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Tag Archives: Walsall politics
Cautionary tale from The Guardian – ‘This town has been sold to Tesco’
A fascinating, grim article in The Guardian newspaper by Anna Minton. Recommended reading for anyone interested in the way Brownhills is being carved up for the retail behemoth. ‘This town has been sold to Tesco’ – Are towns built by the … 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 Anna Minton, Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Derelict, Express & Star, Local politics, planning, Redevelopment, Tesco, Tesco Development, The Guardian, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
2 Comments
Railroad wagon
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 Brownhills, Brownhills new council depot, Councillor Mike Flower, Derelict, Express & Star, Local politics, Marcity, Mike Bird, Norfolk Place, Pelsall Road, planning, Redevelopment, The YamYam, Wagon Automotive, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Council Depot, Walsall politics
7 Comments
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 Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Catshill Junction, Express & Star, Fisherman sculpture, John Carless, Local History, Local politics, Morris miner, New Photos, Politics, Sister Dora, the Brownhills Miner, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood sculpture
5 Comments
Reporting potholes
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 Bad workmanship, Brownhills, Cheap tat, fixmystreet, Local politics, potholes, Reporting potholes, road repairs, Shire Oak, Silly, Tarmac, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Wlasall Potholes
1 Comment
Not fixin’ a hole
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 Bad workmanship, Brownhills, Cheap tat, Local politics, potholes, road repairs, Shire Oak, Silly, Tarmac, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Wlasall Potholes
4 Comments
The song remains the same
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 Brownhills, Brownhills Council, Brownhills local history, Brownhills roads, Cheap tat, fixmystreet, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, potholes, road repairs, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Observer 1921, Walsall politics, Walsall Potholes
8 Comments
You can’t polish a turd
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 Brownhills, Cheap tat, Derelict, New Photos, planning, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Silly, Tesco, Tesco Development, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
6 Comments
All that remains
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 Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Deaking Avenue, Derelict, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Redevelopment, Silver Court Gardens, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall politics, Wessex Close, Wimpey system build
3 Comments
Disastrous marketing
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 Adrian Andrew, Andrew Flavell, Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Express & Star, Express & Star letters, Letter of the day, Local politics, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
9 Comments
Fisherman’s blues
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 facade66, Fisherman sculpture, Local History, Local politics, Luke Perry, New Photos, Panoramio, Redevelopment, Silly, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
11 Comments
Don’t forget…
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 Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Councillor Mike Flower, Local History, Local politics, Pithead sculpture, planning, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Art project
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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
Supermarket sweep
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 Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Brownhills traffic, Dan Slee, Express & Star, Local politics, Redevelopment, Tesco, Tesco Aldridge, Tesco Brownhills, Tesco Development, Tesco Walsall, The YamYam, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall press release
4 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 Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Councillor Mike Flower, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, Mining memorial, Politics, Redevelopment, sculpture, Silly, Social Services, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Mining Memrial
18 Comments
Hyperinflation returns
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
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 Adult Social Care, Annie Shepperd, Care Quality Commission, Cheap tat, Council Chief Executive, Local politics, Politics, Social Services, Southwark Council, Town Hall Rich List 2008, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
2 Comments
What they’re up against
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 Derelict, Express & Star, Fly tipping, Illegal dumping, Local politics, New Photos, Pubs, Redevelopment, Refuse, Street pride, The Railway Tavern, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
1 Comment
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 Brownhills, Councillor Mike Flower, Derelict, Doug Birch, Express & Star, Fly tipping, grafitti, Litter picking, Local politics, Panoramio, Politics, Pubs, Railway Tavern Bently, rubbish, Silly, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Street Pride
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
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 Apology, Council, Express & Star, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Parking, Parking tickets, Politics, Remembrance, Remembrance Sunday, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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 Express & Star, Local politics, Mike Bird, parking fines, Politics, Rembrance Sunday, Silly, Sunday parking, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Parking, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, war veterans
5 Comments
Walsall Council issues statement about Oak Park Leisure Centre
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 Brownhills, Cannock Chase and Pelsall District Miners Charity, charity commission, Dan Slee, Express & Star, Leisure Centre, Local politics, Natalie Greenway, Oak Park, Oak Park leisure centre, Redevelopment, strategic leisure, Walsal Council Press Offfice, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
Flatlining
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 Bailey House, Brownhills, Cheap tat, Humphries House, Local politics, planning, Redevelopment, refurbishment, Severn House, Waine House, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall politics
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 Beechtree Road, Express & Star, Haulage, HGV, HGV Crime, HGV Parking, Local politics, Lorry crime, Lorry Parking, Mike Bird, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Lorry Park, Walsall Wood Regeneration
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 Brownhills, Councillor Mike Flower, Express & Star, Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
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
Under developed?
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
Everyone act normal – they’re watching!
I don’t really know how much of the reader comment that is contributed to Brownhills Blog is read by my regular readers, but I receive a steady stream of interesting, supportive and often very witty feedback. I’ve written an eye-watering … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Local media, Local politics, planning, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills bypass, Doug Birch, Express & Star, Local politics, planning, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Tesco, Tesco Development, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
4 Comments
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
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 Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills railway, Brownhills station, Derelict, Express & Star, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Pelsall, Pelsall Railway, Pelsall station, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, South Staffordshire railway, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Wlasall to Lichfield railway
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 Bloxidge Tallygraph, Bob Piper, Brownhills local history, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Ring Road, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
4 Comments
Reports of our death may have been a little premature…
I’m genuinely pleased to see the news that Walsall Council has saved Brownhills market – at least for now, anyway. Last week I noticed workmen erecting anti-vehicle barriers on the former site and feared the worst – only the pressure of … Continue reading
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
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 Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Doug Birch, Express & Star, Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, Silly, Social Services, Tesco, Tesco Development, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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
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
An apology: looks like I got it wrong!
To my absolute disgust and horror, whilst browsing the local news on the YamYam, I came upon a story from the Express and Star[1] about the top earners at Walsall Council. I was not horrified by the salaries – I … Continue reading
Lost property: can you help?
Have you noticed a tatty Tesco carrier bag containing boring paperwork just lying around? Have you perchance found a shoebox containing a shedload of handwritten dockets? Is there a consignment of chitties clogging your front gate? If so, you could … Continue reading
It’s gone all touchy-feely over at Walsall Council
Things are seemingly a bit odd up at the council of late – the change of leadership seems to have caused an outbreak of cognitive dissonance amongst the minions of the ruling Tory group. Some time ago, they were busy … Continue reading
Posted in Local politics, Walsall Council
Tagged Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
4 Comments
Strange days indeed
Sometimes, you think you know the course a series of events are going to take. Sometimes you’re so confident, that when fate takes a hand and completely rearranges the furniture, you can’t quite believe it. Today was like that. Fate … Continue reading
Mike Bird elected leader of Walsall Council…
Cllr Mike Flower (cllrmikeflower) on Twitter. From Mike ‘Burger Boy’ Flower’s twatter feed, Councillor Mike Bird has been elected leader of the council, with Adrian Andrew (the man responsible for the highly popular ring road expansion) as deputy… judging by … Continue reading
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