Legendary reggae band UB40 were guests of honour as West Midlands Railway (WMR) unveiled its new ‘Musical Routes’ initiative to celebrate the region’s musical heritage.

Founding members Jimmy Brown, Robin Campbell, Earl Falconer and Norman Hassan were joined by new vocalist Matt Doyle at Birmingham’s Hall Green station last week.

The ‘Musical Routes’ project is the brainchild of the Birmingham Music Archive and funded through WMR’s “Your Community, Your Fund” scheme. It offers rail passengers a tour of the second city’s world-class musical heritage, celebrating legendary Brummie artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Armatrading and Jamelia.

The project will see music-themed information boards installed at dozens of railway stations across the city, with the first unveiled at Hall Green, close to where UB40, Ocean Colour Scene and Laura Mvula started out.

Fay Easton, WMR head of stakeholder and community, said: “The ‘Your Community, Your Fund’ scheme was designed to bring life to community projects that would benefit our customers and we are so pleased to see this world-class concept delivered in Birmingham.

“Many local people and global visitors will be unaware of the musical talent that impacted world music from Birmingham and the Midlands. This talent should be celebrated, and we are proud to have been part of this project to bring Birmingham’s musical heritage to life at our stations.”

The “Your Community, Your Fund” scheme is funded by the Department for Transport and was previously known as the Customer & Communities Improvement Fund. Under the scheme, WMR and sister company London Northwestern Railway is investing a total of £1.7million in community projects across the network.

Jez Collins, founder of Birmingham Music Archive, said: “I’m passionate about Birmingham’s music history, heritage and culture and as a city we need to celebrate and publicise these stories of global interest.

“This project with the railways will allow us to reach hundreds of thousands of people each year, as they travel across the train network. It’s a fantastic opportunity to highlight, through truly beautiful locally-produced maps, some of Birmingham’s great musicians and venues.”

The intricate 3D wooden maps have been produced by designers from city-based studio Space Play and will feature Spotify codes that connect to a curated playlist for each area.

Maps will be installed at the following stations: Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks, Wylde Green, Chester Road, Erdington, Gravelly Hill, Perry Barr, Hamstead, Jewellery Quarter, Duddeston, Aston, Witton, Bordesley, Small Heath, Adderley Park, Lea Hall, Five Ways; Spring Road; Hall Green; Yardley Wood; Acocks Green; Stechford; Tyseley; Selly Oak; Bournville; Kings Norton; Northfield and Longbridge. University station will get two maps. University and Perry Barr stations will get their maps when redevelopment work there is completed next year.

For more details about the project, visit www.birminghammusicarchive.com

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The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and local councils across the region have launched a new winter campaign to help rough sleepers and those at risk of becoming homeless.

‘There’s a Better Way’ is the latest campaign for the alternative giving scheme, Change into Action, which is now in its fifth year.

It asks West Midlands residents to look out for people in their local areas who might be sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness so that they can be connected to local support services.

To launch this winter’s campaign, Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, and Cllr Sharon Thompson, chair of the WMCA Homelessness Taskforce Members Advisory Group visited Birmingham’s Christmas Market to hand out leaflets to stallholders, other local businesses, and shoppers.

Rather than directly giving money to those begging on the street or at the road side, the campaign highlights alternative ways of helping so that people can get off the streets for good.

This includes a donation to Change Into Action and advice on how to seek support from street outreach teams as well as ways of spreading the word through social media.

The money raised by Change into Action is used in a variety of ways to make a change in the lives of people who need it. This includes providing accommodation, access to healthcare, clothing and training that could help secure a job.

The initiative is led by the WMCA Homelessness Taskforce and was originally set up by Mayor Andy Street in partnership with Birmingham City Council in late 2017.

Over time it has grown to include the local councils in Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, and Walsall, with Wolverhampton having a similar scheme called Alternative Giving CIO.

Thanks to the generosity of residents and local business more than £220,000 has been raised across the region through Change into Action and Alternative Giving CIO, helping to change many people’s lives for the better.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “By working together, the region has done a good job of helping society’s most vulnerable and reducing the number of rough sleepers on our streets. However, there is still so much more to be done, and we know winter is traditionally a very challenging time for those sleeping rough.

“That is why we have launched the ‘There’s a Better Way campaign’, spearheaded by our Change into Action scheme. We know there is a huge number of people who want to help those less fortunate than us and make a difference, but often do not know how. This campaign looks to address this, and ultimately help improve people’s lives.”

Cllr Sharon Thompson, who is also Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for vulnerable children, families and homelessness, added: “As a councillor, I know only too well how emotive it is being asked for money on the street by someone who may appear to be homeless.

“I also know that the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands are generous and want to help, but sometimes it is not easy to know how best to help or what the true circumstances of the individual are. By donating directly to Change into Action you can be sure that your money will directly and personally help someone who has been sleeping rough.

“Trusted local charities and street outreach teams work with anyone who has been sleeping rough to identify those things that can really make a change to their life.”

If you would like to get involved, donations can be made online at www.changeintoaction.org.uk

If you are concerned that someone may be sleeping rough then please report it through www.streetlink.org.uk

The notification will go directly to a street outreach team who will follow up with an offer of help. If you think the person is in immediate danger or needs urgent care, please call 999.

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West Midlands Railway is urging passengers to check their journeys carefully this month ahead of a new timetable coming into effect next week.

