Two men were taken to hospital after a house fire in Bloxwich last night which destroyed a property and spread to neighbouring properties Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Residents spoke of their shock today after the fire, at a property in Shrewsbury Close on the Mossley Estate in Bloxwich which happened around 9.15pm on Monday night A number were evacuated after the blaze, which spread to neighbouring properties - Walsall Council housed some overnight and others took shelter in nearby St Thomas' Church. Ten crews comprising over 60 firefighters fought the blaze last night - one remained on scene this morning (Tuesday) along with investigators. The neighbour living next door to the house which caught fire, who didn't want to be named, said he was walking back to the property after taking his wife to work when the house 'exploded,' sending debris towards him. He said: "It was very dramatic I saw two people running from the property but it has caused extensive damage to our property as well and Walsall Council were really good in arranging overnight accommodation. I'm not sure what is going to happen now." Donna Titley, the church warden at St Thomas' on the adjacent Cresswell Crescent said her and the team were cleaning on Monday night when they heard a 'massive bang' and came out to see a 'scene of devastation,' She said: "There was obviously a lot of people had come out of their homes and they were in shock. Not to mention the people on the row of houses which were damaged, "We kept the church door open for them and anyone who wanted to get a break or a cup of tea and didn't leave there until 2am. I just hope everyone is safe and well and my heart goes out to all those affected." This morning, a fire crew remained on site with an investigation continuing, along with police officers and staff from Walsall Council who are continuing to support residents. A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We were called following a fire at an address in Shrewsbury Close, Bloxwich, at around 9.30pm yesterday (Monday). "Two men were later found in Willenhall with burn injuries. They were taken to hospital where they remain. "We are working alongside fire service investigators to establish the cause of the blaze." A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 9.28pm to Shrewsbury Close following reports of an explosion and sent an ambulance, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic and the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene.  “On arrival, crews found one man who did not wish to be assessed and was discharged at the scene. “We received a second call at 11.31pm to Lower Lichfield Street in Willenhall. “Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic were sent to the scene. “On arrival, crews found two men who had suffered burn injuries. “The first had suffered critical injuries and, following advanced trauma care from medics, was conveyed under emergency conditions to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with MERIT travelling on board to continue treatment en route. “Ambulance staff treated the second man for serious injuries before conveying him to the same hospital.” Ten West Midlands Fire Service crews respond following multiple 999 calls At 9.26pm on Monday 28 April, Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control started to receive multiple 999 calls reporting an incident in Shrewsbury Close, Bloxwich. Nine fire crews, our Technical Rescue Unit, a hydraulic aerial platform and a drone were mobilised. Our first resources arrived within five minutes of being mobilised. They were met with a challenging scene – a severe fire involving an extensively damaged two-storey, mid-terraced house. The fire had also affected neighbouring properties. Several residents had got themselves to safety before we arrived, and others were evacuated by emergency services as a precaution. Firefighters led one man to safety from a property. He is understood to have been assessed and discharged at the scene by the ambulance service. A local church provided shelter, and volunteers from the Red Cross also offered support. Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels and main jets to tackle the fire, which had been extinguished by around 11pm. Colleagues from the police also attended, as well as the council and utility companies. We expect to have a presence at the scene throughout the night. Our investigators will be working to establish the cause. We would like to thank local people for their patience and understanding as we continue our work at the scene. No hotspots or signs of fire have been identified since the early hours of the morning. A drone has been flown to confirm this. We continue to work alongside police colleagues to establish the cause of the fire. To provide the best experience on our website, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these cookies and software will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour, preferences or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Two men are in hospital with serious burns after reports of an 'explosion' at a house in Walsall West Midlands Fire and Ambulance services were called to the house in Bloxwich at around 9:30pm last night after multiple reports of a fire Two men were found with burns, one was in a critical condition, and both men received treatment at the scene and were taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham One of the men is now in a "life-threatening condition" in hospital The 'severe fire' also caused extensive damage to a two-storey house and affected neighbouring properties Other people living in the area were taken to safety by emergency services Ten fire engines and approximately 65 firefighters extinguished the fire by 11pm A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “On arrival crews found one man who did not wish to be assessed and was discharged at the scene “We received a second call at 11.31 pm to Lower Lichfield Street in Willenhall and a critical care paramedic were sent to the scene crews found two men who had suffered burn injuries “The first had suffered critical injuries and following advanced trauma care from medics was conveyed under emergency conditions to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with MERIT travelling on board to continue treatment en route A West Midlands Fire Service spokesperson said: "Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels and main jets to tackle the fire which had been extinguished by around 11 pm "Colleagues from the police also attended as well as the council and utility companies "Our investigators will be working to establish the cause." were met with a “challenging scene – a severe fire involving an extensively damaged two-storey The fire had also affected neighbouring properties and crews led one man to safety A spokesman for West Midlands Police said the two men found in Willenhall remain in hospital “We are working alongside fire service investigators to establish the cause of the blaze,” the spokesman said Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. Your feedback helps us to improve our website Here is a general overview containing information about Walsall Council’s opening hours and specific details on its leisure The main council offices will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.  If you need to report any urgent issues on public land or highways within Walsall whilst the council is closed please call 01922 650000 and you will be transferred to the council’s out of hours team If you require urgent help or advice in relation to children and young people please contact: 0300 555 2922.For Adult Social Care or homelessness support please contact: 0300 555 2836Walsall Leisure Facilities Oak Park and Bloxwich Active Living Centres are open on Good Friday and Easter Monday.  Darlaston and Walsall Gala Swimming and Fitness Centres are closed during the bank holidays Residents with Walsall gym memberships are welcome to use the facilities at Bloxwich or Oak Park Active Living Centres on these specified days as an alternative For more information, visit this link: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/sport-and-leisure The following opening and closure times apply to the council’s libraries in Aldridge Household waste collections are scheduled to proceed as normal on Good Friday and Easter Monday and there will be no changes to grey, green and brown bin collections over the Easter holiday. To check your collection schedule, you can use the postcode finder to check your collection dates.  