Birmingham Post - News - Latest News

Tories drop Birmingham Edgbaston for Northfield as key election target

Birmingham Post — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:17:00 GMT

After three successive general election defeats the Conservatives have finally ditched Birmingham Edgbaston as their key election target in Birmingham.

Birmingham City Council warns benefit cut will cause £4.4m rent arrears

Birmingham Post — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:12:00 GMT

Benefit cuts are expected to increase rent arrears in Birmingham by £4.4 million and lead to rocketing homelessness, the city council has told a judicial review.

Plans to link up Birmingham tunnels hit by borrowing freeze

Birmingham Post — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:09:00 GMT

A freeze on borrowing has put the breaks on plans to link up the Queensway and St Chad's tunnels, Birmingham's transport chief has revealed.

Birmingham Pride now a firm favourite in the city

Birmingham Post — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:13:00 GMT

Birmingham Pride - one of the major festivals on the city calendar - is taking place this weekend. Graeme Brown looks at the value of the 'pink pound'

HS2's Curzon Street Station to link Birmingham to the Continent

Birmingham Post — Fri, 24 May 2013 07:46:00 GMT

A new high speed rail station in Birmingham city centre will have a platform for trains to the Continent, it has been revealed.

GP surgeries come to the rescue for crisis-hit A&E departments

Birmingham Post — Fri, 24 May 2013 06:07:00 GMT

Desperate health managers are set to move GP surgeries into overwhelmed A&E departments in Birmingham.

New centres for sex crime victims to be run by G4S

Birmingham Post — Fri, 24 May 2013 06:03:00 GMT

Security firm G4S has been appointed to operate two support centres for rape and sex attack victims in the West Midlands.

Mum tells of grief after son dies in routine operation at Birmingham Children's Hospital

Birmingham Post — Fri, 24 May 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Ryan Senior went for a routine operation at Birmingham Children's Hospital but a series of mistakes meant the 16-year-old lost his life. Mother Sarah Halliwell spoke to Jeanette Oldham.

End of the road for classic Midlands cars as they head for extinction

Birmingham Post — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:08:00 GMT

Cars made in the Midlands in their hundreds of thousands have almost all gone to the scrapheap in the sky, according to new research.

£1.9m pension for under-fire NHS chief David Nicholson

Birmingham Post — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:23:00 GMT

Embattled NHS boss Sir David Nicholson plans to retire next year with a pension pot worth almost £1.9 million.

Kerrang! Radio to quit Birmingham as 105.2FM is handed to Planet Rock

Birmingham Post — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:22:00 GMT

Birmingham-based radio station Kerrang! is to close its city centre studios and lose its FM broadcast frequency in a major shake-up announced by owner Bauer Media.

Ten-year plan unveiled to shake-up Birmingham's transport system

Birmingham Post — Thu, 23 May 2013 05:26:00 GMT

Birmingham’s failing transport system is to be tackled head on with a ten-year vision for roads, rail, bus, cycle and tram development in the city.

Phil Bennion: Hope and progress amid the violence and death in Pakistan's election

Birmingham Post — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:15:00 GMT

West Midlands MEP Phil Bennion was part of the EU team to observe the 2013 Pakistan elections.

Hat-trick of awards for Simpsons chefs

Birmingham Post — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:10:00 GMT

Chefs from Simpsons restaurant in Birmingham have claimed a large slice of the honours at one of the culinary industry’s top awards.

Homeowners blighted by HS2 could face 12-year wait for compensation

Birmingham Post — Wed, 22 May 2013 05:55:00 GMT

HOMEOWNERS in the Midlands blighted by the proposed HS2 high speed rail line could face a compensation wait of up to 12 YEARS.

Meriden gypsies launch new bid to return to site

Birmingham Post — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:15:00 GMT

Gypsies evicted from an illegal camp following a three-year battle have launched a bid to return to the green belt site – dealing residents a hammer blow.

Birmingham Airport's plan to ease over-capacity

Birmingham Post — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:01:00 GMT

Birmingham airport bosses have drafted a five-point ‘game changing’ plan to encourage best-use of spare capacity in the UK and boost growth across the country.In a submission to the Airports Commission inquiry, which is examining the need for additional UK capacity and how this can be met, Birmingham claimed it could have handled 27 million passengers by 2012 with only minor developments to existing infrastructure.A submission by Birmingham said an increase in capacity at the West Midlands airport had the potential to create 20,000 jobs in the region. It also alleged that by fully utilising existing infrastructure, the airport would improve passenger choice and increase competition.The five-pronged plan to make best use of spare aviation capacity includes:* Implementing a “congestion charge” at over-capacity airports* Launching a ‘Great British Airports’ marketing campaign at the 2013 World Routes convention* Allow a trial for non-EU carriers to operate long-haul services from airports outside the south east* Introducing a differential tax regime at airports with spare capacity* Promoting consumer choice through surface access improvements The submission was endorsed by representatives of business in the Midlands including local enterprise partnerships, transport groups and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group.Paul Kehoe, airport chief executive, said: “Birmingham Airport has been long been banging the drum for making better use of existing aviation capacity and we thank the Airports Commission for putting this centre stage in the short-medium term. “The airport and our business partners have outlined five practical ways that we can make the most of existing resources – including better marketing, fiscal measures and surface access improvements. “The results of this would be game-changing for the Midlands. Not only would we see more choice for passengers, but we’d directly create jobs and build better aviation links for our businesses to trade abroad. “I believe this is the first important step to getting the great airports that this country’s great cities need.”

Birmingham workers pay 20 per cent less income tax UK average

Birmingham Post — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:27:00 GMT

Residents of Birmingham have one of the lowest average income tax bills in the UK, paying an average of £3,520 per year.The average annual income tax contribution of workers in Birmingham is 20 per cent lower than the UK average of £4,398, according to city accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young.Malcolm Winston, partner at UHY Hacker Young, said: “Birmingham’s personal wealth and tax bills are much lower than those in places like London and the South East, a legacy of the huge changes the local economy has undergone thanks to the decline of traditional industries. “It has a lot of catching up to do, but there is a lot of potential in the city. Birmingham’s manufacturing industries remain an important source of exports and foreign investment for the UK, while hosting one of the Government’s new Enterprise Zones will also help attract private investment and jobs to the city, boosting wealth. “The Government has announced some major infrastructure projects to benefit the Midlands like High Speed 2, but these will take a long time to bring tangible benefits. More action is needed now.” “Plans to cut its long-term costs could be achieved by decentralising more of its functions to regional hubs like Birmingham.” The research showed that the UK is reliant on a handful of wealthy towns for income tax revenue.Mr Winston added: “Birmingham is heading in the right direction, but it has a long way to go before it is in the same bracket as London and its leafy suburbs.”However, UHY Hacker Young’s report revealed that when total tax payments by area are considered, Birmingham contributes the sixth highest bill in the UK, with residents paying a total of £1,430million in the last financial year. This is behind London (£33,700million), Manchester (£4,410million), Liverpool (£2,190million), Leeds (£1,490million), and Edinburgh (£1,450million).Solihull is 26th with a £556million bill, followed by Dudley in 35th with £461million and Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick with £440million in 40th place.

Birmingham's Paragon Hotel to be transformed by Iraqi investor

Birmingham Post — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Birmingham’s Paragon Hotel looks set to be transformed following its acquisition by an Iraqi investor.

John Lewis appoints Birmingham flagship store boss

Birmingham Post — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

John Lewis has announced Kim Lowe, a native of the Midlands, will be the manager of its new flagship Birmingham store.