Alty round off the 2024/25 National League with a Bank Holiday Monday clash with Tamworth at the J our hopes of achieving a Vanarama National League top seven finish ended last weekend at Dagenham Tamworth’s season has been most recognised for their exceptional run in the Emirates FA Cup but their league form since the turn of the year has also been impressive the Lambs have won seven of their 11 league games and that’s really helpful when you’re trying to move forward rather than people trying to be divisive and push in different directions “Today [the day of the Dagenham defeat] was about the result and it was a really negative one for the football club but there shouldn’t be a bad feeling around the football club because it’s in a really strong position.” September 2024 – Alty picked up all three points the last time the two sides met at The Lamb Ground earlier in 2024/25 Second-half goals from Alex Newby and Justin Amaluzor gave Alty a healthy lead before a Tom Crawford red card added some jeopardy Dan Creaney pulled one back for Tamworth in added time but the Robins left Tamworth with a 2-1 win Our final Main Match Sponsor of the season is Bodhi Solutions A big thank you for supporting the game and the football club and we hope you and your guests have a fantastic afternoon with us We also welcome Peter Higson and friends to The John King Lounge as our Match Ball Sponsors this Monday We thank Peter for his continued support and hope his group have a great afternoon as our guests Online tickets will remain on sale right up to kick-off at 3pm with cash turnstiles (opening from 1pm for home fans Adult £20 | 65+/Students/NHS £15 | 12-18 £9 | 5-11 £4 | Under 5 £1 For the 13th time out of the last 18 games The John King Lounge has SOLD OUT Thank you to everyone who has joined us for hospitality this season and we look forward to welcome our final guests of 2024/25 on Monday afternoon Don't forget, match ticket holders receive 10% off at Nell's Pizza on a matchday in the Stamford Quarter Turnstiles open from home fans at 1pm (away fans 1:30pm) on matchday. The CSH Bar and Fan Zone will both be open from 1pm, with live pre-match music from Solly Temkin of The Bliss Our pop-up shop will be open from 1-3pm in the CSH Bar for all your Alty merch. If you fancy browsing before you buy, or simply buying your merch online for home delivery, click here to view our full range Sponsored by AO and taking place from 6pm in the Community Sports Hall after Monday's game and free to attend for ALL ticket holders We hope you'll join us as we take a look back at the highlights of the 2024/25 and celebrate everyone who's contributed to the football club over the last 10 months For full details on the awards click here and to vote for your Player, Young Player and Goal of the Season click here Hot off the press is Issue 27 - priced just £3 and available to purchase around the stadium on Monday afternoon Featured articles include a Chairman's Welcome from Bill Waterson a Bruce Springsteen-inspired Review of the Season the latest Altrincham FC Community Sports news a Altrincham FC Women update and an update from Milly from Stable Minds CIC If you can't make it on Bank Holiday Monday why not tune into Radio Robins on Radio Alty at 2:45pm for live commentary from talented duo Erin Carroll & Harry Merrell Fancy watching the match? Head for DAZN here and purchase your game pass or annual subscription and login to view from 2:45pm - commentary from our very own Brian Flynn and Luke Edwards A big thank you to everyone for the support across 2024/25 Pubs across the region are set to see upgraded facilities and new jobs created after an announcement around a funding boost Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Heineken UK has announced it will invest £40 million in upgrading and reopening pubs in its Star Pubs division in 2025 creating nearly 1,000 new jobs across the country Around 25 per cent of Heineken UK’s 2,400 pubs will benefit from enhancements during the year with 104 of these earmarked for transformational revamps costing more than £120,000 £3.38 million is earmarked for pubs in the West Midlands with licensees expected to invest £96,000 on top with Heineken UK saying that demonstrated confidence in the future of the pub market and would result in an estimated 71 new jobs Twenty other pubs in the region are earmarked for investment A spokesman for Heineken UK said: "Although trading conditions have been tough over recent years Heineken UK has invested consistently throughout pumping £194 million into improving its pubs between the start of 2020 and the end of 2024 "97 per cent of Heineken UK’s pubs are in rural and suburban locations and its 2025 investment programme will reflect this "Major refurbishments will make over pubs with stylish comfortable and welcoming decors designed to entice pubgoers and cater for a wide range of customers and occasions "A comprehensive package of energy efficiency measures will be included to increase each pub’s sustainability "Every project will be sympathetic to the building and its history retaining and preserving original features." Star Pubs’ managing director said: “Consistent investment and a strategy of creating great locals have been key to helping our pubs weather the storms of the last few years “Heineken sees first hand the value in great British pubs and their ongoing popularity "It recognises that Brits love their locals and that well-invested pubs trade better "This £40 million inward investment from a Dutch business into UK pubs is a resounding vote of confidence in the future of the sector people in the West Midlands are still prioritising a trip to their local valuing it as an everyday treat and as a way of connecting with their community "But they want to be guaranteed a quality experience: relaxing in an attractive setting is an important factor when pubgoers choose where to spend their money  “The vast majority of our pubs are leased by independent operators who run them as their own our investment programme keeps alive the great British tradition of individual locals each with its own unique feel and serving the particular needs of its community." From the moment Ruth Redgate began learning how to make bread by hand Now she is the owner of Hunnypot Cottage Bakery and creates a wide range of breads and pastries from traditional white and wholegrains to more exotic treats “In 2013, my children bought me a bread making course – and I loved it,” says Ruth, who lives near Lichfield “When you take a baking course at a commercial bakery they use deck ovens which means you come back with loads of bread so I gave it away to neighbours and friends who asked for more and that’s how the business started.” Ruth sells her breads and pastries through her website as well as at local craft fairs They are also delivered to homes and farm shops in Lichfield “We offer 30 different types of breads – not all of these are on offer at every market – ranging from the simple white or 100 per cent wholemeal to our classics such as the rosemary “We also offer a range made without gluten although customers are made aware we do not have a separate kitchen for this so if you can’t have cranberries because you are on blood thinners then we will add another fruit to our hot cross buns and tea cakes,” explains Ruth These cookies are required for the operation of the site and cannot be managed We use Google Analytics to track page visits through the site the route someone took through the site and an approximate location for the user This cookie helps us to understand a user's route through the site This does not record any personal details or monitor anything you type in our forms Almost half the results have been returned overnight with the remaining 32 seats declaring later today The Reform UK Party is leading in the Staffordshire County Council election Ballots cast on 1 May have already been counted overnight in four districts and boroughs while the remaining results will be declared later today All the Council’s 62 divisions are being contested and with each returning one councillor The four district and borough areas returning results overnight were Lichfield Ballots will be counted today for the remaining 32 seats in the Cannock Chase Stafford and Staffordshire Moorlands areas The Conservatives have controlled the county council since winning in 2009 and entered this election holding 53 seats with five for Labour and four for independent councillors More detail about the results is available here These contact details are for journalists and members of the media only: Email: pressoffice@staffordshire.gov.ukCall: 01785 895050 If you are not a journalist or member of the media and have a general enquiry please: Email: contactus@staffordshire.gov.ukCall: 0300 111 8000 The people of Britain will come together on Thursday 8 May to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day signalling the end of the Second World War in Europe Tamworth Borough Council in partnership with the local branch of The Royal British Legion and St Editha’s Church are planning a day of commemoration activities and events in the town Special VE flags will be raised on Marmion House and the castle tower and lighting the castle in the evening to mark the occasion along with bunting provided for business to dress the outside of their buildings Evening Anniversary ConcertFriday 9 May at 7.30pm St Editha's Church will host a special anniversary concert featuring: Free admission. Tickets must be reserved at www.tamworthtickets.co.uk Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May Join the castle to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Activities included in normal castle admission price Visitors can take part in sending morse code pass an army medical and take the air raid shelter survival test Tamworth Games Club will be reenacting some of the significant battles that occurred during WWII No pre-booking required. But you can book in advance here. said: “VE day is important because it marked the end of World War II in Europe a six-year conflict that caused immense suffering and destruction.  “When victory was announced people took to the streets to celebrate with friends and neighbours.“VE day marks the start of the political economic and physical reconstruction of Europe as well as the repatriation of refugees and displaced people.“It’s important that we recognise this date so that it is never forgotten and our next generation will continue to honour this important date in our history.”Stephen Gabriel Chief Executive for Tamworth Borough Council said: “There’s so much planned both nationally and locally to mark VE Day 80 and we are proud to be supporting Tamworth’s Royal British Legion and St Editha’s Church with our own events in the town. "Tamworth has always been a community that honours its heritage while looking forward we're working to make sure that the stories of bravery keeping the spirit of those who secured our freedom alive for future generations." Tamworth Borough CouncilMarmion House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7BZ  Tel: 01827 709709   Contact us online form Follow us on facebook Follow us on LinkedIn Having led through Dan Creaney's early goal Tamworth then had goalkeeper Jas Singh sent off just before the half-hour mark Nick Haughton swiftly equalised and further efforts from Charlie Jolley and Lincoln McFayden had Fylde 3-1 up before Kennedy Digie pulled a goal back for the hosts just prior to the break Creaney completed his brace in the 78th minute to bring things all square again and Finn subsequently completed the turnaround with a finish in the first minute of time added on at the end To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Ustabaşı Match OfficialsReferee: Wayne CartmelAssistant Referee 1: Thomas StatenAssistant Referee 2: Niall FeltonFourth Official: Jonathan ChadwickMatch StatsKey Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Tamworth joins national Dementia Action Week with a series of events to raise awareness about dementia A packed week of events including coffee mornings is taking place in the town between Monday 19 May and Sunday 25 May People are invited to start Dementia Action Week with a song, as ‘U3A Choir’ will be performing a concert on Saturday 17 May at Sacred Heart. Tickets are £8 available from davidbarnes99@yahoo.com Tamworth was granted Dementia Friendly Community status in 2018 for action in helping to improve the lives of local people living with dementia Activities are being organised and co-ordinated by the Tamworth Dementia Friendly Communities Partnership; a partnership of stakeholders working together to raise awareness and improve services locally Partnership includes Tamworth Borough Council, the police, fire service, health care services and providers, community groups, businesses and local people with lived experience of dementia.Dementia Action Week 2025 – Tamworth events guideStart the week with a song!Kick off Dementia Action Week with a special performance by the U3A Choir on Saturday 17 May at Sacred Heart Church.Tickets: £8 – Available in advance from davidbarnes99@yahoo.com Monday 19 May•    Dementia awareness stallAnkerside Shopping Centre 10am – 2pmLearn more about dementia from a Dementia UK volunteer ambassador The stall runs daily until Friday 23 May.