Approximately £1.4 million of illegal vapes and counterfeit goods have been uncovered by Walsall Trading Standards officers following a joint operation with specialist sniffer dogs. The enforcement activity, part of the national Operation CeCe crackdown on illicit tobacco and vapes, took place on Thursday July 25, 2025. Officers initially visited two retail premises in the borough, where sniffer dogs located illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes—even from a sophisticated concealment and a hidden ceiling compartment. The team then moved on to a self-storage yard in Walsall, where sniffer dogs Griff and Cooper alerted officers to four suspicious containers. Two were found…

Walsall Council has worked with West Midlands Police to address reports of anti-social behaviour, drug misuse, fly-tipping and rough sleeping at a town centre car. Following complaints from residents and local businesses, officers from Walsall Council’s Community Safety, Community Protection, Asset Management and Parking Enforcement teams joined police for an on-site inspection at Paddock Lane on 15 July 2025. Officers discovered that locks intended to keep the premises secure had been broken. The car park was being used by rough sleepers, with anti-social behaviour, including drug taking, abandoned vehicles, and fly-tipping taking place. On 25 July, Walsall Council’s Community…

Walsall Council is continuing its commitment to supporting families access essentials through the cost of living crisis with the launch of two new community shops in the first week of August. Official launch of Lucy’s Pantry community shop in The Saddlers Shopping Centre Lucy’s Pantry officially opened the doors to its new, expanded premises at Saddlers Shopping Centre on Tuesday 5 August, offering a dignified, low-cost food shopping experience to residents across the borough. This will be followed two days later by the opening of the Love Blakenall Community Hub at Blakenall Village Centre on Thursday 7 August. “ We’re…

The construction of Walsall’s new £32 million Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station is now complete. The site, situated on Middlemore Lane, Aldridge, will provide easy-to-use facilities helping residents to recycle a wider range of items. This will enable the delivery of a new waste strategy, to be launched this year, which will emphasise a shift towards a circular economy, where materials are reused and recycled. The facilities will play a crucial role in meeting local and national waste management objectives by reducing landfill waste and increasing recycling rates. “ This project is a huge development for Walsall.…

Twelve primary school pupils from across Walsall have been announced as the winners of a borough-wide competition to design banners promoting litter picking and tackling environmental waste. The competition, open to Key Stage 2 pupils, asked children to create artwork for Walsall Council’s Community Litter Watch Facebook page, aiming to raise awareness of litter issues and encourage residents to take pride in their communities. The winning entries will be featured as the page banner image—one each month for the next 12 months—highlighting the importance of community action to keep Walsall clean and green. Winning pupils were invited to a special…

The City of Wolverhampton Council has launched a new survey inviting parent carers, young people, and professionals to share their views on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services in the city. Feedback will play a vital role in evaluating the effectiveness of current services and support, understanding how well the Wolverhampton SEND Local Area Partnership is meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND, and their families, and shaping future improvement plans to make services more inclusive, responsive, and impactful. The survey is structured around the 13 key areas of the national SEND and Inclusion Inspection Framework,…

Nearly every business has to go to the bank for funding assistance at some point, so I thought it would be helpful to outline some of the key ways to help yourself in getting the bank manager to say “yes”. Banks are the major source of finance for small business in the UK. When applying for finance from your bank it helps if you follow procedures. Firstly, always have a business plan. The main areas to be covered in a business plan are the management team background with details of qualifications and experience, the type of business and previous trading…

Lakeside Live festival returns to Walsall on Sunday 17 August 2025, promising a day of electrifying performances, family-friendly fun, and diverse food options, all completely free to attend. The annual community music festival will take from 12:00pm to 6:00pm at the Walsall Arboretum Bandstand. The line-up of this year’s festival features 20 local acts, showcasing a vibrant mix of genres including rock, funk, reggae, folk, and blues. Fun-seekers can look forward to performances from contemporary folk singer Aayushi, live music from Ancient Champion Notion of Fortune, the Goddam Band, and Midnight Crossing. “ We are proud to bring back the…

Walsall Council is marking National Allotments Week 2025, which runs until Sunday 17 August, by celebrating the growing role allotments play in supporting physical and mental wellbeing across the borough. The theme this year is “Allotments and Wellbeing” and focuses on the positive impact of allotment gardening on health, nutrition, and community connection. Walsall’s allotment sites offer residents a chance to grow fresh produce, stay active, meet others, and enjoy the outdoors. Some events are scheduled to take place across Walsall’s allotment sites this August, starting with a special growing show and friendly competition hosted by the North Walsall Allotment…

An innovative approach to adult social care in Wolverhampton has earned national recognition with the project shortlisted for a prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Award. The WM5G Technology Enabled Care (TEC) trial has been put into action helping people across the city by OneWolverhampton – a partnership between the City of Wolverhampton Council, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and others. The trial – funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) under the 5G Innovation Region scheme – has been highlighted for its transformative impact on residents, carers, and frontline staff in Wolverhampton demonstrating how locally led, joined…