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Birmingham: News Headlines January 2010

31.01.10 Hawk Eagle Seized from West Heath House: An African Hawk Eagle and five other rare birds of prey were seized from a house in West Heath during a police raid at around 7.30am on Friday 29 January.

30.01.10 Indian Restaurant Blaze in Garretts Green: The Keri Gold Indian restaurant on Sheldon Heath Road in Garretts Green, formerly known as the Chestnuts pub, has been severely damaged by a fire which started in an upstairs flat last night at around 10.30pm. Firefighters from Sheldon Station tackled the blaze.

30.01.10 Controversy Over Moseley Church Solar Panels: Saint Mary's Church in Moseley has submitted plans for the installation of 42 solar roof panels that could generate 8,000 kilowatts of electricity per year. However, opponents believe that the panels would ruin the appearance of the 15th century church which is the centrepiece of the Moseley Village Conservation Area.

30.01.10 Mother and Baby Rescued from Saltley Blaze: A mother and her baby were rescued from the upstairs floor of their mid-terrace home on Wright Road in Saltley after a faulty electrical socket started a fire yesterday at around 9.00am.

29.01.10 Bus Route 41 Axed: Bus route 41, which serves Acocks Green and Hall Green, will be replaced by route 42 which will bypass Dolphins Lane and parts of Shirley Lane. Some local residents will find it harder to reach Hall Green Health Centre on Stratford Road and some local children may struggle to reach their local primary schools.

29.01.10 New School for Druids Heath?: The council is considering plans for a new 1,000-pupil school on a vacant plot on Monyhull Road in Druids Heath. The new school will probably be an academy; it will replace Baverstock Foundation School and Kings Norton High School and could open in September 2013.

28.01.10: Will the Fame Academy look like an Office Block?: The Ormiston Academy will be built on the former site of a Post Office depot, next to Millennium Point in Eastside. It will train performing artists aged 14-19; however, according to some critics, the proposed building is bland and uninspiring and will look more like an office block.

Update 29.01.10: Plans approved by planning committee despite objections.

28.01.10 Collapsing Wall Injures Man in Soho: A man sustained head, pelvic, leg and ankle injuries when a wall collapsed on Park Road in Soho at around 10am yesterday morning. The man, believed to be in his thirties, was taken to City Hospital in Winson Green.

27.01.10 Biker Dies in Sheldon Crash: A motorcyclist, who collided with a car on Granby Avenue in Sheldon at around midday yesterday, died at the scene of the accident.

27.01.10 Perry Barr Pensioner Terrorised by Burglar: A burglar frogmarched an 80-year-old pensioner around her home on Turnberry Road in Perry Barr and forced her to reveal the whereabouts of her most treasured valuables. The break-in occurred at around 11am on Friday 22 January.

27.01.10: Erdington Woman Plunges from Tower Block: A 20 year-old woman fell 25 metres from the 9th floor of Stokesay House on Jarvis Road in Erdington at around 8am on Monday 25 January. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The police are not treating her death as suspicious.

27.01.10 Sparkbrook Blaze on Doris Road: The kitchen of a three storey mid-terrace house on Doris Road in Sparkbrook was gutted by fire yesterday evening at around 11:15pm. The blaze was caused by a fridge fire. Fire fighters from Highgate attended the scene.

26.01.10 Sparkhill Arrest by Counter Terrorist Unit: A 30 year-old man from Sparkhill was arrested in the early hours of this morning by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit. He is suspected of possessing material likely to be of use to a terrorist and of distributing terrorist publications. The police also searched a house in Kings Heath.

26.01.10 Red Kite at Harborne Reservoir: A red kite has been seen at Harborne Reservoir according to a survey of rare birds conducted by volunteers. It is only the second time that a red kite has ever been seen in Birmingham. A pair of ring-necked parakeets, the only naturalised parrot in the UK, were also seen in Perry Park.

