Kingshurst crimes spark concerns about policing

TRIBUTES: Flowers in Haselour Road, near where Callum Lees suffered
fatal wounds - one of several serious incidents this month.

RESIDENTS who have lived in Kingshurst for decades have told a public meeting that crime on the estate has never been as bad as it is now.
Scores of people had packed into St Barnabas Church to voice concerns about the police response; claiming that foot patrols were non-existent and that officers had failed to act when offences were reported.
This month’s meeting had been organised by Meriden’s MP, Dame Caroline Spelman, amid rising anxiety within the community.
While the murder of 20-year-old Callum Lees had been widely publicised, various other incidents were highlighted during the course of the 90 minute event.
These included a young man being threatened with a meat cleaver outside KFC, flagrant drug dealing and incidents of pensioners being deliberately knocked over by bikes.
Coun Debbie Evans (UKIP, Kingshurst & Fordbridge) said that residents had lost faith in the police.
“There was an incident on the Parade involving knives. They phoned 999 and it was engaged.
“When they finally got through it took [officers] half an hour to get there, by which time the kids had gone.
“I have lived on Kingshurst for most of my adult life and I have never known anything like this.”
One resident claimed to be “scared out of their wits” while another spoke of her frustration that concerns did not appear to be acted upon.
“I have lived here for 52 years...I like this community and I have always been quite proud to say I come from this area, until now.”
As tensions boiled over, a panel which included Dame Caroline, Solihull Chief Insp Colin Barnes and representatives from Solihull Council sought to reassure the audience.
Chief Insp Barnes insisted the force would act on reports from the public, although he admitted that cuts had affected police responses.
Echoing comments made at a meeting in Castle Bromwich back in January, he acknowledged there had been a particular shortage of call handlers.
“We have been aware of the issues with the 101 [non-emergency] number for a few months and that we couldn’t always get to the calls.
“We have known this on the front line for a while and it took a while for that to filter up the chain of command.
“There has been a recruitment drive and I hope that is starting to pay dividends.”
Official figures suggest crime rates in Kingshurst have been erratic over the past five years, with a fall in offending some years and a rise in others.

• Next week we will report on the questions about youth services raised at the same meeting.

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Police make arrest in Callum Lees murder investigation

POLICE have this afternoon arrested a man wanted in connection with the murder of Callum Lees, who suffered fatal injuries in Kingshurst earlier this month.
James Atherley, 21, was detained at an address in Newcastle-upon-Tyne a few hours ago, following a widely-shared public appeal.
A man and a woman, who have not been named, have also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Twenty-year-old Callum was stabbed in Hopwas Grove on August 6. A member of the public found him collapsed in nearby Haselour Road and he was confirmed dead the same day.
Atherley remains in custody in Newcastle and will be transported to the West Midlands for questioning by detectives.

Castle Bromwich responds to flight path fears

PLANE SPEAKING: Meriden MP Caroline Spelman addresses local
residents during the recent meeting in Castle Bromwich.

FEARS about changes to flight paths have prompted residents in Castle Bromwich to set up a campaign group.
Efforts to mobilise opposition to some of the more controversial adjustments follow a meeting at St Mary and St Margaret's Church earlier this month, in which several dozen locals gathered to discuss the proposed alterations to air traffic.
The proposals, which are currently out for consultation, will see changes to northbound flights from Birmingham Airport and are set to have an impact on North Solihull.
While some residents are fairly unfazed by the plans, others have concerns about noise from aircraft and increased pollution.
Questions have also been raised as to the wording of the 50-page consultation document, with some criticism that it includes several leading questions and fails to address other queries.
Meriden's MP, Dame Caroline Spelman, who was among those to attend the recent meeting, said: "I was pleased be able to offer residents a guarantee that I will work closely with them and Birmingham Airport to campaign for appropriate noise mitigation and to ensure that local voices are heard.
"Having been in regular contact with the airport for some weeks with regards to this issue, I am pleased that following the meeting we have already secured some changes to the format of the consultation. These will serve to better ensure that views can be properly expressed."
David Winstanley, Birmingham Airport's chief operating officer, said: "The airport is very, very conscious that this is a sensitive issue”.
"We are providing the [consultation] website and information so that residents can dig down and find the answers to the questions they wish."
The consultation runs until October 9. You can have your say here.

