Media Watch - July 27
Top Birmingham City Council Stories
Birmingham Library’s weekday opening hours extended (BBC, Radio WM, Birmingham Mail) The opening hours of Birmingham’s £189m library are to be extended from next year, the city council has confirmed.
Birmingham could stage a full 26-mile marathon (Birmingham Mail) The first marathon in Birmingham for a quarter of a century may not be too far away - but only if enough runners sign up for the half marathon. Cllr Ian Ward has said he “can’t rule out” the city holding a 26.2 mile race at some point in the near future, but it will only be considered if 30,000 people do the half marathon.
Google launch new digital training area at Birmingham Library (ITV, Independent) Technology giant Google is launching a venture at the Library of Birmingham as plans gather to build a new future for the £188 million building.
Slide the City scraps plans for ‘biggest party of the summer’ in Birmingham in 2015 (Birmingham Mail) Plans to install a 300-metre water slide in Birmingham to host the ‘biggest water party of the summer’ have been scrapped for this year. Birmingham City Council confirmed that the organisers never made a formal application.
Green flag for our green areas (Birmingham Mail) Fourteen Birmingham parks and two crematoria have retained their prestigious Green Flag status.
Call for seagull cull is dismissed by council (Birmingham Mail) Seagulls have been granted a stay of execution in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Hundreds of pecked-off residents have signed a petition calling on the city council to cull the birds living in the historic area.
Danger warning after life rings are thrown in pool at Sutton Park (Sutton Observer) Sutton Park users are being reminded not to use life rings as ‘toys’ after three were found floating in one of its pools. Birmingham City Council has said that the potentially life-saving equipment is ‘regularly’ thrown into the water and may not have happened recently, stressing that park rangers check the holders each morning to make sure they are stocked.
Regional Headlines
Concern grows for Solihull grandmother who ‘vanished’ in the night
Police have said they are “increasingly concerned” about a grandmother who seemingly vanished overnight.
Walsall man charged over face-stabbing at ex-partner’s flat
A man has been charged over a knife attack on another man he found at the home of his ex-partner.
National Headlines
David Cameron begins trade mission in South East Asia
David Cameron says business deals worth more than £750m ($1.2bn) will be made during his tour of South East Asia.
Tour de France: Chris Froome completes historic British win
Chris Froome became the first Briton to win the Tour de France twice when he safely reached the finish line in Paris at the end of the three-week race.
