Media Watch - May 8
Top Birmingham City Council Stories
General election results are in for the city (Extensive coverage) Just one of Birmingham’s ten Parliamentary seats changed hands – Yardley – as Labour candidate Cllr Jess Phillips defeated John Hemming of the Liberal Democrats. Full details of the local election results will be published by the council from 2pm today on www.Birminghamnewsroom.com
Britain’s most tattooed man poll axed (Birmingham Mail) A Stechford resident has complained after not being allowed to vote yesterday. A council spokesperson quoted as saying the citizen simply did not register to vote or respond to reminders that were issued to him.
Language centre’s historic base ‘not viable’ – council (Birmingham Mail) Further coverage of the recent news that the location of services currently provided from the Brasshouse Language Centre in Sheepcote Street is under review. A council spokesperson quoted as saying the services are key and a range of options for delivery are being looked at.
Axeman strikes again on trees at second city park (Birmingham Mail) Trees have been targeted by vandals at Farm Park in Sparkbrook, just days after four frees were attacked at Cannon Hill Park. Police are investigating.
Mosque and Mecca Bingo car park plan thrown out (Birmingham Mail) Plans to turn a terraced house on Alexander Road in Acocks Green into a mosque and Muslim school have been rejected by the council’s planning committee because it is not big enough for 140 worshippers.
Alfie-Joe can’t get into 2 schools just 500m from home (Birmingham Mail) A family have complained after their son failed to get any of their three preferred primary schools. The boy’s father says he will now send his son to a school with the Perry Beeches chain run by his uncle Liam Nolan. A council statement points out that the family’s first two preferences were to schools that set their own admissions criteria, rather than the local authority. The statement also points out there are other schools closer than Perry Beeches V that they would have been likely to get, if they had applied for them, including an Academy with a “good” Ofsted rating.
Search launched to find the safest venues in Brum (Birmingham Mail) This year’s Best Bar None Awards are due to be officially launched next week.
Regional Headlines
West Midlands Police’s chief constable says that two far-right demonstrations are planned in Dudley in the coming weeks, the first from Britain First, with the second from a group calling itself Football Firms/Fans March Against Islam.
National Headlines
The SNP wins 56 of Scotland’s 59 UK Parliamentary seats at the General Election – with many commentators now predicting the Conservatives will be returned with an outright majority by the time all results are declared later today.
