Community News

Inspirational and achievable is a mantra for BBC Gardeners’ World Live, making the Show a much-loved fixture in the keen gardener’s calendar for the past 25 years. The APL  Avenue enters its second year at the 2017 event – a Show Garden competition in conjunction with The Association of Professional Landscapers, it gives the opportunity for five APL Landscape Contractors and chosen Designers to build gardens at the Show and be seen by over 90,000 visitors over four days.

With a front or small back garden theme, the gardens are inspirational and, most of all, relatable. "APL Avenue Show Gardens at BBC Gardeners' World Live have a real achievable feel and will provide great take-home ideas and lots of inspiration. I can’t wait to see them in the flesh" says Adam Frost (APL Avenue Selection Panel Member, Gardeners' World presenter & award-winning garden designer)

The winning contractors and designers going forward to build their Show Gardens at BBC Gardeners’ World Live are:

The Artemis Landscapes ‘Living in Sync’ Garden Contractor: Artemis Landscapes, Kent Designed by: Viv Seccombe Sponsors: Neal’s Yard A front garden designed for a professional, urban couple taking inspiration from their keen interest in biodiversity, combined with their community spirit to transform the space from tarmac into an inspiring paradise for wildlife, with year-round plant interest and alluring details. To combine stimulation and practicality, features of the garden include wildlife-friendly planting, sculptural bug towers, functional bin and bicycle storage made from sustainable wood and recycled paving. The main feature tree (Crab Apple) is wildlife friendly and the wide plant borders are surrounded by embedded recycled bottles which give flashes of jewelled colour in the sunlight.

Big Fish Landscapes Garden Contractor: Big Fish Landscapes, Herefordshire Designed by: Cherry Carmen, Cherry Blossom Landscapes A back garden designed for a middle-aged couple looking to upgrade their garden to match their renovated house. They are enthusiastic nature and art lovers and would like a space that looks like art through their glass sliding doors. The innovative decking area converts into lounge chairs, a perfect viewing platform. A moss graffiti wall is a natural and wildlife friendly way to introduce art into the garden and to spruce up a plain wall. While architectural log piles attract mammals, bees and insects and a large tree and pergola create a bird friendly canopy and privacy.

Lanwarne Landscapes Garden Contractor: Lanwarne Landscapes, Hertfordshire Designed by: Martin Lines, Lanwarne Landscapes Sponsors: London Stone, The Garden Trellis Co., Ternex, The Lapa Company, DB Renovations, Urban Planters, The Japan Garden Company, DEAMER Ltd. A back garden designed for a couple in their early thirties to complement their modern refurbished house and offer a private space for them to relax in after long hours in the city. The garden includes an outdoor kitchen and fire pit created from granite and stainless steel to give a clean contemporary edge which is balanced by bee and butterfly friendly planting along with pebble fountains to allow insects to drink safely. Low level planting in pink, blue and white colours are complemented by the fencing and pergola and create the illusion of added space.

Living Gardens ‘It’s Not Just About The Beard…’ Garden Contractor: Living Gardens, Lancashire Designed by: Peter Cowell & Monty Richardson, Living Gardens A hipster back garden created for a couple who live on the fringes of a city society. With no plans to settle down with children they’re looking to change their current concrete yard into an oasis of urban greenery, inspired by the industrial themed local bars and clubs. The main feature is a floating lounging platform with a bespoke steel wood burner and beanbags, creating space to entertain, party and relax. An outdoor bar made from reclaimed materials, along with place to grow fruit and veg, creates a quirky functional area. The industrial theme is surrounded by rich green foliage with splashes of colour and trees for privacy.

Pro-Gardens ‘CLIC Sargent’ Garden Contractor: Pro-Gardens Ltd, Oxfordshire Designed by: Jamie Langlands, Pro-Gardens Ltd Supporting Charity: CLIC Sargent who provide specialist support for young cancer patients and their families. A fantastical back garden created for a young family - to inspire imagination, adventures and memories with their children. The predominant feature within the garden is the magical folly located in the rear left, aimed at capturing the childhood memories of adults whilst creating new ones for children. A small enclosed patio and seating area is well hidden behind a curved Carpinus hedge - the perfect place for a quiet moment of reflection or a relaxing drink. An old path lined with fragrant lavender meanders towards the folly, passing colourful herbaceous planting and characterful trees.

