Residents across Lichfield District are being asked their views on proposed regulations on dog fouling and dog control.

Lichfield District Council is asking for views on a plan to create a new dog control public spaces protection order.

As part of the council’s approach to reduce dog fouling and encourage responsible dog ownership, it is proposing an order that would require people to demonstrate they have the means to clear up after their pet.

As a rule of thumb, dog walkers would be expected to carry at least two bags that can be used to dispose of dog mess. If, when asked by an enforcement officer, someone does not produce a bag or refuses to do so they could receive a fine.

The order will require anyone in charge of a dog to clean up and remove any resulting dog mess in a public place, such as on a pavement or in a park or green space.

The proposed protection order would also create ‘dog exclusion zones’, which would ban dogs from being taken into playgrounds, particularly areas designed for younger children.

A spokesperson for Lichfield District Council said: “We believe this order will help us to keep the district free of dog mess. Sadly a tiny minority of dog walkers do not clean up after their pets.

“A district wide public space protection order would require anyone responsible for a dog to have bags with them and clean up any mess and put it in a litter or dog waste bin or take it home if one isn’t available. We want to make it clear to dog owners, who lack the common decency to clean up after their pets, that this will not be tolerated.

“We also think children should have space to play and know that some can be scared of dogs. This is why we want to bring in exclusion zones that will require anyone in charge of a dog to keep them out of play areas across the district.

“It would be a criminal offence not to comply with the order, which could result in a fixed penalty of £80 or even lead to a prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

“We would stress that people with disabilities that restrict their sight or mobility are exempt, including pet owners who are registered as blind.

Last year the Parish Council met representatives of the Environment Agency and the Trent Rivers Trust to discuss what could be done about flooding that affects the roads around Edingale each winter.

They explained that the risk is high due to Edingale’s location close to the rivers Mease, Tame and Trent and that these rivers flood onto low lying roads more often due to climate change. There is a 3 year plan to slow the flow of water down the River Mease by using natural flood management around the tributaries and along the river, and this work is now underway. See https://www.trentriverstrust.org/project/rivermeasecatchmentproject/

After flooding occurred around School Lane, the Parish Council contacted Severn Trent to ask for work to be done to the pump at Edingale, silt was cleared as a result of this and resolved the issue.

Derbyshire Highways were also asked to ensure that the route into Lullington did not flood, and they contacted a local landowner to clear a flooded ditch. This ensured that if the roads to Harlaston and through Croxall are flooded there is at least one way out of the village.

Villagers are recommended to check the village Facebook page during heavy rain periods as up to date advice by other residents is posted there to let everyone know if local roads are flooded or passable.

Flood warnings can be viewed on the Environment Agency website by entering your postcode, you can see a map showing potential flooded areas such as this : https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=+B79+9LJ

To sign up for flood alerts from the Environment Agency  – see the website https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings

or phone 0345 988 1188 to sign up for alerts by text, voicemail or email if flooding is likely.

Businesses in Lichfield District that were ordered to remain closed due to national restrictions will receive a funding boost of between £4,000 and £9,000.

As part of measures by the Government to support businesses required to close due to lockdown, Lichfield District Council is starting the process of paying hundreds of local businesses a top up grant to get them through this difficult period.

The continuation of the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) and the new Closed Business Support Payments schemes are for non-essential businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors that have been required to close or remain closed due to the national restrictions.

Businesses that have already received a Local Restrictions Support Grant, and whose circumstances have not changed, will automatically be paid the funding and do not need to apply for the top-up grant.

Through the new Closed Business Support Payments, businesses that pay business rates and were ordered to close on 5 January will receive:

• £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or below
• £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,001 and £50,999
• £9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 and above

This is a one-off payment, which is in addition to the ongoing Local Restrictions Support Grants.

Councillor Liz Little, Cabinet Member responsible for Economic Development, said: “Now we’ve received the guidance we can start to make these vital support payments, which I know businesses will be very grateful to receive.

“It could make the difference in whether some of our businesses survive the winter and we will start making the payments immediately.

“If you have already applied for a Local Restrictions Support Grant, as your business closed due to going into a higher tier before national lockdown, you will automatically receive a grant of between £4,000 and £9,000.

“If you haven’t yet applied for a grant, and you meet the eligibility criteria, please do so as soon as you can because we don’t want you to miss out on this valuable support.”

Both funding schemes will close to applicants on 31 March 2021.

http://National lockdown: Stay at Home – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For details of a proposal to install a solar farm on farmland between Lullington and Edingale please see Lullington solar farm consultation leaflet

Comments invited before December 11th 2020.

Come on Staffordshire…let’s do it for what matters

Everyone has a reason to want to see the back of the Coronavirus pandemic.

You may want to cuddle your grandchildren, get a business up and running again or simply get back into the gym.

We’re all different, but we can all do some simple things to stop the virus in its tracks.

We know that changing guidance can be confusing, but three things won’t change:

1. Hands – keep them clean. COVID virus can stay active on surfaces for up to 24 hours. You could pick up or pass on the virus by touching a contaminated surface. Washing your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer kills the virus.
2. Face – wearing a face covering over your mouth and nose can help protect other people from droplets containing the virus. If you have the virus you’re less likely to pass it on.
3. Space – spreading the virus is much less likely to happen if you stay more than two metres apart from someone who has it.

Find out more

Rapid testing roll out begins

When you’ve got coronavirus, you can infect people for two days before you show any symptoms – and that’s if you get symptoms at all. Many people don’t.

That’s why testing for people with and without symptoms is so important.

The new tests, which can provide results in less than an hour, will help to quickly identify people who have the virus but may have no symptoms, and isolate any further cases.

We’re busy recruiting people to help deliver more of these tests, which will eventually see up to 80,000 people in the county tested every single week.

Over the next two weeks we will be looking to focus on a number of large businesses, sixth forms and community settings across the county.

Look out for local testing centres in the coming days and weeks.

Local community groups may be interested in the following:

The Lichfield Community Lottery Good Cause Launch,  will take place via Zoom on Monday 18 January from 5pm to 6pm.

It’s an opportunity to find out how, by signing up to be a part of the lottery, you can raise money for your cause.

At the launch you will hear all about the benefits, including:

·       Raising money for your good cause

·       your own lottery page on the Lichfield Community Lottery website

·       prizes for your supporters – each ticket has around a 1 in 50 chance to win each week, with a top prize of £25,000

·       marketing help – there will be regular marketing materials to promote your lottery

·       No costs, ever

To book  a place see

https://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/communitylottery