summertime - · pdf filenews from your town: pages 18-23 herald sandwell @sandwellcouncil the...

News from your town: Pages 18-23

Sandwell @sandwellcouncilHeraldthe Sandwell

SUMMER 2017www.sandwell.gov.uk

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Summertime in Sandwell

Discover Sandwell: Page 4

Follow the bears this summer: Page 2

100 of the things the council does: Pages 5-7

Sign up to Sandwell Council email updateswww.sandwell.gov.uk/emailupdates

The Sandwell Herald22

The 10-week project supporting Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity will see up to 100 decorated bear sculptures on display in the region’s streets, parks and open spaces.

A sleuth is the collective noun for a group of bears and you’ll be able to sleuth your way around the trail which includes Sandwell, Birmingham, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and Resorts World.

We have six bears in Sandwell – three in West Bromwich and three in Bearwood. All of the bears have been designed by young people and local artists.

The trail, which is being run in conjunction with Wild in Art, is on until Sunday 17 September.During that time we want as many people as possible to visit all of the bears, check out The Big Sleuth app and have fun!

Three of the bears will be auctioned off in aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity in the autumn, while the three community bears will be found new homes around Sandwell.

For more details and to see a map of the trail, go to www.thebigsleuth.co.uk

Follow those bears! The Big Sleuth comes to SandwellWe’re very proud to be part of The Big Sleuth – a brilliant public art trail bringing bear-illiant bears to Sandwell.

www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwellTo register and for more information go to

Are you online? Save time with MySandwellWe’re busy adding more services to our MySandwell portal – saving you time and the need to call us to report a problem or request a service.You can now report an environmental health issue and even record a noise nuisance diary online. And soon you’ll be able to book a pest control appointment through your account.All you need to do is register for a MySandwell account – it takes a few moments. Then you can access all of these services and more online:

Council tax and benefits – check your council tax bill, benefits and business rates balances and transactions

Bins and recycling – check your bin day and report a missed bin

Environmental health – report an environmental health issue

Housing – join the housing register, rent a garage and inform us about a change in your circumstances

Registration Services – request copies of certificates for births, deaths and marriages

Report problems with street lights, fly-tipping, graffiti and dropped kerbs

Register complaints, compliments and Freedom of Information requests

starts at 1pm

The Sandwell Herald 3

If you fly-tip in Sandwell...

Dumpingrubbish is aCRIME

SEE IT • REPOR

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SEE IT • REPORT IT • SEE IT • REPORT IT •

www.sandwell.gov.uk/flytippingCall 0121 368 1177


Joy of Jazz

Top musicians are sharing the joy of jazz in Sandwell after the borough teamed up with a major international festival.The newly-renamed Birmingham, Solihull & Sandwell Jazz Festival 2017 is under way and runs until 23 July.There are around 30 performances across Sandwell’s six towns – with our libraries, museums, parks, Sandwell Arts Café, Windsor Theatre Bar and other venues hosting events.Go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/jazzfestival and www.discoversandwell.co.uk for more information.Follow the festival on Twitter @BirmJazzFest or search ‘Birmingham Jazz Festival’ on Facebook.

Bostin Black Country

Throughout July, Sandwell libraries are celebrating all things local as part of this year’s Black Country Festival. Activities include music, poetry, quizzes and a series of local history talks. Find out more at Discover Sandwell, follow @sandwelllibs on Twitter or search ‘Sandwell Libraries’ on Facebook.

Arts Café by the beachGet creative with some family friendly seaside-based arts and crafts at Sandwell Arts Café at Sandwell College’s Central Sixth campus, West Bromwich.

The workshops with Fab Lab are on Tuesday 8, 15 and 22 August and Thursday 10, 17 and 24 August, from 10am to 12 noon.

To reserve a place (£2 per child per workshop), email [email protected]

Bloomin’ Lovely Arts Trail

Thanks to everyone who submitted fantastic pieces of art for our Bloomin’ Lovely Arts Trail, which features paintings, drawings and photographs celebrating nature in Sandwell.Discover the trail at venues across Sandwell between now and September and vote for your favourite piece of work. Go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/joininmuseums for exhibition details.

Sandwell ValleyCheck out what’s on at Sandwell Valley Country Park this summer, including over the Bank Holiday weekend, at the ‘Sandwell Valley’ Facebook page.

On 20 August, it’s Fairy Tales at The Valley with local dance companies and organisations working with our museums and arts service to bring some classic fairy tales to life around the country park. Email [email protected] to get involved.

It’s Run for Joel on 10 September in memory of Tunisia terror attack victims Joel Richards, Adrian Evans and Patrick Evans. Register for 5k or 3k runs at www.smileforjoel.com and raise money to support families who are victims of murder and terrorism.

On 30 September, it’s the 5k Race for Life Pretty Muddy, raising money for Cancer Research UK.

Vélo Birmingham in Sandwell It’s just a couple of months now until Vélo Birmingham – when the Midlands plays host to a major new 100-mile cycling event.

On Sunday 24 September, charity fundraisers and recreational cyclists will start their journey in Birmingham City Centre and ride around the Midlands.

It’s a completely closed route – for Sandwell, this will be along the A456 Hagley Road in Bearwood and Oldbury.

Go to www.velobirmingham.com for more information.

Summer fun at Sandwell museumsJoin us at Sandwell’s museums for summer holidays packed with affordable and free fun for all ages.

There’s a whole lot of fun lined up in Sandwell this summer.

Attractions include craft activities, circus skills, film shows, performances, pirate fun, party time, fun days and much more.

On 20 and 22 July, Manor House, West Bromwich, is screening House of Screaming Death, a horror movie filmed on location at the Manor House. Booking is advised. This particular event is not suitable for children.

Enjoy music and more at the Indoor Outdoor Festival at Wednesbury Museum & Art Gallery. Book your place at our Sundays at Oak House in West Bromwich to discover secrets of a 400-year-old building.

Plus, coming up in September, we have Proms in the Park at Haden Hill and Heritage Open Days, including a medieval re-enactment at the Manor House.

Check out what’s on at www.discoversandwell.co.uk

School holidays

Visit www.sandwell.gov.uk/holidays

Looking for information on childcare and fun activities, including free swimming, for kids during the summer holidays?

www.sandwell.gov.uk/joininmuseums


Responds quickly to emergencies – making sure residents are supported and looked after in their moment of greatest need.

Provides free-to-use computers at all libraries across Sandwell.

Protects frontline services that matter to people – including keeping libraries open despite millions of pounds of cuts.

Repairs around 2,500 potholes every year to keep Sandwell’s roads safe.

Inspects hundreds of restaurants and takeaways to make sure their food is safe to eat.

Treats thousands of homes with pest problems – including rats, fleas and bedbugs – every year.

Prosecutes rogue traders – the council’s enforcement teams have investigated nearly 1,300 criminal complaints about scams.

Tackles and prevents the sale of alcohol and tobacco products to children.

Collects your bins every week – including recycling and food waste.

Supports the most vulnerable by reducing council tax bills for people on the lowest incomes.

Has issued hundreds of fines to people who don’t clean up dog mess – and prosecuted nine people who did not pay the fine.

Has supported more than 2,500 teenagers to find suitable education, training or employment since 2014.

Makes sure there are enough school places and childcare places available in Sandwell each year.

Is building hundreds of new homes – with more planned in the future.

Regenerates town centres – and the council has big plans for the future of Wednesbury including a new Business Improvement District.

Gives more than 100 young people an apprenticeship with the council each year.

Works with local businesses to identify the skills they need – organising around 200 apprenticeships and jobs with local firms each year.

Has secured £5.5 million of funding to transform unfit land into sites where we can build hundreds of new homes.

Encourages people to walk and cycle by creating new pedestrian crossings and walking and cycling routes.

Keeps traffic moving by enforcing illegal parking on red routes and in bus lanes.

Tackles anti-social behaviour using portable CCTV cameras that can be moved to crime hotspots.

Works with Sandwell’s top 150 companies to help them grow even bigger – creating more jobs and bringing in investment.

Prosecutes fly-tippers who dump rubbish using portable CCTV cameras to catch them.

Supports parents and carers with advice, courses, childcare and activities at children’s centres across all of Sandwell’s six towns.

Trains staff to identify victims of domestic abuse, hate crime, radicalisation and modern day slavery.

Supports people who have lost loved ones. The council’s caring bereavement services team helps thousands of families every year.

Trains taxi drivers to recognise and report signs of child sexual exploitation.

Makes it quick and easy to contact the council online 24/7 – more than 18,000 residents now have a MySandwell account.

Still has a Sandwell Local office in every town where residents can get help, support and guidance.

Tackles hate crime – working closely with the police and Sandwell’s new hate crime reporting centres.

Just 100 of the things the council does for the community…

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Join us at Sandwell’s museums for summer holidays packed with affordable and free fun for all ages.


Will make sure Sandwell gets a slice of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s £8 billion devolution deal.

Is one of the most effective in the country at collecting council tax – making sure everyone pays so we have the money to continue providing services.

Helps residents to be healthier by promoting and supporting free NHS Health Checks and other services.

Tackles benefit fraud – saving the council £38 million to spend delivering public services.

Has an excellent coroner service with state-of-the-art technology. Other councils are asking for advice on good practice.

Is developing an internship programme to give young people with learning disabilities a year’s work experience placement.