There will be no change to bin collections for commercial waste customers Please ensure your bin is available for collection  Over the holiday period both sites will be very busy Please use our ‘View the Queue’ camera to check before you visit Fryers Road Household Waste Recycling Centre: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/bins/find-household-waste-recycling-centres-tips/fryers-road-household-waste-recycling-centre  Merchants Way Household Waste Recycling Centre: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/bins/find-household-waste-recycling-centres-tips/merchants-household-waste-recycling-centre  Residents are reminded to bring proof of being a Walsall resident when visiting either of the HWRCs The HWRCs do not accept commercial (business) waste The Walsall Arboretum café and visitor centre will be open as usual during the Easter bank holiday weekend from 9am to 3pm.  Proud of our past our present and for our future Shocking footage shows the moment a house was destroyed by a massive explosion Debris can be see being sent scattered across the street and a grass verge after a house exploded CCTV (click to play above) shows the impact of the blast and the immediate aftermath as flames tore through the two storey mid-terraced property Two men were captured on camera fleeing the scene on Shrewsbury Close in Bloxwich as concerned neighbours gathered outside in the street Emergency services were called to the scene at around 9.30pm  on Monday night and 65 firefighters battled to extinguish the blaze Paramedics were called two hours later to Lower Lichfield Street three miles away and found two men with serious burns The first man had suffered critical injuries while the second was treated for serious injuries and both were taken to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital who said he rushed outside after hearing what he thought was a "bomb blast." He said: "We were in last night as a family my son was doing some university work for his dissertation "Then all of a sudden I heard what sounded like a bomb blast I knew it wasn't a normal sound so I ran outside and could see straight away these flames taking hold These two guys then ran away from the house and up the street - one was in a blue t-shirt "And then from then on it was just a case of the fire spreading and engulfing the house for about ten minutes before the fire service got here Only they will know what caused it but it all looks weird to me - for the whole of the top of the house to be destroyed like that while the downstairs is OK is not normal adding that his house has also suffered damage caused by the blast A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service said: “At 9.26pm on Monday 28 April Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control started to receive multiple 999 calls reporting an incident in Shrewsbury Close a hydraulic aerial platform and a drone were mobilised "Our first resources arrived within five minutes of being mobilised "They were met with a challenging scene – a severe fire involving an extensively damaged two-storey The fire had also affected neighbouring properties "Several residents had got themselves to safety before we arrived and others were evacuated by emergency services as a precaution "Firefighters led one man to safety from a property He is understood to have been assessed and discharged at the scene by the ambulance service and volunteers from the Red Cross also offered support "Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels and main jets to tackle the fire which had been extinguished by around 11pm "Our investigators will be working to establish the cause." will be housed in the former Bloxwich Post Office on Market Place with the building currently undergoing refurbishment The centre will offer support and training for people to increase their digital skills and employability and the first floor will also serve as a business incubator for people with a business idea they need support with or small businesses that need help to grow Free taster sessions are taking place at Bloxwich Library throughout March and April 2025. Email launchpadbloxwich@walsall.gov.uk or call 01922 650600 to book will offer support and training for people to increase their digital skills and employability skills delivered by a range of training providers and community groups to ensure that a vibrant mix of services are on offer.  Bloxwich Launchpad’s business start-up centre will support people with a business idea or small businesses who want to develop and grow It will have facilities including meeting rooms which will support entrepreneurs to boost their business.  The facilities and services available at the new Bloxwich Launchpad centre will include free internet access advice and guidance as well as business support and access to meeting rooms and co-working spaces There will even be access to 3D printing and scanning equipment and craft spaces for people with creative businesses looking to improve their skills and productivity Taster sessions will be delivered at Bloxwich Library from March 2025 All participants who attend a taster session will automatically be entered into a draw with the opportunity to win one of 6 Fujitsu High Spec Laptops or a Chrome Notebook On Wednesday 19 February, there will be a Skills and Employability Expo event taking place at Bloxwich Library where residents can find out more about the opportunities available and meet some of the providers The event will be held at Bloxwich Library from 9am – 1pm and is open to anyone who’d like to find out more West Midlands Fire fighters are still on the scene of a fire which took hold at a house in Bloxwich last night (Monday)  Alarmed residents in Bloxwich in Walsall dialled 999 as a house in Shrewsbury Close Mossley caught fire at around 9.26pm- some were evacuated by emergency services and took shelter in a nearby church The fire was extinguished by 11pm but "extensively damaged" a a two storey mid-terraced house and spread to neighbouring properties One man was led to safety by fire fighters and was assessed by the ambulance service The number 31 bus was diverted from the scene but is now following its normal line of route West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said the blaze was extinguished by 11pm as fire fighters used breathing apparatus and hose reels to contain the blaze This morning they said a crew was still on sight and they are  investigating the cause of the blaze A statement from WMFS said: “Nine fire crews “Our first resources arrived within five minutes of being mobilised They were met with a challenging scene – a severe fire involving an extensively damaged two-storey “Several residents had got themselves to safety before we arrived “Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels and main jets to tackle the fire “Our investigators will be working to establish the cause We would like to thank local people for their patience and understanding as we continue our work at the scene.” The free sessions will be held at Bloxwich Library from 15 October through to December 2024 and will provide an insight into the support and services that will be available when Bloxwich Launchpad opens its doors in Spring 2025.  The new digital access centre and business incubator will be housed in the former Bloxwich Post Office on Market Place The project is part of the Bloxwich Town Deal and has received Government Town Deal funding as part of the £25million in total that has been secured for Bloxwich Business support for entrepreneurs/start-ups/freelancers: A full timetable for October is available online Contact the Bloxwich Launchpad team on launchpadbloxwich@walsall.gov.uk or 01922 650600 for further details.  