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Birmingham: News Headlines December 2009

News Stories December 2009

31.12.09 Should Moseley Road Baths Be Restored? The cost of fully restoring the grade II listed Edwardian baths on Moseley Road in Balsall Heath is around £30 million. Only one of the two pools is currently in use; the larger pool has been closed since 2003. The construction of a new sports centre might be a better use of resources than the renovation of these antiquated, but architecturally splendid, swimming baths.

31.12.09 President Ablaze at Sparkhill: Fire crews extinguished a blaze at The President, a Balti restaurant on the Stratford Road in Sparkhill, at around 7am this morning. The President, formerly a pub called the Mermaid, was built in the 1880's and used to have a pair of landmark towers that were bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1940.

30.12.09 Number 21 Bus Route Changed: The number 21 bus route that connects Bangham Pit and Bartley Green to the city centre will now pass through Harborne.

30.12.09 Outrage at Plans for Gutted Erdington Church: The Conservation and Heritage Panel has criticised plans for the rebuild of Saint Barnabas' church in Erdington which was gutted by fire in 2007. The main body of the church was designed by Thomas Rickman in the neo-Gothic style in 1822; the chancel and transepts were added by J.A.Chatwin in 1883. The planned rebuild would involve the addition of a large glazed foyer with a steel roof.

29.12.09 Lasan in F Word Semi-Finals: The Lasan Indian restaurant in the Jewellery Quarter has reached the semi-finals of the F Word television show presented by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey. The restaurant has already won the F Word's top UK Indian Diner award.

29.12.09 Harborne Restaurateur Complains of Street Works: The owner of Turners, a Michelin-star restaurant on Harborne High Street, has complained about tree-planting works, including a hoarding and barriers, which may have deterred customers.

29.12.09 Police Hunt Newtown Murderer: Police continue to hunt for the murderer of a 27-year-old man who was shot dead in Newtown on 16 March 2008. They have recently arrested a 40-year-old man from Kingshurst for theft-related vehicle offences apparently detected during the investigation.

28.12.09 Higbury Hall Faces £4 Million Repair Bill: Highbury Hall in the Moor Green area of Moseley requires investment of around £4million in order to repair its roof and electrics. The hall, once the home of Joseph Chamberlain, is now owned by the Highbury Hall Trust and managed by a sole trustee: Birmingham City Council. The council leases the hall to itself and profits from events held there. Critics believe this arrangement may represent a conflict of interests detrimental to the long-term maintenance of the hall and have called for additional trustees, including members of the Chamberlain family, to be appointed.

28.12.09 Sex Attacker Pushed in Witton Canal: An unidentified man, aged around 20, dragged a 15-year-old girl to a canal towpath off Brookvale Road in Witton where he sexually assaulted her. The girl escaped by biting the man on his right arm and pushing him into the canal. The assault occurred at around 5pm on 9 December.

28.12.09 Injured Man Found in Paradise Circus on Christmas Day Morning: A 24-year-old man was found with serious head injuries on Paradise Circus in the city centre at around 5am on Christmas Day. He may have been the victim of a hit-and-run driver.

27.12.09 Children Cut from Edgbaston Car Smash: A 40-year-old man and his two children were cut from their car after an accident involving two other vehicles at the junction of Priory Road and Bristol Road in Edgbaston. The incident occurred at around 11am on Boxing Day. All three were taken to Selly Oak Hospital.

26.12.09 North Birmingham Academy to open in January: College High School in Erdington will re-open as the North Birmingham Academy on 6 January 2010. It will be the third academy sponsored by Endutrust in Birmingham: the others are Heartlands High in Nechells and Shenley Court Arts College in Selly Oak. The academy will move to new purpose-built premises in 2012.

26.12.09 River Tame Fish Stocks Topped-Up: New fish stocks have been added to the River Tame. They will replace previous stocks affected by pollution. The new fish will include over 10,000 farm-bred barbel, dace, chubb and roach.

26.12.09 Ward End Joyrider Jailed: A 23-year-old motorist from Winnington Road in Ward End has been sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court to nine months imprisonment for dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and taking without consent. The defendant, who had taken his uncle's car without permission, attempted to outrun police when they tried to pull him over for having no insurance. He collided with a parked vehicle during the pursuit.

26.12.09 Police Raid Drugs Dealers in Kitts Green: So far this month, the police have seized £20,000 in cash, and cannabis & heroin with a street value of around £100,000, during raids on homes in Glebe Farm, Lea Village and Kitts Green. One of the raided homes, in Cole Hall Lane, was being used as a cannabis farm. Thirteen suspects have been arrested.

25.12.09 Serial Attacker Strikes Again in Lozells: An unidentified black man, aged between 18 and 30, has been randomly attacking other lone men in Lozells. Six were assaulted between June and December and a seventh victim, a 40-year-old man, was stabbed twice on Leonard Road at around 7pm on Wednesday 23 December. The police have a CCTV image of the offender but his face is covered.

24.12.09 Is Football Hooliganism in Terminal Decline?: Only 69 blues fans and 77 Villa fans were arrested at home and away games in all competitions last season. The average is now barely one arrest per game. Most were arrested for alcohol or public disorder offences. Only one Villa fan and ten Blues fans were arrested for violent disorder.

24.12.09 Plans Approved for Bigger Perry Barr Car Auctions: British Car Auctions has been granted permission to convert the old P&O Container Depot in Perry Barr, which closed in 2007, into auction rooms, viewing areas, maintenance bays, an office, cafe and storage for 2,500 vehicles. The project, which could create 260 new jobs, will considerably expand the far smaller car auction business that currently occupies part of the site.

24.12.09 Bournville Corpse in Rowheath Pond: The corpse of a man in his sixties was found floating in a pond at Rowheath Park in Bournville at around 8.00 am on Tuesday 22 December.

24.12.09 Serial Attacker Stalks Lozells: An unidentified male, aged between 18 and 30, has been randomly attacking other lone men in Lozells. There have been six such assaults between June and December. It seems that the man, who brandishes a knife, does not rob his victims or target them on the basis of race or sexuality. So far, nobody has been seriously injured.

23.12.09 Annual Frankfurt Market Enjoys Record Year: The annual Frankfurt Market, which is held in December in New Street and Victoria Square, was visited by almost three million shoppers this year. The market, which contained 180 stalls, has been held for nine consecutive years.

23.12.09 Raging Bull Shot in Balsall Heath: A bull who escaped from an abattoir and charged down Haden Street in Balsall Heath was shot dead by police marksmen at around 7.15 yesterday morning.

23.12.09 City Centre Beggar Jailed: A 26-year-old man from St Vincent's Street in Ladywood has been jailed for 27 months for fraud and robbery offences. The man, a former soldier, approached pedestrians in the city centre and asked for money, telling lies about his personal circumstances. On one occasion, he claimed to be a serving soldier who'd been mugged and needed cash to rejoin his regiment. On another occasion, he threatened to stab a passer-by in the face.

22.12.09 Borders Bookshop Closes: Borders Bookshop in the Bullring will close today. The Borders chain of 45 book stores entered administration in November.

22.12.09 Bullring Footfall Reaches 1.1 Million Weekly: The Bullring has reported a pre-Christmas weekly footfall of 1.1 million which is slightly better than last year. Sales have increased by 4%.

21.12.09  What is the Future for Municipal Golf Courses? The seven municipal golf courses in Birmingham annually lose a total of around £600,000. The council has decided to close the Hilltop Course in Handsworth, which made a loss of around £239,000 last year, and is considering the possibility of a public-private partnership in respect of Boldmere, Harborne, Cocksmoor Woods, Hatchford Brook, Lickey Hills and Pype Hayes. This could involve the sale of catering, hospitality and clubhouse concessions to private companies.

21.12.09 Ryanair to Fly from Birmingham to Ibiza: Ryanair has announced that it will fly thrice weekly between Birmingham and Ibiza from March 2010.

21.12.09 Flat Blaze in Vauxhall: The kitchen of a ground floor flat on Victoria Place in Vauxhall caught fire yesterday afternoon at around 5.30pm. The occupants were treated for smoke inhalation.

