Summary

  • Updates from Friday 22 October

  1. Man dies following two-car crashpublished at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    A 67-year-old man has been killed in a collision between two cars in Stoke-on-Trent, police said.

    Keith Love, from Stoke-on-Trent, died on Saturday after the accident on Park Hall Road on 21 October.

    A silver Peugeot 206 and a silver VW Golf collided at 09:50, and two people were trapped in their vehicles.

    Park Hall RoadImage source, Google

    Staffordshire Police said it has appealed for anyone with information, who witnessed the collision or who has dashcam footage to come forward.

  2. Doctor teleconsultations 'worse but more convenient'published at 17:24 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    Patients and doctors believe phone or video consultations are more convenient but worse than face to face appointments, a study shows.

    Doctor holding video appointmentImage source, Getty Images

    Research for the journal, Rheumatology, questioned more than 1,300 patients and 100 medics.

    Three out of five GP appointments in England in September were in person, compared to about four out of five before the pandemic.

    Co-author of the report Prof Caroline Gordon, from the University of Birmingham, said some patients could benefit from telemedicine but "those with worsening symptoms or more complex conditions such as lupus, need quickly accessible, face-to face appointments to manage their conditions".

  3. Teen's crash death 'absolutely tragic'published at 17:23 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    Courtney Jennings, 18, and her fiancé died after the car they were in hit a tree in Tidworth, Wiltshire.

    Read More
  4. Redevelopment of canal-side office building under waypublished at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    The apartmentsImage source, Consortia Developments

    Work has started on the construction of 61 canal-side apartments in Birmingham city centre.

    The former Lockside House office building on Scotland Street is being redeveloped into one and two-bedroom duplexes and four penthouse-style apartments.

    The £16m project was given the green light by the city council earlier this year and developer Consortia says it wants to retain as much of the original features as possible.

    Archie Ward, managing partner at Consortia Developments, said: "The building is full of character, much of which we are retaining and restoring.”

    The site redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2023.

  5. Two boys from same school die over half-term breakpublished at 16:48 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    Mohammed Habib and Harry Towers were pupils at St John Fisher Catholic College.

    Read More
  6. Cladding removal under way on only five affected buildingspublished at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    Work to remove dangerous cladding from high rises has only started on five buildings in Birmingham, external out of 31 that applied for government funding.

    There are more than 100 in the city in need of remediation work, however not all have received funding.

    Media caption,

    Cladding: 'We're paying to live in a dark, dull box'

    Shabana Mahmood, the Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood, where most of the city's high rises are, accuses the government of "dragging its feet".

    She said: “The sheer number of buildings that are still waiting for remediation works to start, four years on from Grenfell, shows that the Government isn’t serious about tackling the cladding scandal."

    The Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities has been approached by the BBC for comment.

    In October, three leaseholders spoke about living with the remediation works - read their stories here.

  7. Coventry Bears become Midlands Hurricanespublished at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    Coventry-based Midlands Hurricanes become the second new name in English professional rugby league in as many days.

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  8. Murder accused denies fatally stabbing manpublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    Jason Bentley-Morrison was fatally stabbed during a fight in Birmingham.

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  9. Man who posed as child abuser online jailedpublished at 15:54 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    David Graham, from Tipton, stole photos from Facebook and pretended he abused the children pictured.

    Read More
  10. Hospitals suspend visiting as Covid cases risepublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    The trust says stopping visitors seeing patients is a "difficult decision to make".

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  11. Minibus operator appeal after fuel theft vandalismpublished at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    BBC Radio Shropshire

    The operators of a Shropshire community minibus service say two of its vehicles have been vandalised, believed to be by people stealing the fuel.

    The Friendly Bus group says the vehicles were parked at Broseley Social club when both fuel tanks were drilled over half term.

    Company buses

    They have appealed for anyone who may have CCTV of the incident to contact West Mercia Police.

