Having already built a number of holiday lodges – giving visitors to the West Midlands Safari Park the chance to enjoy a prime view of their favourite animals – bookings for the brand-new tiger lodge have now opened.
Tiger lodge at West Midlands Safari Park
Currently, visitors can stop overnight in the rhino, red panda, giraffe, cheetah or elephant lodges, which look out over that animal’s enclosure.
The four tiger lodges will be available for short breaks from Friday, September 30 and include a hot tub, private terrace and a close-up view of the Sumatran tiger enclosure.
The unique wildlife experiences come at a hefty price, however, with a £790 per night price tag for two guests with additional adults paying £175 per night. A family of four with children over the age of three will cost – £1,040.
If you stay over, you also get a two-day admission ticket to the Safari Park, alongside, breakfast, dinner and a two-day ride wristband.
However, in its plans, Lidl states that the new 1,370 square metre store would employ up to 40 full-time staff while providing “a new discount food shopping experience to meet the needs of customers and the expanding local community.”
CGI mock-up of new Lidl store
The new Birmingham Road Lidl in Walsall would be open from 8am-10pm on Monday- Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sundays with 76 spaces available for vehicles.
Lidl is currently consulting local residents and three local councilors from the Paddock ward are urging the company to look elsewhere for suitable land.
Sandwell Valley Country Park will be hosting a series of events throughout July and August to bring the community together.
Inspired by the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, which begins with the opening ceremony on 28 July, attendees can look forward to live music, dance performances and various workshops.
Starting on 28 July between 5pm-10.30pm, the Sandwell Valley Showground will screen the opening ceremony live and feature music and dance performances.
Between 29 July-8 August daily between 8am-10pm, the live viewing area at the Showground will feature various live competitions.
On 30 July, there’s a special celebration evening which will feature some of the best performances from the various Shine A Light Festivals, which took place across the region over the last few months.
On 3 August, between noon-4pm, the Showground will host a Play Day, which features live theatre, circus skills, cookery workshops and much more.
The fun ends with a closing ceremony on 8 August 5pm-10.30pm, featuring live music and dance performances.
Entry is free on any of the days, though booking in advance is required.
The site of a former famous live music pub in Walsall – where the forerunner to rock band Slade is said to have their first paid gig – has been transformed into 12 affordable, two-bedroom homes to rent.
The former derelict site on Stephenson Avenue, Beechdale Estate, was once where The Three Men in a Boat pub stood, and it later became an office for Longhurst Group, the housing group, until 2015. It stood empty until last year after the housing organisation was relocated to Stephenson Square.
Former Three Men in a Boat pub.
Residents Now Moving Into New Beechdale Homes
The homes, which were partly funded through money received from the sale of 40 of its properties through the Voluntary Right to Buy pilot in the West Midlands, have now been handed over by contractors and new residents have started moving in.
The site proudly recognises its musical links, with Longhurst Group unveiling a commemorative plaque, which marks it as an important venue for West Midlands music lovers. The pub was once managed by the uncle John Bonham, of Led Zeppelin.
Plaque Commemorates Noddy Holder
The plaque reads: “Groups considered it a feather in their cap to be invited to play at The Boat and Noddy Holder was a regular performer at the venue.
“It’s said that Holder used to practise there with the N’Betweens. Then, as Ambrose Slade, they reportedly had their first paid booking at The Boat before later becoming Slade.”
Marcus Keys, executive director of growth and development at Longhurst Group, said: “I’m delighted to see these homes completed and handed over to the Group.
“We’re committed to providing the homes people want, where they’re needed most and by delivering 12 affordable homes on Beechdale in Walsall, we’re addressing a need for additional housing and helping to improve the community.
The plaque at the site of the Three Men in a Boat pub in Beechdale
“The site, which was once our offices and previously a pub, had stood derelict for a number of years and had become a magnet for anti-social behaviour, so it was important for us to transform this site.
“The homes are smart and modern and I’m sure they’ll prove popular with our customers who’ve already started moving in and making them home.”
Marcus added: “We want to improve the communities in which our customers live, but at the same time we’re mindful of not erasing their history.
