Media Watch – October 7
Top Birmingham City Council stories
The towpath muggers (BBC WM, Birmingham Mail, p1 & p 4 lead): Report on spate of attacks on cyclists using the canal towpaths near the Ackers Basin. Refers to the £60m Birmingham Cycle Revolution project to improve canal towpaths. Cllr Lisa Trickett quoted.
Councillor quits cabinet in Bore leadership row (Extensive local coverage including Birmingham Post website, BBC WM and Birmingham Mail, p9 lead): Coverage of Cllr James McKay’s resignation from his Cabinet post, which includes quotes from his resignation letter. Leader and Cllr McKay quoted.
Trading standards help fight off fraud (Express and Star, p24): Article reporting on Trading Standards officers working with banks and building societies to help identify potential victims of fraud, who may be withdrawing unusually large sums of money. Cllr Barbara Dring quoted.
Hajj pilgrims returning from Mecca warned about deadly infection (Mirror web): Pilgrims returning from the annual pilgrimage to Mecca have been warned about a new, potentially deadly infection. Birmingham Director of Public Health, Dr Adrian Phillips, quoted.
Regional headlines
Tyre manufacturer Goodyear confirmed it will close its only UK plant, in Wolverhampton, and all 330 employees are expected to lose their jobs. Production is anticipated to end no earlier than January 2017.
Twenty people were evacuated from their homes in Oldbury Lane, Rowley Regis, after a suspected explosion at a neighbouring flat at about 10pm last night.
Resorts World complex near the NEC announces it will open its doors in a ‘phased opening’ which will begin on 21 October.
National headlines
Volkswagen will start recalling vehicles affected by the emissions scandal in the New Year, when cars computer software will be updated to correct the problem.
Authorities working with the FBI have foiled four plots in the last five years, involving groups with Russian connections, to sell highly-radioactive materials to Islamic State militants.
