BBC Local Live: Birmingham and the Black Country

Summary

Bin strike: Volunteers labelled scabs
Bin strike: Action 'could continue until Christmas'
Murder charge over Moseley stabbing
Pulis signs Albion contract extension
Updates from Friday 11 August 2017

Live Reporting

Four-vehicle smash in Wolverhamptonpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
Three cars and a van have crashed in Dixon Street, Wolverhampton.
A crew from Bilston fire station attended and, sharing these images, reported that five people were taken to hospital.
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The weather forecast for this weekendpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today
After a mix of sunshine and some outbreaks of rain today, here's how tonight and the weekend is looking across the West Midlands.
Keep yourself updated with the latest forecasts on the BBC Weather website.
Media caption,
Rebecca Wood
Football: Green an injury doubt for Villapublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
Aston Villa travel to Cardiff tomorrow with a doubt over winger Andre Green who's sustained a groin injury.
Image source, Getty Images
Manager Steve Bruce is hoping the first away game of the season will see Villa start to make much needed improvements to their form on the road.
The side has only managed five away wins in the league in the last two seasons.
Quote Message
We have to improve away from home. The last two or three years the away form has been woeful and away from home really is a mentality that we've got to improve."
Steve Bruce, Aston Villa manager
M5 and M42 monitoring takes place before any changes are madepublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
Highways England says it will continue to assess traffic on the M5 and M42 before making any decisions on changing its areas of roadworks.
MPs in Birmingham and Worcester, including Robin Walker have "joined forces" to put pressure on the government department to consider changes to ease congestion along the motorway.
Quote Message
We’re monitoring traffic on a daily basis as motorists get used to the new layouts and over the coming weeks we’ll be carrying out a further study into traffic flows around Oldbury and the wider area. When we get the results we can then look at anything further we can do to ease the impact on local residents and motorists."
Zbigniew Twarowski, Senior project manager, Highways England
Mr Twarowski added: "In the meantime, we’re continuing to work with partners like local councils as we try to balance the flow of traffic across the region to minimise wider disruption. We’d ask for people’s continued patience while this essential work takes place."
More additional road signs are being considered "to inform drivers of real time traffic conditions so they can make a more informed choice" about their route.
'Dying breed' Terry to test Cardiff's Zohorepublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
Aston Villa captain John Terry could be the toughest test so far for young striker Kenneth Zohore, says Cardiff boss Neil Warnock.
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Keep going musicians, says Lady Leshurrpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
The Queen of Grime regularly clocks up millions of views for her videos on YouTube and returned to Birmingham for a BBC 1Xtra event.
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Heartbroken family in tribute to 'devoted dad' as man charged over fatal stabbingpublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
Birmingham Mail
Heartbroken relatives of Moseley stabbing victim, external Sajad Hussain have described him as a “devoted dad to his daughter” as a man was charged with his murder.
Badminton champion 'supports' Commonwealth Games bidpublished at 16:15 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
England's number one women's badminton champion Fontaine Chapman has taken to Twitter in support of Birmingham's bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
The Coventry-born 27-year-old said it would be "amazing" if the city won the right to stage the event.
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Bin volunteers labelled 'scab army'published at 15:47 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
The volunteers, called the Bearded Broz, stand accused of undermining industrial action.
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Your reaction: Bin volunteers branded 'scab army'published at 15:35 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
You've been reacting to news that the so-called "Bearded Broz" - a group of volunteers who've been removing rubbish that's built up during Birmingham's bin strike - have been labelled a "scab army".
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Man discharged after fatal plant blastpublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
One worker died and two other men were hurt in an explosion at the recycling facility.
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Drugs and off-road bikes seized in morning raidpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
Sandwell Police says drugs and off-road bikes have been seized at an address in Wednesbury.
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Man sought over flat stabbing deathpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
Police investigating the stabbing have identified 21-year-old James Atherley as a suspect.
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M6 Toll could be free at times 'from November'published at 14:36 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street says powers to open the M6 Toll for free to tackle congestion could form part of a second West Midlands devolution deal.
He says it could be signed off by the government as soon as November and include cheaper tariffs for lorries.
The 27-mile route between Cannock and Coleshill in the West Midlands opened in 2003 and was sold this summer to an investment group.
Quote Message
I said, when there is congestion on the main M6, when it's closed or something, we should be able to open it. We have put that request in and that's exactly one of the things that we'll be negotiating at the moment. And what we've also talked about is encouraging more heavy goods vehicles to use that by changing the tariffs on that road."
Andy Street, West Midlands Metro Mayor
Police looking to recruit new support officerspublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
A recruitment drive for new Police Community Support Officers, external (PCSOs) is due to begin in the West Midlands tomorrow.
It's the second time this year that the West Midlands force has looked to boost PCSO numbers.
Quote Message
The public wants to see a presence in their local communities and these new recruits will help deliver that. We want people from all backgrounds to apply for these positions to ensure that West Midlands Police represents the people it serves."
Dr Lynnette Kelly, West Midlands Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner
Sewing's answer to Glastonburypublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
The Festival of Quilts attracts enthusiasts from around the world.
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Tackling rough sleeping is 'most challenging' part of mayor's jobpublished at 13:40 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
The West Midlands' elected mayor says tackling homelessness is the toughest part of his new job.
Yesterday marked Andy Street's first 100 days as mayor. He's been responding to claims by charity St Basils that the number of people sleeping rough in the West Midlands is rising.
Quote Message
Homelessness...is really difficult...if it wasn't, frankly all the people who've previously been looking at this would've found a solution...What I'm really confident about is that we have got a coordinated group working towards this to get to the preventative issues."
Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor
City 'held to ransom' over 'threat' to extend strike into winterpublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
Birmingham City Council says the union Unite is "effectively holding the city to ransom" with its "threat" of bin workers continuing to strike until Christmas.
It's the latest development in a dispute between the two sides over proposed restructuring plans.
Refuse collectors are being balloted on extending strikes beyond 21 September when, currently, they are due to end.
Cllr Lisa Trickett, cabinet member for environment, said: “Unite are effectively holding the city to ransom with this announcement.
“They have talked about red lines they wish to negotiate with us, but this threat of extended industrial action will not help the process of achieving a swift resolution so we can get on with delivering a modern, effective and efficient refuse collection service for the people of Birmingham."
Bin strike could continue 'until Christmas'published at 13:10 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
The union Unite says Birmingham's striking refuse collectors could continue until Christmas unless a "fair settlement" is reached with the council.
Unite members and the local authority are in dispute over reorganising refuse collection in the city.
Bin workers are being balloted on extending strikes beyond the projected end date of 21 September.
Fancy a commute with kid-only carriage?published at 12:55 British Summer Time 11 August 2017
A rail operator is trialling family-friendly carriages designed to keep children occupied on journeys.
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