Shirley donor marks 25th birthday by donating 25th unit of blood

A dedicated blood donor from Shirley donated his 25th unit of blood just days ahead of his 25th birthday at Birmingham Donor Centre on New Street. Matthew Dawson, an I.T apprentice, has been donating blood since January 2009 after being encouraged by his brother and sister who are also regular blood donors. With each blood…

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£1,000 worth of whisky stolen after store in Shirley ram-raided

Thieves ram-raided Sainbury’s Local store on Haslucks Green Road in Shirley and stole £1,000 worth of whisky. The incident took place around 4am on Tuesday (8th March). It is believed two men broke into the store, after causing damage with a vehicle. If you have any information, please call police on 101 – or speak…

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Man rescued from roof of his car after driving through ford in Catherine-de-Barnes

A driver had to be rescued from the roof of his car this morning (9th March) after it was flooded when he drove through a ford in Catherine-de-Barnes. West Midlands Fire Service say they attended Henwood Lane following a 999-call from the driver. A fire service spokesman says two crews and a technical team helped…

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Solihull cancer patient aims to raise £64k for charities in 12 months

A Solihull man has set himself a huge challenge of raising £64k for charities by the time he reaches the age of 64 on 16th October 2016. Trevor Stokes, 63, received a diagnosis for inoperable stomach cancer in 2015 – and was given a prognosis of 6 – 12months to live. After hearing the news,…

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Plans approved to build over 50 new homes on Babbs Mill nature reserve despite objections

Plans have been approved to build over fifty new homes on part of Babbs Mill nature reserve in Kingshurst despite strong objections. School children, local parish councils and local charities raised objections to the plans to build 52 houses on land off Cooks Lane. The proposal was approved by Solihull Council’s planning committee – around…

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80th anniversary of the Spitfire – over 12,000 were built in Castle Bromwich

The Spitfire, most famous British fighter aircraft in history, first took to the skies on 5th March 1936 and won immortal fame throughout the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks during the Battle of Britain. In 1938, the Air Ministry bought a site consisting of farm fields and a…

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Plans for former Powergen site in Shirley given the green light

Solihull Council’s planning committee approved plans last night (2nd March)  for the ‘eyesore’ Powergen site on Haslucks Green Road in Shirley to be demolished and the surrounding area regenerated. The building, designed by local architect John Madin, has been vacant for 20 years and locals have been pushing for the site to be redeveloped. While…

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Drivers who used ‘red X’ lanes on M42 set to be hit by fines

Scores of drivers who ignored lane closure warnings on a local motorway face stiff penalties after police pledged to prosecute the culprits. Warwickshire Police said motorists who disregarded a ‘red X’ sign above blocked lanes on the M42, between junction 9 for the A446 at Coleshill and junction 8 for link to the northbound M6,…

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Council appeals for motorists to keep off the grass

Solihull Council is appealing for motorists to stop parking on the borough’s grass verges. In certain wards, local councillors are being inundated with requests from residents for action to be taken about grass verges outside their properties being ploughed up – and in some cases destroyed. Parking on grass verges causes environmental maintenance issues, makes…

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All children in Solihull offered a secondary school place

Solihull Council has announced that all parents with children living in Solihull have been offered a place for them at secondary school in September 2016. 91% have been offered their first or second preference – and around 97% have been offered one of their five preference schools. Councillor Joe Tildesley, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills…

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