Review of the Year: Part 2

Other Side of Solihull concludes its look-back over some of the major local stories of 2016...

July: The CTC Kingshurst Academy chose to unveil its new tennis facility at the ideal time - the launch coming a little over a week after Andy Murray won his second Wimbledon crown.
Earlier in the month the school had played host to a rather more sombre event, inviting locals to its replica trench to mark 100 years since the start of the Battle of the Somme.
Elsewhere, a team of treasure hunters from Radio WM made a stop-off in Marston Green and an irate pensioner from Smith’s Wood held a roadside protest over the council’s refusal to install a drop kerb. Denise Danks took a dip in a bath tub full of tea to raise money for a Cystic Fibrosis charity and councillors gave the go-ahead to proposals to renovate The Coach and Horses pub.
Throughout the month, the police continued efforts to contain the menace of off-road bikes, seizing another set of vehicles during raids in Chelmsley Wood.
In fact the boy racers were probably even more unpopular than a certain high-speed train.
As the month ended we spoke to Councillor Chris Williams about the ongoing battle to limit the disruption which will be caused by HS2.

August: So much for silly season! This month was probably the busiest of the year on our blog, with more than 30 articles posted.
It was confirmed that Meriden MP Caroline Spelman would be made a Dame, after being nominated for the Honour by the recently departed Prime Minister David Cameron.
However it was bongs not gongs that were getting residents excited in Castle Bromwich.
A team of fundraisers at St Mary and St Margaret’s confirmed they had raised the £100,000 needed to restore the church bells.
There was more good news in the suburb when signs were installed to confirm the creation of a new nature reserve near Kingsleigh Drive.
Unfortunately another wildlife habitat, Babbs Mills, continued to be the centre of controversy - with campaigners staging a demonstration against the decision to develop the site.
Twin sisters from Marston Green, Danielle and Laura Maisey, announced plans to run a half marathon in memory of their friend.
Residents were left mystified - and more than a little worried - after a large pile of asbestos was dumped by the roadside in Lanchester Way. Although even that puzzle was overshadowed by a raft of reports of a mysterious humming sound keeping people awake in and around North Solihull.

September: We broke the news that the plans to bring back the much-missed Bogey on the Stick sculpture were rapidly gathering pace.
In what proved to be one of the most popular stories of the year, we reported that Gro-Organic was drawing up plans to recreate the landmark.
Rather less welcome was the announcement that an application was being submitted to further expand Birmingham Business Park, a longstanding bone of contention for local people.
In Park Hall Crescent, a group of residents discovered that they had won the People’s Postcode Lottery and would be sharing a £150,000 jackpot.
In Marston Green, a doctor’s surgery launched a petition in the hope of winning support for plans to move to a new centre - amid concern that current facilities were struggling to cope.
Details also emerged this month about the proposed creation of a brand-new parliamentary constituency by the name of Chelmsley Wood and Solihull North.

October: As the dark nights arrived, there was the first sighting of a “killer clown” locally - the masked man was filmed by teenagers near a Castle Bromwich pub.
From big shoes to fat pay packets...There was a flurry of criticism after it emerged that the amount being picked up by some of Solihull Council’s top earners was to increase.
Green-fingered residents did the north of the borough proud after winning a clutch of awards at Solihull’s Neighbourhoods in Bloom contest.
And there was also awards success for a couple of Indian restaurants. Both Lime Pickle and Chutney Express were among those shortlisted for the British Takeaway Awards.
Tributes were paid to a 28-year-old man, Giovanni Lewis, who suffered fatal stab wounds following an incident in Hadfield Way, Kingshurst.
Concerns were raised by a former Smith’s Wood councillor that the estate and surrounding area could be hit by a chronic shortage of school places in future.

November: More than 15,000 people read our story about a pensioner who was carjacked outside the Morrisons supermarket in Castle Bromwich. While the incident alerted residents to the fact that crime can occur in the most familiar of surroundings, sadly the robber remains at large.
The same cannot be said for the burglar who was linked to a breakin in Manor Park Road after leaving a tooth behind at the scene.

Training sessions began to create a new American Football team at North Solihull Sports Centre and a number of community groups were awarded a share of a £15,000 fund created by Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre.
This month also saw plans published to build a new medical centre in Smith’s Wood and the news that Grace Academy student Chloe Sutton had won a Solihull Education Award.

December: Solihull Council started to flesh out proposals to redevelop the ageing Kingshurst Parade, while admitting that financing the scheme was still a potential problem.
The local authority had been under pressure to give an update after residents voiced their frustration about the lack of progress.
In more positive news, North Solihull’s Christmas hamper appeal once again attracted considerable support from local residents. And there was a rapturous reception after it was announced that a Christmas Market would be staged on parkland in Chelmsley Wood.