All posts by Macfivenews

Motoring and travel journalist, opinionated gob on a stick
News

Sutton Coldfield funeral director earns Platinum Sustainability Award

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Sustainability award – from left , Carolyn Day, Andrew Mitchell MP, Ian Hazel and Brendan Day

A Sutton Coldfield-based funeral directors has become the first in the UK to achieve full marks for its commitment to sustainability.  

Ian Hazel Funerals has earned a Platinum accreditation from the Greener Globe Funeral Standards, with a 100 per cent score.

Recently, Brendan and Carolyn Day, founders of the Greener Globe Funeral Standards, visited the funeral business head office in Four Oaks to present the award.

They were joined by the Andrew Mitchell, MP for Royal Sutton Coldfield.

The family-run firm initially joined the scheme as Bronze members in May 2024 and have since undertaken a wide-ranging review of policies and practices to achieve this milestone.

When the company’s purpose-built head office was constructed in 2013, environmental sustainability was front and centre.

The building includes rainwater harvesting, low-energy lighting with motion sensors, underfloor heating, a mechanical heating and ventilation recovery system, high levels of insulation, and 78 solar panels.

These features secured an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) score of 23.

Ian Hazel said: “Even with all these environmentally friendly features, it wasn’t guaranteed that we’d reach Platinum level – let alone achieve a 100 per cent score.

“We’ve looked closely at all areas of our operations and had to think outside the box to ensure we’re running the business in the most environmentally responsible way possible.

“We’ve now introduced our first all-electric ambulance, which joins a fleet that already includes three hybrid vehicles.

“While our main funeral fleet remains petrol/diesel for now, we are actively preparing for a full transition to electric when suitable alternatives become available.

“This scheme has encouraged us to re-evaluate everyday practices.

“We now avoid engine idling, actively inform clients of eco-friendly options – from coffins to natural burial grounds – and operate our premises at more economical heating levels.

“We’ve also improved recycling, reviewed our supply chain to ensure our partners, such as florists, have environmental policies in place, and introduced lower-impact cleaning products.”

News

UNLOCK YOUR CREATIVITY IN SUTTON COLDFIELD ART CLASSES

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Join our autumn course starting week beginning 8th September 2025

Places for Thursday morning sessions are now full, but a limited number of places are still available for Thursday afternoon sessions.

 So if interested, please get in touch asap as classes will soon be starting.

 Location: Sutton Coldfield Cricket and Hockey Club, Rectory Park, Rectory Road, Sutton Coldfield B75 7RS.

Join Our 14-Week Mixed-Ability Art Classes! 

Are you ready to embark on an another artistic adventure with The Seasons Art Class Sutton Coldfield? Our fun and friendly adult art classes are the perfect space to ignite your creativity, refine your skills, and connect with a vibrant community of art enthusiasts!

Why You’ll Love It:

  • 🖼️ Get hands-on! Discover the joy of drawing and dive into painting with oil pastels, watercolours, and acrylics. Whether you’re a total beginner or a budding artist, there’s something here for everyone.
  • ✨ Learn from the best! Enjoy expert art tuition designed to help you grow and shine creatively.
  • 🫂 Make connections! Meet like-minded people who share your passion for art in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere.

Perks That Make It Extra Special:

  • ☕ Feel at home: Free refreshments in a cosy, inspiring space.
  • 🎨 Discounted starter kits available: Get your essentials at a great price, and all other materials and tools for class are supplied.
  • 🌟 End with a flourish: Showcase your creations at a celebratory exhibition during the final week.
  • 🚗 Convenient and accessible: Free parking, including disabled spaces, and sloped access for ease.

Now More Inclusive Than Ever! We’re thrilled to introduce evening classes specially designed to accommodate daytime workers. Everyone deserves a chance to explore their artistic potential, no matter their schedule.

Key Details:

Act Now – Places Are Limited! Bring along a friend and enjoy generous booking discounts—because creativity is even better when shared.

📞 Reserve your spot or find out more by calling 0330 122 6145.

Let’s make this the start of something truly inspiring. Your masterpiece awaits! 🎉

News

Lancashire Belle’s vintage tunes light up Sutton Coldfield

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A Sutton Coldfield retirement community enjoyed the tunes of yesteryear when Lancashire Belle hosted a nostalgic tea-dance

Broadleaf House swapped a quiet afternoon for swing steps when vintage vocalist Jane Francis, better known as Lancashire Belle, brought 1940s favourites to Adlington Retirement Living’s community in Wylde Green.