Departure times on some routes will change from Sunday 12 December. With trains expected to be busy in the run-up to Christmas, passengers are advised to check their travel plans.

The operator is also reminding passengers that some services may be cancelled at short notice due to ongoing staffing shortages caused by the impact of the pandemic on its driver training programmes along with a recent increase in Covid-19 related absences.

Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said: “Over recent months we have been delighted to welcome more passengers back to the railway following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

“With timetables changing next week and the impact of Covid-19 creating the possibility of cancellations due to driver shortages, I am urging passengers to check their journeys before setting out to the station and to avoid relying on the last train home wherever possible.

“We do all we can to avoid cancellations but where we have no choice we always look to give passengers as much notice as possible and arrange alternative transport wherever possible.

“I would like to thank our passengers for their understanding as we continue to work our way through our driver training backlog.”

Passengers are also being reminded it is once again mandatory to wear a face covering when on board public transport and fines for non-compliance may apply.

Visit www.wmr.uk/plan to check live and future departure times. For more on how WMR is tackling its training backlog, visit www.wmr.uk/snowhillplan

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29 January 2022 is the day when greater protection should be given to the safety of active travellers as the Government’s proposed hierarchy of road users takes effect.

The addition of the hierarchy to The Highway Code is welcomed by Birmingham City Council which, like other UK councils, is increasing its active travel infrastructure which includes Places for People, cycle lanes and footpaths.

Pedestrians, who are considered most at risk, will be ranked first followed by cyclists, horse riders, motorcyclists, cars, taxis, vans, minibuses.

Reflecting the Government’s consultation on the safety needs of the most vulnerable road user groups, buses and lorries will be placed last.

Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Councillor Waseem Zaffar said: “The official creation of a hierarchy of road users in The Highway Code is good news for Birmingham City Council because we are creating more cycle lanes and more footpaths to encourage even more people to walk or cycle short-distances instead of drive because we are working towards an ambitious target of net-zero carbon by 2030.”

he revised Highway Code will also strengthen the messages that pedestrians have priority when seeking to cross a road and that a minimum 1.5m distance should be maintained by cars when overtaking cyclists.

Local authorities may also be given new powers to fine people who park vehicles on pavements.

The revisions are being made because cycling has increased more in the last year than in the previous 20 years together, according to the Department for Transport, which claims that the number of miles cycled on British roads rose by 45.7% to 5 billion.

However, AA research indicates that only one-third of road-users knew about the prioritisation of pedestrians at junctions.

To avoid confusion, make sure you read the Highway Code which lays down the rules about who has priority on UK roads; the revised edition should be available soon from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Before then, you may read more about the revisions in the summary of the consultation of The Highway Code.

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The funeral of the Queen will be broadcast on a large screen in Centenary Square on Monday 19 September.

Showing the service in this way is intended to give the people of Birmingham a place to reflect and come together to pay their respects to Her Majesty.

The screen will go live shortly before 11am and the broadcast will conclude at approximately 5pm.

No seating, refreshments or other services will be available on site, and given many businesses are planning to close for the state funeral, anyone planning to attend is urged to come prepared.

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The feeling of sadness and loss for people in the city is abundantly clear – Her Majesty was an important and dearly loved figure for people of all backgrounds and ages in Birmingham.

“It’s clear many people will want to go to London to observe this moment but getting to the capital will be neither easy nor cheap, given the demands that will be placed on the national road and rail networks.

“As the nation says farewell to the ultimate public servant, the square will be a local, easy-to-reach, space where people can reflect on the life of our longest-serving monarch and also sign our Books of Condolence at the Hall of Memory if they haven’t done so already.

“Of course many people will want to watch proceedings at home or with their families, but this screening gives people in the city an alternative where they can share the historic occasion with fellow Brummies.”

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With energy prices rising again this week (01/10) more than 1,500 reports have been made to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) about scam emails purporting to be about energy rebates from Ofgem.

In the two weeks from Monday 22nd August to Monday 5th August 2022, a total of 1,567 phishing emails related to this scam were reported via the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS).

Detective Chief Inspector Hayley King, from the City of London Police, said: “It is shameful that in a time of financial hardship, criminals are targeting members of the public by claiming they are entitled to receiving rebates and refunds.

“If an email is genuine, the company will never push you into handing over your details. Always take a moment to consider if the request you have received is genuine.

“We would always urge people to follow the Take Five to Stop Fraud advice and think carefully before giving out their personal and financial details.”

In this instance, the reported scam emails claim that the recipient is due an energy rebate payment as part of a government scheme and provides links for the recipient to follow to apply for the rebate. The links in the emails lead to malicious websites designed to steal personal and financial information.

All of the reported emails display the email subject header “Claim your bill rebate now” and the criminals behind the scam are using the Ofgem logo and colours to make the email appear authentic.

However, the emails ask recipients to “apply for an energy bill rebate before September 2020”, which prompted many recipients to realise the emails were not genuine and subsequently report the scam.

An Ofgem spokesperson said: “Protecting consumers is our top priority and it is alarming that vulnerable customers are being preyed upon in this way when people are already struggling so much. That’s why, as energy regulator, on top of issuing our own warnings and advice, we have asked all energy suppliers to ensure clear and up to date information on scams is easily accessible on their websites.

