NEWSLETTER Autumn 2020 Welcome Dear Residents Dear Residents

Welcome to this Town Council newsletter. I hope that I would like to join our Mayor in welcoming you you find it an informative and interesting read. to our Autumn Newsletter. Recent months have seen so many changes to how we live our lives and On the 10th of June I had the honour of becoming the sad loss of our Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer means Mayor of this wonderful town of ours. This was during we are now producing a more frequent Newsletter. Please the ongoing coronavirus crisis when I witnessed, first do let us have any comments and feedback. hand, the veritable army of volunteers and groups throughout Sutton Coldfield who mobilised themselves I am pleased that we can share with you details of the to support those members of our community who found Masterplan for our town centre that the Town Council themselves in need. Indeed, I’ve met some amazing has led the creation of over last 18 months and that was people through the volunteering I’ve been involved with formally endorsed in August. This represents an important myself. The sheer strength of public spirit throughout the step on our journey to giving our Royal Town the Town pandemic makes me very proud to live in and serve the centre it deserves. Our team have also been busy in Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield. delivering an exciting new Town Ranger service as well as the long overdue transfer of key assets Vesey Gardens We face the prospect of living in a world where being and the War Memorial. apart becomes normal, and where the risk associated with social interaction is deemed to outweigh the benefit. Work continues on the future of our iconic Sutton Park and There is no doubt that the next few months will be we are determined that we will lead on promoting Royal tough so please let’s not forget those who are most Sutton Coldfield as a great place to live, work and bring vulnerable in our community. Also let’s not forget that up a family. other diseases and illnesses still exist and we should encourage our friends and loved ones to seek medical The day to day environment we are all facing is the attention where needed. I know everyone has suffered most daunting most of us can remember. The economic somehow, but I would also like thank all the children who backdrop is tough while the winter will bring more have sacrificed so much over the past 6 months; it’s great challenges in all aspects of how we live our lives. that they’ve been allowed to get back to school. Let’s all be responsible in our actions and encourage others to The Town Council remains determined to lead on the do the same and, importantly, let’s all be kind and issues that matter most to our residents. We have an considerate to one another. amazing community that has already stood tall in 2020 and we are ready to support that community as it Together we can beat this and in doing so I’m sure that our continues to demonstrate that Royal Sutton Coldfield has community in this great Royal Town in which we live will a rich heritage matched by a bright future. emerge even stronger as a result. Best wishes My best wishes to you all, stay safe and well.

COUNCILLOR JANE MOSSON COUNCILLOR SIMON WARD MAYOR OF THE LEADER ROYAL TOWN OF ROYAL SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN COUNCIL

In This Issue...

TOWN CENTRE TOWN RANGER DISCOVER MASTERPLAN SERVICE SUTTON COLDFIELD

The shared vision of the future A new clean & green service The new online resource for for Royal Sutton Coldfield throughout the town all community, sport and volunteering activity

2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 1 06/10/2020 14:28 New Town Ranger Service

Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council will soon be The Town Council has approved to contract a national launching a new clean & green service throughout provider to deliver the new service which will be provided the town. by four operatives and in response to the Town Council’s strategic priority to plan a sustainable future for our Town. This new service is in addition to the services already The Ranger Service will be using two electric vehicles and provided by City Council and designed to battery-powered and/or electrical hand-held machinery. keep the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield clean, litter free and well maintained. The Town Ranger project will tackle the small jobs that make a big difference to the appearance of an area.

The service will target works that are no longer provided by due to reduced budgets and include general cleaning, sweeping and litter picking, removing graffiti, cutting grass and verge strimming, cutting back overgrown vegetation, weed and moss control.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Royal Sutton Sutton Coldfield Coldfield Town Council created the Sutton Together website as a key access point for residents in need of Together support or who wanted to volunteer to support others.

The Town Council worked with Age Concern Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust, St James Church, Sutton Coldfield United Reformed Church and voluntary, community and faith organisations across Sutton Coldfield to create a co-ordinated community response to coronavirus and ensure that local residents in need were able to access the support and information they needed during these unprecedented times.

Support included help with shopping or non-prescription medical supplies, delivery of food packs and telephone befriending. The Town Council and Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust also provided funding for additional resources to local organisations that were part of the immediate response to support local residents.

