News in Atherstone

People in Atherstone and district have been told to "stay away" from public buildings if they think they might have coronavirus.

North Warwickshire Borough Council today put out a strongly-worded message on its website front page urging the public "not to visit" its offices, leisure centres or the Atherstone One Stop Shop as the UK awoke to new measures to delay the spread of Covid-19 came into full force.

A council-run 'discovery weekend' in Atherstone aimed at promoting health and fitness among the local population could be a victim of the UK moving into the "delay" phase of combating coronavirus.

Free gym classes, swimming sessions and children's activities are all on offer on Saturday and Sunday at the Atherstone Leisure Complex in a bid to incentivise people to use leisure facilities in the district.

Outside consultants costing Atherstone council taxpayers £53,000 to advise on the future direction of leisure may not be value for money, councillors have been warned.

The decision to bring in an external expert to help identify the best direction for facilities now Atherstone's ageing attraction is skirting with "infrastructure failure" has been challenged by opposition members on North Warwickshire Borough Council.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has given the green light to an estimated £500 million transport upgrade right through the heart of Atherstone and district's congested roads in a Budget announcement set to transform the local economy.

The Treasury chief's approval of the dualling of the A5 was greeted with "delight" by Atherstone's MP Craig Tracey who has spearheaded a five-year campaign to persuade the Government to improve the network.

Black Country Rangers 3 Athersone Town CFC 3

Open surgery is being cancelled at the medical centre where Atherstone saw its first coronavirus case.

Face-to-face appointments will not be available "for the next few weeks" as the Covid-19 outbreak fully impacts on Atherstone Surgery and its 16,300 patients.

Atherstone's MP Craig Tracey last night helped save the Government from an embarrassing defeat over the involvement of Chinese telecoms firm Huawei in the UK's 5G network.

Mr Tracey voted against the first Conservative rebellion of the new Parliament – led by former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith – which sought to ban "high-risk vendors" from the system after 2022.

Atherstone-based police officers have thrown a supportive arm around another community wanting to "make a real difference" in protecting itself from the dangers of rural crime.

The town's Safer Neighbourhoods Team has helped pave the way for Shuttington to join the 'Supported Villages Scheme'.

First responders who helped save a steward's life at the Atherstone Ball Game deserve to benefit from an annual grants scheme designed specifically to help organisations and volunteers in North Warwickshire, councillors have been urged.

Atherstone North Councillor Ray Jarvis made a plea to find a way to get financial assistance for a body which "even have to fund a plaster they put on your finger".

Care facilities in Atherstone reacting to the town's first confirmed coronavirus case have moved into a "protection" phase – with some closing their doors to all visitors.

National award-winning residential home Merevale House and Bentley House Care Centre both took the decision to turn away relatives and friends from their establishments on learning the situation from Nub News yesterday.