Christian Barnett, Express & Star Journalist Profile

Articles

Green light for 14 flats to be built on land off major Black Country road

1 week ago | expressandstar.com | Christian Barnett

Up to 14 flats would be built on land off the busy Wolverhampton Road in Oldbury after a planning application was given the green light by Sandwell Council. Two objections were raised against the plan over concerns about the height of the building and a potential loss of privacy and sunlight. The council said the application was in-line with its planning policies and would uplift the area. Sandwell Council approved an application to build 14 flats in 2007 but the work was never carried out.
Green light for new flats next to busy route between Birmingham and Black Country

2 weeks ago | birminghammail.co.uk | Christian Barnett

The new flats would be built on the site of a former warehouse in OldburyA block of flats will be built on the site of a former warehouse in Oldbury. Up to 14 flats would be built on land off the busy Wolverhampton Road in Oldbury after a planning application was given the green light by Sandwell Council. Two objections were raised against the plan over concerns about the height of the building and a potential loss of privacy and sunlight.
Sandwell Council forgot to emptoy a disabled woman’s bins for a month

2 weeks ago | expressandstar.com | Christian Barnett

A council has been forced to apologise to a disabled woman after failing to collect her bins for more than a month. By Local Democracy Reporter Christian BarnettSandwell Council has been told to pay £200 to the unnamed woman after missing several bin collections last year despite her being on a high-priority list. Sandwell Council had blamed roadworks from gas pipe upgrades for the missed collections but said it accepted the findings of the ombudsman’s report and apologised.
Sandwell Council told to pay £200 after forgetting disabled woman's bins for a month

2 weeks ago | birminghammail.co.uk | Christian Barnett

The woman said she 'felt like she was being heard' after complaining and injured herself carrying bin bags that were never collectedA council has been forced to apologise to a disabled woman after failing to collect her bins for more than a month. Sandwell Council has been told to pay £200 to the unnamed woman after missing several bin collections last year despite her being on a high-priority list.
Bid for ‘private club’ on Smethwick industrial estate rejected

2 weeks ago | expressandstar.com | Christian Barnett

Sandwell Council rejected the move to convert the unit in Willow Court off Crystal Drive, Smethwick, into the Capri Bar and Lounge, saying it would be “incompatible” with its neighbours.
HMO plans for empty Wednesbury pub approved

2 weeks ago | expressandstar.com | Christian Barnett

Nearly decade-old plans to turn the former Forge Tavern in Wednesbury into an eight-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO) were revived at the start of the year after moves to turn the old watering hole into an Islamic tuition centre were rejected by Sandwell Council. The local authority’s planners have turned down several moves to bring the old pub back to life in the last eight years including two moves to open the tuition centre and two separate bids for a new community centre.
Tipton children’s homes approved despite pollution concerns

2 weeks ago | expressandstar.com | Christian Barnett

The move would see the two four-bed homes in Barnfield Close, Tipton, which were built after getting the thumbs up from Sandwell Council in 2021, converted into a new residential care home for young people. The homes would be used by four children aged between eight and 25 plus five staff. The number of bedrooms was reduced from four to three – and from six to four people – following discussions with Sandwell Council. The number of parking spaces was also reduced to four.
Children's home plan confirmed despite pollution concerns

2 weeks ago | birminghammail.co.uk | Christian Barnett

'It will be detrimental to their health, one councillor said. 'I just don’t think it is suitable'Barnfield Close off Bloomfield Road, Tipton (Image: Google Maps)A move to convert two houses next to an industrial estate into residential homes has been approved despite concerns it would pose a higher risk of pollution for vulnerable children.
Ruling on HMO plans for empty Black Country pub

2 weeks ago | birminghammail.co.uk | Christian Barnett

The council has approved plans to convert the former pub into a HMO twice in the last eight yearsThe eyesore Forge Tavern in Furnace Street, Wednesbury. The pub closed in 2016 and several attempts to re-open the building as a community centre and Islamic tuition centre have been turned by Sandwell Council over fears it would cause parking problems in nearby streets. A plan to convert an empty pub into an HMO has been given the green light by councillors.
Golf course included in new Sandwell housing blueprint

2 weeks ago | expressandstar.com | Christian Barnett

The nine-hole course at Tippity Green Golf Club in Rowley Regis would be used to build up to 175 new homes as part of changes to the Sandwell Local Plan – a blueprint for where new homes are set to be built across the borough in the next 16 years. The Sandwell Local Plan, a document which sets out where new homes will be built in the borough up to 2041, is currently being reviewed by a government planning inspector having gone through public consultation last year.