Walmley and Vesey Gardens Asset Transfer

Two historic Royal Sutton Coldfield sites Land at the Walmley War Memorial is likely will soon come under the ownership of to be the first to transfer enabling the Town the Town Council now that Birmingham City Council to progress its plans to carry out Council has approved the transfers and significant improvement works which will the legal process for the freehold of Vesey include new paving, soft landscaping, Gardens and Walmley War Memorial Land better lighting and seating. to transfer to Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council has commenced. The proposed improvements at the Walmley Memorial have the wider support These transfers are symbolic given of local residents and will commence in the historical importance of the assets early Spring. and demonstrate the Town Council’s commitment to protecting and improving the Town’s rich heritage.

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2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 2 06/10/2020 14:28 Introducing the Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Masterplan

The highly anticipated Sutton Coldfield Town Centre members of the Town Centre Regeneration Partnership, Masterplan was published in August 2020 by the Town landowners and businesses are already working on Centre Regeneration Partnership (TCRP), marking the the next steps needed to deliver this generational first step in the starting point of a long overdue major opportunity for change. investment and regeneration journey for our Royal Town. Producing the Masterplan, amid a global pandemic, The Masterplan sets a clear, shared vision of the future shows the resolve of the Town Council and other TCRP for Royal Sutton Coldfield, providing a route map to partners to deliver on our absolute commitment to develop a resilient, vibrant, and diverse town centre delivering the town centre Sutton Coldfield deserves. through coordinated regeneration activity with community at its heart. Proposals will help address real economic I would like to recognise the important roles so many and environmental challenges while ensuring Royal individuals and organisations played. Funding received Sutton Coldfield continues to be an attractive destination from Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise to live, visit, work or invest in. The aim is to create a safe Partnership, alongside the Town Council’s contribution, and innovative town centre and to unlock its future made the Masterplan a reality. Input from TCRP members potential by attracting and retaining businesses, by including Birmingham City Council, the transforming the public realm, and provide settings where Combined Authority, Transport for West Midlands, Sutton people, community events and businesses can flourish. Coldfield BID and FOLIO Sutton Coldfield helped keep the Masterplan on track, and the interest and COUNCILLOR SIMON WARD engagement of the residents and property owners LEADER, ROYAL SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN COUNCIL was, and continues to be, vital. CHAIRMAN, TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION PARTNERSHIP

We are not resting on our laurels though – this is just the beginning. There is more work to be done to make the ambitious yet achievable ‘Big Moves’ a reality, and About the Masterplan Town centres are at the heart of local communities. They provide important services, facilities, and spaces that bring people together. With the role of town centres changing across the country, the Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Masterplan sets out a clear vision to encourage new social, cultural and economic opportunities, support investment, and ultimately ensure that the town centre is a great place to visit, work or live in.

The preparation of the masterplan was led by the Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Regeneration Partnership and funded by Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council.

The full Masterplan can be downloaded at tiny.cc/suttonmasterplan along with background documents on the public consultation and baseline review. The Town Centre Vision “Reinvigorating the town centre by capitalising on Royal Sutton Coldfield’s attractive green and historic assets and high degree of connectivity: by diversifying the town centre, increasing its accessibility, and strengthening its distinctive identity by uncovering its true heart to create a vibrant, sustainable and welcoming place for all.” The vision above for Sutton Coldfield town centre is guided by six objectives and a series of Big Moves that focus on how to deliver this. These six objectives, Connecting, Communicating, Celebrating, Changing, Community, and Complementing, are set out in more detail below, followed by the three Big Move areas of Movement and Transport, Economy and Community, and Built Environment and Identity. Each explores how it will be delivered in practice to support town centre regeneration.

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2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 3 06/10/2020 14:28 Proposed Town Centre Projects

The proposed projects shown on the map opposite demonstrate how the vision, objectives and Big Moves can be delivered.

Whilst projects vary in scale and impact on the regeneration of the overall town centre, all projects have been identified to improve a specific area as well as the overall impression and identity of Sutton Coldfield town centre.

The success of these projects will rely on robust and well-considered details to ensure high quality and enduring results. Delivery will need to be considered carefully due to the cost and timeframes involved in achieving such an ambitious masterplan.

The framework provided by the Masterplan will enable necessary further detailed studies to be initiated to help facilitate delivery.

All proposals are purposefully high level and designed to enable the regeneration of Sutton Coldfield town centre.