Lions' pop-up shop set to be a roaring success

MARSTON Green & District Lions will be running a "pop-up" charity shop in Chelmsley Wood this weekend.
Books, DVDs, toys and bric-a-brac will be among the items for sale in the old Halifax unit, in Maple Walk.
The shop will be open Friday and Saturday (September 1 and 2) from 10am-4pm.
Proceeds from sales will go towards the Lions' good causes and there will also be a chance to chat to members about the work that the branch is doing within the local community.

Man who hit 115mph in late-night chase is jailed

WRECKAGE: The badly-damaged BMW M3 outside the BP petrol station
Picture/West Midlands Police

A DRIVER who crashed at Bacons End after reaching speeds of up to 115mph has been jailed.
Kamar Farooq had careered across a roundabout at the junction of Chester Road and Birmingham Road before colliding with another vehicle at the nearby petrol station.
Birmingham Crown Court heard that the 30-year-old - who was banned from driving at the time of the incident - had aroused the suspicions of police as he drove down Birmingham's Washwood Heath Road.
When officers signalled for him to pull over, he had sped off down the road. In the hair-raising chase which followed, Farooq had reached speeds almost four times the legal limit and at times drove on the wrong side of the road in his attempt to escape.
The pursuit through the streets, in the early hours of September 23 last year, came to a juddering halt following the collision outside the BP filling station.
At this point Farooq had jumped into the back of the BMW alongside two other men and tried to claim he had been a passenger.
Fortunately police were able to secure CCTV which showed the driver of the £85,000 sports car was wearing the same clothes as Farooq at the time of his arrest.
The defendant, of Aston Lane, Aston, had continued to deny being behind the wheel, but was convicted of dangerous driving and driving while disqualified and jailed last Friday (August 25). He received a two and a half year prison sentence and a further ten year driving ban.
PC Robert Lattimer, from Chelmsley Wood's road policing unit, said: "This was reckless driving by someone who should not have been behind the wheel.
"This was a high performance vehicle and the outcome could have been much worse. He now faces a long time behind bars rather than behind the wheel of a car."

Chelmsley Wood woman's new radio series

A WRITER who grew up on Chelmsley Wood is to present a new radio series on the history of social housing.
Lynsey Hanley's documentary comes on the back of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and examines how these types of property have evolved over the decades.
The first of the five-part series airs on Radio 4 tomorrow (Monday) at 1.45pm. Episodes will also be available to listen to after broadcast via the BBC website.

School parking restrictions to take effect in Marston Green

A NEW scheme to restrict parking around Marston Green Infant Academy will come into force next month.
The measures, first revealed by this site last year, will be introduced amid concerns about congestion on nearby roads during the school run.
The restrictions will mean that most vehicles, including those driven by parents or carers, will not be able to drive into certain streets to drop off or pick up pupils.
Exemptions will be made for emergency vehicles and residents are to be issued with special permits to avoid them being issued with tickets.
The pilot "School Streets" scheme - which will also be introduced at Oak Cottage Primary and Haslucks Green Junior School, in Shirley - will help gauge whether the restrictions could be introduced at other schools around the borough.
Solihull Council - which has grappled with the issue for some years - had previously admitted that past initiatives had failed to stop the traffic problems.
Councillor Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, said: "We know that most people do drive responsibly, but it can often be chaotic outside schools at drop-off and pick-up times.
"The aim of School Streets is to create a safer and more pleasant environment for everyone around schools. An added bonus will be the healthier and more active lifestyle it will prompt, with more pupils walking, cycling and scooting to school.
"The scheme has already been adopted in Edinburgh with early positive feedback, so we hope it will bring similar benefits to Solihull."
The measures come into force from Monday, September 4 and will run for an initial period of 18 months.

