A company has submitted a fresh planning application to develop a bungalow in Brownhills which already has planning permission Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 In November last year Walsall Council’s planning committee approved plans to convert 205 High Street into an eight-bedroom House of Multiple Occupation It was the second planning application submitted by applicant Morethan Property Ltd proposed to demolish the bungalow and replace it with a three-storey building for seven self-contained one-bedroom apartments Planning officers refused the plans due to the proximity of the building to a nearby home and the position of the vehicle access which could lead to unacceptable pollution to nearby properties for noise Morethan Property Ltd has submitted a third application which is more akin to its first describing the HMO plans as a ‘fall-back position’ The latest plans involve demolishing the existing bungalow to develop a '3.5-storey' building of seven apartments with associated parking and communal gardens The newest proposal has been lowered in height by one metre The proposed building has also been altered to be a 3.5-storey building with the top floor designed to look like a roof set back from the front and rear of the building to limit the visual projection from the street scene below A decision on the latest proposal is expected in May Your feedback helps us to improve our website. The shopping centre on Brownhills high street has been empty and mostly derelict for a number of years and has been the centre for vandalism and antisocial behaviour in the area. The majority of the site is now owned by Aldi, with the intention of demolishing the existing shopping centre to create a fit-for-purpose Aldi store. However, in order to proceed with the development there is a small number of shop units on the high street that Aldi still needs to acquire. The Cabinet report proposes to work with Aldi to ensure that the land and property to be purchased is essential in the delivery of the new store, and that planning permission is in place. Subject to Aldi evidencing that the scheme is feasible, Walsall Council will consider the future use of compulsory purchase powers to help acquire the necessary sites. Walsall Council, Civic Centre, Darwall Street, Walsall. WS1 1TP Proud of our past our present and for our future © 2022 Walsall Council, All rights reserved Burnley have secured promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking the past three times they've been relegated Those are all the words that have been used to describe Burnley on their way to winning promotion to the Premier League this season Captain Josh Brownhill himself even joked that Burnley have "bored our way to the Premier League" after the 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Monday evening confirmed their return to the top flight Brownhill was referencing the fact the Clarets are set to become the best defence in Championship history having conceded just 15 goals this season smashing the record of 30 goals allowed by Watford in 2020-21 and Preston in 2005-06 beating Wigan Athletic's EFL record of 27 in League One in 2017-18 With 12 goalless draws and 15 of their 26 wins by a one-goal margin Scott Parker's side has been largely built on remarkable defensive stability and consistency But that takes nothing away from the fact Burnley are on course to reach 100 points and match Reading's record 33-game unbeaten run in the second tier set in 2005-06 should they win their final two games against QPR and Millwall Top goalscorer Brownhill led by example at Turf Moor against the Blades - as he has done for much of this season - with two goals to help his side to the victory that sealed Burnley's place in the Premier League for the 2025-26 campaign Burnley have only conceded 15 goals in the Championship - 14 fewer than Leeds (29) who have the second strongest defence All that hard work this season," the 29-year-old told Sky Sports "We've been written off so many times We've bored our way to the Premier League "It takes a whole team - it's not just a back four "I don't think a lot of the lads will sleep I'm so buzzing for the lads that haven't played Premier League football." Head coach Parker said the "ambition and target at the start of the season was to get back to the Premier League" "We've managed to do that so I'm hugely proud of the squad," he told BBC Radio Lancashire pure commitment from every one of the players their dedication and the sacrifice that they've made "I explained to the lads there is emotion from me because I see the commitment that everyone has brought "We live in a world where you win or you lose and you get judged and at the end of the season you're either promoted or not and that's how quickly people will judge it "I'm just delighted that all that work all that sacrifice has been worth it and people can see it The facts are if you don't get promoted people can see it." Burnley boss Scott Parker 'hugely proud' of promotion Parker was appointed Burnley boss in the summer following 15 months out of management having been sacked by Belgian side Club Brugge in March 2022 after just 12 games in charge The 44-year-old said his third promotion as a manager means "everything" and said the journey Burnley have been on is "nothing short of incredible" "This one feels special," he told Sky Sports having previously won a place in the top flight with Fulham and Bournemouth "I've had some bumps in the road as a manager I decided to take a year out and came back to this "The spotlight often shines on the players and myself but the sacrifices that families make - they fully deserve it." There are only two games of the season remaining but with both Leeds and Burnley tied on 94 points Parker says they are still aiming to win the title "We are going to go for it," Parker said "That's the aim and that's exactly what we are going to do." Burnley chairman Alan Pace described Parker as a "living legend" who has "outperformed anything he could have possibly said" before he was hired Scott Parker has won promotion to the Premier League for the third time as a manager "He's shown multiple times that he knows how to handle this league and how to bring a group of men together and accomplish great things," Pace told Sky Sports "Even when there was negativity at the start of the season from others thankful and blessed to have him here." Midfielder Josh Cullen said promotion feels "absolutely amazing" and added: "This is a day I'll never forget." 