Guests arrived to Vera Lynn classics before the lounge filled with quicksteps, sing-alongs and plenty of toe-tapping. An elegant afternoon tea from the on-site chef provided a charming interval before a second lively set.

Jane Francis said: “These songs unlock memories and get feet moving. The best moment is when someone who hasn’t danced for years takes to the floor with a smile.”

Alexandra Johnson, Sales and Marketing Director for Adlington Retirement Living, said: “Events like this capture the spirit of Broadleaf House – beautifully designed apartments, a secure setting and a calendar of uplifting events and activities, with the right support on hand so homeowners can enjoy it all.”

Tracey Walsh, General Manager, said: “You could feel the buzz in the room. Music, friendship and a slice of cake are a fantastic way to bring people together.”

Broadleaf House offers 57 age-exclusive one, two and three-bedroom apartments with a friendly 24-hour on-site team. Communal spaces include a homeowners’ lounge, coffee lounge, on-site restaurant, hair salon, therapy room and activities studio, all set alongside beautifully maintained private gardens.

Tony, who moved to Broadleaf House in April 2025, said: “I’m so happy here. The ambience of the place is fantastic. I’m not just talking about the aesthetics; it’s the atmosphere that people generate. I have friends on tap if I want them, privacy when I don’t, staff who genuinely care, and no gardening or home maintenance.”

If you would like to find out more, a range of beautifully furnished show apartments are open to view daily at Broadleaf House, on Birmingham Road, from 10am to 5pm. Call 0121 817 8680 to find out more or visit adlington.co.uk.

News

Sutton Park car parking shambles years in the making

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Comment – Bill McCarthy

The financial crisis engulfing Birmingham City Council and the hugely unpopular measures like charging at some beauty spots, including Sutton Park, have sparked fury, but have been years in the making.
The council’s incompetence, financial mismanagement, and failure to fix pay inequality has left council tax payers facing huge increases and a broken trust in the authority.
On top of this, it’s quite something when a Labour administration, which in the past has run the city well, appears to want to screw its workers – in the past with pay inequality – and now with the binmen and women.

It began more than 20 years ago when the council refused to face down the binmen, allowing pay awards which left female-dominated roles like dinner ladies, cleaners, care workers behind, paid less than male-dominated jobs like binmen, street cleaners, for work of equal value.

This led to massive compensation claims as the council failed to address this disparity for years, leading to around £1.1 billion in equal pay liabilities – the biggest factor in the council’s financial collapse.

The list of incompetence could go on, but the parking issue strikes home for a number of reasons  and the anger stems from several key issues.

Birmingham residents see the parking charges as a not very efficient money-grab, targeting ordinary people, rather than fixing the council’s real problems.

Anger at parking ‘stealth tax’

  • These parks have been free for decades and residents see this as a “stealth tax” to plug the council’s financial black hole.
  • The parking fees are expected to raise only £2-3 million a year, a pittance when compared to the council’s budget shortfall and  equal pay scandal.

Punishing visitors and impacting health

  • Families, dog walkers, and hikers who rely on parks for physical and mental health, exercise, and affordable outings now have to pay just to park – denying a taste of nature in an urban environment
  • The council promotes green spaces for wellbeing, yet makes them harder to access. Some areas lack good public transport alternatives, forcing people to drive and then pay. A double whammy, which penalises lower-income families who can’t afford extra costs.

Empty parks and lost business

  • Cafés, visitor centres, and sports clubs inside parks could lose customers and the park see fewer visitors generally, which has been noted elsewhere with similar schemes in the country.

Other parking problems with displacement
If drivers avoid paid parking, they’ll clog up nearby residential streets, creating nuisance for locals.

Tin eared response

Despite petitions including one gathering thousands of signatures against Sutton Park charges and concern from local councillors and MPs, the council seems out of touch, ignoring protest and pressing ahead.

The largely cosmetic consultation until the end of August is unlikely to see any movement, but we live in hope, so signing is a good idea.

