Category Archives: Walsall Council

Walsall council netheads need you!

Posted on July 20, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

The next focus group meeting for canvassing opinion on the new Walsall Council website takes place at Walsall Council House, Thursday at 6pm. Absolutely all are welcome, and it doesn’t matter if you didn’t go to the previous meeting – … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A pressing issue

Posted on July 17, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

On Saturday, 16th July 2011, Express & Star columnist Dan Wainwright ran his usual column about local government in the region. Even though Walsall Council is gripped by a Single Status pay controversy, as is Dudley, and other notable stuff … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, 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 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Heads in the sand?

Posted on July 15, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

The article that was here, relating to a rather petty bit of bad public relations, has now been taken down as I feel suitable anguish has been visited on the originator. I always like to think that the Brownhills Blog … Continue reading →

Posted in 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 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Filthy business

Posted on July 15, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Paul Ford, researcher at Walsall Local History Centre and top blog contributor has once again excelled himself and ferreted out a top piece of local history from Walsall’s extensive archives. Paul has kindly offered to make this a reasonably frequent … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Want to make Walsall Council’s website a bit better?

Posted on July 12, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Hi guys. This is a brief post as I’m bogged down with work right now, but YamYam co-conspirator and all-round webhead @hapdaniel is currently partaking in a focus group relating to an improved Walsall Council Website. We all complain about the current … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife | 1 Comment

Toxic assets: Brownhills Businesss Park housing plan withdrawn

Posted on July 10, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

I noted with some amusement on Friday that the planned scheme to build nearly a hundred dwellings on the business park on the corner of Lindon Road and Coppice Road in Walsall Wood had been abandoned. This project has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Is John Daft in the house?

Posted on July 8, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

I received a wonderful note from yesterday from Paul Ford, top local historian and researcher at Walsall Local History Centre. Paul has found a bit of ephemera from the turn of the last century which he thinks may be of … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Plans to reclad Humphries House and Severn House submitted

Posted on July 3, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

I noticed a week or so ago that plans have been submitted by Walsall Housing Group to re-clad the outer walls of the two remaining, decaying sixties tower blocks in Brownhills. This is to be undertaken to improve energy efficiency … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Pictures from the 2011 Brownhills Canal Festival

Posted on June 26, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Today, I paid a visit to the annual Brownhills Canal Festival. It was a cracking day weather wise, and the event enjoyed all the usual attractions – canoes, stalls, food, boats. It seemed a little more muted than last year, … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Panoramio updates, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council | 20 Comments

What was lost

Posted on June 25, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Following some interesting comment last week about Walsall’s old railway station, I thought I’d feature it this week. For those too young to recall, it was a handsome building with a huge, airy, circular booking hall and grandiose glass and … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Uncategorized, Walsall community, Walsall Council | 13 Comments

West Midlands Police: do as we say, not as we do

Posted on June 23, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

I was going to just post this on my 365daysofbiking mini-blog, but this deserves a wide exposure, as I’ m sure there’s a perfectly innocent explanation. Perhaps readers or indeed, the local police can explain this to me. It was … Continue reading →

Posted in cycling, Environment, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Getting down with the kids

Posted on June 21, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Just a quick note to publicise the Barbecue in the Park event at Oak Park this Friday, from 6-8pm. I know these events work well, and have been a roaring success in the past. Everyone involved puts in a great … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Single status (via The Plastic Hippo)

Posted on June 7, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

More bang-on-the-money comment from The Plastic Hippo. The scandal of Single Status in Walsall has been swept under the carpet for far too long. Read this and fear for the future of your council, run by people who plainly haven’t … Continue reading →

Posted in 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 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Walsall Housing Group: Moving the goalposts again

Posted on June 2, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

I’ve just discovered a press release from Walsall Housing Group that seems to have slipped by largely unnoticed. Remember the housing development initially sketched in to replace the now demolished maisonettes that stood opposite Knave’s Court? When I last covered … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Latest police statement on Brownhills murder inquiry.

