This week I’ve got news of developments from our town centre energy network and £400k of funding available for community groups, but first – dodgy convenience stores. I welcome the news that the owner of Boss Mart in Shirley has been fined nearly £7000. I’m happier that the shop has now shut down after being given notice that the Council would be applying for a closure order. Shops like this blight our high streets, not just with their appearance but with the illegal and often dangerous products they peddle and their tendency to attract antisocial behaviour. We have a…
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Residents are being thanked by Sandwell Council after recycling a record amount of quality paper, card and food waste since the borough’s new waste and recycling service launched last September. In just a few months, residents have increased the amount of paper and card recycled, while cutting non-recycling grey bin (residual) waste by around 16% compared with earlier in the year – a major step forward for recycling in Sandwell. The improvements mean the council can now collect higher-quality recycling, ensuring materials are reused rather than wasted. Paper and card collected separately can be turned into new cardboard…
Walsall Council was delighted to welcome the Mayor of the West Midlands to Bloxwich Launchpad this week, marking a significant moment as the centre continues to support local people and entrepreneurs since opening in September 2025. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the impact of the Launchpad a dynamic digital skills and incubation hub created as part of the £21.3 million Bloxwich Town Deal investment and to hear from users, partners and local leaders about how the facility is helping to shape economic and community opportunity in Bloxwich and across the borough. Since opening its doors, over 1,100 visits…
Demolition has begun on the first of a number of brownfield sites on Moat Street in Willenhall, clearing the way for new homes. The project, which is a key part of Walsall Council’s long-term Willenhall Framework plan, will see over 100 new homes built to breathe new life into the area. The dilapidated industrial unit on Moat Street is the first of six sites that will be cleared in the area, many of which have been derelict for some time. A swathe of sites were acquired by the council in 2025 following a Compulsory Purchase Order, and plans will see…
As part of the West Midlands Business Festival, a business-focused We Are Walsall 2040 event will take place on Wednesday 11 February 2026 at Bescot Stadium. We Are Walsall 2040 is a long-term plan for the borough of Walsall that aims to accelerate growth and investment across the borough. How will this plan benefit local businesses and what can businesses looking to grow in Walsall expect over the coming years? As part of the West Midlands Business Festival, a business-focused We Are Walsall 2040 event will take place on Wednesday 11 February 2026 at Bescot Stadium. The event will give…
Walsall Council has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering high-quality adult social care services following the publication of an assessment report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England. The overall rating for Walsall Council is ‘Requires Improvement’. “ We are committed to providing our residents with the best possible adult social care services. “We welcome this report from the CQC. Whilst we don’t recognise everything in the report and the resulting score of this assessment is disappointing, it highlights many areas of positive practice and performance across the service and provides us…
On National Pothole Day, Walsall Council is highlighting its year-round strategy to maintaining safe roads. All roads in the borough are subject to routine inspections, with main roads checked monthly and quieter residential streets annually. Potholes identified during inspections are prioritised by the level of risk they pose. In 2025, Walsall Council took a proactive approach to road maintenance, carrying out 6,249 pothole repairs across the borough. The majority of these were identified through regular highway safety inspections, alongside 489 potholes reported by residents. While around 10 per cent of repairs were completed using traditional methods, most were carried out…
Walsall Council is championing Big Energy Saving Week (17–23 January) by hosting a series of free, drop-in sessions offering climate and energy support. Residents are invited to visit the Bloxwich Launchpad (WS3 2JF) from Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 January, between 9 am and 1 pm. The sessions are designed to help residents tackle rising energy costs and improve home efficiency. They are delivered by the Walsall Energy Action Project (WEAP) a partnership between Walsall Council and the voluntary community sector, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. “ Big Energy Saving Week highlights the vital support available to…
This Blue Monday (19 January 2026), Walsall residents are being reminded of the free and confidential support available across the borough to help with mental wellbeing. Blue Monday is an opportunity, particularly during the colder winter months to pause, check in and prioritise wellbeing. Mental health affects everyone and feeling low, stressed, or overwhelmed is more common than many people realise. Talking openly about mental health helps reduce stigma and encourages people to seek help earlier. If you are feeling low, small steps can make a big difference: connecting with someone you trust, taking a short walk, limiting stressful media,…
There’s still time to join a series of ‘Winter Warmth and Wellness’ sessions taking place at Wolverhampton Libraries – designed to bring together communities during the colder months. Hot drinks and mindfulness activities will be available during the free events, including board games, crafts and puzzles. A series of events took place last month, with 7 more to come. They are as follows: Wednesfield Library, Thursday 8 January, 10.30am to 11.30am Bob Jones Community Hub, Monday 12 January, 10am to 11am Finchfield Library, Tuesday 13 January, 10.30am to 12.30pm Penn Library, Thursday 15 January, 10.30am to 12.30pm Bilston Library, Tuesday…