Your feedback helps us to improve our website The reception will serve as a central point of contact for visitors and deliver funeral or memorial paperwork.    Reopening this space reflects a commitment to delivering compassionate and accessible services for those managing funeral arrangements and memorial needs.    The reception will also include a waiting area in a private room for visitors who have booked a chapel service or appointments - where those needing any additional support can meet with staff Funeral directors and celebrants can also make use of this space to meet with families or wait between services.  The reopening of the reception forms part of broader site improvements undertaken over the past two years This has seen extensive landscape work carried out to enhance the cemetery and crematorium grounds which includes upgrading the chapel exit garden and changing the road layout to improve site accessibility for visitors.   Opening hours for the reception are Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 3:15pm with flexibility for later appointments where required Walsall Council is currently undertaking a public consultation to shape the future of Bereavement Services in the borough.  The consultation can be found at https://go.walsall.gov.uk/bereavement-services-consultation and will close on 21 April 2025.  For more information on bereavement services in Walsall residents can email BereavementServices@walsall.gov.uk or call 0300 555 2848.    Proud of our past our present and for our future Almost 300 residents turned out to a meeting over concerns that a developer linked to the unauthorised demolition of the Crooked House pub may be planning to build houses in the green belt Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 No application has yet been lodged for the land near Little Aston’s exclusive Roman Road but a residents' meeting heard that there were concerns over a lack of adequate infrastructure to accommodate a new estate The meeting on Monday was attended by Little Aston Park Residents’ Association and Clavedon Park Management members following talks with land owner Adam Taylor, who previously had business links to the Crooked House in Himley near Dudley and has links to a property company called Roman Aston Development Limited The field off Roman Lane the falls within the Lichfield District Council area The association’s spokesman said: “We have spoken to the landowner about his plans for the land which is in the greenbelt “There is no infrastructure here to warrant a development of 80 to 100  houses and these days they come with two to three cars “We have seen many accidents and near misses on the blind junction where the proposed access road would run to Little Aston Park Road and Royston Chase “They are talking about buying and knocking down existing houses to create the new access road but any new development would possibly involve Roman Lane which is a narrow private road The schools and medical services in the area are oversubscribed as it is Little Aston Park is a registered conservation area You would think that would give us some protection from new developments but we have concerns about the Government’s proposal to change planning policy which may reduce some planning application decisions from local council control ”We are well aware  of how much pressure town halls are under to meet Government housing targets."  Lichfield District Council's cabinet member for housing Councillor Alex Farrell said no application had been submitted relating to the field However Councillor Farrell said: "The guy who owns the land has been telling people that there's a planning application coming “I understand that we need to build more homes infrastructure-first approach and I don’t believe this proposed site is appropriate.” “I would definitely not be in favour of a development on this land I would echo the massive strength of feeling shown at the residents’ meeting and I’ll support local people 100 per cent."  There was a public outcry after the former Crooked House pub in Himley near Dudley was gutted in a blaze on August 5 which bought the 258-year-old pub shortly before it was set alight by arsonists He is  also listed as a director of Roman Aston Development Limited How many members should have access to the subscription You are using an outdated browser. 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up to our popular News and Product emails Terms and Conditions Acceptable Use Policy Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Download the Gardenforum Media Pack Gardenforum enjoys around 50,000 page views a month Repeated views of your banner will build recognition and confidence in your company Email: info@gardenforum.co.uk Look forward to hearing from you © Gardenforum 2025 | This site is intended for use by UK businesses only Gardenforum will not be responsible for any loss or liability arising from use by any other party Home   News   Article A new biogas renewable energy facility will be built at a farm near West Wickham despite more than 100 people lodging objections The anaerobic digestion plant is planned for Streetly Hall Farm where the applicant said it will protect jobs and create renewable energy Cambridgeshire County Council’s planning committee approved the plans last Wednesday (17 July) The new facility will take in between 60,000 to 75,000 tonnes of agricultural waste and energy crops a year which creates biomethane and carbon dioxide The biomethane will be injected into the local gas network and the carbon dioxide transported for use in the food industry Applicant Chris Coby said the new facility was needed because the agricultural sector had faced a lot of “disruption” from the impact of Brexit and the war in Ukraine It will help his farm to be “more flexible and profitable” and may enable him to hire more people The size of the plant has been reduced from the original proposal and Mr Coby said they had done the best they could to screen it but more than 100 objections were recorded - including from South Cambridgeshire District Council’s planning department which raised concerns about the plant’s impact on the rural landscape The British Horse Society and the Ramblers Association objected to plans for the new access road for HGVs to be built across part of a Roman road bridleway Six parish and town councils in the area also lodged objections vice chairman at West Wickham Parish Council was “disappointed” these had all been “dismissed” by the planning officer Cllr Sargeant said safety concerns about the proposed new junction on to the A1307 were “at the heart of many local objections” from people who used the road daily and “saw the near misses” He noted that there were also concerns about the “sheer scale of this facility” describing it as “industrial scale” in the countryside Cllr Sargeant recalled the applicant referencing a plan to create a community fund of around £10,000 a year as a form of compensation Mr Coby said he was planning to donate £10,000 a year to a nursery in the area as a “targeted deployment of funds” planning officers said safety and ‘Give Way’ signs were proposed to give the bridleway users priority The county council’s transport officer had not objected and said while “it is never a great idea to put a new