A wholesale bakery in Bloxwich is set to grow after installing a new software system part thanks to a£20,000 funding boost from grants provider Walsall Business Support is preparing for expansion after installing a management system which links up all aspects of the business the bakery provides employment for 90 people by producing traditional Polish-style bread and confectionery products for sale in 300 stores The management team at Bakery Mazowsze hope the new system will unlock new opportunities to supply leading retailers thanks to the increased transparency of the information generated Led by leading local business figures to distribute funds collected from the legacy of Walsall Chamber of Commerce Walsall Business Support delivers grants to applicants to fund for projects to enhance business life in the borough The £20,000 investment from Walsall Business Support was used to part fund the installation of the software which the business owners predict will streamline their processes and allow the bakery to operate more efficiently Company secretary Joanna Podolak said: “The installation of the new software will make a big difference to Bakery Mazowsze as the whole process will come under one system rather thanseveral set-ups which had been the biggest pain point for our operation “We will be able to meet the increased demand for traceability in baking which involves tracking ingredients and the finished product from source to consumer “We hope this investment will be a small beginning for something big as we aim to supply leading supermarkets and have a five year plan which includes meeting increased safety standards which we can do through this system “We had not previously accessed external help and were referred to Walsall Business Support by our adviser at the Walsall Business Growth West Midlands team which proved a brilliant opportunity for us I am very pleased we can bring the project to life through their support as we could not afford to do it otherwise so we would recommend other businesses approach Walsall Business Support as they can help you realise your full potential.” Walsall Business Support board member Rob Colbourne said: “We congratulate Bakery Mazowsze on the successful implementation of their new software system which will modernise their operation and help them deliver their long term growth plan We are pleased to be able to support the management team with their plans for expansion offering job creation opportunities and a sustainable strategy for growth We look forward to seeing the business achieve further success.” Walsall Business Support offers grants and a free training needs analysis to businesses looking to generate growth create employment or shape training opportunities within the borough of Walsall Bids can be submitted by businesses needing investment in a new project or a company wanting to improve skills A shop thief described as a "prolific offender" has been put behind bars after pleading guilty to multiple shop thefts in Willenhall Matthew Smith was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to four shop thefts at a convenience store on Lichfield Road between March 10 and April 27 was arrested on Darwall Street in Walsall on Monday by response and neighbourhood officers from West Midlands Police A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "A prolific shop thief has been handed a 10 week jail sentence for targeting a convenience store in Willenhall appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Tuesday (29 April) where he pleaded guilty to four shop thefts at a convenience store "The shop thefts took place between 10 March and 27 April this year "Response and neighbourhood officers arrested Smith on Darwall Street on Monday (28 April) where he was charged with the offences shortly after and remanded to appear before the courts." Sergeant Paul Smith, Willenhall neighbourhood policing manager, said: “Smith is a prolific offender who was targeting local shops and stores "He has a long history of theft related offences clearly has no regard for court orders and continues to offend "Such offending has a significant impact on our businesses and targeting shop thieves is a priority at Walsall LPA “This sentence sends out a clear message to shop thieves that if you commit shop theft crimes we will arrest you and place you before the courts and you will spend time behind bars "Combatting shop thefts is a priority at Walsall LPA and we launched Op Marigold in a bid to tackle shop thefts across the Walsall borough." For information about business crime go to Business crime prevention | West Midlands Police Two men remain in hospital and an investigation continues following a blaze in Walsall that destroyed a family home Police have said that two men remain in hospital in a 'serious condition' following a house fire on Shrewsbury Close, Bloxwich A number of people were evacuated following the blaze at around 9.15pm with some families being housed by Walsall Council overnight and some taking shelter at the nearby St Thomas' Church Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Express & Star’s free newsletter Following the incident, two men were found in Willenhall with burn injuries and were taken to hospital West Midlands Police have now said that the two men remain in hospital in a 'serious condition' and that theyare continuing to work alongside the West Midlands Fire Service to establish the cause of the blaze A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "Investigations into a fire at an address in Shrewsbury Close on Monday evening (28 April) are continuing "Two men who were taken to hospital with burn injuries remain in a serious condition in hospital We are working alongside fire service investigators to establish the cause of the blaze." A West Midlands Fire Service spokesperson added: "We continue to work alongside police colleagues to establish the cause of the fire." Following the fire, residents took the chance to raise concerns over the sudden blaze, with many saying that the community should 'come together' to help those affected I have seen some people walking around the street with bags of stuff So they can at least get some of the stuff If the church or something started a fundraiser I think a lot of people would donate items and stuff." West Midlands Police have said they are looking at the possibility that a Bloxwich house fire was drug-related Investigations into a fire that raged through a property on Shrewsbury Close, Bloxwich, are ongoing as West Midlands Police look at possible links to cannabis production West Midlands Police said that they believe the fire on Monday evening was caused by butane gas canisters that exploded in the property As well as revealing a possible source of the explosion the force also added that they are 'looking at the possibility' that the address was used to produce cannabis "We believe the fire was caused by butane gas canisters inside the property which exploded We are looking at the possibility the address was used to produce cannabis two men were discovered in Willenhall with serious burn injuries with both being taken to hospital where they remain today in a serious condition An appeal was launched following the incident with West Midlands Police asking for information surrounding the explosion The force spokesperson appealed: "Two men who were taken to hospital with burn injuries remain in a serious condition in hospital "Witnesses or anyone with any information can contact us via Live Chat on our website or call 101 quoting log number 5841-280425 call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."  