New research from eBay, one of the UK’s leading online marketplaces for car parts and accessories, has found that one in 10 motorists never check their wiper blades for faults or damage, despite them being a common factor in failed MOTs. A fifth (23%) of participants in the study only check the condition of their wiper blades when they have an MOT or service on their vehicle, while almost half of people (43%) change their wiper blades when their annual car check-up is due. While they may not be considered a particularly important part to replace for many car owners,…

Sniffer dog Griff outside the storage container and one of the bin liners found with tobacco. A huge amount of tobacco, illegal cigarettes, counterfeit duty stamps and counterfeit tobacco labelling with a retail value of approximately £500,000 was seized from a storage facility in Walsall on Friday 7 March as part of a crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade. The seizure was undertaken as part of Operation Shadow, which aims to disrupt the wholesale supply of illicit tobacco as well as retail. Walsall Council Trading Standards in partnership with West Midlands Police and a specialist search dog team, searched one…

Residents are invited to find out more about Walsall’s social prescribing service at an open day taking place this March. The Making Connections Walsall Service (MCW), led by a partnership of community organisations including Walsall Council, will hold the open day on Wednesday 19 March from 10am to 2pm at the Manor Farm Community Association Shop in the Saddlers Shopping Centre. Making Connections Walsall is a friendly service for residents of all ages in Walsall. It addresses loneliness and social isolation and empowers residents to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing. Between February 2024 and February 2025, the service…

Soccer Aid for UNICEF is proud to announce Suzuki as a Principal Partner for this year’s event. As one of the world’s leading automotive brands for families, there is a perfect alignment with Soccer Aid’s mission of engaging and entertaining a nationwide family audience. As Principal Partners, Suzuki will be authentically integrated throughout the Soccer Aid campaign, with opportunities for fans to win exclusive prizes and experiences – alongside creating engaging pieces of content with the Soccer Aid talent to bring the features of the Suzuki vehicles to life, ahead of the exciting release of the new e Vitara later…

Walsall Council is highlighting the importance of healthy eating and hydration during Nutrition and Hydration Week (17-23 March) and encouraging residents to take advantage of the support offered by Be Well Walsall. The annual campaign which has been running since March 2012 focuses on the simple steps everyone can take to improve their overall health and wellbeing through better nutrition and hydration. Maintaining a balanced diet and staying hydrated is crucial for physical and mental health. It is also one of the council’s Eight Steps to Wellbeing to help residents learn what is important to keep them healthy, independent and…

Staff, accompanies by Alison Hinds, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Director of Children’s Services, marked World Social Work Day with a series of events today A series of events took place across the city today (Tuesday 18 March, 2025) as Wolverhampton marked World Social Work Day. They were open to all City of Wolverhampton Council social workers and adults and children’s social care practitioners across 4 venues, with staff invited to share good practice and reflect on the theme of this year’s World Social Work Day, which is ‘Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for Enduring Wellbeing’. It emphasises the importance of…

Škoda UK has announced the winners of its annual Retailer of the Year Awards 2024, with Vindis Škoda (Bury St Edmunds) crowned best of the best. The Retailer of the Year Awards celebrate retailer excellence across the Škoda network. Specific award categories cover sales, fleet, electric vehicles (EVs), customer experience, Used Sales, Aftersales, and of course the overall Retailer of the Year accolade. Fighting off firm competition from more than 125 Škoda retailers across the UK and noted for a fantastic team culture, Vindis Škoda (Bury St Edmunds), who finished ninth in 2022 and third in 2023, climbed the ranks…

Old Hall School, on Bentley Lane, Walsall, opened its new site, ‘The Nest’ in Darlaston on 25 February 2025. The Nest will provide specialist Early Years and Key Stage 1 provision for over 40 children with severe learning disabilities and complex Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC). The council has supported the transformation of a disused nursery into a new, inclusive learning environment. The investment reflects both the council’s and school’s commitment to expand the number of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities places in Walsall. The Nest is home to four purpose-built classrooms, two sensory rooms, a dedicated wellbeing room, outdoor spaces…

People are being urged to be aware of the symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) as Wolverhampton prepares to mark World TB Day on Monday 24 March, 2025. TB is an infectious illness spread through inhaling small droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person and can cause serious health problems – particularly if it is not caught early. It is preventable and curable but still kills 2 people around the globe every minute. World TB Day aims to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis, and to step up efforts to end the…

The Wolverhampton Local Plan to guide future development in the city up to 2042 has been submitted to the Secretary of State for an independent public examination. It sets out City of Wolverhampton Council’s commitment to regeneration and building on brownfield land first. Following its submission, the plan will undergo an independent examination by the planning inspectorate. Every local authority must prepare a local plan to guide regeneration, investment and planning application decisions for at least 15 years. The Wolverhampton Local Plan identifies environmental areas to protect and enhance, sites to allocate for housing development and employment use, key transport…