-r Cllr Smith, Daniel Coward and Mike Doyle from J.Harper & Sons Sandwell Council, in partnership with J. Harper & Sons (Leominster) Limited, is nearing completion of the construction of a new affordable housing development at Beever Road, Tipton. The scheme will deliver 18 high-quality homes for local residents in need of safe, secure, and affordable housing. The scheme includes a mix of 8 one-bedroom apartments along with 10 two-bedroom bungalows that have already been handed over and allocated to tenants. All properties have been designed to meet the needs of families and individuals with four of the new homes…

A Sandwell Council owned site has been given a radical overhaul creating 12 new family homes in Oldbury. • A former brownfield site at Crosswells Road in Oldbury has been reshaped to create more homes by Sandwell Council. • Before being used for housing, the land was once the site of a council-run depot, which had been demolished. • The regeneration of the site has improved the streetscape and aesthetics of Crosswells Road and brought new people into the neighbourhood. • Tenants’ energy costs have been considered and Photo Voltaic (PV) panels and electric chargers have been installed at each…

Councillor Steve Melia (Great Barr with Yew Tree ward) is the new Mayor of Sandwell following a ceremony in the Council Chamber at Sandwell Council House His Mayoress is his sister, Valerie Thacker, who last year also acted as his Deputy Mayoress. The Deputy Mayor was named as Councillor Elaine Giles (Newton Ward) and her Deputy Mayoress will be her granddaughter, Grace Giles. At the ceremony, votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing Mayor Councillor Syeda Khatun MBE. Councillor Melia, who has been a councillor for 30 years, having represented both Great Barr with Yew Tree and Wednesbury South…

Hajj and Umrah pilgrims reminded of vaccinations needed to travel People travelling to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages are being urged to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations in order to travel safely. Hajj and Umrah is expected to fall between 4 and 9 June, 2025, and all travellers should be up to date with routine vaccinations such as the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine. In addition, the UK Heath Security Agency is urging travellers to Saudi Arabia to ensure they are vaccinated against meningococcal disease with the MenACWY vaccine, after it…

Sandwell Council and Sandwell Children’s Trust are celebrating the launch of Foster Care Fortnight in Sandwell This is when we join a national campaign to raise awareness of the need for foster carers to help us to improve the lives of Sandwell’s most vulnerable children. Over the next two weeks the FosterSandwell team at Sandwell Children’s Trust will be sharing stories from our foster carers, care experienced young people and members of staff about the relationships we have built through fostering. As Councillor Jalal Uddin, Cabinet Member for Children and Families for Sandwell Council reflects; “The theme of this year’s…

Artists impression of the play area at Leamore Park Both Leamore Park and Bloxwich Park, Memorial and Prominade Gardens will soon be transformed thanks to funding from the Bloxwich Town Deal. Contractors were on site last week for a pre-start site visit and work has started in Leamore Park today (Monday 12 May). The work will be phased so that both parks aren’t closed to the public at the same time. The work will see both parks given a new lease of life, with new play areas designed by local schools, and various other improvements and repairs. “ Improving Bloxwich’s…

OMODA&JAECOO UK is proud to announce its latest accolade, having been named the winner of the Fleet Rising Star category at this year’s prestigious Great British Fleet Awards, organised by Fleet World magazine. The award – presented during a black-tie networking dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Milton Keynes – recognises emerging brands that are making a significant and positive impact in the UK fleet sector. It follows a day of industry engagement at the Great British Fleet Event, which brings together the most influential figures and innovations shaping the future of fleet mobility. The judges praised OMODA&JAECOO for its…

With electric vehicle (EV) registrations making up more than 20 per cent of the new car market in 2025*, new data shows that they’re not only cheaper to fuel but also significantly cheaper to maintain. According to The Car Expert, the UK’s leading automotive consumer advice platform, drivers making the switch to electric vehicles in 2025 can expect to pay nearly 30 per cent (29 per cent1) less to service an electric vehicle (EV) over five years compared to a petrol, diesel or hybrid equivalent. The findings are based on exclusive data supplied by automotive analytics provider and The Car…

The campaign is delivered by leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network, and aims to celebrate the role of foster carers, and the positive contributions they make to society. The theme of this year’s campaign is “The Power of Relationships,” highlighting the strong and trusting relationships that run through each fostering story, whether that’s a between a carer and child or young person, the support from social workers, or friendships that have been built within fostering communities. Throughout the fortnight, the council’s fostering service will be hosting a celebration event to thank Walsall foster carers and will be hosting drop-in sessions…

Cllr Hawkins (centre) with Solihull Council cycling trainers and some of the bikes available to try Solihull Council has teamed up with Peddle My Wheels to offer Solihull residents the ‘Try before you bike’ scheme. Part of the West Midlands Cycle and Walk Programme, this innovative scheme offers a flexible approach to hiring or buying a bike without the initial cost of purchasing a new bike and accessories. Residents can hire a bike from Peddle My Wheels for £40 a month on a rolling monthly contract which includes insurance, bike lock, lights and a helmet. At any point they…