Birmingham Bin Changes Begin Amid Backlash
Birmingham Council's coalition faces criticism as bin collections shift to fortnightly in a pilot, with opposition parties claiming broken promises on weekly service.
Category : Council Services
DWP to Check 18 Fraud Signs in Universal Credit Accounts
The DWP will monitor 18 signs of fraud in Universal Credit claimants' bank accounts under new powers from the Labour government to clamp down on error and fraud.
Flickering Lights and Buzzing Sockets: Electrical Faults Ignored by 22%
Electrical faults like flickering lights or buzzing sockets are often ignored, but experts warn they can lead to fires or shocks. 22% of UK homeowners delay repairs, and 16% have never had an inspection.
Walsall Street One-Way System Funding Missing
Residents on Hospital Street and Croft Street in Walsall are frustrated as a proposed one-way system, supported in a 2024 consultation, still lacks funding and a delivery date, with ongoing traffic issues causing damage and confrontations.
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Wolverhampton Fire: 1,000 Tonnes Recycling Blaze Closes Roads
A fire at Jones Skips in Wolverhampton involving 1,000 tonnes of recycling materials led to road closures and an 'avoid the area' warning on July 6.
DWP New Housing Benefit Rules for 315,000 Claimants
From October 2026, 315,000 benefits claimants in supported housing and temporary accommodation will no longer face income drops when increasing work hours, as DWP introduces new disregards.
Tividale Storage Gets 24/7 Green Light After Noise Study
Sandwell Council has approved permanent 24-hour operation for a Tividale shipping container storage facility, reversing previous restrictions after noise monitoring showed minimal impact.
M&S thief vows to turn life around, tells court 'It's not who I am'
James Whitlow, 44, stole £662 worth of meat and alcohol from M&S and Home Bargains. He told Birmingham Magistrates' Court he is not a petty thief and plans to pay compensation immediately after finding work.
Rochdale Gets £27,461 Gum Removal Grant
Rochdale Borough Council secures £27,461 from Chewing Gum Task Force to vaporise gum from pavements, part of a 50-council scheme reducing litter by up to 86%.
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Frivolous complaints cost taxpayers tens of thousands
Staffordshire County Council received 149 complaints, mostly against Reform UK councillors, with only eight upheld, costing taxpayers tens of thousands.
Man Stabbed to Death in Wolverhampton Car Park
A man in his 20s was fatally stabbed in a Wolverhampton car park early Sunday. Three people, including a 32-year-old on murder suspicion, have been arrested as investigations continue.
Body Found at Watermead Country Park in Unexplained Death
A man's body was found in the water at Watermead Country Park in Leicestershire on Saturday afternoon. Police are treating the death as unexplained as investigations continue.
Police Call Handlers Face Jail After Guilty Pleas
Two Derbyshire police call handlers, Jessica Fitzhugh and Ellie-Mae Doherty, pleaded guilty to computer misuse and misconduct; a judge warned they face prison.
Midlands Police Officer Sacked Over Misconduct
A Midlands police officer has been dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing that found him guilty of gross misconduct. The officer, who served with West Midlands Police, was sacked after an investigation revealed he had breached professiona
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Halifax customers urged to switch to Lloyds app
Lloyds Banking Group is axing the Halifax brand after 173 years; customers are urged to start using the Lloyds app as accounts are migrated.
Appeal After Property Set Alight in Yardley
West Midlands Police are appealing for witnesses after a property on Stockfield Road in Yardley was deliberately set on fire on July 2, with no injuries reported.
Three charged with attempted murder after Oldbury stabbing
Three teens, including Soleh Uzair, 18, and two 17-year-olds, charged with attempted murder after a 19-year-old man was stabbed in Oldbury on July 2.
ScottishPower owes £1,000 in solar payments after admin error
ScottishPower owes a customer more than £1,000 in solar panel feed-in tariff payments after an administrative error, resolved only after media intervention.
Lloyds Confirms All 190 Halifax Branches to Stay Open
Lloyds Bank has confirmed all 190 Halifax branches will remain open despite the brand being phased out, with signage removal starting in early 2027. No closures are planned.
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'Ace' County Line Gang Busted with Cash in Lynx Deodorant
Four people sentenced for running the 'Ace' county line drug ring in Stourbridge. Police seized £65,000 cash and drugs hidden in a Lynx deodorant can.
How to Check Your EPC Rating and Cool Your Home
Discover how checking your Energy Performance Certificate can reveal why your home traps heat and how to fix it, with tips to stay cool during heatwaves.
Birmingham Sweet Shop Fined £30,000 for Pest Infestation
Kundun Sweets Ltd in Acocks Green fined over £30,000 after environmental health officers found widespread cockroach activity and mice droppings, posing a significant public health risk.
Infested Sweet Shop Fined £30,000
A West Midlands sweet shop infested with mice and cockroaches has been ordered to pay over £30,000 after hygiene inspectors found widespread contamination.
Two Men Charged Over 30 Shop Thefts in Wolverhampton
Two men face charges for over 30 shop thefts in Wolverhampton, with goods worth £25,000 allegedly stolen. Craig Bird and Mark Curtis are arrested as part of a police crackdown on retail crime.
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Supermarket fined £3k over rat infestation and filthy conditions
Fighting Cocks Supermarket in Wolverhampton fined £3,000 after environmental health officers found rat droppings, gnawed food, and rodent footprints during a routine inspection.
Wolverhampton fire road closed 170 days, businesses at risk
Upper Villiers Street remains closed 170 days after a factory fire, with businesses facing closure without council support. Fire cause unknown due to unsafe building access.
Birmingham restaurant shut after cockroach infestation
Taste of Persia in Hagley Road, Birmingham, was shut down after environmental health officers found a widespread cockroach infestation during a routine inspection in June 2024.
HMRC Reclaims Winter Fuel Payments from Higher-Income Pensioners
HMRC is contacting state pensioners earning over £35,000 to reclaim Winter Fuel Payments of £100-£300 via tax code changes starting in 2026-27, adding about £17 per month to tax bills.
McDonald's Confirms VAT Cut to 5% After Government Meeting
McDonald's and other major chains will cut prices as VAT on eligible activities drops from 20% to 5% across the UK, following a government roundtable with Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
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Prisoner who ran drug ring from cell jailed again
Ryan Mountford, 23, directed a drug operation from prison using phones, supplying crack cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to six years four months after release and spat at an officer.
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