Dorridge station has reached the final of the World Cup of Stations competition.   the World Cup of Stations celebrates stations with exceptional community activity This year’s competition is also celebrating local businesses at stations The Friends of Dorridge have recently supported a refurbishment programme in the station ticket hall to restore key heritage features including parquet flooring and benches from the 1930s Dorridge was victorious against other West Midlands stations before beating the likes of York and Newcastle in the semi-final yesterday (17 October).  Regional Growth Manager at Chiltern Railways “Dorridge is a wonderful station which our community partners (Friends of Dorridge and Heart of England Community Rail Partnership) have recently worked to refresh.   a coffee shop which is popular in the area and is crucial for this year’s World Cup of Stations competition which has a focus on local businesses.  “I urge people to get voting for Dorridge as the station would be a deserved winner this year.”  Going for the crown in the final against Maghull and Kings Lynn, votes can be submitted for Dorridge here. The competition ends tonight (18 October) with the winner declared on Tuesday 22 October.   Cookie Settings Powered by Onclusive PR Manager™ Oxford Parkway and Dorridge stations have been nominated for this year’s World Cup of Stations competition This year’s competition is also celebrating local businesses at stations.  Chiltern have recently partnered with Yarnton Home & Garden who have delivered planting displays and even installed a miniature train into the ticket hall They are both going head-to-head against other stations in their respective regions next week. Oxford Parkway sits under the South East Region category and Dorridge sits under the West Midlands Region category. Votes can be submitted for the stations here. “I am delighted that Oxford Parkway and Dorridge are both nominated in this year’s World Cup of Stations Both Yarnton Home & Garden and Espresso Station add significant value to the stations which help connect them to their respective areas “We are proud to have partnered with the Friends of Dorridge and Heart of England Community Rail Partnership on the ticket hall refresh scheme which has been nominated for a National Railway Heritage Award “Voting opens on Monday (14 October) and I am looking forward to seeing how the stations fare in the competition.” Voting takes place over a 24-hour period (Oxford Parkway on 14 October and Dorridge on 15 October) The winners will then compete in the semi-final on Thursday 17 October has unveiled a refresh to the ticket hall at Dorridge station delivered with support from the Friends of Dorridge Station and Heart of England Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has included a full refurbishment of the ticket hall and the preservation of historic features including parquet flooring from the 1930’s a ribbon cutting event took place on Friday 17 May Friends of Dorridge station and Heart of England CRP attending to celebrate the improved customer and community facilities The project included the deep cleaning and repainting of the ticket hall as well as the refurbishment of heritage features ensuring that Dorridge station is fit for the future while preserving its history and original charms The refurbishment marks the third major project supported by the Friends of Dorridge station a dedicated volunteer group who have also delivered upgrades to the waiting rooms at the station as well as ‘pick your own’ herb beds and colourful planters across the station Lead Community Rail Officer at Heart of England CRP said: “The Heart of England CRP is delighted to be able to contribute to the Community Upgrade Project to the ticket office at Dorridge Station.  Not only are the Friends of Dorridge preserving the history and the heritage of the station but they're also demonstrating the incredible value of station adopters in engaging the local community with the railways.  “Stations are functional spaces but through the work of volunteer groups like the Friends of Dorridge Station they are also spaces that can provide insights into our local history and provide that important first glimpse for visitors into the area they serve.” To celebrate these significant improvements to the station environment Chiltern Railways has also submitted Dorridge to be a part of the Rail Delivery Group’s annual ‘World Cup of Stations’ shines a spotlight on the variety of creative ways that stations are used often with help from Community Rail volunteers who work tirelessly to improve stations for local residents The completion of the station upgrade also coincides with Community Rail week Chiltern Railways support station adoption groups across the network and provide funding through its Community Investment Fund for engagement projects that have a positive impact both at Chiltern stations and across the communities it serves Applications are currently open for the Community Investment Fund 2025, with grants of between £10,000 and £25,000 available for not-for-profit organisations. For more information on how to apply, organisations can visit www.chilternrailways.co.uk/sustainability/community