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February 2024
Garden waste collections
Our popular garden waste collections are restarting later this month (week commencing Monday 26 February). We collect your unwanted garden waste from your home saving you time, money as well as helping the environment. Everything we collect is composted into soil conditioner. The first week will be for customers who have their garden waste bin emptied on the same week as they have their recycling bin emptied. You can sign up at anytime during the year and still receive a year’s worth of collections.
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New access to our reserves
We are lucky to have beautiful nature reserves in the district and we want as many people as possible to enjoy them. We have been working with Worcestershire County Council and the Disabled Ramblers to improve access to the sites. Our Burlish Meadow, Burlish Top and the Rifle Range nature reserves now have larger kissing gates which allow access for wheelchairs, prams and mobility scooters of all sizes. We have been working to improve access to Spennells Valley Nature Reserve and Blakemarsh Nature Reserve too. We have plans to update more gates on other reserves throughout the year.
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Go paper free
Have you considered switching to ebilling? We are working hard to reduce our carbon footprint for a Greener Wyre Forest and one of the ways we are doing this is to reduce the amount of paper we use.
It's easy to switch, you just need your Council Tax account number and email address. Apply before midday Monday 12 February to receive your next annual Council Tax bill by email.
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Adopt a street
If 2024 is the year for you to get out more and volunteer – how about joining our adopt a street campaign. One of our priorities is making the district clean, safe and green. Our proposed budget for the next financial year includes plans to spend more on litter picking. We are also supporting individuals and groups to litter pick – all you have to do is tell us which street you would like to litter pick and pledge to do it three times a year. We will give you litter picking equipment and health and safety guidance. 92 streets have already been adopted, please make yours the next!
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 Difficulty paying your Council Tax bill?
We are here to help you. In certain circumstances you may be entitled to pay less Council Tax. You can also ask us to spread your annual bill over 12 installments instead of ten. If you are on a low income you may be entitled to some help towards your bills through our Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS). CTRS is worked out differently for working age and pension aged claimants. The most important thing is to let us know as soon as possible. Email customerservice@wyreforestdc.gov.uk or call us on 01562 732928.
Repair don’t replace
Rather than throwing away and replacing broken items, have you tried repairing them? If you cannot fix it the Repair Café maybe able to help. We have two regular Repair Cafés in Wyre Forest where you can take your broken, damaged or torn household items for repair. The sessions take place from 10am until 2pm at Kidderminster Youth House on the first Saturday of the month and St George’s Hall in Bewdley, on the third Saturday of each month. Repairs are free but donations are encouraged to keep the cafés running.
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 New urban park
Demolition of the shops on Worcester Street, Kidderminster which are making way for our urban park has been completed. We have been out to tender for a construction partner and will be awarding the contract later this month. Work on site is due to start at the end of March. We have more photos of the demolition work in our gallery. You can read all about the plans for the park on the NWedR website. The project is being funded by the Government’s Future High Streets Fund and Brownfield Land Release Fund.
Kidderminster Town Hall renovation
Work is now underway on the refurbishment of Kidderminster Town Hall. Kidderminster Town Council owns the Town Hall and is delivering the project in partnership with us. We secured funding for the project from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to transform the Grade II listed building into a bright new cultural, music and community meeting space. Speller Metcalfe are the construction partners. Piling work is due to start in the middle of the month.
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Bringing local history to life
If you are looking for something fun, free and local to do this half term, try our heritage trail app. It will give you a new dimension to visits to Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport town centres. The app will take you to GPS location checkpoints around the three towns. You will hear stories and see the lives of local characters who will appear in-situ on your device thanks to the latest augmented reality technology.
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Half term fun in our parks
More free activities this half term! Active Youth Outreach Services will be in two of our parks this February half term. Join them for crazy golf, ultimate frisbee, archery, giant jenga and more. They will be at Brinton Park, Kidderminster on Monday 12 February and Springfield Park, Kidderminster on Friday 16 February. Follow them on Facebook to find out more detail and locations.
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Job vacancies
Class 2 Refuse Driver/Loader - closes tomorrow - Tuesday 6 February
Waste Management Operative Loader - closes tomorrow - Tuesday 6 February
Housing Pathway Officer - closes Thursday 8 February
Community and Environmental Protection Officer - closes Friday 9 February
Operations Managers - closes Thursday 15 February
IT - Technical Support Officer (Apprenticeship) closes Monday 19 February
Senior Housing Projects Officer - closes Thursday 22 February
Subscribe to our jobs bulletin
Each Wednesday we send out a job bulletin featuring all our latest vacancies. It’s easy to subscribe to this and all our other newsletters by visiting the subscribe page on our website.
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Gift shop and craft studios open
The gift shop and craft studios at the museum have reopened following the regular winter closure. The shop has had a mini makeover during January and there has been plenty of new stock. It is well worth a visit for gift ideas, homeware, new greeting cards designs, garden décor, jewellery and accessories. A selection of ‘Made in the Museum’ crafts can be bought in the shop too. All items are unique and handmade by resident crafts people.
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The Garden Kitchen Café is reopening on Monday 12 February. Pop into the café located in the museum’s courtyard for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. They have locally sourced, seasonal and fair trade products and the cake is delicious! |
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Ghost walk if you dare
The first event of the 2024 season is a historical ghost walk. So if you fancy a night learning about the museum’s forgotten past, book your tickets now! The event on Thursday 22 February is from 7.30pm-9.30pm and is suitable for 13 year olds and over. It costs £17.50 per person. Booking is open!
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