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Christian Barnett

Local Democracy Reporter

Local Democracy Reporter for Sandwell

June 10, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton Council to write off nearly £2m in debts

Wolverhampton Council to write off nearly £2m in debts

Supporting image for story: Special school plans for £1m landmark home in Wednesbury withdrawn

Special school plans for £1m landmark home in Wednesbury withdrawn

June 6, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans to build more homes on new estate in Cradley Heath hit by huge landslides

Plans to build more homes on new estate in Cradley Heath hit by huge landslides

Supporting image for story: Bid to turn empty Smethwick unit into private members’ club could still go ahead

Bid to turn empty Smethwick unit into private members’ club could still go ahead

June 5, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton venue plagued by violence stripped of licence after ‘various and serious issues’ including alleged kidnapping

Wolverhampton venue plagued by violence stripped of licence after ‘various and serious issues’ including alleged kidnapping

Supporting image for story: Plans for Wolverhampton petrol station to sell alcohol 24/7 rejected

Plans for Wolverhampton petrol station to sell alcohol 24/7 rejected

June 4, 2025

Supporting image for story: Adult cinema and sex shop in Bilston granted new licence

Adult cinema and sex shop in Bilston granted new licence

June 3, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans for 34 new homes approved next to ‘urban village’ in Wednesbury

Plans for 34 new homes approved next to ‘urban village’ in Wednesbury

Supporting image for story: Decision over late-night venue’s expansion in Smethwick delayed after fire service concerns

Decision over late-night venue’s expansion in Smethwick delayed after fire service concerns

June 2, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton Council agrees £75m contract for agency staff

Wolverhampton Council agrees £75m contract for agency staff

June 1, 2025

Supporting image for story: Changes made to West Bromwich school’s planned expansion after drop in projected numbers

Changes made to West Bromwich school’s planned expansion after drop in projected numbers

May 29, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton bar and grill facing review after several incidents – including kidnapping

Wolverhampton bar and grill facing review after several incidents – including kidnapping

May 25, 2025

Supporting image for story: Children’s home twice refused by Wolverhampton council will now go ahead

Children’s home twice refused by Wolverhampton council will now go ahead

May 23, 2025

Supporting image for story: Rejected HMO that would cause ‘parking nightmare’ in Oldbury could still go ahead

Rejected HMO that would cause ‘parking nightmare’ in Oldbury could still go ahead

May 22, 2025

Supporting image for story: Sandwell Council to charge food vendors at new West Bromwich indoor market 20 per cent of weekly earnings

Sandwell Council to charge food vendors at new West Bromwich indoor market 20 per cent of weekly earnings

May 21, 2025

Supporting image for story: £334k agreed for six-month work to revamp Wolverhampton park

£334k agreed for six-month work to revamp Wolverhampton park

May 20, 2025

Supporting image for story: Drive-thru coffee shop coming to Bilston supermarket’s car park

Drive-thru coffee shop coming to Bilston supermarket’s car park

Supporting image for story: £1.4m agreed for 75 new school places across two Wolverhampton primary schools

£1.4m agreed for 75 new school places across two Wolverhampton primary schools

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton Council awards £4.6m contract to developer for delayed homes plan

Wolverhampton Council awards £4.6m contract to developer for delayed homes plan

May 14, 2025

Supporting image for story: Empty offices of historic Wednesbury firm to be demolished for new units

Empty offices of historic Wednesbury firm to be demolished for new units

May 13, 2025

Supporting image for story: Empty Tipton social club will be converted into council housing

Empty Tipton social club will be converted into council housing

May 12, 2025

Supporting image for story: Sandwell borough Councillors will vote on own £600 pay increase

Sandwell borough Councillors will vote on own £600 pay increase

May 10, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton petrol garage made to wait over decision on 24/7 alcohol plans

Wolverhampton petrol garage made to wait over decision on 24/7 alcohol plans

May 8, 2025

Supporting image for story: More Cradley Heath factories to be demolished for 100 new homes