“We take these attempts to exploit consumers very seriously and work with the National Cyber Security Centre to prevent these malicious attacks. If people are unsure if something is a scam they should pause, check and don’t let callers push you into anything.

“Genuine organisations won’t mind you calling back; only scammers apply pressure and insist you hand over details immediately. If you have any doubts about a message, consumers should contact the organisation directly and not use the numbers or address in the message – use the details from their official website.”

How to protect yourself

• If you have any doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly.
• Don’t use the numbers or address in the message – use the details from their official website. Remember, your bank (or any other official source) will never ask you to supply personal information via email.
• If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Send us emails that feel suspicious, even if you’re not certain they’re a scam – we can check.
• Follow the Take Five to Stop Fraud advice:
  • STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
  • CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
  • PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

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West Midlands Railway (WMR) passengers are being urged to plan ahead of three days of industrial action in October.

Members of the ASLEF, RMT and TSSA unions have announced their intention to stage industrial action on Saturday 1 October. ASLEF members will take part in action on Wednesday 5 October and RMT members will take part in action on Saturday 8 October.

As a result, there will be no WMR service on any route on Saturday 1 October and Wednesday 5 October.

WMR will run a significantly reduced service from 7.30am to 6.30pm on Saturday 8 October.

Morning services will be impacted on days following industrial action due to trains being in the incorrect place overnight.

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at WMR, said: “It is disappointing that our passengers’ journeys will continue to be affected on three more days of industrial action in October.

“There will be no services on any WMR route on Saturday 1 October and Wednesday 5 October. A limited service will operate on Saturday 8 October. Morning services will also be impacted on the days following the action.

“Customers holding purchased tickets can travel on alternative days or they will be entitled to a refund.”

Routes with a limited service on Saturday 8 October from 7.30am to 6.30pm are:

• Cross-City Line (Lichfield Trent Valley – Redditch/Bromsgrove via Birmingham New Street) – 2 trains per hour
• Wolverhampton – Birmingham New Street – 1 train per hour
• Birmingham New Street – Birmingham International – 2 trains per hour (with rail replacement provided between Birmingham International and Coventry)

No trains will run on any other WMR route, including all routes via Birmingham Snow Hill, Birmingham-Shrewsbury, Birmingham-Worcester-Hereford and Nuneaton-Leamington Spa.

For further information on the Industrial Action visit: https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/journey-planning/service-disruption/industrial-action

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A Wythall mom whose 7-month-old daughter has a rare genetic condition has been left “overwhelmed” by the generosity of her friends and family towards the charity who support her and her daughter.

Cara Bosworth’s daughter, Nellie, was born in February this year at Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital and was immediately taken to the Neonatal ICU with breathing difficulties.

“When she was about three days old, she became jaundiced and even when we were discharged early in March, the jaundice remained,” says Cara, 32, a teaching assistant. “It meant that we had to go back to hospital every two weeks for blood tests. Over Easter weekend, we were admitted for further testing, as doctors suspected there was a problem with Nellie’s liver. And it was in May that her diagnosis of Alagille syndrome was confirmed.

“Alagilles is a rare condition which affects about one in every 30,000 babies. The effects vary from one person to another but it can affect the heart, kidneys, eyes and bones as well as the liver. Although I was relieved to be given a diagnosis, this was an incredibly difficult time. I knew nothing about Alagille syndrome and I had so many questions and worries.

“It was one of the specialist nurses at the Children’s Hospital who told me about Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF). When I looked at their website I saw that you could reach out if you needed help and advice so I decided to make contact.

“I was so glad I did. It’s lovely to be able to ask any questions and share worries without burdening friends or family. The team at CLDF understand what I’m going through and it’s really comforting to know that I’m not alone. They have encouraged me through difficult moments, such as when Nellie had to have an NG tube fitted, as she struggles to gain weight.

“My sister Sophie was my birthing partner and knew how valuable I found CLDF’s support, so she decided to do the Black Country Triathlon as a fundraiser. It was an incredibly tough thing to do but she felt that in order to raise as much money and awareness as possible, it had to be something very challenging. She absolutely smashed it, not only completing the course, but in more than doubling her original fundraising target! We are so proud of her. Nellie came with me to cheer her on and it was a really emotional day.”

To date, Sophie’s triathlon has raised over £3000 for CLDF and donations are still coming in. “We’ve been very surprised at how generous people have been,” says Cara. “It shows how loved Nellie is. Her first few months have been really tough, but she is such a strong happy little girl. She just brings me so much joy, she is literally my everything.”

Rebecca Cooper, Chief Executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation added: “CLDF is the only UK charity dedicated to fighting all childhood liver diseases, by providing information and emotional support, funds for research and a voice for all those affected. In order to do this however, we rely on voluntary donations, so we are so grateful to Sophie for her fantastic fundraising – what a wonderful auntie! The funds raised will enable us to continue to support families throughout the UK who are affected by rare liver disease in their children.”

You can still support Sophie’s triathlon fundraising at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/for-our-nel

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West Midlands bus fares are to be frozen at current levels until 2025 under a new plan agreed with operators to assist new and existing passengers with the cost of living – saving the average commuter £250 a year.

This means that people will be able to hop on and off the region’s buses all day for the same price they would have paid in 2013 – currently £4.20 for a multi-operator day ticket.

The fare freeze is just one part of a wide ranging £88 million Bus Service Improvement Plan, which is being delivered to drive up passenger numbers and reduce private car use over the next three years.

The Bus Service Improvement Plan has been developed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in partnership with the region’s bus operators.

And they are set to review the number of fares and ticket types with a view to reducing and simplifying them for passengers.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA said: “Our region’s bus services continue to be amongst the most affordable in the entire country with day tickets already the same price they were a decade ago – with our guarantee in place to keep them low through to 2025.

“This is a genuine success story given the fuel price rises and broader cost of living challenges facing many of our fellow local residents at this time. So I encourage people to leave the car and give the bus a go as not only is it great value for money, it’s also better for the environment. Supported by the Government funded Bus Service Improvement Plan, together we can help passenger numbers build back up post pandemic.”

David Bradford, managing director of National Express West Midlands, said: “If you’re an average commuter, you will save £250 next year thanks to these frozen fares. We know how tough things are at the moment and we’re pleased to be working with WMCA to help our customers in any way we can. As well as being better value than ever, it’s also simpler than ever: just tap on with your contactless card – there’s no more need to find the exact change.”

Transport Minister Baroness Vere said: “Our £88 million investment is rapidly helping passengers in the West Midlands to benefit more frequent, cheaper and cleaner buses.

“West Midlands’ decision to freeze fares will not only help passengers at a time of rising costs, but will also reduce the number of cars on our roads.”

In addition to the £88m investment in services, the region is also developing new infrastructure and introducing new vehicles including cross-city bus priority routes, the first of which links Dudley and Druids Heath via Birmingham City Centre, plus more bus priority measures and greener vehicles.

This includes the All-Electric Bus City project in Coventry which will ensure every bus in the city is a zero-emission electric vehicle by 2025. The first of these are due to enter service in the next few weeks. The region is also planning the development of the UK’s largest hydrogen bus fleet, with 124 set to enter service over the next two years.

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Buses are by far the most used form of public transport across the region so this fare freeze will have a huge impact and help many thousands of people at a time when other bills are rising.

“That is just one part of our plans for bus services with funding in place and designs being developed for 50 kilometres of bus lanes and priority measures over the next five years, more cross-city bus routes and hundreds of greener electric and hydrogen buses on order.

“This investment will not only make buses more affordable, but also more comfortable, convenient and reliable for passengers. Helping us reduce private car use and improve our environment.”

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A new state-of-the-art UK Telecommunications Lab will be based in Solihull, creating dozens of high-skilled jobs for the region, Tech Minister Damian Collins has announced today.

The first of its kind in the country, the Lab will act as a secure research facility bringing together telecom operators, suppliers and academics to research and test innovative new ways of boosting the security, resilience and performance of the UK’s mobile networks. It will help close the digital skills gap locally as well as nationally by creating dozens of specialised jobs in telecoms and cyber security.

New research out today, which has been commissioned by the government for Birmingham Tech Week, also shows a large increase in the number of tech startups and scaleups across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

There has been a 21.3 per cent increase in tech jobs in Birmingham in the seven months to July 2022, rising to 31 per cent across the West Midlands region, according to analysis by smarter job search engine Adzuna for the UK’s Digital Economy Council.

There are now over 144,000 people employed in tech startups and scaleups across the West Midlands, with over 56,000 in Birmingham alone. The boost to hiring follows a sharp increase in the value of West Midlands tech companies, with the region’s tech ecosystem now valued at £15.3 billion, up from £11.5 billion in 2021, according to new data from Dealroom.

The analysis shows the West Midlands has become one of the UK’s biggest digital sectors – with health, transport and sports tech companies flourishing in particular. Since 2020, West Midlands tech companies have raised over £850 million in venture capital funding.

Tech Minister Damian Collins said: “After this summer’s stunning Commonwealth Games it is great to feel the buzz in the city yet again in Birmingham Tech Week.

“Fast-growing firms are cementing Birmingham’s status as a tech powerhouse – boosting jobs and spreading economic growth right across the West Midlands.

“As a result, there is no better home for the new UK Telecoms Lab, which will turn the region into a centre for expertise and innovation in the security of next-generation mobile networks.”

New cutting-edge telecoms test lab

The ever-increasing speed and reliability of mobile and broadband networks has supercharged the UK’s economy, but it also means we are more dependent on telecoms infrastructure.

As the demand for 5G grows and next-generation 6G is on the horizon, having a new national research facility in one location will enable telecom companies and suppliers to test their equipment – such as radio network infrastructure and the software which underpins it – in a realistic environment.

The UK Telecoms Lab will help get faster mobile technology rolled out quicker and ensure people can continue to have full confidence in UK networks by identifying national security risks and vulnerabilities and ensuring vital equipment and software are protected against cyber attacks.

The lab will help new businesses enter the UK telecoms market by testing to ensure equipment is fully ‘interoperable’, meaning it can connect to kit supplied by different manufacturers, which is increasingly important to the government’s £250 million strategy to diversify the UK 5G telecoms market.

The Lab will be based in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull. The government will announce further details about the Lab in due course.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Tech is one of the most exciting and fastest growing sectors in our region. This fantastic announcement that Solihull will be the home of the new UK Telecoms Lab yet again underlines the strength of this important sector for us here in the West Midlands. The Lab will bring a wide range of stakeholders together to drive innovation and create high quality new jobs for local people.

“As we mark Birmingham Tech Week, it’s a great time to remember that we are at the cutting edge and – with our tech sector already valued at over £15 billion – we have an exciting future ahead of us.”

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With Halloween looming the Woodland Trust has issued an urgent plea to witches, wizards and spooks everywhere not to endanger wildlife by dumping pumpkins in woodland.

The UK’s largest woodland conservation charity has spotted a worrying trend in recent years for Halloween pumpkins to be taken to the nearest wood and left, in a well-meaning but misguided attempt, to provide food for birds and woodland creatures.

“A myth seems to have built up that leaving pumpkins in woods helps wildlife. People think they’re doing a good thing by not binning them in landfill and instead leaving them for nature” explained Paul Bunton, Engagement and Communication Officer at Woodland Trust.

“But pumpkin flesh can be dangerous for hedgehogs, attracts colonies of rats and also has a really detrimental effect on woodland soils, plants and fungi. We can’t leave dumped pumpkins to rot so we end up with an orange mushy mess to deal with at many of our sites.”

The Woodland Trust has tips on its website on how spooky leftovers can be best used, including making a pumpkin birdfeeder for the garden, which should be kept high off the ground well away from hedgehogs.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/10/what-to-do-with-pumpkins/

Trevor Weeks from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service echoed the Trust’s concern over the risk to hedgehogs because, like other wildlife “they are opportunistic eaters and they spend autumn and early winter building up their fat reserves for hibernation”.

“As a result, hedgehogs can gorge themselves on easily available food like dumped pumpkins,” Weeks added. “Although not toxic to them the fleshy fibrous fruit can cause stomach upsets and diarrhoea as they are not designed to eat large quantities of fruit.

“This can lead to them becoming bloated and dangerously dehydrated which in turn can be fatal. At this time of year, they can’t afford to become ill, or they may not survive the winter hibernation.”

According to the Trust, which owns and cares for more than 1,000 free-to-visit woods across the UK, the pumpkin problem seems to be starting earlier and earlier, with supermarkets flooded with cheap pumpkins for sale and pumpkin-picking growing in popularity as a family activity in the run-up to Halloween.

Paul continued: “Thousands of tonnes of pumpkin gets thrown away in the UK after Halloween each year, so it would be great if we could all put that to better use.”

He added: “Jack-o-lanterns can be good for wildlife in small quantities in gardens, but not woodland or other countryside. We are urging people everywhere to make soup, make a birdfeeder for your garden, but please don’t make a mess of the countryside!”

The Woodland Trust’s Love Your Woods campaign encourages people to enjoy their visit while helping protect woods and nature for the future.

Visitors can play their part by following some simple advice, including staying fire-free, staying on paths, taking dog mess and litter home and protecting wildlife by keeping dogs close.

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The West Midlands has been awarded more than £1 million of funding to help people right across the region keep warm and well this winter as energy bills continue to rise.

The grant has been awarded to Act on Energy who are working with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to provide expert advice to people struggling to heat their homes.

Funds will be used to offer free, energy advice over the phone, as well as face to face support at events, drop-in clinics, and house visits for the most vulnerable.

The programme, ‘Warmer Homes West Midlands’ will build on two years of success for the help line which has already supported more than 10,000 vulnerable households across the region, improving the health and wellbeing of people living in cold and damp homes.

The new funding will enable the service to ramp up its operations for households across the West Midlands which already has some of the highest rates of fuel poverty in the country.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said “Many residents are facing cost of living pressures given upcoming energy bills and we want to extend a helping hand during these tough times by offering practical support. This valued support line will assist thousands of people – offering advice on managing bills and keeping warm as winter draws near.

“The additional £1m in funding secured for the Warmer Homes West Midlands programme will mainly be put towards training frontline staff and expanding how many calls they can take. It’s also encouraging to hear that home visits and direct community outreach are also being considered.

“If you’re feeling under strain and want to seek advice, don’t be afraid to get in touch via the freephone number 0808 196 8298 or by visiting the Warmer Homes WM website.”

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Passengers travelling with West Midlands Railway (WMR) are reminded to only travel if absolutely necessary and plan ahead of industrial action tomorrow (04/11).

Due to industrial action by members of the TSSA union, a very limited timetable will be in operation on WMR routes and no services will run after 7.30pm.

Passengers celebrating Bonfire Night or attending the Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham on Friday and Saturday are advised to plan their journeys carefully.

A similar reduced service will also run on Saturday 5 November, Monday 7 November and Wednesday 9 November due to national strike action by members of the RMT union.

Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said: “It is disappointing that our passengers’ journeys will again be impacted by industrial action over the next week.

“I would like to remind passengers that Friday 4 November is the first day of industrial action affecting West Midlands Railway this month.

“A very limited timetable will be in operation on strike days and we are urging passengers to only travel if absolutely necessary.

“The action coincides with the opening of the popular Christmas market in Birmingham and I am urging anyone attending to plan their travel carefully as rail services will be extremely limited.”

Routes with a limited service on Friday 4 November, Saturday 5 November, Monday 7 November and Wednesday 9 November (7.30am to early evening) are:

• Cross-City Line (Lichfield Trent Valley – Redditch/Bromsgrove via Birmingham New Street (2 trains per hour)
• Wolverhampton-Birmingham (1 train per hour)
• Birmingham New Street-Birmingham International (1 train per hour)

No trains will run on any other WMR route, including all routes via Birmingham Snow Hill, Birmingham-Shrewsbury, Birmingham-Worcester-Hereford and Nuneaton-Leamington Spa.

Some late night and early morning services may be subject to amendments on days either side of the industrial action (Thursday 3 November, Sunday 6 November, Tuesday 8 November and Thursday 10 November) and passengers are advised to check before travelling.

For up-to-date information on the strike action, including details of ticketing and refunds, visit www.wmr.uk/industrialaction

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There are just a few days left to provide feedback on plans to grow and develop the region’s rail network over the next 30 years.

The West Midlands Rail Executive’s (WMRE’s) consultation on the draft West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy closes on Monday, 28th November 2022.

The consultation is giving businesses, rail industry stakeholders and the public the chance to have their say on the plans, as well as comment on what they think the strategy should include.

So far, responses to the consultation have raised topics such as:

• greater integration with other modes of transport
• making the rail network more accessible
• a more efficient ticketing and fares system
• prioritising the electrification of all lines

The updated draft West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy sets out how the region’s rail sector plans to tackle challenges like post-pandemic recovery, maximise the benefits of HS2 and contribute to achieving net zero carbon targets.

Like the first strategy, issued in 2018, key elements remain the continued development of HS2 and the delivery of the Midlands Rail Hub.

Since then the new Worcestershire Parkway station has opened, and progress has also been made on the construction of five new railway stations on the Camp Hill line in Birmingham and the Wolverhampton to Walsall line, as well as the redevelopment of Coventry, Wolverhampton, Perry Barr and University railway stations.

The update also takes account of huge changes as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic including a fall in passenger numbers as a result of changing work patterns and the reorganisation of the industry through the establishment of the Great British Railway.

The draft strategy has been led by the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and developed with rail industry partners, including Midlands Connect and the Department for Transport and has been issued for consultation with stakeholders, businesses and communities.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMRE said: “There have been challenges with rail services following the pandemic, but there are exciting times and opportunities ahead for rail with the right investment in the right areas.

“Over the next few months and years we will be powering ahead with the return of passenger stations and services to the Camp Hill and Wolverhampton to Walsall railway lines, as well as opening a new station at Aldridge.

“But this strategy looks further ahead to key developments such as the Midlands Rail Hub and growing the West Midlands rail network in a coordinated way. It will be used to press the case for more investment and ensure improvements are delivered where it is most needed. That is why it is important people have their say now to help shape the future.”

Following this a final draft will be presented to the WMRE Board for approval.

The draft strategy has several key ambitions including to support the region’s recovery from Covid 19, contribute to local and national net-zero carbon targets, support the levelling up agenda and maximise the benefits of HS2.

Further aims are to encourage growth in freight on rail and consider more radical proposals for the 30-year long-term – such as a rail tunnel under Birmingham city centre.

The plan sets out how passenger numbers and rail service frequencies are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2026 and outlines how the network and infrastructure will need to be further developed to allow further growth.

The draft strategy, feedback survey and full details of the consultation are available at wmre.org.uk/consultation

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From today (23/11), over 11.6 million pensioners in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will start to receive payments of up to £600 to help with their energy bills this winter.

Winter Fuel Payments – boosted this year by an additional £300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment – will land in bank accounts over the next two months, the vast majority automatically.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said:

“We want to do everything we can to support pensioners who are often the most exposed to higher costs. That’s why we’re providing all pensioner households with an additional £300 on top of their Winter Fuel Payments to heat their homes and stay warm this winter.

This extra payment is just one part of the wider support package we’re delivering to help with rising bills, including the biggest State Pension increase in history.”

“Our support doesn’t stop here. As we deal with the impact of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the pandemic, we will continue to stand by the most vulnerable, with further cost of living payments coming next year.”

The money will appear in bank statements with the payment reference starting with the customer’s national Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’ for people in Great Britain, or ‘DFC WFP’ for people in Northern Ireland.

The overwhelming majority of Winter Fuel Payments are paid automatically but some people need to make a claim, such as those who qualify but do not receive benefits or the State Pension and have never previously received a Winter Fuel Payment.

This month, over seven million payments of £324 have already been made to low-income households as part of this government’s cost of living support. This includes pensioners receiving Pension Credit.

The average Pension Credit award is worth over £3,500 a year, and for those pensioners who may be eligible but are yet to make an application, there is still time to do so and qualify for this additional £324 payment.

This is because Pension Credit claims can be backdated by up to three months, provided the entitlement conditions are met throughout that time.

To ensure that a successful backdated claim falls within the qualifying period for extra £324 cost of living help, pensioners are being urged to claim Pension Credit as soon as possible, and by no later than 18 December 2022.

The online Pension Credit calculator is on hand to help pensioners check if they’re likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive.

Further cost of living support to be paid next year was announced by the Chancellor in his Autumn Statement last week. Payments will include a further £300 for pensioners, £900 for households on means-tested benefits and £150 for those on disability benefits.

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Birmingham’s Warm Welcomes network now has more than 100 spaces offering activities, community and support since it was launched in October.

A total of 117 council, community, faith and third sector spaces had joined the network to offer a Warm Welcome to anyone.

The 100th space to register was Bright Young Minds centre in Sutton Coldfield which provides support to young people, children and families along with specialist support to those from African, Caribbean and South American communities.

This network also features some quirky spaces such as Erdington Bowls Club, Upcycle Birmingham in Castle Vale and The GAP Project in Balsall Heath which are among those now offering a warm welcome to the community.

Cllr John Cotton, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, said: “Working with our partners in community, faith and voluntary sectors, we haave seen a wide range of sites open and the positive impact they are having in their local communities.

“Many organisations and groups offer this support all year round, but the tightening grip the cost of living has on so many of our citizens mean these places are needed more than ever. It’s not just about keeping warm, it’s about providing space for people to come together and support one another as well as providing vital advice and information.

“We want to grow this network so there is one a short walk or bus ride away – and are urging all community and voluntary organisations, as well as neighbourhood facilities, to think about opening up their doors to give a Warm Welcome.”

Details of all the Warm Welcome spaces across the city can be found on the council’s website – as can details of how organisations can register their space as a Warm Welcome: visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/livingsupport

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NHS Blood and Transplant is urging anyone considering becoming a blood donor to make 2023 the year they save lives, as new figures reveal around 235,000 people who signed up to give blood last year are yet to make their first donation.

During 2022 more than 26,200 people registered with Give Blood in the West Midlands but only around 7,300* of them have taken the next step and attended an appointment – meaning around four in five are yet to do so.

The first ever amber alert on blood stocks shortages during October sparked a huge response from the public wanting to help and led to 5,694 people in the West Midlands registering over the four weeks. Only one in five has donated so far. However, at that time there were limited appointments available for first-time donors because of staffing issues and the need to prioritise existing donors.

People who registered during 2022 may have found it more difficult than in recent years to make their first appointment as the NHS experienced a challenging year with low blood stocks. Existing donors are prioritised at these times as their blood type is known and they are more likely to complete a successful donation, which means appointments for first time donors are reduced.

Blood stocks have since stabilised and there are now more slots available for new donors. NHS Blood and Transplant is urging new registrants who have not yet donated to take the next step and book an appointment.

There is an urgent need for more donors of Black heritage as they are more likely to have the blood type needed to treat sickle cell patients – the country’s fastest growing genetic blood disorder. The demand for ethnically matched blood for these patients is on the rise and has already doubled in recent years.

Permanent donor centres in towns and cities generally have greater availability and longer opening hours than mobile sessions that are held in community venues such as church halls.

David Rose, Director of Donor Experience at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We always need new people to join our amazing community of lifesaving blood donors and help meet the needs of patients right now and in the future.

“If you are one of the nearly 19,000 people in the West Midlands who registered last year but are yet to attend an appointment, or you’re thinking about signing up to donate, please make 2023 the year you save lives.

“More slots are now available for first time donors but if you can’t find an immediate appointment, don’t worry. Please book for further in the future as we need lifesavers every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s months or weeks ahead – every donation counts. Giving blood is quick and easy, and you will feel amazing afterwards.”

The call comes as NHS Blood and Transplant launches the second phase of its first ever mass home blood type testing campaign to help identify 5,000 individuals with the critical O negative blood. O negative blood is the universal blood type that can be given to any patient in an emergency or where their blood type isn’t known.

The campaign is part of a trial by the NHS to use home test kits on a large-scale to identify people with a certain blood type and book them on to priority appointments, and is one way in which new donors can fast-track to book their first appointment if they have this blood type. This is part of an ongoing focus by the NHS to collect enough of the right blood types, instead of collecting as much blood as possible.

Over the next six weeks 36,000 home testing kits will be sent to people who have recently registered but have not yet made an appointment. Those found to have O negative blood will be offered priority appointments. If needed, the search will widen out and kits will be posted to up to 100,000 people registered with Give Blood over the coming months, until enough people with O negative blood are identified and booked on to donate: People who register but don’t book an appointment are contacted by phone and email with opportunities to donate in their area to encourage them to make their first donation.

From the 29,000 kits sent out last autumn, 715 people who responded were O negative and two in five has either gone on to complete a donation or has an upcoming appointment to donate.

Last summer NHS Blood and Transplant announced a five-year strategy to recruit one million new donors of all blood types to ensure better matched blood for patients in the future and reduce health inequalities.

Blood is needed to help the NHS treat patients with cancer, blood disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing surgery, and O negative blood is mostly used for emergency care. Each donation can save or improve up to three lives.

• Register now and book an appointment at blood.co.uk on the GiveBloodNHS app or call 0300 123 23 23.
• Birmingham has a permanent blood donor centre at 2nd Floor, 65 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4DU, as well as opportunities to donate at several community venues throughout the year.

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A man from King’s Heath who operated a waste removal firm has been ordered to pay more than £10,000 following a city council investigation after rubbish was found dumped in Bromford.

At around 7pm on 31 March 2021, a community-spirited member of the public spotted a van drive past him towards the dead end of the cul-de-sac at Cameronian Croft.

A short time later the van then drove past him again and left the area. Suspecting it had carried out the illegal dumping of waste, the resident saw a large deposit not there before, mainly timber and household items. Upon closer inspection he found a box with a name and address linking the waste back to Sussex.

