UPDATE: Have your say in our Facebook Poll.

Traders in Wednesfield are calling on residents to join them in voicing opinions over what they are calling “major issues” with people drinking in the High Street.

Wednesfield Business Association chairman Jason Gessey is calling for ‘no drinking zone’ around the High Street in order to combat the problem of people drinking and being drunk whilst loitering outside local shops and business frontages.

Residents and local tradespeople are being asked to post their views on the Wednesfield Business Association forum so that comments can be passed onto local Councillors.

You can register and post your comments on the Wednesfield Business Association’s forum here.

If you wish to send letters on this issue, please send them to: Andy Dixon, 31 Lichfield Road, Wednesfield, WV11 1TF or email info@wednesfieldbusinessassociation.co.uk.

If you are have any difficulties registering and using the forum, please contact Andy Dixon on 01902 858143, he will be more than happy to assist.

Sainsbury‘s were today awarded planning permission to extend their store in Rookery Street Wednesfield, despite objections from local a historian. 80 extra jobs are set to be created but a local heritage building will be demolished to make way for a car park extension.

The new 21,600 sq feet extension which is set to include a new restaurant and bakery, as well as 74 new parking spaces has been given the go ahead by planners, but will see a 19th Century heritage building demolished.

The Temperance Hall opposite Sainsbury’s dates back to the 1860s and was used by the Salvation Army before becoming a theatre and cinema, going by the name of the Tivoli.

Wednesfield Historian Ray Fellows wrote to Prince Charles concerning the plans to demolish the hall and also put forward his objections to planners.

Ray called upon the Sainsbury’s to drop their proposals to demolish the hall saying “Wednesfield as a community has suffered more than most Black Country towns from the loss of it’s ancient heritage. Delivering an innovative planning proposal which incorporates a use for the building just as Sainsbury’s did at the former St. Georges Church in Wolverhampton City Centre would be applauded.“

Mr Fellows asked Sainsbury’s whether it was possible to use the building in some way, but the company wish to demolish the hall in order to extend their car park to include a total of 472 spaces, including 29 disabled spaces and 20 parent and child spaces, an increase of 74 spaces. Motorcycle and cycle parking is also proposed.

Planners at Wolverhampton City Council ruled that although the hall was a heritage asset to Wednesfield, it was not deemed significant enough to deny Sainsbury’s proposals to demolish it.

Duncan Nimmo, Treasurer of the Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society added, “The problem is that it is not reasonable to try to preserve every bit of heritage; that would mean stagnation, and preventing new things which may become the heritage of the future.

“What is necessary is to strike the right balance between preservation and demolition. At least now this is formally recognised in the planning process, with developers required to assess any heritage damage and to justify it in terms of the benefits brought by their proposals.“

The car park extension requires the demolition of a nearby builders yard and the former Temperance Hall, with Hall Street being extinguished and incorporated into the car park.

The existing petrol station is also set to be demolished and relocated to allow for the extension of the supermarket building. The silver-lining is that extension will bring 80 new jobs to the area.

Do you think supermarkets should be allowed to demolish heritage buildings in order to increase profits? Or should planners make more effort to incorporate our history into buildings of the future? Let us know in the comments!

In related news, rumour has it that an ASDA Living store may be coming to Bentley Bridge.

Photo: Sainsbury’s

We recently received and email with an offer of a free security survey for WV11 businesses and residents, interested? See below for details:

My company; Wolverhampton locksmiths, a 24 hour emergency locksmith service, was born in Wednesfield three years ago and I have been providing locksmith services in the area ever since, building an enviable reputation amongst tradesmen in Wednesfield and Wolverhampton.

I would not have enjoyed such growth without the loyalty and work provided by the local community.

As a thankyou to the residents and business owners in the Wednesfield area I am now offering to survey your existing door and window lock security *FREE of charge*. I will check all locks and fittings on the doors and windows of your property and advise on additional upgrades and vulnerabilities that may exist.

It is important to keep up to date with current British Standards with regards to door and window locks as to adhere to the requirements of your  home insurance policy.

Criminals are becoming ever wiser in exploiting weak aspects of home security and with such a poor economic climate it has never been so important to ensure you are protected against burglary and unauthorised entry to your home.

I pride myself on delivering a fast and friendly service and aim to be on site within fifteen minutes in the Wednesfield and Willenhall areas of Wolverhampton.

Where required I can supply and fit any additional locks that are recommended at a discounted price of 10% for WV11 Residents, however there is no obligation to use our service at all.

For more information or to arrange a home security survey, please call me on 07724-82-82-89 or visit Wolverhampton Locksmiths website.

We’ve just received Essington Fruit Farm’s latest email newsletter…

As the nights draw in and summer ends, the emphasis shifts at the farm. The maize maze is now closed and will soon be feeding our cattle. If you visited it this summer we hope you enjoyed it. We will shortly be making the draw for the prize to see Aladdin at the Grand Theatre, but as we say goodbye to the maze October brings its own events.

