Bilston MarketBilston Outdoor Market will temporarily be relocated to the High Street from Thursday 24 October 2024 supported by £5.2 million Government funding will be carrying out the works to transform the outdoor market over the next year making it a better place to shop and visit The indoor market will remain open as usual poultry and fish all at very reasonable prices it recently welcomed its first onsite bakery!  The market is regionally famous for the wide choice of fresh fruit and locally grown vegetables in addition to the general mix of other high-quality merchandise.  It offers customers an unrivalled choice of both traditional and more exotic goods ranging from specialist foods You can keep up to speed with market life via Twitter and Facebook Please note the markets are closed for all Bank Holiday’s apart from Good Friday There are 88 units in the indoor market providing customers with a wide and varied range of goods and services including: A modern cafe offers customers the opportunity for a relaxing break before continuing their shopping spree The large outdoor market has 117 stalls offering a vast array of items to tempt even the most reluctant shopper Bilston Market's success is reflected in both customers and traders coming from far and wide The market is located by the A463 Black Country Route adjacent to the bus station and Midland Metro tram stop. The postcode for Bilston Market is WV14 0DN The market also benefits from excellent free car-parking close by Wednesfield Market offers shoppers a real choice of competitively priced products for the whole family including: Wednesfield Market hosts a bustling bric-a-brac market where many unusual items can be purchased Wolverhampton Farmers' Market takes place on the first Friday of every month in Dudley Street 9am to 4pm including craft stalls and fresh farm produce The market has a range of fine food stalls with a great selection of non-food stalls as well art and the unusual wonderful selection of one-off handcrafted gifts alongside locally grown and crafted garden planters and tubs This fabulous 'farmers plus' market is presented in LSD Promotions unique style and carries the ethos of promoting healthy living and supporting Fairtrade The Farmers' market in Wolverhampton is operated and organised by LSD Promotions on our behalf If you are a producer of suitable farmers' market products, you can book a stall through the organiser LSD Promotions New opportunities for craft sellers and young traders launched at Wolverhampton’s markets You are invited to take a stall at the new monthly events being held at Wednesfield and Wolverhampton city centre markets as well as weekly festive stalls at Bilston market on the run-up to Christmas The craft and young trader events will begin at Wednesfield market from October 28 and at the city centre market They will then run at the city centre market on the first Saturday of the month and in Wednesfield on the last Saturday of the month from 9am to 3pm Half rent on stalls will be available for the first four attendances and young traders will get free rent for the same period Young traders need to be between 16 and 30 Weekly stalls will also be on offer at Bilston market running every Friday in December from 9am to 3pm For stall hire and more information about the craft and young trader events please email markets@wolverhampton.gov.uk or call 01902 555200 Around 200 youths rushed to a West Midlands retail park causing anti-social behaviour Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 West Midlands Police rushed to the scene of the Bentley Bridge leisure park on Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton to reports of a gathering of around 200 youths The youths had descended onto the complex on April 11 causing a nuisance and anti-social behaviour where they deployed a dispersal order to manage the mass of youths Assisted by the force's operational support unit the West Midlands Police were able to disperse all of the youths officers said they will take action 'against all who are identified' as taking part in the incident A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "Yesterday we responded to appropriately 200 youths causing anti-social behaviour at Bentley Bridge and with help from our Operational Support Unit we successfully dispersed all the youths responsible "We will be taking robust action against all who are identified." and also includes popular nightlife spots like Hollywood Bowl and Cineworld It follows extensive consultation and engagement with the public and traders on improvement options The feedback has been incorporated into the designs ahead of technical plans being drawn up and a contractor appointed for the works that are expected to start in spring 2025 and be completed by March 2026 The improvements will increase the vibrancy of Wednesfield High Street by delivering environmental enhancements to the public realm and markets to encourage increased footfall linked trips and dwell time to support businesses and boost the local economy City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Resident Services said: “These works will bring the vibrancy back to Wednesfield High Street and surrounding areas make it a more welcoming place for all and will boost the local economy “We had a great response to our public consultation and have used the feedback to inform a set of proposals that maximise the funding that has been made available to us “We are now in a position to secure a contractor to deliver this important regeneration scheme for Wednesfield.” Chair of Wolverhampton’s City Investment Board said: “As a board we fought hard to secure funding to support improvements in district centres like Wednesfield and Bilston “This scheme will make a major difference to Wednesfield High Street and the town centre as a whole creating a better experience for businesses Police have released an image of a man officers want to speak to after an attempt was made to steal a van on a petrol station forecourt Just after 6.30am on Friday, January 3, a man got into a van that was parked on a petrol station forecourt on Kenmare Way, Wednesfield the man exited the van and left the area on foot A CCTV image of the man police wish to talk to has been released, with West Midlands Police asking anyone with information to contact them directly A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "If you can help, tell us what you know via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101 quoting crime reference number 20/102664/25 "You can also share your information anonymously with the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111 They will not ask your name or trace your call and you may be entitled to a cash reward." expected to be completed around the turn of the month are underway at Wood End Road roundabout and along Linthouse Lane and will see the introduction of chicanes improved road signs and road marking to assist in controlling traffic speeds It follows 13 recorded injury collisions in the previous 3 years along this section of road During construction the chicanes will be temporarily formed using cones and signs to protect the works but also to allow motorists to adjust to the new road layout technical plans are being finalised and a contractor appointed as part of a £3.3million programme to improve the High Street The scheme will deliver environmental enhancements to the public realm and markets to encourage increased footfall The designs follow extensive consultation and engagement with the public and traders with the scheme on track to be delivered by the government’s March 2026 deadline City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Green City said: “The next year will be exciting for Wednesfield as we transform the High Street through this major investment “As well as bringing vibrancy to the centre it is important that we make linked journeys as safe and enjoyable as possible for residents and visitors “The current improvement works at Wood End Road roundabout and along Linthouse Lane will make the area safer for pedestrians and road users “We would also urge motorists using these roads to be extra vigilant and pay attention to their speed.” Thousands of Sikhs are making preparations for the annual Vaisahki Nagar Kirtan procession between Wednesfield and Willenhall on Sunday.