Tag Archives: Local politics

Such was his devotion

Posted on November 13, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Back to William Roberts, then – railway plate layer, ganger, publican, entrepreneur, civic stalwart, JP and philanthropist – a very rare man in his time, he appears to have been generous, considerate, imbued with a real sense of social justice, and was undoubtedly a sharp-dealing rogue too.

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Trouble brewing?

Posted on November 11, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

There’s something I’ve been needing to get off my chest for a good while, and it won’t go away – however, recent finds and articles on the blog have brought it to the fore in my mind, and this is as good a juncture as any to brooch the subject: William Roberts is not recognised enough in our collective history.
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Latest bin collection information – October 2014

Posted on November 2, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

I’ve long held that if you want to start a revolution in the UK, just disrupt refuse collections, so this is a headsup for everyone in the local area – there’s a new issue of the refuse collection and recycling leaflet out now with a collection calendar, recycling guide and other information.
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Bonfire and fireworks in Brownhills this Saturday!

Posted on October 30, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Just a quick reminder that Brownhills Bonfire is at Holland Park this Saturday evening (1st November 2014) – the fire will be lit at 7pm and the fireworks kick off at 8pm.
Hopeflly that's a scheduled display and not another closed pub or listed building being 'dealt with'... picture from The Daily Best. Continue reading →

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Walsall Wood Councillor Mike Flower to stand down at next election

Posted on October 24, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

It’s with some surprise that I noted a post on the long dormant blog of Walsall Wood Councillor Mike Flower yesterday lunchtime, announcing that at the next election, he was to stand down.

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Building your new transport network… in 1974

Posted on October 19, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

I’m hoping some of the bus and rail enthusiasts can help with this one – a few weeks ago I picked up a 40 year old bus route map for Walsall, Aldridge Lichfield, Brownhills and Cannock, and it’s an interesting little time capsule all of it’s own.

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Brownhills Bonfire 2014 – can you help with pallets?

Posted on October 8, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

People keep contacting me and asking when Brownhills Bonfire is this year, so tonight I went looking for info – and I can see why folk are asking me, because there’s nothing out there.

Hopeflly that's a scheduled display and not another closed pub or listed building being 'dealt with'... picture from The Daily Best. Continue reading →

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Very hard to build up, easy as hell to tear down

Posted on September 24, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

This is just a note to flag up a remarkable piece of writing by ex-Walsall resident, blogger and new dad Rich Johnstone, a chap who I’ve always found to be an excellent writer, thoroughly decent human and good online pal.
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Plan for 200 new homes in central Brownhills approved

Posted on September 21, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Way back in April this year, I first noted the consultation and plan to finally redevelop the wasteland in Brownhills that was once Silver Court Gardens, the notorious tenement maisonette estate that was demolished in 2004, into over 100 dwellings.
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Flower power

Posted on September 12, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

I’m pleased to note that Brownhills this year won a Silver Gilt Award in the ‘Heart of England in Bloom’ competition – not the kind of thing you’d normally associate with Brownhills, but year after year, the floral displays here have been improving, and this year they looked wonderful.

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The Acropolis cafe shuts; Middle Oak to close and B&M to open in Focus, Aldridge

Posted on September 7, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Just a heads up on some local taking points I’ve had buzzing around for a couple of days now – A few readers including David Evans and Martin Littler have pointed out the longstanding Ravens Court cafe The Acroplolis seems to have closed down.
Why does it always rain on us? Ravens Court on a summer afternoon last July. It was about 2pm. Continue reading →

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Consultation event in Brownhills this Wednesday!

Posted on September 2, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

This Wednesday, 3rd September 2014 from 10am-12pm, there’s a Walsall Council budget Consultation event in Brownhills Library at The Parkview Centre in Brownhills. Everyone is invited to attend and offer their view on prospect cuts to the local council budget, and Council Officers will be on hand to discuss matters.

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You can’t trust all you read in the paper…

Posted on August 21, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Whew – panic over Yesterday, following a report in the Express & Star, I wrote of my concern that the old leisure centre at Oak Park in Walsall Wood would be demolished before a new one was built to replace it.
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Demolition, man?

Posted on August 21, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

There was an interesting report in Monday’s Express & Star (18th August 2014) which points out the project to replace Oak Park leisure centre in Walsall Wood and the similar facility in Bloxwich is to start ‘next month’.

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You can’t bank on it

Posted on July 30, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

There has been a fair amount of dismay and disbelief locally in response to the decision of Barclays Bank to close their branch in Brownhills, which will apparently cease trading on Friday, 24th October 2014.

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Youth service in Walsall – important meeting tonight!

Posted on July 29, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

I note that Walsall Council have a scrutiny meeting this evening on the vexed matter of the Integrated Young People’s Support Service – that’s pretty much anything the council provides for kids and young people, including youth justice, targeted support, youth centres, the Education Business Partnership and parent partnership services.
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Please help Brownhills bloom!

