Guest writer Dave Taylor writes about how the Express and Star are costing Wolverhampton tax payers money in order to write biased and negative stories about the city:

I’m not going to pretend that I am a fan of my local newspaper. The Express and Star on many occasions seem to revel in the negativity that blights my local area. With the recent riots still in the memory I do feel that people like the Express and Star don’t help matters by keeping the amount of positive stories about an area to a minimum. How can we expect kids to have respect for an area when the so-called local media will almost exclusively focus on the negatives.

A perfect example of this happened yesterday when the Express and Star front page was dominated with a “recycling story”. The Twitter feed reads:

Amount of food waste collected in slop buckets in Wolverhampton falls every month since introduction http://bit.ly/p2liwi

So let’s get a few facts out of the way. I am a resident of Wolverhampton and since the introduction of this scheme the Express and Star have maintained the biased stance of referring to this food recycling scheme as “slop buckets”. The negative connotations here are obvious. It is, therefore, no surprise that the Express and Star were also quick to pick up on the slow uptake of this scheme. Of course, it’s hard to say if there was slow uptake or if it was just the E&S bias coming into play. It’s also hard to say if the “slow uptake” was actually caused by the amount of negative press the E&S have given this story.

It is this cause and effect that is the reason for this rant. The E&S have filed a freedom of information request to get this information, which has cost the council money to process (reportedly £100 per request). Maybe the residents of Wolverhampton need to ask if this bastion of local journalism has done nothing more than waste public money and massage the facts to fight their own little battle.

The problem here is critical thinking. Even if less food waste is being produced why does this story imply that this is a bad thing? The issue is that the food recycling scheme deals with “food waste”. The key word here is “waste” and while the E&S would like to imply that a reduction is about the failure of the scheme and a waste of public money I would like to present a different hypothesis.

As a Wolverhampton resident I partake in this scheme and while I was initially sceptical I gave it a go and our household discovered an interesting thing. It makes you more aware of the food you are throwing away. Separating it almost makes you look at it and go, hang on, we bought that and never used it. Combine this with the belt tightening every household is going through and it’s no surprise that my household has seen a reduction in food waste. Is it beyond the realms of possibility that his is happening in other households in Wolverhampton? That others are wondering around supermarkets and thinking, “Don’t buy that, we threw the last lot away” and putting it back on the shelf. If this is the case then it’s a great thing. A wonderfully positive thing. A thing that should be celebrated. We are wasting less. Go Wolverhampton… you’re great. You waste less. Well done. Of course, that’s not something I’d expect the E&S to publish.

Now unlike the E&S I will present another hypothesis. It could be that people are now thinking, “I can’t be bothered recycling” and throwing the food waste into their main bin. It could be that this scheme has been a waste of public money but the problem here is that the information presented by the E&S doesn’t suggest that. It suggests that they’ve taken a “statistic” which could have a positive or negative angle and immediately jumped on the negative. Surely, residents of Wolverhampton, if this newspaper is forcing our council to spend money answering Freedom of Information requests we should at least expect them to write a balanced story as a result?

I’ll repeat that:

If this newspaper is forcing our council to spend money answering Freedom of Information requests we should at least expect them to write a balanced story as a result?

It seems obvious that the answer to that is, “yes”.

Of course, I’m not naive. The E&S is not the only media outlet to focus on the negative for sales. Most of them do it. And neither are they the only media outlet to be biased. Most of them do that as well. But if we can all think a little more critically about the information presented to us we wouldn’t fall for these tricks and maybe it would influence our decision on if we should buy their products.

I will also point the E&S to this page. It will be interesting to see if they are non-biased enough to retweet my message to them. I doubt it, but I do hope I can make one journalist there think before sending off for Freedom of Information requests and then writing a biased article. By all means file Freedom of Information requests but the subsequent article should be “fair” and “non-biased” otherwise they are wasting the money of the local council and therefore the local people. And if local journalists are not there to help local people then they really have to question if they are doing the job they should be.

Thanks to Dave for allowing us to re-publish his blog post. You can read the original on his blog.

Emergency services were today called to Cambridge Street near Wednesfield shortly after 4am where they found a man in his early 30s who had been badly burnt. The man was taken to New Cross Hospital and his condition has been described as “critical”. Police officers are currently investigating the incident. Source: Express & Star

Later on this week residents in Wednesfield and Ashmore Park will receive their new ‘food caddies’ which are aimed at recycling waste food.

Each household will be given two caddies – a smaller one to keep in the kitchen and a larger one to keep outside.

