drivers would wish to make use of all that pace and power at some point.
The X5 is now in its fourth incarnation and this model has produced a combined system power output of 394bhp, 286bhp augmented by the 112bhp from the battery power.
It feels jet propelled and can hit 60mph in around five-and-a-half seconds and on to a top speed of 146mph. Even in electric only it can hit an impressive 85mph.
The X5 has always been an attractive motor, but in the M Sport mode it really does look the business
The engine is combined with the 82kW lithium-ion extended storage battery to provide the power needed to shift a 2.5 tonne vehicle so quickly and so economically.
It also combines the BMW EfficientDynamics drive family and the super-slick, eight-speed automatic transmission with the latest generation and the intelligent all-wheel on-demand xDrive system.
There are various drive modes, which are selected by buttons near the gear shift, with electric, hybrid, sport and auto adaptive available. Obviously for maximum economy choose electric and for serious fun, choose sport and let rip by using the steering wheel paddles, but for most, the auto mode will select drive mode for the appropriate conditions.
In addition, the vehicle’s smart route navigation can keep electric power in reserve for urban driving later in the journey.
A separate Battery Hold mode and regenerative braking, allows the battery to be fully charged while driving. On top of this, a 69-litre fuel tank also ensures fewer expensive visits to the filling stations.
The X5 has always been an attractive motor, but in the M Sport mode it really does look the business with its slim headlamps, huge, diamond cut alloys and the familiar kidney grille, air scoops and side air vents finished in gloss black.
The interior is pure class, a riot of leather and high end soft touch finish. It is a big car with plenty of head and legroom at the front, although the rear is more limited. It offers a raft of hi-tech, high end bells and whistles that you would expect from a £66,000-odd motor, including head-up display and electrically heated and powered front seats.
The M Sport model also includes a sports steering wheel, specific pedals, driver’s footrest and piping on the seats, plus exclusive interior trim in aluminium. Also included on this model adaptive air suspension, 20-inch alloy wheels.
Central is the 12.3-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash with controls sat nav, infotainment and connectivity and climate control controlled by the now familiar iDrive rotary dial on the central console. Connectivity includes Apple CarPlay, digital radio, enhanced Bluetooth with wireless charging and gesture control.
On the road, the two-axle air suspension and electronically controlled dampers makes for a smooth and controlled ride with sharp, agile handling and a comfortable ride for all passengers, although it became unsettled over larger potholes and bumps.
It remains a practical vehicle and when all seats are used, the storage volume is 500 litres. Fold the rear backrests and a cavernous 1,720 litres is available. A two-section tailgate for ease of loading with optional remote opening and closing.
Safety kit is comprehensive, with full complement of airbags, traction and stability control plus, plus lane change warning, crossing traffic warning, rear-end collision warning and speed limit information.
Another key feature for electric cars is when the vehicle is running at low speeds on electric power, a speaker system emits a distinctive sound generated to alert pedestrians.
At more than £66,000, it’s not cheap, but considering it has a three litre petrol engine on board, running costs are good.
And for that 54 miles range on electricity, it may give serious tax benefits but it was a figure I only got near to with very careful driving.
Factfile
BMW X5 xDrive 45e
Price: £66,665
Mechanical: 394bhp, 2,998, 6cyl petrol engine and electric motor driving four wheels via 8-speed automatic gearbox
The offending four-page newsletter and at the Sutton Park unveiling of the electric bike campaign
Sutton Coldfield deserves better than naked electioneering during pandemic
As the coronavirus held us in its deadly grip this year, I have held my tongue as government and local leaders grappled with the horrendous number of fatalities caused by this terrible disease, writes Bill McCarthy.
But with a figure of approaching 70,000 dead, more, depending on which figures you look at, due mostly to government incompetence and the catastrophic consequences for business and jobs, I can hold my tongue no longer.
Why? Well, just the other day we what I can only describe as a propaganda sheet dropped through the letterbox, extolling mainly the virtues and achievements of West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.
