Around the web: Thug rams police car in carjackingpublished at 10:03 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2020
Birmingham Live
Some of the Birmingham Live headlines today include:
Summary
Updates on from Monday 23 November to Sunday 29 November
Around the web: Thug rams police car in carjackingpublished at 10:03 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2020
Temporary vaccination centres to be set uppublished at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2020
Press AssociationMass vaccination centres could be set up at the Black Country Living Museum and Birmingham's Millennium Point, the Press Association is reporting.
Image source, ReutersBoth venues will become vaccine hubs, forming part of a network of 46 such centres in the coming weeks, it understands.
Parts of Malvern's Three Counties' Showground in Worcestershire and the Villa Park site, home of Aston Villa FC, are also being mooted as possible venues, according to local government sources.
NHS England is not confirming the locations of any mass vaccination sites, though PA has approached all the venues for comment.
Yesterday, the NHS confirmed at least six hospitals in the region would be used to store and administer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which needs to be kept at -70C.
Restaurants launch tier three legal challengepublished at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2020
BBC Radio WMRestaurants across the West Midlands are seeking a judicial review of the government's decision to close hospitality in areas in tier three coronavirus restrictions.
It's being made on behalf of 256 restaurants, most of them in Birmingham, and they're demanding the government produces more scientific data to justify the decision.
If the government can't then they want more financial support to stop businesses going under, or a relaxation of the rules, to allow them to open as usual.
What's the weather got in store?published at 08:23 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2020
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayIt's expected to be a cloudy and cold day with some rain that could turn into sleet later and highs of 5C (41F).
Media caption, Latest weather for the West Midlands
Hospital porters in strike actionpublished at 18:53 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
BBC Midlands TodayPorters at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham are taking industrial action today over changes to their rotas which they say will affect their pay.
They've already staged two days of action in October over the plans.
The trust which runs the hospital wants to bring in a rotating shift pattern for the staff, who are responsible for transporting patients around the site, said the union Unison.
“Discussions are ongoing to resolve the dispute,” said University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
Car boot Harry Potter book 'could fetch £50k'published at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
The rare first edition had been destined for a 50p box at a car boot sale in Blackpool.
Read More'Large amount of drugs' uncovered in raidpublished at 18:12 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
A "large amount of drugs" have been found at a property in Telford, West Mercia Police has said.
Officers raided the address in Sutton Hill this morning and also arrested two men, aged 18 and 51, on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Investigation into river damage reportspublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
The Environment Agency said it is treating reports of damage to the River Lugg in Herefordshire "very seriously".
It said it was investigating, along with Natural England and the Forestry Commission, and that immediate action had been taken to prevent any further work.
It also said the site is of environmental importance and is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Former social worker jailed for sex offencespublished at 17:44 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
Joseph Hopkins, 78, sexually assaulted a boy while working in the 1990s, police say.
Read MoreStuck swan freed from railingspublished at 16:55 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
A swan has been rescued after getting her head stuck between some railings in Walsall.
Image source, RSPCAThe stricken cygnet was spotted by a member of the public on the corner of Dudley Street and Bath Street and they alerted the RSPCA.
Animal rescue inspector Vicki Taylor said: “The cygnet must have gone off exploring and flew into the yard but then she would have been unable to have enough room to take flight from the area.
“She must have decided to put her head through the railings and obviously got stuck."
The cygnet was taken to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire, for a check-up and is expected to be released back into the wild this week.
Portraits of 'everyday heroes' in shop windowspublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
Twenty-one people are recognised for community work after being chosen from more than 100 nominated.
Read MoreHomes approved at bus depot sitepublished at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Mark CardwellPlans for 2,000 homes on a current bus depot site have been approved by councillors in Birmingham.
Image source, HUB, shedkm Architects and UniformDevelopers HUB were granted permission by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee for outline plans for 1,250 canal-side homes and 950 student apartments at the site today.
The outline plans include buildings measuring from six to 25 storeys, and public space, including a new canal-side square named Bordesley Wharf.
Also part of the hybrid application were detailed plans for the first phase – involving the first 213 apartments at the site on Adderley Street, Digbeth which is currently used by National Express.
River straightening a 'crime against the environment'published at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
Work to clear and straighten part of the River Lugg has been called a "crime against the environment" by the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.
It said a 1.5km (1 mile) stretch has been intentionally "bulldozed, straightened and reprofiled into a sterile canal, with all bankside and riverside habitats completely obliterated."
Image source, Herefordshire Wildlife TrustHelen Stace, the CEO of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust said she wanted an immediate investigation and added the "assault on the river" would have "dire consequences for wildlife and water quality downstream".
West Mercia Police said it was working with the Environment Agency to look into what has happened.
NHS vaccine hubs announced for Englandpublished at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
A list of 53 vaccine hubs in England has been released by the NHS.
They will help coordinate the delivery of jabs in their areas, with vaccinations for the most vulnerable set to begin next week.
Image source, ReutersA further list of sites which will store and administer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during the first phase will be published later, it said.
Across the West Midlands they include:
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire
- Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust
- University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
- Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the first to be approved by the MHRA medicines regulator, needs to be stored at -70C and hospitals already have the facilities to ensure that.
HS2: Workers prepare to bore tunnel under woodspublished at 14:51 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
A construction site is being prepared for a tunneling machine to dig under a Warwickshire wood as part of the HS2 high-speed rail project.
Image source, HS2 Ltd
Image source, HS2 LtdThe machine will excavate a one-mile twin tunnel under Long Itchington wood before the route heads north and links to Birmingham's Curzon Street Station.
The 2,000-tonne tunnel boring machine is due for delivery on site in early 2021, with the tunnel set to be completed by mid 2022.
The tunnel will be around 9-10 metres in diameter, said HS2 Ltd.
School looks to build five new classroomspublished at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
Local Democracy Reporting ServiceA Walsall primary school is hoping to get approval for five new classrooms, allowing it to take in another 120 children.
Christ Church CE Primary in Harden Road, which already teaches 354 pupils, would also look to take on another eight members of staff.
Image source, GoogleSome neighbours have objected, complaining it will bring extra noise, traffic and parking issues, but a report going before Walsall Council's planning committee next week recommends the application is approved.
It said the expansion was needed to cope with the expected increase in student numbers.
Drink-driver banned after crashing car into riverpublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
The car was found partly submerged in the river by a member of the public.
Read MoreMan took his own life following eye surgerypublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
The Worcestershire coroner recorded a verdict of suicide at an inquest into the death of Paul Dance.
Read MoreAround the web: More than £185k spent on social distancingpublished at 11:45 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:
- More than £185,000 spent on social distancing measures in towns, external
- Man pulled from car after crash, external
- UK braces for wintry December weather, external
Barbeque ban considered after spate of firespublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2020
Local Democracy Reporting ServiceA three year ban on barbeques, fires and sky lanterns could be introduced on the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council wants to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order to enforce the ban and its cabinet agreed on Tuesday to consult on the idea.
Image source, GoogleA report to Tuesday’s meeting said the majority of fires on the moorland were started by arson, discarded cigarettes, barbecues and campfires.