Posted on June 24, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Brownhills Town Centre Partnership have been in touch, and asked me to see if anyone fancies helping out with the Britain in Bloom competition entry from our town, which involves planting, litter picking and general sprucing up.

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Local history for a distant son

Posted on June 22, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

I thought today I’d just do a small post highlighting a couple of sites that will be of interest to many readers, but mainly to blog stalwart David Oakley, who I sadly gather hasn’t been in the best of health lately.

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The first victim of Walsall’s political chaos

Posted on June 21, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

I was surprised and a bit pleased that Friday’s piece on the political soap opera at Walsall Council received a decent reception and appears to have been quite widely read – but I have to say that there’s a cracking article on the subject been published in the Express & Star today.

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Can you smell fish?

Posted on June 20, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

I just thought I’d draw reader attention to the following excellent article published yesterday by the Walsall Advertiser, regarding the fallout from the recent Walsall Council elections, and the struggle for control of our divided authority.
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Application submitted for large Brownhills housing development

Posted on June 12, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

It comes I’m sure, as no surprise that Walsall Housing Group (WHG) have been planning a huge new housing development in central Brownhills for some time now – after all, last month I advertised a one-day consultation on plans to build houses on the former site of Silver Court Gardens, behind Silver Court, on land that’s now vacant.

Site Plan Continue reading →

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Walsall Councillor Tim Oliver: my condolences

Posted on May 24, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

I’ve just picked up from Social Media and the Pheseay Park Farm Labour Party blog thet Walsall Labour group Leader and Coucillor for Birchills-Leamore has sadly passed away following a period of illness – my condolences, and I’m sure those of readers, go out to the Oliver family, friends and party comrades.

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2014 Walsall local election results – there may be trouble ahead

Posted on May 23, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

It’s been a remarkable night for Walsall politics – but it’s a brave person that calls a Walsall result – in a shock result, UKIPs Steve Craddock Took Brownhills, and UKIP candidates also took Willenhall North and Short Heath.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Ballot dance

Posted on May 22, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

I’ve agonised over what to write here for days – it is, of course polling day here in Brownhills and Walsall today, and you get double bubble; not just chance to vote for one of your three councillors, but you get chance to vote for your European MP, too.
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What’s going on in Walsall Social Services?

Posted on May 15, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

It’s not often I do this, but this is important, and the story has gained virtually no local traction – yesterday, The Guardian published an article about the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the suspension and dismissal of Paul Davies, the short lived Executive Director of Social Care and Inclusion at Walsall Council.

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Redevelopment of Silver Court Gardens – have your say

Posted on May 1, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

There’s been loads of buzz since my article last weekend about the new development Walsall Housing Group are considering putting forward for the derelict wasteland that was once Silver Court Gardens in Brownhills – now you can attend the consultation and make your voice heard.
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Getting the Bird

Posted on April 29, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Two Brownhills community activists lock horns in the Walsall Advertiser letters page over the subject of Ravens Court – the exchange is interesting, and deserves to be read widely.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Silver Court Gardens – a positive development

Posted on April 26, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Hey folks, this is important – I was sent a link to this press release by friend of the blog Sarah Treadwell on Friday, and this it is potentially great news – I’ve known for a while that Walsall Housing Group have been looking to redevelop the land left vacant a decade ago with the demolition of Silver Court Gardens in central Brownhills.
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Don’t disrupt the bingo!

Posted on April 23, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Today, reader and longstanding friend of the Brownhills Blog Stuart Cowley mailed me the above wonderful image of Chasetown Working Men’s Club Committee from years past, when Stuart’s Dad was involved.

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Pity the poor landlord

Posted on April 18, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Five years ago, when I started this blog, one of the largest looming topics was that of the then proposed new Tesco Store in Brownhills – we’d been through a consultation, and the proposal was to build a large hypermarket fronting the High Street.

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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

The final lot

Posted on March 19, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

The demolition is by now nearly complete – after 155 years extant, and about 40 of those derelict, the former St John’s School in Walsall Wood has now largely reduced to pallets of bricks and oddments of scrap.
Image courtesy of David Evans. Continue reading →

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Breaking down the walls…

Posted on March 15, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

The tenacity and charm of the young David Evans continues to be rewarded, and he has again created great pictorial documentation of the demolition process being undertaken on the former St. John’s School in Walsall Wood.
Image generously supplied by David Evans. Continue reading →

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Demolition, man

Posted on March 11, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Thanks to the keen eye and subsequent alert by reader, fellow local blogger and freind of the blog @thestymaster, plus the outrageous cheek, charm and loquaciousness of the young David Evans, I can present internal and external shots of the former St. John’s School in Walsall Wood, currently undergoing demolition.
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Brick by brick

Posted on March 5, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Today, thanks to the eagle eye of reader, fellow local blogger and freind of the blog @thestymaster, plus the dedication and guile of a couple of regular blog readers and contributors, we have managed to catch the last days of a local, doomed landmark: St. John’s School, in Walsall Wood.

