Latest news with #LeeMarsham
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Mounted West Midlands Police unit plans approved
West Midlands Police is to introduce its own mounted unit to help maintain order at major events such as football week, Birmingham City Council's planning committee approved proposals to remove two bowling greens at the Tally Ho Training Centre in Pershore Road, Edgbaston to house the new plans involve the creation of a stable for 12 horses while the existing bowling club would be retained for visitors. A previous mounted unit was disbanded by the force in 1999. The committee meeting heard there was an increasing demand for mounted officers, particularly at football force said locating the team at its training centre was ideal as horses could trot into the city centre, rather than being transported from elsewhere in the also said the loss of the bowling greens was mitigated by other nearby facilities, while the previous occupiers had successfully relocated nearby.A total of four new full-time police staff roles would also be created as a result of the Midlands Police is one of the biggest forces in the country and Birmingham councillor Lee Marsham said he was "always amazed" at how far mounted officers had to be brought in from. "I imagine that is considerable expense for West Midlands Police but also not great for animal welfare to travel such a distance as well," he added."I think this is something we should be supporting."Councillor Gareth Moore said the mounted unit would be an opportunity to strengthen policing within the city."There are very few police forces that do have their own mounted unit and it will be an opportunity for us to support others with their policing needs," he said."This gives a real opportunity for West Midlands Police to be on the map as it should be. So loss of the bowling green is regrettable, but the report sets out there is alternative provision." This news has been gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans to demolish Birmingham Bull Ring market rejected
Plans to demolish a historic indoor market have been rejected for a third time, over concerns for its City Council's planning committee unanimously turned down proposals for the city's Bull Ring Indoor Market and said they wanted assurances the 900-year-old market would have a secure home in the coming proposals had been deferred on two previous occasions to allow talks to take officers said those discussions had been fruitful and resulted in an extension of their lease on the current location from September 2025 to March 2027 - but there was no guarantee about where traders would go after that. The market is located on the ground floor of Edgbaston Street Car Park, which is owned by property giant is run by Birmingham City Council and the local authority provides traders with their proposed development would have provided up to 745 apartments or up to 1,544 student bedrooms – or a combination of those uses. 'Sleepless night' Hammerson revealed plans for a temporary alternative market at the city's former wholesale market, to which traders would be was not enough to satisfy committee members, however, with councillor Lee Marsham saying he had a "sleepless night" knowing the application was coming up. "The market has a place in Birmingham's history," he said."There is a strong case to change the market and make it develop and thrive in new ways in the decades and centuries ahead."At the moment, I don't think this scheme in front of us is the scheme which is right for this city."Councillor Gareth Moore said he welcomed the extension of the lease, but remained concerned that it did not guarantee a temporary site would be available by March 2027."I don't think we have the guarantees that a 900-year-old market will be continuing," he said."If we had more of a concrete plan in terms of delivering that site, I'd be more inclined to support it." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Birmingham HS2's Curzon Street Station revised plans approved
Plans for the revised design of Birmingham's flagship HS2 railway station have been to Curzon Street Station's development include a change from timber to aluminium in the roof because of more stringent fire safety standards, while the eastern concourse has also been re-planned.A combination of factors were involved with the modifications, including value for money, technical complexities and engineering constraints, a city council officer's report plans were approved by the planning committee after considering the report. The station would display "high quality architecture", the report of the planning committee Labour councillor Lee Marsham, who represents Nechells, said he thought HS2 could be a key part of the tram extension to the proposed new stadium and sports quarter for Birmingham City FC. 'Can we get on with this?' Erdington Conservative councillor Gareth Moore said he supported the application, but expressed frustration at progress made so stated: "I suppose my only key ask is, 'Can we get on with this?'."Labour councillor David Barker, who represents Brandwood and Kings Heath, said: "Happy to approve it. I would like to see the further parts of this project brought forward as soon as possible." Construction work on the station began in January last despite progress being made on the design, new HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Wild recently confirmed a "reset of the programme" was needed, including a review of the project's cost and Wild recently said construction had been "harder than we would have thought"."So a combination of factors of getting a little bit behind and also the complexity to come means we need to reset the programme," he explained."The good news is that this is all completely solvable and I'm very, very confident."Asked whether the aim was for trains to run between 2029 and 2033, as previously suggested, Mr Wild responded: "We're so far into the civil engineering now, it's time to reset – as frustrating as it is, that will take me the rest of this year to do."Standing here, I don't really have an answer – I'm just going to do the work."We aim by the end of this calendar year to have firm advice about the time". This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