Pair robbed outside Marston Green shop

POLICE are investigating following a carjacking in the middle of Marston Green last week.
A female driver had got out of her car to use the cashpoint at the One Stop shop, in Station Road, when she was confronted by three men last Thursday evening (August 17).
The gang assaulted her and took the keys to the vehicle, before dragging a male passenger out of the seat. They then drove off in the car, understood to be a grey Seat Ibiza.
The victims were taken to hospital to be checked over following the robbery.
Police confirmed today that three teenagers had been arrested and questioned in relation to the incident. The two 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old, who were detained in the Alum Rock area, have been bailed pending further enquiries.
Earlier this month, PCSO Ian Carr had warned about a spate of vehicle thefts in the Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green area and advised residents to be vigilant.
If you have any information about the incident, which happened at around 8.50pm, call Solihull Police on 101 [quoting crime number 20SH/175504V/17​].

Our Say: August

Health body ranked as "inadequate" amid financial concerns

THE body in charge of overseeing Solihull's GP surgeries has been given four weeks to turn its performance around, amid concerns about a gaping hole in its finances.
Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been ranked "inadequate" overall, following an assessment of its performance in 2016/17 by officials at NHS England.
While some specific services performed well - cancer care was rated "outstanding" and mental health "good" - its overall ranking was rather poorer. The CCG has suggested that its "challenging financial position" was the reason for this.
In a statement last week, the organisation said it had been working on a plan to shore up its finances since the start of 2017. There has already been talk of Solihull CCG merging with Birmingham, with a view that pooling resources and expertise would make for a more efficient organisation.
Now however, NHS England has directly intervened and given the CCG four weeks [dating from August 17] to produce an effective plan to ensure it operates within its budget in this financial year.
Instructions have also been given to appoint a permanent chief finance officer, who will play a key role in ensuring that the books are balanced.
Solihull CCG said: "[We] will continue to work hard to deliver against our £18million savings target; we do not believe that this will adversely impact upon the current services being provided to patients.
"We are committed to putting in place a strong and detailed integration plan, working closely with our local authority and health partners in Solihull and Birmingham."
CCGs were introduced in 2013 as part of a controversial reorganisation of the NHS. The GP-led bodies were given substantial control over the budgets for providing services, which the Government said would improve quality of care and give more freedom to practitioners on the front-line.
But two years later, the King's Fund think tank was highly critical of the changes, arguing they had distracted from patient care and led to declining performance.

Leisure centre contract opened to bids

SOLIHULL Council has put the contract for North Solihull Sports Centre out to tender.
The Chelmsley Wood-based facility has been run by Parkwood Leisure Ltd for many years, as part of a deal between Rivendell Leisure Ltd and the local authority.
This contract has now been terminated, but Parkwood will continue to operate the centre as part of an interim arrangement.
The re-tendering process will see the council consider who should run the service going forward. The council has previously indicated that the current provider is likely to be among those in the running.
It is expected the operator will be selected by the end of March 2018, with the new management contract taking effect from next June.
A Solihull Council spokesman said: "In the meantime current services will continue as normal and leisure centre users will not be affected."

Timeline:
2007: Major refurbishment of North Solihull Sports Centre runs in tandem with the redevelopment of Tudor Grange Leisure Centre.
Jan 2009: Free swimming sessions launched for under 16s and over 60s as part of a get fit drive ahead of the London Olympics.
July 2012: Local mums, led by firefighter Leanne Byrne, protest against a proposed reduction in creche opening hours.
July 2015: Campaign to reinstate long-standing lifeguard Ray Lill, who is sacked after more than 30 years following allegations he used his phone at the poolside.

Jamaican vibes in Meriden Park

A CARIBBEAN-themed event will be taking place in Chelmsley Wood this Bank Holiday Sunday.
The colourful programme of events will be held on The Green, in Meriden Park, from 12noon until 6pm.
There will be live reggae music (performances at 1pm and 3pm), a jerk chicken stand and a rum and cocktail bar. Children can enjoy pony rides, face painting and bouncy slides.
Admission on the gate (£8 for adults and £1 for children).