The fire also damaged neighbouring properties in the area, with residents calling on the community to help the families affected Road closures are planned in Walsall as residents come together to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day to remember the lives lost during the conflict Walsall Council has listed all the road closures across the borough due to street parties taking place 12-26 Beddows Road & 15-29 Beddows Road (Arbury Grove to Rutland Street) 10am to 4pm (car park at Railway Inn car park to Victoria Road) Stewart Road (junction of Salters Road & Coronation Road) Sunday said: “I’m very proud of the fact we have waived the usual fees for road closures to help our communities mark a poignant event “VE Day is an important occasion for our nation providing us the opportunity to come together and celebrate our shared history.” A number of activities and events are taking place across the borough including a flag raising ceremony outside the Council House in Walsall at 9am on Thursday May The council has also funded or part-funded 22 VE events across the borough over the coming days Birchills Agenda 21 – VE Day celebration (Saturday 3 May 2025 Willenhall Royal British Legion – VE Day anniversary (Sunday 4 May 2025 Darlaston Sons of Rest – VE Day Celebration (Tuesday 6 May 2025 Holy Ascension Place of Welcome – Community Coffee Morning VE Day 80 Celebration (Wednesday 7 May 2025 9.30am to 11.30am at Holy Ascension Community Church Bloxwich Community Partnership – “Songs that Won the War” – Funtime Theatre Singalong Show, performed by the Funtime Theatre Company (Wednesday 7 May 2025, 11am to 12 noon at Stan Ball Centre, Abbotts Street, Bloxwich Moxley Peoples Centre – 80 Years of Remembrance’ (Wednesday 7 May 2025 Collingwood Centre Ltd – VE Day lunch followed by entertainment (Wednesday 7 May 2025 Darlaston All Active – VE Day Celebration; community event with live 1940s entertainment afternoon tea and raffle (Thursday 8 May 2025 Preservation of Pelsall Remembrance – VE Day Celebrations with service/gathering at the Cenotaph at 9.15pm (Thursday 8 May 2025 all day celebration at Pelsall Village Centre The Hothouse – VE Day Celebrations (Thursday 8 May 2025 Aaina Community Hub – WW2 Memorial Day (Thursday 8 May 2025 Old Hall Peoples Partnership – VE Day Celebration (Thursday 8 May 2025 Mossley Community Connections CIC – VE Day Celebration (Thursday 8 May 2025 Aldridge Community Centre – VE Day – Entertainment and Afternoon Tea (Thursday 8 May 2025 Walsall for All CIC – VE Day – Celebration in the Garden (Thursday 8 May 2025 Willenhall CHART – VE Day Celebration Afternoon (Thursday 8 May 2025 Rotary Club of Aldridge – VE Day Commemoration (Thursday 8 May 2025 Short Heath Lest We Forget CIC – Lamp of Peace Evening (Thursday 8th May 2025 Aldridge Royal British Legion – VE Day Gathering (Saturday 10 May 2025 Streetly Dementia Support Group – Streetly VE 80 celebration (Saturday 10 May 2025 Ryecroft Neighbourhood Resource Centre – Street Party (Saturday 10 May 2025 St Michaels and All Angels Church – Celebration Remembrance and Thanksgiving (Saturday 10 May 2025 said: “VE Day is a reminder of our nation’s resilience and courage and honour and pay tribute to those whose sacrifices made peace possible “The council will be flying the official VE Day 80 flag outside the Council House and I’m sure the raising of the flag will be a moving start to the day.” A housing estate in Bloxwich is set to become one of Britain’s first net-zero carbon-ready neighbourhoods Works for the £8m scheme are set to start this spring The scheme will improve the energy efficiency of 160 households on the Dudley Fields estate Social housing provider WHG, Walsall Council, and the West Midlands Combined Authority are delivering the project Dudley Fields was one of seven Net Zero Neighbourhoods identified for the scheme which is funded partly by the Bloxwich Town Deal the WMCA’s Net Zero Neighbourhoods programme Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Express & Star’s free newsletter Eighty-five WHG homes will be selected from the area based on their energy efficiency and will each receive free upgrades including external wall insulation Up to 75 privately-owned households in the area will also be offered bespoke retrofit packages through contractor Surefire MS (SMS) with grants covering the majority of the costs Up to 52 local jobs will be created as part of the scheme including roles for retrofit assessors 25 apprenticeships and 43 training placements will be offered in partnership with Walsall College An Energy Hub will also be open to offering retrofit advice and demonstrating the benefits of retrofit works we’re proving that tackling climate change and inequality go hand in hand “This project is a cornerstone of our commitment to creating safe sustainable communities where people thrive.” said: “It’s great to be working with WHG on this landmark initiative for Bloxwich and the borough of Walsall more efficient homes for local people and will create jobs and opportunities said: “Getting to net zero takes a community effort – all of us working together to drive down energy costs and carbon emissions “The UK’s transition to net zero can only be successful if we take everyone with us – cutting emissions while cutting bills for our residents.” Walsall Council has been unable to provide a date as to when the play area at King George V park in Bloxwich will reopen The closure followed damage to a children’s climbing apparatus and rubbish bin after they were both set on fire in October 2024 The damaged equipment has since been removed from the park and the council said it is waiting on an installation date from the supplier of the new equipment The park has remained closed ‘in the interest of public safety’ but the council has been unable to explain why the park is still considered dangerous Despite the warm sunny spells and the Easter holidays around the corner no date has been provided for the reopening of the park A spokesperson for Walsall Council said: “The play area at King George V in Bloxwich has been closed while some of the play equipment is replaced “New play equipment has been ordered and we are waiting to confirm an installation date with the supplier.” In the same month that the play area in Bloxwich was targeted by fire part of the play area at Reedswood Park was also destroyed by fire Walsall Council said the replacement costs at both sites were estimated to cost taxpayers £95,000 Pat Collins Memorial Gardens and Promenade Gardens is expected to start next month The upgrades are part of a £5million Greening Bloxwich programme paid for by the government’s national Towns Deal funding The Greening Bloxwich project will also see improvements to King George V Playing Fields and Leamore Park At a council meeting earlier this week, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing councillor Gary Flint Pat Collins Memorial Gardens and Promenade Gardens He also said the transformation of King George V Playing Fields will make it a ‘visitor destination’ putting ‘Bloxwich on the map’ Councillor Flint said: “We will have a new pavilion a real accessible open space that will hopefully put Bloxwich on the map “That site will become a visitor destination for this borough and will become a gem in the crown of our green spaces.” No timeframe was provided as to when the improvements will be carried out to King George’s or as to when the children’s play area will be reopened In response to the closed play area at King George’s councillor Flint said: “There was a delay in the installation of the vandalised play equipment because we were working with police and other partners around the potential culprits of that I can’t go into too much detail about that here “There is a contract about to be awarded this week which will see the installation of the replacement equipment.” in collaboration with the Canal & River Trust has brought Baileys Pool back into community use.   The work was made possible thanks to a £40,000 grant from Enovert Community Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) This funding was supported by £8,000 from the Canal and River Trust and £7,000 through Walsall Council’s Healthy Spaces Team.   This is thanks to improvements to the pathway around the pool infrastructure removal and litter picking.  It is not just residents who have benefited from the work either as the biodiversity in the area has sprung into life after significant work was carried out to clear the pool itself.  