Plans for Muslim burial ground in Catherine-de-Barnes refused

Controversial plans for a 3,333 plot Muslim burial ground in Catherine-de-Barnes have been unanimously refused by planning chiefs. The proposal would have meant significant development on Greenbelt land and although the developer outlined ‘special circumstances’ which would allow the project, councillors did not believe they were significant enough to be given the green light. The…

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Cynthia Leonard who dedicated 70 years of her life to the people of Solihull dies at 94

A Solihull woman who has dedicated most of her life to the people of the borough has died aged 94. Cynthia Leonard was made an MBE in 1999 for her services to the voluntary sector and was instrumental in setting up charities such as the Samaritans, Bereavement Council, Age UK Solihull, Crossroads, Stroke Club and…

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Eyesore Powergen block to go after 20 year planning wrangle

A blot on the Solihull landscape which has stood empty for more than 20 years looks set to be finally demolished if plans for a ten-acre site once occupied by Powergen are passed. Developer Shirley Advance revealed detailed plans to regenerate the site at the junction of Stratford Road and Haslucks Green Road to include…

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Family pay tribute to Solihull biker Jonathan ‘Jo’ Walker

The family of a Solihull man who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Stratford on Sunday (14th June) have paid tribute to the ‘much-loved’ sports fanatic. Jonathan ‘Jo’ Walker, 42, from Catherine-de-Barmes, was killed when his motorbike was in collision with an Audi A4 near the Rybrook Mini Garage on the A3400 Stratford Road…

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Muslim burial ground in Catherine-de-Barnes set for refusal by Solihull Council

Controversial plans for a 3,333-plot Muslim burial ground in Catherine-de-Barnes looks set to be refused by Solihull Council planning chiefs on Wednesday (17th June). This is the third application put in by developers to create a cemetery on Woodhouse Farm in Catherine-de-Barnes Lane – the first was withdrawn and the second was refused on a…

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Solihull biker dies in Stratford collision

A Solihull biker has sadly died after a collision with a car near Stratford-upon-Avon yesterday. Emergency services were called to the Birmingham Road in Bishopton around 2.45pm on Sunday (14/06). The motorcycle rider – a 42-year-old man from Solihull who has not yet been named – had ended up in a ditch after a crashing…

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Solihull man jailed for 11 years after grooming girls in online chat-rooms

A man who groomed girls as young as 12 with flirty online chat – and went on to strike up a sexual relationship with a schoolgirl – has been jailed for 11 years after West Midlands Police uncovered the extent of his child sex obsession. John Dodd, from Longmore Road in Solihull, was aged 21…

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New Conservative MP Julian Knight makes first speech in Parliament

Solihull MP Julian Knight has has made his first speech in Parliament since being elected in May. Mr Knight followed maiden speech traditions by setting out his priorities for the borough in front of a busy main chamber and honoured former Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt who he beat at the recent election by an…

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Man arrested over dumping of pig’s heads at a Solihull community centre

Officers investigating the dumping of four pig’s heads on the doorstep of a Solihull community centre have arrested a man this morning (10/06). The 34-year-old was arrested from an address in The Radleys, Sheldon at around 1:00am. He is currently being held on suspicion of carrying out a religiously aggravated public order offence. The animals’…

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Architects appointed to draw up plans for Urgent Care Centre

Architects have been appointed to draw up plans for the Urgent Care Centre at Solihull Hospital. The Design Buro has been awarded the contract by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT) – which runs the Lode Lane Hospital and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) – to design the centre for urgent care services…

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