20.12.09 Dog Rescued from Icy Small Heath Pond: A dog, who fell through ice covering a pond in Small Heath Park, was rescued by fire crews yesterday afternoon.

20.12.09 West Heath Pharmacy Must Keep Regular Hours: The council planning committee has ruled that a pharmacy attached to the Cofton Medical Centre in West Heath may not open outside regular surgery hours.

19.12.09 Will the Olympic Pool be Built in the Right Place? Planning permission has been obtained for the Birmingham Aquatics and Leisure Centre which will include a 50 metre Olympic-size swimming pool. It will be built on parkland next to the Nelson Primary School, near the National Indoor Arena. However, many believe that the project should have been built on a brownfield site by the Icknield Loop in inner city Ladywood. This would have conserved a valuable green space in the city centre and regenerated a deprived area for which additional funding might have been available.

19.12.09 Kidnapped Debtor Held to Ransom: In July 2007, a man who owed money was kidnapped at gunpoint at a Birmingham petrol station, bound with sticky tape, and held hostage until a £15,000 ransom was paid. One of the gang who assaulted him, a 28-year-old man from Tedbury Crescent in Erdington, was convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm at Birmingham Crown Court in May 2009. He has now been sentenced to an indefinite term of imprisonment and must serve at least six years before he can be considered for release.

18.12.09 Place2B bought by Garden Centre: The Place2B on the Chester Road in the New Oscott area of Sutton Coldfield has been sold by Punch Taverns to a neighbouring garden centre who will use it as a cafe and showroom. Until recently the Place2B, which was built in the 1920's as the New Oscott Tavern, was a fashionable bar and restaurant owned by the former TV presenter Ashley Blake.

18.12.09 Male Drugs Mule Jailed for Nine Years: A 35-year-old man who arrived at Birmingham Airport on a flight from Islamabad on June 11, having swallowed 138 grams of heroin with an estimated street value of £23,000, has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court for both drug smuggling and firearms offences. A search of his former home in Leicester revealed a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition.

17.12.09 Selly Oak Hospital Opens Ambulatory Care Unit: Selly Oak Hospital has opened a new unit for patients with minor illnesses and injuries that are not life threatening.

17.12.09 Is the New Library Really Worth the Cash? The new central library currently under construction in Centenary Square will cost substantially more than the £193 million previously quoted by the council. This figure does not take into account the interest payable on the loans taken out to fund the project. Annual interest of around £7.5 million may be payable on £135 million for at least 40 years, adding another £300 million to the bill.

16.12.09 Shoulder Surfers Rob Ward End Pensioner: A 76-year-old pensioner was robbed of his credit card when attempting to withdraw money from a cashpoint on Bromford Lane in Ward End at around 12.15pm on Tuesday 10 November. The thieves watched as the pensioner tapped in his PIN and then snatched his card which they later used to take money from his account.

16.12.09: Will Bats Halt Edgbaston Cricket Development?: The Cannon Hill Neighbourhood Forum are attempting to challenge by judicial review the decision of Birmingham City Council to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of Edgbaston Cricket Ground. During proceedings before Birmingham County Court, they argued, amongst other things, that the redevelopment - which will include new floodlights, apartments, retail and leisure units - could disturb the habitat of bats living in the neighbouring Rea Valley. Update 18.12.09: the application for judicial review was dismissed.

16.12.09 Living Room Nightspot Closes: The Living Room Bar on Broad Street has closed. The owners of the bar, Premium Bars & Restaurants, had been in administration for several months and the administrators had been trying to sell the bar, an upmarket venue frequented by celebrities, as a going concern.

15.12.09 Quinton Shop Thieves Steal Cancer Charity Donations: Thieves, who broke into Rose's Sandwich Shop on Hagley Road West on the night of Monday 30 November, stole £350 collected by staff for Macmillan Cancer Support.

