Latest news with #Brummies
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Birmingham Brummies speedway team to close doors at season's end
A speedway team has said it will close its doors at the end of the 2025 season, as redevelopment of its home stadium Brummies' lease at the Perry Barr stadium is up in September, and the greyhounds who also race at the site are to move out at the end of the move is due to the site being developed into a housing village, with plans in 2023 showing a proposed mix of 338 apartments and 89 town houses."It's something I never wanted to say, but this will be the last year of speedway in Birmingham," said club co-owner Nigel Tolley. In March 2024, Mr Tolley had expressed interest in moving the club, which was established in 1928, to the nearby Alexander in a statement on Friday, he said every possibility of it remaining at the Perry Barr site had been discussed, and that all other options had been "exhausted"."I think everyone will be aware of the approaching redevelopment works planned for the site at Perry Barr and work will begin shortly after the lodging of the planning application, which is imminent," he said."I know the news won't come as a major surprise to the majority - but it doesn't mean it won't hurt any less." He described the news as "devastating" for the few hundred supporters "who stick by us through thick and thin".He urged loyal fans to "savour each and every race night us Brummies have got left at Perry Barr" and "make some lasting memories".The Brummies host league leaders Ipswich in speedway's Premiership on Facebook post announcing the news has garnered more than 350 comments, with fans, as well as supporters from other clubs, describing themselves as "devastated" and "heartbroken".Many called for outside help to support the sport. One person said: "This is such sad news for British speedway in general and also for the Midlands. This government needs to help our wonderful sport out and stop this happening." In recent years, speedway teams in the West Midlands have struggled to stay afloat, often losing their permanent Speedway lost its venue at the Monmore Green stadium at the end of the 2023 season, after a tenancy agreement was not Cradley Heathens speedway team folded in 1995 after moving out of their Dudley Wood track. It was revived in 2010 and also raced at Monmore the Coventry Bees stopped racing at the Brandon Stadium, which is currently derelict, in in April, Rugby Borough Council submitted a proposal to support the restoration of the Brandon site for speedway or stock car racing, as well as other motorsports and community uses.A public consultation on the proposal is open until 19 May. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Peaky Blinders boss says ‘believe in us' after much-needed Birmingham boost
Peaky Blinders writer and acclaimed film-maker Steven Knight has declared a Birmingham 'renaissance' is under way and called on Brummies to 'back our incredible city'. 'Birmingham is on the up, I firmly believe that. We need to stop putting ourselves down and believe in ourselves.' Speaking after BirminghamLive exclusively confirmed details of a new series of the BBC show, Knight said it would start filming this year and be transmitted next year. For the first time the series will be almost wholly shot in Birmingham. The Peaky Blinders news provides a huge filip at a time when the city's wider reputation has largely been rubbished by the impact of the bin strike running since early March. 'The bin strike is a low ebb and from here we will go up,' he said. Read more: Inside the life of Peaky Blinders' Brummie founder Knight, a born and bred Brummie, spoke of his most famous artistic creation while hailing his love for the city and its bright future. Multiple landmark projects and initiatives are currently reaching critical points that will put Birmingham on the map for the right reasons, he said, referring to his Digbeth Loc project, including the Masterchef complex, the Sports Quarter vision of Tom Wagner at Birmingham City's planned new stadium in Bordesley Green, and several major citywide homes and business developments coming to life. It is not just the city's creative sector and biggest sports teams who are enjoying a renaissance, fuelled by private investment. READ MORE: Inside the Peaky Blinders film set along a Black Country canal City and regional leaders will be 'selling Birmingham' on a global stage next week at an international investment conference in Leeds, while the council is currently taking a roadshow out to communities about its vision for Birmingham by 2045. Knight urged young Brummies in particular to 'have faith' and to 'push themselves forward' to create and make the most of opportunities coming down the line. 'What is happening in Birmingham now won't happen overnight, it is incremental, but we are making big steps forward, and we have to believe in ourselves more. 'The new BBC investment in the city is just incredible, its new place will be amazing, the Birmingham City FC Sports Quarter is happening, Masterchef is the BBC's biggest international franchise and that's happening now in Birmingham, and then there is Digbeth Loc, which I'm involved in. 'It is going to be a fantastic television and film studio and creative place, we have got the Peaky Blinders spin off series coming, the film is already shot, I have got a pipeline of lots of television that is not necessarily set in Birmingham but we are going to shoot in Birmingham, we are bringing Netflix and all kinds of film makers and TV people to the city. 'It's all really exciting. It is not all going to happen overnight but the bits that have started to happen, we should be very proud of.' He also urged those Brummies who thought they stood no chance of taking advantage of new opportunities, and the organisations creating them, to 'think differently.' 'It's a 50/50 deal really. People themselves have to decide they want to be part of it, whatever it is, and not wait for the invitation necessarily. 'And those people planning and financing this stuff need to make a very simple calculation - if you are only going to select from the well off, the elite or the top 20%, you are only ever going to tap into 20% of the talent. Why not make opportunities available for all? 'We have an incredible talent pool of young people - they have desire and have not yet decided they are not good enough. People have to do it for themselves and make that leap. 'It's different in every industry but in my business it's about stepping forward. Make a film on the phone - if you make something good, and it has to be good, then it will get noticed.' He said the city was also blessed with lots of tradespeople and trainees, and switching those skills from a traditional career to the film, TV and creative industries often involved 'a small retrain'. 'We need electricians, carpenters and so on, it's just a retrain to prepare them to work in the film and TV industry.'
Metro
11-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Map reveals the UK loan hotspots where people borrow the most money
Searches for the term 'I need a loan' surged by 35% in the past three months, reflecting a growing reliance on borrowing to navigate financial challenges. This is evidenced by the latest Pepper Money lending study, which found that more than half of Brits saw a drop in disposable income last year; and higher bills are hitting the nation's pockets hardest. As a result, a third of UK households have borrowed to pay for food or utilities, while 16% say their debt has increased 'a lot' over the previous 12 months. According to the lender's data, the average loan taken out in 2024 sat at £41,088, with the most common reason given being debt consolidation (accounting for around half of the total) followed by home improvement (making up 9.7%). Loans for property purchases or investment and those to fund travel or weddings are also becoming more common, as is medical-related borrowing to pay for private care. However, it seems that residents in some cities were far more inclined to borrow than others. Brummies were responsible for almost one in eight loans across the UK last year, with the average amount coming to £40,393. Here, weddings were the most common reason for borrowing – a stark contrast to Sheffield (which accounted for the second-highest proportion with 10.5%) where it was medical bills. Next up, Cardiff came in third with 9.5% of the country's loans, and the top five was rounded off by Newcastle and Nottingham, which racked up 8.5% and 8.2% respectively. More Trending Perhaps surprisingly, London didn't make the top 10. But although the capital made up just 3.9% of 2024 loans, the ones that were taken out were the largest among the cities studied, averaging at a whopping £61,681. Commenting on the findings, Ryan McGrath, sales director at Pepper Money, says: 'We're seeing more households in cities like Birmingham, Sheffield, and Cardiff using loans not just to consolidate debt, but also to invest in their homes and even fund major life events. 'Rising costs mean people are looking for smarter ways to borrow, and secured loans are becoming a more popular option for homeowners who want to access larger sums at lower rates. View More » 'The key is ensuring that any loan, whether for home improvements, debt consolidation, or personal milestones, is the right fit for their financial situation by seeking financial advice.' Birmingham Total loan %: 12.5% Average loan amount: £40,393 Sheffield Total loan %: 10.5% Average loan amount: £35,077 CardiffTotal loan %: 9.5% Average loan amount: £36,636 Newcastle upon Tyne Total loan %: 8.5% Average loan amount: £37,669 Nottingham Total loan %: 8.2% Average loan amount: £35,794 GlasgowTotal loan %: 7.9% Average loan amount: £37,100 LeicesterTotal loan %: 7.8% Average loan amount: £42,057 ManchesterTotal loan %: 6.8% Average loan amount:£39,317 BristolTotal loan %: 5.8% Average loan amount: £48,102 EdinburghTotal loan %: 5% Average loan amount: £41,011 Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Brits could save £868,000,000 a year with these kitchen cupboard cleaning swaps MORE: Cars catch fire at London shopping centre with smoke pouring into the sky MORE: Doctor found dead in bath after learning her boyfriend had one-night stand
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Spires kick-start season with double victory over Brummies
OXFORD Spires kick-started their season with a double Premiership victory over Birmingham Brummies. Spires registered their first win of the campaign with a 49-41 victory at Sandy Lane on bank holiday Monday, and backed that up with a 47-43 win at Birmingham to also pick up an aggregate bonus point. New signing Craig Cook scored 7+1 at Oxford Stadium, including the match-winning ride with victory in Heat 14, and then notched a 15-point maximum at Perry Barr. At Sandy Lane, Spires took control after two early 5-1s and had an eight-point lead after Heat 8. Birmingham introduced Tobiasz Musielak in Heat 9, and he joined Michael Jepsen Jensen for a 5-1. However, Spires skipper Maciej Janowski fired round the outside on the opening lap of Heat 10 and joined Erik Riss for a 5-1 that restored the eight-point lead. Rohan Tungate and Charles Wright won the next two races before Janowski held off pressure from Jepsen Jensen and Musielak in Heat 13. With Spires still eight points in front, Peter Kildemand took a tumble while fighting for third with Jason Edwards in Heat 14, but he quickly cleared the track to allow Cook to secure the meeting victory. Janowski and Riss, who combined to keep Musielak at the back in a shared Heat 15, ended the meeting as Spires' top scorers on 11+2. READ ALSO: Canice Carroll to leave Hoops as released list announced In the evening meeting at Perry Barr, the hosts took an 18-12 lead, despite