Works hard to make sure the council has a balanced budget while delivering good services to Sandwell’s residents.

Supports 2,500 pupils with special needs to help them learn, making sure we listen to parents and children.

Is fighting for the Metro to be extended from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill for the benefit of residents.

Offers outdoor education experiences for all children at four fantastic residential education centres.

Supports families in most need to claim free school meals and offers financial help towards school uniforms.

Helps families to improve their children’s attendance at school.

Keeps older people active – particularly focusing on preventing falls.

Offers support to vulnerable pregnant women and their families.

Funds free swimming for people aged 16 and under and people aged 60 and over. More than 29,000 residents have enjoyed free swims since June 2013.

Makes sure utility companies and contractors who dig up Sandwell’s roads reinstate them properly.

Works with young women to reduce the amount of alcohol they drink, encourages dads to be more active and funds cancer screening programmes.

Helps victims of anti-social behaviour to have a say in how perpetrators are punished.

Is focusing on improving areas of poor air quality.

Talks to private landlords in Sandwell – making sure they’re aware of their responsibilities and their rights.

Works with the police, the fire service and other partners to inspect properties where there are concerns that landlords or tenants are acting illegally.

Is looking at tougher taxi licensing requirements that will help keep the public safe.

Warns vulnerable people about letter, email and phone scams.

Helps prevent older and disabled people ending up in hospital – and when they do, we help get them back home as quickly as possible.

Provides equipment and grants to help older and disabled people stay safe and independent in their homes.

Supports and trains 35,000 carers who provide essential support to vulnerable people.

Helps people to remain independent in extra care housing – an alternative to long-term residential care.

Supports teenage parents to give their children the best start in life.

Works with young offenders to reduce reoffending and protect the local community.

Looks after children who need adopting – and the families who want to adopt them.

Supports more than 450 foster carers who care for more than 600 Sandwell children who can’t live at home.

Does more than 90 assessments of vulnerable children every week to identify their needs and keep them safe from harm.

Provides regular respite support for up to 200 families who have children with additional needs and life-limiting illnesses.

Builds great new leisure centres – we’ve opened four new ones in the past four years.

Helps thousands of victims of domestic abuse through domestic abuse advocates.

Runs the fantastic Sandwell Valley Country Park – where thousands of people walk, hire bikes, play golf and tennis every year.

Sandwell has 11 Green Flag award-winning parks and green spaces with excellent facilities for everyone to be proud of.

Supports gifted and talented sportspeople with grants to help them develop their skills.

Coordinates the safeguarding of vulnerable adults in Sandwell.

Keeps people safe. Staff in the council’s CCTV control room helped people who made 91,500 intercom calls from their homes last year.

Grits more than 250 miles of Sandwell’s roads each winter to make icy roads safe.

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Has trained ten community champions to raise awareness and tackle female genital mutilation, honour-based violence and forced marriage.

Engages with thousands of young people to help build positive relationships and prevent radicalisation, extremism and terrorism.

Runs safeguarding days at primary and secondary schools with partners including DECCA, Black Country Women’s Aid and Rewind.

Detects tenancy fraud – the CCTV control rooms worked with the council’s fraud team to save the council £400,000.

Teaches children about Sandwell’s heritage – last year museums staff went into 12 schools and worked with almost 2,000 pupils.

Brings the arts to each of Sandwell’s six towns with events and exhibitions celebrating art, dance, photography, poetry, writing and creativity.

Has spent nearly £150 million in the past three years improving council properties with double glazing, insulation, new boilers, kitchens and bathrooms.

Provides award-winning services in supporting Sandwell’s armed forces as recognised by the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme.

Does around 170,000 repairs to council properties every year.

Provides free, fast Wi-Fi in public buildings including libraries, council offices and town halls.

Runs fantastic events at Sandwell Valley – more than 15,000 visitors came to the first Christmas at the Valley.

Has refurbished Lightwoods House and Park in Bearwood – making a great green space, visitor attraction and venue.

Has reduced carbon emissions from public buildings by 20% over the past four years.

Helps young people to tidy-up their estates and youth centres through a scheme to keep teenagers out of trouble and focused on their education.

Has popular leisure centres run by Sandwell Leisure Trust and Places for People Leisure – they are visited around two million times a year.

Encourages people to get into sport – last year a further 1,700 residents took part in the 1 x 30 minutes exercise campaign.

Helps people to claim what they are entitled to – last year the council’s welfare rights service helped more than 10,500 people claim £23 million.

Loans out more than a million books at Sandwell libraries each year – and Sandwell has the second highest number of library volunteers in the country.

Is cracking down on unauthorised encampments – working with the police and creating a transit site to cut the huge cost of cleaning up after these groups.

Helps homeless people get back on their feet by providing housing and support for mental health and substance abuse problems.

Makes sure working environments are safe by giving health and safety advice to more than 300 businesses a year.

Enrols more than 2,000 people on adult and family learning courses every year.

Works closely with residents to develop town plans – covering important local priorities for each town and tackling the issues that matter most to residents.

Maintains 550 miles of roads, 880 miles of pavements, 35,000 streetlights and signs, 270 traffic signals and crossings and 143 bridges.

Continues to invest in the regeneration of West Bromwich town centre – including plans to redevelop sites at Shaftesbury House, Crosswells Road, the gas showroom and the multi-storey car park.

Is fighting for Sandwell’s fair share of funding for improvements to Junction 2 of the M5 to cut delays and traffic jams.

Has helped tackle crime by spending nearly £500,000 on improving lighting, fencing and car parking across Sandwell.

Promotes Sandwell as a great place to live, work and visit through the new Discover Sandwell website – www.discoversandwell.co.uk

Uses social media and the award-winning sandwell.gov.uk website to reach thousands of people every week. Join us – search ‘Sandwell’ on Facebook and follow @sandwellcouncil on Twitter.

Find out more about Sandwell’s Vision for 2030 atwww.sandwell.gov.uk/vision2030

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Safer SandwellWe're working together through the Safer Sandwell Partnership and with the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner to make a safer borough for all.

Look out for details of our autumn Safer 6 campaign at www.sandwell.gov.uk/safer6

Making Sandwell safer – this year at a glance

A hate crime is an incident motivated by prejudice, where someone is targeted because of their disability, gender identity, race, religion/faith or sexual orientation.

Report by phone or online – or at many centres in the community trained to deal with reports.• Police (non-emergencies): 101• Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111• Sandwell Council: 0121 368 1166

To report incidents to the council online, or for a list of more than 30 places where you can report, go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/hatecrime.In an emergency, always call police on 999.

The council has recently backed a new three-year deal with Rights and Equality Sandwell to continue working with partner organisations to help promote good community relations, tackle hate crime and discrimination and protect vulnerable people.

We're urging people to report all hate crimes so victims can receive support.

•Thousands of residents received crime prevention, safety and healthy living advice thanks to our autumn Safer 6 campaign.

• We're trialling a new Kids Court, where drivers caught speeding or on their mobile phone outside schools can choose to sit in front of a panel of children to answer for their actions instead of points and a fine.

• More Sandwell people are recovering from drug dependency, with those successfully completing treatment up from 98 to 166 in two years.

• Our Blue Light Project – which has so far supported 24 people with chronic alcohol dependence – has won praise from Public Health England (read more on page 14).

• Our Youth Offending Service was named the 8th best in England for cutting the number of offenders who re-offend within two years. First time offending is down by nearly 20%.

• We’ve boosted our Integrated Offender Management team, linking up various services under one roof in West Bromwich, including probation, community psychiatric nurses, police and drug and alcohol workers.

• We’ve launched a Victims Panel, to support victims and encourage reporting of crimes such as domestic abuse, modern slavery, female genital mutilation and hate.

• We’re funding two SHAPE Youth Forum projects – one to protect young people from exposure to pornography and internet crime; the other to motivate and inspire young people.

• Black Country Women’s Aid helped 3,000+ victims of domestic violence and abuse from Sandwell. Support ranges from one-to-one advice to refuge accommodation.

• More than 50 domestic violence perpetrators have now completed our Brighter Futures behaviour change programme, and we’re all working more closely to protect high-risk victims and their children.

• We’ve held school talks on unity, tolerance and understanding and are helping parents and carers tackle online extremism and radicalisation from within the home.

• We’re working at a local, regional and national level to prevent terrorism and radicalisation and our community leaders have stood in unity at events and vigils following recent terror attacks.

Thanks to all our residents, businesses and community, voluntary and faith groups that contribute so much to making Sandwell safer.

Fly-tipping crackdownWe’ve issued eight £400 fixed penalty notices in just five weeks since launching a new rapid response team to tackle fly-tippers.Did you also know you could be prosecuted and face a fine if you give your waste to someone who then illegally dumps it?

Always ask where they are taking it and ask to see their waste carrier’s licence. If they don’t have one, don’t use them.Remember, you can take bulky items to the tip or book a bulky collection.Go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/flytipping or call 0121 368 1177 to report fly-tipping.

At Sandwell Valley, people decorated and planted pots for their neighbours, made badges, shared a picnic and raised money for the Jo Cox Foundation.

The event was co-ordinated by the Love Your Neighbour team, which includes Near Neighbours, Sandwell Churches’ Link, the Faithful Friends project and Sandwell Council.

West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson spoke of his memories of Jo and her belief that “we have far more in common with each other than things that divide us”.

