Police warning over Castle Bromwich prowler

DRIVERS should be on their guard following reports of a hooded man trying car doors in Castle Bromwich.
The lone figure was caught on CCTV checking out vehicles in the early hours of yesterday morning (Tuesday).
Solihull Police said: "Please make sure your vehicles are secure and valuables removed."
If you see anyone acting in a suspicious manner call 101 or - if you believe a crime is in progress - 999.

Meriden's MP wins backing to reject no-deal

DAME Caroline Spelman has won backing from fellow MPs to rule out a no-deal Brexit.
The Meriden MP had put an amendment to the Prime Minister's deal to Parliament, working alongside Labour's Jack Dromey, who represents Birmingham Erdington.
The pair, whose neighbouring seats are both heavily reliant on a strong manufacturing base, had said they were worried what a no-deal scenario would mean for the local economy.
Tonight (Tuesday), their call won narrow backing in the House of Commons - with 318 MPs in favour and 310 against.
Ahead of the vote, Dame Caroline had insisted the amendment wasn't an attempt "to block or delay Brexit."
"I am committed to honouring the result of the 2016 referendum and ensuring the country leaves the European Union, which is due to happen on March 29.
"However, I cannot sanction the country leaving the EU without a deal. In the face of dire warnings from local businesses about job losses, it is critical that we leave the EU with a deal that works for the country and our region.
"I have consistently supported the Prime Minister's withdrawal agreement to ensure an orderly exit from the EU."
Dame Caroline's amendment won support from around a dozen Conservative backbenchers but drew the majority of votes from the opposition benches.
It is not legally-binding but carries symbolic weight and paved the way for a meeting between the Prime Minister and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn this afternoon.

Green agenda driving force behind electric car club

RESIDENTS in North Solihull are being urged to take advantage of a new car club which has been launched in the local area.
E-Car Club allows local people to hire one of 18 electric Renaults which are being placed at their disposal.
Vehicles are available to hire for as little as £3.50 an hour as part of a scheme designed to provide a cheap alternative to taxis.
It has been decided to pilot the initiative in the north of the borough, where there are thousands of people who drive but don’t own a car.
And the fact that the fleet is entirely electric is seen as a step on the road to encouraging more people to use the greener cars.
Coun Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, said Solihull Council was committed to promoting electric vehicles, as part of efforts to tackle air pollution.
Speaking at the initiative’s official launch, in his own Castle Bromwich ward, he said he had high hopes for the scheme.
“This is an exciting project for the north of the borough, providing a flexible and affordable option to residents.”
The hatchbacks have a range of up to 180 miles on a single charge and can be connected to the facilities which have been specially installed in the area.
The charging points have been created at locations including Parkfield Drive and Burtons Farm Park, in Smith’s Wood.
Some of the cars have been emblazoned with eye-catching artwork, to help promote the scheme, with others having rather plainer paint jobs.
Russell Fenner, E-Car Club’s head of innovation, believed that attitudes to the technology had seen a significant shift since the start of the decade.
He pointed out that models were becoming a more common sight nationwide and that the Government was moving to phase out petrol-powered vehicles
“You did used to get those questions about how fast they could go and things like that, but that’s changing.”
The West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, also gave his wholehearted backing to the car club.
“Apart from the environmental benefits from this scheme which I am sure we all support, we are also helping to reinforce our region’s position as the centre for battery-powered vehicle design and manufacture.”
While car clubs have previously been launched in different parts of the UK, they tend to target more affluent city areas.
There are hopes that the success of a scheme in an area where car ownership is lower will prove that similar initiatives can be rolled out elsewhere

Police hunt after hammer robbery in Chelmsley Wood

POLICE are hunting the masked men - one clutching a hammer - who carjacked a woman in Chelmsley Wood at the weekend.

The victim, in her 50s, was confronted by the two thugs outside North Solihull Sports Centre on Saturday (January 26).

The pair had approached the woman as she sat in her Infiniti Q30, threatening her with the tool and demanding she got out the vehicle. 

They then sped away from the Conway Road site in the car.

Officers are now trawling CCTV in hope of tracing the culprits, who struck at around 5pm.

Last month, Other Side of Solihull reported councillors' concerns about rising crime in the borough.

Officers have insisted that violent crimes, such as robberies, remain comparatively rare.

If you have any information call Solihull Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Marston Green road in line for parking restrictions

PROBLEM parking in a part of Marston Green has been identified as the No 1 priority for Solihull’s road chiefs next year.
Late last year, the highways department confirmed the 12 requests for highways restrictions it was planning to take forward in 2019/20.
And having weighed up the various criteria, officers believe that the obstructive parking in Land Lane and Elmdon Lane was the single biggest issue.
Other locations where there is set to be action include Saxon Way, Kingshurst, and Blackcat Close, Nineacres Drive and Arderne Drive – where parking is reportedly preventing bin collections.
The nine remaining sites are in the south of the borough.
Solihull Council receives scores of requests for traffic regulation orders (TROs) each year, but its £30,000 budget is usually only enough to cover the costs of between 10 and 12 schemes.
A points-based system is used to decide which appeals will be treated as a priority. Around 25 others are put on a reserve list.

Story of national hero who cut his teeth in Castle Brom

THE story of a national hero with links to Castle Bromwich is among the extraordinary tales recounted in a new First World War exhibition.
William Leefe Robinson has been awarded the Victoria Cross after becoming the first British pilot to shoot down a German zeppelin on home soil.
The pilot (pictured), who became an overnight celebrity, was so shocked by the sudden fame and swooning women that he soon begged for a posting to the Western Front!
While his place in the history books has been assured – some claim his VC was the fastest ever presented – the local connection is rather less known.
It has been documented by Solihull Council’s heritage and local studies team and features in the Solihull Remembers exhibition, at The Core Theatre.
The display collates more than four years of painstaking research by the experts.
Their investigations shed light on those local men who had fought in the conflict, as well as the impact the war effort had here in the borough.
Tracey Williams, who oversaw the project, said: “We wanted to tell the stories behind the names on our war memorials.”
In the case of Mr Robinson, he had trained at Castle Bromwich in 1915, a year before he brought down the enemy airship.
The use of a new type of incendiary bullet was a landmark moment, effectively bringing the German bombing campaign to a juddering halt.
As for the young pilot, still only 21-years-old, he would eventually get his wish and was posted to France, but was captured on his first patrol.
His incarceration took a heavy toll on his health and while he survived to be released, he would sadly succumb to the Spanish Flu on New Year’s Eve 1918.
The exhibition also details those recruited to fight from Marston Green’s Cottage Homes and the auxiliary hospital also set up in the village.
Launched to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, when the guns finally fell silent, the exhibition runs until February 2

Friends of Station to hold official meeting

A NEW Friends of Marston Green Station group has been launched in the village.
The band of volunteers will work to improve the station and its surroundings, with regular meetings throughout the year.
The group, which has its own Facebook page, is hoping it can enlist more support from local people. A number of residents have already got in touch with suggestions about how to improve the station’s facilities.
The first formal meeting will take place next Wednesday (January 30) at St Leonard's Church meeting room. It is due to start at 6pm.

Police dole out fines in Marston Green road

SEVEN fines were dealt out to drivers during a police blitz in Marston Green on Monday.
Officers were out in force in Elm Farm Avenue and slapped penalties on motorists for offences such as not wearing a seat belt or ignoring the traffic restrictions surrounding the school.
Earlier this month, the School Streets scheme - which bans vehicles from entering certain streets at peak times - was made permanent.
While the council has said the project has been a success, some residents are concerned that not enough has been done to enforce the restrictions - since they took effect in 2017.
Despite the traffic regulation order being put in place by the local authority, the power to issue fines to those who don't comply rests with Solihull Police.
Beverley Elliott, headteacher of Marston Green Infant Academy, sent out a letter earlier this week to remind parents to stick to the rules.
"WMP have asked us to inform parents that they will be doing random and regular spot checks of the area," she said. "Repeat offenders may receive points on their licence.
"We hope all parents will adhere to the road restrictions, in order to ensure the environment surrounding our school if safe for children."
While some parents were pleased to see the officers out in the village, arguing children's safety was "paramount", others have questioned whether the presence is a sensible use of resources.

Police appeals over knife crimes

A YOUNG man was struck several times with a machete during a horrific attack in Chelmsley Wood over the Christmas period.
Police have said that the 22-year-old was slashed with the blade following an argument in Forth Drive on December 27.
The attack happened at around 9pm, with the male suspect fleeing the scene in a convertible car.
Officers said that the victim was left with two large cuts on his left arm.
The incident comes amid mounting concern about knife crime across Solihull and the wider region, although the force has insisted the borough has far fewer offences than other parts of the West Midlands.
In a separate incident which happened elsewhere on the estate last month, a 14-year-old was threatened with a knife by a hooded man.
The schoolboy was pushed and told to hand over his schoolbag during the harrowing incident in Winchester Drive, which took place on December 7.
Disturbingly the crime happened in broad daylight (around 3pm).
Anyone with information about either crime should call police on 101.

Police pursuit ends at village's memorial to the fallen

A THIEF who crashed into Marston Green's war memorial on Remembrance Day - following a high-speed chase through local streets - has been jailed.
Grant Gold, 27, had veered into the village landmark following desperate efforts to escape police on November 11 last year.
Court heard that the defendant (pictured) had stolen the Ford Transit from Lundy View, in Kingshurst.
But hours later the vehicle was picked up by automatic number plate recognition technology, near the NEC.
Police caught up with Gold on Bickenhill Parkway and he raced off at speeds of up to 90mph.

During the chase that followed he nearly toppled the van while negotiating roundabouts and bends at well over the speed limit.
Dash-cam footage of the pursuit showed the vehicle career through a single-lane traffic calming, narrowly avoid other cars and mount a pavement.
Entering Marston Green, he ploughed through a fence, over grassland and along a narrow public footpath.
The chase came to an abrupt end when he collided with a smaller van in Station Road, and dazed from the impact, veered into the war memorial.
Gold, of Skye Close, Smith's Wood, was arrested running away and went on to admit aggravated vehicle taking − a charge that encompasses dangerous driving − plus vehicle theft.
At Birmingham Crown Court this month, he was jailed for 22 months and banned from driving for three years.
PC Sarah Harvey, from Solihull Police, said: "Gold placed many road users and pedestrians at risk due to the nature of his driving − it’s lucky that no-one was seriously hurt or killed.
"He admitted taking the van and dropping two unknown accomplices at the NEC ... knowing they were intending to steal another car.
"However, we suspect Gold is likely to have been responsible for other car thefts and I am sure we’ll see a reduction in such offences with him behind bars."
Police are still trying to trace the other two offenders, who had stolen a Ford Focus.

Weekly choir sessions for Chelmsley youngsters

AN AFTER-school choir has recently moved to a new venue in Chelmsley Wood and is looking for recruits.
AC Academy Solihull is inviting singers aged seven to 16 to join its weekly sessions.
These cover a wide range of music, from modern chart-toppers to classical favourites.
And a partnership with Solihull Music Service means the sessions - open to those of all abilities - are run free of charge.
AC Academy Solihull meets at The Loft, West Mall (next to Chelmsley's Asda supermarket) on Thursday afternoons (from 4-5pm).
For more information or to book contact Ann Hannan on 07587 700740 or ahannan@armonico.org.uk
Alternatively follow this link to learn more about AC Academy. 

Cemetery near Chelmsley will soon be full

NORTH Solihull residents must have access to a local cemetery, councillors have said.
They have made their feelings known after being warned that Woodlands Cemetery will be full within five years.
Solihull Council has already been investigating the options to extend the site, near Chelmsley Wood. However, it has proven difficult to find land to expand the facility.
There is also the added complication that the site is in fact just over the border with Warwickshire. Alan Brown, assistant director for highways and the environment, warned the project was unlikely to be cheap or easy.
Despite this, a scrutiny board recently insisted that council officers press on and try to find a solution. Their fear is that should Woodlands run out of burial space, it will create obvious problems for those nearby.
Bereaved relatives, many of them elderly, might face difficulties travelling to cemeteries further afield.
And should burials have to take place in other local authorities, the cost is likely to be higher for families.

Family's tribute to "adored" man killed in road crash

"MISSED FOREVER": Ross
Williams

LOVED ones have paid tribute to a man who died following a three-car collision last week.
The family of Ross Williams, who suffered a fatal head injury in the Collector Road crash, described him as a "friend to many who will be missed forever."
The 37-year-old, who worked for Solihull Council, was pronounced dead at the scene following the incident near the junction with Lanchester Way.
Emergency services had said that nothing could be done to save Mr Williams.
In a tribute issued through police, his family said: "He was an adored son, brother, uncle, brother-in-law and nephew. He was a friend to so many and will be missed forever."
Respects were also paid at this week's cabinet meeting, with Coun Bob Sleigh, Leader of the Council, calling for a minute's silence.
The crash happened on the dual carriageway last Friday (January 11) at around 8.30am.
Two men, aged 42 and 25, who were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, have been released under investigation. Police enquiries continue.
Officers are keen to hear from anyone who saw an orange Fiesta ST and black Golf GT TDI before the collision or who has dash-cam footage which could assist the investigation.
Witnesses or anyone else with information can call police on 101.

Kingshurst scheme approved despite residents' fears

RESIDENTS recently lost their battle to stop an eight-house development in Kingshurst, despite concerns it would cause a raft of problems.
Solihull Council’s planning committee gave the nod to the scheme, which will see the semi-detached homes erected on land at 214, Cooks Lane.
Many neighbours had objected on the grounds that the housing would add to parking problems in the area.
They also argued there were a number of unanswered questions about accessing the site and where wheelie bins would be placed.
Amo Bassi, who moved into the area earlier this year, had said the decision would “affect the future” of the community.
“[This] has all the ingredients to lead to neighbourhood disputes,” he told the committee.
Coun David Cole (Lab, Kingshurst & Fordbridge) said Cooks Lane was already heavily congested and he had “grave concerns” about the proposal.
“The parking issue is still prevalent and in time the residents will be proved right,” he said. Councillors, who had deferred their decision following a previous meeting in September, argued they could only consider the parking issue.
Their officers had said they were content that sufficient spaces were available to meet the needs of the scheme, which will provide supported living to those with disabilities.
Coun Diana Holl-Allen (Con, Knowle) said: “There’s absolutely no reason I believe not to approve it.”
A number of members sympathised with concerns that numerous bins would be piled up on one street corner, but admitted this didn’t fall within their remit.
The committee eventually voted in favour of the plans by a majority of seven to two.

Meriden MP leads efforts to prevent a "no deal" Brexit.

THOUSANDS of jobs across the region would be on the line in the event of a no-deal Brexit, Meriden's MP has said.
Dame Caroline Spelman, who represents North Solihull, has said it it critical that this scenario is avoided.
Today (Monday) she penned a joint column with Labour MP Jack Dromey, who represents the neighbouring constituency of Birmingham Erdington.
They are hoping to lead a push in Parliament for MPs to take "no deal" off the table.
In the piece, for The Times, the pair said: "In less than 80 days’ time, the UK may well crash out of the EU without a deal. Business must now make significant adjustments to cope with such a shock. "With every day that passes, the risk of a damaging no-deal exit increases. Thousands of jobs are on the line.
"This is not project fear. This is the harsh reality for companies doing business in Britain."
The comments come days after Jaguar Land Rover announced it was shedding 4,500 jobs nationwide, with the car marque blaming Brexit uncertainty for adding to its pressures.
Chelmsley Wood councillor James Burn, leader of Solihull's Green group, has also discussed the growing uncertainty in recent days.
He has argued that not enough weight has been given to the challenges facing small businesses.

Police visit following concerns about "dangerous" parking

POLICE have visited a Kingshurst street following complaints of "dangerous and irresponsible" parking.
Officers from both the Chelmsley Wood and Smith's Wood neighbourhood teams patrolled Oakthorpe Drive earlier today (Sunday).
The activity comes following complaints of vehicles blocking the pavement and causing problems for pedestrians.
Commenting on Twitter, one resident described the situation in the road as "a total joke" and said that as someone who used a mobility scooter, the parking was causing a lot of difficulties.
Chelmsley Wood neighbourhood team said: "We are engaging with the council and church to find a solution to ease the parking issues in the area. Today was the first step."
Solihull Council recently said that it would makes cases where the pavement was being obstructed a higher priority when considering appeals to introduce traffic regulation orders (TROs).
It is recognised that the behaviour can make life particularly difficult for groups including wheelchair users, the blind/partially sighted and mum with push chairs.

School run restrictions could be expanded in North Solihull

TRAFFIC restrictions trialled at Marston Green Infant Academy could be introduced outside more schools in North Solihull.

This week Solihull Council agreed that its School Streets scheme, which was introduced in September 2017, should be made permanent.

The strict conditions ban parents from driving down certain roads at the start and end of the school day. Those caught flouting the rules face being handed a £70 fine. 

Highways officers have said that congestion surrounding the school has improved, although admitted not everyone has stuck to the rules.

On Thursday, Coun Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, argued the scheme had been a success and it made sense to look at options for introducing it elsewhere.

"Restricting roads entirely at certain times of the day may sound pretty extreme but actually what our pilot has shown is that, when managed properly, these closures can really benefit the local community," he said.

Marston Green Infants, in Elm Farm Avenue, had been selected as one of three sites to pilot the project, alongside Oak Cottage Primary, in Olton, and Haslucks Green Juniors, Shirley.

The council has a list of nine more schools where it thinks a similar system could help cut congestion and reduce pollution.

Castle Bromwich Juniors, Marston Green Juniors and Yorkswood Primary are among those where investigations will be taking place in the coming months.

A decision on whether to roll out the School Streets scheme to some or all of these locations is likely to be made in the summer.

Billed as the first project of its kind in England, the restrictions were modelled on a similar arrangement which had previously been introduced in Edinburgh.

Some residents welcomed the changes, because of concerns about chaotic scenes during the school run. Although some parents picking up and dropping off children were less happy about the ban.

Police appeal after man dies in Collector Road crash

A MAN has died in a three-car collision in Castle Bromwich during the rush hour today (Friday).
The 37-year-old suffered a serious head injury after his Peugeot 207 was struck on the Collector Road, near the junction of Lanchester Way.
Following the incident, at just before 8.30am, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have since confirmed that two men, aged 42 and 25, have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and will be questioned in due course.
The dual carriageway was closed off following the fatal incident.
Det Sgt Paul Hughes, from West Midlands Police, said: "A man has tragically lost his life and we will be doing everything we can to support his family at such a devastating time.
"We need to establish what led to this collision and we are urging anybody who was in the area at the time to come forward.
"We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw an orange Fiesta ST and black Golf GT TDI before the collision or has dash cam footage which could assist our enquiries."
West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed that the man, who has not been named, had to be freed from the vehicle. Despite efforts to save him he was confirmed dead at the scene.
A second man, from another vehicle, was treated for minor injuries and taken to Heartlands Hospital.
Witnesses or anyone with information should call police on 101.

Bird of prey sighting over Kingshurst

URBAN HUNTER: One of
the Peregrine Falcons at
Fort Dunlop, Birmingham

ONE of Britain's most majestic birds has been spotted soaring above North Solihull.
Keen birder Kevin Whiston saw a Peregrine Falcon pass over Sheldon Hall, Babbs Mill Lake and then disappear off over Kingshurst.
He reported the sighting of the bird-of-prey on Twitter yesterday (Wednesday).
The Peregrine - which can dive at speeds of more than 200mph - had previously been an endangered species. Widespread use of certain pesticide saw the population in the UK and elsewhere plummet.
Although the substances were subsequently banned and numbers have recovered, with increasing sightings in urban areas.
Indeed, a pair of Peregrines have been known to nest in a specially-created box at the Fort Dunlop office building, near Castle Vale.

Queen's Award for Kingshurst volunteers

THE tireless work of volunteers - who help those in greatest need – recently received the Royal seal of approval.
Seeds of Hope, in Over Green Drive, was bestowed with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services in the Birthday Honours List.
They have now been presented with the prestigious award by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the West Midlands, John Crabtree OBE.
The gong recognises the outstanding voluntary work carried out by Seeds of Hope for more than a decade.
Based at St Barnabas Community Hub, in Kingshurst, the team run a range of activities.
Project worker Jean Johnson said: "Many of the volunteers have been with us since we started 16 years ago.
"They have helped hundreds of local people since then and this fantastic award is a wonderful tribute to their enthusiasm and dedication.
"Seeds of Hope has always been a special group and receiving the [award] is something that we’re all very proud of."
The team host a support group for those recovering from strokes, a sequence dancing group for the over 60s and organise day trips and talks for older residents.
And they recently laid on a Christmas dinner for local people who would otherwise be spending the festive season alone.

Villagers' chance to find out about airport masterplan

DETAILS of Birmingham Airport's draft masterplan will be made available in Marston Green next week.
The latest in a series of public exhibitions will be held in the village on Tuesday (January 8).
Residents will be able to find out more about the emerging expansion plans, which include proposals to increase passenger numbers to 18 million a year by 2033.
Airport bosses have said their vision will deliver millions for the local economy, although others remain gravely concerned about the environmental impact.
The exhibition will be taking place at the Parish Hall, Elmdon Road, from 6-8pm. A 30 minute presentation starts at 6.45pm.

Concerns green space is disappearing "bit by bit"

RESIDENTS have said they will continue to oppose any suggestion of development on an area of open space in Chelmsley Wood.
Last month, local people poured into the Fordbridge Centre and said that the plot of land at Clopton Crescent must be preserved.
Back in October, in the face of fierce criticism, Solihull Council agreed to defer a decision on disposing of the site.
And now those living nearby are demanding that the proposals, which could pave the way for a new housing development, be permanently shelved.
At the meeting of Fordbridge Town Council, emotions ran high, with a number of residents arguing the estate’s green spaces were under siege.
John Tocker, who lives in Newby Grove, said that “land-grabbing” would leave local people living like battery hens.
“I want the freedom of an open space, just to walk down the road and enjoy the nature and the sights. “We want the freedom to choose to walk our dog, to kick the ball, to skip, to run, play hide and seek, what the kids have done over the generations.”
The 76-year-old’s fear was that “enclosing” residents in could herald a return to the crowded estates he had grown up in.
“Chelmsley Wood was built on the concept of open, green pocket spaces, because the planners of the day realised what people from Nechells, Aston and areas like that were living with.”
Ian Reece, from the Bacons End Triangle Residents Association, said there had been no consultation “of any relevance” with local people
“What’s wrong with asking local residents what they think of the quality of their green space, that they use, that nobody else does?”
Coun David Cole, who is both a town and borough councillor, said he was “alarmed” by proposals. “My children thrived when they came here, it was the best thing we ever done. And green space was the reason why we came.
“And they’ve been nibbling away, bit by bit, place by place.”
John Halton, from the North Solihull Partnership, which oversees the Regeneration project, said there was an urgent need to build new homes.
“I appreciate people don’t often welcome housing, but with affordable housing there is a dire need. Not only here in the borough but nationally.
“Obviously we want to make sure that we can take as many opportunities as possible to provide that.” He insisted that current plans would mean only a fifth of the land would be built on.
And it was intended that developers would invest in improvements to what remains, which could include an upgraded football pitch. Solihull Council has confirmed it is still considering options for Clopton Crescent and two other sites in Smith’s Wood (at Anglesey Avenue and Auckland Drive).
A date has yet to be set for the matter to go back to the cabinet

Music star pays tribute to the estate she grew up on

KINGSHURST grime artist Lady Leshurr has spoken about the enormous debt she owes to the area where she grew up.
The performer, whose songs have attracted international recognition – and millions of hits – on YouTube, returned to the estate where she grew up for the recent radio feature.
The 28-year-old honed her skills at the local youth club, originally performing as ‘Lady L’ – although she expressed her regret that the facility had since shut down.
“I’m happy I was brought up in Kingshurst,” she said. “I wasn’t in an area where there was a lot of violence, a lot of drugs happening and stuff.
"I was actually in a very quiet area ... everything was pretty good growing up as far as going outside and being able to do what I needed to do. So Kingshurst is a big, big, big part of me as an artist.”
Despite being from one of the few black families in a predominantly white area, the artist said she hadn’t really encountered racism on the estate.
“None of that really affected the way I grew up or how I used to express on the mic.”
Though she originally feared her Brummie accent could hold her back, she now believes it is ”refreshing” to hear different dialects in grime music.
“I’m blessed because I’m just being myself.”
Returning to the premises where she had first nurtured her talents, she described it as “the best place”. The community centre, in Marston Drive, was a victim of cutbacks to facilities around the borough. “I wish it was still open, unfortunately it’s been shut down. This whole place shaped me as an artist  and MC.
“If it was open I would be able to show you guys the actual room where I recorded my first mix tape when I was 14. I mixed and mastered it myself ... and that’s just due to having the space and the facilities to be able to do that.
“So I will never, ever forget this place. This made me who I am. This created Lady Leshurr shall I say.”
The full hour-long programme is available on the Red Bull Radio website

Further work planned for Business Park site

WORK on the latest expansion to Birmingham Business Park is expected to start this year.

Plans for two more industrial units, to be built on an area of open space off Solihull Parkway, were given the nod by the planning committee just before Christmas.

Although several members had asked for reassurance about the height of the structures and the likely noise, after being reminded of the controversy which surrounded a previous application in Blackfirs Lane.

The council's handling of the earlier warehouse development, a short distance away, had been fiercely criticised by residents. In total, more than 100 complaints were made in the space of 12 months.

Coun Bob Sleigh, Leader of the Council and a Bickenhill ward councillor, had touched on the issue when addressing the committee.

"I'm not here to re-run history but I am here to ask that we don't repeat history with this application," he said. "There are some legitimate questions that I hope the committee will address."

Apart from a plea "to be sure" of the height of the buildings, he said that fears about noise and vibration also needed to be taken into consideration.

"I think we do have concerns with industrial processes of this type and I think this is fairly heavy industry."

Clive Hill, from Bickenhill and Marston Green Parish Council, also spoke at the decision session, highlighting some anxiety about the increasing industrial activity at the Business Park site.

Michael Graham, an architect who spoke on behalf of the applicant, the Black Rock Property Fund, said the plans represented a significant inward investment.

And he confirmed that one of the units would be occupied by the international engineering outfit Sulzer, who have outgrown their current Birmingham base and were looking to move to more modern premises.

The plans received unanimous approval, although the committee agreed conditions to ensure that noise levels didn't exceed a certain level and that the height of the units did not go beyond the 14 and 15 metres stated in the application. 

Olympic star makes visit to Marston Green

ONE of Britain’s most successful Olympians recently dropped in at a North Solihull school.
Double gold medallist Rebecca Adlington had visited Marston Green Juniors to congratulate one of its pupils.
Eight-year-old Isabella Collins had won a competition to design a banner for leisure centre operator Everyone Active.
As a reward, arty Isabella and her classmates were invited to join Rebecca for a swimming masterclass at North Solihull Sports Centre.
“We received so many exceptional entries to the competition, but Isabella’s really stood out,” said the star of the London and Beijing Games.
Isabella’s headteacher Lynn Clark said: “We are so proud of Isabella and it has been such an amazing experience for both her and her classmates.
“For our pupils to spend time with such an inspirational Olympian like Becky was a wonderful and memorable day for us all.”