Pulse

Category: News

  • Pulse Local afternoon digest for Friday 29 May 2026: Birmingham and the Black Country

    Pulse Local afternoon digest for Friday 29 May 2026: Birmingham and the Black Country

    This is the Pulse Local afternoon digest for Friday 29 May 2026, covering Birmingham and the Black Country – Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. So here is the useful bit of the day, minus the usual sludge.

    So far the main themes are rail disruption around Birmingham New Street and the Cross City line, police activity in Smethwick, Birmingham, Sandwell and Walsall, warm but fresher weather, fresh council developments in Sandwell and Wolverhampton, and half-term events across the region this afternoon and evening.

    Top stories

    Cross City line closure hits Birmingham and Black Country rail travel
    West Midlands Railway says no trains are running between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley on the north side of the Cross City line from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May while an HS2 viaduct is installed near Curzon Street. Its engineering works page also says buses are replacing trains today between Lichfield Trent Valley, Four Oaks or Tame Bridge Parkway and Birmingham New Street, with knock-on impact between Walsall and Wolverhampton too. That matters because it cuts across commuter, shopper and half-term journeys right through the afternoon and weekend.

    Man charged after violent disorder in Smethwick
    West Midlands Police confirmed a 19-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon after disorder in Foundry Lane, Smethwick, on Tuesday night in which two men suffered stab wounds. Police said one 21-year-old remained in a serious condition and the accused was due before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today. For local residents, it means a high-profile case is now moving into court while the police presence in the area stays heightened.

    Sandwell has a new council leader and cabinet
    Sandwell Council says Councillor Ray Nock was formally confirmed as leader at the authority’s annual meeting this week. He said the new administration would focus on jobs, town centres, high streets and cost-of-living pressure. That is worth watching because leadership changes tend to shape what actually gets pushed through, and what gets quietly parked in a drawer like every other grand civic promise.

    East Birmingham regeneration remains one of the biggest live regional stories
    WMCA says the Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation will drive an £11bn regeneration programme, with more than 50,000 jobs and 20,000 new homes planned in east Birmingham. The authority says the scheme is meant to improve transport connections and living standards in some of the city’s most deprived neighbourhoods. If it moves at the pace promised rather than the pace councils usually prefer, it could reshape a big chunk of Birmingham’s future.

    Crime and courts

    In Birmingham, West Midlands Police confirmed Josiah Johnson, 28, has been charged with assault, assaulting an emergency worker, two counts of criminal damage and attempted criminal damage after an officer on Soho Road was threatened and kicked in the face on Monday night while responding to a report of a man carrying a knife.

    In Sandwell, West Midlands Police said a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of robbery after a teenager was threatened and forced to hand over his bike in Sandwell Valley Country Park on Tuesday evening.

    In Walsall, West Midlands Police said officers stopped a suspicious vehicle in Harden Road, Bloxwich, on Wednesday night, recovered suspected cocaine and cash, and arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and driving offences.

    For a wider courts picture, West Midlands Police also reported that five men from Birmingham were jailed this week for running what it described as a significant drugs line. That is not a breaking case today, but it is part of the wider picture around organised crime enforcement across the region.

    Weather

    The latest Met Office forecast for Birmingham puts today at a high of 24C, with clouds giving way to sun, and the broader West Midlands forecast says the region will stay warm but feel fresher than earlier in the week. Current regional readings around early afternoon were 23C in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Dudley.

    The regional outlook says skies should brighten later this afternoon and into the evening, with a dry night ahead and a minimum around 8C. Saturday then looks bright and very warm again, with Birmingham forecast to reach 25C before more unsettled conditions edge in later in the weekend. British weather remains committed to emotional inconsistency.

    Traffic and travel

    The biggest live travel problem remains rail. West Midlands Railway says replacement buses are operating today on routes affecting Birmingham New Street, Four Oaks, Tame Bridge Parkway, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Lichfield Trent Valley. The separate Cross City closure notice says the north side of the line stays shut until Monday 1 June.

    On buses, TfWM says major service changes start from Sunday 31 May on routes including the 40, 79, 74, 80, 82, 87 and 51/X51, and it also flags ongoing disruption linked to the Saltley Viaduct closure on Birmingham routes including the 8A/8C, 14, 94, 95 and 97. TfWM also says the 8 and X8 between Birmingham and Wolverhampton via Dudley and Blackheath are on a long-term diversion until 19 October because of roadworks in Merry Hill linked to Metro construction.

    Council and public services

    Birmingham City Council’s waste injunction page says the injunction granted on 20 February 2026 and extended on 18 May 2026 is in place to stop people blocking or obstructing the provision of waste services in Birmingham. Residents still need to keep checking local guidance because service changes during disputes have a habit of becoming their own weather system.

