Reminder of deadline for registering for Solihull's elections

THERE are a little over two weeks left to register to vote in Solihull's upcoming local elections.
If you are not currently registered then you have until April 17 to sign-up.
This year will see a third of seats on the borough council being contested, with the public casting their ballot papers on May 3.
To find out more about voter registration visit the Government's official website.

North Solihull's crime hotspots revealed

CHESTER Road has been named as the street with the highest level of criminal activity in North Solihull.
A total of 635 offences were recorded on the route in the period between October 2016 and September last year.
Other crime hotspots included Bosworth Drive (178 crimes recorded), Coleshill Road (123), Cooks Lane (103) and Station Road (79).
In total, the 15 streets with the highest crime figures accounted for a third of all offences in the north of the borough over the course of the 12 month period.
And further analysis of the figures shows that the types of crime varied depending on the area.
Chelmsley Wood town centre and the shopping area surrounding Morrisons, in Castle Bromwich, were identified as having a problem with theft and people leaving shops without paying - as might be expected from busy retail districts.
Babbs Mill Recreation Ground and Kingshurst Way were associated with anti social behaviour, while vehicle crime was a particular problem in Forth Drive and Fordbridge Road.
The data was included in a comprehensive Safer Solihull report, presented to borough councillors on Monday of this week.
There will be more about concerns relating to crime in the next edition of Other Side of Solihull.

House fire closes Marston Green street

EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Crews in Cambridge Drive earlier today.
Picture/ West Midlands Fire Service

FIREFIGHTERS were called to tackle a blaze in Marston Green earlier today (Tuesday).
Crews from Sheldon, Solihull, Ward End and Highgate arrived in Cambridge Drive this morning and managed to contain the fire to one property.
No-one was injured in the incident, although the road was closed while the emergency services extinguished the flames.
A spokesman for Solihull Fire Station said: "Crews will be back in the area giving safety advice and checking smoke alarms over the next week."

Charge following man's death in 2016

A YOUNG man has been charged with murder, following a fatal stabbing believed to have taken place in Kingshurst some 18 months ago.
Giovanni Lewis, aged 28, had suffered multiple wounds to the chest on October 18, 2016.
It is believed the Shard End man (pictured, right) was attacked in North Solihull before being taken to Heartlands Hospital. He died shortly after arriving at A&E.
Now Jammal Chase has been charged in relation to Mr Lewis' death, after handing himself into a police station on Friday evening (March 23). Officers had been looking for the 21-year-old for around a year and a half.
He appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court yesterday, charged with murder, attempted murder, possession of an imitation firearm and possession of an offensive weapon. He was remanded in custody and the case will be heard at the city's Crown Court tomorrow (Wednesday).
Police investigations into the incident continue.
Det Insp Paul Joyce, from the homicide team, said: "I would appeal to anyone who holds any information on the whereabouts of where Jammal has been for the last 18 months to make contact with myself or the team on 101."

Kingshurst man charged following fatal crash

A KINGSHURST man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, following a fatal collision last summer.
Nicholas Buck, 53, of Kingshurst Way, is due to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court on Thursday (March 29).
The charge follows a collision between a school minibus and a bin lorry on the Kingsbury Road, in Castle Vale, on July 7.
Fourteen-year-old Holly Brown had died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The school girl (pictured, right) had been on an art trip along with around 20 other students from John Taylor High School, in Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire.
Det Sgt Alan Hands, from  West Midlands Police, said: "Holly’s family are devastated and specialist officers continue to support them during this extremely difficult time."

Bonnets and lego bricks at Easter event

AN EASTER Parade will be taking at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens next weekend.
Aside from the traditional procession, there will be an egg hunt, games and the chance to browse Lego models placed around the site.
The event will be taking place on Saturday (March 31), from 12.30-4.30pm. To find out more visit the Hall Gardens' website.

