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Category Archives: Bad Science
Anchor Bridge flooding: Halfway there
My recent efforts to find out who’s actually working on the flooding issue at Anchor Bridge, and what the situation is have come to nothing. Severn Trent have clearly been doing a fair bit of work, though, and the situation … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Anchor Bridge, bad drainage, bad drains, blocked drains, Brownhills, CCTV, Cycle rides, cycling, David Evans, Drain Survey, flood, Knaves Court, Local politics, New Photos, road maintenance, Severn Trent, Silly, standing water, Streetpride, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
1 Comment
In the frame?
Reader Peter contacted me a few days ago with an interesting inquiry about a strange structure behind the Brickmaker’s Arms in Salters Road, Walsall Wood. I suggested Peter write up the item himself, and he’s kindly obliged. All I can … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brickies, Brickmakers Arms, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Car Park, Derelict, Gantry, Girder, Local History, New Photos, Peter, Pubs, Salters Road, Shire Oak, Silly, Walsall Wood
9 Comments
Filling a hole
The saga of road repairs and drains rumbles on. Reader Warren Parry, who wrote to Steve Sharma following my last post, had a rather interesting response, which Warren was kind enough to post in the comments to my last post. … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Anchor Bridge, bad drainage, bad drains, blocked drains, Brownhills, Cycle rides, cycling, flood, Glyn Oliver, Gully, Gully cleaning, Knaves Court, Lichfield Sreet, Local politics, New Photos, New ring road, potholes, Press Office, Reservoir, road maintenance, Sandhills, Shire Oak, Silly, standing water, Steve Sharma, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Warren Parry
4 Comments
Without due care and attention
Readers will no doubt be aware of my recent posts here about the state of the roads locally. Of prime concern has been the flooding at Anchor Bridge in Brownhills, but also the condition of storm drains and potholes generally. … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Anchor Bridge, bad drainage, bad drains, blocked drains, Brownhills, Cycle rides, cycling, flood, Glyn Oliver, Gully, Gully cleaning, Knaves Court, Lichfield Sreet, Local politics, New Photos, New ring road, potholes, Press Office, Reservoir, road maintenance, Sandhills, Shire Oak, Silly, standing water, Steve Sharma, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
14 Comments
The truth will out
I see that Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler continues his diligent and painstaking examination of the Harrison Company, family and concerns. The Harrisons, readers will recall, were wealthy mine owners hereabouts, and Peter has spent a great deal of time in recent … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Events, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local music, Local politics, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1861, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, CCMHS, James Cooper, Local History, Mick Drury, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, William Harrison
17 Comments
Internet connection problems in Brownhills?
I’m seeing a lot of issues on social media from folk with phone-based broadband. Haven’t a clue what’s afoot, but I think the technicians and telecoms nerds are on the case. The problems aren’t affecting cable customers (like me), but … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged broadband, Brownhills, BT, Cheap tat, Events, exchange, Facebook, fail, failure, Internet, Shire Oak, Talk Talk, Twitter, Walsall Wood
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Rubbish service?