News

Consultation begins on Sutton Park car parking charges

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Visitors to Sutton Park who are now facing car parking charges are being asked to take part in Birmingham City Council’s formal public consultation on its controversial and unpopular plans.

The popular beauty spot is one of three of the city’s ‘destination’ parks, which also include  Lickey Hills Country Park, and Sheldon Country Park.

Consultations for the proposed parking charge schemes at all three have started and will run until August 29 2025.

Residents can make theire views known here

Why Introduce charges?

This is following feedback from the informal consultations which took place at the end of last year, resulting in amended proposals.

The council claims that introducing charges at these parks will bring Birmingham in line with similar places around the UK to offset the cost of maintaining these destination sites.

The council says that as part of the budget for 2025/26 the principle of charging was agreed to achieve necessary savings and help sustain, protect and maintain our 660 parks and green spaces.

Cllr Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We have some wonderful parks and green spaces across the city, but we need to be able to maintain them for the benefit of everyone. Introducing parking charges at these three major sites will help protect and maintain all our green spaces.

“Whether you use these parks for walking, cycling, exercising or meeting up with people, we want to hear your views on rate of charging and when we you should be charged.

“We are also aware of potential impact of displacement parking and will therefore be looking at traffic restrictions in existing hotspot areas and any need for further restrictions following residents’ feedback.”

What are the Sutton Park charges?

  • First 30 minutes: Free
  • 30 mins – 1 hour: £1
  • 1–2 hours: £2
  • 2–3 hours: £3
  • 3–4 hours: £4
  • 4–9 hours: £5
  • Buses/coaches: £28 (up to 9 hours)

Charges will apply daily from 9am to 6pm, year-round.
An annual season ticket will be available for £52 (public), £39 (businesses), and free for volunteers.
Exemptions: The Browns and Miller & Carter restaurant car parks, Paddock car park near Town Gate, and Midland Lodge (currently for sale) will remain free.

Lickey Hills Country Park & Sheldon Country Park

  • Hourly rate: £1 (up to 4 hours)
  • All-day parking: £5
  • Coach parking (Beacon Hill only): £28
  • Season ticket: £52 per year
  • Blue Badge holders: Free

Charges will apply 365 days a year, 9am–6pm.

See comment piece to follow

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News

Sutton Coldfield’s new police station opens doors

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Sutton Coldfield’s newly re-developed police station has finally opened. Existing police buildings on the Anchorage Road side of the site, have now been redeveloped with the addition of a former small business property next door. 

This has created a bespoke new location for neighbourhood teams, emergency response officers, local crime investigators, offender management and other policing functions which were dispersed around the site previously.

One of the key developments was the creation of a public contact office where people can talk to us if they prefer face to face over telephone and online options.  

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon said the new station would be a base for the local neighbourhood team for emergency force response and investigators.

He added: “It will also be a public contact office where members of the public can attend face to face and speak to a police officer.

“This is all part of my commitment to rebuild community policing and ensure a reassuring police presence in Sutton Coldfield.”

Cash from the sale of the old site – which will also pay for the new station – will be reinvested into policing, safeguarding officer numbers and services at a time when budgets are under continued pressure locally and nationally.

The sale of surplus buildings on the Lichfield Road side of the site provides good value for the public purse and local people. 

The old station cost over of £500,000 each year to run, excluding annual maintenance costs and essential upgrades such as those needed to its 66-year-old heating system as well as critical safety and security systems. 

The decision to close the former station on Lichfield Road was made in March 2018 following careful scrutiny at a public meeting of the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

As part of that decision, a pledge was made to maintain a police presence in the town. 

The re-development was delivered on time and to a tight budget, using local businesses employing local people.  

The old station was largely vacant due the way the force works in the 21st century and my commitment to keep officers out on the streets serving their communities. The building was also very expensive to run. 

There’s no doubt that the redeveloped footprint is smaller than the old facility but there is no reduction in officer numbers serving the town. It is people with the right skills and equipment which keep people safe, not bricks and expensive empty rooms which cost a fortune to heat and maintain.

News

Devastation after Sutton Park blaze

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The recent rainfall has brought some relief to Sutton Park following a blaze earlier in the month.

The tinder dry area around Boldmere Gate went up in flames, with West Midlands Fire Service saying a disposable barbecue was the cause.

It devastated an area the size of three football pitches as these images of blackened trees and grassland show.