Flytipping cost Walsall taxpayers £336,000 in 2023/24 with more than half of the bill coming from just five wards Willenhall South and Birchills Leamore accounted for 53 per cent of the entire expenditure for the borough The three least offending wards, Aldridge North, Pelsall and Streetly each account for just 1 percent Leader of the labour group at Walsall Council, councillor Matt Ward has called on the authority to ‘name and shame’ the culprits and publish the names of those who are fined Councillor Ward also called for more CCTV cameras to be installed and for officers to be deployed in areas which are known hot spots Councillor Ward said: “The council needs to get more proactive in challenging their own communities and getting them to come forward with information the council needs to be more proactive in naming and shaming people and challenging people’s behaviour “If you talk to any of the volunteer litter pickers they’ve given up on some of the streets which are in the top wards.” A spokesperson for Walsall Council said tackling fly-tipping is a priority for the authority They said: “The council does not disclose details relating to the deployment of CCTV cameras “Fly-tipping is a priority for the council As part of our response to tackle fly-tipping including the use of crime scene tape to highlight the impact of fly-tipping “Fixed penalty notices (FPNs) are governed by a statutory framework so cases referred to other courts will be redirected back and not succeed Where an FPN is taken to the magistrate’s court details of the case are made public in the same way as other court cases.” Your feedback helps us to improve our website. The former post office on Market Place in Bloxwich is being refurbished and extended, to make way for a state-of-the-art facility for residents to learn and hone their digital skills, and for entrepreneurs to form and grow their businesses.  The centre will have a partnership approach and host a diverse range of providers that will enable local people to access a broad range of interventions.   Interest groups from across the borough have been staying up to date with the scheme and looking at ways to collaborate to make sure that services provided at the centre meet the needs of local people.  “ The site is looking great and you can really see it starting to take shape. Support services like this are really needed in Bloxwich and we have lots of great partner organisations working with us to design a service that works for local people “ “ It’s great to see Bloxwich Launchpad coming together and it’s an excellent space. The plans look great and it’ll provide a much needed space for Bloxwich residents to learn digital skills “ The new centre is due to open in Spring 2025.  List of delivery partners working with Walsall Council on the Bloxwich Launchpad offer: Walsall Council, Civic Centre, Darwall Street, Walsall. WS1 1TP © 2022 Walsall Council, All rights reserved Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayohits radiobirminghamnewsBloxwich house fire believed to be caused by exploding gas cannisters Two people were taken to hospital with burns injuries Emergency services said they believe a fire at a house in Bloxwich was caused by butane gas canisters inside that exploded The incident happened on Monday evening (28th April) at a property on Shrewsbury Close in Bloxwich Two men are in a serious condition after they were taken to hospital with burn injuries West Midlands Police said that investigations were continuing and that officers were looking into the possibility the address was used to produce cannabis Witnesses or anyone with any information is being urged to get in touch with police First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) A community has called for support for a family whose home was destroyed by a devastating blaze on Monday night Emergency services rushed to the scene of Shrewsbury Close, on the Mossley Estate in Bloxwich, to reports of a fire breaking out at a residential property at around 9.15pm on Monday A number of people were evacuated as a result of the fire with the blaze being seen to have destroyed a large portion of the upstairs space of the property Ten crews of around 60 firefighters helped to tackle the fire with both West Midlands Fire and West Midlands Police personnel remaining at the scene at 3pm on Tuesday Mossley residents have said that the community should come together to help the family who now have to rebuild their life I live a street away and you could see the house glowing over the other houses "I think we should come together to help them Following the fire a number of people were evacuated from the area with some being housed by Walsall Council overnight and others taking shelter in the nearby St Thomas' Church emergency services confirmed that two men had been found in Willenhall with burn injuries with one man being found to have suffered 'critical injuries' and another receiving 'serious injuries' It's destroyed most of the items in the house by the looks of it If they ask for anything I'm sure the community will help." An investigation into the cause of the blaze has since been launched with West Midlands Police working alongside West Midlands Fire Service to establish the cause of the incident A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "We were called following a fire at an address in Shrewsbury Close West Midlands Railway has unveiled a restored plaque commemorating rail workers who lost their lives during the First World War The mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Linda Leach, unveiled the restored tablet on Friday, May 2, which lists employees of the goods department of the London and North Western Railway in Wolverhampton who died in the conflict with the RBL leading a minute's silence to remember the lives lost Sign up to our free daily Wolverhampton newsletter for the latest news, views and features The plaque lists more than 60 names of those lost from the rail service in Wolverhampton The memorial plaque was originally erected at Wolverhampton Station and is thought to have been later moved to the passenger footbridge in the 60s or 70s The memorial has now been reinstalled in a more central location of Wolverhampton Station with the tablet now sitting on the wall on the concourse said: "We hope that by giving this memorial a new lease of life it will help to keep the memories alive of all those listed Thank you to Paul Edmunds in my team who identified the opportunity to restore the plaque and made it happen “It’s possible that relations of these LNWR staff members are still living in Wolverhampton today we’d be happy to host you at the station to see the plaque in person." The refurbishment work was undertaken by the Railway Heritage Trust who commissioned the specialist restoration company to bring the inscription back to pristine condition The company also created a bespoke hardwood frame as backing for the plaque said: "Those remembered on this tablet were local people who served in World War One for their country and for us all "I’m pleased to unveil it following this restoration project and hope to see it remain in the station for years to come so all passers-through can see it and remember their sacrifice.” which is currently being constructed on the site of the former Post Office in the centre of Bloxwich will provide digital skills training and support as well as business support for entrepreneurs.  Walsall Council is delivering Bloxwich Launchpad as part of the Bloxwich Town Deal and is working with a network of providers who will offer services from the brand-new centre covering digital and IT skills 3D printing and virtual reality technology From March 2025, providers will be running taster sessions in Bloxwich Library which will give people an insight into the support that will be on offer. Click here for a full list of available sessions, and information on how to book on.  due to open to the public in early Spring 2025 will be kitted out with the latest digital tech and equipment so that residents can access IT facilities and training Walsall Council and its network of delivery partners will be offering skills training and support to help residents brush up on their digital skills Everything from job applications and CV writing to more specialist digital skills like photography Located on the first floor of the building will be a business incubation centre including meeting rooms all of which have been designed to support entrepreneurs form and grow their businesses Local residents will also be able to access this new facility for digital training and support.  the scheme aims to help local people gain digital skills and reduce digital poverty in the area as well as offering facilities on the first floor to help small businesses Bloxwich Launchpad is part of Walsall borough’s wider £1.5billion transformation which aims to create opportunities for local people boost the economy and provide new housing to meet demands.  