junction on a road like this” it could not be stopped without good reason and the proposed junction had been assessed for safety Gamlingay) said a decision was “difficult” noting it would be hard for the council to refuse the plans if concerns were not backed up by their own officer’s assessments He said he also had “sympathy” for the applicant and his effort to diversify the farm business in “extraordinarily difficult circumstances” Alconbury and Kimbolton) said he understood the concerns but found nothing to “legitimately refuse the application” Warboys and the Stukeleys) said they may not like it but felt there was no reason to go against the officer recommendation Councillors added a condition asking for a community forum to be organised to allow people to meet the applicant and officials to discuss any issues The committee voted unanimously to approve the plans Police are asking for the public's help after vehicles were vandalised outside a Streetly home The offenders are said to have targeted an address on Maxholm Road on the evening of February 25 shortly before 9.45pm and threw paint over vehicles driveways and the front of a house causing thousands of pounds worth of damage Officers would like to speak to two men captured on CCTV Anyone with information is asked to contact the police via Live Chat on their website or by calling 101 quoting crime reference number 20/158651/25 Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 A dangerous driver who rammed a police car twice during a high speed chase through Streetly has avoided jail Police spotted Tom Parrish driving a Citroen Picasso on Queslett Road at 8.30pm on January 17 and followed him due to his number plate being covered with dirt when they blue lighted Parrish instead of pulling over he tried to escape by accelerating away During the next four minutes Parrish drove on the wrong side of the road, ran red lights and went almost double the speed limit on a number of residential roads in Streetly Unable to outrun the police car Parrish, 36, then tried a different tactic by attempting to ram his police pursuers off the road After stopping abruptly in the road he reversed rammed the police car The ramming caused £16,000 of damage and injured the officers inside the car stalled and he was arrested near the Old Irish Harp pub Streetly Crematorium's reception area has reopened to provide a dedicated space for families Reopening this space reflects a commitment to delivering compassionate and accessible services for those managing funeral arrangements and memorial needs Funeral directors and celebrants can also make use of this space to meet with families or wait between services Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing at Walsall Council “ We are delighted to reopen the reception at Streetly Crematorium ensuring families have access to the support and services they need during difficult times “Our bereavement staff have worked so hard to make this happen and I thank them for their commitment to delivering this service This is a significant step towards enhancing the support we provide to those using our service “This welcoming space will make a real difference in providing a compassionate and professional environment for bereaved families and visitors to Streetly “The reopening of our reception area and family room as well as having all our staff in uniform will not only enhance the professional atmosphere of the whole site but also make it easier for visitors to identify and approach our team ensuring a seamless and welcoming experience for everyone This has seen extensive landscape work carried out to enhance the cemetery and crematorium grounds which includes upgrading the chapel exit garden and changing the road layout to improve site accessibility for visitors Opening hours for the reception are Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3.15pm Walsall Council is currently undertaking a public consultation to shape the future of Bereavement Services in the borough The consultation can be found at go.walsall.gov.uk/bereavement-services-consultation and will close on 21 April 2025 residents can email BereavementServices@walsall.gov.uk or call 0300 555 2848 Plans have been submitted for an 18-metre lattice tower to be installed on green belt land in Streetly the proposed development will have six antennas The infrastructure would be delivered by Cornerstone a company which manages over 20,000 mobile infrastructure sites on behalf of telecom providers Cornerstone said the tower is strategically located to prevent nearby residents from having their views impacted which Cornerstone says will ‘significantly help’ in screening the installation from residential homes nearby Blackwood Primary School and the Foley Arms pub The tree is approximately eight metres in height 10 metres shorter than the proposed lattice tower Thirteen other nearby locations were reviewed as potential sites for the development one on the roof of Blackwood Primary School and another in Blackwood Park All of the other areas were deemed unsuitable due to either lack of space difficulties with installation or visual impact it is important to acknowledge that any installation of new infrastructure will inevitably bring about a degree of visual change for those residents and passers-by who are in close proximity particularly in residential areas or near frequently used public spaces and the installation of a telecommunications mast or similar equipment is no exception it is equally crucial to recognise that visibility or the mere presence of a new structure does not automatically translate into a significant or overwhelming adverse impact on the local area we have taken every measure to ensure that the installation is sympathetically integrated into the environment without compromising the integrity of the Green Belt or its surroundings Our proposal demonstrates a responsible approach to development meeting both infrastructure needs and environmental considerations “Given the small scale of the works involved in this application the proposed installation will not detract from the openness of the Green Belt any redundant equipment will be promptly removed further reducing any potential impact on the area “Mobile telecom networks are now ubiquitous throughout the United Kingdom It is an expectation that an individual can connect and use their mobile phone whenever and wherever they are The Central Government has seen the telecoms industry and in particular 5G to be at the forefront of economic development Mobile data usage is expected to rise significantly in the coming years as new technologies become more widespread and integrated into everyday life.” A leader has hit back at anti relief road campaigner claims that Shrewsbury's North West Relief Road project means Shropshire Council is 'rushing headlong into bankruptcy' Even though the council is teetering on the brink of running out of money in its budget for day to day services its leader says the relief road won't affect that Mike Streetly from campaign group Better Shrewsbury Transport said: “Just how reckless can Shropshire Council be “By racing the NWRR decision letter through without full government funding in place or planning conditions being satisfied they risk being stuck with a £100m-plus