Author Archives: Ian

It appears of late that some journalists have woken up to the dismal failures of the privatised water industry and are actually reporting investigative truth on the matter, as they rightly should. Recent examples include an ITV Central piece “64 … Continue reading →

Despite the many concerns about desilting part of the raw sewage contaminated pool at Smethwick Hall park, Sandwell council decided to press on regardless after being blanked by polluter Severn Trent Water and their “community fund.” I was in favour … Continue reading →

Ever since this blog and campaign started 7 years ago, the subject of the “lawful” release of Canada Geese was at the heart of the issue, and how parks officers in Sandwell had lied about their murder. They were only … Continue reading →

The longstanding saga of this heavily raw sewage polluted pool and its incompetent management took a new twist last month which appears to throw a spanner in the works for Sandwell council’s theoretically  planned “remediation.” For newcomers to this story, … Continue reading →

2020 was without doubt the worst year for pollution incidents affecting waterways and wildfowl in the West Midlands area that I have ever known in nearly 25 years of rescue. It ended with two appalling incidents, on the Titford canal … Continue reading →

As we continue to see total apathy from Sandwell council regards taking action about the problems involving serious water pollution in its pools via Seven Trent Water’s failed monitoring and abilities to prevent this, it appears that those at the … Continue reading →

Back in August, I gave an update on what little was happening about the situation with the contaminated pools in Smethwick. Essentially this is Victoria park and Smethwick Hall park. The latter of course we know to be contaminated with … Continue reading →

  As part of our lockdown litter campaign, we wrote to the four leaders of the Black country local authorities. The letter can be read here. This is the second formal response that I have had from the four borough leaders, … Continue reading →

This post reveals two things. That Birmingham City Council do not care about wildlife in its parks, which I knew already, and that angling in this area is uncontrolled and results in the death of wildlife, which I also know … Continue reading →

  Three years ago, this blog revealed that Sandwell council were making virtually nothing from fishing on its pools.  Despite stating on its website that certain pools could be fished, and that there were various charges for doing so, an … Continue reading →