A dozen community groups in Sandwell have benefited from more than £50,000 worth of improved facilities between them thanks to the generosity of the four companies refurbishing thousands of council homes in Sandwell.

The Hands-on Help scheme has seen Sandwell Council’s four construction partners – Keepmoat, Lovell, Vinci Facilities, and Wates Living Space and their suppliers - working on three projects each over the last 12 months.

The firms donated 1,350 hours of free labour along with a host of materials and their building expertise to benefit the thousands of people who attend the hundreds of activities, clubs and social events hosted by the community groups every week.

Groups were invited to bid for help through the scheme and work carried out included repairing a leaky roof, redecorating tired community halls, refurbishing out-dated kitchens and replacing old toilets.

One of the successful bidders was The Church of the Good Shepherd with St John, in West Bromwich which benefited from a brand new kitchen in their church hall.

The transformation included taking out the old kitchen, upgrading electrics, painting the walls, ceiling and woodwork as well as pressure washing the floor. As well as supplying and fitting the new kitchen, Lovell, who carried out the work also donated a new electric cooker.

Hazel Bloxham, church warden, said: “Our church hall provides a venue for many local clubs and activity groups.

“The kitchen’s previously poor condition was making it difficult to prepare food safely and stopping the wider community from attending activities here.

“We are extremely grateful for everything that has been done and the new kitchen is so much more practical and attractive for people to use.”

Another beneficiary was the 291 Community Association at Wesley Methodist Church, also in West Bromwich which has benefited from new toilet facilities

Derek Percival of the association, said: “Our original building dates back to the 1930s and the toilets were last refurbished in 1972 – and you could tell.

“We are absolutely delighted with the installation of a disabled toilet and nappy-changing facility. We can now better serve our users and attract more bookings for the building."

Emily Addis, 25, from Sutton Coldfield, was crowned the winner of the 60 Seconds to Change Your Life competition yesterday at The Photography Show (The NEC, Birmingham), winning a package worth over £15,000 to help kick-start her career in photography, in association with Training byLUMIERE and Nikon.

The competition, which was launched earlier this year, required aspiring photographers to submit a 60-second-long video, describing why they hoped to be considered for the competition and how it would change their life. Following additional challenges, including the submission of a creative selfie and a task to capture an image yesterday around the NEC, the three chosen finalists, Emily Addis, Evie Lewis and Wayne Richards took to the Live Stage at The Photography Show to take part in a live photo shoot in front of a packed audience.

Emily Addis said: ‘I am over the moon to have been chosen as the winner and so grateful to have been selected from such an incredible bunch of creative photographers. I have recently quit my job in retail to follow my aspirations of becoming a professional photographer and taking part in the competition was a case of make or break; I am thrilled to be starting my career!’

The full prize package includes, six months’ training starting September 2017 (Training byLUMIERE), essential kit for business (Nikon D500 + AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80 VR, Create Branding marketing package, 1 year unlimited subscription to 3XM Client Galleries plus a trip to the Loxley Colour lab along with an extensive range of branded product and marketing supplies and software from Light Blue Software), equipment and insurance (a Manfrotto tripod, LED light and bag, MagSphere and MagBounce from Magmod, a WD My Passport Wireless Pro 3TB, 12 months insurance from Towergate Camerasure) plus one-year subscriptions to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan, including Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC and a subscription to Digital Camera magazine (Future publishing).

Brent Kirkman, owner of Training byLUMIERE and one of the four judges on the panel, said: ‘Emily shone through in all of the competition challenges and we are really looking forward to helping her towards building a successful business in the photography industry.’

Birmingham City Council’s Birmingham in Bloom competition is on the lookout for green fingered council tenants and neighbourhood heroes.

The annual competition shines a light on council tenants and lease holders who green up their environment and take pride in their communities.  This year’s competition – which starts and closes earlier than previous years – is going a step further with three awards that recognise tenants and young people who improve their neighbourhoods and support people in their community.

