Tag Archives: Politics

How planning works

It seems that a planning application has finally been submitted on behalf of Morris Homes for a housing development on the land just off Silver Street in Brownhills. This won’t come as any surprise to regular readers of this blog, … Continue reading

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

Walsall Council budget document

Walsall Council have now revealed their proposals for budget cuts that look set to decimate social care, leisure services and community support for the elderly and vulnerable. Predictably, public relations, councillor allowances and wages for those at the very top … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Events, 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

From ‘The Bookworm Turns’: Remember Fahrenheit 451? Stand united in Walsall on Destruction Day – 17 November

Today, ‘The Bookworm Turns‘ posted a very important message to the people of Walsall. I reproduce some of it here, but for the full glory, pop over and see the entire post for yourself. The Brownhills Blog stands shoulder to … Continue reading

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

Essential reading from ‘The Bookworm Turns’ – On the eve of destruction

I note this evening that The Bookworm Turns has published another excellent, bang on the money post about the state of Leisure Services and more particularly the fate of Walsall’s beleaguered libraries. As I’ve said before, we need to get … Continue reading

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

Goo play up yer own end!

I had this press release from the Walsall Council media control bunker drawn to my attention today, (Thanks, Edditer!) so I thought I’d share it with you readers. It’s good to see money being spent of facilities for kids in … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Bookworm turns…

Heads up, folks. I noted today from the excellent YamYam that there’s a new blog on the block, and it’s rather important. You’ll remember that recently, I was horrified to hear our apparently charmless Councill Leader Mike Bird stick the … Continue reading

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

Your local council needs you (via The Plastic Hippo)

The Plastic Hippo has written an excoriating post about Walsall Council’s risible ‘Online Budget Simulator’ game, a wheedling, cynical little piece of propaganda aimed at convincing us all there’s no alternative to the menu of cuts, decimation and hard cheese … Continue reading

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

Hard Times

    Walsall Council leader Mike ‘Blofeld’ Bird, Councillor for Pheasey Park Farm, has been around Walsall politics for a very long time. Over the years, I’ve become inured to the utter absurdity of many of the things he says. … 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Market stalling?

I noted with interest today that a whole slew of new documentation had appeared online under the planning application for the new Tesco store, slated to be developed in Brownhills in the next couple of years. Regulars and locals alike … 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Birmingham Mail – Tesco abandons plans to pull down a senior citizens’ club

Noticed this article today on the excellent Walsall news site, The YamYam – for once it seems the Birmingham Mail (no longer ‘evening’ you’ll note) have stolen a bit of a march on the Express & Star. It’s a two-page … 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Knaves Court extra care development open day

I’ve had a great mail from Matthew Fraser, Acting Senior Care Officer at the St. James Resource Centre, Brownhills. Matthew wanted to alert readers of the Brownhills Blog that the new extra care facility, Knaves Court will be holding a … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local politics, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Incurable sickness

I note from tonight’s Express & Star headline piece, that Walsall Council is still failing to ensure the care, safety and wellbeing of the most vulnerable members of our society. Despite reassurances that all was improving, and that we should … Continue reading

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

Arsonists required: please apply within

Over at the PigBlog, the Stymaster has done it again. He’s posted a restrained, beautifuly controlled rant about the fate of historic buildings in Walsall, and their propensity to spontaneously combust. The scandal over the handling of the former Methodist … Continue reading

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

Chasewater Dam: Silence isn’t golden

A number of sites have now announced that work is due to start on the dam at the beginning of October. The story broke first on The Chasewater Wildlife Goup’s site, closely followed by The Lichfield Blog and then, finally, … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Brownhills Market – is it the silly season already?

I’m not sure what’s going on here yet, until I’ve done a bit more research, but according to the Express & Star, Walsall Council are currently looking for commercial tenders to run Brownhills Market for ‘a maximum’ of two years. … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Payne Barrier

Please excuse me a little indulgence today. I’m going to break away from the usual stuff I do and talk a bit about blogging and freedom of speech, because something has happened in the local blog community that’s really irritated … Continue reading

Posted in Bad Science, Events, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The ingratitude. Whose town is this, anyway?

