Solihull Updates

16/07/2025

A new art trail based on the iconic bull has launched in the city centre.

16/07/2025

Police are investigating a series of robberies in and are appealing to the public for information which could help with their enquiries.

A Solihull Police spokesperson said: “A group of 4-5 people are stealing pushbikes and motorbikes off members of the public using violence and the fear of violence.

“An investigation into the robberies, called Operation Luxray, has now been launched.
We are particularly keen to gather any dashcam footage which could help us find those responsible for these incidents across Solihull.

“If have witnessed any incidents of this nature, or have any information which could help our enquiries, call 101 quoting crime number 20/305771/25.

“Alternatively, you can give information 100% anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111, or report online https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information”

16/07/2025

Abdul Aden, 29, from , and Abdullahi Hassan, 21, have both been jailed for 7 years and 6 months. after shots were fired in a supermarket on in .

| Two men have been jailed for a combined 15 years after shots were fired in a supermarket in Hall Green.

We received multiple 999 calls to the shop on Stratford Road on the evening of 29 March.

It was reported two men had threatened someone, fired a gun, and damaged a car outside.

Fi****ms officers were quickly at the scene and thankfully found no-one had been hurt.

On searching a car outside the store, officers found an imitation firearm, and discovered those involved had left the scene in a different car.

Immediate enquiries began to find them, and a short time later, officers detained two men from a car on Coventry Road.

Abdul Aden, 29, and Abdullahi Hassan, 21, were arrested and taken into custody.

Our investigation found the pair were involved in scam mobile phone sales, and had arranged to meet a man in the shop in Hall Green to sell two phones.

On the evening of 29 March, the victim, in his 20s, met them and asked to see the phones he was supposed to be buying – after which there was a scuffle and blanks were fired from the gun with £2,000 in cash then taken from the man.

Following a thorough investigation, Aden, from Brambles Crescent in Shirley, and Hassan, from Churchill Road in Bordesley Green, were charged and subsequently admitted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent.

At Birmingham Crown Court last Tuesday (8 July) they were each jailed for seven years and six months.

PC Joseph Nolan, from the Birmingham Neighbourhood Crime Team said: “Several members of the public, including a small child, were in the store that night – and weren’t to know the imitation gun contained blank rounds.

“Following a thorough investigation, we were able to piece together the details of the Facebook scam and how it led to this incident.

“We are thankful no one was hurt and remain completely committed to taking fi****ms off the streets of the West Midlands.”

16/07/2025

Local MP champions youth employment as he hosts Careers Fair in .

Last Thursday (10 July), Saqib Bhatti MBE, MP for and East, hosted a Careers Fair, bringing together students, parents, and employers to explore future career opportunities, share valuable insights, and build lasting connections. The event highlighted the wide range of career pathways available to young people today.

The fair featured a diverse array of career opportunities, from apprenticeships to university options, engineering to healthcare, and everything in between. This impressive spectrum of choices showcased the bright futures awaiting the next generation of talent.

Attendees had the chance to engage with industry leaders, learn about various career sectors, and gain firsthand knowledge about what is required to succeed in their desired fields.

The event was attended by several leading organisations, including Jaguar Land Rover,
Google, Rolls-Royce, HS2, Solihull College, Severn Trent and many more, who generously dedicated their time and resources to engage with students and parents. These employers played an instrumental role in inspiring and guiding the next generation of professionals, offering advice, guidance, and support on career development and education pathways.

It also provided an excellent opportunity for students and parents to ask questions, gather information, and make informed decisions about their next steps. The range of exhibitors at the fair, including local businesses, universities, and training providers, gave students a clear picture of the career options available to them.

Commenting Saqib Bhatti MBE MP said, “I was delighted to host my Careers Fair, and it was inspiring to see so many young people enthusiastic about their futures. It's an important initiative that opens doors to opportunities and helps young people make informed decisions about their careers.

“It is vital that we maintain a strong focus on continuing to provide young people with the
tools, insights, and connections needed to succeed in the fast-changing world of work and I have been delighted to partner up with the WMG Academy to deliver this fair.

“I look forward to hosting the next Careers Fair and continuing to support our young people in their journey towards fulfilling and rewarding careers,"

16/07/2025

Year 1 pupils at Primary School Academy have launched an exciting fundraising campaign in support of Birmingham Children's Hospital and Charity.

The children challenged themselves to walk and skip 5,000 steps on the school’s playing field, followed by a teddy bear’s picnic with pupil’s own teddies from home and a cake sale after school.

Bertie, the mascot, and Amanda Devlin from Birmingham Children’s Hospital were presented with cheque for £2,283.20 by Year 1 pupils.

As well as raising vital funds for the hospital, the school says “the initiative is helping to teach our young pupils about empathy, community support and social responsibility”.

“We are so proud of our Year 1 pupils for their enthusiasm and commitment to this fundraising challenge,” said Claire Revell, Year 1 Lead at Balsall Common Primary School Academy.

“Beyond fundraising, this project encourages our children to learn about care, community and the difference even small actions can make.”

