Month: October 2024

Walsall Council and New Horizons Community Enterprise have collectively awarded funding of over £1.3million to enable Bloxwich Community Partnership (BCP) to refurbish and develop its premises.

Palace Play Shop Eat on Blakenall Row in Bloxwich will be extended to increase capacity to deliver much needed services for the community. The play area will be developed into a larger soft play, and rooms will be added to enable more community training opportunities.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, said: “I would like to congratulate the team at BCP for their successful grant application. The community capital grants programme offers a fantastic opportunity for community organisations to build on their existing capacity and engage with increasing numbers of residents.

“The ambitious investment plans for Bloxwich and Walsall are already helping make positive and lasting improvements within local communities and driving economic development in these areas. Supporting community organisations like BCP will help us create even more opportunities for residents.”

Eleanor Boycott, Chief Executive Officer of Bloxwich Community Partnership, said: “Bloxwich Community Partnership is thrilled to have secured funding to redevelop the Palace Play Shop Eat centre in Blakenall.  The community of Blakenall and Bloxwich deserve good quality facilities in the heart of their community.  The charity has worked hard over a number of years to develop the centre and this investment will help us to create a vibrant hub within the community. This is a great opportunity for the charity and great for the local community.”

Funding from Bloxwich Towns Fund, Walsall Council and New Horizons Community Enterprise will enable the works to take place and the creation of a modern bright facility for the community. Bloxwich Community Partnership will also be investing funding into the development. The renovations will include a new youth area with access to a training kitchen, a bright charity shop and community space and new soft play for toddlers and children.

The youth and community services will relocate locally during the refurbishment to ensure families, children and young people can continue to be supported.  The shop and play will close temporarily but will be back soon, residents can keep up to date by following Bloxwich Community Partnership on social media.

Walsall Council, in agreement with Bloxwich Community Partnership, will lead on managing the scheme with construction due to start in early 2025.

The James Brindley Foundation, which was established in memory of 26-year-old James Brindley who was murdered in 2017, has opened new headquarters on Aldridge High Street.

The opening of the new facility, which will be the headquarters for many new crime prevention projects including support for parents, attracted local officials, community leaders, and supporters for its ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Councillor Perry joined James’s dad, Mark Brindley, the High Sheriff of the West Midlands, Mr Douglas Wright MBE DL, Wendy Morton MP and the Mayor of Walsall to unveil its new premises.

Councillor Perry said, “It was a true privilege to attend such an important moment for The James Brindley Foundation at their new headquarters.

“I’ve seen first-hand the work they have done and continue to do to address serious youth violence here in Walsall and beyond, and their achievements over the past six years are simply phenomenal. 

“In their grief, the Brindley family and the Foundation work hard every single day to empower young people to bring positive changes to their lives.

“The Foundation is tackling these issues head on, and as a Council, we will continue to support them with their work and advocacy to create a safer Walsall for everyone.

“Congratulations again to all the team at The James Brindley Foundation, and I wish you all the best at your new headquarters.”

The foundation was founded after James was stabbed to death on his way home in Aldridge after a night out with friends. The charity has since been on a mission to spread positive change and address youth violence.

More information about the foundation and its mission can be found on the  website: https://jamesbrindleyfoundation.co.uk/

 

A canal towpath in Pleck has re-opened to the public following a toxic chemical spillage which occurred in August.

The public are still being urged to avoid any contact with the water, despite lab testing by the Environment Agency showing that pollution levels have dropped to an acceptable level. Pets should also be kept away from the water, while fishing is currently not allowed.

“It’s a relief that we’re now in a position to announce the re-opening of the last kilometre of canal towpath, “ said Councillor Garry Perry, Leader of Walsall Council

“I’d like to thank residents for their patience and understanding throughout this time. Now the pollution levels in the water have reduced over the last few weeks, attention moves to focus on efforts to recover the canal and its wildlife.

“It is, however, vitally important for everyone to follow the guidance issued, namely keeping out of the water and avoiding activities such as fishing.

The major incident occurred on the Walsall Canal after a large quantity of diluted sodium, zinc cyanide and a mixture of low-hazard chemicals was discovered to have affected 12 miles of waterways. The leak was reported to be from a local metal finishing company, Anochrome Ltd.

The canal, which is home to a variety of wildlife, including fish, birds, and aquatic plants, was quickly affected, with initial signs of distress in some species evident within hours of the spill.

Emergency response teams were dispatched to contain the chemical and minimise the immediate environmental damage, while temporary barriers were erected to prevent the substance from spreading further down the canal system. Local residents were advised to avoid the area, and a section of the canal was closed off to protect both the public and the environment.

Despite the containment measures, scientists remain cautious about the spill’s broader ecological consequences. While some damage to aquatic life has been recorded, with dead fish and distressed wildlife reported in the days following the spill, the full impact on the ecosystem is yet to be determined.

A heartfelt tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II and her cherished corgis was unveiled at Walsall Arboretum in September. The new statues, commissioned by Walsall Council, celebrate the Queen’s legacy and her affection for the corgi breed.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by a large crowd, including local dignitaries and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Louise Bennett. Council leader Councillor Garry Perry expressed pride in the milestone achievement, highlighting the significance of the tribute.

“We’ve been planning this every since the death of the late Queen,” said Councillor Perry. “We wanted to have a fitting tribute to her life and her service to the country and this is what came from that.”

The event was made even more special with several corgis in attendance, as Councillor Perry, a lifelong corgi enthusiast himself, shared his excitement about the public’s positive response. “It’s good to have these statues in an historic UNESCO site park and what we’re intending to do is do a name the Corgi’s competition to name these statues.”

Looking ahead, Councillor Perry noted the potential for more statues in Walsall’s green spaces, stating, “If that is what the community ask for, then we work to provide that for them.”

Residents are encouraged to visit the Arboretum to enjoy the new statues and participate in naming the corgis, celebrating the Queen’s enduring legacy together.

The corgis, which are made from cast metal and stand on two reclaimed Cornish granite stone plinths, can be viewed in all their glory outside the main visitor centre.

Walsall’s planning committee has officially approved the development of a new footbridge designed to enhance pedestrian connectivity within the town centre.

Scheduled to be installed near the Light Cinema, the footbridge will offer convenient access from the town centre to the waterside retail park, making it easier for visitors and residents alike to navigate between key areas.

This project is part of a collaborative effort between Walsall Council and the Canal & River Trust, with the aim of revitalising the borough’s canal system. The new footbridge is one of several initiatives intended to attract more boaters to the canal basin, increasing the use of Walsall’s waterways and promoting the town centre as a hub for both visitors and businesses.

Walsall is currently undergoing a £1.5 billion transformation programme, with a significant portion of the funding dedicated to creating new housing and employment opportunities. These initiatives are set to modernise the town and improve its overall infrastructure, with completion expected by 2026.

In addition to the footbridge, other major improvements to the town centre include the refurbishment of the former Guildhall building into a creative industries hub, and the transformation of the Saddlers Centre and Park Street area to improve connectivity between the bus and train stations.

This project is supported by the Government’s Towns Fund, which has been instrumental in driving the ongoing revitalisation of Walsall.

For further details on the town centre’s transformation projects, please visit the Walsall Council website.