 New books for schools and libraries
Councillors have funded new books for seven schools and two libraries in Oldbury.
Using their ward councillor funds in Langley, Councillor Bill Gavan, Councillor Caroline Owen and Councillor Jill Tromans have funded books at Rounds Green and Langley libraries and three schools.
And in Old Warley, Councillor Harnoor Bhullar, Councillor Luke Cotterill and Councillor Chipiliro Kalebe-Nyamongo have funded books at four schools.
This times with 2026 being the National Year of Reading (Go All In), a campaign to get more people reading.
Our libraries have lots of activities lined up to support the year, including Cub Tales as a new early years’ initiative and, later this year, the Summer Reading Challenge – Read to the Beat
Rounds Green Library 60th anniversary celebrated with community event
Rounds Green Library, Lion Farm, has celebrated its 60th birthday.
The community had a great time learning about Black Country history with Professor Carl Chinn and being entertained by the fantastic Tom Heyes.
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Minister visits Oldbury on National Pothole Day
Oldbury was the focus for a ministerial visit on National Pothole Day in January, as Sandwell celebrated a top national Green rating for its highway maintenance.
This top assessment in a Red, Amber, Green traffic light system recognises strong performance, long-term investment and best practice in road upkeep.
Simon Lightwood MP, the Roads Minister from the Department of Transport, saw Sandwell’s innovative Multihog road repair machine in action, repairing potholes in Waterways Drive.
Read more about Sandwell's innovate work tackling potholes.
We know more potholes can appear following wintry weather and want to make sure they are inspected and repaired as soon as possible. If you see a pothole in Sandwell, please report it online or by calling 0121 368 1177.
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Improved paths and car parking areas at Salop Drive
We’ve responded to residents’ concerns about cracks in paths at Salop Drive, making repairs. We’ve also resurfaced car parking areas that needed repair.
These improvements have benefited residents, making the area look better and safer for walking.
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Bleakhouse Library garden revamp
We’ve created a lovely community garden at Bleakhouse Library and held a recent open day to launch it.
The refurbished garden is now thriving with community volunteers, and it’s also used by youth workers delivering sessions for young people.
Previously, the garden was out of use due to safety concerns, so we have successfully brought it back into use.
Ofsted joy for Causeway Green Primary School
Staff and pupils at Causeway Green Primary School are celebrating a very positive Ofsted inspection report, while also looking forward to moving to a brand-new building for the future.
The school received ‘Expected standard’ gradings in all areas following an inspection in January 2026. This marks significant progress for the school over the past three years.
Sandwell Council is planning to build a new Causeway Green Primary School as part of the new Brandhall Village in Oldbury. The Brandhall Village project also includes a 67-acre public park and, subject to final planning approvals, 190 new homes.
The new school, which will replace the current 74-year-old building in Penncricket Lane, is set to be built near the corner of Grafton Road and Ferndale Road. Subject to planning consent, work is expected to start on the new school this autumn and be finished by early 2028.
Read more about Causeway Green Primary's Ofsted report and plans for the future.
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Old Brandhall clubhouse demolished
The old Brandhall golf course clubhouse in Heron Road has been demolished.
This removes an empty building that had attracted some anti-social behaviour.
The council will now be working towards creating a new 67-acre public park as part of the Brandhall Village masterplan.
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 'Green hit squads' hard at work
Since October, our 'green hit squads' have been hard at work across all of Sandwell's six towns, tackling long-standing ‘grot spot’ areas and making our neighbourhoods cleaner, greener and safer.
This year we’ve invested £250,000 focusing on places that have traditionally been problem spots, transforming them into spaces the whole community can be proud of.
The photos here show the area by West Bromwich Street car park in Oldbury town centre before and after a visit from a 'green hit squad'. Another tidy-up was in Underhill Street near Langley Park.
These are just two of the dozens of 'green hit squad' clean-ups across Oldbury, with visible differences made in each ward.
Watch the video to see the difference made across Sandwell and the reaction from our residents.