25.01.10 When will the new Dental Hospital Open? The new Birmingham Dental Hospital could open in 2014 subject to Treasury funding. However, the location has yet to be agreed. Possible sites include Battery Park in Selly Oak and Pebble Mill in Edgbaston. A new outreach centre has already opened on the ground floor of Boots in the city centre.

25.01.10 Ashted Circus Corpse: The corpse of a 39-year-old man was found in a subway beneath Ashted Circus in Eastside at around 3pm on Sunday afternoon. The cause of death is unknown; a post-mortem will be held.

25.01.10 Man Hit by Bus in Colmore Square: A man suffered head injuries after being hit by a bus on Colmore Square in Birmingham city centre at around 10 am today. The man, believed to be in his sixties, was taken to City Hospital in Winson Green.

25.01.10 Motorist Breaks Leg in Sutton Coldfield Car Park: A male motorist in his sixties broke his leg when his vehicle crashed at Victoria Road multi-storey car park in Sutton Coldfield at around 11.15 am yesterday morning.

24.01.10 Northfield Psychiatric Unit Closure: The Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust will probably close the Main House Personality Disorder Unit on Hollymoor Way in Northfield in September this year because fewer patients are being referred there. Main House is an intensive residential treatment centre; many patients stay for 12 months or more. However, alternative home-based treatment has become more widely available following the expansion of community mental health programmes.

23.01.10 Objections to Proposed Regal Tower: The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has objected to plans for the proposed 198-metre skyscraper which the Regal Property Group wants to build at the corner of Sheepcote Street and Broad Street. The building, which would be the tallest in Birmingham, would contain a car park, leisure units, apartments and a 289-room hotel.

23.01.10 Two Men Beaten in Acocks Green Attack: Two Afghani men, who live in Smethwick, were attacked and severely beaten at a house on Stockfield Road in Acocks Green at around 1am yesterday morning. It is thought that the men, who suffered head injuries, could have been assaulted by other members of the local Afghan community although the motive for the attack remains unclear.

23.01.10 Hilltop Golf Course May Stay Open: The Hilltop Municipal Golf Course in Handsworth, which was due to close because of heavy losses, could now be taken over by a private operator who will improve the club house and facilities. It seems that the course will remain open for a further 12 months pending negotiations.

22.01.10 Former Sparkhill Church Gutted: A building on Knowle Road in Sparkhill that formerly housed the Sparkhill United Church was gutted by fire at around 1am this morning.

21.01.10 RTA's decrease by more than 13%: According to figures published by the Transport and Street Services Committee, the number of road traffic accidents in Birmingham between January and September 2009 was 2,316. This represents a fall of over 13% in comparison with the same period in 2008 when 2,627 RTA's were recorded.

21.01.10 Faulty Microwave Blazes Small Heath Home: A faulty microwave caused a fire at a house on Golden Hillock Road in Small Heath at around 8.00 pm on Tuesday 19 January. Fire-fighters from Hay Mills tackled the blaze.

21.01.10 Quinton Killer Gets 7 years: A 20-year-old man fatally stabbed his 22-year-old neighbour in the chest on Ely Grove in Quinton on 15 July 2009. The two men were fighting over a child's bike when the incident occurred. The defendant, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was jailed for seven years.

21.01.10 Life for Finchley Park Murderer: A 21-year-old man, formerly of Curlews Close in Erdington, has been sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 13.5 years. He was found guilty of murdering a 22-year-old cannabis dealer at Finchley Park in Kingstanding who was stabbed twice and beaten with a baseball bat. The incident occurred in October 2007.

20.01.10: Birmingham to Marylebone Journey Time to be Cut:  The Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has announced that improvements will be made to the Chiltern Line which currently runs from London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill. In particular, an expanded Moor Street Station will become the new Birmingham terminus and the journey time from London to Birmingham will be reduced from 2 hours to 1 hour 40 minutes.

19.01.10 Cadbury Board Approves Kraft Takeover: The Cadbury board has approved a takeover bid by Kraft of £5.00 cash and 0.1874 new Kraft shares for every 1 Cadbury share. This bid values Cadbury at £11.9 billion. Kraft originally offered £10.2 billion when it first launched its hostile bid in September 2009.

