Morning everyone,
We are well into the summer holidays and there are plenty of free ways to keep the kids entertained across the borough over the coming weeks.
Here is your latest local roadworks breakdown, including some good news for park access today.
🚨 Traffic & Roads
Kingstanding Road / College Road Junction (A453) — ongoing until 31 August: Multi-way temporary signals remain active following a road traffic collision that damaged a traffic pole outside The Bed Warehouse Direct and the Spar junction. Delays expected for the rest of the month.
Hamstead Hill (August 10–21): National Grid two-way signals for tree pruning works outside numbers 30 and 40, by the Vernon Avenue and Elmwood United Reformed Church junction. Expect delays during peak times.
Old Walsall Road / Kingsdown Avenue — ongoing until 21 August: Cadent Gas gas main replacement continues with multi-way signals near Grove Court and the 5 Star Day Nursery.
✅ Good News: Forge Lane Reopening Today
The full closure on Forge Lane for carriageway resurfacing is scheduled to finish today at 3:30pm, reopening direct access past Sandwell Valley Crematorium and down to the Country Park.
📰 Local News
Free Swimming for Kids: Sandwell children aged 18 and under can swim for free at local leisure centres throughout the school holidays. Register at your local leisure centre to access the free timetable.
Summer Vaccination Catch-Up: Health teams are advising parents to check their child's Red Book and make sure routine immunisations are up to date with their GP before September.
Smethwick Advice Centre Drop-Ins: Free confidential advice on financial, housing or welfare issues every Wednesday 9:30am–2pm at Smethwick Library. No appointment needed.
💛 Free Local Summer Activities
Healthy Sandwell's Activity Finder is running throughout summer, listing free stay-and-play sessions, family cycle rides and sports sessions across local parks and community centres.
🎉 What's On This Weekend
Free Holiday Swimming: Sessions running all weekend for registered children under 18 at local Sandwell leisure pools.
Free Arts & Crafts at Oldbury Library (Friday, 7 August): Free drop-in sessions for family arts and crafts during the summer holidays.
Sandwell Priory Heritage Walk (Sunday, 9 August): Dr. Mike Hodder is hosting an illustrated walk and talk at the Sandwell Valley Visitor Centre, covering the medieval archaeology and history of Sandwell Priory.
Great Barr Photographic Society Studio Night (Thursday, 13 August): The local photography club is hosting a studio night at the Great Barr Club on Queslett Road at 7:00 PM.
Steve the Juggler at Langley Library (Saturday, 15 August): Another free family fun event for the kids, featuring circus skills and juggling performances.
Park Reminder: Barbecues and open fires remain banned across all Sandwell parks. Open water swimming is also strongly discouraged in all local lakes and pools.
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Drive safe,
Great Barr Insider