New Wednesbury flag signage unveiled
New flag signage has been installed along High Bullen and on the approach to Wednesbury Leisure Centre.
These new signs will help promote local businesses, highlight key amenities and points of interest, and create a more welcoming arrival point for residents and visitors.
The project, which is funded by Councillor Luke Giles, Councillor Peter Hughes and Councillor Nicola Maycock through their ward councillor budgets, supports the council’s wider ambition to create thriving, attractive and well‑maintained places.
|
The signs have improved the visual appearance of High Bullen, drawing attention to the range of shops, services and parking available.
The scheme aligns with our Council Plan focus on enhancing public spaces.
The signs encourage economic activity and improve the overall experience for people using the town centre.
They celebrate both our history and our future as we tell a new story for Wednesbury and Sandwell.
|
New wayfinders for town centre
New wayfinding totem columns were launched as part of a significant milestone in the redevelopment of Wednesbury town centre.
These will help residents and visitors navigate the town centre with ease and learn about the history of the town.
This work is part of the Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership and funded by the government. The fund has already seen Wednesbury benefit from a new town square, tree planting, new paving and new CCTV installed alongside other crime prevention measures.
The launch featured an interactive activity with pupils from Holyhead Primary School.
|
Pride in Place funding to benefit Friar Park residents
Friar Park is set to benefit from a major boost, with up to £20million being invested in the area over the next ten years through the government's Pride in Place programme.
This long‑term funding will support improvements to the area, helping to create a cleaner, safer and more welcoming environment for residents.
A new locally-led Neighbourhood Board is being established to guide how the funding is used. The board will bring together local voices to ensure investment is focused on the things that matter most to the community, making sure the improvements are shaped by the people who know the area best.
Do you want to help make Friar Park a better place to live?
There is still time to apply to join the Friar Park Pride in Place Board.
Fill in this form by Thursday 26 March
|
Crackdown on untaxed and abandoned vehicles
A targeted operation was carried out to help respond to local concerns about untaxed and abandoned vehicles littering the streets of Wednesbury.
Vehicles had been dumped on the roadside without any regard for the disruption caused to businesses, residents, and the general flow of traffic in the area.
To address the problem, Sandwell Council teams led a co-ordinated effort alongside partners including Penham Excel, West Midlands Police and Serco. The operation focused on the Potters Lane and New Street areas, aimed at seizing vehicles and cleaning up our streets.
We also took action against vehicles parked illegally on double yellow lines or other restricted zones.
- 17 vehicles were removed from the Potters Lane and New Street areas.
- Two more vehicles were clamped, later released once tax and release fees were paid.
- Six abandoned vehicles were served with notices.
The council and Penham Excel returned last week to Potters Lane, New Street and Perry Street and removed eight untaxed vehicles to keep up action in the area.
|
We're improving the way we tackle anti-social behaviour
Sandwell Council is investing over £1million in a strengthened, borough-wide anti-social behaviour (ASB) service.
The aim is to make it easier for residents to report concerns, access support and see problems resolved more effectively.
At the heart of the new service is a single point of contact for ASB, giving residents one clear and consistent 'front door'. Reports will be triaged in a structured way and managed end to end by a dedicated borough-wide team, ensuring clearer ownership, quicker responses and more consistent outcomes.
Read more about the strengthened service.
Find advice on reporting anti-social behaviour in Sandwell.
Major CCTV upgrades boost safety in Wednesbury
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.
New measures for Wednesbury funded by the government-supported Levelling Up Partnership have included 26 new and upgraded CCTV cameras, plus eight deployable cameras, a business radio scheme, measures to prevent nuisance motorbike activity, and work across the police, council, businesses and partners to improve reporting and response to crime in Wednesbury. 73% of businesses rate the investment in CCTV in Wednesbury town centre as “very effective”.
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 Wednesbury with Russell House scheduled to receive new CCTV and concierge services.
|
New CCTV to help tackle concerns
Concerns about anti‑social behaviour around Ridding Lane and Spring Head have been raised by local businesses, residents and councillors, with several businesses reporting repeated nuisance behaviour affecting both customers and staff.
