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Christian Barnett

Local Democracy Reporter covering Sandwell

November 12, 2024

Supporting image for story: Sandwell Council criticised for ‘serious failures’ over social housing

Sandwell Council criticised for ‘serious failures’ over social housing

November 10, 2024

Supporting image for story: New apartment block to replace dilapidated industrial estate in Wolverhampton

New apartment block to replace dilapidated industrial estate in Wolverhampton

November 9, 2024

Supporting image for story: Significant improvements required at Sandwell social housing service as watchdog finds string of fallings

Significant improvements required at Sandwell social housing service as watchdog finds string of fallings

November 5, 2024

Supporting image for story: School building more classrooms after 100 kids miss out on first choice

School building more classrooms after 100 kids miss out on first choice

November 4, 2024

Supporting image for story: School building more classrooms after 100 kids miss out on first choice

School building more classrooms after 100 kids miss out on first choice

Supporting image for story: 'Unlawful' car park could stay despite council saying it ruins regeneration plans

'Unlawful' car park could stay despite council saying it ruins regeneration plans

October 26, 2024

Supporting image for story: Crucial decision on new Tipton HMO postponed after neighbours say 'it would cause bedlam’

Crucial decision on new Tipton HMO postponed after neighbours say 'it would cause bedlam’

Supporting image for story: Wednesbury town centre shop owner hits out at HMO objectors as plans are backed

Wednesbury town centre shop owner hits out at HMO objectors as plans are backed

October 23, 2024

Supporting image for story: Flats could finally be built im Bilston on 20-year eyesore

Flats could finally be built im Bilston on 20-year eyesore

October 22, 2024

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton nightclub’s plan to re-open after stabbing is blocked over ‘concerns’ about ex-owner

Wolverhampton nightclub’s plan to re-open after stabbing is blocked over ‘concerns’ about ex-owner

Supporting image for story: £20m new council housing in Tipton to go before planners

£20m new council housing in Tipton to go before planners

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton shop owner says he’s ‘unsure what he can sell’ during hearing over illegal vapes, booze and pills

Wolverhampton shop owner says he’s ‘unsure what he can sell’ during hearing over illegal vapes, booze and pills

October 18, 2024

Supporting image for story: Plans to convert ‘eyesore’ Wednesbury town centre shop into HMO to be discussed

Plans to convert ‘eyesore’ Wednesbury town centre shop into HMO to be discussed

Supporting image for story: Decision on new Oldbury care home due after opposition prompts visit from councillors

Decision on new Oldbury care home due after opposition prompts visit from councillors

Supporting image for story: Councillors to decide on new HMO on busy Tipton route after neighbours object

Councillors to decide on new HMO on busy Tipton route after neighbours object

Supporting image for story: Drive-thru plans revealed on land in Wolverhampton earmarked for housing

Drive-thru plans revealed on land in Wolverhampton earmarked for housing

October 17, 2024

Supporting image for story: Cuts and council tax increase planned in Sandwell to fill £20m hole in finances

Cuts and council tax increase planned in Sandwell to fill £20m hole in finances

Supporting image for story: 105 homes to be built on Wednesbury playing fields

105 homes to be built on Wednesbury playing fields

October 16, 2024

Supporting image for story: Sandwell Council planning to cut bin collections to fortnightly

Sandwell Council planning to cut bin collections to fortnightly

Supporting image for story: New Wolverhampton shop owner promises ‘clean slate’ after grilling from council over links to jailed ex-owner

New Wolverhampton shop owner promises ‘clean slate’ after grilling from council over links to jailed ex-owner

October 14, 2024

Supporting image for story: Hearing set for Wolverhampton shop owner ‘putting public at risk with illegal goods’

Hearing set for Wolverhampton shop owner ‘putting public at risk with illegal goods’

October 12, 2024

Supporting image for story: 'Poorly designed’ Wolverhampton petrol station plans thrown out again over noise fears

'Poorly designed’ Wolverhampton petrol station plans thrown out again over noise fears

Supporting image for story: New location for Smethwick tuition centre agreed after previous attempt rejected over parking

New location for Smethwick tuition centre agreed after previous attempt rejected over parking

October 11, 2024

Supporting image for story: Inspector throws out plan to ‘shoehorn’ flats in garden in Oldbury

Inspector throws out plan to ‘shoehorn’ flats in garden in Oldbury

October 6, 2024

Supporting image for story: Council houses in Wolverhampton have taken so long to build the site has overgrown again

Council houses in Wolverhampton have taken so long to build the site has overgrown again

