Last chance to see the circus in Castle Brom

ROLL up, roll up! Today (Sunday) is the last chance to catch the circus in Castle Bromwich.
Uncle Sam's Great American Circus is rounding off a five-day stop in Water Orton Road this afternoon.
High-wire acts, motorbike stunts and, of course, classic clowning are among the attractions inside the big top, which pitched up in the suburb earlier this week.
There are performances at 1.30pm and 4.30pm. Car parking is free.
For more details about the show, visit the Facebook page.

Weekly buggy walk starting in Chelmsley

A WEEKLY buggy walk is being launched in Chelmsley Wood.
The free stroll, organised by Solihull Council's Engage team, will give parents the chance to chat and keep active.
The very first event is due to take place on Monday (October 1). Those interested should meet outside the Asda store at 10am.
To find out more about the sessions call 0121 709 7000 or email the Engage team.

Call for help down at Cole Bank

CONSERVATION volunteers will be getting stuck in at a Chelmsley Wood beauty spot next month.
Residents are welcome to join in with willow coppicing and clearing debris at Cole Bank Park Local Nature Reserve.
The work is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 7.
For further information call Dave Fernie on 0121 459 1697 or email davidcollins1@aol.com

Latest plans for Marston Green business park

ANOTHER piece of land at Birmingham Business Park is set to be developed after a new set of plans were submitted to Solihull Council.
The application seeks approval to erect a pair of industrial units on the area of grassland off Solihull Parkway.
Ancillary offices, car park facilities and service areas would also be created alongside the two warehouses.
The proposals are likely to encounter strong opposition from nearby residents, who have repeatedly raised concerns about over-development in Marston Green.
In 2016, the decision to allow a similar development in Blackfirs Lane caused a furore among locals, who accused the council of riding roughshod over the planning process.
Many objections stem from concerns about increasing levels of traffic on surrounding roads and the fact that open spaces are dwindling.
Planning documents, submitted by trustees of the BlackRock UK Property Fund, maintain that the Solihull Parkway development would help create much-needed jobs and provide industrial facilities outside of Birmingham.
The paperwork prepared on behalf of the applicant said: "[It] can only help to reinforce and encourage Solihull’s position as the most productive economy in the Midlands."
The plans were due to be discussed at the Bickenhill and Marston Green Parish Council meeting earlier today and are likely to be considered by Solihull Council before the end of the year.

Litter picking hubs lending equipment

THREE litter picking hubs are now up and running in North Solihull.
Equipment including green bags, vests and the litter pickers themselves is now on loan at Castle Bromwich Library, Chelmsley Wood Connect and Kingshurst Library.
Anyone is welcome to drop in and borrow the kit so long as they sign it out and agree to the guidelines and risk assessment.
Hubs have been set up in response to the growing number of residents who are keen to help clean-up their local community.
A number of groups have been established within the last 12 months, with Smith's Wood and Babbs Mill among those areas where volunteers are getting stuck in.
Coun Alison Rolf, Solihull Council's cabinet member for stronger communities and partnerships, said: "It’s been wonderful to see the growing enthusiasm of residents and their immense pride in keeping Solihull clean, green and tidy.
"There are already lots of established groups across the Borough – but we know there are many more people out there who would like to join in."

Event in aid of leading cancer charity

A COFFEE morning in Castle Bromwich will be raising much-needed funds for a well-known cancer charity.
The event will be taking place at the Methodist Church, at the corner of School Lane, this Saturday (September 29).
There will also be stalls to browse between 12noon-3pm.
Taking place every autumn, the World's Biggest Coffee Morning has become a key date in the calendar for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Crime-fighting scheme could come to Castle Brom

POLICE have floated the possibility of Castle Bromwich residents setting up a Street Watch scheme.
The community-led crime fighting initiative involves a small group of volunteers carrying out regular local patrols around their neighbourhood.
Travelling in twos or threes, they aim to provide reassurance to local people and keep their eye out for any suspicious activity. While the group don't have powers of arrest, they will call the police if they come across a crime in progress.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson argues that the scheme has been very successful in the areas where it has already been rolled out.
Although some remain concerned that Street Watch puts an onus on ordinary people to do a part of policing which was once carried out by officers as a matter of course.
In Solihull there are already groups established in areas including Elmdon and Shirley, with funding made available for training and insurance.
Following a meeting with officers earlier this week, Coun Gail Sleigh (Con, Castle Bromwich) said that herself and fellow ward councillor Ted Richards were willing to work with residents to put such a scheme in place.