Following the furore on social media over the last week, Dan Slee, press officer at Walsall Council offered the following press statement on the question of the controversial recycling leaflets currently being distributed to homes in Walsall Borough. I’ll let … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Brownhills, Casepack, changes, Cheap tat, Common people, Facebook, Greenstar, Jayne Howarth, Leaflet, Leicester, local blogs, Local politics, Paul Daniel, Press Office, press release, Recycling, Refuse, rubbish, Silly, Social media, The YamYam, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
14 Comments
Chasewater: The whining continues
I note from local news services including Licfield Live, the Express and Star and local free sheets that local councillors in Chasewtown and Burntwood are still attempting to make lame political points out of the closure of the dam road … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged anglers, Anglesey Basin, angling, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Closure, Cycle rides, cycling, Eric Drinkwater, Express & Star, fishing, Local politics, permanent, planning, Pool Road, Redevelopment, Reservoir, roadblock, Silly, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Wildlife
14 Comments
I do refuse
For a week or so now, new recycling guidance leaflets have been delivered to residents of Walsall Borough by the council. There has been a degree of justified concern expressed that the authority appear to have limited the range of … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, changes, Cheap tat, Common people, Facebook, Jayne Howarth, Leaflet, local blogs, Local politics, Paul Daniel, Recycling, Refuse, rubbish, Silly, Social media, The YamYam, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
19 Comments
Caldmore chameleon
It all went horribly wrong yesterday. Really, terribly awry. Bugger it. This should be a review and pictures of the Caldmore village Festival and the Road Rail steam event at Chasewater Railway. Neither went to plan. After plugging both events … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local music, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Anna Rogozińska, bikes, Brownhills, Caldmore Village Festival, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Railway, CVF, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, Imran Azam, local blogs, Local politics, New Photos, Reservoir, Road Rail, Silly, Social media, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
7 Comments
A public service announcement
‘It’s got to fly at 400 miles per hour, turn on a sixpence, climb 10,000 feet in a few minutes, dive at 500 without the wings coming off and carry eight machine guns.’ For the past week or so, I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Advisory Circle, Belbury, Broadcaster, David Niven, Electronica, Ghostbox, Hauntology, history, Library Music, Lit it up, London can take it, Moon Wiring Club, music, Poly, Public Service Broadcasting, Sci-fi, Silly, Spitfire, World War II, WW2
5 Comments
Road to nowhere
In a week when our local rag is trying to convince us that it’s still indispensable and the most trusted source for news in the area, this fine example of the local newshound’s art caught my eye. Yet again, the … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Closure, Cycle rides, cycling, Eric Drinkwater, Express & Star, GR Thompson, Local politics, permanent, planning, Pool Road, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Wildlife
1 Comment
Resolution for Aiden
I’m pleased to say that the sad case of Aiden McHaffie, covered here several times, seems to have reached a satisfactory resolution with apologies and other remedial action from West Midlands Police. Aiden himself wrote about it on his blog last … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Accident, Adrian Goldberg, Aiden McHaffie, cycle safety, cyclesafe, cycling, Facebook, injustice, Linda Mason, local blogs, Marcus Beale, police failure, Radio WM, Shaun Russell, Shuan Russell, Silly, The YamYam, Twitter, West Midlands Ambulance Service, West Midlands Police, WMAS
5 Comments
After the gold rush
I’ve though about this one quite carefully, and can’t see any reason not to share it with the readers to see what they think. Some weeks ago, reader Andy Dennis wrote to me, posing an interesting question about the location … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Andy Dennis, Anglo, Bad Science, Brownhills, Brownhills Hoard, Brownhills local history, Crane Brook, Express & Star, Hammerwich, Julian Ward-Davies, Local History, Local politics, Ogley Hay, Saxon, Silly, Staffordshire, Staffordshire hoard, Warrenhuse
19 Comments
Still no justice from Aiden: Protect your arse and serve nobody
I note with some concern that fellow cyclists Aiden Mchaffee and Linda Mason are still struggling to get any action out of West Midlands Police following Aiden’s dreadful accident in Birmingham last March. Aiden has been regularly blogging events, and regular … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Accident, Adrian Goldberg, Aiden McHaffie, cycle safety, cyclesafe, cycling, Facebook, injustice, Linda Mason, local blogs, Marcus Beale, police failure, Radio WM, Shaun Russell, Shuan Russell, Silly, The YamYam, Twitter, West Midlands Ambulance Service, West Midlands Police, WMAS
7 Comments
Welsh Nationalists target Walsall
Since the unholy mess that was the Walsall Council elections last week, I’ve been waiting for some comment from wise old sage The Plastic Hippo. After a weekend away, today, Hippo spoke. A brilliant satire, please read it if you … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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Poisoning the well?
