Category Archives: Walsall Council

Vote, vote, vote.

Posted on May 6, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have noticed that there’s an election afoot today. Actually, there’s two; both parliamentary and local council elections are being held to decide both national and local government. Who we elect today will … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Welcome to Tescotown

Posted on May 1, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

Whilst mooching back from work today, I noticed a planning application tied to a lamppost in Silver Street, Brownhills. Reading it, I note it’s for a new Tesco development in Brownhills town centre. I haven’t had time to go through … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Heads up, local history buffs… lets make Brownhills history!

Posted on April 26, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

Loathe as I am to pump out recycled press releases, especially when they’ve already been featured on The YamYam, but tonight I’ve been reminded of this event by the press office at Walsall Council. Since it concerns Brownhills local history, … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Rent asunder

Posted on April 7, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

Long time readers of the Brownhills Blog may well remember my article about the new social housing development, slated to replace the now demolished maisonettes on the corner of Ogley Road and High Street, Brownhills. Planned to provide high-quality housing … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Shire Oak Reservoir: detailed plans submitted

Posted on April 2, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

Many of the links in this post are .PDF files. If you haven’t already got it, go and get Adobe Reader before clicking on any of the links. I discovered today that detailed plans had finally been submitted for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Local media, planning, Reader enquiries, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Upcoming road closures in Brownhills

Posted on March 31, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

I’ve had a couple of queries – in person and by mail – as to what’s happening with the roads around the Shire Oak area in the coming week or so. The signage around the area pointing up the works … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, planning, Reader enquiries, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s my line?

Posted on March 31, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

As I noted last week, after quite some time parted, Bob the fish is now back in his rightful place, as the focal point of the recently erected fisherman sculpture by the canal bridge in Walsall Wood. Originally suspended by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Railroad wagon

Posted on March 24, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

This is a warning. What follows is a verbatim press release from the grey Lubyanka that is Walsall Civic Centre. Anyone who is currently drinking any kind of beverage may wish to take a few seconds to swallow and place … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Rodney & Bob: reunited at last!

Posted on March 23, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

Thanks to everyone who mailed me at the weekend to tell me that Bob the fish was back hanging from the end of Rodney’s pole. I intend to cover that one later in the week… thanks to all who spotted … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | 1 Comment

Respect their authority?

Posted on March 22, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

This is an interesting one. In response to my previous post ‘Cycling coppers: West Midlands Police reply (eventually…)‘ reader [John] posed the following question: From: John                   March 10, 2010 at 8:35 … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I don’t mean to carp, but…

Posted on March 16, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

With a touch of sadness, but no surprise, I noticed on Friday that Rodney, the Walsall Wood fisherman, is still without his fish, somewhat oddly christened ‘Bob’. He’s also been the victim of rather more destructive vandals, who’ve tagged him with … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Reporting potholes

Posted on March 10, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

With the ongoing issue of potholes and their lack of, or inadequate repair, I’ve been thinking about the best way to report them to Walsall Council. One of the easiest ways that blog readers can do so is to use … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Not fixin’ a hole

Posted on March 5, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

To continue what is probably a tedious theme from the last post – potholes – I thought I’d point out some of the absolutely dire road maintenance that Walsall Council seem to be deploying in response to the problem. On … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The song remains the same

Posted on March 3, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

Readers will no doubt be aware of the recent controversy surrounding the appalling state of the roads in Walsall at the moment, a situation worsened by the recent bad weather. With this in mind, a local contributor sent this lengthy … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

You can’t polish a turd

Posted on February 22, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

I’m not really sure what the hell is going on here. I noticed on Saturday that there was scaffolding erected around one corner of Ravens Court, the very nearly empty shopping precinct in the centre of Brownhills. This is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

All that remains

Posted on February 22, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

I see that some twelve months after their neighbouring edifices were carried to dust, the last  two blocks of 1960’s maisonettes in Brownhills, on the corner of High Street and Ogley Road, are being razed. I could be wrong (and please do … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Local History, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Piscine in the wind?