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Exclusive drone images give a glimpse into a new development on the site of a former pub The land used to be home to the Anchor Inn but now work is well under way on a new 90-bedroom care home The Brownhills pub was demolished to allow Macc Care Ltd to build the three-storey home complete with state of the art equipment and facilities including a cinema on the site of The Anchor Inn on Chester Road Planners at Walsall Council approved the development which the company said will create more than the equivalent of 80 full-time jobs and provide an ‘enhanced’ quality of life for residents And the justification for the loss of the pub was that there were 10 other boozers within a 2km walking distance of the Anchor Buses have been diverted following a crash in Brownhills One woman has been conveyed to hospital following a two-car crash in Brownhills Emergency Services teams rushed to the scene of Watling Street at around 2pm to reports of a crash involving two vehicles One ambulance attended the scene and assessed the drivers of both vehicles One woman was transported to Walsall Manor Hospital for further checks A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of an RTC involving two cars on Watling Street Walsall at 2.00pm today (Tuesday 4th February) "One ambulance attended and assessed the drivers of each vehicle has been conveyed to Walsall Manor Hospital for further checks." National Express West Midlands have alerted of route changes to the service 937 due to an incident on The Parade The service will now instead be diverted from Brownhills only A National Express West Midlands spokesperson said: "Due to an incident on The Parade/Watling Street "Service 937 is diverting FROM Brownhills only via: Watling Street Apologies for any disruption to your journey." A car and a motorbike have crashed on the A5 Watling Street between Cannock and Brownhills resulting in another major road closure on the region's network The carriageway was closed in both directions between the B4154 Walsall Road junction at the Turf Island and the Rising Sun Island at the junction with the A452 Chester Road North, in Brownhills The eastbound closure was lifted at about 5.30pm Drivers are being advised to find alternative routes as the A5 is expected to remain closed for several hours Highways England stated that emergency service crews are currently at the scene including the Staffordshire Police collision investigation unit and the A5 was closed to allow them all to work safely Motorists are currently being diverted away from the area Drivers heading southbound are advised to follow the hollow circle diversion symbol on the road signs At The Turf Island roundabout take the firsts exit to the B4154 northbound to Walsall Road Continue to the next roundabout with the A5190 at Heath Hayes and take the fourth exit oto the A5190 Continue on the A5190 for approximately three miles to the roundabout with the A5195 at Burntwood Take the second exit to the A5195 and continue for approximately two miles to reach the traffic light controlled junction with the A5 at Brownhills and continue your journey Drivers heading northbound are advised to follow the solid circle diversion symbol At the Rising Sun Islands take the third exit to the A5 eastbound Continue to the traffic light controlled junction with the A5195 at Brownhills and take the first exit to the A5195 northbound Remain on the A5195 for approximately two miles to the roundabout with the A5190 at Burntwood Take the second exit to join the A5190 and continue for approximately two miles again to reach the five ways roundabout at Heath Hayes Take the first exit to the B4154 and continue to The Turf Island and re-join the A5 there National Highways West Midlands posted on X: "@HighwaysWMIDS New incident #A5 both ways between B4154 (Norton Canes) and A452 (Brownhills) road closed due to a serious collision "Road will be closed for several hours for @Staffs_CIU investigation @StaffsRCT and @OFFICIALWMAS also on scene."   New drone footage shows how work on a former Brownhills pub which is being turned into a 90 bedroom luxury care home is progressing Work on the 90 bedroom care home which is being developed by Macc Care Ltd is well under way on the site of the former Anchor Inn on Chester Road It will consist of three-storeys and state of the art equipment and facilities including a cinema Planners at Walsall Council approved the development in January, The company said will create more than the equivalent of 80 full-time jobs and provide an ‘enhanced’ quality of life for residents Macc Care already operate 13 homes dementia and residential care needs and are proud to deliver clinical excellence twinned with the compassionate approach that makes a real difference in people’s lives A café operator in the Black Country has been fined after health inspectors found uncleanliness at the business Maxine Hannah of Ironstone Road, Cannock, food business operator for Central Café on Brownhills High Street failed to comply with a number of food safety regulations environmental health officers made an unannounced visit to the eatery having previously observed insufficient kitchen ventilation there A hygiene improvement notice had previously been served to the food business operator but this was not complied with when the health inspectors' visit took place 2024 and discovered areas of the premises were unclean and not in good condition The structure of the kitchen was also discovered not maintained with deteriorated shelving The café operator had also failed to implement a documented Food Safety Management System evidenced by "poor cleaning standards" and the condition of equipment On February 19, the case was heard at Dudley Magistrates Court and Hannah pleaded guilty to six offences relating to a failure to comply with EU provision concerning food safety and hygiene with victim surcharges of £231 and costs of £1,000 Walsall Council leader Councillor Garry Perry said: “Our teams have achieved another successful prosecution and I commend their hard work in bringing this case to court “This defendant intentionally breached the law and risked public health by failing to comply with food hygiene regulations “Our environmental health officers work closely with food businesses to ensure they maintain high standards Council chiefs have welcomed moves by a supermarket to breathe new life into an empty Brownhills town centre shopping precinct The former Ravenscourt Shopping Centre in Brownhills High Street has been standing vacant and mostly derelict for a number of years and has been the source of residents complaints due to vandalism and anti-social behaviour in the area Walsall Council said most of the site is now owned by the Aldi chain with the intention of demolishing the existing shopping centre to create a brand new store in order for the business to proceed with the development it needs to acquire a small number of shop units on High Street Walsall Council associate leader Councillor Adrian Andrew explains: “Having been involved in this project for some years it is great to see more movement taking place and recommitting to working with Aldi to deliver this project as we did a couple of years ago "We are committed to working to make this happen and remove this eyesore and hope that Aldi will take action to demolish as soon as possible to show the people of Brownhills their commitment to this project "There are 4 shop units on the high street within the development area which Aldi has been attempting purchase since 2020 however they have not been able to reach an agreement with the owners “As a council we are considering our options to assist with this much-needed development and while we do not take these decisions lightly we will consider using compulsory purchase powers to make sure the redevelopment is able to go ahead if we need to.” The development is due to be discussed by the town hall cabinet on Wednesday A council report said officers propose to work with Aldi to ensure that the land and property to be purchased is essential in the delivery of the new store and that planning permission is in place The council added that subject to the company providing  evidence that the scheme is feasible it would consider the future use of compulsory purchase powers to help acquire the necessary sites Aldi previously proposed to shut its existing store also in High Street and build a brand new branch which will be around 50 per cent bigger with increased car parking spaces from 57 to 100 St Giles Hospice officially opened the doors to its newest charity shop in Brownhills offers the local community the opportunity to help fund vital hospice care services by purchasing pre-loved items at affordable prices and donating their pre-loved goods kindly attended the new St Giles Hospice charity shop to cut the ribbon and volunteers into the shop for a first look The Mayor commended St Giles for the work that it does in providing hospice care to local people highlighting how the hospice’s care and support is nothing short of extraordinary The charity shop features a selection of quality and more – and will help raise more funds for the patients and families St Giles supports amid ongoing financial challenges within the hospice sector said: "We're thrilled to open our new shop in Brownhills and connect with our wonderful community here Every purchase made in our charity shops helps us continue to provide care to those who need it most “Our wonderful chain of charity shops play a crucial role in funding care services and the new Brownhills location will help extend this impact which is truly incredible and a testament to everyone who has generously donated items "There will be many volunteer opportunities at the new shop in Brownhills offering a chance for community members to make a meaningful difference to their local hospice St Giles also welcomes donations of quality items to stock the shop helping to support the vital care services it provides "Donations can be dropped off during shop opening hours or at any of the hospice donation stations."   or find out more information about donating or volunteering by visiting: stgileshospice.com/shops A Walsall secondary school will welcome a new headteacher later this year Ross Doodson will take on the role at Brownhills Ormiston Academy in September Mr Doodson is the current vice principal at the Deakin Avenue school, where he started 18 years ago. Prior to that, he spent eight years working as a Resident Musical Director for the Youth Summer Theatre Project at Oakengates Theatre in Telford, Shropshire During his time at the school he has held several leadership roles including head of music director of performing arts and assistant headteacher with responsibility for personal development and enrichment He will take over from current headteacher Mr Doodson said: "I am honoured to be taking over the role of principal at Brownhills Ormiston Academy and very much look forward to building on its strong foundations My priority is to provide an ambitious environment where students receive an exceptional education “I have seen first-hand the dedication of our staff whose passion for student success is at the heart of our school we will strive for excellence in teaching and learning every day and ensure every student is equipped to thrive." education director at Ormiston Academies Trust said he was "delighted" to have appointed Mr Doodson to the role Mr Hughes said: "He stood out as an exceptional candidate bringing great enthusiasm for supporting our students “His passion for making a real difference in the lives of young people is clear and we are confident he will continue to foster a caring and ambitious environment where every student can thrive “We also want to thank Ann for all she has done for the school and wish her the very best for the future." Police enquiries remain ongoing into a crash involving a mobility scooter and a car in Brownhills which left an elderly man in a critical condition Officers were called to the collision on Chester Road North shortly after 10pm on Saturday (January 25) A 78-year-old man, who was riding the mobility scooter, was treated at the scene for a number of serious injuries and taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in a critical condition was arrested on suspicion of drug driving but was later released under investigation A West Midlands Police spokesman confirmed on Monday morning enquiries into the crash remain ongoing People with information about the crash were previously asked to contact the force via Live Chat on its website or by calling 101 and quoting 4431 of January 25 or by emailing SCIU@westmidlands.police.uk Try a different filter or a new search keyword Instrumentalist and composer from Staffordshire, UK. Melodies plucked out from the soles of muddy shoes www.instagram.com/rosiebrownhill/ Streaming and Download help Redeem code supported by 4 fans who also own “Mud Pie 2.” If Nick Cave had met the Velvet Underground in a cornish pub..... Raw and atmospheric - swooping low whistle buzzing drones and liquid guitar rolling through unexpected harmonies The latest from the UK’s Chris Brain is a gorgeously wrought album of tender acoustic folk music The Melbourne singer-songwriter's captivating debut balances dreamy indie folk with driving Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s “Live at WOMAD 1985” is a Vital Recording from Qawwali’s International Ambassador The Stories Behind Big Crown Records’ Soulful Singles Backxwash joins the show to discuss her recent release Read moreIt was always going to be a nervous 90 minutes against Sheffield United who started the match five points behind and maintained a chance of catching Burnley The opening exchanges lacked quality but not aggression as the two teams wanted to show their desire for promotion Late challenges were the norm until Gustavo Hamer was cautioned for a needless kick on Brownhill to gift the hosts a free-kick The ball was worked out from the right to Marcus Edwards whose cross belatedly landed at Josh Cullen’s feet The waiting Brownhill smashed into the roof of the net Considering Burnley had not conceded twice in a league match all season a turnaround was already a difficult task for Sheffield United This was not a message received by Tom Cannon whose smart run allowed him to latch on to Hamer’s pass and beat James Trafford with a ferocious strike It was his first goal for the club since joining in January Chris Wilder has looked frustrated in recent weeks as his side have slipped behind Burnley and Leeds They were serious rivals for an automatic promotion spot a fatal error when the situation was so tight The leveller increased the tension inside the stadium although that was soon relieved when Anel Ahmedhodzic decided to kick Hannibal Mejbri up in the air inside the penalty area sending Cooper the wrong way to return the home support