THE BLOXIDGE TALLYGRAPH

One of last year's attractions, from James Dylan's Stuntworld (Picture: Stuart Williams) 

Dateilne:  5 February 2010 

The Bloxwich Carnival year has now trully begun!  Booking has now commenced for stalls and displays for the 2010 Bloxwich Carnival, which will take place in King George V Playing Fields, off Stafford Road, Bloxwich, on Saturday 7 August.

The popular annual event looks set to be even better than before, with new attractions, and this year's special theme should be revealed shortly.

If you or your organisation wish to take part in Bloxwich Carnival, you need to get in touch right away.

For more details and a booking form, please contact Carnival Committee Secretary Max Hinks via email:  hinksm@talktalk.net  or by post to 9 Wheatley Grove, Great Wyrley, Walsall, WS6 6ES, and by telephone to (01922) 701676.

Permanent story link here.

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Proposed site of new TESCO Express store shaded in red (Picture courtesy Google Earth)

Dateline:  24 January 2010

Supermarket giant TESCO has stepped into a war of words, with local residents and traders apparently both supporting and in opposition of its proposed new TESCO Express store in Bloxwich.

The Lichfield Road store, which could be built on the corner of Selmans Hill, would occupy the site of a former ESSO petrol station which has been an abandoned and derelict eyesore for many years.  And although such a store would be an improvement to the location, it is its likely side-effects that have raised hackles locally.

Looking at the satellite photograph, above, it seems likely that, located on a busy crossroads with traffic lights and nearby bus stops, and next to a pub (the Knave of Hearts, currently closed but proposed for expansion), such a development would significantly increase traffic congestion and queuing in the immediate area, which already suffers from heavy traffic as well as school run congestion from the nearby Walsall Academy.

In addition, increased traffic could also raise safety issues for the Academy's pupils.  If the Knave re-opens and becomes popular once more, this already extremely busy main road could easily become an even worse bottleneck on the route to Pelsall, Brownhills and Lichfield, as evidenced by the severe effect of roadworks late last year.

Moreover, such a development seems likely to destroy the business of at least one of the adjacent Selmans Parade shops, which were built on Selmans Hill in the 1960s (see the block of white roofs immediately above the red area in the picture).  While a Walsall Council consultation apparently claims that 300 responses from residents have supported the development, a local petition has also raised 300 signatures from residents who are against it.

Local businessman, Randhir Singh, has said: “The people who have signed the petition strongly object to making this dangerous road even more dangerous.

“There is a school nearby with 400 pupils and it’s chaos just getting the kids to the school, and especially when they are finished at about 3.45pm. It`s only a small site and it`s going to cause a lot of problems.

“It will harm my business. It will probably close me down. We are only small and struggling in the credit crunch, so my livelihood is on the line.”

It is also possible that the new store could affect the business of other small local shops, of which there are several on the nearby Lower Farm and Blakenall Heath estates. 

Walsall Council will discuss the proposal in February. Meanwhile, if you have an opinion on the matter, feel free to write in to The Bloxidge Tallygraph via our Contact page.

Sources: http://www.theyamyam.com/walsall/files/17bbd4a30813b2d293f3f47b21b1d4d4-5809.php#unique-entry-id-5809 and the Walsall Advertiser.

See also today's Bloxidge Tallygraph Edditorial for comment.

Permanent story link here.

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Bloxwich Library & Theatre undergoing transformation (Picture: Stuart Williams)

Dateline: 24 January 2010

A specially-formed user group is working behind the scenes with library staff to help ensure a great future for literature and culture in Bloxwich.

Bloxwich Library and the attached Library Theatre, opened 1960-64, are currently undergoing major refurbishment and remodelling to make the facility, which is being renamed Bloxwich Library & Studio Theatre (B.L.A.S.T) as state-of-the-art and user-friendly for the 21st century as it was cutting edge when it opened in the swinging 60s.

Now the library's B.L.A.S.T User Forum, formed a year ago as part of public consultation on the redvelopment, continues to be busy providing ideas and support, working with library management, while construction workers are busy on the mammoth task which is expected to take until around the end of July this year to complete.

Apart from the latest library facilities for adults, children and students, there will also be an integrated cafe, exhibition area, public toilets and other facilities merging the library with the upgraded Studio Theatre.  The multi-use theatre will be refitted and have completely new adjustable seating and video projection facilities, reflecting and updating upon the 16mm projection cinema which was an integral part of the original development. 

Unique in the Midlands when it was built, and still unique in Walsall Borough, the completed development will be a cultural centre for both for Bloxwich and for the rest of the Walsall area once it is open.

B.L.A.S.T User Forum will have its own section of The Bloxidge Tallygraph shortly.

For info on the history of Bloxwich libraries, see this link.  For our recent story on progress with the library and theatre development, check out this story.

Permanent story link here.

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A Bloxwich Councillor is planning to walk the boundary of the Bloxwich East ward to raise money for a local charity.

Kath Phillips (Labour, Bloxwich East), will be starting from Buxton Road, Lower Farm estate, by shops to shops at 9am on 10 February 2010.  Her sponsored walk aims to fundraise for Walsall Hospice.

Councillor Phillips said "I welcome all support, and a send off would be great.  The Hospice means an awful lot to me. I would be grateful for any support or publicity."

If you would like to give Kath a send-off, you are welcome to turn up just before the start.  Prospective sponsors are welcome to contact her by email to: phillipskath69@hotmail.co.uk

A pdf map of Bloxwich East showing the boundary may be found here.

For more about Councillor Phillips, see her Walsall Council page via this link. Details of Walsall Hospice Hospice are on their website.

Permanent story link here.

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Dateline: 28 November 2009

Despite the recession, hard-working and hard-pressed Bloxwich businessmen and women - and their employees - are all doing their very best to keep shops, market stalls and local industry open and to support local jobs in Bloxwich, Leamore and Blakenall Heath.  Today The Bloxidge Tallygraph is launching a new campaign to help raise the profile of local businesses in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.

The campaign is called BUY BLOXWICH! - and we are aiming to encourage all of our readers and their friends and relatives to spend as much as they can with local Bloxwich, Leamore and Blakenall businesses and Market Traders instead of going to the big multi-nationals and out-of-town retailers. 

We desperately need to keep our High Street especially populated with successful and thriving businesses if we are not to lose our local amenities and the friendly character of the village.  Moreover, our local retailers and traders offer some great deals and real bargains!

To help this along, we have begun work on a local retailers and traders directory and plan a new Bloxwich Business section of The Tallygraph. We will also be offering FREE advertising in a special online Bloxidge Tallygraph supplement to supporters of Bloxwich Carnival who advertise in the Carnival Programme in 2010.  We will also be raising the profile of local business using the power of Twitter!

In the meantime, we will continue to highlight both old and new local businesses here on the front page, and to support the Bloxwich, Leamore and Blakenall Retailers Traders Partnership.

As a member of the public we would like to encourage you to do your bit for Bloxwich and district by talking to everyone you know and passing the word along to BUY BLOXWICH! We hope you will support our campaign.

And if you run a local business in Bloxwich, Leamore or Blakenall Heath, please do get in touch with the Edditer, Stuart Williams, via our contact page and we will see what we can do to raise your profile in The Bloxidge Tallygraph!

Permanent story link here.

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L to R: 2008 Queen Samantha Footman, 2009 Carnival Queen Sally Kirk, 2009 Princess Natalie Slaney and (front) 2009 Rosebud Chloe Hunt (Picture: Stuart Williams)

Dateline:  21 November 2009

At a meeting on Tuesday evening, Bloxwich Carnival Committee held its Annual General Meeting during which the date for next year's Carnival was agreed and elections held for the coming year's Committee, which now includes Bloxidge Tallygraph publisher Stuart Williams. At the meeting, the Chairman, Ken Worley, also paid tribute to carnival programme editor George Jevons, who has retired after many years sterling service.  He also acknowledged the hard work of the Committee and the many supporters of Bloxwich Carnival, including the Carnival Queen and her entourage, officers of New Deal/New Horizons, Walsall Council staff and members of Bloxwich Rotary.  The Chairman's report for 2009 will be made available for download from the carnival page shortly.

Despite the disastrous weather on Carnival day this year which inevitably resulted in a significant drop in income, the organisation is still in good shape to maintain the traditional event, in part due to increased sponsorship (notably from Walsall Housing Group) and planning has already begun for next year.

The worst blow to Bloxwich's premier annual event in 2009 was however the need to cancel the parade for the first time since the Carnival's re-launch in 2000.  This was caused primarily by increased costs for road closures, transport shortages and health and safety red tape which made it impractical for the parade to continue.

Sadly, this also forced the signature moment of the event, the crowning of the Carnival Queen, Princess and Rosebud, a tradition going back decades, to be moved from its much-loved location by Bloxwich Fountain in Promenade Gardens to the King George V Playing Fields.  Together with the loss of the parade round the village (replaced by tableaux in KGV) this resulted in a loss of passing trade and the event's popular central focus.

Despite this, the Carnival was able to concentrate on King George V Playing Fields with some excellent stalls and attractions, and all went well despite damp conditions until an incredible deluge from the skies in the afternoon put paid to much of the fun, forcing an early conclusion - see our full illustrated report for more via this link.

