: Stourport Dry Dock
: dry dock
: https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.3371014466814&mlon=-2.28117273948868#map=17/52.3371014466814/-2.28117273948868
: Photo by rodtuk on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/77796013@N00/19630415481
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#Midlands
3 posts3 participants0 posts today
The Mayors of the West and East #Midlands have signed a historic Compact to collaborate more closely, aiming to benefit businesses and communities and strengthen the Midlands' role in the UK’s #economy. The Compact, launched at the Manufacturing #Technology Centre in Coventry, formalises the commitment between the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). The regions represent a £132.6 billion economy and 5.2 million people, with key sectors in advanced #manufacturing, #aerospace, life sciences, and clean energy.
The Compact focuses on five key areas: strengthening industrial clusters, attracting foreign investment, improving #transport and #infrastructure, enhancing research capabilities, and providing effective regional leadership. Both Mayors are committed to using this partnership to drive inclusive, long-term growth and boost the region’s potential, while addressing shared challenges and opportunities.
https://www.eastmidlands-cca.gov.uk/news/the-midlands-mayors-sign-compact-to-deliver-change-together/
East Midlands Combined Authority · The Midlands Mayors sign Compact to deliver change together - East Midlands Combined County AuthorityThe Mayors of the West Midlands and East Midlands have both signed a historic Compact to work closer together for the better of both the regions, delivering
The Consolidated Active Travel Fund has allocated funding to local #transport authorities in #England for the financial year 2025-2026, as updated on 21 March 2025. This fund aims to enhance walking, wheeling, and #cycling facilities, with 76% of the grant designated for capital projects and 24% for revenue, which includes network planning, early scheme design, community engagement, and training activities. The fund replaces the previous Active Travel Fund and Capability Fund. A total of £168.5 million has been distributed among various local authorities, with notable allocations including £15,695,209 for Greater #Manchester Combined Authority, £15,956,459 for West #Midlands Combined Authority, £4,906,860 for #Cambridgeshire and #Peterborough Combined Authority, and £5,494,935 for #Essex County Council. Each authority's allocation varies, reflecting local needs and priorities, ultimately supporting the development of sustainable transport options across England.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consolidated-active-travel-fund-local-transport-authority-allocations/consolidated-active-travel-fund-final-allocations
GOV.UKConsolidated Active Travel Fund: final allocations
I keep reading 'Rats in front gardens, rats in back gardens' in the accent of Sir Lenny Henry's #dub poet character from the 80s (which was genuinely authentic, he is a friend of Linton Kwesi Johnson and also the late Benjamin Zephaniah, and is originally from the ildlands himself) 
The West #Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has approved a £1.2bn budget for 2025/26, focusing on economic growth, housing, jobs, and #transport improvements. This includes £204m for jobs, skills, and apprenticeships, £67.7m for social and affordable housing, and £55.7m to support economic growth. A key element is £554.9m for transport, including £84.8m for the Black Country #Metro extension, £36m for zero-emission #buses, and £234.5m for local transport projects like #cycle schemes and highway maintenance. The budget also safeguards bus services, with £61.1m allocated for concessionary #travel. A focus on improving transport, particularly buses and sustainable travel, aims to better connect communities and reduce emissions.
https://www.wmca.org.uk/news/wmca-board-approves-1-2bn-budget-to-drive-growth-jobs-housing-and-better-transport/
www.wmca.org.ukWMCA Board approves £1.2bn Budget to drive growth, jobs, housing and better transportThe Budget includes, for the first time, an Integrated Settlement marking an unprecedented shift in power, funding and responsibility from Westminster to the West Midlands
Chaired our #North and #Midlands (#England) #Counselling and #Psychotherapy #Union #PCU meeting. Am energised by our branch.
Continued thread
We had a #coal delivery today. Excellent price too, so I must put in a good word for Liam at " #Midlands & #Coastal #Canal Carriers".
Happened to spot them delivering to the house next to the cottages in our terrace.
