Biddulph Primary Care Centre has been shortlisted for two accolades at this year’s Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) West Midlands Awards.

Opened in July 2013, Biddulph’s 3,500 sqm state-of-the-art primary care centre, which is the home to two GP practices, will go head-to-head with other new and regeneration projects from around the region. Its innovative ‘figure-of-eight’ design, which plays on the different heights of land across the site, and its thoughtful choice of materials inspired by the local area has earned the centre a place in the list of finalists for the ‘Design Through Innovation’ category, and the passion shown by the Biddulph community for the centre has also secured it a place on the ‘Community Benefit’ shortlist, with centre staff especially impressed with their workplace. [Read more…]

 

 

 

 

 

Two schemes to improve sporting facilities in Biddulph have recently been completed.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has invested £25,000 in new lighting for the sports hall at Biddulph Valley Leisure Centre and almost £208,000 on a project to create a new multi-use games area, tennis courts and car parking at Halls Road.

Improving sporting amenities is a priority for the Council – a commitment which has already seen work begin on a synthetic bowling green and a new pavilion at St Lawrence Recreation Ground and improved drainage at the Mill Hayes sports ground pitches. Further work to provide outdoor gym equipment and a new playground at Halls Road is planned.

 

[Read more…]

Three police officers from Biddulph have taken part in one of the toughest challenges of their lives to help send children with disablities or terminal illness on the holiday of a lifetime to Disneyland in Florida. PCSO Peter Johnson, PC Steve Marsh and PC Steve Meacock, all from Biddulph, were part of the ‘Bobbies on Bikes 4 Kids’ team that cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats (covering 900 miles in 9 days) to raise money to send three children to Disneyland in Florida through Cauldwell Children’s charity ‘Destination Dreams’. With your helpthey exceeded their challenge and raised £25,036. [Read more…]

Long awaited work on the steps linking Wharf Road car park to Biddulph High Street has finally started. The £28,000 project aims to widen the stairs and improve the lighting and planting, and link the Primary Care Centre to the steps with a defined pedestrian walkway. Plans were drawn up for the project to redesign the steps in 2012 but a dispute over land ownership has led to a delay. Now the work has begun and is expected to take around 8 weeks to complete.

Proposals by Staffordshire County Council could see visitors to Greenway Bank Country Park having to pay to park there. The County Council are considering implementing car park charges to a number of country parks across the county due to the rise in visitor numbers which they say is resulting in costing them more to maintain the facilities. Which parks would be affected have not been revealed but could include Greenway Bank. [Read more…]

Biddulph Town Councillors are to investigate the possibility of creating a ‘Town Square’ in front of the town hall. The proposal was made at a recent council meeting where a number of councillors supported the idea. A ‘Town Square’ would provide a focal point and provide a dedicated space for events to be held directly outside the town hall. A sub committee has now been set up to investigate the idea further and seek professional advice on the proposal.

Biddulph has received Fairtrade Town status for a further two years. In granting the renewal, the Fairtrade Foundation commented, “it is clear that Fairtrade is continuing to grow in Biddulph and… it is great to see how engaged the Fairtrade group are with Sainsbury’s, local churches, schools and community groups”. Gillian Reynolds, secretary to the Fairtrade Town group, said “I personally would like to add my own appreciation of the support for Fairtrade from the Biddulph community: especially from the members of Biddulph Town Council, and in the ongoing events such as the Open Cafe during the Biddulph festival each summer, and the Fairtrade Fortnight events that are put on each year by schools, churches and community groups.”

New powers aimed at improving local responses to incidents of anti-social behaviour are now available to Biddulph residents.Known as the ‘community trigger’, the process gives individuals, businesses and community groups the right to request a review of the response to their reports of anti-social behaviour. It should only be used by those who believe their concerns have not been dealt with or acted upon by partner agencies. [Read more…]

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has scooped a Government grant of more than £5million to fund two high-profile projects, and they will be using £1.2million to create a tri-service neighbourhood centre in Biddulph for blue light organisations. [Read more…]

Bowlers in Biddulph can look forward to a brand new green next summer as work starts at St Lawrence Road recreation ground. Bowlers have been without a home since the Labour Club was demolished to make way for the Sainsbury’s development in 2010. [Read more…]