March 2022 - Pioneer Magazines

Bloxwich Van Chase Sees Five Police Officers Injured

West Midlands Police have detained a 38-year-old man from Wolverhampton following a high-speed chase around the area of Blakenall in Bloxwich on Tuesday morning (29 March).

Officers were alerted to the scene at approximately 10.10am after a stolen van linked to a burglary was spotted. The van sped off around the Beresford Road and Well Lane area smashing through a lamppost until it was stopped in Guild Avenue.

Guild Avenue, Bloxwich where the van was eventually stopped. Image: Google

Local residents said that approximately six police cars were involved in the chase around the streets of Blakenall, including Walker Road and Harden Road.

Christopher Talbot from Wolverhampton fled the scene but was caught and detained on suspicion of dangerous driving. He appears in court today charged with criminal damage to three police cars and two cars belonging to members of the public, alongside dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and driving while disqualified.

Talbot also faces four burglary charges from Next in Telford that took place this month.

During the chase, five police officers were hurt, though no serious injuries were reported.

A shocking video circulating on the Blakenall and Surrounding Areas Facebook page shows the van reversing at speed into a police car with the driver stumbling out of the car and collapsing.

Talbot has been in trouble with the police before when he was charged with burglary following a ram raid at Boots in Wolverhampton in 2020. The car involved in that raid later hit a 19-year-old cyclist from Darlaston who died at the scene.

Pleck Traveller Site Ready to Open In April

Work on a temporary site in Pleck built for the Gypsy, Traveller and Romany community is almost complete, with plans to open in April.

The transit site off Narrow Lane in Pleck Walsall has space for six caravans with access to showers, toilets and utilities.

Councillor Garry Perry, Deputy Leader for Resilient Communities said:

“I’m fully aware that many local residents in Pleck are concerned about the site. This is a temporary site and how well it works, or doesn’t work, will be under regular review and will inform any future planning.

“This pilot temporary site is all about trying to find a balance between the needs of permanent residents and the travelling community, for the greater good of all. In this country, both have a legal right to their choice of lifestyle and free movement.

“Unauthorised encampments have long been a source of frustration for residents in terms of anti-social behaviour and waste left behind, which is often, but not always, the case. We have to work within the law and this can result in a cat-and-mouse game on occasions, which is of course frustrating to residents.

“Walsall is slap-bang in the heart of England and with the M6 running through the borough, realistically, the travelling community is always going to stop-over in Walsall so this is about trialling a new way of doing things.

“This is another significant step forward in finding the balance between offering a suitable place of transit and removing the pressure that Unauthorised Encampments can sometimes bring.

“Our borough has a proud tradition of being a place of welcome and the diversity of Walsall cultures and ethnicity bears witness to that. At a meeting of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee in April 2021, Abiline McShane said ‘the GTR community felt they were not wanted anywhere’. I, for one, welcome any community seeking to come to our borough, even if only temporarily, if they wish to live in harmony with surrounding communities.”

£1.5m Of Counterfeit Goods Seized In Latest Walsall Crackdown

Walsall Council Trading Standards has revealed that officers have successfully retrieved £1.5 million of counterfeit goods from a “gang” storing their illegal wares in South Walsall.

‘Operation Flash’ involved four West Midlands police offers, five officers from the National Markets Group and five Trading Standards officers, who forced open a van to discover a large haul of counterfeit goods being held at a self-storage facility.

7,500 items were retrieved including clothing and footwear.

David Elrington, Head of Community Safety & Enforcement said, “Our Trading Standards Officers work hard behind the scenes in their efforts to keep us all safe from shoddy and often dangerous counterfeit items. While some items may not be dangerous, they will not be of the quality of the brands who are frankly being ripped off and this also impacts on our local businesses selling genuine branded products of good quality.

“Often counterfeiters may also be involved in and fund other organised criminal activity such as drugs, trafficking and slavery so cracking down on this will ultimately help prevent other crime.

“Having £1.5m of counterfeit goods seized will hopefully send a strong message out — don’t do this in Walsall, because we’re all watching you.”

Go-Kart Track With American Diner Coming To Walsall

New information has arrived regarding the opening of a brand-new go karting centre in Walsall.

The official website for PMG Karting World has now launched and reveals that the track will be located at 135 Bloxwich Road, former home of Ace Go Karting. Currently, the centre is undergoing a makeover.

Alongside a diner and a gaming zone, the venue will also cater for kids parties.

Original Post

A Facebook post by a company called PMG Karting World has got Walsall locals excited with news that a go-karting track is coming to the town.

The ‘About’ section of their Facebook page, which has gained over 300 followers since it launched over the weekend, states that PMG Karting World is opening close to the town centre and will offer a “multilevel track and American Diner, as well as a gaming area with a family feel.”

More news is due to follow this week as to the location of Walsall’s new go-kart track.

Meanwhile the company are hiring for various positions, including a manager, marshalls and diner staff via the official Facebook page.

In addition to a go-karting track, there are also plans to bring a ten-pin bowling alley and Ninja Warrior UK to the town later this year.

Controversial Walsall Bus Lane Getting Axed

A bus lane in the centre of Walsall which has seen more than 35,000 motorists fined is set to be scrapped.

The controversial bus gate, which runs past the Premier Inn on Wolverhampton Street and towards the Crown Wharf Retail park, was restricted solely to buses last July with fines being issued daily to other motorists.