My local the Butler’s Arms, on Lichfield Road, being a classic example of keeping customers safe with ingenious and ground-breaking ideas, at some considerable costs, all for nothing it seems.
This is the mayor who speaks of his contacts with health secretary Matt Hancock, but seems to have little influence. Take the vaccination programme where Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham, our second city let’s not forget, is left off the initial rollout.
He says on a recent Twitter feed: “I expect confirmation this afternoon that vaccinations will begin in Birmingham in the coming days. Disappointing and surprising that the city’s NHS trust wasn’t part of the initial roll-out given its size and record, but I’ve been in contact with Matt Hancock to put that right.”
On an electric bike at Sutton Park and e-scooter in Birmingham
Seems par for the course, just like the cosy phone calls about the tier system and how he was ignored on that score as well.
But back to the four-page sheet called Sutton Coldfield Champion. It goes into great detail about the Conservative mayor’s achievements, together with praising other local Tories, including MP Andrew Mitchell, town council leader Simon Ward and West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner candidate Jay Singh-Sohal.
The fine print tells you it is published on behalf of West Midlands Conservatives. Which is fine except Andy Street is mayor of the West Midlands, not just Sutton Coldfield. So the Sutton Champion angle is a bit disingenuous, don’t you think? Especially when his Twitter feed says he is ‘Conservative Mayor of the best region in the world’.
Looking at ‘achievements’. It’s a bit like Frank Sinatra. He’s had a few, but then again, too few to mention.
It seems to be a case of ‘pressing’ for this, ‘supporting’ that or ‘maintaining’ the other. Hardly a roll of honour is it Andy? Constantly lobbying on our behalf. Well the lobbying is buttering few parsnips as far as Sutton’s hospitality industry is concerned.
I have to admit an interest here as family members work within that sector. Furloughed if they’re lucky, but not sure if they have a job to go back to, or already out of work, with a bleak future ahead of them.
The efforts to keep Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield in tier 2 failed miserably. The lobbying was so low key, it was invisible. Hospitality venues have gone to extraordinary lengths to keep premises Covid-secure. My local, the Butler’s Arms, on Lichfield Road, is a classic example of keeping customers safe with ingenious and ground-breaking ideas, at some considerable costs, all for nothing it seems.
Meanwhile, the mayor is never shy of a picture opportunity, wobbling around on e-scooters, electric bikes or digging yet another hole, while the hospitality sector tanks. Bit like Nero with his fiddle.
He boasts of having the ear of Matt Hancock, well try the organ grinder, the Prime Minister, rather than the monkey, although I doubt he will get much joy there either.
For the record, Sutton Park was the venue for unveiling the new cycle hire scheme which is due to launch across the West Midlands next year.
The operator, Santander Cycles, has been appointed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) to offer bikes for hire in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Wolverhampton and Walsall from next Spring.
Contractor Serco will initially provide 1,500 bikes for hire, of which 10 per cent will be ebikes. Serco? Think track and trace. What could possibly go wrong?
You really need fewer picture opportunities and more concrete action Mr Street.
Adam in the garden at St Giles with a picture of him and Sue, who died in march during the lockdown
Husband shares emotional story to support St Giles Hospice after the cared for his dying wife during lockdown
A husband is making a heartfelt appeal for people to support St Giles Hospice after they took such good care of his wife when she died just days into England’s first national Coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
Adam Watkinson had to say his final farewells to his wife Sue and go into self-isolation because of COVID-19, but added that even though he could not be with her, the knowledge that she was so well cared for and did not die in fear was the greatest gift the hospice could give him at such a difficult time.
His appeal comes as St Giles, which has centres in Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield, renews its call for people to support Katie’s Appeal, the charity’s response to COVID-19, at a time when it has been forced to close its shops again and cancel fundraising events, leaving the hospice more reliant than ever on donations from the community.
Adam in the garden at St Giles with ward manager Sharon Meehan
Sue was receiving palliative care as an inpatient at St Giles in Whittington when she called Adam on the morning of Wednesday, 25th March and told him she was struggling to breathe. Adam rushed to her bedside, fearing that she was taking her last breaths, but the nurses helped to reassure Sue and they were able to calm her down.