Determined to get to the bottom of the attempt to blight his neighbourhood, the resident traced the person whose detail was on the box who advised he had used a company called Gloves Removal and Clearance to remove the waste the previous day.

A check of CCTV footage from the community centre on the same road where the incident occurred revealed the registration plate of the van – at which point the resident then contacted the council’s waste enforcement team.

Enquires then followed and the Sussex man said he had found the waste removal company on the internet when he wanted to clear items from where he had been living – and believed he had engaged the services of a reputable firm, being charged £325 to have the rubbish removed.

Photographs of the waste dumped in Bromford were then sent to the Sussex man, who verified that the waste was what he had given to the firm.

Council investigators then ran a check on the van’s registration plate and traced it to a hire firm in Stechford. The hire firm then produced a copy of an agreement with Gurdit Singh Sharma.

Enquiries into the case also revealed Gloves Removal and Clearance was a firm that appeared to be operated in partnership by Sharma and one of his relatives.

The evidence related to the vehicle hire prompted the investigation team to send a demand for information on who was in charge of the vehicle at the time of the offence.

Sharma gave the name of a man, purportedly living at an address in Alum Rock – but when the investigators went there, the resident said nobody of the name given was living at the address, and nobody had since they took up occupancy there in 1992.

A further letter and written caution was then sent to Sharma in May 2021, but nothing else has been heard from him since.

Sharma, aged 55, of Alcester Road South, was found guilty of two offences Environmental Protection Act 1990 after being tried in his absence at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 24 February 2023.

One offence was knowingly causing the waste to be deposited and the other for failing to supply written information as to how the business at Gloves Removals & Clearance, 334 Alcester Road, Birmingham disposes of its waste.

In sentencing, he was ordered to pay £5,000 for causing the deposit of waste, a further £1,000 for failing to comply with the demand for information notice and £4,143.35 in costs – a grand total of £10,143.35.

Commenting on the case, Cllr Majid Mahmood, Cabinet Member for Environment, at Birmingham City Council, said: “It’s clear from the many prosecutions and fixed penalty notices that we secure how seriously we take the issue of environmental crime.

“It’s not on, people rightly want clean streets in their neighbourhoods, and we will keep up our efforts to catch those with zero regard for our city.

“This case shows how important it is to ensure that you are engaging a reputable firm when disposing of waste – and it also shows how residents in our communities are committed to doing their bit to bring culprits to justice. I want to place on record my appreciation of the effort made by the resident who witnessed this incident and the council officers who investigated the case with diligence.”

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New measures will safeguard passengers and crack down on unfit taxi and private hire vehicle drivers, with tighter checks introduced across Birmingham and Local Authorities across England.

Building on existing legislation, councils in England will now be mandated to use a national database to record instances where taxi and private hire vehicle drivers have their licences removed for misconduct. This new law will prevent them from simply reapplying for a licence in other areas by alerting the system to concerns about their prior behaviour.

This will ensure passengers can use taxis and private hire vehicles with greater confidence that these modes of transport are safe, helping to strengthen communities and restore pride in towns and high streets across the country.

While the vast majority of taxi and private hire trips are safe and efficient, there have been a small number of reports linking a minority of drivers to incidents of sexual harassment, abuse, and poor driving.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “The safety of passengers, especially women and girls, is paramount. That’s why I’m bringing in tough new measures to ensure that when you catch a cab, you can be confident your driver will take you from A to B safely and without incident.

“While the vast majority of drivers are hardworking and honest, we’re taking steps to remove the few who abuse their position and pose a risk to passengers.”

The step will bring into full force the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safety and Road Safety) Act 2022 and is being backed by the family of Sian O’Callaghan, who was tragically murdered by a private hire vehicle driver in Swindon in 2011, aged 22. Her family have since been campaigning for tougher measures to protect passengers.

Sian’s family said: “To see this law being implemented and rolled out today across all local authorities is testament to Sian, it was in her nature to help others and this means so much to us personally.

“Her name is now linked to a drastic improvement in passengers’ safety within taxis and PHVs, whilst also better protecting hard-working, law-abiding drivers themselves.”

The Act, introduced last year, was spearheaded by Darlington MP Peter Gibson and has been supported by Ms O’Callaghan’s family and the personal safety charity, Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

Suky Bhaker, CEO, Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said: “We welcome today’s announcement of tighter checks on drivers as an important milestone in steps to achieve this. It is vital that licensing authorities have access to all relevant information to decide if a driver meets licensing safety requirements.”

The existing database is already used voluntarily by some local authorities, but only 74 per cent of councils in England are using it.

From 27 April, use of the database will be compulsory for every driver licence application and the Department for Transport will monitor its use closely. Councils that fail to do the necessary checks could face legal action.

Hosted by the National Anti-Fraud Network, the system records all instances where taxi and private hire vehicle driver licences have been refused, suspended or revoked on either safeguarding or road safety grounds.

Improving information-sharing between licensing authorities prevents drivers who could do harm from getting a licence elsewhere without being challenged.

The benefits of the database are already clear to licensing authorities using the system. In Luton, the platform revealed an applicant who previously had their licence removed due to safeguarding concerns. Despite the driver failing to disclose this in their application, the system ensured the licensing authority was aware, and the request was rejected as a result.

Elsewhere, the database prevented a driver who had previously assaulted another taxi driver in Southampton from regaining a licence in Winchester.

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