Royal appointment for Castle Bromwich students

STUDENTS from Park Hall Academy will be performing at the world-famous Royal Albert Hall next week.
The contingent from the Castle Bromwich school will be joining choristers from around the country for a rousing performance at the London venue, perhaps best known for hosting the Last Night of the Proms each year.
In total more than 2,000 singers from 50 different choirs will take to the stage for the performance on Monday evening (March 26).
Pupils from Kingshurst Primary will also be taking part in the much-anticipated event, organised by the AC Academy - a singing education programme.
The venue's website reveals that the concert will feature a programme of music which ranges from Take That through to Disney's The Lion King.
The performance will be attended by the Queen's cousin, HRH The Duke of Kent, while the students will be joined on stage by actor Mark Williams, known for The Fast Show and the Harry Potter films, and Strictly Come Dancing stars Gorka Marquez and Dianne Buswell.

Woman dies in Chelmsley Wood blaze

A WOMAN has died following a house fire in Chelmsley Wood in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday).
The elderly resident, who has not been named, perished after a blaze broke out at the property in Conway Road.
West Midlands Ambulance Service were called to the address at a little after 2am, but the woman was confirmed dead at the scene. Police have said that the fire is not being treated as suspicious.
Sheldon Fire Station had dispatched crews to the scene to tackle the flames and said their thoughts were with the friends and family of the deceased.

Smith's Wood student to speak up for young people

A STUDENT from Smith's Wood Sports College is one of two school pupils who have been elected to represent the borough's young people at the UK Youth Parliament.
Mason Rogers, aged 16, was selected to sit alongside representatives from around the country.
The teenager will be campaigning to raise awareness of the mental health issues that many young people grapple with (around one in 10 is affected by a condition such as depression or anxiety) and will also address the challenges which confront students when they move from primary to secondary school.
Eleven-year-old Kawoon Bik, from Yew Tree Primary, will sit as Mason's deputy during the 12 months ahead.
The pair (pictured right) are now expected to take part in a debate at the House of Commons later this year.
Mason, an anti-bullying ambassador at his school, said: “I am passionate about support for young people with mental health issues and want to make a difference while I am a Member of Youth Parliament (MYP).”

North Solihull schools among those targeted by bomb hoax

SCHOOLS in North Solihull were among hundreds around the UK to have been caught up in a bomb hoax earlier today (Monday).
Castle Bromwich Junior School and Yorkswood Primary, in Kingshurst, are understood to be among more than 400 sites which received an email threatening to detonate an explosive on school grounds unless money was handed over.
Yorkswood's headteacher, Andy Tunstall, sent a message to parents to advise that pupils had been evacuated to the school field.
He said that despite police advice that the threat was not credible, concerned parents were able to collect their children.
Castle Bromwich Juniors issued a statement on its website which advised mums and dads that the school would open as usual tomorrow.
It's understood the malicious email had been "spoofed" to appear as if it had come from a US-based video game server, with the BBC reporting that the company concerned suspected that the message may have been sent by a disgruntled player who was looking to damage the firm's reputation.
In a tweet earlier today, the server said:  "We have nothing to do with the bomb threats that were sent out to the 400+ UK schools.
"We're extremely sorry for anyone who had to deal with this, but just know it's fake."
West Midlands Police confirmed that emails started to arrive in school inboxes at around 9.45am.
A spokesman said: "There is nothing to suggest there is any credible threat to any of the schools. A police investigation is ongoing to find those responsible."
The hoax affected schools across areas including the West Midlands, London, Manchester and North Yorkshire.

Chelmsley chippy to reopen in a few weeks

CHELMUND'S Fish and Chips has thanked local people for their support after confirming that the outlet would be closed for the next few weeks.
The community-run chippy - which opened at Chelmund's Cross earlier this month - made the decision following the resignation of its manager/chief fryer a few days ago.
In a statement posted on the official Facebook page yesterday (Friday), the business said that it had started to train interim fryers but has decided they will not  be ready for a few weeks.
The post continued: "As you know, the chippy is a new business set up to reinvest its profits back into the community, so we are learning as we go along. As we are community owned we want to be honest and open with our community so everyone knows what is happening.
"We want to learn from our experience and would rather remain closed for a few weeks and get it right, than rush to reopen and not be good quality."
Hailed as the first venture of its kind in the UK, the official launch on March 1 saw residents queueing in the snow and was attended by a film crew from BBC's The One Show.
The chippy is now looking to recruit two fryers to work alongside the existing staff. If you have relevant experience, you can submit a CV via the Three Trees Community Centre.

Shadow Chancellor in a visit to Kingshurst

ONE of the Labour Party's most senior figures visited North Solihull this week.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell addressed almost 200 members of the party at an event held at Kingshurst Labour Club on Thursday evening.

Mr McDonnell was visiting the borough as the clock counts down to local elections across Solihull and the wider region.

A full list of candidates is scheduled to be published in the coming weeks, with full details of everyone standing to be posted on Other Side of Solihull between now and polling day.

North Solihull sites covered by High Court injunction

A COURT order made this week forbids a family of travellers from setting up camp at more than a dozen sites in North Solihull.
Solihull Council had gone to the High Court to seek the injunction against unauthorised encampments, following on from a series of alleged incursions in recent years.
The order, which was agreed at a hearing in Birmingham on Tuesday, will apply for three years and relates to 14 named individuals as well as "persons unknown".
Aside from the restrictions relating to specific locations, the injunction also prohibits individuals from removing or damaging fences or locks, dumping rubbish or engaging in conduct "likely to cause a nuisance or annoyance".
Breaching the conditions could see members of the group fined or even imprisoned.
A total of 37 sites around the borough are named in court papers as being places where the family are barred from moving onto; of these 13 are in the north of the borough.
They are as follows: Beechcroft open space, Lanchester Park, Burtons Farm Park, Woodlands Green Park, Kingshurst Park, Babbs Mill Local Nature Reserve, Cole Bank Park, Meriden Park, North Solihull Sports Centre, Chapelhouse open space, Bluebell Recreation Ground, Brookside open space and Marston Green Park
Speaking after the order was made, Coun Tony Dicicco, cabinet member for stronger communities and partnerships, said: "We are absolutely thrilled with this decision.
"For a number of years these people have caused a significant nuisance to our borough, including criminal damage, anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, littering and abuse to local residents.
"While our work to prevent unauthorised encampments in Solihull will continue, securing this injunction is a crucial milestone and one we are extremely pleased to be granted."
The full details of the injunction, including the exact boundaries of the various sites, are available here.

HS2 surgery rolls into Chelmsley Wood tomorrow

RESIDENTS will have chance to raise their questions about HS2 at a drop-in session taking place in Chelmsley Wood tomorrow (Wednesday).

The event will be held at the Three Trees Centre (from 4.30-6.30pm) and is an opportunity for residents to put their queries about the controversial rail-link, which is passing a short distance from the estate, to the experts.

Since the multi-billion pound project was approved, discussion locally has died down somewhat, although concerns remain about the impact on those living nearest to the development and the possible disruption during the construction period. 

If you cannot make tomorrow's event, you can find out more about the scheme at the official website.