Speller Metcalfe are carrying out the complete refurbishment of the former Post Office building located on Market Place to bring this transformation to life.  “ We’re pleased to begin work transforming this former post office into a community focused digital access centre in Bloxwich Our team are on site working hard to deliver the scheme along with generating a positive impact on the surrounding community The construction project will also have a focus on delivering social value including the employment of local subcontractors school engagement and charitable donations to ensure the works have a positive impact of the community outside of the refurbishment.  The building has been designed by Robothams Architects and is due for completion in early 2025.  Communications and Engagement Manager on 07851 191558 Speller MetcalfeSpeller Metcalfe has a solid reputation as a leading regional contractor within the Midlands and South West regions with a key focus on providing innovation and excellence in construction Established in 1995 by Steve Speller and Andy Metcalfe we are proud of our family roots which provide the foundation to the non-adversarial approach and teamwork ethos that run throughout the business Our award-winning construction company has key experience in Integrated Project Insurance (IPI), BREEAM, Passivhaus and BIM and has delivered some of the UK’s most innovative and sustainable projects. http://www.spellermetcalfe.com/  A fire took hold at a property on the Mossley Estate destroying it and spreading to neighbouring homes a small close knit community were coming to terms with the scene this morning - some had been re-homed overnight by Walsall Council in hotels Nine fire crews attended the scene last night and one was still on site this morning as an investigation into the cause of the blaze began Police were also present and are expected to remain there most of the day Two people were btaken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with serious injuries West Midladns Fire Service is investigating the cause New aerial images have show the sheer scale of the new Walsall Energy From Waste facility in Bloxwich In aerial photos and videos taken by Express & Star chief photographer Tim Thursfield the work is seen to be well underway at the site on Fryer's Lane which is more commonly known as the super tip and is due to be completed by 2027 The site has ambitions to partner up with the WMCA and local councils to help export heat to homes in the form of steam or hot water Up to 450 jobs will be contracted during the construction phase of the plant and 50 direct jobs once it is fully operational Rubbish collected to power the plant will come from a range of local and regional waste management companies The facility itself will replace the region’s ageing fleet of incinerators which are due to be retired over the coming years The plant will be built by energy recovery specialists Encyclis on eight acres of derelict land and operate the start-of-the-art facility and use the latest technology to turn up to 436,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste every year into 49 megawatts of electricity Community shops typically offer an array of food and everyday necessities like personal care items pet supplies and household cleaning materials at greatly reduced prices.Walsall Council committed £200,000 in funding to support the establishment of these not-for-profit shops which are aimed at helping struggling families and elderly residents who are impacted by the UK's escalating cost of living Any income generated through the shops is used for future produce and running costs.Three organisations in Bloxwich Bentley and Darlaston have already secured financial assistance from the council including Bloxwich Community Partnership the Old Hall People's Partnership and Darlaston All Active The first shop formally launched at the Stan Ball Centre The community shops will be staffed mainly by volunteers Residents do not need to be in receipt of welfare benefits to be eligible Many local families are struggling with rises in the cost of living and community shops aim to help money go further in Walsall.Expressions of interest from community organisations in Walsall can be made before 14 February 2025 South and Central Walsall are encouraged to come forward.Ends The event was the second of two events in Walsall this year, the first being at Walsall Arboretum and held on Saturday 2 November. Rayohits radiobirminghamnewsTwo hurt after fire in BloxwichIt happened last night after reports of an explosion Two men have been taken to hospital with serious burn injuries overnight West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 9.28pm to Shrewsbury Close following reports of a house explosion and sent an ambulance a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic and the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival “We received a second call at 11.31pm to Lower Lichfield Street in Willenhall a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic were sent to the scene Firefighters led one man to safety from a property Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels and main jets to tackle the fire Investigators will be working to establish the cause First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app. A shoplifter who preyed on Wolverhampton businesses has been locked up after committing nine offences in less than a month was arrested after stealing goods totalling around £850 and often threatening staff as he took items like cheese West Midlands Police said he had systematically targeted two stores in Willenhall Road despite already being subject to a restraining order and a criminal behaviour order banning him from entering those premises His spree ran from January 21 through to February 9 before Maher was arrested by officers in Fallings Park on February 10 Sign up to our free daily Wolverhampton newsletter for the latest news, views and features https://www.expressandstar.com/newsletters/ Maher admitted nine counts of shop theft as well as breaches to a community behaviour order and restraining order On April 25 he was jailed at Wolverhampton Crown Court for three years and six months The force said it was taking crime against businesses the city seriously and was working with retailers and store security staff to keep traders and customers safe Staff and patients at Bloxwich Hospital have spoken of their emotional tie to the hospital and of their move to a new £24.3m unit at Walsall They held a 'final farewell' lunch at the hospital, which closes its doors today (Wednesday, February 5), with the opening of the Dorothy Pattison Older Adults Unit which is situated next to the Manor Hospital The new unit is designed to provide high-quality inpatient care for older adults with dementia and functional mental health conditions and recovery-focused environment for those in need One of the last patients to be housed at Bloxwich and the first to move into the new unit is Ivan Glover from Aldridge who had been at Bloxwich Hospital for two and a half months He said: "It won't be a long stay at the new place as it hasn't been here but I have loved every minute of it at Bloxwich - the staff are wonderful the food is great and there is a real family atmosphere about the place "I have seen pictures of the Dorothy Pattison unit and it looks fantastic with self contained units where you can have a shower or a bath and overall more space and facilities to make you comfortable - I am just glad the same staff are coming over as well." Bloxwich Hospital was purchased by Walsall Town Council in 1927 and first opened as a maternity unit - a number of the staff who work there were born there Jackie Moylan is the manager of the Linden Ward which is also going to be the name of one of the wards at the new facility - she was born at Bloxwich Hospital started there as a newly qualified nurse in 1999 and has done over 20 years on the site She said: "Since I first started here as a newly qualified nurse we were told it was closing and now it is finally happening "It has been quite emotional to see the removal