    Sandwell Council has now formally installed its new leader and cabinet, with jobs, high streets and the cost of living set out as priorities.

    In Wolverhampton, the council says four new council bungalows have been completed on small brownfield sites and another social housing scheme in Bilston is to follow. The council has also reopened Tettenhall Pool and East Park water play, which is practical news for families trying to survive half-term without spending half a mortgage payment.

    Business, jobs and regeneration

    The biggest regeneration story in the Birmingham patch remains the new Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation. WMCA says it is meant to bring more than 50,000 jobs and 20,000 homes while improving transport links and raising living standards in east Birmingham.

    WMCA has also launched a separate £3.8bn Futures Fund which it says is aimed at speeding up regeneration, building more affordable homes and creating jobs across the region.

    For people job-hunting, the current WMCA careers page is listing roles including ERP Systems Analyst, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and Programme Investment Appraiser, all posted in the last few days.

    What’s on

    Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s Art Club: May Half Term is running today, Friday 29 May, as part of Birmingham Museums’ school holiday programme.

    Dudley Council says Priory Fest is on at Priory Park today from 10am to 4pm, with family activities, stalls, open mic slots and history tours.

    Sandwell Council’s Festival of Free Play continues across the borough through 31 May, with free activities in Oldbury, Smethwick, Tipton, West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Rowley Regis.

    Walsall Council’s May events page lists Float Fun at Bloxwich Active Living Centre this afternoon and a Big Bounce inflatable session there today as part of the half-term offer.

    The Halls Wolverhampton lists James Morrison at Civic Hall tonight, Friday 29 May. Its main events page also lists The Ultimate Classic Rock Show at Civic Hall this evening.

    Community noticeboard

    Walsall Council’s school term dates page confirms today is the final day of the May half-term break in the borough for the 2025/26 school year.

    Walsall Council’s family activities page points families towards leisure centre sessions, libraries, gallery activities, parks and the HAF programme during the holidays.

    TfWM is also urging passengers to check journeys before they travel because online timetables and at-stop information are not always updated before changes take effect. That is civil-service language for “do not trust the first thing you see and then act surprised”.

    One thing to watch

    Tomorrow’s big thing to watch is not some dramatic mystery. It is whether people remember the Cross City closure is still in force on Saturday. West Midlands Railway says the disruption runs right through Sunday, while the Met Office says Saturday should stay bright and very warm before the weather turns more unsettled later in the weekend. That combination usually means fuller trains where they are running, busier roads and more people deciding at the exact same moment that they fancy a day out.

  • Pulse Local morning digest for Friday 29 May 2026: Birmingham and the Black Country

    Pulse Local morning digest for Friday 29 May 2026: Birmingham and the Black Country

    This is the Pulse Local morning digest for Friday 29 May 2026, covering Birmingham and the Black Country, including Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

    Today’s main themes are rail disruption on Cross City routes, a run of West Midlands Police updates, warm and partly sunny weather, half-term council information, and a busy Friday night in Birmingham.

    Cross City rail closure starts today

    West Midlands Railway says buses replace trains between Lichfield Trent Valley, Four Oaks, Tame Bridge Parkway and Birmingham New Street today. The affected routes include services between Lichfield Trent Valley/Four Oaks and Longbridge/Bromsgrove/Redditch, between Walsall and Wolverhampton, and between Rugeley Trent Valley and Birmingham New Street/Birmingham International. The wider Cross City closure is listed from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May.

    This is the biggest practical issue for morning commuters, students, shoppers and anyone travelling into Birmingham before the weekend.

    Five men jailed after Birmingham drugs lines were dismantled

    West Midlands Police published a new court result at 6am today saying five men have been jailed after the Mario, Luigi and Cam drugs lines were dismantled in Birmingham. The force’s latest news page lists it as a court result, so use the full police post before publishing names, sentences or locations.

    County lines and local drug supply cases have direct community impact, especially around exploitation, violence and neighbourhood safety.

    Birmingham sees intensive day of police action

    West Midlands Police said Operation Advance brought resources from across the force into Birmingham yesterday, targeting parks and open spaces to keep people safe. The update was published at 7pm on Thursday 28 May.

    Why it matters: This is a public safety story for families, park users and residents heading into the weekend.

    Smethwick violent disorder charge follows stabbing injuries

    West Midlands Police confirmed a man has been charged after two people were stabbed during disorder in Smethwick. The force published the update at 5pm on Thursday 28 May.

    Why it matters: This is legally sensitive but locally important, especially for Sandwell readers watching public safety issues.

    Wolverhampton bus station arrests after weapon seized

    West Midlands Police said two teenagers were arrested and a knuckleduster was seized after suspicious activity was spotted at Wolverhampton bus station on Wednesday evening. The update was published on Thursday afternoon.