Posted on June 1, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Here’s the latest from West Midlands Police on the dreadful death of the elderly lady in Albion Road, Brownhills, yesterday. This is an atrocious crime, and if you have any information at all, please contact the police. I’d like to … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sister Dora’s first live gig in 130 years

Posted on May 22, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Posted this afternoon on Twatter by the generally not as funny as it should be @Walsall_CounciI parody account, this hilarious video was originally on Twitvid, but since I can’t embed that in the blog, I’ve transcoded it and uploaded to Youtube. … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local music, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Back to the future…

Posted on May 15, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

While we’re in a 1980’s mood, this week I noticed that a remarkable project from the period had been rescued from potential oblivion and saved for the nation. Way back in 1986, when I was generally being a teenage geek … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Police target Brownhills offroaders

Posted on May 12, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Longstanding readers of this blog will know how much I loathe the illegal use of scramblers and four-wheel drive vehicles that seems to plague our local commons, country parks, bike trails and open spaces. I know that catching these people … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Election results for Brownhills and Aldridge North just announced

Posted on May 6, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

From the Walsall Council twatter stream: http://twitter.com/#!/WalsallCouncil/status/66464436038275072 and from Councillor Mike Flower http://twitter.com/#!/mikeflower273/status/66463877478621184 Congratulations to both Councillors – they work hard for their constituents, and although I may not always agree with them, I respect their dedication to the community. … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Electile Dysfunction

Posted on May 5, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

It’s almost a year to the day since I wrote this post, urging readers to take up their democratic right and vote. I thought about this again today, on the eve of local elections and the referendum on the Alternate … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Royal Wedding event at Knaves Court today!

Posted on April 29, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

I recieved this note from Chris Smith at Knaves Court a while back, and just remembered it. Sorry it’s a bit late! Hi Bob , Remember me from Knaves Court last year? We are doing really well now. Just thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Irony? What’s that?

Posted on April 28, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

With the local election campaign in full swing and doorstepping at fever pitch here in the Northern Wastes, I was stunned to come home this evening and discover my second party candidate leaflet of the season. So far, I’ve had … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Time and tide (via The Plastic Hippo)

Posted on April 25, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Yet again, The Plastic Hippo vocalises beautifully what I’m thinking. Is this the nastiest, most unpleasant government we’ve ever had? As every day passes, the pronouncements from the Prime Minister become more and more bizarre. I fear for my country, … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Features, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sadler Road closure this Saturday!

Posted on April 15, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Just a quick headsup to point out that Sadler Road in Brownhills will be closed at the junction of Lichfield Road from tonight (Friday 15th April 2011) until Sunday (17th April 2011) for sewer works. The works are being undertaken … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Local media, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Crater mass?

Posted on April 15, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

There’s some great stuff coming in about local wartime air raids. Please keep it coming, I will post some more later, but in the mean time, I received this comment on my original post about Jockey Meadows and the apparent … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Lichfield Road, Shire Oak – one way running next week

Posted on April 5, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

  A few folk seem concerned about an upcoming road closure in Shire Oak, so I just thought I’d publicise it here. From Sunday, 10th April 2011, traffic will be one way only on the Lichfield Road, Shire Oak, between … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Everyone needs a hobby

Posted on April 2, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

These caught my eye today, cycling the Trent & Mersey canal towpath in Hopwas, Staffordshire. About 40 in all, someone had made little flags, from laminated fluorescent card and sticks, and popped one in at every pile of animal mess. … Continue reading →

Posted in cycling, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Welcome back – The YamYam returns…

Posted on March 31, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

  Just a quick note to point out that popular local news and opinion site, The YamYam has returned. Thanks in no small part to the dedicated work of Mark Blackstock, the curator, @Hapdaniel a real live web wizard and … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

London Midland: staffing reductions (via Marco Longhi)

Posted on March 28, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Conservative Councillor for Pelsall Marco Longhi has recently made the welcome decision to re-enter the online community, joining in with twitter and recommencing blogging. I salute Marco for this, and although we have our differences, I respect any Councillor that like … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Walsall Housing Group – this doesn’t add up

Posted on March 22, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

I was intrigued last week to spot a Walsall Housing Group press release floating about the net, excitedly heralding the news that work was ‘already underway’ on a new housing development opposite Knaves Court in Brownhills. Readers with long memories … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Always crashing in the same car

Posted on March 12, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Walsall Council, despite it’s patchy areas, does a few things really, really well. One of those things in recent times has been social media. Dan and the people in the press office may occasionally appear to be running a West … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Science, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Up the junction

Posted on March 6, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Walsall’s new ring road, by bicycle, on a dull weekday morning. And they wonder why we think it’s crap.

Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Time to tell us community consultation event this Saturday!

