Black Country news and blogs Wednesday 22 May 2013
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Sandwell news »
Top five stories for May 21 on the Birmingham Mail
Birmingham Mail 21 MayHere are today’s most read stories on the Birmingham Mail website…
Walsall canal towpaths set to be turned into cycle routes
Birmingham Mail 21 MayFour miles of pathways could be upgraded under £1.5m scheme…
Birmingham walking festival includes Cradley Heath in programme
Halesowen News 21 MayCRADLEY Heath has been included in a festival of walking tours to highlight unseen tourism gems in Birmingham.
New boss to lead Blackheath housing group
Halesowen News 21 MayA NEW boss has been appointed to take over at the helm of the Blackheath-based Black Country Housing Group.
Cradley residents to quiz council chiefs
Halesowen News 21 MayCONCERNED residents will be able to quiz Dudley’s new regeneration chief at the next meeing of the Cradley Action Group.
Violent drunk from Oldbury after attack on vulnerable girlfriend
Halesowen News 21 MayA VIOLENT drunk from Oldbury brutally beat his desperately ill girlfriend and threatened to rip her kidney dialysis equipment from her back.
Violent drunk from Oldbury jailed after attack on vulnerable girlfriend
Halesowen News 21 MayA VIOLENT drunk from Oldbury brutally beat his desperately ill girlfriend and threatened to rip her kidney dialysis equipment from her back.
West Brom model aims to become Miss England 2013
Birmingham Mail 21 MayCharlie Machin, aged 19, from West Bromwich, said her inspiration had been her cousin Dani Roberts, 16, who suffers from Erb’s Palsy, which has left one of her arms paralysed…
Fire Tackled In Stourport
Free Radio 97.2 21 MayIt started at 10.20pm on Monday night at Pelican Food Services – a cooking oil recycling centre – on the Sandy Lane Industrial Estate in Stourport.
Drunken couple who made neighbours’ lives a misery kicked out of Blackheath home
Express & Star 21 MayA couple whose drunken behaviour made their neighbours’ lives a misery have been evicted from their council home and banned from a borough for five years.
Council leader hits back at report which labels parts of Birmingham as “welfare ghettos”
Birmingham Mail 21 MayCentre For Social Justice points to “poor work attitude” for high numbers of benefit claimants…
Judge gives persistent Cradley Heath fire starter hospital order
Halesowen News 21 MayA Cradley Heath firestarter has been made subject of an interim hospital order after starting a blaze in Dudley Library.
“Big Brother” Birmingham council urges staff to support wheelie bins
Birmingham Mail 21 MayProbe launched after staff get email urging them to back new refuse collections…
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West Bromwich Albion »
Thomas Tweets Departure
Vital Baggies 21 MayThomas Tweets Departure Vitalfootball:WBA:21/05/2013 17:02:00 Jerome Thomas has confirmed that he is leaving West Bromwich Albion this summer, after four years with us.
Lukaku Return Not Ruled Out
Vital Baggies 21 MayLukaku Return Not Ruled Out Vitalfootball:WBA:21/05/2013 16:53:00 Neither Steve Clarke nor Romelu Lukaku have ruled out a return for the player next season, but ultimately it's in Chelsea's hands.
West Brom bank a record £48.3m
Express & Star 21 MayWest Brom have netted a record Premier League windfall of £48.3million with Aston Villa’s prize money share also increasing, official figures revealed today.
Jerome Thomas confirms West Brom departure
Express & Star 21 MayJerome Thomas confirms West Brom departure…
Behind-the-scenes as Sir Alex Ferguson retires
Express & Star 21 MayBehind-the-scenes as Sir Alex Ferguson retires…
Gareth McAuley urges West Brom duo to re-sign
Express & Star 21 MayGareth McAuley urges West Brom duo to re-sign…
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Sport »
Roy Jones Jnr vows to box on from West Brom
Express & Star 20 MayBoxing legend Roy Jones Jnr roared “I am not done” from the Hawthorns as the special guest of a sportsman’s dinner at West Brom on Saturday night.