However, later that morning St Giles Clinical Director, Katie Burbridge, had to tell Adam the devastating news that they suspected she had COVID-19 and that they were waiting for the test results.
Lichfield Diocesan priest Adam said: “At that time – in the height of lockdown – and because I too had possibly been exposed to Coronavirus, I had no choice but to self-isolate for seven days on Government guidance.
“I sat next to Sue, holding her hand. She was wearing a watch that I had bought her just weeks before and I watched the minutes on it ticking down to 12, knowing from that moment on I’d probably never see her again.
“It was such an emotional moment for everyone, but Katie was so helpful and thoughtful. She knelt down next to Sue, held her hand and told her that she would keep her safe. It was a beautiful moment at such a terrible time. Katie’s reassurance was so important to us both.”
Sue, who worked as Matron-in-College at Eton School, was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2018.
During term time she and Adam, who is an Anglican Priest and Chaplain at Charterhouse School, lived apart, but during holidays the couple shared a home in Alrewas with Sue’s son Sam.
“Sue’s end – when it came – was quite beautiful. She passed away on the morning of Sunday, March 29, after a night of restful sleep.
They moved to their new home in July 2019, but only months later Sue fell ill on New Year’s Eve and a scan revealed that her cancer had returned and spread. She began chemotherapy but developed sepsis and was told that the treatment would have to end and that she would receive palliative care.
Sue was admitted to St Giles on Friday 20th March in the hope that her condition could be stabilised enough for her to return home, and Adam spent as much time with her as he could.
Adam added: “Right from day one she was totally reassured that St Giles was the best place for her to be. The nurses started caring for her straight away – no detail was left unchecked and they looked after her so well.
“The food was lovely and Sue was able to enjoy it – it was wonderful to see her regain her appetite and enjoy eating again. Sue loved birds and her room looked out onto the trees. We were allowed to put bird feeders up so she could watch them, which was such a joy.”
Memories of happy holidays together, on a special night out and Sue, during her treatment for cancer
But two days later Adam was told that family visits were being limited to one a day due to the national rise in COVID-19 cases, and further safety measures were then introduced in accordance with Government guidelines.
“The staff were all so wonderful and we looked upon them as family,” he added. “They started to wear protective clothing – but despite that, we could still see their eyes and could see the love and compassion that was there.
“One of the people who cared for Sue was asthmatic and although she could have been vulnerable to COVID-19 herself I watched as she helped my wife. I preach about love and self-sacrifice but at St Giles I was watching it in action every day.
“They showed such professionalism, with humanity and gentleness. When the nation clapped for the NHS and health staff each week I could put real faces to them.”
Adam feels so grateful for the love and care that his wife received and the support that he and Sam have been offered since Sue died that he is sharing his story to support Katie’s Appeal – the fundraising campaign launched in Spring 2020, which has become vitally important again during the latest lockdown.
Adam has told his story in a moving video which accompanies the appeal, named after Katie Burbridge, the hospice’s Clinical Director who pledged to look after Sue during her final days when Adam was unable to visit.
Katie said: “Sue was going to face death without him, but we made sure we were 100 per cent with her and she was never, ever on her own – that’s the promise I made to Adam and that’s the promise we kept as a team.
“We are so indebted to Adam for his kind support and honoured that we were able to offer Sue and Adam comfort at such a heart-breaking time.
“With ongoing CVID-19 restrictions this continues to be an extremely worrying time for everyone, especially our patients and their families who are living with a terminal illness.
“As a hospice we are experiencing a big increase in demand for our care services.
“We are continuing to care for our community’s most vulnerable people which is easing the burden on the NHS and our dedicated care teams are still working 24/7 in our hospices and out in our community.
“We are concerned about the impact the Coronavirus outbreak continues to have on the hospice’s future.