bill for this white elephant road at a time when council services are being cut to the bone “The NWRR is going to drag the whole of Shropshire into bankruptcy and create yet more misery for residents The human impact – from slashed SEND services to library cuts to unfilled potholes – is huge The council is expected to vote on a Full Business Case on the road in December even though complex planning conditions have yet to be satisfied Campaigners are set on going to judicial review on the project with two challenges champing at the bit Mr Streetly said: ‘Our legal counsel tells us there is a very strong case for a judicial review and we are motivated to take it all the way “The planning process is completely separate from confirming the project funding we are currently working to comply with a number of conditions set out in the planning permission “The Full Business Case will come to a meeting of full council shortly “The project will only proceed once final funding for the project is confirmed and this will be set out transparently for everyone to see with two separate pre-planning approved schemes for up to 55 apartments is now on the market for offers over £1.7m Property agency Bond Wolfe is handling the sale of this freehold residential development opportunity at 1 Streetly Road The 0.48-acre site features a vacant former bingo hall and cinema One pre-approved design is for a build-to-rent scheme with 51 to 55 apartments The other pre-approved design is for 44 to 46 sheltered housing apartments for individuals over 55 managing director of the Birmingham-based Bond Wolfe said: “This is a superb development opportunity in a prominent location at the junction of Streetly Road and Marsh Lane in Stockland Green The area generally contains dwellings with heights of two with the immediate neighbouring buildings having substantial footprints “The local area is very urban and built up with the busy five-road junction being a focused centre for the district with many individual and local shops Good quality housing is needed in areas like this and the plans for this property could provide a major opportunity for the right developer “As well as the two pre-application approved designs alternative schemes may well be considered subject to planning consent the vendor has also previously had plans drawn up for a 61 to 63-unit scheme for housing associations charities or other institutions focusing on short-term accommodation.” Powered by Bury Free Press, Suffolk Free Press, Newmarket Journal & Haverhill Echo Powered by Bury Free Press, Suffolk Free Press, Newmarket Journal and Haverhill Echo Home   Haverhill   News   Article A new biogas renewable energy facility is set to be built at a farm near Haverhill despite over 100 people lodging objections to the plans The anaerobic digestion plant is due to be built at Streetly Hall Farm creating biogas to be injected into the local gas network The developer behind the plans said the new biogas plant will help protect jobs at the farm and create renewable energy The application to build the plant was approved by Cambridgeshire County Council at a planning committee meeting yesterday The new facility is due to take in between 60,000 to 75,000 tonnes of agricultural waste and energy crops a year The crops and waste will be used in the anaerobic digestion process to create biomethane and carbon dioxide The biomethane will be injected into the local gas network and the carbon dioxide transported elsewhere for use in the food industry said the new facility was needed to help support the farm after the sector had faced a lot of “disruption” from things such as Brexit He said the plant would help his farm to be “more flexible and profitable” helping him to keep employing staff he currently has and to potentially hire more people Mr Coby said the size of the plant had been reduced from the original proposal and said they had done the best they could to try and screen the proposed plant Concerns about the application were raised by many in the area with over 100 objections being lodged against the application The planning department at South Cambridgeshire District Council also objected to the development over concerns about the plant’s impact on the rural landscape Concerns were also raised by the British Horse Society and the Ramblers Association about the plan to build the new access road for HGVs across part of a Roman road bridleway also lodged formal objections opposing the plans said he was “disappointed” that the concerns raised by 100s of individuals and six parish councils had been “dismissed” by the planning officer who had recommended the plans be approved He said the safety concerns about the proposed new junction on to the A1307 were “at the heart of many local objections” Cllr Sargeant said the people raising these safety concerns were people who used the road daily and “saw the near misses” He also said there were also concerns about the “sheer scale of this facility” as he said it was an “industrial scale” facility planned in the countryside Cllr Sargeant added that the applicant had previously made reference to creating a community fund of around £10,000 a year as a form of compensation but said he could not see a reference to this in the proposals Mr Coby said he had talked about creating a community fund and was planning to donate £10,000 a year to a nursery in the area which he said would be a “targeted deployment of funds” Addressing the concerns about the access road crossing the bridleway planning officers said safety and ‘give way’ signs were proposed to give the bridleway users priority Councillors asked the county council transport officer to explain why they had not raised any objection in light of the concerns being raised by people in the area The officer said that whilst “it is never a great idea to put a new junction on a road like this” they said they could not stop people from doing so without a good reason They added that the proposed junction had been assessed for safety and they did not feel they had a reason to raise an objection Cllr Sebastian Kindersley said making a decision on the application was “difficult” He said it would be hard for the county council to refuse the plans for some of the issues raised if these concerns were not backed up by their own officer’s assessments Cllr Kindersley said he also had “sympathy” for the applicant and what they were trying to do to diversify their farm business in “extraordinarily difficult circumstances” Cllr Ian Gardener said he understood people’s concerns about the plans but said he did not think anything had been raised that they could use to “legitimately refuse the application” Cllr Steve Corney said while in their hearts they may not like it he did not think there was a reason for them to go against the officer recommendation to approve the application Councillors did agree to add a condition asking for a community forum to be organised to allow people in the area to meet with the applicant and officials to discuss any issues that may arise When a decision on the application was put to a vote the committee voted unanimously to approve the plans Connie Talbot found fame when taking second place on the first series of Britain's Got Talent Connie stole the hearts of the region - and the