•    Time to Sing Dementia ChoirElim Church Bamford Street 10.30am – 12 noonA warm welcome awaits all – come and enjoy singing in a dementia-friendly setting.•    Carers' support meetingSt Peter’s Church Glascote 6.30pm – 8pmAn open meeting offering support and connection for carers Tuesday 20 May•    Memory CaféSacred Heart Church off Silver Link RoadMorning Session: 10.30am – 12.30pmAfternoon Session: 1.30pm – 3.30pmNo need to book – come for advice support and a friendly chat.•    Alzheimer’s Society awareness stallTamworth Market - all dayStop by to learn more about dementia and ask questions Thursday 22 May•    Time Out Club taster sessionsSt Peter’s Church & Community Centre Hawksworth 1pm – 4.30pmIncludes a Singing for Fun session from 1pm – 2pm.Free activities for people living with dementia Friday 23 May•    Dementia coffee morningSt Peter’s Church 9am – 11amCome along for coffee Saturday 24 May•    Dementia-friendly cuppa & chatHelping Hands Café welcoming space.•    Dementia Awareness church serviceSt John the Baptist St John Street 6pmA thoughtful service in support of Dementia Action Week Sunday 25 May•    Informal Dementia GatheringHelping Hands Café & Tamworth and Lichfield Methodist Church 2pm – 4pmInformal conversations with a focus on early diagnosis and support.•    Dementia Awareness Church Serviceso    St John the Baptist St John Street 10.30amo     Sacred Heart Church 9am and 12 noon or simply want to support your community – there's something for everyone during Dementia Action Week More than half of UK adults know someone who has been diagnosed with dementia and the number of people with dementia continues to grow Dementia Action Week is an Alzheimer’s Society dementia awareness raising campaign which encouraged people to act on dementia and understand the importance of early diagnosis Everyone is welcome to all the events and no pre-booking is required Further details can be downloaded via the Dementia Friendly page of Tamworth Borough Council’s website at Dementia support | Tamworth Borough Council As an official Dementia Friendly Community a lot of work has taken place in Tamworth to create a place in which people living with dementia This includes building an army of Dementia Friends - people who have undergone a short awareness session to give them a basic understanding of dementia and some of the issues it can create for people living with it chief executive of Tamworth Borough Council said: “Seeing a loved one slip away because of dementia is heartbreaking there is a lot of local support for those with dementia and their families By supporting Dementia Action Week we’re helping raise awareness of this condition and the support available in Tamworth “We encourage anyone with dementia or their families to come along to the events and activities to reach out for support.” Becoming a Dementia Friend can be done online or in person and takes less than an hour. Visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk or contact Tamworth Borough Council’s lead officer for Dementia Friendly Communities Download the 2025 calendar of events as a pdf. Steve Cotterill's third-placed side scored all their goals in the first half to all-but end Tamworth's play-off aspirations Kyle McAllister had an early effort cleared off the line but two goals inside three minutes put the home side in the driving seat Jordon Garrick fired into the bottom corner in the 29th minute and Charlie McCann added a second shortly afterwards before Jamie Robson's composed finish four minutes from half-time Cardwell at 75 minutesSubstituteshome team Forest Green RoversManager: Steve Cotterill Cardwell at 75 minutesSubstitutesNumber 16 Yellow Card at 45 minutesSubstitutesNumber 18 Williams Match OfficialsReferee: Oliver MackeyAssistant Referee 1: Andrew EllisAssistant Referee 2: Scott ChalkleyFourth Official: Liam CorbettMatch StatsKey Hosts Tamworth opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Tom McGlinchey found the top corner But Solihull hit back five minutes after the break with Conor Wilkinson getting his 15th goal of the season in all competitions Whitmore won it for Solihull three minutes before the end to move them seven points clear of the drop zone Whyte-Hall Match OfficialsReferee: Isaac SearleAssistant Referee 1: Jack ForderAssistant Referee 2: Oliver NolanFourth Official: Jake AllsoppMatch StatsKey The countdown is on for the return of Tamworth’s popular St George’s Day celebrations with an exciting line-up of entertainment set to take over the Castle Grounds on Easter Saturday 19 April The FREE annual festival is one of the highlights of Tamworth Borough Council’s impressive calendar of outdoor events drawing thousands of visitors from across the country the event falls on Easter weekend making it an even bigger ‘eggtravaganza!’ The line-up of Medieval fun activities includes all the festival favourites including jousting fairground rides and children’s activities Returning this year is Epico the dragon as he parts the mists of time inviting his audience to the land of adventure for non-stop family entertainment.  The Grand Medieval Joust is back by popular demand Audiences will be able to watch the action unfold as St George competes with knights on horseback as they take to the main arena to show off their jousting skills with skilled performances from stunning horses and knights in shining armour knights will also demonstrate the variety of weapons and combat methods used during medieval skirmishes Other entertainment and activities for the whole family include workshops hamsterzorb and a medieval encampment featuring equipment and living history demonstrations evident during the period Children can enjoy traditional games including post-mills Food vendors will be on site selling delicious German sausages Visitors can also enjoy community and local business stalls selling items such as artisan soap Barkers Fun Fair will be in the grounds.  Tales for Children (MC) 3.15pm - 3.45pm - Twit Twoo Falconry (JA) Epico the Dragon (MC)3.45pm – 4.15pm - Medieval Battle (JA) The Tales of Robin Hood Puppet Theatre (MC)4.15pm – 5.00pm - The Grand Medieval Joust (JA)5.00pm - Official Closing Time chief executive for Tamworth Borough Council said: “The St George’s Day festival is one of the most popular events on our calendar and we are excited that this year we get to celebrate during the Easter holidays on Saturday 19 April “With so much going on throughout the event it’s easy to keep the whole family entertained for several hours with a variety of medieval-themed fun and games “We’re looking forward to welcoming lots of people to the town during this fun Easter weekend, with the celebrations starting from 10.30am. Look out for the full programme line-up at www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk.” This year’s event is kindly being supported by LightSpeed A council has stood by their decision to erect a bench near Spudman's iconic van despite his arguments against the move The future of Tamworth's favourite jacket potato seller, Spudman, was seemingly secure when Tamworth Borough Council re-evaluated plans for St Editha's Square to better accommodate the market traders The original regeneration plans for the square would have meant that the social media icon Ben Newman would have had to move his van to a different 'pitch' in the town However, in a shocking U-turn, the council amended their plans for the regeneration to ensure that Mr Newman could remain in his original location, along with developing ample space for customers and shoppers.  Now, in a heated video posted to the Spudman's official Instagram and TikTok pages, the potato seller announced that a new concrete bench sits so close to his van that it would cause a trip hazard. Mr Newman said: "What am I meant to do at this point? We fought a good fight and they screwed us, they have literally bare-faced lied to us. Braintree went ahead after seven minutes when Ryan Clampin's left-wing cross was headed home by Jermaine Francis But the Lambs were level 10 minutes later when Jordan Ponticelli's ball over the top was volleyed home by Beck-Ray Enoru and they were ahead when Ponticelli cut the ball back for Enoru to add a second after 20 minutes John Akinde levelled from the spot in the 25th minute after Kyrell Lisbie was brought down Tom McGlinchey then volleyed Tamworth ahead again in stoppage time as an entertaining first half came to an end The start of the second half was delayed by a medical emergency and Daniel Creaney made sure of the points in stoppage time for Tamworth when he converted Kai Williams' cross Yellow Card at 63 minutesSubstituteshome team Yellow Card at 63 minutesSubstitutesNumber 33 Judge Match OfficialsReferee: Melissa BurginAssistant Referee 1: Kevin MorrisAssistant Referee 2: Stuart ButlerFourth Official: Harry WarnerMatch StatsKey A woman from Tamworth who failed to comply and breached an abatement notice prohibiting light nuisance has been successfully prosecuted by Tamworth Borough Council has been convicted for the offence of breaching an abatement notice served under the Environmental Protection Act 1990; in relation to light nuisance from an outside light that unreasonably interfered with the use at the property of the prosecuted resident were found to be extremely bright and being used to antagonise their neighbours The lights would go on and off randomly throughout the night causing disruption to sleep Or they would be left on for longer periods for no discernible reason.  The perpetrator disregarded the opinions of Tamworth Borough Council’s Environmental Health officers and were especially dismissive of the complainants’ concerns The woman was charged and sentenced to pay a fine of £108 with a victim surcharge of £43 and a contribution towards costs of £500 A Tamworth Borough Council officer served an abatement notice July 2023 requiring the perpetrator to ‘abate the nuisance’ meaning stop or reduce the problem until it’s no longer a concern the issue returned and so the decision was made to prosecute once two breaches of the notice were witnessed by council officers the perpetrator finally agreed to reduce the lights brightness and timings to the point where it was no longer considered a nuisance there is compliance with the notice.  Chief Executive at Tamworth Borough Council said: “In this case the perpetrator disregarded the impact their actions were having on others and wilfully refused to check their behaviour They continued to breach the terms of their abatement notice so we were left with no choice but to take court action “Light nuisance is an offence often easily resolved once we discuss and outline any issues with the parties involved the perpetrator refused to comply so faced prosecution.  “We work closely with all residents and take any reports very seriously Crimes that effect the use or enjoyment of someone in their home will be acted on and notices or prosecution issued when required.” For more information about anti-social behaviour and how to report any incidents, please take a look at the council website here: https://www.tamworth.gov.uk/community-safety/anti-social-behaviour  Tamworth Borough Council are excited to work in partnership with Laughing Bulldog Events Ltd to host a Tamworth Tribute Festival bringing a weekend of UK’s top tribute bands to the Castle Grounds on 28 and 29 June.  