Category: News

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.

In a heartwarming story from Walsall, the daughter of a local centenarian has shared the unique secret behind her mother’s impressive longevity. 

Mary Gutteridge, who was born in Wednesbury in 1924 and celebrated her 100th birthday in August, attributes her remarkable health and longevity to a lifelong passion for dancing. 

Walsall Mayor and Mayoress with Mrs Mary Gutteridge and family

“My mum’s longevity is proof of her positive outlook and zest for life,” said Elaine.

“She loves to dance and I recall she danced till 1am on her 90th birthday! It’s overwhelming to see her achieve this milestone. She has always been a happy woman with so much positivity, and her advice to me has always been to be true to myself.”

Mary’s story is not just about longevity but also about maintaining a positive outlook and staying active. This includes being an active participant in local dance classes and events, a commitment that has kept her high-spirited throughout her life.

We hope you had a wonderful birthday, Mary!

Walsall Library is set to host a unique art exhibition that transforms seized knives and weapons into striking works of art. The exhibit, which opens this week, aims to promote dialogue around violence and its impact on communities.

The exhibition, named ‘Swords into Ploughshares’, showcases creative pieces crafted from weapons that have been confiscated by local authorities. This powerful display not only highlights the artistry of the pieces but also serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat violence in the area.

“The exhibition is very thought-provoking, every individual piece has a meaning behind it, so I’d really recommend visiting,” said Councillor Gary Perry, Leader of Walsall Council, who visited the library last week.

“It was great to speak with people who can talk about the transformation of each and every item, all of which have been repurposed from seized weapons. 

“The arts can help us tell stories about the devastation knife crime is causing, and this exhibition tells a clear and simple message: choose life or knife.”

The exhibition features a range of artworks, including sculptures, installations, and mixed-media pieces. Each piece tells a story of transformation, inviting visitors to reflect on the journey from violence to creativity.

The exhibition can be found on the second floor of the Lichfield Street Hub, Lichfield St, Walsall, WS1 1TR.

A specialist team of physiotherapists will be hopping on their bikes for 24 hours – all in aid of charity.

Physiotherapists from Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB) are highlighting the importance of ‘ Physical Therapy Day ‘ by hosting a 24 hour spin relay starting on Friday 6 September through to Saturday 7 September.

They are raising money for Your Trust Charity, the registered charity for SWB. Funds will go towards enhancing the experiences of patients at the Trust who suffer from Musculoskeletal injuries.

World Physical Therapy Day celebrated on Sunday 8 September recognises and celebrates the work that physiotherapists do for their patients and the community.

Led by Paul Rees, Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner, said: “The team and I are excited to be hosting our first spin-relay here at Sandwell Hospital.

This is a great opportunity to raise money for our patients whilst getting fit at the same time.

“We encourage anyone of any fitness level or role to join the team or to come along and support us whilst we peddle our way across the finish line.”

Physiotherapists work with patients across the Trust to help to restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness, or disability. They provide education and advice for everyday activities, such as improving posture, mobility, and stiffness.

To sponsor the team during their 24-hour gruelling spin relay you can do so here – https://www.justgiving.com/page/paul-rees-1716997204681?utm_medium=qrcode&utm_source=offline

Editorial

• 14 million people in the UK are living in food insecurity.
• 3 million of these are children.
• 145,000 children living in poverty in Birmingham alone.
• Do you want to help?

Are you feeling bored, lonely or just stuck in a rut? Would you like to find a way to stay active, meet like-minded people and know you are making a difference to your local community? Do you want to improve your mental health and boost your confidence? Come and join us at FareShare Midlands as one of our Volunteer Drivers, Warehouse Assistants or Administrators.

FareShare Midlands is the region’s largest food redistribution charity, fighting food poverty while saving nutritious food from going to waste. We rescue good quality surplus food and redistribute it to charities and community organisations across the Midlands. Each week we reach more than 83,000 people through a network of 800 community partners – providing nourishment to vulnerable children, families and older people. Last year we redistributed almost 6,000 tonnes, providing 13 million meals.

Our Members include community centres, homeless shelters and children’s breakfast clubs and they are feeding families battling poverty and hunger. They turn the surplus food into affordable shopping, food parcels and delicious meals. But it’s not just about the food – the Members provide additional support including advice in respect of benefits, housing and debt.

