Media Watch - April 30
Top Birmingham City Council Stories
Enterprise zone expansion could mean 36,000 jobs (Birmingham Post) Coverage of various pledges and promises made by the political parties during the election campaign.
130 city families secure cut in council tax (Birmingham Post) New figures show 130 households had their council tax bills reduced last year by asking for a review of their banding. In total, 500 challenges were made over the year.
Parking chaos fears if women’s hospital expansion is allowed (Birmingham Post) Cross-party objections have been raised by local councillors against plans to expand Birmingham Women’s Hospital.
New laws could mean return of city Super Prix (Birmingham Post) A law enabling motor racing to take place in towns and cities on mainland Britain has received Royal Assent. Article suggests this means the Birmingham Super Prix could return.
Bowing out, but not forgotten…(Birmingham Post) Feature profiling six Birmingham councillors with a combined 86 years of service who are not seeking re-election next week.
New Street repairs escalated (Birmingham Post) All 52 escalators at New Street station need repairs. The news has led to a response from Birmingham’s Director of Public Health, Dr Adrian Phillips, who said the reintroduction of stairs could help those who are able to take a healthier option.
Brum neighbourhood ban for violent thugs (Birmingham Mail) Three men connected to a gang linked to kidnappings and stabbings have been banned from the Newtown area of Birmingham until 2017 after being given anti-social behaviour injunctions.
Bike donation fits bill for pupils (Birmingham Mail) Car maintenance firm Kwik Fit has donated 75 bikes to children from some of the most deprived areas of the city after teaming up with the council’s Big Birmingham Bikes team to co-ordinate the charitable donation.
Traders call for compensation as works cause ‘traffic carnage’ (Birmingham Mail) Business in Cotteridge are demanding compensation after roadworks were carried out on a busy Saturday morning. Meanwhile on BBC WM, firms in Acocks Green have expressed concern about works being carried out in their area – the completion of which have been delayed due to circumstances beyond the council’s control (including the discovery of unknown cellars and a fragile gas main).
London councils move people to other parts of the country (Independent) An investigation by the paper claims more than 50,000 families have been moved out of London boroughs in the past three years, including 24 to Birmingham between July and September last year.
Air quality ruling (Extensive national coverage) Environmental campaigners have won a court case in which they have demanded government action against poor air quality in the UK. Article on ITV national news referenced Birmingham’s local plans to tackle the issue.
Regional Headlines
A dead body has been found at a recycling plant in Small Heath as workers sifted through rubbish yesterday. Police are investigating.
A fire at an industrial unit in Oldbury was tackled by 70 firefighters at its height yesterday.
National Headlines
A plane carrying 120 British people caught up in the Nepal earthquake has arrived back in the UK.
Men are narrowing the gap on women when it comes to life expectancy in England and Wales, research in the Lancet indicates. It predicts by 2030 men will be living 85.7 years on average - just two fewer than women. In 1981 men lived, on average, six fewer years.