High Street, A Mill Street and new Trinity Square

High Street and Mill Street experience very high vehicle numbers, detracting from the experience of this area. High Street/Coleshill Street is a key junction Town Hall and King where excess road space could be B better utilised to provide a new point of Edward’s Square focus for the town centre. Removing the need for the relief road (Big Move MT1) offers A new ‘Trinity Square’ would offer an the opportunity to rethink the environment at King Edward’s attractive and inviting space to meet, Square and create a more appropriate setting for the war relax, and enjoy the heritage of Sutton memorial, while delivering a stronger sense of arrival at the Coldfield town centre, adjacent to the Town Hall. serenity and calm of Vesey Gardens. The Town Hall is an important heritage asset within the By reclaiming road space, pedestrian town centre and is currently a venue for community, arts and and cycle movement will become safer cultural events. Enhancing links to the Town Hall will improve and more comfortable, particularly at connectivity between it and the railway station, Parade and crossing points where it will encourage High Street, encouraging more movement of people between better links with Sutton College, Parade these areas and other areas within the town centre.

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2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 4 06/10/2020 14:28 Urban Street C (Victoria Road, Queen Street)

The backbone of the improved transport network is to create simple two-way urban streets that accommodate the required vehicular movements to replace the existing one-way urban motorway. Two-way traffic will move at safe, local speeds around Victoria Road and Queen Street, where segregated cycle lanes, tree planting and seating will also be added.

These urban streets will also provide convenient and inviting street crossings at key locations as well as an attractive environment for future development and the existing residential communities. This two-way street will be wholly reimagined from what is there today, with interventions to keep traffic moving at local speeds, to improve air quality, and to create more sociable streets

Parade, Lower Parade D and South Parade E Plants Brook

With non-essential traffic removed from Lower and Plants Brook is a culverted and channelised South Parade due to the reconfiguration of the ring stream that runs across the town centre, road and buses relocating to the new interchange, connecting Sutton Park and Newhall Country these spaces can be repurposed into key areas of Park. It is currently visible at the Queen Street public open space and become the new heart of corner of Newhall Walk. Opportunities to the town centre. Public realm improvements across reinstate Plants Brook as an open watercourse The Parade, Lower Parade and South Parade should be explored, where feasible, as a should include: positive element of sustainable development and attractive town centre water feature. ➜ resurfacing on Lower and South Parade to create pedestrian-priority spaces and seating

➜ trees and landscaping to increase the presence of nature, provide shade, and support links with Sutton Park Interchange Piazza F and Park Road ➜ integrated urban water features to ensure climate resilience and potentially along the A key opportunity for the downgrading of natural alignment of Plants Brook Brassington Avenue is the possibility of overcoming the vehicle dominance between Park ➜ upgraded street furniture, including recycling Road and Mill Street/High Street. This includes bins, seats, and elements designed for informal proposals to relocate the bus interchange at the and formal play and interaction northern end of Brassington Avenue, keeping it on the same level with Parade, and limiting Park ➜ integrating ‘plug-in’ points to increase the Road tunnel to pedestrians and cyclists only. functionality of these areas for markets and outdoor events These changes would allow for public spaces around the United Reformed Church to be upgraded, improving the setting for the Church and creating an inviting space that serves the bus interchange, rail station and Parade. Park Road and the tunnel could also be transformed into an attractive gateway feature linking the town centre and Sutton Park

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2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 5 06/10/2020 14:28

Extended Red Rose Gracechurch Centre G Centre Site H

The Red Rose Centre and Victoria Road Car Park The Gracechurch Centre has a big role to play in are both owned by Birmingham City Council. They the regeneration of the town centre and fostering a occupy a significant site within the town centre. The vibrant atmosphere for visitors. Masterplan considers the full block up to Victoria Road as a development opportunity, to encourage This includes exploring opportunities to create an ambitious, comprehensive redevelopment which public-facing units along the Parade and could be transformative for Sutton Coldfield. Brassington Avenue, providing a new public square (Gracechurch Square) as a secondary community The overall aim for this site will be to create a space (see Project D) complementing Parade, and distinctive, vibrant daytime and evening destination investigating alternative uses such as hotels, alongside contemporary new homes and breaking up larger retail units to encourage flexible workspace that will attract people to visit, live and and creative uses, as well as leisure operators such work within the town centre. It should include a new as indoor climbing, escape rooms or soft play. contemporary purpose-built library facility which reinstates the successful Sutton Coldfield Library in Plans to consolidate the northern end of the its established location within the town centre. centre should be considered to allow As a key community asset, it could provide library reconfiguration of the southern end to offer a mix services alongside complementary community of independent, boutique and artisanal retailers. functions, such as an accessible archive and heritage centre, drop-in council and health services, flexible spaces for hire, and other facilities that can support the needs of the local community.