broader British public - aged just six with her cover of Somewhere Over The Rainbow in the 2007 series of the reality contest coming second place to opera singer Paul Potts was released back in the same year and went on to sell more than 250,000 copies worldwide and reached number one in three countries the young star from Streetly has released several albums featured on the Champions series of Britain's Got Talent amassed millions of followers on social media and toured all over Asia as well as other parts of the world the seasoned musician will go on her first solo UK-wide tour - starting in September - with tickets being made available on Friday The tour will see her light up stages in Birmingham at the Sunflower Lounge she said: "I was over the moon when I found out there was a chance to tour in the UK "It's a really big deal for me because I'll be performing original songs "Performing is my favourite part of my work being with the fans who have been so loyal and followed my work since I was a child will make these shows so intimate "I've been really lucky to tour overseas in the United States and Asia But performing in my home country is going to be a really special moment for me headlining a show in Birmingham has always been a dream of mine." Plans have been put forward for a second time to turn two vacant 1970s garage blocks in Streetly into eight apartments The latest application for the Boundary Court garages, rear of 78 and 80 Hundred Acre Road, is nearly identical to the last one which was refused by Walsall Council in June 2023 Applicant Starcrest Properties Ltd wants to demolish the existing garages and replace them with four one bedroom apartments Some pubs are blessed by a good location and a setting in the heart of the community that is being right in the middle of a town or city centre perfect for the midday lunch break or after-work drinks while others are set next to fields and meadows and work well as a place for walkers and people wanting a quiet space For the Hardwick Arms in Streetly, its location on the crossroads of the A452 Chester Road and Hardwick Road and down the road from two rugby clubs in Aldridge and Veseyans and a housing estate gives it a great location for all kinds of people set in cream and green and with grey beams running around the building as well as a large beer garden and car park Supervisor Molly Bloomfield has been part of the pub as a staff member for two years but also has a history with the Hardwick Arms as a past regular She said: "I live locally and after coming back from university I needed a part-time job and found there was a job opening "I used to come in here years ago as well for family meals with my parents because we lived just around the corner so it just felt right when I came back to work here." A 20-year-man has been seriously hurt after a crash in Streetly The man was driving a Ford Fiesta when it was struck by a Jaguar XF on Friday night The driver of the Jaguar XF allegedly failed to stop for officers prior to the crash in Aldridge Road Both men were taken to hospital following the collision is in hospital with injuries not thought to be life-threatening He will be interviewed by police at a later date The force has since referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in connection with the incident Members of the public who witnessed the crash are being urged to step forward Officers are also keen to hear from anyone who may have dash cam footage of the incident A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "A 20-year-old man has been seriously injured following a collision on Aldridge Road "The Ford Fiesta he was driving was hit by a Jaguar XF which failed to stop for police prior to this "His condition is not life-threatening and he will be interviewed at a later date "The incident has been referred to the IOPC "We want to thank the members of public who stopped and assisted at the scene "Anyone who saw what happened or has dash cam footage is asked to please get in touch via live chat on our website or call 101 quoting log 4525 of October 7." A team of runners from a Streetly school has raised more than £4,000 in memory of former student parents and pupils from Streetly Academy raised £4118 for the Sutton Coldfield branch of Ataxia UK in memory of Sunil Parkash when they took part in the Royal Sutton Fun Run Sunil passed away aged 18 after being diagnosed with Ataxia at the age of10 said: “Sunil was a beacon of light within our school and lit up any room "He was a young man who had a cheeky sense of humour and wore a constant smile on his face despite living with Ataxia since being diagnosed at the age of ten It was a huge shock to the school community when he passed away in August 2021 at the age of 18 “The school Fun Run team always selects a local charity to support and if possible one with a strong connection to the school Helping to raise awareness of Ataxia and raise money for the local support group was an obvious choice this year and I’m delighted with the response and total raised.” who co-ordinates the Royal Sutton Coldfield branch of Ataxia UK said: “It was a wonderful gesture for the school to support Ataxia and specifically to fundraise in memory of Sunil for our local branch in Sutton “Ataxia disrupts the messages sent from the brain to muscles that are used to move "It’s a degenerative condition with currently no cure but considerable progress has been made in finding a treatment to help those living with Ataxia “People with Ataxia can often find themselves living in isolation This donation will enable us to continue to provide vital support.” This week marks 80 years since the Normandy Landing with events and services taking place across the region Canada and France attacked German forces on the coast of northern France in 1944 marking the start of the campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied north-west Europe events and remembrance services are set to take place across the region Wolverhampton Council will be hosting a free commemorative event on the piazza featuring speeches entertainment and live music such a ukelele performance 1940s singers The Bluebird Belles and a set by City of Wolverhampton Brass Band to close the event the lighting of the commemorative beacon will commence the service will start at 10.45am and be attended by councillors and the public The Mayor of Walsall will lay a commemorative wreath The community library will be marking the anniversary with activities such as sing-alongs and face painting Short Heath Lest We Forget CIC is holding a 10-mile sponsored walk – the 'Walk to the Bridge' will take place along canal towpaths and the five routes will represent the five landing beaches of Utah entertainment and a food trailer acting as the Cafe Gondree at the finish point The groups have reached the limit for participants – eight people per group walking 10 miles to commemorate 80-years – but ask the public to come and cheer them on They will pass through Brownhills near the tin man island but start from a number of locations such as Ball Lane ending at the Pegasus Bridge and The UK pub organised by The Royal British Legion and Sandwell Council will include a flag-raising and a minute's silence Attendees are requested to be outside the Council House by 10.45am Anyone is welcome to continue on to Oldbury British Legion in Windsor Road after the service and refreshments have finished at the Council House will be laying a wreath at the cenotaph in Ednam Road at 10am on Thursday The D-Day anniversary flag will be flown from the Council House on Thursday and the building will be lit up in red Dudley Zoo will be lighting a beacon at 9.15pm on Thursday coinciding with the beacons being lit throughout the United Kingdom A remembrance service will be taking place The Arboretum will be open to the public as normal and visitors will be welcome to watch the D-Day 80 Service of Remembrance in the grounds Seating will be made available on a first come first served basis but booking your visit in advance is recommended to guarantee entry The park will host a beacon-lighting event on the bowling green with live entertainment such as singers To add your D-Day 80th anniversary event to the list A pub has reopened its doors to customers following a £120,000 makeover was closed for a fortnight for the work to take place but started welcoming back customers on Sunday from the 31st Sutton Coldfield west scout group was invited along to cut a ribbon to mark the occasion tables and flooring and many areas have been redecorated Police were called to a funeral in Streetly when dozens of mourners defied strict guidelines on attendance due to the coronavirus outbreak Concerns were raised when 60 people were seen attending a service that was being held at Streetly Crematorium West Midlands Police confirmed officers attended the scene and found around 60 people there who were encouraged to disperse Walsall Council has announced gates will remain locked with only controlled access granted to up to a maximum of 10 people Coronavirus: Live updates as Boris Johnson fights virus in intensive care NHS angels on the frontline at hospital where nurse died of virus Coronavirus: 100 days on, what do we know? Walsall Commander Chief Superintendent Andy Parsons said: “Unfortunately we were unable to encourage the mourners to adhere to current restrictions and the funeral continued in breach of the new Government guidelines issued last week “We understand that this is deeply distressing time for bereaved families and friends but there are restrictions on the number of people permitted to attend funerals to protect everyone from the spread of Covid-19 “We will only enforce the law as an absolute last resort but we must stress that these restrictions are in place to prevent more deaths from this pandemic.” Walsall Council's cabinet member for community said the authority will keep the crematorium locked from this week with staff at the gates admitting only 10 close relatives for each funeral He said: “Regrettably there are some who are not able to follow the rules set in place for no more than 10 mourners at a burial “Of course we recognise the distress caused at present by the restrictions in place however the guidance is clear – the definitive way to beat the virus is to reduce social contact Ward councillor Suky Samra added: “We appreciate that any loss of a family member is a sad event challenging times we urge all communities to please respect the Government guidelines of no more than 10 family members attend the funeral of a loved one “There will be a time to pay respects when this dark cloud is finally over.” A row between Walsall Council and members of the borough's Muslim community has been ongoing for more than three years and a protest was planned to be held at Streetly Cemetery last weekend Originally the row was over flowerbeds and edgings however the last development was over soil settlement who has been leading the fight to protect the graves in the cemetery where his younger brother is buried requested that the council make two tons of top soil available for families as bad weather started to cause concern that graves would fall through A group led by Mr Matloob was set to protest Walsall Council's decision not to provide the soil at the site last weekend and fill in the graves themselves they arrived to find an injunction had been served preventing them from doing so Mr Matloob said: "We are only coming to protect our loved ones graves and make the cemetery a safe for visitors at the same time." Walsall Council said: "As a result of heavy and persistent rain last week there was some settlement of the soil in a number of graves in cemeteries the council maintains This is entirely normal and we have a regular procedure for topping these up and reinstating the affected sites "Remedial work took place on Friday 25 November to graves which showed the most significant signs of settlement the Council will be reinstating the graves this week "The council became aware that members of the community had been encouraged to go to Streetly Cemetery on Saturday to help fill in graves which showed signs of settlement "As council operatives already had the necessary work in hand families were advised that their assistance in this matter was not required "Such unauthorised works may have also presented a safety concern The injunction was taken out on a purely precautionary basis to ensure that if large numbers of people had turned up on Saturday the means were at hand to disperse them without any breach of public order or distress to other visitors to the cemetery "The injunction was worded to prevent members of the community from bringing soil and other material into the cemetery and carrying out works "We will continue managing cemeteries for the benefit of everyone." Super fundraiser Ruth Leighton from Bushbury is gearing up for two big challenges later this year for causes close to her heart The History teacher at Streetly Academy is taking on the Royal Sutton Fun Run on June 2 with pupils she teaches at Streetly Academy to raise money for Breast Cancer Now She will then just six days later take part in the Coppa Trek with GI charity challenge as part of a team of 30 with online blogger tv personality and winner of I'm a Celebrity Get me Out of Here 2020 Giovanna Fletcher It will see her run 100k in five days in the Brecon Beacons in aid of the CoppaFeel charity whilst camping out with her fellow runners overnight aged 40 was diagnosed with breast cancer in February last year and went through a gruelling schedule of chemotherapy Despite that she still took part in the Himley Hall leg of Race for Life leading the 'Ruth's Army' team and raising £4,000 for Breast Cancer Research She said: "I am in remission now but it has been tough and the idea of the CoppaFeel event is to not only raise money but to raise awareness of the work they do in highlighting the importance of checking your breasts for lumps on a regular basis "Breast cancer is one of the biggest killers of women aged 34-49 although men can get it too and the CoppaFeel charity hold events and promotions which educate and inform people how they can prevent it or check for the early signs "Everyone at school has been amazingly supportive from the head to teaching staff and of course the pupils – there will be a team of around 30 of us doing the Sutton event as Team Streetly which is 8.5k and for me I guess it will be practice for the longer run in less than a week but it will be a lot of fun as well with people from the school." The JustGiving total for the Coppa Trek with GI event stands at £1,176 and the page can be accessed at https://www.justgiving.com/page/ruth-leighton-1705266760938?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fruth-leighton-1705266760938&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share To sponsor Team Streetly in the Royal Sutton Fun Run event go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/streetly-academy-legitforleighton The man was behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta when it was struck by a Jaguar XF last night, October 7.The driver of the Jaguar XF allegedly 'failed to stop' for officers moments before the crash in Aldridge Road, West Midlands Police has said which took place just after 11pm.A 51-year-old man He will be interviewed by police at a later date.The force has since referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in connection with the incident Members of the public who witnessed the crash are being urged to step forward.In a statement West Midlands Police said: "A 20-year-old man has been seriously injured following a collision on Aldridge Road just after 11pm yesterday (October 7)."The Ford Fiesta he was driving was hit by a Jaguar XF was also taken to hospital."His condition is not life threatening and he will be interviewed at a later date The incident has been referred to the IOPC "We want to thank the members of public who stopped and assisted at the scene Anyone who saw what happened or has dash cam footage is asked to please get in touch"Aldridge Road was shut in both directions between Foley Road West and Lowlands Avenue Witnesses reported seeing all emergency services at the scene Man armed with knife outside police station dies after being shot by officers A bid to open a new Sainsbury’s store on a Streetly pub car park have been shelved over concerns over its impact on the green belt The supermarket giant wanted to build the outlet on part of Farmer Johns pub car park on Aldridge Road creating a number of new jobs in the process But members of Walsall Council’s planning committee voted against the plan without debate at a meeting on Thursday A report to committee had recommended refusal as officers said the new store would represent  inappropriate development in the green belt by the impact it would have on the openness of the area agents CHQ Architects said the 100-space car park was too big for the pub’s needs while the store would create around 20 new jobs They said: “The existing car park area has been deemed oversize to cater for the general usage of the Public House and as a result the balance of space offered up to create a standalone convenience supermarket within the site boundary “The proposal is to reduce the public house customer car park by 40 per cent and create a convenience supermarket together with its associated car parking servicing and plant area within the land relinquished “The existing access/ egress to the site from Aldridge Road is to be retained and shared by both occupiers; convenience supermarket and public house.” the proposed new Sainsbury’s store drew support and objections from the public Objections included the a negative impact the store would have on the green belt loss of views and how if would affect nearby grocery stores People who supported the plans did so because they said it would provide a convenience store within walking distance make use of an empty car park and reduce the need for people to use cars An ex-councillor accused of land-grabbing part of historic Streetly woods has lost his bid to overturn action taken out against him Amers Kudhail will be forced to remove fencing which had incorporated public land which is part of Foley Woods into his property after it was erected around his Foley Road West home He had appealed against the enforcement notice claiming the new fence replaced an old barbed wire one which had already been in place when his family bought the home in 2002 planning inspector Mark Harbottle concluded Mr Kudhail’s appeal to be invalid The Government appointed inspector also awarded partial costs to Walsall Council the final bill of which is being worked out between the parties who served as a Streetly councillor from 2015 to 2018 now has until November 22 to remove the 1.9 metre high green mesh fence as well as paving slabs bricks and other domestic paraphernalia from the area The disputed land measures approximately 11.7m by 60m and is around 702 square metres in size which originally opened in September last year before being adjourned Mr Kudhail said they had always used the space for parking cars The property was originally a bungalow before that was demolished and replaced with a larger house in 2014 Mr Kudhail said the new fence was erected in 2018 for security reasons following an alleged sexual assault in the woods the previous year When he was giving evidence to the hearing he insisted that Walsall Council was fully aware of the work being carried out But the council’s barrister Jonathan Clay said there had been no evidence of a fence existing before 2018 and labelled him a ‘trespasser’ The authority said Mr Kudhail had no right to appeal against the notice which was served in relation to an unauthorised change of use from public land to a private residential garden Council chiefs said they were pleased with the decision and added it will monitor the site to ensure necessary compliance Leader of Walsall Council and Chair of the Planning Committee said: “Walsall continues to put the ‘force’ back in enforcement “I’m also satisfied that the Planning Inspectorate has concluded that partial costs are to be awarded to the Council on this case and these are currently being worked up.” The dispute also caused concern in the community with the Foley Woods Residents Association raising objections to the work carried out by Mr Kudhail Chairman Steve Randerson told the inspector there were two other similar cases of residents attempting to claim a chunk of the area and people were concerned the woods would be lost forever if enforcement wasn’t carried out Ward councillor Suky Samra welcomed the decision and said: “This sends a strong message to any persons who encroach on any protected land “We as an authority will not sit back and watch and will take enforcement seriously.” The number 77 bus will no longer run to Walsall which used to run between Sutton Coldfield and Walsall will now terminate at the Hardwick Arms in Streetly National Express West Midlands advised passengers to use the 935 service to travel between Walsall and Streetly Managing director David Bradford said: "We are making small changes to many of our bus timetables to improve the punctuality of our services We are adding in buses and drivers to improve reliability I’d like to remind customers in Birmingham Solihull and the Black Country to check our website for up-to-date information on the new times for their bus.” "Could I also remind all our customers that since Tuesday 30 November 2021 it’s now mandatory to wear face coverings on all public transport so please remember to bring one with you for your journey "Travelling by bus is really safe - we are still carrying out enhanced cleaning of shared surfaces; using a long-lasting antimicrobial protective coating which is certified to kill covid - even between cleans; and our cleaners are still jumping on buses at key interchanges He added: "We know how important ventilation is in the fight against covid-19 - buses leave the depots with windows open to keep fresh air flowing through the bus And our buses open their doors every two minutes on average." Most 77 journeys will run between Sutton Coldfield and Streetly (Hardwick Arms) only and will no longer serve Walsall The route of the 77 will be the same between Sutton Coldfield & Blackwood Road then Foley Road West and Chester Road to Hardwick Arms Bus 935 provides an alternative between Streetly and Walsall Bus 934 provides an alternative between Barr Beacon and Walsall Service 6 will still run directly between Sutton Coldfield and Walsall All journeys on Sundays and some on weekdays will still run to Walsall (as service 77A) Meanwhile the number 46 bus between Northfield and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital will run on a reduced service The frequency of the 46 will be reduced to hourly between the hospital and Hawkesley Buses will still run every 30 minutes between Hawkesley and Northfield Conservatives in Walsall once again bucked the trend and successfully defended most of their seats in this year’s local election The ruling Tory group managed to hold on to almost all of the seats they were defending including those of deputy leaders Adrian Andrew and Garry Perry in Pheasey and Pelsall respectively Labour did taste success with gains in Bloxwich West which saw Michael Coulson taking the seat from the Tories and Eileen Russell reclaiming St Matthews from an Independent Jade Chapman gained Rushall Shelfield for the Conservatives Members of the newly formed Independent Group who defected from Labour over the party’s stance on the Palestine issue all made passionate speeches in support on Gaza when three out of four successfully defended their seats Councillor Naheed Gultasib retained Pleck and Sabina Ditta secured a huge majority of more than 1,000 in Palfrey These seats were previously Labour strongholds before the councillors split from the party last November Another independent Pete Smith also dedicated his victory to people in Gaza after he successfully defended his Blakenall seat Current Tory cabinet members Cabinet members Gary Flint in Bloxwich East Keir Pedley in Streetly and Stacie Elson in Willenhall North also held their seats In their thank you speeches following their victories Conservatives hailed the strong leadership and team work which brought them such success and said the results Walsall Labour Group leader Matt Ward said he was pleased with the two gains in his first election as leader and pointed out close run races in a couple of other wards The make up of the council is now 37 Conservatives 8 for the Independent Group and one of no political party Turnout for most of the wards were in the 20 and 30 per cents – the lowest being Blakenall at 22.17 per cent and the highest being Paddock with 40.98 per cent Palfrey also attracted 40.13 per cent of voters the Conservatives had control with 37 councillors compared to 12 for Labour and a local independent group with nine with the only change being Labour picking up one seat But once things had finished, four seats had changed hands with Labour taking a seat at Bloxwich West from the Conservatives, while independents took seats from Labour in Palfrey and Pleck. The Conservatives also gained in Rushall-Shelfield, taking the seat of retiring independent, Richard Worrall Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition - 101 A six bedroom house in Streetly with its own swimming pool has gone on the market for less than £1 million The detached property in Hundred Acre Road boasts two spacious living rooms with dining areas an attached two bedroom annex as well as the heated swimming pool The annex has an open plan living room and kitchen with a downstairs shower room and two bedrooms upstairs It has been put on the market by Dixons in Kingstanding for a price tag of £975,000 The estate agent has said it is a 'rare opportunity' to acquire such a property The listing states: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome to the market this impressive and extended six bedroom detached family home in Streetly complete with an attached two bedroom annex "This wonderfully spacious home oozes comfort and character and features a heated swimming pool as well "Situated at the heart of the popular Hundred Acre Estate in Streetly Sutton Coldfield the property is well positioned on a corner plot close to local shops "The house is in the catchment area for Lindens Primary School and Streetly Academy both schools have achieved Ofsted ratings of good "The property is with walking distance of Sutton Park and Doe Bank Park for those that like to explore the outdoors "The family home comprises to the ground floor an entrance hallway two spacious living rooms with dining areas "To the first floor lies the master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and bedrooms four "On the second floor are bedrooms two and three The annex comprises of an open plan living room/kitchen with downstairs shower room and two bedrooms upstairs "This is ideal for an investment for extra income or to re-open into the main house It could also be used for large families that want their own space for home office space or great kids hideaway!!! "This presents a rare opportunity to acquire such a property and viewing comes highly recommended." To view the property visit rightmove.co.uk/properties/86671134#/ The litter picking stations are located within the district and community libraries of Aldridge Streetly and Willenhall allowing community groups businesses and the public to borrow litter picking equipment.  The equipment is available on a loan basis at no cost and hopes to encourage people to tackle litter in their areas and take pride in their neighbourhoods and Public Spaces at Walsall Council said “I’m delighted to the re-launch of this scheme.  Having litter stations in key areas will empower members of the community to organise their own litter picks which will help build on community spirit.” For more information on the litter picking stations please visit your local library or visit A wife was stabbed in the neck before her husband is thought to have killed himself in a fire It came as Amy Barnes's family paid tribute to their 'precious gift' who was found dead following the suspected murder-suicide on Tuesday was discovered at an address in Cofton Park Close An initial post mortem has revealed the 32 year-old died from a single stab wound to the neck She is believed to have been murdered by her husband James Barnes who later took his own life at an address in Linforth Drive Police say he died from the effects of a fire at what is believed to have been his parent's home my first born and the best big sister to her two younger sisters Lucy and Emily "Her loss has left a huge hole in not only mine and her father Jez’s heart but to all those that loved Amy which will never be filled The truth is Amy was a precious gift to so many people Everything you would like to say about a beautiful human being inside and out "Amy took such pride in her work as a neo-natal nursery nurse and was extremely passionate in