Preparation for work to provide step-free access to trains at Barnt Green station will get underway next week
Network Rail will start on-site preparations from Monday (3 February) which will be a catalyst for major work to start in spring to build lifts on to the existing footbridge which links all four platforms
which is expected to be completed in autumn this year
will see three lifts constructed to provide step-free access to all trains for the first time
easily access all services to and from the station.
The preparation phase will involve creating a site compound
bringing in materials and machinery and carrying out ground surveys across the station
Some sections of platforms 1 and 2 will need to be sectioned off so work can take place safely but there will be no restriction to getting on and off trains
Car parking facilities will need to be reduced to accommodate the site compound but temporary disabled parking spaces will be created
Network Rail is working closely with West Midlands Railway to cause the least possible disruption to passengers and the local community while work takes place
programme manager for Network Rail Central route
said: “We know step-free access is eagerly awaited by the local community and we’re pleased to be getting started on this really important upgrade which will make journeys to and from the station much easier
“There will be some changes in and around the station while we carry out the work and I am grateful for people’s patience
I am confident these short-term changes will be far outweighed by the long-term benefits this work will provide.”
customer experience director at West Midlands Railway
said: “Improving accessibility at our stations is a key priority for us
so we are pleased to support Network Rail as these vital works begin
The three new lifts will be a gamechanger for many of our passengers
offering step free access to all platforms for the first time
“Nearly 300,000 journeys are made to and from Barnt Green each year
and with the recent introduction of our new trains on the Cross City line
we’re committed to improving the passenger experience from Barnt Green for all.”
to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years
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ENGLAND star Jude Bellingham is said to be building two houses worth £7million in the West Midlands
The Real Madrid ace, 21, recently bought a plot of land in affluent Barnt Green, Worcestershire.
Bellingham and his mother
paid £825,000 for their Barnt Green plot in April last year
The village is considered among the most prestigious locations in the Midlands and also boasts two upmarket country pubs and a cricket club
four-level home is reportedly being built on Bellingham's plot
formerly part of the garden of a house which has now been demolished
The new build will boast a basement area with a cinema, swimming pool
sauna and gym and an entertainment area complete with a bar
similarly designed five-bed property is being built by the same developer on the spot where the former house stood
Bellingham's development is reported to be worth a whopping £7million in total, reports MailOnline
A woman who lives near the development told the outlet: "The word is that he's buying one house for his parents and he's going to have the other. I'm not really into football but everybody's heard of Bellingham."
There are plenty of footballers in Barnt Green
A source told the Mail that Bellingham was keen "to have a base in the country" even though he lives and plays football in Spain
England midfielder Bellingham is not the only footballer who has investments in the Barnt Green area
Prem stars Ollie Watkins and Jack Grealish also own properties in the area
Barnt Green is also home to businessmen such as Gymshark tycoon Ben Francis and singer Jamelia
Meanwhile, former Manchester United and Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson is said to live nearby
The average cost of a detached house is £963,000
Real Madrid ace Bellingham was a star of the Three Lions run to the final at the Euros this summer
But he is set to miss the start of England's Uefa Nations League campaign after being ruled out for a month with injury
Manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed the news after he was asked whether Bellingham would be available for yesterday's LaLiga clash against Real Valladolid
The former Birmingham and Borussia Dortmund star scored 19 goals in a stunning debut season at the Bernabeu
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Smethwick sealed their second Birmingham League title in three seasons with a comfortable seven-wicket win at Barnt Green
The Broomfield club had not been champions for 54 years before winning in 2022 but are celebrating again after a superb season in which they have got over the line with three matches to spare
Deepak Khatri took four wickets and Yasir Ali three as Barnt Green
Hassan Khan then anchored the reply with an unbeaten 57 from 113 balls as Kadeer Ali (59)
Khatri (35 off 35 balls) and Bilal Shafayat (31 from 27 balls) accelerated the visitors toward the total and title
Smethwick had moved to within striking distance of claiming the crown with a seven-wicket home win over Knowle & Dorridge on Saturday
the visitors could only reach 118-7 batting first with former Warwickshire seamer Manny Johal claiming 2-18
Khatri then smashed an unbeaten 50 from just 40 balls to ensure the chase was plain sailing for Smethwick
whose day got even better thanks to defeats for closest challengers Halesowen and Himley
The latter were beaten by 68 runs at Berkswell
for whom Callum Bennett was the undoubted star of the show
Bennett cracked an unbeaten 102 from just 50 balls
to lift his team from 116-3 to 247-6 from 40 overs in another contest reduced by rain
who reached 108-3 before spinner Kamran Khanna tore through the middle order on route to claiming 4-37
Halesowen went down by 48 runs at 2023 champions Moseley in a match reduced to 25 overs-a-side
Matt Pardoe claimed 5-28 but the hosts total of 199-9 always looked a testing one and while all of Halesowen’s top four passed 20
wickets fell too regularly to sustain the chase
the outlook for West Bromwich Dartmouth looks bleak
Tim Maxfield struck an excellent 64 from just 35 balls to lift Dartmouth to a total of 152-7 in a match against Barnt Green made a T20 contest by the weather
But Worcestershire’s Ed Pollock then thumped 78 from just 47 balls to ensure the chase was relatively straightforward for the visitors
who got home with more than four overs to spare
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Regener8 Healthcare and the West Midlands’ first provider of Magnetic Resonance Therapy (MBST)
has announced the grand opening of its new clinic in Barnt Green
Having already made a significant impact at their inaugural North West clinic
this growth highlights Regener8’s unwavering dedication to providing cutting-edge healthcare solutions
The new location will also aim to extend life-changing healthcare services to an even broader community both in and around the West Midland
The MBST device at Regener8 Healthcare uses non-invasive techniques aimed at stimulating cell activity in musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis and sports injuries
The technology focuses on various cell types including cartilage
with the goal of encouraging cell activity that supports repair and growth
and professional World Cup-winning walking footballer
turned to MBST to recover from his own sporting injuries and found the impact so positive that he was inspired to bring this groundbreaking therapy to his local community
“The launch of our second clinic in Barnt Green is a fantastic milestone for Regener8 Healthcare
but we’re deepening our commitment to my home county and the West Midlands community
The warm reception we’ve received in our initial location has fueled our desire to offer life-changing health and wellbeing treatments to even more people
We’re beyond excited to serve new faces and make a lasting
positive impact in this wonderful community.”
MBST has transformed the lives of thousands of people across the world over the past 20 years and is fast becoming a therapy of choice for elite athletes and sports professionals
but also for everyday people looking for help with musculoskeletal conditions or injuries
patients looking for help with osteoarthritis
and sports injuries can be treated with MBST technology alongside a course of physiotherapy to help support and speed up recovery
The technology works by stimulating damaged and degenerated cartilage
tendon and muscle cells to encourage repair and regrowth
Once the cells of the affected area or injury have been sufficiently stimulated by MBST therapy
the cells will continue to grow and develop by themselves
reducing pain and enabling greater mobility
This expansion comes in partnership with MBST Medical UK
a leading provider of MBST technology initially developed by MedTec Medizintechnik GmbH
The therapy has proven effective in treating a myriad of conditions
The new facility represents a significant step in making this advanced technology more accessible throughout the UK.