For the past few weeks the Focus teams in Willenhall North & Short Heath have been fighting an on-going battle with Walsall’s social housing provider Walsall Housing Group (WHG) over the problem of grass cutting or more to the point, lack of it. 

WHG have changed their contractor for grass cutting this year with disasterous effects. “Our Focus Teams have been inundated with complaints about the state of grassed areas across Willenhall” reports Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Ian Shires

Not only has the frequency of cutting been affected but there are areas where the grass hasn’t been cut this year yet!! The latter appears to be areas around old peoples bungalows and flats. “We have continued the pressure on WHG and this has resulted in top level action.” continued Ian.

The outcome of talks between WHG and the contractors has resulted inWillehall getting its own dedicated team of grass cutters. (Currently this is shared with neighbouring Darlaston).

Recruitment has started and the contractors have said that sub contractors will be brought in to reduce the backlog. “We will be watching to see if there is any improvement over the next couple of weeks.” concluded Ian. 

A2Z Buses have diverted their 341 Walsall to Willenhall service to include Coppice Farm Way in New Invention reports Lib Dem Cllr. Ian Shires.

The service replaces the 64 Arriva bus service which was removed earlier this month.

The Willenhall North and Short Heath Focus Teams were inundated with calls for help when Arriva announced the withdrawal of their 64 service Walsall to New Invention due they said to lack of patronage.

Arriva’s action isolated two communities in the Coppice Farm area of New Invention and also created difficulties for patiants wanting to visit their GP at the surgery in Coppice Farm Way.

A petition was started by the Lib Dem Focus Team which was taken door to door in the effected area. Network West Midlands were also approached for help in looking for an alternative operator.

To cut a long story short A2Z Buses agreed to divert their 341 service. “This not only replaces the Arriva bus but gives residents on Coppice Farm direct access to Willenhall as well as Walsall.” said Lib Dem Cllr. Ian Shires.  

Attempts by Lib Dem councillors to open up decisions taken by Walsall Council’s Tory cabinet to greater public scrutiny were rejected by the Council’s Tory leader at the Annual Meeting of the council held on 21st May.

He turned down suggestions that Tory cabinet members should report back to meetings of the Full Council to allow decisions taken by the Cabinet to be discussed.

Walsall Council’s Tory Leader also made it clear that his group would not consider another suggestion put foreward by the Lib Dem group that meetings of the Scrutiny and Performance Panels be chaired by opposition councillors. Currently all but one of the five panels is chaired by a member of the counci’s controlling Tory group.

” These panels are supposed to monitor and challenge decisions made by the Cabinet. If both are controlled by members of the same group there is clearly a conflict of interest.” said Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr. Ian Shires.

“It’s quite clear” added Ian,”That there is no correlation between what Cameron’s Tories are saying nationally and the reality of what they do when in control. Have the Tories really changed? I don’t think so!” he concluded.