Delegation from the Far East come to Castle Bromwich

VISIT: Xu Fangzhong, from Changzhou,
Mayor of Solihull, Coun Flo Nash, and
 Coun Bob Sleigh planting the tree

VISITORS from Solihull's twin city, thousands of miles away, recently stopped at Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel.
A delegation from Changzhou, in China, spent two days touring some of the borough's sights.
Their whistle-stop tour earlier this month was organised to help cement the relationship between the two communities, which first linked up in 2016.
Aside from a visit to the Hall Gardens, the group paid a trip to the historic village of Berkswell and took part in a tree planting ceremony in Malvern Park.
The city, which has a population of around 12 million, dwarfs the borough. But there are similarities between the communities, with both known for their motor manufacturing and Changzhou having a high-speed rail line.
Councillor Bob Sleigh, Leader of Solihull Council, said "We have economic strengths and opportunities in common. Strengths in automotive and aerospace, rail and financial services.
"Changzhou is ranked as one of the most liveable cities in China and Solihull has been ranked as the best place to live in this country."
It is hoped that the visit will encourage greater tourism and business links between the borough and China.
Solihull Council has made no secret of the fact that it sees major economic opportunities in encouraging more visitors to the borough.
Indeed, earlier this year a new cabinet post was created which has specific responsibility for boosting Solihull's profile around the country and overseas.
Mayor of Solihull, Coun Flo Nash, said: "It is marvellous that Solihull has links all over the world."

Chelmsley charity shop wants your childhood memories

CHELMSLEY Wood residents are being invited to share their childhood memories by a local charity shop.
Acorns Children's Hospice, which has a furniture outlet in the town centre, is keen for people to take part in its Story Box Project.
People can pop in for the drop-in session at the Chelmsley shop tomorrow (Friday) and tell their stories about their favourite memories from growing up in the local area. The Bosworth Drive store is open from 9am-5pm.
The project has been put together to celebrate Acorns' 30th anniversary and it is intended that some of the stories shared will form the basis for a special exhibition in early 2019.
To find out more about the Story Box Project, please visit the charity's website.

Chester Road operation stops 60 plus vehicles

POLICE stopped scores of motorists during an operation on a busy Chelmsley Wood road yesterday (Tuesday).
Officers joined with partners from other law enforcement agencies to take part in the crackdown along the Chester Road.
A total of 66 vehicles were pulled over for a range of offences, with around 20 having been caught breaking the speed limit.
One car was seized for having no insurance and other drivers were found not wearing a seatbelt. A number of taxis are also understood to have been stopped for alleged licensing offences.
Two cautions and one arrest were made during the course of the exercise.
Some of those speeding were slapped with fixed penalty notices, which will add three points to their licence. Those not going quite so fast were given the chance of putting on an accident simulation headseat - a deterrent which makes use of the latest 3D technology.
Solihull Council, West Midlands Fire Service and tax officials from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) also took part in the joint operation.
The multi-agency exercises tend to take place on main arterial routes, with the emphasis reaching beyond traffic offences.
Superintendent Richard Agar, who has recently joined Solihull Police's command team, was also on the scene.

Head to Greggs to meet local policing team

RESIDENTS are being invited to have a cuppa with a copper later this week.
Smith's Wood and Castle Bromwich Neighbourhood Team will be holding a police surgery at the Greggs branch, in BurtonsWay.
Urging people to drop-in at the afternoon session, PCSO Debbie Roberts said: "We would love to meet you and have a chat [so] you can voice your concerns about local issues in the area or just meet some of the local police team."
Councillor Jean Hamilton (Green, Smith's Wood) has this week welcomed the surgery, but said she was frustrated that it had taken three years to get such a session set-up.
The event will be taking place this Friday (September 21), between 1.30-3.00pm.

