Birmingham news and blogs Wednesday 22 May 2013
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Solihull news »
Cricket: Back to back wins put Berkswell’s season on track
BalsallCom 21 MayTrevor Jordan reports on Berkswell Cricket Club’s Birmingham League Premier Division campaign and the presentation of the first ever Saracens Head Man of the Match Award for Berkswell’s Chris Cheslin, as adjudicated by former England fast…
Half-term cricket camps at Berkswell Cricket Club
BalsallCom 21 MayThe coaching consultancy that works with Berkswell Cricket Club’s youngsters are staging a half-term cricket camp for 5 to 15 year old boys and girls at the club next week.
Meriden gypsies launch new bid to return to site
Birmingham Post 21 MayGypsies evicted from an illegal camp following a three-year battle have launched a bid to return to the green belt site – dealing residents a hammer blow.
Homes plan goes ahead despite objections
Solihull News 20 MayPLANS to build two four bedroom detached houses in place of a bungalow in Solihull have been given the go ahead, despite a raft of objections from the local community.
Have a cup of tea plea for Solihull Marie Curie
Solihull News 20 MayMARIE Curie Cancer Care is asking the people of Solihull to hold a Blooming Great Tea Party this June and July to help raise funds for the March Lane hospice.
Birmingham workers pay 20 per cent less income tax UK average
Birmingham Post 20 MayResidents of Birmingham have one of the lowest average income tax bills in the UK, paying an average of £3,520 per year.
School in parking plea
The Silhillian 19 MayDORRIDGE Nursery and Infant school has called on parents not
to park outside the school.
Dorridge nursery plan revised over road concerns
The Silhillian 19 MayPLANS for the biggest nursery
in Knowle and Dorridge have been revised to cut staff and add more parking
following concerns from highway bosses.
Bingo caller from Brierley Hill saved grandmother’s life
Express & Star 17 MayAs it was ‘eyes down look in’, little did grandmother Shirley Gardener know that the young bingo hall assistant she had only ever waved at before was about to become her ‘guardian angel’ and save her life.
Pupils take part in science week.
Solihull News 17 MaySPARKS flew at Balsall Common Primary recently when pupils took part in an Eco Science and Technology Week.
Taxi driver praised for helping police catch robber.
Solihull News 17 MayA COURAGEOUS cabbie who confronted robbers as they fled a Kingshurst BP garage following a raid has been praised by police for his quick-thinking actions.
Shirley Marks and Spencer – ‘Use it or lose it’ plea.
Solihull News 17 MayCUSTOMERS of the Marks & Spencer (M&S) Simply Food outlet in Shirley have been urged to ‘use it or lose it’ following the news that the store will remain on Stratford Road for the time being.
Writer Paul Torr goes in search of a second Solihull…..
Solihull News 17 MayA funny thing happened to me on the way to Solihull recently.
More Solihull news
Sport »
Mac’s cash boosts Solihull Moors juniors
Solihull News 17 MaySOLIHULL Moors Youth & Junior FC, above, has received a welcome helping hand from McDonald’s who has provided a grant of 1,000 to buy new portable football goals which will help the club to expand through setting up more teams as part…
Solihull’s Coldland Colts do the double
Solihull News 17 MayIT’S a double ‘double’ for Coldlands Colts Under 9s and Under 10s who, in the space of two weeks, won their respective league and cup finals.
Solihull U14s crowned West Mids champions
Solihull News 17 MaySOLIHULL’S U14 district representative side have been crowned West Midlands champions after winning all but one of their league matches.
Visually impaired football tournament comes to Birmingham
Solihull News 17 MaySIR Bobby Charlton will be guest of honour at the annual National Visually Impaired Five-a-Side Football Tournament at the @Futsal arena, Birmingham this Saturday, May 18.
Solihull Moors brings 32 youth clubs under its banner
Solihull News 17 MaySOLIHULL Moors have announced a joint partnership with Hampton FC that will see the Hampton boys Youth, Junior and community Open Age football join the existing structure at Damson Park.
Knowle Village given severe test
Solihull News 17 MayLOOKING to build on last weekend’s encouraging performance against Aston Unity, Knowle Village travelled the short distance to Solihull Municipal who themselves had a strong start to the season.
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Blogs »
Cllr Peter Doyle welcomes £345k grant for Solihull Citizens Advice Bureau
Cllr Peter Doyle: Conservative - Shirley South 21 MayCllr Peter Doyle, Caroline Spelman MP Julian Knight welcome big grant for Citizens Advice Bureau Cllr Peter Doyle as you may know sits on the board of Trustees for The Citizens Advice Solihull Bureau which has been awarded £345,160 by the …
Caroline Spelman MP & Julian Knight welcome big grant for Citizens Advice Bureau
Solihull Conservatives 21 MayThe Citizens Advice Solihull Bureau has been awarded £345,160 by the Government and the Big Lottery Fund to continue providing advice in Solihull Borough.