to a state of delirium Brownhill punched the air with delight and encouraged more noise Seeing things through is a core part of Parker’s strategy exemplified by him taking off their most dangerous player in Edwards just after the hour mark and replacing him with the stoic central midfielder Josh Laurent While Burnley were putting more behind the ball Wilder sent on Tyrese Campbell and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi in search of an equaliser against a team offering up few chances Brownhill and his teammates go wild with the home fans Photograph: Martin Rickett/PATrafford has rebuilt his ­reputation as one of the country’s best young goalkeepers after struggling in ­Burnley’s error-ridden season in the top flight under Kompany when they conceded an average of more than two a game It has been very different this year with Connor ­Roberts Maxime Estève and Bashir Humphreys or Lucas Pires in front of him but Trafford has still regularly produced vital saves most notably in the goalless draw against Sunderland in January when he repelled two late penalties There were no such big moments in this match as Trafford easily coped with everything thrown at him in the second half to leave Wilder with the tricky task of the playoffs “We’ve ­finished third and we’ve taken it deep,” Wilder said “We have to use this as fuel and motivation Free daily newsletterKick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football Parker will have a point to prove as a manager back in the top flight His previous two experiences resulted in him being relegated with Fulham and sacked after four games when in charge of Bournemouth His ­complaint with the latter was that they did not have enough quality in the squad and Burnley will need to invest intelligently in the summer but they could be better equipped than Kompany’s version thanks to their defensive solidity Last season’s promoted teams are all set to come back down with few points on the table showing the ever growing gap between the divisions Not that anyone celebrating the promotion was contemplating anything more than the immediate party the Burnley substitutes sprinted onto the pitch leaping over the hoardings to join their heroes and antagonise the Blades “I don’t think we were protected by the football club or the stewards.” Parker made a quick escape to the stands to embrace his wife and speak with the club’s owners who believed in his vision The smoke bombs from the pitch invaders left claret and blue clouds in the Lancashire sky They immediately dissipated but the positivity did not You have reached ESPN's UK edition. Stay on current site or go to US version The midfielder's first half brace, either side of Thomas Cannon's goal sparked euphoric scenes at Turf Moor as Burnley made a swift return to the Premier League Their win simultaneously secured promotion for their title-rivals Leeds United Burnley's promotion campaign has been built on defensive solidity with the club setting a record of 12 consecutive clean sheets this season Their approach has seen them earn the "boring" tag from opposition fans but Brownhill remains unperturbed by that We had been written off and we've been called boring .. but we've bored our way to the Premier League," he told Sky Sports post-match I am so buzzing for the lads who haven't played Premier League football the Championship title will be decided between Leeds who host Bristol City and finish the season away to Plymouth Argyle whose remaining games include a road trip to Queens Park Rangers and a home match with Milwall More than 30 firefighters attended a fire in a high rise block of flats in Brownhills Emergency services were called to Humphries House a 17-storey residential building in Lindon Drive crewed by 30 West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) firefighters A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service crew also attended from Lichfield The WMFS said the fire originated on the eighth floor of the building Residents on the eighth floor and above were evacuated West Midlands Police officers have also attended A cordon was put in place while the emergency services worked An update this afternoon said: "This fire was confirmed to have been extinguished by 3.25pm "It is understood to have affected one flat "We will shortly be scaling down our resources at the scene to four fire crews "Our investigators will be working to establish how it started." A statement later in the day said: "Crews have made good progress at this incident although searches to flats above and below have taken place to check for fire spread "Colleagues from West Midlands Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service also attended An MP has met with dedicated volunteers and staff at a newly opened hospice shop in Brownhills to discuss how retail operations support vital end-of-life care visited the St Giles Hospice shop on High Street part of the charity's network of 23 retail outlets Wendy Morton met with St Giles Hospice Chief Executive Elinor Eustace and the shop manager Michelle Reece to discuss how retail operations support vital end-of-life care services Wendy Morton said: "It was a pleasure to visit the St Giles shop in Brownhills and meet the amazing team there Their dedication and hard work is already helping to raise vital funds to ensure that the hospice can continue to provide outstanding care and support to those who need it most in our community We’re delighted to welcome them back to the High Street." Elinor added: "We are delighted to have welcomed Wendy Morton MP to our Brownhills shop to meet our wonderful volunteers and staff The visit provided an important opportunity to share how our shops support our wider hospice and discuss our current financial challenges." raised over £500 on its first day of trading All St Giles shops are currently being refurbished to boost fundraising capabilities and improve working conditions for staff and volunteers This success reflects the generous support of local donors shoppers and volunteers who contribute to the charity's retail network which generated more than £500,000 last year With annual operating costs approaching £10 million and only 18% government funding St Giles relies heavily on retail income to maintain its specialist services for patients and families across the region To find out more about St Giles Hospice shops or to find your nearest store A Walsall man has been put behind bars for strangling two women in separate incidents in Lichfield and Brownhills Thirty-four-year-old Luke Clark, of Walsall was first arrested in relation to an an incident at a property off Eastern Avenue in Lichfield on March 1 when two women One victim was left with bite marks and both suffered reddening round the throat after he grabbed them Prosecutor Mr David Iles told Wolverhampton Crown Court sitting at Telford: "Luke Clark asked for money to get drugs and when they declined he flipped and started hitting and slapping them At some point both were being strangled by him at the same time "He smashed a photo frame and as he left the address took both their phones and some house keys "He was later