Thousands of school children across Walsall were treated to an unforgettable week of live music in July as part of a borough-wide tour led by Walsall Music Education Service. Over one week, the service visited 15 primary schools and between 3-4000 pupils delivering 45-minute live music performances to packed halls of enthusiastic pupils. The aim was to introduce children to the joy of live music, encourage musical curiosity, and raise awareness of the wide range of opportunities available through the local music service. Professional musicians from the team taught about rhythm and beat through covers of popular songs such as…

The Mayor’s visit is part of the church’s efforts to improve its community facilities, making them more accessible and ensuring the venue can continue to host local activities like cultural weddings and weekly services. The church, which has been a long-standing place of connection for the local community, is currently awaiting approval for external grant funding to begin the much-needed work “ It was a real pleasure to visit the Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God here in Walsall. This church is not only a place of worship, but a cornerstone of the local community, a…

The fly-tip, on Bescot Drive, Walsall, was reported to the council on Thursday 31 July 2025, consisted of garden waste and wooden pallets, obstructing the public right of way. A day after the report was received, the council’s fly-tipping taskforce swiftly investigated the area, cordoning it off as part of its ‘EnviroCrime’ initiative. This sees fly-tip sites treated as crime scenes, underscoring Walsall Council’s zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping and ensuring offenders are aware that an investigation is underway. By treating these sites as active crime scenes, the council aims to deter future fly-tipping incidents. “ Everyone deserves to walk through…

The fight against loan sharks comes to the Black Country this month (SEPT) as Operation Sharknet hits the streets of Sandwell. The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) is working with Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police to bring its campaign to the area next week to raise awareness about the dangers of loan sharks and keep residents safe. The IMLT, known as Stop Loan Sharks, is a national organisation hosted by Birmingham City Council. It was set up over 20 years ago to investigate and prosecute illegal lenders and support borrowers across England. The visit to Sandwell, which runs…

Further roads, islands and roundabouts will be resurfaced as the City of Wolverhampton Council puts additional funding to good use fixing roads and tackling potholes. The council secured an extra £2 million from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) via West Midlands Combined Authority for highways maintenance earlier this year. Resurfacing and other road improvement projects have now been earmarked. They include resurfacing in Cumberland Road, Rookery Street, Malins Road, Windermere Road, Merridale Lane, Knowles Road, Westbury Street, Edgehill Avenue, Thetford Gardens, Delhurst Avenue, Cyprus Street. Other resurfacing projects include Millfield Road (Black Country Route island), Black Country Route/Coseley…

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 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.…

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…