Shirley Community Update May 2013
Cllr Peter Doyle: Conservative - Shirley South 20 MayShirley’s busy cllr Peter Doyle is back with his community update for May and it has been a busy one!! Shirley consists on three wards – Shirley East, West and South each having over 10,000 residents making your ward councillors very busy…
Four days of jumping, jiving music and free family entertainment at Solihull’s Jazz & Blues Festival this weekend!
Dickens Heath.net 20 MaySolihull’s Mardi Gras parade in 2012 It’s not often you get to talk about The Mayor, Mardis Gras and Marilyn Monroe in the same sentence! Well they’re all here in the story as Solihull’s annual free Jazz and Blues festival …
Cllr Joe Tildesley welcomed as Mayor of Solihull
Solihull Conservatives 20 MayCouncillor Joe Tildesley was confirmed as the new and 60th Mayor of Solihull at the Annual Council meeting on Tuesday 14 May.
MP Lorely secures vote of confidence in Solihull business
Lorely Burt MP: LibDem - Solihull 17 MaySolihull Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt has secured assurances that Solihull’s position as a top centre for business is safe.
Concessions on HS2
Solihull Conservatives 17 MayThe Department for Transport has published the Environmental Statement (ES) for Phase One of the High Speed Railway project from London to Birmingham.
Public exhibition of development proposals for Braggs Farm Lane land
Dickens Heath.net 16 MayDavid Wilson Homes is in the process of designing proposals for the redevelopment of land next to Braggs Farm Lane/Rumbush Lane.
Unemployment Update May 2013
Cllr Peter Doyle: Conservative - Shirley South 16 MayLets start with some good news, I would like to bring your attention to the sharp fall in youth unemployment across the borough.
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Features »
Cole Cub Camp
Solihull Scouts 21 MayOur annual cub camp returned with a vengeance from 10-12 May, at Pikes Pool.
Rock & Pop: The Mavericks rock the house
Solihull News: What's on 20 MayThe Mavericks, Symphony Hall…
What’s happening in May 2013
Meriden Parish Council blog 19 MayNext parish council meeting 20 May 2013 Is our Annual General meeting and Parish Council meeting at the Sports Pavilion from 7:30pm.
Moseley Farmers’ Market
Word In Veg Ways 19 MayEntrance to Moseley’s Farmers Market Moseley as a district is one of the jewels in Birmingham’s crown.
66104 at Solihull in Summer 1999
Transport in Pictures 17 MayI’m panning back through the years once again to the late 1990s delivery phase for the EWS Class 66s, and it has to be said that this one looks a treat with its fresh paintwork at Solihull.
150103 Leamington Spa in Spring 2000
Transport in Pictures 17 MayBack in spring 2000, this service from Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon was still scheduled for Central Trains / Centro Class 150 power.
Rock & Pop: The Mavericks set to get Symphony Hall rocking
Solihull News: What's on 17 MayGRAMMY award winning band, The Mavericks play Symphony Hall in Birmingham this Saturday, May 18.
National Vegetarian Week 2013 – The Birmingham Press
Word In Veg Ways 14 MayI’ve written an article for The Birmingham Press outlining how National Vegetarian Week should be used as a way of trying vegetarian food either via your weekly supermarket food shopping spree or when dining out.
Rock & Pop: Tex Mex fusion stars The Mavericks play Symphony Hall
Solihull News: What's on 14 MayGrammy award winning band, The Mavericks play Symphony Hall in Birmingham this Saturday, May 18.
Edge Magazine Feature – May 2013
Word In Veg Ways 9 May‘ Edge Magazine ‘ is a food, drink, culture, business, fashion and lifestyle magazine focusing on all the latest news from the Warwickshire, Worcestershire and West Midlands areas.
Here’s my set list from last night’s Flux Vortex
The Industrial Revolution 4 MayThanks to everyone for coming along to the night, it certainly made mine to see so many of you going mental to my mashup! ChimeraX – The Box Razed In Black – Oh My Goth (DjrIB Trance Remix) Torul – In Whole (Tenek Remix) Assemblage 23 – Crush Live DJ…
Al Fresco Dining & Table Talk with Leading Chef at Piccolino’s Birmingham
Word In Veg Ways 2 May DJ entertaining the guests at theAl Fresco Terrace Launch Al fresco dining is often only really feasible in warmer climes and apart from a few sun speckled days in summer, England doesn’t lend itself well to such experiences.
DJing live at Eddies on the 3rd of May!
The Industrial Revolution 30 AprI’ll be DJing an hour set of EBM/Synth/Electronic music at Flux Vortex following the William Control gig this Friday! Come along and say hi if you’re in the area…
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Business »
Strengthening buy-to-let market boosts Paragon as H1 profits rise
TheBusinessDesk 21 MaySOLIHULL-based home credit and mortgages group Paragon has seen interim profit growth on a strengthening buy-to-let market.
The Solihull building boss still going strong at 94 years old
Birmingham Post 17 MayClassic car fan Ken Smith is still firmly in the driving seat at Solihull’s 100 million turnover builders merchants EH Smith – at the astonishing age of 94.
HS2 tunnel planned under M6 motorway
TheBusinessDesk 15 MayThe HS2 train line is likely to run through a tunnel under the M6 in Castle Bromwich.
