LOCAL NEWS 8 Scrap Metal Insect Art To celebrate Insect Week, students from South Staffordshire College, who are study<strong>in</strong>g motor vehicle studies, have been work<strong>in</strong>g with Cronimet, a <strong>Cannock</strong> based company that recycles scrap sta<strong>in</strong>less steel, to make <strong>in</strong>sects <strong>and</strong> bugs out of scrap metal. The students have learnt various metal work<strong>in</strong>g skills, which have enabled them to produce some amaz<strong>in</strong>g sculptures, which will be displayed <strong>in</strong> the garden of the signal box <strong>in</strong> Hednesford Park. Insect Week is a National campaign run by the Royal Entomological Society, whose aim is to encourage people of all ages to learn more about <strong>in</strong>sects, it ran from 19th – 25th June this year. ........................................................... Closure of Barclays Bank On Friday 15th September <strong>2023</strong>, Barclays Bank will be clos<strong>in</strong>g its branch <strong>in</strong> Lichfield. Although the branch is clos<strong>in</strong>g, Barclays will still have an active presence <strong>in</strong> the community via a new <strong>and</strong> alternative physical presence. The bank plans to provide additional face-to-face access for bank<strong>in</strong>g services via one of its community locations from the po<strong>in</strong>t of closure. Further details, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the tim<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>and</strong> the location of the Barclays Local site, will be communicated to regular customers <strong>in</strong> the com<strong>in</strong>g weeks. ........................................................... New Optical Store Manager Visitors to a <strong>Rugeley</strong> opticians are be<strong>in</strong>g greeted by a new face after Shreena Patel jo<strong>in</strong>ed as the new store manager. Jo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the 11-strong team at Specsavers on Upper Brook Street, Shreena has five <strong>and</strong> a half years’ experience work<strong>in</strong>g as a store manager at Specsavers stores <strong>in</strong> Cribbs Causeway <strong>and</strong> Worcester Park. F<strong>in</strong>d Specsavers at 5 Upper Brook Street, <strong>Rugeley</strong> or visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/ru geley. ........................................................... Free Kids’ Water Activities Local watersports company, Pier 52 based at <strong>Chase</strong>water Country Park, is partak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the <strong>2023</strong> Staffordshire HAF (Holiday Activities <strong>and</strong> Food) scheme this summer. If your child is aged 8-16 years of age <strong>and</strong> is entitled to free school d<strong>in</strong>ners, they can come to Pier 52 dur<strong>in</strong>g the summer school holiday <strong>and</strong> get two hours of paddl<strong>in</strong>g fun plus a lunch from the cafe for free! Pier 52 offers paddle board<strong>in</strong>g, cable wakeboard<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> other water-based activities. Check the website www.pier52.co.uk for times <strong>and</strong> to book. (You will need to enter your HAF code to redeem your session for free). Alternatively, f<strong>in</strong>d Pier 52 on Facebook or contact them on 07498 211962 to f<strong>in</strong>d out more. ........................................................... Amazon Centre to Close Retail giant, Amazon, is to shut its <strong>Rugeley</strong> fulfilment site, the firm announced at the end of June. More than 1,000 staff who currently work at the warehouse will be affected, although it is thought they will be offered positions at a new warehouse, due to open <strong>in</strong> Sutton Coldfield <strong>in</strong> October of this year. Recruitment has already started for the new Birm<strong>in</strong>gham-based premises, <strong>and</strong> Amazon is now look<strong>in</strong>g for eng<strong>in</strong>eers, HR <strong>and</strong> IT professionals, health <strong>and</strong> safety <strong>and</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ance specialists, <strong>and</strong> operations managers, as well as people who pick, pack <strong>and</strong> ship customer orders.
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