At Lightwoods Park, a bring-and-share picnic was organised by Crafty Muthas and the Bearwood Pantry, together with other local groups

Great Get Together

Great Get Togethers were held in Sandwell as part of national events to celebrate the life and values of Jo Cox MP, a year on from her murder.

West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson and council deputy leader Councillor Syeda Khatun join the community-run Sandwell Valley Great Get Together

‘Zero tolerance’on hate


0800 358 0899www.sandwell.gov.uk/fostering or visit SandwellFostering

Foster with Sandwell

Make the biggest decision of his life

To watch ‘Giants’, go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/fostering or visit SandwellFostering

‘Giants’ is a unique collaboration between Sandwell and 12 other councils across the Midlands.

The councils joined forces to fund and develop a film that highlights the importance of foster carers who can offer more than one child a home. This allows siblings who come into care to stay together.

‘Giants’ was launched with a film premiere at the Everyman cinema in Birmingham and has already received more than 3,000 views on the Sandwell Fostering Facebook page alone. The combined viewing figures across the Midlands are expected to exceed 50,000.

The short film blends the concept of giants – people who stand tall and help others – with the importance of the bond between brother and sisters, who often ‘look up’ to their older sibling and care for each other in life, becoming ‘giants’ to each other. The film highlights the importance of having foster carers who have space for more than one child.

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I would urge everyone to watch ‘Giants’ and share it on your own social media accounts. It really is a powerful film and just by sharing it, you can help us to find the foster carers we need to keep young brothers and sisters together when they find themselves in care.”The film was launched in May at the start of Foster Care Fortnight.

Big launch for fostering film


Our priorities for the year ahead

Councillor Syeda Khatun

• I will make sure local town plans address community priorities and deliver the council’s ambitions together with our partners.

• I want to improve access to council services through better use of our local assets and developing new ‘community hubs’.

• I will work with the voluntary and community sector to develop services and help achieve the council’s new 2030 ambitions.

Deputy Leader & Neighbourhoods and Communities

Councillor Steve Eling • I will continue to ensure we have a budget and services in Sandwell that meet the needs of the local area despite the unstable political situation at a national level.

• I will carry on working through the West Midlands Combined Authority to make sure everyone

benefits from the programme being delivered.

• I will continue to make sure we take a team approach to getting the best for everyone and the biggest bang for our buck.

Leader of the Council

Councillor Simon Hackett

• I will continue to improve social care for children and services for young people and families.

• I want children to have the best start in education and to help them do the best they possibly can in school.

• I will ensure young people get the right advice and support to secure the best further education

and employment opportunities.

Children's Services

Councillor Steve Trow

• I’ll be continuing to modernise council services – including more online access to services where local people want that choice.

• At the same time, I also want to make sure residents who have more complex needs will always get the help they need.

• I’ll be putting a new focus on how the council, businesses, community groups and all our partners can increasingly work together to ensure the very best future for all our residents.

Core Council Services


Councillor Paul Moore • I will be pressing for sites where former council buildings are surplus to requirements to be regenerated for new housing and commercial development.

• I will ensure the council works closely with West Midlands Police to reduce the number of

unauthorised encampments in Sandwell.

• I will represent Sandwell at the West Midlands Combined Authority – making sure we get our share of investment and the wider benefits of devolution.

Each cabinet member has a specific area of responsibility – from children’s services to highways, leisure to public health.Here you can read about the issues each cabinet member, with the support of officers at the council, wants to tackle.This year, we welcome a new cabinet member, Councillor Elaine Costigan, following Councillor Preet Gill’s election to parliament at the general election in June.

• I want to make our roads safer by introducing a 20mph speed limit on all estate roads and will be consulting people on our proposals.

• I will oversee the council providing a rapid response to fly-tipping, raising awareness of the impact illegal rubbish dumping has on our borough and taking firm action against fly-tippers.

• I want to see our worst pavements improved as well as continuing to improve street lighting.

Councillor David Hosell

Highways and Environment

Councillor Richard Marshall• I’m excited about putting on great events across Sandwell and making Sandwell Valley a regional and national visitor attraction and leisure facility.

• I will work with all our key partners to deliver high-quality leisure activities across the borough and encourage more residents and children to take regular physical activity.

• I want more residents and visitors to access the council’s cultural facilities and activities and support the development of arts and culture across Sandwell.

Leisure

Social Care

Councillor Elaine Costigan • People’s safety is my top priority. I will work together with the police, fire service and others to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and prevent the threat of radicalisation.

• I want to tackle domestic abuse by supporting victims and also working with perpetrators to get them to change their behaviour. I will work with

schools on a programme to address sexual violence.

• I will focus on keeping people well for longer and tackling obesity, encouraging people from all ages to do more exercise and promoting healthy eating options.

Public Health and Protection

Councillor Kerrie Carmichael• Building more high quality and affordable council homes is a key priority for me.

• I will work with the private rented sector to ensure landlords are providing a good standard of accommodation for their tenants.

• I want children and young people to have access to good quality homes and apprenticeship opportunities with the housing service and our contractors.

Housing

The council’s cabinet is committed to improving the things that matter most to you.

Regeneration and Economic Investment

Councillor Ann Shackleton • Within our communities, I will ensure we continue to support our most vulnerable adults and their carers.

• Using my influence as chair of the Sandwell Health and Wellbeing Board, I want to see better joint working between health and social care.

• Building on last year’s success, I will encourage everyone to continue working hard to make sure people are discharged from hospital as quickly and safely as possible and help them move on to appropriate care.


Flying the flag for award-winning parks

Green Flags are awarded by Keep Britain Tidy to parks and open spaces that are well looked after and look great.

Our award-winning green spaces include six town parks, a cemetery, Sandwell Valley Crematorium and a volunteer-run allotment, as well as Sandwell Valley Country Park and Warley Woods, which is run by a community trust.

Despite the pressures on council budgets, we’re committed to investing in our parks and improving them for everyone’s enjoyment.

Our friends groups, community organisations, volunteers and allotment committees play a huge role in helping us to make these green spaces great. And our council staff and waste partner Serco work incredibly hard to keep these places clean and tidy.

We're incredibly proud of our parks and green spaces in Sandwell – especially the 11 that have already won Green Flag awards.

Sandwell Valley, West Bromwich Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich Victoria Park, Smethwick

Sandwell Valley Crematorium

Brunswick Park, Wednesbury Tipton Cemetery Dingley Road Allotments,Wednesbury

Warley Woods, Bearwood

Haden Hill Park, Cradley Heath

Victoria Park, Tipton Barnford Park, Oldbury

Check out our Green Flag award-

winning parks and green spaces

great places to visit!Check out our Green Flag award-

winning parks and green spaces

great places to visit!

Look out for the 2017 Green Flag

Awards annoucement this month

and the People’s Choice Awards in

September, when you can vote for

your favourite Green Flag park. For more about our Green Flag parks, go to

www.sandwell.gov.uk/greenflag


Just like smoking, second-hand smoke is dangerous to everyone. Children are especially vulnerable as they have less well-developed airways, lungs and immune systems.

Every time a child breathes in cigarette smoke, they breathe in thousands of chemicals. This puts them at risk of serious health conditions such as respiratory infections and pneumonia.

By not smoking in areas where they play, you are protecting children from the harmful effects of smoking and reducing the chances of them copying you and taking up smoking themselves.

Smoke-free play areas

Get active this summerWith longer days and warmer weather, now is the perfect time to get out and get active.

www.healthysandwell.co.uk

Contact the team today on 0800 011 46 56 to see how you can make small changes that make big differences.

All fenced children’s play areas in Sandwell will now display no smoking signs.

For information on how to quit smoking, call Healthy Sandwell on 0800 011 46 56 or text GETHEALTHY to 87007

Set yourself a goal for summerHaving a goal can motivate you to get more active. It could be signing up for a new class at your local leisure centre or walking for 10 minutes each day. Apps like Active 10 Walk Tracker and Couch to 5k are great tools to help you track your progress and keep motivated. Search ‘One You’ online for information and advice.

Get outdoors Getting fit outdoors is a great way to get some fresh air and enjoy some of our beautiful parkland. Our parks are ideal for walking or jogging and many have outdoor gym equipment which is all free to use. Search ‘Keep fit in Sandwell‘ online for more information.

Make it a family affair Keep the kids entertained over the summer holidays and get them moving to burn up energy. Search ‘10 Minute Shake Up‘ online for some great ideas for games to keep your little ones active.

Do something you love It’s never too late to take up a new sport or re-discover an old favourite. Did you love playing football as a kid? Or were you a dab hand at netball? Whatever sport you’re into, check out what we have on offer. Search ‘Keep fit in Sandwell’ online for more information.

Find a package just for youHealthy Sandwell can offer a range of support to get you fitter and healthier.Give our friendly team a call on 0800 011 46 56 to find out how we can help you. You can also text GETHEALTHY to 87007.


Blue Light scheme helps drinkersA specialist Sandwell scheme that gives support to chronic drinkers has won national praise and helped save money for the emergency services.

The Blue Light Project provides specialist training for hundreds of frontline workers, including police and ambulance service staff, who have direct contact with hard-to-reach drinkers.

Public Health England has recognised the scheme, which has so far supported 24 people with chronic alcohol dependence.

By accepting help, they have not been such a demand on ‘blue light’ emergency services, saving many thousands of pounds.

