Monkspath  Junior and Infant School in Solihull has been announced the winner at the UK Water Explorer awards, which took place in London’s Canary Wharf on Friday. A school and youth group based environmental education project that aims to highlight the importance of water conservation on a global level, Water Explorer is delivered by UK…

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street joined GoodGym founder Ivo Gormley and Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Cllr Karen Grinsell, to demonstrate an innovative scheme where runners exercise and do good deeds. West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Solihull Council are working with national charity GoodGym to bring its running to do good…

Alcohol dependency and use of hard drugs remain a major cause for concern in Solihull, according to official estimates. A report presented to councillors last week suggested that 1,796 residents required specialist treatment for their drinking. And 961 people in the borough are thought to be using opiates or crack cocaine. The figures were included…

Two “despicable” brothers with a history of duping elderly people out of their savings are back behind bars, after a West Midlands Police investigation revealed they had conned more pensioners with rogue trader scams. Errol and Timmy Flynn – of no fixed address – were jailed in 2013 for a rat catcher con in which…

A woman has been found dead at a house in Richmond Road, Solihull. Her body was found at around 1pm on Monday. West Midlands Police initially said her death was being treated as suspicious, but later revised its statement to say the death was being treated as unexplained. The property was sealed off and police…

Unpopular plans for a phone mast – previously thrown out by Solihull Council after hundreds of objections – have now been approved on appeal. The Planning Inspectorate has agreed that the 15 metre structure can be erected near to The Lodge pub, on Yardley Wood Road in Shirley, despite more than 700 residents having previously…

Solihull’s Town Centre Approach, which improves access to the middle of Solihull for pedestrians and cyclists, was officially opened on Thursday 20th September. The opening was attended by Cllr Ted Richards OBE, Solihull Council’s cabinet member for transport and highways, and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Mayor Andy Street. The scheme, which was funded by…

A specialist school for autistic children would be set up by Solihull Council as part of plans to improve support for those living with the condition. A recent Ofsted inspection, centred on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), highlighted the lack of suitable provision for borough youngsters with autism. In addition, the costs of having…

A dad was left in a coma after being punched by a van driver during a road rage attack at a busy city junction. Victim Richard Bailey, 39, was in intensive care for 19 days and has been left with serious disabilities after being hit once by builder Daniel Bond. The 31-year-old, of Brownley Road…

Heavy snow either side of Christmas and freezing temperatures pushed the cost of Solihull’s winter service over the half-a-million pound mark. A report this week revealed that the adverse weather in 2017/18 had left the council with total costs of £506,000. The bill exceeded the budget by £105,000 and the local authority has been forced…