Tag: 365daysofbiking

February 14th – This is the stray horse problem Walsall Council claims it hasn’t got. To be fair, horses are cheap to acquire right now; market prices have never been lower, and any bit of common land around the Goscote Valley has a variety of nags tethered or just wandering free. These three forlorn animals – not one with access to water – were tethered within a short section of the cycle route running through the area. In total, there must have been about 15 of these unfortunate beasts, yet the council bafflingly announced recently that we don’t have a problem with this sort of thing. The council can’t actually do much. People won’t claim the horses if taken away, and the sanctuaries are, by and large, full. It’s a thorny, and worsening, issue.

February 13th – I see the new offices for Walsall Housing Group – the hived-off housing association that owns almost all of Walsall Council’s former social housing stock – are nearly finished. This inelegant, six and a half million pound edifice has undergone a protracted construction; the glass units forming the frontage were faulty and fogged up soon after placement, the manufacture being faulty. It’s notable that some panels are still cloudy. This ill conceived building seems to be fully lit at night, presumably at no small expense, and is completely devoid of public transport support. This could be considered an oversight considering WHG’s tenant profile.

That money would have built a lot of decent homes.

February 13th – It struck me as I returned from work late, that hospitals grow their own economic microclimate. All round Walsall’s new Manor Hospital, there are a range of convenience shops. More than average numbers of newsagents, cafes, taxi offices and even undertakers. Oddly, fast food outlets of varying degrees of healthiness also proliferate. I wonder if they’re serving the staff, or patients more? Here on the Pleck Road, business looked brisk, even at this evening hour.

February 12th – interested to see that someone is now keeping pigs in the paddock between the canal and Watling Street near Newtown, Brownhills. They look well cared for, and happy. There seem to be some different breeds there – wondering if the ginger ones are Tamworths. This is an interesting addition and shall watch them grow. They’re in the corner of a field that’s also home to a rather impressive flock of sheep. I don’t know who’s farming here, but I wish them well.

February 12th – Another headache grey day. The chill had lifted, but the canal was still frozen as I spun out at 4pm. It had been a grey, grim, dank and misty day. It felt warm, though, and as I rode up from Brownhills and over Catshill Junction toward The Anchor it felt oddly pleasant. I noted that the fishermen had broken the ice here so that they could fish – that seemed a bit hardcore. I pottered on, darkness descended like a muffler, bringing with is thicker mist. Not the best day for photography, and I didn’t see a soul. An oddly lonely, desolate ride.

February 11th – The best bit about February is the lengthening day, which gives way in clear times to fantastic sunset skies. These are a regular feature at this time of year, but tend to become rarer as spring arrives. These shots, taken from the foot of Lazy Hill on the Chester Road, near Stonnall, were taken at 5:30pm. Already, the nights are opening out. I can’t quite feel the stirrings of spring yet, but oh for the light nights, daffodils and green shoots again. Bring it on. 

February 11th – A bitterly cold day, and one for a rest. I had some stuff to do at sundown, so headed up over Lazy Hill to catch what was quite a decent sunset. It’s always been a bit of a disappointment to me that the best views of the countryside below from this spot can only be accessed by trespassing. As with Lanes Farm at Sandhills, most of the ancient rights of way seem to have been removed by more modern landowners. This picture of Castlefort Hill – the hamlet of upmarket houses once known as Castle Gate after the accent earthwork atop the hill – was taken from the fields on the brow of the ridge, after hopping over a field gate. Most access points are blocked by barbed wire.

February 10th – The predicted snow didn’t arrive in Brownhills – all we had was an icing-sugar dusting. I had to go to Redditch, and set out early on a filthy, drizzly morning to hop on the Cross City line. Arriving at the station just in time to watch the tail-lights of my train slide into the distance, I felt thoroughly fed up. 
An hour later, zipping through the snow covered landscape of south Birmingham, I cheered up. The snow had been more pronounced here, and when I got to Redditch, the town looked lovely. Church Green was gorgeous, and the cottages near Ipsley in the Arrow Valley were equally beautiful, which restored my good mood. It’s not often you can say that about Redditch. 

On the way back, I spotted two snowmen at Little Aston forge. I suspect they were from last weekend – they look like they were good efforts. Sorry I didn’t catch them in their prime… my apologies to the motorist behind whom I held up while taking the picture.

February 9th – The old General Hospital in Walsall closed a long time ago. It’s services moved into a large new complex at the site of Walsall Manor Hospital, I guess nearly two decades ago now. The old, rambling, ramshackle and inadequate edifice was mostly demolished, except for the original, Victorian outpatients building. This was retained and formed part of a new social housing development on the site. The doors aren’t original, but the ironwork sign above them is; as are the intricate terracotta ornamentations. Originally called ‘The Heritage’, the name seems to have been inexplicably changed to ‘Lion House’. It’s nice to see such a prominent bit of Walsall’s architectural history survive – proof that we can get it right occasionally.

February 9th – On the A461 Lichfield Road, between Rushall and Shelfield, a truly remarkable bit of parking. The rear tyre of this car hasn’t made it onto the pavement, but is about two inches clear of the road, too. One assumes the driver is too lazy or incompetent to even park the car properly, let alone the legality of leaving it on the pavement. Sadly, I doubt if a parking enforcement officer will wander this far from the revenue stream in central Walsall….