Westmidlands

Tuesday, January 27, 2026 birmingham unemployment livingstandards westmidlands economicgrowth disposableincome jobs inequality northsouthdivide centreforcities

New research reveals that Birmingham has the highest proportion of people not in work among UK cities, significantly impacting living standards across the city and the wider West Midlands region. Only 70% of working-age … Read More

Monday, January 26, 2026 westmidlands construction skills training housing apprenticeships workforce education investment infrastructure

The West Midlands is ramping up investment in construction skills training to meet its ambitious housebuilding targets. Mayor Richard Parker emphasized the critical role of workforce development in achieving regional housing … Read More

Monday, January 26, 2026 police misconduct confidentiality westmidlands dataaccess grossmisconduct crime investigation privacy resignation

A former West Midlands police officer was found to have unlawfully accessed confidential crime records related to herself and her family over an extended period, a misconduct hearing revealed. PC Pakhairzan conducted repeated … Read More

Monday, January 26, 2026 belgravia broadway bridgnorth worcestershire westmidlands houseprices propertymarket realestate pricedecline 2024

Recent data reveals significant drops in property values across several UK regions over the past year. While some areas have seen house prices rise in 2024, others, including parts of the West Midlands, experienced notable … Read More

Monday, January 26, 2026 sandwell westmidlands lifeexpectancy property houseprices greetsgreen blackcountry commuting health westbromwich

People relocate for many reasons, including upsizing, downsizing, or being closer to work and family. Yet, two recent studies reveal a startling paradox: a West Midlands town with the region’s lowest life expectancy has … Read More

Sunday, January 25, 2026 westmidlands publictransport buses mayorparker transportpolicy busservices publiccontrol privatization transit regionalgovernment sport

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has recently addressed questions regarding his proposal to transition the region’s bus services from a privately-operated system to public control. This move aims to improve service … Read More

Sunday, January 25, 2026 birmingham family halfterm events free discounts activities westmidlands culture kids

February half term is just around the corner, and families in Birmingham and the surrounding areas are gearing up for a fantastic week of fun-filled activities. Whether you’re looking to explore indoors or enjoy … Read More

Sunday, January 25, 2026 pub landlord westmidlands heritage family tolkien coachandhorses alvechurch community history

Gary Meads’ story is one unlike most – born and raised within the walls of a pub he now owns. The Coach & Horses Inn, situated on the border of Alvechurch and Birmingham, has been a family-run establishment for over half … Read More

Thursday, January 22, 2026 transport funding westmidlands wmca infrastructure projects review development metro localgovernment

The future of more than 160 transport projects across the West Midlands is set to become clearer in the coming months as the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) progresses with the Rosewell Review. This comprehensive … Read More

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 uk weather freezingrain icepellets snowstorm birmingham westmidlands forecast gfs winter

The UK is set to experience two dangerous and unusual weather events within days, with Birmingham and other parts of the country at risk. According to maps and charts generated by the Global Forecast System (GFS), February 1 … Read More

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 westmidlands railservices connectivity wmca wmre publictransport economicgrowth railwaystations urbantransport infrastructure sport

Leaders across the West Midlands are calling for an expansion of rail services to enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth in the region. This appeal comes as new stations in Birmingham and beyond are set to open, … Read More

Saturday, January 17, 2026 ringandride drivershortage westmidlands publictransport demandresponsive transportpolicy rideusage escooters cyclehire serviceupdate sport

A shortage of drivers has caused a noticeable drop in the usage of the Ring and Ride service across the West Midlands. Data presented to the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny … Read More

Saturday, January 17, 2026 birmingham midlands income deprivation inequality sparkhill blackcountry disposableincome poverty westmidlands

A recent study has unveiled that the six lowest-income neighborhoods in England are all located in Birmingham, underscoring significant economic challenges within the city. The research ranks neighborhoods based on average … Read More

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 shooting westmidlands driveby firearms crime police westbromwich arrest violence investigation

Two men have been sentenced after a brazen drive-by shooting on a busy Black Country high street left a man seriously injured but alive. On the morning of May 1 last year, a black Vauxhall Mokka pulled up near the junction of … Read More

Monday, January 12, 2026 westmidlands rail devolution wmre transport agreement dft combinedauthority railwayservices integration

Transport leaders in the West Midlands face a critical decision to preserve their significant influence over the region’s railway services. The current collaboration agreement between the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) … Read More

Monday, January 12, 2026 gp midlands patients survey healthcare surgery westmidlands quality appointments performance

The annual GP Patient Survey for 2026 is now open, inviting patients throughout the Midlands to share their experiences and rate their local GP surgeries. This widely respected survey provides valuable insights into how well … Read More

Sunday, January 11, 2026 solihull housing property realestate westmidlands pricedrop midlands worcester mortgages lloydsbank

In 2025, one of the West Midlands' most affluent towns, Solihull, witnessed a significant decline in average house prices, with values dropping by over £25,000. This dramatic fall places Solihull fourth on the national list … Read More

Friday, January 9, 2026 birmingham snow weather metoffice forecast westmidlands stormgoretti airport frost winter

The Met Office has released the detailed hour-by-hour weather forecast for Birmingham as heavy snow continues to impact the West Midlands. While the amber weather warning for snow will be lifted at 9am on Friday, January 9, … Read More

Thursday, January 8, 2026 snow birmingham stormgoretti westmidlands travel disruption weather metoffice transport safety

On the evening of January 8, Birmingham and the wider West Midlands were hit by a surprising and swift snowfall, transforming the region into a winter landscape within less than an hour. Snow began to fall around 7 pm, … Read More

Thursday, January 8, 2026 snow birmingham westmidlands stormgoretti winter weather january snowfall storm photos

Storm Goretti brought a swift and significant snowfall to Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region starting from around 7pm on Thursday, January 8. The sudden onset of snow transformed streets and landscapes, creating … Read More

Thursday, January 8, 2026 stormgoretti snowfall birmingham westmidlands amberwarning metoffice winterweather ukweather snowmaps forecast

Birmingham and the West Midlands are under amber weather warnings as Storm Goretti is set to bring heavy snowfall, with up to 30cm expected to accumulate in some areas. Additional weather alerts have been issued across the … Read More

Thursday, January 8, 2026 westmidlands snow amberwarning nationalhighways stormgoretti travelsafety roadclosures winterweather traffic metoffice

National Highways has issued an amber severe weather warning for significant snowfall across the West Midlands, effective from 6pm on Thursday, January 8, until 9am on Friday, January 9. Motorists are urged to prepare for … Read More

Thursday, January 8, 2026 fire birmingham tyseley carpetfactory westmidlands emergency industrial blaze firefighters response

A devastating fire erupted on Wednesday evening at a carpet factory in Tyseley, Birmingham, prompting a large-scale emergency response. The West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) was first called to the blaze shortly after 7pm on … Read More

Wednesday, January 7, 2026 schools strike teachers redundancies arthurterry neu westmidlands education industrialaction atlp

Teachers at 20 schools managed by the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP) in the West Midlands are set to strike on nine days this month amid concerns over planned redundancies. The National Education Union (NEU) members … Read More