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Brownhills School: driven to distraction

Posted on March 4, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

The ongoing issue of Brownhills School’s withdrawal of community access to it’s facilities rumbled on this week, as the Walsall Advertiser published another excellent report about how the Spotlight Youth Theatre Group were told they’d have to move from the school last December.RichardShepherdMP Continue reading →

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Brownhills School: Express & Star catches up

Posted on February 26, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Just a quick note to point out that the Express & Star have finally got around to covering the Brownhills School community facilities withdrawal story, with a few extra details.
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Brownhills School: News of community facilities withdrawal spreads

Posted on February 24, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Recently, as many readers will be aware, I covered the shocking story of how Brownhills School – formerly Brownhills Community School – has elected to stop all community access to its facilities, resulting in a large degree of disquiet in the town.
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Old Holland

Posted on January 11, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Over the past couple of posts, the subject of Holland Park in Brownhills has come up, and reader Peter asked where it got it’s name – I knew it was named after Hyla John Holland, one of the great names in the history of Brownhills, but I realised I didn’t know much about the chap, or exactly what he did beyond being a councillor.

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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Work starts on Holland Park improvements

Posted on January 9, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

I had this press release yesterday from Walsall Council, and I think it’s important to share it here – it’s nice to see Holland Park getting some love at long last – the paths and some aspects of the fabric have needed attention for a while now.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Local media, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Something cheesy for Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2013 by BrownhillsBob

I’ll keep this brief, as I know there are folk in Short Heath suffering in quiet, restrained dignity as they haven’t had their Liberal Democrat Focus news sheets this week due to the inclement weather – please spare a thought for those less fortunate souls this Christmas.
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Changes to local bin collections this week!

Posted on December 8, 2013 by BrownhillsBob

This is a headsup for everyone in the local area – this week, some refuse bin collection days change hereabouts – a full calendar leaflet can be downloaded from Walsall Council’s website, but here’s how it works for local readers.

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Fist of Glory, fists of rage

Posted on November 30, 2013 by BrownhillsBob

I see the genius of SalmonCorporation has been at work again – this film is an uncomfortable piece of genius that needs to be spread far and wide, like it’s precursor ‘Walsall: Everything a pound’.Untitled 6 Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

School’s out

Posted on November 17, 2013 by BrownhillsBob

I think this might be controversial – from recent activity at the site, it seems like the former St. John’s School, in Lichfield Road Walsall Wood, may be about to be demolished, and it’s site possibly redeveloped, together with the derelict bungalow next door.

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Revised plans submitted for Oak Park replacement

Posted on November 15, 2013 by BrownhillsBob

I noticed last week that revised plans had been submitted for the replacement of the decaying Oak Park Leisure Centre at Walsall Wood – I thought I’d feature them here as a fair few folk are interested in the issue, and it remains somewhat contentious.
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Consultation event in Brownhills this afternoon!

Posted on November 12, 2013 by BrownhillsBob

Don’t forget that this Thursday, from 2-4pm, there’s a Walsall Council budget Consultation event at The Parkview Centre, Brownhills – everyone is invited to attend and offer their view on prospect cuts to the local council budget, and Council Officers will be on hand to discuss matters.

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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Severe car crash at Walsall Civic Centre

Posted on November 8, 2013 by BrownhillsBob

There’s been an unfortunate RTA at Walsall Council, and it deserves as wide exposure as possible.
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Posted in Bad Science, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Shire Oak Park: Come meet the Rangers this Saturday

Posted on November 7, 2013 by BrownhillsBob

Helen Sanger, the Walsall Council Countryside Ranger responsible for Shire Oak Park Nature Reserve, has asked me to point out to readers and fans of the reserve that this coming Saturday, 9th November 2013 there will be a chance to meet with Tim Cleary, Countryside Operations Ranger.

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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Consultation event in Walsalll Wood this evening

Posted on November 5, 2013 by BrownhillsBob

Don’t forget that this evening, from 4-6pm, there’s a Walsall Council budget Consultation event at Oak Park, Walsall Wood from 4-6pm.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Build it and they’ll come

Posted on November 3, 2013 by BrownhillsBob

David Evans, top blog contributor and local historian extraordinaire, has strong connections with the local Methodist Movement – in this capacity, David has been working very hard indeed on the following article on the construction of the New Chapel for some weeks now, and I’m proud and honoured to present it for readers.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Pallets still needed for Brownhills bonfire!

Posted on October 30, 2013 by BrownhillsBob

I know I plugged it a couple of days ago, but Walsall Park Rangers are still in need of pallets to build the bonfire for the Holland Park Fireworks event, scheduled to take place this Saturday eveningBXgiySBIAAEBy0e Continue reading →

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