Playgroup delighted by charity grant

BEARING GIFTS: Children in
Need mascot Pudsey

KINGSHURST Caterpillars Playgroup has been awarded almost £50,000 by Children in Need.
The three-year grant, announced earlier this month, will enable the group to offer supported play sessions to two to four-year-olds.
Set up in 2005, the organisation recently moved to a new home, with the ribbon cut at the School Close base back in March.
Melinda Connelly, BBC Children in Need's Regional Head of the Central Region said: "We are delighted to be announcing additional funding in Solihull.
"All of our funding goes on to positively impact the lives of disadvantaged children and young people, and recently awarded projects really will go on to change young lives in the area."
Funding has also been set aside for Solihull Action Through Advocacy, which will receive £61,826, and the borough's refugee support charity Entraide, which has been awarded £77,631.

Heartless thieves steal charity money

DONATIONS to charities were stolen during a late-night break-in at a Marston Green hairdressers.
The glass frontage of Studio 64 ...Hair Nails and Beauty, in Station Road,  was shattered in the early hours of this morning (Sunday).
It's understood that charity money for Marie Curie and Help Harry Help Others was stolen from the premises.
The thieves fled the building after the salon's alarm went off, with a resident who lives in the flat above also dialling 999.
If you have any information about the theft, please call Solihull Police on 101.

Restoration of Castle Brom bells is complete

DING DONG DONE IT: St Mary and St Margaret's Church has a new ring
of eight bells following the completion of a major restoration.

THE bells at a Castle Bromwich church will ring out tomorrow morning following the completion of a major restoration project.

Work hanging the eight bells was finally finished yesterday (Friday), after a month's work in the belfry of St Mary and St Margaret's.

£100,000 was raised for the project by the church bellringing team, with Loughborough-based foundry Taylor's tasked with recasting the six existing bells and forging two others. 

Last month they started work on the installation and now, at last, the new ring of eight bells is in place.

In the past few days residents will have heard the chimes for the first time since February, when the old installation was dismantled. 

In the end, the work was completed to exactly the schedule set out in the spring - and at a rather quicker rate than the four year restoration intended for Big Ben!

In recognition of their efforts, the bellhanging team was presented with bottles of Stay Upright - an ale which has been specially brewed by Birmingham's Two Towers Brewery to celebrate the end of the restoration.

The dedication service will be taking place tomorrow (Sunday) at 10am.

A Level success at local schools

FLYING HIGH: RAF hopeful Zak Maling and
fellow student Jorden Evans.

STUDENTS at a number of North Solihull schools have achieved their best ever A Level results despite the introduction of tougher exams.
Both the Grace Academy, in Chelmsley Wood, and Park Hall Academy, Castle Bromwich, reported record achievements yesterday (Thursday).
This is in line with a national trend, with the number of A* and A grades rising overall, although performance in some 13 subjects did dip as a result of stricter marking.
At the Grace Academy, an increased number of students achieve three or more A Levels and every student who applied to university secured a place on a course.
Among the sixth formers singled out for praise was Jorden Evans, who achieved three As and a B, and will go on to study Physics at the University of Nottingham.
Zak Maling picked up an A and three Bs and now intends to pursue a career as an officer in the RAF.
Kelly Williams, head of Post-16, said: "The results demonstrate that with the right level of support and guidance, our students really can flourish and achieve some great results.
"We wish them well on their future journey, whether that is university, an apprenticeship, or the start of their careers."
Hailing his own school's record results, Park Hall's headteacher Damian Burgess said: "The students, staff, parents, carers and governors should be very proud of all the skill, hard work and effort that have made these improvements possible."
Park Hall's performance continues a significant turnaround, with the school having emerged from the special measures imposed by Ofsted back in 2014.
Teenagers at John Henry Newman Catholic College and Smith's Wood Sports College also received their grades, although the latter will only hand out results for one more summer following the recent decision to close the sixth form to new students.
At the CTC Kingshurst Academy it was a rather quieter day. While staff were on hand to help with clearing, the school does not have the usual results day rush [it instead offers the IB qualification, the grades for which are released in July].