Apprenticeship opportunities on offer

SOLIHULL Community Housing is looking to recruit a fresh group of apprentices.
An open evening will be taking place at Endeavour House, Chelmsley Wood, next week, with the opportunity to find out about the six placements on offer.
The vacancies are in areas including property maintenance, tenancy support and project management.
The event is open to people of all ages and refreshments will be provided. It will be held on Wednesday (September 19), from 4.30-7.30pm.

Red alert! Help find distinctive overcoat...

A MAN is appealing for help to find a very distinctive item of clothing he believes he lost on a bus in Castle Bromwich.
Alan Feeney thinks that his red tailcoat was accidentally left on the top deck of the X12 service, after he got off in Hurst Lane North.
He has asked if anyone may have seen the item aboard the double-decker on Saturday, September 1. He had got off at around 7.30-8pm.
Posting an appeal on Facebook, Mr Feeney said: "It cost me over £650 to have tailor made and is crucial for my work as a master of ceremonies.
"It's useless to anyone except me as it was made specially for me. I'd be very grateful to have it back."

Corsa cannibals cause misery in Chelmsley Wood

SO-called "Corsa cannibals" struck again in Chelmsley Wood overnight.
A number of vehicles had their bumper or bonnet stolen during a fresh spate of thefts.
Parts were prised off cars parked on the estate, with offences also reported in the Saltley and Washwood Heath areas of Birmingham.
Reports of an increasing number of Vauxhall Corsas being cannibalised surfaced earlier this year.
In many instances, thieves smash a passenger window in order to pop the bonnet and are able to remove the piece in less than ten minutes.
The crime can leave victims facing hefty insurance bills and drivers should be on their guard with the darker nights on their way.
If you have any information about last night's incidents call Solihull Police on 101.

Duo's charity trek to local footie grounds

TWO friends from Chelmsley Wood recently completed a challenging walk around the region’s football grounds to raise much-needed charity funds.
Gareth Walton, aged 35, and Zak Lewis, 24, took part in the March for Men and have managed to collect more than £700 for Prostate Cancer UK.
Their fundraiser took them from West Bromwich Albion’s Hawthorns ground to Villa Park. From there they walked to Walsall’s Bescot Stadium, before making the home leg to Birmingham City’s stadium St Andrew’s.
The duo received £100 towards their total from Asda, where Gareth is community liaison officer, and £100 from Marston Green & District Lions.
You can add to the donations by going to www.gofundme.com

Olympian set to make a splash at sports centres

A FORMER Olympic swimmer will be visiting North Solihull Sports Centre later this month.
Grant Turner, who competed for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, will be dropping in at the venue's pool.
Mr Turner, who represented the country in the 4x100m freestyle relay, will be joined by synchronised swimmer and former Britain's Got Talent finalist Zoe Cooper.
The open day - which will include a special session for youngsters - will be taking place at the Chelmsley Wood-based facility on Saturday, September 22.
Wayne Desmond, contract manager at leisure operator Everyone Active, said: "Being able to train and swim alongside established sportsmen and women is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I’d encourage people to sign up quickly to avoid disappointment."
To book a place at the event for seven  to 14-year-olds call 0121 770 3822.

New top cop takes post in Solihull

A SENIOR policeman - who started his career walking the beat in Solihull - has been named as the borough's new commander.
In his new role, Chief Supt Lee Wharmby will be returning to the patch where he served as a PC more than 25 years ago.
The 47-year-old has taken over from Chief Supt Bas Javid, who had held the top job for two years and has now been seconded to the Metropolitan Police
Chief Supt Wharmby, who has previously worked in counter-terrorism and the murder investigation team during his policing career, will be overseeing the only force area where crime is currently falling.
That said, there are still widespread concerns within communities about levels of offending, with some worried about a dwindling police presence.
The force has seen a significant reduction in staffing since 2010 and local frustrations came to a head at public meetings in Kingshurst and Castle Bromwich last year.
He will also have to steer through the controversial closure of Solihull Police Station, agreed earlier this year. Despite assurances that an alternative base will be found for officers in the town centre, the move has drawn criticism from both borough councillors and the wider public.
Chief Supt Wharmby said: "It is very exciting to be back policing in Solihull, it is a place I have a real affinity for having started my career here.
"I live in the borough so I take even greater pride in the fact I have been entrusted with the role as commander of neighbourhood policing. I know what a fantastic place it is to live, work and socialise and I am hoping my experience can only help policing in the area.
"It is a new role for me but thankfully I have a great team of officers in place to help with our focus on preventing crime, protecting people and helping those in need."

