Latest news with #Willenhall
BBC News
6 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Wolverhampton road closures remain in place for emergency water works
Motorists have been advised a busy route in Wolverhampton is to remain closed over the weekend due to emergency water road closures on Pool Hayes Lane and Five Field Roads in Willenhall were expected to remain in force until Monday, City of Wolverhampton Council a post on X on Thursday, the authority said the roads were closed due to Severn Trent Water carrying out "emergency works".Diversions were in place for vehicles across the route, a spokesperson added. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
17-07-2025
- The Independent
£10,000 reward for information about alleged murder of newborn found in canal
A £10,000 reward is being offered for information about the alleged murder of a newborn baby boy whose body was found in a canal more than four years ago. The body was discovered in the Wyrley and Essington Canal at Rough Wood Country Park, near Willenhall in the West Midlands, in May 2021, and despite police investigations and appeals, the baby's mother has still not been identified. West Midlands Police is treating the newborn's death as murder and independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a £10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the offences linked to the baby boy's death. Detective Superintendent Jim Munro said in a statement at the scene that officers believe the baby was full-term and light-skinned and urged his parents to come forward. He said: 'What we are doing today is, we are coming back to the scene and we are asking for information in relation to the identity of that baby's parents or directly appealing to the parents to come forward and give us information to explain what happened to the baby.' He added: 'Four years on, loyalties may have changed, information may have come to hand to people. We ask those people to come forward and provide us with that information. 'I urge people to think of their consciences, think of what information may have come to their notice, whether that be at the time and they didn't feel the need to come forward, or now four years on, to help us understand what happened to that poor baby.' At the time, officers said the baby was 'probably not alive' when he was put into the canal and may have been in the water for up to four days before being discovered by a passer-by in a stretch of canal off Hunts Lane. Mr Munro said the baby boy deserves justice and his 'short life and tragic death must not be forgotten'. Alan Edwards, West Midlands regional manager at Crimestoppers, said: 'This is a particularly sad and tragic case that has deeply affected the local community. 'We urgently need information that can help bring justice for this little boy and support for his mother. 'We believe someone out there knows something and we want to encourage them to come forward anonymously. 'The £10,000 reward is offered to prompt anyone with information to speak up, no matter how small the detail.' Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded, and you will not go to court.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
£10,000 reward for information about alleged murder of newborn found in canal
A £10,000 reward is being offered for information about the alleged murder of a newborn baby boy whose body was found in a canal more than four years ago. The body was discovered in the Wyrley and Essington Canal at Rough Wood Country Park, near Willenhall in the West Midlands, in May 2021, and despite police investigations and appeals, the baby's mother has still not been identified. West Midlands Police is treating the newborn's death as murder and independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a £10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the offences linked to the baby boy's death. Detective Superintendent Jim Munro said in a statement at the scene that officers believe the baby was full-term and light-skinned and urged his parents to come forward. He said: 'What we are doing today is, we are coming back to the scene and we are asking for information in relation to the identity of that baby's parents or directly appealing to the parents to come forward and give us information to explain what happened to the baby.' He added: 'Four years on, loyalties may have changed, information may have come to hand to people. We ask those people to come forward and provide us with that information. 'I urge people to think of their consciences, think of what information may have come to their notice, whether that be at the time and they didn't feel the need to come forward, or now four years on, to help us understand what happened to that poor baby.' At the time, officers said the baby was 'probably not alive' when he was put into the canal and may have been in the water for up to four days before being discovered by a passer-by in a stretch of canal off Hunts Lane. Mr Munro said the baby boy deserves justice and his 'short life and tragic death must not be forgotten'. Alan Edwards, West Midlands regional manager at Crimestoppers, said: 'This is a particularly sad and tragic case that has deeply affected the local community. 'We urgently need information that can help bring justice for this little boy and support for his mother. 'We believe someone out there knows something and we want to encourage them to come forward anonymously. 'The £10,000 reward is offered to prompt anyone with information to speak up, no matter how small the detail.' Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded, and you will not go to court.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Poundland founder backing plans for Walsall's future
The founder of chain store Poundland is "backing a bright future for Walsall" amid worries from local businesses about a lack of footfall in the town. Steve Smith, who grew up in Willenhall, started his career working at Bilston businessman recently spoke at the first We are Walsall 2040 conference, where businesses and organisations discussed "opportunities for the borough to thrive".Mr Smith also described a "long-term plan" for the area, and said: "It won't be the same as when I used to work on the market stalls, but it can be a future where our children do well for themselves and succeed in life." "It is the people of Walsall who make me most proud to come from this area. "I built my business with good people, and with good people who work hard you can achieve a great deal." Mr Smith added. It comes as new figures revealed the town was economically below average on nearly every front. Despite this, the council maintains the view that the borough is "full of potential" and is laying out its ambitions through its We are Walsall 2040 vision includes becoming the most improved borough in the region, a vibrant place where people are proud to live, and residents in all neighbourhoods have the same life Mike Bird, leader of Walsall Council, said: "More than 10,000 Walsall residents and local businesses helped us to shape the 'We Are Walsall 2040' vision, the ambitions set out are everyone's ambitions.""Walsall is my home. I've lived here for 51 years. I've been a local councillor since 1980. "I want the very best for this borough and for those who live and work here. There are many things that we can be proud of, but there are also things that need fixing and together we're going to fix them." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Flats plan for former Willenhall Wetherspoons approved
Plans to convert part of a former Wetherspoons branch and cinema into seven one-bedroom studio apartments have been approved by Walsall Malthouse on New Road, Willenhall closed to customers in March 2023. The approved plans, by applicant Menfor Group, include adding an extra storey to provide four floors in total. The property, which also used to be a bingo hall, was sold in 2024, having been put on the market for offers in the region of £650,000. Three of the floors will have two apartments each and the top floor will have just one, with plans showing all the apartments located in the corner of the large L-shaped section of the premises within the prominent round facade of the pub facing New Road remains unaffected by the proposals and has been designated for retail rear of the building, which used to house the bar, seating area and customer toilets, has also been sectioned off in this planning Cr8 Architecture said that part of the building is earmarked for a future residential application is the second one submitted by Menfor Group, with the first withdrawn in was originally proposed to develop the property into eight one-bedroom studio apartments but the approved plans now detail only seven. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
