It’s also worth checking your headlights and brake lights are working correctly, and don’t ignore dashboard warning lights. Check the vehicle’s manual to establish what the issue is and abandon the trip if it cannot be resolved. Plan your trip and, if possible, aim to travel at quieter times, which are usually the afternoon and evening of Fridays, and mid-morning to mid-afternoon on Sunday and Monday. Lastly, make sure you have the details of your breakdown recovery provider with you. So, you have packed and done all the necessary checks, but halfway through the journey your car starts to splutter…
Author: Easterntimes
Students across Sandwell have been receiving their A Level and post-16 results today (Thursday 18 August). Councillor Simon Hackett, Cabinet Member for Children and Education, said: “This year’s students have had to face some of the toughest challenges due to the pandemic with some not sitting any formal exams until this summer. “School staff have also faced these challenges head on and I want to thank them for all their hard work and dedication in getting these students ready for their exams and enabling them to achieve these excellent results. “There are some outstanding results from young people here in…
Sandwell has been named as one of 75 local authorities that will receive a share of the Government’s £300m Family Hubs and Start for Life funding for the period 2022-25. Sandwell will receive approximately £4M. This new funding will support the development of Family Hubs in Sandwell. Building on existing services for families and working with statutory and voluntary sector partner agencies, Sandwell’s Family Hubs will be designed to join up the planning and delivery of family services locally and to improve access to support, advice and services from birth through to adulthood. There will be a particular focus on…
52 businesses were created every day in Birmingham in the first half of 2022, according to new research by iwoca – one of Europe’s largest small business lenders. Analysis of Companies House data reveals that 9,333 businesses were registered in Birmingham between January and June 2022, an increase of 25% from 2021, and an increase of 79% from the same period in 2019. Birmingham second most popular place to start a business in the West Midlands iwoca’s Small Business HotSpots UK 2022 shows that Birmingham had the second highest rate of new business creation per capita out of all local authorities in…
Walsall council’s lead for Education and Skills congratulates A-Level and Post-16 students for their results issued on 18 August. Provisional results show that Walsall’s young people achieved A* in 10% of their A-Level and A-Level equivalent qualifications, and an A or A* in 30% of qualifications. Overall, our young people achieved a passing grade of A*-E in 92% of A-Level and A-Level equivalent qualifications. Councillor Mark Statham, Portfolio Holder for Education and Skills, said, “Congratulations to Walsall’s young people that today received their A-Levels and post-16 qualification results. You should be very proud of the hard work you have put in…
FTSE-listed multinationals, household name private companies, large local authorities, NHS Trusts and SMEs are collectively saving millions off their bottom line, simply by adopting a systematic approach to fleet management with the help of the free, government-backed Driving for Better Business programme. Driving for Better Business has engaged with thousands of businesses, which collectively employ millions of staff, in its mission to improve the levels of compliance for those who drive or ride for work by demonstrating the significant benefits of managing work-related road risk more effectively. Organisations report 12 common measurable business benefits: Collisions/at-fault incident claims car/van Collisions/at-fault incident…
Regulations in England mandate twice weekly lateral flow tests for carers, with those testing positive forced to stay at home. However, the Infection Control Fund that previously met the costs of sick pay ended in the Spring meaning that care providers have been meeting the unfunded costs of sick pay directly through debt or utilising their increasingly exhausted reserves. This has created an unsustainable risk to an already overstretched sector that could see workers who are already among the lowest paid in the UK dependant on the statutory sick pay of just £99.35 per week if they call in sick, …
This summer, Walsall Council is taking to its social media platforms to explain the benefits of its grass cutting management and highlight the different grasses, wildflowers and wildlife that reside in the grass verges and green spaces throughout the borough. The grass cutting season takes place between March and October and the number of cuts varies according to location, season and weather. Councillor Kerry Murphy, Portfolio Holder for Clean and Green at Walsall Council, said, “Our grass cutting regime takes into account many things. We have to balance cutting roadside verges for visibility and safety reasons with the community need for having…
More than 5,000 people turned up to celebrate National Playday on Wednesday 3 August at Sandwell Valley Country Park. The free event was hosted by Sandwell Council’s Go Play team who are committed to encourage play for children in Sandwell. Visitors were treated to free activities including giant bubbles, inflatable games, dhol drummer workshops and a giant puppet display, Councillor Simon Hackett, Cabinet Member for Children and Education attended the event, said: “I was overwhelmed at the turnout for today’s Playday celebration at Sandwell Valley and the weather was certainly kind to us. “Play is such an important part of…
Father of two, Ash Wallace, set himself the epic task of running four international marathons in the space of just six weeks, these include: London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York (25th Sept to 6th November). Ash completed the London 10k on the 10th of July and will also be taking part in the Great North Run, London Half Marathon, and the Bradford 10k run, starting from September 4th, 2022, in preparation for his big runs. Ash’s determination to complete this mammoth challenge has been driven by his commitment to supporting international humanitarian charity, Penny Appeal, and their campaign to help rebuild homes for…