Good news however was that there were a record number of entrants for the Carnival Queen contest, won this year by Sally Kirk, and the all-important senior citizens party was highly successful, possibly even the best since 2000.  Again, record numbers of fine Young Ambassadors representing local primary schools plus a quality programme and Pat Collins Fun Fair maintained the high standards expected from the event, now one of the largest Carnivals in the West Midlands. 

Despite the problems on the day, which were out of the control of the organisers, those who attended the 2009 Bloxwich Carnival still thoroughly enjoyed themselves, as did those attending on a similarly wet day in 1959! All this just goes to prove that you can't keep Bloxwich folk down!

It is hoped that something special can be arranged in the village centre, possibly in Bloxwich Park, to reinstate the central start of the Carnival next year, though it is very unlikely that the parade can be revived under present circumstances.

The 2010 Bloxwich Carnival will take place on Saturday 7 August.  The Bloxidge Tallygraph will be strongly supporting the event as usual - we hope you will too!

Permanent story link here.

Bloxwich Carnival page here.

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New Bloxwich public toilets: illustrations courtesy Walsall Council

Dateline: 21 November 2009

Bloxwich's legendary public toilets are due to be replaced at long last by brand spanking new bogs - but not until Autumn next year.

Following public consultation which began in September 2008, the final designs showing how the new lavatories went on show in Bloxwich Library before its closure on 31 October. The Bloxidge Tallygraph is now able to make available for download A4 copies of the plans which went on show, via these links - Plan A, Plan B - courtesy of Walsall Council.

The new toilet development, which is tied in with other changes being made as part of the A34 Red Route and Bus Showcase schemes, will see the existing toilet block - which it is believed was built in the late 1950s  - demolished.  It will be rebuilt from scratch to modern standards but with a welcome nod towards heritage design and building materials which are more in keeping with the period character of Bloxwich than some of the ideas at first mooted.

The new block will include single WC's for male and female, an extended disabled toilet, baby changing room and caretaker's room. 

Sadly, these facilities will not now be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week as previously announced.  Instead the proposed hours have been cut to 7am - 5pm , Monday - Saturday, which offers no improvement over the present situation. 

At a meeting of Bloxwich, Leamore & Blakenall Retailers Traders Partnership on Thursday night, disappointment was expressed at this news and a request made for Walsall Council to reconsider, and at least have half-day or longer opening on Sundays, something which has been lacking for many years and which is seen as out of date at a time when Sunday trading and travel is increasing in the village. 

It was also requested that the Council look into  what could be done to improve the present dirty and poorly-maintained public toilets, which have been neglected for decades, as it would be a long time before they were replaced. 

Any developments will be reported here in due course.

 The present oft-reviled "Bloxwich Bogs" at the main bus stop, High Street (Picture: Stuart Williams)

The new design, while small, meets modern 'bog' standards and is much more in keeping with the largely Victorian character of central Bloxwich than some initial proposals. It is similar in character to the Pelsall public toilets which were opened in the early 2000s.

It is hoped demolition will begin in Summer 2010 with building work starting late Autumn as part of the Red Route developments. While the work is taking place the contractors will provide and maintain temporary toilets.

Permanent story link here.

Earlier story link here.

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Updated: 20 January 2010

COFFEE MORNING IN BLAKENALL  Blakenall United Reformed Church in Blakenall Lane are having a coffee morning on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month.  11.00am - 12.00am the aim is to get the community in and encourage people to make new friends.

NEW HOSPICE SUPPORT GROUP  A new group which aims to raise funds for the much-needed Walsall Hospice has been set up.  WS3 Walsall Hospice Support Group also intend to hold social events.  If anyone in the WS3 postcode area would like to help, the group would be grateful.  Contact Bloxwich Councillor Kath Phillips by email or see contact details here.

FRIENDS OF BAMFORD HOUSE & LOWER FARM We need recycled teenagers!  Bored with your own company? Then you're the people for us.  We need new members for our games evenings: Cards, darts, snooker and dominoes.  Bingo nights, arts group and keep fit.  Get more details at our coffee morning at Bamford House, 9.30am Mondays.

See also our Community Directory for links to local organisations etc.

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A dear old fairground dog in charge of one of Pat Collins Funfair sideshows at the 2009 Bloxwich Carnival.  From The Bloxidge Tallygraph Photo Library (Picture: Stuart Williams).

For previous Pix see this archive Album, also available in the Centre Spread

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In preparation:

• Bloxwich Business features section.
• Expanded Cultural Supplement.
• Changes to the Sports Page.

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