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18th. March 2002 CHILD'S DEATH INQUEST TO RESUME An inquest into the death of a four-year-old Staffordshire boy whose body was found in a marina after he fell from a boat is due to resume. Dominic Aaron Naylor, from Hopwas, near Tamworth, was recovered from the water at Upton upon Severn, in Worcestershire, last August. Dominic was pronounced dead on arrival at Ronkswood Hospital. CYCLIST SERIOUSLY INJURED A cyclist is in hospital with serious head injuries after a collision with a car while he was riding in a remote country spot near Rugeley, Staffs. The rider, from Bloxwich, was near the junction of a track, near Morrey Lane and the A515 at Yoxall Bridge, when he was in collision with a Peugeot 405. The 41-year-old driver was uninjured but treated for shock. BALLOT OVER HOUSING TO BEGIN A ballot of Birmingham's council tenants over plans to transfer their housing to the private sector is due to start in the city. The council is to send out forms to all 88,000 of its properties asking tenants to vote on whether to give landlords responsibility for the housing stock. The council says the scheme will open up opportunities for refurbishments. FORCE JOINS STREET CRIME BLITZ West Midlands Police are among 10 English forces joining Home Secretary David Blunkett's pilot scheme to "reclaim the streets from criminals". The Robbery Reduction Initiative, to begin in April, is aimed at increasing street robbery detection rates and speeding up arrest to sentence times. The scheme means more officers on the streets and better support for victims. PROPOSALS FOR TOWN HALL SOUGHT Walsall council wants to hear ideas on what should be included in the revamp of Willenhall's historic town hall. A budget of £25,000 has been set aside for a range of proposals which include improved disabled access and the creation of a computer training room. Ward councillor Ian Shires has urged people to have their say on what they think the refurbishment should include. POLICE OFFICERS FLY TO INDIA Four West Midlands Police officers hope to learn more about the culture of forced marriages when they fly to India this week to attend a major conference. The conference is part of a trip by 16 forces to New Delhi and the Punjab aimed at improving international links. West Midlands Police has a database of about 40 forced marriages and wants to incorporate the issue into police work. £50,000 FOR NEW NURSERY A new nursery is to be created in inner Birmingham after childcare bosses received a £50,000 Government grant. Whizzkids Community Nursery will build the centre in Tyseley, with places for 52 youngsters and an annexe for local people to use as a community centre. The New Opportunities Fund grant is part of the Building Neighbourhood Nurseries programme. CRASH DRIVER HELPING POLICE A motorist is helping police with their inquiries after a car ploughed into the front porch of a Black Country home. The driver was detained after the vehicle left the road in Woodman Close, Halesowen, and struck the property. Three teams of firefighters were called to the scene. However, the motorist was not trapped in the accident and nobody in the house was injured. NEW LIFE FOR PUPPIES Three puppies who were left for dead near Newcastle-under-Lyme are to start new lives as hearing dogs for deaf people, thanks to the RSPCA. The female crossbreeds were found with three other dead puppies in a cardboard box in Halmer End. The puppies, Bali, China and India, have been fostered by the charity and will be trained to help deaf people. MEN DIVIDED ON EATING PARTNERS A survey of Birmingham sausage eaters suggests many are divided over which cover girl they would like to eat with. While most Erdington men chose the model Jordan, Northfield males could not choose between her and Kelly Brook. Erdington women would enjoy sharing bangers with 007 star Pierce Brosnan, while Northfield ladies would plump for TV chef Jamie Oliver, said Wall's poll. CASH BOOST FOR COAL COMMUNITY A former coalmining community near Newcastle-under-Lyme is to be part of a multi-million pound investment scheme. Silverdale has been earmarked for the National Coalfields Programme, which reclaims old collieries and develops new businesses and projects there. The Staffordshire village is one of 88 old coalfields which are to benefit from the £385m scheme. MAN, 62, KNOCKED OUT BY ROBBERS A 62-year-old man was punched in the face and knocked unconscious by two robbers in a Birmingham subway. The victim, from Balsall Heath, was walking along the Belgrave Middleway underpass when the men approached him. He suffered bruising to the head and neck. The robbers, described as both black and aged around 30 to 35, escaped with £30. CHILDREN 'FORGOTTEN VICTIMS' Children are in danger of becoming the forgotten victims of domestic violence, experts at a Birmingham conference have been told. The Government must spend money to tackle the crime, delegates heard. The Children's Society event came as MPs prepare to discuss whether domestic violence should be a factor when courts decide parents' rights to see children. CANAL STRETCH TO BE CREATED A stretch of canal in the region is to be created as part of a £500m national project, British Waterways has said. The Droitwich Canals project is set to provide a new 7.5-mile waterway linking the River Severn and the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. British Waterways said its restoration work in the UK will help boost tourism and generate hundreds of jobs. CHILD CYCLE CRASHES REDUCED The number of child cycling accidents in Warwickshire has dropped by 25% since road safety training was increased, according to new figures. County council road safety experts have said accidents have dropped by a quarter between 1998 and 2001. During this time the number of children completing safety courses rose from 994 to 3,205 a year. £2.7m COMPENSATION FOR BOY A six-year-old Tividale boy, who was severely brain damaged at birth, has been awarded £2.7m compensation. Sandwell Hospital has admitted responsibility for errors during Morrell Beighton-Garner's mother's labour when he was starved of oxygen. The compensation payment was settled at the High Court, sitting in Birmingham, after managers admitted the error. PRISONERS TAKE LIFT TO FREEDOM Two violent prisoners are being hunted by police after escaping from a jail, near Rugby, in the back of a lorry. The pair are thought to have sneaked into the back of the truck while it was making a delivery to HMP Ryehill. Both men were serving ten-year sentences for violent crimes. They are named as 22-year-old Jason Sufi and Adrian Mason, 27, both of Coventry. KEEPER'S DEATH ACCIDENTAL A zoo-keeper from Stoke was killed by accident by an elephant at Chester Zoo, a Macclesfield inquest jury has ruled. Richard Hughes, 34, was attacked by the four-ton Asian elephant Kumara after he tried to move her. He was smashed into a wall and later died in hospital. The inquest at the Town Hall had heard the keeper had warned such an accident was likely to happen at the zoo. SOCCER FANS OUT OF TUNE Aston Villa fans are off-tune and among the worst in the Premier League for their vocal backing, according to research. Southampton fans are top of the Premiership when it comes to singing, while Bolton's are the most off-key. The survey was commissioned by Premiership sponsors Barclaycard. The club came 18th out of 20. DEATH CRASH VICTIM NAMED A motorcyclist killed in a collision with a car near Leek, Staffordshire, has been identified by police. Michael Ruscoe, 45, died after his Triumph was in collision with a Renault on the A52, outside Whiston, at the crossroads with Cotton Lane. Mr Ruscoe was of Sale, in Greater Manchester. The 66-year-old driver, of Ashbourne, was uninjured. WANTED: 50-65 YEAR OLDS TO OFFER THEIR SKILLS Police from Stechford operational command unit are on the look out for retired people who can offer their skills and experience to help install locks at homes of burglary victims. The initiative is being backed by The Experience Corps - an independent non-profit making organisation funded by a grant from the Home Office. It encourages people aged over 50 to enlist as volunteers. Crime reduction officer Constable John Pritchett said: "In the past we've enlisted the help of Neighbourhood Watch volunteers to fit the door locks. But our intention is to find people with the right skills to help install them in people's homes. "When we heard about The Experience Corps we realised it was a great opportunity to bring in the skills we need and also enable members of the public to give something back to the community." This is the first time The Experience Corps is working with West Midlands Police - if the pilot is successful they hope to roll it across the force area. "We are looking forward to working closely with the organisation," added PC Pritchett. "Once potential candidates are passed on to us, we will interview them and carry out the relevant security checks. They will also be insured and receive appropriate training." John Furze, regional manager for The Experience Corps, said: "This is an exciting project where people with skills can really make a difference in their community - we are delighted to be working with West Midlands Police." If there are any experienced lock fitters out there or people who fit the criteria they should contact The Experience Corps on 0800 10 60 80. DON'T BE FOOLED, POLICE WARN THE ELDERLY At least 50 bogus council workers have knocked on the homes of vulnerable
people across the region this year alone, warn police officers running
Operation Liberal, the forcewide initiative to crack down on bogus officials.
Detective Inspector Graham Rabone, from the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB)
at West Midlands Police, leads the force's anti distraction burglary team.
He said: "While we do not want to raise alarm or frighten anyone, it is
imperative for us to spread the message across the region to vulnerable
people, particularly the elderly, to be on their guard. After all, we all
want the elderly to feel safe and secure in their own homes." A number
of incidents have been reported to the police about bogus workers who dress
and speak the part of genuine council workers. Many of these workers will
go to the extent of equipping themselves with fluorescent coloured jackets,
carrying fake identity cards and clipboards. "The majority of bogus workers
claim to be from the council or from other utility companies such as electricity,
gas and water boards. They may tell you they are calling round to undertake
maintenance work in your home, perhaps on doors, windows and gardens, but
don't be fooled, " he warned. Det Insp Rabone manages a dedicated team
of officers working as part of Operation Liberal. The team believe a significant
number of incidents are linked. "While some offenders may operate on their
own, others work in pairs or are part of much wider organised criminal
networks. These 'gangs' sometimes operate across geographical boundaries
on to neighbouring force regions," he said. As part of the long-term strategy
to prevent the elderly becoming victims of this type of crime, officers
are also continuing to drive forward a strong message to the wider community
- neighbours, friends and family. "If you know an elderly person, keep
a look out on their behalf. Report any suspicious looking vehicles and
people hanging around on your street to the police," said Detective Constable
Phil Bond, from FIB, who co-ordinates Operation Liberal across West Midlands.
"Let's keep our vulnerable people safe from the impostors. By following
some simple advice we can prevent the elderly from falling victim to bogus
council workers."
MAISONETTES TO BE DEMOLISHED An unpopular block of maisonettes in Birmingham inhabited by drug addicts and prostitutes is to be demolished. The homes in Edgbaston will be cleared to make way for 17 new houses, managed by Harden Housing Association. A spokesperson said: "These maisonettes caused untold distress to residents who had to endure the constant anti-social element they attracted." UNIVERSITY IN INNOVATIVE GUIDE The University of Warwick is joining a UK-wide guide to help innovators make the most of their creative ideas. The Managing Intellectual Property guide is due to be launched by Science Minister Lord Sainsbury. The guide provides information on budget management, ownership of intellectual property and performance indicators and evaluation. CULL DEATH MAN FACES ACTION The father of a man killed at a foot-and-mouth burial site is set to pursue a civil action against the Warwickshire man cleared of his manslaughter. Slaughterman Keith Hubbard, from Atherstone, was cleared over the death of Steven Smart in Cumbria last year. Steven's father Ted said he has taken legal advice over civil action against Mr Hubbard. CHIEF CALLS FOR TRANSFER FEES A West Midlands Police Federation chief has called for a soccer-style transfer system to compensate forces who lose officers to other constabularies. Inspector Joe Tildesley said action has to be taken to prevent a future recruitment crisis in the region. He wants to see transfer fees starting at £55,000 introduced to stem the flow of officers leaving the force. COURTS 'MUST CONSIDER VIOLENCE' When deciding on parental access courts must do more to help combat the effects of domestic violence on children, a University of Warwick researcher said. Dr Catherine Humphreys said youngsters who remain with the perpetrator of domestic violence when parents break up may be exposed to prolonged harm. She was speaking at a Children's Society conference in Birmingham. TV SHOW SPONSORS GUIDE DOG PUP The creators of a TV cartoon character called Merlin the Magical Puppy have sponsored a guide dog for the blind at Bishops Tachbrook in Warwickshire. The makers of the animated series are sponsoring a six-week-old labrador pup to become a full-time companion for a blind or partially-sighted person. The puppy wears a red collar like the magical character in the CITV show. FACTORY DAMAGED BY FIRE A blaze at a plastics factory was tackled by more than 50 firefighters on an industrial estate in the West Midlands, the fire service said. Crews from across the region tackled the blaze at Brittons Plastics, on the corner of Halfords Lane and Oxford Road, in Smethwick. No-one was hurt in the incident and the main part of the factory has reopened. MP QUIZZES BLAIR OVER BLOCKADE A Shropshire MP questioned Tony Blair over the threat to jobs in the region due to the Channel Tunnel blockade. Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield, said thousands of jobs are under threat in the West Midlands as the tunnel has been closed to British exports. The Prime Minister said the Government will be raising the issue with France over the next few weeks. PENSIONER ESCAPES BIN BLAZE A pensioner escaped from her home after a wheelie bin was set alight and left next to her bungalow in Warwickshire. The woman, in her 70s, did not require hospital treatment but was left in shock after the fire in Atherstone. Her home suffered minor fire damage as a result of the incident. Police and fire officers are treating the blaze as deliberate arson. APPEAL OVER TOWN'S BONFIRES Bromsgrove residents are being urged to be good neighbours when it comes to getting rid of their garden waste. The district council wants to prevent bonfires fuelling discontent and has appealed to gardeners to be careful and considerate when lighting up. The council has produced a guideline to help gardeners be considerate to their neighbours and light bonfires safely. GIRL'S FUNERAL TO TAKE PLACE The funeral of a Shropshire teenager who died after apparently falling off a car's bonnet is due to take place. Rebecca Watson, 13, died from serious head injuries following the accident near a youth club in Marton Drive, Wellington, Telford. The funeral will be at All Saint's Church, in Wellington, and will be followed by a private burial. CITY ATTEMPTS LEARNING RECORD Thousands of people are due to take part in a record-breaking attempt to stage the world's largest language lesson in Birmingham. Young and old have been asked to stop what they are doing at 10.15am and spend 10 minutes learning five words or phrases in a foreign language. Organisers hope the event will make its way into the record books. HOUSE PRICES BEAT VIRUS FEARS House prices in rural areas in the West Midlands have soared over the past year, despite fears values may have been hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis. In Worcestershire a semi-detached house's cost soared by an average of 22%. In Shropshire prices rose by up to 15%, according to BBG Surveyors. But a slight slowdown in the number of sales in Shropshire was reported. DIANA'S LETTERS TO BE AUCTIONED Handwritten letters from the late Diana, Princess of Wales, to a former Althorp housekeeper are expected to fetch up to £15,000 at auction. The collection, described as "rather special and unique", is being sold by Maud Pendrey, who worked at Diana's family home near Northampton. The Christmas cards and letters are to be sold in Aylsham, Norfolk. FOOTBALL FANS FACE COURT Twenty-three football fans appeared in court charged with violent disorder following trouble at a Division One match between Portsmouth and Coventry. Twenty-two Portsmouth supporters are alleged to have caused trouble at the Highfield Road ground last September. Twenty-one entered no pleas while two pleaded not guilty. All were remanded on bail by Coventry magistrates. WATCHDOG SLAMS HOSPITAL A West Midlands hospital has been attacked by a health watchdog over the death of a cancer patient. Health ombudsman Sir Michael Buckley began an inquiry into a patient's death at Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, after a complaint from his wife. The patient, suffering a bone marrow cancer, died of an infection which was not found as blood tests were delayed. FUND TO MAKE TRAVELLERS SAFER The family of murdered Birmingham student Isabel Peake have said money donated to a fund in her memory will be given to The Suzy Lamplugh Trust. To mark what would have been her 23rd birthday, her parents, Annie and Brian, have announced that £2,800 will be used to raise travellers' safety awareness. Isabel was pushed from a train in France during an exchange trip in 1999. MP WANTS ORGAN DONOR LAW CHANGE A West Midlands MP is to introduce a 10-Minute Rule Bill to the House of Commons in a bid to put "presumed consent" into organ donation laws. Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East, wants to start a national debate on the subject. Forty MPs have signed up to the Organ Donor Register for the first time, following his campaign in Westminster. SOLAR POWER FOR SPORTS CENTRE A hi-tech sports training centre in Birmingham will be powered by using solar panels to provide cheaper bills and a cleaner environment. The indoor centre is being built by the city council at the Alexander Stadium, in Perry Barr, and is scheduled for completion later this year. It will receive a £262,000 grant from the DTI and £70,000 from npower solar. JOBS TO GO IN BREWERY CLOSURE Brewing giant Coors has announced plans to close its Smethwick factory with the loss of up to 320 jobs. The company said brewing and packaging operations at the Cape Hill site will cease by the end of the year. A spokesman said the firm, which also owns a brewery in Burton-on-Trent, decided to close Cape Hill after a review of its national operations. WARNING OVER MOTORWAY CLOSURE Motorists travelling on the M5 have been warned to expect delays when the stretch between West Bromwich and Oldbury is shut for more than 48 hours. Engineers are due to finish a major repair project on a 700-tonne viaduct between Junction 1 and Junction 2. The road will be closed from 9pm tonight until 5am on Monday, with marked diversions in place for drivers. MP TO ADD NAME TO CAMPAIGN Worcester Labour MP Mike Foster is due to add his name to a campaign by the RSPCA in the county to ensure the Government bans hunting with dogs. The MP was invited by the charity's Mid Worcester branch to sign an animal face, which will be stuck to a banner, outside The Guildhall in High Street. Mr Foster introduced a Bill to ban hunting in the last Parliament. CAR DEAL SECURES JOBS Car giant MG Rover has signed a deal with a Chinese automotive group
safeguarding thousands of jobs at the firm's Longbridge plant in Birmingham.
The alliance with China Brilliance will lead to the development of new
cars to be built in this country and in China. Unions welcomed the announcement,
which will also protect jobs in car component firms across the country.
DEAL 'LIGHT AT END OF TUNNEL' A union chief has described a Longbridge job-saving deal between MG Rover and a Chinese car firm as "the light at the end of the tunnel". General Secretary of Amicus Sir Ken Jackson said: "This is great news for British car manufacturing - many wondered if MG Rover could survive." He added: "The hard work, faith and dedication of workers has been repaid." PROBE INTO PARK SEX ATTACK Police are hunting a sex attacker who raped a 19-year-old woman in a Nuneaton park after offering to help her. Warwickshire Police said the teenager was attacked in the George Eliot Memorial Gardens in Mill Walk after an evening at a town centre nightclub. Her alleged attacker is described as a dark-skinned, stocky, approximately 5ft 6in to 6ft with dark brown hair. REGION PILOTS YOB FINE SCHEME West Midlands Police is to be the only force in the UK to test a controversial fining scheme across its whole area. Under the plan, yobs will be given fixed penalty fines for minor public order offences. Officers will issue tickets from £40 to £80 for a range of offences, including drunkenness, wasting police time, and obstructing a highway. POLICE 'OPEN MIND' OVER DEATH Police have said they are keeping an open mind over the death of a pensioner whose body was found in her blazing home near Pershore. Firefighters were called to the home of Margaret Taylor, who was in her early 80s, in Middle Lane, Cropthorne. A spokeswoman for West Mercia Police said a post-mortem examination is due to take place. PATIENTS MAY GET AFRICAN OPS Dudley health chiefs are planning to send NHS heart patients to South Africa for urgent surgery in the latest radical move to slash waiting lists. Officials are seeking approval from the Department of Health to fly more than 100 patients to Cape Town. If approved, it will be the first time NHS patients have been treated in hospitals outside the European Union. CITY FIRST TO SUBMIT BID Birmingham has become the first British city to submit its bid for the title of 2008 European Capital of Culture. Organisers believe the city, which is competing with eight others for the honour, has an "unbeatable" case. Bid director Stephen Hetherington said the city's position at the heart of Britain's "most creative and diverse" region will help it win the accolade. 