EH Smith invests £400,000 in Solihull base
TheBusinessDesk 14 MaySOLIHULL builders merchant EH Smith has re-launched following a £400,000 redevelopment of its site.
UBC announces strong first quarter figures
TheBusinessDesk 14 MaySOLIHULL serviced office provider United Business Centres (UBC) has announced first quarter sales figures, revealing a strong start to the year.
Challenging trading conditions result in Enterprise Inns profit slump
TheBusinessDesk 14 MaySOLIHULL pub company Enterprise Inns has seen a marked dip in its profits in the six months ending March 31.
Law firms Wilkes and Williamson & Soden set to merge
Birmingham Post 14 MayBirmingham law firm The Wilkes Partnership is set to merge with Solihull-based Williamson & Soden solicitors as the region’s legal sector continues to consolidate.
Law firm The Wilkes Partnership to merge with Solihull rival
TheBusinessDesk 13 MayBIRMINGHAM law firm The Wilkes Partnership has merged with Solihull-based rival Williamson & Soden solicitors.
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999 »
Question time for top cop
WM Police Solihull 17 MayTABLES will be turned as a top cop is interrogated by the public next week under the social media spotlight.
Force backs national bid to tackle hate crime
WM Police Solihull 17 MayWEST Midlands Police is backing a national campaign to raise awareness of…
Pup Idol II – the search for a Spaniel star
WM Police Solihull 16 MayPUP Idol is back?hellip;and this time we?rsquo;re searching for West Midlands Police?rsquo;s star Spaniel! Three…
Top of the cops: Surjeet honoured by Queen
WM Police Solihull 16 MayONE of the Midlands’most senior police officers has been to Buckingham Palace to collect an award for his distinguished public…
Public ’hangout’ with police during speeding operation
WM Police Solihull 15 MayMEMBERS of the public saw first-hand how West Midlands Police is responding to speeding in their local community last night as part of a ‘Google…
Solihull Police praise role of crime-fighting volunteers
WM Police Solihull 15 MaySOLIHULL police has paid tribute to the role played by neighbourhood watch in helping officers to reduce crime across the borough.
Public invited to ‘hangout’ with police during speeding operation
WM Police Solihull 14 MayMEMBERS of the public are being invited to see first-hand how West Midlands Police is responding to speeding in their local community.
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LocalGov »
Drop into our Scam Surgery in Chelmsley Wood on Thursday to find out how you can avoid becoming a victim of scams. http://t.co/3JjykQUUV9
Solihull MBC: PR (via Twitter) 21 MayDrop into our Scam Surgery in Chelmsley Wood on Thursday to find out how you can avoid becoming a victim of scams.
Light Hall School wants to recruit 2 community governors. Interested? Call 0121 746 5054 or head to http://t.co/avGLrRfNxX
Solihull MBC: PR (via Twitter) 21 MayLight Hall School wants to recruit 2 community governors.
We’re consulting on proposed changes to our Travel Assistance policies, find out more here: http://t.co/x13nxy8Gwu
Solihull MBC: PR (via Twitter) 21 MayWe’re consulting on proposed changes to our Travel Assistance policies, find out more here: http://t.
New reading scheme launched today to help children with emotional difficulties http://t.co/9mjbiCasgg
Solihull MBC: PR (via Twitter) 20 MayNew reading scheme launched today to help children with emotional difficulties http://t.
Dementia Awareness Week 19th – 25th May 2013
NHS Newsroom 19 MayOne in three people over the age of 65 have dementia and the number is increasing as people live longer.
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Solihull on flickr
- Glider
02 Jan 12
Here is a shot of that Heron from Babbs Mill.
Spotted it again whilst out taking shots.
It was a bit quick in the low light even for me.
This was as it glided towards the area I was in until it landed
UK news
- Donald Macintyre's Sketch: If the Tory beast needs red meat, call for Chris Grayling
- Disarray as DPP contradicts new guidance on naming of suspects
- Bipolar pregnant woman tells court: I’ll kill myself if I’m denied an abortion
- Reforms to teachers’ pay ‘will mean bigger class sizes’
- Boris Johnson: The flawed Mayor of London
- Andy McSmith's Diary: Listen children, the world really was created in seven days
- PM under more pressure as 130 Tory MPs oppose gay marriage Bill
- Take disabled sport seriously, urges Baroness Grey-Thompson
- Hospitals freeze A&E targets – because they can’t hit them
- Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group
International news
- US rescuers search for tornado survivors
- Syria parties 'preparing for peace talks'
- Two key candidates barred from Iran election
- Deadly bombings continue across Iraq
- UK wants Belhadj case in secret court
- Apple CEO rejects 'tax evasion' charges
- Nigeria to free Boko Haram members
- India offers more aid for Afghanistan
- Afghan forces in deadly battle with Taliban
- Guatemala court overturns genocide conviction
- Myanmar jails Muslims over religious violence
Ambulance plans “could put lives at risk”
Lorely Burt MP: LibDem - Solihull 21 MayLocal Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt is leading calls to save Solihull’s ambulance provision following concerns that plans for the service could “put lives at risk”.