There’s something odd going on at the moment, that I’d like to get to the bottom of. I’ve now seen four separate instances of the incorrect assertion that the Senior Citizen’s protest stopped the Brownhills Tesco Redevelopment. The first was … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Brownhills OAP's, Brownhills pensioners, Brownhills Senior Citizens Club, Cheap tat, Derelict, Express & Star, John Goulding, Letter, Local politics, Mike Bird, Petition, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Regeneration, Silly, Tesco, Tesco Development, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
3 Comments
Lichfield Archeological Investigations
I note today that both Annette Rubery and Kate over at Lichfield Lore have been energised by the archeology currently ongoing prior to the new development starting near The Friary in Lichfield. Both have written interesting articles, and Annette has … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Annette rubery, Archeology, boris bratby, Dig, Friary, history, Kate Gomez, Lichfield, Lichfield Lore, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, planning, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Twitter
5 Comments
And here is the moos…
The cattle at Chasewater, introduced to manage the north heath, are great. They are really beginning to feel at home now, including harassing cyclists. This one attempted to eat my tyre and disc brake. Nothing to do but wait until … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Chasewater, Chasewater Wildlife Group, cows, Cycle rides, cycling, north heath, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Wildlife
1 Comment
Clear waters rising
The water level at Chasewater – as well as other questions – continues to fascinate. It seems I’m not the only one gazing on the waterfront – there’s another contender, top reader Andy Dennis. Following my musings last weekend on … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Andy Dennis, bad weather, Boat, Brownhills, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Cycle rides, cycling, deluge, drought, Lichfield District Council, New Photos, Rain, refill, refilled, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, storm, Twitter, water shortage, Wildlife
3 Comments
Street life
It seems difficulties with roads, drains and the like have come to the fore lately. From the atrocious situation at Anchor Bridge, in Brownhills, where the new, flagship development of Knaves Court is regularly bathed in mud and slurry, to … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Anchor Bridge, bad drainage, bad drains, blocked drains, Brownhills, Cycle rides, cycling, David Evans, flood, Knaves Court, Lichfield Sreet, Local politics, New Photos, New ring road, potholes, Reservoir, road maintenance, Sandhills, Shire Oak, Silly, standing water, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
5 Comments
Where have all the flowers gone?
I know i’ve covered this on my 365daysofbiking Tumblr journal, but this issue deserves as wide an audience as possible. On my way through Shelfield this morning, I noticed that Walsall Council had been mowing the grass verges along the … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, News, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged blind, Cycle rides, cycling, daffodils, destroyed, grass cut, greepspace, Mow, mown, New Photos, Panoramio, Shelfield, Silly, Vandalism, verge, Walsall, Walsall Council, Wildlife
11 Comments
Rain dances
This evening, like yesterday evening, I visited Chasewater. The day’s rain had ceased. I noted yesterday on my 365daysofbiking journal that I think the water level has increased about 500mm in the last week, and I was interested to see … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged bad weather, Brownhills, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Cycle rides, cycling, deluge, drought, Express & Star, New Photos, Peter Rhodes, Rain, refill, refilled, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, storm, Twitter, water shortage, Wildlife
14 Comments
Tesco Brownhills: come on in, the water’s lovely.
The above image of water leaking from the cladding of Brownhills Tesco certainly makes you think. With buckets dotted about the store to collect other ingress, just how bad to things have to get before Brownhills deserves a decent place … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Cheap tat, planning, Redevelopment, Regeneration, Roof leak, scruffy, Silly, Tesco, Tesco Development, Water leak
3 Comments
Come on in, the water’s lovely. Not.
I just thought I’d drag the issue of the standing water at Anchor Bridge, and Walsall Council’s response to it, into the light again. Following last week’s post on the subject, council officer Glyn Oliver replied to my concerns here … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media
Tagged Anchor Bridge, bad drainage, bad drains, blocked drains, Brownhills, Cheap tat, Cycle rides, cycling, David Evans, flood, Glyn Oliver, Knaves Court, Local politics, New Photos, potholes, Reservoir, road maintenance, Silly, standing water, Steve Sharma, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
9 Comments
Cycling safety: Justice for Aiden, plus Linda on Radio WM
Just a quick note to point out that Aiden McHaffie, the keen cyclist currently nursing a broken wing after being involved in an accident in Birmingham, seems to be receiving some justice at last. On Monday, I offered my opinion … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Accident, Adrian Goldberg, Aiden McHaffie, cycle safety, cyclesafe, cycling, Facebook, injustice, Linda Mason, local blogs, Marcus Beale, police failure, Radio WM, Shaun Russell, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, The YamYam, Twitter, West Midlands Police
9 Comments
Cyclists? West Midlands Police don’t care about you.