arrested and told not to contact either victim." A fire that broke out in a block of flats in the Black Country was accidental More than 30 firefighters and six fire engines rushed to Lindon Drive on Thursday after a fire was reported on the eighth floor of the 17-storey Humphries House apartment block Residents from the eighth floor and above had to be evacuated West Midlands Fire Service officials have now confirmed that the blaze The fire is said to have affected one flat with residents saying they saw 'smoke coming from the windows' Read moreAlas, a collective loss of Watford heads precipitated a flurry of cards and in effect brought the game to a premature end allowing the thoughts of Scott Parker’s side to return once again to potential top-flight football By the time Watford were reduced to nine men soon after the hour mark they had relinquished their early lead and found themselves 2-1 down to goals from Zian Flemming and Josh Brownhill Whether they could have found a route back with parity of numbers will remain unknown While Watford’s fans made their feelings towards the referee Matt Donohue clear at full time Tom Cleverley laid the blame firmly at his senior players as the game descended into mayhem with 11 second-half cards issued including those crucial two reds in the space of nine minutes Moussa Sissoko’s decision to return Flemming’s gentle push with a heftier shove of his own was nothing short of stupidity from the captain Edo Kayembe could count himself slightly harder done shown a second yellow when he put his arm out to fend off a challenge and inadvertently connected with Marcus Edwards’ neck “We were certainly the bull and they were the matador,” said Cleverley I didn’t think it would be Moussa and Edo making those mistakes “It’s disappointing because the performance in the first half was some of the best football we’ve produced this season We certainly lost our head a little bit and have to learn from that We can look at ourselves for why we ended up with nine men and can’t point too many fingers at the referee There will be no complaints from us with the red cards.” In fact, Watford still managed to threaten despite their significant numerical disadvantage, but Burnley stood firm Their unbeaten league run now stands at an extraordinary 30 games and it is increasingly difficult to envisage anything preventing their promotion Victory at home against third-placed Sheffield United on Easter Monday will secure a Premier League return Edo Kayembe protests after receiving Watford’s second red card of the match Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA“We started a little bit slowly,” Parker said very well once they got their nose in front We came here for three points and managed to walk away with them the Malian teenager Mamadou Doumbia must have been shocked by the ease with which he was allowed to nod a fine looping cross from the 20th-birthday boy Rocco Vata past a full-stretch Trafford Burnley’s wait goes on to match Port Vale’s Football League record of 30 clean sheets it was matched only by disbelief that Watford – and Kayembe in particular – did not double their lead Having missed a prime opportunity to nod in when totally unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box the Democratic Republic of the Congo midfielder then saw Trafford tip his 25-yard rocket on to the underside of the bar – a wonder save both managers hailed as world class – before the Championship player of the season contender beat away a third Kayembe shot Jaidon Anthony whipping in a pinpoint cross from the left for Flemming to head home The visitors went ahead just before the hour when Brownhill nodded in Hannibal Mejbri’s knockdown from a couple of yards Then followed the two red-card flashpoints Egil Selvik did wonderfully to deny Brownhill a second from point-blank range before the nine men of Watford somehow manufactured a stirring effort in the closing stages CJ Egan-Riley produced a magnificent last-ditch tackle to deny Vakoun Bayo when he was played through on goal and then Trafford dived full stretch to keep out Ryan Andrews’ long-range strike What might Watford have managed with all their players on the pitch Brownhills residents keen to turn their hands to gardening are being urged to apply for vacant allotment spaces Applications are open for plots at Wharfside Park Allotment Gardens situated in Whitehorse Road, in  Brownhills, Walsall The thriving group said it was eager to welcome new members to join in cultivating fresh produce fostering friendships and contributing to a vibrant It has blossomed into a hub of activity and growth attracting both seasoned gardeners and enthusiastic newcomers who share knowledge and celebrate the joys of growing their own fruits The site is operated by Sewell Hammonds Estate Estate owner Declan Hammonds says: “We are incredibly proud of the strong sense of community and collaboration that has developed here As we prepare for another successful growing season we look forward to welcoming new faces who share our passion for gardening and sustainability.” Spaces are limited, so apply early to avoid disappointment. To join Wharfside visit the Trivium Land website and complete your application A woman suffered minor injuries after a two-vehicle crash in Brownhills on Monday afternoon A white van and grey Land Rover were both seriously damaged in the collision on Chase Road One ambulance was called to the scene where they assessed a woman for minor injuries A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 1.25pm to reports of a two car road traffic collision at the junction of Lichfield Road and Ogley Road was assessed and found with minor injuries West Midlands Fire Service crews were also called to the crash Aldridge Fire Station said: "We have just attended a road traffic collision at the junction of Chase Road and Lichfield Road involving a van and a car A photo taken at the scene showed damage to the front of the van as well as severe damage to the side and rear of the car National Express West Midlands warned passengers of an "emergency incident" on Chase Road just before 2.20pm on Monday It said service number 8 – which runs between Walsall and Lichfield – had been disrupted the regional bus company said the service to Lichfield had diverted via Hanney Hay Road and Watling Street it said the incident had cleared with services following a normal line of route The nights are drawing in and autumn is in full bloom now and before long Before then there is a host of am dram productions across the region for you to enjoy Let’s start with one of the biggest and the best Brownhills Musical Theatre Company will be presenting the wonderful “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock The show is a hoot of a tale where three drag queens travel across Australia to perform their show and ultimately pay a visit to Tic’s ex-wife and young son On the way they encounter some wild and hilarious adventures warm welcomes as well as hostility and homophobia smash hit comedy jukebox musical features some of the best loved hits of the seventies and eighties Gloria Gaynor’s anthem for women the world over “I