Community

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 walsall council conservatives leadership bullying localelections politics community democracy councillors

At last night’s full council meeting in Walsall, three outgoing Conservative councillors delivered a fierce critique of the town’s leadership, accusing them of running the council with an iron fist and neglecting residents’ … Read More

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 foodbank midlands poverty charity community donations hardship queues volunteers deprivation

In a deprived town in the Midlands, the local foodbank is facing an unprecedented increase in demand. The queues outside the community charity are growing longer each day, reflecting the growing financial hardship faced by … Read More

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 birmingham pubs beerweekend jewelleryquarter independent pubcrawl hospitality community event brews

From Canada to the Netherlands, Birmingham’s renowned ‘best pub crawl’ draws visitors from across the globe. Last year, the JQ Beer Weekend attracted over 10,000 attendees in a record-breaking day for local … Read More

Monday, April 13, 2026 birmingham pride festival lgbtq lawrencebarton resignation anniversary accessibility community music

Lawrence Barton, the long-standing director of Birmingham Pride, has announced his intention to resign following the festival’s landmark 30th anniversary in 2027. Since taking the helm in 2009, Barton has been instrumental in … Read More

Monday, April 13, 2026 solihull padel alcohol licence purepadel licensing community safety business regulation

Pure Padel Clubs Ltd is applying for a premises licence to sell alcohol at its new padel courts located on Streetsbrook Road, Solihull. The company has submitted a formal application to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council … Read More

Sunday, April 12, 2026 rowleyregis alcohollicence community parking safety microbar licensing objections traffic residential

A decision looms over whether The Fust-un, a proposed microbar in Hawes Lane, Rowley Regis, will receive an alcohol licence, following formal objections by nearby residents. Sandwell Council’s licensing committee is set to … Read More

Sunday, April 12, 2026 birmingham pride lgbtq festival accessibility community tickets costofliving equality celebration

Birmingham Pride has lowered its ticket prices this year, aiming to make the event more accessible to attendees amidst ongoing financial pressures and a cost of living crisis. Weekend tickets are now priced at £46.87, a … Read More

Sunday, April 12, 2026 blackcountry dudley localelections politics community funding council labour manifesto engagement

This year’s Dudley local elections will mark the debut of The Black Country Party on the ballot, introducing a fresh perspective to local governance. Established in 2025, the party seeks to change the traditional political … Read More

Sunday, April 12, 2026 birminghampride lgbtq leadership controversy community transinclusion business volunteerism pridefestival unity

When I mentioned I was interviewing Lawrence Barton, director of Birmingham Pride since 2009, a colleague questioned, “How can someone ‘own’ Pride? Isn’t it a movement?” The idea of ownership felt misplaced, yet Lawrence’s … Read More

Saturday, April 11, 2026 westmidlands highstreet alumrock knowle independentbusiness community inequality urbanspace localeconomy businessdevelopment

This week, I explored two high streets in the West Midlands that, though geographically close, couldn’t feel more different. The striking contrast between Alum Rock and Knowle left a lasting impression. Alum Rock, often … Read More

Friday, April 10, 2026 solihull chewiskgreen housing development planning greenbelt affordablehousing community infrastructure golfclub sport

Plans to significantly increase the size of Chewisk Green, a small village in Solihull, are underway as developer Spitfire Homes proposes building 54 new homes. The village, with a current population of approximately 1,700, … Read More

Thursday, April 9, 2026 heritage restoration restaurant birmingham victorian blacklock hospitality architecture renovation community

Sitting by the window of the soon-to-open Blacklock Chophouse on Cathedral Square, I was treated to one of Birmingham’s most striking views while waiting to chat with restaurant owner Gordon Ker. For years, only the former … Read More

Thursday, April 9, 2026 attack birmingham shopkeeper handsorth robbery assault queensheadroad westmidlandspolice community safety

A shopkeeper in Birmingham was violently attacked and robbed after stepping in to assist a neighboring business on Queens Head Road in Handsworth. The incident occurred shortly after midday on Saturday, April 4. The … Read More

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 birmingham heritage community council friendsinstitute elections moseleyroad conservation quakers cadbury

Birmingham is evolving, but not without loss. Over recent years, many residents have felt an increasing sense of frustration and worry as key parts of the city’s history and identity slip away. Despite differing opinions and … Read More

Monday, April 6, 2026 wednesfield morrisons petrolstation planning convenience council licensing evcharging retail community

City of Wolverhampton Council has given the green light to reopen the former Linthouse Service Station, located on Linthouse Lane in Wednesfield, as a petrol garage paired with a Morrisons Daily convenience store. The site, … Read More

Saturday, April 4, 2026 willenhall market revamp stalls walsall traders pedestrian planning council community

Walsall Council has given the green light to an ambitious plan to transform Willenhall Market. The approved scheme includes the installation of 12 new fixed stalls within the pedestrianised area between Savers and the Compton … Read More

Saturday, April 4, 2026 historicengland birmingham moseleyroad friendsinstitute heritage community closure preservation trustees conservation

The sudden closure of the Friends Institute on Moseley Road in Sparkbrook has caused significant disappointment among the community and heritage advocates alike. Historic England has expressed its concern over the shutdown of … Read More

Saturday, April 4, 2026 morrisons wolverhampton petrolstation alcohollicence licensing antisocialbehaviour traffic planning retail community

The City of Wolverhampton Council’s licensing committee has granted an alcohol licence to the new Morrisons Daily petrol station at Linthouse Lane Service Station in Wednesfield, despite objections from local residents and … Read More

Friday, April 3, 2026 michaelbarrymore recovery surgery hernia devon television health painkillers community celebrity

Michael Barrymore, the iconic television presenter, is currently in recovery following a painful hernia operation. The 73-year-old has been resting at his coastal home in Devon after recently moving there from plans to … Read More

Friday, April 3, 2026 dudley community antisocial volunteers crime safety council champions housing asb sport

Dudley Council is set to launch a new initiative enlisting ‘community champions’ to help report antisocial behaviour (ASB) as part of a broader crime reduction strategy. This measure is detailed in the council’s recently … Read More

Friday, April 3, 2026 solihull childcare carehome planning housing socialcare yewtreelane development community property

A proposal has been submitted to transform a detached five-bedroom house in Yew Tree Lane, Solihull, into a children’s care home designed to accommodate up to three children. Applicant Chantelle Duggins has put forward plans … Read More

Thursday, April 2, 2026 grandparents playgroup community support isolation funding grandmothers menopause childcare midlands

Meet the new generation of grandmothers transforming the experience of grandparenthood. No longer content to be sidelined or invisible, these Brummie nanas are reshaping what it means to be a grandparent—one stay-and-play … Read More

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 kingsheath birmingham ltn traffic pollution roadsafety elections community transport culturewar

In the suburbs of Kings Heath, Birmingham, a bitter dispute over a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme has escalated into what many parents describe as a “culture war.” As the city gears up for the council elections on May … Read More

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 fundraiser birmingham paulpike football community memorial funeral support solihullmoors tribute sport

A heartfelt fundraiser has been started to assist with the funeral expenses of Paul Pike, a devoted Birmingham City fan whose sudden passing has left the community mourning. Paul, 18, from Kings Heath, was reported missing on … Read More