Joan Goodwin, chair of the City Housing Liaison Board, said: “Birmingham in Bloom celebrates the work put in by tenants and leaseholders to bring colour and pride to their communities through their gardening skills.  This year we thought we would celebrate how people in our communities support each other too with some new awards and prizes for those people who really go out of their way to help their neighbours.”

Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for housing and homes, Cllr Peter Griffiths, added: “Birmingham in Bloom never fails to impress with community gardens, vibrant flower displays and tasty produce.  This year I would really like to encourage people who haven’t entered before to get creative with their gardening skills and think about who makes a difference in their community.  I would also like to thank our sponsors for their continued support for this event which shows what we can achieve when we all work together.”

The deadline for entries is 30 June 2017. Entry forms are available at local libraries and leisure centres or online at https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20006/housing/1134/birmingham_in_bloom_-_competition and there are lots of great prizes on offer for district and citywide winners in the following categories –

Best front garden – display with the most impact, variety of plants, special features, design and layout Best balcony – visible display of colour, creative with space, ie hanging baskets or window box Healthy Start Award – home grown produce, ie vegetable patch or allotments Community Garden – street or community garden Cleaner Greener Community Award – recognising tenants who have improved the appearance of their neighbourhood Young Person/Group Achievement Award – recognising how young people and young people’s groups have made a positive contribution to their neighbourhood Helping Hand Award – a tenant/leaseholder who has helped someone in their community ie with their garden, waste collection or grocery shop

District winners and their guests will be invited to the awards ceremony at the Banqueting Suite in the Council House on 27 September 2017.

Cash prizes, trophies and gardening tools are sponsored by: Fortem, Glendale, idverde, Keepmoat, The Conservation Volunteers and Wates.

City of Wolverhampton Council has been handed £478,000 government funding to help fulfil a long-term plan to grow the number of electric taxis in the city. The news was announced this morning by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) as part of its £20 million Taxi Scheme.

The funding means work can now start in the city on building the infrastructure to facilitate electric taxis as they become more readily available over the next decade. An initial 24 charging points will be installed over the next three years, with the aid of match funding from council capital and revenue budgets.

It fits in with wider work to promote low emission vehicles by the West Midlands Combined Authority. Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor John Reynolds, said: “We are working closely with the taxi drivers in the city on this project.

“Electric taxis bring many benefits. They improve air quality and public health, make the city more attractive, support the economy of the Midlands, and support innovation and transformation, as well as help reduce carbon emissions.”

Parminder Sekhon, Chair of Wolverhampton Taxi Owners Association, added: “This is great news and these new facilities will help protect the trade as our industry embraces new technologies. Whilst drivers would like to purchase low emission vehicles, it needs to be a viable business option, there are costs associated with these vehicles, any support available from central government and the licensing authority will help drivers make the change to newer cleaner vehicles.”

The council is aiming to convert 16% of both the Hackney and private hire fleets in the city to electric vehicles by 2020.The government will provide top up grants of £7,500 to purchasers of the least polluting category of new electric Hackney carriages.

A network of taxi charging points in and around the city centre will be developed over a three-year period.

Mike Hibbert, financial director of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), is to retire after 22 years in the role. When he was appointed in 1995 it was the organisation’s first full-time financial appointment at Board level, with the Chamber’s affairs having been looked after by honorary treasurers since its inception in 1813.

Since then the role has expanded into a broad brief and Mike, 60, has been at the forefront of managing the Chamber’s property affairs, its pension funds and also had spells in charge of the Chamber’s international division and work programme, which oversees start-up businesses.

“It was this wide diversity of the role which interested me so much,” says Mike. “I haven’t just been involved with the financial affairs of the Chamber but, of course, these have been central to what I have been doing.

“The possible development of the Chamber’s leasehold site in Edgbaston has been a huge responsibility in conjunction with colleagues and still very much at the forefront of the Chamber’s future.”

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of the GBCC, said: “Mike’s input at the Chamber has been invaluable. The job has required a broad area of expertise and he has been instrumental in guiding the Chamber’s fortunes, which at times have been challenging, over the past two decades.

“On a personal level, Mike has been a great support and source of counsel since I joined the Chamber. He has been a fantastic colleague and an important part of the Chamber's recent developments.”

Born in Oldham and educated at Aston University, Mike qualified with an administrative/management degree and joined the accountancy firm Whinney Murray, forerunners of what is now EY (Ernst and Young).

Originally, Mike joined the Chamber on a three-month secondment under the then chief executive Bob Moore.

“Since then I have worked with three other chief executives – Sue Battle, Jerry Blackett and Paul Faulkner. I have also worked with 22 different Presidents from many aspects of business life, including property, finance, law, education, engineering, television, entrepreneurship and marketing – and this has been one of the other appealing and diverse elements of the job.

“The other fascinating part has been involvement with so many business interests in the city through their membership of the Chamber.

“All of this has made the job an amazing experience and it has been an honour to work in an organisation that has such a magnificent and integral heritage as part of one of the most important cities in the world.”

Mike says that the most challenging period of his time at the Chamber came with the financial downturn at the same time as the Chamber’s Business Link contract ended following a re-organisation of business support by the government.

He says: “The Chamber had a turnover of £36 million when Business Link was with us and we had to cope with losing a large proportion of that as well as the impact of the biggest global financial downturn in living memory.

“Those were pretty challenging days and it has been particularly rewarding to come through them and establish a Chamber that is financially strong and making sustained surpluses for the benefit of our members.”

Mike and his wife Susan, who he met at Aston University, have a son and two daughters, and has recently become a granddad..

“That will keep me busy but I hope to have more time to pursue my other interests, including travel and walking” says Mike. Paul Faulkner added: “Mike will be a hard act to follow and we are starting a recruitment process for a Chief Financial Officer.

A staggering 27,500 items which help people live safely and independently are loaned out to Sandwell residents every year. And adult social care services make sure that 93 per cent of people who need aids – like walking frames, high seated chairs, perching stools and toilet-related accessories – get them within seven days of being requested.

Now Sandwell Council's cabinet member social care, Councillor Ann Shackleton, is reminding people that wherever possible the council collects and recycles items when they are no longer needed.

The service, which integrates adult social care and health in a pooled budget, called the Better Care Fund, recycles more than half of items which are then suitable to be loaned out again.

The value of these recycled items in 2016/17 totalled a staggering £1.5m, enabling the service to significantly reduce spending on new equipment.

Figures released show more than 12,000 people are currently provided with equipment, to help keep them safe and living independently in their home, with another 2,500 active users of Telecare in Sandwell.

Councillor Shackleton said: "One of the major achievements of the past 12 months was to merge the ordering of equipment and Telecare onto the same system, which has allowed health and social care professionals access to a single ordering system and removed a lot of duplication.

"People who need equipment have it delivered within seven days of request and we are now aiming to increase the recycling rate of many of the items loaned out. I would urge anyone who has loaned items that are no longer needed to let us know so we can collect and recycle them for other people to use.

"The service has also introduced a dedicated occupational therapist role, which has led to greater knowledge of equipment and its suitability as well as realising significant year-on-year savings."

Prevention Stores is the council's in-house provider of equipment and Telecare in Sandwell and loans all kinds of household items to enable people to live safely and independently.

Telecare is the provision of a range of equipment and sensors that alert a carer or professional if something has or hasn’t happened in a property, for example, a person not returning to bed during the night after visiting the toilet. Other sensors include remote smoke detection, medication reminding devices as well as pagers to alert carers to any emergencies. Many items can also be linked to Sandwell’s Community Alarms service.

Work is underway to complete a further 110 homes in Erdington – and the first of the new homes will be ready to hand over from April this year. The new homes are part of a second phase of redevelopment of the Lyndhurst housing estate by Birmingham City Council, providing both social housing for rent and houses for sale.

Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for housing and homes, Cllr Peter Griffiths, said:  “This second phase of development will see 110 more houses, bringing the total to 251 quality homes.  As with the first development we are providing both social housing and houses for sale, making sure that we continue to tackle our housing shortage and provide homes for a range of needs and family size – from one to five bedroom properties.  The income gained from houses sold from this latest development will be reinvested into the council’s housing stock of social housing.”