Will Survive.” The list is endless and a good time is guaranteed “I am absolutely thrilled to bring Priscilla to audiences with the talent of BMTC “You will want to join in with songs and dance along and you will almost certainly be jealous of the fabulous costumes!” I love this show and cannot wait to see it For tickets, visit brownhillsmusicaltheatre.co.uk or call the Prince of Wales Theatre Studio 61 Drama Group is presenting “Bleak Expectations” by Mark Evans which is described as “the story Charles Dickens might have written after drinking too much gin!” Follow half-orphan Pip's extraordinary exploits with his sisters Pippa and Poppy and best friend Harry Biscuit as they attempt to escape the calculating clutches of the dastardly Tickets are just £10 each and are available from newhamptonartscentre.co.uk online One of the best comedy series ever written has to be Richard Curtis and Paul Maydew-Archer’s “The Vicar of Dibley.” We have all watched the original and the reruns and laughed out loud but now you have the opportunity to see it on stage too Geraldine Grainger is sent to Dibley following the unfortunate death of the Reverend Pottle She is jolly and down-to-earth and embraces her posting to the small country village but she is not quite what Head of the Parish Council David Horton and the selection of oddball villagers were expecting I bet they have had some fun rehearsing this one Tinkers Farm Opera will be performing this iconic play at Chaddesley Corbett Village Hall from October 22-26 as the Wednesday to Saturday performances have already sold out For tickets, visit tinkersfarmopera.com or email tinkersfarmopera@gmail.com The popular Lichfield Players Dramatic Society is presenting Gordon Steel’s play “Albert Nobbs” from October 23-26 It is 19th-century Ireland and the painfully shy butler Albert Nobbs is hiding an incredible secret: He is really a she Terrified that someone will discover her identity until the arrival of Hubert Page who makes a huge difference in Albert's life Hubert is also secretly a woman and has managed to find a partner who helps her maintain her masquerade In pursuit of a similar happy relationship yet sad in parts too and is interestingly described as “A Blithe Spirit for the Working Class.” Make of that what you will visit lichfieldplayers.co.uk or the Lichfield Garrick Theatre at Dorothy and her chums are heading for The Little Theatre where from October 31-November 2 you can catch a production of “The Wizard of Oz” I really don’t need to recap the story for this one with a host of instantly recognizable characters and includes the wonderfully uplifting songs “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” “In The Merry Old Land of Oz” and of course in fact take the whole family because you will be guaranteed a wonderful night or afternoon’s entertainment For tickets, visit thelittletheatredonnington.co.uk or call 01952 407959 Abbey Foregate Drama will be presenting Gail Young’s classic play “Cheshire Cats” from October 30 to November 2 at St This is the story of a group of Cheshire women who set out on the famous Moonlight Walk in London in aid of breast cancer The walk is conducted with the women wearing their bras over their tops in order to promote their cause and follows the adventures of the group along the way but the inevitable hint of sadness that the subject matter brings For tickets, visit abbeydrama.com or call 07951862881. Well, that’s all for this week. Please email all your news and good quality colour photos to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk, call me on 01902 319662, or follow me on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram. Brownhills Community Association, which operates Brownhills Community Centre, Walsall Wood and Pelsall Village Centre, is proud to announce the extraordinary results of its latest Social Return on Investment (SROI) assessment which was carried out by the Housing Association Charitable Trust (HACT). Social Return on Investment is a framework that measures the social, environmental, and economic value of an organisation's activities. It provides a consistent way to understand and manage an organisation’s impact. Over a 12 month period, with an investment of under £500,000, the organisation has generated over £11 million in social value, underscoring its vital role in enhancing community well-being, inclusivity, and opportunity. This impressive SROI figure reflects the tangible and intangible benefits delivered through the Association’s wide range of programmes and services. From supporting families, elderly and youth to promoting health, education, and social inclusion, every initiative is designed to make a lasting impact. The £11 million return is not just a financial measure - it represents the countless lives touched and positive changes made within Brownhills and Pelsall. “We are thrilled to share this milestone,” said Janet Davies, Centre Manager at Brownhills Community Association. “It’s a powerful testament to the hard work of our team, the dedication of our volunteers, and the generosity of our partners. Every pound invested in our community is multiplied in value, creating a ripple effect of positive change.” The Association remains committed to building on this success. Plans include expanding services, launching new community initiatives, and building even stronger partnerships. “We invite everyone to get involved—whether through volunteering, participating in our programmes, or supporting our cause. Together, we can continue to make Brownhills, Walsall Wood and Pelsall a vibrant, supportive community for all,” added Janet. The West Midlands Fire Service has recently experienced tension and turmoil at the top with the resignation of its Chairman, Greg Brackenridge, and interim CEO, Oliver Lee. Mr Lee is believed to have tried to withdraw his resignation The two had been in a public spat on social media in the lead-up to the resignations The argument involved Mr Lee posting messages supposedly sent to him by Mr Brackenridge and alleging he had been treated with "legal action" because of his social media posts The former Royal Marine commander had been appointed after the service’s previous chief, Wayne Brown, committed suicide in January. Wendy Morton told the Commons that recent issues at the authority which oversees the running of the West Midlands Fire Service "I’m afraid there are too many unanswered questions" Ms Morton, Conservative Party MP for Aldridge Brownhills in the West Midlands “Recent events at the West Midlands Fire Authority regarding failures of governance and staff grievances highlight some of the really deep rooted and troubling problems and I’m afraid there are too many unanswered questions “So will this Government ensure that there’s an independent and transparency public inquiry to ensure that the West Midlands Fire Authority meets the obligations and standards that my residents and people right across the West Midlands rightly expect and deserve?” Commons Leader Lucy Powell MP said: “I’m very sorry to hear about the poor findings of the fire service in the West Midlands; it is a much-needed service that local people