Regional Growth Manager at Chiltern Railways said: “Chiltern is thrilled to have delivered this community refresh scheme alongside our partners at the Friends of Dorridge and Heart of England Community Rail Partnership Through our community activity we strive to deliver social and environmental benefits for local communities The Friends of Dorridge deserve significant credit for their work over the past 15 years to make Dorridge an attractive Help | Contact Club | Sign In Following a fantastic promotion winning season this year with his 4th XI captain Mo Ayub is now leading the K&D hopes in the Winter Indoor cricket league Speaking about the previous season the skipper said “The 4th XI has long been a breeding ground for the youngsters coming through the ranks at the club We narrowly missed out on winning the division which was something we were always aiming to do” Mo continued “The 4th XI has always been a very ethnically diverse blend and players have joined the club because they see the mix and the enjoyable spirit Many of the players that play for Mo in the 4th XI squad are also in his Winter Indoor Squad Congratulations to all the guys on promotion The 'Mighty K&D' Winter Indoor squad 30 SEP 2024BookmarkVideo LoadingVideo UnavailableClick to playTap to playThe video will auto-play soon8CancelPlay nowFor many rail passengers time spent at their local station is an integral part of their travel experience along with the services and amenities it provides all significantly enhance the enjoyment and efficiency of journeys Passengers are being encouraged to celebrate and support their favourite East and West Midlands stations by voting for them in the World Cup of Stations 2024 - hosted by Rail Delivery Group The annual competition shines a light on stations each year and this years’ theme is on stations with great businesses within the premises that play a crucial role in supporting and enriching the community as well as the hard work that make the stations stand out - such as Expresso Station in Dorridge known for its excellent coffee and friendly atmosphere or the North Stafford Hotel in Stoke-on-Trent a historic hotel offering comfortable stays and great service the average rail passenger spends £32 near their departure station at their favourite businesses This expenditure encompasses grabbing a latte to go As well as rail being a supporter of the local economy local amenities are also a driver of people travelling by rail For a third of respondents from the research (34%) the ability to go shopping in and around the station was one of the main reasons they choose to travel by train This positive impact is not only being recognised but also celebrated in the upcoming World Cup of Stations 2024 which will take place from October 14 to October 18 As highlighted by last year’s competition theme more than 1,200 stations across Britain are supported by station adoption groups that help to make stations welcoming and safe bring people together and add value to their communities Often the work of these groups extends beyond basic upkeep incorporating community gardening and food growing and workshops and visits with children and young people It aims to foster a sense of community and support for local businesses that enhance the travel experience and contribute to UK economy the competition is growing; more than 70,000 votes were cast last year for 48 stations across 11 regions vying for the title with Wemyss Bay in Scotland walking away the winner and Denmark Hill in London and Leamington Spa in Warwickshire runners up Voting for the heats takes place from October 15 The winners of each heat will go through to the semi finals and then the champion will be announced The World Cup of Stations is more than just a competition; it's a celebration of community spirit and local enterprise so mark your calendars and get ready to vote for your favourite station To participate in this exciting event and support your favourite station visit Rail Delivery Group's World Cup of Stations website when voting opens for the for the East Midlands and West Midlands heats on October 15 you'll be able to see each nomination and cast your vote* Your vote not only helps highlight the most popular stations acknowledging their efforts and encouraging further development If you have travelled by train or booked a journey for friends or family you will have used one of Rail Delivery Group’s (RDG’s) services They are integral to the running of the railway and play a crucial part at every stage of the The RDG provides customers with information on their train service offer them discounted fares through Railcards and help arrange assistance for those customers that need additional support when travelling by train This commitment extends beyond just improving train services By hosting events like the World Cup of Stations it aims to foster a sense of community and support for local businesses that enhance the travel experience *Full terms and conditions of the competition can be found on the Rail Delivery Group's website, along with its privacy policy Home > News > Could Johnsons Cars be bought by Dubai firm News Further questions have been raised about the future of dealership