what news now for the future of Blakenall?

News is that there are discussions about a probable decision that Bloxwich Leisure centre will go as part of the reorganisation of Walsall Leisure services.. no mention of what is to be provided in place... also no news on future of Dartmouth centre, support for the 'cottage' in Ryecroft place or some positive support for the Ryecroft centre and what is needed .. a partnership approach with the Hollemeadow site ( run by WHG) and the Walsall College and the Forest arts site... if the disgraceful inequalities suffered by those residents in Blakenall is to be solved in a sustainable way such issues as these must be addressed.. however this Tory run Council have their own areas to prioritise as usual... such as spending £200,000 plus on employing an agency provided temporary head of childrens' services after the resignation or ? removal of the head and deputy after the dreadful recent inspection report... again the support of more especially the children from Blakenall have been let down.. hardly surprising that the young people of Blakenall come to the conclusion that they cannot succeed, are expected to fail and their parents very often take the same view. It is also now revealed that the new head of childrens' services from Medway has a worrying history of possible failures.. far from the rosy picture reported by our current Tory great leader of the Council.. is this another cast off as we got from Liverpool with our Annie?
The open spaces such as the 'Lea' at the rear of Hardy road remain in a dreadful state... I note that a committee has been formed to try and get some action.. best of luck to them but I fear that unless ( sorry to bring in the politics but it is the reality) a Labour run administration is voted in with a clear mandate to make a difference, such areas will continue to languish for many years to come.
Residents will continue to live on average 9 years less than residents in the leafier areas of Walsall.. have the lowest level of young people seeking further education and low levels of achievement ( despite the amazing efforts of the local schools) , have the lowest level of road and pavement repairs, and the highest levels of unemployment ( although there are many who are listed as out of work but in fact work in the 'black' economy) , have the highest level of single parent families struggling and often failing   and  and so perpetuating to cycle of their children going on to form failed families in the future and having the highest levels of incidence of domestic violence...
There is a way forward as a partnership , led I believe by the foundations built by New Deal ( now called New Horizons)... I fear that residents will become even more cynical and lose hope altogether if the area is allowed to languish as the grip of the economic recession now really starts to bite.

Regards
Ian Robertson

what future for Blakenall

I do regret that labour failed to gain control of Walsall Council this time in May.. me losing was a major factor here.  Running the Council in these difficult economic times cannot reverse the cuts but at least we could have looked very carefully at individual cases and families where really severe hardship will happen.
We hear that such centres as the Dartmouth centre will be axed.. when a dynamic business plan for this centre and for the nearby Ryecroft centre with a bit of coordinated effort would have brought a successful sustainable result. Also to secure the future of the cottage in Ryecroft Place which serves so many elderly people and helps to make their daily lives so much better.
The regeneration of the Goscote and Poets area is now stalled and will now probably not happen for many years. The successor of the New Deal organisation, New Horizons needs to be a lead in this regeneration of the whole of North Walsall and Bloxwich... I do not think that a tory run council will care to support this being too interested in ensuring their wards are well served.
The issues of 'tat' wagons, drug dealing, fly tipping remain and the only way to tackle these issues is to ensure enough resources are placed into enforcement. What chance of this happening in Blakenall?
The issues left in North walsall also remain as the 'forgotten' corner of Walsall.... it is time for Blakenall to be leading not trailing behind...
Regards
Ian Robertson
ex labour Councillor Blakenall.