should be able to rely on in those times of need but I will ensure that the relevant minister gets back to her as soon as possible about what can be done.” Her comments echoed that of Garry Perry, the Leader of Walsall Council who made a similar request in a letter to the Home Secretary earlier this week acknowledged that the service had been experiencing a “challenging time.” She said “May I first say thank you to all of you for doing the critical work to keep our communities safe over what I recognise has been a challenging time “While I am disappointed in the series of events and consequent decisions of both Oliver Lee and Councillor Brackenridge to resign I recognise that these were their decisions to take I thank them both for their work for WMFS.” "We are in regular communication with the Home Office" A West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority spokesperson said: "The current situation has understandably attracted the attention of many important external bodies to include the Home Office "We are in regular communication with the Home Office and have invited any additional scrutiny or support that they may feel is necessary "We remain in close contact with them and are committed to ongoing transparency "We are also in regular communication with HMICFRS and the Fire Authority has written to them to formally request a specific and focused review of the governance of the service "This review will run alongside the upcoming inspection and will provide assurance alongside identifying areas for improvement." 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… Here is the image of the Walsall man put behind bars for strangling two women in separate incidents in Lichfield and Brownhills Luke Clark, aged 34, of Lichfield Road, in Rushall, Walsall, was jailed for a total of 35 months for intentional strangulation and assault.   Mr Recorder Imran Shafi KC said he was "dangerous" and posed a serious risk of harm to potential partners Now, Staffordshire Police which carried initially arrested him after an incident in Lichfield have released his image He was jailed after separate incidents including at a property off Eastern Avenue in Lichfield on March 1 when two women told police that he had attacked them leaving one victim with bite marks and both with reddening on the throat after he grabbed them Clark, who had issues with  was again arrested on September 6 after one of the victims suffered a split lip and bruises on the face during an incident in the Lichfield Road area of in Brownhills For the offences Clark was jailed for a total of 35 months minus three months spent on remand in custody at a hearing held at Wolverhampton Crown Court sitting at Telford last month He must serve half the total term before being released on licence Wendy Morton has celebrated with her team as she held the Aldridge-Brownhills seat for the Conservatives It had been a safe Tory seat going into the election and polls predicted the Conservatives would hold onto it this time around despite Labour's rise nationally Wendy Morton's Conservative team screamed as their candidate's name was read out and the numbers announced revealing a thousands-strong lead over the runner-up a teary Conservative candidate thanked her team Wendy Morton said: "First of all I want to thank the returning officer and everyone who was involved in organising this venue for the election "I'd also like to thank my amazing team and also my family who have supported me through all of this who is probably sitting at home thinking 'what is happening?' I want to say thank you to everyone who took part in this election I will go back to Westminster and continue to do my best for all of the residents of Aldridge and Brownhills." Wendy Morton said: "I'm gratefully relieved It's been a short but also a long campaign I was so keen to make sure that I was standing on a record of what I have been doing for my constituency "I'm just relieved that we have got through it now Now we are back to Westminster where I will continue to fight for the greenbelt make sure that train station gets built in Aldridge and continue to stand up for the police station and local services." Boundary changes saw Aldridge-Brownhills expanded to the south for this election The Conservatives re-secured the seat with 15,901 votes over 4,000 votes more than Labour's Luke Davies who received 11,607 Reform's Graham Eardley received 9,903 votes and secured third place Mr Eardley said: "We received a very positive response from the residents we were surprised at how many people were switching from Conservative to Reform UK and even Labour to Reform during the run-up we were out with the megaphone just getting people to vote today I think it's going to be a very good night for us in Aldridge and Brownhills." The turnout in Aldridge-Brownhills was 62.5 per cent Two homes in Walsall which were destroyed by fire will be demolished "as a matter of urgency" Number 2 and 4 in Severn Road, Brownhills were badly damaged after a fire in June 2023 The blaze caused by a fire lighter ripped through the pair of semi-detached buildings, both of them managed by housing association, Whg Walsall Council gave permission to flatten the two eyesore buildings which had become a target of vandalism and antisocial behaviour a demolition management plan must be put in place to protect the residents of neighbouring properties and nearby amenities from disruption A Whg spokesperson said: “Following an extensive fire to No.2 the decision has been taken to knock the pair of semi-detached buildings down as a matter of urgency to reduce the risk of further vandalism and to remove the dwellings as both an eyesore and magnet for anti-social behaviour.” added: “The fire happened back in June 2023 and was caused by a fire lighter We plan on regenerating the area and rebuilding more new homes on the site in the future.” 'We've bored ourselves to the Premier League' says Burnley's BrownhillBurnley clinched promotion to the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United with captain Josh Brownhill scoring twice on Monday.Burnley captain Josh Brownhill joked that the Clarets "bored our way to the Premier League" following their promotion-clinching 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Monday which came either side of Tom Cannon's equaliser sparked wild scenes at Turf Moor as Scott Parker's side returned to the top flight at the first attempt Their victory also saw Leeds United join them in the Premier League for the 2025-26 season with the second tier leaders thumping Stoke City 6-0 earlier in the day.  Burnley not only won promotion to the top flight but have also now gone 31 regular-season Championship games unbeaten If they avoid defeat in their final two games of the campaign they will match the 33-match record set by Reading in 2005-06 The Clarets' promotion has been built on their defensive solidity, with the club setting a record of 12 consecutive clean sheets earlier in the term and have conceded just 15 goals throughout their season so far.  Their approach has seen them earn the "boring" tag but match-winner Brownhill was unconcerned with how his team sealed their Premier League return.  