Kate Pritchard

In a proactive step toward reducing vehicle crime, Lichfield District Council, in partnership with the Lichfield District Community Safety Partnership, launched a new online resource to help residents protect their vehicles. The Stop Car Theft Hub provides residents with practical advice and expert information on the latest car security methods and tools.

To celebrate the launch, thousands of residents entered a competition that offered the chance to win a range of anti-theft devices. The aim of the competition was to strengthen car security across the district and raise awareness of the simple steps residents can take to protect their vehicles. Prizes included three fully fitted driveway security bollards, fifty Faraday pouches, four Apple AirTags, and two high-security steering wheel locks.
Councillor Richard Cox, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Chair of the Lichfield District Community Safety Partnership, said: “Vehicle theft is a major concern for many people in our community. We share their concern and have therefore created this resource to help people protect their vehicles. Our new resource hub offers residents the tools and information they need.
“With hundreds of people entering online, we’re glad that our competition added an interactive element, raising awareness in a fun and engaging way in partnership with great companies who can help residents.”
Winner feedback has already shown the impact of the campaign:
Fiona from Fradley, who won a driveway bollard commented: “Many thanks to Sutton Bollards and Lichfield District Council for the prize of a fully fitted high-quality security bollard at my home. Sutton Bollards provided excellent service with great care and attention to detail. This additional level of protection and deterrent gives me peace of mind as car thefts continue to rise in the area. A great prize!”
Simon from Shenstone said: “Winning the Faraday pouch and AirTag has made me think more carefully about how easy it can be for thieves to target keyless cars. Thank you to the sponsors for providing practical tools that I now use daily. I’d encourage everyone to visit the Stop Car Theft Hub and look at how they can better secure their own vehicle – don’t wait until it’s too late.”
The initiative was backed by local businesses committed to making a difference, including Justice Fire and Security, Anker Bollards, Sutton Bollards, and Defender Security Products.

Dave Sanders, Managing Director at Justice Fire and Security, commented: “Vehicle theft remains a serious issue, with criminals using sophisticated methods like relay devices to steal cars. We were proud to support this initiative by giving away our latest innovation – the car defender unit – as part of an integrated intruder alarm system designed to protect vehicles parked on driveways or near the home.”
Ella Hughes, Ecommerce Manager at Defender Security Products, added: “We’re committed to helping communities protect what matters most. Donating our Faraday pouches is just one way we’re contributing to this important initiative. We believe education is key, and the Stop Car Theft Hub does a brilliant job of empowering residents with knowledge and simple, effective solutions.”

James Keatley of Sutton Bollards said: “We’re proud to support efforts to raise awareness around the growing issue of driveway car crime. Far too often, we’re contacted after a theft has already occurred. We want to change that by encouraging people to take preventative action now.”
The Stop Car Theft Hub includes a wealth of information on car crime prevention, from keyless entry protection tips to suspicious activity reporting advice. The resource is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to community safety and crime prevention across the district.

Residents in need of housing advice and support are invited to attend the Lichfield District Housing Roadshow on Thursday August 21, a free drop-in event offering practical help with everything from applying for social housing to managing rising living costs.

Organised by Lichfield District Council in partnership with local support services, the event is designed to make it easier for people to understand how the Lichfield District housing register works and to get the guidance they need, all in one place and face to face.
Residents can expect:
• Step-by-step information on how to apply to the Lichfield District housing register
• Help understanding eligibility criteria, bidding, and waiting times
• Free advice on housing support, cost of living, and benefits
• Support from local partners on managing energy bills and more

Lichfield District Council Cabinet Member Alex Farrell said: “This event is ideal for anyone needing help to access social housing or who is looking for practical advice and support with housing issues in Lichfield District.
“It’s free, there is no need to book and experts will be available to answer your questions, so if you need support in this area, please drop in.”
Lichfield District Housing Roadshow takes place at Spark Burntwood, Mossbank Avenue, Burntwood, WS7 4UN on Thursday 21 August from 2pm to 4pm.

Staffordshire County Council have issued a road closure notice for Croxall Road, Edingale. The road closure is required on multiple roads for multiple pothole repairs as part of the ‘roadmaster’ programme being undertaken by SCC / Amey Highways.

This will take place between 1st September 08:00am – 5th September 16:00.

For further details please see the link below:

https://one.network/?tm=144845791

Lichfield District Council is delighted to confirm that the Lichfield Food and Drink Festival will take place this August Bank Holiday weekend (23-25 August), thanks to a united effort with local partners and organisations.
The event will feature around 100 stalls located throughout Lichfield’s historic city centre, offering everything from artisan produce and street food to sweet treats and handcrafted drinks.

The festival is being delivered by Lichfield District Council next month with community partners Lichfield City Council, Three Spires Shopping Centre, Lichfield Cathedral, The Hub at St Mary’s and Lichfield Chamber of Trade and Commerce, working collaboratively to ensure the city is buzzing with activity and community spirit over the long weekend.

Councillor Doug Pullen, Leader at Lichfield District Council, said: “We’re delighted to welcome visitors to Lichfield for this year’s Food & Drink Festival. It’s fantastic to see the event going ahead thanks to strong local collaboration, even at short notice. While this summer’s festival will be slightly smaller than previous years, we’re confident it will still offer a safe, high-quality experience that showcases the best of our city.”
The Lichfield Food & Drink Festival will feature a wide variety of mouth-watering food and drink choices in the heart of the city. With live demonstrations and seating areas, the festival promises a vibrant, safe and family-friendly experience for all.
The organisers are also encouraging local high street businesses to get involved with special offers across the weekend to ensure the whole city benefits from increased footfall and visitor engagement.

More information, including a full list of traders and activities, will be announced in the coming weeks and will be available online at Visit Lichfield

If you are looking for exciting, active, and affordable ways of keeping your children entertained in Lichfield District this summer why not sign them up for a SPACE Leisure Pass?

The pass offers young people, aged 8 to 17, access to a wide range of activities including swimming and rock climbing at Burntwood Leisure Centre, swimming at Friary Grange Leisure Centre and disc, foot and crazy golf in Beacon Park. There are a limited number of funded passes available to collect free of charge on a first come first served basis.

Once all of the 185 funded passes have been allocated, they will be available to purchase for £20.

Valid until Friday 29 August, the SPACE Leisure Pass is the ticket to a range of activities over the summer break.

These include off-peak court hire for tennis, badminton, squash, and table tennis, Skatepark tuition, Kickboxing sessions in partnership with M.A.M.A (Mindfulness, Awareness and Martial Arts) an inflatable Fun Day and Petanque.

Lichfield District Council’s Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Andy Smith, said: “The SPACE Leisure passes are great value. Whether you’d like to swim, play a racquet sport or perhaps try skateboarding or rock climbing, the passes give you the freedom to enjoy it all.
“So don’t miss out – make this summer your most active and adventurous yet with a SPACE Leisure Pass.”

Passes, which are subject to availability, are free to collect from Burntwood Leisure Centre or Friary Grange Leisure Centre on a first come first served basis before being available to purchase for £20. A Participant Consent Form must be completed by a parent or carer before taking part in any activities. Please note: All activities are subject to change and availability, and terms and conditions apply.

For full details of the activities available visit Home – Active Lichfield District or call 01543 308825.

The Parish Council have been made aware of a consultation by East Staffordshire Borough Council regarding Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

East Staffordshire Borough Council, alongside 5 other southern Staffordshire authorities, have jointly proposed the creation of a Southern and Mid Staffordshire Unitary Authority.

As part of this, they have now launched a survey to gather views on their proposal. The survey is open until 1st September 2025. It can be found here – https://online1.snapsurveys.com/shapingstaffordshire.

Please take part and have your say!

Excitement is building in and around Edingale as villagers get ready for the Edingale Show on Saturday 13h September 2025. Whether they are seasoned bakers, first-time flower growers, new to needlework or familiar with photography, there are lots of show classes to enter and fun to be had.
There is live entertainment from local band The Wake Mason Duo and Andy Smith and Phil Warrington. Visitors can browse the many craft stalls and there will be activities for all the family. The show usually has a good turnout of vintage and classic cars and tractors. Food options will include a BBQ and local craft ale sold from the bar.
Our special guests are
• Everyone Health – mobile health van; come and get your free NHS check
• Midlands Air Ambulance with a helicopter body replica
• Microlight School Fisherwick with a microlight plane; win a 30-minute experience flight voucher in our raffle.
• Staffordshire County Council Waste minimisation roadshow helping us to recycle and reduce waste.
• Flood Risk Management from Staffordshire County Council providing information, support and advice

The heart of the show is, of course, the competitive element with 39 classes for everything from the longest runner bean to crafts and baking to children’s posters. Full details are on Edingale Village Hall’s Facebook page. Anyone can enter and entries must be delivered to the Village Hall on Friday 12th September between 4.00pm and 7.00pm. Prize winners will be announced at 2.00pm on show day with certificates and cups presented by Rev Nicky Busby.
Entry to the show on Saturday is £3.50 for adults with under 16s free.

Construction firm Stepnell, responsible for building Lichfield’s new leisure centre, is continuing its commitment to creating meaningful social value in Lichfield District through hands-on community support and youth mentorship.
This is part of Lichfield District Council’s ‘Our Community Can’ initiative, whereby all contracts awarded by the council will be assessed not just on cost and quality, but also on the social, economic, and environmental value they create for people living across the district.
Last month, a team of eight volunteers from Stepnell, joined by colleagues from BWB Consulting and Recreation, spent the day supporting the Staffordshire Regiment Museum in Whittington. The group carried out vital maintenance work, painting wooden handrails and timbers at the museum’s replica WWI trench exhibit to help preserve the popular educational display for future visitors.
The volunteering day builds on Stepnell’s wider community-focused work in the district, including their ongoing partnership with Chase Terrace Academy. As part of this collaboration, Stepnell mentors students to support them in staying engaged with their education and exploring future career opportunities.
Also last month, students from the school were invited to tour Stepnell’s live construction site for the new leisure centre, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the industry and a chance to speak with professionals from across the company.
Councillor Rob Strachan, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Commissioning, said: “It’s fantastic to see businesses like Stepnell continuing to invest in our community. Whether it’s preserving important heritage sites or inspiring the next generation, their work is having a real and lasting impact.”

Martin Melges, Commercial Manager at Stepnell, said: “Giving back to the communities we work in is incredibly important to us. Whether that’s through volunteering our time to support local charities like the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, or inspiring young people to consider careers in construction, we’re proud to play a role in making a positive difference.”
Embedding social value into contracts supports the council’s long-term vision, outlined in the Lichfield 2050 Strategy, which aims to build confident, prosperous, active, and environmentally sustainable communities.