team come in and it finally hit home that this is the end and there has been a few tears because a lot of the staff have been here a long time "But we know it is for the best for our patients and there is a family feel to Bloxwich which we hope to take to the new building which looks fantastic and has more room and facilities for staff and the people they treat Melissa James, Operational Manager for Older Adults started work in 2013 as a newly qualified nurse within the Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust at Edward Street Hospital She said: "As much as there is a emotional attachment to Bloxwich it was a confined space for staff and the patient group within dorms and all the challenges that presented "It is exciting to move to a new build which will provide that space and also the dignity and privacy they need to thrive in and hopefully return to their own homes or to another facility depending on their needs the staff have done an amazing job at Bloxwich but it was within the constraints of space which doesn't help when there are patient incidents and even having a staff area where they can have an adequate break is going to be something to be welcomed as well as them able to provide adequate care more easily A man was arrested on suspicion of theft after goods were stolen from a Bloxwich shop The items were taken from a store on Market Place in the town centre on April 8 A 31-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Thursday (April 17) morning and taken into police custody on suspicion of theft He has since been bailed with strict conditions while investigations continue, West Midlands Police said A teenager has been reported missing from home in the Black Country Walsall police have issued a plea to the the public for anyone who has seen Bloxwich boy Joseph Officers say Joseph was last seen at 1.08am on Sunday (April 27) and black Adidas trainers with white stripes They have issued a picture of him and are asking anyone who might have seen him to call 999 quoting log number 2011-270425 the family event will include a special flame show choreographed to music from classic films as well as food and the ever-popular funfair Early bird tickets cost £8.50 for adults and £6.50 for Children family tickets cost £24 and tickets for children under 3 cost £1 For more information and to book tickets, visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/healthyspaces Where are the fireworks being held?Walsall Arboretum (pedestrians WS1 2QB) on Saturday 2 NovemberKing George V Playing Fields (main WS3 3NS WS3 2JU) on Tuesday 5 NovemberWhat time do the events start?5pm – Gates open5pm – Fairground rides start7pm - Flame show and fireworksHow much are tickets?Adult- £8.50Child - £6.50Family*- £24.00Under 3- £1*Please note: Family ticket holder must arrive together Can I buy tickets on the gate?Entry to the events is by advance ticket only – we expect the event to sell out so please purchase your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment Do you offer concessionary tickets?We do not offer concessions for this event.Are you charging for under 3’s?Yes To ensure we can control the numbers on site we are charging for under 3s so that we know exactly how many people are on site Will there be a bonfire at these events?There will not be a bonfire at either of this year’s events Is general car parking available?There is no parking on-site with the exception of blue badge holders.  The following car parks are free of charge from 3.30pm on Saturday 2nd November: Is disabled car parking available?There is limited free parking available at Walsall Arboretum (WS1 2DD) and King George V (WS3 3NS) for blue badge holders Please note that there are more blue badge spaces at King George V Playing Fields.  first served basis and we cannot guarantee space.  Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of His Majesty’s Stationery Office Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings Palace Play Shop Eat on Blakenall Row in Bloxwich will be extended to increase capacity to deliver much needed services for the community The play area will be developed into a larger soft play and rooms will be added to enable more community training opportunities “ Bloxwich Community Partnership is thrilled to have secured funding to redevelop the Palace Play Shop Eat centre in Blakenall The community of Blakenall and Bloxwich deserve good quality facilities in the heart of their community The charity has worked hard over a number of years to develop the centre and this investment will help us to create a vibrant hub within the community This is a great opportunity for the charity and great for the local community Walsall Council and New Horizons Community Enterprise will enable the works to take place and the creation of a modern bright facility for the community. Bloxwich Community Partnership will also be investing funding into the development The renovations will include a new youth area with access to a training kitchen a bright charity shop and community space and new soft play for toddlers and children.  The youth and community services will relocate locally during the refurbishment to ensure families children and young people can continue to be supported.  The shop and play will close temporarily but will be back soon residents can keep up to date by following Bloxwich Community Partnership on social media in agreement with Bloxwich Community Partnership will lead on managing the scheme with construction due to start in early 2025 Youth services at the centre are open as usual and will transfer to alternative premises when the site closes.  Palace Play has now closed and the shop has limited opening while the building is cleared Access to Foodbank Vouchers and community support is still available at the centre.  Source:  Image by Libraries Taskforce Walsall Council is seeking an architect for an upgrade of Bloxwich Theatre [Deadline: 12 August 2024] The winning team selected for the estimated £50,000 contact will carry out a feasibility study looking into options to transform the town centre landmark into a new multi-function creative space for the West Midlands market town The project coincides with a wider £21 million ‘Bloxwich Town Plan’ which will deliver a new Bloxwich Launchpad incubation centre next to the theatre Key aims of the project include placemaking within the town centre and helping to unlock a ‘thriving creative enterprise quarter supporting artists According to the brief: ‘Walsall Council is seeking a high-quality provider to assess the feasibility of redeveloping Bloxwich Theatre into a multi-function creative space ‘While still enabling the building to be used as a theatre the council seeks to refurbish and repurpose the underused venue into a valuable utilized space for audiences Bloxwich is a small market town of around 25,000 inhabitants located between Walsall Willenhall and Brownhills in the West Midlands of England The latest project focusses on upgrading an underused 152-seat theatre space located within the 1960s Bloxwich Library complex The latest project will transform the theatre into a new ‘multi-use creative space for theatre audiences Bids to deliver the feasibility study will be evaluated 90 per cent on quality and 10 per cent on price Applicants must hold employer’s liability insurance of £5 million public liability insurance of £5 million and professional indemnity insurance of £1 million Tags Squire & Partners has finally won planning Skyscraper expert SimpsonHaugh has submitted plans for a 50-storey and a 25-storey… Tokyo-based architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA chatted to the… MVRDV and Mecanoo are among five finalists vying to design… Bloxwich’s new digital skills hub is set to open in spring 2025 inside the former Post Office on Market Place Up to £3m has been spent on transforming the building to deliver the Bloxwich Launchpad The facility, funded by the £25m Bloxwich Town Deal will provide access to digital skills support and training as well as business support for the people of Bloxwich The council bought the property following the relocation of the Post Office to the High Street in 2023 Planning permission was approved for the development back in April 2024 the incubation