June 2022 - Page 2 of 2 - Pioneer Magazines

Fuel Protest In Walsall Set To Bring M6 To Standstill

A protest against the rising cost of fuel prices is due to take place over the weekend.

From 11am on Saturday 18 June, protestors are expected to hit the busy area of the M6 in Walsall to bring it to a standstill in their vehicles.

A poster which circulated on social media reads: “Let’s bring the motorway to a standstill. Let’s get those fuel prices down. “It’s time to make a standstill. Location released on the day. 11am make sure you’re ready. M6 – Walsall area.”

Another fuel protest is planned for the M54 in Shropshire on July 4, coinciding with numerous protests around the world.

National Highways senior network planner, Frank Bird issued a brief statement encouraging protestors not to take part.

“We respect people’s right to protest,” he said.

“However, we would urge people not to take part because protesting on the strategic road network would be extremely dangerous, not just for the protesters but for people using the roads.”

Kindness Rocks Hidden Across Walsall Parks Offer Inspiring Messages

The love continues to spread in Walsall this week! Following on from the discovery of balloons in Pelsall with positive messages, park goers are stumbling upon an array of colourful rocks etched with messages of encouragement.

Picture credit: Anton Allen (Twitter)

Across seven Walsall parks, dozens of rocks have been deliberately hidden as part of Loneliness and Isolation Week, which runs until Sunday 19 June.

Walsall Housing Group and other community associations have hidden the rocks in the following areas, with each one being hand-painted and displaying a message of positivity.

Walsall Arboretum – Lichfield Street, Walsall, WS4 2BU
King George Park Bloxwich – Stafford Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 3NJ
Victoria Park Darlaston – Victoria Road, Darlaston, Wednesbury WS10 8AB
Palfrey Park Walsall – Dale Street, Palfrey, WS1 4AN
Pelsall Common – Church Road, Pelsall, WS3 4EN
Brownhills Common – The Parade, Brownhills, Walsall WS8 7NG

Anyone is invited to join in the fun by painting their own rocks and messages and leaving them at one of the local parks for others to discover.

Darlaston Town Child Welfare Officer Nicola Waite said: “Thanks to my day job and the fact I sit on a number of health and community partnership boards through Walsall together I was able to develop an idea to get people out into green spaces and the community to improve mental health and wellbeing.”

If you find any, feel free to post them on our Facebook page and share the love!

Walsall NHS Workers To Tandem Sky Dive for Well Wishers Charity

Two Walsall Healthcare NHS workers are plucking up the courage to take part in a tandem skydive to raise money for the Well Wishers Charity.

Sarah Want from Willenhall and Emma Haldron from Bloxwich will be leaping from a plane at 14,000 feet on 9 July at Nottingham’s Langar Airfield and are hoping to raise £900.

“We have both signed up to do it which is exciting!” said Sarah. “We saw it on one of the internal staff emails, advertising for a charity sky jump and she said ‘if you do it, I will’.

“I’ve always wanted to do a sky dive and, with it raising money for a good cause, I just thought it’s probably the best time to do it.”

The plucky pair, who have worked for the Trust for a combined 13 years, have set up individual Just Giving pages for donations – Sarah Want, Emma Haldron.

“Now it’s getting closer, I’m getting very nervous but the more money we keep raising for a good cause I know will be worth it. I just hope someone pushes me out the plane!” said Emma.

“I’ve never done a sky dive before and I’m hoping it’s very safe – I’m living life a bit on the edge!”

The Well Wishers charity supports the work of the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust by helping to fund equipment and resources to help patients and their families.

Pelsall Residents Wake Up To Colourful Balloons On The Green

Dozens of balloons have mysteriously appeared this morning in Pelsall on the Green by Green Lane.

Balloons appear in Pelsall. Credit: Bella Rochelle

The balloons come in a variety of colours, including green, red, white and black and are weighed to the floor with a stick to stop them blowing away.

Local resident Bella’ Dee Rochelle told us that they are “fantastic”. She picked one up and also spotted that they have a keepsake note attached to them, reading: “Shine bright like a rainbow”.

The balloons have caused quite a stir locally with many spotting the colourful display on their way to school or work this morning.

Residents on the local community Facebook page “Common People” were quick to make comment.

“Just drove past what a Lovely burst of colour so much effort went into it, ” wrote Nicola Fletcher.

Chantelle Bridge wrote: “I think it’s cute.. Will brighten the kids morning on the way to school today.”

Others haven’t been quite as complimentary, with a few locals worried about littering, potential harm to the environment and danger to animals. Some residents have stated that the balloons are biodegradable.

Though the reason for the balloons remained a mystery for most of the morning, local lady Chloe Jeynes has finally shed some light on the dazzling display. “We just want to make people smile especially after the last few years we all had,” she wrote on a Facebook post. “Plus we wanted to raise awareness for the nature reserve/outdoor classroom we are trying to get funding for.”