“That’s why we felt it was important to commemorate the history of this site through its time as The Three Men in a Boat pub and also our offices by way of the plaque at the front of the development.
“We know how loved the pub was by many of our customers and residents of the estate, so I hope this can act as a permanent reminder of those happy memories.”
To celebrate the arrival of the Queen’s Baton Relay, Walsall Arboretum will play host to the Commonwealth Games Community Festival on Saturday 23 July.
Walsall Arboretum Visitor’s Centre
The baton is first due to arrive at Walsall Gala Baths at 5.50pm, where free learn-to-swim lessons are taking place during the day, followed by an artistic swimming display led by Great Britain international, Robyn Swatman.
Tickets for the Walsall Gala Baths day are free and can be booked through the Walsall leisure website.
Sports To Try At Commonwealth Games Walsall Festival
From 4pm, the Commonwealth Games Community Festival will take place at the Arboretum, with a variety of sports to try, including:
Gymnastics
Athletics
Badminton
Basketball
Cricket
Hockey
Cycling
Aikido
Canoeing
The baton relay will arrive at approximately 6.15pm at the Grange car park off Broadway North before making its way past the play area, to the bandstand and clock tower before arriving at its final destination at the visitor’s centre.
Queen’s baton relay is currently travelling across England
Attendees will be invited to line the route to welcome the baton relay.
Entertainment, food and drink will be available on the green throughout the evening.
A man believed to have been wielding a knife in both hands and striking fear into the Bloxwich and Rushall community on Tuesday evening (5 July) has been detained under the Mental Health Act.
The man was first spotted by an off-duty police officer in Harden Road, Bloxwich around 6.15pm.
Concerned locals also alerted police after a photo circulating on social media showed the armed man walking in the middle of the road in Cartbridge Lane South.
The 52-year-old man was tasered and arrested in Station Road near McLean Way with police confirming that he was carrying a machete.
Station Road, Rushall near to where the man with a machete was arrested
The area was cordoned off to traffic from around 7pm while police dealt with the incident.
West Midlands Police also say that firearms officers were deployed and a shot was fired, but no-one was injured.
With thousands of new homes due to be built in Walsall, a new secondary school will be opening to cope with the demand for school places.
The free school is expected to be fully open in 2025 and will provide 1,150 places.
The plan is to open the school temporarily in September 2023 to Year 7 pupils and bring in more pupils over the following two years.
New Site For Walsall Secondary School To Be Confirmed
Walsall Council is currently in discussion with the department of education to confirm a suitable site.
Demand for school places and other services is expected due to the Black Country Plan, which has caused some controversy with plans to build homes on Green Belt land.
This includes recent proposals to erect new houses on land near Chester Road in Streetly, Skip Lane in Walsall and Woodfield Close.
Four councils across the Black Country are applying for a new High Court injunction to ban street racing.
Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton councils will press forward with plans to convince the High Court to stop people in the Black Country from organising, promoting or attending street racing events with tougher penalties imposed for those found guilty.
Penalties could include unlimited fines, assets seized, or up to two years’ imprisonment.
A court date to review the proposed plans is likely to be in the next couple of months.
This follows a previous six-year injunction across the Black Country, which helped reduce instances of street racing.
One area of concern is the Newton Road in the West Bromwich East constituency, which recently saw concerned local residents signing a petition to encourage Sandwell council to support the efforts of West Midlands Police in curbing the behaviour.
A nationwide initiative aimed at providing teenagers with an opportunity to showcase their talents is coming to Walsall.
The Walsall Teenage Market will take place on Saturday 13 August between 8am-5pm on Park Street/The Bridge with stalls and performances from local youngsters.
There are 12 market stalls available for free on the day to entrepreneurial teenagers, who can apply via the official website.
In addition, there are slots available for talented teenagers who feel they have the skills to entertain market-goers, whether it’s with music, dancing or even comedy.
According to the website: “The Teenage Market gives young people a free platform to showcase their creative talents. It’s all about supporting the next generation of market traders and bringing an influx of energy, vibrancy and diversity to towns across the UK. Our events are the perfect opportunity for markets to connect with their town’s population of young people, by providing a platform for them to be entrepreneurial, trial new business ideas and sell creative products.”