New fencing installed, vegetation cut back
We’ve made the accessway leading from George Road to Walton Road more accessible and safer.
We have installed a new fence to improve security for homes.
Our 'green hit squads' have also cut back some of the vegetation to make it easier to use.
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Improvements at Underhill Walk
Residents in Underhill Walk have welcomed improvements made to paths and the car park.
The council responded to residents’ reports of large tree roots forcing the path to rise in places, causing trip hazards.
They had also reported large potholes on the car park, which have been repaired.
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Broadwell Park clean-up
Broadwell Park is looking brighter now, thanks to the efforts of four dedicated local volunteers who gave up their time to take part in a community clean‑up last month.
The team spent the day litter‑picking, clearing paths and freshening up key areas to help create a cleaner, more welcoming space for everyone who uses it. Their hard work has made a real difference to this much‑loved green space at the heart of the community.
The volunteers said they were proud to contribute to a park that so many families, dog walkers and neighbours enjoy. A huge thank you goes to everyone who got involved. Your time, energy and community spirit are truly appreciated.
Want to get involved and volunteer as a Green Space Ambassador? Email our volunteer team.
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Road safety projects – responding to residents' concerns
Sandwell Council has begun work on a series of 38 new priority road safety projects across the borough as part of its Community Road Safety Concern Programme this year.
Six are already completed or nearing completion, including a new zebra crossing at Londonderry Road in Oldbury. More projects are on the way.
Over the past 25 years, Sandwell has halved the number of casualties on its roads, including reducing child casualties by 60 per cent. This significant reduction follows a long-term programme of targeted engineering measures, road safety education, and support for police enforcement action.
The council is continuing this work through its Community Road Safety Concern Programme, which focuses on locations where residents, councillors and MPs have raised repeated safety concerns – even in places where accident records have not previously met the thresholds set out in the council’s Strategic Road Safety Plan 2024–2030.
Read more about Sandwell's Community Road Safety Concern Programme.
Little People, Big World: Nursery children meet community figures
Children aged 0 to 5 at Lilliput Lodge Children’s Day Nursery in Bristnall have been learning about people who help their community as part of a special project called Little People, Big World.
To bring the theme to life, the nursery welcomed a range of local community figures to visit, including the Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Steve Melia, local councillors, Sandwell Council officers from road safety, environmental protection and neighbourhood services, police officers and a lifeguard.
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This visit gave children a unique opportunity to meet real-life community helpers, explore uniforms and equipment, and learn how each role helps keep people safe and supported.
The project was designed to help even the youngest children begin to understand the world around them, while building confidence, communication skills and respect for others.
Older children were encouraged to ask questions and share their ideas, while babies and toddlers explored through sensory experiences and role play.
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Langley Community Day
On 21 February, the Langley Community Day brought the local community together.
The event showcased the community centre at Langley Park Lodge and local community groups were invited to provide activities and entertainment, including the Ukulele Group and Powered by CAN.
A climbing wall and the Youth Bus attended, providing activities for the younger members of the community to enjoy.
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Apprenticeships – Making it in Sandwell!
Sandwell Council has already achieved its ambition of 100 new apprenticeships, marking a significant milestone in turning the Sandwell Story into reality.
Following the successful launch of the Making It Sandwell campaign last year, this achievement demonstrates that the council’s promises are creating real opportunities for local people to help build their careers in public service.
As the largest employer in Sandwell and a recognised Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer, the council is demonstrating its commitment to raising aspirations and delivering excellent public service.
To mark this achievement, Sandwell Council hosted a special apprenticeship event to recognise our new colleagues.
The initiative forms part of the council’s Sandwell Story, a project to celebrate, champion and bring people together in making Sandwell a great place to live, learn, work and visit. The apprenticeship programme spans a range of sectors including administration, engineering, social care and digital services, reflecting Sandwell Council’s commitment to meeting the needs of a diverse and evolving local economy.
Watch our celebration video for our new apprentices.
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