Your Weekly Parish Newsletter - Friday, 15th May, 2026. Issue 430

Please sign up before Monday, 22nd June, 2026 to ensure your bin will be emptied from the first collection week starting Monday, 29th June, 2026.

The price of a permit is £49.

From June 2026 onwards, you will receive a letter through your letterbox with your permit sticker enclosed.

For your garden waste bins to be collected you need to ensure your sticker is placed on your bin(s) in time for the start of the new subscription year.

Full terms and conditions are available at https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/gardenwaste

Visit our website and subscribe now to stay on track with your garden waste collections.

The South Staffordshire Local Plan was submitted for examination in December 2024, and following hearings in May and November 2025 and January 2026, the Inspectors have proposed Main Modifications to the plan to address issues of legal compliance and soundness.

The Council is consulting on the proposed Main Modifications, with the consultation running from Thursday, 14th May to midday on Friday, 26th June 2026.

Representations should be made via the council’s consultation platform, South Staffordshire Engage here: https://engage.sstaffs.gov.uk/projects/main-mods.

Alternatively, you can complete the council’s representation form found on Engage and return it to the council via email or post (details provided on the form).

In addition to the Main Modifications, the council has also published a revised Habitats Regulations Assessment, Sustainability Appraisal, and Equality Impact Assessment which assess the impacts of the proposed changes to the plan. They should be read in conjunction with the proposed Main Modifications and can be commented upon.

They are available to view on the council’s website at: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/local-plan-review-examination/main-modifications.

This is also where further information can be found.

The South Staffordshire Walking Festival is continuing this month, bringing a wide range of free, volunteer-led walks to communities across the district.

With walks available for all abilities, it's a fantastic opportunity to explore the local area, improve your wellbeing and meet others.

Walks take place at a variety of locations across South Staffordshire, making it easy to find one near you.

👉 To view the full programme and find a walk to suit you, visit: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sports-and-fitness/health-and-wellbeing-community

Join South Staffs leisure centres now and enjoy the rest of May and all of June for just £20, giving you full access to our leisure facilities at a great value price. Normal membership payments will then begin from July, depending on the package you choose.

👉 Find out more and sign up today:
https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sports-and-fitness/summer-shape

Already a member? You can benefit too!
Recommend a friend and when they sign up to the offer, you’ll receive your next month completely free. Simply visit your local leisure centre together and we’ll take care of the rest.

Learning to swim is a vital life skill and it should always be fun, engaging and accessible to everyone.

This week (11th –17th May), South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres are supporting International Learn to Swim Week, helping to raise awareness of the importance of water safety and sharing key lifesaving messages with the local community.

With a focus on building confidence in and around water, the campaign encourages people of all ages and abilities to develop essential skills that could one day save a life.

Learning to swim is about more than just moving through the water—it’s about understanding how to stay safe, recognising potential risks, and knowing what to do in an emergency, whether at the pool, beach or on holiday.

By highlighting these important messages during International Learn to Swim Week, we hope to inspire more people to learn about how to enjoy water safely. Follow our leisure centres on Facebook as we share lots of information this week to help families prepare for the summer.

A loan shark, also known as an illegal money lender, is someone who lends money without proper authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). That means they don’t have to follow the rules that exist to protect borrowers. They set their own terms, charge what they want, and stack the game against you from the very start.

Loan sharks often appear friendly at first can - they reinvent themselves to look like a trusted friend, a neighbour, another parent at the school gates or someone recommended by family. But behind the friendly avatar, is someone playing a dangerous game with people’s lives.

When they offer to do you a favour by lending you money when you need it, it can feel like an easy option. But once you’ve pressed ‘start’, the game has begun and things can quickly spiral out of control.

If borrowers struggle to keep up with repayments, what began as a helping hand can turn into intimidation, threats or even violence. And in real life, there’s no pause or exit button, just constant pressure and fear.

Knowing the warning signs can help you recognise when something isn’t right. You could be dealing with a loan shark if:

• You’re given no paperwork
• There’s no clear information about how much you owe or how long you’ll pay it back
• You’re being asked to pay back more than you borrowed
• Personal items such as a bank card, passport or phone are taken as security
• You’re threatened, pressured or intimidated if you miss a payment

The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT), also known as Stop Loan Sharks, exists to help people take back control and put an end to illegal lending.

Set up over 20 years ago, the team has helped tens of thousands of people escape loan sharks and brought hundreds of illegal lenders to justice. Most importantly, they support people without judgement or blame.

If you or someone you know is affected by a loan shark, you are not in trouble. The people breaking the law are the loan sharks - not the borrowers.

Support is available, and there is a way out.

You can contact Stop Loan Sharks in confidence, 24 hours a day, on 0300 555 2222. There is also a WhatsApp service available from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday on 07700 102773.

Visit stoploansharks.co.uk for more information and other ways to get in touch, including a Live Chat facility.

Get the right support – and help make it game over for loan sharks.

With the World Cup, hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico, set to be the most spectated football event, it’s anticipated that fraudsters will target the big-name fixtures and attempt to exploit international demand.

The government and Lloyds are teaming up to highlight the issue to football supporters, as part of the Stop! Think Fraud campaign. Led by the Home Office and supported by partners across law enforcement, banking, tech, retail and the charity sector, the campaign empowers individuals and small businesses with the tools and knowledge they need to protect themselves from fraud.

Top tips for avoiding football ticket scams include:

• Take your time
• Be careful with social media adverts, especially on marketplace platforms
• Don't pay by bank transfer
• Be wary of "too good to be true" offers
• Use official club channels or authorised sellers
• Be cautious of pressure tactics
• Report fraud

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of fraud is encouraged to report it to Report Fraud or by calling 0300 123 2040.