We are all very interested in the Green Economy here in Wednesfield North. Indeed locally we have been as Green if not Greener than the Green Party in my opinion. I think that the Green Agenda is one of the most important issues facing the Country. Its the key to new jobs and new policies and environmental change.
Imagine my surprise to be reading this morning that ‘billions of pounds’ worth of green energy projects in the UK are on hold due to a lack of capacity in the electricity system, according to BBC research.
Wow! What has this Government been doing over the last 13 years?
The news this morning is that some new solar and wind sites have been waiting up to 15 years to be connected to the grid, which could threaten the UK’s climate targets. National Grid acknowledges the problem but says fundamental reform is needed.
Now wait for it! There are currently more than £200bn worth of projects sitting in the connections queue, with around 40% of them facing a connection wait of at least a year. The government and private investors have spent £198bn on renewable power infrastructure since 2010.
Elsewhere, the Times reports that just one onshore wind turbine has begun construction in England this year, despite a pledge from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to lift an effective ban imposed in 2015 by David Cameron.
This is just another good reason that we all should be rooting for a General Election sooner rather than later!
The photograph shows the current National Grid striding across Green Belt land delivering electricity to Wednesfield. As it further serves the electricity and energy demands in our urban manufacturing core. What do you think?

I am very much looking forward to seeing the Birmingham Canal Navigations Explorer Cruise, settling in for the night at their Bentley Bridge Moorings on May 13th 2023.

Councillor Phil Bateman said “This is one of the delights of the year for me, when Wednesfield meets real water borne tourists, mooring their 18 Boats here in our ancient Village, and enjoying the delights of the Local Pubs, experiencing our historic Village, and browsing plus provisioning in the Local Stores, and rummaging through the retail sites and leisure activities at Bentley Bridge,

Wednesfield and Bentley Bridge offer tourist great leisure activities just a boat length away from their moorings. Where they can have family fun and laughter at venues like the Hollywood Bowl Ten Pin Bowling, the Cineworld cinema complex, not forgetting the huge offer of the restaurants.

So if you meet our Jolly sailors and their crews and family , or just watch these majestic Narrowboats making their way to Wednesfield on the Wyrley and Essington Canal, give them a cheerful welcome, a wave, and a big smile!”

City of Wolverhampton Resilience Team has just issued a weather warning to Wolverhampton Councillors . They say
“Just a quick update on the current forecast. There is a Yellow Thunderstorm warning in place locally between 11:30 this morning until 19:00 tonight. Please see below a snapshot from the latest update from our Regional Met Office advisor (received today, 11 May):
“It is going to be another showery day across the West Midlands with clouds building and a scattering of heavy showers and thunderstorms breaking out during the late morning into the afternoon and first part of the evening. In the drier, sunny interludes it will feel pleasantly warm with temperatures reaching 16 or 17 Celsius, but considerably cooler if caught out in some of the heavy downpours. Winds will be light and so some of the showers will be slow moving and last some time.

This is likely to lead to some surface water issues with some local flooding in places. There is also the risk of hail and some lightning strikes with more eastern counties most at risk (Staffordshire, Warwickshire). Some of these showers will be slow-moving and 10 to 20 mm of rain is likely to fall in less than an hour in some places whilst a few spots could see as much as 20 to 50 mm of rain in 2 or 3 hours. Showers fading away during the evening and fewer showers on Friday but a breezier day.
Potential Impacts:
 There is a good chance driving conditions will be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus
 Delays to train services are possible
 Perhaps damage to a few buildings and structures from lightning strikes
 Some flooding of a few homes and businesses likely, leading to some damage to buildings or structures
 Some short term loss of power and other services is likely
 Probably some damage to a few buildings and structures from lightning strikes“
Councillor Phil Bateman added ” Please Wednesfield take care and prepare for the Thunderstorms if you live in an area that is prone to flooding.”

The situation has a possibility to change, so please visit: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings for the most up-to-date information on weather warnings and please visit https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings to view the latest on any Environment Agency flood alerts or warnings (there is also an option on this page to sign up directly for the free flood warning notification service).

Here is an update on some of the case work that we were dealing with into the election period.
Regarding – CEU T8248 CWC-1549785 Pot Hole Snape Road Ashmore Park
2 urgent repairs have been made to category 1 defects at the above location. Further works have been raised as category 2 defects and will be programmed for completion in due course.
. Regarding – CEU T8894 CWC-1610529 Pothole Hill Place
The site has been inspected and works to rectify the defects will be completed during week commencing 08/05/2023.
Drug Dealing in Cleveland Close- T8877
I can confirm that I have been in touch with the Local Safety Partnership and West Mids Police . Can I urge residents to inform me of any suspicious circumstances you come across here in our Ward.
Graffiti and tagging
Graffiti and tagging is exploding across Wednesfield, I have asked for a meeting with departments, and I am keen to speak with the Police again. It has already been raised at our Local Police Liaison Meeting (PACT) but it needs more information and a plan of action preparing. We will keep you informed of progress…

The Government has suggested that local authorities should check the weight limits on bridges to ensure they do not collapse with heavier electric cars travelling across them.
The suggestion follows concerns that multi-storey car parks may collapse if too many electric vehicles are parked on them.
Tory MP Greg Knight asked in the Commons whether Transport Secretary Mark Harper or other Cabinet colleagues might assess the “adequacy of the strength of multi-storey car parks and bridges at safely bearing the additional weight of electric vehicles”. Transport minister Jesse Norman said that it was up to councils to decide whether “weight limits” should be applied to their bridges. Electric vehicles can weigh as much as 33% more than traditional petrol cars.
Councillor Phil Bateman said ” I have asked the City Council today to advise on these concerns.”

The Wednesfield Police Neighbourhood team will be patrolling the Wyrley and Essington Canal towpath this Summer, following Wildlife incidents and to reassure canal users and residents alike.

I am pleased that this is the case again this year. Wednesfield Police team have been as much the key to the success of our Local Nature Reserve running a long the length of this canal here in Wednesfield, as anything else that has been done by the authorities. We do have some unsavoury incidents during the course of the year, with wildlife often being the focus. Its not a regular issue, but environment and wildlife crime is every much as important to stamp out, as the more common incidents undertaken in our locality.

Everyone feels safer, residents that live with the canal running at the end of their gardens, industry and commerce that shares the locality they trade in with the canal that acts as a boundary. When the Police patrol as part of a neighbourhood plan, and the priorities they operate too, are known by the neighbourhoods they police. It becomes a more informed neighbourhood and community. Thank You Wednesfield Police for the actions you undertake here in Wednesfield on all our behalfs.

Good Morning Wednesfield – Before we get back to it being just a normal Tuesday. Can I share with you the official return on the City of Wolverhampton Council elections held last Thursday, and counted on Friday. As we reported on the night Mary Rita and I, got returned here in Wednesfield North for Labour. It was a good result we took all three seats on offer, and Labour won control of the City Council increasing our seats in the Chamber to 47!

Here is the latest Crime statistics for Wednesfield . They are reproduced from Police UK.

They cover the month of March and show a slight decline from Februarys figures, more information will be forthcoming over the next few days, after I have had a chance to look at them a little closer. Violence and sex crimes,most of which happen inside the home, is top yet again on the stats, followed by vehicle crime., and criminal damage.

Philip Rita and Mary – want to thank you for all your support, and all the time you gave us, during the election campaign for the City of Wolverhampton Council. Yesterday you voted for Rita, Mary and myself representing Wednesfield North Labour Party and cooperative

With your support we won the three seats and joined an extended Labour Group on the City Council. Labour now has 47 seats on the Council up from 44 seats The Tories have a ‘rump’ of 13 Councillors left.

The Wednesfield North Result was
Phil Bateman Labour Elected 1,213
Rita Potter Labour Elected – 1,153
Mary Bateman Labour Elected – 1151
Joseph Stepien -Tory – 644
Janette Wastell- Tory -653
Nathaniel Williams Tory -780

Labour also triumphed in Wednesfield South winning all three seats for Labour in that Ward. They took the Conservative seat of Andy Randle during the election. Labours three Councillors in Wednesfield South are Greg Brackenridge ,Ciaran Brackenridge, and Councillor Jacqui Coogan.