Delving into parish church's rich history

GET a glimpse behind the scenes of one of North Solihull's most historic buildings next week.
St Mary and St Margaret's Church, Castle Bromwich, will be throwing open its doors for a heritage open day.
Visitors are welcome to drop in for presentations about the building's busy history and to take trips up the tower with the bellringing captain. Organist Martin Bates will also be playing throughout the afternoon.
The event will be running on Sunday, (September 16) between 1.30-4.00pm. There is no charge, although donations to the church would be welcome.

Table top sale tomorrow!

GRAB a bargain or two at a table top sale in Castle Bromwich this weekend.

The event is taking place at Arden Hall tomorrow (Saturday), from 10am-12.30pm.

All entrance money will go to Acorns Children's Hospice and Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Region's Mayor pays visit to Kingshurst Parade

THE West Midlands Mayor has paid a visit to Kingshurst Parade to hear about the proposed redevelopment.
Andy Street, the elected representative for the region's seven council areas, dropped in at the shopping precinct yesterday (Wednesday).
Discussions about revamping the ageing Parade have been going on for several years and residents have grown increasingly frustrated about the delays which have beset the scheme.
Councillor Bob Sleigh, Leader of Solihull Council, had given a commitment earlier this year that the plans were still very much on the agenda, but the hold-up had been widely criticised by opposition councillors.

HS2 round-up: Green space, local jobs and funding

FROM concerns about the loss of green space to questions about how easy it will be to find local construction workers - there are lots of issues arising from HS2.
Here is a round-up of some of the most pressing matters affecting North Solihull, which were raised at the most recent meeting of Solihull Council's HS2 Implementation Advisory Committee.

MERIDEN’S MP has warned it may prove difficult to meet the targets for recruiting local people to help build HS2.
Dame Caroline Spelman said that there had been similar ambitions when work was planned for the North Solihull Regeneration.
The MP recalled that ahead of work starting on the 15-year programme, it had been hoped that 23 per cent of the workforce would be drawn from the local area. But she said there were a couple of reasons why the Regeneration fell short of its target.
These included a lack of courses available in the relevant construction skills and pupils not having the grades to be accepted for those qualifications which were on offer.
She urged HS2 bosses to speak to colleges to find out if they were offering the sort of courses needed.
“I hope you will because it is a great project to be involved with and we want local people to have some benefit,” she said.
“But it’s one of those things which is quite easily said, but quite hard to deliver.”

CONCERNS remain about how Chelmsley Wood will be compensated for the loss of green space arising from HS2.
Richard Lloyd, a member of the Heart of England High Speed Railway Action Group, has argued the issue remains unresolved.
“The public open space is going to be lost, with tremendous noise impact on their recreational ground there,” he said.
“It was proposed to get replacement land, but the [House of] Lords Select Committee took that out. We haven’t heard any news since.”
Jonathan Lord, from HS2 Ltd, admitted that the decision that Mr Lloyd was referring to had come as a surprise.
He said that discussions about mitigating the impact on the local community were ongoing.

PARISH and town councils are urged to make sure they take advantage of HS2 funding.
The Community and Environment Fund is a pot of money set aside to support projects in communities set to face disruption.
Meriden MP Caroline Spelman (pictured) said it was crucial that worthy causes did not miss out on a share of the £45million cache.
While successful bids from Solihull have been thin on the ground, plans to create a war memorial at Water Orton, in Warwickshire, recently received a £10,000 boost.
“[HS2] have allocated about one third of the total fund they’ve got, so we need to get motoring,” said the MP.