Scheme outside Park Hall scheduled for 2018/19

A STRETCH of road outside Park Hall Academy is among the sites where Solihull Council will look to impose new traffic restrictions in the 12 months ahead.
Concerns have been flagged up about difficulties in Water Orton Road, Castle Bromwich, during the school-run, as well as all-day parking associated with staff and students.
Now the site is one of just 11 around the borough to be named as a priority in the local authority's programme of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) for the year ahead.
The other locations in North Solihull set to receive attention in 2018/19 are Larch Croft/Coralin Close, Chelmsley Wood (where there are parking pressures associated with nearby Woodbrook House) and the Henbury Drive/Hawksworth Crescent junction on the same estate.
In total, Solihull Council's road chiefs compiled a dossier of 130 sites around the borough, where there had been some form of request for action to tackle a particular traffic issue; problem parking was far and away the most common issue.
From the sizeable number of requests, only 11 were put down as priorities for the 12 months ahead, with another 28 added to a reserve list, which could mean they are given future attention if money becomes available. The remainder - deemed to be the least urgent - were last week deleted from the programme on the grounds that that it is highly unlikely that there will be resources to implement a scheme in the foreseeable future.
Castle Bromwich councillor Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, defended the move on the grounds that he did not want to "mislead" the public into thinking the council would be able to deal with these matters within the next few years.

Dangerous driver avoids jail term

RIVER RUN: Footage from a police helicopter shows the defendant
attempting to escape police by crossing the River Cole, near Forth Drive

A MAN who led police on a "dangerous" chase through the morning rush hour has received a suspended prison sentence.
Christopher King, 38, had been spotted behind the wheel of a stolen Ford Fiesta on the Chester Road, Castle Bromwich earlier this year. The vehicle in question had been reported stolen in Sutton Coldfield only an hour before.
Police deployed a stinger, which caught the car's tyres, but King was nonetheless able to speed away through the streets of North Solihull.
The defendant had eventually abandoned the vehicle off Forth Drive, Chelmsley Wood, and attempted to escape on foot across the nearby River Cole. He was arrested by officers in nearby Elmore Close.
He was found to have a set of keys on his person, which had a chip coded to match the stolen vehicle.
Following on from the chase on January 26, King, from Kitts Green, subsequently admitted dangerous driving, handling the stolen car and motoring offences.
At Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (March 9), he had been handed an 18 month suspended sentence, a three year driving ban and was ordered to complete 120 hours' unpaid work.
Det Con Brett Stephenson, from Force CID, said: "He made every effort to get away, including driving the wrong way around traffic islands, going through red lights and driving on the wrong side of roads.
"King’s driving was completely reckless and put other road users and pedestrians at risk."

Otterly marvellous - signs of the animal in Chelmsley

FRESH evidence of otter activity in the Cole Valley has been discovered at a Chelmsley Wood nature reserve.

The Solihull Council department responsible for landscaping, wildlife management and conservation reported yesterday that otter "spraint" - the technical term for droppings - had been photographed at Cole Bank Park Local Nature Reserve on Friday. 

The signs of activity at the site - which was the focus of a habitat improvement project in 2016 - are hugely encouraging for conservationists.

Otter populations across the UK had crashed between the 1950s and 1970s following intense persecution of the species and large quantities of pesticides washing into the nation's waterways.

In recent years there have been concerted efforts to clean up rivers, canals and other watercourses to encourage the elusive mammals back into areas where they had either vanished or been pushed to the brink of extinction.

The West Midlands, in common with many parts of the country, has seen an increase in otter numbers. A report for the Environment Agency in 2010 suggested there had been a ten-fold increase in positive sightings over the course of 30 years.

Work begins on former Clock Garage site

WORK has started on clearing the old Clock Garage site near Castle Bromwich.
Planning permission to develop an expanded petrol station at the junction of Newport Road and Coleshill Road was granted last summer.
The proposal rubber-stamped by Birmingham City Council includes the creation of a new kiosk and the erection of a car wash and service bays.
The Clock Garage, which took its name from the distinctive timepiece on top of the building, had closed its doors in 2010.
The decision by the Robins and Day Peugeot dealership to relocate brought more than half a century of motoring history to an end.
The building, which was often described as being in Castle Bromwich, but was in actual fact just over the border in Birmingham, was pulled down a couple of years later.
The land has been derelict ever since, but this week local residents reported activity on the site.

