Birmingham Post

Green Belt Claims Are 'Mischief Making'

Claims by countryside campaigners the West Midlands' green belt is under threat from house building programme have been described as nonsense by one of the region's most powerful political figures. David Smith, who chairs the West Midlands Regional Assembly, said a claim by the Campaign to Protect Rural England up to 40 square miles of the green belt could be threatened was "mischief making".

Where Is the Justice?

Six officers charged over the death of a Birmingham father-of- three in their custody were cleared by a jury yesterday, sparking condemnation from his family and police officials. The family of Michael Powell described the outcome as a "travesty of justice" while representatives of the policemen said the multi- million pound trial should never have been brought to court.

Cadbury Resumes Link with the Street After Salmonella Scare

Cadbury Schweppes is resuming its link with Coronation Street in a pounds 5 million advertising drive this autumn to rebuild confidence in its chocolate brands. The move follows the salmonella scare which caused it to withdraw and destroy more than a million items from shops and wholesalers in Britain and Ireland. The advertising had been suspended after the recall was ordered in June. The Health Protection Agency had discovered traces in Cadbury bars of the same rare strain of salmonella bla...

Attacker Jailed Indefinitely

A sex attacker was jailed indefinitely yesterday after he was caught using DNA from a pair of sunglasses grabbed by his victim. Jailing Duncan Turner at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said he represented a "significant risk" to women of serious harm.

Sunglasses Lead to Conviction After Attack

It was every woman's worst nightmare but Duncan Turner had not reckoned on the guile of his latest victim. After being subjected to a sickening attack as she walked alone through a city centre subway, the 22-year-old refused to be cowed by the threats and violence of her attacker and made off with his sunglasses in hand.

Msp Offers to Strip

The News of the World's case against Tommy Sheridan is based on smoke and mirrors not a smoking gun, the MSP told a jury yesterday. During a passionate and emotional closing speech, the former Scottish Socialist Party leader repeatedly said he would have been an "idiot" to have cheated on his wife, visited a swingers' club and participated in orgies.

Dog Savages Elvis' Teddy

A pounds 40,000 teddy bear formerly owned by Elvis Presley was destroyed when a guard dog which was supposed to protect it went on the rampage. The rare Steiff bear, named Mabel, was due to form the centrepiece of an exhibition at Wookey Hole Caves near Wells, Somerset.

So, Where Would You Fit 576,000 New Homes? ; Chief Reporter Paul Dale Examines the Most Sensitive Planning Conundrum to Hit the West Midlands for Years - Where to Place the 576,000 New Homes That the Government Would Like to See Built in the Region by 2026

It has been a difficult time for the West Midlands Regional Assembly, which in 2004 published its draft Regional Spatial Strategy - setting out a framework for the growth of the West Midlands over a 20-year period. The strategy envisaged 381,000 new homes between 2001 and 2026, as a direct response to Government wishes for a significant expansion of the housing market in order to relieve pressure on the South-East.

Urban Renaissance

The movement of people and jobs away from West Midlands' cities is an unsustainable trend and a key challenge. Only Birmingham, Solihull and Dudley of the seven metropolitan authorities did not experience a net loss of population between 1991 and 2001.

Rural Renaissance

The West Midlands is instinctively thought of as industrial and urban. The reverse is the case, with 80 per cent of the land countryside.

Regional Spatial Strategy Objectives

To make the major urban areas of the West Midlands increasingly attractive places where people want to live, work and invest To secure the regeneration of the region's rural areas

Birmingham the World City

The spatial strategy recognises Birmingham has a special role and should continue to be developed as a major regional capital of European and world standing. This will be achieved by the expansion of the city centre as a focus for international financial and business services and by developing Birmingham as a centre for business tourism and cultural and sporting events.

Tourism and Culture

Encouragement of tourism and culture is seen as a key element in the diversification of the regional economy away from its historic reliance on manufacturing. Councils are told their development plans should encourage the improvement of existing provision and creation of new facilities, subject to the capacity of the infrastructure and environment to accommodate tourists.

Defra Cuts Could Halt Flood Defence Work

West Midlands flood defences may be delayed after the Environment Agency was ordered to make major spending cuts. It follows the Government's failure to pay farm subsidies on time, leaving it a pounds 190 million bill.

Ancient Wood Road Found

Experts have been called in to investigate what is believed to be the remains of an ancient wooden road. A trio of Birmingham University archaeologists were contacted after contractors working in Suffolk unearthed a number of vertical timbers thought to have once supported an ancient causeway.

Report Endorses 'Bribes' for Developers

Councils such as Birmingham which demand money from developers in return for granting planning permission have been backed by an independent watchdog. Birmingham City Council has been accused of accepting "bribes" after it emerged pounds 21 million had been paid since 1990 by firms such as Bryant Homes.

Customs Smugglers Jailed

Two Customs officers have been jailed for helping to smuggle millions of pounds of cigarettes and alcohol into Britain. Kent Customs officers Paul Weaver (35) and Steven Phillips (34) were pivotal to the international smuggling ring which cheated customs of more than pounds 2 million in duty, London's Southwark Crown Court was told.

Sexual Health Cash Diverted

Millions of pounds earmarked for sexual health services are not reaching the frontline, a Government advisory group warned yesterday. A substantial proportion of the pounds 300 million for sexual health is being diverted to pay off debts, the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV said.

Muslim Fun Day Falls Through

A Muslim fun day at Alton Towers has been cancelled because of poor ticket sales. Organisers had hoped to attract 20,000 Muslims to the Staffordshire theme park to enjoy the rides next month.

Shut Female Jails to Stop Re-Offenders - Reformers

A pressure group has called for a programme of women's prison closures to begin to help reduce re-offending. It follows the closure of Brockhill women's prison in Worcestershire, which is to be converted into a male facility.