The festival is part of the council’s programme of outdoor summer events The new collaboration will deliver a full programme of daytime and evening entertainment for the whole family including tribute acts Oasis Experience Take That Experience and headlining acts UK Queen and Abba Reunion Tribute The festival promises to be a family-friendly atmosphere with space for everyone to relax and enjoy music This exciting new partnership will help support future council outdoor events and open spaces entertainment.  The line-up confirmed so far for Tamworth Tribute Festival is: Director of Laughing Bulldog Events Ltd said: “We’re so excited to be bringing this brand-new event to Tamworth in conjunction with Tamworth Borough Council.  providing something for the community to enjoy in the heart of the Castle Grounds and attracting visitors from outside of the borough.  “There hasn’t been a festival quite like this in Tamworth and we’re confident we can make Tamworth Tribute Festival a successful annual event that the whole family can enjoy together “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with the council to create an event which will kick off summer with an absolute high Hopefully it will ignite an excitement for everyone to come out and support more local business events this year.  this weekend is being delivered by the people of Tamworth for the people of Tamworth and promises to be a fantastic weekend!” Tickets are selling fast so book now to avoid disappointment. Find out more here: www.TamworthTributeFestival.co.uk Councillor Lewis Smith, portfolio holder for people services engagement and leisure for Tamworth Borough Council and we can’t wait to kick off our outdoor events with Tamworth Tribute Festival “Working in partnership to deliver this family festival weekend With daytime entertainment and evening tribute bands everything is booked ready for what will be a weekend to remember “Early bird tickets are nearly sold out so get booking now we really hope visitors and residents will join us for an incredible music event.” The completed Aldergate and Upper Gungate reconstruction scheme in Tamworth A major £1.2 million highways improvement scheme in Tamworth has been completed two weeks ahead of schedule.  The Staffordshire County Council scheme at Aldergate and Upper Gungate took just over seven weeks to complete all of the planned works.  It saw the reconstruction and resurfacing of the road between Lichfield Street and Comberford Road along with a section of Offa drive.    and ironworks and upgraded traffic sensors throughout the area as part of the improvements.  The entire project was carefully planned in five short phases to minimise disruption to the community as much as possible. Crews additionally put in extra shifts and completed more overnight and weekend work to ensure good progress was made Local businesses have praised the highways teams for their professionalism helpfulness and strong communication throughout the scheme.  manager at The Peel Hotel and Christopher’s at Aldergate I hope everyone’s enjoying them.  I just want to extend my thanks because they were just so helpful every day very professional and always wanting to help us.”   one final overnight closure is scheduled for Wednesday 16 April from 7.30pm to 5.30am This final session will include additional repair works not originally part of the project.  Assistant Director for Highways at Staffordshire County Council was keen to thank residents and businesses for their co-operation during the scheme.  “We know that good roads affect everyone in the county which is why having a strategic plan of maintenance and improvements is key to keeping highways in a decent condition and safe for all users.  “This has been an important scheme for Tamworth and it’s great to see work completed especially ahead of schedule.  It’s a busy part of the town and residents have been asking for these improvements for a number of years now.  It’s also a key route to Alrewas so again it’s great for commuters in the neighbouring towns too.     “Crews did their utmost to get the work done as efficiently as possible while keeping people informed and we’re grateful to local businesses and residents for their patience and co-operation while the work was carried out.”  Residents can sign up to have monthly updates about the latest highways improvements in Tamworth sent to their inbox here. Watch on YouTube: Aldergate and Upper Gungate highways scheme in Tamworth completes early  Tamworth Borough Council is pleased to announce the new serviced office facility in Tamworth is nearing completion following the sympathetic renovation of a 19th century building in the heart of the town centre This work is part of the council’s Future High Streets Fund regeneration programme and is the second project to be complete.  The beautiful art nouveau 19th century building was formerly home to Tamworth Co-operative Society for more than 120 years the Colehill building will soon reopen with a new purpose and a new name which celebrates its rich past Tamworth Borough Council’s second enterprise centre is made up of 14 offices While the building has been brought up to date to provide modern facilities for 21st century businesses many of its original features have been uncovered and lovingly restored the centre will be named after Tamworth Co-operative Society’s first ever employee It will be known as the Elizabeth Bradford Business Centre providing a home to growing Tamworth businesses for years to come Historic records suggest Elizabeth Bradford was employed in 1886 at the Co-op’s first shop in Church Street before it relocated to the much bigger Colehill premises in 1897 It’s written that Elizabeth was employed on a wage of nine shillings for a 70-hour week with a grand total of £3 being taken on the first day of trading on December 10 We’d love to know more about Elizabeth and encourage any relatives said: “This building was home to Tamworth Co-operative Society for the best part of 125 years so it feels only fitting that we take a piece of that history into the next chapter “We’d love to find out even more about Elizabeth Bradford how long she worked at the Co-op and what happened to her it would be wonderful to hear from anyone who can help shed some light on her story “Deciding on a new name for the council’s second enterprise centre is an exciting milestone in getting this much-needed facility up and running for the town’s thriving community of growing businesses.” Anyone with information about Elizabeth can email communications@tamworth.gov.uk The Elizabeth Bradford Business Centre will complement the council’s first enterprise centre at Philip Dix House in Corporation Street which has been fully let since it first opened in 2017 While Tamworth Enterprise Centre offers small offices and flexible leases for start-ups the Elizabeth Bradford Business Centre’s larger offices provide the perfect location for businesses in their next stage of growth These include an ornate staircase with decorative 3D tiles and balustrades topped off with a beautifully renovated cupola Some of these had been hidden for many years Any businesses interested in taking office space in either the Elizabeth Bradford Business Centre or the Philip Dix centre can find out more by emailing tec@tamworth.gov.uk.  The work is part of Tamworth Borough Council’s ambitious £21million regeneration plans to restore the town centre as the thriving heart of the community South Staffordshire College is progressing with building a new college facility replacing the demolished 1960s part of the Co-op building Together the projects deliver a combined investment of over £40million in Tamworth town centre It provides a once in a generation opportunity to develop a town centre that meets the needs of 21st century shoppers Visit the Tamworth Borough Council website for more information on: Elizabeth Bradford Business Centre | Tamworth Borough Council For more information on all regeneration plans, visit www.transformingtamworth.co.uk Tamworth’s popular St George’s Day celebrations are back for 2025 with an exciting line-up of entertainment set to take over the Castle Grounds with medieval-themed fun for the whole family on Easter Saturday 19 April The line-up includes all the festival favourites that have led to the event becoming well-known Audiences will be able to watch the action unfold as St George competes with knights on horseback take to the main arena to show off their jousting skills food vendors and a medieval encampment featuring equipment and living history demonstrations evident during the period A large array of different traditional children’s games will include post-mills The Community Games is also in the grounds offering various activities from local providers and clubs They will bring together families in a friendly setting to create opportunities for both adults and children to try different sporting activities regardless of age or ability More details and how to book will be announced soon on Facebook.  engagement and leisure at Tamworth Borough Council “We’re looking forward to welcoming lots of people to the town during this fun Easter weekend, with the celebrations starting from 10.30am. Look out for the full programme line-up at: www.visittamworth.co.uk/st-georges-day-extravaganza-2025 This year’s event is kindly being supported by Lightspeed Communications Following Home Office action against T & J Burgers Tamworth Borough Council has also suspended the premises licence for the business for a period of three months from 13 February During a Home Office intelligence led compliance visit to the premises two people were found to be illegally working in the shop The Home Office issued a £80,000 fine for employing two people working in breach of their visa conditions. An application to Tamworth Borough Council was also made for a review of the licence The council’s licensing sub-committee decided on 22 January 2025 it was proportionate to suspend the licence to serve hot food and drink after 11pm The committee found there were numerous inconsistencies between the evidence presented by the Home Office Enforcement Officer and that given on behalf of the premises licence holder conditions added to the licence including: Work by the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Team aims to protect both the rights of legitimate businesses and their employees as well as the risks posed to illegal workers A licence is required for premises that serve hot food and drink after 11pm therefore Mr Jalil’s suspension applies to opening hours after 11pm only said: “As soon as we were aware of licence breaches from the evidence provided by the Home Office we worked with their enforcement officer to support their case in court and to take action ourselves to restrict the operation of this business.  the combined action of Tamworth Borough Council and the Home Office are essential to help protect legitimate businesses and protect workers from becoming vulnerable and exploited.  “We’d encourage all businesses to make sure they are aware the Home Office and ACAS legislation to avoid any risk of breaching licensing conditions.”   A £1.2 million highways improvement scheme has started in Tamworth.  at the B5493 Aldergate and A513 Upper Gungate involves the reconstruction and resurfacing of the road between Lichfield Street and Comberford Road.  Work includes improvements to a section of Offa Drive along with repairs to kerbs tactile crossings and ironworks in the area.  is being split into five different phases that will work on one section of the route at a time to minimise disruption to the local community which is taking place at Aldergate from Corporation Street to Hospital Street Christopher's and other businesses from the south via Corporation Street Since phase one was completed ahead of schedule the work programme has been adjusted to minimise disruption to businesses as much as possible no work will take place on Friday nights or weekends until the start of phase three The scheme will move on to phase three on Monday 10 March which will see crews work on Upper Gungate from Hospital Street to the Railway Bridge and Offa Drive Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Support Member for Highways South said: “These major schemes are the type of road repairs residents tell me that want to see delivered by Staffordshire County Council This is a busy part of Tamworth and a key route through the town so it is fantastic to see this scheme moving forward this month.  "We are now resurfacing an even larger stretch of the road than initially planned - from beyond Croft Street all the way to Fountain Junction Burton and the National Memorial Arboretum." This project has been carefully planned since it was first announced to the public two years ago and made possible because of the additional £45 million the county council has invested into highways over three years The overall project is expected to take around 12 weeks to complete.  To keep up to date with more highways improvements in this area, sign up to the Fixing More Roads in Tamworth newsletter on the county council’s website here AFC Fylde fell to a 91st minute goal as they were defeated 4-3 against 10-man Tamworth on Saturday afternoon Charlie Jolley and Lincoln McFayden has the Coasters 3-1 up late in the first half but a second half fightback from Tamworth meant Fylde left with nothing in their final away trip of 2024/25 The first half was action packed as the half was split into the two with a huge red card changing the momentum Tamworth top scorer Dan Creaney opened the scoring in simple fashion converting a header from close range to break the deadlock Fylde pushed for an equaliser and after Bryce Hosannah stole possession on the half way line he raced through on goal before being wiped out by Tamworth ‘keeper Jas Singh Referee Wayne Cartmel took his time to make a decision but eventually gave a red card for Singh as the hosts were reduced to 10 Nick Haughton took the resulting free kick and whipped a stunning effort into the top corner as Fylde drew level Moments later and Fylde were ahead with Charlie Jolley drilling an effort across the face goal past substitute ‘keeper Jack Hitchman Eight minutes were added on at the end of the first half with Fylde in complete control and with Nick Haughton enjoying his time on the ball he carved open the Tamworth defence which allowed Lincoln McFayden to add a third before the break There was still time for Tamworth to add to the scoreline with centre half Kennedy Digie adding a second for the Lambs with the final action of the first half leaving Fylde with just a one goal cushion Fylde were forced into their second enforced change early in the second half as Harry Davis was forced being replaced by Chris Stokes after Ash Boatswain was forced off in the first half Kai Williams had a golden opportunity to draw level after McFayden gifted the Lambs the ball inside the Fylde area but Williams blasted his effort over the bar Danny Ormerod and Jon Ustabasi were introduced with 20 minutes to go as Tamworth grabbed a real foothold in the contest Tamworth did grab their equaliser as Dan Creaney sealed his second of the afternoon slamming past Winterbottom from the edge of the area And as six minutes went up for injury time Tamworth grabbed a winner as Kyle Finn bundled home from close range as Fylde collapsed in the second 45 A frustrating end to the game in Staffordshire as Fylde look ahead to the final game of the season where they’ll face Champions Barnet at Mill Farm a week on Monday Tom McGlinchey scored two goals before the break with ex-Pilgrim Ben Milnes wrapping up the home side's victory after the break United were under pressure from the off - with defender Tom Leak cautioned for a foul on Beck-Ray Enoru inside 45 seconds Tom Donaghy made a fine early save to deny Dan Creaney after Callum Cockerill-Mollett had headed down Milnes' deep corner Tamworth took a 17th minute lead when McGLINCHEY arrowed the ball home after Tom Tonks' long throw had only been partially cleared McGLINCHEY doubled the hosts' lead 20 minutes later when he sailed home an effort from inside the penalty area after United had again only half-defended a set-piece delivery United had a chance to reduce the arrears after the break but Jas Singh made a good save to keep out Jimmy Knowles' header McGlinchey rattled the crossbar in pursuit of his hat-trick but Tamworth added their third goal when MILNES cracked an effort home from long-range after Tonks' long throw had found its way into his path Tamworth (4-2-3-1): Jas Singh; Ben Crompton Callum Cockerill-Mollett (Munashe Sundire 83); Ben Milnes (Miracle Okafor 70) Tom Tonks (Alex Fletcher 78); Tom McGlinchey Beck-Ray Enoru (Kyle Finn 78); Dan Creaney (Jordan Ponticelli 83) Cameron Green; Oisin Gallagher; Tony Weston (Sam Osborne 46) Frankie Maguire (Keaton Ward 46); Jimmy Knowles (Adam Marriott 71) Tamworth Borough Council in partnership with Middle Entry owners Peer Group have made the decision to not progress all original plans for Middle Entry as part of the Future High Street Fund project The decision was ratified by full council on 21 January 2025 The original plans included removing the glazed roof and the ‘bridge links’ at either end of the Middle Entry and demolishing numbers 9 Middle Entry and 18 20a and 21 George Street to enable a new flexible multi-use building for new and small businesses The glazed roof and golden bridges will now remain The new flexible building for new and small businesses continues and work is well underway and delivering to schedule with structural steelwork already in place.  In partnership with Peer Group and their tenants the decision was taken earlier in the year for the glass roof on Middle Entry to remain as it provides welcome shelter on rainy days The project then continued to progress with the design and logistics to remove the ‘bridge links’ at either end of Middle Entry it was critical that the programme of work could be delivered safely for all users of the town centre.  work to remove the ‘bridge links’ would mean that each entrance to Middle Entry would need to be closed for a number of months This level of disruption is too significant for all businesses in the town with Tamworth Borough Council directly contributing £1.4milion to the project Given the cost and the level of disruption the decision has been taken that this part of the project will not now go ahead Middle Entry will however be re-paved to match the new paving in St Editha’s Square and outside Middle Entry around the new buildings Town Hall and entrance to Castle Grounds.  This decision has not been taken lightly; the original plan was to open up the view from the Town Hall to St Editha’s church to encourage visitors though the town into the refurbished St Editha’s Square it means that £1.4million from Tamworth Borough Council will now be used to help fund regeneration work at Gungate another part of Tamworth town centre.  Carol Dean said: “This has been a difficult decision to make but it is the right one; we simply could not continue knowing the bridge links could not be removed without closing the entrances to Middle Entry for some time.  the previous political administration diverted funding from Gungate to pay for the works now that money will go back into the pot to support further regeneration work in the Gungate part of town.  it became clear that the original plans for Middle Entry could not go ahead “Work to regenerate Tamworth town centre is ambitious and substantial with plans that have been worked on for a number of years Throughout all the work the town and market are very much active and I’d urge everyone to continue to shop We’re entering the final stages of regeneration plans and there is a lot still to build and redevelop over the next six to eight months but this disruption will be the catalyst to a rejuvenated town centre that meets the needs of 21st century shoppers Senior Regional Property Manager from Peer Group said: “We regret that the Tamworth ‘bridge link’ development project has come to an end The decision was made after careful consideration with a strong focus on the potential impact the works would have on stakeholders in the area The original plan to remove the ‘bridge links’ would have required lengthy closures and caused significant disruption to the area.  “While this original plan will not proceed Peer Group remains committed to supporting Tamworth’s regeneration and is pleased to see the finances being redirected towards Gungate.  “Tamworth Middle Entry plays an important role as one of Peer Group’s fundamental sites and we are glad to see the community spirit being strengthened through these council-driven projects.” Other parts of Tamworth Borough Council’s £21million regeneration plan to transform the town centre into the busy thriving heart of the community continue to progress now at pace.  The former Peel Cafe on Market Street has now successfully opened as the new Nationwide Building Society which means their previous 1960s building opposite can be demolished to create a wider entrance to the castle grounds Work to restore the beautiful original 19th century former Co-operative building on Colehill is also very nearly complete and will be ready for the final fit in the coming weeks with the aim of opening in the Spring.  South Staffordshire College is also building a new college facility replacing the demolished 1960s part of the Co-operative Building which delivers a combined investment of over £40million in Tamworth town centre.  Tamworth town centre and market remain ready to welcome visitors for shopping This investment from the government’s Future High Streets Fund is a once in a generation opportunity to develop a town centre that meets the needs of 21st century shoppers See our website and previous press releases for further information about Tamworth’s Future High Streets Fund project: More information about the Future High Streets Fund is available online Tamworth Borough Council have announced free February half-term holiday activities taking place from Monday 17 February to Friday 21 February The one-week activity programme will run Monday-Friday offering a wide range of activities for children 12 years and under and the great news is that all activities are completely free of charge Though all sessions must be booked in advance.    guarantees to offer something for all abilities and interests Tamworth Enterprise College and Anker Valley Football camp at Tamworth Enterprise College Belgrave - Monday 17 February – Thursday 20 February Get your football fix by joining our football camp this February half term These sessions will keep your budding Daly Not only will they learn more about the beautiful game, but children will also have more fun, develop their skills, fitness and confidence. Book a fun packed four days of soccer school by emailing: Sports-pitches@tamworth.gov.uk Please note that all participates must be wearing mould studded football boots a waterproof jacket in case of inclement weather and a drink Statfold Roller Disco - Monday 17 February One of the biggest indoor arenas in the Midlands with its groovy lights and retro tunes you will have fun and get fit Book your free place now: Sports-pitches@tamworth.gov.uk Every child participating in this activity will need to be supervised by their parent/guardian That Fun Place - Tuesday 18 February, 10am-12pm Offering fun and exciting entertainment for all the family That Fun Place is a fantastic facility which includes three levels of soft play with over 30 individual activities such as spiral slides All children need to be supervised at all times by a responsible adult appropriate clothing and socks must be worn at all times These activities are free for one accompanying parent or guardian additional parents/guardians will be charged extra when checking in To book please contact: 01827 290007 for your booking code Jump Xtreme - Thursday 20 February 5pm-6pm Experience the West Midlands premier trampoline park for FREE this half term.  