“The fact is that we need to raise £850,000 every single month just to keep our services going. That’s why our message to the community is that we need your help today to ensure that we’re here for you tomorrow.”
Reliving his final moments with Sue, Adam is asking people to help in any way they can. “It’s so important that other families continue to get the care, love and reassurance that Sue and I received,” he said.
“I was devastated when we had to part, but Sue told me not to get too upset and that it would just be like when we went to work at our separate schools. It was a relief to see that she had such acceptance and it helped so much that Katie had promised Sue would be safe.
“Sue’s end – when it came – was quite beautiful. She passed away on the morning of Sunday, March 29, after a night of restful sleep. She could see the birds through the window and one of the nurses who was caring for Sue, noticed a change in her breathing and was holding her hand as she slipped away,” he added.
“The care and support we received as the end approached and the continuing support we have had from St Giles since Sue passed away is very special. They have kept in touch and they genuinely do feel like family to us.
“When we first arrived at St Giles a nurse said that the hospice was about life, not death, and we got a real sense of that. It’s not a place to be feared. There’s a vibrancy, there’s a care and there’s a joy.”
Anyone who would like to make a regular monthly donation or one-off donation to support the work of St Giles to give the hospice a little more certainty in these uncertain times can visit www.stgileshospice.com/katiesappeal
Diggers and bulldozers clearing the ground for the building of a new Lidl store and car park in Mere Green
Diggers and bulldozers have converged on a former industrial site as work has finally got under way on the new Lidl store being built in Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield.
The former contaminated Lucas factory site on Mere Green Road, has been an eyesore for many years, following the factory demolition and the time needed to get rid of the contamination at the site.
This two-acre site is now being developed despite some local objections and plans being sent back to the drawing board during the planning process, before finally being approved. One local councillor described the original Lidl design as looking like a brown and white shed.
It will include the store and a number of parking spaces, finally opening up a site that has been blocked off with blue boarding for more than 10 years.
It offers a budget alternative to the giant Sainsbury’s store opposite, but is sure to create extra traffic and congestion in the busy Mere Green area. However there will be new jobs and a likely boost to the local economy with increased footfall.
The development could be the final piece in the jigsaw in the renaissance of Mere Green. The area been blighted for years with rows of boarded up shops, but that finally gave way to the Mulberry Walk development. Anchored by the Marks & Spencer food hall, the new shops and a number of smart bars, restaurants, coffee shops and a gym, complement the existing shops on Lichfield Road.
Diggers and bulldozers clearing the ground for the building of a new Lidl store and car park in Mere Green
Now groundworks are under way despite dozens of letters of objection received from residents raising a number of concerns including traffic levels and pollution fears.
Four Oaks ward councillor Maureen Cornish was less than impressed with the original plans but now backs the new development.
She said: “The new Lidl development was scrutinised in depth by planning officers and committee, it covers all legal requirements. It’s never possible to please all, however this site was derelict for a number of years and desperately needed to be developed.
“Lidl will provide versatile shopping giving the public more choice, it will increase the footfall and competition between similar stores provides shoppers.”
She added: “Lidl provides reasonable parking for shopping only with a limited time for doing so. This is required to prevent those that park but then walk to the train station, which is unacceptable. Highways will monitor area if congestion becomes a problem but are comfortable with the existing arrangements.”
St Giles TreeCycle volunteers get ready for a day of tree collecting.
GO GREEN TO SUPPORT ST GILES HOSPICE THIS WINTER
Sutton Coldfield people can give St Giles Hospice a ‘tree-mendous’ Christmas gift this year by supporting the charity’s annual TreeCycle campaign.
St Giles is inviting families and businesses who don’t want to face the mess and inconvenience of disposing of their real Christmas trees to sign up to TreeCycle and have their tree collected in return for a small donation – and the hospice is calling for an army of volunteers to step forward in January to help collect the trees.
The TreeCycle team recycled 3,200 Christmas trees in January 2020 and raised over £35,000 for the hospice, a record-breaking figure which more than doubled the 2019 total.