25th. March 2002 RIVAL STADIUM BID 'A SHAMBLES' A Birmingham MP has called for the proposals for a revamped Wembley-based national stadium to be suspended amid fears about its viabilitiy. Hall Green MP Steve McCabe said doubts expressed by the chairman of the London project meant the venue's plans had descended into a shambles. The Labour MP is backing Birmingham's rival bid to host the stadium. POLICE HUNT HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER Coventry police are hunting a hit-and-run motorist who failed to stop after his vehicle struck a 14-year-old. The teenage boy, who has not been named, was hit in Parkhill Drive and suffered a suspected broken leg. West Midlands Police believe the vehicle was an old, dark-coloured saloon car which may have suffered damage to its front nearside headlamp. DRUG DEATH CLUBBER TO BE NAMED Police are set to name a nightclubber who collapsed and died in Birmingham after apparently taking Ecstasy. The man's family are due to issue a statement about the death of the 23-year-old, from Small Heath, who collapsed at the Premonition nightclub. He was later pronounced dead at City Hospital. A police spokesman said inquiries into the death are ongoing. PARK-AND-RIDE IMPROVEMENTS Work is due to get under way on a £330,000 scheme to expand park-and-ride facilities at Birmingham's Kings Norton railway station. The project, which will take the number of parking places at the station to almost 190, includes CCTV coverage, and improved lighting and security. The building work is set to be completed by the end of June. STREET OBJECT 'DANGER TO BLIND' A Warwickshire-based charity is calling for the removal of unnecessary street furniture which may be responsible for injuring scores of blind people. Bollards and cafe chairs are among items endangering Britain's 1.4m blind, charity Guide Dogs for the Blind says. Ann Sullivan, 57, of Rugeley, needed life-saving surgery after a broken branch pierced the top of her skull. MP TO CRITICISE 'BAD PARENTS' Birmingham Yardley MP Estelle Morris is to blame "feckless" parents for child crime and unruly behaviour in schools. In a speech to the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the Education Secretary will say bad parenting leads to a "cycle of disrespect". She will demand councils use parenting orders, whereby parents can be made to attend counselling or face court. HOPE FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE The Bishop of Worcester has issued an Easter message praying that light will eventually emerge from the current darkness in the Middle East. The Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby said faith is required to deal with the worst human situations. "Faith is tested and needed in such times," he said, adding that the conflict drowns out calls for peace. PRAISE FOR TRANSPORT PLAN Local authorities responsible for the West Midlands local transport plan have been named as a Centre of Excellence for Integrated Transport Planning. Local Transport Minister Sally Keeble made the announcement. The councils in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton, and transport body Centro received the accolade. CALL FOR RETIREMENT AGE MOVE Flexibility over the retirement age of employees could help close the skills gap, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry has told the Government. The chamber said that employers should be able to ask skilled workers to work beyond the normal retirement age. Louise Beard, policy director at the chamber, said its members favour choice and flexibility on the issue. MEP BACKED OVER ASBESTOS MOVE A European Parliament committee has voted to back a proposal by West
Midlands Euro MP Liz Lynne to halve the maximum exposure for asbestos.
The Employment and Social Affairs Committee backed the Lib Dem MEP after
proposals from the European Commission for a new Asbestos Directive. It
would let workers move asbestos for four hours at a time instead of eight.
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