Petition kickstarts Wolverhampton waste war
PLUS: Why Bournville is campaigning against new masts and the start of the county cricket season
Dear Patchers — Welcome to your Wednesday briefing.
Today’s briefing comes to you with notes on local bust-ups: in Bournville, regarding the installation of poles for new broadband facilities, and in Wolverhampton, over bin collection changes. We also have news on Aston Villa, the restart of the county championship, and a new Berlin-Birmingham connection.
Elsewhere, there are now 577 of us as paid-up members, which is excellent news. This investment allows us to properly investigate council changes, commission long reads on Midlands culture, and follow up on the stories we all need to hear more about. If you haven’t already, do consider subscribing.
Until next time.
Brum in Brief
🗼Bournville hits back at broadband: Residents from the home of Cadbury’s have launched a campaign against more than 100 broadband poles being erected in Bournville. The installation is part of a national project to upgrade broadband to full-fibre speeds, but campaigners say the poles undermine the area’s heritage. “The installation of these poles is wholly against the principles on which the estate was laid out,” one resident told the BBC. Full story.
🗑️Wolvo waste war: A councillor has hit back at Wolverhampton Council’s ‘major bin collection changes’, which have seen bin collectors refuse to pick up household waste that doesn’t follow the new recycling rules. Councillor Celia Hibbert launched a petition to pause the rule changes, which have banned electrical items, clothes and plastic bags from being recycled. Residents say the changes have led to more fly-tipping. All the bin beef, here.
🍻Wrong league table: With Aston Villa doing well in the Premier League, fans will likely not be happy to see the team highly placed in another table — that of top-tier clubs whose fans have been arrested most often for substance-abuse-related crimes. Aston Villa sit ninth in that list, with 12 arrests between 2019 and 2023 for drug and drink-related incidents. The most common offence? Driving under the influence of drink or drugs. Manchester United fans top the list.
🕺Birmingham to Berlin: Brummies can now get straight to Berlin with a flight time just shy of two hours. EasyJet has opened up the route to the historically important city — recently awarded further UNESCO status for its clubbing scene — after making Birmingham Airport its first UK base in over a decade. The move created 140 jobs and sparked the creation of other direct routes to Barcelona, Sharm el Sheikh and Tenerife. Further details here.
🎨First Friday returns: Digbeth’s art scene celebration returns once again with the open gallery soirée at the end of the week. From 6PM on Friday, anyone and everyone is invited to check out new exhibitions at Grand Union, Centrala, and Vivid Projects galleries. There’s everything from film screenings to an exhibition exploring of the divine right of kings as well as protest movements. All the important information at a click.
🏏Cricket championship restarts: For those who have been waiting for the cricket County Championship to roll around again, this weekend has good news. Warwickshire will kick start their campaign with a local derby against Worcestershire at their Edgbaston ground. The Bears will be hoping to beat last season’s fourth-place finish, while Worcestershire return to the top tier after getting promoted. Tickets here.
Interesting though how the people of south Bournville are up in arms about telegraph pole’s apparently destroying the quaintness of their area — I would have thought that boat long left the wharf with all the cars parked on the streets…
How about promoting European trains rather than yet more unsustainable flights. I know air travel is cheaper but trains are so much less polluting and the experience is infinitely better. If you want to promote something try the website www.seat61.