Now, following a year when the COVID-19 pandemic has forced St Giles to shut its shops during two lockdowns and cancel its organised fundraising events, the hospice has announced that TreeCycle will be going ahead and collecting from more locations than ever before.
Elinor Eustace, Income Generation Director at St Giles Hospice, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that TreeCycle can go ahead in January and we’re hoping that it will be bigger and better than ever. We’d ask everyone to support us this year if they can – we’ve never needed you more than we need you today.
It’s a simple, easy way to get rid of your real tree after Christmas and it raises money for such a good cause at the same time.
“COVID-19 has disrupted so many of our fundraising campaigns in 2020 – heavily impacting our income – but TreeCycle’s doorstep collections are convenient, environmentally-friendly, and completely safe and socially distanced, making them the perfect way to launch our fundraising comeback in 2021.
“We’re so grateful to everyone who signs up for TreeCycle – and especially to all the individuals and businesses who kindly volunteer to work off their Christmas turkey by helping to collect all the real trees.”
All collections will be socially-distanced and managed in line with the most up-to-date COVID-19 guidelines, with appropriate equipment for both hospice staff and volunteers to ensure everyone’s safety. Tree donors do not have to be present when the tree is collected.
Rachel Brown and Chloe Ingham from the Wincanton for Screwfix team collecting trees for TreeCycle in January
Among the TreeCycle volunteers in January 2020 was Retail Resource Manager Rachel Brown, from Branston, whose father David as well as a close friend were both supported by St Giles after they were diagnosed with cancer.
Rachel took part in TreeCycle as part of a team from her Fradley-based employer Wincanton for Screwfix, who have already pledged to put together another team for the January 2021 collection.
She said: “My dad was cared for by St Giles nurses at home until his death in 2006, and my friend was cared for at the hospice for two weeks last year (2019) until she died just before Christmas. We had a really positive experience with St Giles so my support for TreeCycle is personal – my dad and my friend had incredible care and we’re so grateful.
“My mum has supported TreeCycle since it started and I was really glad to be a part of it in January 2020. It’s a simple, easy way to get rid of your real tree after Christmas and it raises money for such a good cause at the same time.”
Rachel’s friend and fellow Wincanton team member Chloe Ingham, a Transport HR Adviser from Uttoxeter, added: “It’s a really fun event to be involved in. You don’t have to be a professional driver or able to lift heavy objects to do it and it’s so well planned. Treecycle is really good for the environment and everyone who signs up can be sure that their trees will be disposed of properly.”
This will be the sixth year that St Giles has been running TreeCycle to raise funds for the hospice, and teams will collect trees from around Lichfield, Walsall, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Burton, Rugeley, Burntwood, Uttoxeter, Swadlincote, Stafford and surrounding areas.
TreeCycle will be collecting trees from Wednesday 6th until Wednesday 13th January 2021. The minimum donation for trees up to 8ft is £10 and the donation for trees up to 10ft is £12. For trees over 10ft, please call 01543 432538. Collections must be booked by 5pm on Wednesday 6th January 2021 and trees should be left out overnight on Tuesday 5th January as collections will start early the following morning.
Lichfield Tree Works and Greener Composting in Wall, Lichfield, will be recycling the trees for agricultural uses and as a result artificial trees cannot be accepted.
Edward Cutler leads a funeral cortege from his new business, Royal Town Funerals in Belwell Lane
Businessman who started funeral home at 19 is back in town with a new venture
By Bill McCarthy
Opening a new business in the middle of a deadly pandemic is a tough call, but for Edward Cutler, one of the area’s youngest entrepreneurs, it is a return to his Sutton Coldfield roots.
For Edward, a native of Four Oaks, this is nothing new, having opened his first business, aged 19, in the teeth of the economic meltdown of 2009. Cutler Funeral Directors grew before the business was sold to a corporate firm in 2013.
Now he is back and Sutton Coldfield’s newest funeral business has officially opened its doors in Four Oaks.