    Why it matters: Bus station safety matters to young people, commuters and city centre visitors. Humanity has invented public transport and then made it need weapon patrols, because apparently that was the natural next step.

    Crime and courts

    West Midlands Police has several current updates across the patch. The most recent is the court result on five men jailed after Birmingham drugs lines were dismantled, published this morning. The force also lists a charge linked to violent disorder in Smethwick, two teenage arrests and a weapon seizure in Wolverhampton, an arrest after a teenager was robbed in Sandwell Valley Country Park, and an arrest after suspected Class A drugs were recovered during a vehicle stop in Walsall.

    For legal safety, the Smethwick, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall items should be treated as active or developing police matters unless and until court outcomes are confirmed. Use “charged”, “arrested” and “suspected” exactly as police use them.

    Weather

    The forecast for Birmingham is partly sunny, warm and less humid today, with a high of around 23C and a low of around 10C. Current early conditions are sunny at around 14C. Saturday is forecast to stay warm, with times of cloud and sun and a high of around 24C.

    That means a decent day for school holiday plans, outdoor work and evening events, though commuters may still want a light layer early on.

    Traffic and travel

    The main confirmed disruption is on rail. West Midlands Railway lists replacement buses today between Lichfield Trent Valley/Four Oaks/Tame Bridge Parkway and Birmingham New Street. It also lists affected routes involving Walsall, Wolverhampton, Rugeley Trent Valley, Birmingham International, Longbridge, Bromsgrove and Redditch.

    West Midlands Railway’s homepage is also flagging the Cross City closure from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May, with live updates available from the operator.

    Transport for West Midlands has a live disruption portal, but it needs manual checking before publication because the page did not provide usable live details in the source capture.

    Council and public services

    Birmingham schools are in half-term today. Birmingham City Council’s school term page lists the summer half-term as Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May 2026, with schools due back after the break.

    Councillor Zaker Choudhry has been formally installed as Lord Mayor of Birmingham, becoming the city’s first Lord Mayor of that name/background according to the council snippet. This needs a manual check on the council page before publication because the full page could not be opened.

    Business, jobs and regeneration

    The main practical regeneration-linked item today is the rail engineering work around Birmingham. Media reports say the Cross City closure is linked to construction work near the future Curzon Street station, including work connected to HS2 infrastructure. Treat this as a secondary source unless confirmed with Network Rail or HS2 before publication.

    A separate business and student-life item this week is the opening of Joe’s Bar on the University of Birmingham campus, reported as a joint venture involving Wetherspoons and the Guild of Students. It is not a core morning lead, but could work as a later local business brief if verified with the university or Guild.

    What’s on

    MAMMA MIA! at Birmingham Hippodrome

    Birmingham Hippodrome lists MAMMA MIA! on the Main Stage from Friday 29 May to Saturday 30 May. The performance page lists tonight’s show at 7.30pm with limited availability.

    Movies and Video Games in Concert at Symphony Hall

    The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra lists Movies and Video Games in Concert at 7.30pm today. It is one of the more family-friendly evening options, assuming everyone has survived half-term without turning into furniture.

    Shxtsngigs at Utilita Arena Birmingham

    Utilita Arena Birmingham lists Shxtsngigs: Daddy’s Home Tour for today. AXS also lists the event at 8pm.

    Art Club: May Half Term at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

    Birmingham Museums lists Art Club: May Half Term at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery today, aimed at creative school holiday activity.

    Library of Birmingham events

    Birmingham City Council’s events listing shows Library of Birmingham events around Friday 29 May. This needs a manual click-through check for exact titles and times before publication.

    Community noticeboard

    Rail users should check before travelling and allow extra time, especially if using Cross City routes or travelling between Birmingham, Lichfield, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Rugeley, Bromsgrove, Redditch or Longbridge.

    Parents should note today is the final weekday of Birmingham’s May half-term holiday, according to the city council term dates.

    Anyone heading to Birmingham city centre tonight should check venue timings, transport routes and return journeys, especially with rail replacement buses running on key routes.

    One thing to watch

    Watch the Cross City rail closure through the day. If replacement buses struggle, delays could build into the evening and weekend. It is also worth checking whether Network Rail, West Midlands Railway or TfWM issue fresh updates before lunchtime.

  • From Pop Will Eat Itself to RPM Studios: Richard March’s new Bearwood chapter

    From Pop Will Eat Itself to RPM Studios: Richard March’s new Bearwood chapter

    Richard March, founder member of Pop Will Eat Itself and Bentley Rhythm Ace, is opening RPM Studios in Bearwood, 40 years after his early DIY days in Midlands music.

    A Midlands music career that began with self-financed records has come full circle in Bearwood.