15.12.09 Vandals Cripple Aston Expressway Tidal System: Vandals damaged traffic signal equipment on the Aston Expressway on the evening of Sunday 13 December. The equipment governs the use of the central lane of the Aston Expressway which is available to traffic entering Birmingham during the morning rush hour and leaving Birmingham during the evening rush hour. This tidal flow system will be suspended for several days and the central lane will be closed. Motorists can expect delays.

14.12.09 Alum Rock Crash: Several cars were involved in a road traffic accident near the Brook Hill Pub on Alum Rock Road at around 8.30pm yesterday evening. A male motorist had to be cut free by fire crews. He was taken to Heartlands Hospital.

14.12.09 Digbeth Coach Station Reopens: The revamped Digbeth Coach Station reopened today. The new building on Digbeth High Street features a double-height glazed concourse, retail space, an open-plan cafe, sixteen coach bays, a taxi rank, drop-off zone and temperature-controlled seating. The England football manager, Fabio Capello, will officially open the new building on Friday.

14.12.09 Small Heath Jewellers Capture Armed Robbers: Three brothers captured two armed robbers who attempted to raid their jewellery business on the Coventry Road in Small Heath on 10 August 2009. They trapped the robbers, who were part of a gang of at least three other men, behind the electric shutters of their shop. The brothers defended themselves against the gang who were armed with hammers and axes. One of the captives was hit on the head during the struggle and had to be hospitalised for seven days. The captured men pleaded guilty to armed robbery at Birmingham Crown Court last Tuesday. One was sentenced to five years in jail and the other to four and a half years. However, their accomplices, who have not been identified, escaped with £15,000 of jewellery.

13.12.09 Bartley Green Drug Smuggler Jailed: A 29-year-old man from Bartley Green has been jailed for 21 months at Birmingham Crown Court for attempting to smuggle cannabis into the UK. The man hid 7.3 kilos of the drug in a drinks container which he took on board a flight from Montego Bay to Birmingham Airport on 19 August. The cannabis had a street value of around £21,000.

13.12.09 Injured Aston Pedestrian Dies: A 24-year-old male pedestrian has died in hospital after being hit by a car on the A34 in Aston. The accident happened at around 10.30am yesterday.

12.12.09 Lozells Church Reopens: The New Testament Church of God on Lozells Road has been rebuilt and will shortly reopen. The Ebenezer Bible Institute and Majestic gospel singers will be based there. The building stands on the former site of Aston Villa Methodist Church whose members founded Aston Villa FC in 1874.

12.12.09 Perry Barr Shopkeeper Beats Off Robbers: The owner of the Good Cheer convenience store on Dorrington Road in Perry Barr was threatened by a gang of three men, one of whom had a pistol, at around 9pm on 30 November. The shopkeeper was hit on the head but fought back and his dog bit one of the gangsters on the hand, pulling off his glove. The raiders ran off with some petty cash.

11.12.09 Sparkhill Gambling Addict Jailed for Robberies: A 21-year-old gambling addict from Ludlow Court on Stratford Road in Sparkhill has been sentenced to an indeterminate prison term after pleading guilty to two charges of robbery and one charge of possession of an imitation firearm at Birmingham Crown Court. The defendant robbed a female motorist of jewellery at knifepoint and pistol-whipped a male taxi driver from whom he stole £100. He must serve at least five years before he can apply for parole.

11.12.09 Newtown Murder Suspect on Trial: A 21-year-old man from Kings Norton is on trial at Warwick Crown Court for the murder of 24-year-old man on Kensington Street in Newtown last August. The victim was killed by a single hollow-tipped .22 rifle bullet. Update 18.12.09: The defendant was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years.

10.12.09 Good Food Cities Vote for Birmingham: The Delice Network of Good Food Cities has voted Birmingham as its "City under the Microscope" for the period 16 - 18 July 2010 when the annual Taste of Birmingham Food Festival will be held.

10.12.09 Bogus Traffic Cops Attack Woman in Alum Rock: A 28 year-old woman driving on Clodeshall Road in Alum Rock was ordered to stop at around 7pm on 3 December by two bogus police officers who flashed their headlights at her vehicle. The men demanded her insurance documents, but then attempted to seize her bag and threatened to sexually assault her. The woman resisted and they drove off empty-handed.

