Latest news with #Dudley
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Dudley-based rail research firm bought by local council after going into administration
An organisation that has been involved in a Very Light Rail system for Coventry has been bought by a council, after going into Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO), a not-for-profit research organisation, was sold to the area's council, administrators RSM UK also stated it ensured the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre, operated by BCIMO, remained Council said the authority had previously given the Black Country organisation financial support and decided to bid "to protect this investment". Council cabinet member for resources Steve Clark said as site owner, it would receive income from "existing tenants", while looking for an acquisition decision would generate income for the council, champion local innovation and support creating "high value employment opportunities", he UK said the business and assets were sold to the council and the transaction had safeguarded the centre's future and "laid the foundation for renewed investment in transport innovation".A lack of anticipated funding and rising costs had led to cash flow challenges for BCIMO, the administrators had earlier Black Country organisation came into being in 2019, which was before the council completed the building of the innovation centre in 2022, the administrators stated is like a tram, but involves single, battery-powered cars that can each transport about 50 people and do not need deep tracks to run this month, Coventry City Council said it was disappointed to hear BCIMO was in administration, but it was "business as usual for us" and the vehicle was in Alcester for the next stage of development. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Date confirmed for long awaited removal of diesel generator in park
A 'NOISY' and 'polluting' diesel-powered generator that has been powering a 5G mast in a popular park while 'billowing' out smoke will finally be removed after campaigning by local residents, councillors and MPs. Since February, residents have been calling on Dudley Council and telecoms company Cornerstone, which is responsible for the mast, to get the generator out of the park and allow mains power to the mast. Today (July 22), Dudley Council has provided a date for the controversial diesel generator to be disconnected. Dudley Council's delay in signing a wayleave agreement prevented connection works at the mast from taking place, with Cornerstone as a result installing the disruptive generator as a temporary measure. The Friends of Wollescote Park group, joined by other community members and the organisers of Stevens Park Junior Parkrun, previously highlighted numerous times their worries about the 'negative impact' the generator has been having on the popular beauty spot. MPs Alex Ballinger and Cat Eccles joined the calls for the generator to be removed from the park, alongside numerous local councillors, including Cllr Ethan Stafford. Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles went as far as to raise the issue of unnecessary generator use directly with ministers to ensure such measures are not repeated elsewhere. Read more Growing anger over Wollescote Park 5G mast diesel generator Anger over 'noisy generator' next to Wollescote Park 5G mast Dudley Council has now confirmed that the mast will be connected to the mains electricity and the diesel generator removed from Wollescote Park by the end of September. Cat Eccles MP said the time scale cannot be brought forward due to planned gas mains maintenance scheduled from July 21 until August 29 and electricity mains connection works planned from September 8 until September 29 on the road adjacent to the mast site. Following the positive news, she said: 'I am delighted to have confirmation that a date has finally been set for the diesel generator to be disconnected in Wollescote Park, with the long-awaited connection of the mast to electric mains set for the end of September. 'This has long been an objective of mine, as many residents have come forward to discuss this with me over the last year, and whilst it has taken time to progress this issue, I am so glad to see the right steps in a positive direction. 'Ministers are incredibly busy, but I am so pleased to see that in remaining persistent on this matter and continuously discussing over numerous meetings in Parliament, we can see now the change residents in Wollescote have campaigned for relentlessly.' Alex Ballinger, MP for Halesowen, added: 'This is a real result for Wollescote. Residents were right to be angry about a diesel generator polluting their park, and it's taken far too long to get this sorted. 'But by working together and keeping the pressure on, we've got a clear date and a clean way forward. 'This is what local campaigning should deliver: practical change that improves people's lives.' Matt Collins, the Labour candidate for Cradley and Wollescote, also said: 'The generator never should have been in a public park, and people rightly demanded better. 'This outcome shows what can happen when residents speak up and local representatives stay the course. 'It's a step forward for both our environment and our community.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Artists behind Dudley's Sam Allardyce mural are 'glad the big man loved it'