Wolverhampton Street bus gate to remove restrictions

Without the ability to turn left out of the Crown Wharf, drivers have faced long queues turning right on busier days which has impacted businesses in the area.

It appears that the u-turn by Walsall Council has been made following news of a trio of new businesses due to open in the area, including Aldi, Ninja Warrior and a Ten Pin Bowling alley.

Walsall Labour Group Leader Aftab Nawaz said: “I’m absolutely delighted they decided to get rid of a scheme they have finally realised was wrong.

“I thank everyone that helped me fight against the bus gate and it is great to see the council, under pressure from residents, decided to remove it.”

Nawaz is also calling for those who have been fined to be re-imbursed.

An exact date for the removal of the bus gate restriction has yet to be confirmed.

Walsall Public To Use Innovative Tech To Have A Say On New Developments

New technology to enable members of the public to have their say on new developments is being piloted in Walsall starting today (21 March, 2022).

Announced by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), Walsall Council has been allocated £120,000 in a second round of funding from the PropTech Engagement fund, which uses digital technology to modernises the current planning system.

According to the government press release:

“The projects include using 3D interactive maps and virtual reality to help local people better envisage proposed new developments in their communities and encourage them get more involved in planning locally.

Modernising the planning system and using digital technology will help increase community participation in local decision making, including underrepresented groups such as renters and those from black and ethnic minority groups. By empowering communities and giving local people greater say in shaping their neighbourhoods, towns and cities in this way supports the government’s efforts to level up across the country.”

Walsall Council plans to use this round of funding specifically to encourage underrepresented community voices to have their say on the regeneration of Bloxwich and Walsall Town Centre.

A pilot of the technology is due to run until September 2022.

The news arrives on the same week that Walsall Council were granted almost £8 million to improve energy efficiency on over 800 Walsall properties.

West Midlands Metro Suspends Trams After Cracks Found In Bodywork

West Midlands Metro have suspended tram services until further notice due to operational issues.

A statement released yesterday (20 March) confirms that inspectors discovered bodywork cracks on some older trams. As a precaution, further checks are being carried out alongside the manufacturer.

Passengers who currently hold Metro tickets will be able to take advantage of the 74 bus service between West Bromwich and Birmingham, the 79 bus service between Wolverhampton and West Bromwich or the following other bus services from Birmingham: 9, 12/12A, 13/13A, 23, 24, 82, 87, 126, X8 and X10.

West Midlands Railway and Avanti are also operating trains between Wolverhampton and Birmingham.

A date when the trams will be operational again has yet to be confirmed. For the latest information, follow West Midlands Metro on Twitter.

858 Walsall Properties To Benefit from £8m Energy Grant

Walsall Council has been approved for grant funding of almost £8 million from the Social Housing Decarbonisation fund, one of the largest allocations of energy grant funding in the country.

.In partnership with WATMOST Community Homes, the money (£7,923,914),will be used to improve energy performance in social rented homes in the areas of Burrowes, Sandbank and Chuckery.

This includes work to be carried out in a number of high-rise properties to improve energy ratings, including the upgrade of balconies, external wall insulation and new windows.

Work on 858 properties in these areas will cost a total of £15,579,852 with the remainder of the costs to be met by WATMOS.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader, Walsall Council said, “ I am delighted that Walsall will be receiving this funding. This bid was part of the first wave of the £950 Million government funding that has been made available. We are keen to work with our other housing providers to obtain additional funding when this is made available. The funding will help people who are most vulnerable to fuel poverty and on low incomes with upgrades helping to reducing their bills and making warmth affordable.”

Jason Holder, Executive Director of Asset Management & Regeneration, WATMOS said, “We are delighted to be able to announce the upgrade of some of our most energy inefficient properties in the Borough. This initiative will make customers’ .homes warmer and will allow them to save money on heating bills. Working with our contractor, Soltherm, it confirms our commitment to create sustainable homes and reduce fuel poverty.”

Related News

Landlords Could Face £5,000 Fines For Not Meeting Fire Regulations

In new proposals that are awaiting parliamentary approval, private landlords could face fines of up to £5,000 for not complying with new regulations.

Potential changes include the need for landlords to install carbon dioxide alarms in every room in the house that contains a fixed combustion appliance, and one smoke alarm on every storey of their home.

These alarms must then be maintained by the landlord with fines for non-compliance being set up to £5,000.

Walsall Council is encouraging local private landlords to prepare for the changes ahead of an approved announcement.

Walsall Manor Hospital Wards Ready To Open Up To Visitors

Due to the decline in Covid-19 cases, Walsall Manor Hospital will be accepting visitors back into wards from Wednesday, but slots will need to be booked.

Bookings can only be made on the day you wish to visit between 8am-1pm with slots allocated between 1pm to 7pm and time spent on the ward will be restricted to one hour per day per patient, with only one patient allowed to visit daily.

All visitors will need to go to the main reception before visiting the ward with proof of a negative lateral flow test and to pick up a pass that will allow them access to the ward.

Debra Hickman, director of nursing at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said: “We have, where possible, supported visits on compassionate and certain other grounds throughout the pandemic and have worked hard to keep families connected with each other through video calls. We also set up our Messages to Loved ones initiative and delivered essential items to the wards.

“Even with these arrangements in place we do understand that this has been an exceptionally difficult time for patients and their loved ones as we have all worked to keep everyone as safe as possible, including our own staff. We are now really pleased to be able to offer controlled visiting from next week.”