Summary

  • Updates from Monday 18 January to Sunday 24 January

  1. Peaky Blinders film confirmed following final TV outingpublished at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has confirmed the hit BBC crime drama will conclude with a film following the show's final TV series.

    Peaky Blinders

    On Monday, Knight said the upcoming sixth series would be the last but teased that "the story will continue in another form".

    He has now confirmed to Deadline:, external"My plan from the beginning was to end Peaky with a movie.

    "This is what is going to happen," he added.

    He explained that "Covid had changed our plans" but did not elaborate.

    You can read more on the story here.

  2. Petition bid to save 'vital' children's outdoor centrepublished at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Parents and teachers trying to save an outdoor residential centre have submitted a petition backed by almost 7,000 people to Warwickshire County Council.

    The local authority is considering closing Marle Hall, a stately home near Snowdonia, Wales, it has owned since 1971.

    Children from Knightlow Primary School on a trip to Marle HallImage source, Knightlow Primary School

    Campaigners say thousands of children have explored the mountains and coast near the 35-acre site and it had provided "life-changing experiences".

    They said supporters' comments included one saying the resource would be "even more vital" to children's health "after the stress and trauma of Covid".

    The council said it had finished its consultation with staff and would make a decision on the centre after analysing their feedback.

    It added "whatever is ultimately decided around Marle Hall", a residential break "remains a key component of any outdoor education strategy for Warwickshire’s schoolchildren”.

  3. Police chief 'confident of 2022 Commonwealth Games'published at 17:23 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    A police chief has said he has "every confidence" the Birmingham 2022 Commonweath Games will go ahead as planned, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

    Volleyball players in BirminghamImage source, PA Media

    It comes as the former chief executive of the London 2012 Olympics says it is "unlikely" that the Tokyo Games will take place this summer, which could affect Birmingham's plans.

    West Midlands Police's Assistant Chief Constable Matt Ward told policing board members: "As I sit here today, I have absolutely every confidence the games will go ahead in 2022. And with 18 months still to go, time is on our side."

    Addressing the meeting earlier, Mr Ward said: "As always, we are cautious, we have contingency plans in place.

    "They will be safe, they will be secure and they will be a fantastic opportunity for the city and wider region."

  4. Covid: Hospital children's unit moved to free up bedspublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Children with complex medical needs are being moved from a hospital in Leicester to Birmingham so their beds can be used for Covid patients.

    Glenfield Hospital

    Leicester's Hospitals said the paediatric intensive care unit at Glenfield Hospital was needed to treat adults seriously ill with the virus, as patient numbers continue to rise.

    The children are being moved to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

    Andrew Furlong, medical director at Leicester's Hospitals, said it had been a "difficult" decision.

    A similar move was taken during the first coronavirus peak last year and hospital bosses said they had used lessons learned then to improve the move.

  5. FA Cup: Shrewsbury looking for cup upsetpublished at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Shrewsbury Town will be playing for the first time in three weeks when they step out against Southampton later in the FA Cup, having not played since 29 December.

    Boss Steve Cotterill will be missing from the Shrewsbury dugout as he recovers in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus and a stay in intensive care.

    Assistant coach Aaron Wilbraham will take charge of the match and says it is a good opportunity for the Shropshire club to cause a cup upset.

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  6. Clean Air Zone revenue 'likely to be down'published at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Kathryn Stanczyszyn
    Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

    Revenue from Birmingham's Clear Air Zone (CAZ) - set to be introduced in June - will be significantly less than originally expected because of delays to the scheme, a meeting has heard.

    Birmingham

    The government had initially demanded the zone was implemented by January 2020 but the scheme suffered delays, most recently due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    With it starting later, it's thought more people will already have changed their vehicles to comply.

    The costs to run it will also be higher than first estimated.

    About £8.3m of revenue from the CAZ had been earmarked for the first stage of redevelopment of part of the city centre, including the restoration the Floozy in the Jacuzzi fountain, which was also approved at today’s cabinet meeting.

    But Birmingham council leader Ian Ward admitted the whole amount may no longer be available from charging zone income.

  7. 'No further delay' to Birmingham's Clean Air Zonepublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Kathryn Stanczyszyn
    Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

    The leader of Birmingham City Council says the government has made it "crystal clear" the city’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) must not be delayed further.

    Birmingham

    Work on infrastructure and data systems for the new charging zone have been completed and testing will begin in the next few weeks, a meeting confirmed earlier.

    High-polluting vehicles entering the zone will face a daily charge when it comes into force on 1 June 2021 in order to improve air quality.

    Conservative opposition councillor Ewan Mackay described the move as "tone deaf to what people are experiencing at this time".

  8. Covid forces hospital to move children's unitpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Activity at a paediatric intensive care unit in Leicester is being moved to Birmingham.

    Read More
  9. Investigation launched after shots fired at man in carpublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Shots were fired at a man in a white BMW in the Bilston area of Wolverhampton, police say.

    Officers were called to Great Bridge Road just after 18:30 GMT on Monday to reports of a shooting.

