Community News

The government’s offer of grants to replace gas boilers with heat pumps will be useless for most consumers, experts reveal.

Myles Robinson, heating expert at Boiler Central, said: “The plan is misleading for UK consumers. The government is suggesting that all homes can have heat pumps to replace gas boilers, when in fact only a small percentage of UK homes are suitable for them.

Birmingham’ Frankfurt Christmas Market started taking shape this weekend, as the city prepares for the festive attraction’s return next month. The distinctive chalets, bars and landmark Christmas tree, have started to take shape after work on building the market began on October 23.

Plans for one of London’s first new public parks for decades have been revealed, as Wembley Park opens the first section of a new open space for the capital – and the first time Wembley Park will have a new major park for 127 years.

Unveiling the plans for the seven-acre Union Park is the latest milestone in developer Quintain’s multi-billion-pound regeneration of Wembley Park, which is now a globally renowned entertainment district, as well as a thriving 365-day neighbourhood.

Pupils from an inner-city primary school have planted the first of 1,000 trees set to be placed along the route of the Sprint bus route. The children from Anglesey Primary School in Lozells picked up their spades and helped put 10 trees, of various types including cherry and walnut trees, in nearby George’s Park.

A report approved by City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet shows how the Council is continuing to support its tenants in rent arrears or with money worries caused by the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There are currently almost 22,000 Council homes in the city, with 91 per cent managed by the Council’s arms-length management organisation, Wolverhampton Homes.

The LGIU and CCLA have announce that Councillor Parbinder Kaur of Sandwell Council has been shortlisted for the 2021 Cllr Awards for Resilience and Recovery. 

For the 12th year running, the Cllr Awards are the only national ceremony to celebrate the vital contributions of councillors that so often go unrecognised.

The head of the Irish Catholic Church has said partition causes him "a deep sense of loss and sadness". Archbishop Eamon Martin was addressing a service to mark the centenary of Ireland being divided and the formation of Northern Ireland.

In 1921, the island was divided into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined 150 guests from both sides of the border at the event, with Archbishop Martin saying that for the past 100 years, partition had polarised people on this island.

School children from across Birmingham have been writing poems and creating ‘orange hearts’ artwork (the international symbol of welcome to refugees) to welcome those seeking sanctuary in the city, as part of a nationwide ‘week of action’ led by Together With Refugees. Joined by local charities, faith and community groups, they are coming together to call for a kind and fair approach to people seeking safety, while opposing the Governments Nationality and Borders Bill which is due to be debated in Parliament from this week.

Research from hospitality insurer NFU Mutual today reveals that 95% of dog owners are considering taking their dog on holiday, as thousands of canine guests are expected to accompany their owners during next week’s half term break.  

Against a backdrop of pandemic puppies and a surge in staycations, nearly two thirds (60%) of dog owners say they will always take their pet away with them.

In line with the publication of the Government’s net zero strategy today, the Future Homes Standard, which aims to reduce the carbon footprint of residential homes by 80%, will come into effect in 2025. The legislation aims to ensure that new homes in England are futureproofed with low-carbon heating systems and high levels of energy efficiency, including heat pumps replacing gas-powered boilers.

A Coventry man who was found guilty of allowing his van to be used to dump waste in Selly Oak was ordered to pay almost £4,000 after a trial at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.

Kulvir Singh Dhaliwal, aged 47, of Crampers Field, Coventry, was in legal control of the vehicle when it was filmed by a local resident on land at the rear of flats on Hollybank Road in Selly Oak, in Birmingham, on April 3 of this year.

On Friday December 3, the oldest and biggest sleepout in the UK returns to Birmingham. The new venue for St Basils Big SleepOut 2021 is Millennium Point - and the organisers hope to fill it to capacity.

Abigail Vlahakis, the CEO of Millennium Point said: “It is a pleasure to support the important work St Basils achieves every year in tackling youth homelessness.

Birmingham City University criminologist, Professor Elizabeth Yardley, says our criminal justice system is not set up to respond to domestic abuse, as new figures show a huge rise in domestic abuse cases being dropped.

“The data highlighted today, that nearly 13,000 cases have been dropped in the last five years, highlights to me that there is a problem with the way our criminal justice system recognises and responds to domestic abuse.

Car parks in Wednesfield are to be named in honour of two well-loved local residents under a community-led approach to celebrating their lives and contributions to the village.

City of Wolverhampton Council-owned car parks off Woodhouse Fold are to be named after Steph Clarke, a community activist and photographer, and William “Harry” Busby, a Second World War veteran.

Diwali, the festival of lights, will be celebrated in Wolverhampton at a free event on Saturday October 23. The fun will take place between 4pm and 8pm at Phoenix Park, off Dudley Road in Blakenhall.

Hosted by The Elias Mattu Foundation, the event will feature entertainment by Lehmber Hussainpuri, DJ Mac, Gaggi Dhillon, Wolvo Jatti, Lucky Rai, Dhol Frequency and Ultimate Bhangra.  

A statue designed by Jamaican sculptor Basil Watson has been chosen to stand in London's Waterloo Station as a tribute to the Windrush generation.

The 12ft-high (3.6m) statue, selected from a shortlist of four designs, will be of a man, woman and child dressed in their "Sunday best".