The pumpkins and squashes are ripening nicely and we hope to make a start on harvesting them this weekend. As well as making lanterns, try our lovely edible squashes, onion squash (looks like an onion, doesn’t taste like one!), little gem, and crown prince. The pumpkin season will climax at hallowe’en and our October craft fair on 24 Oct. Be sure to pay us a visit but please book in advance if you want a table for lunch!

Butchery offer!

We try to have a special bargain on our butchery most weeks and this week we are offering matured silverside at 20% off until Sunday 3.00pm! We will also be serving it on the Sunday carvery so you could try it first!

You can sign up for the newsletter at the farm’s website: www.essingtonfarm.co.uk

The fire which began at Silver & Co accountancy, based on the first storey of the shopping complex soon burnt through the ceiling into the Penguin Cafe below.

Cafe Owner Diana Jones told the Express & Star:

“We were in early and could smell something burning but didn’t think anything of it because sometimes they burn things around the back,” said the 67-year-old, who has run the cafe for eight years.

“The ceiling is completely ruined and I am waiting for the insurance to come out to find out the exact amount of damage.

“We have lost three freezers filled with prawns, burgers and bacon though and that is thousands alone.”

Business affected by the fire include Elegant Frames, childrens’ shop Oh Baby and Portland Opticians, as well as several other firms in the block.

Jason Baso, who runs Elegant Frames told the Express & Star:

“We have had to throw away a few things like office chairs that have been smoke-damaged but I can assure all of the customers that all their precious pictures are safe,” he said.

“They were all locked away safely in cupboards and have not been touched at all. You can’t replace memories and a lot of people would be concerned about their pictures, but they are all safe.”

Firefighters from Fallings Park and Walsall were called  just after 7am on Saturday. There have been no reports of anyone being injured in the incident.

Police are now investigating and anyone with information should call Wednesfield Police Station on 0345 113 5000.

Read the full story at the Express & Star: Arson attack forces closure of precinct

According to a recent planning application, there are plans to open a Nando’s restaurant at Bentley Bridge.

One of three applications for Unit 4b seeks permission for a “Internally illuminated ‘Nandos’ fascia sign, two internally fluorescent illuminated menuboxes and one cockerel logo to be burnt into 150mm thick reclaimed oak boarding panel”…so it looks like Nando’s Portuguese, flame-grilled PERi-PERi Chicken is on the way to Wednesfield!

We’ve just spotted in the Essington Fruit Farm Newsletter:

At last the pick-your-own season has started!

We have lots of lovely strawberries, the recent rains have swollen them nicely and plenty are now ripening up. Other fruit crops will soon follow: gooseberries may be picked now but will benefit from a week or two to grow some more, raspberries and currants should be ready by the end of the month.

We also have lots of fresh vegetables ready now: cabbage and broccoli are ready at the moment, with caulis not far behind. We have beetroot, lettuce and sugar peas ready now, with traditional garden peas coming on shortly. Spinach is just starting.

Log on to our website to see our Summer Newsletter!

We look forward to seeing you regularly as you make the most of summer on the farm.

Best wishes from,

Richard, Mary and Will
Essington Fruit Farm

Hello there! Now you’ve found our post about Cosmo (it’s very popular!), how about subscribing to email updates or following us on Facebook?

We post tons of info about news and events in Wednesfield and often find out first about new restaurants opening such as Cosmo and Nandos.

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TO MAKE A BOOKING, PLEASE CALL: 01902 722233

A new Pan Asian restaurant opens in Wednesfield at Bentley Bridge Retail Park on Monday 21st June.

Restaurant chain Cosmo which owns 10 branches across the UK opens it’s newest restaurant which will serve food from China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, Mongolia, India and Vietnam and has created 38 new jobs in the area.

The company has been fitting out the unit since January and is offering the chance of free food and drinks to those who register for more information on their website, where you can also book a table online.

Read on for opening times and prices…

TO MAKE A BOOKING, PLEASE CALL: 01902 722 233

Lunch

Monday to Saturday: 12:00 – 15:00

£6.50 – Adult
£3.00 – Child under 150cm
£2.00 – Minimum Charge

Dinner

Monday to Thursday: 17:30 – 22:30
£11.99 – Adult
£6.00 – Child under 150cm
£3.00 – Minimum Charge

Sunday (Bank Holiday): 12:00 – 22:30
£11.99 – Adult
£6.00 – Child under 150cm
£3.00 – Minimum Charge

Friday to Saturday: 17:30 – 23:00
£12.99 – Adult
£6.50 – Child under 150cm
£3.00 – Minimum Charge

More info on Cosmo’s website.