I have always planned to return to the area to serve the local community in which I grew up in once again – Ed Cutler
He has opened Royal Town Funerals on Belwell Lane, Four Oaks, with a pledge to serve the people of Sutton Coldfield.
Return – Edward Cutler
People in the Four Oaks and Mere Green area may well remember Edward, when just 19, opening his first funeral business on Little Sutton Road, close to the Fox & Dogs pub.
After selling the business, Edward diversified, spending time in London and becoming involved in international retpatriation. This where if a death occurs overseas, repatriation is the process of transporting a deceased person to another country.
Edward aged 19
Starting out, Edward was backed by the entrepreneurial expertise of his father John, but took his first steps on the road to business success after he left Arthur Terry School, aged 16, to work for two years at Rugeley Co-operative’s funeral parlour.
Cutlers Funeral Directors grew, mainly through word of mouth, to the point where he was able to open additional offices in Lichfield and Kingstanding.
He said at the time of opening the original business: “Death can be taboo with a lot of people but I’ve wanted to be a funeral director from the age of eight or nine. I was always interested in seeing what the job was like behind the scenes.
“My dad backed me financially, which was a great help in a recession. He looks after the business side of things so I can concentrate fully on looking after the funerals.”
Now the young businessman says he is delighted to be back and able to provide a caring personal service.
He said: ” I opened my first funeral home on Little Sutton Road in Four Oaks. We gained an excellent reputation and grew the business on word of mouth, opening additional offices in Lichfield and Kingstanding. In 2013, the family business was sold to a large corporate company, following which I diversified into international repatriation.
The exterior and interior of Royal Town Funerals in Belwell Lane, Four Oaks
“Being born and bred in Four Oaks and attending The Arthur Terry School, I have many connections in the area. I have always planned to return to the area to serve the local community in which I grew up in once again.”
He added: ” I am extremely pleased to announce the opening of my new funeral home at 3 Belwell Lane, Four Oaks. Royal Town Funerals is a family business and is dedicated to serving the families across Four Oaks and Sutton Coldfield, providing a truly caring and personal service.”
Construction going on in Birmingham city centre for the multi-billion pound HS2 project
The firm behind Britain’s controversial high speed rail system, HS2 Ltd, hosted a four day event which it says highlighted business opportunities across the region.
The huge rail link which cuts a swathe across the Midlands on its way from London during Phase 1, skirts Sutton Coldfield as it makes its way through Birmingham, running close to Bassetts Pole and Whittington near Lichfield.
HS2 Ltd hosted the event showcasing £12bn worth of contract opportunities that businesses from across the UK can find out how to prepare and start bidding for.
Despite being billions over budget and beset with delays, the firm says the event gave businesses, across hundreds of sectors, a crucial insight into how they can become part of HS2’s rapidly growing supply chain, which already includes over 2,000 businesses.
Many of the HS2 critics are environmental groups which claim the project could increase carbon emissions and cause huge damage to natural habitats, including dozens of ancient woodlands. They claim that constructing the railway lines through these areas could also threaten the survival of certain species
The four-day programme was delivered in partnership with HS2’s four main works construction partners (Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV)); Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial, BAM Nutall (EKFB)); Align and Skanska Costain STRABAG (SCS)) and two stations contractors (Balfour Beatty/VINCI/SYSTRA and Mace/Dragados), who between them will unlock thousands of individual work packages which range in size and value between £5,000 and £200m.
The agenda for the first three days consistsd of 24 opt-in webinars, delivered by over 60 presenters, which allow delegates to learn about the HS2 scheme, HS2 Ltd’s procurement processes and the programme of works its contractors are undertaking. Monday’s session begins with an introduction from HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson MP.
The final day presented the opportunity for over 1,000 potential suppliers to meet one-to-one with HS2’s construction partners, who are looking for new entrants into their supply chain to deliver their 2021/22 work packages.
The potential contracts represent a huge boost for British businesses seeking security and growth amidst the economic uncertainty arising from the Coronavirus pandemic.