19.01.10: Restaurant Blaze at Star City: The kitchen of Nandos at Star City caught fire last night at around 10.30pm. The complex was filled with smoke and over 400 people had to be evacuated. It took fire-fighters three hours to resolve the incident.

19.01.10 Fewer Passengers Fly From Birmingham Airport: 7.025 million passengers flew on scheduled flights and 2.083 million on charter flights from Birmingham Airport in 2009. The total passenger figure was 5.5% down on 2008.

19.01.10 New Grandstand for Moseley RFC: Moseley RFC have submitted plans for a new 5,000-seat stand with a bar, 10 changing rooms and 22 hospitality boxes at Billesley Common. The club currently has just one temporary stand with a capacity of 628. Many spectators simply stand on the touchline. Significant ground improvements will be required if the club gains promotion to the Premiership. The new stand will help raise capacity from 1,000 to 7,500.

18.01.10: Bordesley Green Builders Merchants Fined: Cambabest Limited, a builders merchants based at Venetia Road in Bordesley Green, which employs around 50 staff, has been fined £6,000 by Birmingham Magistrates Court for breaching health and safety orders regarding its site and equipment.

17.01.10 Alum Rock Cabbie Kidnapped Passenger: A 43-year-old cabbie from Cotterills Lane in Alum Rock locked a 19-year-old female passenger in his cab. The girl had asked to be taken to Rosies nightclub in Sutton Coldfield; instead she was taken to Chester Road Railway Station and sexually assaulted. The cabbie was convicted of kidnap and sexual assault at Birmingham Crown Court and jailed for one year at the Old Bailey.

16.10.10 Michelin Stars for 3 Brummie Restaurants: Three restaurants in Birmingham have each been awarded one star by the 2010 Michelin Guide. They are: Purnells in the Business Quarter, Tuners on Harborne High Street, and Simpson's in Edgbaston. All three were also awarded one Michelin star in 2009.

16.01.10 Brummie Cops will be Armed with Tasers: Frontline police in Birmingham will be armed with Taser stun guns from April or May this year.

16.01.10 Rubery Pedestrian Killed by Double Decker: A 43-year-old male pedestrian died after being hit by a double decker bus on New Street in Rubery at around 9.00 pm yesterday evening.

15.01.10: Man Smashed Bottle on Schoolboy's Head: A 28-year-old man from Small Heath who smashed a beer bottle over a 13-year-old boy's head in a bus queue in Harborne and then threatened him with a kitchen knife has received a three year community supervision order at Birmingham Crown Court. The man, who is Polish, and had previously worked as a bus driver, had apparently been abused by schoolchildren and believed that the boy was one of his tormentors. It seems, however, that he was mentally ill at the time of the assault which took place in July 2009.

14.01.10 Islamic Finance & Business Centre Opens in Aston: The Islamic Finance and Business Centre has opened at Aston University. The centre, which is the first of its kind in Europe, has received a £1.5 million grant from the Dubai-based company Surgi-Tech.

14.01.10 Handsworth Heist at UAE Exchange: An armed gang of five tied up three council workers at Oxhill Cemetery and stole their JCB in order to break into the UAE Exchange Bank on Soho Road at around 5.45pm on Tuesday 12 January. Bank staff were threatened at gunpoint and forced to hand over thousands of pounds. Police arriving at the scene were threatened with a pistol as the gang fled.

14.01.10 Suspicious Death in Jewellery Quarter: A man was found lying on Camden Street in the Jewellery Quarter at around 5pm on Tuesday 12 January. He later died in hospital. The police are treating his death as suspicious pending the result of a post-mortem.

13.01.10 Turners Restaurant Wins 2nd Best Newcomer UK: Turners Restaurant on Harborne High Street has been named second best newcomer by the Harden UK Restaurant Guide 2010. The restaurant won a Michelin star last year.

