September 2022 - Page 2 of 2 - Pioneer Magazines

Walsall Schools To Close For The Queen’s Funeral

Following the death of Her Majesty The Queen on 8 September, the Department of Education has confirmed that schools will be closed for the State Funeral.

A bank holiday has been officially declared for September 19, allowing businesses and indivduals to pay their respects to Her Majesty.

The Queen’s coffin is currently at the Palace of HolyroodHouse in Edinburgh after being transported from Balmoral Castle.

Today, Monday, the coffin will be taken to St Giles’s Catherdral until Tuesday before moving to London by the RAF.

The Queen will lie in state for four days in Westminster Hall until the day of the funeral.

A procession is planned prior to the ‘Lying-in-State’ on Wednesday 14 September as the Queen is moved from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. At 11am, the ceremonial procession will travel via Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard.

Members of the public will be able to watch the procession along the pre-planned route or via a large screen in Hyde Park.

From Wednesday until the morning of the funeral, the public are invited to walk past the coffin at Westminster.

The government website states: “Those wishing to attend will be required to queue for many hours, possibly overnight. Large crowds are expected and people are encouraged to check ahead, plan accordingly and be prepared for long wait times.

All those attending the Lying-in-State will go through airport-style security and there are tight restrictions on what you can take in, with only small bags permitted. Step-free access will be available for those who need it.”

Walsall Readying Plans To Pay Respects Following Queen’s Death

Following the death of Her Majesty the Queen yesterday, Walsall Mayor Rose Martin has confirmed that plans are being put in place so that Walsall residents can pay their respects.

The UK’s longest-serving monarch peacefully passed away at Balmoral aged 96, putting an end to her 70-year reign.

The funeral is being held on Monday 19 September, which is being declared a bank holiday.

Following the sad news, Rose Martin issued the following statement:

“Following the very sad news today of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, I want to extend my condolences to the Royal Family at this extremely sad time. As a mark of respect Walsall Council flags have been lowered to half-mast and will remain so from today until after the funeral.

“Plans are being put in place to enable Walsall residents to pay their respects. As the Royal Household releases more information Walsall Council will update residents.

My thoughts, like many people in Walsall, are with the Royal family at this very sad time.”

Walsall College Plans Extension Of Green Lane Campus

An application has been filed to build a three-storey extension to the Green Lane campus of Walsall College.

***Green Lane campus on Long Acre Street***

The proposed plans would see extra classrooms, a lobby, a canteen and the extension of workshops built.

The plans also include amendments to the existing car park entrance, moving it 14 metres towards Green Lane.

A decision by Walsall Council on the application is expected to be made today, 8 September.

Planning agents Walker Associates said that the extension would improve the current environment rather than see an increase in the number of people visiting the campus.

“These works provide an opportunity to improve the facilities in these spaces as well as to create a more attractive lobby area with more facilities for the students and more natural light for all the occupants of the building,” said Walker Associates.

“It is also an opportunity to make the building frontage more visible to passers by and by glazing the outer wall facing Green Lane itself, to open the building up more to the residents of the town generally.

“It also allows for much needed additional classroom space.

“As with previous recent works, the college would stress that these works do not involve an increase in numbers using the building but rather an improvement in the environment and working spaces for future students.”

11 Arrested As Willenhall Dairy Milk Trucks Sabotaged

11 people have been arrested after delivery trucks were damaged at a milk distribution centre in Willenhall.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, 6 September, protestors from the animal rights group Animal Rebellion entered the premises of Muller Wiseman Dairies, on Ashmore Lake Way.

They then filmed themselves drilling holes into tyres of a number of lorries owned by Muller.

In a statement by West Midlands Police: “Officers on patrol responded to reports of trespassers at Muller Wiseman Dairies, Ashmore Lake Way, Willenhall, at 5.30am today and found several people on site damaging vehicles.

“It’s understood the group forced entry through perimeter fencing before drilling holes in around 200 tyres. It’s estimated they’ve caused damage totalling £80,000.”

This week, the protest group has also disrupted the supply of dairy at the Muller dairy in Droitwich and the Freshmans dairy in Acton.

On social media, Animal Rebellion explained their actions by posting: The Government are letting us sleepwalk towards absolute global climate devastation, whilst endorsing the suffering and murder of billions of farmed animals every year in the UK.”

A spokesperson for Muller UK & Ireland stated that supplies of fresh milk are not affected.

Seven women and four men were arrested in Willenhall on Tuesday morning.

Related News

New Cost Of Living Scheme Launches To Help Walsall Families

A new Cost of Living support scheme has launched for Walsall families this week.

Developed by Walsall Council, the scheme aims to help residents struggling with living costs by providing support and advice.

As well as practical advice and signposting to the correct services, the service includes:

Web portal with information and advice
Support in getting online
Information on applying for grants and discounts
Information on benefits, debt and food banks

Walsall Council leader, Councillor Mike Bird said: “Rising costs are affecting everyone, especially the most vulnerable in our society.

“With our new Cost of Living Support service we want to create an advice point where people can easily access trusted, accurate and up-to-date information.

“As well as detailing the support we can offer residents it also contains a host of links which people can use to seek further assistance.

“Our Cost of Living Support will provide practical help for people in all parts of the Borough as we head into the autumn and winter. We don’t have a magic wand to wave but we hope the information and advice we provide will enable people to make positive decisions that make a difference to their lives.”

To find out more, check out the Cost of Living website.

Energy price helpline launches to help West Midlands residents

A free service has launched to help residents across the borough cope with the rising cost of fuel prices.

Warmer Homes West Midlands is offering impartial advice to support vulnerable households following news of an energy price cap increased in October.

Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands, said: “With the rising energy bills and cost of living pressures we’re facing in our region, we need to do all we can to support local residents through the upcoming winter months and beyond.

“That’s why I’m grateful that the Warmer Homes West Midlands programme will provide a welcome support line for those seeking to keep costs down whilst keeping warm in the coming months.”

Rachel Jones, chief executive of Act on Energy, said: “The persistent increases in the energy price cap will be the financial breaking point for large numbers of households across the region over the coming months and beyond.

“Around 15 to 20 per cent of households across the West Midlands are already deemed to be in fuel poverty and we believe this to be a conservative estimate as data is always backwards looking.

“Our Warmer Homes West Midlands team have been working incredibly hard during 2022.

More information can be found on the Warnes Homes West Midlands website > http://warmerhomeswm.org.uk/whatwedo/, or by calling 0808 196 8298 to talk to an advisor.

Fire At Derelict Building on Lichfield Street ‘Started Deliberately’

Seven fire crews attended a derelict property on Lichfield Street in Walsall last night, 31 August 2022.

The fire broke out at a property in between Bairstow Eves and S. J Motorcycles near to Morrisons and 40 firefighters from teams in Walsall, Aldridge, Bloxwich, Tipton, Bilston, Perry Barr and Aston were called to the scene.

Fire broke out next to Bairstow Eves on Lichfield Street

Just after 5pm, firefighters were on the scene with seven fire engines and the blaze was under control by 6.15pm.

A spokesperson for the West Midlands Fire Service said: “It appears that the fire was started deliberately.”

Fire crews stayed on the scene until about 12.30am this morning.