The new Metro Mayor is getting into ‘hot-water’ about supporting Birmingham over Coventry in the battle for Channel 4 – as it ready’s to move out of London!

Before you read the article below – I raised Wolverhampton as a site for the TV relocation…I still think it would be a real good fit, close to the rail station, so perhaps Mr Street bang the drum for Wolverhampton? It is equally as deserving as our West Midlands neighbours….

Mayor accused of Birmingham bias in Channel 4 tweet
Andy Street, the West Midlands mayor, has denied favouring Birmingham over Coventry in the region’s bid to attract Channel 4 following proposals to move the broadcaster out of London. The mayor attracted criticism when he tweeted a link to a newspaper article with the message “Birmingham, Liverpool and Sheffield want to be new home of Channel 4.” One user responded: “As do Coventry… is this the beginning of favouring Birmingham over us?” However, in an opinion piece in the Birmingham Mail, Neil Elkes says everyone “should stop paying lip service to our West Midlands neighbours – Birmingham is the only bid which adds up.” Meanwhile, Nottingham last week announced it would also be vying for Channel 4’s new HQ in a submission as part of a Government consultation.

Highways England is due to continue a concrete repair and re-surfacing scheme at Spaghetti Junction in July 2017.

Traffic management will be in place during the works, including seven full-weekend closures of junction 6 of the M6, entry and exit slip roads slip roads and the A38(M) into and out of Birmingham.

This is due to start from 7 July 2017 (TBC).

The work will be carried out during the summer months when the road is at its quietest with the M6 itself remaining fully open throughout.

Traffic management restrictions for the duration of the work:

• The tidal-flow lane on the A38(M) (controlled by electronic overhead signs) will be closed.
• Narrow lanes on A38(M) with a 30mph speed limit for safety reasons.
• Gravelly Hill will be closed from Six Ways to the A38(M) into city carriageway (access to frontages only) – diversions will be in place.
• Tyburn Road will remain open, but there will be no access to the A38(M).
• Park Circus on-slip will remain open.
• Salford Circus will remain open.

For further information, detailed dates and closure times, please visit our website.

You can also contact Highways England (available 24-hours-a-day) on 0300 123 5000.

Today I have reported the fact that there is a tree, that has slid into the water about 100 yards from The Pinfold Bridge, this is a hazard itself to Narrow Boat traffic so please be cautious if you are travelling on the WE in Wednesfield today!

But the tree slipping into the canal also fully exposes Giant Hogweed flowering.

Giant Hogweed is a poisonous invasive alien plant to the Wyrley and Essington canal. It needs to be treated by the Authorities.

I want to thank Wednesfield Resident Maureen Smith for being sharp eyed and quick,  to report this issue to me!

I have informed the management team at the Canal & River Trust so that they can deal with the tree in the water, and the Giant Hogweed, before it causes more problems for those that use this fantastic 220 year old canal!

Wolverhampton City Council were informed about this water leak outside the True Briton following a resident contacting me. The City Council informed me this morning that.

“We have spoken to Severn Trent about this. They are aware of the issue and have already inspected the leak yesterday. They have raised a job to fix the problem.”

Hopefully the Severn Trent team will be dealing with the matter now. Thanks again to the resident who first alerted me to the problem.

I have been warning for over a year now about the growing crisis in Local Pharmacies here in Wolverhampton , and right across the country!

There is an increasing threat taking place to the smaller Local Community Pharmacies in Wolverhampton. All because of the current Government Policy.

Larger retail chains which have profits from other things such as food and wholesaler drugs like Lloyds and Boots probably won’t even notice the Government changes.

The smaller chains of pharmacies, the single owners , will suffer, and are starting to fret about this.

I know in my conversation with Pharmacist’s that they have huge concerns around the loss of training, as Local Pharmacies will have no funds to use for this, refits of shops will be stopped, sufficient staffing levels will be in question.

I have been reminded by the industry that “ it’s a real tough world in pharmacy and yet there is so much potential for us to help reduce the ill patients using the NHS  and causing queues in surgeries.”

They went onto tell me that “The government are very proud of giving our funds over to the gp’s to fund a prescribing pharmacist but this does not solve the issue of a patient needing minor ailments treatments, and in the queue at surgery or even in casualty when they could have gone to pharmacy on the high street with no appointment.”

I remain very concerned that we will see smaller community pharmacies on local housing estates, in small villages, and other smaller settlements close, causing loss of local jobs, and a loss of a great local service.

I have already (last year) laid a resolution in the City Council trying to protect these Pharmacies, and since I have had even more concerns raised by the local pharmacies, I have again written to the Public Health Director urging a further examination of what can be done.”

In June I was approached by residents concerned about road safety following an accident that took place in Barnard Road. I wrote to Wolverhampton City Councils Road Safety team and highlighted the concerns I had received.

Here is the response I have received

–_{Dear Councillor Bateman I have looked at our database for records of Personal Injury Accidents (PIA) and found that there have been no PIA’s recorded in the last five years along the main stretch of Barnard Road or at either of the junctions with Griffiths Drive.  I have recently had an update stating that accident records are up to date up to April 2017 so I can only assume that the accident that occurred recently has not have been input onto the database by West Midlands Police at this stage. We do not currently hold speed data for Barnard Road as it has not been raised as an issue previously and given the amount of on-street parking taking place it is unlikely that average vehicle speeds would be high. It would appear that some inconsiderate parking is taking place near to road junctions which is against guidance in the Highway Code. I will therefore add Barnard Road to our list of sites to introduce a Traffic Regulation Order in the form of double yellow lines at its junctions with Griffiths Drive.  Please be aware that due to the on-going budgetary and resourcing constraints we do have a backlog of TRO’s to progress so it may be some months before we can draw up plans and advertise the restrictions.  Obviously as the restrictions are subject to public consultation their implementation will be dependent on whether objections are received during consultation.}

I will of course continue to keep you updated with regards to this issue, and I will ensure that the information is placed on my social media sites, so residents can read the latest.