Media Watch - August 10
Top Birmingham City Council Stories
Birmingham teens snub smoking (Free Radio) Birmingham 15-year-olds are far less likely to be smokers than their counterparts elsewhere in the country, according to major new report. Director of Public Health, Dr Adrian Phillips, interviewed.
Library books its spot in top 20 of free attractions (Birmingham Mail) The Library of Birmingham has been named the eight most visited free attraction in the country in 2014 according to a new report from Visit England.
Trojan Horse schools’ Trust chairman is stepping down (Birmingham Mail) Waheed Saleem is stepping down from the CORE Education Trust, which runs schools including Park View Academy, Nansen Primary School and Golden Hillock School.
Bid for Mosque at historic pub is given the go-ahead (Birmingham Mail) The derelict Endwood pub in Handsworth, empty for more than two years, is to be restored as a Mosque and Islamic education centre and permission was granted by councillors. The nearby Masjid Quba will relocate to the former pub following the decision.
Bulldoze failing school, says chief (Birmingham Mail) Education commissioner Sir Mike Tomlinson says he believes a new building should be built on the site of the existing Al Hijrah school after difficulty in finding a new location for the school.
Abandoned pup Patch lands on feet at new home (Birmingham Mail) An abandoned dog rescued by city council animal welfare officers has been handed over to a new family. Vikki Allwood, senior animal welfare officer for the council is quoted.
We got away lightly, says markets boss (Birmingham Mail) Peter Marshall, a trader at the Wholesale Markets, says last week’s blaze could have been much worse for those operating at the site.
Travellers moved on…4 miles away (Sunday Mercury) Travellers who had set up camp at Perry Park last week have moved into Sandwell.
Two teens left stranded after jumping into pool (Sutton Observer) A warning on safety has been issued after two teenagers had to be rescued following an incident at Sutton Park. Council spokesperson quoted.
Widow’s dismay as her recycling is left uncollected for a month (Sutton Observer) coverage of a Sutton Coldfield resident who had two missed collections. A council spokesperson quoted, issuing an apology on behalf of the council.
Abandoned dogs continue to put a strain on kennels (Sutton Observer and Great Barr Observer) Further coverage of the news that 25 stray dogs are having to be dealt with by the council weekly. Senior animal welfare officer Vikki Allwood quoted.
Calls for investigation after travellers move onto park (Great Barr Observer) Coverage of the arrival of travellers onto Perry Park last week. Council spokesperson quoted as saying the local authority was working with the police to resolve the situation.
Volunteer as city ambassadors (Great Barr Observer, Sutton Observer and BBC WM) The council has made an appeal for volunteers to come forward to help support “Super September” events in the city including Rugby World Cup matches, the opening of Grand Central and the Birmingham Weekender. Deputy Leader Cllr Ian Ward quoted and Steve Hollingworth, assistant director of sports and events interviewed.
Employees face job cuts at Birmingham firm (Sutton Observer) Capita Document and Information Services is set to relocate from Erdington to Mansfield, with 35 employees of the firm, which provides some services to the city council, facing redeployment or redundancy.
Regional Headlines
Over the last three years, 29 people have been given police cautions in the West Midlands for possessing indecent images of children, it has emerged.
Work on the city’s new £46million Birmingham Conservatoire has begun.
Nearly £13m has been paid out by West Midlands councils on personal injury claims over the last six years – with half on claims related to slips, trips and falls.
National Headlines
Businesses that employ illegal workers will be hit with “the full force of government machinery”, immigration minister James Brokenshire has warned. Announcing a “new approach” to “rogue employers” who give work to illegal migrants, he said they were denying UK citizens jobs and driving down wages.
Shots have been fired in Ferguson, Missouri, at a protest to mark the first anniversary of the killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.
