Birmingham Post

'Gherkin' Architect to Give Station 'Wow' Factor

The architect behind London's 'Gherkin' - the 40-storey St Mary Axe tower which recently won the Stirling Prize - is to transform Birmingham's Digbeth coach station. Ken Shuttleworth, who was born and raised in the city, is also the man responsible for the Millennium Bridge, Mayor Ken Livingstone's City Hall in London and the new Wembley Stadium.

Drug-Taking Cricket Star Is Banned

Warwickshire and England A cricketer Graham Wagg has revealed how 'a moment of stupidity' in taking cocaine led to a 15-month ban from cricket and the termination of his Warwickshire contract. Wagg pleaded guilty last month to the charge of failing a drugs test. He had tested positive in a urine sample taken after Warwickshire's final one-day match of the season against Gloucestershire at Bristol on September 4.

Playing Fields Superstore Plan Approved by Council

A controversial move to build a Tesco superstore on school playing fields in Washwood Heath has been backed by Birmingham City Council. Cabinet members supported a development plan for the Fox and Goose shopping centre, arguing that the economic benefit that would flow from a large retail store outweighed the loss of green space.

Extremists Send Body Claim Letter

The family of a woman whose body was stolen from a graveyard have received hate mail from animal rights extremists claiming to be in possession of her remains. Staffordshire Police confirmed that the letters had been sent to the Hall family, who breed guinea pigs for medical research at Darley Oaks Farm in Newchurch, near Burton-uponTrent, Staffordshire.

Link to Open Again After Pounds 25m Revamp

The pedestrian link between Birmingham's New Street station and the Bullring is to reopen later this month after a pounds 25 million revamp. Bullring Link, which connects the pounds 530 million shopping mall with the Pallasades centre above the station, will house 20 new stores and cafes.

Under-Fire Social Services Improving

Birmingham's muchcriticised social services department is improving but serious concerns remain about a continuing failure to meet statutory performance targets, an official report has concluded. The Commission for Social Care Inspection has drawn up a 38- point list of recommendations identifying areas where the city council must improve over the next year.

Peddimore Factory Plan Abandoned

Attempts to build a huge factory at Peddimore in the Sutton Coldfield green belt have been abandoned after an eight-year search for a developer proved fruitless. Birmingham City Council decided yesterday that it would no longer classify the 50-acre site, which it owns, as suitable for use by a major employer.

Hospital Cleaners Back Action Over Pay

Hundreds of contract cleaners at a hospital trust with one of England's worst rates of MRSA infection have voted to take industrial action over pay. More than 96 per cent of contract cleaners and porters employed at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham said they would either operate on a work-to-rule or walk out if bosses did not make them a 'substantial offer', the public service union Unison said. About 300 union members are unhappy that staff employed in-house to do the same job at Heartlands...

Bishop Condemns Awm Use of Public Money to Boost Gambling

The Bishop for Birmingham has condemned the regional development agency for using public money to cash in on gambling deregulation. The Rt Rev Dr John Sentamu said it was 'highly inappropriate' for Advantage West Midlands to be lobbying US gambling companies to bring more casinos to Birmingham.

Destiny's Deadly Lead Craving ; Doctors Seemed at a Loss As to Why Little Destiny Wheeler Had Abnormal Levels of Lead in Her Blood. Until They Looked Out On the Balcony of Her Northfield Home.

Any mother will be wearily familiar with a toddler's urge to pop any new find straight into its mouth. Soil, twigs, paper, crayon, most inquisitive young children have tried them all - and come off none the worse for it. But for one four-year-old girl her curiosity sparked a deadly craving - a predilection for lead paint.

Discussion On Health in City Living

An international conference on how the built environment affects health is to take place in Birmingham today and tomorrow. Where people live, how they travel to work, their jobs, and even how their friends and families can affect their health and well- being, will all be up for debate at the 6th UK and Ireland Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Conference.

Pensioner Injured in Pavement Hole Plunge

An elderly woman suffered serious injuries yesterday after plunging ten feet down a hole that opened up on a city centre pavement. The woman, who was in her 70s, fell down into the hole after several paving slabs gave way beneath her feet in Birmingham city centre.

Footballer Recovering After Attack On Night Out

A semi-professional footballer was yesterday recovering at his Staffordshire home after he was attacked during a night out. Barry Woolley, a defender with Worcester City, suffered an injury to his jaw when he was assaulted while out with friends over the weekend.

Games Stolen

Playstations and computer games worth millions of pounds were stolen during a robbery in Birmingham. The equipment was being stored overnight in four vans at Duddeston Mill industrial park in Nechells.

Rural Matters: Pesticides Fear May Hit Healthy Diet Campaign

Rising fears over pesticides in foods could jeopardise the Government's five-a-day fruit and vegetable campaign, a health adviser has warned. Dr Ian Brown, chairman of the Pesticides Residue Committee, said consumer fears over chemicals in conventional produce, coupled with the high cost of organic foods, could deter people from eating enough fruit and vegetables.

Rural Matters: Plan Law Chaos May Come After Gipsy Site Ruling

A Worcestershire MP has warned of a plethora of illegal gipsy sites following a decision which, he claims, could lead to a group of travellers being allowed to set up home on open countryside. Peter Luff, Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire, said a Government decision which effectively allowed travellers to remain on an illegal site at Wyre Piddle 'throws the British planning system into complete chaos'.

Rural Matters: Pippa Hallett Examines Shaggy Ink Cap Fungi

Rural Matters: Inquiry Is Launched Into Traveller Racism

An inquiry into the way gipsies and other travellers are treated by town halls and the police has been launched by the Government's race watchdog. The Commission for Racial Equality is investigating whether local authorities respond properly to gipsies' needs.

Rural Matters: Record Numbers Taking Up Hunting

The Government's decision to ban fox hunting has led to a host of new people taking up the pastime, the Countryside Alliance claimed yesterday. The pro-hunting group said a record 5,000 people took part in the pursuit during its recent newcomers week compared with 3,000 last year. Clare Rowson, regional director for the Countryside Alliance, said she received dozens of calls from members of the public following the vote in the House of Commons to outlaw hunting with hounds. She said: 'After t...

Rural Matters: Urban Foxes 'Are Dumped in Country'

A Warwickshire wildlife expert has backed claims that urban foxes are being dumped in the countryside. Robin Smith-Ryland, of Sherbourne Park, Warwick, said he had evidence of dozens of foxes being found in woods across the countryside.