    The man in his 20s was uninjured, said West Midlands Police.

    The area remains sealed off for a forensic investigations.

  10. Two charged after 2,000 cannabis plants discoveredpublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Cannabis with an estimated street value of £730,000 has been seized from a warehouse in Staffordshire.

    CannabisImage source, Staffordshire Police
    Staffordshire PoliceImage source, Cannabis

    Two men have been charged with producing Class B drugs after about 2,000 cannabis plants were discovered growing in a warehouse on Rosevale Road, in Newcastle under Lyme.

    Officers had initially been called to reports of the men trying car doors in the area, said Staffordshire Police. , external

    The two men, aged 20 and 21, of no fixed address, remain in police custody.

  11. Family 'hopeless' after cancer op cancelledpublished at 13:59 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    John Donaghy's operation to help treat his mouth cancer was cancelled due to Covid pressures.

    Read More
  12. HSBC to close 82 branches this yearpublished at 13:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    HSBC is to close 82 branches, including one in Birmingham, between April and September this year, claiming customers are turning to digital banking.

    HSBC bankImage source, Getty Images

    The company will have 511 branches across the country following the closure programme.

    Managers said they did not expect to make any redundancies, with staff moved to nearby branches instead.

    The branch in Erdington, Birmingham, is set to close along with one on Congleton High Street.

  13. Trained drugs dogs to be placed in prisonspublished at 13:28 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    BBC Radio WM

    Twelve newly-trained drugs dogs are being brought into four prisons in the West Midlands to help find illegal items.

    HMP Birmingham

    They're part of the government’s £100m package , externalto tackle violence and drugs behind bars.

    They are set to be used at HMPs Birmingham; Hewell, near Redditch; and Brinsford and Featherstone, near Wolverhampton.

    Nationally, more than 170 dogs will be in 47 selected prisons by March 2021, said the Ministry of Justice.

  14. Villa Covid outbreak is 'a warning'published at 13:26 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Boss Dean Smith says there will be "no excuses" when his Aston Villa team play Manchester City, despite not playing for 19 days after a coronavirus outbreak.

    Read More
  15. Restoration of 'Floozy in the Jacuzzi' fountain agreedpublished at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Kathryn Stanczyszyn
    Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

    A public work of art in Birmingham is to flow again, after plans to restore it were agreed by city councillors.

    The fountain known as the Floozy in the Jacuzzi is to be restored as part of a city centre scheme ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

    The fountain, officially called The River, sprung a leak in 2013 and is now filled with bedding plants.

    This is how the fountain looked in 2019 when the plans were first put forward.

    Media caption,

    Birmingham's 'Floozy in the Jacuzzi' fountain to be restored

  16. Flood defences deployed in Bewdleypublished at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Flood barriers are being put up in Bewdley, Worcestershire, today.

    BarriersImage source, Environment Agency
    Flood barriersImage source, Environment Agency

    The defences are on the north side of the River Severn after weather warnings for rain were issued by the Met Office.

    The yellow warnings, covering the whole of the West Midlands, are in place from midnight on Tuesday until 12:00 GMT on Thursday.

  17. Housing plan for former colliery site submittedpublished at 11:52 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Alex Moore

    More than 300 homes could be built on a former coal-mining site in Telford, if plans are approved.

    Council houseImage source, Telford and Wrekin Council

    Plans for 233 houses, a 76-apartment care home and a 20-unit supported accommodation complex in Donnington Wood have been submitted to the council.

    A playground and an outdoor “community hub” would also be provided on the site, which lies between Granville Country Park and the A4640 Donnington Wood Way, the developer said.

    The 37-acre site was historically part of Granville Colliery.

  18. Military medics sent in to help county's hospitalspublished at 11:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Sickness levels have risen at Shropshire's hospitals, with staff also shielding or self-isolating.

    Read More
  19. Military personnel drafted in to help hospitalspublished at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Military personnel are now assisting medical staff in a number of hospitals in the West Midlands, including in Shropshire and at the University Hospital North Midlands trust in Stoke-on-Trent.

    Princess Royal Hospital

    Members of the military drafted in to work in Shropshire’s hospitals are covering for health care assistants after staff shortages meant roles across the Princess Royal, in Telford, and the Royal Shrewsbury were being left uncovered on the rota.

    Army personnel are also expected to start work at NHS trusts in Birmingham and the Black Country.

    At a regional Covid-19 update on Friday, Prof David Loughton, chief executive of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, confirmed the military would again be supporting the region's NHS, as they did with their "absolutely pivotal role" early in the pandemic.

    He said: "There will be military personnel arriving next week within my organisation and they will be working under the supervision of senior clinicians and nursing teams and carrying out a variety of duties.

    "I believe that is similar across the West Midlands conurbation."

  20. Car parks closed amid flooding fearspublished at 11:01 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2021

    Frankwell main and riverside car parks, in Shrewsbury, are closed this morning due to a risk of flooding from rainfall expected from Storm Christoph.

    A yellow warning of rain has been issued for the whole of the West Midlands from midnight until Thursday morning.

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