Results just in from the TAGB Welsh Championships 19th May 2013
West Midlands Tae Kwon Do 19 MayResults just in from the TAGB Welsh Championships 19th May 2013 Zemaria Farquharson ( DUDLEY )- Blue Belt Girls Lightweight- GOLD and Tag Team (TRIPLE TROUBLE) – GOLD.
Cox hoping for a break in the rain
Halesowen News 17 MayDANNY COX is keen for his Old Hill charges to break their Birmingham Premier League duck on Saturday — weather permitting.
Darby is keen to keep his players
Halesowen News 16 MayDUANE Darby watched his Cradley Town team extend their unbeaten West Midland League record to eight games then set his sights on keeping his squad together for next season.
TAGB Midlands Championship Sunday 16th June . Entries due NOW
West Midlands Tae Kwon Do 14 MayMidlands Championship.
WRUFC ANNUAL DINNER, DANCE AND PRESENTATION EVENING
Wednesbury RFC 14 MayWRUFC Host their annual presentation evening Saturday 1st of June.
2013 TAGB World Championship Entries Due In Now!
West Midlands Tae Kwon Do 14 MayURGENT 2013 TAGB World Championship Entries Due In Now! To get your entry form.
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Comment »
You have the need…the need to bead!
Welovebearwood 20 MayBead Savvy are back with a vengeance with more workshops coming our way! You can learn how to make your own beaded dragon (so cute!), design your own summer hair accesories and peruvian weave bracelet (how on trend!).
The Big Switch
Bearwood Blog 20 MayOver the last week over 5,000 people have joined the list of those wanting more information on the proposal which could enable those who live and work in Sandwell to save money on their energy bills by signing up to the Sandwell Energy Switch.
Labour and the EU referendum
Sandwell Tory 19 MayDoing the will of the people is the basis of democracy, local news papers run a online poll and 78% of replies say they want out the EU, your local Conservative MP’s voted for a referendum, but most of Labour voted against, were is your …
Extracts from today’s Sunday newspapers: a shocking read for the Conservative leadership
Tom Watson MP: Labour - West Bromwich East 19 MayThe stories in today’s Sunday papers represent a mid-term outpouring of angst from the normally Tory supporting sections of our media.
Equal Marriage
A Cog of Change 17 MayToday is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).
Sandwell residents invited to exhibit alongside Turner Prize recognised artists
The Birmingham Press 17 MayArtists from across Sandwell are invited to submit artwork to The Public’s summer exhibition and have a unique opportunity to have their work displayed in a gallery alongside Tracey Emin, Martin Creed, Jeremy Deller and David Shrigley.
The shuffle returns…
Bearwood Blog 17 MayAfter a glorious start two years ago the Bearwood Promoters' free music events on the Lightwoods Park bandstand suffered last year, as did so many events, from the vagaries of the English weather.
The season now ending
The Birmingham Press 17 MayTerry Wills is not a happy Baggie, even if he is about to see history being made.
Kind Hearts and Fish and Chips
Welovebearwood 16 MayNot only do Chamberlains Fish and Chips Restaurant make the largest and tastiest onion rings for miles around (they were the same size as our plate last weekend!) they have a very big heart as well.
Thrifty Thursday | Walsall again?
Mike Maynard 16 MayThe Aldi super-six this week are celery, cucumbers, lemons (3), spring onions, tomatoes (6) and garlic (4).
Volunteer Day cancelled
Bearwood Blog 15 MayThe Shakespeare Garden Volunteer Day at Lightwoods Park arranged for Saturday 18th May 2013 is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Labour donor wants EU referendum
Sandwell Tory 15 MayNot only did we miss a triple dip recession, evidence from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates we may never even had the double dip Labour were happy to sing about, Strangely we also hear a major Labour backer wants an in out vote , …
Yes, Minister
Tom Watson MP: Labour - West Bromwich East 15 MayIt’s all going to be ok in “medium to long term”.