    Richard March, founder member of Pop Will Eat Itself and later Bentley Rhythm Ace, is opening RPM Studios – a new analogue recording space inside RPM Audio.

    The launch marks 40 years since Pop Will Eat Itself’s early days, when the Stourbridge band began with self-financed records, handmade sleeves and the kind of DIY approach that shaped much of the alternative Midlands music scene.

    But March is not treating the new studio as a nostalgia project.

    Before the interview, when asked what title he wanted on screen, he pushed back against being defined only by something he did 40 years ago.

    He settled on the simple version: owner of RPM Audio.

    For March, the studio is another stage in a long working life in music.

    “I think this is another stage in my journey,” he said.

    “I started off my career as a performing musician and as a composer, as a performer, as a recording artist.

    “I was very blessed to spend a good 10 or 15 years travelling around the world, playing gigs in America and Australia and Japan and all over Europe, releasing records and playing big shows.”

    After that, March moved into music education, working with young people starting careers in music and production.

    RPM began from a different but connected passion: vintage audio equipment.

    March said he opened the original RPM Audio shop because he felt there was not anywhere in the Midlands properly catering for people interested in that world.

    The business has since grown beyond its first premises.

    RPM Audio now operates from a larger building on Bearwood Road, bringing together vintage hi-fi, records, repairs, a performance space, a gallery, a bakery and the new recording studio.

    March said the bigger building gave him the chance to shape something more connected.

    “I really wanted to have a space where people could come and sit and relax and listen to music and have a great cup of coffee,” he said.

    From there, the idea grew into live performances, events, art exhibitions and a studio upstairs.

    One of the clearest ideas behind RPM is that each part of the building can feed into the next.

    An artist could perform in the downstairs space, record through the studio upstairs, sell music through the record shop, and have people listen to it over coffee on vintage audio equipment.

    March described it as a “holistic experience”.

    That independent approach still runs through the project.

    “The idea about doing it yourself is you can do it exactly how you want to do it,” he said.

    “I can choose the exact people that I want to work with. I can decide what colour I want to paint the walls. I can decide what artwork I want on display.”

    He said independent spaces can reflect a person’s personality in a way a corporate business often cannot.

    That flexibility also allows RPM to respond to what customers and artists actually want, rather than simply stocking or programming the same thing regardless of the people using the space.

    Bearwood is central to that.

    March said the area has many independent retailers and fewer large corporate stores than some other nearby places.

    He also said cost and location matter, with Bearwood easier to reach from outside Birmingham than the city centre for some visitors.

    The studio itself is being described as an analogue recording space with digital options.

    March said the value of analogue is not just about claiming one format is better than another.

    He sees it as an experience.

    “If you’ve got an LP record and you put the needle on the record, there’s a connection to that music that you don’t get from pressing a button on your phone,” he said.

    “For me, it’s the wonder and the magic of a tiny little needle moving backwards and forwards creating this sound coming out of the speakers.”

    He added: “Different and better aren’t the same thing, but sometimes different can be better.”

    For young artists, producers and engineers, March believes RPM Studios can offer access to equipment and experience they may not easily get elsewhere.

    “At the end of the day, I want people to be able to make better sounding records than they would otherwise be able to,” he said.

    “I want people to have the experience of mixing on an analogue console rather than in the box on their laptop.

    “I want people to have the experience of using real equipment rather than virtual equipment.”

    He said even students studying music technology at degree level may rarely get the chance to work with the kind of analogue equipment now housed at RPM.

    That could matter for careers as well as creativity.

    March said experience with both analogue and digital equipment can help people looking to work as engineers or producers, while artists can gain an edge if their music sounds different from everything else around them.

    The project also sits within a wider conversation about the West Midlands music scene, high streets and independent cultural spaces.

    Lyle Bignon, who works across music, media and the night-time economy, said music has always played an important role in connecting high streets and communities.

    He said RPM’s growth adds to the rejuvenation of the high street and gives music lovers, producers and artists another place to gather, create and develop their work.

    But he also pointed to the pressure on small businesses.

    He said independent venues and creative spaces need support from regional authorities, local councils, central government, consumers, communities, music makers and music lovers.

    That is where the story becomes more than one studio opening.

    The West Midlands has a strong music identity, but the smaller spaces that support artists, audiences and local scenes often work with tight margins and practical pressures.

    RPM Studios adds a new room to that landscape.

    For March, success will not simply mean opening the doors.

    He said he would like the studio to be so busy that he and engineer Alastair Jamieson struggle to get in there to work on their own projects.

    He also wants RPM to become a destination beyond the studio itself.

    A place for records. A place for coffee. A place to hang out. A community hub.

    “It’s such a great space,” he said.

    “There’s so much potential to do so many different things here that it would be a real shame if people didn’t take the opportunity to use it.”

    RPM Studios connects several parts of one local story.

    A Midlands music career. A Bearwood high street. A new room for recording. And a wider region still working out how to protect the small spaces where culture begins.

    The value will not only be in the opening.

    It will be in what gets made next.

  • Birmingham street racing crackdown reaches 100 convictions

    Birmingham street racing crackdown reaches 100 convictions

    West Midlands Police says its Operation Hercules crackdown has reached 100 convictions for road offences linked to street racing and dangerous driving since January 2025.

    The force confirmed the figure in May 2026, alongside a separate update about a seized Seat Ibiza from a Birmingham dangerous driving case. That car was later used by West Midlands Fire Service for road traffic collision training at Binley Fire Station in Coventry.

    Police also recorded 58 vehicle seizures, 219 penalty points, 818 months of driving bans and £37,446 in fines. More than 60 further cases are at first court appearance or trial stage, so they must not be treated as convictions.

    What happened

    Operation Hercules targets street racing and car cruising where vehicles are driven in an anti-social or dangerous way.

    West Midlands Police confirmed that the operation has secured 100 convictions since January 2025. Those outcomes include prison sentences, 676 weeks of suspended sentences, 377 days of rehabilitation activity and 3,550 hours of unpaid work.

    The force also recorded 350 motorists reported to the Central Ticket Office for offences including defective tyres and illegal tints.

    One Birmingham-linked case involved a grey Seat Ibiza. Police recorded that dashcam footage showed the car travelling at more than 85mph on the A38 Sutton Coldfield Bypass on 30 August 2025.

    The Seat Ibiza case

    The driver, aged 20, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on 17 March 2026.

    Police confirmed he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He was banned from driving for 12 months, and the judge made a deprivation order that gave police ownership of the vehicle.

    The car was later taken to Binley Fire Station in Coventry. Firefighters cut off its roof as part of road traffic collision training.

    That is the neatly grim bit of symbolism in this story: a car used dangerously on the road ends up helping firefighters train for the sort of crash nobody wants to attend.

    What is not confirmed

    The police release checked in the dossier does not name the Seat Ibiza driver. He should not be identified unless court records or another lawful official source confirms his identity.

    The force has not published a full breakdown showing how many of the 100 convictions happened specifically in Birmingham, compared with the wider West Midlands.

    It is also not confirmed how many of the 100 convictions were for dangerous driving, injunction breaches, public nuisance or other related offences.

    Police say more than 60 further cases are at first court appearance or trial stage. Those cases remain separate from the confirmed conviction total.

    Background and context

    Street racing remains subject to High Court injunctions in Birmingham and parts of the Black Country.

    The dossier records that Birmingham’s street cruising injunction is reported as running until 27 February 2027. A Black Country injunction covering Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall remains in force until at least 1 March 2027.

    Walsall Council says the Black Country injunction covers drivers, riders, passengers, organisers and spectators in defined circumstances. Breach may amount to contempt of court.

    Dudley Council has taken a different route. It says it has discontinued its role in the Black Country injunction and is using a borough-wide Public Space Protection Order instead.

    That gives a useful test for the authorities: if different enforcement models are being used across the region, the public should be able to see which ones work.

    What happens next

    Operation Hercules is ongoing.

    West Midlands Police says more than 60 further cases are at first court appearance or trial stage. No full list of defendants, dates or case outcomes is included in the dossier.

    The Birmingham and Black Country injunctions remain part of the enforcement picture into 2027.

    The key missing detail is simple: where the convictions happened, what offences they involved, and whether the crackdown is reducing repeat offending, collisions or serious injuries.

  • Reform surge reshapes Birmingham and Black Country council politics

    Reform surge reshapes Birmingham and Black Country council politics

    Birmingham and the Black Country have been left with a changed political map after the 2026 local elections, with Reform UK making major gains and Labour losing control of Birmingham City Council after 14 years.

    The most direct changes came in Sandwell and Walsall, where Reform took control. Birmingham was left under no overall control, while Dudley remained without a single-party majority and Wolverhampton stayed Labour-held.

    Some details are still not settled. Birmingham’s final two seats had not been declared when ITV reported on 8 May that the count was due to resume on 11 May. Without a confirmed later result in the dossier, that final position should not be treated as complete.

    What happened

    Birmingham held a full council election on 7 May, with all 101 seats across 69 wards up for grabs. ITV reported that the city had gone to no overall control, with Labour leader John Cotton losing his seat and Reform emerging as the largest party at that stage.

    That matters because Birmingham is already under pressure. The council has been dealing with severe financial problems, government intervention, budget pressures and the long-running bin strike. This is not just a change in party colours on a council chart. It affects who has the authority to make decisions on services, cuts, waste, leadership and spending.

    In Sandwell, the official council results show Reform UK won 41 seats, Labour 28, the Greens two and one independent. The council recorded average turnout at 34.28%. Because Sandwell held a whole-council election, councillors were elected on staggered terms.

    Walsall also moved to Reform. ITV reported Reform won 40 of the council’s 60 seats, with Conservatives on 10, Walsall Community Independents on eight, Labour on one and one independent.

    What we know so far

    Dudley did not move into outright Reform control, but the result still changed the balance. Official council results show Conservatives on 27 seats, Reform UK on 23, Labour on 15, Liberal Democrats on four and the Black Country Party on three.

    That leaves Conservatives as the largest group, with Reform now the second-largest group. It is a shift, not a clean takeover. Those distinctions matter, dull as they are, because council maths is where political slogans go to meet the bin rota.

    Wolverhampton was listed by ITV as a Labour hold. But the city also saw Reform wins in several wards, including Bilston North, East Park, Fallings Park, Oxley and Wednesfield North, according to official council results in the dossier.

    What’s unclear or not yet confirmed

    The biggest open question is Birmingham’s final position. ITV reported the final count was delayed with two seats still undeclared. The dossier does not confirm the final composition after that delayed count.

    It is also not confirmed who will lead Birmingham City Council, what arrangement will run it, or whether any formal deal between parties or groups will be made.

    In Walsall, ITV reported Elaine Williams was set to become council leader after Reform councillors chose her as group leader. But the report also stated full council confirmation was due on 18 May, so her appointment should be treated as pending until formally confirmed.

    In Sandwell, ITV reported Reform councillors were due to choose their group leader. The dossier does not confirm the outcome.

    Background and context

    Birmingham’s result landed against a brutal backdrop. In September 2023, the government announced proposed intervention at the council after a section 114 notice linked to a major equal pay liability and wider budget pressures.

    The bin strike also sat heavily over the election. ITV reported in April that a deal had been reached in principle between Birmingham City Council and Unite, but that the pre-election period prevented a final decision before 7 May.

    ITV polling in the dossier suggested the strike was a major issue for Birmingham voters, with 59% of respondents saying resolving it was one of their top priorities and 63% saying it would directly influence how they voted. That shows salience. It does not prove exactly why each voter made their choice.

    Across the wider region, the pattern is not uniform. Sandwell and Walsall moved decisively to Reform. Dudley shifted heavily but stayed without a single-party majority. Wolverhampton stayed Labour-held while losing ground in several wards.

    What happens next

    The next test is what the results mean in practice. Birmingham needs confirmed final numbers, leadership arrangements and decisions on the bin strike.

    Sandwell and Walsall need formal leadership and policy direction from their new Reform administrations. Dudley needs to show how it will operate with Conservatives as the largest group and Reform close behind.

    Wolverhampton remains Labour-held, but Reform’s ward wins put new pressure on the city’s political leadership. The votes are counted. The harder bit now begins – turning the result into actual decisions.

  • New Carl Chinn podcast aims to build a living archive of the West Midlands

    New Carl Chinn podcast aims to build a living archive of the West Midlands

    Our Lives, Our Stories launched at Nortons in Digbeth on Thursday 12 February 2026. Social historian Carl Chinn describes it as a living archive – built around personal histories from Birmingham, the Black Country and beyond.

    Some of the most important parts of Birmingham’s story were never written down. Not because they were unimportant, but because they looked ordinary at the time. The routines, the graft, the family life, the setbacks, the humour. The things that shape a place from the ground up.

    That is what Our Lives, Our Stories is trying to hold onto.

    The podcast launched at Nortons in Digbeth on Thursday 12 February 2026, with guests gathering to mark the start of a project Carl Chinn describes as a living archive for the region.

    Ordinary lives, taken seriously

    The principle behind the series is simple: the record should not only be filled with the loudest voices or the most visible names.

    “It’s really important that we grab hold of people whose stories are not normally recorded.”

    Recognisable figures will always draw interest. People listen to names they already know. But the aim here is wider than that.

    “Every person has a story to tell.” Chinn also pointed to the “democratisation of history”, and the belief that history should be “egalitarian”.

    It is an idea that runs quietly through the whole project. Not polishing a version of the region. Recording it, as it is, in all its variety.

    What these episodes are meant to capture

    Chinn set out an ambition to collect stories across Birmingham and the Black Country, with the option to reach further afield over time.

    The scope is grounded, and deliberately broad: “stories about work… the streets… housing… family… sports… music… everybody’s lives.”

    It is a list that makes sense to anyone who knows the West Midlands. This is a region shaped by industry, movement, neighbourhood identity, and family networks. The podcast is built to preserve those everyday forces, through the people who live with them.