Chris King, managing director for Kier Living added:  “Kier Living are committed to providing Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust and the communities in which we are working with high-quality homes and facilities. Our aim is to develop desirable and vibrant new homes at Abbey Fields in Erdington which will breathe new life into the area and make a huge difference to local people.”

Since 2012, the council has been developing new homes on the estate where a clearance programme of poor quality housing has been ongoing for a period of years.  Rebranded as Abbey Fields, the development has been undertaken as part of the council’s Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust programme.

The first phases of the redevelopment are now completed providing 141 new family homes. Of these 76 were for outright sale and 65 for social rent as new council homes.

The current phase under construction by Kier Living Limited will provide a further 110 new homes of which 85 will be for rent and 25 for outright sale. The homes include a range of two, three, four and five bed houses.  The first of the new homes will be handed over in April 2017. This phase of development is to be completed by June 2018.

Homes for sale in this phase of development are to be provided as part of the council’s own direct sales delivery arm, Forward Homes.  Abbey Fields is just one of the three schemes being delivered as part of the Forward homes programme.  Income generated by the sale of these homes will be reinvested into the council’s own housing stock.

The first eight homes for sale – not due for completion until June – have already been reserved, and the remaining will be released for sale shortly.

Alongside the creation of the new homes, work is also due to start on the new Abbey Fields Park in the centre of the estate in June 2017.

A “lifeline” adult social care service for people in Sandwell is helping almost 80,000 callers a year, latest figures show. Sandwell Council’s Enquiry answered 78,000 requests in the last year as members of the public, carers and health professionals sought assistance and guidance. The team also receives up to 160 email enquiries a day at peak periods.

Enquiry supports local residents and their relatives and carers, health professionals and other services. Councillor Ann Shackleton, the council’s cabinet member for social care, visited Enquiry team members at the Independent Living Centre, Smethwick, to find out more about the service.

She said: “Enquiry is part of our wider independent living team and the staff there do an excellent job. It’s a lifeline service for the many thousands of people who use it.

“We want to help people get the right services at the right time, so that they can keep their independence, stay safe and have a good quality of life.

“People get guidance and support on a whole range of enquiries on matters that are very important to them. Where necessary, Enquiry refers people to key workers and other specialist adult social care teams for the support or advice they need.

“The range of enquiries is quite remarkable – from requests for blue badges, personal care assistance and equipment and adaptions in the home to hospital discharges, safeguarding concerns and mental health support.

“Another key aspect of the team’s work is to give advice on home maintenance and staying safe and independent to people with disabilities, older people who may be frail and those with particular health problems.

“I was very impressed with team members’ commitment to helping people resolve their issues, and it’s good to know this kind of high quality support and advice is available.”

This May get ready to enjoy a fantastic shopping experience at the UK’s leading pregnancy and parenting event of the year. The Baby Show with MadeForMums will be taking place from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st May, at the NEC Birmingham. Find everything you need for bump, baby and you - with amazing offers all in one place, for three days only!

The show is a great way to get your hands on products and try before you buy. Brand and product experts will be there to tell you everything you need to know, so it’s a great opportunity to compare products and find the right fit for you and your baby. There will be over 200 exhibitors showcasing a huge array of essential baby products including buggies, nursery furniture, carriers, clothing, feeding, sleep and bathing equipment.  All the major baby retailers such as Mothercare and Babies R Us will be there, alongside other market leading brands such as iCandy, Stokke, UppaBaby, Chicco, Britax, MAM, Nuby, Baby Björn and Italian brand Peg Perego!  There will also be independent brands that you won’t find on the high street. And once you’ve shopped until you’ve dropped, don’t worry about all the carrying as you can take advantage of the free Emma’s Diary Collect-By-Car service where you can drop off all your purchases and continue until you’ve got a carful!