a 5-1 from Cook and Luke Killeen in Heat 2. In Heat 6, Cook powered clear on the opening lap, defeating Brummies No 1 Musielak in the process. A 5-1 for Cook and Tungate in Heat 9, with the previously unbeaten Keynan Rew trailing in last, levelled the scores at 27-27. The middle pairing of Kildemand and Wright were rock-solid with three 3-3s, and both defeated Musielak in Heat 10. Janowski and Riss moved Spires in front for the first time with a 5-1 in Heat 11, inflicting the first defeat on Jepsen Jensen in the process. Cook took his fourth win in Heat 12, while Wright came through for third, as Spires moved six points ahead with a 4-2. Janowski then won his second Heat 13 of the day in style. Brummies rolled their last throw of the dice in Heat 14, with Musielak coming in as a tactical substitute, but was there no denying Cook, who shot away from the unfavourable outside gate to complete his 15-point maximum, as he and Kildemand took a match-winning 4-2. Brummies took a consolation 5-1 in Heat 15, with Kildemand suffering a puncture.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Campaigner says 'it's heartbreaking' as Birmingham shown 'what we could have won'
When a National Trust vision for one of Birmingham's most significant streets was shared this week, it sparked hope for Brummies who wish to see it thrive once more. Station Street is the home to three significant spaces, the country's oldest repertory theatre The Old Rep, the Electric Cinema - the UK's oldest working cinema before it closed in 2024 - and The Crown pub, known for being the birthplace of heavy metal. Of those three on the 120m-long street, only The Old Rep remains open to visitors, with the future of both The Crown and The Electric Cinema uncertain. Read more: Council moves to 'reassure' residents after images of 'significant' Birmingham street unveiled Read more: Vision to completely transform 'important' Birmingham city centre street Campaigners who have worked to protect Station Street have now spoken out about the National Trust images, which form part of a wider document that shows what the area could look like were stakeholders to step up and invest in protecting it. It's understood that the document has been shared with Birmingham City Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority and other interested parties, though no formal plan for Station Street has been forthcoming since the vision was revealed. Among those involved in the development of the vision document is Jez Collins, a campaigner from the Birmingham Music Archive, who was intrinsic in securing a Grade-II listing for The Crown. He said: "I think the fact an institution such as the National Trust sees the cultural value of Station Street shows us Brummies just how unique the street is. "The visuals by Intervention Architecture haven't come out of thin air. Myself and Ian Francis from Flatpack Festival worked with them to create an alternative vision and there is also a lot of economic data and case studies that supports the financial viability of such an approach. "They've taken all this and come up with a beautiful vision that is achievable if the will is there. But is it? "I think it's a huge opportunity for Birmingham to lead the way on a culture led regeneration of Station Street. "Who wouldn't want to see a reimagined and reopened Crown showcasing our brilliant music, The Electric being a film hub for aspiring actors, directors, cinematographers and Brummie cinephiles and The Old Rep nurturing the future stars of stage and screen all on a pedestrianised, active and vibrant street? "I'd love this to influence the developers and landowners!" Darren John runs the Save Station Street campaign. He says that the lack of action since the document was created is 'heartbreaking'. Darren said: "We're pleased to see these plans are now publicly available. "Like Jim Bowen said on Bullseye, it's a real 'look what you could have won' moment: an arts led celebration of Brum cultural history and rejuvenation of the UK's most historic grassroots arts street for future Brummie greats, residents and tourists. "We're astonished that those in power didn't bite the hand off the National Trust to pursue this vision for Station Street. "Council leaders and the mayor should have been banging down the door of the Culture Secretary for the money to make this a reality. "It is heartbreaking to see the lack of urgency and vision from those who could be driving a unique, globally appealing cultural attraction in the heart of Birmingham that is as joyously Brummie as Joe Lycett, in fancy dress as Ozzy Osbourne, riding the Bullring bull round the Rotunda". You can see the full gallery of images, created by Digbeth design company Intervention Architecture, in this gallery. Birmingham City Council has responded to the images, saying it is committed to preserving the future of Station Street.