Reward offered as police continue hunt for murder suspect

FURTHER to our reports last week, a reward of up to £5,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a key suspect in an ongoing murder investigation.
Officers are keen to know the whereabouts of 21-year-old James Atherley, who was first named as a person of interest last week.
The appeal comes after Callum Lees, 20, suffered a fatal stab wound in Hopwas Grove, Kingshurst on August 6. The independent charity Crimestoppers has put up the reward.
Pauline Hadley, Crimestoppers' West Midlands Regional Manager, said: "Someone who saw this stabbing take place is likely to know James Atherley personally, and we understand passing on his details to us is a tough decision to make.
"But we’re here to help, to take your information without asking any of your personal details, and without you having to speak to the police or going to court."
Det Insp Jim Munro, who is leading the investigation into Callum's death, said: "Our enquiries lead us to believe that James Atherley is no longer in the West Midlands and may have links to Weston-Super-Mare."
In a fresh statement, Callum's family said: "Every morning we wake up and we realise our son has gone.
"The only thing that keeps us going is knowing that we have to be there for our children and family, so we’ve got to get through this but our lives will never be the same again.
"To the person that has taken Callum from us, please do the right thing and give yourself up. We need some sense of closure. Please allow us to bury our boy."
If you can help please call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Kingshurst sees second stabbing in a fortnight

POLICE are investigating after a man was knifed in the leg in Kingshurst in the early hours of Monday morning.
The 27-year-old was rushed to hospital after being attacked in Kingshurst Way at around 4.30am. He remains in a stable condition.
Officers were later seen scouring gardens in the streets in an apparent search for the weapon.
A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and has been bailed pending further enquiries.
The incident comes barely a week after the death of Callum Lees, 20, who suffered a fatal stab wound following a dispute in nearby Hopwas Grove.
Amid growing concerns about crime on the estate, a public meeting has been organised by Meriden MP Caroline Spelman and will be taking place on Thursday evening.
Anyone with information about this latest incident should call officers on 101.

Bickenhill Road closure following burst water pipe

A SECTION of Bickenhill Road has been closed while the water authority carries out emergency works to repair a leak.
Severn Trent said that the problem was causing flooding of the carriageway and that the road would be shut off between the junction with Coleshill Road and just south of the junction with Lyndon Croft.
Work is expected to be completed by 6pm on Wednesday (August 16), although access will be maintained for the emergency services.
Severn Trent had warned yesterday that the burst main may cause loss of pressure or supply to those living in the Marston Green area and apologised for any inconvenience caused.

Blooms, veg and wine at village show

A FINE display is expected at Marston Green's Annual Flower Show.
The event will be taking place today (Saturday) at the Parish Hall and grounds.
Schedules for the show, which includes categories for vegetables, wine and handicrafts, are available in the village. The event opens at 2pm.

Flight paths meeting organised in Castle Brom

RESIDENTS are invited to attend a public meeting to discuss proposed changes to flight paths at Birmingham Airport.

The plans, unveiled a couple of months ago, would mean a change in the direction that aircraft take off from the northbound runway.

This could impact on residents living in Marston Green, Chelmsley Wood, Kingshurst, Fordbridge and Castle Bromwich.

The meeting will be held at St Mary and St Margaret's Community Hall next Thursday (August 17). It is expected to run from 6.30-8.30pm.

While no representatives from the airport will be present, locals still have the opportunity to make their feelings known through the formal consultation.

This will run until October 9, with details on how to take part available here.

Police name suspect in Kingshurst murder case

POLICE have named a man they wish to speak to as part of a murder investigation launched following an incident in Kingshurst last weekend.
Callum Lees, 20, had suffered a fatal wound to the neck following an apparent dispute at a house party in Hopwas Grove.
Detectives today identified James Atherley, 21, as a suspect and have appealed for information about his whereabouts. They have also released photos of Atherley, formerly of Wells Road, Elmdon, as part of efforts to trace him.
Det Insp Jim Munro warned that anyone who hindered the investigation by sheltering the suspect ran the risk of being prosecuted themselves.
He said: "This is a tragic case in which a young man has lost his life in awful circumstances: Callum has been attacked in a flat, managed to stagger outside for help but has collapsed and died.
"Our enquiries have identified James Atherley as someone we’d like to question about Callum’s murder. If anyone knows where he is, or has seen him in the last few days, I’d urge them to call us immediately."
Police would also like to hear from anyone else who attended the party on Saturday night into Sunday morning as they could be an important witness.
Three men aged 21, 20 and 18, previously arrested in connection with the incident, have been bailed pending further enquiries.
Anyone with information as to Atherley’s whereabouts or who can otherwise help the investigation should call officers on 101.