Jump Xtreme has over 115 interlinked trampolines and is on a mission to make sure you have bags of fun and get fit without even noticing it Please note: a responsible adult must stay on site during the activity and sign a waiver before the start of the session To secure your free place and unique reference number (this number must be redeemed on the day of the activity). Call: 01827 290007. Please note spaces are limited. Every child participating will need to wear the specific Jump Xtreme socks Anker Valley Sports Complex - Thursday 20 February Level 1 and 2 of the government national cycle training programme is aimed at children aged nine and above who can already ride unaided The training starts off the road and then those that are capable and safe are taken out onto quiet local roads To book your child onto the training please use the links below: Morning sessions: BikeRight - Bikeability level 1 and 2  Afternoon sessions: BikeRight - child group cycle training  Councillor Lewis Smith, portfolio holder for people services said: “These activities are always a huge success and are very popular so I would encourage people to sign up as soon as possible so that they don’t miss out “We work in partnership with sports clubs and companies from across the borough to put together our school holiday programmes which means we can offer a wide range of events for children for free during half term.  “We hope that the range on offer give children from across Tamworth opportunity to try something they may not have tried before.” Along with the free holiday activities, Tamworth Borough Council is also hosting events and entertainment at the Assembly Rooms and Tamworth Castle, with many varied free and paid for activities for the whole family.  More details are available at: www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk and on the castle website here: www.tamworthcastle.co.uk • £165,000 from government’s community recovery fund to support community projects across the borough• The initiative aims to build inclusivity and strengthen community bonds• Public launch event on 3 March Tamworth Borough Council is proud to announce the launch of ‘We Are Tamworth’ an exciting new crowdfunding programme aimed at supporting community-led initiatives With £165,000 in funding available from the government’s community recovery fund the programme will empower local groups to bring forward projects that build and promote good relationships in our neighbourhoods and strengthen bonds between people of all backgrounds and ages The aim of these projects is to strengthen resilience to hate and intolerance and promote cohesion and understanding across our community The programme seeks projects that:• Bring different communities together and removes barriers.• Develop a sense of belonging and highlight the diversity of Tamworth.• Support underrepresented groups and increase community engagement.• Promote initiatives that showcase positive contributions from different people.• Facilitate events that encourage interaction and understanding across communities.• Create volunteering opportunities that connect different generations helping them to develop and successfully crowdfund their projects a public event will be held where community groups can learn more about the programme The event will feature insights from Stephen Gabriel chief executive of Tamworth Borough Council The launch event will be held on Monday 3 March from 6pm - 7pm at St Peter’s Church & Community Centre receive funding and bring your idea to life community partnerships and antisocial behaviour said: “‘We Are Tamworth’ is a fantastic initiative that gives the people of Tamworth the opportunity to shape and improve their local communities By providing access to funding and support we hope to empower people to take action and bring forward projects that create a real and lasting impact This programme is about strengthening community ties and making Tamworth an even better place to live and work “We know that great ideas often come from within the community itself and local organisations have the resources they need to turn those ideas into reality We encourage everyone to get involved and make the most of this opportunity we are committed to building inclusivity and creating stronger neighbourhoods Through ‘We Are Tamworth’ and our collaboration with Spacehive we are investing in the future of our communities and supporting projects that celebrate the diversity and unity of our borough.” Our partnership with Tamworth Borough Council is about making those ideas happen and collectively building more inclusive communities that thrive on connection and shared purpose.” Eligible applicants include voluntary and community groups and faith groups (providing projects are inclusive and benefit the wider community) Schools may also apply in partnership with a community organisation for non-statutory projects For more details on eligibility and funding criteria, visit: www.spacehive.com/movement/tamworth  All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueKids Zone, RapidClean Tamworth and Tamworth Pet Centre are some of the businesses looking for new owners. All three have been operating for over 20 years After more than 20 years running the Tamworth Pet Centre pictured here with beloved 'shop dog' Brandy Picture by Gareth GardnerThe pet centre's history dates back over 50 years almost half of which it has been under the ownership of David and Debbie Mann the couple are ready for the next chapter of their lives It will be only the second time the business has changed hands with the Manns purchasing it from the original owners following a change in Mr Mann's work circumstances He said he can still remember walking through the doors that first day he believes it would be ideally suited to a couple who have "a passion for animals and an interest in reptiles" The shop is the only in the region licensed to sell reptiles. Picture by Gareth Gardner"That's one of the main things. We're the only store from Newcastle up that has [a licence to carry] reptiles," Mr Mann said Hard to miss along Peel Street with its distinctive blue facade it is listed with Coast to Coast Business Sales for $245,000 plus stock at valuation (SAV) Retirement is also the motivation for selling for RapidClean owner Originally training as a fitter and machinist he spent 22 years working on the railways before moving into the cleaning industry That then "morphed into" opening RapidClean Tamworth in 2004 is looking forward to retirement as he puts the business on the market Picture by Gareth GardnerProviding cleaning products and supplies for everything from households to businesses and onsellers Mr O'Neill reflected that it's been a "great" 20 years On the market for $200,000 (negotiable) + SAV "It's a good business for lifestyle," he said For Kids Zone owners Mandy and Shawn Hardcastle after over a decade running the indoor children's play centre The couple spoke about wanting to be able to spend more time with their family They also wouldn't mind getting their "weekends back a bit" The nature of the business means that weekends are typically their busiest time Mandy Hardcastle and husband Shawn have run Kids Zone for the last 12 years Picture by Gareth GardnerSince opening it's doors around 30 years ago Kids Zone has become a popular venue for children's parties "We [also] get a lot of the public come in," she said and with the current lease running through until 2028 "Hopefully someone comes along and buys it," Mrs Hardcastle Other opportunities include Tamworth's only sushi train restaurant Zaya Sushi is listed on Seek Business for $160,000 plus SAV Since choo-chooing into Tamworth in 2013 as Yuu Sushi Train restaurant the current owners purchased the business over six years ago but are looking to relocate and enjoy more time with their family and Partner Now Property has the Retro Cafe on Janison Street for $589,000 Precious Pets Boarding Kennel and Cattery is for sale each with their own individual run with a DA for an additional 10 to be constructed as well as 23 cat enclosures and a playroom two off-leash areas and even an indoor hydrotherapy pool for dogs which has the capacity to be split into separate two or three-bedroom homes For those interested more inclined towards the trade industries the local Beaumont Tiles' franchise is on the market for $330,000 + SAV Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Tamworth Borough Council has launched an exciting new Tamworth African Caribbean Community Glass Art display as part of the castle’s Handcrafted Heritage project funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).  ‘Heritage Through Glass’ is a heartfelt project of glass artworks created by members of Tamworth’s African Caribbean community The display was launched on Saturday 6 April with a joyful live performance from Tamworth Community Gospel Choir in the Tamworth Castle’s Great Hall local residents from Tamworth’s African Caribbean community joined a series of workshops run by glass artist Rachel Dean to explore cultural heritage through fused glass techniques layering and stringer and frit work (using thin rods or crushed glass pieces to add detail or texture) This exciting project has created a vibrant exhibition showcasing African Caribbean culture featuring individual artwork and a large-scale collaborative community piece celebrating themes of identity members of the group said: “Through this project I’ve been able to express a different side of myself through glass craft It’s given me a way to honour and preserve these meaningful symbols as an artistic expression of my cultural pride.” Another member added: “Being part of this project was both stimulating and empowering which has been my home for the past 46 years and the organisers were professional throughout said: “I’m very proud to be part of the ‘Heritage Through Glass’ project working with members of Tamworth’s African Caribbean Association.  “Weeks of creativity have culminated in some beautiful storytelling and it has been wonderful to see the group grow in confidence applying fused glass techniques to create their own special artworks." said: “We’re proud to bring this beautiful handcrafted collection to our castle.  “It brings together first-time glass art makers The result is a unique and meaningful display that reflects the voices “We’re very lucky to have such an amazing castle to help showcase the wonderful work from our local community African Caribbean group The ‘Heritage Through Glass’ is something not to be missed.” For information about any castle events, opening times and admission prices, please contact the castle on 01827 709626 or visit: www.tamworthcastle.co.uk This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus Tamworth Borough Council and Nationwide Building Society are celebrating the opening of the new building society premises on Market Street.  Tamworth Borough Council were delighted to formally hand over the renovated building on Market Street which replicates the original Georgian style of the building to Nationwide Building Society in July 2024 so they could complete the shop front and interior fit which is part of the council’s ambitious £21million regeneration programme to transform the town centre into the busy thriving heart of the community is the first to be fully complete Carol Dean said: “It’s so good to see this wonderful property completed in its original Georgian style in active use as Nationwide Building Society “While other parts of our town centre transformation are also nearly complete the opening of the building society today a significant milestone as the first of our regeneration projects to be fully complete.  “With Nationwide Building Society in their new home we’ll demolish their former building which was built in the 1960s to create a more open and wider footbridge connecting the town and castle grounds.” Senior Branch Manager at Nationwide in Tamworth said: “The Nationwide team and I are so happy to reopen in a fresh space in town with a new improved branch just over the street from our old location There’s been a Nationwide branch in Tamworth for over 50 years – since 1973 – and with this new investment branch service is here to stay on the high street in Tamworth.” Other sites of the council’s transformation plans continue to progress well. The work to restore the new enterprise centre for small businesses in the original 19th century former Co-operative building on Colehill, being nearly complete, with the aim of opening in the coming months. Anyone interested in locating to this wonderful historic building can enquire at Tamworth-EnterpriseCentre@tamworth.gov.uk.  