I Newhall Walk

With changes in the way people live, shop and travel, of home types designed to high quality specifications this area could conceivably change use in the longer and generous space standards could suit urban family term. Whilst retaining its well-functioning units along living, as well as young professionals and downsizers. Parade, the area occupied by the car park and warehouse retail units should be viewed with the Opportunities to open up Plants Brook and offer more potential to densify the town centre residential retail and leisure space around the Queen Street end population as a natural transition between Parade of Newhall Walk should also be explored. and residential neighbourhoods in the east. A range

J Brassington Avenue

The Masterplan proposes to downgrade Brassington town centre regeneration. With Brassington Avenue Avenue to prioritise bus movements to the new bus transformed, this could be an attractive prospect for interchange, stimulate new public facing units onto new residential or commercial development. Providing the street, and dramatically improve the connection active frontage along Brassington Avenue will be key between the town centre and Sutton Park. to its success, as well as to the site’s contribution to the town centre’s regeneration as a whole. Brassington Avenue will be reinstated as an ‘ave- nue’ with tree planting lining both sides of the street, The northern end of the site, at Park Road, will alongside planting, seating, and other public amenities contribute significantly to the ambition to utilise Park to improve the sense of place and make for an inviting Road’s connection between the town centre and street to walk down. It will operate as a two-way street Sutton Park. To the south, the relationship between the primarily for buses, whilst maintaining access to the site and Manor Road should consider active frontage car parks, business servicing, the United Reformed or use of a green roof, depending on the scale of Church and the vacant development site to the west. development, to provide a positive edge or attractive This development site has been vacant for a significant view towards the town centre. period of time and represents a key opportunity for

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2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 6 06/10/2020 14:28 K Station Street

Station Street should create a strong sense of arrival into Sutton Coldfield as a key gateway to the town centre and Sutton Park. By reimagining Station Street into a distinctive pedestrian priority environment, it would become a more visible and attractive front door to the town centre. This area could become a vibrant area of activity which connects with the Interchange Piazza and Park Road.

Station Street and Birmingham Road L Reddicroft Car Park Sites M

The Station Street carpark and Reddicroft carpark As a key gateway into the town centre, sites provide a significant opportunity to improve Birmingham Road should be a positive and vibrant links between High Street, the railway station and street brimming with energy and experiences. Parade. Station Street’s adjacency to public As there are residential uses already along transport suggests that commercial and workplace Birmingham Road, further mixed-use residential uses would be attractive in this location and could development, with active ground floor uses, should accommodate a relatively significant volume, with be actively encouraged, as well as general ground floor units being suitable for convenience upgrades to the footpaths and regular crossing retail or cafes/restaurants typical for a transport points to help connect both sides of the street. interchange environment. Reddicroft could be used for residential schemes to develop an urban neighbourhood identity with excellent proximity to town centre conveniences.

Wayfinding and Gateway Signage

Sutton Coldfield is inherently walkable and cyclable, and a new signage strategy, with clear and consistent directions to key areas and routes, would help stitch the town centre together as per that seen in Birmingham city centre. Routes to the nearby green spaces could be presented as ‘green routes’. This could be established by adding unique ‘green route’ markers along key footpath connections. Additional features, such as planting or vertical signage, could also be used.

Gateways provide a sense of arrival and help define a town centre. They can be distinctive buildings, public art, lighting or landscaping features. Unlike wayfinding signage, which tends to be more functional, gateway features provide the opportunity to be creative and visual.

Proposed gateway locations are: ➜ Park Road, at the bridge tunnel, and potentially also at the junction with Brassington Avenue, to ➜ Station Street, at the railway station and bus indicate the transition between Sutton Park and interchange, to announce the arrival into the town centre ‘Sutton Coldfield Gateway’ ➜ The southern end of Parade, potentially to ➜ High Street railway bridge, the town centre’s include the junction with Victoria and northern gateway Birmingham Roads

➜ The northern end of The Parade, potentially to ➜ Along Birmingham Road, the town centre’s include the junction with Mill and Queen Streets southern gateway

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2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 7 06/10/2020 14:28 Identity and Branding

With its unique assets, long history, Sutton Park and Royal title, alongside the vision and objectives set out by the Masterplan, there are clear starting points for establishing a strong and distinctive identity which would subsequently support branding and marketing work.

Establishing a common place brand for Sutton Coldfield will help attract residents and visitors and promote the town centre experience. The brand should be clearly visible in co-ordinated marketing and promotional activity both online and in-print, as well on-street on lamp column banners or shop windows.