Women's evidence helps put Chelmsley rapist behind bars

POLICE have paid tribute to the bravery of the two women whose evidence helped convict a teenage rapist.
Thomas Hampson, 18, of Yorkminster Drive, Chelmsley Wood, was last week jailed for 12 years after raping one woman and sexually assaulting another.
The defendant was still only 17 when he met a woman in a local pub in April last year.
The 30-year-old victim vaguely knew Hampson and, believing him to be trustworthy, accepted a lift home in his car.
However, he did not in fact own a vehicle and shortly after leaving the pub, he grabbed the woman and dragged her into nearby woodland.
It was in this secluded location that he had attacked and raped her.
Within 24 hours, Hampson was arrested by detectives from West Midlands Police, but he denied attacking the woman and was released under investigation while officers' enquiries continued.
Seven months later Hampson met another woman in Chelmsley Wood town centre.
Now 18, Hampson arranged to meet up with the 29-year-old and during an early evening in November he walked her to an area of agricultural land near the M6 motorway, where he sexually assaulted and attempted to rape her.
She was left in such a state of shock that she fled onto the motorway network.
The woman was unable to name her attacker, but enquiries by detectives led them to identify Hampson as the suspect.
Although he tried to evade arrest, he was captured within a few days. The defendant maintained his innocence throughout police interviews, but evidence allowed officers to charge him with both offences.
Hampson stood trial and was found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court in July.
He has been sentenced to 12 years plus an extended licence period of five years because he is classed as a danger to women.
Det Insp Westley Martin, from Solihull Police, said: “Both of these women have been supported by specially trained officers throughout the investigation and they have shown tremendous courage in providing evidence against Hampson.
"I would like to thank them for their resolve in bringing this dangerous man to justice.
"This type of attack is thankfully very rare. The investigation into Hampson’s offending was a high priority for us and officers worked tirelessly to ensure that he was made accountable for his barbaric actions.
"Hopefully, his sentence will bring some small comfort to the two women in this case and allow for the wider public to be protected from him in future."
Hampson will also remain on the Sex Offender Register for life.

Metro extension through North Solihull welcomed

BRINGING the Metro line to North Solihull could be a major boost for the area, a borough councillor has claimed.
Councillor Ian Courts, cabinet member for managed growth, has said that Solihull Council is currently looking at ways to harness the economic benefits of HS2.
But there are also plans to link the multi-billion pound rail link in with other transport projects.
Key to these efforts will be bringing the Metro line down through East Birmingham and into the north of the borough.
Speaking at the most recent meeting of the council’s HS2 Implementation Advisory Group, Coun Courts said that the arrival of the trams would be a major boon to areas such as Chelmsley.
“[This project] would be an amazing way of not just connecting the areas, but giving access to the people in between,” he said.
“If you imagine a Metro going through [Chelmsley Wood], it would be something else.
“The unemployment is highest along that route ... and to have a Metro that can provide connectivity one way to Birmingham and the HS2 Interchange at the same time would be a good thing.”
The extension of the Metro to Solihull was previously agreed as part of a devolution deal struck between the Government and policy makers in the West Midlands.
It has been suggested in the past that the 17km stretch of line, terminating near the new Interchange Station will be completed by 2026.
A report presented to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) last year, said that the scheme would play a key role in the regeneration of some of the region’s most deprived communities.

Cameras to catch Solihull's fly-tippers

SMILE YOU'RE ON CAMERA: Coun Alison Rolf
hopes that the cameras will make a difference

NORTH Solihull councillors have welcomed news that a set of portable cameras are being rolled out to catch out fly-tippers.
In 2017/18, the borough council had to fork out almost £150,000 to clear-up more than 400 incidents.
Locally there have been concerns about the amount of waste being dumped at locations including Lanchester Park, Black Firs Lane and Alcott Wood.
It was announced earlier this summer that the cameras will be piloted for six months, with plans to move the devices around some of the borough’s hot spots.
Coun Chris Williams (Green, Chelmsley Wood) feared that the problem had got worse since he was first elected six years ago and said he believed that the council would be inundated with a list of sites to trial the technology.
Coun Gail Sleigh (Con, Castle Bromwich) said there were several locations where she believed that the cameras could make a difference in her own ward.
She stressed the importance of sending a strong message to those responsible for “costly and anti-social behaviour”.
Solihull’s cabinet member for stronger communities and partnerships, Coun Alison Rolf (pictured), has said that the evidence collected by cameras will help bring prosecutions against the culprits.
“We know that fly-tipping is a nuisance to residents and harmful to the environment, which is why we are continually looking at ways to address the problem.”