Work to build new leisure centre to start next month
Construction of the brand-new Haden Hill Leisure Centre is set to begin by the end of April, as work continues to demolish the old building.
The demolition work began in September 2025 and is expected to be complete in the coming weeks.
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The new £24million centre in Barrs Road will feature a wide range of facilities including a main swimming pool, a learner pool, two multi-purpose studios, a 100-station gym, a 27-station indoor cycling studio, a four-court sports hall and a dedicated community room. It is expected to open to the public in autumn 2027.
The redevelopment of the centre is being funded by UK Government funding, Sport England and Sandwell Council.
Read more about the project and what our partners have to say about this development.
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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.
There are lots of exciting improvements planned to keep Sandwell's parks and green spaces thriving.
New facilities unveiled at Britannia Park
Residents, families and communities came together on 8 March to celebrate the transformation of Britannia Park at special free open day showcasing the park’s extensive new improvements.
The improvements have been made possible through grant funding of over £3million for the overall Rowley Regis Parks Improvement Programme from the UK Government’s Towns Fund, with additional funding from Sandwell Council, the Lawn Tennis Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The regeneration has introduced a new low-carbon community building with modern changing rooms, providing an improved space for community activities and sports users.
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The car park has been expanded to 90 spaces, including 12 disabled bays, improving accessibility for visitors. In addition, the Sons of Rest Community Centre has been refurbished to better serve residents and is available for private hire and regular crafts and fitness classes.
Sports facilities across the park have been significantly upgraded. Improvements include refurbished tennis courts, a renewed Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), and a reconstructed skate park. All play and outdoor fitness equipment has been replaced, and a brand-new toddler play area has been installed to create a safe and engaging space for younger visitors.
Read more about the improvements at Britannia Park.
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New toddler play area at Haden Hill Park
Check out the new play area at Haden Hill Park. Our brand-new play area with swings, a slide and lots more is now open.
The improvements have been made possible through grant funding of over £3million for the overall Rowley Regis Parks Improvement Programme from the UK Government’s Towns Fund, with additional funding from Sandwell Council, the Lawn Tennis Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
A brilliant place to take the kids!
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PlayZone launch at Bearmore Playing Fields
PlayZones is a Football Foundation programme providing new or refurbished sports facilities to encourage residents to be more active. Bearmore Playing Fields was identified for PlayZones to replace ageing facilities following consultation with residents.
The new facilities are modern, high quality and floodlit. They are intended to be multi use, while the equipment encourages small-sided sports activities.
The scheme marks a major milestone in Sandwell’s commitment to creating vibrant, active communities and delivering on its Child Friendly Sandwell principles.
The launch of Sandwell’s PlayZones complements the wider Black Country Move Together campaign, which encourages residents across the region to get active in ways that suit their lifestyle. The campaign promotes physical activity as a way to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and build stronger communities.
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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 new traffic signal controls at 'Pap Pap Bridge' in Springfield Lane, Rowley, and a new zebra crossing in Regent Road, Tividale, near to the school. 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.
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Community Speed Watches
We have carried out nine Community Speed Watch campaigns across Rowley Regis in recent months. These sessions, which have included police and ward councillors, were organised in direct response to residents raising concerns about speeding in their neighbourhoods.
Community Speed Watches are designed for education, not enforcement. Their presence encourages drivers to slow down, while the data collected helps police identify speeding hotspots and plan targeted activity where it’s needed most.
The aim is to raise awareness, promote safer driving and protect all road users.
Importantly, these campaigns also provide the council with valuable statistics. This evidence helps us make informed decisions about future road safety measures, ensuring that any changes are based on community need.
By working together, we’re creating safer, calmer streets across Rowley Regis and building a community where everyone feels protected and heard.
Road safety community project in Rowley
A collaborative community project has brought together a local councillor and the council's road safety officers to tackle concerns raised by parents and staff at Springfield Primary School and Brickhouse Primary School.
Both schools had reported ongoing issues with speeding vehicles and inconsiderate parking during busy drop-off and pick-up times.
To address these concerns, we spent time working directly with pupils at both schools. Through interactive sessions, children learned about key topics such as pedestrian safety, safe cycling, responsible parking, and how to stay alert when travelling to and from school.
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One of the highlights of the project was an activity where pupils designed their own road safety signs. Their artwork focused on the dangers of inconsiderate parking and the impact that careless parking can have on a child’s safety as a pedestrian.
The winning design from each school are displayed on signs outside the schools and along the roadside. The aim is to remind drivers that their actions directly affect the safety of local children.
To further support safe and active travel, a few balance bikes and helmets were also provided to the schools. These will give younger pupils more opportunities to develop early cycling skills in a safe environment
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Car parks, footpaths and access roads upgraded
We've carried out resurfacing work at several car parks, footpaths and access roads that had become worn and were ready for a much‑needed upgrade.
Both New Pool Road car park and the Rowley Village car park have been transformed with smoother, safer and more accessible car parking for residents and visitors.
The upgrades have improved the look of these areas and made car parks and footpaths easier to use, providing a positive benefit to the local community.
More improvement projects will be completed soon, continuing the commitment to investing in local neighbourhoods.
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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.
These photos above show Southbank Road in Cradley Heath and Old Hill ward before and after a clean-up from the 'green hit squads'. Another big clean-up took place in Stokesay Close, Tividale, pictured below.
These are just two of the dozens of 'green hit squad' clean-ups across Rowley Regis, with visible differences made in each ward
Watch the video to see the difference made across Sandwell and the reaction from our residents.
Celebrating Blackheath football legend Tommy Smart
An event was held in February to celebrate local footballing legend Tommy Smart.
Watch our video celebrating Tommy Smart.
Tommy, who died in 1968, was born and raised in Blackheath. Smart began his football journey at Halesowen before rising to prominence at Aston Villa, where he became a commanding presence on the pitch and a fan favourite. His talent earned him five England caps, and his larger‑than‑life character made him a true Black Country icon.
To honour his life and achievements, a commemorative plaque has been unveiled at the Sons of Rest in Britannia Park. It’s a moment that not only honours his life but it’s a reminder of what local people can achieve with determination, passion and pride in where they come from.
This celebration forms part of the wider Sandwell Story, launched last year to highlight the achievements of local people and show that success is possible in every walk of life.
Tommy Smart’s journey, from Blackheath lad to England international, embodies that message perfectly. He deserves to be remembered not only for his footballing talent but for what his story represents: ambition, resilience, and the belief that greatness can come from anywhere.
Councillor Jag Deep Singh helped to fund the celebration event through his ward councillor budget.
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Remembering the fallen from TW Lench in Blackheath
The TW Lench factory was a major employer in Blackheath and was a large supplier of nuts and bolts. A memorial plaque was unveiled at the factory after the Second World War to commemorate those 30 workers who had fallen in service to their country.
When the Lench factory closed and was redeveloped into a housing estate, the memorial was moved to a private residence for safekeeping.
The Lench family got in touch to see if the plaque could be found a new home. It has now been fully restored and, in accordance with the family’s wishes, the stone was re-dedicated with a service attended by more than 100 residents, the Royal British Legion and the Lench family.
This plaque represents an important part of our local heritage, and its story is closely tied to the history of our community.
Councillor Kerrie Carmichael supported the event through her ward councillor budget.
Watch a video of the event.
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Buying books in the National Year of Reading
2026 is the National Year of Reading! This is a UK-wide campaign designed to help more people rediscover the joy of reading.
You will see various events organised by the council, especially in our libraries and schools.
Using his ward councillor budget, Councillor Jag Deep Singh has funded new books for Blackheath Library.
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New council homes in Rowley Regis
Sandwell Council has completed a £2.1million investment in six high-quality affordable rent homes in Rowley Regis, designed to meet the needs of larger families in the borough.
All six newly-completed properties – located in Higham’s Close and Pennant Road – are four-bedroom, six-person houses, providing much-needed accommodation.
Four of the homes are unique within Sandwell’s council housing stock, as they are 2.5-storey properties, a new addition to the council’s portfolio.
Read more about the new homes delivered.
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Cradley Heath Skills Campus now open
New skills and opportunities are set to be unlocked as The Sandwell Colleges officially opened their highly-anticipated Cradley Heath Skills Campus on 2 March.
The Cradley Heath Skills Campus will play a transformative role in boosting skills, employment, and social inclusion across the Black Country. It will act as a catalyst for opportunity and regeneration, and bringing practical training, adult learning and community-focused education into the heart of the town.
The £9.3million community-focused facility, funded by Sandwell Council’s Towns Fund Programme, is an innovative investment into adult learning, apprentices and school leavers. It is designed to be a dynamic hub for practical, career-focused learning, supported by expert guidance, and relevant to today’s job market with industry-standard workshops, specialist equipment and flexible learning spaces.
Read more about the launch of the new skills campus.
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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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