Latest news with #CityOfWolverhamptonCouncil
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Bilston Outdoor Market's £5m redevelopment set to get under way
Work is set to begin on the £5m redevelopment of an outdoor market in Wolverhampton. Improvement works to Bilston Outdoor Market is officially get under way on Wednesday 23 July, City of Wolverhampton Council 200-year-old market relocated to Bert Turner Boulevard, High Street and Church Street in October last year, to make way for the works, which should be completed by June traders claimed a 60% drop in sales after the temporary move, but a motion appealing for financial support was defeated at a full council meeting in June. The council said the market will deliver "the absolute best market in the West Midlands" - with more modern, accessible and "vibrant spaces" for traders and the local new market will have better access for pedestrians from the bus and Metro station, a new canopy, new toilets, stall improvements and improved public spaces. 'Challenging ground conditions' Council leader Stephen Simkins, said that despite the discovery of difficult ground conditions at the market site, the council was "100% committed" to delivering the full scheme as agreed with said: "Unfortunately, surveys revealed far more challenging ground conditions at the site than we had anticipated, so we have had to re-engineer parts of the project. "This has driven up the cost of the scheme - but I can assure traders we will not compromise on our ambition and will deliver the full scheme exactly as agreed with them."Council bosses have identified additional contingency funds of up to £2.5m to address the re-engineered scheme and other council also said it will freeze rent costs of the indoor and outdoor market traders and is investing £15,000 in activities and events in and around the indoor market to help drive added: "We promised traders they'd be the first to know once we got the timeline of the works, and I met with them face to face first this morning to talk through the plans and let them know how we're supporting them." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Wolverhampton taxi drivers face first licence fee hike in years
Thousands of taxi drivers and operators are facing their first licence fee increase in more than a decade as a council deals with a backlog of of Wolverhampton Council is proposing a rise of up to two thirds in the sums to be paid for new or renewed licences, to cover compliance and admin authority's licensing department looks after about 50,000 drivers according to documents, with the vast majority operating outside the regulatory committee is meeting on Wednesday to decide on the increase, which would affect licenses issued in both south Staffordshire and Wolverhampton. Under the plans, private hire vehicle operators with four vehicles or fewer could see renewal fees go up from £150 to £250 for a one-year licence - a rise of 66%.There would be a £20 rise to £69 in the sum to be paid by new hackney carriage and private hire drivers for a year's licence.A three-year licence for a new driver would increase from £98 to £128, while yearly fees paid for a vehicle are set to go from £125 to £175. 'Excellent value' A report to the committee stated "economies of scale" reflecting Wolverhampton's "significant growth over the last decade from an authority with 1,500 to 50k drivers" had previously kept fees increased compliance and the need for additional checks meant they were "required to increase for the first time since 2011".The authority, which also undertakes taxi licensing for South Staffordshire Council, had to use £493k of reserve funding on the service between 2024 and 2025."This fee increase is anticipated to prevent any overspend this year," the report said. "Additional resource requirements to tackle the backlog of applications and higher than usual internal recharges applied in March 2025 have meant that the fees require recalculation," it added. The report stated the revised fees still represented "excellent value for money" and pointed out that sums in 2011, adjusted for inflation, were to consultation responses, the charges for driver licences would apply immediately for operators, and to vehicle licenses from 10 council revealed last year 96% of licences it had issued were for drivers from outside the city. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wolverhampton prom initiative for children in care
People are being encouraged to help send children in care to their City of Wolverhampton Council has launched a fundraiser to raise money to put towards prom outfits for 60 children in Jacqui Coogan said the initiative would allow those in year 11 to celebrate their successes with friends and teachers "creating lifelong memories".Coogan added: "For many of these young people, prom is a significant part of their educational journey, marking the end of their time at school and the beginning of the next chapters in their lives." She said: "All donations, no matter how big or small, will be hugely appreciated and will make a remarkable difference to the young people we care for."To make a donation email: should be made by 6 June 2025. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
