Transport for West Midlands is proposing some changes to the 424 bus service, still affectionately known as the “Sadie bus”. The main change for Great Barr is that will be split into two routes to eliminate the existing routes tendency to double back on itself. A result of this is that the route that serves […]

Commuters in Sandwell could be clobbered by equivalent 1p income tax rise due to lifting of bus fare cap People who use the bus to commute to work in our area could be hit by the equivalent of a 1p income tax rise due to the government’s decision to raise the bus fare cap from £2 to £3 […]

Local campaigner, Mark Smith, joined dozens of other local residents in Sandwell and Walsall on the opening day of the Planning Appeal at Walsall Council House, yesterday (November 5). Here are our thoughts about the first day, and a summary of our comments. As many of you already know, this Appeal is due to Anesco […]

Following the long-delayed opening of the new A&E and critical care unit at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick, the A&E Department at Sandwell General Hospital has been closed. It is now being called an Urgent Treatment Centre. As a result, we recommend that people call 111 if they need help after an accident. […]

Walsall Council is holding some public consultations on its plans to review the boundaries of the Great Barr Conservation Area, as indicated in the plan shown below.At the moment, this area includes: Great Barr Hall and its lakes and  grounds, Merrion’s Wood, The Duckery, Great Barr Golf Club, Barr Beacon, Beacon Farm, Pinfold Lane, and Doe Bank Farm. The plans could see the Conservation Area […]

Sandwell Lib Dem Chair, Mark Smith, joined other Great Barr residents and campaigners who spoke at a Public Inquiry into a Planning appeal at the Council House, in mid July. This resulted in the developer’s appeal being dismissed. This was a victory for local residents and protection of the Green Belt. You can read the full […]

Mark joined local residents at the start of the Public Inquiry into Wain Estates (Land) Ltd’s appeal against Sandwell decision to reject their plans for Peak House Farm, on Tuesday 9 July, and spoke. The site is part of the Green Belt, but also enjoys other legal protection in addition to this. As other objectors […]

Sadie and Mark have submitted the following comments to the Planning Inspectorate regarding Wain’s plans to build houses on the Peak House Farm site. As members of the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, we are also concerned about the impact the loss of habitat will have on local wildlife. Recognizing the need to preserve […]

Developer, Wain Estates Ltd, have appealed against the Council’s decision to refuse permission for its plans to build on Peak House Farm farmland. This will now be decided by a Public Inquiry. The inquiry will start on Tuesday 9 July 2024, and is scheduled to last for six days. However, any comments on or objections to the plans […]

We are sad to report that developers are still circumventing their requirement to include at least 10% of affordable housing in new developments in Sandwell. The latest example is The Parade, off Hall Green Road in West Bromwich. Despite assurances that it would include affordable housing the developer is now citing viability as an excuse […]

We are pleased to see that the Post Office Horizon scandal is finally getting the attention it deserves from politicians. Ministers from all Parties were too naive and trusting of the lies they were being fed by the Post Office and Fujitsu. It is bosses there, not sub-postmasters running Post Office branches, or Posties, that […]