Jyoti Atri, Sandwell’s director of public health, said:

“While we would rather no one reach this stage of alcohol dependency it is a fact that a few people do and they are frequently seen by the emergency services.

“The Blue Light Project means more people are getting the support they need. This also reduces the cost to health and community safety services.”

Sandwell Health and Wellbeing BoardOur Health and Wellbeing Board meets regularly with the aim of creating good quality, joined-up health and social care services through everyone working more closely together.Chaired by Councillor Ann Shackleton, the board wants to invest in things that make a positive difference to local people’s lives.

Issues recently discussed have included:• how improvements could be made to reduce the time it takes to be discharged from hospital; and• West Midlands Fire Service’s prevention work, from fire safety checks to Safe and Well visits.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the next Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on 28 September 2017 at 4.30pm at West Bromwich Police Station.

For more information, email [email protected], go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/healthandwellbeing or follow @SandwellHWBB on Twitter.

Goal for fat-busting footballersFat-fighting men on a Sandwell weight-watching

football scheme have scored a great goal, losing a whopping 61 stone – the equivalent of 61 FA Cups –

between them.

Men taking part in the weekly tournament get advice about nutrition as part of the league, which runs for 14 weeks. Men who have scored the most goals can go onto a further league to help

keep the weight off.

Contact Healthy Sandwell on 0800 011 46 56 or text GETHEALTHY to 87007. For more information visit www.manvfatfootball.org/smethwick

Councillor Ann Shackleton, second from left, visits Sandwell Hospital with, left to right, the council’s Karen Emms, Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust’s Dr Nigel Page and Rachel Barlow and the council’s David Stevens

Weigh2GO is a weight management programme that allows you to track and monitor your weight.Weigh2GO uses smart scales, which measure your weight and body mass index. The programme uses an interactive app, which allows users to track their food and activity levels.

The smart scales are available at libraries across Sandwell.

For more information contact Healthy Sandwell on 0800 011 46 56 or text GETHEALTHY to 87007.

Councillor Elaine Costigan, the council’s new cabinet member for public health and protection, promotes Weigh2GO with weight management development officer Sam Palmer

Weigh2GO

Preventing diabetesNHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is aiming to tackle Type 2 diabetes by encouraging people at high risk to change their behaviour and avoid developing the condition.

The programme is being run in the Sandwell, Birmingham and Solihull areas by Living Well Taking Control (LWTC). This is an organisation with a proven track record of supporting people to make changes to their diet, weight and physical activity to improve their health and wellbeing.

Go to www.lwtcsupport.co.uk for more information or speak to your GP.

Your local Healthier You service can help you put your health back in your hands by supporting you to make changes to your diet, weight and the amount of physical activity that you do. Taking this kind of action now is very important as it can reduce your risk of, or even stop you, developing the very serious health condition of Type 2 diabetes.

Ask your nurse or doctor about signing up for your local Healthier You service.

Service provided by

At risk of Type 2 diabetes?Your local Healthier You service can help you put your health

back in your hands by supporting you to make changes to your diet, weight and the amount of physical activity that you do. Taking this kind of action now is very important as it can reduce your risk of, or even stop you, developing the very serious health condition of Type 2 diabetes.

Ask your nurse or doctor about signing up for your local Healthier You service.

Service provided by

At risk of Type 2 diabetes?


If you want to make your life healthier, we can help you make a lifestyle change today. From stop smoking support to losing weight, go to www.healthysandwell.co.uk to find out what’s on offer.

If you live in Sandwell, we have lots of free help and support to make your life healthier and happier.

Call us FREE on 0800 011 4656or text GETHEALTHY to 87007

Healthy Sandwell starts with a healthy you.

Healthy Sandwell is part of Sandwell Council’s public health team.Our aim is to get Sandwell healthier and happier, and to keep peoplewell for longer.

NHS Health Checks Stop Smoking Parent-to-be Classes Get Fit Preventing Diabetes Lose Weight Alcohol Support


SANDWELL LEISURE TRUST SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITY PROGRAMME.Activities for everyone...

24 July - 1 Sept 2017

SWIMMING SPORTS

TENNISALL DAY CAMPS

TIPTON LEISURE CENTREAlexandra Road and Thursfield Road,Tipton, DY4 8TA SMETHWICK SWIMMING CENTREThimblemill Road, Smethwick, B67 5QT HARRY MITCHELL LEISURE CENTREBroomfield, Smethwick, B67 7DH WEDNESBURY LEISURE CENTREHigh Bullen, Wednesbury, WS10 7HP

HADLEY STADIUMWilson Road, Smethwick, B66 4NL HADEN HILL LEISURE CENTREBarrs Road, Cradley Heath, B64 7HA LANGLEY SWIMMING CENTREVicarage Road, Oldbury, B68 8HS PORTWAY LIFESTYLE CENTRENewbury Lane, Oldbury, B69 1HE TIPTON SPORTS ACADEMYWednesbury Oak Road, Tipton, DY4 0BS

www.slt-leisure.co.uk 0300 012 0121Registered Charity (England and Wales No: 1102431) Vat Reg No: GB834 0256 50

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE SERVICESSandwell

To book your initial appointment with one of our friendly healthy lifestyle specialists:

Call: 0121 366 0966 / 0800 011 4656 Text: GETHEALTHY to 87007or visit: www.mytimeactive.co.uk/sandwell

Twitter: @SandwellMTA Facebook: SandwellMTA

FIRST 12 WEEKS

Did you know there is a range of weight loss and healthy lifestyle services across

Sandwell? Want to lose weight?

Be more active?

Get in touch to find out more!

MEND HLS for Men A5 Sandwell.indd 1 13/01/2017 07:43

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE SERVICESSandwell

To book your initial appointment with one of our friendly healthy lifestyle specialists:

Call: 0121 366 0966 / 0800 011 4656 Text: GETHEALTHY to 87007or visit: www.mytimeactive.co.uk/sandwell

Twitter: @SandwellMTA Facebook: SandwellMTA

FIRST 12 WEEKS

Did you know there is a range of weight loss and healthy lifestyle services across

Sandwell? Want to lose weight?

Be more active?

Get in touch to find out more!

MEND HLS for Men A5 Sandwell.indd 1 13/01/2017 07:43

You can expect:• regular one-to-one support with qualified healthy lifestyle specialists;• access to a wide range of exercise classes throughout Sandwell; and• Weight Watchers vouchers and reduced gym-memberships at Sandwell Leisure Trust centres and other gyms across Sandwell.

Classes are also available for families with young children and people with long-term conditions.All classes includes nutritional advice, weigh-ins and physical activity. If you want to lose weight in a way that's fun, friendly and right for you, call Mytime Active on 0121 366 0966.

Setting herself small goals and maintaining a positive attitude, Alberta has made a number of lifestyle changes from the food she eats to the amount of exercise she does.Alberta says Mytime Active’s Healthy Lifestyle Service is the best programme she’s done since starting to lose weight. She said: “The programme teaches clients how to stick to healthy things and gives useful exercise advice.”

Harsha Patel attends recovery sessions at Sandwell Leisure Trust-run Portway Lifestyle Centre in Oldbury, to improve her balance, strength and stability.

She now walks freely with the aid of a stick and has regained a lot of the feeling down her right side.

She said: “Someone at the hospital mentioned Portway and I quickly felt at home there and started working closely with instructor Scott Parish doing targeted exercises. We hit it off straight away.

“It proved better than all the previous treatments, plus the hydrotherapy pool got me properly moving again. I’ve recently

started walking in a more dynamic way, more like I used to do – so I can

say from experience that Portway has been the best thing that’s ever

happened to me!”

Husband Dinesh added: “Portway turned out to be the light at the end of the tunnel. Scott has been brilliant

and is very professional and thorough and we get regular progress reports and evaluations. Indeed, all the staff there are superb and the place just radiates positivity.”

Portway treatment helps Harsha walk againA Wednesbury woman who suffered two mini strokes is defying the odds and walking again after specialist rehabilitation treatment.

I lost 5 stone with Mytime Active,

Alberta Wood, from Wednesbury, is celebrating after losing an amazing five stone.

you can too!

Do you want to lose weight or become more active? Mytime Active’s Healthy Lifestyle Service is a FREE* weight-management programme available in Sandwell.

Harsha Patel with instructor Scott Parish at Portway

Lifestyle Centre

*The programme is free for the first 12 weeks.


We’ve already helped nearly 800 young people find jobs, training and apprenticeships – and the next person could be you.We have jobs and apprenticeship vacancies at the council and with local companies for 16 to 24-year-olds.

We call this the Sandwell Guarantee – our commitment to helping young people who aren’t currently in work, training or at school. We guarantee we can support you to find a job, an apprenticeship or a great training course.

Since September 2014, we’ve registered 2,430 young people with the Guarantee, 541 have started apprenticeships and we’ve helped 250 into jobs – including many with health conditions and disabilities.

So if you’re thinking about what to do next, if you don’t know what you’ll be doing after finishing school or college, or you know someone who could do with some help to get on the career ladder – get in touch.

Apply and check out our vacancies:

• go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/guarantee • email us [email protected] • or call 0121 569 2099 to find out more

We also have a programme called Black Country Impact which helps 16 to 29-year-olds who aren’t in education, training or employment to find work. The scheme helps with work experience, careers advice, getting qualifications and things like interview techniques.

Check out www.sandwell.gov.uk/blackcountryimpact or call 0121 569 2099 or 569 2955.