    Damage to the minibuses
  12. Man sought after cyclist pushed into canalpublished at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    A man is being sought after a cyclist was pushed into a canal while two men tried to steal his bike.

    West Midlands Police said it had happened off Lawden Road, Birmingham, at about 12:00 BST on Wednesday.

    The cyclist was not badly hurt and had been helped out of the water by passers-by, the force said.

    The man being soughtImage source, West Midlands Police

    West Midlands Police said: "We know the face in this image isn't very clear but we're hoping his overall appearance and clothing may help someone recognise him."

    Both men were described as both being 5ft 10in (1.7m) tall and of slim build, and the second man was on a red bike.

  13. Tributes to man killed when he was hit by two carspublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    James Driver-Fisher, a journalist from Netherton, was killed when he was struck in Saltwells Road.

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  14. Views sought on proposed pedestrianisation of town's High Streetpublished at 13:07 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    Residents are being asked for their views on a proposed, phased, pedestrianisation scheme of Bridgnorth High Street.

    The proposals have been published as part of a public engagement exercise that has seen a number of ideas published for improving travel in the town, Shropshire Council said.

    Bridgnorth High StreetImage source, Google

    Other proposals include a new town centre multi-storey car park, a new junction from the A458 to provide direct access to Oldbury Wells school and an electric bus hopper service.

    People are being asked which ideas they would like to see move forward, if funding becomes available, through an online survey or a drop-in event at the Town Hall on Thursday, from 10:00 to 17:00 GMT.

    The survey runs until 25 November.

  15. Man admits drug conspiracy over amphetamine labpublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    The lab, capable of producing large amounts of amphetamine, was found near Redditch in April.

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  16. Police investigate reports of racial abuse at Crewe matchpublished at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    BBC Radio Stoke

    Police are investigating two reports of racial abuse at a Crewe Alexandra game.

    Both are alleged to have taken place during the match against MK Dons on Saturday.

    Two men have been spoken to in relation to the reports and on Tuesday the club said two people had been stopped from going to games pending the conclusion of the investigation.

  17. Elderly woman seriously injured in hit-and-runpublished at 12:13 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    Police appeal for help in tracing the driver of a small, dark coloured car.

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  18. Council could support turning key road into dual carriagewaypublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Turning a key route through the county into a dual carriageway could be one of Shropshire Council’s next major infrastructure projects after Shrewsbury's north west relief road, the councillor in charge of highways has said.

    Dean Carroll says the authority has an obligation to consider dualling the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Welsh border at Chirk, in order to address serious concerns over the safety of the road.

    He also believes the scheme would help boost economic growth by cutting congestion and improve transport links between the West Midlands and north Wales, the Republic of Ireland and north-west England.

    Councillor Dean CarrollImage source, Shropshire Council

    Mr Carroll said the plan had been talked about for decades.

    "The MPs – Owen Paterson and Daniel Kawczynski – have both been very keen on it and there is a lot of public support," he said.

    "There has been support from the Oswestry area and from the Welsh as well, because it will make things a whole lot quicker-moving.

    "In the long-term, we have got to explore whether it would be a project that provides the benefits that have been talked about.

    "But it’s such a major part of Shropshire’s transport network that it would be negligent of us not to explore that and not to look at it."

  19. Cancer patients with learning disabilities soughtpublished at 11:35 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2021

    Charities are seeking volunteers for a research project looking into the experiences of people living with learning disabilities and cancer.

    Macmillan cancer support leafletsImage source, Getty Images

    Macmillan Cancer Support and Midland Mencap have launched the joint project in Birmingham and North Warwickshire.

    The project, due to conclude next spring, hopes to better understand patients' experiences and find out how services can be improved.

    Researchers are looking to speak to patients as well as families and carers who would be happy to share their experiences for the project.

    Quote Message

    This project will give us an invaluable insight into the experiences of people with learning disabilities and cancer, and ultimately help us achieve better experiences for them, and help us improve the personalised care and support we offer."

    Hannah Sanderson, Macmillan Cancer Support