Walsall NOW

26/01/2026

🚨 BREAKING: Attempted Murder Arrest in Bloxwich

​A major investigation is underway in Bloxwich following a serious assault that has left a man fighting for his life.

​📍 What We Know So Far:

​The Incident: A man in his 30s was found with serious injuries yesterday (January 25) after an assault in the Chantry Avenue area during the early hours of the morning.

​Condition: The victim remains in hospital in a serious condition.

​Arrest Made: Police confirmed a 43-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon on suspicion of attempted murder. He remains in custody for questioning today.

​👮 Police Presence
​Local officers are staying in the Bloxwich area today to provide reassurance to the community while enquiries, including CCTV reviews and door-to-door questioning, continue.

​📢 Can You Help?
​West Midlands Police are urging anyone with information to come forward. If you saw anything suspicious or have dashcam/doorbell footage from the Chantry Avenue area, please get in touch.

​Call: 101

​Live Chat: via the WMP website

​Reference: 20/124528/26

​Anonymous: Call Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111

​Please share this post to help spread the word and assist with the investigation. 📲
​

16/01/2026

Walsall Council Leader Claims Leather Museum Building Has "No Heritage" Amid Closure Row
​Controversy is growing in Walsall today after Council Leader Mike Bird claimed the historic building housing the Walsall Leather Museum has "got no heritage at all."

​The remarks were made during a live radio interview on BBC Radio WM this week, where Councillor Bird defended plans to move the museum's collection and repurpose the Victorian factory site into a facility for students with special educational needs (SEND).

​The Key Points:

​The Claim: Despite the museum being housed in a restored 19th-century leather factory on Littleton Street West, the Council Leader argued the building itself "lends nothing" and has no heritage value.

​The Relocation: Cllr Bird confirmed the council has made an offer on a new town centre building to house the museum's collection. If accepted, the location could be revealed within six weeks.

​The Backlash: Local campaigners and industry professionals have hit back, calling the building "the heart of the town's heritage" and accusing the council of being "less than truthful" about the site’s historical importance.

​Why is this happening?

The council faces a £20 million budget gap and argues that the museum currently costs too much to run per visitor (£17.72 per head). They believe moving the museum to a central "high footfall" area while using the current site for Walsall College’s SEND provision is the best way to save money and help local students.

​💬 WHAT DO YOU THINK? 💬
Is the building a vital part of Walsall's history, or is the Council right to move the collection to a more modern, central location?

​Have your say in the comments below! 👇
​

16/01/2026

🚨 BREAKING: 35 Jobs at Risk as LoCaL Homes Set to Close in Walsall 🏠

​Sad news for our local community today. The housing provider GreenSquareAccord (GSA) has confirmed it is closing its LoCaL Homes factory, based right here in Walsall.

​Unless a last-minute buyer is found, the factory is expected to shut down by Spring 2026, with 35 staff members currently facing redundancy.
​What happened?

The Walsall-based factory was a pioneer in "offsite manufacturing"—building energy-efficient timber frame homes in a factory setting before moving them to sites. However, GSA says the business has been "loss-making," and they are now focusing on their core role as a social landlord

​Why this matters for Walsall:

LoCaL Homes provided skilled jobs and was a key part of our local "green" industry. Seeing a local factory close its doors is always a blow to the town’s economy and, most importantly, the families affected.

14/01/2026

💔 END OF AN ERA: TGI Fridays Walsall Closes Immediately

​The TGI Fridays in Walsall has permanently closed its doors as of January 13, 2026. The branch at Waterfront Wharf is one of 16 locations across the UK shut down following a "pre-pack" administration deal.

​While 33 restaurants nationwide were saved by Sugarloaf TGIF Operations, the Walsall site was not included in the rescue package, resulting in immediate job losses for local staff.

The news marks a significant blow to the town’s leisure scene, leaving the NEC (Resorts World) as the only remaining TGI Fridays in the West Midlands.

​What you need to know:

​Total Closures: 16 branches shut across the UK this week.

​Walsall Status: Closed with immediate effect; no longer taking bookings.

​Job Impact: Over 450 redundancies have been confirmed across the closing sites.

13/01/2026

🙄 don't know where they get their forecast from...

Here's a real forecast. 🌧️

​🌥️ Walsall Weekly Weather

​After a messy week with Storm Goretti, things are settling down, but we’re in for a damp and chilly week ahead. 🧥🧣

​📅 The Daily Breakdown:

​Tue (Today): Light rain clearing up by evening. Getting much colder tonight! 🌡️ 9°C / 0°C

​Wed: A very cold, cloudy day. Keep an eye out for icy patches in the morning. 🧊 6°C / 0°C

​Thu: WET WEATHER ALERT. Expect heavy rain throughout the day. 🌧️ 6°C / 3°C

​Fri: Mostly cloudy but mainly dry—a good day for errands! ☁️ 7°C / 3°C

​Weekend Outlook: Staying overcast with persistent light rain on both Saturday and Sunday. 🌦️ 6°C / 4°C

Weather forecasters are predicting that snow is returning to the West Midlands today - here's when

13/01/2026

🚨 BIG DECISION THIS WEEK: The Falcon Inn, Willenhall 🚨

Walsall Council planners are set to make a final decision this Thursday (Jan 15) on whether the old Falcon Inn will be converted into a 10-bed HMO.