Wing Yan Lee, Marketing Manager at The Baby Show says: “The Baby Show is the UK’s biggest pregnancy and parenting event and a must-visit shopping venue for new and expectant mums and dads.  After a hugely successful show at London ExCeL, we can’t wait to open the doors in Birmingham NEC.

“We will have over 200 of the very best baby brands exhibiting their products, some for the first time giving shoppers an exclusive first look at what’s hot on the market.  And don’t forget we have the MadeForMums stage where we have another fantastic line up of some of the UK’s best parenting experts ready to share their advice on how to get through – and enjoy – those tricky first months of parenthood.  We look forward to welcoming everyone there.”

There will be a wonderful line up of speakers on The Baby Show Stage with MadeForMums including experts from the world of breastfeeding, sleep and nutrition.

30 is the age when people from the West Midlands finally know who they are and feel comfortable in their own skin – but their sense of identity starts to fade at 61, according to new research.

By 30 years of age, the typical West Midland resident will have refined their taste in music and they’ll have six close friends.

35 percent will have cultivated their TV and film preferences, while one quarter will have developed their tastes in literature. Nearly four in ten will know what their fashion preferences are and will also be at ease driving.

But 33 is the age people from the West Midlands will worry least about what other people think of them.

Despite this, they are concerned they will lose some sense of who they are by the age of 61.

Commissioned by My Nametags, manufacturer of durable stickers and iron-on labels for care homes, the research of 2,000 UK adults found that the biggest fears Brits have about growing old are losing their memories, feeling isolated or forgotten - with 74 percent fearing they’d become isolated if they were to ever move into a care home.

Two thirds of those polled are worried about close relatives one day living in a care home. Seven in 10 are concerned they would be forgotten by friends and family upon moving into a retirement home.

68 percent of people said they’d worry about losing some sense of self if they ever were to move into a care home - while 70 percent are worried they’d lose their possessions.

Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director, said: “For many of us, our sense of who we are – our tastes, preferences and opinions - takes time to develop so it’s understandable that the prospect of losing this is daunting. Particularly for the older generation of our population and those moving into a care home.

“Moving into residential care is a big life change and the thought that you might lose some part of yourself in the process doesn’t make it any easier. In addition to losing your identity, 70 percent of people are worried they might lose their possessions when moving into a care home which is a great concern! Our nametags help these residents maintain their sense of identity and keep hold of their treasured possessions which often hold lasting memories.”

Three quarters of those polled said their belongings reflect who they are as a person.

While 83 percent said they own items which have particular importance to them - including jewellery, photos and keepsakes.

Memories, family and sense of humour are among the things that form our identity according to those polled.

Friends, morals, hobbies and the place where you grow up are also among the factors that shape who we are.

I Want! I Want! Art and Technology, opening at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on the 1 April, explores work from the Arts Council Collection by artists that have been influenced by technology as it has developed and evolved over the last 20 years. Each of the 27 artists’ approach to their practice is different, presenting varying views of the world and culture around us.

The show presents contemporary artists’ use of technology in the production (using various media including computer animation, videos, computer graphics, audio, photography, gaming technology), presentation and engagement of their work (films, moving image, sculptures, paintings, interactive games, drawings). The artworks themselves tackle a range of themes including human relationships, surveillance and the habits of modern society.

The works featured in the exhibition have been principally selected from the Arts Council Collection, as part of the Collection’s National Partnership Programme. The four partners include the Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne; Birmingham Museums Trust; The Walker Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool and Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Over the next two years the galleries will deliver a year-round programme of exhibitions and events enabling even more people to see and enjoy works from the Collection.

The works in I Want! I Want! date from the mid-1990s to the present day and include significant contemporary artists, such as Rachel Maclean, Julian Opie, Ed Atkins and Daria Martin. The exhibition also includes works from Birmingham Museum, Fitzwilliam Museum, artists and private collectors.

For busy parents determined to keep the adventures coming even with little ones in tow the team at Bedruthan have created a four-night break that is the perfect combination of exploration and relaxation – you'll all leave feeling like you have had a proper holiday. This break gives families the chance to enjoy the beautiful and tranquil beach setting as a family for longer, the perfect combination of exploration and relaxation.