    When memories are complicated

    Personal history rarely arrives neat. People carry emotion alongside detail. Two people can recall the same moment differently.

    “Memories can be very complicated,” Chinn noted. In oral history, “somebody’s got a memory that’s very different to somebody else’s of the same events”.

    For Chinn, that difference is part of the work. It “doesn’t invalidate that memory”. Instead, it becomes something to assess and understand, including why a memory might differ.

    That matters because so much everyday life was never formally recorded in the first place. For many families and communities, what survives is what people can still describe, still place, still feel.

    Birmingham, as locals recognise it

    Chinn also talked about how Birmingham and the wider West Midlands are often viewed from the outside.

    “The problem we have… is that outsiders tend to just drive through. They pass us, they don’t stop.” He also argued that negative stereotypes are repeated “on the television and through the media”.

    Then came a line that landed as both pride and reminder: “There are many peoples in Birmingham. But there is only one Birmingham.”

    It fits the podcast’s wider purpose. If a place wants to be understood properly, it needs a record that reflects its full human reality – not just the parts that fit a storyline.

    A project made for the long view

    Thinking decades ahead, Chinn’s hope is that listeners will gain “a more rounded appreciation” of “the lives of a wide variety of people in Birmingham, in the West Midlands”.

    That is what a real archive does. It keeps the detail that usually gets lost: how people lived, what shaped them, what they were proud of, what they endured, what they laughed about, and what changed around them.

    If Our Lives, Our Stories stays true to that promise, it will not just document the region’s past. It will preserve its human texture – while the people who can tell it are still here.

  • Pulse West Midlands headlines: 12 February 2026

    Pulse West Midlands headlines: 12 February 2026

    Four West Midlands Police updates published on 11 February 2026: an investigation into disorder in Bearwood, a teenager charged after a machete attack in Shirley, five arrests after a Kingstanding raid, and an ongoing appeal after a high-value precious metal robbery in Dudley.

    Bearwood disorder investigation

    Police are investigating reports of disorder on Bearwood Road in Bearwood, reported shortly before 6pm on 11 February. Officers put a cordon in place during the response.

    Police report two men later went to hospital and a third was taken to hospital by ambulance, with injuries being assessed at the time of the update.

    Three men were arrested on suspicion of assault. Anyone with information or footage is asked to quote log 4666 of 11 February.

    Shirley machete attack – 16-year-old charged (Birmingham)

    A 16-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a machete attack outside a shop on Stratford Road, Shirley, at around 9pm on 7 February.

    Police report three boys were attacked. Two boys aged 15 and 14 were taken to hospital with injuries believed to have been caused by a machete. Police said one boy had life-changing injuries and remained in hospital at the time of the update, while the second boy was back home. Another boy aged 15 was assaulted but did not go to hospital.

    The 16-year-old is charged with two counts of attempted murder, plus assault and possession of a bladed article. He cannot be named for legal reasons. Police said he was remanded in custody and was set to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 11 February.

    Police said three other boys arrested in connection with the incident were bailed pending further enquiries. Anyone with information, including dashcam or mobile phone footage, is asked to quote crime number 20/140175/26.

    Kingstanding raid – drugs and ammunition seized (Birmingham)

    Police say officers executed a warrant at an address on Tresham Road, Kingstanding, on 11 February, and seized suspected Class A drugs and ammunition.

    Police report two bullets were recovered and were due to be forensically examined. Five people were arrested: a 31-year-old man on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs and firearms offences, and four others on suspicion of firearms offences, including boys aged 14 and 16 and men aged 19 and 20. Police said they were in custody for questioning at the time of the update.

    Dudley precious metal robbery – appeal continues

    Police are continuing to appeal for information after a high-value precious metal robbery at a unit on Birmingham New Road, Dudley, at 4.20pm on 8 February.

    Police report three men aged 75, 79 and 84 were injured and were not seriously hurt. A large quantity of collectible gold and silver coins was stolen, mainly boxed Royal Mint coins in presentation boxes with proof of authenticity.

    Police are also seeking anyone who saw a grey or silver Mitsubishi Outlander before or after the incident time and date. Anyone who can help is asked to quote crime reference 20/141018/26.

    How to pass on information

    West Midlands Police asks the public to contact them via 101 or the Live Chat option on their website, quoting the relevant log or crime reference number. For the Shirley and Dudley cases, the force also references Crimestoppers for anonymous reports.

  • Dudley ice rink project “major step forward” as plans progress

    Dudley ice rink project “major step forward” as plans progress

    Dudley Council says plans for a new ice rink have moved forward, with an operator lined up and a report going to councillors.

    Dudley’s proposed ice rink has moved a step closer, with the council confirming progress and pointing to a formal decision due at a public meeting.

    In an update published on 10 February 2026, Dudley Council describes the project as a “major step forward” and says it is moving towards delivery.

