Birmingham Post

How Many New Homes Does the Midlands Need?

Dogged opposition to the biggest house building programme since the 1950s is putting West Midlands local authorities on a collision course with the Government. Ministers have made it clear that the region's councils must plan for a minimum 471,000 new dwellings by 2026.

Commuters Face Still More Disruption On Metro

Metro commuters today faced continued disruption after vandals brought down overhead power cables on the line connecting the Black Country to Birmingham centre. The damage is believed to have been caused by a group of youths hurling a heavy object on to a passing tram off the All Saints Street Bridge near Winson Green station.

Now All Bets Are Off Over Solihull's in-Limbo Casino Plans

Solihull's casino plans are under further threat after the Government insisted they could not go ahead until the issue of a "supercasino" is settled. It means plans will remain in limbo until a battle between Manchester and Blackpool has been resolved. The two northern cities are competing to build Britain's first regional casino, with up to 1,250 unlimited-jackpot fruit machines.

Rival Chambers in M6 Lobbying

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry has joined forces with business leaders in the north-west to urge the Government to press ahead with its pounds 2.9 billion plans to widen the M6. Proposals are on the drawing board to put four lanes in each direction between the M6 Toll at junction 11 a to junction 19 at Knutsford. If it goes ahead it could reduce congestion significantly in both regions.

Joke Backfires for Two Teenagers ; Courts

Two Worcestershire teenagers have been given fixed penalty notices after posting a friend's details on a dating website as a practical joke. West Mercia Police said the youths, aged 17 and 18, had been given the fixed penalty notices after contravening the 2003 Communications Act by placing a friend's details on the site.

Children Diagnosed with Hepatitis a ; Health

Fourchildrenfroma Midland nursery have been diagnosed with Hepatitis A, the Health Protection Agency confirmed yesterday. Parents of youngsters who attend Moor House Nursery in Coventry are being urged to get their children vaccinated against the rare but mild infection.

Ambulance Trusts Merger Goes Ahead After Two Years

A controversial merger between two Midland ambulance trusts was agreed yesterday, after two years of "turbulence". Staffordshire Ambulance Service's board members voted to support a proposal to amalgamate with West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) on October 1.

Recognising a Whittle Bit of Jet Engineering Genius

He was the West Midlands genius who shrank the world and brought about the biggest migration in human history. Thanks to Frank Whittle's jet engine more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys are made every year.

Coroner May Be Told to Hold Inquests Into 18 City Care Home Deaths

Birmingham coroner Aidan Cotter could be ordered to hold inquests into 28 deaths which occurred at a city nursing home. The coroner's decision not to hold inquests into the deaths at Maypole Nursing Home, in King's Heath, could be overturned by High Court judges at a landmark legal case in October. Mr Cotter had refused to hold inquests into the deaths because there was nothing to suggest any were caused "deliberately or unlawfully".

Midland Bug Hospitals Named and Shamed ; Politics

A trio of Midland hospitals have been "named and shamed" in a report into the threat posed to patients by superbug Clostridium Difficile. According to the report by Tory MP Grant Shapps, more than 25,000 of all cases - nearly one in six - went unreported last year as the Government only logged cases in patients over 65.

New Confusion Over Tory Education Policy Twists ; Politics

Conservative education policy was thrown into confusion as shadow Education Secretary David Willetts said the party would support more grammar schools in authorities such as Birmingham. Mr Willetts denied the comments contradicted earlier statements, which seemed to rule out extending selective education.

Cardinal Attacks Dunblane Massacre of Abortion ; Politics

The leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics yesterday said the abortion rate north of the border was equivalent to "two Dunblane massacres a day" as he stepped up his attack on pro-choice politicians. Cardinal Keith O'Brien spoke out after issuing a stark warning to Catholic parliamentarians in a sermon yesterday of "the barrier such co-operation (on abortion) erects to receiving Holy Communion".

John Walker ; Politics

Tony Blair is one of the great persuaders of politics. He knows how to put together an argument that sounds fair, sensible and well- intentioned. But in an essay published yesterday, Mr Blair strikes a note of bitter disappointment. He seems to believe that on the most important issues facing this country today, he has failed to convince us at all.

Anger Over Beckett 'Snub' to Parliament ; Politics

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett was yesterday accused of undermining Parliament for not appearing before MPs to explain the Government's Europe policy. The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Mike Gapes, said it was "not acceptable" that Mrs Beckett had not given evidence to his committee ahead of next month's EU summit.

Broad Street Troubled Image 'Is Out of Date'

The new image of Birmingham's Broad Street as one of the safest night spots in the West Midlands has been tarnished by an out-dated police perception of violence and anti-social behaviour, it is claimed. Allan Sartori, a director of the Broad Street Business Improvement District (BID), said that he was staggered at a police description of the entertainment quarter's 33 bars and clubs as a hot spot for trouble.

Premiership Bid to Boost Struggling Nurses' Pay

As a campaign asking Premiership players to donate a day's wages to raise pounds 1 million for struggling nurses nears its target, it has emerged the average salary of England's top footballers has soared to pounds 1.1 million. While an average player in the Premiership will earn around pounds 21,000-a-week next season, nurses are expected to scrape by on the same amount in a year.

Amazing Dress

Move to Block Sir Beckham Reports Kicked Out

Reports that Whitehall officials may be seeking to block a knighthood for football star David Beckham were dismissed by the Cabinet Office yesterday. A spokeswoman said there had been no discussions of that kind, and civil servants were anyway not in a position to stop nominations in their tracks.

More Heart Figures for Parents

Parents can now look up the survival rates for specialist heart hospitals that treat children. Information relating to units treating congenital heart disease has been put online by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

Scientists Discover Stem Cells Could Be Used to Fight Old Age

Body-building stem cells discovered in muscle could in future be used to treat wasting diseases and fight the infirmity of old age, it was claimed yesterday. The cells were found among the "satellite cells" which help to create a weightlifter's bulging biceps.