Tamworth Borough Council’s ambitious £21million regeneration plan to transform the town centre into the busy Together both projects deliver a combined investment of over £40million in Tamworth town centre This investment is a once in a generation opportunity to develop a town centre that meets the needs of 21st century shoppers Carol Dean went on to say: it is so good to finally see projects completed or very nearly complete there have been many years of work behind the scenes to reach this point and I’m glad local people can see the plans progressing “Throughout the regeneration work and inevitable disruption to the town I want to reassure residents and visitors that the town and market are still very much active and I’d urge everyone to continue to support our local businesses and shop Have a look through some of our best snaps from Saturday’s trip to the Midlands Tamworth Borough Council is proud to announce new additions to its Tamworth Castle exhibits new Staffordshire Hoard pieces and three artist paintings: one oil painting and two watercolours Tamworth Castle re-opened its doors last month for the Spring season with some new and exciting displays for visitors to enjoy A big reveal of new exhibits on loan to the castle include the long-awaited and much requested Glascote Torc The Iron Age gold alloy collar has finally returned to its hometown previously held in safe keeping by Birmingham Museum Trust now displayed in the castle’s Saxon Gallery for all visitors to see for the next three years The castle has also received 18 previously unseen pieces of the Staffordshire Hoard These are new loans from Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham Museum Trust adding to the Saxon Gallery visitor favourites like the pommel caps and the tiny garnet decorated eagle heads that have been retained by popular demand The small gold sheet and copper alloy die stamp owned by Tamworth Castle that were local metal detector finds Three more items have been revealed including two watercolour paintings was an English architectural artist and illustrator A leading artist in the Birmingham area between 1850 and 1880 his work is a valuable historical record of local buildings of that period.  and the second the Oak Room and depict the rooms how they looked in the 19th century Both paintings can be seen in their respective rooms over the next three years the Day Parlour has been chosen to showcase a rolling programme of paintings from the castle collections A different painting will be displayed every few months based on a seasonal and event theme The first painting on display is 'A View of St Editha's Church and The Old Paregoric Shop by the artist Henry Lark Pratt (1805 - 1873)                                                        purchased with funding from the ‘Friends of Tamworth Castle’ in 2003 illustrates St Editha’s Church and a late medieval ‘paregoric’ shop that sold soothing medicines including opium Along the street can be seen a shepherd driving a flock of sheep It is an iconic reminder of the constantly changing landscape of Tamworth’s town centre as the Future High Streets regeneration project progresses said: “These exciting new displays help us understand and explore our rich town history and discover new stories that demonstrate the great importance of our historic town “I’m delighted to see that the Glascote Torc is on loan to our castle This piece was originally found in the early 1940s by workmen digging a trench at a boat yard between Glascote and Amington canal. In comparison to other Torcs that have been found Tamworth’s Glascote Torc stands out as being one of the best so we’re very privileged to have it on display at Tamworth Castle “I’d encourage visitors to our castle this season to take a look at the new hoard pieces as well as the beautiful new paintings we have on display Visitors to the castle should note that photography is not allowed in the Saxon Gallery due to copyright conditions for loan agreements with other museums For more information on upcoming events and opening times at Tamworth Castle, visit www.tamworthcastle.co.uk The Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society (1969) reported on the Glascote Torc: The Torc from Glascote (Plate I) was found about 1943 by Mr S Bates and Mr G Croshaw who were employed in a boat-building yard by the Coventry Canal between Glascote and Amington Bates wrote about his find to Ipswich Museum after his wife had read an account of the gold torcs found at Ipswich in 1968 to the Keeper of the Department of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities at the British Museum: “It was during the war that the torc was dug up I was foreman of a boat-building yard situated in the centre of a field by the Coventry Canal between the villages of Glascote and Amington and about half a mile from Tamworth and it was during the digging of a trench to convey wastewater from the workshop to the canal with some workmen that the torc was discovered.  “I washed it in running water from the tap and the sandy soil fell away leaving the metal as you see it today I sent it to our main office that was then in Birmingham but they did not seem to be very interested and sent it back to me with a message that I should keep it as a souvenir and it has been in my home ever since.  “Miss Owles has asked me in her letter if there is any chance that there are any more torcs in this area but I don't think so as I got the workmen to dig around for quite a distance from where it was found as at that time I thought it was the handle from a coffin and expected to find about three more I understand that the boatyard is not now in existence but the outer walls which were of brick are still standing”.  Mr Bates and Mr Croshaw also recalled in their evidence at the coroner’s inquest at Tamworth in May 1970 that the torc was “found about twenty feet from the edge of the canal and that the damage to the wires at the back of the collar was caused by the spade at the time of discovery.”  Other evidence showed that an excavation was not worthwhile because the site was criss-crossed with foundations and pipes from the old boatyard and that there was reason to think that the torc was not from the bed of the canal as the spoil from the canal appeared to have been dumped on the far bank From the Archaeology Data Service (1971) it is now known the damage was not caused by the spade at the time of discovery The later assessment of the torc under a microscope showed the protruding wires to be a result of the alloy being strained to its limit in manufacture and a second wire has sprung from the centre of the torc Tamworth Borough Council in partnership with Tamworth Library and St Editha’s Church announces archive displays of images and music A new temporary exhibition from Tamworth Castle’s archives relating to St Editha’s Church and will be available for visitors to enjoy until the end of July 2025 Tamworth Castle acquired local history archives from Tamworth Library last year The archives reveal several previously unseen records The new exhibition offers a look at just a few of the treasures relating to St Editha’s church over the centuries as well as a few that have been in the castle archive collections for many years Items on display include a wax impression of the Common Seal of St Editha’s Church an original hand drawn and painted image of one of the church windows the exhibition is accompanied by music from two Tamworth albums The two albums feature the BBC ‘Songs of Praise’ and the Tamworth album ’Celebration’ recorded in 1988 said: “How incredible this is to find these previously unseen or unheard records and images in our local archives.  “It’s truly humbling to know that the wax impression along with the drawing and painting of the church windows have been preserved for many years and can now be seen on display at the church “The albums give us a glimpse of some of our town’s beautiful recordings of songs of celebration and praise We are very lucky to have these on play in the church creating a real listening treat for visitors to enjoy.”  A major £1.2 million highways improvement scheme in Tamworth is making good progress The Staffordshire County Council highways scheme is seeing the reconstruction and resurfacing of the road between Lichfield Street and Comberford Road.  The project has now progressed to the third of five phases which is seeing crews reconstruct the route between Hospital Street and The Railway Bridge.  Work also includes improvements to a section of Offa Drive along with repairs to kerbs Resurfacing will be taking place overnight until 22 March between the hours of 9.30pm and 6.30am A clearly signed diversion will be in place and designated crew members at either end of the closure points will be on hand to assist drivers with access to properties. This phase is expected to take around two weeks to complete.  Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Support Member for Highways South “We’re continuing to make great progress on the Aldergate and Upper Gungate project which remains on track for a May finish.   “Residents have been asking for improvements to be made on this key route and I’m pleased to see these much-needed upgrades now well underway.  “Our crews have been working extremely hard and the positive feedback we’ve had from both residents and local businesses is testament to how well they’ve been engaging with the community.  “I want to thank everyone for their patience and assure you that we will continue to provide regular updates as the scheme progresses.”  This project is part of a wider £45 million investment in the county’s roads over three years.   On top of that, Staffordshire County Council has recently announced up to an extra £15 million boost for highways in the county.  This money will pay for more crews to carry out repairs to potholes and drainage issues a full preventative maintenance programme to help stop defects forming in the first place and targeted enforcement on landowners with drainage issues affecting the highway.  To keep up to date with more highways improvements in this area, sign up to the Fixing More Roads in Tamworth newsletter on the county council’s website here.    A £1.1 million highways improvement scheme is about to start in Tamworth.  will see the reconstruction and resurfacing of the road between Lichfield Street and Comberford Road.  Work will also include improvements to a section of Offa Drive along with repairs to kerbs The scheme will begin on Monday 10 February It will be split into five different phases that will work on one section of the route at a time.  The first phase of works will take place at Aldergate between the signalised junction of Lichfield Street and the junction of Corporation Street and access will be maintained for residents and businesses where safe to do so.  The project is expected to take around 12 weeks to complete.  said: “This is a busy part of Tamworth and a key route through the town "Although the work was originally scheduled for last summer it was postponed due to essential gas supply works The upside is that we can now combine both projects allowing us to resurface an even larger stretch of the road - from beyond Croft Street all the way to Fountain Junction we’re able to avoid two separate road closures helping to reduce disruption for the local community."  This project is part of a wider £45 million investment in the county’s roads over three years Watch on YouTube: Speaking to Cllr Rob Pritchard about the upcoming highways scheme in Tamworth  The Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) has announced funding to 29 museums up and down the country to receive a share of almost £25 million to upgrade their buildings The fund is part of the Government’s long-term plan to support local economies It will support capital projects at museums and improve the visitor experience with funding awarded from £50,000 to £5 million to ensure local history has a home for years to come more than £5 million has been awarded across four museums Tamworth Castle was originally built in the 1080s and in its most recent form is a museum showcasing the building’s 900 years of history including significant items from the Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard They have been awarded £1,716,238 to allow them to make urgent repairs throughout the historic building ensuring that the structure remains safe to the public and that they are able to offer an even better visitor experience Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England said: “We want people across Tamworth and beyond to experience discover and learn from our fantastic regional museums and galleries.  Through their history and collections they can open our eyes to the wonders and challenges of the world and help us find our place in it.   “We’re pleased to be supporting Tamworth Castle to make vital building improvements to protect the castle and its collections for future generations.”  said: “Tamworth Borough Council are delighted to be awarded £1,716,238 from the Museum Estate and Development Fund through The Arts Council “The grant will allow us to make urgent repairs throughout our historic building This essential work will make sure our heritage attraction remains safe to the public allowing our great monument to continue standing proud as a huge part of Tamworth’s rich history.” Details of the recipients of the fourth round of MEND comes as part of a wider announcement from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport which includes news of further funding to come to support the cultural sector.  For further information about the recipients of the fourth round of MEND please contact:   Freyja.barnard@artscouncil.org.uk The Museums Estates and Development fund is an open-access capital fund targeted at non-national Accredited museums and local authorities based in England to apply for funding to undertake vital infrastructure and urgent maintenance backlogs which are beyond the scope of day-to-day maintenance budgets Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture set out in our strategy Let’s Create, is that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences Between 2023 and 2026 we will have invested over £467 million of public money from Government alongside an estimated £250 million each year from The National Lottery to help ensure that people in every part of the country have access to culture and creativity in the places where they live the National Lottery is celebrating its 30th anniversary of supporting good causes in the United Kingdom: since the first draw was held in 1994 it has raised £49 billion and awarded more than 690,000 individual grants.  Visit our website to learn more about our work Tamworth Borough Council is thrilled to announce two free events taking place around the town centre market in February and March join the family friendly quest to find the Tamworth Time Guardians and work out where they have hidden the castle’s precious treasure.On the day collect your quest from the Time Guardians station in Ankerside Shopping Centre explore the town centre to seek out the characters and question them to crack the case for your chance to win a prize Adult and child versions of the puzzle quest are available The fun and interactive event is aimed to encourage visitors to explore Tamworth town and market meet some of the town’s famous historical characters and look for clues of one of the town’s treasures that is arriving at Tamworth Castle for a new exhibition is determined to get there first and take the treasure for himself Help the Time-Guardians keep the treasure safe by joining the quest.The second event visitors are invited to join the ‘Secrets of the Great and Good’ for a guided tour with a difference.  Step back in time and discover the history of Tamworth as you’ve never experienced it before on this immersive walking tour Famous faces including Sir Robert Peel and Thomas Cooke will introduce themselves and tell their stories Tales of intrigue and scandal can be found round every corner This event is free, but tickets must be pre-booked in advance as spaces are limited. You can book online via Tamworth Castle's website or via the box office. Tel: 01827 709618 or in person at Tamworth Assembly Rooms The guide will navigate you through the market and town centre interacting with live characters and discovering their stories The meeting point for each tour is in Ankerside Shopping Centre under the stained-glass window This interactive and storytelling tour also celebrates World Storytelling Day, a global celebration of the art of storytelling that takes place each year on 20 March.  engagement and leisure said: “We are thrilled to be working with Murder by Appointment to bring these two fantastic free events to the town on market days “The events will take you through the town centre on two Saturday’s and offer an interactive experience with characters around the town.“Murder by Appointment have delivered some brilliant events in Tamworth and I’m delighted that they’re returning for more fun and adventure during half term and in March “It is hoped that these events will support our street market and encourage more visitors to explore our town Make sure to put the dates in your diary.”Both events are brought to you by Tamworth Borough Council working with Murder by Appointment the company behind acclaimed Tamworth events ‘Wandering Spirits’ and ‘A Mercian Murder’ This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.’ A group of local authorities in southern and mid Staffordshire has today written to the Minister of State responsible for English Devolution with an interim plan for local government reorganisation In response to the government’s English Devolution White Paper local authorities are required to submit their initial preference to Jim McMahon Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution before final submissions are made in November 2025 Stafford Borough Council and Tamworth Borough Council have worked together on a proposal for a unitary authority for Southern and Mid Staffordshire which could include up to all six districts This is included as one of the proposed options submitted in the Staffordshire Leaders’ Board interim plan the six councils will analyse whether two unitaries can be constructed across its geography The proposal for Southern Staffordshire is inter-related to a similar proposal that has been suggested for a unitary authority covering the north of the county It prioritises the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services and is made up of the ‘building blocks’ of the existing districts and boroughs to empower communities a comprehensive programme of engagement with residents businesses and key partners will be delivered between now and the final proposal.  The Leader of Cannock Chase District Council said: “This will be six councils working together on a proposal to establish a new authority for the south of the county The residents and businesses of Cannock Chase will be best served by a southern alliance - and they must be the priority in any decision we make These six councils together will provide for a strong cohesive and sustainable body.” The Leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council said: “Two tier local government has served Staffordshire well for over 50 years as we are required to respond to the Ministers statutory invite it is important we engage in the process so that the best interests of our residents businesses and stakeholders are considered in how their local government moves from two tier to unitary local government The governments ambitious timetable seeks implementation by 2028 We will keep a strong focus on existing service delivery between now and then”.  said: “We don’t agree that local government reorganisation is necessary in accordance with the Government’s request we will do so and work across the political and geographical boundaries to meet the best interests of our residents.”  The Leader of South Staffordshire District Council said: “My commitment is to work closely with the other Leaders on the proposals My priority will always be to ensure that our residents receive the best possible services delivered as close to our communities as possible Close working with the distinct localities of South Staffordshire District is a fundamental aspect of our identity and we wish to protect this as we move to a new model of Local Government within the County." said: “This will be a South Staffordshire unitary which retains our existing boundaries and will be an economic driver for the south Most importantly it will be a unitary established by six willing councils who are united in putting this forward and will be the best option for the people and communities of Stafford Borough.”   said: “We understand the government's approach to local government reform and believe that creating a southern Staffordshire unitary council offers the best connection to local places while meeting requirements for local government reorganisation.   “We're committed to working with neighbouring councils to make sure Tamworth's distinct needs are represented and that our residents maintain a strong voice in local decision-making." The councils will continue to work together on the detail of their proposal for a Southern Staffordshire Unitary before final submissions are made.  The final decision will be taken by central government with the earliest changes expected to be fully implemented in 2028 On Friday 21st March, in partnership with other local district and borough councils, we submitted an initial proposal for a Southern and Mid Staffordshire Unitary Authority.   The Colehill building was opened as the official flagship store of the Tamworth Co-operative Society in 1897, coinciding with Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The Society was founded in 1886 by the Revd William MacGregor and had outgrown various smaller premises around the town It traded from the site with a retail store for over 120 years The site was purchased by Tamworth Borough Council in 2022 as part of a multi-million pound regeneration project to transform the town centre the new business centre has been named after Elizabeth Bradford who was the first employee of Tamworth Co-operative Society when it opened for trading on December 10 She was paid nine shillings for a 70-hour week Tamworth is home to a thriving community of entrepreneurs and small businesses The nearby Tamworth Enterprise Centre – which was created by the council in 2017 to provide affordable offices for start-ups and SMEs – has been fully occupied since the day it opened Elizabeth Bradford Business Centre was therefore created to provide another serviced office facility to help businesses continue on their journey of growth the council uncovered several stunning original features which have been lovingly restored to create a space which serves the needs of a modern business These include a heritage staircase with decorative 3D tiles and balustrades Many of these had been covered up for many years The original features continue on the outside topped off by the beautiful cupola at the building’s peak which has also been sympathetically renovated.  Elizabeth Bradford Business Centre,5 Colehill,Tamworth,StaffordshireB79 7HA Email Us  A new front desk has opened at Marmion House following a full refurbishment and upgrade of technology to provide an additional face to face customer service to meet the needs of the whole community the decision was made to open a new service for borough residents at Marmion House on Monday Friday between 10.00am and 2.00pm and Tuesday and Thursday 2.00pm - 6.00pm There is no change to the face-to-face service at the Assembly Rooms online or through apps such as MyHousing and MyTamworth.   said: “Residents have consistently been telling councillors and the council for a number of years that they want a face-to-face customer service desk in Marmion House additional to the service at the Assembly Rooms.  “We are delighted to open the new front desk and hope that residents will find the additional service useful and valuable.” Refurbishment work and updating technology was essential before the new front desk could open much of the work has been to make sure the area is compliant with current health and safety standards Where possible we’ve taken a sustainable approach and reused and repurposed materials this includes using the original main desk.  There are a number of ways you can contact Tamworth Borough Council – online The ribbon has officially been cut at the Elizabeth Bradford Business Centre offering serviced office space in a restored historic building in the heart of Tamworth performed the ceremonial honours this week as councillors and invited guests gathered for a first look inside the new facility Formerly home to Tamworth Co-operative Society for more than 120 years the 19th century buildings in Colehill have been given a new lease of life with 14 offices set over three floors hot desking area and all the features modern businesses require A key focus of the project was protecting and restoring the building’s original features In further keeping with that history, the building has been named after Tamworth Co-operative Society’s first ever employee, Elizabeth Bradford. You can read more about the history on our news pages Following on from the success of the council’s first enterprise centre in Corporation Street Elizabeth Bradford Business Centre was created to provide more office space for the town’s thriving community of businesses on their next stage of growth It has been officially handed over from the developers and finishing touches will now be applied before it welcomes its first new tenants in the coming weeks and months Any businesses interested in taking offices in the Elizabeth Bradford Centre, or Tamworth Enterprise Centre, are invited to get in touch via tec@tamworth.gov.uk to find out more or arrange a visit said: “Opening the Elizabeth Bradford Business Centre is a significant milestone in the plans to regenerate the town and we’d like to thank everyone involved in creating this wonderful new facility for our business community Whether that’s through free advice and support on starting up “Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy they can and should be the lifeblood of our town centres too “By creating new opportunities for people to work or study in the town we can hopefully get them back into the habit of using it on a regular basis the flexible mixed-use space that’s currently under construction opposite the Town Hall and the work to improve both the market square and the historic gateway to the Castle Grounds should all give people new reasons to visit “We hope increasing the number of daily visitors in this way will have a positive impact on all businesses in the town as people explore everything we have to offer “This building was home to one of Tamworth’s most successful businesses and community champions for more than 120 years and it’s wonderful to see it has been given a new lease of life in a way that is sympathetic to its past “We hope all its future tenants enjoy similar success for the next 120 years and beyond.” The work is part of Tamworth Borough Council’s ambitious regeneration plan to restore the town as the busy South Staffordshire College is building a new college facility replacing the demolished 1960s part of the former Co-op building AFC Fylde Interim Head Coach David Longwell spoke to Coasters TV after his side were defeated 4-3 away at Tamworth on Saturday afternoon Tamworth Borough Council’s ambitious regeneration project continues with planning permission granted for work to improve the walkway between the castle grounds and town centre.  Approval has been granted to demolish the former Nationwide Building Society building and create a wider bridge to the castle grounds with public realm improvements to create a wider more welcoming space.  Removing the old building society will allow for better appreciation of the grade I listed Tamworth Castle and its grounds the Town Hall and St Editha’s Church.  At times the existing bridge will be closed and temporary walking diversion signs will be clearly signposted around the town The new planned bridge will be wider and allow easy access between the town centre and the Castle Grounds using the same route as before with the existing pad stone foundations.  The heritage and conservation officer has been consulted throughout and considered the impact of the proposal on the significance of heritage assets The improvements allow for better appreciation of the historic castle and grounds it increases accessibility and provides a high-quality landscaping and planting area.  thriving heart of the community will deliver: South Staffordshire College is also building a new college facility replacing the demolished 1960s part of the Co-op building said: “It’s good to see the work for the finished design of the castle gateway has been approved and our ambitious plans for this area will start taking shape “This work has been agreed in full consultation with Historic England Tamworth Borough Council’s conservation officer and the Staffordshire County Council Historic Environment Team.  “Construction of the works will require Market Street to be used for deliveries which will be managed effectively with a compound temporarily set up in the castle grounds to help facilitate “The new gateway will enhance the significance of both the existing grade II listed buildings on Market Street and the existing character and appearance of the conservation area.  “This work is part of our Future High Street Fund project Our ambition for the town centre is substantial yes it does mean further disruption in the short term as we transform the town centre into a vibrant thriving place that meets the needs of residents the town and market will be very much active Work is planned to start January 2025.  See our website and previous press releases for further information about Tamworth’s Future High Streets Fund project Tamworth Borough Council are proud to announce they are working in partnership with 22 schools from across the borough to create a ‘Kaleidoscope of Dreams’ arts festival in July The festival takes place in the Castle Grounds on Saturday 5 July as a two-part celebration promoting unity the first part of the event will showcase a community school stage on the lower lawn for musical and dance performances.  Children in schools are working hard to create music and dance entertainment ready to perform to families and visitors throughout the day event The day is sure to be a fantastic festival of fun for all People are encouraged to bring picnics to the lower lawn to watch the performances along with fun activities and stalls as part of the Kaleidoscope of Dreams.  The second part of the Kaleidoscope festival is an art trail showcasing artwork produced by local school children with a focus on the colour of Tamworth aspiration and the diversity of our community The trail will take place at various locations in the town centre including the Assembly Rooms Chief Executive Officer for Fierté Multi-Academy Trust said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to work in partnership and collaboration with our Tamworth schools and community to create an event of real celebration of cultural richness in Tamworth “I want to encourage parents and families to come and take part in this community free event; everyone is welcome and the children are so excited to be involved.” said: “We’re excited to bring this community free event to the Castle Grounds this summer Working in partnership with local schools to produce the stage and art trail will provide the perfect day for everyone to enjoy “We’re very privileged in Tamworth to have a fantastic community and voluntary sector; since the dreadful events last summer we’ve been overwhelmed by how people have come together to support Tamworth communities and we will continue to work collaboratively as we move forward enhancing community cohesion for all in Tamworth.  “The Kaleidoscope of Dreams festival aims to encourage unity showcasing different cultures within our communities bringing us together for one big celebration.”  The event is funded from part of the HM community recovery money a grant of £600,000 awarded following the civil unrest in Tamworth on 4 August from the Ministry for Housing to enhance community cohesion and rebuild social trust in Tamworth 1fr);}@media screen and (min-width: 960px){.css-bx5zaa{grid-template-columns:70% 1fr;}}.css-wqlq84{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;min-width:0;display:grid;grid-gap:20px;}.css-1xo53a1{line-height:1.5em;}.css-1xo53a1 a{color:inherit;}.css-1b0tyu6{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;min-width:0;font-size:16px;line-height:1.5em;line-height:1.5em;}.css-1b0tyu6 a{color:inherit;}Forest Green secured a top three place after a convincing 3-0 win over Tamworth coupled with results elsewhere on Easter Monday Charlie McCann and Jamie Robson were enough for victory at The New Lawn Robson almost opened the scoring in the early exchanges but Jasbir Singh did excellently to smother his effort Kyle McAllister was next to go close but Haydn Hollis was in the right position to clear off the line Tamworth had a couple of efforts of their own - Beck-Ray Enoru and Jordan Ponticelli both going close from the edge of the penalty area Rovers' persistance was rewarded when Liam Sercombe won a crucial header in the midfield that Garrick picked up and volleyed into the bottom corner Sercombe was on hand to assist again for the second - his inch-perfect pass into McCann's path before the midfielder netted his tenth goal of the campaign with a deft finish Robson rounded off a superb first half display finishing a Garrick pass inside the penalty area Garrick almost made it four but his powerful effort grazed the crossbar and flew over Tamworth grew in confidence in the second half and forced Ted Cann into some fine saves - but the loanee preserved the Rovers clean sheet Rovers are back in action next Saturday when we take on Oldham Athletic at The New Lawn - 3.00PM KO Tamworth Borough Council are delighted to announce they have been awarded £1,716,238 from the Arts Council England Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) to allow urgent repairs throughout Tamworth Castle Tamworth Castle was placed on the Heritage at Risk Register following structural investigations carried out in 2023 - 24 Tamworth Borough Council have worked with a CARE; registered structural engineer to develop detailed understanding of the complex and varied structural challenges across the site from the motte to the keep announced successful funding to 29 accredited museums up and down the country who will receive a share of almost £25 million to repair and conserve the nation’s historic buildings.  The fund is part of the government’s long-term plan to support local economies to ensure local history has a home for years to come.The essential castle repairs project ‘from the motte to the keep’ will prioritise five key areas including the dining room and stair tower; the servants chamber bay window walkway retaining walls and below ground drainage These areas are in the south and north wing of the castle They currently have severe structural issues that are putting both the castle building and the collections displayed The works consist of repairs to the internal and external masonry There are also below ground drainage works proposed and some minor accessibility improvements.  Arts Council England funding confirmed at £1,716,23 and the remaining match funding £190,695 from Tamworth Borough Council The works required for the scheduled monument and Grade 1 listed site will help towards securing the castle’s future and continue to house the accredited local museum collections said: “Tamworth Castle is a significant cultural asset It’s an important resource for our local community and attracts visitors nationally and even worldwide “The museum collections range from the Staffordshire Hoard and Anglo-Saxon heritage to social history collections revealing development of the town and its role in UK history “We’re delighted to be awarded £1,716,238 from the Museum Estate and Development Fund through the Arts Council and add additional council funds to make urgent repairs throughout our historic building.  “This essential work will make sure our heritage attraction remains safe to the public More details about MEND grants can be found here: Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) Round 4 | Arts Council England