A by-election will be held in Chadsmead ward on 30/Jan/2014.

This follows the disqualification of Mike Friars ( Conservative  ) for failing to attend any District Council meetings for six consecutive months.

The candidates are listed in the table below. The official candidate list is available on Lichfield District Council's website.

Candidate	Party Represented
Marion Bland	Liberal Democrat
Bob Green	UKIP
John O'Hagan	Conservative
Caroline Wood	Labour

In the 2011 election Mike Fryers ( Conservative  ) and Terry Thomas ( Conservative  ) were elected to represent Chadsmead.

Local residents have been concerned about the deterioration of the Angel Croft Hotel, which has been empty since 2008. This building should be brought back into use. So it is good news that a planning application has been submitted which proposes to do this. BSARA will comment on the detail of the application once we have reviewed the paperwork and discussed the proposal with the developer and the District Council. Webb Hotels and Travel Ltd own both the Angel Croft and George hotels. The owners, in partnership with Sammi Developments Ltd, now propose converting the Angel Croft to residential use. The planning application says the building will include nine apartments with sixteen parking spaces reserved for residents. A pay & display facility will continue on part of the site. Here are the key documents: UPDATE [22/Nov]: All documents now available on the District Council website. Ref: 13/01223/COU Planning Application — Application Form Planning Application — Planning, Design and Access Statement Planning Application — Heritage Statement The Angel Croft Hotel is in a conservation zone and is Grade II* listed, putting it among only 5.5% of listed buildings. In 2008 a planning application was submitted to refurbish the hotel, but was subsequently withdrawn. A person familiar with this planning application told BSARA that the cost of addressing conservation matters had made it uneconomic to proceed. BSARA understands that there have been repeated break-ins with metal thieves making off with lead flashing and with parts of the central heating system; which caused water damage. English Heritage have placed the building its front railings and gates on its Buildings at Risk register with an "A" priority, stating that there is an "immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric; no solution agreed". BSARA hopes that, on this occasion, the conservation issues which scuppered the 2008 planning application can be overcome. Flexibility on the part of the applicant and the District Council can preserve this important building and do so at a cost which is economically justifiable.

Also see:

• Lichfield Lore — 17/Nov/2013, Guardian Angel, Kate Gomez's excellent local history blog


• Lichfield Live — 18/Nov/2013, Historic Lichfield hotel could be converted into residential apartments

• The Council borrowed £1.92M to create more parking capacity when demand is falling.
• The Council says that its parking revenues have fallen 25% in three years. Motorists prefer supermarket car parks or street parking because it’s free.
• The Council committed to the Friary Outer development when it knew construction contracts were not in place for either the Premier Inn or the Friarsgate shops. The Birmingham Road multi-story car park, next to Debenhams, is the second most popular car park that the Council operates. Only Bird Street car park (Woollies) is more popular. With Friarsgate stuck on the drawing board there seems no good reason to shut this popular site.

The District Council has, on the face of it, burdened its residents with a debt of almost £2M so that it can gamble on the Friarsgate retail development proceeding. This is against a background of service cuts, and the Fit for the Future cost reduction campaign.

Fit for the Future is effectively an emergency budget to deal with the Council’s deteriorating financial position.

Correspondence with District Council attached at foot of this post.

Apr/2013 – Legal Notice in Mercury admits delay

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, the works, which were due to be completed by Friday 29/March/2013, have now been delayed, and the anticipated end date is now Wednesday 11/December/2013"

Aug/2013 – Weasel words on Council blog suggest further delays

"Work on the hotel hasn’t started yet, however the contractor is gearing up to start and we hope that things should get underway in the autumn."

Source: Lichfield District Council, Friary Outer redevelopment blog, August Update.

Image: Wikipedia Three wise monkeys , Toshogu shrine, Nikko, Japan
Copyright © 2003 David Monniaux. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 1.0 Generic license.