With more hot weather forecast, visitors are being urged to avoid BBQs and naked flames.

News

Council steps in to save popular summer food festival

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An under-threat but popular summer food and drink festival held just down the road from Sutton Coldfield has been saved by the local council.

Lichfield District Council has stepped in to save the city’s Summer Food Festival – to be held from August 23 to 25.

The authority acted after the event had been thrown into jeopardy when the council barred the previous organisers from running it this year.

Any trader that had already booked and paid for a pitch at the Lichfield Summer Food Festival via the previous event organiser, will be offered a free pitch. The Council will also be reaching out to retailers in the City Centre to talk to them about how they can be part of the Food Festival.

With only a few weeks for the council to organise the Food Festival, traders are urged to work with the local authority. Whilst the council say it won’t be exactly the same as previous Food Festivals, it is committed to organising a vibrant and enjoyable event.

Cllr Doug Pullen, Leader of the Council, said: “The Lichfield Summer Food Festival is really important to our residents, businesses and visitors. It brings thousands of people into the city and provides an opportunity to showcase Lichfield as a visitor destination.

“So I’m really pleased that the Council is able to step in to ensure that this year’s Summer Food Festival goes ahead.

“We want to do all we can to support those traders who we know have already made significant financial outlays in preparation for the Lichfield Summer Food Festival. So any trader that has booked and paid for a pitch, and can share evidence of doing so, will be offered a free pitch.”

Traders should get in touch at events@lichfielddc.gov.uk. Further details on the Food Festival will be released in the coming weeks.

News

Safety warning after teenager dies in Sutton pool

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The dangers of swimming unattended in lakes and pools during hot weather have tragically come to the fore following the death of a teenager in Sutton Coldfield.

The body of a teenage boy, named by police as Daniel Drewitt, from Rednal, was recovered from  Powell’s Pool in Sutton Park  on Thursday, July 10 shortly after 10pm.

A report by the BBC said staff at Colmers School and Sixth Form College in Rednal paid tribute to the 16-year-old and said he was confident, full of life and a talented sportsman.

It is believed he got  into difficulty in the lake at around 6pm.

Safety experts say swimming in lakes during hot weather can be extremely dangerous.

High temperatures may cause heat exhaustion or dehydration, weakening swimmers and increasing the risk of drowning. 

Underwater hazards like sudden drop-offs, strong currents, or submerged debris are harder to spot in murky lake water, leading to accidents.

Cold spots from springs can trigger muscle cramps, making it difficult to swim. Furthermore, hot weather attracts more people, increasing the chance of overcrowding and unsupervised swimming, which raises drowning risks.

Unlike pools, lakes lack lifeguards, and emergency help may be far away. Always wear a life jacket, avoid alcohol, and never swim alone. Caution can prevent tragedies while enjoying the water safely

In May, Midlands Air Ambulance revealed there have been 18 accidental drowning deaths in the West Midlands region in 2024.

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Blooming marvellous for residents

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Sutton Coldfield Town Council is offering residents the opportunity to pick up a packet of free wildflower seeds to have the enjoyment of growing their own mini wildflower area. These have been distributed at community venues across the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield to inspire residents to take part in creating a greener community.  

The packets contain a pollinator-friendly mix of seeds native to the U.K. and can be planted at any time of year to encourage biodiversity and support pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

The wildflower seeds are available at community venues across Sutton Coldfield, including the following publicly accessible venues. Please note that opening times may vary, so we recommend checking in advance and contacting the venue directly before travelling.

  • Olive Branch café located at Four Oaks Baptist Church
  • Second Thoughts charity shop
  • Harvest Fields Centre
  • Sutton Coldfield Town Hall
  • Sutton Coldfield United Reformed Church
  • Trinity Centre
  • Walmley Library
  • Mere Green Library
  • Boldmere Library (available from Thursday 12 June)

For more information on how to grow wildflowers at home visit: www.wwf.org.uk/wildflowers/how-to-grow-wildflowers

We would love to see how they grow. Simply tag us on social media (@RoyalSutColTC Instagram and X) or @royalsuttoncoldfieldtowncouncil (Facebook) or send us photos of your blooms at enquiries@suttoncoldfieldtowncouncil.gov.uk to share your wildflower journey with us.