her role helping countless new mothers with their new born babies "In the last few months of her life Amy had grown into a strong confident woman The loss of Amy has devastated our close family "She was loved so much not only by her parents grandparents aunties and cousins but so many of her friends said: "This is a terribly sad case which has left two families grieving for a loved one trying to come to terms with the circumstances of their death "The death of Amy is being investigated as a murder and it is believed that following her murder later took his own life at a family address "Officers are supporting both families who have asked to be given time to grieve." The suspected murder-suicide happened around midnight on Monday A team of runners from Streetly Academy will be taking on the Royal Sutton Fun Run in memory of a former student who ‘loved life’ but tragically passed away last year Staff and pupils at the academy are working with the family of Sunil Parkash to raise funds for Ataxia UK Sunil died last August having been diagnosed with ataxia Ataxia disrupts the messages sent from the brain to muscles that are used to move said: “Sunil was a normal child and everything was fine until the age of seven “He had an amazing five years at Streetly [Academy] – it was a real hidden gem We couldn’t believe it was on our doorstep we were so overwhelmed by how many kids would go past him in reception and they would all be giving him high-fives "He left in Year 11 and was wheelchair-bound at that point He went to Sandwell College and deteriorated further He was hospitalised in April last year and The condition is very cruel because it’s degenerative and there’s no cure the condition stripped him of a lot but he was still such a smart lad “He had a prom in Year 11 and was adamant he was going and wanted to wear his Kingsman jacket He did not stop smiling and never had any complaints.” Sindy said the family was determined to try to raise the profile of the condition adding: “We hope as much money as possible can be injected into research on this condition Only then can we make strides on research.” More than £1,700 has already been raised ahead of the fun run this weekend said: “I remember we did a Drayton Manor reward trip where the students were invited on the trip because they had done really well in terms of behaviour points He was so animated about being on the trip “Sunil lit up a room and he had a cheeky sense of humour We always take part in the fun run for a charity close to our heart So we will have this team of 40 raising awareness and money for ataxia.” Headteacher Billy Downie said: “I am delighted we are supporting such a wonderful charity "He was a special young man who was sadly taken far too early People can sponsor Streetly Academy at justgiving.com/fundraising/streetly-academyfunrun2022 In association with Gerflor Gerflor is excited to unveil the renewed Gradus Lunar carpet tile collection Read More >> the city’s largest purpose-built student.. 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Read More >> Watch Now >> Watch Now >> Watch Now >> Lets Talk Specification will be hosting a number of Workshops at Futurebuild on Tuesday 5th March A man with a sexual interest in children amassed a collection of more than 140,000 indecent images was caught out after police investigators picked up intelligence that photographs had been transmitted via online picture transfer website Dropbox Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that following a search of the defendant's home 158 category A images (the worst); 266 category B images and 758 category C images were discovered on some of the defendant's electronic devices The collection included images of a female as young as four Prosecuting barrister Miss Amanda O'Mara said the defendant failed to hand over pass codes for four other devices and made "no comment" in his police interviews but the officers estimated that he accessed 141,000 other images using the dark web and private networks over a four-year period previously pleaded guilty to three counts relating to possessing indecent photographs on May 18 last year Mitigating barrister Mr Callum Church said: "It is thoroughly unacceptable and there is no justification or explanation." He added that Stratford had since attended courses with child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation Recorder Abigail Nixon told him his behaviour had been "perverted" She added: "This will affect your future and the rest of your life." He must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work attend up to 35 activity days to address mental health issues He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and the sex offenders' register for 10 years A teenager died from a traumatic brain injury after a collision with a police car Streetly Academy student Harry-James Kirkham was crossing Sutton New Road in Birmingham after leaving a church with friends when he was hit an emergency response Pc based at Sutton Coldfield Police Station was on routine patrol in the area and was not responding to an emergency call for service including parents Dawn Smith and Craig Kirkham launched a successful £4,000 appeal towards a memorial headstone a consultant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham told Birmingham Coroner's Court yesterday that the 15-year-old arrived with a 'catastrophic' injury to the brain and extensive facial fractures The inquest into Harry's death started at Birmingham Coroner's Court yesterday and is set to conclude today A disused Streetly youth building that has become a hot spot for anti-social behaviour is to be demolished to make way for extra parking spaces for a school Walsall Council planners have rubber-stamped a proposal to get rid of the mobile hut based on land between Streetly Library and St Annes Primary School on Blackwood Road will see a total of 14 new parking spaces created and also help deal with a problem building labelled an “eye sore” Preparatory works have been carried out on the site after Walsall Council agreed to press ahead with the project back in February A total of nine of the spaces will be fenced off and allocated to the school while there will be an additional five spaces for general public use said: “The porta-cabin is not in use and is considered an eye sore it is in need of major refurbishment if retained “Anti-social behaviour has been reported in connection with the facility as such the decision was made to demolish the porta-cabin and introduce car parking for the school “Following cabinet and council approval for capital projects in February 2019 preliminary works to the former Youth Club site at Streetly to demolish the existing porta-cabin and create additional car parking spaces commenced “The land sits between the rear of Streetly Library and St Annes Primary School The porta-cabin covers majority of the proposed area for the proposed car park “There is an existing access to the site which will be retained and utilised for access to the proposed car parking spaces that will be created as part of the proposal “There is a footpath from Blackwood Road which connects to the school and library which will be retained and improved pedestrian links will be created to the proposed parking spaces from the school.”