Christmas lights to be turned on in Marston Green

AN ENHANCED display of Christmas lights will be switched-on in Marston Green tomorrow (Thursday).
Bickenhill and Marston Green Parish Council has confirmed that eight more lamp posts have been decorated in the village centre, thanks to sponsorship from around 20 local businesses.
The first phase of a project to create a more impressive display got underway last year, with street lights adorned in the vicinity of the memorial garden.
At the time, councillors said that a sponsorship scheme would probably be the most effective way of finding the funds for additional illuminations.

Police warning as winter takes hold

FAST-acting thieves stole a car in Castle Bromwich this morning, prompting a fresh appeal from police for drivers not to leave the engine running in cold weather.

Overnight temperatures dropped to around -6, with many motorists waking up to find their vehicles had been frozen over.

But the incident in Hodnell Close - in which opportunists drove off with a Mazda - is a stark reminder about the dangers of leaving the keys in the ignition while trying to clear the ice from the windscreen.

The crime was one of three similar incidents that Solihull Police confirmed on social media, with cars also reported stolen in Knowle and Dorridge. In total the thefts amounted to more than £100,000.

A spokesman said: "We are warning car owners it only takes a few seconds for their vehicle to be taken from a driveway or outside their homes.

"Opportunist car thieves watch the weather forecast and we are advising car owners not to nip back inside their home when a car is defrosting. Motorists should stay with their vehicle and use a de-icer spray or scraper to speed up the process."

The cold snap is set to continue over the next few days, with sub-zero temperatures expected again tonight.

Xmas card workshops to start in Smith's Wood

A SERIES of Christmas card workshops will be taking place in Smith's Wood over the next couple of weeks.
The sessions will be held at Auckland Hall on Wednesday (November 30) and December 7 and 14. The events run from 10.30-11.30am and if you have any craft items please bring them along on the day.

Plans to revamp Kingshurst Parade take shape

LONG-awaiting plans to redevelop Kingshurst Parade are due to be debated by Solihull Council next week.
The redevelopment of the ageing shopping precinct was always due to form part of the Regeneration, but the lack of progress has frustrated residents.
Now a report, which sheds some light on the reasons for the delays, has been prepared for the council's cabinet.
Council officers said that the main stumbling block had been coming up with a plan which was commercially viable, admitting that two previous proposals from last year had been abandoned.
Now a fresh scheme has been brought to the table, which would include new shops and medical facilities, a 100 homes and the possible creation of a new "community hub."
The report says that the project could "reinvigorate" an area which the local authority admits has become "run down" and often attracts anti social behaviour.
Discussions are set to continue over the coming months, with a public consultation to take place next year. The council's hope is that a masterplan for the Kingshurst village centre will be in place by the summer.
That said, concerns remain about securing the necessary funding for the development, which is ultimately expected to cost in the region of £15million.
The report comes just a few weeks after a petition was raised calling on the local authority to provide an update.
The document, which was presented by UKIP councillor Debbie Evans (Kingshurst & Fordbridge), said: "We feel we have waited long enough for an explanation to come forward and we as residents feel forgotten by this council."

Ladies "indulgence evening" in Marston Green

A SPECIAL “pampering” event will be taking place at Marston Green Junior School tomorrow evening (Friday).
The ladies’ evening will include manicures, eyebrow threading and a range of stalls and refreshments.
The event will be taking place from 7-9pm. All welcome.

Delivery driver jailed for sexual assault

A PARCEL man from Castle Bromwich has been jailed for four years after being convicted of sexually assaulting a disabled woman during a delivery.
Wasim Bhar, 24, of Sweetmoor Close, had been sent to deliver a package to the Chelmsley Wood address on January 7.
After handing over the parcel, Bhar had groped his victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The 52-year-old had told the court she had been scared for her life.
Police had later linked the defendant to the scene through DNA evidence, despite his initial protests that the woman was "delusional."
On Monday (November 21), Bhar was convicted of the crime and has been handed a custodial sentence. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.
Det Con Katy Roberts said: "I want to reassure the public that these types of sexual crimes are thankfully very rare.
"The fact that Bhar had gained the victim’s trust and used his role as a delivery driver to gain access to her house was very concerning and the crime was treated as very serious. The attack was clearly premeditated and was extremely callous.
"The courage that the victim showed in coming forward was considerable."
A spokesman for the delivery firm Hermes said that Bhar had concealed previous criminal convictions before applying for a job.
"This is an extremely serious incident and whilst we are satisfied that all necessary legal checks are in place, we are undertaking a full review of our service provider application process," they added.

Council plans £400 fine for fly tippers

SICK AND TYRED OF IT: In recent months fly tipping has been reported
behind the Marston Green Tavern and in Lanchester Way, Smith's Wood

SOLIHULL Council is set to impose the highest fines available under new powers designed to deter fly tipping.
Changes to the law, which came into force earlier this year, mean that local authorities can now hand out fixed penalty notices to those who have dumped rubbish.
Under previous rules, the only options open to councils were to give culprits a formal caution or start proceedings to take the individual to court.
Now however, they will be able to issue the fines of between £150 and £400, in a similar fashion to the penalties already handed out for littering and dog fouling.
On Wednesday this week, the cabinet member for stronger communities and partnerships will approve the level of fine which will be issued in the borough and it has been indicated that the heaviest sum available will be imposed on those caught.
Nigel Abbotts, a Solihull Council officer who prepared a report on the options available, said: "Fly tipping is a serious environmental crime, impacting on our local and wider communities and environment.
"Therefore, it is believed that the highest level fine of £400 is an appropriate and sufficient penalty to make it clear that an offence has been committed and also to act as a deterrent against further offending."
The penalty notice will be reduced to £300 for those who pay within ten working days.