The Met Office has announced a yellow heat health alert from 12pm on Wednesday 18 June 2025 until 6pm on Sunday 22 June across the West Midlands. It is very easy to become dehydrated in hot weather as we can soon lose more fluid than we take in, so drink cold non-alcoholic drinks regularly, keep out of the sun during the hottest times of the day, and avoid physical exertion in the heat where possible. People who are very young, the elderly and those with chronic conditions are more at risk, so keep an eye out for friends…

Computer generated image of the proposed fleet services depot at Hickman Avenue City of Wolverhampton Council has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of its Hickman Avenue site to accommodate a new fleet services depot. If approved, demolition of existing light industrial units, not fit for purpose, could start in winter 2025/26 with construction works beginning in early 2026. The scheme is designed to accommodate the council’s fleet services operation, which is due to relocate from its current Culwell Street depot in the city centre to pave the way for hundreds of new homes as part of the…

This week is the start of Cervical Screening Awareness Week, and people who have received an invitation for cervical screening are being encouraged to book their appointment now. The NHS Cervical Screening Programme saves thousands of lives every year by checking for high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a group of viruses that cause nearly all cervical cancers. Cervical cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages, but as the disease progresses, common symptoms include unusual vaginal bleeding, like after sex, between periods, or after menopause, changes in vaginal discharge, and pelvic pain. Advanced cervical cancer may also cause…

(L-R): Outside the new City Learning Quarter college campus as the cladding is exposed. Back row – Wolverhampton City Investment Board Chair, Ninder Johal, City of Wolverhampton College Director of Finance, Paul Davies, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, Cllr Chris Burden, McLaughlin & Harvey Site Manager, Sean Doyle, and Turner & Townsend Senior Project Manager, Neil James. Front row – City of Wolverhampton College students Adela Nwankou (computing), Thomas Ridley (health) and Hilary Temoh Check (computing) The wraps are coming off Wolverhampton’s new City Learning Quarter college campus as the transformative city…

People have until Monday (16 June) to have their say about the Shared Lives service. Shared Lives is a unique form of social care based on the simple but transformative power of human relationships. In Shared Lives, a young person or adult who is assessed as needing care and support is matched with a carer by the Shared Lives service, coordinated by Camphill Village Trust. Together, they share home, family, and community life. The service is provided by individuals or families – Shared Lives carers – and enables people to access community facilities, maximise their independence and quality of life,…

The City of Wolverhampton Council will mark Windrush Day next weekend with a flag raising ceremony and the unveiling of a bronze bust of the city’s first African-Caribbean councillor The City of Wolverhampton Council will mark Windrush Day next weekend with a flag raising ceremony and the unveiling of a bronze bust of the city’s first African-Caribbean councillor. Celebrated annually, Windrush Day honours the contributions which the Windrush generation and their descendants have made to British society. It commemorates the arrival of the MV Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in 1948, bringing passengers from the Caribbean to the UK…

The centre, on New Forest Rd, will be retrofit to make it as close to carbon neutral as possible so that it can become an exemplar building to educate domestic and commercial users on the benefits of renewable energy. The centre will offer support to businesses and residents to explore funding available, such as carbon credits that can be obtained to retrofit homes to save people money. The centre has received £325,995 funding from Walsall Council’s Community Capital programme, which is funded by the Government’s Town Deal. “ As a council we are keen to support projects like this that…

From 15 September this year, Sandwell Council will introduce changes to bin collections to improve recycling quality and meet new Government regulations. The council is introducing Alternate Weekly Collections (AWC) for bins and recycling to meet new UK Government Simpler Recycling regulations which will help improve recycling rates, reduce contamination and disposal costs, freeing up funds for other vital services. This means that while all households will have a collection on a weekly basis, non-recycling waste (grey bin) will be collected one week, with recycling collected the following week. During the first week of the changes, some households will have…

Two Sandwell councillors are taking on a walking challenge later this week to raise awareness of men’s mental health. Councillor Jackie Taylor, Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Health and Wellbeing, and Old Warley Councillor Luke Cotterill are taking on a six-park, three-day walking challenge to mark Men’s Health Week. The challenge involves them walking between six parks across Sandwell over three days, with a one hour community walk at each park, culminating in a community event with lots of family activities on Father’s Day (Sunday 15 June) at West Smethwick Park. Councillor Taylor said: “We’re standing shoulder to shoulder…

Councillor Mike Bird was elected as Leader of the Council, following the resignation of Councillor Garry Perry last month. Councillor Bird was first elected to Walsall Council in 1980. He previously held the position of Leader of the Council between 2018 and 2024. Following his election the new Leader of Walsall Council, Councillor Mike Bird said: “ It’s good to be back! It has been an honour for me to represent the people of Walsall for more than 40 years. Walsall is my home and I want the best for the borough and the very best for Walsall people, they…