Month: August 2022

A pop-up Ping Pong Parlour has appeared at the Saddlers Shopping Centre in Walsall giving families the chance to try out the sport.

The venue is situated next to Costa Coffee on the upper floor of the centre and boasts four professional table tennis tables. It’s totally free to play for all ages and will remain open throughout the summer.

Councillor Gary Flint, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing at Walsall Council, said: “I am delighted to open the Ping Pong Parlour for residents to enjoy for free, it’s already proving popular and it’s a great activity for people of all abilities to come along and try. With the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in full swing, I hope the people of Walsall will be feeling inspired and ready to try out a new activity.”

Melvin Glasby, Centre Manager at the Saddlers Centre, said, “We know that the Ping Pong Parlour will be a firm favourite with our visitors over the summer. It’s great to offer something different for local people to try and with busy holiday and school uniform shopping taking place, there will be something to keep the kids entertained on these trips!”

Opening times are between 10am-4pm Monday- Sunday. No need to book, just turn up!

If you’re taking a leisurely stroll or bike ride around the Walsall Arboretum Lake this week, you won’t fail to notice this huge 21-feet high floating inflatable!

Dubbed the “Walsall Water Argonaut”, the sculpture is the work of various local disabled groups and was co-designed by artist, Jason Wilsher-Mills.

Commissioned by Creative Black County, over 60 disabled people worked on the psychedlic floating sculpture as a celebration of disability in the Black Country.

“The piece illustrates the stories of local people and the barriers they face as a result of their disability and has been supported by Arts Council England in collaboration with Walsall Council Healthy Spaces, Canal & River Trust, The New Art Gallery Walsall and presented as Birmingham Festival 2022.”

“I want people to smile when they first see him, and then I want them to stop and think, “ said Jason. “ He is what I call a ’trojan horse’; in the sense that the viewer simply thinks it is a bit of colourful fun, but then they see those beautiful disabled faces which adorn the surface, and I hope this will make them think about some of the issues relating to the work.

Throughout covid, disabled people were the group which were so greatly affected. 60% of people who died from the pandemic were disabled. Also we are at a very sad time in history when hate crime against disabled people is at an all time high, so I want to create art which reflects this, and challenges attitudes.

I believe just being angry and shouting is not enough. I aim to entertain and make people laugh and smile, in order to make them think. I cannot wait to see him at his new homes in Walsall. I hope the locals take him to heart, as he was built from love.”

The sculpture will remain on the Arboretum Lake until August 22 before it heads to the Walsall Canal Basin from August 23-September 2.

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Acti-Fit Education is running holiday camps throughout the summer every day until 25 August, giving children the chance to partake in bushcraft, science experiments, sports and much more.

With dozens of children already beneiftting from ongoing camps taking place at Yew Tree Primary School and Fibbersley Park School, there are still places available to children aged 5-12 at the holiday club located at Walsall Rugby Club between 15-25 August.

The action starts at 8.30am each morning followed by fours hours of fun and lunch.

Other activities include arts and crafts, shelter building, videogame experiences and cooking and food experiments, as well as a trip to Woodlands Adventure.

Places are available at the cost of £30 a day with sibling discounts, but there are also fully-funded places available for young carers, children in need or receiving early help and children who claim free school meals.

To find out more, check out the Acti-Fit Facebook page, or email WR4C@walsall.gov.uk to book your place.

From Monday 8 August, Walsall Council will be trialling traffic restrictions on upper Bridge Street.

The temporary Experimental Traffic Regulation Order restrictions mean that only buses, licensed taxis and cycles will be able to use the area of Bridge Street between Goodall Street and Lichfield Street between the hours of 11pm and 5am from 8 August until further notice.

The restrictions are to address a number of issues relating to pedestrian safety concerns.

Councillor Garry Perry, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resilient Communities for Walsall Council, said, “Safety must come first when it comes to a night-time economy. The restrictions being implemented are not new and we’ve used them before when we faced similar problems. It is hoped that the restrictions will add a control element to upper Bridge Street at a time of the evening when problems with vehicles and pedestrians leaving clubs and pubs create a chaotic environment.”

Advance warning signs informing drivers of the change will appear on upper Bridge Street on 5 August.

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