​While planning officers have recommended it for approval, there has been a huge amount of local pushback, including a petition with 375 signatures!

Residents are raising concerns over parking and the "over-saturation" of HMOs in the area.

​The meeting is at 5:30 PM this Thursday at Walsall Council House.

12/01/2026

🚨 Pothole Watch: Walsall Council Gets "Amber" Rating in New Government Road Report! 🚨

​The UK government has just unveiled its first-ever "traffic light" ratings for local councils on road maintenance, and Walsall Council has landed in the "Amber" zone. This new system assesses how effectively councils are tackling potholes and spending their share of the £7.3 billion national funding.

​What does "Amber" mean for Walsall?

It indicates that while Walsall Council is making efforts in road repairs and maintenance, there's still significant room for improvement. Councils are being pushed to ensure better value for money and more efficient road upkeep.

​Most of our neighbours in the West Midlands, including Wolverhampton and Dudley, also received an "Amber" rating.

Meanwhile, 13 councils nationally were marked "Red" for poor performance, facing closer scrutiny and potential future funding impacts.

​

12/01/2026

🚧 ROADWORKS ALERT: £2.5m Aldridge Water Main Project Starts Today! 🚧

​Hi everyone! Just a heads-up for anyone driving through Aldridge or living near the village center.

​South Staffs Water has officially started their massive £2.5 million project today (Monday, Jan 12) to replace 7.5km of old water pipes.

While this is great news for preventing future bursts and leaks, it does mean we’re looking at some roadworks over the coming weeks.

​📍 Where is the work happening?

The crews are starting in the following areas first:
​Severn Acres & Ridgeway

​Vale View & Marshall Close

​Pool Green

​⚠️ What to expect:

​Traffic: There will be temporary traffic lights and some restricted parking in these specific spots.
​Timing: Work is usually scheduled between 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM.

​Access: They’ve confirmed that emergency vehicles and bin collections will still have access!
​Next Phases: Later this month, they’ll be moving toward Walsall Road, Portland Road, and Birmingham Road, so keep an eye out for more signs.

​It might add a few minutes to the school run or the commute, so give yourself a bit of extra time! ⏱️🚗

​Tag a friend who lives in Aldridge so they don't get caught out! 👇

​

12/01/2026

🚨 MASSIVE RAIDS IN WALSALL 🚨

Police just seized a staggering £1.7 million worth of cannabis from a disused factory on Midland Road.

Over 1,700 plants were discovered in what officers are calling one of the biggest hauls the area has seen. A 33-year-old man has already appeared in court.

12/01/2026

🚨 TV Licence Fee Alert 🚨

​Brace your wallets! New predictions suggest the annual TV licence fee will jump to £181 starting April 2026.

​This expected hike follows inflation trends, meaning households could pay nearly £7 more per year to keep watching live TV and BBC iPlayer. With more people switching to streaming apps, this news is sparking a huge debate.

​What do you think? Is it still worth the price, or is it time for a change? Let us know in the comments! 👇
​

12/01/2026

Bloxwich Man Admits Killing Mother-of-Three on Local Golf Course

​A 51-year-old man from Bloxwich has today admitted to causing the death of a "much-loved" mother-of-three by dangerous driving.

​John McDonald, of Booth Street, appeared at Worcester Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to the charge following the tragic death of Suzanne Cherry, 62.

​
The incident occurred on April 11 last year at Aston Wood Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield. Mrs. Cherry, from Aldridge, was hit by a grey Nissan van while playing a round of golf with her husband.

The van had been followed by West Midlands Police after reports of suspicious activity and had driven up an embankment onto the course before the fatal collision.

​
In a heartbreaking statement, Suzanne’s husband described watching in "helpless horror" as his wife’s life was taken. She leaves behind three adult children and two step-children.

​
In addition to the driving charge, McDonald and two other men—Johnny McDonald (23) and Brett Delaney (35)—also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud related to false representations about roofing work.

​The defendants are expected to be sentenced later today.

​

12/01/2026

🏗️ BIG NEWS: Walsall’s New £32m Waste Facility Opening Date Confirmed!

​The wait is almost over! Walsall Council has officially announced the opening of the borough’s brand-new, state-of-the-art Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC).

​This £32 million investment represents a massive leap forward in modernising our local waste services and making Walsall a greener, more sustainable place to live. 🌿

​📍 Everything You Need to Know

​Opening Date: Monday, 2 February 2026
​Opening Time: 9:00 AM
​Location: Middlemore Lane, Aldridge
​Schedule: Open 7 days a week!

​⚠️ Important Changes to Local Services:
​With the opening of this world-class facility, there are some changes to existing sites that residents need to be aware of:

​🛑 Merchants Way HWRC: This site will permanently close starting Sunday, 1 February.

♻️ Fryers Road HWRC (Bloxwich): This site will remain open for now. However, it is also scheduled for future redevelopment—stay tuned for further updates!

​This new facility is designed to make recycling easier and more efficient for everyone in the community. Let's get ready to clear out the clutter and do our bit for the planet! 🌍✨

​