Motorists in the West Midlands are still crawling through traffic at an average of less than 20mph – but increased by 0.9mph over the last year – official figures have revealed.
The big thing in 2012 will be televisions, music systems and other electronic gizmos which are operated by voice or hand signal, without the need for remote controls, writes Peter Rhodes.
A 65-metre high chimney that would form part of a planned £60 million incinerator would make less impact on the landscape than nearby pylons, a witness at an appeal hearing has claimed. A 65-metre high chimney that would form part of a planned £60 million incinerator would make less impact on the landscape than nearby pylons, a witness at an appeal hearing has claimed. Nigel Weir, principal landscape architect at URS Scott Wilson, said that he did not believe waste firm Veolia's proposed burner at the Battlefield Enterprise Park should be rejected on the grounds of its design. In his summary of evidence to the inquiry, Mr Weir, who appeared as a witness for Veolia, said the scale of the proposed facility had played a part in the incinerator originally being rejected. But he said that 'objective comparison' with nearby buildings showed that the facility would not have an 'incongruous' effect on the local landscape. The hearing continues. Full report in today's Shropshire Star
AFC Telford United manager Andy Sinton today warned his side nothing less than their best will suffice as they chase victory in tomorrow's battle of the play-off winners against Ebbsfleet.
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COUNCIL TAX payers in rural areas are being charged more than people living in cities – but getting less in return. COUNCIL TAX payers in rural areas are being charged more than people living in cities – but getting less in return. Experts say Shropshire Council receives £408 per head of population from the Government, 20 per cent less than the English average of £491. Telford & Wrekin Council gets £558, far less than the highest funded authority of Hackney, in London, which gets £1,194. Graham Biggs, chief executive of The Rural Services Network and former chief executive of South Shropshire District Council, said the chief concern of the RSN was the large difference in funding between many areas of the country. "We will always accept more grants will go to urban areas. But the gap in funding is simply far too big," he said.
The amount of food waste collected in slop buckets in Wolverhampton has fallen every single month since they were rolled out to all homes in the city, it was revealed today.
Motorists in the West Midlands are crawling through traffic at an average of less than 20mph – while in Staffordshire drivers are travelling along the county's rural roads at a relatively speedy 27mph.
More than 10,700 parking tickets were issued across Shropshire in the last financial year, new figures showed today. More than 10,700 parking tickets were issued across Shropshire in the last financial year, new figures showed today. But the amount of cash Shropshire Council made from the tickets in the last financial year fell by about £11,000 on the previous year, with about 230 fewer tickets handed out in the period April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011 compared with April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010. Shropshire Council officials today said 10,772 Penalty Charge Notices were handed out in the last financial year, compared with 11,000 in 2009 to 2010. [24link]
Shropshire's main water supplier today urged people to cut down on what they were using after revealing reservoir levels were already 10 per cent lower than normal due to the recent mini-heatwave.
Shirehall bosses today confirmed that Shropshire Council has been given less money from the Government than expected. Shirehall bosses today confirmed that Shropshire Council has been given less money from the Government than expected. The total draft grant settlement for next year is £108 million. The council is still working on making total savings over four years of £76 million - including £10 million already made in this current financial year. Council chief executive Kim Ryley said today it was still working through the details of the draft settlement.
The owner of an unclaimed £60,000 lottery ticket that was sold in Shropshire has until Monday to root out the slip before the cash goes to charity, lottery bosses said today. The owner of an unclaimed £60,000 lottery ticket that was sold in Shropshire has until Monday to root out the slip before the cash goes to charity, lottery bosses said today. The winning ticket was bought in Telford on February 10 and matched five numbers and the bonus ball. But despite continued appeals the owner remains a mystery. Lottery bosses said that if no-one comes forward by 5.30pm on Monday the full £60,415, plus interest, will be handed over to charity.
An extension of the Midland Metro tram network was looking less likely than ever today after the new Transport Secretary refused to commit to funding.
Let us hope Slaven Bilic is right and Fabio Capello has taken some of the "Englishness" out of the national team, writes Martin Swain.
Letter: In these hard times the Government should be looking for ways of eliminating unnecessary expenditure.