October 3, 2024

Supporting image for story: Concerns over Wolverhampton shop’s links to jailed ex-owner ahead of licence hearing

Concerns over Wolverhampton shop’s links to jailed ex-owner ahead of licence hearing

Supporting image for story: Council drawing up plans to tackle “concerning” rise in drivers parking on grass verges

Council drawing up plans to tackle “concerning” rise in drivers parking on grass verges

October 1, 2024

Supporting image for story: Plans to turn empty 180-year-old former Wolverhampton GP surgery into flats

Plans to turn empty 180-year-old former Wolverhampton GP surgery into flats

Supporting image for story: Parking concerns lead to plans to convert Oldbury storage rooms into flats being rejected

Parking concerns lead to plans to convert Oldbury storage rooms into flats being rejected

September 28, 2024

Supporting image for story: New homes to replace old Wolverhampton housing offices plagued by break-ins and fly-tipping

New homes to replace old Wolverhampton housing offices plagued by break-ins and fly-tipping

September 27, 2024

Supporting image for story: Plan to convert front room of terraced Sandwell house into pharmacy rejected

Plan to convert front room of terraced Sandwell house into pharmacy rejected

Supporting image for story: Plan for flats near Willenhall abandoned three years after first submitted

Plan for flats near Willenhall abandoned three years after first submitted

Supporting image for story: Eyesore fire-hit Bilston home set to be rebuilt 27 years on

Eyesore fire-hit Bilston home set to be rebuilt 27 years on

Supporting image for story: Go-ahead to transform ‘eyesore’ land once home to cannabis farm and stables

Go-ahead to transform ‘eyesore’ land once home to cannabis farm and stables

September 25, 2024

Supporting image for story: ‘Condemned’ former Wolverhampton church set to be demolished for new houses

‘Condemned’ former Wolverhampton church set to be demolished for new houses

September 24, 2024

Supporting image for story: 'Panic switches’ for Wolverhampton taxis to be considered after driver killed - full details amid Silent Crime campaign

'Panic switches’ for Wolverhampton taxis to be considered after driver killed - full details amid Silent Crime campaign

September 23, 2024

Supporting image for story: Plans for Oldbury children’s home is a ‘cash cow’ says former mayor

Plans for Oldbury children’s home is a ‘cash cow’ says former mayor

September 20, 2024

Supporting image for story: ‘Serious’ concerns over Smethwick petrol station’s 24-hour booze plan

‘Serious’ concerns over Smethwick petrol station’s 24-hour booze plan

Supporting image for story: Plans for apartment blocks on former Wednesbury car showroom approved

Plans for apartment blocks on former Wednesbury car showroom approved

September 19, 2024

Supporting image for story: Former Great Barr GP surgery that ‘vanished into thin air’ set to become flats

Former Great Barr GP surgery that ‘vanished into thin air’ set to become flats

September 18, 2024

Supporting image for story: New West Bromwich restaurant ordered to tear down kitchen built without planning permission

New West Bromwich restaurant ordered to tear down kitchen built without planning permission

September 17, 2024

Supporting image for story: Plan for flats off busy Black Country route given green light

Plan for flats off busy Black Country route given green light

Supporting image for story: Plan revealed to convert new Tipton houses into residential care home

Plan revealed to convert new Tipton houses into residential care home

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton shop owner could lose licence after search finds illicit vapes, untaxed booze and illegal pills

Wolverhampton shop owner could lose licence after search finds illicit vapes, untaxed booze and illegal pills

September 13, 2024

Supporting image for story: Council planning to double tax bills on empty and second homes in Wolverhampton

Council planning to double tax bills on empty and second homes in Wolverhampton

September 11, 2024

Supporting image for story: Council’s boundaries redrawn in biggest shake-up for 20 years

Council’s boundaries redrawn in biggest shake-up for 20 years

September 10, 2024

Supporting image for story: Council overruled in row over ‘noisy’ children’s home in West Bromwich

Council overruled in row over ‘noisy’ children’s home in West Bromwich

September 7, 2024

Supporting image for story: West Bromwich estate’s ‘dilapidated’ community centre to be demolished and replaced

West Bromwich estate’s ‘dilapidated’ community centre to be demolished and replaced

September 6, 2024

Supporting image for story: Bus lane between Dudley and Birmingham is ‘too expensive’ for congestion-cutting plans

Bus lane between Dudley and Birmingham is ‘too expensive’ for congestion-cutting plans

September 5, 2024

Supporting image for story: Former GP surgery was used as Airbnb without permission, angry neighbours claim

Former GP surgery was used as Airbnb without permission, angry neighbours claim

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