Sandwell Council is inviting residents, businesses and community groups have their say on the soundness and legal compliance of modifications to the Sandwell Local Plan. Three modifications are being proposed by Sandwell Council to the submitted Local Plan. We are inviting residents and other interested parties to have their say on the soundness and legal compliance of the modifications. We have provided information about what ‘soundness’ means and what the legal requirements are online. The modifications are: 1. Allocating part of Rowley Regis Golf Course for housing development. Some of the golf course is allocated for housing…

Prom season is approaching and parents and carers across the city are reminded to make vital checks before hiring vehicles for the special night. City of Wolverhampton Council’s licensing team is working with schools and other councils across the region to alert families to potential risks. Officers are warning that not all companies that advertise the services of stretched limousines and other luxury or performance vehicles are licensed. The following advice is being issued so people can be sure that the vehicle being booked is safe and legal. The type of checks needed depend on how many passenger…

Walsall Council has successfully prosecuted six individuals for littering in the borough. All six perpetrators will now be required to pay substantial fines for improper disposal of waste. These cases were all adjudicated at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 24 March 2025. “ It is appalling to witness both visitors to the borough and local residents showing such disrespect for our communities. Shame on you. My message to perpetrators is clear: you will be caught and subsequently fined. This is the price you pay for your blatant disregard for our borough. I am proud of the consistent success of these prosecutions…

(L-R): Outside the new homes on the site of the former Happy Wanderer pub are Black Country Housing Group Chief Executive Designate, Adrian Eggington, Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Linda Leach, City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing, Councillor Steve Evans, and Keon Homes Site Manager, Daniel Thomas The first new affordable homes being built on the site of a former eyesore Bilston pub and neighbouring derelict garages have been completed. The Happy Wanderer pub on Green Lanes was subject to arson attacks and anti social behaviour since closing in 2017 due to poor trade.…

Work is starting on Monday 28 April on the Rose Hill to Pinson Road cycle scheme in Willenhall. The 1.2km route will comprise of a segregated cycleway and shared walking and cycling path between Pinson Road and the Rose Hill / Bilston Lane junction. The scheme connects to the Noose Lane to Pinson Road Cycle scheme, which is currently under construction, and aims to provide an onward dedicated cycle link between Wolverhampton and Walsall. “ With the construction of the new Willenhall Station, now is the right time to increase accessibility in Willenhall for local people. This scheme, along with…

Sandwell Council and its waste partner Serco have teamed up with pupils from Temple Meadow Primary School, to launch a new initiative aimed at reducing the amount of dog mess left near their school. The project, which encourages responsible pet ownership, was developed after students raised concerns about the ongoing issue of dog fouling on their walk to school. The children have been reminding dog owners to clean up after their pets and have sent out communications to local parents. The council has also increased signage and patrols in the area and is encouraging the community to report repeat…

A launch event was held earlier this month at the Transition and Care Leaving Hub in Pleck, Walsall. A new local house project has been launched in Walsall which will support young people leaving care to live independently. The Walsall House Project will provide care leavers with nine-months of intensive support to prepare them for leaving care so that they are ready to live independently. The project also provides opportunities for care leavers to work together in small groups and build a community of support. The project will equip care leavers with information, guidance and opportunities across all areas…

The world’s greatest classical music festival comes to St George’s Hall in Bradford on Sunday 7 September with the UK premiere of Angélique Kidjo’s African Symphony, as part of the BBC’s partnership with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Alongside eight weeks of music making at the Royal Albert Hall featuring orchestras and soloists from across the globe, BBC Proms travels across the UK with a series of unique concerts, all to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3. For Proms Bradford, five-time GRAMMY Award-winner Angélique Kidjo joins the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Chris Cameron, to perform the UK premiere of…

Walsall residents are encouraged to improve air quality and protect the environment as World Earth Day is marked on 22 April 2025. This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” provides an opportunity for individual and collective action to create a healthier and more sustainable environment for everyone. Air pollution is a critical environmental risk factor and it affects everyone’s health. Poor air quality can make existing lung and heart conditions worse. It also affects nature and can impact on climate and wildlife. Residents are being encouraged to take the following actions this World Earth Day and beyond. This includes choosing…

Local councils are picking up the AI mantle to help unleash this revolutionary technology across the UK – to turbocharge the Plan for Change and deliver a decade of national renewal. The latest transparency data – published by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) – shows that councils are wasting no time in putting the weight of the public sector behind AI and finding new and innovative ways to make it work for working people. It shows that AI is being used to identify when a pensioner has had a fall, to stop people fall into rent arrears,…