Willenhall Walsall
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Staffordshire

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Free graffiti removal service from Willenhall area private properties by walsall council. A new initiative to remove graffiti without charge from privately owned residential properties has been launched by Walsall Council's Street Pride team subject to the owners signing disclaimers. Graffiti is one of the issues being targeted by the council as part of the Wipe It Out section of its ongoing Cracking Environmental Crime campaign. Between January and December 2009 180 reports were received of graffiti and 198 removals took place. Previously the Street Pride team was only able to remove graffiti for free from publicly owned land, street furniture and buildings. It is hoped the new approach will help improve the overall appearance of Walsall borough and encourage more people to report graffiti. The scheme will initially run on a six month trial basis upto approx December 2010 and if successful could be made permanent. Andy Ody, Street Pride Grounds Manager, said: "Traditionally people tend not to report graffiti and instead just accept it as part of the street scene. "Probably the one area which causes real concern to people is graffiti appearing on private properties. In the past we have been able to remove this but only at a charge. Service standards set by the council relating to publicly owned land, street furniture and buildings outline racist and offensive graffiti will be removed within 24 hours and the remainder as quickly as possible. Graffiti in parks will often by removed by park rangers with the more difficult cases referred on to Street Pride. On the spot fines of £80 can be handed out to anyone caught spraying graffiti. If a prosecution is pursued through the courts, the maximum punishment available is a 10 year prison sentence if the case is sent to crown court. Graffiti can be reported to Walsall Council on 01922 653344 or by e-mailing streetprideemail@walsall.gov.uk Willenhall town centre has signed up to take part in Europe's largest horticultural competition, Britain in Bloom. Aldridge entered the regional Heart of England in Bloom competition, urban community category, and if successful could be entered into the main Britain in Bloom event. The competition annually attracts over 1,350 entries from small villages to large cities. Walsall Council's District Centre Management Team is co-ordinating the entry, supported by the Town centre business partnerships. Judging will be around three main categories which are horticultural achievement, environmental awareness and community involvement. Willenhall residents are also being urged to play their part by adding their favourite photos of the area to Flickr by following the link http://www.flickr.com/groups/wda-in-bloom/. Areas featured can cover everything from the local park to a residential street but should illustrate why residents and the wider community should feel proud about the area. The winning picture in each area, as judged by members of the business partnerships, will receive a £20 voucher for a photographic shop and the most popular images of each district will be displayed locally. The deadline for entries is Friday 18 June. Councillor Adrian Andrew, Walsall Council cabinet member for regeneration, said: "This event will give us the opportunity to show off three of our district centres and I'm sure the judges will be impressed by what they see. "A lot of work takes place throughout the year to keep our district centres looking great and hopefully this competition will give these areas the recognition they deserve." Councillor Anthony Harris, Walsall Council cabinet member for leisure, culture and environment, said: "This competition is about promoting pride in Willenhall and striving for excellence. "It is not simply about floral displays and making Willenhall look great on judging day but about achieving improvements which will benefit Willenhall year after year." Judging will take place in July. Willenhall Big Tidy Up event, linked to the Keep Britain Tidy national campaign, part of a series of Sunday clean up efforts across Walsall parks and open spaces takes place on Sunday 27 June at Willenhall Memorial Park. Meet in the car park, Pinson Road. from 11am to 1pm, and is an opportunity for residents to make a difference to their community. Equipment including litter pickers and bags will be provided and there will be a full briefing on the day. Anyone interested in taking part should meet just before 11am for a briefing by the park rangers. recently Walsall Council's Street Pride team and Community Payback have also been out and about taking part in litter picking and general tidy up work in the community. Areas being covered include litter picking and removal of flytipping at Pelsall Nest Common, general tidy up at Barnes Lane Pool in Rushall and litter removal from several alleyways in the Area Partnership covering Pelsall, Rushall, Shelfield and Brownhills. Councillor Anthony Harris, Walsall Council cabinet member for leisure, culture and environment, said: "It is important we all take responsibility for keeping our communities clean and tidy and these Sunday tidy ups are a great way for people to get involved. "We know from listening to residents one of the things they often highlight as an issue is rubbish on our streets and parks. Walsall council is working hard to keep our environment clean and tidy and for the next few weeks we are asking residents to join and support us in this ongoing work." Among those lending their support to the Big Tidy Up is Walsall Housing Group (whg)who will be holding a series of estate tours for their customers throughout June and July when residents can raise any concerns about their area. Wednesday 14 April at 2pm, Young adventurers can arm themselves with nets and magnifiers and head off to Fibbersley Local Nature Reserve in willenhall for a free, fun event during the Easter break. Senior Walsall Coucil countryside ranger Colin Manning will be helping youngsters to explore the ponds and pools around the nature reserve in Willenhall and discover the creatures that inhabit the hidden depths. Fibbersley Local Nature Reserve has lots of ponds scattered around where you are sure to find a fantastic array of creatures that live in the water. For more information about the event and to book a place please call 0845 111 2900. Fibbersley Local Nature Reserve is located on the western edge of Walsall borough