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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

Cash boost for YMCA in Erdington

PLANS for a £12 million landmark apartment block for the homeless are a step nearer thanks to a Government grant. Read

Community policing could suffer from 24 hour drinking

COMMUNITY policing could suffer following the introduction of round-the-clock drinking, it has emerged. Read

Call to restore JFK mural

OWNERS of Birmingham’s new Irish Quarter were today urged to fulfil a moral duty to restore the much-loved Kennedy memorial to its former glory. Read

Birmingham has a new Lord Mayor

BEHIND every great man there's a even greater woman...and Birmingham's new Lord Mayor admitted he is no exception to that rule. Read

Service held to remember Sir Richard Knowles

THE man affectionately known as Mr Brum made his city and the world a better place, a service in his honour heard. Read

Birmingham Carling Academy to move to The Dome

A LANDMARK city centre nightclub, which has been silent for four years, could soon be rocking to the tunes of the world’s biggest rock and pop acts. The former Dome nightclub on Bristol Street is to be given a £4 million overhaul to become the new home of the Birmingham Carling Academy. Read

Golfing docs save life of OAP in Sutton Coldfield

OFF-duty doctors saved the life of an elderly man after he suffered a heart attack on a golf course. Read

We're in the money, say delighted mums

TWO Birmingham mums have had their budget worries eased after winning the Mail's Cut the Cost competition. Read

Tribunals fear over pay claim for Birmingham council workers

CITY council bosses could be landed with thousands of employment tribunal cases from staff facing salary cuts under the controversial new pay and grading system. Read

Sound row over Birmingham big screen

NEW sound-proofing measures are being considered to protect office workers from the drone of 24-hour rolling news coverage on Birmingham's £365,000 big screen. Read

Late night buses in Broad Street to be scrapped

LATE night bus services from Birmingham’s Golden Mile have been suddenly scrapped due lack of interest. Read

Planning chiefs want JFK mural restored

FURIOUS city planning chiefs want Birmingham’s historic Kennedy mural fully restored to its former glory in a new £150 million Digbeth Irish Quarter development. Read

Police investigation into postal vote fraud allegations

POLICE have begun the 'painstaking' process of investigating allegations of postal vote fraud during last week's local election. Read

Row over Birmingham complex homes bid

SHELTERED homes for frail elderly are to be built at the heart of a new £50 million Sutton Coldfield shopping complex sparking protests from councillors. Read

Calling all the heroes to Nostalgia and Comics in Birmingham

SUPERGIRL flew into Birmingham to help the city’s oldest comic shop celebrate an international event of epic proportions. Read

Factory lying under Centenary Square

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered the remains of a Victorian metal work factory and canal beneath Centenary Square. The excavations on the car park next the Birmingham Rep Theatre have also revealed a section of canal. Read

Worries as voters head to the polls

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown was sweating on a tough night ahead as thousands of voters go to the polls in local council and mayoral elections today. Read

Row over Tory candidate leaflet

A CONSERVATIVE candidate is claiming to live in both south Birmingham and Wolverhampton as he battles for two elections. Read

Tories 'desperate' to clear the streets

NEWSPAPERS, plastic bottles, glass and tin cans left by Sutton Coldfield residents for recycling during last week's strike have been sent to landfill site in a bid to clear the backlog. Read

Fighting on for George

A CITY mum who launched an asthma charity following the death of her three-year-old son is to take her campaign to the Government health minister next month. Read

Author Profile

A local news reporter in the Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and south Staffordshire area since 1995, Neil Elkes is the local government correspondent covering the activities of Birmingham CIty Council - Europe's largest local authority. An avid reader and collector of comics Neil is writing a column on this for the Birmingham Mail website.

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