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Features »
Chickfest Warren
Two Black Country Birders 21 MayAs we had a really busy weekend sorting the garden out, we decided that as soon as Tina got home from work yesterday, we would pop down the M5 to Upton and see the chicks, as we know we won’t get chance to get there otherwise for a few weeks.
Neodigital Art | Stylish editing
Mike Maynard 21 MayI managed to take a few photos on Sunday and so I went back to see this lock-keepers cottage in Walsall.
19th May 2013
Martyn Yapp's Adult Plumage 20 MayThe fact there was no leader of the Ochrurus front around today I still felt I should check out various bits of Birmingham city centre looking for singing Black Redstart.
Greedy, mad, swivel eyed loons
Mike Maynard 19 MayThis week the share price of Lloyd’s Banking Group went over 60p and so the government has reached the break even price for it’s shares.
Remembering an Oldbury pub in its 1920s heyday
Black Country Bugle 18 MayOver the past few weeks we have been following the story of Derrick Such’s family involvement in the brewing industry; Derrick worked on the drays at the Cape Hill Brewery in Smethwick, and his grandparents…
Lunchtime at Haden Hill
Two Black Country Birders 17 MayAs the sun was shining I took the opportunity to have a wander around Haden Hill Park and Corngreaves NR at lunchtime yesterday (Thursday) At first I didn’t think I would see much, to many dog walkers again! A real pain in the Mutt! The Bluebells and…
Finance Friday | Priorities
Mike Maynard 17 MayCan you imagine living in a country where you don’t have any opportunities and struggle to get clean water and enough to eat? Here in the UK, most people are lucky, but there is a lot of inequality.
Animation consultation on Tuesday 28th May 2013 @ 12pm- 1.30pm
OSCAR Sandwell 16 MayWhy not come along and join us…
Thrifty Thursday | Walsall again?
Mike Maynard 16 MayThe Aldi super-six this week are celery, cucumbers, lemons (3), spring onions, tomatoes (6) and garlic (4).
More commendations for Bible by the Beach
Transforming Grace 16 MayIf my 10 reasons to attend Bible by the Beach didn’t persude you to stick it in your diary for next year, John Stevens and Adrian Holloway have added their commendations for Bible by the Beach in Eastbourne (2-5th May 2014).
Volunteer Day cancelled
Lightwoods Park 15 MayThe Shakespeare Garden Volunteer Day at Lightwoods Park arranged for Saturday 18th May 2013 is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Families with disabled children share their lives, hopes and journeys on Community TV Programme
Sandwell Asian Family Support Service 15 MayBlack, Asian and Minority Ethnic Families with disabled children share their lives, hopes and journeys on Community TV Programme.
More Features
Business »
Birmingham Airport proposes five-point plan to boost capacity
TheBusinessDesk 20 MayBIRMINGHAM Airport has proposed a five-point plan to help the aviation sector make best use of its spare capacity and encourage growth across the country.
Government should press companies on reshoring – Bhattacharyya
TheBusinessDesk 20 MayTHE Government should press British companies and organisations with overseas operations to repatriate outsourced jobs from abroad, Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, founder of WMG at Warwick University, has…
Oldbury firm sale secures the future of 20 jobs
Express & Star 20 MayThe future of an Oldbury metal castings business has been secured following its sale to new owners securing 20 jobs.
Steel stockholder Carrs charts growth after multi-million MBO
TheBusinessDesk 19 MayA BLACK Country steel stockholder has undergone a management buyout in a multi-million pound deal advised out of the region.
Castings firm Truscanian charts growth after sale
TheBusinessDesk 19 MayA BLACK Country castings firm is targeting growth after being sold in an undisclosed deal.
Advanced manufacturing and design key to fixing economy, according to JLR
Birmingham Post 17 MayA commitment to advanced manufacturing and world class design are key to fixing Britain’s economy, according to the chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover.