Performance Management – Lichfield District Councils 2013/14 – One Year Action Plan

"Economic goal: We’ll grow our local economy with an improved retail offer in both Lichfield and Burtwood …

Developments delivered to budget and on time including:

• Friary Car Park by spring 2013
• Repair of city centre paving scheme by March 2014
• Outstanding archaeological works (Cross Keys Car Park) by July 2013"

LATE UPDATE [30/Aug]:  For the second time in three months public and press have been excluded from a key Council scrutiny meeting. What is going wrong at Friary Outer?

The Friary Outer development comprises a multi-story car park, much needed affordable housing as well as a new hotel (Premier Inn ?), a restaurant and a retail unit. In Apr/2013 a public notice appeared announcing that the project had been delayed. It said:

"Due to unforseen circumstances, the works, which were due to be completed by Friday 29/March/2013, have now been delayed, and the anticipated end date is now Wednesday 11/December/2013"

The District Council’s Friary Outer blog says “We post regular updates about the progress”, but the last update was in April, when no problems were noted. The aerial photographs below show good progress on the affordable housing and multi-storey car park, but not much sign of the hotel.

Then on the 16/Jul/2013 a District Council Scrutiny Committee meeting was called to discuss progress on the Friary Outer & Friarsgate developments. The District Council decided that the public and the press should be excluded from the meeting “by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted”.

In Feb/2013 the District Council’s published its medium term financial strategy, which said that borrowings of £1,920,000 are required to finance the Friary Outer car park. If, as appears likely, there will be a delay to the Friarsgate shops, and the multi-story car park next to Debenhams is retained, then residents will have been saddled with a debt for a loss making car park built to service a hotel and a shopping centre, neither of which exist!

We trust that the District Council will follow through on commitments given after the Heritage Parks upgrade fiasco, namely that in future it will do a better job informing the public.

Construction progress Feb/2013	Construction progress July/2013

We thank Bromford Group for making photographs of the site available on their Flicker feed. photo: © Bromford Group. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.

The George & Dragon will be providing food and entertainment from 2 p.m. onwards:

Live music will be provided by ON STANDBY, a local band from Polesworth.

There will be a BBQ with packington pork, chilli, black pudding hot dogs and hand made char grilled beef or minted lamb burgers.

To entertain the kids there will be a free scavenger hunt and a few surprises if the weather holds up.

Peter Rear, our former Chairman, used to refer to the George & Dragon as “the boardroom”, so this is a free plug for a local business and purveyor of fine ale.

Annual Town Meeting for the Parish of Lichfield – Wednesday 22nd May 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the Guild room, at the Guildhall.

The meeting is empowered to discuss parish affairs and pass resolutions thereon. Any Local Government Elector for the parish of Lichfield is entitled to speak and vote at the meeting. Other members of the public may attend to hear the proceedings.

Peter Young – Town Clerk – Lichfield City Council

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AGENDA

1. WELCOMING REMARKS BY THE MAYOR


2. MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING HELD ON 23 MAY 2012


3. CITY COUNCIL REPORT– To receive the Annual Report on the activities of the City Council.


4. QUESTIONS ON THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL


5. TO HEAR THE REQUESTS AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ELECTORS ON MATTERS WHICH AFFECT THE PARISH SPECIALLY – Under this item electors may discuss items affecting the parish especially, and may if they wish put forward motions for debate by the Meeting.


6. PRESENTATION OF ANNUAL GRANT CHEQUES AWARDED BY THE CITY COUNCIL – The Mayor will formally present cheques to representatives of those organisations awarded grant aid from the City Council’s annual grants round.

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Photo: © David Rogers. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.

