A three-day pop-up exhibition celebrating the borough’s inspiring women through art will take place this July. ‘My Queen’ will run from 15 to 17 July 2025 at The New Art Gallery Walsall, with a special open day on Tuesday 15 July at 12.30pm. Organised by LGK in The Community, the exhibition marks the launch of Queens of the City, a flagship project funded by the Heritage Lottery and part-funded by Walsall Council. This pioneering initiative celebrates Walsall’s rich and diverse heritage by uplifting the stories of women from both migrant and established communities through food, art, and storytelling. As part…

The Dacia Duster has been named ‘Best Small SUV’ in the 2025 Business Motoring Awards Duster was praised as “a thoroughly practical small SUV at a price that makes it highly affordable” Judged by a panel of industry experts, the Business Motoring Awards recognise vehicles that matter the most to SME operators Robust and adventurous Duster is available in four trim levels with three powertrains, plus a 4×4 option, with prices starting from £19,380 on-the-road Proving it’s just as good for business as it is for daily adventures, the Dacia Duster has been named the ‘Best Small SUV’ in the…

The timber framework for 24 new City of Wolverhampton Council homes for rent in Low Hill is beginning to emerge. The council’s housing development team is leading on the project, with Morro Partnerships appointed to construct the homes using sustainable building methods. It will deliver a mixture of detached and semi-detached houses, bungalows and a small number of flats, plus 52 parking spaces, on a cleared site at the rear of Old Fallings Crescent, previously occupied by the former Peach Tree adventure playground and disused garages. The homes have been designed by BM3 Architects, with the houses being…

A computer-generated image shows what the new council homes on the left could look like on the former Duke of York pub site at Heath Town A planning application has been approved for new council homes to be built on the site of a former pub as part of the ongoing transformation of the Heath Town estate. The proposals put forward by construction partner Keon Homes on behalf of City of Wolverhampton Council, include 32 one and two-bedroom apartments on vacant land where the Duke of York pub once stood. The development, facing Wednesfield Road, Tremont Street and Inkerman…

Walsall Council’s planning service has been recognised for its significant progress and transformation following a recent Planning Peer Challenge conducted by the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) in March 2025. The Peer Challenge, held from 5–7 March at the Council’s invitation, provided an independent and honest assessment of the planning service’s performance. The findings highlighted a service that has made substantial strides since its last review in 2021, evolving into a high-performing, customer-focused operation that consistently exceeds national targets. “ We are very proud of the progress our planning service has made. This recognition…

Approximately 4,500 people gathered at Walsall Arboretum on Saturday 5 July for the Bostin’ Black Country Bash, an all-day festival celebrating the rich cultural and geological heritage of the Black Country with live music, family entertainment, and local pride on full display. The free event marked the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Global Geoparks network, with the Black Country proudly recognised as one of its prestigious members. The designation reflects the region’s international significance in shaping the Industrial Revolution and its ongoing global legacy. Other Geoparks globally include the North Pennines, Ore of the Alps in Austria, the Azores and…

Ceremony echoes Sir Henry Royce’s tradition of personally signing off new designs Final steel beam of 40,000m² extension signed by Rolls-Royce Board of Directors Marks rapid progress – just four months after the CEO signed the first structural column Landmark extension is the largest single investment in the Home of Rolls-Royce since it opened in 2003 “Just four months ago, I signalled the start of above-ground construction on our £300 million extension project by signing the first steel column to be installed. My fellow Board Directors and I have now signed the last beam to be lifted into place, completing…

Young performers from across Wolverhampton will raise the roof of the city’s premier music venue with a series of concerts next week. Wolverhampton Summer Sounds is a four-night celebration of musical talent taking place at the Wulfrun Hall, University of Wolverhampton at The Halls, from Tuesday 15 July to Friday 18 July. Over 4 nights, 400 members of the Youth Choir, Concert String Orchestra, Keyboard Ensemble, Fusion Fives, Big Top SEND Ensemble, Bhangra Fusion Percussion, the Primary and Secondary Rock ‘n’ Pop groups, Guitar Group, Concert Wind Band, New Wind, Early Strings, New Strings, Jazz Big Band, Youth Wind Orchestra…

Sandwell Council continues to lead the way in maintaining roads and tackling potholes according to latest public satisfaction surveys. More investment is planned – more than £15million this financial year – to keep on top of these priority issues for residents and other road users. The percentage of residents satisfied with road maintenance in Sandwell is more than double the local government benchmark, according to latest research. And another recent survey put Sandwell in the top three local authorities nationally for the way it deals with potholes, and in the top 10 nationally for seven highway maintenance categories. Sandwell Council…

The UK’s new car market grew for the second consecutive month in June, as registrations rose 6.7% to 191,316 units, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It was the best June since 2019, helping lift first half performance 3.5% above the same period last year, although the market remains -17.9% behind pre-Covid levels.1 Despite a positive June performance, it too remained behind pre-pandemic levels, -14.4% lower than in 2019, and driven mostly by fleet activity with uptake climbing 8.5% to 114,841 units.2 Private retail demand grew 5.9% to 71,616 units…