Summary

  • Updates from 4 - 10 October

  1. NHS staff Covid vaccines 'should be done sensitively'published at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    BBC Radio Shropshire

    It has become compulsory for all frontline NHS staff in England to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

    Workers will have until the spring to be double jabbed. But the health union, Unison, says people should be encouraged - rather than forced - to receive the vaccine.

    A nurse receiving a vaccineImage source, PA Media

    Mark Cheetham, a consultant surgeon at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said we need to sit down with people with concerns and explain things carefully.

    "As a surgeon I've been compulsory vaccinated against Hepatitis B, and I can't operate unless I can show immunity to that, so to me this is similar to that," he said.

    "But it's important that it's done sensitively because I think some people have genuine concerns about a new vaccine."

  2. Princess Anne opens new riding coaching academypublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    BBC Midlands Today

    Princess Royal at the opening

    Princess Anne has officially opened a new coaching academy at the headquarters for Riding for the Disabled Association in Warwickshire.

    The new academy, named after the Princess Royal, aims to train coaches to a higher standard so they can hopefully help teach another 10,000 disabled children.

    The Princess Royal is president of the charity and has been involved with the organisation for 50 years.

  3. Murder charge after man found dead at flatpublished at 13:53 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    The 62-year-old died of multiple stab wounds, a post-mortem examination shows, police say.

    Read More
  4. Birmingham park set to have £500,000 upgradepublished at 13:36 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    Play facilities at a Birmingham park are set to undergo a £500,000 renovation.

    New play equipment; surfacing and fencing; improvements to the Gospel Lane skate park at Gospel Lane; alterations to paths; new seating; tree planting; and other associated landscape improvements are all planned at Fox Hollies Park, in Acocks Green.

    A plan was initially drawn up in 2017 and new fencing has already been put up to protect the park, with the next stage of work to be finished by summer 2022.

    Fox Hollies ParkImage source, Google

    Funding for the scheme is coming from Section 106 contributions, secured from the developers of four other projects in the city.

    Councillor John O’Shea, from Birmingham City Council, said: "Fox Hollies Park is a much-loved and well-used resource, which needs investment if it is to continue being a place that can help improve the health and wellbeing of people in Acocks Green and the wider area.

    "I look forward to seeing the project when it is complete and to the park being used and enjoyed by residents and visitors."

  5. 'NHS could lose experienced staff over Covid jabs'published at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    "Some people will stick by their principles," over the mandatory staff vaccinations, a GP warns.

    Read More
  6. December date for Paterson replacement by-electionpublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    The contest in North Shropshire follows the Tory MP quitting after he broke Parliamentary rules.

    Read More
  7. Wasps sign Scotland prop Reid as coverpublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    Wasps sign Scotland loosehead prop Gordon Reid on a "short-term" deal to provide cover in the position.

    Read More
  8. Bears re-sign Brathwaite as T20 skipperpublished at 12:35 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    Birmingham Bears re-sign West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite as T20 Blast captain for 2022.

    Read More
  9. Hospital to seek planning permission for new staff car parkpublished at 12:29 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    A hospital trust said it has received funding to seek planning permission for a new staff car park.

    University Hospitals of the North Midlands NHS Trust said staff parking is currently provided at the Royal Infirmary and Central Outpatients sites.

    Royal Stoke University HospitalImage source, University Hospitals of the North Midlands NHS Trust

    But with these sites set to be demolished for housing developments, the trust said it has been looking for a permanent solution.

    It has acquired the Grindley Hill Court site, next to Royal Stoke University hospital, after receiving public funding, it said, as it was considered the best local option for future expansion of hospital services

    Grindley Hill Court currently houses NHS staff and if planning permission for a staff car park is granted, the trust said it will give residents information to help find alternative accommodation.

    The granting of planning permission will be subject to public consultation, which begins on 9 November.

  10. Road remains closed amid sewer repairpublished at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    A Shrewsbury road remains closed while work continues to fix collapsed sewer pipes.

    The work on Longden Road began on 1 November, and is expected to run until Friday.

    Shropshire Council said a void under the road had caused a delay to the work.

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  11. Arson arrest after fire breaks out in homepublished at 11:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    A 54-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of committing arson with intent to endanger life.

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  12. NHS IT staff strike over jobs switchpublished at 11:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    IT staff at two Warwickshire hospitals have started a two-day strike over plans to transfer their jobs to a new company.

    George Eliot HospitalImage source, Google

    The Unison union says staff at Warwick Hospital and the George Eliot Hospital, in Nuneaton, have been told their jobs will be transferred at the start of next month.

    The new firm is jointly owned by the two hospital trusts, but the Unison union said the move would make the staff almost private contractors.

    George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire NHS Trust said they were disappointed by the strike action.

  13. Police officers given awards for aid to stabbed paramedicspublished at 10:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    Two police officers have been given awards after they helped save the lives of two paramedics when they were stabbed.

    Deena Evans and Michael Hipgrave, from West Midlands Ambulance Service, were attacked while responding to a welfare check at Martyn Smith's home in Wolverhampton on 6 July 2020.

    PCs Victoria Gaunt and Michael Edge were with the pair when Smith, 52, came at them with two knives.

    Smith was later jailed for nine years with a further five years on licence after admitting two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm., external

    They were given Blue Light Commendations by ambulance service chief executive Anthony Marsh.

    PCs Michael Edge and Victoria Gaunt with Anthony Marsh, Deena Evans and Michael HipgraveImage source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

    Ms Evans said: "We are both so grateful that they were with us on that day.

    "If they hadn’t been, the outcome could have been a lot different."

    Mr Marsh, added: "Although I met Victoria and Michael not long after the incident, it was a real privilege to be able to recognise them formally for their swift actions which helped to save Mick and Deena.

    "They undoubtedly put their own lives on the line to save their blue light colleagues, something I will forever be grateful for."

    Michael Hipgrave and Deena EvansImage source, West Midlands Ambulance Service
  14. Gerrard high on Villa manager shortlistpublished at 10:30 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    Rangers manager Steven Gerrard remains high on Aston Villa's list of potential targets to replace Dean Smith - but other contenders are still under discussion.

    Read More
  15. Hopes hospital reorganisation can move forward 'rapidly'published at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    A hospital trust said it hoped plans to reorganise hospital services could move on to the next stage "rapidly".

    Chris Preston, interim deputy chief executive, at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said it was "working closely with regulatory colleagues" to ensure the review and approval process for the strategic outline case for the Future Fit plan was "as short as possible"

    The document – which outlines how the hospital reconfiguration would be delivered – was submitted to NHS England and NHS Improvement last month.

    Princess Royal Hospital

    The plan would see emergency medicine moving to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, with Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital focusing on planned care.

    It was subject to a consultation in 2018.

    In his report, Mr Preston stresses both hospitals will continue to provide round-the-clock urgent care but says "the current clinical service configuration does not meet the needs of patients".

    The trust’s board will meet on Thursday.

  16. Rave exhibition to take place in former Ikea buildingpublished at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    An exhibition exploring Coventry's rave scene is to be held in part of the former IKEA building.

    House is a Feeling will take place from 11 to 28 November as part of 2021 City of Culture.

    The city was central to the scene and saw the first legal events orchestrated by Amnesia House and The Eclipse, the first all-night 24 hour club in the UK.

    Ravers in CoventryImage source, Tony Davis

    Adi Dowling, who has curated the exhibition, said: “This is a historical documentation of one of the most important cultural movements of the 20th century and maps the journey of a youth revolution that took over the world.

    "The amazing thing was this was brought together by black, brown and white street kids who had nothing but each other.”

  17. West Midlands weather forecast: Mild with some brightnesspublished at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    Today should start fairly mild and bright but, as the day draws on, thicker cloud will build from the north west - although it should stay dry.

    Overnight it should remain overcast with some light spells of rain pushing in from the north west until dawn.

    You can find out more about the weather where you are on the BBC Weather page.

    Media caption,

    Cloud cover will thicken across the region throughout the day

  18. People urged to have flu jab ahead of winterpublished at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    BBC Midlands Today

    People in the West Midlands are being urged to take up their flu vaccinations because of fears of a serious outbreak this winter which would stretch the NHS.

    NHS England said world modelling predicts up to 60,000 deaths in the UK from flu.

    There are concerns that due to lockdowns for much of last winter, people haven't been exposed to the virus for 18 months, so will have limited immunity.

    Health experts are worried there will be a rise in those needing hospital treatment.

    Flu jab
  19. Residents' anger over lack of consultation on car charging pointspublished at 08:17 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    BBC Radio Shropshire

    Ludlow residents say they're appalled they have not been consulted on a decision to install four double charging points for electric vehicles.

    The plans were made back in 2020 and the parking bays were due to be installed last month but have been delayed until further notice.

    Mill Street

    John Diamond, a resident on Mill Street, said: "We do not want the town centre being used as a filling station.

    "It is bad enough that it is a car park.

    "It is not just Mill Street, this is not nimbyism, this is for the town centre."

    His neighbour Chris Tuffley said it would prevent delivery drivers being able to park.

    Shropshire Council has been contacted for comment.

    Mill Street residents John Diamond and Chris Tuffley
  20. Deal signed for new Civic Hall operatorpublished at 08:05 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2021

    A new operator has signed a 25-year deal for Wolverhampton's Civic Halls.

    City of Wolverhampton Council and AEG Presents have now exchanged contracts for the building.

    The halls are currently undergoing a multi-million pound renovation, and are set to reopen in Autumn 2020.

    Cllr Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for city economy and Steve Homer, chief executive officer of AEG Presents celebrate signing a 25-year deal to operate the Civic Halls.Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council

    AEG Presents own and operate over 40 venues including the Eventim Apollo London, indigo at The O2 and the recently announced venue at Olympia London.

    Steve Homer, AEG Presents CEO, said: “We’re delighted to get this important milestone over the line. 

    "This is a long-term commitment and 25-year deal by AEG which is going to be a game changer for the future of the Civic Halls and the city."

    Councillor Stephen Simkins, Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “The council has demonstrated bold and ambitious thinking to take this very challenging project on and thanks to that we have secured a 25-year commitment from a world-leading operator – a real vote of confidence in Wolverhampton - and it won’t cost the taxpayer a penny."