Overnight motorway closures in Midlands this week: full list
National Highways confirms 23 overnight closures on M1, M5, M6, M42 in Midlands from Aug 17-20, 9pm-6am. Plan ahead for late-night or early-morning travel.
Category : Transport
Drivers fined for ignoring variable speed limits on M6, M42
Drivers on West Midlands motorways face fines and penalty points for exceeding variable speed limits, even when under 60mph. Authorities enforce limits displayed on gantries, which are legal requirements, not advisory. Recent examples include M42 roadwork
DVLA warns: exempt vehicles still need taxing
DVLA reminds drivers that even VED-exempt vehicles must be taxed. Failure can lead to clamping, fines, or court action. Know the rules.
Salamina wildfires: evacuations, 260 firefighters deployed
Two wildfires on Salamina island, Greece, have forced evacuations and threatened a British tourist village. 260 firefighters and 10 aircraft are battling the blazes, with 502 people rescued by sea.
Parking bans on 81 Leicester roads for gully works
Leicester City Council introduces parking restrictions on 81 residential roads for gully clearance, starting with four streets in Spinney Hills this week.
DVSA confirms MOT photo change but obeying it will be 'optional'
DVSA has confirmed MOT centres must take a photo of vehicles from August, but uploading is optional for now. Around 2,500 garages affected. Trials involving 311 garages were successful.
Free bus pass age change September: born 1960-61 affected
From September, the age for free bus passes in England rises with State Pension age. Those born Aug 6-Sep 5, 1960 face postponement. Check eligibility.
Airport car hire warning after holidaymakers lose £185
A car hire warning has been issued after holidaymakers were charged for being "no-show" at Heathrow, with one customer losing £185 after a delayed flight.
M6 M42 Drivers Fined for Ignoring Variable Speed Limits
Drivers on West Midlands motorways face fines and penalty points for exceeding variable speed limits below 60mph on M6 and M42, including HS2 works zones.
New emergency power cut rule confirmed for households
Households can now face emergency power cuts at short notice under new rules confirmed for Andy Burnham's government, with Neso able to trigger rolling blackouts as a last resort.
Birmingham Airport: Samos flights from £44
Birmingham Airport promotes Jet2 flights to Samos, Greece, from £44, highlighting beaches, wine, and ancient sites.
Drivers face months-long wait for driving tests, DVSA warns
The average waiting time for a driving test in June was 17.3 weeks or longer at 60 test centres, with a four-month wait still common, according to DVSA data and experts.
Bus pass age change September: affected birth years
Free bus pass eligibility changes in September as State Pension age rises to 67 for those born between March 1961 and April 1977. Check your date of birth for the exact age.
Parking charges return at Wyndley Leisure Centre with ANPR
Wyndley Leisure Centre in Sutton Coldfield reintroduces parking charges with ANPR from Sept 1, but users get 4 hours free.
Stourbridge fire: Train disruption continues on Snow Hill Lines
Train disruption continues in Stourbridge after a fire destroyed 19 homes and injured 54. West Midlands Railway runs reduced services with rail replacement buses.
Stourbridge Fire Rail Disruption: Update
A major fire in Stourbridge caused widespread rail disruption; services are gradually resuming after emergency repairs, with delays expected into the evening.
84% of drivers who ignore sat-nav arrive earlier, RAC study finds
A new RAC study of 1,601 motorists finds 84% who ignore sat-nav directions arrive earlier than estimated, while 11% were directed the wrong way down one-way streets.
Heathrow flooding: road closures hit Terminals 2 and 3
Flooding at Heathrow has closed roads to Terminals 2 and 3 on Saturday, urging passengers to use rail services and allow extra time.
Edgbaston Stadium reveals Radisson RED hotel design for 2027
Edgbaston Stadium has revealed final designs for its 146-room Radisson RED hotel, set to open in July 2027 in time for the Ashes, featuring a rooftop restaurant and bar.
HS2 Solihull viaducts complete; A38 slip road delayed
HS2's three viaducts near Solihull Interchange are structurally complete, marking major progress. However, a separate A38 slip road closure near Lichfield is delayed until April 2027, drawing criticism from MP Dave Robertson.
DVSA MOT rule change: photos now mandatory for every car
DVSA's new 'Photos at Test' scheme, rolled out from 3 August, requires technicians to photograph every car during MOT tests to combat fraud. Drivers are urged to check their MOT history and be wary of guaranteed passes.
Birmingham road closures for European Athletics Championships weekend
Major road closures in Birmingham city centre and Jewellery Quarter for European Athletics Championships marathon and race walks this weekend, with some roads shut over 50 hours and car fines warned.
120mph+ speeds recorded on West Midlands motorways
New police data reveals drivers repeatedly exceeded 120mph on West Midlands motorways, with the fastest at 137mph on the M6. Top 10 speeds all on motorways.
Stourbridge Fire: Rail Service Changes Announced
Rail passengers face disruption after a fire near Stourbridge. Services between Stourbridge Junction and Worcester are affected, with replacement buses and revised timetables in place.
Birmingham heatwave ends at 7pm today as temps drop
Birmingham's heatwave officially ends at 7pm today (August 14) as temperatures fall below 26C. After reaching 36C yesterday, the weekend will be cooler, with highs of 23-24C.
Disposable BBQ sale ban announced after fires
The Government has temporarily banned the sale of disposable barbecues due to heatwave conditions, following devastating fires across the West Midlands that destroyed homes and forced evacuations.
Burnham to cut EV sales targets to 50% by 2030
Prime Minister Andy Burnham will launch a consultation to cut the zero-emission vehicle sales target to 50% by 2030, down from 80%, and may delay the 2035 petrol car ban.
43 areas get £250 off energy bills for living near pylons
Thousands of households living within 500m of new or upgraded pylons will get £2,500 off electricity bills over 10 years, starting next year, under Andy Burnham's plan.
WMR unable to run some Snow Hill routes after Stourbridge fire
West Midlands Railway says it cannot run services on some Snow Hill routes after a large fire in Stourbridge encroached onto railway embankments, with reduced services and rail replacement buses in place.
Drink-Drive Limit Slashed to 22 in England and Wales
The Government's new road safety strategy proposes cutting the drink-drive limit from 35 to 22 micrograms, matching Scotland, with one drink potentially over the limit.
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