Latest news with #StephenSimkins
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Scheme launched in Wolverhampton to repurpose unwanted items
A scheme has been launched to encourage tip users to help struggling families by granting a second life to unwanted but reusable items. People visiting the household waste and recycling centre on Shaw Road, Wolverhampton, will be able to leave any such items at a drop-off point under the Too Good to Chuck goods would then be found a new home with another household. Items with minor yet fixable damage would be repaired before distribution. City of Wolverhampton Council leader Stephen Simkins, who launched the scheme on Thursday, urged people to not simply throw away things that could be used to "help other families in the city". "In these continuing tough financial times, we all need ways to make the most of our homes without spending a fortune," he that can be donated include wooden or metal furniture, bicycles, crockery, cutlery and decorative pieces such as mirrors or council added, however, that anything electrical would not be accepted, along with soft furnishings or heavily damaged items. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bowling and sports venue opens in Wolverhampton, creating new jobs
A new sports and bowling venue has opened in Wolverhampton, creating 30 £2.4m Superbowl UK premises is based in the Mander Centre in the city centre, in an area recently pedestrianised and revamped, the council venue has 12 bowling lanes, interactive darts, video games, a soft play area and a bar and development has "brought empty retail units back to life, further delivering on our ambitions for the city centre", council leader Stephen Simkins said. Plans for the new site were revealed last year, making it the 15th branch for Superbowl UK in England and Quaintance, acquisitions director for Superbowl UK, said they were delighted to start welcoming Chris Burden added the authority wanted the opening to be "a catalyst for further investment" in the city while they work with the owners of the Mander Centre to attract new leisure and food and beverage businesses."Alongside Superbowl UK, the city centre will also be boosted by the opening of the new 4-screen Lockworks Cinema in the Chubb Building this summer and a new indoor climbing facility coming to the former Express & Star offices in Queen Street," he said. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Name of Wolverhampton's new independent cinema revealed
The name of a new independent cinema in Wolverhampton's Grade II listed Chubb Building has been Cinema is taking over the space that was previously The Light House, an independent cinema and arts venue which closed in 2022 after 35 council-owned space will be run by independent commercial operator PDJ, which is converting it from a two-screen cinema to a "state-of-the-art" four-screen offering, City of Wolverhampton Council chose the new name in tribute to the building's heritage, as it was once the headquarters of Chubb Locks. Redevelopment works are ongoing, and the cinema is on course to open to the public ahead of the school summer holidays, the firm is also recruiting locally for three permanent and 20 part-time already runs cinemas in Worthing, Kings Lynn and Lytham St Annes, and has reopened the former Empire in Walthamstow as Forest Cinemas and Sutton Coldfield as the Royal Cinema. PDJ and the council are making a £2m joint investment in the "critical" refurbishment and have entered into a 30-year council says the new-look venue is predicted to attract up to 130,000 visitors a year to the city centre and boost the local economy by half-a-million pounds annually. James Jervis, director at PDJ Management, said he could not wait to "throw open the doors"."We are absolutely delighted with the progress so far on the site," he leader councillor Stephen Simkins said the refurbishment would provide "an exciting, affordable luxury offer in our city centre" that would enhance the existing arts, culture and entertainment scene. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
12-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Birmingham gets help from neighbouring councils as rubbish grows
Nearly five weeks into the Birmingham bin strike, offers of help to clear the backlog of rubbish have come from some neighbouring authorities – but other councils have said they have to put their own residents offered to send crews, Walsall extended tip opening hours and Telford provided support, but several councils said they did not have the said a group of West Midlands councils were asked to provide support to help clear waste, and it stepped in "without any impact to our residents".Meanwhile, a litter-picking group in Sparkhill told how "mountains" of bags were appearing on pavements "within hours". All-out strike action began on 11 March following a dispute over bin workers' pay between Unite and Birmingham City Council, but talks ended in stalemate. The BBC has approached both parties for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the government had called on councils "to provide mutual support" and was grateful a number had done so.A department spokesman said: "The people of Birmingham are our first priority. This dispute is causing misery and disruption to residents, and the backlog must be dealt with quickly to address public health risks." Authorities who were unable to help included Bromsgrove, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Wolverhampton, Solihull, Stafford and Shropshire's contractor Veolia because they said they did not have the council leader Stephen Simkins said the authority had proposed other ways it might assist. A Coventry City Council spokesman said the authority acknowledged the importance of cooperation but added: "Any decisions regarding assistance will be made based on local capacity and operational priorities."Meanwhile, Redditch remained in talks with Birmingham "to understand what support they need and to consider what support we might offer," a spokesman said. Of those local authorities which provided support, Walsall said Birmingham residents with proof of residence could use their said support was being provided at a commercial rate, and Walsall said all costs of support would be recovered. Lichfield's offer of help, one woman who had taken her rubbish to the tip each week wrote on Facebook: "A very big thank you to Lichfield District Council - the enormous piles of rubbish around my area are ridiculous."Other social media users criticised media reports and said many parts of the city were fine. Abdul Khan, from volunteer group Sparkhill Litter Busters, said it was "bad in certain areas".He said bins were full, waste left nearby was mounting up, and people were dumping their rubbish on street corners: "The next thing you know, within a few hours, there's a whole mountain of bags."First there were the cats and rats, and now there is the heat with the warm weather, and health is a worry, he litter group's coordinator added Birmingham City Council was now "playing catch-up" with 17,000 tonnes of rubbish. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
How much council tax will I pay in the Black Country?
Council tax charges are set to rise across the Black Country in Wolverhampton, Walsall and Sandwell councils laid out their plans in budget meetings this four councils agreed to increase council tax by the maximum 4.99% and approved millions of pounds of spending and cuts, with leaders citing significant financial has promised £2bn of funding for English councils in the year from April 2025, an extra £700m on top of the £1.3bn announced in October's Budget. Dudley Conservative-run Dudley Council approved £42m of savings as part of its five-year increase means an average band D house will pay £1.94 extra per council will close one of its three dementia hubs, the Crystal Gateway, to save £500,000 per year. Green waste fees will also increase from £36 to £ the Sycamore Adventure Centre in Upper Gornal was saved from the cuts after being under threat."It has been a tough time for all councils in the UK, we are all overspending on adult social care and children's social care," Conservative leader Patrick Harley said."We have put together a package of measures which will see us through to 2030." Wolverhampton The Labour-run council has outlined £40.7m of savings over a three-year council tax rise means a band D household will pay £1.92 extra per approved the closure of shop mobility and a significant reduction in its community events council will also remove security staff from Wolverhampton and Bilston markets to save £91, Stephen Simkins said the authority would crack down on fly tipping and spend an extra £500,000 to help fix potholes and maintain highways. Sandwell Labour-run Sandwell Council outlined savings of £19m to balance the 2025/26 will pay an extra £2 per week in council tax in a band D council will look to close the Harry Mitchell Leisure Centre, transfer Hadley Stadium to a third party and develop a new operating model for Tipton Sports will also increase charges for meals on wheels, burials and cremation, introduce higher green waste subscription fees and switch to alternate weekly collections of general waste and on BBC Radio WM this month, leader Kerrie Carmichael said: "I understand that council tax is a bugbear for most people but we do a lot with it in Sandwell."We've protected our library services, they are really important to us." Walsall Conservative-run Walsall Council made almost £30m of savings to set a balanced budget for 2025/ council tax increase amounts to an extra £1.99 per week for a band D authority approved cuts to funding for Christmas lights and a 20% increase to bulky waste collection charges will also go up by 20%, which will save the council £70, council scrapped plans to close and relocate the leather council leader Mark Statham admitted it was not sustainable to keep raising council tax and called for a "fair, multi-year government settlement in future years"."The government must address funding for local authorities to enable councils to meet rising demand, particularly in social care," he said. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
