Martyn Smith

Dudley councillors were warned that halving the frequency of roadside verge cutting could increase fire risks, particularly amid hot weather, climate change and wildfires near Stourbridge. Reform UK councillor Rob Clinton urged the council to act proactively to prevent overgrown vegetation from endangering homes. Cabinet member Damian Corfield defended the reductions, saying the council had cut £9 million from its environment directorate to protect statutory services and vulnerable residents after facing severe financial pressures. He said the council’s finances had improved and £1 million was being reinvested in grass-cutting services.

Dudley councillor Steve Clark described the shock and disbelief experienced by residents after a rapidly spreading wildfire near Stourbridge damaged around 45 homes and forced about 300 people to evacuate. Clark helped hose down woodland flames to prevent the fire reaching nearby homes before attending a council cabinet meeting. Dudley Council plans to support victims with housing, mental-health assistance and replacement medication, and will begin the clean-up once emergency services declare the area safe.

Dudley councillor Tony Creed described a wartime-style community spirit as residents of Norton in Stourbridge worked alongside firefighters to prevent a major wildfire from reaching homes and woodland. Residents formed a fire-watch rota, connected garden hoses, used buckets and wheelie bins of water, and stamped out embers. Several buildings, sheds and fences were damaged, while around 100 firefighters tackled the blaze, which also threatened areas toward Hagley. West Midlands Fire Service praised the community’s support as crews continued damping down hotspots.

Dudley Council’s Street Scene services struggled to maintain grass and weed control after budget cuts removed ten full-time-equivalent jobs and reduced grass cutting from 12–14 times a year to six. The council attributed worsening conditions in May and June 2026 to unusually strong vegetation growth driven by weather, as well as staffing shortages and outdated machinery. Savings have since enabled the employment of up to 15 agency workers, bringing the service largely back on track, although weed treatment remains behind in some areas because hot weather limits spraying. New mowing equipment is being tested, with further purchases planned for 2027.

A dispute over household waste disposal access in the Dudley area has intensified after Reform UK councillor Sat Sherwani launched a petition urging Dudley Council to negotiate access for residents to Wolverhampton’s Anchor Lane tip. Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley said the petition was directed at the wrong authority, arguing that Wolverhampton withdrew from negotiations after six months because of concerns about the impact on its residents. Harley challenged campaigners to identify a site for a new facility in northern Dudley and rejected Sherwani’s criticism. Dudley residents lost access to Anchor Lane in 2021 after Wolverhampton sought a 65% increase in the annual fee.

Users of the Crystal Gateway dementia centre in Stourbridge and their families are upset that its traditional day service will end and be replaced by individually selected activities. Dudley Council says the offer is changing rather than being reduced, that the building will remain open, and that users preferred activities provided by external organizations. Councillor Andrew Tromans criticized the council for making the decision quietly and without adequate transparency or democratic oversight.

Old Park School in Brierley Hill and Milking Bank Primary School in Dudley will become academies on September 1 after Dudley Council approved their transfers. Old Park, an outstanding special school for pupils with severe learning difficulties and complex medical needs, will join Dudley Academies Trust, along with 152 employees and a forecast £158,000 deficit. Milking Bank will join Invictus Education Trust, with 69 employees and a projected £74,000 surplus transferring to the trust. Ofsted previously rated both schools positively, describing Old Park as nurturing and Milking Bank as well governed with good pupil behaviour.

Dudley Council has rejected plans to convert the former pensioners’ club on Kent Street, Upper Gornal, into a 36-seat restaurant. Planners cited insufficient parking and significant risks to pedestrians and vehicles accessing the A459. An offer from the neighbouring Methodist church to provide six additional spaces on a six-month trial was deemed inadequate. The building closed after the council said repairs would cost £100,000 and was later sold at auction despite a campaign to preserve it as a community centre.

Dudley residents needing adult social care reviews faced waits of up to 899 days, with 1,123 people awaiting reviews in July 2025 and a median delay of 160 days. The Care Quality Commission rated Dudley Council’s adult social care service as good but identified delays in assessments and weaknesses in the management of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The council has reduced the DoLS waiting list from 434 cases to 165 by May 2026, but councillors will be told that overall progress since the inspection has been limited. A planned adult social care redesign aims to improve assessment, safeguarding, hospital discharge, management oversight and governance, with the council warning that failing to implement it could increase legal, reputational and service-user risks.

Dudley Council’s planning committee deferred a proposal to convert a former car and motorcycle showroom at Long Lane and Mucklow Hill into a convenience store, tanning salon and veterinary surgery. Councillor Hilary Bills opposed the scheme, arguing that the location has little footfall and presents traffic dangers, while 59 residents also objected, citing highway safety concerns. Planning officers and the applicant’s architect said the development would not have a severe impact on the highway network, subject to conditions and improvements. The committee postponed its decision until accident data is available and a council highways officer can answer further questions.

Data from Dudley’s Health and Wellbeing Board shows men in the borough are three times more likely to die by suicide than women, though both rates remain below national figures. Adults aged 45 to 64 face the highest risk, while the report highlights contributing factors including high levels of depression, economic insecurity, unemployment and domestic abuse. The Suicide Prevention Team outlines goals of reducing stigma, improving support for people in distress and providing compassionate assistance to those affected by suicide.

Dudley councillors approved an amended motion shifting focus from permitting term‑time holidays to challenging companies that raise holiday prices during school breaks. Labour introduced the amendment, arguing attendance is essential for improving educational outcomes, and received backing from Conservative and Reform UK councillors. Speakers highlighted concerns over low attainment linked to persistent absence and the financial pressures families face from inflated holiday costs.

Dudley Council approved detailed plans for ten one‑bedroom flats on a heritage site next to Stourside Hospital after previously granting outline permission. Planning officers supported the revised modern design and noted no objections from the Historic Environment Team. A separate application to convert a home in Brierley Hill into a children’s care facility was rejected due to insufficient operational details and unresolved parking concerns.

Dudley Council approved the initial phase of a £10 million plan to enhance transport links into Stourbridge town centre, including cycle route upgrades and revamped gateway areas. The cabinet agreed to draw £3 million from the West Midlands Combined Authority to start the project, with officials noting a tight delivery timeline. Councillors raised concerns about available resources and future maintenance funding, while cabinet member Simon Phipps expressed confidence in meeting deadlines and highlighted newly allocated funds for green care and street scene work.

Dudley Council’s finance chief rejected calls for council tax refunds following widespread delays to waste collections linked to the rollout of a new food waste recycling scheme. Opposition councillors criticised the launch for lacking adequate vehicles, staffing and operational readiness, while council leader Patrick Harley defended the timing, citing central‑government deadlines tied to eligibility for £8 million in additional grants. He said recent disruptions, including a fire, chemical spillage and high temperatures, contributed to delays but stated the council is nearly back on track after adding new collection rounds and more staff.

Councillor Peter Drake has left the Black Country Party and will continue to serve on Dudley Council as an independent, citing disagreements with the party’s progressive positions on migration and national issues. Drake, originally elected as a Labour councillor before joining independents and later the Black Country Party, said his views no longer align with the group. His departure leaves the party with two councillors, including its leader Pete Lowe.

Dudley councillors from all parties backed a Reform UK motion calling for rapid action to address declining neighbourhood conditions, including litter, overgrown grass and limited waste‑disposal options. Amendments shortened reporting deadlines and added measures supporting park volunteer groups. Council leader Patrick Harley acknowledged service cuts made to stabilise finances but said investment is resuming. Tensions rose over the lack of a permanent tip in the north of the borough and Wolverhampton Council’s refusal to grant Dudley residents access to its Anchor Lane facility, prompting criticism from Reform councillors who argued residents expect a timely solution.

Dudley Council approved the conversion of a vacant Blackacre Road clothes factory into a community centre that will feature classrooms, a prayer room and a supervised student-only library. The project aims to bring the long-empty site back into use, addressing objections from a local resident regarding noise, traffic and parking after amendments were made to the parking layout and removal of a proposed food bank. The centre will provide Islamic teaching and academic classes, with most users expected to access the facility on foot or by bicycle.