and is a prime spot to enjoy a walk or to search for wildlife. It boasts areas of woodland and meadows as well as numerous ponds and a network of surfaced paths guides visitors around the site, complete with a nature trail which is featured in the site leaflet available from Walsall Council. Friday April 2nd, Hunt down free Easter Egg treats in Willenhall ! Children can find Easter treats in Walsall's parks thanks to a series of Easter egg hunts being staged in April. Teams of under 10s and teams of under 14s are invited to take part in the free Easter fun events. Each team can have a maximum of three members. Registration for all egg hunts is at 10.30am and they will get under way at 10.45am. The Easter egg hunt starts on Friday 2 April at Willenhall Memorial Park. Youngsters should meet at the play area in this Green Flag park. For more information contact the parks development team on 01922 65893/4/5/6 or 07736 388402. Heart patients urged to join weekly exercise programme in Willenhall Heart attack sufferers and those with related conditions can improve their health by signing up to a weekly exercise programme run by Walsall Council's Sport and Leisure Development Services team. Led by a specialist instructor the Physical Activity for Cardiac Enhancement (PACE) programme is designed to let each individual work at their own pace to make long term improvements to their health. It is aimed at anyone who has suffered a heart attack or has related conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. Places are currently available at Willenhall Community and Youth Foundation on Thursday mornings. Cost is £3.20. Richard Upton, Active Lifestyle Officer (Walking and Specialised Conditions) said “This session gives people the chance to make some real long term changes to their lifestyle and improve their general health as well. "The sessions are tailored to meet the needs of each individual participant so they can gain as much benefit from it as possible." For more information and to join the programme call the Time to Change team within Sport and Leisure on 01902 605500. Delighted children joined Walsall Council bosses to celebrate the start of work on an £8m school in Willenhall Pupils from Barcroft Primary took time out to see the first turf cut at the new site in Elm Street, Willenhall. The state-of-the-art school is due to open in 2011 and will provide classrooms for more than 300 pupils and create a new airey learning environment. Councillor Rachel Walker, Walsall Council cabinet member for education, said: "Sod cutting is the first step in getting this magnificant building in place and we can look forward to a new school building soon taking shape." The school is being built by contractors Willmott Dixon for Walsall Council to create a new home for the merged Elm Street and Albion Road Primary schools. The two schools merged five years ago. Children are currently educated in the existing Albion Road buildings which borders new site. Once the new school is built, existing classrooms will make way for playing fields, car park and a hard court play area. Mr Peter Hancox, chair of the school's governing body said: "The whole school community is delighted with the prospect of having a brand new school which will provide an excellent teaching and learning environment for our pupils and staff. "The new school will also provide opportunities and facilities to develop even closer links and collaboration with the community that we serve.” Construction company Willmott Dixon have in the past two years built for Walsall Council the new Mary Elliot School campus as well as a new teaching block at Joseph Leckie Community Technology College. Peter Owen, managing director of Willmott Dixon Construction Midlands, said: “As a result of the strong working relationship we enjoy with the Council we are very much looking forward to creating a school that will leave a lasting and positive environmental and economic legacy for present and future generations.” Support and advice to help find work in Willenhall, Walsall A range of support and information to help job seekers find Jobs is being staged at the Willenhall CHART Centre in Gomer Street, on Wednesday 17 March between 10am and 4pm. Representatives will attend from Walsall council, NHS Walsall, Steps To Work, Walsall Housing Group, Breathing Space, Jobcentre Plus, Children’s Information Service, Prospects Services/Connexions, Starting Point Recruitment, Seetec, Peopleserve, the National Apprenticeship Service, Family Placements, Juniper Training, Nova Training, Walsall Adult and Community College and Workwise. Experts will be able to advise residents of all ages on interview techniques, CV writing skills, re-training opportunities and financial support that may be available while they pursue courses. The event is being run alongside a host of other Walsall borough initiatives to support people affected by the national economic downturn, whether people are looking for a complete career change, want to return to work after raising a family or simply want to talk to someone on a one-to-one basis about their situation, this event offers the practical support they need. Learn Map reading in Fibbersley Park, Noose Lane, Willenhall. Young club members can find a fun way to spend a Saturday morning, thanks to Walsall Council's countryside services team. Senior countryside ranger Nige Curnow is running a map reading session at Fibbersley Local Nature Reserve as part of the Really Green Discovery Team's programme of activities. The Really Green Discovery Team is aimed at eight to 16-year-olds and meets on the second Saturday of every month throughout the year for indoor and outdoor activities. The next event will be held on Saturday 13 March between 10am and 12 noon and costs £1.50 per child. Nige Curnow, Walsall Council senior countryside ranger, said: "Map reading is a fun activity for youngsters and they'll have the added health benefits of being out and about in the countryside, enjoying the fresh air. "Fibbersley is a smashing reserve in Willenhall and I hope a host of budding map readers take advantage of the chance to join this session." Places must be booked via Nige on 01922 459813 and he will also supply further details of the event. Willenhall car boot sale People in search of a bargain can pop along to a car boot sale held at Willenhall Leisure Centre in Bath Road, on Sunday 7 March from 8.30am until 11.30am. Tables cost £7 for sellers and can be booked on 01902 368663. Admission is free for buyers and browsers.