group Johnsons Cars with new rumours of international investors poised to purchase it Dubai-based company AW Rostamani and majority owner of Brayleys could be looking to buy the business Brayleys said they were ‘do not have any comment to make’ about the ‘speculation of an aquisition’ AW Rostamani also purchased nine West Way sites in 2022 This news follows rumours last week that Group 1 Automotive had purchased Johnsons Toyota and Lexus dealerships after the brand disappeared from its website Since then the sites and addresses have appeared on Group 1’s website although redirecting to a ‘page not found’ and no official announcement has been made Image of Google search result shows the address of one Johnsons site Staff at the north west car dealership told customers that the change would be taking place over the weekend Since then Toyota GB told Car Dealer they had ‘no comment’ Group 1 Automotive and AW Rostamani for comment but have so far received no response Picture credit: Johnsons Cars Dorridge/Google Maps Rebecca has been a motoring and business journalist since 2014 previously writing and presenting for titles such as the Press Association She has worked in many roles for Car Dealer Magazine’s publisher Blackball Media including head of editorial Rail passengers in Stourbridge are facing a day of disruption due to engineering works on the Snow Hill line Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 The rail engineering works are taking place on the line between Worcester Foregate Street and Stratford-upon-Avon and between Stourbridge and Dorridge National Rail has said that passengers looking to travel on services between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stratford-upon-Avon will need to take rail replacement bus services due to the works A spokesman for National Rail said: "Train services between Worcester Foregate Street Worcester Shrub Hill and Stourbridge Junction and between Birmingham Moor Street Whitlocks End and Stratford-upon-Avon will run between Worcester Foregate Street to Worcester Shrub Hill and Stourbridge Junction to Birmingham Snow Hill only Whitlocks End and Birmingham Snow Hill will not run "Rail replacement buses will operate between Stratford-upon-Avon For more information on the works taking place and where to get rail replacement bus services from, go to the National Rail website. Home > News > Johnsons Cars forced to close Dorridge Fiat Alfa Romeo and Abarth car dealership due to new Stellantis showroom requirements Johnsons Cars has told customers that it will be closing its Dorridge Jeep Abarth and Alfa Romeo showroom at the end of the month saying that the ‘decision has not been taken lightly’ franchise director Mary Perkins explained that new requirements from Stellantis called for separate facilities for each brand She goes on to explain that due to the size of their Dorridge dealership on Four Ashes Road they wouldn’t be able to expand to accommodate this Perkins said: ‘The decision has not been taken lightly and has been made in consultation with the manufacturer Stellantis ‘With the planned arrival of new vehicles Stellantis has decided they will require separate facilities for each brand and regrettably due to the physical size of the site we are unable to expand the premises further we will of course honour all existing new and used car orders and ensure handovers and deliveries are handled in the normal professional manner as well completing any service and repair work that is already booked in.’ The dealership will close on August 31 but all staff have been offered new roles at one of Johnsons’ other branches She reminded customers that they still have a much larger FCA site in Swindon but will no longer be an Authorised Repairer we will retain our much larger FCA dealership at Swindon which represents the 5 brands – Fiat Jeep and Fiat commercial vehicles where we will continue to operate a full sales service and parts operation,’ Perkins explained for both the supply of new and used manufacturer approved vehicles as well as servicing and repairs.’ She added: ‘For customers in the local area we will continue to operate a facility within our existing Volkswagen Workshop site at Highland Roads Solihull where our FCA technicians are transferring This is just off the A34 Stratford Road in Shirley ‘We would be delighted to welcome you to our VW showroom and offer free collection and delivery to your home or workplace and/or a courtesy car To make a booking contact our Central Aftersales booking team on 01527 583000 We will also be able to carry out any Johnsons EMAC service plan work as we will no longer be an Authorised Repairer we will no longer be able to carry out FCA service plan work new or used car warranty or Motability work ‘Stellantis will be in touch with you directly to advise you of details your local Authorised Repairer.’ Day trippers from the West Midlands will be enjoying a trip to North Wales behind a classic steam locomotive on Saturday The Ffestiniog Express will be making its way through Birmingham carrying passengers to Blaenau Ffestiniog for a summer Saturday in Snowdonia The train will be hauled by a Great Western Railway Castle class locomotive owned by Vintage Trains Either 1936-built 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe or 7029 Clun Castle Both locomotives were built in Swindon for hauling express trains between London before being withdrawn from service in the 1960s pulling excursion trains across the country and the regular Shakespeare Express to Stratford-upon-Avon Progress can be followed at Real Time Trains The return journey will be passing through Staffordshire and the Black Country in the evening and take a different route to the northbound trip the train will head through Dudley Port rather than back via Bescot Progress can be followed at Real Time Trains 03 Jul 2021Flood-hit residents are "still in shock" a week after torrential rain brought devastation to nearly 300 homes in parts of Solihull Heavy downpours across Dorridge and Bentley Heath turned roads into "rivers" last Friday night (June 25) and sent floodwater seeping into people's homes neighbours are still battling to repair their properties and some families have even been forced to pack up and leave their homes altogether while remedial works are carried out Read more - Resident 'swam in street' as torrents of water flooded homes in Dorridge said residents are "still in shock" after the worst storm the village has seen in four decades "It was absolutely torrential rain," he said "There was a river coming down the road "I dropped my wife into Knowle for her first proper evening out since Covid at about 7.30pm when the heavy rain just started I looked out the window and thought 'oh dear then by 9pm I was on the phone to my wife saying 'love June 25(Image: Birmingham Live)"She had to get dropped off in a taxi at the end of the street and wade through the flood to get home "She's about five foot tall and it was up to her chest - and that was walking along people's driveways where the water wasn't as high The rain started around 7.30pm and by 9.30pm "No one would ever have expected something like this to happen because there's no river nearby and we've never had a problem like this with flooding before "Some have been here over 40 years and have never seen a storm like this before Dorridge after heavy thunderstorms on Friday June 25(Image: Birmingham Live)"We want to move on from it but we have to deal with insurers and repair the damage Most people have got industrial dehumidifiers running 24/7 "It's gone right through our carpets and ruined some of the furniture the floodwater was up to the second step of their stairs "We're quite lucky because we're still able to use our downstairs "I know a few families have had to move out and they probably won't be back for six to nine months while remedial works are carried out." The intensity of the rainfall on Friday reached 165mm per hour over the middle of Dorridge at 9pm with a total of 60mm of rainfall falling in one hour That compares to the total average rainfall for June in Dorridge of 80mm Dorridge‌One elderly couple told BirminghamLive the downstairs of their property was filled with "18 inches of water" while their prized possession car was written off after being caught in the flood Video footage shows the destruction caused to the couple's home of 17 years the pair still have dehumidifiers running throughout the day in an effort to dry out their walls told how he and a neighbour filled bin bags with the contents of a salt bin to create makeshift sandbags to keep the floodwater at bay Solihull Council said it was inundated with calls from 9pm until midnight council officers identified 52 properties affected by flooring and have since visited a further 191 homes It's now believed nearly 300 homes were affected and this number is still expected to rise as investigations into the cause of the floods continue described the floods as "unprecedented" He said: "We have no record of this area being affected to this extent in the past Be the first to know about the biggest stories as they break Sign up for breaking news email alerts from MySolihull We send out the latest stories from across Solihull so you can keep up to date with the latest news the borough It is delivered free of charge direct to your email inbox seven days a week giving you all the news you need from across Solihull whether it's business or stories of members of our community doing incredible things Simply follow this link and enter your email address and we will do the rest you can also check out other newsletters from BirminghamLive including news "Early indications are that the rate of rainfall simply created too much surface water in a small area which had to go somewhere." He added: "I went to the area on Saturday to see for myself what had happened and spoke to residents who had been affected "It was terrifying to hear what people had gone through as the water poured through their houses and the challenges they now face recovering from this incident My heart goes out to those affected." The council is asking residents to continue to send videos and photos from the floods to drainage@solihull.gov.uk. Any other residents affected by flooding should call 0121 704 8004. Chiltern Railways has issued an update to customers ahead of a four-day railway closure between Dorridge and Birmingham Moor Street The Chiltern