To get as much food as possible to these charities and community organisations and the thousands of people they support, FareShare Midlands relies on the help of our Volunteers. Right now, we need passionate people with spare time and a desire to help. Please sign up as a Volunteer at our Nechells depot – you will perform essential tasks such as driving the delivery vans and packing the food in the warehouses. At the same time, you will gain so much – friendship, fun, exercise, new skills and the knowledge that you are helping your local community and the environment.

Volunteer Lindsay said “Volunteering gets you up and focused to start the day.  It gives you structure which I find helps after big life changes like retirement or bereavement etc. Helping out at FareShare, you know your little bit helps those who need it, (it’s not lost in admin) and they are a really friendly and bunch and SO well organised (a few public organisations could learn a lot!) So be brave and join the fun!”.

FareShare Midlands Chief Executive, Simone Connolly said “Over the summer school holidays we will strive to support families in need across Birmingham by redistributing as much surplus food as we possibly can. There is no end in sight for the cost of living crisis and we are seeing unprecedented need. We urgently need kind people to volunteer with us – by lending a hand for just a few hours a week, you can make a massive difference”.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer call: 07981 36023, or email: Volunteer@faresharemidlands.org.uk. To read about FareShare Midlands, please visit the website https://faresharemidlands.org.uk/.

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.

Walsall MakerFest is coming to the town centre this September with a vibrant celebration of our creative community.

This free one-day festival, taking place on Saturday, September 7, from 11 am to 5 pm, will showcase the best of Walsall and the Black Country’s artistic talent through live music, dance, a makers’ market, street food, workshops, storytelling, a fashion show, and pop-up shops.

The festival will highlight the local music scene with a series of live performances at The Crossing at St Paul’s in the town centre, featuring a wide range of musical genres from reggae and blues to Latin and Motown.

Music Lineup:

• Rhythms Del Toro (4:00 pm – 5:00 pm): A seven-piece international collective known for their explosive Latin renditions of popular classics.
• Asifa Lahore (3:10 pm – 3:40 pm): A celebrated drag queen and multilingual advocate for intersectional rights, Asifa will not only deliver a stunning cabaret performance but also serve as the compère for the live music stage.
• Janel Antoneshia (2:35 pm – 3:05 pm): A Jamaican singer from the Black Country, recognized for her distinctive blend of nu soul and reggae.
• Millicent Chapanda (2:00 pm – 2:30 pm): A Zimbabwean Shona cultural artist based in Walsall, celebrated for her traditional mbira playing, percussion, and vocal artistry.
• Elle-J Walters (1:25 pm – 1:55 pm): A Birmingham-based songwriter who has toured nationally and internationally, supporting artists such as Shalamar, The Real Thing, and Hot Chocolate.
• The 2Ds (12:50 pm – 1:20 pm): Kicking off the event with an infectious performance of old-school Motown and Northern Soul hits.

The musical festivities will continue into the evening with a free concert at St Matthew’s Church. From 5 pm to 7 pm, local choirs including St Matthew’s Community Choir, Blue Lights, and Voices Entwined will come together for “People Sing,” a powerful showcase of community spirit through song.

In response to the devastating chemical spill in the Walsall Canal, the Canal & River Trust has launched a fundraising campaign to help restore the local ecosystem. The spill, which occurred when approximately 4,000 litres of sodium cyanide leaked into the canal, led to the deaths of thousands of fish and severely disrupted the aquatic environment.

The charity is seeking to raise £10,000 to support the extensive cleanup efforts and aid in the recovery of wildlife affected by the disaster. The funds will be used to manage the immediate aftermath, including removing contaminated fish carcasses and continuing water quality tests, as well as supporting longer-term ecological restoration.

The Canal & River Trust has expressed deep concern over the incident, which has impacted 12 miles of the canal and threatens the future health of the waterway’s ecosystem. Paul Wilkinson, an ecologist with the Trust, warned that the damage could take years to fully repair, with the loss of vital species and the potential for invasive species to take hold.

The Trust is urging the public to contribute to the fundraiser, emphasising the importance of quick and effective action to protect and restore the canal’s natural environment.