Latest news with #WMCA
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Housing plans for old industrial units in Bilston revised
Plans to demolish a "dilapidated" industrial site to make way for more than 50 new homes have been revised a year after they were first put Partnerships submitted plans to knock down the buildings in Hatton Street and Greenway Road in Bilston last summer, but no decision was made by City of Wolverhampton developer has now amended its application after discussions with the council to include more homes – rising from 51 to 56 affordable two-and-three-bed rented approved, a second hand car dealership, repair shop, garages and factories on the site would all be demolished. The land has been earmarked for housing for at least 20 years and is included in the council's local plan, which sets out where new homes will be built across Bilston and Wolverhampton up to 2042.A statement included with the application said building homes would make efficient use of an "underutilised" commercial site during a time of "pressing need for the city."Earlier this year, plans for new £28m warehouses and industrial units on a nearby site off Brook Street in Bilston were approved by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which said the development would create more than 300 jobs. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
12-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Pledge to plug West Midlands skills gap to boost green economy
The mayor of the West Midlands has pledged to plug the net-zero skills gap to boost the region's green Parker said he would ensure people in the area would have the skills they needed to take up new jobs being created in "fast-growing green industries".His comments came after a report from Coventry University highlighted the lack of skilled workers in the sector and urged the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to take said he would boost the sector with measures like investing in decarbonising homes or businesses and attracting firms to the region, including electric vehicle battery manufacturers. "It will turbocharge the work that's already begun to build a pipeline of talent to tackle the net-zero skills gap this report rightly highlights," he report made recommendations for short, medium and long-term action that could be taken in the included establishing a green skills centre, creating apprenticeships and collaborate with government and Carl Perrin, Coventry University's associate pro vice-chancellor for research, said: "Green skills are no longer a 'nice to have' - they are a strategic imperative."Businesses that invest in sustainability and workforce development are not only contributing to environmental goals but also unlocking economic advantages." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fare increases planned for Ring and Ride buses
Fares for the region's Ring and Ride services are set to increase for the first time in eight years due to cost pressures. Charges for a single trip would rise from £1.30 to £2 if the plans are approved by West Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) board later this month. Board members are also expected to award contracts to operators which will guarantee the service for a minimum of five years from 1 December. Demand for Ring and Ride services has grown steadily, according to WMCA figures which show 2,487 people have taken a trip in the last six months. Bosses said the last week of March was the busiest since the start of 2020, when the service was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The authority currently provides a subsidy of nearly £6.5m per year to run the service but this is almost half the figure from 2010/11 when its budget was around £12 million. A WMCA report said income from fares brought in about £250,000 per year and that this was reinvested into the service. Despite rises in inflation, charges have remained the same since April 2017. The fees are much lower than the region's fixed route bus network – which will see fares increased further later this month – which has led to concerns people who do not need Ring and Ride might attempt to switch to it. "Fares are now significantly lower than the standard single bus fares despite the significantly higher level of customer service," the report said. "The current scenario could also potentially drive people who don't need this service to switch to it rather than using fixed route bus. "Without any fares adjustments the service will become increasingly unsustainable and place further pressure on the transport levy." If approved, the new Ring and Ride fare structure would be: £2 – Registered user aged 16+ / essential escort carer (up from £1.30) £1 – Registered user aged 5-15 (up from 65p) £2 – Adult travelling with registered user (down from £2.40) £1 – Child travelling with a registered user (up from 65p) Children under the age of 5 will still travel for free This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Hundreds of jobs saved at Ring and Ride service Strategy to improve bus network could cost £44m 'Ghost buses' and cut services: Passengers complain as bus cap rises WMCA Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fare increases planned for Ring and Ride buses
Fares for the region's Ring and Ride services are set to increase for the first time in eight years due to cost pressures. Charges for a single trip would rise from £1.30 to £2 if the plans are approved by West Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) board later this month. Board members are also expected to award contracts to operators which will guarantee the service for a minimum of five years from 1 December. Demand for Ring and Ride services has grown steadily, according to WMCA figures which show 2,487 people have taken a trip in the last six months. Bosses said the last week of March was the busiest since the start of 2020, when the service was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The authority currently provides a subsidy of nearly £6.5m per year to run the service but this is almost half the figure from 2010/11 when its budget was around £12 million. A WMCA report said income from fares brought in about £250,000 per year and that this was reinvested into the service. Despite rises in inflation, charges have remained the same since April 2017. The fees are much lower than the region's fixed route bus network – which will see fares increased further later this month – which has led to concerns people who do not need Ring and Ride might attempt to switch to it. "Fares are now significantly lower than the standard single bus fares despite the significantly higher level of customer service," the report said. "The current scenario could also potentially drive people who don't need this service to switch to it rather than using fixed route bus. "Without any fares adjustments the service will become increasingly unsustainable and place further pressure on the transport levy." If approved, the new Ring and Ride fare structure would be: £2 – Registered user aged 16+ / essential escort carer (up from £1.30) £1 – Registered user aged 5-15 (up from 65p) £2 – Adult travelling with registered user (down from £2.40) £1 – Child travelling with a registered user (up from 65p) Children under the age of 5 will still travel for free This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Hundreds of jobs saved at Ring and Ride service Strategy to improve bus network could cost £44m 'Ghost buses' and cut services: Passengers complain as bus cap rises WMCA Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Fare increases planned for West Midlands Ring and Ride buses
Fares for the region's Ring and Ride services are set to increase for the first time in eight years due to cost for a single trip would rise from £1.30 to £2 if the plans are approved by West Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) board later this members are also expected to award contracts to operators which will guarantee the service for a minimum of five years from 1 for Ring and Ride services has grown steadily, according to WMCA figures which show 2,487 people have taken a trip in the last six months. Bosses said the last week of March was the busiest since the start of 2020, when the service was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The authority currently provides a subsidy of nearly £6.5m per year to run the service but this is almost half the figure from 2010/11 when its budget was around £12 million.A WMCA report said income from fares brought in about £250,000 per year and that this was reinvested into the rises in inflation, charges have remained the same since April fees are much lower than the region's fixed route bus network – which will see fares increased further later this month – which has led to concerns people who do not need Ring and Ride might attempt to switch to it."Fares are now significantly lower than the standard single bus fares despite the significantly higher level of customer service," the report said."The current scenario could also potentially drive people who don't need this service to switch to it rather than using fixed route bus."Without any fares adjustments the service will become increasingly unsustainable and place further pressure on the transport levy." If approved, the new Ring and Ride fare structure would be:£2 – Registered user aged 16+ / essential escort carer (up from £1.30)£1 – Registered user aged 5-15 (up from 65p)£2 – Adult travelling with registered user (down from £2.40)£1 – Child travelling with a registered user (up from 65p)Children under the age of 5 will still travel for free This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
