Latest news with #Stourbridge
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Stourbridge care home donates life-saving equipment to school
A STOURBRIDGE care home has donated a potentially life-saving piece of equipment to a primary school. Parkfield Grange care home gifted a bleed control kit to Netherbrook Primary School. The kit, which contains equipment to stop severe bleeding, will be used in emergency situations. Catherine Marshall, assistant head teacher at Netherbrook Primary School, said: "We were absolutely thrilled when a parent of two of our pupils, who works at Parkfield Grange Care Home, shared our fundraising plans with Emily Hocking, the home admissions advisor. "Emily kindly reached out and generously donated a bleed control kit. "We cannot thank Parkfield Grange enough for helping us access this vital emergency equipment that could one day save lives. "This donation not only enhances the safety of our pupils and staff but also means we're better prepared to support our wider community in the event of an emergency." Emily Hocking, home admissions advisor at Parkfield Grange, said: "We are part of a vibrant and caring community and when our colleague informed us of Netherbrook's plan to raise funds for a bleed control kit, we were delighted to donate one. "Having such a kit in a community setting can save lives before paramedics arrive." Parkfield Grange, which is located on the Hagley Road in Stourbridge, offers 68 large en-suite bedrooms and six one-bedroom care suites, all furnished. The care suites include an en-suite bedroom, lounge, and kitchenette and although developed with couples in mind, are ideal for those looking for more space and privacy than a traditional care bedroom.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Labour rebellion brewing over welfare changes
Britain's welfare system is broken. Just about every Labour MP – maybe every member of Parliament - agrees with fixing the system is proving to be a most divisive decision taken so far by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is to restrict disabled people's eligibility for personal independence payments (Pip).Legislation to enact the cuts – part of a package aimed at saving £5bn by 2030 – will be introduced in Parliament on a major rebellion is brewing on the Labour benches – and some of the party's new intake of MPs are among those considering voting against the bill. This is a big step for a new MP but feelings are running high. Some told us they fear the benefit cuts will lead to more the same time, there are some freshly-elected Labour MPs who feel strongly that the party needs to use its huge Commons majority to bring in long overdue to reforms to the system. We spoke to two MPs elected for the first time last year, and who find themselves on different sides of the Eccles has recent first hand experience of the benefit becoming MP for Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, she found herself dependent on benefits when she was on long-term sick leave from her NHS was eventually let go and spent a year on welfare."If I hadn't have had family and friends to support me, I wouldn't have been able to eat," she says."I wouldn't have been able to pay my bills or even remain in the property that I was then, because it's private rented property."Her experience has given her an insight that some of her MP colleagues do not share, she believes."There are people who that has never touched their lives and so it is perhaps a little bit more difficult for them to appreciate the challenges."She is in favour of measures to get people with physical or mental health conditions into work - but she believes some ministers are using rose-tinted spectacles when assessing the willingness of employers to she says it has been wrong for the government to confuse measures to get people in to work with cuts to Pip, which she says currently help some of her constituents stay in work. 'Unimpressed' The changes in Kendall's bill may have the opposite effect to what is intended, she argues."A number of constituents are in employment thanks to their Pip. They could be spending those payments on a carer to support them getting ready in the morning, or even topping up their salary, so they can work fewer hours and not get so exhausted."My question to ministers is: will they potentially lose that payment and therefore no longer be able to maintain their employment?"Although no-one will lose their Pip payments until 2027, she says the "response of my constituents is one of fear".Kendall has now offered something of an olive branch to potential rebels by telling them anyone who loses eligibility for Pip will keep their payments for a three month transition has declared herself "unimpressed" and suggested that "this won't be enough to appease MPs".Along with around 100 of her colleagues, she wants to see the increased threshold in the legislation for claiming Pip lowered to its current she says, "people who can't cut up their own food, or someone who can't wash themselves" could lose out. "It's a brutal system," she hopes that if political arguments haven't persuaded some of her colleagues to come round to her point of view, then arithmetic has around a 3,000 majority in her Stourbridge seat but points out that more than 8,000 constituents receive Pip. 