Prison service angling at lodge farm
The Lodge Farm estate is located in the area of Short Heath in the town of Willenhall, which is in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall.
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The estate is centred primarily within the interior loop of Stroud Avenue. It comprises mainly current and former council properties and a smaller number of more recently built private houses. It is closely connected to the Brackendale estate, which is situated around the exterior loop of Stroud Avenue and comprises mainly detached and semi-detached private housing whose construction pre-dates that on the Lodge Farm estate. Due to their close proximity, the two estates are often mistaken for each other. It is served by a small number of convenience stores and is also home to one pub called The Homestead. For many years, it was also served by a pub called the Cavalcade, but this has now been demolished and the land will possibly be used for housing. A children's home used to lie on Stroud Avenue (Drum and Bass star Goldie being one of its ex-residents). A care home for the elderly and a family centre also lie on the estate. The estate is also home to a large field which once housed the Lodge Farm itself, but has no play area for youngsters.
The estate is divided from the neighbouring estates of Bentley & the Briarsleigh Estate by a disused railway, known locally as The Banks. Lodge Farm also borders Willenhall Lawn Cemetery and Lane Head.
The estate has good educational provision, being the home to four schools (Rosedale CE Infant School, Short Heath Junior School, Lodge Farm Primary School & Willenhall School Sports College).
Cross country lodge farm
Public transport
Lodge Farm is well served by local bus services, linking the estate to Willenhall, New Invention, Darlaston, Walsall and Wolverhampton, as well as the Manor Hospital in Walsall. During daytime hours 10 buses are meant to serve the estate an hour these are:
Midland - Monday - Sunday daytime
National Express West Midlands - Seven days, including evenings
National Express West Midlands & Diamond Bus - Seven days, including evenings
Additionally services 69 (Walsall - Wolverhampton), X31 (Birmingham - Cannock) & 326 (Bilston - Willenhall - Bloxwich) travel along the border of the estate.
Whilst 10 buses serving the estate each hour may sound good, in 1998 as many as 32 buses an hour served the estate, with nearly 25 operating as a recently as five years ago. This is a decrease in services by over 56% in the space of a decade, or compared to 2006, a decrease of 44%.
The nearest train station in terms of distance is Bloxwich North railway station, but in travelling times is Walsall railway station.
One of the numerous extension plans for the Midland Metro tram network is the 5 W's Route, linking Wolverhampton, Walsall, Willenhall, Wednesfield & Wednesbury which would travel along The Banks.