Major CCTV upgrades boost safety in Tipton
Sandwell Council continues to invest in upgrading CCTV to improve community safety. Over the past three years, the council has delivered major improvements, including a full CCTV Control Room upgrade with enhanced networks, transmission and recording systems. These upgrades have improved service quality and future‑proofed the control room for expansion.
A significant new project is extending CCTV and concierge services to 27 high‑rise blocks that previously had no coverage. This includes new CCTV installations and upgraded door‑entry systems, due for completion later this year.
This will benefit tenants in Tipton with several blocks scheduled to receive new CCTV and concierge services including blocks at Horton Street, Farley Street, Nelson House, Heronville House, Paget House and Wyrley House.
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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, 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.
In Tipton, we've completed resurfacing work to one of the car parks off Powis Avenue.
The improvements were carried out to address the worn condition of the existing surface and have resulted in a safer, smoother and more accessible parking area for residents and visitors.
The second car park is scheduled for resurfacing soon, which will further improve parking provision in the area and delivering a clear benefit to the local community.
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Libraries receive new books!
Great Bridge Library and Tipton Library are each receiving a new collection of books as part of Sandwell’s celebration of the National Year of Reading.
This will boost the range of reading and learning materials available to local residents. This investment will help strengthen literacy, encourage a love of reading.
Alongside the new books, Great Bridge Library will also benefit from a variety of additional resources designed to support wider community activities. These new materials will help staff run events, deliver sessions and offer practical support for people of all ages.
This investment will benefit current users as well as future visitors, helping to ensure the libraries remain welcoming, well‑resourced spaces for reading, learning, creativity and community engagement.
Through their ward councillor budgets, Councillor William Gill funded the books for Great Bridge Library, Councillor Sahdaish Pall BEM funded the extra resources for Great Bridge Library, and Councillor Richard Jeffcoat funded the books for Tipton Library.
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Funding boost for Great Bridge Community Forum
Great Bridge Community Forum is set to receive funding to support the wide range of sessions and activities it provides for residents of all ages across Great Bridge.
The organisation plays an important role in bringing people together, offering practical support and creating opportunities for learning, wellbeing and community connection.
The funding will enable the group to buy essential equipment needed to maintain their allotment space. Gardening is a valuable activity for mental wellbeing, social interaction and outdoor learning, and having the right tools will ensure the allotment can be fully used as spring and summer approach.
The organisation has also identified that their current kitchen facilities, particularly their fridge and microwave, are no longer suitable for the sessions they run. Part of the funding will therefore support upgrades to these facilities.
Councillor William Gill has provided funding for this project through his ward councillor budget.
Boost for play and learning
We have provided funding to Great Bridge Parents Support Network, which provides before and after‑school clubs and holiday provision for local primary‑aged children, to expand and improve its play offer.
The funding has paid for new outdoor play equipment, along with sports items such as basketball hoops, basketballs, tennis nets and tennis activities. A laptop has also been bought to support games, creativity and homework.
These improvements are helping to make the clubs even more enjoyable and engaging, while supporting the organisation’s aim to welcome around ten new children into at least one of their sessions.
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Improvements under way at Sheepwash
Sheepwash Local Nature Reserve is seeing a series of improvements aimed at protecting the site and making it safer and more enjoyable for visitors.
New metal fencing is being installed in areas that have experienced repeated vandalism over the years, replacing older wooden sections that were regularly damaged. These upgrades will help keep the site secure and reduce the need for ongoing repairs.
The work focuses on key locations such as the Spit, the Pumphouse and the River Tame boundary, with a new metal stile and a small section of replacement fencing also planned near the Tame bridge on Sheepwash Lane.
These upgrades will help protect Sheepwash for the long term and improve the experience for everyone who uses and enjoys the site.
Students help with litter pick
A litter-picking event was carried out by more than 50 students from Gospel Oak School’s Tomorrow’s Leaders programme, alongside local residents and businesses.
It shows the positive role young people are playing in improving their town.
The event brought together schools, families, businesses and the wider community on a mission to clean up their local area – showing how important a clean environment is to our residents.
This is all part of our cleaner, greener, safer Sandwell work and that fly-tipping is not acceptable in Sandwell.
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Pathway improvements at The Cracker
The Cracker will benefit from much‑needed pathway improvements, making this popular green space safer, more accessible and more enjoyable for the community.
The project supports the council’s commitment to improving the quality and accessibility of local green spaces, ensuring they remain welcoming and safe for everyone.
The planned works will resurface the affected pathways, restoring them to a safe standard and improving accessibility for all.
Once complete, the improvements will make it easier for more people to enjoy walking, exercising and spending time outdoors, strengthening The Cracker’s role as a valued community space.
Through their ward councillor budgets, Councillor Richard Jeffcoat, Councillor David Wilkes and Councillor Archer Williams have provided funding towards the pathway improvements.
We've also installed some new goalposts at The Cracker for informal use.
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Tipton town centre regeneration under way
Work to regenerate Tipton town centre is continuing to make positive progress.
Improvements to public spaces are now well under way in and around Owen Street.
These works will help create a safer, more attractive and welcoming town centre for residents, businesses and visitors.
Work on the new affordable council homes in Union Street is also moving forward well.
Local young people have played a part too. Students from Q3 Academy helped choose the new names for the housing blocks, now officially confirmed as Harmony Court and Beacon View.
Together, these steps show that the regeneration programme is well under way and beginning to deliver visible improvements across Tipton.
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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 before and after photos here are in St John's Road. Another big tidy-up was held in Lewis Street and the surrounding estate.
These are just two of the dozens of 'green hit squad' clean-ups across Tipton, with visible differences made in each ward.
Watch the video to see the difference made across Sandwell and the reaction from our residents.
 Oxford Way pathway improved after clean-up
The pathway adjacent to Oxford Way has seen a major improvement.
Kendrick Homes arranged for the overgrown embankment which had been causing a blight on the area and affecting the safety and appearance of the route to be fully cleared. The transformation is clear in the before and after photos, with the pathway now looking cleaner, brighter and much more welcoming for residents.
Council teams supported the work on site, helping ensure the area was made safe and accessible.
A few small follow‑up improvements are planned, including some fencing, minor repairs and light planting to help keep the space tidy and well‑maintained.
This joint effort has made a noticeable difference and is helping to create a safer, more pleasant environment for everyone using the pathway.
Big improvements for parks and green spaces
We're proud to be investing this year to improve parks and green spaces across Sandwell. You've told us how much these spaces mean to you, and this investment is helping to make them greener, safer and more enjoyable for residents of all ages.
Victoria Park is set to benefit from a series of improvements aimed at refreshing the space and giving local residents and young people more to enjoy.
We’ve already made significant progress with recent upgrades to the tennis courts at Victoria Park, alongside improvements delivered at Jubilee Park. Further investment is also planned for the upcoming months, with a programme of enhancements scheduled for several play areas, including Jubilee Park and Wednesbury Oak Open Space.
Through their ward councillor budgets, Councillor Abid Hussain and Councillor Syeda Khatun MBE have part funded some of the improvements at Victoria Park.
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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