The saga of the proposed Tesco development in Brownhills rumbles on. Both Walsall Council and Tesco seem to be very keen to reassure us all that negotiations are ongoing, that everything is being ironed out and smoothed over. Fresh from … 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Bumbledom humbug

They certainly don’t like it up ’em, as Corporal Jones used to say. I noted with some amusement, but mostly disgust, that since the Express & Star was now taking it’s crusade against all things public-sector to publishing local authority … 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Sense may yet prevail

I’ve been sent some very good news from the fight to save Brownhills Senior Citizens Centre, which as regulars will know has been threatened by the planned new Tesco development in the town. The well-loved and extensively used facility is pencilled … Continue reading

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

The Walsall Council reality distortion field

First up, sorry for the lack of updates this week, work has kept me away from the blog, a situation that will be resolved soon. However, in the course of my web browsing recently, there have been a few gems … Continue reading

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

Disgusted of Darlaston

Unless you’ve been living under a rock recently, you’ll be aware of the media hysteria over the windows at Darlaston swimming pool, which our masters in the press would have us believe were blacked out in an attempt to placate … Continue reading

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

Are you sitting comfortably? (via The Plastic Hippo)

The Plastic Hippo holds his anemometer up to the cold wind currently blowing through education in Walsall. It’s like the early eighties, all over again. Then I will begin. Once upon a time in a land far, far away, someone … Continue reading

Posted in Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cutting through the bullshit

I just thought I’d point up an excellent post on the Pigblog by regular Brownhills Blog reader and commentator, The Stymaster. Just lately, there’s been a publicity push underway on Walsall’s ill-fated Gigaport project, which has led to some astonishment … Continue reading

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

Brownhills Tesco development featured on ‘The Stirrer’

Adrian Goldberg’s ‘The Stirrer’ – a great hyperlocal and forum for Birmingham and the Black Country – have today featured the plight of the Senior Citizen’s Day Centre, soon to be lost under the asphalt of the new Tesco development’s car park. … Continue reading

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

It’s been a funny old year

I’ve been debating whether to mention this or not, but I guess I ought to really, The Brownhills Blog was a year old last week. To be perfectly honest, I’m quite surprised it survived the first couple of months, and … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Environment, Followups, Local History, Local media, Local politics, planning, Reader enquiries, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Vote, vote, vote.

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

Rent asunder

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

I don’t mean to carp, but…

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

Reality bites

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

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

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

Chasewater – the only victim seems to be the truth

Chasewater, the dam, the dead fish. It’s all going a bit mad right now. I was alerted a couple of nights ago by [Swan-pig] that the dead-fish story had been recycled by the Burntwood Post, which I have been trying … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Fiddler’s Folly

Sent to the blog yesterday by the excellent [Godfrey Oakparkrunner], I here present the flyer for the sculpture unveiling binge set to take place in the Wood in a couple of weeks. My views on this hideous waste of regeneration … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Gone, but not forgotten…

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

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

Am I missing something here?

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

Another cracking article by the Plastic Hippo…

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

The irony is delicious

Drawn to my attention by Radio 4’s ‘Now Show‘ comedian and musician Mitch Benn via his twatter feed, I bring you this screenshot from The Sun’s website. It speaks for itself.

Posted in Followups, Just plain daft, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Walsall Council issues statement about Remembrance Day parking tickets

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

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

I have little to add, but…

Regular readers with sharp minds may remember that way back in August, I took umbrage at Express & Star columnist Peter Rhodes, following his smug, snide snipe about all this ‘new’ citizen journalism not being as diligent and honourable as … Continue reading

Posted in Bad Science, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Trucking absurd

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.

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

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

Sneyd Community School – Lessons from History on TheYamYam

Anyone who’s been following the Sneyd School saga really should read this excellent piece by the YamYam. Biting, uncompromising and brutally accurate, this article points toward the unfortunate future of education in Walsall. Comment: Sneyd Community School – Lessons from … Continue reading

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

Train in vain?

It’s been a long time since the settlements of Pelsall and Brownhills had a passenger rail link. When I was a child in the seventies, I remember watching freight trains rumble down the line that ran through the town, carrying … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local politics, planning, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

While I’ve been otherwise engaged…

It’s been a bit busy for me in the past week, so the blog has languished for the want of an article over the weekend. Sorry about that, there’s some good stuff lined up for the next few days. Sometimes … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local politics, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

YamYam comment: Walsall education is not a business…

Heads up, everyone – excellent comment piece here from the YamYam, about the underhand, undemocratic and unnecessary closure of Sneyd School. If you’re a reader from Brownhills, you may wonder why this is relevant to you, but these people run … Continue reading

Posted in It makes me mad!, Local politics, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Is it me?

I’m having a little trouble adjusting my horizontal hold today. Everything seems to be a little out of line, just a tad asynchronous or maybe even a bit disjointed. At times like this you need the stability of the normal, … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local politics, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Peter Francis replies to council leader’s conjecture.

Following the previous article today on the Express & Star website which I blogged about here, Peter Francis has replied to the veiled implication by Mike Bird, that the former Head of Programme Management was in some way responsible for … Continue reading

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

Whistleblower in row over EU cash crisis : Express & Star

That’s all right, then. According to a report in the Express & Star, Mike Bird has decided it was all that other blokes fault. How joyously convenient. Whistleblower in row over EU cash crisis : Express & Star. S’funny, you … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments