Sandwell

Many people still get confused as to where Sandwell is. You could argue that it doesn't deserve to be listed separately as it is not exactly a place in its own right, more of a combination of places that make up Sandwell. On the 1st April, 1974, as part of a general Local Government reorganisation, the former County Boroughs of Warley and West Bromwich were amalgamated to create a new District Council within the West Midlands Metropolitan County. Under Charter granted by Her Majesty the Queen the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell was formed.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council have their impressive headquarters in Oldbury as shown in the photograph above. The design and its landscaping has added a very welcome feature to Oldbury and local business has benefitted as a result. It is important to note, that whilst Warley and West Bromwich were seen to have merged to form the new Borough, there are several key districts, also formerly Boroughs that were included in the new Borough. These are, Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich, all important key areas within the West Midlands and noted for their great contribution to the Industrial Revolution.

Often overshadowed by its equally illustrious neighbour Birmingham, the Sandwell Borough is often viewed as a suburb of Birmingham when in actual fact it does retain its own individual and unique identity. It's people are proud of their heritage and would not thank you for classing them as "Brummies". By the same token residents of Birmingham are often just as proud to be seen as from Birmingham and not from Sandwell. The same could be said for Dudley. It is important to understand the diverse nature of the West Midlands in which we live and respect the right of individual citizens, organisations and councils to promote their own community.

Sandwell is geographically in the heart of the Black Country. It's industrial roots and contribution to the Industrial Revolution is an accepted fact of history. There is still a large manufacturing base in Sandwell and companies in new technology and industry are well placed using Sandwell as an operating base. Sandwell has put derelict land to good use and a considerable number of new modern prime industrial parks and units have been built in Sandwell.

Sandwell has more than 3,000 acres of parkland. One of the most well known and popular of these is Sandwell Valley Park.

The Sandwell Council Website can be found at http://www.smbc.sandwell.gov.uk/