Public meeting in Kingshurst to discuss crime

MERIDEN MP Caroline Spelman is organising a public meeting to give local residents a chance to discuss concerns about crime in the local area.
The event is due to take place at St Barnabas Church Hall, Kingshurst, next Thursday (August 17), from 5.30pm.
Ward councillors for Smith's Wood and Kingshurst & Fordbridge have also been invited to attend and requests have been made for representatives from Solihull Police and the borough council.

Man dies in incident at Marston Green station

A MAN has died following a collision with a train at Marston Green Railway Station this afternoon.
The incident involved the 16:50 Birmingham New Street to London Euston service.
Ambulance crews and British Transport Police were called at just before 5pm, with paramedics confirming that the man had died at the scene. The death is not believed to be suspicious.
Rail services operated by Virgin Trains, Arriva Trains Wales, CrossCountry and London Midland have been cancelled or delayed.
Operators confirmed that replacement bus services were taking passengers to destinations including Birmingham International, Leamington Spa and Coventry.

Arrests made in fast-moving murder investigation

TWO more people have been arrested following the fatal stabbing in Kingshurst on Sunday morning.
Police launched an investigation into the death of 20-year-old Callum Lees, after a disturbance in Hopwas Grove.
Two men, aged 18 and 20, were detained in East Birmingham yesterday on suspicion of murder.
A 21-year-old who had previously been questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender has now been bailed pending further enquiries.
Det Insp Jim Munro, from Force CID, said: "We’ve made quick progress in this investigation...This is a significant development but we are still appealing to anyone with information who has not yet spoken to us to call my team."
Officers can be contacted on 101 or alternatively people can ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Young man "left to die" following Kingshurst stabbing

A YOUNG man who suffered a fatal stab wound following a row in a Kingshurst flat has today been named as Callum Lees.
The 20-year-old is understood to have been injured during a disturbance at the property in Hopwas Grove yesterday morning (Sunday).
A member of the public found him collapsed in nearby Haselour Road at around 10am and he was airlifted to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A post-mortem is understood to have taken place today.
In a statement issued through West Midlands Police, Callum's family described him as "a beautiful, caring, kind soul."
"Everyone who knew him only had good words to say. Our world has been shattered and will never be the same again."
Detectives have confirmed that a 21-year-old man, from the Solihull area, has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Enquiries are ongoing, with forensics teams having removed a number of items from the street, which is near Yorkswood Primary School.
Det Insp Jim Munro believes there were several other people at the flat at the time of the disturbance – and has urged them to come forward.
He added: "We suspect the victim knew his attacker and efforts are well underway to find the person responsible.
"Our enquiries suggest that a group of people were drinking in the flat at the time…they need to call me immediately so we can understand exactly what happened and eliminate them from our enquiries.
"A young man has lost his life in awful circumstances and been left to die in the street."
Anyone with information can call officers on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

20-year-old dies following stabbing in Kingshurst street

A YOUNG man has died following a stabbing in Kingshurst earlier today (Sunday).
The 20-year-old suffered injuries to his head and neck in Haselour Road and was discovered by a member of the public at just before 10am.
The victim, who has not yet been named by police, is understood to have been airlifted to hospital and was originally described as being in a critical condition. This afternoon it was confirmed he had died from his injuries.
Locals have reported that the street, which runs between Kingshurst Way and Bannerlea Road, a stone's throw from Yorkswood Primary School, has been sealed off following the incident.
Forensic teams have also been seen removing items from the scene.
The stabbing comes less than a month after a separate incident in Chelmsley Wood, in which a 65-year-old lost his life.
There have been concerns that violent crime has been on the rise across the region, with 113,017 offences recorded in the 12 months to March [16 per cent up on the previous year]. The situation has inevitably led to renewed questions about cuts in policing budgets and a reduction in the number of officers.
Local resident Leigh Knight said: "I think everyone on the estate needs to pull together and get a petition going to demand more police on duty to get our area back to how it was, when it safe to walk the streets and we didn't sit in fear when our kids were out!"
Speaking last month, DCI Ian Parnell said: "Similar to other areas around the country we have seen a rise in knife crime over the last few months and we are taking this very seriously."
If you have any information about today's incident, call Solihull Police on 101.

