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Globe House in Bradford Place may be converted into studio apartments if a proposal to Walsall Council by its owners goes ahead.
The Grade II listed, three-storey building was formerly the Institute of Science & Art and was built in 1888 before it was bought by Globe Properties Ltd in 2004.
In more recent years, it’s been used as a serviced office space by Walsall Council and private companies.
30 Studio Apartments Planned For Globe House
With occupancy levels reported to be as low as 30 per cent, Globe Properties Ltd are now looking to transform the property into more than 30 studio apartments.
Agents J Mason Associates said: “Globe Property Ltd purchased the building in 2004 and sought to bring it back into use as a business centre and work carried out with Walsall Regeneration suggested a potential demand for office accommodation in the town centre.
“The Business Centre originally operated with reasonable success, achieving occupancy rates of circa 70 per cent, but with the financial downturn in 2008 the centre began to struggle and in the period since then the building has only achieved occupancy rates of around 30-40 per cent and a significant portion of that has been Globe Property itself.
“The building has been marketed for use as a whole building or by individual floors and individual rooms, but none of these options has produced a viable way of taking the building forward in its current use.
“Globe Property are looking to downsize their own occupancy and consequently a new use for the building is required.
“Research shows a surplus of office accommodation available in Walsall Town Centre and the space currently available in Globe House remains on the market but with no interest.
“Alternative uses have therefore been considered for the property including retail use, but this was not considered a practical solution for this building and again there is a surplus of retail accommodation vacant within the town including in the Victorian Arcade.
“Other uses considered include a Nursery, Night Club, Hospice and GP Surgery but all have proved unviable.
“The proposal is therefore for the conversion of the building into 35 studios and apartments for residential use.
“Residential use provides the building with a viable use moving forward.
“The town centre can accommodate residential use and this is the only route that has been identified that is capable of generating the significant funds needed to protect the heritage asset.”
Proposals for Walsall and Bloxwich town centres are being discussed by Walsall Council to inject up to £25m into a variety of initiatives.
Key figures from the education, public and private sectors, as well as local organisations, have worked alongside Walsall Council and advisory boards from Bloxwich and Walsall to outline two Town Investment Plans.
Bloxwich Investment Plans
Active Travel and Connectivity: including cycling and walking connections between Bloxwich high street, Walsall town centre and local employment sites.
Promotion of Construction Skills Through Regeneration: Supporting training and employment through a fund that will seek applications from local housing associations and developers to financially support the remediation of existing derelict brownfield sites, and the environmental upgrading of existing dwellings. To access the fund applicants will be asked to make commitments to providing local jobs for local people, the use of local supply chains and the delivery construction skills and training for local people by developers.
Community Capital: Grants programme for local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and social enterprise organisations to bid into, so they can expand their roles in supporting local people into employment and training etc.,
Incubation Space and Digital Access Centre: The facility will provide incubation space on Bloxwich High Street for local start-ups and small businesses and allow access to digital connectivity for local residents who do not have home access to broadband. The facility will also include the provision of co-working rented spaces which allows the businesses to collaborate and provides an income stream for the facility.
Green Bloxwich: Creating multi-use spaces such as new parks, sports arenas, allotment spaces for growing food and zones to attract and encourage wildlife. The spaces will include a social events and public space for festivals and presentations and events. This project also includes the refurbishment of heritage buildings in King George’s V Park to bring them into economic use such as the conversion to community café and skills training facility.
Walsall Investment Plans
Construction Skills Academy: Providing a range of construction skills training to ensure Walsall residents benefit from the investment in house building and construction in the town and the wider area.
Advanced Electric Vehicle Technology Centre: The provision of a new training facility to provide learning opportunities in the new and emerging electric vehicle market, delivered in partnership with Walsall College.
Town Centre Performing Arts Venue: An exciting new 1,000 seater, multi-use entertainment and performance arena within Walsall Town Centre, creating a destination venue.
Active Travel and Connectivity: active connections including cycling and walking – between Walsall town centre, Bloxwich high street, and local employment sites such as Phoenix 10.
Digital Skills Hub: Creating a new digital skills hub in Walsall town centre. Aimed at accelerating digital growth and a ‘ready to go’ employable workforce with the skills, knowledge and experience to succeed in the changing workplace.
Town Centre Community Learning Campus: the development of a fit for purpose adult/community education facility on the high street. Creating a new and improved offer that is accessible to all the borough and will attract more people to the town; providing day and night economic activity.
The Creative Industries Enterprise Centre: Creation of a makerspace, creative incubator and skills development hub. Aimed at small enterprises and local residents. Providing a high street presence, with the potential to create Walsall’s version of the Digbeth Custard Factory or Bristol Engine Shed.
Active Public Spaces: Developing an inviting, engaging and quality public space which better links the high street to the New Art Gallery and edge of town retail.
Community Capital: Grants programme for local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and social enterprise organisations to bid into, so they can expand their roles in supporting local people into employment and training etc.
Speaking about the plans, Manjit Jhooty, Chair of the Town Deal Board and CEO of the Jhoots Group said:
“It’s been a privilege to take part in this process. Formulating these plans has been a challenge but I’m confident that with government approval, these ideas will have a lasting impact on the local economy. It’s a fantastic opportunity to improve the prospects for our workforce and support the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that we have in Walsall.”
Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, Cllr Adrian Andrew said:
“I’d like to thank the council officers, members of the Town Deal boards and local community groups who have put so much effort into producing these plans. They reflect the ambition we have for Walsall as we emerge from the pandemic and begin to build a brighter future for all our residents. It’s rare for towns to have this kind of opportunity and level of investment and if we receive approval, we will begin work at once to put our plans into action.”
A dedicated midwifery team has been launched in Pelsall, which will give pregnant women and their families more personalised care.
Midwives from the Harmony Midwifery Team at Pelsall Village Centre.
The Continuity of Carer service, at Pelsall Village Centre, will comprise a team that will support mums-to-be throughout their pregnancy, at birth and into the early stages of parenthood.
Daren Fradgley, director of integration for Walsall Healthcare Trust, said: “We are so pleased to offer a more joined up and personal approach to mums at such an important milestone in their lives.
“It has many benefits, including more co-ordinated care with a single team, ensuring all the needs of a woman and her baby are met, less hospital appointments as care is delivered in the community wherever possible, reduction in miscarriages and pre-term births and more positive outcomes for women knowing they have someone they trust and feel comfortable with supporting them all the way through their pregnancy, birth and during those first special days and weeks.”
Continuity of Carer Model Helps Deliver Pregnancy Support In Walsall
The service has been introduced following recommendations from the 2016 National Better Births Review and builds on the success of a Continuity of Carer model, which was implemented by the Wyndlow Team at the Walsall Healthcare Trust midwifery-led unit.
The model has been shown to benefit mothers and babies, with national evidence revealing women who receive continuity of carer are: seven times more likely to be attended at birth by a known midwife; have fewer antenatal admissions and a shorter postnatal stay; are 16% less likely to lose their baby; and are 24% less likely to experience pre-term birth.
Hannah Platten, interim better births lead midwife, said: “We are really excited to be part of this new approach to caring for our pregnant ladies. One of the key elements of our job is to build a relationship with our moms to be so they feel able to talk to us about their pregnancy and birth choices and raise any concerns they have confidently.
“Continuity of care also means we have a more in-depth knowledge of their individual needs, so we can provide a personalised and holistic service and they don’t have to keep explaining their history to a different midwife every time they have an appointment. I am really proud of the dedication and enthusiasm shown by the Harmony Midwifery Team as we embark on this new way of working.”
Booking for Cycle Spring 2021, the yearly St. Giles Hospice fundraising event, is now open and organisers are confident that the event will still go ahead as planned.
Photo from the 2019 Cycle Spring event.
Due to take place on Sunday 23 May, 2021, the COVID compliant Cycle Spring event encourages new riders and old to choose from one of three cycle routes.
Riders must be aged 10 or over and the three routes – all starting in Whittington, Lichfield – vary by difficulty with a 27-mile, 52-mile and a challenging 76-mile route planned.
Fundraising events for St. Giles Hospice have suffered in 2021 due to COVID restrictions.
Chloe Herbert, Head of Fundraising at St Giles Hospice said: “We’re absolutely delighted at the thought of being able to welcome back our wonderful fundraisers in person in 2021 after a year when we’ve had to cancel our events and close our shops, which significantly impacted on our income.