    What the council is proposing

    The council’s plan is for a new ice rink in Dudley town centre, tied to wider regeneration aims.

    Dudley Council states it has secured an operator, Planet Ice, and that a report is due to go to the council’s Cabinet meeting on 11 February 2026.

    The council’s update links the project to town-centre footfall and a broader plan to bring more evening activity into Dudley.

    Where it would go

    The council’s previous project updates have pointed to Flood Street, Dudley, as the location, with plans for an arena-style venue intended to host ice sport and other events.

    That location matters because it is right in the zone Dudley has been trying to reshape, alongside other schemes intended to make the town centre feel like a destination rather than a pass-through.

    What we know about timings and delivery

    Earlier council updates have suggested a longer runway, with work on design, procurement and approvals shaping when it can open.

    In a previous progress statement, Dudley Council indicated the rink could open by late 2027, subject to approvals and delivery stages. That is not a guarantee. It is the council putting a marker down.

    Why this matters locally

    For Dudley, this is not just about skating.

    If it happens, it can pull in weekend visitors, create jobs, and give the town centre another reason for people to stay later. It can also feed nearby businesses. Food, taxis, bars, and the boring-but-real economy of a busy evening.

    But leisure-led regeneration also has a track record of overpromising. The honest test is whether the numbers add up and whether it becomes a real draw, not a shiny building that struggles after launch.

    What happens next

    The next concrete step is the Cabinet decision stage, followed by any planning and delivery updates that come after.

    If the council publishes the Cabinet report and business case in full, that will be where the real details sit: costs, funding sources, delivery risks, and the operator deal.

  • Police appeal to trace car after high value Dudley robbery

    Police appeal to trace car after high value Dudley robbery

    Police are trying to trace a grey/silver Mitsubishi Outlander after a robbery involving precious metals at a unit on Birmingham New Road. Three men were injured but not seriously, officers say.

    West Midlands Police are appealing for help to trace a vehicle after a “high value” robbery in Dudley.

    The force says three men were injured during a robbery at a unit on Birmingham New Road on 8 February 2026 at 4.20pm. Police state the injuries were not serious.

    The vehicle police want to find

    Police are seeking information about a grey/silver Mitsubishi Outlander, which they have pictured in their appeal.

    Officers want to hear from anyone who saw the vehicle before or after the incident, anyone who was in the area at the time, or anyone with CCTV or other footage that could help.

    How to report information

    West Midlands Police are asking people to contact them on 101 or via their website live chat, quoting crime reference 20/141018/26.

    They also point to Crimestoppers for anonymous reporting.

    Why this is still live

    This is an active investigation. The key public-facing need is sightings and footage, not commentary.

    If you were driving along Birmingham New Road around the time given, dashcam clips can matter even if they look boring at first glance.

  • Birmingham “Knowledge Quarter” street upgrades consultation remains open

    Birmingham “Knowledge Quarter” street upgrades consultation remains open

    Birmingham City Council is consulting on changes to streets around the “Knowledge Quarter”, with proposals aimed at walking, cycling and public transport. The consultation closes on 1 March 2026.

    Credit: Birmingham Knowledge Quarter

    A public consultation is open on proposed street and transport changes around Birmingham’s “Knowledge Quarter”, a city-centre area that includes major universities, hospitals and the HS2 Curzon Street zone.

    Birmingham City Council’s BeHeard consultation page confirms the scheme is focused on making it easier to move around on foot, by bike and via public transport, and reducing through-traffic in key spots.

    The consultation opened on 2 February 2026 and is due to close on 1 March 2026.

    What the council is proposing

    The council’s published summary lists a package of measures, including:

    • New and improved crossings and junction changes.
    • Changes intended to make bus journeys more reliable.
    • Segregated cycle routes in parts of the area.
    • Public realm changes to improve the feel and safety of streets.

    The council frames it as an “accessibility improvements” scheme, and links it to investment and development pressures around the city centre.

    Where it covers

    The “Knowledge Quarter” label is used for a chunk of the city centre that includes key institutions and routes. That is why this consultation matters even if you never use the phrase yourself.

    If you travel through the city centre for work, appointments, or the rail network, changes to junctions and crossings can alter journey times, bus reliability, and how traffic loads onto surrounding roads.

    The stakes for ordinary movement

    Street schemes can be brilliant or a mess. Often both, depending on whether you are walking, driving, cycling, taking a bus, or trying to do all four in the same week.

    The only fair way to judge this consultation is to look at the exact drawings and the impact assessment the council has published, then pressure-test the claimed benefits against likely trade-offs.

    How to take part

    The consultation runs through Birmingham City Council’s BeHeard platform. The council is inviting feedback before the 1 March 2026 closing date.