Lichfield City North – Staffs County elections – 02/May/2013

Candidate	Party	Votes	Percentage	Result
Colin Greatorex	CON	1,083	34%	Not elected
John Maunder	UKIP	720	23%	Not elected
Paul Ray	LIBDEM	242	8%	Not elected
Caroline Wood	LAB	1,124	35%	Elected
Spoilt		19
Turnout			30%

Lichfield City North – 2013 election results – Staffs County Council declaration

Lichfield City North – 2009 election results – Staffs County Council declaration

Lichfield City South – Staffs County elections – 02/May/2013

Candidate	Party	Votes	Percentage	Result
Eileen Cope	UKIP	626	21%	Not elected
Terry Finn	CON	1,361	45%	Elected
Colin Ball	LAB	580	19%	Not elected
Ian Jackson	LIBDEM	437	15%	Not elected
Spoilt		18
Turnout			30%

Lichfield City South – 2013 election results – Staffs County Council declaration

Lichfield City South – 2009 election results – Staffs County Council declaration

Issues raised:

(a) Darwin Park – local roads have not been adopted 10+ years after construction.
(b) Local trunk roads (A38 & A5) – The accident rate on the A38 near Lichfield is five times the national average for this type of road.
(c) Bus station improvements are in limbo because of Friarsgate.
(d) Lichfield City & Trent Valley Stations – Michael Fabricant MP said "Disabled access at Lichfield Trent Valley railway station is a disgrace".
(f) Cycle lanes, public rights of way & hedgerows.

Lichfield City North: Colin Greatorex : colin.greatorex@btinternet.com Received 29/Apr/2012

You have invited me to comment on 6 County Council responsibilities related to the above heading as a prospective County Councillor.  Some of the issues have a bearing more on Lichfield District Councillor, where I am already a District Councillor.  I will try to wear the appropriate ‘hat’ in order to answer the questions and refer to the responsible Councils where relevant:

Darwin Park – local roads that have not been adopted should be a matter taken up initially with the District Councillors for the Ward, i.e. Cllrs. Awty, Eadie and Smith. They can, of course, liaise with the newly elected County Councillor for Lichfield City South. As I am standing for Lichfield City North, I would not interfere with their endeavours but would want to be supportive in getting this resolved through work on both Councils.

City Centre congestion – the District Council is at consultation stage with the Local Plan and has the legal jurisdiction to determine it. The County Council highway authority can “reserve judgment” up to the point where the District Council will make its determination (or else it will be determined without the highway authority registering comment). As I am only a prospective County Councillor at present, and subject to the rules of ‘purdah’, I cannot speak on the behalf County Council’s stance but would be keen to encourage comment, if elected.

Local trunk roads (A38 and A5) – I support the use of speed cameras as the most effective means of controlling traffic on these major roads. They work very effectively on the section of A38 to the South of Lichfield. If elected to the County Council, I would want to support discussions with the appropriate authorities.

Bus station improvements – It is correct to say we are in limbo because of Friarsgate. The District Council has given the developers a date this year by which a Friarsgate must be fully agreed and commissionable. If this is not forthcoming, the District Council will probably undertake a re-think on what is delivered in its place. I recognise the need for urgency in relation to transport improvements but the District Council has a legal process to follow with the developers, which it is following currently.

Lichfield Trent Valley Station – You may see in my election literature I have identified disabled access at Lichfield Trent Valley as a priority for attention, if elected. I agree with Michael Fabricant MP in your quotation “Disabled access at Lichfield Trent Valley railway station is a disgrace”. Although it is just outside the Lichfield City North Division, a lot of my residents are users and I would want the County Council to play a role in securing the improvements needed.

Cycle lanes, public rights of way & hedgerows – You cite a lack of coordinated action in these areas by the County Highways dept. If I am elected, I would use my authority to address these matters as I believe I have the reputation to take issues on and seek resolution.

Lichfield City South: Ian Jackson : jackson.mccormack@talktalk.net Received 29/Apr/2012

Thank you for your letter detailing the concerns of the Lichfield Alliance. I believe that residents associations have an important part to play in local government and look forward to working with you if elected. I was instrumental in the creation of LARA and have maintained excellent relations both with them, and BSARA, within my own ward.

