Birmingham Post

Darling Told: Get Midlands Moving

Business leaders from the West Midlands today issued a warning to the Government to stop stalling over its motorway proposals. Birmingham's Chamber of Commerce fears plans to build the M6 Expressway, a toll road to run from Staffordshire to Cheshire alongside the existing M6, will be used as a 'red herring' to deflect attention away from other transport issues in the region.

Company to Study Plan for City Tube

The engineering company responsible for delivering the Jubilee tube extension in London is to be appointed to investigate the feasibility of a Birmingham underground railway. Jacobs Consultants will carry out a pounds 150,000 study for Birmingham City Council and Centro, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive.

Blue Note: Failure to Train New Musicians

Singer Princess Kelly and saxophonist Peter Lewis were on hand last night to help launch a report that claims not enough is being done to train tomorrow's generation of musicians in the region. The review of music tuition by Birmingham Conservatoire principal George Caird warned more resources, greater collaboration between training providers and better opportunities were needed if the region's music sector is to thrive. Launched last night at Birmingham's Symphony Hall by the Learning and Sk...

Brum Bids for Place at Top Table

The campaign to promote Birmingham on the world stage as a place to do business will move up a gear tomorrow, with an assault on New York. City council leader Mike Whitby will fly to the United States tonight to attend the autumn conference of the Urban Land Institute, where he will share a stage with Bill Clinton former Mayor of New York Rudolph Giuliani.

Labour Determined to Provide Reliable System ; On the Day He Visits Birmingham to Take Part in the Birmingham Post's Third Get Moving Transport Forum, Transport Secretary Alistair Darling Outlines What the Government Is Doing to Help Keep the Region Moving

The regeneration of Birmingham over the past two years has been an inspiration - not just to the people who live here, but to the rest of the country as well. The city can be rightly proud of its achievements. And it is right that people in Birmingham and the West Midlands want a transport system to meet their needs.

Collymore Race Jibe Denied

Bath Rugby Club last night denied that its South African player Robbie Fleck racially abused former Aston Villa footballer Stan Collymore during an alleged brawl in Dublin city centre. Former England star Collymore, aged 33, told officers that Fleck racially abused him and that he was assaulted by up to six players from Bath Rugby Club.

Fluff Cycle: Kitten Survives Spin in Family Washing Machine

Curiosity nearly killed this cat after he climbed into a washing machine that was then switched on. Eight-week-old Milo disappeared at Ginny Troth's house in Astwood Bank, Redditch, Worcestershire, and bedded down in the laundry for a catnap.

Drug Runner Gets Death Sentence From Thai Judge

A British man has been sentenced to death and another jailed for more than 30 years for drug possession in Thailand. Anthony Flanaghan (34) from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, will face execution if he fails to win an appeal against his conviction. But the UK Government yesterday said it would intervene on his behalf should all legal options be exhausted.

Shift in Care Plans Wins Support of All City Councillors

A fundamental shift in the provision of social services in Birmingham, with an emphasis on helping frail older people to live in their own homes rather than moving into residential care, has won all-party backing. Conservative, Liberal, Democrat and Labour councillors said the new approach would allow the city's fast-growing elderly population to retain independence and dignity.

Pounds 10-a-Day Hospital Car Charge 'Unneighbourly'

A Birmingham hospital which is to increase its daily parking rates from pounds 3.50 to up to pounds 10 a day has been accused of being a 'bad neighbour' by a local councillor. Coun Deirdre Alden fears the price increases at University Hospital Birmingham will encourage more people to park on streets in Harborne, Selly Oak and Edgbaston.

Cleaners Call Off Strike

Contract cleaners at a hospital with one of England's worst rates of MRSA infection have suspended a one-day strike planned for this week. More than 350 workers at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham voted to take industrial action after rejecting an earlier offer by Initial Hospital Services. The workers want the same rates as their counterparts at Heartlands' sister hospital in Solihull who are employed by Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS Trust.

'Trust Birmingham's Entrepreneurial Spirit'

The Government and the EU have been urged to place more faith in major UK cities like Birmingham to generate jobs and wealth through partnerships with the private sector and voluntary organisations. Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council, said London and Brussels should put more trust in the ability of cities to deliver regeneration and promote economic growth.

Rural Matters: Civil War Looms As Blood Boils in Hunt Community

The countryside is heading for civil war over the Government's decision to ban hunting, the shadow Rural Affairs Minister has warned. Owen Paterson, MP for North Shropshire, said anger in rural communities was reaching boiling point as people became increasingly frustrated by a lack of Government understanding about the countryside.

Rural Matters: Hound Blessing Marks Feast Day for Patron Saint

Hundreds of pro-hunt supporters attended a special service this weekend to have their hounds blessed. Up to 400 people went to the event in Pershore, Worcestershire, as part of the campaign opposing the Government's Bill on banning hunting with hounds. The service, organised by Penny Plath, a member of the Free Church of Country Sports, took place to mark the feast day of St Hubert, the patron saint of hunting.

Rural Matters: Prescott Urged to Safeguard Landscape

Plans to build nearly 500,000 new homes should be thrown out to save green fields, wildlife and precious natural resources, rural campaigners urged yesterday. The row centres on Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's proposals for new homes in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Essex.

Rural Matters: Survey Call As Water Voles Hit by Grazing

A wildlife organisation, backed by the Government, is asking members of the public and landowners to help conduct a vital survey into the rapidlydeclining water vole population. Herefordshire Nature Trust, based in the UK's most rural county, was once an area teeming with water voles but the species is rapidly dying out.

Rural Matters: Boxing Clever to Cut Packaging Pile

A bid to reduce overflowing dustbins and the growing mountain of household waste has received an pounds 8 million boost from the Government. The money will be used to encourage designs for less wasteful packaging.

Rural Matters: Time-Poor Farmers Fail to Think Ahead

Most farmers are not changing their businesses fast enough to tackle low profits and changes in the Common Agricultural Policy, the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) has said. Mike Calvert, chief executive of RASE, based at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, said: 'Farmers have so much pressure on their time nowadays that they don't get the chance to work out how they are shaping up. 'Also they used to be prodded into action by a free farm advisory service and by their local agricultur...

Rural Matters: Shoot Land in Sights

An estate agent is looking for land to establish a network of clay pigeon shooting centres across the UK. FPDSavills is on the hunt for more than 20 shooting grounds with the aim of transforming them into centres with golf course-style facilities.

Rural Matters: Payment Scheme Shake-Up Sows Seeds of Confusion

More than half of farmers in the West Midlands are concerned or confused about key aspects of Common Agricultural Policy reform, the National Farmers' Union has warned. The organisation is calling for urgent clarification on certain aspects of the plans, which will see some of the biggest changes in agriculture's history.