More Cradley Heath factories to be demolished for 100 new homes

Supporting image for story: Latest plans submitted for former Wolverhampton pub as part of £120m regeneration

Latest plans submitted for former Wolverhampton pub as part of £120m regeneration

May 4, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton venue’s licence suspended over after hours drinking

Wolverhampton venue’s licence suspended over after hours drinking

May 2, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton hotel restaurant to be demolished for expansion

Wolverhampton hotel restaurant to be demolished for expansion

Supporting image for story: Calls to refuse Bilston garage’s 24-hour alcohol plan

Calls to refuse Bilston garage’s 24-hour alcohol plan

April 16, 2025

Supporting image for story: Council to force sale of eyesore Wolverhampton home left empty for 17 years

Council to force sale of eyesore Wolverhampton home left empty for 17 years

April 15, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans for indoor climbing centre in Wolverhampton city centre approved at former Express & Star building

Plans for indoor climbing centre in Wolverhampton city centre approved at former Express & Star building

April 14, 2025

Supporting image for story: Council agrees deal for homes replacing Wolverhampton community centre

Council agrees deal for homes replacing Wolverhampton community centre

April 12, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans for flats in Cradley Heath town centre revived

Plans for flats in Cradley Heath town centre revived

April 9, 2025

Supporting image for story: Bid for ‘private club’ on Smethwick industrial estate rejected

Bid for ‘private club’ on Smethwick industrial estate rejected

April 8, 2025

Supporting image for story: Tipton children’s homes approved despite pollution concerns

Tipton children’s homes approved despite pollution concerns

Supporting image for story: HMO plans for empty Wednesbury pub approved

HMO plans for empty Wednesbury pub approved

April 4, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans for ‘overbearing’ flats in Wolverhampton thrown out by inspector

Plans for ‘overbearing’ flats in Wolverhampton thrown out by inspector

Supporting image for story: Controversial Great Barr children’s home plan could still go ahead despite refusal

Controversial Great Barr children’s home plan could still go ahead despite refusal

April 3, 2025

Supporting image for story: West Brom pub facing review after man knocked unconscious during lock-in

West Brom pub facing review after man knocked unconscious during lock-in

April 2, 2025

Supporting image for story: Empty Oldbury care home will be demolished for new homes

Empty Oldbury care home will be demolished for new homes

Supporting image for story: Move to build new estate on Cradley Heath industrial site rejected

Move to build new estate on Cradley Heath industrial site rejected

March 31, 2025

Supporting image for story: Sandwell physiotherapist struck off for giving prescription-only jabs without prescription

Sandwell physiotherapist struck off for giving prescription-only jabs without prescription

March 29, 2025

Supporting image for story: Dudley Council to cut top jobs by half to save £1.5m

Dudley Council to cut top jobs by half to save £1.5m

March 28, 2025

Supporting image for story: New events space and cafe at Wednesbury community centre approved

New events space and cafe at Wednesbury community centre approved

March 26, 2025

Supporting image for story: New bid to extend Dudley care home after neighbours object

New bid to extend Dudley care home after neighbours object

March 24, 2025

Supporting image for story: Tesco and Greggs plan for Dudley redrawn after more than 60 object

Tesco and Greggs plan for Dudley redrawn after more than 60 object

March 22, 2025

Supporting image for story: Bid to turn Dudley pub into shipping container storage submitted by 'HMO Daddy' to be decided

Bid to turn Dudley pub into shipping container storage submitted by 'HMO Daddy' to be decided

March 21, 2025

Supporting image for story: Cradley Heath pub could be demolished to make way for new shop

Cradley Heath pub could be demolished to make way for new shop

March 20, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton factory left empty for 50 years could be demolished for flats

Wolverhampton factory left empty for 50 years could be demolished for flats

Supporting image for story: Plans for new care home in Kingswinford revived - with potential for 75 new jobs

Plans for new care home in Kingswinford revived - with potential for 75 new jobs

Supporting image for story: Dudley community centre could become flats under new plans

Dudley community centre could become flats under new plans