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 […]

Anesco have submitted another application to build a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on the farmland off Chapel Lane. Ref: 23/1286You can view the application and comment via Walsall’s Planning Portal: Application Details Despite their previous application being refused by Walsall Council earlier this year, this application is 50% bigger. It claims the BESS needs […]

Thank you to everyone who voted this May. And particular thanks to those of you who chose to support local Liberal Democrat candidates.Sandwell remains controlled by the Labour Party. We very much hope that they will take opportunities to work with the Commissioners the Government have sent in.Nationally the Liberal Democrats were successful, gaining the […]

Sad to see our Labour Councillors and Conservative MP playing politics with funding for local politics. The Council has never been good at applying for funding, and our Councillors often had to encourage them to apply for it. This resulted in funds for deprived areas going to parts of Hamstead and the Yew Tree estate, […]

West Midlands primary school wins appeal against academy statusThe current situation brings back memories of just how messy the reduction of education to a single junior school serving the whole of Yew Tree and Tamebridge was. Way before the Academy issue. It did leave the whole area badly provided. And an uphill struggle, not helped […]

I did not think planning could get much worse.This Tory plan sounds like free reign for developers and restrictions on what local communities can ask for and Planning Officers can recommend to Councils.If any of you voted Conservative, is this really what you wanted?Developers in Sandwell sat on land with approval for development for decades.And […]

Former local Councillors and Sandwell Mayor, and local campaigners, call on West Midland Mayor and local MP to urge property developer to withdraw their outrageous submission for a development on protected land off Wilderness Lane Dear Mr Street and Ms Richards, We welcome your recent call for Sandwell Council to prioritize use of brownfield sites […]

A couple of the team observed Walsall’s Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which included a report on the Sprint service along the A34. Transport for West Midlands are saying it will be 100% zero-emissions vehicles when it is introduced. They are also expecting to introduce a mixed fleet of double-deck and single-deck articulated […]

Sign the petition against these disastrous housing proposals. That piece of green space is important for Great Barr, Charlemont, and Newton. And a contribution to the modest amount of green space in the borough.

Our part of Great Barr is not the only area to have seen missed bin collections. The Council has been a bit slow to acknowledge the delay, but has eventually done so. We were not surprised at the delays, given that it was snowing on bin day in our area, but it seems staff shortages […]