Community News

Rural crime cost the Midlands £6.6m in 2015, up from £6m in 2014 – despite remaining broadly static at a national level. The figures form part of NFU Mutual’s annual Rural Crime Report, published today, revealing that the cost of rural crime to the UK economy has now reached £42.5 million a year. According to the leading rural insurer, the items most commonly targeted by thieves across the Midlands over the last 12 months were machinery, tools from farms and businesses and quad bikes (ATVs).

The owner of a raucous rooster has been forced to fork out nearly £600 after the farmyard animal’s constant crowing kept neighbours awake at night for months on end. Magdalane Sylvester, of Effingham Road, Harringay, was forced to pay out £597 after she was convicted in her absence of breaching a noise abatement order. Neighbours had been complaining for 18 months about being kept awake by the bird and, despite many efforts from the council to resolve the problem, Ms Sylvester did not make any attempts to ensure other residents weren’t disturbed.

Martineau Gardens in Edgbaston, Birmingham is one of the very best in the UK – and that’s official.  The therapeutic community garden is among a record-breaking 1,686 parks and green spaces that receive a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space. The award, now celebrating its 20^th year, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country.

Severn Trent customers have been asked to look out for an illegal fitting on their toilets that could lead to their water turning bright blue. Customers should check to see whether their toilets feature an illegal inlet valve that, when combined with a blue toilet block, can result in the blue toilet water being siphoned back to the kitchen tap after a loss of supply. Dan Littlewood, Water Fittings Senior Technician at Severn Trent, said: “Essentially, the incorrectly installed valves are submerged in water in toilet cisterns and won’t cause a problem unless there happens to be a loss of supply.

Two more parks in Haringey (Woodside and Tottenham Green) have been awarded Green Flag status by Keep Britain Tidy. Green Flag status means the parks have the highest standards in the country and are judged to be welcoming, safe and well managed with active community involvement. Haringey now has 22 council -maintained Green Flag parks, an increase of six in three years and the fourth highest in London.

In collaboration with the Black Country Growth Hub, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce held a unique networking experience to mark Black Country Day 2016. On 14^th July at the Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, the free to attend event brought delegates together to celebrate the cultural heritage of the region. Local businesses participated in a range of themed activities, including games and competitions, as well as having the chance to view historic archive images and sample traditional Black Country food.

Summer holiday season is now in full swing with thousands of families leaving the country for their long-awaited break in the sun, but many could be leaving themselves vulnerable to the threat posed by burglars. Allison Thompson, managing director at property specialist Leaders, says it is important to take steps to reduce the likelihood of thieves targeting your home while you are away.

Families will inevitably spend more time outdoors in the summer holidays, but a new survey* by Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has discovered that, whilst more children are afraid of wasps, bees and spiders, over a third (37%) of UK parents think that their children are fearful of dogs. With 33% of 2-14 year olds coming into contact with a dog every single day, this could be problematic for families when they are out and about this summer, especially as 25% of parents say their child’s fear of dogs affects their daily life.

Recent research commissioned to mark the launch of oral health workshops from leading charity Action for Children and its partnership with The Wrigley Company Ltd, has revealed that 21 percent of West Midlands people think that we smile the most in our 20’s. The survey identified that 23 is age that we smile the most in our lives. The research also showed that 4 percent of the region’s residents think that we smile the least from the ages of 11 – 15, when we are at secondary school.

Heath Town estate’s regeneration has taken a step forward with pre-demolition enabling works starting on site – while the process of appointing a developer will begin this summer. City of Wolverhampton Council has developed a Masterplan to transform the estate. It will bring new housing, refurbished homes, and improved leisure space. Work involves demolishing some buildings to make way for new development.

Around 60 children from Welbourne Primary School joined the Deputy leader of Haringey Council, Jamaican High Commissioner, Tottenham MP David Lammy and local poet Abe Gibson to officially re-open the £3million Marcus Garvey Library.

Include Me TOO have organised a roundtable discussion taking place next week at the House of Lords, to be hosted by Baroness Uddin a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Disability and All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism. Lord Chris Holmes MBE, Disability Commissioner and Chair of the Disability Committee at the Equality and Human Rights Commission will also be supporting the event and attending as a Key Speaker.

City partners have hailed the success of the Enjoy Wolverhampton ten-day programme. Thousands of residents and visitors were enticed to the city’s venues and attractions by a host of free and purse-friendly activities and offers between July 1 and 10. Highlights saw Wolverhampton Racecourse double their usual Tuesday afternoon race attendance, Wolves Museum host more than 400 people in a day; and a free tour of Bank’s Brewery book up within hours.

City of Wolverhampton Council has joined forces with a number of key partners to develop the city’s Canalside area. The announcement was made on Tuesday at a Houses of Parliament event showcasing Wolverhampton as a city of opportunity to a room full of high-profile developers and investors, and MPs. The Canalside Delivery Partnership also includes the Canal & River Trust, Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Network Rail, and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The start of works to rebuild Erdington Leisure Centre, one of three existing leisure centres across the city to be replaced by Birmingham Community Leisure Trust (BCLT), working in partnership with Birmingham City Council (BCC) has begun. A fourth centre at a new site at Icknield Port Loop in Edgbaston will also be built and managed by the Trust. Established in 2015, BCLT is tasked to create and maintain a first class range of health, leisure and recreational activities and facilities to serve all parts of the community.

Over thirty thousand people from across the West Midlands went bonkers in bandages today in support of Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s fourth annual summer fundraiser – The Big Bandage. Celebrities such as Connie Talbot, UB40, Wolverhampton Wanderers Captain Danny Batth, the cast of Doctors and Aston Villa star Nathan Baker joined a host of businesses, schools, community groups, patients and staff by putting on a bandage and making a donation.