Updates on Monday 4 April 2016
Coventry Live
Here are three stories from the Coventry Telegraph's website:
Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton are in the "high category".
Read MoreWest Midlands Metropolitan Mayor Andy Street has said he is "very disappointed" with restrictions on different households meeting in pubs and restaurants in certain parts of the conurbation, which he says is not supported by the latest data.
The Conservative mayor said the bulk of transmission in the West Midlands is in "household settings.... and stricter measures for the hospitality sector will not solve that".
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He said councils across the region were unanimous in their support for keeping the current restrictions - whereby visiting someone's house is banned, but you could meet them in a pub - and urged the government to reconsider.
Household mixing indoors will be banned in Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton from Wednesday - residents in Dudley and Coventry will still be able to socialise outside of their homes.
A nine-year-old boy was taken to hospital after he was hit by a motorcycle outside a country park.
Image source, GoogleWarwickshire Police said the boy was hit on the main driveway at Coombe Abbey, in Binley, just before 14:00 on Sunday.
He was taken to hospital by ambualance but has since been discharged, the force said, adding that he was "thankfully not seriously injured".
Police are appealing for witnesses and are "actively trying to locate" the motorcyclist, who is believed to have left the scene with another biker.
Anil Vegad was found stabbed at his home in Coventry in June.
Read MoreWarwickshire Police said it responded to 36 reports of coronavirus restrictions breaches over the weekend, including a number of house parties.
The force said fines had been issued to homeowners in Bedworth, Stratford-upon-Avon, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton and Rugby after revellers were found gathered in homes.
Those found in breach of restrictions are facing fines of up to £200.
Officers are also investigating reports of shop workers and customers not wearing face coverings and a group of more than 20 people sitting together at a restaurant in Rugby.
Coventry Live
Some of today's top stories from Coventry Live include:
Retail space has been hit hard in Coventry according to a new study which has found about 300,000 square metres of retail space was lost in England and Wales in the past year.
Image source, Getty ImagesBoodle Hatfield, a private wealth and property law firm which conducted the research, told the PA news agency the decline had been accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Manchester was found to have lost the largest amount of retail space, followed by Kingston upon Hull, Coventry Sheffield and Peterborough.
"The retail landscape is continuing to contract with more and more space being taken out of use," Simon Williams, from the firm, said. "The more severe the lockdown rules the faster this decline."
A 27-year-old man who died in a crash in Berkshire earlier this month has been remembered as "bright, happy, thoughtful and caring" by his family and friends.
Image source, Family handoutOliver Williams, from Stratford-upon-Avon, was killed in a crash on the A34 in East Ilsley on 2 October, Thames Valley Police said.
The force issued a statement on behalf of his family which said the software engineer had led "such an exciting life, achieving so much".
He was a young patron of the Royal Shakespeare Company, his family said, and a much-loved member and "mascot" in his work at a video games company in the town.
Wasps reach their first Premiership final since 2017, scoring five tries to beat Bristol 47-24 in an exciting semi-final.
Read MoreWest Midlands Police is receiving about 200 calls a day about non-compliance of Covid-19 restrictions, it's emerged.
Calls include breaches of the rule of six, or people not wearing face masks, and Waheed Saleem, deputy police crime commissioner, said "more and more" was being expected of officers as the pandemic continued.
With Bonfire Night and Halloween approaching, he urged people to stick to the national rules and local restrictions and called on people to "think twice" about trick or treating.
He said about £10m had been spent so far on "Covid-related costs" and although the force would receive some money back from government, "it won't cover all costs" and next year's budgets were now being assessed.
Police shared a video of the moment shocked officers discovered £30,000.
Read More
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Parts of original 19th Century cobbled paving that used to form a Coventry street have been uncovered by workers.
Image source, Coventry City CouncilCouncil contractors discovered the cobbles, from Smithford Street, below the current flooring in the Upper Precinct this week.
The cobbles are thought to date to between the 1850s to 1900. It is the second historical find hidden underneath Upper Precinct in recent months after workers stumbled upon a tiled mosaic from the old White Lion pub in March, which is believed to be around 150 years old.
Patricia Hetherton, cabinet member for city services, said it was really special to uncover "another piece of the city’s history – especially one that pre-dates the Blitz bombings".
The paving will move to a new, as of yet undecided, home.
Police arrest a man on suspicion of money laundering after finding a safe in a car in Coventry.
Read MoreLocal Democracy Reporting Service
A purpose-built student accommodation block is set to be converted into a homeless hostel in Coventry city centre.
Image source, GoogleThe council approved the acquisition of 72A St Margaret Road in March and is in the process of completing the deal with Coventry University.
The property will house 16 single homeless adults but could cater for more if a single parent with children stays there.
Use as a hostel will provide more suitable temporary accommodation for homeless individuals and reduce costs, the council has said, with many homeless people currently housed in expensive hotels and B&Bs instead.
The building has prompted 22 letters of objection from neighbours.
Planning officer Dean Leadon said West Midlands Police had raised “some concerns” but a condition for security measures leaves him “satisfied” it would be “suitably managed”.
Plans are recommended for approval.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of money laundering, after a safe containing up to £30,000 in cash was found in a restaurant car park.
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A man was discovered by police at McDonald’s in Gallagher Retail Park, Coventry, on Wednesday at 10:35, following reports he had been seen with a knife.
A weapon was not found, but West Midlands Police said officers discovered a safe on the back seat which "was later found to be hiding a stash of money.
It added: "You could buy 139,860 chicken nuggets with £30,000! The suspect clearly had a case of the munchies."
Police seized the money, which they suspected "could be ill-gotten drugs profits" and said the safe would be "examined for any traces of illegal substances".
A 24-year-old man, from Coventry, was questioned on suspicion of theft and money laundering.
He refused to account for the money or give any indication where it came from and had been released under investigation while inquiries continued, the force said.
Sukhbir Phull stabbed Ramani Morgan, 16, in an "unwarranted and vicious" attack outside a house party.
Read MoreIsobel Corrie was a student nurse when cabin crew asked for help from anyone with medical experience.
Read MoreCoventry Live
Here are some of the stories from Coventry Live:
The company involved in an e-scooter trial that was halted in Coventry last month says they will return to the city in the next few months, BBC CWR reports.
The scheme will focus on the University of Warwick, after safety concerns were raised amid reports some users were riding them on pavements with others discarding them across the city centre.
Voi head of public policy Lucy Yu says it has been working hard to ensure it doesn't happen again.
Quote MessageIt's a very small minority of users who have been responsible for anti-social behaviour. We have worked very closely with West Midlands Police to carry out enforcement activity against those users and we're also doing much more wider education with the whole user base."
Lucy Yu, Voi head of public policy