Applying for a school placeIf your child is due to start in reception or Year 7 in September 2018 you'll need to start thinking about school preferences soon.

You can apply online from 17 July 2017 for secondary places (Year 7) and from 18 September 2017 for reception and junior (Year 3) places.

Go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/schooladmissions to apply.

Adult and family learningInterested in learning something new? We offer a massive variety of courses at more than 30 venues in Sandwell’s six towns. From CV writing courses and art classes to maths and English skills, there’s something for everyone. To see what courses are on offer and to enrol, go to www.learnsafl.ac.uk

Jobs, apprenticeships and training for young people

15 hours free childcare for 2 year oldsFor families receiving benefits or who are working and earning less than £16,190

Children who are eligible can start the term after their 2nd birthday

If eligible, families will receive 15 hours of free childcare a week in term time for their child/children

For further information and eligibility criteria visit: www.sandwell.gov.uk/freechildcare

Universal 15 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

For all families – children can start the term after their 3rd birthday

Families receive 15 hours of free childcare or early education a week in term time either in a school nursery, day nursery, pre-school playgroup or with a childminder

For further information visit: www.sandwell.gov.uk/freechildcare

30 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year oldsFor working families (parents must each be earning £120 a week on average, but no more than £100,000 a year)Children can start the term after their 3rd birthdayIf eligible, families will receive an extra 15 hours a week on top of the universal 15 hours a week of free childcare – so 30 hours in total for their child/childrenParents of children who will be 3 by 31 August 2017 can apply now to start in September 2017For more information and to apply:www.sandwell.gov.uk/30hours

Employer supported childcareFor working families with children under

16 (or under 17 if disabled)

Your employer may be able to help you

with childcare costs using childcare

vouchers, directly contracted childcare

and workplace nurseries

You can save up to £933 a year in tax

and National Insurance savings

For further information visit:

www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs

Tax free childcare

For working families, including the self-employed, with children under 12 (or under 17 if disabled)

For every £8 you pay in, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child

Parents of children who will be under 4 on

31 August 2017, and parents of disabled children, can apply now for tax free childcare

For further information and to apply visit www.childcare-support.tax.service.gov.uk

Tax credits for childcareChildcare element of Working Tax CreditFor working families (depending on your income) with children under 16 (or under 17 if disabled)

If eligible, you can get up to 70% of childcare costs paid for (depending on your income)For further information visit: www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs

Universal Credit for childcareFor working families claiming Universal Credit with children under 16 years oldIf eligible, you can get up to 85% of eligible

childcare costs paid forFor further information visit: www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs

Support while you studyWeekly payments from Care to Learn if you’re at school or sixth-form college (for parents under 20 years old)Help through your college if you’re in

further education – Childcare Grant and Parents’ Learning AllowanceFor further information visit: www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs

www.gov.uk/parents-learning-allowance

A quick guide to help with childcare costs


Come along to Funday Sunday at Tividale ParkA host of free family fun and entertainment is being lined up at Tividale Park in an action-packed community ‘Funday Sunday’ event.The Friends of Tividale Park and K9 Search UK are organising the event along with help from the council’s parks team. It starts Sunday 6 August from 11am onwards at the park in Dudley Road West.

A fun dog show gets under way at 11.30am, so wash and groom your own canine and see if they can scoop the ‘best in show’ prize or marvel at the special dog agility displays.

There’ll be a bouncy castle, face-painting, stalls and great food and refreshments too.

More information at www.k9searchuk.com/events

Upgrade for Lion Farm Estate

Advice forarmed forces

Improvements to the 1960s-built Lion Farm Estate – which has more than 200 individual flats – include new windows, balcony doors and panels.

Front entrance and rear exits will be redecorated and pitched roofs replaced. Fire-resistant insulated external cladding will be fitted to the highest standard.

New lifts will be installed, communal areas will also be redecorated and a new door entry system fitted. Extra car parking is also being created.

Lovell is carrying out the work for the council, which is expected to last around 18 months.

The 12-storey blocks have around 70 flats in each.

The improvements will not only create better homes for people living on Lion Farm but will also lengthen the lifespan and improve the look of the blocks.

Oldbury Sunday market and car boot sale

Oldbury Writing Group publishes World War lI bookA collection of poems and short stories inspired by World War ll has been published by the Oldbury Writing Group.

Launched at Oldbury Library, the book called ‘From Sunrise to Sunset: a World War Two Anthology’, focuses on people and their individual experiences, rather than the war as whole.

It features a wide range of characters and themes including a grieving mother, a Spitfire pilot, women of the war, POW camps, the fall of Warsaw and contributions made by people from the Caribbean and Asia.

Group founder, Angela Garratt, said that the group – which meets every Saturday at Oldbury Library – decided to start writing the book together in 2015, the year which commemorated the 70th anniversary of the end of World War ll.

The anthology is available from all online book retailers and to order from all book shops.www.oldburywritinggroup.wordpress.com

Work is set to start in August on a £9.7 million refurbishment scheme to three high-rise blocks – Harry Price, Hackwood and Wallace Houses – in Oldbury.

Oldbury Royal British Legion holds twice weekly welfare advice sessions for people who have served or are serving in the armed forces.

Pop along to the One Stop Shop at Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, on Thursdays from 10am to 3pm or Oldbury RBL, Windsor Road, on Saturdays from 12 noon to 3pm. Call Bob Clarke on 0121 552 2290 if you need more details.

Visit our webpage at www.sandwell.gov.uk/armedforces for more information on Sandwell’s Armed Forces Covenant and support available to the forces community.

Come along to the Sunday car boot and market on West Bromwich Street car park in Oldbury.Car boot pitches are just £5. For a car and trailer it’s £10, and £15 for a van.

To book call 07471 037138.

It’s open to car booters and traders from 6am and finishes at 2pm.

Have a clear out and sell your unwanted items, or come along for a browse.

The car park entrance is off the A4034 slip road to West Bromwich Street in Oldbury. The entrance for stallholders and car booters is off Dudley Road. The market and car boot sales is operated by Groupe Geraud.

More information at www.sandwell.gov.uk/oldburysundaymarket

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12Sharon Davies07772 895 213

Sue Crumpton 07854 374 855

Susan Downing07976 042 372

Steven Frear 07814 212 572

Bill Gavan 07813 364 277

Steve Trow 07768 610 460

Mahboob Hussain 07796 337 799

Carol Goult 07773 625 573

Elaine Giles 07715 301 375

Yvonne Davies 07772 405 686

Dr Trevor Crumpton 07714 116 434

Suzanne Hartwell07814 862 104

Your Oldbury councillors

Old Warley Oldbury

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Bristnall Langley

For more information on councillors, call 0121 569 3129 or email [email protected]

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Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury B69 3DBLOCAL OFFICE


Parents and children came along to the nursery with many dressed in pyjamas. They enjoyed some bedtime-themed story books read to them by Sam Lavender from our libraries team.Children and parents sang songs accompanied by talented guitarist Silvia Sermon, the nursery deputy manager.Silvia is thrilled the nursery has such great links with our libraries.

She said: “We know how important it is to get children and parents to read together and many of our families visit the library regularly.

“We are very fortunate to have support from staff at our local library

in Blackheath and the children and parents very much enjoyed our

pyjama party.”

Pyjama party at Rowley Regis pre-school nursery

Red Route clampdown on bad parking A red route is now in force outside Cradley Heath train station – banning parking on a one-mile stretch of road.

Our building control team nominated the property for the West Midlands Building Excellence Awards where it won Best Individual Home.The private, self-build project beat far bigger and more expensive new builds due to:• the quality of the project;• the complexity of engineering works;• the difficult location by the River Stour; and• the fact the design – and almost all of the physical work – was carried out by the owner, engineer Andrew Rudge.

Children dressed in their pyjamas with, left to right, parents Tammy, Tracey,

Danielle next to Sam Lavender from Sandwell Libraries with parents Kirsty and Bev

The red lines, put down in late May, ban all parking and stopping on Forge Lane, Lower High Street,

Foxoak Street and Upper High Street.

The council received many complaints about vehicles blocking pavements and preventing drivers

from passing due to parked cars.

Please do not park or stop on these lines. The red route is being enforced by traffic wardens and the council’s CCTV camera car – which issues automatic

fines to anyone caught parked or stopped anywhere along the red route.

Sandwell libraries teamed up with Cornerstone Nursery to organise a pyjama party for parents and pre-school age children. Deputy Mayor role for Susan

Rowley ward’s Councillor Susan Eaves is Sandwell’s new Deputy Mayor.Her husband John will be her consort for the year ahead.The couple will be supporting new Mayor Councillor Ahmadul Haque MBE and his wife, Mayoress Surma.Councillor Eaves said: “I am very proud to have this role and am enjoying meeting lots of people in the community and visiting many different groups and organisations.”

New house wins awardA new house in Corngreaves Road, Cradley Heath, has picked up a top award.

The award-winning house designed by Andrew Rudge

Payne Street, Blackheath B65 0DHLOCAL OFFICE

Rowley Tividale

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12Kerrie Carmichael 07905 274 227

Susan Eaves07794 088 247

Maria Crompton 01384 258 609

Bob Price 0121 559 6412

Julie Webb 0121 559 9263

Chris Tranter 07853 969 171

Sandra Hevican 07814 295 254

Danny Millard 07825 706 133

Ann Shackleton 0121 550 1245

Caroline White 07870 800 320

Barbara Price 0121 559 6412

Lorraine Ashman 07875 504 918

Your Rowley Regis councillors2


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Transforming Lightwoods The transformation of Lightwoods House and Park has been nothing short of incredible.Since falling into disrepair for decades before becoming derelict in 2007, Birmingham City Council handed over the house along with the park to Sandwell Council in 2010.

