Westmidlands

Friday, May 29, 2026 halfterm birmingham familyfun outdooractivities pools minigolf cinema westmidlands play adventure sport

Hope your half term is going well and you’re staying cool in this heat! I’m Zoe, your parenting editor, here to share some fantastic last minute ideas to keep the kids entertained before school starts again. One standout … Read More

Thursday, May 28, 2026 simpsons birmingham hospitality michelin closure westmidlands mayor nighteconomy economy restaurant

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has expressed his deep sadness following the closure of Simpsons, one of Birmingham’s most iconic Michelin-starred restaurants. Owner Andreas Antona announced the permanent closure of … Read More

Thursday, May 28, 2026 vandalism bordesleygreen burglary police investigation cctv family trauma westmidlands crime

A grandfather in Bordesley Green has made an urgent appeal for witnesses and CCTV footage after his home and five cars in his driveway were vandalized in a violent early morning incident. Javed Iqbal and his family were … Read More

Thursday, May 28, 2026 oldbury murder unsolved investigation crime police shoes evidence westmidlands normansell

Just after midnight in April 2002, Paul Normansell, 45, fell victim to a brutal and senseless attack on Dudley Road in Oldbury. Left with a severe head injury, he later died, but his killer has never been identified. … Read More

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 birmingham bromsgrove midlands wealth deprivation property housing commuter westmidlands poverty

Birmingham is often highlighted for its significant levels of deprivation. A recent study revealed that the six poorest areas in England are all located within the city, with thousands of children affected by poverty. … Read More

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 ludlow market westmidlands shropshire medieval castle foodie walking tourism heritage

The title of Best Market Town in the West Midlands has been awarded to Ludlow, a picturesque town in Shropshire known for its rich heritage and exceptional food culture. While Shrewsbury, set on the River Severn with its … Read More

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 speeding enforcement birmingham westmidlands warwickshire speedcameras roadsafety motoring law policing

New data reveals that drivers in Birmingham and the Black Country are more likely to evade penalties for speeding compared to other areas in the Midlands. Enforcement appears inconsistent, creating an uneven playing field … Read More

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 westmidlands manufacturing jobs advancedmanufacturing projectmade innovation skills economy technology growth

The West Midlands is poised for significant growth in advanced manufacturing, with Project MADE (Midlands Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem) releasing a comprehensive plan to transform the sector. This ambitious strategy … Read More

Monday, May 25, 2026 westmidlands socialmedia under16 ban australia children screentime safety poll uk

A striking 82% of people in the West Midlands support banning social media access for under-16s, according to exclusive polling conducted for Birmingham Live. This aligns with growing concerns about the impact of excessive … Read More

Sunday, May 24, 2026 oldbury blackcountry policestation flats sandwell redevelopment housing westmidlands conversion regeneration

Plans have been approved to convert the former Oldbury Police Station on Stone Street into a housing development comprising six flats. Sandwell Council gave the green light for the project, which is spearheaded by BSSO … Read More

Saturday, May 23, 2026 kingswinford westmidlands town community sunshine historic local outdoor shopping tourism

Nestled along the main road connecting Wolverhampton and Stourbridge, Kingswinford is a friendly and vibrant town that truly comes alive when the sun is out. Known for its warm community spirit and rich history, this West … Read More

Saturday, May 23, 2026 westmidlands police sergeant misconduct disciplinary hearing confidentiality datasecurity ethics accountability

A disciplinary hearing has concluded that a sergeant from West Midlands Police committed gross misconduct by deliberately accessing confidential police databases for personal use. This breach of trust and protocol has raised … Read More

Friday, May 22, 2026 asylum migration westmidlands hotels homeoffice netmigration uk refugees accommodation demographics

The number of asylum seekers living in hotels within the West Midlands has fallen dramatically since the end of 2023. According to Home Office data, only 2,314 asylum seekers were residing in contingency accommodation in the … Read More

Friday, May 22, 2026 railstrike westmidlands tssa industrialaction trains disruption westmidlandsrailway londonnorthwestern paydispute transport

West Midlands Railway has issued a stern warning for passengers to “only travel if necessary” as a strike threatens to cause widespread disruption today and tomorrow. Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs … Read More

Friday, May 22, 2026 sarahslaw westmidlands childsafety sexoffenders disclosurescheme police protection foia childprotection community

West Midlands Police (WMP) has disclosed the number of public requests made to identify suspected sex offenders living in the region through The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, popularly known as Sarah’s Law. … Read More

Friday, May 22, 2026 birminghampride westmidlands policing lgbtq emergencyservices legaladvice communitysupport prideparade equality publicsafety

West Midlands Police have affirmed their commitment to “police without fear or favour” at this year’s Birmingham Pride event, despite the withdrawal of emergency services from the annual parade and festival. … Read More

Thursday, May 21, 2026 speeding enforcement westmidlands roads safety drivers birmingham cameras traffic police

West Midlands Police have deployed speed camera vans on the region’s busiest A roads, resulting in hundreds of drivers being caught for speeding. These enforcement efforts target heavily trafficked routes used daily by … Read More

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 walsall newborn canal police westmidlands investigation appeal justice willenhall homicide

Five years after the heartbreaking discovery of a newborn baby boy’s body in a Walsall canal, West Midlands Police have relaunched their appeal for information. On May 20, 2021, the infant was found in the Wyrley and … Read More

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 westmidlands police mostwanted suspects crime appeals publicsafety lawenforcement investigation community

West Midlands Police have recently updated their most wanted list, adding five new suspects sought in connection with several incidents across the region. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and provide any … Read More

Monday, May 18, 2026 motorways vsl speedlimits westmidlands m6 smartmotorways roadworks fines traffic safety

Thousands of motorists in the West Midlands have faced fines after inadvertently breaking temporary speed limits on motorways. These speed restrictions, often displayed on digital gantries along smart motorways like the M6, … Read More

Sunday, May 17, 2026 defence westmidlands partnership innovation manufacturing security mod education technology collaboration

A dynamic new partnership aimed at accelerating growth in the West Midlands’ defence sector has been established. The Regional Defence and Security Cluster (RDSC) unites industry leaders, academic institutions, government … Read More

Sunday, May 17, 2026 westmidlands transport buses fuelcosts subsidy publictransport buscuts tfwm commuters transportcrisis sport

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has issued a stark warning that nearly half of the region’s bus network is at risk of significant reductions unless vital subsidy support is extended. The cost of fuel has skyrocketed, … Read More

Sunday, May 17, 2026 knifecrime youthcrime westmidlands children blades arrests safety schools police prevention

Recent data from West Midlands Police has brought to light a worrying trend: children as young as 10 years old are being arrested on suspicion of carrying knives. The figures reveal that dozens of children under the age of 12 … Read More

Sunday, May 17, 2026 crime birmingham westmidlands safety statistics england community lawenforcement urban security

Recent official crime statistics have highlighted the safety levels across England’s towns and cities, with a surprising revelation about the West Midlands. Contrary to popular belief, this region—including Birmingham—ranks … Read More