Related News

Kindness Rocks Appear in Walsall Parks

PlayLand Amusements Moving To Old Vision Express Walsall Store

The Playland Gaming Centre, also known as Playland Amusements, is relocating from its Park Street Arcade address to a new spot in town.

The gambling and entertainment centre, which features bingo and slot machines, will be moved to the larger, former Vision Express store on The Bridge.

The other current Playland Amusements arcade at Digbeth will remain.

“The proposal site is currently two vacant units that have been vacant for 3-4 years. It is considered that for the vitality and viability of the Town Centre and Conservation Area that it is imperative that the building are brought back into use, “ said Agents Brown & Co.

Past tenants of the premises included The Body Shop.

Meanwhile, Walsall Council is pushing forward with its planned regeneration project for the town centre, which includes a new performing arts centre and a new public square on Park Street.

Burger & Sauce Diner Aims To Open In Walsall

A popular burger franchise is looking to open a new store in Walsall, one of 10 new premises for the food chain coming to the Midlands this year.

Burger & Sauce is described as a “laid back eatery offering handmade burgers, loaded fries and shakes” and is set to open on Stafford Street, at the premises formally occupied by Hearnshaws.

Boasting numerous branches across Birmingham, the franchise is also expanding to Coventry, Nottingham, Leicester and West Bromwich.

The company is planning to create a family-friendly dining experiences in Walsall, bringing a range of different beef, steak, chicken and veggie burgers alongside it’s classic sauce.

Burger & Sauce – Bullring branch

An opening date for the Burger & Sauce Walsall branch has yet to be confirmed as proposed changes to the building still need to be approved.

£700k Worth Of Cannabis Found At Closed Walsall School

Police have discovered a cannabis haul of over 700 plants with a street value of £700k at a disused Walsall school.

The boarded-up Abu Bakr Boys School in Kent Street, Coalpool, was raided on Saturday night (11 April) by the West Midlands Cannabis Disposal Team.

The Islamic Day School closed over the lockdown period and didn’t re-open with police monitoring the area for a week prior to entering the premises and residents becoming increasingly concerned about their presence, which included an armed police raid in the early hours of Sunday morning.

On Monday, three men were discovered on the roof the school building and detained, though have not been confirmed to be involved. Currently, no arrests have been made.

Elderly Walsall Man Conned With Fake £1m Lottery Ticket

Police are searching for a couple accused of conning a 75-year-old man from Walsall with a lottery scam.

**Two wanted in connection with Walsall lottery scam.**

A woman approached the elderly gentlemen in St Paul’s Street in Walsall on May 4, claiming she had won the lottery.

She was joined by a man who backed her story and convinced the victim that she would sell it to him for cash.

The couple drove the man to his home where he picked up his bank book and withdrew an undisclosed amount of cash (said to be thousands) before handing it over to them.

The woman then said she felt unwell and asked the man to collect some medication for her, but had vanished when he returned.

If you have information about the suspects, pictured above, or have been approached with a similar lottery scam, contact West Midlands Police via Live Chat or website, quoting reference: 20/418374/22.

Search Ramps Up After Human Remains Discovered At Walsall Beauty Spot

A search of local woodland where human remains were found last week is still ongoing with firefighters now helping police to uncover more evidence.

Entrance to Cuckoos Nook in Walsall, where human remains were reportedly found

On 4 June, human remains were discovered in woodlands in Walsall, near to the popular walking spot and nature reserve, Cuckoos Nook on Sutton Road.

West Midlands Police were alerted to the discovery and immediately sealed off the area shortly after 4pm. Currently, the incident is being treated as “unexplained”.

A referral has also been made to a coroner as the police search for more clues and have stated that the area may still be sealed off for several days. Forensic analysis of the area is also being conducted.

Walsall Council Pushing Independent Businesses Online

Walsall Council is encouraging small businesses to use online service to sell their goods and services.

In a statement released by Councillor Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, he is urging businesses to take advantage of the Shopappy.com product.

Shopappy is a website that allows users to search for products and services in their town. It was set up to support local, independent shops to spend money within their community.

Once a business registers, it allows them to create their own business page and sell products or offer services directly from the website.

Cllr Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader of Walsall Council said: “This website is accessible with no download or sign in required – it really showcases what our businesses can provide. We have seen incredible adaptation by local shops in the light of the pandemic, but we need to make it easier for people to support local because that will help the whole of our town recover. This is the kind of initiative which supports our economic recovery. I can announce that we will be offering free use to all businesses and community organisations across the borough to subscribe at no cost for the next 12 months.”

The usual membership costs start at £3 a week up to a maximum of £19.99 a month, plus VAT.

This gives you access to:

Unlimited products and services
Free use of ShopLocalOnline.org if you sell products you can post out
Your own business page and shop
Your own website link to your page to link to social and your own website if you have one
Ability to take bookings, calls and orders
Special offers page
Product photo library
Campaign and social media marketing materials to promote shopping local
Invitation to take part in special promotional seasonal campaigns

If you’d like to advertise your goods or services for free, contact us to appear in our Walsall business listings, or find out more about our featured local business pages.