13.01.10 Mostly Jazz Festival Scheduled for 3/4 July: The first Mostly Jazz Festival will be held in Moseley Hall Park on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th July. There will be two stages: one for established stars and one for breaking acts. World Cup matches will be screened between sets. The bill will be headed by Courtney Pine.

13.01.10  Man on Trial for Gillot Road Shooting: A 22 year-old man is on trial at Birmingham Crown Court for the murder of a 20-year-old man whom the prosecution allege was found shot dead on Gillot Road in Edgbaston on 19 April 2009.

12.01.10 Realignment of A38 at Longbridge: The Bristol Road (A38) will be realigned at Longbridge. The junctions at Bristol Road South, Lickey Road and Longbridge Lane will be broadened to reduce bottlenecks and increase traffic flow.

12.01.10 Islamic Centre Takes Over Samson and Lion: The Samson and Lion on Yardley Green Road in Bordesley Green will become an Islamic Centre with a cafe, youth club, function and prayer rooms. However, the former pub, which was built in 1914, is subject to a preservation order that prohibits structural alterations.

12.01.10 Faulty Wiring Burns Ladywood Home: The loft of an end-of-terrace house on Daley Close in Ladywood caught fire on Sunday night because of faulty wiring. The occupants escaped unharmed.

12.01.10 Smash in City Centre Tunnel: A motorist was seriously injured and trapped in his vehicle after colliding with a barrier in the tunnel that carries Great Charles Street Queensway beneath the city centre. The accident happened at around 9.30am. The man was cut from his vehicle and fitted with a neck collar and spinal board before being taken to City Hospital.

11.01.10 Blaze at Erdington Fish Bar: The Classic Fish Bar on Erdington High Street caught fire last night at around 8:15 pm. It is thought that the blaze was caused by overheated frying oil. Nobody was injured.

11.01.10 Erdington Pub Stays Shut: The Old Roebuck on Erdington High Street was closed in November 2009 and has been boarded-up by Enterprise Inns who own the freehold. The police believe that the pub may have been used as a cannabis factory. The site might be of interest to a large supermarket chain.

10.01.10 Seven Arrests as Blues Draw with Man United: There were seven arrests at the premiership football match between Birmingham City and Manchester United at Saint Andrews yesterday afternoon. These occurred as a result of two separate incidents of disorder: one immediately before kick-off and one at halftime. The match finished 1 -1.

10.01.10 Pedestrian Injured in Holloway Circus Smash: A male pedestrian in his mid-20's was taken to the City Hospital after a road accident outside the Radisson Hotel on Holloway Circus at around 1.15am on Saturday morning. His condition is critical.

09.01.10 Burglars Target Sutton Coldfield Swimmers: Swimmers at Wyndley Leisure Centre in Sutton Coldfield have apparently been targeted by burglars. It seems that the burglars select a victim and then send an accomplice into the pool to find out the number of his elasticized security band. A convincing copy is then made and passed to the swimming burglar who collects his victims belongings from the attendant. Armed with their victim's car and house keys, the burglars can discover his address, drive to his home, and strip it of valuables.

09.01.10 Arson Attack in Bordesley Green: A house on Corbyn Road in Bordesley Green appears to have been the target of an arson attack. The fire, which began outside the house, was apparently started with accelerants. Police are investigating.

08.01.10 Lasan Wins F Word: The Lasan Indian restaurant on James Street in the Saint Paul's area of the Jewellery Quarter has been named Best Local Restaurant UK by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, the presenter of the F Word television show.

08.01.09 Woman Sexually Assaulted in Shard End: A 32-year-old woman was punched to the ground by a young white man in Norman Chamberlain Playing Fields in Shard End at around 10pm on Wednesday 6 January. The woman was sexually assaulted by her assailant who also stole her handbag.

07.01.10 Hit And Run in Billesley: A 15-year-old boy was hit by a motorist on Chinn Brook Road in Billesley at around 6.15 pm on Monday 4 January. The boy, who suffered a head injury, was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital; he was discharged the following day.