Darwin Park – Both the District and County Councils have dragged their heels in a disgraceful fashion with regard to the adoption of the highways and public open spaces on Darwin Park. In particular the highways need to be adopted so that proper traffic controlling measures can be taken to resolve issues of speeding and inconsiderate parking.

City Centre congestion – For as long as I can remember, County Highways have just wrung their hands about traffic congestion in the City Centre. They have consistently failed to accept the effect that continued development, both retail (Tesco’s; Friarsgate) and residential, is having on traffic levels and without their support, District Planners and Councilors have been unable to prevent them happening.

Local trunk roads (A38 and A5) – The A5 and A38 as trunk roads are of course the responsibility of the Highways Agency, not the County Council. In this context however I am appalled at the cavalier manner in which the District Council has dismissed the proposed Brookhay Villages/ Twin Rivers development. These proposals would cater for any foreseeable housing demand within the District for the next twenty years without the need for further peripheral development in existing settlements. They also would bring forward major infrastructure benefits including:

• improvements on the A38 at both the Fradley Junctions and Alrewas
• introduction of a traffic management scheme similar to the M42 between Lichfield and Burton.
• Extension of the cross city line to Wichnor Junction (that’s how the railways spell it!) with a major park and ride station there with a dedicated access to the National Memorial Arboretum

Bus station improvements – I agree that Friarsgate is a non starter and that alternative funding is needed to update the existing Bus Station. I would prefer to see the development of the Bird Street site bought forward. This would help rebalance the City centre and revitalise Market Street.

Lichfield Trent Valley Station – I agree that provision for access and car parking at this station is a disgrace. Whilst the County Council can push for improved facilities at this station, it is up to London Midland and Network Rail to resolve the problems. As secretary of the Lichfield Rail Promotion Group this is something that I have been very active in for some months.

The car parking provision should virtually double this summer from 116 spaces to 228 when the additional spaces in the “triangle” off Old Burton Road are made available. This will also provide easier access to the up (London bound) platform although London Midland are still talking to Network Rail about making this access step free. This will improve the parking provision, but I suspect that further suppressed demand will mean that more will very soon be needed. There is a proposal to provide parking across the road on the old freight depot as part of the Streethay development, but this is in my view in the wrong place and the Streethay development itself has been thrown into question by HS2. The old GKN site would be far more appropriate, but the land owners seem to have an overly optimistic view of its value, despite that fact that the site has been empty for years.

As far as access is concerned at Lichfield Trent Valley, I have had discussions in the last few months with Network Rail, London Midland, The Department of Transport, Staffs County Council and even Norman Baker, the Minister at the Dft responsible for accessibility. There is new funding (£100m) being made available next year as part of the Access for All scheme, and we are all trying to ensure that some of this cash comes to Lichfield. The increased footfall at Trent Valley, as well as it’s growing importance as an interchange station and the fact that it is the nearest access point for the NMA, all give some hope that we will succeed, although £100m does not go very far on railway infrastructure and the competion for these funds is fierce.

Cycle lanes, public rights of way & hedgerows – Public rights of way and Hedgerows. It is inevitable that these areas will suffer when the County Council cannot even afford to maintain the roads properly. My answer would be to use the provisions and principles of the Localism Act to devolve these responsibilities to Parish councils. Lichfield City already carries out the maintenance of most of the footpaths in the City and this principle could be extended.

The Local Plan process at the moment is a complete shambles. I agree that it needed major reform but this should be a carefully considered process. Eric Pickles has scrapped the existing systems without giving any, let alone adequate, thought to what would be put in its place.

As the only candidate for this Division who actually lives in it, I look forward to the opportunity to represent my neighbours in Stafford.

Lichfield City North: Caroline Wood : c.wood52@btinternet.com Received 30/Apr/2012

Thank you for your letter with regard to the above. I’m sorry I have not replied to you sooner but I have been spending all my time on the election and what for me is the most important thing, getting out to meet the people and hearing what their concerns and grievances are. As you will know I can do nothing if not elected.