Posted on February 12, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

Tonight’s issue of the Express & Star has proven quite enlightening. Not only have my favourite hacks awarded coveted (well, it must be treasured somewhere, care in the community is a massive enterprise) ‘Letter of the day’ to a person … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Disastrous marketing

Posted on February 12, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

This evening’s Express & Star letters page featured a real gem, and unusually for the paper, they’d actually awarded this sensible communique ‘Letter of the day’ – an award normally reserved for the dribbling ramblings of various ranters whose output … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Fisherman’s blues

Posted on February 9, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

This afternoon, while passing the new fisherman sculpture erected on the canal towpath beside Walsall Wood bridge I noted that it had already been vandalised. The fish that so vulnerably dangled from the end of the silhouette’s rod had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Just plain daft, Local media, Shared media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Reality bites

Posted on February 9, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

I noted this evening with sadness but no surprise that both the Express & Star and the YamYam continue to ponder over the fate of Brownhills market, now undoubtedly in the death throes, pretty much like the town itself. What … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Don’t forget…

Posted on February 6, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

There’s a big do on today in Walsall Wood, to mark the unveiling/opening of our new public art – the pit head and sculptures in the High Street. My views on this exercise in white-elephantine wastage are well known and … Continue reading →

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

I can’t possibly match this – The Hippo strikes back

Posted on February 5, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

I was going to wax lyrical about Walsall’s new member for leisure, recently elected to replace the hapless previous incumbent, Barry Sanders. However, it seems that the some-time commenter in these parts has beaten me to it, with such a … Continue reading →

Posted in Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are you happy now?

Posted on January 30, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

It was with sadness today that I noticed that the hoarding surrounding the Housing21 development by Anchor Bridge has been repainted, obliterating the vibrant, fun street art mural created by local kids during the summer. Whilst I have no idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tesco Brownhills: A planning application at last. Sort of.

Posted on January 28, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

This is just a short post to point out that there’s recently been a planning application submitted (Walsall planning application number: 09/1832/FL) relating to the Tesco Store in Brownhills, but it’s not what one might expect. Indeed, it’s rather surprising. … Continue reading →

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

Another local history challenge: Any ideas?

Posted on January 25, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

I have just discovered that Google Mail includes an anti-spam feature I wasn’t aware of. Lurking within said spam folder – siting uncomfortably with spam for pharmaceuticals of dubious provenance and fake watches, was this enquiry, sent to me on … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Supermarket sweep

Posted on January 21, 2010 by BrownhillsBob

It has become evident over the last few months that some shuffling of position has been going on over the retail future of Brownhills town centre. There have been a couple of articles in the local press about how Tesco … Continue reading →

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

Something is happening

Posted on December 23, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

I see that the site of the now demolished Shire Oak Reservoir has finally been sold to Morris Homes. Since outline planning permission for a housing development on the site was granted way back in 2006, the only thing standing … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Just plain daft, Local media, planning, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Hyperinflation returns

Posted on December 19, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Settling down in front of the fire this evening, I was intrigued to note a strange statistic in the good old Express & Star. In a column I’d previously not been troubled by the existence of, ‘A week in local … Continue reading →

Posted in Express & Star, Followups, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

‘Doctor Who defies the council’ – Walsall Observer, April 15th, 1977

Posted on December 9, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Thanks to diligent and committed rooting through past issues of the Walsall Observer by a keen reader of the Brownhills Blog, I am able to post this article from the Walsall Obsever of April 15th, 1977, about Philip Cheetham and … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Gone, but not forgotten…

Posted on December 3, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Whilst pottering around this morning, shamelessly listening to Terry Wogan, my attention was snagged by the news report about the Care Quality Commission report into adult care in the UK. Speaking on behalf of Southwark  Council was one Annie Shepperd, … Continue reading →

Posted in Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Social care: the gloves are off

Posted on December 2, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

In tonight’s Express & Star, there was an beautifully illuminating report about the cuts proposed for social care provision in Walsall. There are afoot plans to cut spending on services to the vulnerable and disabled totalling ten million pounds over … Continue reading →

Posted in Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

What they’re up against

Posted on December 2, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Since yesterday’s post in which I mentioned the woeful state of the former Railway Tavern in Bentley, I thought I’d swing past today and take a couple of photos. Since last week, the main site of the pub has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Am I missing something here?

Posted on December 1, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Since Dan and the folks up at Walsall Council’s press office helpfully include me on their mailing list, I receive a steady trickle of low-level press releases from Walsall Council, which I keep a weather eye upon for anything useful … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, Panoramio photo discussions, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Christmas fun this Saturday!