07.01.10 Factory Nightclub Crush: The Main Room of the Custard Factory was overcrowded on New Years Eve when police stopped people from entering. This begs the question whether too many tickets were sold and if enough security staff were employed.

07.01.10 Betting Shop Robber Jailed: A 23-year-old man, who robbed the Stirchley branch of Ladbrokes on Pershore Road in May last year, has been jailed for nine years at Birmingham Crown Court. The man, who is a crack cocaine addict, lived on Hambury Drive in Kings Heath. He used an imitation firearm to threaten the shop staff, but failed to cover his face and was identified by CCTV footage.

06.01.10 Schoolgirl Mugged on Bus: Police are hunting a black male, believed to be around 17, who ordered a 14-year-old schoolgirl to hand over her mobile phone on the number 905 bus which runs between Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham city centre.

06.01.10: Controversy over Erdington Church Rebuild: Controversy continues to rage over the reconstruction of St Barnabas' Church in Erdington. As reported on 30.12.09, the plans for the reconstruction of this neo-Gothic church, which was built in 1822 and gutted by fire in 2007, include a foyer with a steel roof that would create a new entrance from Erdington High Street. Some believe that the proposed design is inappropriate and would detract from the character of the church as a historic listed building. The contrary view is that the foyer would shield the church from an unsightly Poundland store and create a community space for meetings and concerts.

05.01.10 Hockley Brothel Keeper Jailed: A 57-year-old man who ran a brothel on Henrietta Street in Hockley was today sentenced to nine months imprisonment at Stafford Crown Court. The brothel received £20 for every paying client. The prostitutes who worked there were recruited by a 58-year-old woman who was also jailed for nine months.

05.01.10 Death in Northfield Churchyard: A man in his seventies was found dead in the churchyard of St Laurence's Church in Northfield at 11am on Saturday 2 January. The police are not treating his death as suspicious.

05.01.10 Kitchen Blaze at Kings Norton Flat: A chip pan caused a fire at a block of flats on the Redditch Road in Kings Norton, yesterday at around 11.15am. A woman was taken to hospital.

04.01.09: Will Cuts Threaten Big City Plan?: The Big City Plan aims to increase the size and accessibility of the city centre in order to make Birmingham an attractive cosmopolitan location. Part of this plan has already been completed. The creation of a pedestrian square linking the Bull Ring to New Street and the High Street has been an outstanding success. However, the costs are so great that further work could be delayed. In particular, the Martineau Galleries, which will link Eastside to Corporation Street, might be at risk, and there are concerns about the Jewellery Quarter given the postponed regeneration of several derelict industrial sites and the likely closure of the Information Centre.

03.01.09 Youth Tennis at Billesley: The Billesley Indoor Tennis Centre will hold a tier 1 tournament as part of the Aegon British Tour from Monday 4 January until Saturday 9 January. The tournament will be contested by the best junior men and women (16+) and will serve as preparation for senior competition and the possibility of a professional tennis career. Admission is free.

02.01.10 Is Your Landlord a Council Tenant?: It is thought that roughly five per cent of council tenants do not live in their council homes, but sublet these properties at a profit. Often the people who actually live in these homes do not realise that they are paying rent to a council tenant who does not own the property and can not legally sublet it. The council are offering cash incentives for information about unlawful subletting.

02.01.09 Jobless Transform Soho Building Plot: A derelict building plot on Soho Avenue, formerly the site of St Michaels Church Hall, will be transformed into a sensory garden by unemployed volunteers as part of a six month training programme.

01.01.10 Pub Short Measures Commonplace: Trading Standards Officers believe that almost 90% of pints served in Birmingham could be short of the correct measure. A spot survey of thirty pubs in the city has revealed an average short measure of around 4%.

01.01.2010: Blue Plaque Unveiled in Edgbaston: A heritage blue plaque has been unveiled at 20 Charlotte Road in Edgbaston: the former home of Constance Naden (1858-89) who was a poet, scientist and philosopher. She is also commemorated by the Constance Naden Medal which is annually awarded by the University of Birmingham to the author of the best philosophical thesis.