Summary

  • Updates from Monday 17 May to Sunday 23 May

  1. Outline approval given for Ironbridge power station site planspublished at 09:24 British Summer Time 19 May 2021

    Proposals to redevelop the former Ironbridge power station site and build up to 1,000 homes have been given outline approval.

    Ironbridge cooling towers before demolition

    Telford and Wrekin councillors voted unanimously to give outline permission for the plans.

    The power station's four cooling towers were demolished in 2019 with other structures taken down since.

    The proposals also include plans for a retirement village, a primary and nursery school, allotments and commercial use.

    They will go on to Shropshire Council for a final say at a later date.

  2. Ex-officer 'not the kind of person who should have policing role'published at 09:05 British Summer Time 19 May 2021

    A former West Midlands Police officer has been barred from returning to the force.

    Oliver Banfield had previously been sentenced by magistrates after he admitted assaulting Emma Homer in Warwickshire last July while drunk.

    At an accelerated misconduct hearing yesterday, Banfield, 35, who had subsequently resigned, was told he will be will be added to a College of Policing record to ensure he is unable to rejoin the police service.

    Oliver BanfieldImage source, Sally Homer

    Following the hearing, the force's Deputy Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said: “I recognise the distress Emma Homer – who was assaulted and verbally abused by Banfield – has suffered during this time; the actions of this former officer were completely unacceptable.

    “I was as disgusted by the behaviour of Banfield as anyone. He is clearly not the kind of person who should ever have a role in policing.”

  3. Fallen tree causing railway delayspublished at 08:43 British Summer Time 19 May 2021

    A fallen tree on the railway near Rowley Regis is causing delays.

    Services are delayed between Stourbridge Junction and Birmingham stations.

    In a post on Twitter, Birmingham New Street station said a team was on site and preparing to move the fallen tree.

  4. Ten cases of Indian Covid-19 variant identifiedpublished at 08:33 British Summer Time 19 May 2021

    The cases in Stafford, Tamworth and east of the county are linked to households, the council says.

    Read More
  5. Weather forecast: Drier with higher than average temperaturespublished at 08:15 British Summer Time 19 May 2021

    Shefali Oza
    BBC Midlands Today

    Today might be a little drier than the past few days, with top temperatures of 17C.

    Media caption,

    Shefali Oza with the latest forecast

  6. Good morningpublished at 08:04 British Summer Time 19 May 2021

    Welcome to Wednesday. We'll bring you all the news, sport, travel and weather from across the West Midlands.

  7. Hospital medical services rated inadequatepublished at 06:20 British Summer Time 19 May 2021

    A trust is given a warning notice over concerns around staffing and governance.

    Read More
  8. ‘People are often scared to talk about race’published at 00:21 British Summer Time 19 May 2021

    The BBC's Adina Campbell speaks to people in Coventry about the legacy of George Floyd's death.

    Read More
  9. Council ordered to improve over childcare failingspublished at 21:48 British Summer Time 18 May 2021

    A government notice comes after a court ruled three children were "utterly failed".

    Read More
  10. Ex-officer who attacked woman banned from policingpublished at 20:44 British Summer Time 18 May 2021

    A hearing finds "immature" Oliver Banfield committed gross misconduct when he assaulted Emma Homer.

    Read More
  11. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 18 May 2021

    Andy Giddings
    BBC News

    We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow.

  12. Error means 180 patients miss 12-week second jab windowpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 18 May 2021

    BBC Midlands Today

    The 12 week window to receive a second dose of the coronavirus vaccine has been missed by 180 patients of Solihull Healthcare Partnership.

    The error was the result of an administrative mix-up, which resulted in the wrong group of people being called back for the second dose, the partnership said.

    But the NHS said it meant a delay of no more than six days for the people affected - within the safe time limit.

    Pfizer jabImage source, Getty Images

    The patients affected were sent a text message which said the problem had been caused by a shortage of the Pfizer vaccine, due to "changes with how supply is allocated".

    But NHS Birmingham and Solihull later clarified the situation and explained the supply had run out because invitations had mistakenly been sent out to invite people for a first jab, when invitations were being sent out for second jabs.

    "The number of patients who booked their first dose appointment, limited the availability for a small number of patients to book their second dose," it said.

  13. Warwickshire pair included in England squadpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 18 May 2021

    BBC Sport

    Warwickshire pair Dom Sibley and Olly Stone have been included in England's 15-man squad for the test series against New Zealand next month.

    Sibley (pictured below) has been recovering from a fractured finger, but is likely to be in Warwickshire's championship team for the game in Essex starting on Thursday.

    Dom SibleyImage source, Getty Images

    Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali are among six players to be left out, after recently returning from the Indian Premier League.

  14. Former regiment to get arboretum memorialpublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 18 May 2021

    Two former soldiers succeed in getting a Cheshire Regiment memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.

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  15. Long delays on motorwaypublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 18 May 2021

    BBC News Travel

    Watch out for delays of up to an hour between junctions six and eight of the M6.

    Highways England said there has been a car fire between junctions six and seven and vehicles are travelling along at around 15 mph.

    Two lanes have been blocked and the M5 is also busy.

  16. Mum's attack left newborn baby brain damagedpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 18 May 2021

    Sarah Ngaba is jailed for 14 years for the assault on her seven-week-old daughter.

    Read More
  17. Refurbished art gallery and museum opens to the publicpublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 18 May 2021

    An art gallery and museum has reopened in Coventry after a £1.2m refurbishment.

    Herbert Art Gallery and MuseumImage source, Culture Coventry

    The Herbert , externalhas several newly-refurbished galleries with an improved cafe and retail area.

    It is set to host its first major events on 29 May when UnNatural History and 2 Tone: Lives and Legacies open to the public as part of the UK City of Culture 2021 schedule.

  18. Call for vigilance amid Indian coronavirus variant casespublished at 16:41 British Summer Time 18 May 2021

    People in Dudley are being asked to remain vigilant after a "small number" of cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19 were found.

    On Friday, Dudley Council said three cases had been identified in Halesowen and Brierley Hill.

    Karen Wright, director of public health, said: “While we’re investigating a small number of cases at the moment, less than five, this is a dynamic situation and as we are seeing nationally we expect that cases of the Indian variant may increase.

    Stock covid test imageImage source, Getty Images

    “With this in mind we want to encourage everyone in the borough to remain vigilant, to exercise caution and continue with hands, face, space, fresh air and to get your vaccine when offered," she added.

    “We are urging anyone with symptoms of feeling unwell to book a standard PCR test."

  19. Respects paid to ambulance worker Jack Dawpublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 18 May 2021

    West Midlands Ambulance staff have been saying goodbye to Hereford ambulance technician Jeremy 'Jack' Daw.

    They lined the route between his home and Hereford Crematorium, along with friends, family and people who lived in the area.

    Mr Daw died last month after an object struck the ambulance he was travelling in on the A49 in Herefordshire.

    Ambulance staff standing beside route to crematoriumImage source, WMAS
    Ambulance staff with flags standing beside route to crematoriumImage source, WMAS

    The funeral cortège also stopped briefly at the Hereford ambulance hub, so that colleagues could pay their respects.

    Ambulance staff standing in Ambulance hubImage source, WMAS