Posted on November 27, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

I just thought I’d give a quick heads-up that there’s a Christmas fun day kicking off this Saturday (28th November 2009) in the High Street. There will be loads to do for all the family, including carol singing, children’s rides, … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Another cracking article by the Plastic Hippo…

Posted on November 20, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Anyone who’s been reading this blog for some time will be aware of the Plastic Hippo – often outrageously funny, witheringly forthright and highly knowledgeable about Walsall politics, he often comments on articles here. Well, there’s a new article up over … Continue reading →

Posted in Followups, It makes me mad!, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Walsall Council launches Brownhills ‘Shop Local’ Initiative

Posted on November 13, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Fresh from the steaming keyboards of Walsall Council’s press office, I’ve had this press release mailed to me and I thought I’d run it here. We really need to support our town, and the concept does make a lot of … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Walsall Council issues statement about Remembrance Day parking tickets

Posted on November 10, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Clearly mindful of the shitstorm that’s ensued from the parking ticket PR disaster of yesterday, Walsall Council have issued a statement apologising here, which I’ll reproduce in full below: Remembrance Day parking tickets Date Published : 09 November 2009 Councillor … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Flipping the bird

Posted on November 10, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

In yesterday’s post here, I urged readers to consider the national act of remembrance, to think a little about the horrors and privations others went through in order that we may live in relative comfort and prosperity today. The bright … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Events, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Walsall Council issues statement about Oak Park Leisure Centre

Posted on October 29, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Last week, some odd news began to circulate about the future of Walsall Wood’s leisure centre, Oak Park. On the 21st October 2009, there was a slightly alarmist piece on excellent Walsall news site The YamYam, and on the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, planning, Reader enquiries, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Flatlining

Posted on October 21, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Way back in the early days of this blog, I covered the thorny issue relating to the condition of Humphries House, Brownhills’ last remaining large tower block. In the original post, I highlighted the fact that the fabric of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Trucking absurd

Posted on October 6, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

There’s been a vehicle park on the corner between Beechtree Road and Brookland Road in Walsall Wood for as long as I can remember. I’ve tried to find out when the small patch of hardstanding was first laid, and folk … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Uncategorized, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

…And so it begins.

Posted on September 19, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Just sneaking under the radar last night, buried on page 19 of the Express & Star, I note that leisure centres in Walsall are under threat of closure, including our very own Oak Park in Walsall Wood. This comes as … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Plastic Hippo – telling it like it is

Posted on September 16, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Over at the ever indispensable YamYam, I notice that the Plastic Hippo has been at it again, and come up with a chillingly accurate summation of the current situation at Walsall Council. A controlling group led by a man twice … Continue reading →

Posted in Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Positively Silver Street

Posted on September 13, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

It was a lovely day yesterday, and I took the opportunity to pay a second visit to the relaunched Brownhills Market on my way out for a ride in the early autumn warmth. I was pleased to see that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Brownhills Market: expanding already – so get down there!

Posted on September 12, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

I’m not generally in favour of recycling press releases as blog and news items – I generally leave that kind of thing to the likes of the Express & Star, but I received this press release from Dan Slee at … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dereliction affliction

Posted on September 9, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

This is a heads up, and also an appeal for information. These dilapidated dwellings are located on Brownhills Road at Street’s Corner, opposite the Walsall Wood school – you can see their actual location from the picture’s Panoramio page, accessed … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Brownhills market: Back from the dead

Posted on September 5, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Today, along with a considerable number of my fellow Brownhillians, I visited the relaunched Brownhills Market. Due to family stuff, I didn’t get there until 12pm, but it looked like it had been fairly busy – and the gridlock happening … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local politics, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Brownhills market relaunches tomorrow!

Posted on September 4, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

Just thought I’d flag that up. After my previous stuff about the Market’s demise and subsequent rebirth, I thought I’d bring it to readers attention. Of course, you’d have to be living under a rock not to have heard about … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local politics, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Arrested development

Posted on August 25, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

The Warreners Arms pub was never a very high-class establishment. Standing on the site of former rabbit warrens, created and managed for food and sport at the behest of Richard Gilbert, Lord of the Manor of Norton, the former Warreners … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local politics, planning, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Under developed?

Posted on August 19, 2009 by BrownhillsBob

The continuing saga of Anon, and Brownhills Development in general, part 94. Anyone who’s bored by this Brownhillian Iliad, please look away now. I’ve got a post to go up about the Warreners tomorrow. Hopefully. Today, Anon, commentor on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Local politics, planning, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments