Birmingham Post

Nuclear Option Still On Agenda

The possibility of Britain's first nuclear waste dump being built in the Midlands was back on the political agenda last night after Warwickshire County Council refused to rule out the idea. Councillors said they wanted to keep all options open and voted by 31 to 11 to reject a resolution opposing the disposal in Warwickshire or transportation through the county of nuclear waste.

M6 Crashes Cause Chaos

A five-car pile up caused chaos on the Midland motorway network last night. The accident happened at 6.40pm close to junction 3 on the southbound section of the M6 in Coventry. Two lanes were closed for an hour causing three miles of tailbacks.

Bia Hits Out at Labour Plans for the Region

Birmingham International Airport launched a scathing attack on the Government last night over its plans for the future of the Midland transport network. The airport accused the Department for Transport of ignoring its concerns over the lack of 'joined-up thinking' and snubbing invitations to talk about integrated transport systems.

Mahmood 'Rethink' Over Iraq Remarks

Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood caused uproar in the House of Commons last night when he suggested MPs calling for an inquiry into Iraq were encouraging attacks on civilians. The highly-charged comments were made during a heated debate in which calls for an inquiry were defeated by 298 votes to 273, a Government majority 25.

Accident Verdicts On Tourists in French Crash

Verdicts of accidental death were recorded yesterday on 11 Midland tourists killed in a coach crash in France 16 years ago. The accident happened when their speeding coach careered off a French motorway and crashed.

Airport Fears Over Peugeot's Ryton Site

Peugeot-Citroen was last night accused of being "economical with the truth" about plans for the future use of its 128-acre site near Coventry, where car production will cease next month. Senior members of Warwickshire County Council said they were frustrated at being unable to gain reliable information about the firm's proposals for Ryton, which is one of the largest factory sites in the West Midlands.

News Digest: Gun Raid at Pub

Police are hunting three raiders who threatened pub staff with a handgun while wearing Halloween masks and black gowns early yesterday. Warwickshire Police said the men struck at The Boot Inn in Grendon, near Atherstone, shortly after 1am yesterday.

News Digest: Stabbing Appeal

Staffordshire Police are appealing for witnesses after a stabbing in Hednesford on Monday night. The victim, described as a man in his late teens or early twenties, was taken to Stafford District General Hospital after the attack at 9.20pm in Lomax Road.

News Digest: Cheaper Tunes

The price of downloading hundreds of albums is set to tumble after a music company slashes its wholesale prices. Universal Music is permanently cutting the digital download price of 1,500 back catalogue albums.

News Digest: Boyfriend Jailed

The former boyfriend of Charlotte Church was yesterday sentenced to 12 months in jail for punching a man 13 times in the head and then kicking him as he lay on the floor. Kyle Johnson, who dated the singer and television presenter before she met rugby player Gavin Henson, was told by a judge he was involved in street violence "at its worst".

Jowell Out to Lure Gambling Companies

The organisation set up in Birmingham to regulate gambling could become a model for similar watchdogs around the world, a Government official said yesterday. The work of the newly-formed Gambling Commission was put under the microscope yesterday as Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell attempted to lure foreign online gambling companies to the UK.

Not in Our Back Yard, Say Villagers ; When a Crumbling Wheelwright's Yard in a Rural Warwickshire Village Won a Multi-Million Pound Makeover On a Live Tv Show, There Were Celebrations - but Not Everyone has Been Happy Since, As Emma Pinch Found Out

Away from the cameras two months on, the pounds 1 million windfall won on BBC's Restoration by Chedham's Yard has split the tranquil village of Wellesbourne. Residents claim the project, far from bringing the village together, has - thanks to the lack of information and influx of curious visitors - caused deep divisions.

I Didn't Think We Had Cat in Hell's Chance

Technical consultant Steve Lovatt, aged 39, said most residents had not expected Chedham's Yard to win the TV contest. "I think the assumption by the parish council was that everyone would be delighted," he said.

Why We Want Energy of Future Here ; Former Powergen Executive John Hart, Who Stood Down Yesterday As the West Midlands Business Council Chairman, Says Nuclear Power Could Be Good News for the West Midlands

Nuclear power is the future. That's according to Tony Blair in the Government's Energy Review. Businesses across the West Midlands region know that this conclusion makes sense. In an unstable world - with a global interdependent economy - security of energy supplies is absolutely critical. With carbon free technology, nuclear power can also help with reducing the impact of climate change. The possibility of problems with the continuation of energy supplies, particularly in cold spells, is a w...

Nuclear Industry Bids for National Skills Academy

The nuclear industry is bidding for one of Tony Blair's new national skills academies, the Government announced. The academies are intended to improve standards of training for workers in a variety of British industries.

Iraq War Inquiry Battle Lost

The Government last night saw off an attempt to force an inquiry into the Iraq war. At the end of a highly charged Commons debate, a motion tabled by the Scottish and Welsh nationalists calling for a wide-ranging review of the Government's conduct was defeated by 298 votes to 273 votes - a majority of 25.

Mp Calls for Ford Pledge

Jaguar's parent company Ford was urged to strengthen its commitment to producing cars in the UK by a city MP. Sin Simon (Lab Erdington) also asked MPs to back his bid to ensure all ministerial cars are made in Britain.

Tories Plan to 'Privatise' Roads for Charging

Conservatives are drawing up plans to lease Britain's roads to the private sector as part of a road charging scheme. The proposals are included in an early version of a report commissioned by David Cameron and written by senior Tory John Redwood.

More Speed Cameras and Extra Traffic Police May Be On Way

Motorists can expect more speed cameras and more traffic police if recommendations in a report yesterday from MPs are accepted. The House of Commons Transport Committee also called for more extensive efforts to cut down on those who drink drive and those who use mobile phones without a hands-free device while driving.

Catholics 'Should Open Up Schools'

Catholic schools should be willing to accept children from other faiths, former Education Secretary Estelle Morris said. Lady Morris, the former MP for Yardley in Birmingham, said the Catholic Church should go further than the Government had demanded - and open up a quarter of places at every school it runs to non- Catholics.