HS2 Ltd has so far awarded 98 per cent of its current contracts to UK-based businesses; 70 per cent of which have gone to SMEs, and it aims to continue that positive trend through direct engagement with suppliers and local business during the Meet the Contractor event.
The £12bn boost reflects the scale of progress to date in delivering HS2’s Phase One programme between London and Birmingham, as work on the tunnels, viaducts and station foundations along the 140-mile route gathers pace.
The impressive facade of the Palm Beach Hotel in Larnaka
Cyprus by Bill McCarthy
After a number of false starts as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, one of the top hotels in the popular Cyprus resort of Larnaka is gearing up to open in April.
With great news on the vaccine front the four-star Palm Beach Hotel and Bungalows is gearing up to welcome visitors back to the island after a major refurbishment.
A family-friendly hotel that caters for all types of holiday requirements, conferences and even weddings.
But before the expected flood of visitors in the spring, the resort is offering a virtual experience to potential visitors with a series of ‘cultural walks’ around Larnaka city.
All the sights can be effortlessly discovered at home via the new ‘Larnaka Cultural Walk Virtual 360°’ project.
The innovative virtual tour showcases 30 of Larnaka city’s most popular and significant landmarks and places of interest; split into three categories: seafront and town centre; archaeology and museums, and culture and nature. In the same way that visitors would choose a route and sights on a physical walk, anyone can custom create their own virtual tour by logging to http://culturalwalk.virtuallarnakaregion.com/
Combining vibrant visual material with additional information and facts on places of interest, this virtual tour is very simple to take. After clicking on a chosen sight, navigate the image from all angles to enjoy a complete 360° view with extra aerial views also available for some sights.
A VR option for mobile device users adds further dimension to the tour.
The virtual tour is another way to connect with Larnaka, especially for the many UK repeater guests that could not travel to these shores this year. It is also ideal for those travellers planning a trip for the first time and looking to familiarise themselves with the most popular areas, or wishing to prepare a list of what they would most like to see when they arrive in Larnaka.
The tour will give a taste of the area renowned for its beautiful sandy beaches, azure blue warm waters and imposing mountains.
Cyprus has been lusted after by settlers and conquerers for centuries, sitting as it does at the crossroads of the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa.
With its fantastic sunny climate and links to to the UK, it’s a magnet for sun seekers in the summer months. The coronavirus pandemic however has played havoc with this, disrupting travel and tourism worldwide.
The bustling main Laranaka beach area
Historical statues can viewed online
The Palm Beach Hotel pool area
St Lazarus Church, which houses the tomb of the saint
Lesser known than the usual tourist playgrounds is Larnaka, an ancient capital of the island and an area steeped in history and tradition.
Our trip could be described as a winter break and we dropped lucky with the late winter weather, with almost unbroken sunshine.
We flew in to Larnaca airport and had a pleasant surprise with having only a 20-minute drive to the Palm Beach Hotel and Bungalows.
A family-friendly hotel that caters for all types of holiday requirements, conferences and even weddings.
It has an imposing presence with four floors of rooms facing the well-tended gardens to the front and the same at the rear of the hotel, with rooms overlooking the sea.
As the name implies there is also a mini complex of bungalows in the garden area, which can offer B&B and half-board, popular with families.
The bungalows too, have their own separate bar area. The rear of the hotel is just yards from the sea front and boasts a large pool and any number of sunbeds. Other facilities include a gym, indoor pool, plus the new Palm Spa opened in 2019 and conference facilities.
It’s no wonder millions of tourists also lust after this pearl of the Mediterranean as a holiday destination
Wi-fi is free throughout the hotel and there are tea and coffee making facilities to all rooms. Even as winter moves into spring you can laze around by the pool, take a dip in the sea, or join the joggers and cyclists up and the down the path between hotel and beach.
For those tying the knot, an island paradise is the ideal spot and the hotel host ceremonies at its own on-site chapel, the Chapel of Saint Constantine and Saint Helena, which can host weddings of Orthodox and Anglican denominations., or civil ceremonies on or near the beach, under a marquee, just a few steps from the Mediterranean.
Planet Weddings is a fully bonded specialist UK tour operator with a wedding special offer at the Palm Beach.
Exploring the island is a must and it is possible, you can join one of the many free excursions offered by a syndicate of hotels, the local tourist board and attractions.
There is so much to see on the island, from the spectacular Troodos mountains, to the spectacular beaches, archaeological and cultural sites, so hiring a car is a good idea.
At the hotel we stayed B&B, but snacks can be bought at the hotel throughout the day and the evening meal is certainly worth a try.
Alternatively there are many fine restaurants in Larnaca itself, just a 10-minute drive away or with a group of shops, bars and restaurants opposite the hotel.
The town of Larnaca has a swish beachfront and plush marina while shoppers can find many well known stores on the two main shopping streets, local markets, museums and art galleries.
For a snack, try Alasia a small cafe bar on the seafront, which serves excellent Cypriot food.
Also worth visiting is the medieval fort, built by the Ottomans and used as a prison by the British and the spectacular ninth century St Lazarus Church, right in the heart of the town, which houses the tomb of the saint.
Travel facts
• For information on the hotel, contact Palm Beach Hotel & Bungalows www.palmbeachotel.com
• Flights with daily scheduled BA from Heathrow, plus easyjet ( www.easyjet.com) with regional departures and a holiday division that features the Palm Beach Hotel and Bungalows. For general tourism information on Cyprus visit https://www.visitcyprus.com/index.php/en/
Sutton Coldfield shoppers could bring early Christmas cheer for needy families by donating food at their local Tesco store.
This Christmas will be a struggle for many, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic fallout – and families with children are going to be the hardest hit of all.
Foodbank charity the Trussell Trust expects its network of UK food banks to give out an emergency food parcel every nine seconds this winter, while FareShare is supplying food to 11,000 frontline charities helping to feed families and individuals in communities across the country.
The trust has enjoyed working in partnership with Tesco for more than seven years and have supported over a million people in crisis.
With Tesco and food redistribution charity FareShare they are working to make a positive difference in local communities across the UK.
The partnership with Tesco is instrumental in ensuring the network of food banks has enough food to meet the increasing demand. Through permanent collection points, located in over 450 Tesco stores, people can donate food to their local food bank while doing their weekly shop.
Tesco generously tops up its customers’ food donations with a financial donation of 2 0per cent of the value of the items donated.
The top-up is calculated using an average valuation of £1.75/kg for all items donated. This valuation is calculated by looking up the items that make up a standard food parcel and checking the prices of these items in Tesco’s standard own-label range.
Customers unable to contribute food in store can help by donating Tesco Clubcard points to the two organisations.
Last year s Tesco shoppers donated more than three million meals during the collection, and this year the need for food is greater than ever, with every single item gathered making a difference to someone’s life.
“The effects of the pandemic are being felt far and wide,” says FareShare CEO Lindsay Boswell. “More people than ever are turning to charities and community groups because they’re unable to feed themselves and their families.”
The collection launches in Tesco Express stores today and in large stores from Thursday. Customers are being asked to donate food up to November 21.
It’s as simple as buying the items with your usual shopping and dropping them in the dedicated Food Collection trolley at the exit. The food needed includes longer-life items such as rice, tea and tinned goods, all of which can be made into nutritious meals.
Customers unable to contribute food in store can help by donating Tesco Clubcard points to the two organisations.
All the food that goes to FareShare is used to provide meals for vulnerable groups, such as isolated older people and those in homeless shelters. Tesco tops up the value of all these donations with an additional 20 percent in cash.
In addition to the permanent collection points in hundreds of Tesco stores, and ad hoc collections at stores throughout the year, we also work with Tesco and FareShare on the annual Food Collection in the run-up to Christmas.
This provides much-needed food and funds for local food banks at a critical time of year. The Food Collection is great fun for volunteers and Tesco employees alike and, since its inception in 2012, Tesco customers have donated more than 50 million meals.
Sutton Coldfield Life 