Since then, the council and the community living around the park and beyond have worked hard to secure millions of pounds of Heritage Lottery and Big Lottery funding to bring the house back into use and make the first major improvements to the park in more than 20 years. Work on the house is now in the final weeks.

We’ll be celebrating the official opening of the house in the coming weeks and we have a summer of great events to look forward to.

The award is thanks to the work the library and its staff do to welcome refugees and migrants into the community.

Several of the library’s services, including English as a Second Language (ESOL) courses, fundraising events for refugees and work with the Bearwood Action for Refugees group, led to the Birmingham City of Sanctuary movement awarding the accolade.

For community groups who would like to run any type of session at the library, call 0121 429 2039.

Have a suggestion?If you live in St Paul’s ward there’s a new way for you to get in touch with your local councillors.The St Paul’s Partnership has launched new “Tell Your Councillor” suggestion boxes. Simply pop a suggestion in the box and it will be passed on to your three ward councillors.You’ll find the five boxes at Holly Lodge High School, Rood End Primary School, St Paul’s GP Surgery, RK Pharmacy and the Brasshouse Centre.

Thimblemill Library – a place of sanctuary

Councillor Richard Marshall, cabinet member for leisure; Leonie Hart, Bearwood Action for Refugees; Julie McKirdy, Thimblemill Library supervisor; and Councillor Steve Eling, Leader of Sandwell Council

Preserving Smethwick’s heritageSmethwick’s Grade II-listed Council House is being preserved for generations to come thanks to a £350,000 scheme.The terracotta façade at the front of the historic building has been cleaned and repaired and the timber and leadwork on the clock tower has been fixed.

The work, which is ongoing and will continue into the autumn, has already uncovered this coat of arms (pictured right) in all its glory.

To stay updated on the final stages of the restoration and about the official opening, search Lightwoods Park and House on Facebook, follow @lightwoodshouse on Twitter and check out www.discoversandwell.co.uk

Tackling street drinkingWe’re tacking issues with street drinking in Smethwick.The council and police have received several complaints from residents and shop owners about the issue.

The alcohol treatment service Swanswell will be working with the council and the police to identify street drinkers who need help and get them on a recovery plan.

For details call 07980 955 309.

We’re extremely proud that our very own Thimblemill Library is the UK’s first Library of Sanctuary.

West Smethwick Park funding updateWe hope to hear very soon if we’ve been successful in securing £4.5million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to improve West Smethwick Park. We’ll have more news in the next edition of the Herald.

To find out the latest, check out www.sandwell.gov.uk/westsmethwickpark, email [email protected] or call 0121 569 3792.

Find out more about events at libraries at www.discoversandwell.co.uk/events

Smethwick Council House, High Street, Smethwick B66 3NTLOCAL OFFICE

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3 Dr Ann Jaron 0121 429 9216

Bob Piper 0121 429 4276

Steve Eling 0121 569 5666

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6 Linda Horton 0121 558 8719

Richard Marshall 07814 295 188

Keith Davies 07836 512 941

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Mohammed Rouf 07766 421 423

Roger Horton 0121 558 8719

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12 Preet Kaur Gill 07891 169 501

Babu Singh Bawa OBE 07405 217 414

Zahoor Ahmed 07896 850 928

Your Smethwick councillors

Soho and Victoria St Paul’s

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Abbey Smethwick


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Farut Shaeen 07967 591 228


Pride of Tipton winners

Steve Downing, pictured third from left, won the overall Pride of Tipton award for his long-serving community work.Other winners were:• Inspirational Young Person – Caine Wildman• Community Sporting Achievement – Lee Butler• Outstanding Service to the Community – Walker Grange staff• The Good Samaritan – Michael Coyle• Community Champion – Pastor Steve Peach• Environmental Awareness – Friends of Tipton Cut• Young Carer – Reece Lawley• Young People's Award – Ian Wright• Lifetime Service – Ann Roberts and Pauline Roper

The awards were organised by RSA Academy, Sandwell Council, Tipton Police, Pride of Tipton Community Group and Asda.

The 15-classroom school was designed and built by Sunesis – a joint venture between Willmott Dixon and Scape Group.

It replaces the old school in Victoria Road, which was very small and dated back nearly 100 years.

The new school is expected to offer 420 primary places and 52 nursery places by the time it’s full in 2022.

Head teacher Mrs Gee said: “The new building means so much more to us than extra school places, the way the building is designed means we can better meet the needs of our pupils.”

Head girl Amara, aged 11, said: “Our old school was a bit cramped, but this new school is great, it has an extra big hall and is very spacious and colourful.”

Councillor Haque has served the ward since 1996. He has chosen his wife Surma to be Mayoress.Councillor Haque’s two charities for the year will be: • Midlands Air Ambulance Charity; and• Your Trust Charity, run by Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, specifically raising money for cancer services and research.Councillor Haque said: “This is the proudest moment for me to be honoured with the position of the Mayor of Sandwell and I pledge to serve the residents of Sandwell with all sincerity.”

To donate to the charities call the Mayor’s Parlour on 0121 569 3041 or email [email protected]

You Booze, You Lose

Parenting palsParents are finding new pals in Tipton as part of a pilot scheme to bring moms, dads and carers together.

Regular coffee mornings are helping dozens of parents make the most of all the information on offer about children’s development and family support.

Tipton Community Operating Group (COG) is leading the project with support from lots of other organisations. The project runs from Tipton Christian Church. To find out more, call 0121 569 7291.

New school for Sacred Heart

Tipton Green ward’s Councillor Ahmadul Haque MBE is the new Mayor of Sandwell.New Mayor of Sandwell

We’re tackling street drinking in Great Bridge and Princes End following concerns raised by local shopkeepers and councillors. We’ve spoken with drinkers and got them support and treatment, held a litter pick tackling alcohol-related rubbish and talked with shopkeepers and residents.

Shops are also displaying our public health team’s Let’s Talk About Alcohol posters to encourage sensible drinking.

Working together are Tipton Police, council community alcohol awareness officer James Wareham, housing and anti-social behaviour officers, Swanswell and Nash Dom Community Interest Company (CIC).

Pupils have moved into the brand-new Sacred Heart Primary School in Sedgley Road East.

Dudley Port plans – have your sayHave your say on plans to improve the Dudley Port area as part of the Black Country Garden City project. Go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/dudleyport before 7 August to comment on proposals.

Cabinet member for children’s services Councillor Simon Hackett, second from right, meets parents

Great Bridge Princes End Tipton Green

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Joanne Hadley 07963 187 127

Pete Allen 07976 958 843

Ann Jarvis07891 162 762

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Philip Garrett 07814 295 104

Stephen Jones07833 682 585

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Ahmadul Haque MBE07786 277 367

Syeda Khatun MBE 07766 421 436

Your Tipton councillors


High Street, Princes End, Tipton DY4 9JBLOCAL OFFICE


Friar Park Wednesbury North Wednesbury South

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Geoff Lewis 0121 556 4253

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Peter Hughes 07896 914 849

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Pam Hughes07772 892 315

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Simon Hackett 07813 989 422

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Tony Meehan 07971 631 364

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Bob Lloyd 07889 101 052

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Joy Edis 0121 505 6618

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Elaine Costigan 0121 526 2757

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Olwen Jones 07814 708 869

Your Wednesbury councillors


Mrs Priest, pictured right on her last day, clocked up more than 40,000 teaching hours at the school, which used to be known as Joseph Edward Cox Infants.

The school marked her retirement with a special assembly where she was presented with flowers and messages from pupils.

Mrs Priest said: “I enjoyed teaching at the school so much that I stayed 33 years. I finished my time there teaching the children of pupils I first taught earlier on in my career.”

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “My family have a special connection with Mrs Priest and the school. My wife Gina started at the school in the same year as Mrs Priest, my children Keira and Jaya were taught by her, and now my son Elliott, who’s currently in the nursery, is one of the last to be taught by her.

“I want to wish Mrs Priest all the best in her retirement.”

Sandwell Council has created a memorial plaque to honour victims of the 2015 Tunisia terrorist attack.Family members Patrick Evans, Adrian Evans and Joel Richards were among those killed along with 27 other British tourists.

Councillor Elaine Costigan said: “It’s such a wonderful dedication to three special local people who lost their lives while on holiday. I’m proud Sandwell has done this for the family to go and visit, and for residents to pay their respects. They will never ever be forgotten.”

Business boost for town centreWednesbury businesses are working with Sandwell Council to set up a Business Improvement District (BID), to improve the town centre over the next five years.

The main goals of the BID are:• Making Wednesbury more attractive, tidier and cleaner;• Improving the profile of Wednesbury outside of Sandwell;• A safer and more welcoming Wednesbury; and• Championing the town centre.

For more information, contact BID co-ordinator John Hodgkiss on 0121 553 3074 or email [email protected]

Nursery teacher retires after 33 yearsNursery teacher Wendy Priest has said farewell to The Priory Primary in Wednesbury.

