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 Bostin’ Black Country Bash will include live music all day. The event marks the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Global Geopark network, with the Black Country recognised as one of its prestigious members. The designation highlights the region’s geological significance in shaping the Industrial Revolution and its enduring impact on the world. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Walsall Arboretum, which celebrated its 150th anniversary last year, the festival promises a lively mix of entertainment for all ages including all day live music as well as mouth-watering local cuisine. King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys King Pleasure & The…

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…

A Black Country-wide conference around hoarding behaviours saw professionals hearing people’s experiences and pledging to work together to further improve support on offer. The ‘Behind Closed Doors’ conference coincided with National Hoarding Awareness Week 2025 (Monday 12 May to Friday 16 May). Working in partnership, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton Safeguarding Adults Boards held the event at Walsall FC’s Bescot Stadium. Professionals from a range of organisations across the Black Country attended the conference to further develop their knowledge and skills around hoarding behaviours, share best practice and hear from people who exhibit hoarding behaviours and their experiences. Ian…

Councillor Craig Collingswood has become Wolverhampton’s 166th Mayor and is pictured with his daughter, Abby, who is Mayoress Councillor Craig Collingswood has been officially appointed Wolverhampton’s 166th Mayor. Councillor Craig Collingswood has been officially appointed Wolverhampton’s 166th Mayor. He took over the chains of office from outgoing Mayor Councillor Linda Leach at the inauguration, which took place during last night’s Annual Council Meeting. His daughter Abby, a cardiothoracic nurse at New Cross Hospital’s Heart and Lung Centre, is Mayoress. Councillor Paul Singh was appointed Deputy Mayor for 2025 to 2026, with his wife Ranjit Dhillon becoming the new Deputy…

City of Wolverhampton Council is offering local groups and organisations the opportunity to manage Portobello Community Centre. The council owned centre on Hill Road, Willenhall, has been vacant since the previous community association left in December 2023. The council remains committed to exploring all options to ensure the building is retained for community use. Expressions of interest are being invited to either take on the centre through a community asset transfer of the building or to lease it as a community association. Interested parties are advised it is a big commitment to take on a community building and requires…

Artworks by Francis Xavier as part of the Walsall Makes strand Over the last year thousands of Walsall residents have been inspired and engaged through a dynamic cultural programme delivered as part of the Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund (CWGLEF), celebrating creativity, community and local heritage. Funded by the CWGLEF’s Cultural Pillar and delivered by Walsall Council in partnership with Creative Black Country, the Creative Commissioning strand of the programme has brought art into public spaces, empowered local makers, inspired the future of making in Walsall, and supported vibrant cultural activity throughout the borough. With more than 21,500 attendees…

-r Cllr Smith, Daniel Coward and Mike Doyle from J.Harper & Sons Sandwell Council, in partnership with J. Harper & Sons (Leominster) Limited, is nearing completion of the construction of a new affordable housing development at Beever Road, Tipton. The scheme will deliver 18 high-quality homes for local residents in need of safe, secure, and affordable housing. The scheme includes a mix of 8 one-bedroom apartments along with 10 two-bedroom bungalows that have already been handed over and allocated to tenants. All properties have been designed to meet the needs of families and individuals with four of the new homes…

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…

Hajj and Umrah pilgrims reminded of vaccinations needed to travel People travelling to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages are being urged to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations in order to travel safely. Hajj and Umrah is expected to fall between 4 and 9 June, 2025, and all travellers should be up to date with routine vaccinations such as the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine. In addition, the UK Heath Security Agency is urging travellers to Saudi Arabia to ensure they are vaccinated against meningococcal disease with the MenACWY vaccine, after it…