Yew Tree, West Bromwich

The Yew Tree Estate is located at Sandwell's border with Walsall and is accessible from the A4031 West Bromwich Road and from the Walstead Road. Developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s by West Bromwich County Borough Council for municipal housing. Yew Tree was also home to some of the borough's first multi storey flats, most of which have been demolished and replaced by housing. A more recent development was the construction of the neighbouring Tamebridge Estate which is only accessible by road via Yew Tree. The appropriate Sandwell Ward is called Great Barr with Yew Tree whose population taken at the 2011 census was 12,597.

Recently a 20 mph speed limit has come into force on the Yew Tree and Tamebridge Estate area, which also included the construction of two speed humps on Greenside Way and a zebra crossing.

Residents of Yew Tree have Walsall addresses and phone numbers but are actually under Sandwell Council.

Local Facilities

Yew Tree has a large amount of common land, as well as a community centre, health centre and play area by the local row of shops on Redwood Road. Currently on this row of shops are two convenience stores, a computer repair shop, a chip shop, fruit and veg store, a takeout cafe, hairdressers, a barbers and a chemist. There is also a pub on Thorncroft Way which has altered from its original name of 'The Archers to The Orchard and now is currently using its original name of 'The Archers'. It is a community local with three pool teams, three darts teams, a quiz on Monday nights and live entertainment at the weekends.

Schools

The estate was previously home to two primary schools, Fir Tree and Yew Tree. In 2006 both schools were merged under the Yew Tree name however they continued to operate at both sites, one on Birchfield Way (the original Yew Tree) and the other on Greenside Way (Fir Tree). The Birchfield Way site has been partially developed with a new building being built not only with extra classrooms for also rooms for the local community. In 2011 the Greenside Way site shut and all children are now taught from the Birchfield Way site. In 2012 the Greenside Way site was demolished and the land is now likely to be redeveloped.

Public Transport

Buses

Yew Tree has a frequent public transport connection to Walsall thanks to two regular bus services the 401E operated by Black Diamond which operates between Walsall, Yew Tree and Tamebridge and the 45 operated by National Express West Midlands which operates between Walsall, Bescot, Yew Tree, Stone Cross, Charlemont Farm, Sandwell General Hospital and West Bromwich.

Blue Diamond also operate the 679 service between Yew Tree, Friar Park and Wednesbury however this only operates hourly between 9am and 2pm.

Rail

Tamebridge Parkway is only a 5 minute bus or car journey away from Yew Tree, providing frequent trains to Walsall or Birmingham New Street. For a period of time trains also operated to London direct from Tamebridge Parkway.

Famous people

• Ian Hill - Judas Priest
• K.K. Downing - Judas Priest guitarist
• Matthew Marsden- Actor
• James Driscoll - inventor of the Shoe People