Funding new activities in Smith's Wood

GRANTS are being offered to those residents who would like to run a community group in Smith's Wood.
The Cars Area Big Local will make funding available for groups to be based at either Auckland Hall or on Bosworth Wood Playing Fields. Submissions must be made by August 18.
For an application form or more advice about the process, please call Aimee on 07825 417141 or email carsareabiglocal@gmail.com

Force pays tribute to local bobby

A CHELMSLEY Wood-based police officer who recovered from terrible leg injuries to return to her old patch has been named as one of West Midlands Police's "Stars of Summer".
Over the course of August, the force is posting details on social media about some of its unsung heroes and PC Terri Discenza was one of the first to be recognised.
It is five years since the officer was knocked over by an off-road biker while responding to reports of anti social behaviour.
The leg injuries she received in the incident were so severe that doctors advised against returning to front-line duties.
But after months of rehabilitation, she came back to active service and is today a member of the Chelmsley Wood neighbourhood team.
As part of her role she also acts as a secondary school liaison officer, working with pupils to tackle issues such as online grooming, sexual exploitation and knife crime.
Last summer PC Discenza and her colleague PCSO Michelle Collins were presented with a special award by Smith's Wood Sports College.

Solihull councillor censured over Grenfell Fire tweet

A FORMER Mayor of Solihull, whose comments on Twitter following the Grenfell Tower fire caused a storm of controversy, "did not treat people with respect".
Councillor Ken Hawkins (Con, Blythe) was last week found to have breached Solihull Council's Code of Conduct as a result of comments posted on social media back in June.
At the heart of the row was a photo that Coun Hawkins had retweeted showing residents in West London protesting in the wake of the tower block blaze, in which scores of people died.
He had added the caption "Lets get ourselves a hangin!", a comment which led to a considerable backlash and calls for his resignation.
Many of those who responded believed the remark likened the demonstrators to "a mob".
Lea Ralston replied: "The community are not baying for a 'hangin' as you so ineptly tweeted @cllrken but for someone, anyone, to admit responsibility."
Coun Hawkins, who had been out discussing fire safety at high-rise blocks in North Solihull shortly before the controversy erupted, was stripped of his role as the cabinet member responsible for housing and issued a formal apology.
"In no way whatsoever was the short message directed at the unfortunate victims of the Grenfell Tower fire and I am distraught that some people have interpreted it in this way," he said at the time.
Last Wednesday a Code of Conduct panel considered the case and ruled that the former policeman "had failed to behave in accordance with the council's policies, procedures and protocols...did not act appropriately in regard to leadership and example, and did not treat people with respect."
It was recommended that he does not return to a cabinet position during the current municipal year (which runs until next spring) and he will be required to attend social media training.
Coun Hawkins accepted the findings and the sanctions imposed by the panel.

Pop-up shop is just the job for local young people

YOUNG people looking for careers advice are invited to visit a new pop-up shop in Chelmlsey Wood town centre.
Staff from Solihull Council, Solihull College, the Prince’s Trust, Advanced Personnel Management and initiatives such as Fab Lab and Frame Academy will be on hand to offer advice to 15 to 29-year-olds.
The shop - which has set up at 11 Coppice Walk - will be open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (12noon-4pm) between now and the end of September.
Councillor Ken Meeson, cabinet member for children, education and skills, said: “This is a great opportunity for any young person who is looking for help to set them on a path to their future career to get some face to face advice and practical support to find a job or an apprenticeship.”
The initiative is part of the Birmingham & Solihull Youth Promise Plus project and is part-funded by the European Social Fund.