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…

A Brierley Hill man has become the 11th person to be brought before the courts by Sandwell Council for breaching the Black Country-wide street racing injunction on the borough’s roads. Scott Hill, aged 37, of Watchman Avenue, who was racing other vehicles in his car along Kenrick Way, West Bromwich, at around 10pm on 12 April 2025 landed himself a suspended prison sentence and a court bill of more than £3,000. He was arrested by police under the injunction’s power of arrest. Appearing at Birmingham High Court, Mr Hill admitted racing other vehicles at speeds greatly in excess of the…

Two Sandwell councillors are taking on a walking challenge 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 in June during 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 on Father’s Day (Sunday 15 June) at West Smethwick Park. Councillor Taylor said: “We’re standing shoulder to shoulder and walking for men’s mental health in…

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…

A Sandwell Council owned site has been given a radical overhaul creating 12 new family homes in Oldbury. • A former brownfield site at Crosswells Road in Oldbury has been reshaped to create more homes by Sandwell Council. • Before being used for housing, the land was once the site of a council-run depot, which had been demolished. • The regeneration of the site has improved the streetscape and aesthetics of Crosswells Road and brought new people into the neighbourhood. • Tenants’ energy costs have been considered and Photo Voltaic (PV) panels and electric chargers have been installed at each…

Sandwell Council is pleased to announce the completion of significant improvements to the public space at Wednesbury Great Western Street Metro stop The improvements are part of the Wednesbury Levelling Up Programme (LUP) and the wider Public Realm project. These improvements have been funded by HM Government. The revitalised area now features new paving, upgraded lighting, comfortable benches, and a new litter bin. These enhancements aim to create a more attractive, safe, welcoming and accessible environment for both residents and visitors. The improved lighting is designed not only to illuminate the space beautifully but also to help passengers feel…

Work is set to start on the Blackheath Bus Interchange Project, marking a major milestone in the regeneration of the town. This will create a new bus interchange around Market Place serving all town centre services along with a new landscaped public space, which will replace the existing traffic island and create a safer pedestrian environment. Funded by the government’s Towns Fund programme, the project will ensure traffic can still travel through the town centre, in line with people’s feedback from previous consultation. Additional upgrades will include five new zebra crossings and ensure loading spaces are closer to businesses, supporting…

Sandwell Council is inviting residents to a series of roadshows across the borough to talk about health and wellbeing. These events are part of a five-year project called Better Research for Better Health, creating a Health Determinants Research Collaboration in Sandwell, which is funded by the National Institute for Health Research. The aim is to improve how the council gathers and uses information to make decisions about local services. By listening to residents, the council can make sure that services truly meet the needs of the community and provide good value for money. The council wants to hear from people…

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…