(6) There will be road closures in both towns on Sunday morning for the colourful religious procession Walsall Council posted on Facebook: "It is expected that the procession will take place between 9.30am and 2pm with rolling road closures in operation as the parade passes  "Please be aware that delays to traffic are expected in the #Willenhall and #Wednesfield area Please note that existing temporary traffic management for highway improvements and the railway station scheme will remain in place "Wishing everyone celebrating a joyous and wonderful day." Other processions will be held in the region this month including Wolverhampton and Walsall on April 13 and in Smethwick on Easter Sunday(20) New homes are set to be built on an eyesore patch of land in Wolverhampton next to a retail park after lying empty for more than 25 years The land in Rookery Street, Wednesfield, has been earmarked for housing and new shops since the Bentley Bridge Retail Park was built in the late 1990s but despite several plans coming and going But now City of Wolverhampton Council has backed the latest plans for the land after signing off on a new planning application by Onkar Singh Mattu to build eight new two-bed homes This decision comes after the local authority approved plans to build 20 flats on the site in October last year – which have now been deemed “unviable.” A report by the local authority’s planners outlining the decision said the “modern high-quality homes” would help with the regeneration of Wednesfield but unimplemented planning permission for a residential apartment development,” the council said including satisfactory car and cycle parking facilities bin stores and private amenity space for residents close-by to services and facilities within Wednesfield village centre and has good access to public transport “The proposed development would not interfere unduly with the proposed highway improvement line vacant and disused site will assist with the regeneration of Wednesfield and provide good quality homes for people.” The site has had a long planning history despite remaining empty for the last 25 years Wolverhampton Council first approved plans for 24 homes and flats in 1999 that was followed by another approval for seven shops and 19 flats in 2002 and then a plan for 23 flats was granted permission in 2005 Another plan for 32 flats was revealed then scrapped in 2007 and that was followed a year later by a plan for 22 flats and a new shop which was also eventually withdrawn Plans for 22 flats and a shop were eventually approved in 2010 but never built With nothing happening for more than a decade the council then agreed to a move to build 20 flats on the site last year but that scheme was later scrapped There will be fun for all the family at a series of events across the city starting with the city centre switch on in Queen Square on Saturday 16 November The festivities start at 3pm with a funfair Get set for a full afternoon of entertainment that you won't want to miss with the lights switch on as the finale The Grinch and Cindy Lou will be there entertaining the crowds throughout the event before X Factor and musical theatre star Niki Colwell and Jake Nelson Music take to the stage performing an array of songs They will then be joined by the Mayor of Wolverhampton and Father Christmas to switch on the lights at 6pm The city centre fun is not the only festive celebration in Wolverhampton – Christmas lights will also be switched on at Wednesfield Bilston and Bantock House with Father Christmas and the Mayor of Wolverhampton doing the honours plus entertainment from local artists and Wolverhampton’s very own Dicky Dodd Jobs and Skills said: “It’s been another fantastic year of events in the city and the Christmas lights is a great way to end what has been a busy events season “Thousands of families year on year attend our light switch ons to mark the start of the countdown to Christmas – they are great free events for all the family.” Wolverhampton based not for profit Health Cash Plan provider Paycare –which gives policy holders the chance to claim back up to 100% of what they spend on healthcare support helpline and discounts on everyday spending – have been announced as headline sponsor for the five events said: “We’re delighted to support such a wonderful set of festive events bringing together our wonderful communities to share in the light and cheer of the holiday season “Paycare are on a mission to make our communities happier and healthier so we are delighted to be sponsoring the Christmas lights that bring so much pleasure and joy to the city and surrounding areas.” The full list of switch on events is as follows: To find out more about Christmas in the City of Wolverhampton, including details on local artists performing at each of the switch on events, visit Christmas in Wolverhampton Motorists in Wednesfield faced disruption this morning and buses were diverted after an accident involving a bus and a car Motorists in Wednesfield faced disruption this morning (March 15) and buses were diverted after an accident involving a bus and a car The accident happened at around noon at The Griffiths Drive Island at the junction with Linthouse Lane and Whitehouse Avenue in Ashmore Park when a car hit a bus Witnesses said the driver of the car ran off and the bus driver was injured with Linthouse Lane from the island to the junction with nearby Kitchen Lane closed off for over an hour whilst recovery work took place National Express West Midlands tweeted of diversions on the number 69 route which runs between Walsall and Wolverhampton although all services they say are now running to route West Midlands Police West Midlands Ambulance Service and NX West Midlands have been approached for comment The Love Your Community sessions give residents the chance to meet with representatives from Wolverhampton Police Wolverhampton's Anti Social Behaviour team and more and to share information about issues and activities in their neighbourhoods the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Digital and Community said: "These sessions are an important forum for residents to meet with organisations and discuss the priorities for their neighbourhoods – and how we can all work together to deliver on these "Please come along to find out what's happening in your area tell us what's important for your neighbourhood connect with your neighbours and businesses Chief Superintendent Richard Fisher of Wolverhampton Police added: "The Love Your Community events are an integral part of the work of the neighbourhood police teams community safety partners and local people to address concerns and issues in the community "These sessions provide an opportunity to outline clear shared ownership for local priorities and help to increase collective care for what happens in our communities." Love Your Community drop ins are held for each ward on a regular basis For more details, please visit eventbrite or email safer@wolverhampton.gov.uk A Wolverhampton secondary school which was previously told to improve by Ofsted is on an "upwards trajectory" according to its headteacher Wednesfield Academy has seen a number of changes since its last visit by the education watchdog in 2022 where it was found to "require improvements" The school became part of the Matrix Academy Trust in January 2023 and welcomed a new headteacher Mr Phillips said one of the many things the school has worked to improve in the past two years is its quality of education which is the only inspection area Ofsted deemed it "required improvement" earning a "good" ranking in the other four areas One of the ways the Lichfield Road school has achieved this is by only employing substantive qualified teachers for classes and no longer taking on supply teachers who lead lessons in the event of staff absence which the headteacher said has helped create a "consistent and stable" staff body The attendance of pupils has also improved by almost six per cent in the past two years with figures increasing from 87.4 per cent in 2023 One of the ways the school has worked to up its attendance numbers is through its 'house system' Every school goer is assigned to one of four 'houses' and compete weekly for the best attendance numbers and the least number of pupils turning up late to school Mr Phillips said: "There is a very clear structure now which we follow through pupils not attending A 22-year-old man has been arrested after an 11-year-old boy was robbed of his electric scooter while riding along a canal Police were called to the scene of Graisley Lane after an 11-year-old boy was forced to hand over his scooter while riding along a canal towpath at around 4.20pm on Tuesday The boy was pushed off the scooter before the man rode off on it, going in the direction of Wednesfield As part of enquiries, police investigated an address in Heath Town where the scooter was found and a 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery The man remains in police custody where he will be questioned as part of their investigation A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "The boy was pushed off the scooter and a man rode off on it towards Wednesfield police visited an address in Heath Town where the scooter was found and a 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery." West Midlands Police officers were seen tackling 'aggressive begging' in Wednesfield this morning (January 26) Officers issued a man with a Community Protection Warning notice and signposted him to support services after receiving multiple reports about his behaviour Police shared an image of officers speaking with the vulnerable person, who's identity was protected, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). In the caption, a spokesperson for Wednesfield & Heath Town Police said: "This morning we served a male with a Community Protection Warning notice after we had received many reports of his nuisance behaviour and aggressive begging "We also submitted referrals to partner agencies (as agreed by himself) to hopefully get him the help & support he may need." A plan by a Wolverhampton shop to sell alcohol 24 hours a day has angered neighbours who say the move will attract trouble for their estate The new Morrisons Daily store in Stubby Lane, Wednesfield, has applied to Wolverhampton Council to extend its licensing hours which would allow alcohol to be sold throughout the night Residents have complained to the local authority ahead of a licensing hearing next week saying the plan for the former Co-op supermarket would “create even more problems” for the residential area said: “I’ve lived here all my life and there have been changes relating to drink “I’m concerned that selling alcohol 24 hours may create even more problems and issues for residents.” “Not good for the people or the area to have alcohol served 24/7,” another objector added one neighbour said: “I’m scared of the people this is going to attract because to me anyone who is out at these times of night is up to no good.” The council’s licensing department said it was happy to hold talks about the application but would not budge on the 24-hour move It said the proposed 24-hour opening times were a “significant departure” from the existing arrangement both close at 11pm with the Golden Wok takeaway the latest business to close in the area at 11.30pm Four complaints from neighbours were lodged with Wolverhampton Council in October claiming structural work to convert the former supermarket had carried on until 1am staff were dragging metal delivery cages at 4.30am and residents were also subjected to shouting and anti-social behaviour late at night from customers trying to get staff’s attention to buy alcohol Both public and environmental health officers at Wolverhampton Council raised concerns about extending alcohol hours – saying there was not enough information in the application to show how the off-licence would protect people from public nuisance and potential trouble “Data indicates that Wolverhampton stands out regionally for alcohol-related harm and hospital admissions,” the council said Wolverhampton has one of the highest alcohol-specific mortality rates in the UK.” A licence was issued in October for the former Co-op store with 7am to 10.30pm opening hours The licence included Christmas Day restrictions which meant the shop could open from midday to 3pm and then again from 7pm to 10.30pm alcohol could be served between 8am and 11pm from Monday to Saturday and 10am to 11pm every Sunday Wolverhampton Council’s licensing committee meets on November 19 to make a decision A senior councillor is demanding to know what has happened to the 'missing million' after plans for a town-centre regeneration project were watered down to a 'paving scheme' leader of the opposition Conservative group on Wolverhampton Council said a third of the money earmarked for the regeneration of Wednesfield town centre had been spent before a spade had been put in the ground Councillor Bennett said he also wanted answers on why the scheme was taking so long to deliver saying that rising costs over the past three years had eaten away at the funds the Government announced that Wednesfield town centre would receive a total of £3.2 million through the Levelling Up fund But a recent update from council officers revealed that just £2.17 million was now available for the project Items such as a canopy over the market place - identified as a priority by traders - had been deleted due to the costs involved Councillor Bennett said the money had been secured following successful lobbying by former Wolverhampton North East MP Jane Stevenson and the intention was that it would all be spent on the town centre "Jane Stevenson successfully lobbied the Government for £3.2 million and the understanding was that this would all be spent in Wednesfield town centre," he said  we learn that more than a million of that money has been spent "The things that the traders had asked for and what we are left with is little more than a paving scheme "I want to know where the 'missing million' has been spent then the council should be footing the bill for that it should not come out of money that was earmarked specifically for regeneration." Councillor Bennett said there was a similar shortfall in a levelling-up project in Bilston A spokesman for Wolverhampton Council said:  "As with any major development project critical work is  necessary during the pre-construction phase such as the requirement for feasibility studies "I can assure the people of Wednesfield the funding has been allocated in a way that ensures the project will deliver value for money.“ said of all the projects allocated cash through the Towns Fund Wednesfield and Bilston were always scheduled to be delivered towards the end of the overall programme "It was also necessary on both schemes to allow time for residents and traders to have their say through extensive public consultation and consider feedback before any final plans were drawn up.“ He said both schemes were on track to be completed before the Towns Fund deadline of March 2026 The latest plan for Wednesfield include an 'enhanced southern gateway' upgraded paving and additional landscaping Lighting will be improved in Bealey's Fold with planters murals and pedestrian-friendly features Special areas will be created for holding events in the High Street along with new seating and sustainable 'rain gardens' which are specially below ground level to absorb water But canopies over the market were removed on the grounds of costs while improvements to CCTV coverage and car parking were considered to be outside the scope of the scheme The council spokesman said: “A strong case was made to convince the previous government to include Bilston and Wednesfield town centres as part of the Towns Fund for Wolverhampton consisting of senior representatives from organisations playing a lead role in the city continue to oversee the excellent progress across all the projects linked to this funding making a real difference to residents and businesses." He said technical plans were in the process of being drawn up for the Wednesfield improvements and a contractor was due to be appointed to deliver the works that are expected to start in the coming months works on the new-look Bilston outdoor market are well underway with demolition now complete the foundations going down and the main construction due to start imminently on a modern facility that will enhance Bilston market and the town centre for everyone," he said Wednesfield South councillor and former Wolverhampton mayor Greg Brackenridge has been re-instated to the Labour party after being given a formal warning over his conduct The husband of Wolverhampton North East MP Sureena Brackenridge was suspended by the party in October last year after it emerged he had 'exaggerated' his military service as a  Royal Marine. The party had suspended him while it looked into the claims He also resigned as then chairman of West Midlands Fire Authority after five years in charge and Wolverhampton Council's military covenant board Councillor Brackenridge was accused of 'stolen valour' after claiming he had served as a Royal Marine when in fact he had only started training with the corps and had not passed out or earned the service's famous green beret He faced a storm of online comments and media coverage over his record and had to beef up security with his wife also reportedly facing threats The Labour party has not formally commented on the matter but said Councillor Brackenridge had been re-instated A Wolverhampton secondary school has been graded 'Good' by Ofsted for the first time in its history The education watchdog visited Wednesfield Academy on Lichfield Road, Wednesfield in February and found it had been on a "significant period of change and development" following its last inspection in 2022 when it was told to improve In its report published on Monday (March 24) Ofsted ranked the school 'Good' in each of the five inspection areas including quality of education leadership and management and Sixth Form provision Inspectors described the school - which joined Matrix Academy Trust in 2023 - as "highly inclusive" Relationships between pupils and staff were described as "warm and respectful" and school goers were said to feel "safe" attending the school Inspectors noted a "purposeful atmosphere" around the school and praised pupils' focus on their learning The report added: "The school has rapidly raised expectations around learning and behaviour and has developed a highly ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum for all pupils including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities pupils achieve well and are well prepared for the next stage of their lives." Inspectors however noted the curriculum had not yet led to "consistently improving outcomes" in all subjects by the end of Key Stage 4 Teachers were found to build key subject knowledge "very well" over time where learning among pupils were ambitious Ofsted noted that some teachers "do not always" develop pupils' knowledge "as fully as they might" The wellbeing of youngsters was described as being "at the forefront of the leader's vision" including promoting positive mental health Inspections also found safeguarding arrangements to be effective at the school Headteacher Joe Phillips took on the role shortly after the school became part of Matrix Academy Trust, which runs other Black Country schools including Smestow Academy in Wolverhampton and Barr Beacon School in Walsall Mr Phillips said: "I am immensely proud to be Headteacher at Wednesfield Academy and this Ofsted report illustrates the rapid improvement the school has made in just over two years "We have so many committed staff and the pupils were a credit to themselves and the academy over the two days when Ofsted visited "We want to thank our parents and carers for their ongoing support and we now look forward to what the future brings as we continue to strive towards excellence." Speaking to the Express & Star last month, Mr Phillips described Wednesfield Academy as being on an "upwards trajectory".  He said attendance figures had risen by almost six per cent in the past two years and cited a number of changes at the school including no longer employing supply teachers in the event of staff absence to improve the school's quality of education who has worked at the school for more than 25 years [The Ofsted result] is very emotional for those of us who have been here for some time like I have I am so happy the school is finally ‘Good’.” added: “Everyone has put their heart and soul into Wednesfield Academy to make it a school the community can be proud of "Not many schools go from 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good' in just over two years We are so happy that Ofsted recognised everyone’s hard work and the school will only continue to improve.” Four suspects were arrested across the Wednesfield and Heath Town area this morning (February 22) for various offences - including drugs and assault West Midlands Police officers dubbed it a "busy morning" after taking four suspects into custody Two were arrested for separate drug offences while two others were arrested for an unrelated assault In a post on X, a spokesperson for the Wednesfield & Heath Town team wrote: "Overnight response colleagues arrested a male at Bentley Bridge for suspected drug supply "Two persons have been arrested in Wednesfield for assault A fourth person is under arrest for drug supply in Heath Town." Sureena Brackenridge raised business concerns in House of Commons sitting calling for significant expansion of police powers to save town High Street MPs on the Green Benches assembled to debate the Crime and Policing Bill and the views of businesses from Wednesfield High Street were raised in the Palace of Westminster Sureena Brackenridge MP said: “I am in full support of the Crime and Policing Bill because frankly it is absolutely shocking that many of the crimes that plague our High Streets are going unpunished” “We need to crack down on violent attacks on shop workers and make sure that anti-social behaviours and illegal off-road bikes are correctly recognised as impacting on the lives of ordinary people The law should be on the side of protecting ordinary residents and businesses but at the moment it is letting criminals get away with it” took representatives from West Midlands Police to Wednesfield High Street to discuss the matter I went out on patrol with our neighbourhood police in Wednesfield High Street While Wednesfield is a safe area with lower crime than other high streets in Wolverhampton I was appalled to hear from shopkeepers about the brazen thefts they endure.” Theft has become so normalised that staff struggle to report every incident because they simply can’t keep up.” the Retail Workers’ Union has been calling for the measures in this Bill and stronger protections for years Tougher laws are needed to protect shop workers and we welcome this legislation as a vital step in tackling retail violence." Sureena Brackenridge MP added “This Bill will make my constituents safer “To the criminals wo are getting away with stealing cars and destroying our green spaces with illegal bikes let’s get it passed and reclaim our streets” The Lichfield Road school was found to require improvement when it was last inspected in November 2022 Two months later the school joined Matrix Academy Trust with Ofsted inspectors recognising how much Wednesfield Academy had improved since then they found the school ‘has undergone a significant period of change and development' 'rapidly raised expectations around learning and behaviour' and 'developed a highly ambitious and well sequenced curriculum for all pupils' including those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) 'pupils achieve well and are well prepared for the next stage of their lives' The school is also continuing to expand its 'ambitious curriculum' in the sixth form with students 'positive about their learning experiences and the wider opportunities the school provides' Wednesfield Academy 'is a highly inclusive school where everyone is valued and where expectations for pupils to achieve well are high' Relationships between pupils and staff are 'warm and respectful' with pupils speaking positively to inspectors about the support they receive from staff and how they enjoy their learning There is a 'purposeful atmosphere around the school' The school 'identifies and supports pupils with SEND well' with teachers effectively adapting their teaching to meet their needs well ensuring that pupils with SEND are able to access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers.Inspectors also found that pupils’ wellbeing is 'at the forefront of leaders’ vision including promoting pupils’ positive mental health' Inspectors concluded that the quality of education and sixth form provision at Wednesfield Academy are all Good.Headteacher Joe Phillips said: "I am immensely proud to be Headteacher at Wednesfield Academy and this Ofsted report illustrates the rapid improvement the school has made in just over 2 years were a credit to themselves and the academy over the 2 days when Ofsted visited We want to thank our parents and carers for their ongoing support and we now look forward to what the future brings as we continue to strive towards excellence." Matrix CEO Lynsey Draycott added: "Everyone has put their heart and soul into Wednesfield Academy to make it a school the community can be proud of Not many schools go from Requires Improvement to Good in just over 2 years We are so happy that Ofsted recognised everyone’s hard work and the school will only continue to improve.” Councillor Jacqui Coogan the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children said: "This is a fabulous report which demonstrates the great progress that everyone at Wednesfield Academy has made over the last few years "The school's clear and decisive leadership has ensured it has been able to improve both rapidly and sustainably and I look forward to seeing Wednesfield Academy continue on its upward trajectory over the coming months and years." Motorists coming out of Wolverhampton are experiencing long delays this evening due to a broken down bus The bus has broken down on the A4124 Wednesfield Road, in Wolverhampton coming out of the city around Lincoln Street with one lane blocked Congestion has been reported all the way down to Ring Road St David's Police are on patrol in response to reports of a man with a machete being seen in Wolverhampton this evening West Midlands Police said it received a report of a man with a machete in Merrick Road in Wednesfield at around 3.15pm on Monday (February 3) A spokeswoman for the force said after initial enquiries it appears to have been an "isolated incident" the spokeswoman added: "Enquiries are continuing and we have officers on patrol in and around the area to offer and provide further reassurance to the community "Anyone with information is asked to get in touch via Live Chat quoting log 3400 of February 3." Primary school pupils East Park Academy on Hollington Road in the East Park area of Wolverhampton were reportedly kept inside as a precaution for around 20 minutes at the end of the school day Residents of Hollington Road said they saw police activity in the area on Monday afternoon A £3.3 million council regeneration scheme is set to "bring the vibrancy back" to Wednesfield High Street which will provide an array of street scene improvements along with a new events and activity space on the High Street will get underway next spring and is expected to be completed by March 2026 City of Wolverhampton Council says the expected appointment of a contractor and signoff of final designs for the scheme follows "extensive consultation and engagement" with the public and traders on improvement options A consultation was held on the scheme in March this year, with the authority hoping the scheme will encourage increased footfall and dwell time in Wednesfield to support businesses and boost the local economy City of Wolverhampton Council says the final scheme will include improved paving greening and seating in High Street to attract more footfall and investment and support the market along with improved pedestrian access from Bentley Bridge and linking the High Street with Lichfield Road and the new Wednesfield Technology Primary School lighting and wayfinding from Bealey's Fold will help draw people into the heart of the High Street Ninder Johal, Chair of Wolverhampton’s City Investment Board parking will be free on Sundays at some council sites starting this Sunday (8 December) up until and including 5 January There will also be free city centre parking after 4pm on weekdays from Monday 16 December 2025 - which coincides with late night shopping centre hours These offers apply only at the following City of Wolverhampton Council car parks: Free all day parking will be available every day from Sunday 8 December This applies to the following council car parks in Wednesfield: There is already free parking available at council car parks in other district centres around Wolverhampton City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for transport and green city said: “There is plenty going on in our city centre and towns with events to help you get into the seasonal spirit so I really hope people take advantage of the free parking offer and enjoy a happy Christmas “The offer also runs into the early part of January so that people can save a little bit extra when they hit the shops for the New Year sales.” Details of free city centre parking offers along with extended shopping opening hours and a what’s on guide to help you get set for Christmas can all be found at Enjoy Wolverhampton A man who stole thousands of pounds after a series of robberies and thefts at the cash point outside a Wednesfield bank has been jailed Amran Naaim carried out the offences outside Lloyds Bank in Church Street, Wednesfield between September last year and April this year getting away with £4,060 in total from innocent customers of the bank who were attempting to use the machine to withdraw cash Amongst his victims was a 71-year-old man who he followed and took his bank card and a man who he duped out of over £400 which was earmarked for his wedding Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Naaim had a long record of 20 convictions involving 51 offences dating back to 2007 robbery and fraud and had spent a substantial amount of time already in prison Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment a group of thugs broke into a Morrisons Daily branch in Wolverhampton in the early hours of Monday making off with thousands of pounds worth of goods The manager of Morrisons Daily on Stubby Lane in Wednesfield is calling to make the area 'safer for everyone' after a group of thieves broke into their store on Monday morning as well as a number of other businesses in the area in recent months The gang targeted the shop at around 3.30am and made off with around £7000 worth of vapes CCTV footage shows a car pulling up outside and one of the offenders smashing through the glass door with a crowbar before squeezing through the gap holding a large rubble bag He is followed in by two accomplices who begin raiding the till area where the cigarettes were being kept Manager Gokul Saravanan says it is not the first time the shop has been robbed and that it has happened three times in the past few months He believes it is the same culprits every time which is a franchise operated by Samy Groups has had to change its opening hours from 24-hour to 6am - 11pm for the 'safety of staff and customers' Gokul spoke to the Express & Star about what happened on the night One guy jumped from the car and with an iron rod he got under the shutters and pulled a piece of the shutter off He then broke the glass on the front door glass through the gap in the shutter They jumped into the till area and took all of the cigarettes." where the thieves made off with around £15,000 worth of cigarettes staff have stored only half of the supply of cigarettes in the front of the shop Gokul says their neighbouring businesses, One Stop and Premier have also been robbed recently by a group 'using the same method' to break in as the group that broke into the Morrisons Daily leading the shop-owners to believe that it is the same repeat offenders and police need to take our complaints more seriously," the manager said  "It is not just about our sales being affected but the cashiers are anxious and worried These robbers have had three opportunities at the same shop It is in the police's hands to make this area safer West Midlands Police has been contacted for comment A spokesperson for Morrisons said: "We take this matter really seriously and are in contact with our franchise partner who are working closely with the local police on the issue."  More than 2,000 workers have applied for voluntary redundancy at Tata Steel’s sites in the UK The majority are from Port Talbot where the Indian-owned company plans to close its second blast furnace at the end of September Some applications have been received from the Steelpark site at Wednesfield where around 400 are employed Tata Steel has begun assessing whether those who have expressed an interest in taking redundancy are in roles which could be closed The first of 2,800 workers to lose their jobs are expected to leave the business within weeks Unite and the GMB – have pledged to ballot their members on whether to accept the redundancy deal which is said to be the company’s best ever offer to staff Tata Steel will give employees 2.8 weeks’ salary for every year of service They will receive a guaranteed minimum payment of £15,000 and an attendance-related payment of £5,000 A Tata spokesperson said: “We are currently working through how people’s aspirations may align with the future organisational structure requirements “Whilst we have made great efforts to put together an employee support package that will help many of those people affected to transition out of the business it is also vital that we retain our core knowledge skill base and experience through this most challenging of times.” Of the 2,500 whose jobs are under threat this year around 300 to 400 are believed to be at risk of compulsory redundancy The switching off of the las blast furnace at Port Talbot will end the production of steel from iron ore in south Wales Tata plans to build a £1.25bn electric arc furnace which produces steel by melting scrap metal The G government is expected to reach a final agreement with Tata Steel over £500m in funding for its electric arc furnace at the beginning of September A pub which has been at the centre of complaints about noise has been given permission to carry out measures it hopes will end the problem Wolverhampton Council has approved plans to modernise the Pheasant Inn in Wednesfield Last year the council's environmental health team had called for a review of the pub's licence in response to several complaints from neighbours about noise Senior environmental health officer Emma Waites said the complaints related to a ‘persistent breach of licensing objectives’ Owner Greene King has now been granted permission to carry out a series of measure it hopes will deal with the problem The pub giant has been given consent to remove a timber glazed screen and doors and replace it with a new cavity wall infill and entrance porch Greene King's agent said the pub showed a large number of sporting events on large television screens “The premises has a large rear beer garden to ensure that this is used to its maximum our client intends to carry out the aforementioned works,” said the application director of planning Andrew Johnson said the scheme would likely provide better sound insulation potentially improving the environment for neighbours "The proposals appear in scale and character with this setting," he said "There would be no adverse impact on visual amenity The changes are located at the rear of the site and there is unlikely to be a significant impact on the locally listed building due to carefully selected detailing and materials and this being a less prominent façade of the building." A council leader has strongly denied that £1 million of government regeneration cash has gone 'missing' said every penny of a £3.3 million 'levelling up' grant for the regeneration of Wednesfield town centre was accounted for He was responding to Councillor Simon Bennett who demanded to know what had happened to the 'missing million' when it emerged that only £2.17 million would be spent on actual physical works He voiced concerns that money which should have been used for the benefit of the town had instead been spent on consultancy fees The money was awarded to the council as part of the Government's Levelling Up fund Councillor Simkins said it had been agreed more than two years ago how the money was allocated and it was perfectly normal for a portion of the money to be set aside to cover the cost of developing the scheme He said it was utterly untrue to suggest that any money was 'missing' the £3.3 million budget for the project was agreed and made public: £2.1 million will be spent 'in the ground' with the remaining £1.2 million spent on developing and delivering the scheme which is usual for such projects," said Councillor Simkins "We've always committed to having the money on the scheme spent by the Government's deadline of March 2026 He said a breakdown of how the money was going to be spent was shared with the city investment board which was made up of senior city representatives "We're always open and transparent as a council and every penny spent on delivering our scheme is accounted for,"he added "Councillor Bennett's inaccurate comments could cause significant public concern and confusion tarnishing the council's reputation and undermining the work of its officers and political leadership who are all working hard to deliver for our city." Wolverhampton will be getting ready for Christmas very soon with the dates for this year's light switch on events announced by the city council Family fun will be the theme at a series of festive events across the city starting with the switch on in Queen Square on Saturday November 16 The Grinch and Cindy Lou will be there entertaining the crowds throughout the event before X Factor and musical theatre star Niki Colwell and Jake Nelson Music take to the stage to perform an array of songs They will then be joined by the mayor of Wolverhampton Christmas lights will also be switched on at Wednesfield plus entertainment from artists from the area and Dicky Dodd jobs and skills said: “It’s been another fantastic year of events in the city “Thousands of families every year attend our light switch ons to mark the start of the countdown to Christmas – they are great free events for all the family.” Wolverhampton based not-for-profit Health Cash Plan provider Paycare have been announced as headline sponsor for the five events Saturday November 16: Wolverhampton City Centre To find out more about Christmas in the city of Wolverhampton including details on artists performing at each of the switch on events visit wolverhampton.gov.uk/visiting/christmas-wolverhampton A city off-licence will be facing disciplinary action after being caught selling cans of cider to a 14-year-old Wood End Wines in Wednesfield could have its licence suspended by Wolverhampton Council after a member of staff was caught selling cider to the child in an undercover sting last November Wolverhampton Trading Standards said the child was able to buy the alcohol unchallenged The council said it had “serious concerns” that Wood End Wines owner and licence holder Lavinder Pal Banga was not upholding the licensing objectives and “putting the public at risk.” Wood End Wines was among several businesses inspected across Wolverhampton on the same day last year to make sure they were carrying out age checks on restricted products The council said the 14-year-old volunteer who had been refused in other shops earlier in the day was able to buy a four-pack of strawberry Strongbow cider – with the sale witnessed by council and Trading Standards staff The council said this breached the key licensing rules designed to protect children from harm and prevent crime and disorder The early recommendation from Trading Standards called for Wood End Wines' licence to be suspended by councillors for up to three months The off-licence has since signed an agreement with Trading Standards Public Health and West Midlands Police over suspending the licence for a week to allow for training – a move that had “allayed previous fears and concerns” and might have prevented the hearing from going ahead Wolverhampton Council’s licensing department has stood firm and said it will not withdraw its objection – saying the hearing should still be held The licensing committee will meet at the Civic Centre in Wolverhampton on Friday (January 24) A fire at a Wolverhampton tower block involving a "small" pile of rubbish was started accidentally Three fire engines crewed by 15 firefighters rushed to the blaze on Plym Close in the Wednesfield area shortly before 12.55pm on Sunday they found a fire involving rubbish which had been disposed of on the 14th floor landing area of the 20-storey building Residents of a nearby flat had successfully extinguished the flames before the arrival of fire crews A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "This was an accidental fire involving a small amount of rubbish "Crews confirmed the fire was out and liaised with all residents on the 14th floor The Grinch and Cindy Lou will be entertaining the crowds throughout the event before X Factor and musical theatre star Niki Colwell Evans and Jake Nelson Music take to the stage to perform an array of songs The city centre fun is not the only festive celebration in Wolverhampton as Christmas lights will also be switched on at Wednesfield plus entertainment from local artists and Wolverhampton’s very own Dicky Dodd. The full programme is as follows: the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Development and Skills said: “The Christmas lights switch ons are always a favourite with our residents as it signals the start of the festive period for a lot of families “These free events are the perfect way to kick start the Christmas season so I’d encourage everyone to come along and get into the festive spirit!” Wolverhampton based not for profit Health Cash Plan provider Paycare which gives policyholders the chance to claim back up to 100% of what they spend on healthcare support helpline and discounts on everyday spending has been announced as headline sponsor for the 5 events The Enjoy Wolverhampton BID team also have a range of activities happening throughout the Christmas Period Santa’s Grotto returns to the Mander Centre between 30 November and 23 December located in the Lower Mall and receive a charming age appropriate gift to take home and put under the tree parents can claim a free personalised letter from Santa for the children sent straight to their home before Christmas More information about the above activities, including details of late night shopping and parking in the city centre, can be found at Enjoy Wolverhampton A city shop had its licence suspended for a month after being caught selling cans of cider to a 14-year-old Wood End Wines in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, was hit with a 31-day suspension by City of Wolverhampton Council after after selling alcohol to the child in an undercover sting last November who said it was the first time the shop owner had been involved in such an incident in 15 years The committee ruled the shop’s off-licence would be suspended for 31 days and Mr Banga was also told to buy an electronic till The early recommendation from Trading Standards called for Wood End Wines’ licence to be suspended by councillors by up to three months City of Wolverhampton Council’s licensing department has stood firm and said it would not withdraw its objection – saying the hearing should still go ahead The licensing committee met at the Civic Centre in Wolverhampton on January 24 where it decided to suspend the licence accused of robbing a boy of his e-scooter in Wednesfield Keegan Ryan will appear before Wolverhampton Magistrates Court this afternoon The 22-year-old, of Heath Town was arrested and charged in connection with an incident on a canal towpath off Graiseley Lane on Tuesday afternoon An 11-year-old boy reported that he was pushed off the scooter and a man rode off on it towards Wednesfield A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "Robbery and youth violence remains a priority across Wolverhampton and our officers are working to identify those involved in crime across the city Live Chat online or report to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 "See our latest crime prevention advice to help keep yourself safe here." A free council-run open day is set to offer free support and guidance on money Help at the Hub will see a wide variety of city organisations offer advice and information, with the event taking place on Wednesday, December 11 between 11am and 2pm, at The Hub at Ashmore Park in Wednesfield. The event has been organised by officers at the council’s Public Protection Scams Team who will be handing out free scams awareness and prevention packs Residents with concerns can speak with advisors from Adult Education, Citizens Advice, NHS Talking Therapies, Public Protection, Revenue & Benefits, SUIT, Terrific for Twos, The Haven, Waste Services, West Midlands Police, Wolverhampton College and Wolves Foundation Residents are welcome to drop in and speak to any number of the organisations for free help and assistance Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for resident services said: “We have been offering these free events for some time now and are pleased to have been able to provide a wide range of advice and support for our residents “The important thing about Help at the Hub is that we’re going out into communities to speak with people in a friendly face-to-face environment and at somewhere that is convenient to them “This is a difficult time for many residents and worries can range from money and health to education and safety join us on December 11 for a chat about your concerns.” Residents do not have to book an appointment but are asked to please be prepared to wait if the event is busy Everybody needs good neighbours they say and newly published Wednesfield author David F Peters has took advantage of help from his He has published a book – called Rex the Journey Home – and has already sold 60 copies What makes it even more remarkable is David is dyslexic although he didn't find this out until he was in his early 40s The now 74-year-old who has lived in Wednesfield all his life also raises money for charity from cycle rides particularly for Prostate Cancer UK where he is in his second year of remission from it after treatment Whist being treated he raised £3,000 including a grant from the Wednesfield North ward fund which was used to install two defibrillators on the Linthouse Estate The idea for the book which centres on a farm and the animals that live there came when he was on one of his charity bike rides and had plenty of time to think about plots and picture using ideas from the images he saw He asked his neighbour's daughter Emily Rudge if she could help him to put this story into words on paper and she also put some of her own ideas in the storyline was asked to illustrate his book and she suggested he have it published never having dreamt he could ever achieve a book manuscript of his story and the book version was published on Friday David's brother in law is a musician and has written a song about the story which will be published on YouTube on the Sandiacre Adventures channel Rose said: "David is an inspiration and is well loved by people on the estate He has refused to be held back by health issues which he overcame and also the dyslexia diagnosis "Now he has achieved his ambition of getting his ideas for a story written down with me helping out with the pictures which I enjoyed though it was hard work and others helping out in other ways "The outcome has been the published book which has already created a lot of interest and sales in the local area." David already has an idea for a second book about two donkeys called Hokey and Cokey Anyone wishing to purchase a copy of Rex the Journey Home can call David on 07801 811 350 and it may be available from Wolverhampton Library soon A pub which has been subject to complaints about noise is seeking permission to carry out work it says will reduce the problem Greene King has applied to Wolverhampton Council for permission to modernise the Pheasant in Wood End Road The company said the pub's immediate neighbours had lodged several complaints with the council's environmental health department over noise Last year Wolverhampton Council's environmental health team called for a review of the pub's licence in the wake of a number of complaints Senior environmental health officer Emma Waites said the complaints related to a 'persistent breach of licensing objectives' Greene King is seeking to remove an existing timber and part-glazed screen with a single door leading to the beer garden A new cavity wall construction would be built with triple-glazed windows and new internal and external doors to cut down noise The report said the pub showed a large number of sporting events on large television screens "The premises has a large rear beer garden to ensure that this is used to its maximum our client intends to carry out the aforementioned works," said the application Firefighters have been called to a block of flats to deal with a 'small' rubbish blaze in a block of flats Wolverhampton and Willenhall were called out to tackle the fire in Wednesfield on Sunday afternoon Posting on its X account,West Midlands Fire Service said the crews arrived at Plym Close to deal with a 'small amount' of rubbish that had caught fire at around 1pm The incident was resolved in just over one hour with fire crews leaving the scene at around 2pm once the area was safe for residents The original post read: "There have been three fire engines at a block of flats in Wednesfield dealing with a small amount of rubbish on fire "Please be aware we set up our fire equipment to be prepared for any incident in high rise buildings." A spokesperson from West Midlands Fire Service said: "Crews arrived at the location just before 1pm and had left the scene by 2pm." Motorists will face traffic diversions due to ongoing pothole and carriageway repairs as part of an ongoing programme The essential roadworks are part of a rolling scheme costing almost £10 million to improve roads across Wolverhampton Work this week to tackle potholes and other defects will see Penn Road,in Penn shut to inbound traffic from Hollybush Lane to Pinfold Lane on Sunday between 8am and midday and on Thursday between 9.30am and 2pm for surface dressing Traffic on both days will be diverted via Warstones Road and Coalway Road Resurfacing work will also take place in Peacock Avenue from Monday to Wednesday with a full road closure between 9.30am and 3pm Traffic will be diverted via Lichfield Road The 10th anniversary of a popular canal festival has seen hundreds of people come to enjoy a weekend of fun on the water The Wednesfield Canal Festival saw dozens of boats moor up at the area around Bentley Bridge Leisure Park on Saturday and Sunday to showcase their designs and sell a range of items from hand-crafted jewellery to homemade food The festival started out in 2014 with just a few boats and has grown in size with the weekend a chance for people to see the boats try out boating on the canal and also look at the various stalls on the car park of the Nickelodeon pub It also featured performances and music on the main stage, while the Harry Jones Funfair was also busy with rides and attractions at the Wednesfield event Wednesfield North Councillor Phil Bateman has been a part of the organisation of the festival since the first event and spoke about how it had grown over time it was all about trying to ensure that we retained the canal and what we could turn it into a nature reserve then it grew the next year and eventually grew to the point where it was too much for me to handle on my own "There's when Hands On Wednesfield came on board and offered to run it for me which was great as it meant we were able to sustain it and grow it and since those opening days it's grown by around 2,000 people per year and has become the biggest voluntary-run festival in Wolverhampton "We had more than 10,000 people in 2023 and we're expecting just as many The event also enjoyed sponsorship for the first time with Councillor Bateman saying that Tomato Energy and the Commonwealth Legacy Fund had helped to put the event on He said the event had a really professional feeling and said it was a pleasure to be able to put it on again He said: "It's the same people who help to run it year on year but it has that more professional feeling to it this year and everything seems to be growing "The fun fair is bigger and better and there are more stall holders that ever and we've got people like Hollywood Bowl here offering testers to the kids so it's just great to be able to put this on." Wednesfield Cons retained top spot in the ADSL Premier League with a comfortable 5-0 home victory over Bloxwich Sports Oliver Spooner won the first frame before wins from Simon Gough Andy Price and Lee Bannister completed the rout Defending champions Pelsall Social A eased to a 5-0 triumph at Dartmouth courtesy of winning frames from Lee Cross Billy Stephenson and Craig Ash collected wins in Rushall Labour A's 3-2 success over Bentley Moor A and Hotshots edged fellow title rivals Old Hall B 3-2 in an enthralling encounter Landywood A climbed into fourth with a 3-2 victory over Old Hall A after Adrian Woods Paul Geary and Rob Brown sealed the win by securing the first three frames David Blunt won the decisive frame in Poet Corner A's 3-2 triumph at home to Charlemont A and third-place Bloxwich Memorial A emerged with a 4-1 win at Poets Corner B Poets Corner C won 4-1 at Stafford Institute with wins from Harry Garbett Aldridge Cons C extended their lead at the top with a 3-2 victory over Aldridge Cons A with Steve Mullett Lee Dennant and Peter Maloney taking the opening three frames Second-place Amery fell behind in the title race after Bob Davis won the decisive frame for Aldridge in a 3-2 defeat while Bloxwich Memorial B cruised to a 4-1 win at Nortin Vic Charlemont B registered a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Old Ball D with John Lawley Chad Hall and Jesse Lowe all collecting wins Jack O'Connor won the decider for Landywood B in a topsy turvy 3-2 win over Q Bar B Lichfield Road won 3-2 on their travels against Old Hall C and Q Bar A emerged with a 3-2 home victory over Darlaston Cons Rushall Labour B won 3-2 at home to Bentley Moor B with Stephen Cooke winning the final frame Darren Millard prevailed 3-2 over Simon Groves and Lee Bannister beat John Spencer 3-1 with breaks of 69 and 34 Bal Sembi beat Paul Pugh 3-1 in the Individual Handicap and Aaron Gale edged to a 4-3 victory over Josh Walker in the Individual Championship Callum Downing emerged with a 4-0 win over Sembi and Andy Price edged to a 4-3 win against Chris Ward The detailed design options will be available to view and comment on at Wednesfield Market (on a stall outside Heron Foods) on Tuesday 19 March between 10am and 3pm They will remain on display at Wednesfield Library (WV11 1XT) for the duration of the 6 week consultation People can also have their say online at Wednesfield High Street Improvements from Monday 18 March to 29 April The consultation follows extensive engagement with the public and stakeholders and the findings will help determine which design options are implemented Work on site is expected to start later this year and will take around 18 months to complete It will be funded through the Government’s Levelling Up Towns Fund for Wolverhampton The options look at ways to increase the vibrancy of Wednesfield High Street by considering potential environmental enhancements to the public realm shop fronts and market to encourage increased footfall linked trips and increased dwell time to support businesses which has responsibility for Wolverhampton Towns Fund said: “As a board with key partners from across the political and business spectrum we fought hard to secure funding to support improvement in district centres like Wednesfield and Bilston “This scheme will make a major difference to Wednesfield High Street and the town centre as a whole and it is important the public have the chance to express their views on the design options before final plans are put in place.” City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change “It is important we maximise this funding to provide the best possible outcome for Wednesfield and make a tangible difference to its residents “I would urge people to look at the design options on the table and have their say ahead of us starting these important regeneration works later this year.” Lady T's have claimed their first victory in the Wednesfield Sunday Darts League - at the 28th time of asking They were 4-2 winners over Ringers as Helen Sims Jan Duckers and Sarah Parker all triumphed to end a long wait for Lady T's Glassy Junction moved clear at top by beating closest rivals Wednesfield Cons 4-2 courtesy of Jack Aldridge Gilberts A are one point behind Cons after beating County 4-2 - Dave Lopez Ben Johnson and Simon Pritchard doing the damage A quartet of West Midlands darts players produced some great arrows in the latest PDC Challenge tour event in Hildesheim Dan Hands followed up runs to the last 16 and the last 32 by losing 5-3 in the final of event 10 to Scott Campbell while Owen Maiden made the semi-finals of event nine before falling 5-0 to eventual winner Darius Labanauskas Ryan O’Connor produced some consistent games in making the last eight of event nine following up runs to the last 16 and last 32 while Scott Baker twice made it into last 32 unbeaten Junction B inflicted a first defeat of the season on Dog & Partridge B as they came through 5-2 thanks to Paul Bromley Charlie's Bar claimed a first victory of the season defeating The Goose 4-3 - Ant Moon Codsall Firs had a great 4-3 success at Pilot - Rhys Jones Ryan Bailey and Ian Rigby doing the damage Owen Maiden produced 105.47 average in Kings Head's 4-1 victory over Junction A in the West Midlands Super League - with other wins coming from Rich Platt Cottage Spring enjoyed a 5-0 success over William Archer - John Simms Ant Whitehouse and Leslie Dabbs all winning Chase Social had a great 4-1 victory over Gilberts A Hotshots look firm favourites to finish second in the Coseley Friday League after a tough 3-2 victory at Allen’s B - Martin Foster Steve Jones and Jamie Hughes the winning trio Gornal Labour enjoyed a 4-1 win at Hurst Hill thanks to Ray Ward Lower Gornal BL had a great 3-2 success at Coseley Tavern with wins from Paul Watton Damian SiwaIt's a pioneering housing estate that allows residents to purchase their homes for just £1 - but how are they faring now the dust has settled? The first residents moved into The Marches development in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton Located off Lakefield Road, the £34-million estate comprises of 266 homes - 100 of which were sold under a help-to-buy scheme allowing residents to purchase them for £1 after renting for 25 years vary in size from two to three and four bedrooms and vary in height from two to three storeys with red bricks that are complimented with dark blue roof tiles a street that forms the spine of the development plants and flowers adding a slice of greenery to the estate READ MORE: Inside leafy Midlands village mistaken for 'Devon' which footballers call home Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp The £1 scheme ensured that more than 41 per cent of help-to-buy residents were key workers aiming to support those in the most difficult And the estate itself was built near the site of a Lancaster bomber plane crash in 1945 with the seven airmen who lost their lives commemorated with a street being named after them It's easy to see why the project has made headlines in recent years. Like any new-build estate, not everything will be perfect and there will be teething problems along the way. When BlackCountryLive paid a visit in September there were some residents who were still loving their purchase - but for others it appeared the honeymoon period was over The Marches estate in WednesfieldA 41-year-old woman said there were 'cracks' in her house and she and fellow neighbours had been 'fobbed off' an annual maintenance fee which residents are 'forced to pay' has up by gone hundreds of pounds - all the while residents have been told they must carry out some of the work themselves "It's not really good," she said "We bought our house on a mortgage - but we said we wouldn't buy a property again after this we were told we'd be seen in 12 months time for a check-up to see if there were any problems there's been no appointment in nearly three years "The work that needs doing in the house hasn't been done A lot of people on the estate have complained that no work has been done and they've been fobbed off." Asked what problems she'd experienced she said: "There's cracks in the walls Other people have had similar issues." The Marches estate in WednesfieldThe disgruntled homeowner claimed the maintenance company only "cuts the grass" and questioned what they were paying for It comes as residents were told they must maintain the verges on the street Pointing to a verge outside her front door she said: "My husband had to get all the weeds out He dug it up and put bark in to stop weeds from coming back We'd received a letter from the council saying things had changed and it was down to us now." the woman said the annual maintenance fee was in the region of £100 we will take your property off of you," she said echoed similar concerns and said security was an issue He said: "We have had issues with the people who maintain the estate things like weeding and cutting the overgrown grass Pool at back of The Marches estate"We have enjoyed our stay here but the developers have not done a very good job It took weeks for them (the developer) to come and then they referred us to the company that made the shower He added: "We had issues with security before there were a few cars that were stolen from the estate We asked for lighting to be improved on the streets but nobody seemed to be interested." A young mum who lived nearby added: "Our bathroom is leaking down to the living room We've tried contacting them (the developer) but there's been no changes It appeared residents living on the edge of the estate were a lot more positive who moved onto the estate in October 2021 through the £1 housing scheme "A couple of residents complained about upkeep on the estate We live at the back of the estate so it is quiet here." I know some people in the middle (of the estate) had water-logged gardens but I've never had a problem." said: "There were issues with the drains last year but they came and sorted it I wouldn't have expected anything different from a new-build estate who also purchased a home through the £1 scheme I think there were issues with some of the earlier houses built Maybe it was fixable by the time we moved in We've heard a few creaks but it's a fresh building We know some people are moving out a few doors down but we don't think about moving." The estate was built by contractors Wilmott Dixon but it is owned by WV Living which is Wolverhampton Council's house-building company The help-to-by scheme was largely financed by WV Living at a cost of almost £5.5million while other finance partners included the West Midlands Combined Authority The Marches development consists of 99 properties on open market sale The scheme allows residents to build up a loyalty premium through their monthly payments If they leave the scheme within the first 20 years a WV Living spokesperson said: "We are incredibly proud of The Marches development The variety of housing provided has given local families couples and individuals the opportunity to get on the property ladder and own or rent new while also making the route to homeownership far more accessible "It is hugely satisfying that many key workers – like those just down the road from The Marches at New Cross Hospital – have benefitted by being able to secure homes in what is a well-connected neighbourhood." Addressing claims about rising maintenance costs WV Living said the annual service charge was based on the square-footage of properties and any underspend was credited back to the homeowners the charge ranged from £90.21 to £144.34 and for the year 2024/25 it marginally increased to between £98.72 to £157.96 Responding to claims that some properties had issues with 'cracks' 'leaking' bathrooms and 'weeds on pavements' WV Living said all of its homes at The Marches underwent a high level of scrutiny for quality and safety meeting the required Building Regulation and National House Building Council (NHBC) standards prior to handover to the customer some customers have experienced minor leaks all customers have access to an emergency out-of-hours service as well as a portal to report any non-urgent defects WV Living said the NHBC guidelines are very specific on what constitutes a defect and what is general maintenance which is "the responsibility of the homeowner and not WV Living" NHBC guidance also states that most homes will experience cracking at some point no matter how well-designed or built they are WV Living said: "The cracks are not normally serious and are very unlikely to affect the stability of the building Addressing concerns that residents feel they are not getting their money's worth from their maintenance fee WV Living said that some grass verges do fall within the red line boundary of a housing plot and are is currently responsible for the maintenance of all unadopted areas Addressing calls for more street lighting, WV Living said that all street lighting on the estate was completed in line with the planning consent. A new hearing has been set set over a controversial plan by a shop to sell alcohol 24 hours a day The new Morrisons Daily store in Stubby Lane, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton has applied to extend its licensing hours which would allow alcohol to be sold throughout the night The move has angered neighbours who say the move will attract trouble for their estate A new hearing has been set over a controversial plan by a shop to sell alcohol 24 hours a day Neighbours in Wednesfield had already complained to the council before last month’s hearing was postponed saying the plan for the former Co-op supermarket would 'create even more problems' for the residential area Four complaints from neighbours were lodged with City of Wolverhampton Council in October claiming structural work to convert the former supermarket had carried on until 1am A decision was expected to have been made on November 19 but the licensing hearing was postponed It said the proposed 24-hour opening times were a 'significant departure' from the existing arrangement Both public and environmental health officers at City of Wolverhampton Council have raised concerns about extending alcohol hours – saying there was not enough information in the application to show how the off-licence would protect people from public nuisance and potential trouble Wolverhampton Council’s licensing committee meets on December 10 to make a decision Police and fire crews attended to a conservatory fire that had quickly spread out of control in the Wednesfield area on Thursday Wednesfield and Heath Town police said on X that neighbours had to be evacuated but thankfully no one was injured in the fire West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Police were in attendance.