“Whether you’re a regular rider or new to cycling, we’d love you to support us at our COVID-compliant Cycle Spring event. We sincerely hope that Coronavirus restrictions do not result in further cancellations but the safety of our supporters, volunteers and staff is our top priority. Whatever happens, we’ll be keeping our participants up to date with developments.
“If, come May, we can’t get together at Whittington we’ll provide our participants with everything you need to cycle for St Giles in your own time. We’ll make sure that our community can still take part, no matter what! Following sign up, all cyclists will be provided with fundraising packs full of route maps, medals, certificates and more.”
Entry costs are £25 per person if you book before 31 March, or £27 per person if you book after the early bird offer until 20 May, 2021.
Cyclists booking a place before midnight on Wednesday 31st March can enjoy an early bird offer of £25, and entry at £27 closes at midday on Thursday 20th May 2021.
A new Covid-19 vaccination centre will open in the Saddler’s Centre in Walsall on Monday, 15 March.
Walsall Covid Vaccination Centre Opening At TJ Hughes Store
The former TJ Hughes and Argos store will accept its first patients next week with up to 1,000 locals due to be vaccinated on day one.
The new vaccination site, run by the Walsall Together Partnership, will only accept patients with an appointment.
Initially, patients who fall into the eligible categories, such as being over 55 or at high risk from coronavirus, can book appointments online. Others will be contacted be via text from the National NHS Booking Service or by letter.
“It is really important that members of the public help us to ensure things run efficiently and effectively by only coming to the centre if they have been contacted by the NHS and have an appointment booked.”
Free parking for one hour is available on the Saddlers Centre car park for anyone with an appointment, and essential retailers will be unaffected.
Melvin Glasby, Centre Manager commented, “The Saddlers Centre is happy to support our community in the fight against Covid-19 and welcomes the vaccination centre. Our essential retailers are open at this time, and we will do all we can to support the Council and NHS in the operation of this important task.”
Other Walsall Covid testing centres include Walsall Town Hall on Darwall Street and Wolverhampton University, Walsall Campus.
A West Midlands magician is celebrating after conjuring up one of his best tricks yet: bagging a top industry award.
Owen Strickland, aged 48, from Aldridge, Walsall, has been named Best Magician in the UK in the prestigious Wedding Industry Awards 2021 – two months after taking the regional title.
The former Warwickshire Police detective, who only began to learn magic tricks in his 30s, has thrilled audiences with his close-up tricks at dozens of weddings and corporate events every year for the past seven years.
West Midlands Magician Scoops Wedding Industry Award
And after winning regional awards in the Wedding Industry Awards in 2017 and 2018, this is the first time he has scooped the national award.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have won,” said Owen, who is the Magic Circle’s Midlands representative. “These awards are known as the Oscars for the wedding industry because they celebrate the best in the business.
“This is the first year it has created a specific category for magicians and I was up against some strong competition. I couldn’t believe it when the judges chose me out of the five regional winners, many of whom have been practising magic for a lot longer than me. It’s very much a highly judged award, so I am humbled to have won.
“Doing weddings is such an honour because you’re getting paid to go and be part of people’s most special day of their lives. I love doing magic and having banter with the audiences – it’s all part of what I do.”
Owen, who specialises in close-up card tricks, as well as money, sponge balls and fire tricks, said he hopes the award will help to consolidate his reputation further as a first-class, trusted magician.
Since the pandemic struck 12 months ago, he has lost dozens of bookings from the corporate world and from weddings, and is hoping that happy couples will be able to go ahead with their big days later in 2021.
Wedding magician Owen delights the happy couple.
Best Magician In UK Enjoys Spreading Joy
“The wedding industry, like most of the hospitality industry, has taken a battering because of the pandemic, but I hope things will get back on track this year,” he said.
Owen counts English illusionist and mentalist Derren Brown, Dynamo and the late Paul Daniels as his favourite magicians.
“Being a magician is all about bringing joy to people’s lives and escaping reality for a while and these are among the very best,” said Owen.
You can hire Owen for wedding, corporate and private events via the Owen Strickland website.
Did you know the 2021 census is taking place on Sunday, March 21?
Fill out the census on Sunday 21 March, or as soon as possible afterwards.
The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that provides a snapshot of households in England and Wales, and helps to plan and fund public services and for the first time, it will be run mainly online, making it easy for most people to complete the questionnaire on any device. However, paper census questionnaires are available for those who need them.
Help Is On Hand For The 2021 Census
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has appointed Amy Hollis to be Walsall’s census engagement manager and she will be on hand, with a team of census staff, to support residents and help make Census 2021 a success.
Her role is to help organisations, charities, faith groups and community leaders within the borough raise awareness of the census and to highlight the value of it to residents. She will also be managing a team of community advisers, who will be working in the borough to ensure people complete the census.
Councillor Garry Perry, deputy leader for resilient communities said: “Although Covid-19 has stopped a lot of things from happening, it isn’t stopping the census from taking place. I’m pleased about that because the information people give will help inform how public services are planned and funded. Ultimately, it ensures funds are invested to meet the population’s need in emergency services, health care, school places and other vital services.
“Our communications team is already working closely with the regional census engagement manager to provide expert local knowledge on how to reach all of our communities and I know our community and faith organisations will step up, as they always do, to support us in assisting any residents who may need some help.
Census History Dates Back To Domesday Book
“The history of the census is fascinating; I’m sure most of us have a memory of being taught at school about William the Conqueror ordering the production of the Domesday Book. This detailed inventory of land and property was a huge undertaking at the time, taking several years to complete. I’m sure the staff at the Office for National Statistics are very thankful for modern technology.
The first “great survey” was completed in 1086
“There is historical rivalry between people from Bloxwich and Walsall and it’s amusing to think of all the heated arguments in pubs over the years, with the final insult from the Bloxwich man possibly being to point out that Walsall isn’t even in the Domesday Book!”
New Questions For The 2021 Census
The 2021 census will include a new question on UK Armed Forces veterans, as well as voluntary questions, for those aged 16 and over, on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Although results from the census will be available in 2022, all personal records will be locked away for 100 years and kept safe for future generations.
A few new questions have been added for 2021.
Pete Benton, director of census and survey operations, said: “The census engagement managers and community advisers we have appointed have a critical role in making sure everyone understands why the census is important and making sure all households across England and Wales know why it is important to take part and how to get the help they need.”
He stressed that all census staff will operate in line with the Government’s latest Covid-19 guidance.
What Is The Census?
The census is a survey that takes place every 10 years and provides government with the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales.
It asks questions about you, your household and your home, helping to build up detailed information about society at a local and national level. All the information you provide is anonymous and the actual records are locked away for 100 years to safeguard privacy.
Information from the census helps the government and local authorities to plan and fund services, such as education, doctors’ surgeries and roads.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for planning and running the census in England and Wales.
The census helps government planning to fund medical services.
Is Your Data Private?
No personal information is released when the census statistics are published, so you cannot be identified.
The ONS, which is responsible for the census, does not sell your personal information and everyone working on the census has to sign the Census Confidentiality, which means it is a crime to share personal information unlawfully.
The ONS is governed by several laws, including The Data protection Act 2018 and The Census Act 1920, and it also follows strict security procedures to protect data.
Do You Have To Complete The UK 2021 Census?
Yes – you have to complete the census by law. If you do not, or if you supply false information, you could be fined up to £1,000. Some questions on the census are labelled as voluntary – you do not have to answer those, if you do not wish to.
How is your information used?
Information gathered in the census helps organisations plan for the future, such as local government that uses the data to plan services, such as schools, hospitals and rubbish collection, while businesses use the information to decide where to set up, which creates job opportunities. Charities also use census information to help get the funding they need.
In 100 years’ time, your relations will be able to look up the census details from 2021 when researching their family history.
Full List of Census 2021 Questions
Some of the questions in the survey are voluntary and others have multiple choice answers.
What is your name?
What is your date of birth?
What is your sex?
On 21 March 2021, what is your legal marital or registered civil partnership status?
Who is (was) your legal marriage or registered civil partnership to?
Do you stay at another address for more than 30 days a year?
What is that address?
Are you a schoolchild or student in full-time education?
During term time, where do you usually live?
What is your country of birth?
If you were not born in the United Kingdom, when did you most recently arrive to live here?
Including the time you have already spent here, how long do you intend to stay in the United Kingdom?
One year ago, what was your usual address?
How would you describe your national identity?
What is your ethnic group?
What is your religion?
What is your main language?
How well can you speak English?
What passports do you hold?
How is your health in general?
Do you have any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more?
Do any of your conditions or illnesses reduce your ability to carry out day-to-day activities?
Do you look after, or give any help or support to, anyone because they have long-term physical or mental health conditions or illnesses, or problems related to old age?
If you are aged 16 or over go to 26 – if you are aged 15 or under go to 51
Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation?
Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?
Have you completed an apprenticeship?
Have you achieved a qualification at degree level or above?
Have you achieved any other qualifications?
Have you previously served in the UK Armed Forces?
In the last seven days, were you doing any of the following?
Which of the following describes what you were doing in the last seven days?
In the last four weeks, were you actively looking for any kind of paid work?
If a job became available now, could you start it within two weeks?
In the last seven days, were you waiting to start a job already accepted?
Have you ever done any paid work?
Answer the remaining questions for your main job or, if not working, your last main job.
In your main job, what is (was) your employment status?
What is (was) the name of the organisation or business you work (worked) for?
What is (was) your full job title?
Briefly describe what you do (did) in your main job.
What is (was) the main activity of your organisation, business or freelance work?
Do (did) you supervise or oversee the work of other employees on a day-to-day basis?
If you had a job last week go to 47; If you were temporarily away from work last week go to 47; If you did not have a job last week go to 51
In your main job, how many hours a week do you usually work?
Volunteer litter busters have been working hard to keep Walsall’s streets free of rubbish – even during lockdown.
Walsall Community Litter Watch organises a couple of picks a month – one around the town centre and one in another part of the borough – while community groups also organise their own.
Lockdown hasn’t deterred them and it now organises “virtual” picks called Shine A Light Sunday, where individuals or households can set out to remove rubbish from their own neighbourhood.
And in the November event alone, 31 individuals took part in 20 litter picks, covering most of the borough, including Willenhall, Bloxwich, Caldmore, Birchills, Aldridge, Streetly, Walsall Wood, Pelsall, Darlaston and Alumwell, and collected 147 bags of rubbish.
Beth Deeley, one of the volunteer co-ordinators at Walsall Council’s Clean and Green department, said: “The first Shine a Light Sunday came about back in July. Volunteers were concerned about the amount of litter that could be generated by Super Saturday, the day the pubs reopened.
“So in response we created a targeted virtual pick called Shine a Light Sunday where we would shine a light on litter. After the success of the first one we thought we would bring it back again this November as our group picks have had to be cancelled again due to lockdown.
“We have a list of all of our planned picks on our Facebook group, then the virtual picks happen wherever each volunteer chooses to pick on Shine a light Sunday but we usually get a good spread.”
It’s easy to get involved in a virtual pick: all you need is a picker, a bag, an area to tidy and a camera phone. On the designated Shine a Light Sunday, you take a before photograph of the area you plan to tidy and afterwards when the work is complete, then upload it to the Facebook page.
“Our aim was to fill social media with these posts to help show the extent of the littering issue we are facing while reinforcing the anti-litter and supportive messages via our poster,” said Beth.
“In the current situation, we have also found that it helps people feel more included in the group pick even though we are picking alone.”
Councillor Oliver Butler, Cabinet Member for Clean and Green, said: “Last year Walsall Council spent £1.5m tackling the problem of litter that has been dropped by inconsiderate individuals who have no respect for their environment.
“Fortunately local volunteers do a great job giving their support to us in our fight against litter as a part of all our efforts to make Walsall a cleaner and greener place. Litter picking events are a great way to promote volunteering, spreading the anti-litter messages and highlighting the fantastic effort these individuals do for our communities.
“Events like these are also important in the current climate as they help people to feel connected and promote both physical and mental health.”
Among the army of volunteers, Vicky Atkins said: “Litter is damaging to nature, the environment, and it breeds a ‘don’t care’ attitude. If an area has litter, then others aren’t so concerned about dumping their litter there too.”
