'SADDENED' Short Heath councillors said racism has ‘no place’ in the ward, after a landmark building was defaced with racist slurs.
Last Friday (26), the remarks were sprayed onto the frontage of The Bridge Tavern, Bentley Lane. The incident was reported to Walsall council the same day, and the vandalism was painted over within hours.
A joint statement from all three ward members, Cllr Amandeep Garcha, Cllr Poonam Gill and Cllr Josh Whitehouse, said: “We were incredibly saddened to have received reports from residents of racist graffiti that had been painted on The Bridge Tavern on Lane Head.
“We immediately raised this with Walsall council and were pleased that this had been removed within hours.
“Racism has no place in Short Heath and will never be tolerated in our community. We all want the very best for our area and for our neighbours so to see this sprayed on the pub was disheartening.
“However, it was heart-warming to see the public condemnation of these acts which show that our community will always stand united against racism in all forms.”
Recently, plans to convert The Bridge Tavern into a convenience store had been met with opposition. A petition was launched against the proposals with many concerned about the historic building’s location at a busy junction.
Cllr Josh Whitehouse called in the application to be discussed at the planning committee in June on the grounds of public interest, traffic capacity and inadequate access.
Walsall council planning officers had recommended the plans to be refused. However, owners Bar Investments Ltd withdrew the application before the meeting took place.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: “We’re investigating after racist graffiti was spray painted onto the former Bridge Tavern on Bentley Lane in Willenhall between 25 and 26 July. The graffiti was reported to Walsall Council who removed it within two hours of it being reported.
“Officers have offered support to the occupants and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to get in touch quoting crime reference 20/675933/24.”
(Local Democracy Reporting Service)
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows British Steel's Scunthorpe plant, in Scunthorpe, northern England, Britain, March 31, 2025. REUTERS/Dominic Lipinski
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)
FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members
THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.
Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.
He said similar issues were reported in other unions, prompting a joint campaign to counter false narratives around immigration and race promoted by far-right groups online.
“People with far-right views are becoming more brazen in what they do on social media, and I’ve witnessed it with my own union around disciplinary cases and the rhetoric of some of our own members,” Wright said to the newspaper.
He added, “Some of our members and sometimes our reps have openly made comments which are racist and bigoted. In my time in the fire service, that has gone up.”
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. A formal statement addressing far-right narratives will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool next month.
Wright cited the influence of social media and figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage as factors contributing to these incidents. “It feels like an itch that we’ve got to scratch,” he said.
The FBU barred a former official last year for allegedly endorsing racist content on X, including posts from Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
Wright also warned that the union could strike if the government moves to cut frontline fire services.