A 15-storey apartment block with hundreds of plants on all sides is proposed.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Keri Trigg

Work is set to begin on the construction of a new supermarket in Shrewsbury after plans were passed by the council.

Image source, Aldi

The Aldi store near Battlefield roundabout will replace a branch on Arlington Way.

All 29 staff will be transferred to the larger supermarket and at least a further 10 jobs created, the company said.

A legal agreement would ensure the Arlington Way site is marketed for employment use, excluding retail for 10 years, effectively representing a "land swap" for the allocated employment site the new store will occupy, it added.

The planning committee heard the council had received 71 letters of support over the application, and 28 objections. However, councillor Dean Carroll said there was considerable opposition in the local area.

The site lies 265 metres from land thought to be where the Battle of Shrewsbury took place in 1403, meaning archaeological work must be carried out before construction can start.

BBC News Education

Parents have been sharing their contrasting emotions as schools in England welcome back pupils for the new term.

Measures to limit the spread of coronavirus - such as masks and social distancing - have been lifted in England, but regular testing remains.

Image source, Pete Campion

Pete Campion, from Warwickshire, says that while his 15-year-old son Luke is excited to get back to school to see his friends, the teenager fears things won't be the same.

"He wants to get back to normal but he is apprehensive about draconian rules like not being able to mingle or run around in the playground because of Covid," says Pete.

"That's what he is worried about, whether things will go back to normal."

Even if he tests negative for coronavirus, Luke won't be returning to school full-time until 9 September.

"I understand why we need to do that, we've still got Covid [in society], but we can't keep living our lives like this, with kids being pushed from pillar to post - he's already going back a week late."

Going forward, Pete thinks Covid-19 tests should be used "when people are ill or feeling poorly".

"My son has to shove that thing up his nose every week - they aren't adults, they are kids and I think we forget that."

Four men and a teenage boy have been arrested after a disorder in Stoke-on-Trent left two men in hospital and properties damaged.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police said officers had been called to a "large scale disorder" in Church Street at about 01:30 BST on Saturday.

They arrived to find two men in need of hospital treatment and a number of smashed shop windows and damaged cars.

The men, aged between 17 and 35, were arrested on suspicion of affray.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward as their investigation continues.

Ladislav Demeter told his neighbours to "pipe down" after they said he was making too much noise.

BBC Sport

Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen Ali said it is "an absolute honour" to be named England's vice-captain for the fourth Test against India.

The 34-year-old was only recalled to the side for the second Test, but skipper Joe Root said he was "absolutely the right man" to step up as vice-captain.

"Mo is [a] natural leader, someone that the team gravitate towards," said Root.

With the series level at 1-1 with two matches to play, Moeen said the team needed to "put in the performance" to take a lead in the series.

"We are confident that we can do that. If we can repeat anything like we did at Headingley, I'm sure we've got a good chance," he said.

You can follow Thursday's action on the BBC Cricket website.

Matthew Carroll was with his son and some of his friends in Birmingham city centre.

Birmingham City's new signing - boyhood Blues fan Troy Deeney - wants to see the Tilton Road End rocking again at St Andrew's.

Dudley residents made more noise complaints to the council during lockdown than any other local authority area, figures show.

Image source, Getty Images

Research by Churchill Home Insurance found people living in Dudley made 26,000 noise complaints between 2020 and 2021.

Across the UK, the insurance provider said councils had received about 1,000 complaints a day.

Psychologist Donna Dawson told the Press Association the rise in complaints was understandable given the upheaval in people's routines.

She said: "Even small changes in sound can cause increased anxiety and stress for many people, especially if it disrupts home life and makes it difficult to relax, work or look after family."

BBC Radio Stoke

A hedgehog was deliberately kicked and thrown around by two boys and a girl aged between 13 and 15 on a residential estate in Staffordshire, the RSPCA said.

The animal charity said the attack on Friday in Rugeley lasted several minutes and was filmed on their mobile phones.

The injured animal died a short time later.

Two men have been charged after a blockade at the gates of a quarry which has been subject to thousands of complaints about its smell.

Staffordshire Police said a number of people had been arrested after a "spontaneous protest" at Walleys Quarry, in Silverdale, Staffordshire, on Tuesday.

The force said officers had been deployed again on Wednesday to prevent a similar demonstration.

The continuing situation at the quarry has led to mental health charity Mind and an NHS trust advertising for a dedicated role to support local residents suffering from depression as a result.

The two suspects were charged with preventing the lawful activity of a business after Tuesday's blockade and bailed ahead of court appearances later this month.

Police said protesters on Wednesday had agreed to move their demonstration to a designated area opposite the quarry and there had been no arrests.

BBC Radio Shropshire

Shropshire Council is making amendments to its plans to complete a ring road around Shrewsbury, but its deputy leader says he remains committed to it going ahead.

Image source, Shropshire Council

The authority claims the changes will save it £7m, putting the cost of the road at about £80m.

Steve Charmley says the north west relief road has been in the planning stages for 30 years and now is the time to get it done, despite many objections to the project.

Workers at a car parts factory in Birmingham have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action after plans to cut more than 500 jobs were announced.

GKN Automotive announced plans to close its site in Erdington, Birmingham, earlier this year with plans to move production overseas.

Image source, Getty Images

Unite the Union said 95% of votes were in favour of industrial action and it had now called for further talks with the government, local politicians and GKN’s customers in a bid to reach an agreement.

GKN has operated at the Chester Road site for more than 50 years and supplies car parts for many of the world's cars and trucks.

It was bought by Melrose Industries in March 2018.

This morning will continue overcast but it will remain largely dry with just the chance of the odd patch of drizzle, especially earlier on.

Later in the afternoon a few sunny spells will develop in places. Highs of 16C to 19C (61F to 66F).

This evening and tonight thicker cloud will build back in and it will become overcast throughout the night.

It should stay mostly dry but the small chance of a spell of drizzle remains under thick cloud. Lows of 12C to 15C (54F to 59F).

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you, so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook, external.

Parents have contrasting feelings as safety measures in schools are eased at the start of the new year.

Darren Stevens hits a ton as Kent beat Leicestershire to earn their first win and Essex also beat Glamorgan inside three days.

Warwickshire take an 82-run lead into day four despite Josh Bohannon hitting 170 for Lancashire.

It is part of a £1bn government project targeting 50 schools across the country.

We'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday with more news, sport, travel and weather.