Today I learned something rather disturbing. It seems that despite the new-media gloss, sheen of approachability, and constant boasts about falling crime, West Midlands Police can no longer be trusted by cyclists to investigate accidents involving them. The tale I … Continue reading
Under mined
Yesterday, in a post relating some recollections of the Chasewater modern overflow culvert, an anonymous correspondent suggested that the new system had been constructed in response to a serious subsidence issue near Anchor Bridge. In that post, I rather cheekily … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Anchor Bridge, Anglesey Branch, Brawns Wood, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Past, Canal, canal breach, Canal Leak, canal repair, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater history, Chasewater Wildlife Group, culvert, Cycle rides, cycling, David Hodgkinson, Lane's Farm, local blogs, Local History, Milfield School, New Photos, Old maps, Repair, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Subsidence
14 Comments
Splashing out
On February 5th 2012, I posted about the awful state of drainage on the High Street/Chester Road near Knaves Court in Brownhills. It only takes a small amount of rain for huge pools of standing water to develop just by … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Anchor Bridge, bad drainage, bad drains, blocked drains, Brownhills, Cheap tat, Cycle rides, cycling, David Evans, flood, Glyn Oliver, Knaves Court, Local politics, New Photos, potholes, Reservoir, road maintenance, Silly, standing water, Steve Sharma, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
14 Comments
Consequences
This is an interesting newspaper item sent to me by keen reader Ian Bourne. I’m not sure of the date or the newspaper it came from, but it’s certainly around the last war looking and the adjacent adverts before I … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Events, Features, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Ann Green, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, death, dog, Local History, Mouse, Poker, Silly, Staffordshire
3 Comments
Reports of his death have been grossly exaggerated…
People who’ve been with this blog from the beginning will no doubt recall the terrapin, presumably a dumped pet, that lived around the Nine-Foot pool in the days before the Chasewater Dam Works. Often drawing a crowd when he came … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Graham Evans, nine foot, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, terrapin, Wildlife
4 Comments
Chasewater: The Good, the bad, and the frankly insane
Hang out the flags, deck the halls, light the beacons. Those damn works are complete, and the contractors appointed to upgrade the dam at Chasewater have left the building, and everything has now returned to normal. Normal, that is, apart … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Wildlife
Tagged Access, Bad maintenance, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Cheap tat, Cycle rides, Cycle trail, cycling, Dam works, Galliford Try, John Smith, local blogs, Local politics, Neil Turner, New Photos, planning, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Wildlife
6 Comments
Don’t let go – the menace of ballon releases and chinese lanterns
As predicted, the wonderful Morgan Bowers – Senior Countryside Ranger for Walsall Council – has really smashed this blogging thing. The dust has barely settled from setting the blog up, and Morgan is already writing hard-hitting, controversial posts and giving … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged Balloon Race, balloon release, bird life, birds, Chasewater, Chasewater Wildlife Group, chinese lantern, killer, litter, Margan Bowers, pollution, RSPB, threat, walsall Wildlife
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I see the idiots are out again
It seems a bit moot now, but bear in mind when the cold snap ends, the commons and heaths will still be tinderbox-dry underneath. I noticed that this winter, the grass fires continued right through the season. Please, if you … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Common, Express & Star, Fire, Grass fire, grassfire, heath, Vandalism, Wildlife
1 Comment
Chasewater Transport Show: Last year in Brownhills?