9.12.09 Raider Bites Yardley Wood Station Clerk: A man attempted to break into Yardley Wood Railway Station at around 11.30am on Wednesday 11 November. He tricked the station clerk into opening a door by claiming that a passenger had collapsed on the platform. He then assaulted the clerk, biting him on the hand, before running off.

9.12.09 Cyclist Crushed by City Centre Bus: A 63-year-old cyclist was crushed under a bendy bus at the junction of Lancaster Circus and James Watt Queensway in central Birmingham at around 6am this morning. The injured cyclist was taken to City Hospital in Winson Green where he died five hours later.

8.12.09 New Morrison's for Handsworth: A new Morrison's will open on a former industrial site on Holyhead Road in Handsworth. The store, which will employ around 240 staff, will open in January 2011.

8.12.09 Fried Chicken Robber Jailed: A 26 year-old man from Ladywood has been jailed for four years for armed robbery at Birmingham Crown Court after threatening to stab a cook if he did not hand over money and a plate of free fried chicken. The incident happened at the Burrito Bar outside the Rocket Club on Broad Street in the early hours of 21 July 2009.

7.12.09: High-Rise Northfield Blaze: A woman, whose flat caught fire, was rescued from the sixth floor of Shelly Tower on Overbury Road in Northfield at around 7.30pm yesterday evening.

7.12.09 Spray and Pray Pistol Verdict: A loaded machine pistol that could have fired 1200 rounds per minute was seized by police from the footwell of a car on Parliament Street in Aston on the afternoon of 30 December 2008. A 27-year-old man, whose DNA and fingerprints were found on the weapon, has been convicted at Birmingham Crown Court of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced in January 2010.

7.12.09: Lozells Cannabis Farmer Jailed: A 31-year-old man who rented a house in Lozells Road that was used as a cannabis farm has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment at Birmingham Crown Court. The man, who was claiming jobseekers allowance, may have been funded by gangsters.

6.12.09 Bordesley Smash on Garrison Lane: A motorist crashed his car on Garrison Lane in Bordesley at around 4.30 am yesterday morning. He was cut from the wreckage by fire crews.

6.12.09 Murder Investigation in Northfield: A 50-year-old man was found seriously injured by police officers who were called to an address on Wychall Road in Northfield at 1.30 am yesterday morning. The man, who was apparently attacked in the street, was taken to hospital where he died of his injuries. A murder inquiry has been launched and nine youths have been arrested.

5.12.09: Canal Corpse Found in Castle Vale: A dead man was found floating in the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal near Kingsbury Road in Castle Vale at 11am today.

5.12.09: Hockley Gangster Given Indeterminate Sentence: A 20-year-old Hockley man, believed to be a member of the Burger Bar Boys, was arrested in July 2008 when two revolvers, ammunition, a silencer and bags of heroine and crack cocaine were found at his home on New Spring Street in Hockley. He was released on bail but rearrested in Winson Green in December 2008 after he threw away a bag that containing a pistol when approached by officers who suspected him of drug dealing. The defendant was sentenced to six years imprisonment for firearms offences at Birmingham Crown Court in July 2009. The Court of Appeal increased his sentence to an indeterminate term of imprisonment on 30 November 2009. The defendant must serve at least five years before he can apply for parole.

5.12.09: Bogus Council Officials Rob Boldmere Pensioner: A 99-year-old pensioner was robbed at around 7pm on Monday 30 November when two conmen posing as council officials forced their way into her Boldmere home. The thieves stole cash and jewellery.

5.12.09: Woman Attacked in Winson Green: A 27 year-old woman was attacked in her car on College Street in Winson Green at around 10am on Wednesday 2 December. The victim suffered a broken cheekbone and cuts around her eyes. A 27-year-old man has been arrested and charged with wounding.

5.12.09: Bordesley Green Prostitute served with ASBO: A 31-year-old prostitute who rents a flat at Bromwich Close in Bordesley Green is alleged to have had sex with clients in a potting shed and on the staircase of her apartment building. A District Judge has issued an ASBO that prohibits her from having intercourse in the shed and from allowing clients to queue outside the front door of her flat.