Of course, the #Bridgewater Canal was built back in the 1770s specifically to carry coal, so it seems appropriate to use it to deliver to our 1845, canal worker's cottage.
The picture was taken as they reversed back through #PrestonBrook bridge to the wharf where they are based.
Video: Construction milestone at HS2 Long Itchington Wood Tunnel http://dlvr.it/TJB19V #Environment #HS2 #Infrastructure #Midlands
https://www.europesays.com/1854425/ Ireland Needs To Be Prepared For Hybrid Warfare – Westmeath Security Analyst #broadcast #broadcasting #ireland #IrishNews #laois #LocalNews #LocalRadio #midlands #Midlands103 #News #offaly #radio #westmeath
I don't see this being so bad - 09:30 on Sunday is a fairly normal time of a CofE #church to be ringing #bells, its the sort of thing they do in such #villages - why move into one and live near the church (in every English village I've ever visited it stands out) and whinge about the noise? These folk would likely find something else to moan about even if the church wasn't there..
BBC NewsVicar defends ding-dong over church bell ringing in HugglescoteThe bells at a church in Hugglescote, Leicestershire, have rung on Sundays for more than 100 years.
BBC NewsDerby man now able to read magazine he kept for 40 yearsTed Midgely left school unable to read but he has now taken lessons as an adult.
: Weir 5 A, Blackpole O/S: weir: https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.2174873950809&mlon=-2.18235186843879#map=17/52.2174873950809/-2.18235186843879: Photo by rodtuk on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/77796013@N00/52858378452
Saturday, 1 February
#Self-Compassion as Self-Care: A 4 Week #Course in Compassionate #Mindfulness
For #LGBTQIA+ people with #SouthAsian heritage living in and around the (#UK) #Midlands https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/self-compassion-as-self-care-a-4-week-course-in-compassionate-mindfulness-tickets-1022435140027
EventbriteSelf-Compassion as Self-Care: A 4 Week Course in Compassionate MindfulnessFor LGBTQIA+ people with South Asian heritage living in and around the Midlands
in 1998, A young man in #Coventry #West #Midlands had just got his first #mobile #phone and (possibly whilst drunk) sent #SMS to random numbers. A young woman replied (thinking it was from someone she knew). The pair kept exchanging messages, later phone calls, eventually met up and got married 4 years later (they are still married, have 2 kids and are renewing their vows!)
(Society was maybe a bit more innocent back then, it was nearly 30 years ago)
BBC NewsCoventry couple recall how random text ended in happily ever afterDonovan Shears met his future wife while he was "showing off" to friends by texting random numbers.
“Why didn’t the police call someone who knew how to deal with mental health problems? Why would they send armed police officers? Why would they decide to use a bullet for someone who’s got a mental health problem?”
“He caught the killer and they made him a hero, but they didn’t help him with the problems of seeing this girl die.”
“#WestMercia police, they don’t have a good record with black men and mental health.”
The Guardian · Family of man killed by police in Redditch say officers ‘had no mercy’
Can landscape regeneration be profitable? One of Australia’s richest couples is trying to find out https://www.byteseu.com/664287/ #Australia #billionaire #CameronAdams #canva #ecological #ecotourism #ForesterKangaroo #landscape #LisaMiller #midlands #pademelon #profit #quoin #regenerate #regeneration #tas #tasmania #TasmanianDevil #WedgeTailedEagle #wedgetail
Another good #Counselling and #Psychotherapy #Union #PCU #North and #Midlands (#England) meeting
Poll time! 
Would you read, and donate to, a blog about #DirectAction, #CivilDisobedience and #Protest across #UK #Midlands (and sometimes further afield)?
Most likely #Fediverse focused so exclusively on #Mastodon, #Pixelfed & #Loops. Maybe #Bluesky.
Would also probably make some cool asf #zines about the ins and outs of this sort of stuff.
Boost for larger sample size, and we'll see what happens 