Worrying news reaches me about the current management of Chasewater as an events venue. Helen Borton, organiser of the brilliant, and very well attended annual Chasewater Transport Show has contacted me expressing concern over what seems to be a very … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Chasewater, Chasewater car show, Chasewater Transport Show 2012, CHasewater Vintage & Classic Car Show, classic bikes, Classic cars, classic lorries, Dispute, DIstrict Council, Grass, Helen Borton, Highfields, jobsworth, John Smith, Kevin Yates, Lichfield, Military vehicle show, Mow, New Photos, overspill, Parking, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Steam engines, uncooperative, Vintage Cars
12 Comments
Pretzel logic
I noticed with wry amusement the letter from Gerald Bickley, of Brownhills Local Committee in the Walsall Advertiser last week. It’s interesting and welcome that we finally hear something from the somewhat somnambulant group apparently deeming to speak on behalf … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills Hoard, Brownhills Local Committee, Brownhills local history, campaign, Express & Star, Gerald Bickley, Hammerwich, information, Local History, Local politics, monument, Ogley Hay, Pretzel, Signs, Silly, Staffordshire, Staffordshire hoard, Warrenhuse, West Midlands
16 Comments
Echoes… lets think for a minute
I want to be serious for a moment. Please, if you’re interested or involved in local history at all, please read this article and offer your point of view. There’s something troubling me that we need to be aware of … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bias, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Derelict, fable, Facebook, folklore, history, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, oral history, Research, Silly, Twitter, Walsall Wood
38 Comments
Plane bizarre
Here’s one from the odd box: spotted by local history whizz Stuart ‘The Edditer’ Williams, curator of the superlative Bloxwich Telegraph. Do any readers remember this? First mention of the event I’ve ever seen. A remarkable occurrence, which must have … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1959, aircraft, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, emergency landing, Glider, Holland Park, local blogs, Local History, Silly, Staffordshire, storm, Stuart Williams, thunder, Walsall Council, Walsall Observer
3 Comments
I heard it on the radio
BBC Radio WM’s Phil Upton Breakfast Show for Monday, 5th March 2012 featured the ongoing saga of Brownhills and Tesco, asking the question as to why the retail giant can’t seem to be bothered to undertake the redevelopment it promised … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Acropolis, Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Cafe, Cheap tat, Derelict, Doreen Gent, Express & Star, Local politics, Mike Bird, Phil Upton, planning, Politics, Radio WM, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Silly, Tesco, Tesco Development, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
8 Comments
Goblin it up…
Following the large – and welcome – interest in Goblin’s Pit/Wood/Coppy Wodd/Coppice Woods in Green Lane, Walsall Wood, I thought I’d trawl the mapping record to see what I could find. This section of the 1:50,000 scale pre 1884 first … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brian Rollins, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullings Heath, Coal Mining in Walsall Wood brownhills and aldridge, Coppice Woods, coppy woods, David Evans, Goblin, Goblin Pit, Goblings Pit, Green Lane, Local History, Old maps, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
15 Comments
To protect and profit – a great new piece by TheFabMrJ
Rich Johnstone is rapidly emerging as one of the primary voices in local blogging. He writes infrequently, but usually in a calm, directed anger with a precision that’s deeply impressive. He is latest work, about the ridiculous privatisation of the … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Cheap tat, local blogs, Local politics, Police, Politics, Privatisation, Rich Johnstone, Silly, TheFabMrJ, Walsall politics, West Midlands Police
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Man down!
I’m very sad to hear that in the last 48 hours, local cyclist and partner of top local blogger Linda Mason (self styled ‘Mad old baggage’, although she doesn’t seem that mad to me), Aiden McHaffie has been injured in a car … Continue reading
Tesco: have they given up on Brownhills?
I notice from an article in the Express & Star that Tesco appear to be getting cold feet on their plan for a new store for Brownhills. This is grim news, but I’m not surprised, and have been sensing all … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Cheap tat, Derelict, Express & Star, Local politics, Mike Bird, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Silly, Tesco, Tesco Development, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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I think the engine’s flooded, mate!
Following David Dalley’s kind tipoff, as soon as I could, I cycled over to Anglesey Basin to check out what was happing in person. It’s not often I get chance to do the roving reporter thing, and this looked interesting. … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Anglesey Basin, Boat, Briotish Waterways, Brownhills, Canal, Capsize, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, David Dalley, Drain, Drain ed canal, Dredger, New Photos, recovery, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Sunk, Wildlife
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The great Brownhills shipping disaster of 2012
Had some interesting pictures mailed to me yesterday by reader and friend of The Brownhills Blog David Dalley. They’re taken on the canal, near Chasewater at Anglesey Basin, where it seems British Waterways are experiencing a bit of an ‘Oh … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Anglesey Basin, Boat, Briotish Waterways, Brownhills, Canal, Capsize, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, David Dalley, Drain, Drain ed canal, Dredger, New Photos, recovery, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Sunk, Wildlife
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