4.12.09 Will We Ever Get to Watch Telly in Victoria Square?: The council has built a three metre high platform for a big screen in Victoria Square. However, the occupants of nearby offices in Waterloo House have complained about probable noise levels and an injunction has been obtained from the High Court that prevents the television from being switched-on. The High Court ruled in judicial review proceedings that inadequate reasons were given for granting planning permission for the television and now the council will consider a revised planning application that requires noise-dampening baffles to be fitted.

4.12.09 Seventy Year Old Injured in Hockley Hit-and-Run: A seventy year old man has been injured in a possible hit-and-run in Hockley. The victim was found with head injuries on New John Street West at 3am this morning.

4.12.09 Birmingham Flights to Kurdish Iraq: The Swedish airline Olympic is providing alternate weekly flights from Birmingham Airport to the Kurdish cities of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq. These flights will depart at 8.15 pm on Tuesday evenings. Contact Birmingham Airport to confirm flight times.

3.12.09 Airport Shuttle Driver Stole from Passengers: The 39-year-old driver of a shuttle, ferrying passengers between the car parks and terminals at Birmingham Airport, has pleaded guilty to stealing a holdall, passports and cash from two holidaymakers on 3 June 2009. The driver concealed the hand luggage that they had accidentally left behind on his bus and then denied that he had ever seen it. Police became suspicious after examining CCTV footage and the driver later confessed.

3.12.09 Two Die in Perry Barr House Blaze: A husband and wife, both in their sixties, died at around 4am this morning as a fire blazed through their semi-detached home on Wensleydale Road in Perry Barr.

3.12.09: Phone Box Stabbing in Kings Norton: A man in his thirties has been stabbed by a stranger in a phone box at the junction of Burford Park Road and Redditch Road in Kings Norton. The incident happened at around 8pm on Tuesday 1 December. The victim suffered cuts to his arms as he tried to defend himself against an apparently random attack. Police have arrested a suspect.

2.12.09 Is Recession Main Cause of Increase in State School Pupils?: The recession has undoubtedly led to some increase in the number of state school pupils in Birmingham since parents, who used to send their children to private schools, have instead enrolled them in state schools. Also, more young families are staying in Birmingham rather than moving to the outer suburbs, as often happened when their children reached school age. However, increased birth rates and immigration may be the primary cause of this upward trend. The Children's Secretary, Ed Balls, has announced that he will allocate an extra £24 million in order to bridge the funding gap in Birmingham's schools.

2.12.09 Thirteen Sprayed with Burning Substance at City Centre Takeaway: Thirteen people were treated for burns after being sprayed with an unidentified substance at the Mr Egg takeaway on Hurst Street in the city centre at around 2 am on Sunday morning. A 38-year-old man was arrested and subsequently bailed.

1.12.09 New Town Centre Planned for Sutton Coldfield: The City Council Cabinet has approved the Sutton Coldfield Framework Plan whereby the retail space at Sutton Coldfield Town Centre will be doubled, a new public square will be created, the Parade will be fully pedestrianised and the ring road will be broken, enabling pedestrian access between the Gracechurch shopping centre and the High Street Conservation Area.

1.12.09: Hand Grenade Exploded in Edgbaston Garden: Workmen discovered a Second World War hand grenade buried in the garden of a house on Stanmore Road in the Rotton Park area of Edgbaston at around 11am yesterday. The army destroyed the grenade by a controlled explosion after local residents had been evacuated.

1.12.09: Saturday Night Stabbings on Corporation Street: Two men were stabbed near the Que Club on Corporation Street at around 8pm on Saturday night. The victims were both male, aged 24 and 30. Two arrests have been made.

1.12.09 Lunchtime Crash on the Hagley Road: Two vehicles collided at the junction of Gillot Road and Hagley Road, in the Rotton Park area of Edgbaston, today at around 12 noon. Two people were taken to hospital with suspected head injuries.