We will never forget

Making Friar Park saferCouncil CCTV staff used the 13 cameras around Friar Park to help police identify two people using off-road motorbikes illegally in the area.The individuals were identified from the footage by local neighbourhood police officers. They had their bikes confiscated and now face further police action.PC Shendy Blakemore, Wednesbury Neighbourhood Team, said: “We would like to thank the council’s CCTV team for their hard work and dedication in helping to cut the illegal use of off-road motorbikes in the Friar Park area and making it a safer place for the residents.”

Councillor Simon Hackett, pictured with control room supervisor Lee Jameson, said: “Many residents ask whether the cameras are working and evidence used from them to tackle anti-social behaviour. “This is great example that they are working and are used to tackle crime in our area. I want to congratulate the CCTV team, the police and the neighbourhoods team for their hard work and recent success.”

Report anti-social behaviour at www.sandwell.gov.uk/asb or by calling police on 101.

Our CCTV team and police in Friar Park are working together to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Wednesbury in Bloom is back for a third year.

Why not enter this year’s competition for a chance to win £10 or even a £50 voucher?

This year, categories are: best garden, best planters, best hanging baskets and best business.To enter, call us on 0121 532 5426 or 07870 809387.Judging will take place the week commencing 31 July 2017.

Come along to our craft fair from 11am-3pm at Wednesbury Town Hall

Saturday 5 August 2017

Wednesbury Summer Fete

Photo courtesy of Mike Maynard

Town Hall, Holyhead Road, Wednesbury WS10 7DFLOCAL OFFICE


• The Garden Project – redeveloping the centre’s outdoor area, creating an inspiring play space, communal garden and ‘memory garden’.• The GAP Family Singing Group – keen singers who want to have a bit of fun and meet new friends.• Creative workshops to re-tell the story of the famous Sandwell Salamander, including puppet making, crafts and storytelling around the camp fire.

The community centre wants to expand over the next five years. The aim is to reach a wider audience from across the town and get more people taking part in social activities and volunteering opportunities.

Getting creative with GAP Centre

Cabinet in town

Art-inspired activities are getting people creative at The GAP Centre in Hargate Lane.

Book now!Hire rooms at West Bromwich Town HallWest Bromwich Town Hall is an impressive Grade II* listed building. The venue has the capacity to hold up to 400 guests and offers a variety of rooms for hire.

It is an ideal venue to host corporate dinners including an open plan venue for exhibitions or conferences along with smaller specialist boardrooms for corporate meetings.

With a large choice of rooms the venue provides flexibility to create the perfect event to suit everyone’s needs.

Pupils at St Margaret’s CE Primary School, Great Barr, have designed signs encouraging drivers to slow down and urging pedestrians to use the subway and crossings safely.

Historic Sandwell ValleyVisitors to Sandwell Valley Country Park can find out more about the historic parkland thanks to a new project.New interpretation panels and leaflets give an insight into the past, including Sandwell Hall and 12th century Sandwell Priory, ruins of which can still be seen today.At the Sand Well, a carved lion’s head has been fitted, in keeping with a 1920s photo of the well. Work has also included replacing an ugly concrete water channel leading from the well with brick that matches sandstone found on the site.Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust (ICET) has worked with the council on the project, with support from Historic England and the council’s former archaeologist Dr Mike Hodder.

Our highways team has been running a community road safety campaign with the school since January. Pupils have conducted a speed check outside their A34 Birmingham Road school with the police and students from Q3 Academy.The campaign follows accidents in the area, including three fatalities.

Councillor David Hosell, cabinet member for highways and environment, said: “This campaign is aimed at getting drivers to stick to the 30mph speed limit outside the school and encouraging people to cross the busy dual carriageway safely.”

For more info, email [email protected] or call 0121 525 4442.

For enquiries email [email protected] or call 0121 569 3939.

Pupils promote road safety

Hannah Clarke Westwood and Katie Clarke Westwood help out at the GAP Centre’s Garden Project

Councillor Steve Melia and Mayor Councillor Ahmadul Haque congratulate pupils on their posters and banners

The council’s cabinet met volunteers at Yew Tree Community Centre during one of their regular visits around Sandwell’s six towns.Cabinet members heard what refurbishment works were needed at the centre, and improvements are already being made following the visit.They met volunteers from organisations that are run from the centre, including The Hub community project.While on the Yew Tree, they also visited Redwood Road shops and saw first-hand the problems caused by motorists parking on grass verges, discussing ways to tackle the issue.

A grant from Creative Black Country is helping the centre to run the following projects.

Court House, High Street, West Bromwich B70 8LULOCAL OFFICE

Joyce Underhill 0121 358 5742

Keith Allcock 07970 202 313

David Hosell 07896 690 512

Bawa Singh Dhallu07891 297 574

Mohinder Singh Tagger 07733 014 616

Laura Hickey 07870 501 336

Your West Bromwich councillors

Hateley Heath Newton West Bromwich Central

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Charlemont with Grove Vale Great Barr with Yew Tree Greets Green and Lyng

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Investing in homes and neighbourhoods

2,11915,000 2,910 roofs repaired/replaced

kitchens improved

housesrewired homes

refurbished inside

3,841 6,1533,049bathrooms improved

N

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3,496central heatingsystemsimproved

double-glazed windows �tted

Since 2014, we’ve spent more than £98 million on improvements to more than 6,000 council homes. So far this is what we’ve done:

Tenants warm to double-glazing scheme A successful window replacement programme which has seen thousands of council tenants benefit from warmer homes will be completed in August.The £6 million scheme has seen more than 15,000 single-glazed windows replaced with more efficient UPVC doubled-glazed ones since 2015.

The windows have made a real difference, making homes warmer, reducing draughts and condensation, and lowering fuel bills.

One of the latest tenants to benefit is 90-year-old Doreen Perkins, of Church Walk, Rowley Regis.

Doreen said: “The new windows are wonderful, they really keep the heat in and are a lot easier to open.”

Friend and neighbour Pauline Taundry added that she was really impressed with the new windows and new doors that had also been fitted as part of the work, saying she felt safer and more secure in her home.

Facelift for the Shrubbery Streets on a Tipton estate have been totally transformed after homes underwent a massive £500,000 facelift including new external rendering.

Gas safety inspections for council homes Check your heating now!

Internal improvements including new kitchens and bathrooms, central heating and rewiring were already planned for the properties.

However survey work showed it was clear that the outside of houses desperately needed not just new roofs and doors, but also new external rendering, which had begun to flake, discolour and look dirty.

The whole Shrubbery Estate now looks fresh and revitalised, with homes modernised inside and out.

Streets on the estate include Menin Road, Shrubbery Avenue, Poplar Avenue, Cedar Road, Geneva Road and Vernon Avenue.

Please make sure you let our ‘Gas Safe’ registered engineer in to your home to do this.Unsafe gas appliances can produce the poisonous gas – carbon monoxide.Every year around 14 people nationwide die from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues which have not been properly installed or maintained.You can’t see, taste or smell carbon monoxide but it can kill without warning in just a few hours.If you can’t keep the appointment we send you, please contact our gas service partner to arrange a new one.

Oldbury and Rowley Regis Phoenix Gas Services – 0121 569 6089Smethwick and West Bromwich Vinshires Plumbing and Heating Ltd – 0121 569 6423Tipton and Wednesbury Glevum Heating Services – 0121 569 6056

As your landlord, the council needs to carry out this important safety inspection on your gas appliances every 12 months. Don’t wait until the winter before you check that

your gas central heating is working properly.Try it now. Simply switch it on and run it for an hour or so. If it works now, you’ll have peace of mind when the winter comes.If it’s not working the following checks could solve the problem:

Is there a gas supply? If this runs out, the system can ‘lock out’. Check your token meter if you have one, the display will tell you if there is no supply. If you don’t have one, try checking another gas appliance such as lighting a cooker gas ring.

Is there power to the central heating system? If the fuse spur has been switched off, the system can ‘lock out’.

Try to reset the central heating boiler using the reset button or on/off switch – this can restart the boiler.

Check the batteries in the digital programmer, these use an AA battery and power the programmer.

Happy tenants Pauline Taundry, Doreen Perkins – celebrating her 90th birthday – and Hazel Kelly

If you still have a problem call the Gas Services Team on

0121 569 6000.


Work to build 29 new homes in Princes End is almost complete.The development in Tibbington Terrace is made up of seven new council homes for rent and 22 properties for private sale.

The two and three-bedroom homes have been built by Kier Living on the old Princes End Primary School site.

Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, cabinet member for housing, said: "These two schemes are great examples of the council working with a development partner to increase the quantity and choice of housing in the borough.

"Schemes like this are part of our strategic housing plan to increase the number of council-owned affordable homes."

Completion of the site is scheduled for the winter.

The council is developing 93 new affordable homes – made up of 58 apartments and 35 bungalows – in Oxford Road.

The scheme – which includes four bungalows especially designed for wheelchair users – will provide much needed homes for people with a range of health issues.

Councillor Ann Shackleton, cabinet member for social care said: “We’re one step closer to providing spacious accommodation so that people can live independently but also being able to get extra care and support for their individual needs.”

Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, cabinet member for housing added:

“The scheme provides an extra opportunity for people who have disabilities to benefit from having a council tenancy with accommodation suitable to their needs.”

The project, which is being built by Keepmoat Regeneration, is set to be completed in March 2018.

The homes – a mixture of two and three bedroom properties – will be added to the council’s housing stock.

