A £30 million redevelopment plan has been made to construct a new Perry Barr railway station station over the next 12 months and make it ready in time to welcome visitors for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The outdated structure along with attached row of shops have been pulled down to make way for a new purpose-built standalone station, with increased capacity, offering a vastly improved environment and facilities for passengers including lift access to the platforms, improved ticket office, accessible toilets, CCTV security cameras and cycle parking.
Moreover, with more than 40 people are employed for this work, making more jobs and businesses being supported through the construction supply chain.
Andy Street, the mayor of West Midlands, said: “This redevelopment of the eyesore Perry Barr station is long overdue, and I am delighted that just days since being re-elected as mayor we’ve been able to get on with the work and tear the old station down. It was a hideous building with poor access for wheelchair and pushchairs, and almost certainly put people off using public transport.
“The new, modern, Perry Barr station will have more space, public toilets, better travel information, and CCTV, to create a far better experience for passengers. Given the station will be a gateway to the Commonwealth Games next year, it is absolutely vital we get this much-needed work done.
“The development is also taking shape just at the right time as we look to bounce back quickly from the pandemic – with jobs being created both on site and in the supply chain. Infrastructure projects such as this are going to be critical to my plans to create 100,000 jobs and employment opportunities in just two years.”
The development, being led by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE), is taking place alongside the wider regeneration of Perry Barr which includes a new road layout and thousands of new homes.
In addition, it will also cover the redevelopment of the bus interchange outside the One Stop Shopping centre.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)