Walsall Council’s planning service has announced an impressive 85% approval rate for planning applications received in 2024, with a total of 940 planning permissions issued throughout the year. Following a Planning Advisory Service (PAS) peer review in 2021, Walsall Council’s planning service has embarked on a journey of continuous improvement. The findings from the peer review were actioned and embedded, transforming the planning service into a more customer-focused, high-performing service offer that consistently exceeds national targets “ We are incredibly proud of the progress our planning service has made over the past few years. Achieving an 85% approval rate for…

Funding of £503,974 received through Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund, alongside a commitment of £40,000 from Walsall Council, has been used to deliver the project, which will see site’s annual carbon footprint reduced by an estimated 61.32 tonnes of CO2. The installation of these solar panels will reduce carbon emissions while increasing the sustainability of the centre. Work at the centre is expected to be completed by April, with panels already installed on the roof of the pool. Those who make use of the centre’s facilities are advised that operations are unaffected by this work. “ As a council,…

Solihull Council is hosting its first Electric Vehicle (EV) Experience Event, “Solihull Going Electric”, in Solihull town centre on Saturday 5 April. The open event will showcase the growing range of EVs now available and allow residents to explore some of the benefits of EV adoption. Visitors will have the opportunity to test drive a range of exciting new electric cars and bikes, speak to dealers, ask questions and learn from industry experts about the latest advancements in EV technology. Exhibitors confirmed for the event include: BYD, Vauxhall, BMW, Citroën, Mercedez Benz, Skoda, Smart, Peugeot, Fiat and Tesla, while many…

A trial project showing how digital technology can revolutionise adult social care has been extended after its success in Wolverhampton. City of Wolverhampton Council is working with West Midlands 5G (WM5G) and neighbouring authorities to show how Technology Enabled Care (TEC) can improve the lives of hundreds of city residents. As part of the project sensor devices and voice activated wireless technologies including fall detectors, smart speakers, smart doorbells and remote monitoring sensors, are being used in people’s homes to support individual care needs. The trial programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) under the…

Families are being urged to take some simple steps to make sure they safely enjoy visits to farms and petting zoos this Spring. To avoid illness and enjoy a fun day out the UK Health Security Agency advises people to: always wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm running water immediately after contact with animals (including touching pens or fencing) and before eating or drinking – remember, hand gels and wipes do not kill these types of germs. if a dummy drops on the ground, it will need sterilising. when leaving a farm, boots, shoes and pushchair wheels should…

A hi-tech new Civic Centre car park system is to make it more welcoming and convenient for visitors, while helping improve traffic flow in the city. The work – part of City of Wolverhampton Council car park upgrades – will provide a faster, ticketless entry and exit. It will enable live data to be fed to the council’s electronic roadside signs so people can see where parking spaces are available. This will allow drivers to make decisions on approach to the city centre, easing traffic at peak times. Interactive digital screens at the car park will also be able to…

Work to build a new state-of-the-art Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station in Walsall has ramped up on Middlemore Lane in Aldridge. In the last few weeks, tarmac has been laid to create the bays where residents will be able to recycle their waste for years to come. External cladding has also been fitted to buildings on the site, with both the waste transfer station and reuse shop now taking shape. Work at the site is expected to be complete by summer 2025, with a view to operations starting later in the year. “ The site is progressing…

A new five-year strategy to address and reduce the risk of infant mortality in the Walsall borough will be considered for approval by the Health and Wellbeing Board when it meets on Thursday 20 March 2025. The Walsall Infant Mortality Prevention and Reduction Strategy 2025-2030 aims to reduce infant mortality in Walsall to below the national average by 2030 and recognise and highlight the importance of a multi-agency approach to prevent infant mortality through collaborative working. It also aims to ensure people of childbearing age and expectant parents have access to information, services and help at the right time to…

Children in Oldbury are urging safe and responsible parking around their school after taking part in a street sign competition run by Sandwell Council, with the winning design created by pupil Sarina. The competition encouraged pupils at Brandhall Primary School to submit designs for a road safety sign to be displayed around the school entrances. Sarina’s design was selected by the council’s Road Safety Education Team as the winner and has been made into a sign for lighting columns at key points around the school to remind parents, carers and other motorists about the importance of safe parking. Pupils’ creativity…

Pop Voices and Boogaloo Babes member Anya Small, The Mayor of Solihull Councillor Shahin Ashraf MBE, and Solihull Council Councillor Wazma Qais A variety performance showcasing the best musicians and performers that Solihull has to offer will help celebrate the grand reopening of The Core Theatre. ‘We are Solihull’ will be the first performance in the main auditorium since August 2023, following the completion of remediation works to the roof. Hosted by The Mayor of Solihull, Cllr Shahin Ashraf MBE, to celebrate her year in office, the variety performance brings together an eclectic mix of music, dance and spoken word…