The site was previously called Brindley 2, but is now known as Galton Lock and is being built by Countryside Properties in Lewisham Road.

Around 160 new houses are being built overall with the rest being available for private sale.

The first four council-owned properties are set to be handed over to tenants in July. Others will follow in the coming months.

Voluntary groups – do you need funding?Sandwell Council continues to invest in the voluntary sector and wants to hear from groups that would like to apply for funding for new initiatives helping local people.

The funding will support new town plans, which will detail priorities for each of our six towns.

There’s the Local Area Budget for community projects, Healthy Towns Funding for health-related initiatives and the Youth Offer for schemes supporting young people.

For more information on applying, ask your Sandwell Local centre or call 0121 368 1166 or 0121 569 6184.

Tenant Views Club reviews housing standardsThree of the council’s local housing standards have been reviewed by the service improvement group of our Tenant Views Club.

The standards reviewed were: Home; Neighbourhood and Community; and Tenant Involvement and Empowerment.

Topics for the standards are set by the government.

Tenants met with officers from Neighbourhoods and agreed performance targets for each standard which will be monitored every six months by the Tenant Review Panel.

You can view the standards at www.sandwell.gov.uk/localstandards To join the Tenant Views Club and get involved in monitoring housing services, fill in our online form at www.sandwell.gov.uk/getinvolved or call in to your Sandwell Local centre to register your interest.

These include your levels of satisfaction with repairs, the condition of your home, service priorities, your neighbourhood and feedback on how helpful our employees are.

If you get a survey in the post, please fill it in – it will only take you five minutes – and return it in the pre-paid envelope provided.

Tenants – Have your say on housing servicesMore than 5,000 of you will receive our customer satisfaction survey during August and September. The STAR (survey of tenants and residents) questionnaire gives you the chance to have your say and tell us what you think about a wide range of housing-related services.

First bricks laid for supported housing scheme

Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Neil Baxter of Keepmoat Regeneration

and Councillor Ann Shackleton

New council homes for Smethwick and TiptonSandwell Council is in the process of buying 38 new homes on a development in north Smethwick.

The first bricks have been laid on the site of a £9.6 million supported housing scheme in West Bromwich.

The results are analysed and your feedback helps us to improve our services for you.

New homes being built at Galton Lock, Smethwick


Residents at the home, some of whom have dementia, enjoyed the seaside-themed activities as part of Dementia Awareness Week.Sandwell Council currently funds residential or nursing care services for more than 750 people living with dementia.

New website for safeguarding board

Go to www.sandwellsab.org.uk to check out the new website.

Peace of mind at the push of a button

Sandwell Community Alarms

Are you elderly, disabled or feeling vulnerable?

Do you find it difficult to get help in an emergency?

Do you want to be independent in your own home?

We can provide you with a push button pendant or fall detector to wear which you can press if you need help.

Email us at [email protected] or call 0121 569 6800

The Ceramic Garden, a display of 1,200 beautiful hand-made ceramic flowers, helped the team win a Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom Award.

The RHS liked the garden so much it featured the display at the Malvern Spring Festival, as pictured below.

More than 500 people from community and education groups helped create the garden in a project co-ordinated by Creative Black Country and Creative Arts.

Creative Arts produces beautiful and unique work all year round. Visit the studio at Unit 37 to 39 Cyprus Street, Oldbury, B69 4XD, to view, commission or buy work. Open Mondays to Fridays, 10am to 3pm.

The team’s latest project is The Pull of Wool. This features interesting photos of people knitting in unusual locations as well as photos of people who don’t normally knit and some quirky knitted items!

What a year it’s been for our Creative Arts team, which provides day opportunities for people with disabilities.

Christine and Audrey enjoyed ‘a day at the beach’ when our adult social care quality team visited the Tendercare home in Oldbury.

Sun, sea and Sandwell Sun, sea and Sandwell

Creative Arts success

Be responsible – don’t plonk it, park itSandwell Visually Impaired (SVI) has been working with the police and partner organisations to encourage responsible parking.The charity says the vast majority of people park considerately. But cars, vans and other vehicles parked fully on the pavement or against lamp posts or trees make it very difficult for pedestrians to get past, especially if they are blind or have limited sight.

This can force pedestrians to put themselves and others in danger by walking in the road.

For more advice on this issue, call SVI on 0121 525 4810 or visit the Guide Dogs Streets Ahead campaign at www.guidedogs.org.uk/StreetsAhead

The site has information and advice on safeguarding adults in Sandwell for members of the public as well as health and social care workers.SEE SOMETHING Concerned about an adult with care/support needs? DO SOMETHING• Call 999 in an emergency • Call 0121 569 2266 (out-of-hours 0121 569 2355)

Our adult social care team makes sure 93 per cent of people who need aids – like walking frames, high seated chairs, perching stools and toilet-related accessories – get them within seven days of being requested.We also recycle more than half of items we collect when they are no longer needed. This means they can be loaned out again.The value of recycled items last year totalled £1.5 million, so we had to spend much less on new equipment.Councillor Ann Shackleton, cabinet member for social care, said: “I was impressed to see how health and social care teams are working together to make sure people get the right items when they need them.“I would urge anyone who has loaned items that are no longer needed to let us know so we can collect and recycle them for other people to use.”

To request equipment, contact Sandwell Enquiry on 0121 569 2266 or email [email protected]. To return loaned equipment, call Prevention Stores on 0121 569 3670.

Helping people stay safe and independent We loan out a staggering 27,500 items of equipment every year to help Sandwell residents live safely and independently.

Councillor Ann Shackleton meets Alasdair Morrison, social care team manager – prevention, at the council’s Prevention Stores


SANCTUARY NURSERY WRITERS EXAM NELSON HOUSE PRIDE CAR

ALARMS BOOT SLEUTH

CROSSWORD

Name ............................................................Phone ...........................................................Postcode ......................................................

Send your answers along with your name, contact number and postcode to: The Editor, Sandwell Herald, Communications Unit, Sandwell Council House,

Oldbury, B69 3DE or you can email your answers along with your contact number and postcode to: [email protected] by 30 September.

First correct entry for each puzzle out of the hat wins the prize. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Lucky voucher winners from puzzles in the last Herald are:of Sainsbury’s vouchers

1 Glassworks in Smethwick (6) 4 (____) Scissorhands (6)9 Pupil (7)10 Strong, thick cords (5) 11 Notion or concept (4) 12 To reuse and make better (7) 14 Your uncle’s wife (6) 16 Problems (6) 19 Someone learning a job (7) 21 Dry climate (4) 23 Area of Tipton (____) Hill (5) 24 Dense group of trees (7) 25 Quite new (6) 26 To type something again (6)

1 Cold (____) (4)2 To dump or leave (7) 3 Dance in a line (5) 5 Shows the way (7) 6 Jelly in pork pie (5) 7 To disrupt or move away (8) 8 Feeling pride (5)13 Bush with WBA connection (8) 15 Takes no notice of (7) 17 Useful room (7) 18 To collect (5) 20 Twisted (5)21 Common fruit (5) 22 Fun summer event (4)

What word is spelt from the golden boxes?

Sudoku © Kevin Stone

ACROSS DOWN

Which word is NOT in the wordsearch?From left to right, what is the top row of numbers?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8

9 10

13

14 15 16

18

19 20 21

22

23 24

25

11

17

26

12

2252525252525555222

Crossword: Sandra Ellis, Smethwick Wordsearch: Barbara Mysza, Tipton

Sudoku: Laura Duffy, Rowley Regis

SUDOKU WORDSEARCH

Name ............................................................Phone ...........................................................Postcode ......................................................

Name ...............................................................Phone ..............................................................Postcode .........................................................

Sign up to Sandwell Council email updates Did you know you can get news from Sandwell Council weekly and for free?

How? Go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/emailupdates to sign up to our email updates.

Get all the latest news and information about events. Keep up-to-date with the latest job vacancies from around Sandwell. Are you interested in fostering? We can help.From bins and recycling to schools, roadworks, health and leisure, there’s all this and much more with our email updates.

Sandwell libraries will be running their annual Summer Reading Challenge throughout the school holidays and this year the theme is Animal Agents.

Tech suites at the library

The challenge draws children from across the borough into local libraries each summer and inspires them to read for pleasure. Children can sign up to read at least six library books over the school holidays and collect incentives along the way.

The Summer Reading Challenge enables libraries to support parents and carers with their child's reading during the long summer break from school.

It also provides an opportunity for young people to volunteer at their local library and develop new skills.

This will provide several libraries with virtual reality headsets, iPad tablets, robotics kits and 3D doodler pens.

Libraries will be working with partners to put on fun sessions for children and young people over the summer holidays, using the new equipment.

Later in the year, there will be sessions for older people to learn how to use tablet devices and for residents to learn how to use the MySandwell website, which provides online access to many council services.

Book in for the summer at your local library

Sandwell libraries have been awarded £85,000 from Arts Council England for a project called Tech Suites.Tech time with library customer services assistant Daniel Cobbold


Contamination alert!Thank you to all residents who are using their blue lid bin.Please check what you put in your blue lid bin as up to 20% of what we receive can’t be recycled.

For more examples of what can and can’t go in your recycling bin, visit www.sandwell.gov.uk/recyclingguide

These items cannot be recycled in your blue lid bin







summertime - · pdf filenews from your town: pages 18-23 herald sandwell @sandwellcouncil the...

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