The mystery surrounding a Sam Allardyce mural in Dudley town centre has been solved as two artists have come forward to claim credit. Dion Kitson and Adam Wynn collaborate on the 'Really Big Sam' piece which featured the former England boss tucking into a bag of orange chips. Big Sam was a fan of the work and said he was "absolutely privileged" to be honoured in his hometown, adding: "I think it was a very good likeness." READ MORE: 'I almost died in childbirth - my boyfriend kissed me and knew something was really wrong' In a video message shared with ITV News, Allardyce joked: "Chips look a bit hot, but I really enjoyed seeing it. "Whoever did it, thank you very much." The mural - and other bizarre artwork - appeared in the town last week, but the artists only revealed themselves on Sunday, July 20. In a joint Instagram post, they clubbed together footage from ITV News and a clip showing the mural being pasted onto the wall in Union Street. Passers-by were also caught on camera as they snapped pictures of the finished product. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dion Kitson (@dionkitson) The video was captioned: "Dion Kitson x Adam Wynn created the mural dedicated to Sam Allardyce in Dudley town centre. We're glad the big man loved it." The duo were now selling A3 prints, which they have signed and dated, for £50. Other artwork that appeared in the town centre last week included a 'Beware of the Cob' piece, which appeared around the corner from the Allardyce mural on High Street. The humorous artwork was plastered on a boarded up store next to The Full Moon pub. Another appeared on Castle Street - opposite Sofi's Plaice chip shop - showing bags of chips lying on a sunbed dubbed 'The Orange Chip Maker 3000'. While it is likely the duo were also behind these pieces, they have not officially claimed responsibility.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Allardyce has had his chips in Dudley - and Big Sam loves it
Former England manager Sam Allardyce says he loves the giant mural of him eating chips that has mysteriously appeared in his home town of despite the ex West Brom boss's fondness for the 10ft image - added to a wall on Union Street - he says he can't shed any light on what remains for now a painted if the Black Country is telling Banksy to move over, and there's a new urban paintbrush guerrilla on the loose - Chipsy anyone? - Allardyce doesn't seem to he has shared some ideas on why he might be linked to the takeaway staple - and a particularly orange batch at that. And it's all to do with those Dudley roots. The mural appearing last week depicts him in a suit and tie, perhaps deep in thought over formations, and using his fingers to eat straight from the paper - none of your fork, fork, two."The only thing I can think," he told BBC Radio WM, "is in my day down in Dudley when I lived there, the local fish and chips shop did battered chips and that might create the orange chips that [the artist has] put on it."Now, if that's the case, he's gone really deep on my time in Dudley. He's got that right, or he's just got the chips a rather orange colour, who knows?"The regional delicacy of orange chips are thought to be dipped in a batter with turmeric or paprika added to give them a hue roughly the same as the Netherlands' home kit. Stating the artwork had nothing to do with him, Allardyce said he thought the artist had captured a good likeness of him."Obviously I thought it was a very good likeness whoever's created it, and I must admit, it's very, very good in terms of likeness."When they said it was 10ft tall, that's some piece of work isn't it?" added Allardye, who was brought up on Old Park Farm estate in the impressed was the former boss of clubs also including Blackpool, Notts County, Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland, he said he would like to meet the mystery artist, if their identity was ever revealed. "If somebody says who did it and they want to meet up then maybe I can get down and have a chat with them," he told the BBC. "They must be a fan I think?"And others seem to be similarly intrigued."I've not had as many messages since I was managing last time," Allardyce said, his phone livelier than transfer deadline said he had no family remaining in the area but happily remembered playing football on a field on his estate which is where he "learnt my trade in the old days".Now working on a podcast, he said if he was to return to management and it was in the West Midlands, he would pick Wolverhampton Wanderers as he had always been a fan. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Halesown's cultural heritage reflected in public art
A striking new piece of public art that celebrates a town's cultural history and identity will be unveiled next week. You Are Here is the first public sculpture for celebrated artist Tom Hicks, which he created with the support of his local community in Halesowen, large blue, pink and white metal structure includes the engraved trade names and typefaces of local businesses and is part of a new transport hub and green public space on Cross Street. Mr Hicks, who was commissioned by Birmingham's Ikon Gallery in partnership with Transport for West Midlands, said it was a "wonderful opportunity to celebrate the visual landscape of the Black Country". The self-taught photographer used a smartphone to take images in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, which he shared with his thousands of Instagram followers on Black Country part of the design process, Hicks also ran a series of photo and poetry workshops for members of the public in collaboration with Black Country poet Liz Berry, which focussed on local signage and typography. The trade names on the sign included the recently closed Dancers, a family-run clothing store established in 1880, alongside Carpets, The Curtain People, Franklins and Master Nails. Hicks said the project "sparked an exciting new direction for my practice – informed by my photography, I have expanded into three-dimensional work and explored materials, construction techniques and paint treatments".The artist said he had worked directly with factories in the area to fabricate the sculpture."Their time, patience and expertise have been invaluable," he added. "My art practice encourages people to observe and appreciate their immediate surroundings, and the letters and symbols that appear on the artwork were all found in Halesowen." The piece had been commissioned to help build community ownership of the new sustainable transport infrastructure, said TfWM. "One of our organisation's key aims is to provide customers with experiences of using sustainable transport that they want to repeat, and we hope that You Are Here helps to further this," said the organisation's Chris Brown. The piece will be officially unveiled at an event on Wednesday.
