One of the most significant projects we are currently delivering is the transformation of parts of the town centre, facilitated through money from the Future High Street Fund.

I’m delighted to say that the first stage of the project has been completed and last week we handed over the former Peel Café to Nationwide. We are proud of the work the team have done to get us here. I hope everyone will appreciate the effort being made to ensure the building replicates the original Georgian style.

There is currently a lot of construction going on in the town centre, which is required to make the necessary changes and improve the area. As I’ve said in previous weeks, we are working hard to keep disruption to a minimum and we’re committed to keeping everyone up to date with progress and any interim arrangements.

The work on the new college building is progressing well and the new Enterprise centre within the original 19th century Co-op building is nearing completion. I was really pleased to see that this building will retain many of the original features, including the stained glass windows and the beautiful tiles inside. It will be great to see this building come back to life with new tenants, while preserving important parts of our heritage.

We are also working on a long term vision for our town centre, which will need input from local businesses, organisations and of course residents.

This week, I have visited the Street Scene (council grounds maintenance) depot to look in more detail how the work is planned and delivered. We often hear from residents about the lack of grass cutting in their area and tree works that need attention, so I’ve been exploring how we may tackle some of these issues. I will also be talking with the county council over the next few weeks about related issues, as a lot of the responsibility for trees and paths lie with them. I will be pushing for more collaboration between the county and borough teams and a more joined up approach to ensure that we get as much work done as possible with our limited resources, and this is delivered in as fair and transparent a way as possible.

As with the new Labour government, we have inherited a challenging financial situation, and we need to ensure we are getting value for money and getting the most for every pound we spend.

As ever, if you have an issue you want to be looked at in your area, please contact your local councillor. We’re all here to help and serve you. Details are on the councils website at www.tamworth.gov.uk.

Cllr. Carol Dean
Leader, Tamworth Borough Council
carol-dean@tamworth.gov.uk