Councils mount i54 access campaign

A NEW publicity campaign has been launched by the three local authorities involved in the i54 site to explain to visitors how best to enter and exit the business park.

In a national first, Staffordshire County Council, Wolverhampton City Council and South Staffordshire Council have funded and built a motorway junction on to the site to attract business and create jobs.

When the new junction opens late in the autumn, all cars and lorries will enter and exit i54 using the junction and slip roads. A camera-controlled bus lane is being installed on Innovation Drive – the current road on to the site from the Wobaston Road roundabout – and when it comes into force, only local buses, motorcycles, cyclists and pedestrians will be able to enter the site using this route. Any unauthorised vehicles will be issued with a penalty charge notice and fine of £60.

The councils said the bus lane would lead to easier, more consistent journey times and encourage travel to the site by public transport. The new arrangements are one of the conditions of the planning permission for i54 and will also help to protect nearby businesses and residents in Wolverhampton, Bilbrook and Codsall from increased traffic.

Information has already been sent to the four businesses currently on site, Jaguar Land Rover, Moog, Eurofins and ISP, to start sharing with their staff, suppliers and visitors. Further details including dates and reminders will be publicised over the coming months to ensure the switch over is as smooth as possible.

In a joint statement the authorities said: “These new road arrangements are part of the planning conditions for the site, and when they come into effect later this year, will ensure i54 is one of the best business sites in the West Midlands, while safeguarding local businesses and people from the extra traffic created.”

Black Country Chamber targets new patrons 

THE Black Country Chamber of Commerce is targeting larger SMEs within its area as it looks to increase the size of its patron membership.

The chamber said the patron scheme was the most exclusive business club in the Black Country and is designed for companies which have a strong association with the chamber and who work in partnership to enhance their profile locally and to the benefit of the wider membership.

Gail Arnold, Chamber patron manager, said “Companies who become a Chamber patron of Black Country Chamber, can expect to play a role in the prosperity of the local area. They work closely with us and our partners to assist small businesses grow, become involved in our influential lobbying work and participate in events to promote their brand.

“With direct access to the chief executive’s office, I work with the Chamber patrons to help create brand awareness, become involved in high profile networking and help the Chamber patron gain credibility to their brand in the Black Country.”

Kevin Rogers, chief executive, Paycare said: “Since Paycare became a Chamber patron our brand awareness has grown immeasurably. It has helped us to become ‘properly’ connected and raise our profile in the Black Country.”  

Superfast broadband rolled out to Rugeley and Colton 

RUGELEY and Colton have become the latest towns in Staffordshire to benefit from the multi-million pound Superfast Staffordshire high-speed fibre broadband programme.
 
An additional 5,350 premises in the Rugeley area now have access to faster fibre broadband as a result of the project.

Superfast Staffordshire is being rolled out by partners Staffordshire County Council and BT.

The work will enable people to access broadband download speeds of up to 80 megabits per second and uploads of up to 20Mbps.

Cllr Mark Winnington, Staffordshire’s cabinet member for the economy, environment and transport, said: “Our rollout of the Superfast Staffordshire programme continues with people in Rugeley and Colton the latest to benefit.

“The Superfast Staffordshire project is enabling us to reach communities which previously had no access to superfast broadband. Connecting people through faster speeds is as important as road or rail and means we’ll be ahead of many other areas of the UK and Europe. People should not have to miss out because of where they live or where their business is located.”

University of Wolverhampton aiming to inspire SMEs to grow 

THE University of Wolverhampton is targeting SMEs and start-ups in Shropshire looking to discover how they can develop their businesses through innovation.

The university, which is working in collaboration with Shropshire Council, has organised a series of events designed to help bosses think differently about their business, be more competitive in the market and win new customers.

The Eureka! Moment Project, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, aims to help SMEs in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire.

Grants from £2,000 to £10,000 are available to individual companies who are interested in investing towards future business development.  

The next event will take place on November 7 at Shire Hall, Abbey Foregate. It will also involve a briefing, with experts on hand to explain how companies can take advantage of Eureka. Paul Forrest, Director of the West Midlands Economic Forum, will discuss the current economic factors affecting growth in the region.