'Moral duty' David Pinto-Duschinsky does not subscribe to that argument. He won his Hendon seat in north-west London by just 15 believes it would be a political error for Labour to avoid radical reforms – or the whole system could become worked for the previous Labour government as an adviser in the Treasury under the late Alistair Darling but has been trying to grapple with the problems of unemployment and welfare for even said: "I started working on this issue over 25 years ago at the then New Labour's government's New Deal Task Force, dealing with issues such as welfare to work and getting the long term unemployed into not just jobs but good long term sustained jobs."A quarter of a century on, he believes the whole system is in danger."We have a moral duty to reform welfare and to safeguard the long-term future of that system. One in 10 working age adults is out of work in our country."He insisted restrictions on Pip – the sticking point for many Labour MPs who otherwise accept reforms such as the "right to try" a job without losing benefits – were as befits a former Treasury staffer, he comes armed with statistics. While he insists the most vulnerable will be protected, he says: "The numbers of people claiming Pip are going up by more than 1,000 people a day and the cost of this has gone up by 50% since 2018 - that's just not sustainable."He argues that "employment rates amongst disabled people are almost 30% lower than those without a disability"."If we are serious about tackling low incomes and poverty amongst people with health conditions we have to tackle those issues," he also denies that the government's reforms are fundamentally driven by the need to make savings."Of course there are economic considerations but the core reason for changing things is moral."This is an emotive and difficult issue but the current system is letting people down. There is nothing compassionate about a system that is throwing three million people on the scrapheap."Parliament will vote on the welfare bill in a couple of weeks. With a large Labour majority ministers are confident of victory. But clear blue – or perhaps red – water between the government and some of its own MPs seems unlikely to be bridged. Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Car swoop probed as police issue picture of man officers want to identify
A car swoop is being probed as police issue a picture of a man officers want to identify. Items were stolen from a vehicle on Gilbanks Road, in Wollaston, Stourbridge. West Midlands Police has issued a picture of a man it wants to trace. READ MORE: Tributes to The Cube victim after 'utterly tragic' death fall READ MORE: The Cube Birmingham tragedy as man falls to his death from luxury city centre complex READ MORE: Major Birmingham loose bull update after 'escape from abattoir' theory READ MORE: Watch M5 trucker roll cigarette with no hands on wheel as police go undercover in HGV No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing. An appeal for information was made today Sunday, June 8. In a statement, police said: "We want to speak to this man after items were stolen from a car in Stourbridge. "It happened in Gilbanks Road, Wollaston, at around 5am, on April 22. Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp , click the link to join "We appreciate this isn't the clearest image but we're hoping to receive information to assist our enquiries. "You can contact us by calling 101 and quote 20/216583/25."
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jude Bellingham and Jobe Bellingham: Could they meet at the Fifa Club World Cup?
Have you ever played against your sibling in a sports match? Well, that's exactly what could happen to England superstar Jude Bellingham later this because Borussia Dortmund are in advanced talks to sign his younger brother Jobe from German side have been drawn to play Jude's team, Real Madrid, in the Club World Cup which starts next reading to find out more about the brothers and the new look Fifa tournament. Who is Jude Bellingham? Chances are you've heard of the Real Madrid and England by the awards and titles the 21-year-old has already racked up, it's safe to say he's one of the best players in the game right where did it all begin?Jude Bellingham grew up in Stourbridge, a town west of Birmingham, in the West a young boy he played for Stourbridge Juniors, a club set up by his father Mark Bellingham, a former non-league football started his footballing career at Birmingham City's academy in their youth side as an under-8 and became the club's youngest first-team player at the age of just 16. Bellingham's performances attracted interest from some of the biggest teams in the world, and after just one season, he moved to German club Borussia Dortmund - the same side that are currently trying to sign paid £25 million for Jude, which is the biggest ever transfer fee for a three years later, Bellingham was on the move June 2024, he signed for Real Madrid - one of the world's biggest football clubs - in a deal worth £ joining the Spanish giants, he's already won the La Liga title and Spanish Super Cup, as well as the Champions League and Uefa Super Cup last has been breaking all sorts of records for club and country throughout his was Dortmund's youngest ever scorer, he's England's third youngest ever player and he's the youngest Englishman to ever play in the Champions 2023, Bellingham won the Kopa Trophy, which is awarded for being the world's best player under the age of 21. Who is Jobe Bellingham? 