Six new council homes have been unveiled in a West Bromwich neighbourhood to provide much-needed housing for Sandwell residents. Sandwell Council, with grant funding from Homes England, has delivered six spacious four-bedroom homes in Whitgreave Street, working in conjunction with SWG Construction. These brand-new, energy efficient semi-detached homes perfectly blend modern living with sustainable features. Every property is equipped with electric car charging facilities and solar PV panels, ensuring residents can enjoy eco-friendly living and reduced energy costs. The development includes a landscaped communal area and convenient visitor car parking, making it ideal for families and guests to visit. In…

Oswald Clarke and Emma Price Two individuals who exploited vulnerable residents across the Heath Town area of Wolverhampton have been served with injunctions by the County Court. Oswald Clarke, aged 61 and of no fixed abode, and Emma Price, 39, also of no fixed abode, targeted vulnerable people, and coerced or threatened them to get into and take control of their properties, where they would then supply and use of class A controlled drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine. The Court heard that Clarke in particular would threaten and intimidate the residents, often supplying them with drugs to persuade…

The government has released the annual rough sleeping figures for the country and despite supporting more people who are sleeping rough into safe and secure housing than the previous year, Solihull’s official figure for rough sleeping is 12 people, double last year’s figure of six. The national rough sleeping figures are produced annually as a snapshot by every local authority in the country on a single night in autumn. It is recorded annually in this way in order to monitor rough sleeping patterns year on year and region by region. Alongside this snapshot, Solihull Council tracks patterns and numbers of…

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, with contact details for the Shop a Tipper scheme City of Wolverhampton Council is issuing the stern warning as it continues its crackdown on fly tipping and those who fail to assist with enquiries. In the latest prosecution brought by the council, Eric Kwansah, of Byrne Road, Blakenhall, was found guilty in his absence of one obstruction charge under section 110 of The Environment Act 1995, for failing to comply with investigating officers’ requests for assistance. Dudley Magistrates Court fined Kwansah £400 during the hearing on…

Walsall residents are being reminded of the simple actions they can take to reduce the spread of norovirus, with the latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data showing that norovirus cases continue to rise across the country. Norovirus is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant, but symptoms usually go away within a few days. Symptoms of norovirus start suddenly within one to two days of being infected. This includes feeling sick (nausea), diarrhoea, being sick (vomiting), a high temperature, a headache and aching arms or legs. The virus can be transmitted easily from…

Image from go.walsall.gov.uk People of Walsall are set to benefit from a transformative programme of regeneration and growth in their community with £20 million of government funding confirmed on Monday 3 March. As part of the national Plan for Change to ensure people in every corner of the country benefit from the government’s ambitious growth agenda, Walsall’s local leaders have been working closely with the Department on the Community Regeneration Partnership programme to develop a bespoke package of funding that will kickstart a range of projects to boost the community, tackle local issues and address inequalities. The town centre…

Deputy Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Craig Collingswood (front), the Leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council Councillor Stephen Simkins (standing left), councillors, youth councillors and other young people came together in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre Members of the City of Wolverhampton Youth Council and other youth groups found out about local politics at a replica Full Council meeting. Deputy Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Craig Collingswood, the Leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council, Councillor Stephen Simkins, councillors, youth councillors and other young people came together in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre. The mock Full…

Today is an important day for almost 4000 Year 6 pupils in Walsall, who will find out which secondary has offered them a place for September 2025. 94% of pupils in Walsall have been offered a secondary school of their choice. A total of 3,923 applications were received on time. 3005 of those applications (76.6%) received their first preference, 469 (12%) their second preference and 130 (3.3%) their third preference. 100% of on-time applications have been offered a place at a secondary school for September 2025. Parents and carers can choose up to five school preferences, and 3697 children received…

Left: Mike Foster, City of Wolverhampton Council rough sleeper coordinator, Paul Burns and Shaz Kaur (Good Shepherd), Paul Hale (Recovery Near You), Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing at City of Wolverhampton Council, Kate Downing (P3 Charity), Councillor Steve Evans, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing at City of Wolverhampton Council, John Doyle (Recovery Near You), Cheryl Langford (West Midlands Police), Jo Leek (Wolverhampton BID) and Jim Corry (P3 Charity) Rough sleeper numbers in Wolverhampton remain in single figures as partnership work spearheaded by the council goes on, official statistics show. The data snapshot -…

Sandwell Council’s archives service is celebrating receiving £49,055 of funding as part of The National Archives ‘Archives Revealed’ grant programme to catalogue the Chance Brothers Ltd. collection. The collection represents a historic point in time when the production of glass from the Spon Lane factory in Smethwick had a significant local and international impact. One of the glassworks’ most famous projects involved supplying the 84,000 square metres of sheet glass for the 1851 Great Exhibition and the Crystal Palace built in Hyde Park, London. Sandwell Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, Councillor Suzanne Hartwell said: “Sandwell…