Posted on March 4, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Vicky Heydon-Matterface contacted me recently to ask if I’d publiscise this upcoming community consultation event in Brownhills. There will be two, the first taking place this Saturday 5th March at Brownhills Methodist Church from 10:00AM to 1:00PM. It’s a multi-agency … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local politics, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A body of evidence

Posted on March 4, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

  It’s not often that I feel the need to lift an item out of the comments and publish it as a post of it’s own, but yesterday, Paul Ford, Walsall Local History Centre expert and research genius stunned me. … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Spot the difference

Posted on February 12, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

This is a bit of an epic past pictures post this week, all about Clayhanger Common, locally known as the spot. I wrote an extensive article about the history of this open space some time ago, and now, I’m interested … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A message from The Clayhanger Kid

Posted on February 6, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Yesterday, I received a lovely message from the irrepressible Brian Stringer, author of the excellent and acclaimed local book ‘The Clayhanger Kid’. I owe Brian an apology, actually, as I neglected to advertise his book-signing here on the blog, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Reader enquiries, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Top author visiting Brownhills Library on Thusday!

Posted on February 2, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Had this press release from Walsall Council pop into my inbox today – it seemed interesting. It’s nice to see authors paying libraries a visit. Remember, if you wish to support your local library, please sign the e-petition here, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Save Walsall libraries e-petition now online

Posted on January 28, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

An e-petition has now been started on the Walsall Council website to protest about library cuts by the council. Please sign it if you wish to support the great work these facilities do for the community. There’s also a second … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, Reader enquiries, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

2011: a waste of space odyssey (via The Plastic Hippo)

Posted on January 22, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

The Plastic Hippo – yet again, fantastic. Love it. Sharp as a tack and grumpy as hell… Aboard the Coalition Discovery One Starship, Dave accesses the central core of the Andy 9000 computer. “Hello Dave. It’s about Alan Johnson isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Followups, Just plain daft, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Remember, kids, we’re all in this together…

Posted on January 17, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

…But some of us are more in it than others. If you’re a Walsall pensioner who’s just lost your meals on wheels service, or a worried Walsall Librarian, remember that the council leader is concerned for you at this difficult … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Shine on you crazy Diamond (via The Plastic Hippo)

Posted on January 16, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

The Plastic Hippo. Bang on the money again. Please take a look – if he’s not in your favourites list, why not? The top floor of the Royal Bank of Scotland building in the centre of Walsall offers a magnificent … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why am I not surprised?

Posted on January 15, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

At the risk of irritating the anglers again, it seems like Bob, the copper carp dangling from the Walsall Wood angler’s pole has gone missing again. I’m pretty sure the fish was there earlier in the week – I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Bookworm Turns: Lies, Damn Lies, Library Cuts and Council Pledges

Posted on January 14, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

I note today that fierce and vocal defender of our libraries, The Bookworm Turns, has a new post up in the wake of the furore over the recent news that six of our treasured institutions are to be closed. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Living in a one party state

Posted on January 12, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

Today, Walsall Council’s press office belched out a press release that is already causing some controversy in the Walsall blog community. I genuinely feel pain for the poor scribe who must surely have been coerced to write it under threat … Continue reading →

Posted in Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Another triumph for investigative journalism

Posted on January 2, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

I am indebted to reader Neil, who supplied the scan of last Wednesday’s Express & Star article about the planning application to convert the peaceful wildlife haven of Ryders Mere into a commercial leisure fishery. Regrettably, I missed this one, … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tales from the Wood…

Posted on January 1, 2011 by BrownhillsBob

I was very fortunate this year to receive the gift of some secondhand local history books I’d been after for quite some time, and I’m keen to share them with the  readership of the blog. As is usually the case … Continue reading →

Posted in Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Mere vandalism

Posted on December 31, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

I was alerted several days ago to a new and somewhat controversial local planning application by Chaz Mason and his excellent Clayhanger Marsh Log. For those of you who aren’t aware, Chaz blogs once or twice every week on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

The importance of local knowledge

Posted on December 28, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

I notice the good folks at the Express & Star still seem to be having trouble with accuracy on their local patch. This puff piece, pointlessly punted for Walsall Council’s Arboretum revamp project would be fine if the hapless hack … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Who knows where the time goes?

Posted on December 24, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

It really doesn’t seem like five minutes since I last wished all you readers a merry Christmas and a very happy new year. This last one has been an interesting and engaging time for me with the Brownhills Blog. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, cycling, Environment, Followups, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Derek Tickles: We salute you

Posted on December 20, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

  I spend a lot of time trawling freedom of information requests on whatdotheyknow.com – I’d like to say the activity is for worthy research purposes, but often it’s just plain old nosiness. Some requests are painstaking and fascinating, some … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment