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Tag Archives: Vandalism
It’s time to let go…
I suspect this post will meet with some derision or controversy, but I’ve been mulling it over for four or five months now, and the issue has just come to the fore again. A very short article in this week’s … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged apartments, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Derelict, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, flats, Local History, Local politics, MacWarreners, madonalds, Ogley Road, Panoramio, planning, Pubs, Redevelopment, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Warreners Arms
11 Comments
Chasewater road closure – get your voice heard
Here’s a rather important one I missed. A couple of days ago, top chap Andy Dennis sent me the below photo, of the legal Traffic Prohibition Order posted on site at Pool Lane, Chasewater. You’ll remember that there’s been some … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Andy Dennis, anglers, Anglesey Basin, angling, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Closure, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, fishing, Local politics, New Photos, permanent, planning, Pool Road, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Road Traffic Regulation, roadblock, Silly, Site Notice, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Wildlife
7 Comments
Evil scum
I see from an article on the Express & Star website that a cycle charity in Wolverhampton. The Bike Shed, based at Bradmore Recreation Ground, had their premises broken into and five bikes and workshop tools stolen some time last … Continue reading
Posted in cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged break in, Burglary, charity, crime, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, local blogs, stolen bikes, The Bike Shed, Twitter, Vandalism
6 Comments
Stirling Moss
I’ve a puzzler for readers of The Brownhills Blog. It’s more of a clarification, really. Top local history ferret [Howmuch?] has been rootling throughout he archives again, and came up with this snippet from the Walsall Observer. I’ve transcribed it … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, Derelict, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Memories of old Brownhills by Clarice Mayo and Geoff Harrington, Moss Pits, pumping station, Replacement, Staffordshire, Steam pump, Vandalism, Walsall Observer, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
Chasewater: The whining continues
I note from local news services including Licfield Live, the Express and Star and local free sheets that local councillors in Chasewtown and Burntwood are still attempting to make lame political points out of the closure of the dam road … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged anglers, Anglesey Basin, angling, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Closure, Cycle rides, cycling, Eric Drinkwater, Express & Star, fishing, Local politics, permanent, planning, Pool Road, Redevelopment, Reservoir, roadblock, Silly, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Wildlife
14 Comments
Road to nowhere
In a week when our local rag is trying to convince us that it’s still indispensable and the most trusted source for news in the area, this fine example of the local newshound’s art caught my eye. Yet again, the … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Closure, Cycle rides, cycling, Eric Drinkwater, Express & Star, GR Thompson, Local politics, permanent, planning, Pool Road, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Wildlife
1 Comment
Plover drive
This is an important request from Graham Evans and Chasewater Wildlife Group. Conservationists and birders are very concerned at the moment about the safety of a delicate little ground-nesting bird that’s taken residence at Chasewater. Little Ringed Plovers are quite … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged birding, birs, Brownhills, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Cycle rides, cycling, Graham Evans, Little Ringed Plover, local blogs, rare birds, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Warning Signs, Wildlife
3 Comments
Poisoning the well?
There’s something odd going on at the moment, that I’d like to get to the bottom of. I’ve now seen four separate instances of the incorrect assertion that the Senior Citizen’s protest stopped the Brownhills Tesco Redevelopment. The first was … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Brownhills OAP's, Brownhills pensioners, Brownhills Senior Citizens Club, Cheap tat, Derelict, Express & Star, John Goulding, Letter, Local politics, Mike Bird, Petition, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Regeneration, Silly, Tesco, Tesco Development, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
3 Comments
Where have all the flowers gone?
I know i’ve covered this on my 365daysofbiking Tumblr journal, but this issue deserves as wide an audience as possible. On my way through Shelfield this morning, I noticed that Walsall Council had been mowing the grass verges along the … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, News, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged blind, Cycle rides, cycling, daffodils, destroyed, grass cut, greepspace, Mow, mown, New Photos, Panoramio, Shelfield, Silly, Vandalism, verge, Walsall, Walsall Council, Wildlife
11 Comments
Never let the facts get in the way of a good rant
The local press is proving a rich seam of content at the moment here on the Brownhills Blog, and I really wanted to resist raiding yet another reader’s letter from yet another op-ed page. However, this one is so unbelievably … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, 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 Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Brownhills OAP's, Brownhills pensioners, Brownhills Senior Citizens Club, Cheap tat, Derelict, Express & Star, John Goulding, Letter, Local politics, Mike Bird, Petition, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Regeneration, Silly, Tesco, Tesco Development, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
6 Comments
Information sought on Shire Oak car vandalism incident
I was contacted yesterday by reader Mitch Battison, who relayed news of a nasty act of vandalism on the Chester road at Shire Oak on Friday, the 20th April 2012. It seems that at 10:33pm, a white BMW 1 series … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Blacked Out Windows, BMW 1 series, Brownhills, Car Attack, CCTV, Chester Road, crime, Mitch Battison, Police, Shire Oak, Vandalism, West Midlands
1 Comment
I see the idiots are out again
It seems a bit moot now, but bear in mind when the cold snap ends, the commons and heaths will still be tinderbox-dry underneath. I noticed that this winter, the grass fires continued right through the season. Please, if you … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Common, Express & Star, Fire, Grass fire, grassfire, heath, Vandalism, Wildlife
1 Comment
Some folk want shooting
Wildlife lover and friend of the Brownhills Blog Sarah Brooks has been in touch and asked me to feature this grizzly and shocking find on the blog. I’m glad to do so, as the mindless, destructive scum who shoot wildlife … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Aldridge, Chasewater, Chasewater Wildlife Group, gunshot, hunting, New Photos, Police, RSPB, Sarah Brookes, shooting, shot, Snipe, Twitter, Vandalism, Wildlife
2 Comments
I heard it on the radio
BBC Radio WM’s Phil Upton Breakfast Show for Monday, 5th March 2012 featured the ongoing saga of Brownhills and Tesco, asking the question as to why the retail giant can’t seem to be bothered to undertake the redevelopment it promised … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Acropolis, Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Cafe, Cheap tat, Derelict, Doreen Gent, Express & Star, Local politics, Mike Bird, Phil Upton, planning, Politics, Radio WM, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Silly, Tesco, Tesco Development, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
8 Comments
Tesco: have they given up on Brownhills?
I notice from an article in the Express & Star that Tesco appear to be getting cold feet on their plan for a new store for Brownhills. This is grim news, but I’m not surprised, and have been sensing all … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Cheap tat, Derelict, Express & Star, Local politics, Mike Bird, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Silly, Tesco, Tesco Development, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
24 Comments
Sink estate?
Here’s an interesting one turfed out by local history genius [Howmuch?], who’s still raiding the box under his sideboard for interesting clippings from local papers. The man really is a history magpie and a bit of a star. This extract … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Castlefornt, Derelict, Fort Crescent, Fred Burt, Howmuch, Local History, Local politics, mine, mining, mining damage, Subsidence, subsidence damage, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Committee, Walsall Observer, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
I have nothing further to add. I’m ashamed to live in a country that does this while the people who caused the crisis walk away.
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media
Tagged benefits, Lib Dems, Liberal Democrats, local blogs, Local politics, Politics, shame, Silly, Social Services, The Plastic Hippo, Vandalism, welfare reform bill
3 Comments
Anyone know anything about these Cannock Chase offroaders?
Abraham’s Valley, Cannock Chase. 3:50pm, Saturday, 7th January 2012. I’m sure there must be a perfectly innocent explanation for this. Two vehicles, driving off-road, up Abraham’s Valley on the Chase toward Rifle Range Corner. I have never, ever seen private vehicles … Continue reading
Posted in Cannock Chase, cycling, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Wildlife
Tagged 4WD, Abraham's Valley, bike cam, Cannock Chase, Cycle rides, cycling, forest, illegal, off road, offloading, Rangers, Rifle Range Corner, Staffordshire, Vandalism, vehicles, Wildlife
4 Comments
Illegal offroading tackled on Brownhills Common
Thanks to the wonderful Kate Goodall at Walsall Council, I’m finally able to heap my praise on the people who’s been gradually improving the anti-vehicle barriers on the old railway line at Engine Lane, Brownhills. That area of the common … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged 4WD, Brownhills, Brownhills common, Chasewater, Clayhanger, Cycle rides, Engine Lane, four wheel drive, green laning, Illegal offroading, Illegal scrambling, mini moto, Off roading, offroading, Police, quad bikes, Scambling, Social media, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, West Midlands Police, Wildlife
10 Comments
Kids today, eh?
I had a lovely email from Kate nestled in her voluminous, warm cardigan over at Lichfield Lore today. Here’s what she had to say: Hi Bob I’ve been so busy busybodying that I forgot to tell you about this snippet … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Alfred Craddock, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Kate, Lichfield Lore, local blogs, Local History, probation, Silly, Staffordshire, The Dead End Kids, Thomas William Booth, Vandalism
1 Comment
Brownhills Big Tidy Up
Brownhills Town Centre Partnership have been in touch and asked me to promote the first Brownhills Big Tidy Up, which seems like a decent event. Brownhills is always in need of some serious TLC, and as I pointed out yesterday, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Browhills Town Centre Partnership, Brownhills, Brownhills Big Tidy Up, Community Payback Team, Facebook, Local politics, planning, Princes Trust, Ravens Court, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall politics
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Clayhanger Common fire: damage not too bad
I meant to post these Yesterday. Taken on Tuesday evening, these low-quality pictures show the damage from the scrub fire on Monday Night, which was spotted and reported to the blog by top reader Rachel Gosling. It seems that the … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged antisocial behaviour, ASB, Brownhills, Canal, Clayhanger, Clayhanger Common, Cycle rides, cycling, Facebook, Fire, litter, New Photos, Panoramio, Rachel Gosling, reader contributions, scrub fire, Silly, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Wildlife
2 Comments
Scrub fire in Brownhills earlier this evening?
Rachel Gosling, top reader and friend of the Brownhills Blog tonight posted these dramatic pictures on Facebook, which she’s kindly allowed me to share here. It seems that there’s been quite a severe fire in the scrub on Clayhanger Common, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Canal, Clayhanger, Clayhanger Common, Facebook, Fire, Grass fire, local blogs, New Photos, pedestrian bridge, Pier Street, Rachel Gosling, scrub fire, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Wildlife
3 Comments
Chasewater: Plugging away
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of days, you’ve probably noticed a host of stories about the ‘plug being put back in at Chasewater’ and a lot of self-congratulatory claptrap from the dam team, largely … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged BBC, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, culvert, Cycle rides, cycling, Express & Star, Graham Evans, local blogs, Local politics, New Photos, planning, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Wildlife
2 Comments
The madness of King Bird
If I’m honest, the world-weary citizens of Walsall long ago tired of local politics. Voter turnouts are low at local elections, and fed up of never really seeing any improvements in their local areas despite years of multi-whatever committees, LNP’s, … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Cheap tat, Conservative, Derelict, Express & Star, King Bird, Labour, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, Tim Oliver, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
18 Comments
On borrowed time…
Since there’s been a welcome focus on the treatment of our local architectural heritage in the days since the Jabez Cliff fire in Walsall, I thought I’d once again delve into the urban exploration community and their activities in Walsall. … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Express & Star, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 28dayslater, arson, BOAK, Cheap tat, civic failure, Derelict, Dweeb, Express & Star, Fire, Guardians office, Jabez Cliff, Leatherworks, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Mellish Road church, Mike Bird, New Photos, planning, Politics, Ravenscraig, Redevelopment, rookinella, Silly, urban exploration, Urbex, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Union, Workhouse
10 Comments
Hide and seek
This week, we lost another historic building to a fire in Walsall. I covered the event here. on my 365daysofbiking Tumblr and one of the side effects on YouTube. The Stymaster lamented it, as did the Hippo. Today, there’s a … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, 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 Andy Dennis, arson, donebythehandsofabrokenartist, Express & Star, Fire, Flicker, heritage, Hev Ince, Imran Azam, Indy 500, Jabez Cliff, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, old buildings, Pigblog, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Shannon's Mill, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, The Stymaster, Twitter, Urbex, Vandalism, VERY URGENT photography, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
18 Comments
Medium rare (via The Plastic Hippo)
This evening, I was planning to write on the subject of the terrible fire at the former Jabez Cliff works (indeed, I mentioned it on my 365daysofcycling mini-blog) but the Plastic Hippo has once again beaten my tardy arse to it, and … Continue reading
Posted in cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged arson, Cycle rides, Derelict, Express & Star, Fire, heritage, Jabez Cliff, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, old buildings, Pigblog, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Shannon's Mill, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, The Stymaster, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
7 Comments
Chasewater: closer now than yesterday
It’s nice to see that now there’s some decent management of the Chasewater dam works that the project seems to be heading towards completion. I recorded a few weeks ago that the works had clearly been reassessed, and now it … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, causeway, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Cheap tat, coffer dam, culvert, Cycle rides, Filter, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, piling, planning, Politics, Railway, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Staffordshire County Council, Vandalism, Wildlife
4 Comments
Another former pub goes up in smoke
After reporting the thankfully apparently minor fire that occurred at the long-closed Rising Sun pub in Brownhills West on Friday, 5th August 2011, it seems that conflagration in former hostelries is contagious. The following Sunday, 7th August 2011, the old … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged A5, arson, Brownhills, Cheap tat, closed pubs, Derelict, Express & Star, Fire, Fleur de lys, Local History, New Photos, Old pubs, Pubs, Restaurant, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Water Margin, Watling Street
2 Comments
Rising Sun: damage not as bad as suspected
Just took a spin out up to the Rising Sun to check out the damage. Despite the grim tone of the original article, superficially there’s little outward evidence of serious structural damage. Might be worse at the back; I didn’t … Continue reading
The sun sets on another pub
So, farewell then, to the Rising Sun. It appears that on Friday night idiots broke into the old, derelict pub and started a fire that caused considerable damage. Yet again it appears a piece of our collective history has fallen … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged arson, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills West, Derelict, Express & Star, Fire, Local History, New Photos, Pubs, Redevelopment, Rising Sun, Silly, smoking ban, Vandalism
25 Comments
Ryders Mere fishery plan withdrawn
Spotted a couple of days ago on Chaz Mason’s excellent Clayhanger Marsh Log, and from a comment this morning by reader Tim, it seams the application to convert peaceful wildlife haven Ryders Mere into a commercial fishing venue has been … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Environment, Followups, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged birding, Brownhills, Chaz Mason, Clayhanger, Clayhanger Marsh Log, Commercial Angling, local blogs, Local politics, Local Wildlife, Parkhill Estates, planning, Railswood, Redevelopment, Ryders Hayes, Ryders Hayes Lane, Ryders Mere, Silly, SSSI, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Wildlife, withdrawn application
13 Comments
Chasewater – progress at last
Last Friday evening, I swung out to Chasewater to check out how the dam works were progressing. Things seem to be underway again after a pause for reassessment, and many elements of Lichfield District Council’s plans seem to have been … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, causeway, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Cheap tat, coffer dam, culvert, Cycle rides, Filter, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Neil Turner, New Photos, Panoramio, piling, planning, Politics, Railway, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Staffordshire County Council, Vandalism, Wildlife
1 Comment
The graduate – Part one (via The Plastic Hippo)
The Plastic Hippo has turned out one of his best posts yet, and that’s saying something. This is pointed, prescient and precise. I have yet to meet anyone at all in the field of education who thinks that Gove is … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Conservative, Education, history, local blogs, Local politics, Michael Gove, Politics, rights, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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Heads in the sand?
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 Brownhills, Brownhills High Street, Brownhills traders, Derelict, Facebook, littler, local blogs, Local politics, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, rubbish, Social media, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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Single status (via The Plastic Hippo)
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 Chris Towe, Education, finacial crisis, law, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Plastic Hippo, Politics, rights, Silly, single status, The Plastic Hippo, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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Can you identify these lads?
Just received this press release from Walsall Police. Burglary, thankfully, isn’t a terribly common crime in Brownhills, so lets see if we can keep it this way. We’re clearly not dealing with the sharpest arrows in the quiver, so these … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Albion Road, break in, Brownhills, burglars, Burglary, computer theft, crime, local crime, New Photos, Police, Silly, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Police
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Sister Dora’s first live gig in 130 years
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 Brownhills Market, Cheap tat, Downtown, Funny, Local politics, Mike Bird, Petula Clark, Silly, Sister Dora, Sister Dora live gig, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall_CounciI
6 Comments
Some good news for once
Another press release from Jo Hunt at West Midlands Police. Whilst the mobility scooter thieves who struck in Brownhills last week have yet to have their collars felt, it’s nice to note that there are some remarkably kind and generous … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, crime, Crimestoppers, Express & Star, Fourth Avenue, Jo Hunt, John Richardson, Mobility scooter theft, PC Julie Armstrong, Police appeal, scooter, Stolen, Theft, Vandalism, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
1 Comment
Police target Brownhills offroaders
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 4WD, Brownhills, Brownhills common, Chasewater, Clayhanger, Cycle rides, Engine Lane, four wheel drive, green laning, Illegal offroading, Illegal scrambling, Jo Hunt, mini moto, New Photos, Off roading, offroading, Police, quad bikes, Scambling, Social media, Supt Keith Fraser, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, West Midlands Police, Wildlife
6 Comments
Scumbags yet to be caught…
It was good to see that on Friday, the Express & Star and subsequently the Birmingham Mail caught up with the awful story of the mobility scooter being stolen from Brownhills. The commonality of the language used in both articles … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Birmingham Mail, Brownhills, crime, Crimestoppers, Elizabeth Joyce, Express & Star, Fourth Avenue, John Richardson, Mobility scooter theft, PC Julie Armstrong, Police appeal, scooter, Stolen, Theft, Vandalism, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
1 Comment
A duty to the derelict
I thought we’d have a change for this week’s pictures from the past feature. I’ve long had an interest in urbex, or urban exploration – there are links to some of my favourite urbex sites in the sidebar – but … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 28dayslater, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chedd, Clay pit, Deakin Avenue, Derelict, Dweeb, Edward Rose, local blogs, Local History, Maisonettes, mechanised, Midlands Heritage, New Photos, Pelsall Road, Potters Clay and Coal, Redevelopment, Simon Cornwell, Swan Works, urban exploration, Urbex, urbex uk, urbex|uk, Vandalism, Wagon Automotive, Walsall Council
6 Comments
Lower than a snake’s knees…
I’ve received another press release from Jo Hunt at West Midlands Police, and this one beggars belief. I don’t know what kind of people steal a mobility scooter, but someone must have seen something. Please think back and try and … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, crime, Fourth Avenue, Mobility scooter theft, PC Julie Armstrong, Police appeal, scooter, Stolen, Theft, Vandalism, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
13 Comments
Electile Dysfunction
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 AV referendum, ballot, Brownhills, David Cameron, Democratic process, Express & Star, local blogs, Local Elections, Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, Silly, Social Services, Tesco, Tesco Development, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
11 Comments
Time and tide (via The Plastic Hippo)
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 David Cameron, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, The YamYam, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
1 Comment
Sunday evening grass fire at Chasewater
It seems like the muppets are out in force again. After a spell of dry weather, it looks like the heath fire season has started. As I came through Chasewater tonight at about 8:15pm, I smelled smoke, so took a … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater fire, Cycle rides, fire sevice, Grass fire, Heath Fre, New Photos, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Wildlife
1 Comment
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