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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

The National Lottery

Birmingham wins share of £50m lottery windfall to improve cycle routes

BIRMINGHAM has won the battle for a slice of a £50 million Lottery windfall following a massive public vote. Read

The Irish Centre.

£150m transformation of Digbeth in Birmingham gets the go-ahead

THE £150 million transformation of Birmingham's run-down Irish Quarter will begin next year after receiving the go-ahead from city planners. Read

David Bell

Final edition for the Birmingham Mail's David Bell

TRIBUTES were today being paid to one of the city's best-known journalists as the Birmingham Mail's David Bell retires after more than 30 years with the newspaper. Read

New Street Station

New Street Station in Birmingham to get final £236m development cash

CONFIRMATION of the final £236 million lump sum for the redevelopment of New Street Station is now due in mid-January, it was revealed today. Read

The German market in Birmingham.

German market sinks Birmingham Council workers pay cut rally

PLANS for a massive demonstration by thousands of angry Birmingham council workers have been torpedoed - by the city's German market. Read

The proposed Soho Hill development.

Architects told to think again over Soho Hill plans in Birmingham

THE architects behind a controversial apartment, office and shop complex in Birmingham will be sent back to the drawing board after it was described as a "slum of the future". Read

Law and order.

Select and Save in Five Ways in court for selling booze to children

THE Select and Save store in Birmingham's Five Ways faces having its booze licence revoked after repeatedly selling drink to children. Read

Cartoon competition.

Teenage artists to get comic break with talent competition

TALENTED teenage artists can get their big break into the world of superheroes and adventure through a new competition launched by Birmingham's top comic artists. Read

Probe into fears Birmingham Council is blocking mayor campaign

MINISTERS have launched an inquiry into fears that Birmingham Council is trying to undermine the campaign for a referendum on whether the city needs an elected mayor. Read

Islam

Festival to build bridges with Muslims in Birmingham

AN ARTS festival, community clean ups, prayer meetings and even a special stand-up comedy night are the highlights of a week-long celebration of the Muslim faith in Birmingham. Read

Asda-Walmart at Minworth, Sutton Coldfield.

Birmingham's Asda Wal-Mart supermarket to get makeover

BIRMINGHAM'S largest superstore, the Asda Wal-Mart at Minworth, is set to go ahead with a multi-million-pound redevelopment. Read

Birmingham Council House

Advice sessions for women workers at Birminmgham Council in pay row

WOMEN workers at Birmingham City Council making equal pay claims against their bosses can get free expert advice from conciliation service Acas. Read

Birmingham Council House

Birmingham Council pay deal slammed by lobby group

BIRMINGHAM City Council's new pay and grading deal was today slammed as an "expensive political correctness" scheme by a local government lobby group. Read

Council staff in strike threat over pay cuts

OUTRAGED Birmingham City Council staff are planning a series of Christmas protests followed by a winter of discontent over new pay deals. Read

Council pay helpline 'in meltdown'

UNION and city council telephones were today said to be "in meltdown" after thousands of staff had their controversial pay cuts confirmed. Read

Hundreds sign up to elected mayor petition

HUNDREDS more Birmingham voters demanded the right to decide whether the city had an elected mayor in a second petition day of action. Read

Birmingham Council House

Crunch day for Birmingham Council workers pay packets

THOUSANDS of Birmingham City Council workers were today finding out how much their salaries will change under a new pay and grading system. Read

Fake clothing found in the factory in Partons Road, Kings Heath.

Ram raiders reveal massive Birmingham fake clothes factory

A HUGE fake designer clothes factory was found in Birmingham today - after being exposed by ram raiders. Read

The petition for an elected Mayor for Birmingham.

Six months in and the fight continues for Mayor petition

THOUSANDS of readers have now backed the Birmingham Mail's petition calling for a referendum on an elected mayor in the city. Read

Birmingham Council House

Birmingham council workers demonstrate over pay cuts

BIRMINGHAM'S human resources chief was forced to run for cover when 500 angry workers demonstrated over pay cuts. 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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