Black Country councils on what's to come in 2025

It is no secret that councils across the country are struggling more than ever financially.

Cuts, council tax rises and social care pressures well documented issues – but what can people in the Black Country look forward to in 2025?

Despite the pressures facing Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley councils, each authority has plans for new events and facilities.

These include new shopping and food venues, as well as sports and music events.

Wulfrunians have a range of cultural events to add to their calendars which City of Wolverhampton Council said would put the city on the "global stage".

This includes the Kabaddi World Cup - a contact team sport - which will take place in Wolverhampton in March 2025, the first time it has been held outside of Asia.

The city will also host a new indie music festival called Feel the Noise in April, after receiving £25,000 from the government to put on the event.

The leader of the city council, Stephen Simkins, said the authority must find £32.6m by 2026-27.

Simkins said: "It's a testing time for everybody but we are quite fortunate that we have a strenuous savings proposal.

"There are opportunities for people to keep coming back to our city and stimulate the economy, which is important. It's important for us to still have these things."

People struggling in Walsall will be able to access four new community shops in 2025.

They will sell everyday items at a reduced price for those "on the cusp of poverty".

The Conservative leader of Walsall Council, Garry Perry, said the council has outlined savings of £28.8m for 2025-26.

He said the shops would "help people become less reliant on services and give some pride and dignity."

The first shop will open at the end of January in Bloxwich.

In Sandwell, residents can look forward to the opening of the £18m Midlands Met Learning Campus, which will provide healthcare training alongside the new hospital in Smethwick.

Sandwell Council is not facing the "extreme financial difficulties" like many, but it still has a budget shortfall of £20m.

The authority's Labour leader, Kerrie Carmichael, said summer 2025 would see the opening of the new indoor market in West Bromwich, including a specialist street food court.

She added: "It's not all about regeneration projects, it is about creating a borough where people want to live, work and visit."

Dudley's Conservative leader Patrick Harley said the authority had "stepped away from the edge" of bankruptcy but was still looking to save £35m in the next financial year.

When asked about the positives, Harley pointed to plans progressing for a brand new ice rink, Dudley Ice, due to open in 2027.

The ice rink will have a 2,000 people capacity which will increase to 4,000 if the ice is covered for conferences, sport or music events.