centre will feature meeting rooms and craft space to support entrepreneurs in creating or growing businesses The ground floor will be home to the digital access centre which will provide facilities for people to use the internet and learn IT skills As part of the agreement with Walsall Council contractor Speller Metcalfe has been tasked with making sure that funds to deliver the project are spent as locally as possible Speller Metcalfe has spent over £530,000 within the Walsall borough and £512,255 within a 30-mile radius of the project The company has also employed a number of local people supported over 10 weeks of apprenticeships and made a donation to Bloxwich Community Partnership said: “It’s really important that we invest in local businesses so it’s great to see that the construction of Bloxwich Launchpad has generated such a huge amount of social value “Boosting the local economy is key to driving business and employment growth and we want to make sure that local people and businesses benefit first and foremost from regeneration schemes like this.” A brand-new public toilet has been unveiled in Bloxwich town centre following calls from residents A pledge by Walsall Council in the 2021 election promised public toilets for the borough’s local centres and Bloxwich is the first to receive them with future plans to roll them out in Willenhall after a trial period The new toilet is located on the high street by the main bus stop and is now open for business The unit is the first self-cleaning toilet to operate in the UK in 18 years and once it has been used it locks for a brief period to automatically clean the floor and toilet before the next use The toilet can be managed remotely and will automatically unlock for use between the hours of 7am-8pm The units are built with the capability to take payment however there are no plans at present to charge Associate Leader of Walsall Council said: “Residents have been asking for public toilets in our town and district centres for a while which is why we made the promise to invest in public toilets in 2021 “Since that pledge, we have seen the opening of new public toilets and changing place toilets in the Saddlers Centre, as well as changing place toilets in Bloxwich library and Darlaston Town Hall and I’m pleased to see the public toilet now up and running in Bloxwich.” The new public toilet is fully accessible and includes baby change facilities The Bloxwich High Street unit will serve as a pilot and the council will monitor how much the toilet is used and the maintenance required Following this trial period, there is a commitment to roll out toilets in Willenhall if the pilot is successful Walsall Council said that manufacture and installation of the toilet unit in Bloxwich cost around £98,000 of council capital budget A Birmingham man is standing trial alone for raids on Bloxwich Co-op travel agents in 2022 as a second robber remains "a mystery man" At 9.30am on Friday, October 28, 2022, two masked men burst into the travel agents and threatened the lone female worker in the shop They forced her to open the safe and made off with £11,200 in Sterling and foreign currency The pair disappeared down an alley and made their getaway in a car with cloned number plates which due to the distinctive model gave police a lead which led to the arrest of Paul Gallagher is standing trial for robbery at Wolverhampton Crown Court Two men and a woman accused of entering a Bloxwich home with a machete to attack its occupants will stand trial in 2027 John Mansell, 48 and of Hollowmeadow Avenue, Leamore; Terri Grainger, 44 and of Jasmine Close, Pendeford and Vinni Grainger, 20, of Union Street, Walsall The charges relate to Friday, May 10, last year when they are accused of "entering as a trespasser a dwelling, on Ryle Street, Bloxwich with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm upon a person therein and at the time of committing the said burglary had.. All three appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court last week and pleaded not guilty has appointed Steven Maley as Manager of its soon-to-be-opened Golden Eagle Court supported living service in Bloxwich located on the site of the former Golden Eagle pub has been transformed into nine spacious apartments by Midlands-based SEP Properties Ltd The facility includes parking and outdoor communal spaces offering a welcoming environment for its future residents The apartments will house individuals with learning disabilities and associated needs enabling them to live independently in their own homes with tailored support from ECHO Supported Living Services ECHO will assist residents with daily living activities The housing will be managed by Inclusion Housing a prominent health and social care landlord Together with ECHO Supported Living Services they aim to empower people to live as independently as possible while remaining close to their families and developing essential life skills brings 15 years of experience in health and social care Holding a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management Steven has a proven track record of managing CQC-rated ‘GOOD’ services and is committed to delivering high-quality His professional ethos focuses on fostering independence and promoting the wellbeing of both people supported and staff Steven said:  "I’m thrilled to join ECHO Group at this exciting time Golden Eagle Court represents a fantastic opportunity to provide individuals with the support and independence they deserve helping them to live fulfilling lives in their own homes I’m committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and creating a positive empowering environment for everyone we support." and spending quality time with his family and pets Annu Joshi has been appointed as Supported Living Administrator Annu is an experienced social care administrator with expertise in recruitment Holding a GNVQ Advanced in Business and Finance she is eager to contribute to the growth and success of the ECHO Group Director of Operations said: "We are delighted to welcome Steven and Annu to our team Their expertise and dedication will be invaluable in ensuring Golden Eagle Court provides exceptional support and housing solutions for its residents This development is a shining example of our commitment to empowering individuals with learning disabilities to live independently and thrive within their communities." A new community pantry has launched in Bloxwich to help residents reduce the cost of living Located inside the Stan Ball Centre on Abbotts Street the community pantry offers everyday essentials at reduced prices A £2 annual membership is required to use the service and there is no eligibility criteria Chief Executive of Bloxwich Community Partnership said: “It’s a great offer to the local community It was to address food poverty and the cost of living People always need their money to go that little bit further by shopping here for a few essential items it frees up their money for other things.” Three more community pantries are expected to open in other locations across the borough later this year another in the Town Hall in Darlaston and a third in Blakenall where the location is yet to be confirmed said: “We’re really excited to open to the public and take their feedback To hear if they’re happy with the products and it helps day-to-day with their cost of living.” Walsall Council has put forward £200,000 in funding to support the community pantry schemes Each facility will be staffed mainly by volunteers Other Walsall community organisations based in the East South and West of the borough are encouraged to come forward to express interest in offering a similar service The deadline to make representations is February 14 said: “The fact we’re going something different with the resources that we get is always a good thing But also bring some dignity into the process They’re willing to pay but their money only goes a small way sometimes.” The community pantry is just one of the many services offered at the Stan Ball Centre Also available is the newly launched Home Hub teaching residents digital skills enabling them to live independently for longer There’s also support available for any resident needing assistance with accessing council services.