Christian Barnett

Wolverhampton councillors are due to decide on August 26 whether the former Calif Bar can reopen as Vivant Lounge under an application by Lucky Iguodala. West Midlands Fire Service has objected over inadequate fire-risk assessments, while West Midlands Police wants the proposed closing time reduced from 5am to 2am because the venue is in the city's cumulative impact zone. Calif Bar's licence was revoked after the council found regulatory non-compliance, following a £45,000 fine for employing a worker without the right to work in the UK and a separate £14,000 hygiene-related demand.

Plans submitted by Shireland Inn Ltd could bring a new convenience store to the car park of the former Berry Brook Farm pub on Cannock Road in Wolverhampton. The proposal is intended to support renovation of the closed pub into a modern gastropub, with an expanded car park, landscaping and other infrastructure. The applicant says future retail occupiers are engaged, local demand is strong and the development would benefit nearby residents. The pub was reportedly bought by Soho Taverns after closing in 2024, and the planning application will be considered by City of Wolverhampton Council.

Nearly 100 homes were evacuated after a second fire in two days struck the former Brandhall golf course in Oldbury, with two nearby homes destroyed. Councillor Tuli Zefi praised residents for helping neighbours, sharing information and ensuring everyone reached safety, while police officers assisted with evacuations as firefighters dealt with another major blaze in Stourbridge. Sandwell Council said there were no casualties and that most evacuated residents were allowed to return home the same night; a local church provided shelter and support.

Muzy Mini Market on Merridale Road in Wolverhampton has had its premises licence revoked by City of Wolverhampton Council after inspections found 1,977 illegal cigarettes, 88 non-compliant vapes, banned lighters, counterfeit Red Bull drinks, copy beauty-product materials and further quantities of non-duty-paid tobacco. Authorities also found a worker without the right to work in the UK and identified problems with licence transfers and company directorship records. The council cited ongoing non-compliance and a lack of willingness by the owners to improve, while West Midlands Police supported revocation over poor management and failures relating to crime prevention, public safety and protection of children.

Teachers and staff at The Orchard School, a specialist SEND school in Oldbury, have staged repeated strikes over overcrowding, vacancies, inadequate support, safety concerns and poor facilities. Sandwell Council leader Ray Nock rejected calls to meet staff, parents and unions, saying the dispute should be handled by council officers. Labour councillors criticized the Reform UK administration for failing to show leadership or address the impact on pupils, while Nock defended his decision and said political intervention could undermine officer-led negotiations.

G&G Market in Cradley Heath faces a Sandwell Council licensing review after investigators found it selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco, including to an undercover child, only weeks after opening. West Midlands Police and Sandwell Trading Standards are seeking revocation of licence holder Hozan Sharify’s licence, citing repeated offences, concealed illicit products, prescription-only medicine and disregard for regulations. Dudley magistrates have already ordered the shop to close for three months, making it the fourth Cradley Heath shop closed during Sandwell Council’s crackdown.

An initiative backed by West Midlands mayor Richard Parker promotes volunteering with uniformed youth organisations as a way to build confidence, resilience and employability among young people. More than 500 pupils across 50 schools will engage in workshops run by Youth Organisations in Uniform West Midlands, funded through a Department for Education partnership. Research cited from the University of Nottingham highlights the positive impact of groups such as the Combined Cadet Force on wellbeing and social skills. Air cadets at Q3 Academy in Tipton shared how their experiences developed leadership, discipline and confidence, reinforcing the programme’s aims.

Wolverhampton Council approved plans to expand Colton Hills Community School to 1,200 places by 2031, increasing its year 7 admissions and adding new facilities funded through more than £6 million in investment. Supporters argue the expansion meets rising demand for school places, while opposition from Smestow Academy warns of potential harm to enrollment, financial stability and the effective use of public money. Public consultation reflected majority support but also concerns about traffic and infrastructure pressures. Rising pupil numbers across multiple year groups underline the broader demand for secondary school capacity in the city.

Sandwell Council approved the permanent 24‑hour operation of a Tividale storage facility containing more than 50 shipping containers, removing previous restricted opening hours. The application, submitted by Simon Dunn of bus operator Rotala, cited noise monitoring showing minimal disturbance to nearby residents. The facility occupies land formerly used by NHS laboratories and Diamond Bus parking, much of which had remained unused for years.

More than £2m will fund the creation of over 200 additional pupil places across four Wolverhampton schools to address growing demand. Most of the funding will support expansions at Moreton School and Aldersley High School through agreements with Amethyst Academies Trust, while smaller increases will occur at St Matthias School and Bilston CE Primary School, the latter receiving £150,000 for reconfiguration and refurbishment. The City of Wolverhampton Council highlighted Bilston CE Primary’s popularity and noted ongoing and future discussions about long‑term capacity needs.

Bilston’s outdoor market reopened following £8 million in improvements that added new stalls, a canopy, upgraded facilities and better access. Local leaders and traders praised the redevelopment, with the council leader calling it the best market in the country. The project faced delays and additional costs after poor ground conditions and a large sinkhole were discovered, extending the completion date by eight months. Despite some planned features being cut, traders and residents reported strong satisfaction with the revamped market and anticipated improved trade and long-term stability.

Wolverhampton’s long‑planned £6 million boxpark-style venue is returning for cabinet discussion as the council seeks an experienced operator to build and run the site. Expected to draw up to 500,000 visitors annually, the project is positioned as part of wider city‑centre regeneration efforts alongside major developments such as the Smithgate scheme and upgrades to public spaces. Previously delayed by the pandemic, economic pressures and global events, the plan would operate under a proposed 25‑year lease with £5.5 million already allocated. City of Wolverhampton Council will review the proposal at its July 8 cabinet meeting.

A government planning inspector overturned Sandwell Council’s refusal of six additional homes on a Cradley Heath estate previously affected by landslides. Inspector David Kay ruled the development would not harm privacy, outlook, or local ecological sites, contradicting the council’s concerns over design quality and overbearing impact. The homes, proposed by Dunedin Homes on land used during earlier construction, drew 30 objections before the council’s 2025 rejection. Nearby residents on Haden Cross Drive have faced significant disruption from earlier landslides that blocked access to their properties.

A licensing hearing for the Best One store in Tipton was postponed after a Tamil translator could not be secured for licence holder Vincent Shaanmugarajah Thamilnesan. The shop is under police investigation after a customer allegedly received only a fraction of their lottery winnings, and CCTV footage that should have assisted the inquiry was missing. Sandwell Council officers also reported additional licensing breaches and expressed serious concerns about the shop’s management. The hearing will reconvene on July 10.

Residents and Labour councillors have objected to plans to turn the former Hargate Arms pub in West Bromwich into a Morrisons Daily, citing concerns that extended alcohol sales from 6am to 11pm could increase noise, anti‑social behaviour, littering and traffic pressures. Several objections and a petition describe the location as unsuitable for a late‑night shop and warn of limited parking and safety issues near a school. Sandwell Council’s licensing committee will decide on the application on July 7.