Plans to build 500 homes in Trentham have been approved, despite more than 1,300 objections.

They included complaints about the loss of green space, traffic and pressure on local amenities around New Inn Lane.

Image source, Google

Stoke-on-Trent city councillors voted to grant planning permission by five votes to two, with two abstentions, subject to a number of conditions.

They include financial contributions of £8.7m, a commitment to provide 15 affordable homes, a primary school and a GP surgery, plus land for 10 custom or self-build homes.

Work on the first phase of homes is expected to begin in August and the development is expected to take 10 years to complete.

Michael Stone sexually abused the vulnerable 12-year-old pupil after lessons, the court heard.

Plans for a link road between the M54 and M6, which were submitted this week, have been welcomed by Telford and Wrekin Council.

If it gets approval, the £200m road will run parallel with the A460 and take traffic out of villages like Featherstone and Shareshill.

Image source, Highways England

The application is now in the hands of the planning inspectorate and the council said the road was "essential for the borough’s future prosperity and connectivity".

The councillor responsible for transport, David Wright, said: "One of the things that makes Telford attractive to external investors and potential residents is the fantastic transport system the borough enjoys and this scheme supports that by removing the reliance on the congested A460 corridor."

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Dare

An extension to the Midland Metro tram line is set to run right through a city centre McDonald’s.

Image source, Google

Plans for the Eastside Metro extension, which is costing £90m more than originally thought, are set to go before the board of the West Midlands Combined Authority next week where they are expected to be passed by councillors.

If passed construction on the 1.7km extension to the track, which will cost approximately £227m to build, could begin later this year.

It will see the existing line at Bull Street extended to High Street Deritend in Digbeth, via the new HS2 Curzon Street station, requiring the demolition of the Dale End McDonalds.

Rail customers are now being advised to avoid travelling on Sunday if at all possible, said CrossCountry Trains.

It has cancelled all trains between Birmingham New Street and Cardiff Central and running an amended service between Birmingham and York, Manchester Picadilly, Reading and Bristol Temple Meads.

Due to speed restrictions services are expected to take an hour longer than usual.

Talks are under way for patients to travel more than 150 miles each way between Cardiff and Stoke.

BBC WM Sport

Birmingham City head to Bristol City this evening seeking to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches.

Blues have an impressive record at Ashton Gate having won three of their last four games there.

Image source, Getty Images

The team is without Josh McEachran and Jacques Maghoma, who were injured in the FA Cup replay win over Coventry.

McEachran has a knee injury and will miss at least six months and winger Maghoma is out for six weeks.

Birmingham Live

Some of today's Birmingham Live headlines include:

• Investigation continues into fire at restaurant in Sparkhill, external

• City centre McDonald's to be demolished for metro tram line, external
• Wife of 'One Eyed Baz' sent sick coffin tweets, external

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A rusty bridge over the railway line at Oakengates station could be replaced with a new one.

Network Rail has applied for permission to replace it with something wider, saying the current bridge has reached the end of its life.

Image source, LDRS

The bridge runs between two residential streets and can't be reached directly from the platforms and it's one of two bridges crossing the line there.

Image source, LDRS

Rail passengers are being warned to expect travel disruption with Storm Ciara expected to bring high winds across the West Midlands.

Image source, Network Rail

An amended timetable , externalhas been put in place in anticipation of speed restrictions, said Network Rail.

While the strongest winds are expected on Sunday, disruption could follow into Monday morning, it warned.

Lineside neighbours are also asked to help keep the railway free of any unexpected debris by tying down or clearing away garden furniture and trampolines, it added.

A large amount of cash and drugs has been seized from a property in Bidford-on-Avon in Warwickshire.

Officers executing a warrant in Quinney's Court arrested two people on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply and money laundering.

The man and woman, both 28, are being questioned, said Warwickshire Police.

It's asking for anyone with information to come forward.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Fans of Hereford FC will now be able to enjoy singing "his name is a shop", because they've signed the 30-year-old former Shrewsbury striker Lenell John-Lewis.

He's made more than 300 Football League appearances, but suffered a serious leg injury last January which kept him out of action for nearly a year.

Image source, Getty Images

John-Lewis is likely to go straight into the Hereford squad for tomorrow afternoon's home game against Southport.

Worcester News

Here are three of the stories from the Worcester News today:

• Sex offender broke ex-partner's arm, external
• Council to spend £5,000 on cherry picker to spot gull nests, external
• 'Happy to chat' benches stopping loneliness, external

A bid is being made for £10m to help fund a major redevelopment around Telford Central railway station.

Telford and Wrekin Council wants to see homes, shops, a hotel and leisure facilities there and has applied to the Local Enterprise Partnership for the money.

Image source, Google

The scheme could cost up to £200m and the council leader, Shaun Davies, said there had been "significant interest from hotel operators".

He added: "We're very good in Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire in attracting people to come for the day, but that overnight stay is something we struggle with as a county and as a borough."

Nathan Ferguson could leave West Brom this summer, says technical director Luke Dowling, after talks with the player's representatives.

CCTV images have been released of men police would like to speak to in connection with an attack on three men at a Birmingham nightclub.

Image source, West Midlands Police

One person sustained a broken jaw in the fight at Shooters bar on 7 December.

Security removed them all from the club, but the fight continued outside, said West Midlands Police.

Plans for Carlos Acosta's first season as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet include a three-week summer festival highlighting dancers, musicians, artists and writers who inspire him, it's been announced. , external

Image source, Lee Armstrong / Birmingham Royal Ballet

The Cuban-born dancer and choreographer took up his appointment in January saying he wanted to "reach out to new and more diverse audiences".

The Curated by Carlos festival, which will run at London's Sadler's Wells as well as the Birmingham Hippodrome will give a "unique insight into Carlos' cultural influences", the ballet company said.

Image source, Lee Armstrong / Birmingham Royal Ballet

The festival will include a production of Don Quixote which will run as part of the Birmingham International Dance Festival throughout June.

The festival will culminate in a free family day at the Hippodrome on 27 June.

Teenager Babacar Diagne, found stabbed on Wednesday, "always made sure there was a smile on everyone's face, friends said.

"He always put people before himself."

People gathered to remember the 15-year-old at a community centre on Jubilee Crescent in Radford on Thursday.

"It's been terrible, said a friend, "we couldn't believe it was him."

"Trying to move on from this is going to be really hard."

Shrewsbury's planned northwest relief road has hit another delay, because of “last minute design requirements”.

A six-week consultation was due to start last month, but has now been put back until 27 February.

Image source, Shropshire Council

The £71m project will link Bicton Heath to Battlefield, completing Shrewsbury’s link road.

Campaigners against the scheme have argued it's wrong to build a seven-mile road, after Shropshire Council declared a climate emergency.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The Crewe manager David Artell is surprised at the lack of interest in his players during the transfer window and is hoping it will motivate them for the remainder of the season.

He said he had one "expression of interest" in a Crewe player, but it wasn't followed up and he received no bids during January.

Image source, Getty Images

Artell's side are second in League Two and he said: "I said to the boys, if nobody wants you go and prove to them, go and prove to them they are making a mistake by not taking you."