19-year-old Jobe is two years younger than his famous also began his career in Birmingham City's academy, making his first-team debut as a made 24 league appearances for the west Midlands side before joining fellow Championship club Sunderland in like his older brother, Jobe has shown plenty of talent month, the midfielder was named the Championship's Young Player of the Year last month - five years after Jude won the was also named in the Championship team of the season before helping Sunderland beat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final last then, the 19-year-old has been the subject of plenty of interest across Europe having helped the north-east side return to the Premier League for the first time since Borussia Dortmund complete the deal to sign Jobe before 10 June, then he would be eligible to play in the Club World Cup, which also features his brother Jude's current club Real has represented England at all age-group levels up to far, he has made four appearances for England's under-21s and has been named in their squad for the European under-21 Championship, which is due to take place in Slovakia later this month - at the same time as the Club World despite the clash, England's under-21 boss Lee Carsley told BBC Sport that they would release players for the Fifa tournament.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Conservation and heritage groups have their say on historic hotel extension plan
NATIONAL conservation charities and heritage groups have had their say on a planning application submitted to Dudley Council detailing plans to extend an historic hotel in Stourbridge Town Centre, adding 10 additional rooms. The application submitted to the council to extend The Talbot Hotel in the High Street and repurpose its conference room into new bedrooms has sparked controversy since its submission on March 18. A planning, design, access and heritage statement, submitted by AP Architects on behalf of the Talbot Hotel, details plans to construct a two-story flat roof extension and a single story pitched roof extension at the back of the building, which in total would allow for seven extra bedrooms, a space for laundry storage and a boiler/plant room. The plans also request permission to divide the historic conference room to create two additional bedrooms and make internal alterations to the hotel's lobby and reception areas, the bar and its toilet facilities, including relocating the accessible toilet. The hotel was bought by Birmingham-based hospitality operators, Rosevine Ltd, at the end of 2024, with the new owners looking to revamp the hotel. The Grade II listed building dates back to the 1600s, with the application having attracted strong criticism from over 100 objectors, including the town's MP, Cat Eccles and local councillors including ward councillor, Andrew Tromans. Echoing the concerns of objectors, conservation charity The Georgian Group have submitted recommendations to the council saying the plans pose 'serious concerns'. Read more Hotel management issues statement over application to extend historic town landmark On behalf of the group, James Darwin said: 'These proposals cumulatively have the potential to cause a considerable degree of harm to the listed building. 'The proposed works are both poorly explained and justified, and thus fail to meet the minimum requirements set out by the Secretaries of State within the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework). 'The group is particularly concerned by the extremely poor standard of the information provided in support of this application and by its failure to adequately assess the impact of the proposed alterations on the significance of the listed building.' Historic England have also criticised the application, voicing concerns bout the 'level of detail' in terms of potential harm to the listed building that the applicant has included, and the degree of harm the alterations would cause overall. Benjamin Williscroft from the organisation said: 'Fenestrated with sash windows, [The Talbot] has a commanding presence within the streetscene, and makes a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the conservation area.' He continued: 'Overall, it is considered that these external and internal alterations, including two storey extensions to existing extensions and that to the conference room, would result in a significant degree of incremental alteration, and harm to the significance of the existing designated heritage asset, especially where the legibility of historic internal spaces would be compromised.' The building, which is mostly located within the Stourbridge High Street Conservation Area, has many historical features including original timber framing, red brickwork, timber sash windows and a 'good' 18th century staircase. The planning, design, access and heritage statement submitted by the application said that the proposals have been 'designed to be sympathetic and in-keeping with the character of the existing building', with the two rear extensions being designed to 'echo the aesthetic, forms and feature of the immediate host' and continue the form of the existing building, therefore 'minimising' the impact on neighbouring buildings. The Georgian Group and Historic England are both statutory consultees, whose views the council are obliged to take into account when deciding on applications to alter listed buildings. The relevant applications P25/0222 and P25/0223 are available to view on the council's planning portal and will go before Dudley Council Planners.