Next Steps

Following its publication, the Town Centre Masterplan is now beginning the journey to replace the current Statutory Planning Document (SPD) for Sutton Coldfield town centre, published in 2009. Led by Birmingham City Council as the planning authority with support from the Town Council and other Town Centre Regeneration Partnership members, should the Masterplan be adopted as the new SPD for the town centre, it will become the starting point for decision-making on regeneration opportunities and planning decisions.

The Masterplan strengthens Sutton Coldfield’s ability to leverage private and public investment to deliver the Big Moves. The Town Council will work with partners to explore possible funding opportunities from national government and regional authorities and bodies. West Midlands Combined Authority will soon begin feasibility testing the proposed bus interchange facility on Brassington Avenue, which when delivered will unlock further opportunities along Lower Parade.

Detailed design work to review the proposed highway changes on Brassington Avenue, Victoria Road and Queen Street will soon begin, working with Birmingham City Council, Transport for West Midlands and other transport and travel stakeholders. The results will sit alongside the proposed bus interchange location and inform future public engagement on how best Sutton Coldfield can share road space amongst all users.

The Town Council and Sutton Coldfield Business Improvement District has already begun delivering on shorter term projects to support the town centre, including the launch of ‘What’s On Sutton Coldfield’. This brand will continue to grow and become increasingly visible as people and businesses return to our town centre in line with Covid-19 guidance.

Throughout the year, the Town Council and local partners will deliver or support festive lighting to brighten up the town centre, as well as seasonal planting, high-quality street markets and pop-up public spaces. Much of this was in preparation in early 2020 but has been paused due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Regeneration Partnership

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2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 8 06/10/2020 14:28 New Town Council Website

A newly-designed Town Council website – www.suttoncoldfieldtowncouncil.gov.uk - was launched on 22nd September. The new website is easier to navigate and more user-friendly and is now usable by as many residents as possible, including individuals with impaired vision, motor difficulties, cognitive impairments or learning disabilities, deafness or impaired hearing.

There’s a new Accessibility menu at the top of each the text spilling off the screen, navigate most of the page; clicking the ‘green man’ button on the right of website using just a keyboard, navigate most of the the screen means that residents can change colours, website using speech recognition software and listen contrast levels and fonts, zoom in up to 300% without to most of the website using a screen reader.

Discover What’s On Sutton Coldfield Sutton Coldfield

Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council has Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council and Sutton launched Discover Sutton Coldfield Coldfield Business Improvement District (BID) have (discoversuttoncoldfield.co.uk), a new online joined forces to build What’s On Sutton Coldfield, resource to help highlight community, sport and the go-to website for what’s happening across the voluntary sector organisations across the Royal Royal Town. What’s On Sutton Coldfield is a Town through an interactive map and an online collaborative project between the BID and Town noticeboard of local volunteering opportunities. Council – the businesses and venues of Sutton are being urged to utilise this free platform as a Discover Sutton Coldfield will help connect virtual shop window for their reopening plans and not-for-profit groups in Sutton Coldfield with future events. residents, helping our community discover health and wellbeing activities, leisure groups and local The website showcases the best of what the town sports teams, advice or support sessions, as well centre has to offer, celebrating what makes as volunteering opportunities across the town. Royal Sutton Coldfield a great place to live and encouraging residents and visitors to explore local The Town Council is encouraging not-for-profit venues, events and offers. organisations and community groups to upload their details or volunteer opportunity, at no cost, Visit the website to find out where’s open and how and be part of Discover Sutton Coldfield. The they plan to enable visitors to enjoy the town safely interactive map will highlight where organisations at: whatsonsuttoncoldfield.co.uk and groups are located within the town, what they do, as well as additional details such as cost, whether referrals are needed, and how to get in touch.

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2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 9 06/10/2020 14:28 Harvest Fields Litter Picks Trim Trail and Bins Over the last few months we have seen a phenomenal community response to the amount of litter left in parks and public places, with many residents and community groups taking part in litter picks in their local area and keeping Sutton Coldfield tidy. The Town Council gave out its entire stock of litter picking equipment to residents and community groups which was over 200 sets!

The Town Council has recently funded enhancements at Harvest Fields Park including new litter bins and an exciting new Trim Trail. Grants Update Last year the Town Council awarded over The new bins will replace existing bins around the £200,000 to 38 community projects through its park which have fallen into disrepair. The trim trail community grants scheme. is located around the edge of the existing play area, includes eight timber activity features and is The community grants scheme supports many suitable for 5 to 12-year olds. of the excellent organisations which make Sutton Coldfield an even better place to live. The grant Following safety checks, the new trim trail is funding supports projects in arts and culture, now open. environment, health and wellbeing, social inclusion, sports, youth and projects which support the Falcon Lodge Community Plan. The community grants scheme continues to run this year, information on the scheme and how to apply is available on the Town Council website.