If I am the Councillor for Lichfield North on Friday evening then I will look into all the matters you raise in your letter.

Local trunk roads (A38 and A5) – I agree the accident rate on the local trunk roads (A38 & A5) is not acceptable and should be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Bus station improvements –Bus transport is certainly an issue. Passengers now have to change buses at Sutton if going to Birmingham and, as I understand it pay twice for a service which has been reduced from hourly to two hourly. Hardly an incentive to get people out of their cars!

Lichfield Trent Valley Station – I agree it is a disgrace that in 2013 we have a main line station or any station that is not accessible to all.

Cycle lanes, public rights of way & hedgerows – As a keen walker I have been instrumental is getting stiles and bridges repaired, footpaths opened where farmers have obstructed paths within the county. I also take a great interest in cycle lanes and the opportunity for safe cycling. I will continue to do so whatever the outcome of Thursday’s election but I do believe the council should continue to take responsibility and manage the repairs accordingly.

Whilst out meeting residents in Lichfield North I have come across many issues with regard to housing and transport, all of which I take seriously and will work to address if elected..

Lichfield City South: Terry Finn : terence.finn@staffordshire.gov.uk Received 30/Apr/2012

My apologies for a late reply , I now have the latest update on

Darwin Park –The adoption process is coming to a conclusion ( at long last ) The lighting inspections and remedials are to be speeded up by the contractor and EON. County lighting engineers closely monitoring the situation.

City Centre congestion –I will support Lichfield District Council with what ever their proposals are to be

Local trunk roads (A38 and A5) – A38 As this is under the control of the Highways Authority . My concerns as a Fire Authority Member have been studying the stats on Road Traffic Crashes. When one sees the main cases of deaths and injuries are from:

A Speeding
B Human error
C Mechanical failure
D Adverse weather conditions

I am very much in favour of the new Digital speed cameras now coming on stream

A5 I am aware of a study to improve the A38 and Toll road junction And will support any improvements

Lichfield Trent Valley Station – I have always supported our MP Michael Fabricant make the access to all platforms available for people with any disability . I am in support of the proposed new car park on the northern side of the station.

Cycle lanes, public rights of way & hedgerows – Further monies to support these important means of travel are needed . Having in the past served on this county committee I am fully aware how difficult it is to get the farming community to cooperate even when placed under pressure to comply with legislation .

I am aware of the future county plans to improve on the last four years work which was spent on 28 years of near neglect.

Lichfield City North: Paul Ray : pandbray@btopenworld.com Received 30/Apr/2012

I agree with most of the points you raise and as part of our review of the draft Local Plan last autumn I highlighted the following points in my response on behalf of the Liberal Democrats which are relevant and which I would actively promote if elected:

• The proposed improvements to the roads including completion of the Lichfield Southern Bypass and improved parking at Lichfield Trent Valley station are most necessary.
• The proposed Friarsgate retail development should be revisited and potentially halted. How viable is a large new retail / leisure development in the current climate - especially with so much vacant retail space in Lichfield. Also the latest plans for this development no longer include the proposed hotel and as a result space for more shops!
• We need new ideas and thinking about how to invigorate our town centres due to the downturn in retail spending. So in particular we need to encourage more residential and office use to make use of vacant space and to keep our centres alive and vibrant
• There is a real need to increase employment in the Lichfield area and so reduce the amount of commuting out of Lichfield.
• Affordable housing must be a key priority. Many people find housing very expensive to afford in Lichfield and its surrounding area and we must ensure that sufficient affordable homes are built as part of new developments.
• With regards to housing development in the Lichfield area, I support the need for further housing but not any building onto the green belt. I also feel strongly that any development needs to be planned so as to not adversely affect the impact on roads and other infrastructure in the relevant area. aware of the future county plans to improve on the last four years work which was spent on 28 years of near neglect