Police are investigating after the body of a man was found near the Wyrley/Essington canal in Pelsall on Bank Holiday Monday.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said a passer-by alerted officers after finding the man, close to North Common, Wood Lane, at about 9am, on May 6.
His death is being treated as an apparent suicide.
The man has not been named.
Congratulations to this year’s carnival queen, attendants, princess and rosebuds, who took their titles at the annual competition at the weekend.
Carnival Queen Charlotte Naylor (centre) with Antonia Dodsworth (left) and Eleanor Whitehouse (right). Photo/Steve Swain Photography
Charlotte Naylor, from Riddings Crescent, Pelsall, won the title of Carnival Queen, beating six other competitors. The 17-year-old, who will take over the Crown from current Queen Kathryn Cox, will be attended by Eleanor Whitehouse, also 17 and from Partridge Mill, Pelsall, and 19-year-old Antonia Dodsworth, from Pelsall Lane, Rushall.
Pelsall Carnival Princess is 14-year-old Charlotte Pountney, from Priam Grove, Pelsall, and Rosebuds are Jessica Paige-Hayly and Jasmine Malbon-Williams, who are both aged 6 and from Pelsall.
Charlotte Poutney (princess) with Rosebuds Jessica Paige-Hayly and Jasmine Malbon-Williams. Photo/Steve Swain Photography
They all took part in the competition at Pelsall Community Centre on Sunday. Judges included local business people Laura Sylvester and Steve Turner, current Carnival Queen Kathryn Cox and former Carnival Queen Jaimie Lee-McDonald.
Dawn Hadley, chair of Pelsall Carnival Committee, said there was a high standard set in all the competitions.
“We had a fantastic response in all three categories; all the girls looked amazing. It was a great day,” she said.
Next year, the committee is planning to hold a contest for boys aged 6-10 years to be a page.
New signage is to be introduced at the car park that is located alongside the new Pelsall Village Centre following confusion over its status.
Coun Garry Perry said some people believe the car park is private, which means that drivers are not using the free facility.
“Whilst attending my recent advice surgery at the new centre I was surprised to see that there was just me and one other car parked on the car park,” he said. “I was stopped by a couple of residents on the way into the centre who said people are not using it because they are not sure whether it is free, and whether it is private.”
A Walsall Council engineer has visited the site on a number of occasions and believes that a new sign telling motorists that it is open to all and is free will encourage more people to use it.
The authority is also to introduce a mix of Prohibition of Waiting, Limited Waiting and a Disabled Bay outside the centre, but this will be discussed in May or June.
A radio scheme that was introduced to help reduce shoplifting in stores and businesses, and anti-social behaviour, has been declared a “massive success” by Walsall Council and police.
The Pelsall Village Radio Scheme, which was launched in November last year by Pelsall/Rushall/Shelfield and High-Heath Neighbourhood Watch Association, has led to a 70 per drop in shoplifting.
Local police officers say anti-social behaviour has also reduced by 40 per cent since the scheme started.
Over 50 shopkeepers and local businesses in Pelsall joined up to the scheme, which was set up with support from Walsall Police and Brownhills, Pelsall, Rushall & Shelfield Area Partnership.
Each business was supplied with a walkie talkie that allows them to contact other members of the scheme and pass on information about shoplifters and other issues.
Funding was provided by Brownhills, Pelsall, Rushall & Shelfield Area Partnership and the West Midlands Police Community Initiative Fund. The scheme is also being support by Safer Walsall Partnership’s ASB Unit.
Kevin Pitt, Walsall Police Community Partnerships Officer, said: “Most of the businesses in the village, including public houses and a social club, plus the local library, have now received their walkie-talkes and all are finding the scheme useful.
“Since the scheme was introduced police figures show that shoplifting in the village has fallen by around 70 per cent and incidents of anti-social behaviour by around 40 per cent which is impressive.
“I have spoken to shopkeepers and all of them have said they feel safer and that the scheme has made a big difference.”
Councillor Zahid Ali, the Council’s portfolio holder for public protection, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the success of this scheme which is making a huge difference to local businesses and shop owners and it has really helped reduce the number of shop-lifting offences.
“This sends a strong message to any criminals in the area that the people of Pelsall stand united in the fight against crime and it will not be tolerated.”
Walsall Council is looking to resolve parking problems outside the new £4.5 million Village Centre after complaints about motorists’ views being blocked.
Concern has been raised about the double yellow lines falling short around the High Street junction that leads to the centre and the fact the drivers are unable to see properly when leaving the new car park.
Maureen Payton, of the Friends of Pelsall Commons, said: “The on-road parking makes leaving the car park quite hazardous as parked vehicles completely mask on-coming traffic as well as reducing the carriageway to single width so drivers ease out at their peril.
“I don’t like yellow lines but there needs to be some restriction to allow a clear view when leaving the site. At the moment it is not safe.
“There are bound to be teething problems with any new development but this needs some thought in the interest of road safety.”
The engineering and transportation department has agreed that the double yellow line needs to be extended around the junction and has hinted that it could be extended further.
It will also look at adding signage to encourage drivers to park on the public car park because some believe it is a private facility that would result in them getting fined.
Coun Marco Longhi said he was opposed to double yellow line restrictions outside the centre but urged the authority to include roadside disabled parking spaces outside the centre in addition to car park signs.
The new library has longer opening hours than the old library and is open Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and on Saturday 9am to 4pm. Unlike the old library it will stay open at lunchtimes.
Cllr Anthony Harris, portfolio holder for leisure and culture, said: “We’re delighted with the positive response we have had from local residents about the new library and the centre. It is an excellent facility.”
Pelsall Village Centre in High Street opened before Christmas when two GP practices opened their doors. It houses the library, a pharmacy and children’s centre along with health offices and treatment rooms on the ground floor and on the first floor there are the GP practices, waiting room and treatment rooms.
Motorists caught up in lengthy delays today have been assured that the problems have been dealt with.
Traffic built up on Wolverhampton Road in Pelsall this morning after temporary traffic lights on Livingstone Road in Bloxwich failed. Drivers complained of huge delays in the morning rush-hour, which compounded already difficult conditions due to snow.
Walsall Council said the problems arose when South Staffs Water, working on the development site opposite Livingstone Road, damaged an electric cable on Friday, which necessitated Western Power to undertake the necessary repair.
Western Power worked through the night and over the weekend to repair the damaged cable and South Staffs Water returned to the site yesterday to complete the connection but were unable to finish the task.
South Staffs Water were instructed by Walsall Council to manually operate the temporary traffic signals during the peak period but failed to take into account the build-up of traffic from the Brownhills direction. This resulted in delays to the travelling public.
Pelsall councillor, Coun Garry Perry, who was also held up in the traffic jam, said: “Clearly motorists were severely disadvantaged with long delays, experienced on a day when traffic was already affected by the weather conditions. I am pleased to say that officers have worked with the contractors in order to bring matters to a conclusion and avoid any further disruption.”
