Geoff Neal, managing director of Euclid Ltd (left) and Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, with the new driver ID cards City of Wolverhampton Council is providing increased security for taxi and private hire passengers by becoming the first authority to offer driver licence checks by smartphone. Contactless technology has been introduced into driver’s ID cards, meaning passengers can view a digital version of their driver’s private hire or taxi driver licence simply by tapping the card with a Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled smartphone. This will provide reassurance about the driver’s…

Walsall Council has officially launched its Net Zero 2041 Strategy on World Environment Day, setting a clear path for the borough to become a healthier, greener, and more prosperous place to live, work, and do business. Building on the 2019 climate emergency declaration, the strategy focuses on six key themes designed not only to reduce emissions but also to create new economic opportunities, improve residents’ quality of life, and build resilient communities. Progress is already visible, with 860 solar panels installed at Oak Park Active Living Centre and ongoing work through the Walsall Energy Action Project (WEAP), demonstrating how…

l-r Contracts Manager, Seddon Construction Ltd, Cllr Hughes, Cllr Smith, Cllr Uppal Eight new family homes have been built on a vacant brownfield site in West Bromwich. Working on behalf of Sandwell Council, Seddon has built eight new two-, three- and four-bedroom council homes at St Vincent Crescent in West Bromwich that received grant funding from Homes England. The site had previously been a small parade of shops, which was demolished 10 years ago. The vacant site provided a great opportunity to build new homes, promote greater social mobility, and significantly improve the life chances for existing residents and for…

Councillor Louise Harrison is Mayor of Walsall for 2025-26 A new Mayor for the borough has been appointed following the annual Mayor Making ceremony in the Council Chamber in Walsall on Monday 19 May 2025. The ceremony is one of the highlights in Walsall’s civic calendar, with the new Mayor receiving the robes and chains of office and naming the charities that will benefit from fundraising activities during their time in office. Councillor Louise Harrison was elected as Mayor of Walsall for 2025-26 and Councillor Chris Bott was elected as Deputy Mayor for 2025-26. The new Mayor takes over…

The City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Jacqui Coogan, is encouraging residents to put forward nominations for this year’s Young Citizen of the Year award. The awards, now in their 12th year, shine a spotlight on young people who are making a real difference in the community, recognising the achievements of those who have gone that extra mile to help others. Previous winners include residents who have raised funds for charity, supported other members of their community, and made a difference to the people around them. Chairman of the organising committee, former Wolves player…

Jameel Motors UK has expanded its leadership team with key appointments of experienced industry specialists. Effective immediately, Calum James joins as Head of Sales, and Sujai Sugathan as Head of Aftersales. This follows the appointment of Kate McLaren as Head of Marketing and Sales Operations in January, and Jeremy Wood as Head of Finance in February. Jameel Motors UK is making these key strategic appointments to accelerate its launch phase in the UK following the official launch of the Farizon SV large van at the CV Show last week. The company has received strong interest for the vehicle from across…

A Sandwell Council owned site has been given a radical overhaul creating 12 new family homes in Oldbury. • A former brownfield site at Crosswells Road in Oldbury has been reshaped to create more homes by Sandwell Council. • Before being used for housing, the land was once the site of a council-run depot, which had been demolished. • The regeneration of the site has improved the streetscape and aesthetics of Crosswells Road and brought new people into the neighbourhood. • Tenants’ energy costs have been considered and Photo Voltaic (PV) panels and electric chargers have been installed at each…

Councillor Steve Melia (Great Barr with Yew Tree ward) is the new Mayor of Sandwell following a ceremony in the Council Chamber at Sandwell Council House His Mayoress is his sister, Valerie Thacker, who last year also acted as his Deputy Mayoress. The Deputy Mayor was named as Councillor Elaine Giles (Newton Ward) and her Deputy Mayoress will be her granddaughter, Grace Giles. At the ceremony, votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing Mayor Councillor Syeda Khatun MBE. Councillor Melia, who has been a councillor for 30 years, having represented both Great Barr with Yew Tree and Wednesbury South…

OMODA&JAECOO UK is proud to announce its latest accolade, having been named the winner of the Fleet Rising Star category at this year’s prestigious Great British Fleet Awards, organised by Fleet World magazine. The award – presented during a black-tie networking dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Milton Keynes – recognises emerging brands that are making a significant and positive impact in the UK fleet sector. It follows a day of industry engagement at the Great British Fleet Event, which brings together the most influential figures and innovations shaping the future of fleet mobility. The judges praised OMODA&JAECOO for its…

With electric vehicle (EV) registrations making up more than 20 per cent of the new car market in 2025*, new data shows that they’re not only cheaper to fuel but also significantly cheaper to maintain. According to The Car Expert, the UK’s leading automotive consumer advice platform, drivers making the switch to electric vehicles in 2025 can expect to pay nearly 30 per cent (29 per cent1) less to service an electric vehicle (EV) over five years compared to a petrol, diesel or hybrid equivalent. The findings are based on exclusive data supplied by automotive analytics provider and The Car…