After a generous Cornish breakfast each morning in the family friendly Wild Café, head to the indoor and outdoor pools for a splash around. While away the afternoon in the sea view lounge areas, let your little ones explore Jungle Tumble or embark on a fabulous outside adventure on the play equipment, all with breathtaking views across the golden sands of Mawgan Porth.

With two hours complimentary childcare included every day the indoor spa is a welcome retreat for busy parents; try out the cedar sauna, eucalyptus steam room and unwind completely in the sea view hydropool, or escape for an hour in the Sensory Spa Garden to invigorate all your senses in a one-hour experience, inspired by fire, earth, water, air and space. Guests will be invited to move through the seven stages designed to detoxify and renew your body.

A vibrant image showcasing what Wolverhampton’s new city centre market will look like has been released. It comes on the back of the planning application being submitted for the new Southside site, fronting Cleveland Street.

City of Wolverhampton Council announced in January the relocation of the market from Market Square. Dozens of enquiries have been received from prospective traders interested in being part of the new market. It will provide increased footfall from the Wulfrun Centre and transport Interchange, as well as situating the market in a student catchment area.

Enquiries have come in from the likes of bakers, jewellers, hairdressers, children’s clothing and cosmetics retailers, and a variety of world cuisine outlets.

The current city centre traders will have first refusal on obtaining licenses at the new market, which will offer the flexibility to trade from bigger cabins, a secure site, CCTV, integrated lighting and power, free WiFi, canopy-covered walkways, offices, customer toilets, and comprehensive parking and storage facilities.

Traders have also been consulted over a servicing strategy to move stock with a dedicated motorised truck, which will keep on-site vehicles to a minimum and create a pleasant and safe retail space for customers.

This model operates successfully at other markets across the country. Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: “This new image really shows off what an exciting prospect the new city centre market is. We are consulting regularly with the current traders over the relocation – and we will be announcing exciting new traders in the coming months. Their addition will provide a more varied range of sales lines to differentiate it from a traditional market offer.

“This ideal location, funded by the sale of Market Square as part of the Westside scheme, has loads of potential – and we want this to be the people’s market, where events are also encouraged.

“It will prove an asset to the city centre.”

The former Netto store and adjoining buildings were cleared from the Southside site last year, paving the way for the move, which will see 48 tented stalls and 16 purpose-built cabins transferred from Market Square in phases.

It is anticipated the move will be completed in winter 2017/18 – but not during the Christmas trade period.

The Market Square location is to be absorbed into the new £55 million leisure-led Westside development by preferred developer Urban & Civic.

This will deliver a multi-screen cinema, restaurants, bars, hotel, multi-storey car park, apartments, and public realm to the heart of the city centre, in two phases, over five years.

A temporary market has been in place since April last year when the indoor traders joined the outdoor traders in Market Square to enable the demolition of Heantun House and the old indoor market.

For the ninth consecutive year, NH Hotel Group will support the WWF global initiative Earth Hour, switching off the lights of its hotels' façades all over the world.

With this gesture, which will be made by the Company between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm on Saturday 25 March, NH Hotel Group is demonstrating its firm commitment to respecting and protecting the environment in which it runs its business.

With its commitment to this WWF initiative, the Company aims not only to involve its hotels and employees across the world, but also its clients and help increase society's awareness of the importance of looking after our planet for future generations.

Commitments to sustainability

As a result of its commitment to the sustainable development of its operation, NH Hotel Group has completed various initiatives, enabling it to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 70% and its energy consumption by 29%, involving not only the Company as a whole but also the suppliers with whom it works.

NH Hotel Group also has ISO 14001 certification in terms of environmental performance, and is the first global hotel chain to obtain ISO 50001 certification, the most important standard in energy management systems. The Group also supports renewable energies and 78% of the energy supplied to its hotels is green energy.

The biggest initiative against climate change

Earth Hour is an initiative led by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), supported every year by hundreds of millions of people all over the world, joining their voices for the protection of the environment.

Since its creation in 2007, more than 7,000 cities have taken part in this initiative, enabling millions of people, companies and governments to join voices to demonstrate that a future based on clean energy is possible.