Amanda Devlin at Birmingham Children’s Hospital added: “The support from young children and the broader community is incredibly moving. Efforts like this not only raise vital funds but also foster a powerful sense of hope and togetherness.”

16/07/2025

‘A heron's flight, a symphony of motion and light. The sky is its canvas’ - Image: Martin Brown

16/07/2025

Henley Market at The White Swan carpark, , 10am - 3pm on Sunday 3 August.

16/07/2025

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP welcomes ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating for outpatient services.

MP for West & , Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, has welcomed the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) latest report, which rates outpatient services at Solihull Hospital as ‘Outstanding’ following a comprehensive inspection earlier this year.

The inspection, carried out in March by the CQC as part of its routine monitoring, marks the first time Solihull’s outpatient services have been assessed as a standalone department. The services were praised for their safety, effectiveness, and responsiveness, with particular recognition for the compassion shown by staff and the strong, supportive leadership at the hospital.

Dr Shastri-Hurst said: “This is a hugely welcome endorsement of the outstanding care being delivered at Solihull Hospital. This report is a testament to the professionalism, compassion, and commitment of the staff and leadership across the outpatient departments.

“I recently met with the hospital’s leadership, and it’s clear to me that Solihull Hospital not only has the foundations to maintain its high standards, but also the potential to go even further, positioning itself as a trailblazer in delivering innovative and integrated urgent care.

“What stands out most is the strong culture of putting patients first, whether that’s ensuring personalised care, reducing waiting times through innovative programs, or supporting individuals with additional needs.

“I would like to thank all those working at Solihull Hospital for their tireless efforts and continued dedication to our community’s health and wellbeing.”

Solihull Hospital, which is part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, delivers outpatient care across five key areas and 36 medical specialisms, including services tailored for children and young people.

The full report will be published on the CQC’s website in the coming days.

16/07/2025

Good Morning

will be dry and warm with sunny spells and variable cloud. Light winds. Highs of 24°C & Lows of 15°C

(Image: - Terry A. Grove).

15/07/2025

Katie O’Brien’s is set to bring its authentic Irish charm to when it takes over The Botanist on .

15/07/2025

A plan to turn a property into a care home for children has been submitted to Council.

Applicant TJY Care ltd, which already operates seven children’s homes across the , now wants to expand through the conversion of the home in .

The plan is for two children to stay at the home with staff on a rota providing round the clock support.

The application is to change the use from a dwelling house (Class C3) to children’s care home (Class C3b).

The proposal would see a garage turned into a habitable room, the submitted plans show.

The ground floor plans feature a sitting room, lounge, study, kitchen and dining room.

And there would be two children's bedrooms, a staff bedroom and a fourth bedroom with the bathroom and shower on the first floor.

A statement from the applicant says: “Two bedrooms will be used by children, there will be no staff living at the property but two staff members will be on duty at night to respond to the needs of children.

“Children will be provided with a homely environment and they will be living as a single-family unit.

“The property has a parking space to park for a staff or professional approved by the organisation.

“The proposed use of the property is an acceptable use within this residential area.

“We trust this application will be supported and approved.”

The application was submitted on July 7 and it is set to go out to consultation in the coming weeks which will give neighbours and interested parties the opportunity to comment.

To view the plans and submit a comment, search for application PL/2025/01332/CLOPUD at https://publicaccess.solihull.gov.uk/online-applications.

Proposal for new children's care home in Kinghurst street

15/07/2025

: John Torode has been sacked as MasterChef presenter. His contract will not be renewed after an accusation he used an "extremely offensive" racist term, the BBC and production company Banijay UK said.

Torode confirmed on Monday night that he was the subject of an allegation of using racist language that was upheld as part of a review into the behaviour of his co-presenter Gregg Wallace.

The report, commissioned by MasterChef production company Banijay and led by law firm Lewis Silkin, found 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, alongside two standalone allegations made against other people, including one for using racist language.

In a post on Instagram, Torode confirmed he was the person alleged to have used racist language but said he had “no recollection of the incident” and was “shocked and saddened” by the allegation.

A Banijay spokesperson said: “In response to John Torode’s statement, it is important to stress that Banijay UK takes this matter incredibly seriously.

“The legal team at Lewis Silkin that investigated the allegations relating to Gregg Wallace also substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode, which occurred in 2018.

“This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint.

"Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef.”

A BBC spokesperson added that the allegation against Torode “involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace,” which was “investigated and substantiated” by the independent investigation led by Lewis Silkin.

They said: “John Torode denies the allegation. He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.

“The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken.

"John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.”

In a statement on Monday night, Torode said: “For the sake of transparency, I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion. The allegation is that I did so sometime in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards.

“I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened. However, I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.”

It comes after co-presenter Gregg Wallace was sacked from the programme after over half of the complaints made against him were upheld by the report.

He stepped back from presenting the BBC show in November 2024 after the allegations came to light.

Wallace said he “never set out to harm or humiliate” and was “deeply sorry for any distress” his behaviour caused following the report being published.