The introduction of an additional 48 hours per week of community patrols has been welcomed by those working and shopping in Walsall town centre. Walsall Council has funded additional patrols during peak times, following feedback from residents and traders about community safety in the town centre. Community support officers from RG8 are on hand to help reassure members of the public and help deter anti-social behaviour in and around the town centre. The increase in patrols has already been well-received by local traders and residents. Solomon and Jade are regularly patrolling the town centre and shared their insights of how…

Walsall Council has secured a grant of £249,020 to create a digital archive celebrating the borough’s rich history and diverse communities. The funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will be used to deliver the ‘Walsall Archive for All’ (WAFA) project, which will preserve Walsall’s heritage and ensure it is accessible to all. Inspired by the work of local transport photographer and historian Jack Haddock, the WAFA project will include thousands of historic images, audio recordings, and personal accounts, bringing untold heritage stories to life. Volunteers and community members will play a vital role in curating these materials, ensuring that…

Two Black Country councils are at the forefront of a nationwide children’s social care reform. Walsall and Wolverhampton Councils are two of 10 areas in England piloting the new ‘Families First for Children’ programme, designed to keep more children in safe and loving homes. Both councils will work with central government to test and develop a new approach to children’s social care, which in the future, will be rolled out nationwide. The Department for Education (DfE) selected Wolverhampton to pilot the programme in 2023, and Walsall followed in the second wave of funding announced in April 2024. In January 2025,…

Walsall residents looking to quit smoking now have access to a ‘swap to stop’ offer, incorporating e-cigarettes (also known as vapes) as an extra tool to aid their journey. The new offer builds upon Be Well Walsall’s service (funded by Walsall Council’s Public Health team) to help Walsall residents manage their health and wellbeing, which includes stop smoking support. Their free stop smoking service currently provides up to 12 weeks of expert support and vapes will complement this existing offer. There are a number of ways people can be helped to stop smoking, tailored to their needs. Evidence…

Average repair bill reaches new high – one million drivers faced bills over £300 New data reveals worrying news for drivers as the cost of pothole damage is once more on the increase. After welcome falls over the last two years, the last twelve months have seen the nation’s drivers face a total bill of £1.7bn in repairing damage to their cars caused by potholes.1 The level of damage is monitored annually by Kwik Fit, the UK’s leading automotive service and repair company, for its PIT Report (Pothole Impact Tracker). Its latest research has found that the average repair bill…

Left to right: Councillor Wazma Qais – Cabinet Member for Communities, Joe Butler – Solihull Moors Foundation, Khaled Ayad – Robocode and Councillor Karen Grinsell – Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Deputy Leader Solihull Council are pleased to confirm that the HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme will continue this year, with the Easter holiday programme kicking off in mid-April. The announcement comes following the Department for Education providing confirmation of funding for the year ahead. The HAF programme provides funded places for families eligible for free school meal benefits with a free nutritious lunch. The programme consists…

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…