On Friday 27 February the owner of Boss Mart 4, which was formally operating out of premises on Stratford Road in Shirley, was fined almost £7,000. In his absence at Birmingham Magistrates Court, Mr D Kharoty of Ferguson Road, Oldbury was sentenced for selling illegal vapes and ordered to pay £1,100, plus a victim surcharge of £440 and £5,189 towards costs, totalling £6,749. Solihull Council seized the illegal vapes during raids of the premises in 2024. Boss Mart 4 ceased trading from the premises in October 2025 but it was subsequently occupied by another company, operating under the name Boss…
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Solihull’s flagship low‑carbon energy network is entering its final stages of delivery, with construction and fit‑out of the new Energy Centre at Tudor Grange Park now nearing completion. Landscaping works around the site are set to begin shortly, marking another visible step toward the network becoming fully operational. All pipework for the first phase of the scheme has now been successfully installed, creating the spine of the new town centre energy network. With the underground infrastructure in place the next phase of works includes final connections to customer buildings, and testing and commissioning of the system. Once complete, the…
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…
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…
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…
People will be invited to have their say about proposals to introduce a ‘Public Space Protection Order’ (PSPO) to help tackle anti-social behaviour around the Bentley Bridge area when a consultation begins early next month. The order would give police powers to ask groups of 3 or more people to vacate the area if there is reason to believe they are causing or likely to cause a nuisance, and to remove face coverings if they have no reasonable grounds to wear them. These proposals are being put forward to tackle a steady increase in anti-social behaviour – largely involving groups…
Between January and March, there are plenty of free activities, workshops and family support at all four of the council’s Family Hubs across the borough. The Hubs provide a one‑stop shop for local families, offering play sessions, learning activities, health and wellbeing support, and access to partner organisations to help children get the best possible start in life. Here’s just a flavour of what’s in store this year: Have fun: Early years development and play Stay & Play, Peep Stay & Play, Storytime, and Magical Moments – sessions supporting communication, early learning and bonding. Little Einsteins – a 5‑week programme focused on…
Huge amounts of investment have been, and continue to be, attracted to the borough to improve local areas, restore buildings back into economic use, build new homes and create opportunities for work and leisure. “ We’re starting 2026 in a really strong position with lots to look forward to across the borough. We’re moving forward with transformative schemes that are already underway, and we’re implementing new frameworks and strategies to build on the incredible progress we’ve already made. 2026 will bring new housing, new railway stations, more jobs and opportunities, and the start of the major transformation of Walsall town…
Visitors to Wolverhampton city centre can now enjoy parking at any time of the day or night at the council’s Civic Centre car park. The 332 space car park is trialling 24/7 opening hours following its recent hi-tech upgrade, which is making parking easier and more convenient. Just steps away from University of Wolverhampton at The Halls and other major venues, it serves thousands of people every year including concert goers, Wolves fans and those enjoying the city’s vibrant nightlife. The technology upgrade introduced a ticketless automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system, offering quicker entry and exit, flexible payment options…