More jam-busting plans before Brum’s congestion charge ?

traffic solutions for Birmingham City Centre? 
Birmingham City Council is making more plans to relieve traffic congestion in the city.
Following the controversial introduction of single occupancy lanes for car drivers on the A47 from Spitfire Island, last week the Council announced a pilot scheme to open up bus lanes to some other types of vehicle. Bus lanes on parts [...]

High School Musical completely sold out

Anthony Channer plays Troy, and Sophie Tisdale plays Gabriella in High School Musical
Castle Vale School’s production of High School Musical which has its opening night tonight (Monday 26th November) is completely sold out for all four nights (26-29th).

Coroner adjourns case of Vale hanging tragedy

The Birmingham Coroner has opened and adjourned the case of Kelly Ann Room, 29, of Yatesbury Avenue, who was found hanged at her home on 15th November. The case was adjourned on 23rd November to allow for release of the body for funeral arrangements. No date has been set for the resumption of the inquest; it may [...]

Carol Singers Wanted for Bull Ring

Birmingham’s Bull Ring Markets are looking for singers to perform carols to shoppers and traders at their Christmas tree. Carol singing in the Market has been an annual tradition, but this year, organisers are finding it difficult to recruit volunteers.  Anyone interested in singing at the tree should contact Catherine Ryan on 01675 467 462 or 07818 40 27.

As Winter nears….Ten Tips for Saving Energy at Home

Decembers in Birmingham traditionally have fewer hours of daylight (1 per day, compared with 6 in June), and  more wet days (18) than any other month in the year, though November yields the heaviest rainfalls. January and February have the lowest average temperatures. 
Home Heat helpline offers the following tips to keep your home warm without using [...]

Vale throw away two goal advantage but make ground on leaders as Coleshill stumble

Vale FC will be kicking themselves for dropping two league points at 2nd placed Highgate in the Midland Combination Premier League. Two goals by top scorer Aaron Smith, his fourteenth and fifteenth league goals this season, saw Vale into a comfortable position. But late lapses in concentration allowed the home team to score twice in the last eight [...]

St Cuthberts Advent Fayre

St Cuthberts Church is holding its Advent Fayre today (Saturday) in the Church, from 11a.m. till 1.30p.m.. Entry is 25pence for adults. Caribbean food is in the offing.
‘Advent’ means ‘coming towards’ and in the Christian calendar indicates the approach of the celebration of the birth of Christ. Advent Sunday is traditionally the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and [...]

Anti-bullying week blues

 Anti-bullying organisers (click on photo to enlarge)
Caste Vale School’s anti-bullying week (19-23rd November) was a big success, according to the students and teachers who organised the activities. The project culminated in a ‘blue day’ on Friday, when staff and students abandoned their uniform and formal dress code, and wore something blue in keeping with the colour [...]

Flying start for ‘little sparklers’ at Vale Library

Parents with infants (from birth to three year-olds) are invited to bring their children to the Little Sparkle sessions on Wednesday afternoons from 1pm-3pm at Castle Vale Library, on the ground floor of Spitfire House in the High Street.
“The children are encouraged to make friends, interact, and to share and enjoy books,” says organiser Sarah Williams. “It’s [...]

Mike and Thelma Sharpe coming out of hospital tomorrow ..’all being well’.

Mike and Thelma Sharpe are making enough progress after their surgery to be allowed out of hospital tomorrow (Saturday) barring any late complications.
Thelma donated a kidney to her husband Mike, last year’s Mayor of Birmingham. The operation took place last weekend.
Thelma experienced some complications after the operation, but is said to be recovering well enough to leave [...]