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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

Hospital club wins late opening battle

A HOSPITAL social club has won an extended licence despite protests over noise and parking problems. Read

New TV station aimed at pub-goers

PUBS and clubs across Birmingham will soon be tuning in to a new TV station broadcasting from Sutton Coldfield. Read

Pigeons will get the bird!

PIGEONS will be stopped from ruining Birmingham's heritage following a revamp of Corporation Street's historic buildings. Read

Brum's 'ugliest' building to get makeover

A BID to convert a 20-storey office block dubbed "one of Birmingham's ugliest" has been given the thumb- up by city heritage bosses. Read

MP slams 'ghetto' claims

A RACE relations chief's claim that the country is sleepwalking into New Orleans-style segregation were today slammed as 'offensive' by a city MP. Read

'Rowdy' Tories are turning the air blue!

DRUNKEN revellers, noisy party-goers and pubs blaring music into the early hours account for most of the complaints passed to Birmingham's licensing chiefs. Read

No more rocking around the clock

THE landlady of a Birmingham pub which set superbands Oasis and Blur on the road to stardom has had the plug pulled on her. Read

Tornado cost reaches £40m

THE emergency response to Birmingham's tornado and the clean-up of streets, homes and businesses will cost the council at least £40 million. Read

Midnight pub plan rejected

THE owner of a troubled pub has been told to employ a new manager and sort out anti-social behaviour problems - or forget having extra opening hours. Read

Villa fans' joy at bid

VILLA fans today welcomed fresh talk of a major takeover and pleaded with chairman Doug Ellis: "Please consider the bid." Read

Minister backs city mayor bid

THE debate over an elected mayor for Birmingham has been re-opened by a Government minister. Read

Row as storm appeal refused

CITY leaders today stood accused of turning their back on Birmingham's tornado victims after overturning a bid to set up an official disaster relief fund. Read

Protest over all-night service station shop

FAMILIES living next to an all-night service station fear licensing chiefs have opened the floodgates for an all-night takeaway. Read

Fireworks horror at drive-in cinema

SEVEN onlookers were showered with burning debris after a firework display in Birmingham went horribly wrong last night. Read

Railside arson 'a plot to disrupt'

A FIRE in a signal box which brought chaos to Birmingham's rail network may be the latest in a spate of deliberate attempts to disrupt train services. Read

Delays ahead for drivers

COMMUTERS were today warned to expect nine months of delays when two major roads close for water pipe works. Read

Families are sick of sewage stink

TWO householders whose basements have repeatedly flooded with stinking raw sewage are locked in a battle with their water company over the clean-up. Read

Tesco joy as city says yes

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a Tesco supermarket which have divided a city community for more than seven years have finally been given the go-ahead. Read

Poster pests in peril

A CRACKDOWN on flyposting has led to a string of arrests and 29 people facing thousands of pounds in fines. Read

Petrol prices top £1 a litre

PETROL prices have smashed through the £1 barrier for city drivers following an Evening Mail readers' survey of filling stations. 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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