Citylife in Rugeley and Cannock Chase March April 2021

LOCAL NEWS
6
Staffordshire Firm’s
First Anniversary
Directors Adam and Sally
Outdoor building firm, Roundpeg Outdoor
Buildings, has not only survived to celebrate its
first-year anniversary, but has thrived enough to
expand its operations by tripling its workforce.
Just one year ago two friends took the brave
leap to launch their own business – creating
handmade bespoke outdoor buildings.
But Adam Timmis and Sally Ann Smith could
never have predicted the major obstacles that
lay ahead for their new venture.
While all new start-ups expect to face a few
challenges during their first year of trading, the
duo has not only had to navigate a global
pandemic but also worldwide timber supply
shortages.
Yet, despite all the odds, Roundpeg Outdoor
Buildings survived.
In another impressive highlight, in November it
was also shortlisted in the Staffordshire
Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards in
the category of Most Promising Start-Up in the
county.
The pandemic has certainly seen Roundpeg
kept busy with a steady ongoing demand for
outdoor buildings for uses including home
offices, self-employed ventures like salons, gyms
and bars for customers across the West
Midlands.
Visit www.roundpegoutdoorbuildings.co.uk or
find it on Facebook and Instagram
@roundpegoutdoorbuildings.
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Footballers Back
#TalkSuicide Campaign
Stoke City players are throwing their weight
behind a new campaign to help reduce the
number of suicides in Staffordshire.
Sadly, 10 lives are lost to suicide each month
across the county, with men in their 40s and 50s
in the highest category.
Now, the club have partnered with local
councils and health partners to help raise
awareness of the issue and make it easier for
people to talk about it.
Players kicked off the campaign before Friday
night’s game against Watford which included
messages from first team players, Tyrese
Campbell and Sam Clucas.
A dedicated webpage on the Club’s website has
information and advice to help people spot the
signs and be comfortable to talk about it.
The #TalkSuicide campaign is calling on
individuals, communities, organisations and
businesses to show their support by signing up
to the campaign and taking action to help
prevent suicide.
People can find out more about the campaign
and sign up for more information on local
sources of support and training at
www.stokecityfc.com/community/campaigns/tal
k-suicide.
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Local Lollipop Lady
Retires after 35 Years
A Rugeley Lollipop Lady has retired after 35
years with the school crossing patrol. Marion is
pictured with a family of a mother and two
daughters, all three of which Marion has safely
and happily helped cross the roads during her
time in service.
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First Electric Taxi
in the District
Cannock Chase Council has licensed the first
electric taxi in Cannock Chase.
AJ’s Taxis in Rugeley is the first firm to license
an electric vehicle for use as a taxi in the
District.
In common with many other local authorities in
the country, the Council is examining how to
tackle the many current and future challenges in
respect of our Environment. A motion was
approved at Council in July 2019, which
declared a Climate Emergency and committed
the Council to a vision of Carbon Neutrality by
2030, encouraging the transition to net zero
carbon emissions in the decades to come. One
of the biggest sources of carbon emissions is
road traffic.
As there are no dirty emissions directly emitted
from exhaust pipes of electric vehicles and they
are responsible for less carbon emission overall,
they are seen as the successor to petrol and
diesel vehicles. The Council is exploring ways in
which this transition can happen quickly and
smoothly.
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Make Testing Part of
Your Routine
People who must leave their homes to make
essential visits during lockdown are being urged
to get tested in one of Staffordshire’s
Community Testing Centres.
The centres, one in each district and borough
are open seven days a week for people without
symptoms.
Being open over weekends will give people
having to make essential visits through the week
more options to get tested regularly.
1 in 3 people do not display any symptoms –
getting tested regularly provides peace of mind
that essential travellers are not unwittingly
spreading the virus to the vulnerable.
Getting a test is quick, simple, free and now
available seven days a week. Making it part of
your weekly routine may well protect the
people you interact with on a day-to-day basis
and the wider community at large.
Several lateral flow testing sites have been set
up in the area – these give results within 30
minutes.
These tests are only available for people who
do not have Covid symptoms. You can book a
test by visiting:
www.staffordshire.zipporah.co.uk/
trackandtrace.