Image taken before Coronavirus and subsequent social distancing rules

WiFi Don’t forget that when you are out about in the Town Centre and the public areas in five local centres - Boldmere, Falcon Lodge, Mere Green, Walmley and – you can enjoy free WiFi In Sutton Coldfield funded by Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council

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2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 10 06/10/2020 14:28 Wildflower Planting Changing Although the COVID-19 lockdown prevented Places Toilet this year’s wildflower planting, in 2021 over 8,000m2 of roadside verges, central reservations The Changing Places toilet facility in the and other open spaces in Sutton Coldfield are Gracechurch Centre has now been completed due to become home to wildflowers and the and is open for use. The Town Council agreed a pollinators that feed on them, all funded by contribution £40,000 to develop the facility in 2018. Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council. The facility will improve accessibility and provide the right equipment, space and environment for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well people with other physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis who may not be able to access standard toilets.

The Town Council is extremely proud to be able to support the development of this new amenity, which will have a huge benefit to those residents that have a need for this kind of facility.

Cycling Plan Local History

Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council is investing The Town Council is delighted to be working almost £12,000 in a Cycle Network Plan for the with renowned local historian Associate Professor town as part of a longer-term initiative to make Stephen Roberts to produce a series of articles cycling to work, shops, services, or for leisure and which will look at the fascinating history of our fitness purposes, a more appealing and Royal Town. Over the next couple of years, these safer choice for residents. The Town Council is features will uncover hitherto unknown stories or committed to facilitating active and sustainable reveal new perspectives on the people, buildings travel options across the Royal Town. A Cycle and social history of Royal Sutton Coldfield. Network Plan will help it to achieve this through The first four articles can be found on the recommending concrete proposals to make Town Council website. cycling a safer, more viable and attractive travel choice for residents.

Festive Lights The Town Council has approved £94,937 for 2020’s festive light scheme. Approaching its fifth Christmas, the Town Council now funds the festive lights at all local centres across Sutton Coldfield plus the heritage lights in King Edward Square and this year has been extended to include the town centre for 2020. Christmas trees will also be provided by the Town Council in Mere Green, Walmley, Falcon Lodge, Dugdale Crescent and Minworth. The local centres where festive lights are funded include Beeches Walk, Boldmere, Mere Green, Clarence Road/Aylesford Close, Walsall Road/Crown Lane, Falcon Lodge Crescent, Minworth, , Reddicap Heath Rd/ Hollyfield Road South, Whitehouse Common Road/ Withy Hill Road, Walmley and Wylde Green.

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2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 11 06/10/2020 14:28 YOUR ROYAL TOWN OF SUTTON COLDFIELD COUNCILLORS Four Oaks Ward Vesey Ward

Clare Horrocks - Conservative Party Janet Cairns – Conservative Party

Simon Ward - Conservative Party Alison Jolley - Conservative Party

Mere Green Ward Louise Passey – Conservative Party

Jackie Cummins - Conservative Party Rob Pocock – Labour Party

Nitish Raut - Conservative Party Manish Puri – Labour Party

Reddicap Ward Walmley and Minworth Ward

Julie Ashley-Higgins - Labour Party Anthony Briggs - Conservative Party

Samuel Simper - Conservative Party John Cooper - Conservative Party

Roughley Ward Joanne Ellis - Conservative Party

Ewan Mackey - Conservative Party Derrick Griffin - Conservative Party

Jane Mosson - Conservative Party Terry Wood - Conservative Party

Harry Parmer - Conservative Party Wylde Green Ward Trinity Ward Leeford Allen - Conservative Party

David Allan - Conservative Party Samuel Hodgins - Conservative Party

David Pears – Conservative Party Contact details of all Councillors, together with details of the Committees upon which they sit, can be found on Keith Ward – Conservative Party the Town Council website.

ROYAL SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN COUNCIL, AFE BUSINESS CENTRE 62 ANCHORAGE ROAD, SUTTON COLDFIELD, B74 2PG

0121 663 1765 | [email protected] SUTTONCOLDFIELDTOWNCOUNCIL.GOV.UK

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2020-10-06-SCTC-NEWSLETTER-AUTUMN2020-12pp-A4.indd 12 06/10/2020 14:29