Offer of litter picking kit to local people

A LOCAL group has said they can provide litter picking equipment for residents in North Solihull who want to play a part in keeping their neighbourhood tidy.
Love Solihull is already working with a number of community-spirited individuals in the north of the borough and has said it can provide bags, litter picks and hi-vis vests to those who want to get involved.
It has also been confirmed that a "Spring Clean" will be taking place at Babbs Mill Park on Saturday, March 17 (between 10am-1pm).
A spokesperson said: "We are working towards making Solihull a cleaner, greener and safer borough and want to make our community stronger."
To enquire about getting hold of litter picking equipment please email Love Solihull.

Caravans set up camp in Kingshurst

TRAVELLERS have once again moved onto land at Babbs Mill Park.
It was reported this afternoon that caravans had set up the unauthorised encampment near the lake, in the latest in a series of incursions at the site. It is understood around a dozen trailers have rolled onto the site.
In a statement at tea-time today (Wednesday), a Solihull Council spokesman said: "The council is working closely with the police and undertaking the necessary legal actions to move them on as quickly as possible.
"To support our evidence gathering it is very important that as many local residents as possible report any anti-social or criminal behaviour to the police by calling 101.
"This helps build a picture of the situation for the court to consider when we present our case to them."
Campaign group Action for Babbs Mill urged local residents "to be vigilant".

Tech-savvy thieves target Marston Green Mercedes

GONE IN 40 SECONDS: Footage shows that the men were able to use
the relay device to drive off in the car in under a minute.

SOLIHULL Police are appealing for help after a pair of car thieves were caught on camera using a "relay" device to steal a Mercedes from a Marston Green home.
CCTV footage shows two men walking up outside the victim’s house, carrying equipment which allows them to trick a vehicle into thinking the key is present.
The kit - which has become a favourite toy among the criminal fraternity - is capable of receiving signals through walls, doors and windows, but not metal.
In the footage, one of the men can be seen brandishing a relay box in front of the property in Maple Leaf Drive.
The box receives a signal from the electronic fob inside and transmits it to a second device, held next to the car. The vehicle's security systems are thus tricked into thinking that the key is present and the doors unlock, allowing the thieves to drive off in less than a minute.
The Mercedes has not been recovered since it was stolen from the address on February 21, at around 5.30am.
Mark Silvester, from the West Midlands Police crime reduction team, said: "To protect against this type of theft, owners can use an additional tested and Thatcham-approved steering lock to cover the entire steering wheel.
"It is always worth speaking to your main dealer, to ensure that your car has had all the latest software updates and talk through security concerns with them."
Anyone with information on last month's theft should call police on 101, quoting crime reference number 20SH/41660G/18.

Prime time slot for Chelmund's Fish and Chips

CHELMUND'S Fish and Chips featured on tonight's episode of The One Show.
The item included interviews with the Rev'd Neil Roberts, head chef Mitchell Sheriff and some of the other members of the team.
If you missed the broadcast you can still catch the programme via the BBC iPlayer.

Concern over Solihull's lingering life expectancy gap

THOSE living in Solihull’s most deprived communities continue to have a life expectancy many years less than residents from better off parts of the borough.
The dramatic difference in living standards between areas just a few miles apart was laid bare by the latest Public Health Annual Report, released a few weeks ago.
While the figures show that Solihull residents generally are living “longer, healthier lives”, the document acknowledged that premature deaths, poor health and disability continue to have a disproportionate impact on certain areas.
Indeed, the data shows that the gap in average life expectancy between the least and most deprived groups is almost 13 years for men and just under 10 for women.
Responding to the latest figures, Solihull Council has said it is continuing to invest in a range of initiatives to improve health across the borough.
Although councillors who represent some of the most deprived wards believe that far more should be done to tackle the wider inequalities which they argue are at the heart of the problem.
Coun James Burn (Green, Chelmsley Wood) called on the local authority to commit to initiatives including building more affordable housing, creating better paid jobs and encouraging local businesses.
“The link between poor health and living on allow income is well-proven and hugely important,” he said.
“The fact people in North Solihull die over a decade before those in South Solihull is a real scandal, and one the council have failed to address in any significant way whatsoever.”
Fellow Green councillor Mark Wilson (Smith’s Wood) said that he had lived on both sides of the Coventry Road and suggested there had been “a lack of resources and investment” in the North.
“In [South Solihull] there are 4,000 on the books at the local GP. I’ve walked in and been seen on the same day.
“At Chelmsley Wood, if you didn’t get through immediately there was no chance of an appointment.”
As well as a dramatically reduced life expectancy, those from the most deprived parts of Solihull tend to be worse affected by long-term health conditions in later life.
Killer diseases such as cancer and heart disease are more common, as are damaging habits such as smoking.
Coun Karen Grinsell, the cabinet member for adult social care and health, acknowledged that good health “is not consistent” in the borough and said that the council was committed to a range of projects to address this.
She said:“The council already commissions a number of organisations such as [Chelmsley Wood social enterprise] Gro-organic; Warwickshire Wildlife and Man v Fat, which all target communities
of need and support overall wellbeing by providing in particular, good opportunities for social connectivity, and physical activity.
“Solihull Council is working closely with health and community partners to develop local services that address the health and well-being needs of all Solihull people.”

Chelmsley councillor welcomes Chester Road review

CONGESTION: Concerns have been raised about heavy queuing along
the Chester Road.

A CHELMSLEY Wood councillor has welcomed the recent announcement that Solihull Council is to review changes to the Chester Road.
In December, Other Side of Solihull revealed that the congestion along the route was leading to increasing frustration among residents.
With the HS2 construction project likely to make matters worse in the years ahead, Councillor Chris Williams (Green) welcomed the decision by the local authority’s highways department to look at possible solutions.
“Until now, council highways staff have been unwilling to look again at the changes,” he said.
“The route-wide report will be interesting and given the amount of money being spent on it, I’d hope there are some solutions.
“The next battle will be to argue for the funding!”

Hollywood star hails Chelmsley chip shop venture

TOP actor Michael Sheen has tweeted his support for the newly-created Chelmund's Fish and Chip Shop.
The Welshman (pictured), who has starred in films including Frost/Nixon, The Queen and The Damned United, has wished the venture "good luck" on social media.
The grand opening of the Chester Road outlet - which is thought to be the first community-run fish and chip shop in Britain - took place on Thursday afternoon.
Despite the freezing weather conditions, there was a good turn-out for the event - with the 100th customer having already passed through the doors before the end of the first day.
The unique selling point - that profits from the business are being pumped back into the local community - has already generated a lot of interest in both the local and national media. A feature on BBC's flagship magazine programme, The One Show, is also expected to be broadcast.

Work to improve ancient woodland

WORK to enhance an important wildlife habitat in North Solihull took place last month.
Alcott Wood, an ancient woodland which lies between Chapelhouse Road and Moorend Avenue, was the first of four sites in the borough to benefit from the Solihull Habitat and Nature Improvements Project.
Workers spent several weeks thinning trees at the site, as parts of efforts to let more light through the canopy and help flowers such as bluebells to thrive.
The work was funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), following a successful application by Solihull Council last year.
A council spokesman said that detailed surveys had been carried out beforehand to check for the presence of protected and priority species such as bats, badgers and hedgehogs.
"Any disruption caused by the woodland management work will be short-term and the long-term aim of this work is to provide better quality habitat for wildlife."
The work was carried out in January and February to avoid the bird nesting season.
Alcott Wood is a 5.7 hectare site, which was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 2002. It is one of the few wooded areas in the locality to have survived the large-scale housing development last century.
The Woodland Trust has noted that the site contains several ancient species including wood anemone, remote sedge and wood sorrel. It is noteworthy that very little non-native vegetation is present.
Work has also been carried out at three other areas of woodland in the borough: Hillfield Park, Dorridge Wood and Elmdon Park.

Council tax hike is rubber-stamped

PLANS to increase council tax by a fraction under four per cent were approved at Solihull Council's Budget meeting this week.
General council tax will rise by 1.99 per cent, while there will also be a two per cent hike specifically to help fund adult social care, an area where local authorities around the UK are facing particular pressure.
The combined increases will mean that a taxpayer in the average Band D property will pay Solihull Council £1,319.77 - around £50 more than at present.
The Budget meeting saw clashes between the Conservative administration and opposition groups about the details of financial plans for the 12 months ahead.
The ruling Tory group denied accusations by the Green and Lib Dem members that they were not doing enough to drive down inequality in the borough, with a number of passionate exchanges over the gap in living standards and specific cuts to services.
North Solihull was referenced on a number of occasions during Thursday night's debate. See our full report on what councillors from all sides of the chamber had to say in the next edition of Other Side of Solihull.

Delight as Chelmsley playground wins substantial funding

MERIDEN Adventure Playground has made a massive step towards securing its long-term future, after being awarded a £30,000 grant for each of the next three years.
The facility, which has had to seek alternative funding following the end of Solihull Council support last autumn, says the money will make a big contribution towards staffing costs.
While more is needed to keep the playground open Tuesdays to Fridays after school and during Saturdays (in term-time) and every weekday in the school holidays, the news has been described as "a really welcome boost."
The money will come from the Tudor Trust, an independent organisation which supports voluntary and community groups working in the UK.
Ali Wood, the chair of the Meriden Adventure Playground Association (MAPA) trustees, said that the support of local people had been invaluable.
"This grant was given on the strength of the evidence of community support and involvement in keeping the playground open.  So a big cheer for Chelmsley Wood!"

Drop off supplies for the homeless at Chelmsley venue

WITH temperatures once again set to plunge well below zero this evening, residents can donate vital supplies to help the homeless at a North Solihull venue.

Chelmsley Wood Conservative Club is being used as a drop-off point for blankets, clothes and sleeping bags, which could prove life-saving for those who are sleeping on the streets during the current freezing weather.

People have been advised they can donate items at the Bosworth Drive premises from 7-11pm.

Today (Friday) has seen further heavy snowfall across the region, with a "yellow" weather warning remaining in place.

Schools across the borough were closed today and Solihull Council announced that it had suspended waste and recycling collections. There was also confirmation that Kingshurst Library had been closed as a result of the adverse weather conditions.

Bus operator National Express has stressed that numerous routes - including the No 72 and 94 - are subject to delays and diversions. 

Solihull Council has said that gritting crews are continuing to treat main roads in an effort to keep traffic moving, although large numbers of residents have nonetheless experienced travel problems in the past 24 hours.

Indeed, the heavy snow posed difficulties for many councillors themselves, as they battled the elements to get to last night's Full Council meeting.

Chelmsley Wood councillor Karl Macnaughton was among those delayed by the wintry weather, arriving in time to speak about the local authority's Budget measures but revealing to fellow members that his journey to the council house had taken two hours.

After the meeting, several councillors warmed up at Chelmund's Fish and Chips - which had locals queueing out the door on its first day of opening, despite the snow drifts and bitter cold.

This week's weather conditions have been described by some as the worst to engulf the UK for several years, with a "polar vortex" having hit British shores. Indeed, biting winds have at times made the temperature feel as low as -13.

After one of the coldest starts to March on record, conditions are thankfully expected to grow milder in the coming days.

Kingshurst councillor picked as Solihull's next Mayor

A COUNCILLOR for Kingshurst & Fordbridge is set to become the next Mayor of Solihull.

Councillor Flo Nash, who is the only Labour member of the borough council, will take the chains of office which her husband Alan, a former councillor in the same ward, had previously worn more than a decade ago.

Coun Nash, from Chelmsley Wood, will take over the role when the new municipal year begins in May. Her main duties will include attending engagements around Solihull and chairing Full Council meetings over the course of 12 months.