Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Birmingham weighing car-ban in the city centre

IN an unprecedented move, Birmingham is considering banning cars in the city centre.

The city council wants to ban private cars in the city centre and has suggested that the A38, which runs across the city, could be re-routed to become an updated ring road, said a recent report.


This ambitious plan is part of measures taken by the city authorities to cut emissions.

Currently, cities across the UK are hatching such plans.

Car parks could be knocked down to make way for more housing while 20mph limits would be introduced on residential streets across the city, reports said.

Councillor Waseem Zaffar, while introducing the Birmingham Transport Plan, said: "The car is no longer king".

"Over-dependence on private cars is bad for the health of ourselves and our families, bad for our communities and bad for business, as measured by the millions of pounds of lost productivity caused by congestion," he said.

As part of the go-anywhere transport system, authorities are suggesting buses, trams and trains for longer journeys.

A clean air zone is already due to be introduced in the city this summer, with older, more polluting vehicles charged £8 a day.

The investment will go into further expansion of the Midland Metro tram network and so-called ‘Sprint’ buses will be introduced, offering high-frequency services on popular commuter routes.

Further, car access will be restricted near schools, a measure welcomed by many staff and parents at Clifton Primary School in the city. It already encourages and rewards pupils who travel to school by bike or on foot.

Birmingham City Council suggests working remotely and shopping online could further cut the number of journeys made into the city centre.

Going forward, more cities may take a tough stand on fossil-fuel vehicles.

More For You

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case
Bhim Kohli

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case

THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday (5) that the teenager’s sentence will now be considered by the Court of Appeal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attends a prayer meet held for his long life at the Dalai Lama temple in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

THE Dalai Lama said on Saturday (5) he hopes to live until he is more than 130 years old, two decades longer than his previous prediction, following his assurance to followers that he would reincarnate as the spiritual head of the faith upon his death.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking during a ceremony organised by his followers to offer prayers for his long life, ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday (6), and as China insists it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama told Reuters in December he might live to 110.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK heatwave by mid-July

Daytime temperatures meeting or exceeding set thresholds of 25°C

iStock

Met Office warns of potential third UK heatwave by mid-July

Key points

  • Met Office forecasts rising temperatures by mid-July
  • Possible third heatwave after record-breaking June
  • High pressure system likely to bring hot air from the Atlantic
  • Yellow rain warning and flood alerts issued in parts of Scotland and Cumbria

Possible heatwave to return by mid-July

The UK could experience its third heatwave in a month by mid-July, the Met Office has said. Forecasters expect rising heat and humidity during the second weekend of July, following two weekends of unusually warm weather in late June.

June was officially the hottest on record in England, and the return of high temperatures could mean another heatwave for parts of the country. However, the Met Office cautioned that it is too early to confirm how hot conditions will get.

Keep ReadingShow less
crypto

Two men have been jailed for defrauding investors of £1.5 million through a fake crypto investment scheme. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Two jailed over £1.5m crypto investment scam

TWO people who duped investors of £1.5 million by selling fake investments in crypto have been jailed for 12 years, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said.

Raymondip Bedi, of Bromley, and Patrick Mavanga, of Peckham, conned at least 65 people by cold-calling them between February 2017 and June 2019. They operated companies including CCX Capital and Astaria Group LLP.

Keep ReadingShow less
Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.

A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less