In response, CCTV will be installed at both locations in April to improve visibility, deter offending and support enforcement. Police have also supported our response.
These new cameras will also strengthen the wider town centre CCTV network, helping to create a safer and more reassuring environment for everyone who lives, works and travels through the area.
Safety improvements for Marmion House residents
A strong partnership between Sandwell Council, Riverside Housing, West Midlands Police and key local partners has led to a series of positive safety improvements around Marmion House and the surrounding area.
In response to residents' concerns about vehicle vandalism and anti‑social behaviour, a number of targeted measures have been delivered to make the area safer and more secure.
- New fencing has been installed to block off vulnerable access points.
- Upgraded CCTV cameras now provide clearer and more reliable coverage.
- Overgrown vegetation has been cut back to improve visibility and reduce hiding spots.
This has already made a noticeable difference, and further improvements are currently being explored.
This collaborative approach shows the commitment of all partners to listening to residents and taking meaningful action to protect the community.
Partnership working in Harewood Avenue
We're working with residents, councillors, West Midlands Police and Neighbourhood Watch to respond to local issues and improve safety in Harewood Avenue.
As part of our response, we are upgrading street lighting along Harewood Avenue, with installation due to be completed in the next few weeks.
 '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 alleyway in Bromfield Crescent before and after a visit from a 'green hit squad'.
 Clean-up at The Shambles
A long-standing problem spot in the town centre has now been fully cleared and secured as part of ongoing efforts to improve the local environment.
The area had been repeatedly affected by littering and fly‑tipping. This had created an eyesore and was causing concern for nearby businesses and visitors.
The site has now been thoroughly cleaned, and we have installed new fencing to help prevent further dumping.
This improvement supports wider work to keep the town centre clean, safe and welcoming.
Support for Sandwell United's football programme
Sandwell United, a new football club in Friar Park, is helping children across Wednesbury learn and enjoy football in a supportive, nurturing environment.
We have provided funding to Sandwell United so they can buy essential training equipment, improve the quality of their existing sessions and launch new football sessions.
This investment will give more young people the chance to take part, build confidence and enjoy the game, with sessions for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) also planned for the future.
|
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.
A good local example is the improved tennis courts at Brunswick Park. This is just one example of what's been achieved so far, with even more exciting improvements planned to keep Sandwell's parks and green spaces thriving.
|
Investment in new Hydes Road Pavilion
The Hydes Road Pavilion, a valued community hub in the heart of Wednesbury, has celebrated a major milestone with an official spade-in-the-ground ceremony to mark the start of a brand-new pavilion.
This new development forms part of the Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership Programme funded by government.
The new pavilion will be named Patent Shaft Pavilion. The name was suggested by Wednesbury young people.
|
Friar Park Play Area improvements
We've started improvement works at Friar Park Play Area, marking a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to enhancing local green spaces.
This project represents a £25,000 investment and will deliver important upgrades to the play area. The refurbishment will include repairs to existing equipment, improvements to the overall condition of the site, and the installation of new safety surfacing.
These improvements will help create a safer, more welcoming and more durable environment for children and families.
The play area has experienced repeated issues in the past with damage and vandalism. If you witness or become aware of any problems before, during or after the construction period, please report them via the MySandwell portal or contact police via LiveChat on their website on 101 (non-emergency number).
Millennium Centre boost for community
The Friar Park Millennium Centre is being expanded and refurbished. This is part of the Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership Programme, a government-backed initiative aimed at boosting local economies in areas that need it most.
Since the project at the Millennium Centre started, the centre has already launched a Job Club and hosts Sandwell Council Youth Service activities, strengthening its role as a community hub.
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, including proposals for this summer to install a new puffin crossing outside Hill Top Library and a trial one-way scheme in Brunswick Park Road, subject to consultation with the local community.
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.
Meanwhile, the council has completed works to the two car parks at College Close. The improvements were carried out to address the worn condition of the existing surfaces and have resulted in safer, smoother and more accessible parking areas for residents and visitors.
The upgrades have improved the look of the car parks and made them easier to use, providing a positive benefit to the local community.
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.
|
|
