Birmingham Post

Green or Greed?

Campaigners have condemned proposals to build properties for 409,000 new households in the West Midlands as "environmental vandalism". The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England claims the Government plans to push through a massive house-building programme, threatening green belt and destroying the countryside.

Hospital Cost Row May Delay Investment

New investment in a West Midlands hospital could be delayed because of a row with builders over a multi-million pound rebuilding scheme. Russells Hall Hospital was officially reopened earlier this year following a pounds 160 million rebuild. But the builders say the work actually cost more to carry out than they were paid.

Blair in Tribute to Troops As Questions Mount Over War

Tony Blair last night paid tribute to four soldiers killed in the Middle East as MPs again called into question Britain's military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. The three UK troops killed in Afghanistan included two from the Household Cavalry Regiment and one from 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery' they died when their patrol vehicle came under attack from insurgents in the Helmand province, the bloodiest day for British forces since deployment in the region.

Waiting Starts for Two Airports As Planning Wrangle Concludes

Two of the Midlands' biggest airports face an anxious wait following the conclusion of a planning inquiry. The seven-month planning wrangle between Birmingham International Airport and Coventry Airport finished at Leamington Town Hall on Monday.

Family Die On Way Home From Holiday

A family returning from holiday to their Staffordshire home were killed in a seven-car crash, police said yesterday. The man, woman and two children were making their way home to the Midlands, having been on holiday in France, when the crash happened near Oxford.

60 Too Fast, Say Drivers

Three in four motorists think the current 60mph speed limit on rural roads is too high, according to a new survey. More than 60 per cent of those polled believe the driving test should be amended to include tuition on how to drive on country routes, the poll showed.

Home Truths About the Need for More Houses ; the Growing Need for Housing Versus the Preservation of the Green Belt Is a Dilemma That Is Intensifying for Local Authorities Across the Midlands, As Political Editor Jonathan Walker Reports

Despite concerns about the green belt, nobody doubts that new homes are needed. Councils across the West Midlands have expressed concern about possible scale of building work they will be allowed to approve. But they are also keen to stop the housing market overheating, and stimulate economic development.

Cadbury Bug Scare Bars Back On Shelves

Some Cadbury's product lines recalled in a salmonella scare will return to shop shelves, the company said yesterday. Five of the seven chocolate ranges will reappear from today - coinciding with Cadbury's 2006 interim results.

Money Men Score Own Goal with Football Fans

The forthcoming football season could be the one when disenchanted fans turn their back on the sport for good, it has been claimed. Journalist and presenter Adrian Goldberg has been gathering evidence of a rising tide of apathy among supporters tired of being priced out of uncompetitive games.

Hollywood Treatment From Goldberg

Hollywood-style glamour isn't the norm in Birmingham but it can be yours for as little as pounds 56. Adrian Goldberg's latest project, Manchester Disunited And Other Football Feuds, is set to premier at the MAC on Friday August 18.

Gangland Shooting Victim's Brother Jailed - and Praised by Judge

The brother of gangland shooting victim Charlene Ellis was jailed yesterday for driving offences - and praised by a judge for trying to escape the gun culture. Nathaniel Ellis claimed to have been driving at high speed in Birmingham to get away from a group of men who were threatening him.

Internet Gambler Spent Pounds 17,000 a Day of His Bosses' Money On Betting Sprees

Internet gambling addict Bryan Ben-jafield was jailed for five years yesterday after stealing more than pounds 1 million from his bosses and blowing the cash on betting sprees. The book-keeper earned pounds 16,000 a year but spent up to pounds 17,000 every day on internet poker games, on-line casinos, races and sports of every kind.

City Still Baffled Why Developers Pulled Out of Pounds 23m Project

Council leaders were last night no nearer discovering why one of Europe's biggest property groups pulled out of a pounds 23 million deal to acquire a two-acre Birmingham city centre redevelopment site. HBG Properties, part of a pounds 5 billion Dutch conglomerate, decided against buying the land off Great Charles Street shortly before contracts with the council were due to be signed. The company apologised for embarrassing the council, but blamed unspecified "conditions contained in the origi...

Charging for Merry Hill Cars?

The days of free parking at the Merry Hill shopping centre may be numbered. West Midlands councils want to make future expansion of the Dudley complex conditional upon charging motorists to use the centre's 10,000 parking spaces.

Conflicting Views About Parking Costs

Shoppers at Birmingham's Bullring have conflicting views about the cost of parking, as Elizabeth Caldicott discovered after talking to motorists using the Moor Street multi-storey. Eve, a civil servant from Acocks Green: "I accept the fact that I have to pay, but believe that the rates should be improved."

Birthday Cards

Birthday cards from the British public sent to the Queen to mark her 80th birthday will go on display this morning. The monarch has received more than 50,000 messages from well- wishers and around 300 will be exhibited at the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

Uk Terror Threat Goes Live On Web

The official level of the terrorist threat to Britain was made public for the first time yesterday. The current state of alert was published first on a new Government website - www.intelligence.gov.uk -explaining the role of the "intelligence community".

Why We Need to Spy On Spooks

There is an urgent need for the activities of security services MI5 and MI6 to be monitored by an independent body, an influential committee of Parliamentarians said yesterday. The Joint Committee on Human Rights made the controversial demand - which is sure to be opposed by the spook community - after MI5 director general Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller refused to answer the committee's questions about counter-terror laws.

Stratford Residents Have a Role to Play On the Waterfront

Plans for the multi-million pound redevelopment of Stratford- upon-Avon's historic river waterfront will be thrown open to the public in a major consultation exercise. Two public meetings are tabled to enable local people and organisations to have their say about an application for funding from the National Lottery.

Too Dear to Become Tory Mp

David Cameron's aim of making the Conservative Party more reflective of society is failing because of the prohibitive cost of becoming a Tory MP, it was claimed yesterday. A survey found the funds needed to be a General Election candidate for the party was as high as pounds 41,550 -effectively barring many public and voluntary sector workers, homemakers and carers.