Admissions changes likely at Arden School

ARDEN School has indicated it will change its admissions code to ‘decide which pupils should be offered places’ if it becomes an academy.

The school is looking to take new laws from the coalition Government that would see it become an academy by September.

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Download summer activities leaflet

SOLIHULL Metropolitan Borough Council has compiled summer activities in this pdf.

Free photo session and makeover at Touchwood

TOUCHWOOD shoppers are being offered free professional photography and a mini-makeover, The Birmingham Mail reports.

Reject Stripes Hill marina, society urges

CONSERVATION group The Knowle Society has urged a planning boss not to allow a major marina development.

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Knowle offices will be townhouses

PERMISSION has been given to turn empty offices in Knowle into five townhouses.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council gave planning permission for the plan for Chesshire House, by the Greswolde Garage in the High Street.

Seeking approval, Glenda Parkes said: “The proposal has been prompted by the difficulty in getting tenants for the offices, which have remained vacant for a considerable period of time.”

This was despite an ‘extensive marketing campaign’ she said. Internal alterations would be ‘minimal’.

Knowle travellers leave

TRAVELLERS left land in Knowle on Friday, less than 24 hours after arriving.

They had arrived at land by Langfield Road, by the roundabout with Wychwood Avenue, at about 5.30pm.

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Council: we will move Knowle travellers

COUNCIL chiefs today pledged to move on travellers who came to Knowle yesterday ‘as quickly as possible’.

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Gypsies come to Knowle

GYPSIES set up in Knowle this evening (Thurs) – after being told to leave another site in Solihull by council officials.

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Maternity re-opens - but less mums will be seen

SOLIHULL Hospital’s maternity unit re-opened this week – but will only be able to cater for a fraction of the mums who used it before.

Patient Emma Metcalf with midwife Lorraine Puni

Bosses say 300 to 350 mums-to-be a year are expected to use the unit, which is now only staffed by midwives.

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Don't sell flour and eggs to kids, shops urged

POLICE and council bosses urged shopkeepers not to sell flour and eggs to children over fears of attacks as the school year draw to a close.

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Travellers threatened with court action

TRAVELLERS have been given until tomorrow to leave land in Monkspath Hall Road or face court action.

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NHS to report on 'successes and challenges'

THE body which decides what NHS services are provided to Solihull people is urging residents to attend its AGM.

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Latest planning applications & decisions

THE following planning applications and decisions have been submitted in the last week.

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Solihull patients pay £2m in parking charges

SOLIHULL Hospital patients have paid out more than £2m in parking charges in the last two years – while more than £2,500 was collected in clamping fines, The Silhillian can reveal.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show £2,052,516 was paid out from April 2007 to April 2010 by patients and visitors.

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Electric car charging points coming to Solihull

ELECTRIC car charging points look set to come to Solihull.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is set to install two points outside Council House in the town centre.

It would cost the authority £8,000 to install, about £300 a year to maintain and about a pound per charge.

Drivers would pay for parking but not electricity under the plans, being considered today by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

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Solihull home centre of expenses charges

A CONSERVATIVE Lord has been charged over allegedly profiting from expenses from a Solihull home, The Daily Mirror reports.

Knowle Park Party tomorrow

THE Knowle Park Party takes place tomorrow night.

Residents are invited to bring their own food and drink for the musical event, which opens at 6pm and begins at 7pm.

A tribute act will perform classics from the seventies and eighties.

Tickets are £7 (£3) in advance, £8 (£4) on the gate. Call 0121 704 6962 for tickets or visit Knowle Library.

Xmas fayre to return

A CHRISTMAS fayre will again be held in Solihull this year, it has been confirmed.

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Police seek 'well dressed' Touchwood 'thieves'

POLICE are seeking these ‘smartly dressed’ people who they suspect have stolen thousands of pounds worth of designer leisurewear.

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Arden could be academy by September

ARDEN School could become an independent academy as early as September, its headteacher has revealed.

In a letter to parents, Anne Green said the move would give the Station Road school ‘freedom and flexibility’.

Academies are free from council control, can opt out of the national curriculum, set pay and term dates and raise cash.

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