October 2022 - Page 2 of 2 - Pioneer Magazines

Interactive Crime Scene Gives Tips On How To Keep Your House Safe

West Midlands Police has released an interactive crime scene that teaches you ways that you can beat burglars.

***Enter 27 Station Road to start your investigation.***

Move around the exterior and interior of a house that was broken into and robbed, looking for clues on how the crime happened and getting essential tips to protect your home.

Visit the crime scene

Use your mouse to navigate around the house and investigate the crime, checking in each room to witness a typical scene of a house robbery.

If you need any further advice on how to protect your home from burglary, check out the West Midlands Police crime prevention page.

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Appeal For Witnesses To Sandwell Armed Robbery

West Midlands Police are appealing to the public to come forward if they have any information about an armed robbery that took place at Coventry Building Society on Saturday 8 October, 2022.

At approximately 8.30am, three masked men attempted to enter the building on Hagley Road West in Oldbury armed with an axe and a hammer, but they fled after staff intervened. No one was injured.

The trio escaped in a dark-coloured Volkswagon Scirocco with a getaway driver at the wheel.

Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage and conducting enquiries, but are asking anyone who saw the attempted robbery, or anything suspicious, to come forward.

You can contact West Midlands police regarding this case via Live Chat, or by calling 101 and quoting log 919 (8 October).

Walsall Firework Displays – 2022

Walsall Council has confirmed that three community bonfire and firework displays will take place across the borough this November.

Starting with a display at King George V Playing Fields on Friday November 4, further bonfire events at Walsall Arboretum and Willenhall Memorial Park will take place on Saturday 5 November.

As well as the traditional lighting of the bonfire and a fireworks display, a fun fair and food and drink stalls will be available at each park.

Walsall Firework Displays Ticket Prices Frozen

Ticket prices remain the same as the last time Walsall held fireworks displays in 2019 and there’s also an early bird offer for those who purchase tickets before 21 October.

Each event starts at 5pm and finishes at 7.20 and an early bird family ticket costs £18, plus a booking fee.

Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Public Health, said:

“Our bonfire events are very popular with families in and around Walsall. As a result of the pandemic, the last events were held in 2019 and we know they have been sorely missed. Advance ticket admission makes our events easier to access on the night and helps us to keep our focus on providing a safe, family friendly and fun evening for all. It’s a great opportunity for people to enjoy their local parks and see some truly fantastic firework displays.”

Tickets can only be bought in advance and won’t be available on the day.

Sandwell Council Announces Biggest Ever Firework Display

Sandwell Council is promising its biggest ever firework display this year with a local park transformed with the theme of “Sandwell Goes Global”.

Two evenings of entertainment are planned for Friday and Saturday night, 4-5 November 2022 between 5-9pm.

On Friday, visitors will be invited to attend an Illuminated Garden and Playground by Night event, which will see the park lit up with colourful displays.

Numerous family-friendly activities will be available, including crafts and theatre shows, as well as a special children’s TV star surprise on the main stage.

Full line-up for the Illuminated Garden – 2022

Play by Night in the illuminated adventure playground
Enjoy the splash pad lit up
Beautiful garden lighting
Family theatre performance
Take That tribute act
Family craft activities
Bubble displays
Carnevale Zone with 8 large fair rides and lots of junior rides and stalls
The Island Family Zone with steel pan performances and entertainers
Meet our mermaid in the Island Family Zone
The Night Souk Food Zone with 15 street food stalls from around the world
The China Town Food Zone with eight food stalls including woodfire pizza
Bar
Fire dancing performance
Stilt walkers
Shopping street with everything from light-up toys to early Christmas gifts

The fireworks display will be on the Saturday night. As well as funfair rides, the Night Souk Food Zone and a Street Bazaar, the choreographed routine will be the biggest the borough has ever seen.

Full line-up for the Sandwell Fireworks Display 2022

Biggest ever fireworks display in Sandwell
Little Mix tribute act
Thunderchunky
Drag Queen Traya Buns
Bhangra Smash Up
Carnevale Zone with 8 large fair rides and lots of junior rides and stalls
VIP zone with premium viewing cocktails and prosecco
The Island Family Zone with steel pan performances and entertainers
The Night Souk Food Zone with 15 street food stalls from around the world
The China Town Food Zone with eight food stalls including woodfire pizza
Bar
Fire dancing performance
Stilt walkers
Shopping street with everything from light-up toys to early Christmas gifts

This is a ticketed event and prices can be found on the Visit Sandwell website.

New Walsall Manor Hospital Emergency Unit Won’t Be Open Before Christmas

Plans to complete the building of the new urgent care centre at Walsall Manor Hospital before December have been disrupted.

Health chiefs were hoping that the state-of-the-art centre would be ready for the winter period to cope with demand, but supply chain difficulties blamed on the Covid pandemic have delayed plans.

The emergency unit will now be complete in the new year.

Russell Caldicott, Chief Financial Officer and Walsall Healthcare’s Senior Responsible Officer for the development, said: “It has been another tough year and many aspects of our lives are still being affected by COVID-19 along with a number of additional, economic factors.

“People will be well aware of supply issues that have an everyday impact as well as a major impact on major construction projects such as this one. Work is continuing at pace and we are all sighted on this fantastic new development being handed over to the Trust early in the New Year, with teams very much looking forward to working in their new environment.”

Ned Hobbs, Chief Operating Officer, added: “The transition process for staff moving into the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre and the patients who will be supported there is well underway.

“Whilst we’re now going to have the building handed over to us early in 2023, it does give Tilbury Douglas an opportunity to carry out enabling works on our first-floor shell space which will incorporate our Frailty service, Integrated Front Door Service and Mental Health and other specialists.”

Once completed, the urgent care centre will host an emergency department and treatment area, as well as an Acute Medical Unit, Paediatric Assessment Unit and a Resus and Rapid Assessment and Treatment area.

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Landlords Face Tougher Regulations In Walsall

Landlords in Walsall now face tougher regulations following the launch of new scheme that began in September 2022.

Private landlords that rent out house of multiple occupancy (HMOS) in the Pleck, Palfrey, Paddock and St. Matthew’s areas, where three or more unrelated people live, will need to obtain a special licence from Walsall Council.

Exercised under section 56 of the Housing Act 2014, the new regulations will last five years and require landlords to meet a number of conditions, including:

Conducting regular inspections
Tacking anti-social behaviour, including the dumping of rubbish
Making regular inspections
Ensuring there is no over-crowding in properties
Maintaining properties to a good standard

Councillor Gaz Ali, Portfolio Holder for Customer Engagement, said: “We would urge any landlords of HMOs in these four wards who have still to apply for a licence, to do so as quickly as possible. Most landlords operate in accordance with the law but the council has a duty to combat poor practices and will use enforcement powers where necessary to ensure the safety of tenants in the private rented sector. If landlords or tenants have any doubts or concerns about the licensing of their property, please contact the council for support and advice.”

Without a licence, private landlords within these areas of Walsall can face an unlimited fine.

More areas of Walsall will be covered under the licensing condition from July 2023, including Willenhall South, Birchills Leamore, Blakenall, Bentley and Darlaston North and Darlaston South.