Advanced manufacturing holds the key to UK economic turnaround – JLR boss
TheBusinessDesk 17 MayDESPITE a chronic shortage of people opting for careers in science and engineering, advanced manufacturing could be the UKs economic saviour, the head of Jaguar Land Rover has said.
HMRC seizes illicit tobacco worth £1.7m in Wednesbury raid
TheBusinessDesk 17 MayTEN tonnes of tobacco smuggled into the UK from China has been seized by HM Revenue and Customs officers in a raid on a storage unit in Wednesbury.
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999 »
Public invited to quiz local sergeants from Sandwell crime teams
WM Police Sandwell 21 MayTHE SERGEANTS responsible for targeting prolific offenders in Sandwell are inviting the public to question them online about the work that their…
Police in Sandwell launch campaign to keep robberies down
WM Police Sandwell 17 MayPOLICE officers in Sandwell will be visiting community centres, schools, colleges, places of worship and businesses over the coming weeks as part of…
Question time for top cop
WM Police Sandwell 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 Sandwell 17 MayWEST Midlands Police is backing a national campaign to raise awareness of…
Two arrested and vehicles seized during ANPR in Smethwick
WM Police Sandwell 17 MaySANDWELL Police seized a total of ten vehicles and made two arrests during an operation targeting illegal motorists in Smethwick.
Men charged after pub attack
WM Police Sandwell 16 MayTHREE men have appeared in court charged with attacking a man outside a Wednesbury pub with a metal bar ” an assault that left the victim…
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LocalGov »
Oil spillage covering road, 21st May
FixMyStreet: Sandwell 21 MayOil has been spilt and has spread all along Waterside Avenue.
Damaged wall., 21st May
FixMyStreet: Sandwell 21 MayThe wall outside 95 Cophall Street has been damaged.
A childs best interests – care arrangements
FOI request: Sandwell Council MBC 21 MayFollow up sent to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council by Wayne Pearsall on 21 May 2013.
Financial assistance available to a “person from abroad” under childrens legislation…
FOI request: Sandwell Council MBC 21 MayResponse by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to Wayne Pearsall on 21 May 2013.
John’s path of honour
Sandwell Council News PR 21 MayA dedicated rambler has been honoured by having a special walkway in Sandwell Valley named after him.
Relief as ASBO pair are banned from Sandwell
Sandwell Council News PR 21 MayA couple have been evicted from their council home in Blackheath and banned from Sandwell for five years for anti-social behaviour.
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Sandwell on flickr
- 1747 – Autumn colours
18 Nov 12
Great to see all the vibrant colours out in Sandwell Valley today, an oasis for wildlife less than 5 miles from the centre of Birmingham and just off the motorway.
UK news
- Nick Clegg warns David Cameron not to let Coalition get blown off course by Tory infighting
- Nick Clegg warns Cameron not to let Coalition get blown off course by Tory infighting
- Ed Miliband warns Google: I’d make you pay more tax
- Paul McCartney lends support to free school in Liverpool
- 600 interpreters will be allowed to move to UK as reward for assisting British forces in Afghanistan
- 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 woman wins High Court battle for right to have abortion
- Bipolar pregnant woman tells court: I’ll kill myself if I’m denied an abortion
- Reforms to teachers’ pay ‘will mean bigger class sizes’
International news
- Tornado rescue efforts wind down in Oklahoma
- Deadly bombings continue across Iraq
- Nigeria to free Boko Haram members
- Syria parties 'preparing for peace talks'
- US immigration bill moves one step forward
- Sweden riots continue after police shooting
- Apple CEO rejects 'tax evasion' charges
- North Korea sends special envoy to China
- Two key candidates barred from Iran election
- Pentagon wants $450m for Guantanamo
- Microsoft unveils new Xbox gaming console
- Saudi reportedly executes Yemeni gang members
Gina Yashere Live!
The Birmingham Press 21 MayThis October, award-winning British female comic, Gina Yashere, will heading to The Public in West Bromwich, part of a rare nationwide tour.