Elizabeth Worley, who attended her first virtual pick in November, added: “It’s the first time I’ve done a litter picking event as a part of a virtual group. I felt really included despite seeing no-one.”
Teresa Webb said she is proud to be a volunteer litter picker.
“Litter picking for me is making the place I live a better place for me and nice to see for others who appreciate it,” she said. “I have met so many lovely people and like to think I have helped a few with the positive effect you get from being out in nature making an impact on the environment, too.”
We’ve responded to requests for help from two people looking to complete their family trees. One looking for help with Aldridge connections, the other Walsall.
Looking for information on Sgt Thomas Wilkes
Hilary Wilkes is looking for information about her grandfather – can you help?
Sgt Thomas Wilkes
Sergeant Thomas Wilkes, who served in the Staffordshire Regiment, was killed in the Battle of the Somme.
Hilary knows little about him, other than he lived in Bloxwich Road, in Walsall, and was married to Helen Pearman. Before he enlisted, she believes he worked in a brass foundry and served in the Territorials.
During the First World War, Thomas’s battalion held out for two days at Delville Wood, after being shelled from three directions, but he was killed on 29 July, 1916. She understands his body was not discovered until 1931.
“According to the Staffordshire Regiment archivist, he was mentioned twice in the ‘Walsall Pioneer’ of the time,” she said.
“The references I have been given are: 27 Date 3/6/1916 and 93 or 43 date 15/9/1917. These may refer to him being in hospital and/or being gazetted with the Military Medal, which was announced in the London Gazette on 19 February, 1917.
“Unfortunately, his record card at The National Archives was destroyed in the Second World War, so I’d be thrilled if you could shed some light. To see a photograph of him would be amazing!”
Anyone who thinks they have any family information about him can contact Hilary at: hilarywilkes@virginmedia.com
Are you related to the Harvey family?
Sam Harvey
Could you be related to Sam Harvey? Sam, who lives in Kilnhurst, near Rotherham in South Yorkshire, has traced her family tree back to the 1830s, where the Harvey family lived in Aldridge.
Now she’s appealing to readers of The Pioneer to see if she has any relatives still living in the area.
She said: “I’ve been doing my family tree on and off for about 30 years, but when I was furloughed earlier this year, I had time to get back to it. Some of the family I’ve traced back to the 1500s in Alton in Staffordshire but I found quite a bit of information about the Harveys who lived in Aldridge.
“When all the restrictions are lifted, I’d love to come down and have a look round and visit the archives to find more birth, marriage and death certificates relating to my family, but in the meantime, I wondered if there are still any family in the area.”
So far, 51-year-old Sam has found Joseph Harvey, who was born in 1835 in Aldridge to John and Sarah Jane Harvey, and was followed by brother William in 1838. They had three sisters, Diana, born 1841, and Hannah, born 1843, and Emma, born in 1852.
In 1869, William, who is Sam’s great, great grandfather, married in Spalding, Lincolnshire, before settling in Kilnhurst, where family remains today.
Her searches have also found that Joseph moved to Lancashire before emigrating to Canada, where he died in 1922.
However, Sam believes that either William or Sam left behind three children – John (born 1858), William (1860) and Sarah (1864) – because these children were living with their grandparents in the 1861 and 1871 censuses.
Other searches show that William and Joseph’s sister Diana married a William Edwards in 1841 and she lived in the Pool Green area of Aldridge, while Hannah married James Meeks in 1843. Emma married Thomas Connolly in 1852 and lived in Keepers’ Cottage in Barr Lane West before moving to Handsworth, Birmingham.
The younger William, who stayed in Aldridge also lived in Dumblederry Lane, according to the 1871 census.
Sam also discovered that her great-grandfather Joseph, son of William senior, died in November 1916, in the battle of the Somme, while he served in the medical corps. A few months later, in April 1917, Charles Herbert, who was the Canadian son of Joseph senior, died in Vimy Ridge while serving in the Canadian Army.
If anyone believes they are related to Sam – or have more information about the Harvey family – please contact the editor at gill@pioneermagazines.co.uk and the information will be forwarded.
Volunteer litter busters have been working hard to keep Walsall’s streets free of rubbish – even during lockdown.
