Media Watch - March 8
Top Birmingham City Council Stories
Design success as MIPIM spins off city investment (Birmingham Post) Birmingham has been given a white collar employment boost from the MIPIM real estate conference after the world’s largest architectural firm revealed plans to open an office in the city.
‘Tombstone’ tower block scaled back in redesign (Birmingham Mail) Plans for a 30-storey tower block over Birmingham’s disused Central Fire Station have been scaled down by seven storeys as part of a move to get backing for the scheme.
Community libraries to shut for one day a week (Birmingham Post) Council leaders are shutting 23 community libraries down for one day a week from April under plans to save £2.3 million from council budgets. Unlike many cities, no community libraries will be closed in Birmingham.
Working class white boys trail in drive to improve education (Birmingham Post, Birmingham Mail) Disadvantaged white working class boys in Birmingham are being left behind in exam results at a time when all other ethnic groups are making great progress.
New community centre opens on tornado site (Birmingham Post, Birmingham Mail) A £12 million health and community centre has opened on the site of a Birmingham church struck by the tornado which swept through the city seven years ago.
New police panel under-represents city, claims MP (Birmingham Post) Birmingham is under-represented on a new region-wide police and crime panel being set up, it has been claimed (by Gisela Stuart)
Birmingham Science Park Aston announces shortlist for £35m digital plaza (Construction Now) Birmingham Science Park Aston, which is wholly owned by Birmingham City Council, has shortlisted three potential joint venture partners to undertake development of the proposed £35 million Digital Plaza.
Wartime depot saved (Birmingham Post) A former Second World War US Army postal depot has survived a planning battle.
Teachers start three-day strike (BBC, Birmingham Post, Birmingham Mail, Daily Mail) Teachers at a West Midlands school stage the first of three days of strike action with many students asked to stay at home for the day.
Regional Headlines
Tributes to driver killed on M42
The family of an 84-year-old West Yorkshire man who died after a crash on the M42 in the West Midlands speak of their devastation.
Water firm joins UK disaster team
A water storage firm from Worcestershire and Birmingham-based Islamic Relief UK will be part of a rapid response team dealing with humanitarian disasters around the world.
National Headlines
Plans to reduce railway costs due
The government is set to outline how it plans to save billions of pounds from the railway budget, after a report recommended they be cut by a third.
Dead UK soldiers set to be named
Six British soldiers killed in southern Afghanistan by a Taliban bomb are set to be named by the Ministry of Defence later.
‘Benefits’ of Alzheimer’s drugs
A trial suggests that thousands of patients with Alzheimer’s disease could benefit from staying on drug treatment - even as their condition worsens.