All that hard work this season," Brownhill told Sky Sports shortly after full-time.  "It takes a whole team; it's not just a back four "I don't think a lot of the lads will sleep I'm so buzzing for the lads that haven't played Premier League football." it was yet another second-tier promotion that he can add to his CV.  Parker has now overseen three Championship promotions with three different teams but said that his latest success was arguably his most special.  Set on a mission at the start of this year to get promoted," Parker said there was a lot of ups and downs and the journey we've been on is nothing short of incredible I built my whole life on hard work and I try to instil that in these players a group that is together and it's got us to the Premier League I've had some bumps in the road as a manager "I decided to take a year out and came back to this "The spotlight often shines on the players and myself but the sacrifices that families make - they fully deserve it." And with Burnley level on points with Leeds with two games remaining Parker said his players will do everything in their power to go up as champions.  That's the aim and that's exactly what we are going to do There's two games left and we want to try and go for the title," Parker concluded.  Administrators have been appointed for a Brownhills-based metal fabrication firm GJF Fabrications at Chase Link, Lichfield Road, Brownhills Grant Thornton was appointed as administrators on August 20 GJF specialises in the design and manufacture of containers skips and recycling banks for major national waste and recycling companies The firm employed around 60 staff last year Its accounts from March last year show that annual turnover had fallen from £8.5 million a year earlier to £7.7m GJF Fabrications welcomed former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street to the business to discuss the firm’s future growth strategy Last year managing director Dougie Craig announced plans to expand its workforce and increase its share of the container market Time has not been kind to Ravenscourt shopping precinct in Brownhills Locals describe Ravenscourt Shopping Precinct as dirty, rat-infested and the bane of Brownhills A quick flick through the news archives echoes the sentiments I found stories of police operations uncovering a drug den and romping in the public toilets Aldi owns most of the properties here - there are just four privately owned units which the chain has been unable to buy preventing the supermarket development from moving forward Walsall Council promised to support Aldi with compulsory purchase orders to bring about the regeneration of Ravenscourt I headed to the site and wondered why people wanted to see the back of this derelict precinct with a pedestrian courtyard in front of the units – typical for a 1960s precinct you can only imagine how it would have looked this time of year as locals race between shops for last-minute gifts or to bag a deal in the January sales moss and weeds as tall as me reclaim the footways graffiti is strewn across nearly every inch of the building’s facade the windows are boarded up with chipboard to prevent squatters from taking hold and sodden canopies leak rainwater as they look as though they’re about to give way Brownhills resident Stephanie Broadhurst said: “It was good when there were all shops and things But since they closed down it’s just an eyesore there’s youths hanging about and I’m sick of the huge rats down there.” also described the precinct as an ‘eyesore’ and wants to see it redeveloped said Ravenscourt is ‘wrecking the whole of Brownhills’ plans were approved to partially demolish Ravenscourt and create a two-storey building with two retail units and a gym This project never came to fruition either The latest ray of hope came in 2022 when Aldi said it wanted to redevelop the site Walsall Council granted planning permission and said it would support the supermarket in gaining ownership of the four remaining shop owners at Ravenscourt deputy leader councillor Adrian Andrew said: “Make no bones about it We will back Aldi all the way in order to make this development happen create new jobs and opportunities for Brownhills Whether the Aldi plans become reality or just another false dawn remains to be seen the people of Brownhills can only hope that this time Your feedback helps us to improve our website will introduce more visible community safety officers in Brownhills The scheme will test the impacts more community safety officers have upon local communities abducted and raped a girl has been jailed for more than a decade Regan Mann was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on September 16 The 20-year-old was also handed a restraining order forbidding him from contacting his victims He previously pleaded guilty to two charges of rape and one charge of abduction The girl thought he was aged 14 or 15 but in reality She took along a friend of a similar age and Mann took both of them to his home in Brownhills DC Lucy Simpson, from the Complex Child Abuse Investigation Team at West Midlands Police said: "Mann took advantage of his young victim groomed her online and then arranged to meet up with her "She thought he was 14 or 15 but in reality he was 19 This sends out a clear message that people who behave in this appalling way will be caught convicted and will spend many years behind bars "The two girls have been very brave in providing evidence which has helped to successfully convict Mann We hope their bravery encourages other people subjected to sexual abuse to come forward." People looking to seek advice and support about sexual assault can visit the West Midlands Police website. Police are appealing for witnesses after a 78-year-old man was left in a critical condition when the mobility scooter he was on was in a collision with a car in Brownhills Officers were called to Chester Road North, close to The Park View Centre shortly after 10pm on Saturday where they found the man with 'a number of serious injuries' He was treated at the scene and taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where he remains in a critical condition A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and was later released under investigation Police are still investigating the circumstances that led to the collision and are appealing for witnesses to come forward and anyone who may have dashcam footage Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police via Live Chat or by calling 101 and quoting log number 4431 of January 25 Home   News   Article A section of the A46 is shut after a lorry overturned and shed its load of potatoes The vehicle overturned near McDonalds on the A46 Brownhills roundabout A National Highways spokesman said: “The A46 is closed southbound between the A17 Winthorpe and the A617 South Muskham near Newark On Trent This is due to an overturned lorry carrying potatoes that have spilled onto the roundabout “Recovery of the vehicle could be protracted so please plan your journey.” Earlier today, emergency services attended a collision on the A1133 at Langford Village