mainline between these stations will be closed between Monday 20th June and Thursday 23rd June inclusive as work continues to prepare the railway for the Commonwealth Games The closure will also affect other services across the network Network Rail’s £3m investment to overhaul switches and crossings will mean that crucial parts of the railway will be replaced to help services run smoothly during a summer in which one million extra passenger journeys are expected to take place across the West Midlands The essential upgrades will impact the following routes and services between Monday 20 and Thursday 23 June: A replacement bus service will be in operation between Dorridge and Birmingham International allowing passengers to connect with train services running to/from Birmingham New Street Ticket acceptance with CrossCountry is in operation throughout this period meaning that passengers travelling from Leamington Spa and Banbury can board services to Birmingham New Street Because of issues stopping buses outside of Birmingham Moor Street station no buses will serve this station throughout the blockade period Chiltern Railways and Network Rail will be conducting a deep clean of Birmingham Moor Street to improve customer experience and working with volunteers on replanting and the repainting of benches around the station There is an amended timetable in place across the rest of the network during this time so all passengers are advised to check before they travel Passengers can find our plans for rail replacement transport at https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/major-weekday-engineering-20-23-june-buses-will-replace-trains-some-routes and check train times on the Chiltern Railways website or app Commercial & Customer Strategy Director for Chiltern Railways "Network Rail's crucial track replacement work between Monday 20 and Thursday 23 June will ensure that we can continue to provide a safe and reliable service for our customers across what is expected to be a busy summer on the railways in the West Midlands We will be regularly communicating plans for rail replacement transport in and out of Birmingham We advise that customers travelling during the closure check their journey on the Chiltern website or app before travelling." “There’s never an ideal time to close the railway and a mid-week closure for work like this is rare but post-pandemic passenger numbers in and out of Birmingham show that on this occasion this is the least disruptive time to carry out vital work These upgrades will improve the network not only at Tyseley but across the wider West Midlands more reliable railway throughout our major summer of sport It will also help to reduce the risk of platforms becoming overcrowded as a result of the predicted one million extra passenger journeys during the Commonwealth Games.” A renowned Dorridge hotel is now under the ownership of local investors and award winning chef Mike Bullard The Forest Hotel on Station Approach will be home to The Butcher’s Social an established dining brand founded 10 years ago by Bullard a Birmingham-based business founder and entrepreneur founder and investor of multiple businesses and organisations including Solihull Moors Football Club The Butcher’s Social is an established brand with a loyal following achieved during the restaurant’s former stints in Harborne – where the brand was born – and more recently Henley-in-Arden Bullard said: “We are excited to bring The Butcher’s Social to the Dorridge area and look forward to welcoming guests and have travelled with us as we’ve relocated to different parts of the region to newcomers who wish to come and see what we’re all about The Butcher’s Social offers quality British cuisine using ingredients sourced locally and nationally From chicken wings at the bar to our infamous Sunday lunch; a three-course a-la-carte meal or a nine-course tasting menu we offer a culinary delight for everyone and every dining occasion Myself and the team are raring to go and we’re hitting the ground running this week.” Martin said: “The Forest Hotel is a kingpin of the community in Dorridge – somewhere that has become synonymous with great accommodation and dining options as well as a place to hold parties such as birthdays engagements and weddings – and a staple conference facility Tracy and Gary Perkins have been in charge of the hotel for more than 20 years now and have built this fantastic customer base which we’re thrilled and honoured to inherit We want to maintain this and create a vibrant community hub and we will be inviting feedback and innovative ideas so we can continually evolve in line with exactly what local people want We want to achieve the best we possibly can for all who come here from far and wide or those on our doorstep.” Eales added: “We’re incredibly lucky to be taking ownership of a local hospitality venue that has been in great hands for decades and a real hub for locals As the hospitality industry opens up this week ready and waiting for people to try this new local dining option We will of course be operating in a Covid-safe manner so numbers will be limited in accordance with this The Butcher’s Social at The Forest Hotel is now taking bookings.