In a typically negative move the Express & Star have decided to christen these caddies ‘slop buckets’, but here at WV11 we think recycling of any kind is a positive thing.

It is estimated that food waste accounts for between 20 and 25 per cent of household waste so the new scheme aims to reduce the city’s reliance on incineration which is more costly than recycling. Waste food will be turned into electricity that will be put back into the National Grid as well as non-chemical biofertilisers for use on local farms.

Here’s some information on what you’ll be receiving this week…

Residents will be given:

• 23 litre (40cm tall) green caddy – to store with your black 240 litre wheeled bin
• 5 litre (20cm tall) silver caddy – to store in your kitchen
• Compostable bags – for use in your silver caddy

You will be able to recycle all food waste including:

• Meat and fish – raw and cooked
• Fruit and vegetables – raw and cooked
• All dairy products such as eggs and cheese
• Bread, cakes and pastries
• Rice, pasta and beans
• Uneaten food from your plates and dishes
• Tea bags and coffee grounds
• Bones

Your green outside caddy will be emptied every week on the same day and in the same vehicle as your black 240 litre wheeled bin.

So just like your black wheeled bin, make sure you put out your caddy by 7am on your collection day and it will be emptied.

As the food caddies are distributed around the city, residents will also be given two rolls of caddie liners each containing 26 liners (total 52) which should be sufficient for a year’s supply. However, after six months of operating the scheme, we will be reviewing the usage of the liners to see how quickly people are getting through them. It is planned to provide liners in subsequent years.

A family from Bradmore, Wolverhampton recently trialled the caddies, find out how they got on here.

More information is available on the City Council website or you can click the links below:

• What is the new service and when will I get my caddies?
• What can I put in my caddy?
• How do I use my food caddy?
• How is it recycled?
• Your questions answered
  

Images courtesy of Wolverhampton City Council.

The Express & Star are reporting that a panther-like cat has been spotted in Wednesfield.

According to the report, retired union officer Andrew Hall spotted the cat in trees behind shops on Blackhalve Lane from his home.

“People will probably think I’m a nutter but it was definitely a cat by the way it very tenderly came down the tree and arched its back.” he said.

Read more and see Andrew’s photo at The Express & Star.

Panther image by Tim Ellis used under Creative Commons.

The Express & Star recently featured an article about Mark and Lisa Edge who run a sanctuary at their Wednesfield home for unwanted or injured crows, ravens, magpies and rooks and have 37 birds in their care.

Watch the video above and read more here.

The fire which began at Silver & Co accountancy, based on the first storey of the shopping complex soon burnt through the ceiling into the Penguin Cafe below.

Cafe Owner Diana Jones told the Express & Star:

“We were in early and could smell something burning but didn’t think anything of it because sometimes they burn things around the back,” said the 67-year-old, who has run the cafe for eight years.

“The ceiling is completely ruined and I am waiting for the insurance to come out to find out the exact amount of damage.

“We have lost three freezers filled with prawns, burgers and bacon though and that is thousands alone.”

Business affected by the fire include Elegant Frames, childrens’ shop Oh Baby and Portland Opticians, as well as several other firms in the block.

Jason Baso, who runs Elegant Frames told the Express & Star:

“We have had to throw away a few things like office chairs that have been smoke-damaged but I can assure all of the customers that all their precious pictures are safe,” he said.

“They were all locked away safely in cupboards and have not been touched at all. You can’t replace memories and a lot of people would be concerned about their pictures, but they are all safe.”

Firefighters from Fallings Park and Walsall were called  just after 7am on Saturday. There have been no reports of anyone being injured in the incident.

Police are now investigating and anyone with information should call Wednesfield Police Station on 0345 113 5000.

Read the full story at the Express & Star: Arson attack forces closure of precinct

Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is a long-term programme of investment and change in Wolverhampton. It will provide in excess of £300 million to transform education for secondary age students by providing 21st century learning environments that engage and inspire young people, their teachers and the wider community.

It’s about modernising buildings, facilities and ICT so that they can support the development of world class teaching and community provision in every school in the city that serves secondary age students.

For anyone who missed yesterdays announcement  all of the schools in Wolverhampton who were destined for improvement will be unaffected by yesterdays cuts.

Good news for Coppice, Deansfield and Wednesfield High who are all scheduled for improvement work under this scheme.

For a full list of schools and their status after yesterdays cuts is available in the Birmingham Post website

WV11 recently reported on the fate of a set of derelict garages which border Ashmore Park and Wednesfield Aces Cycle Speedway Club after reporting the problem on Fix My Street.

After being contacted by Wv11, Wolverhampton Homes Communications Manager, Kate Hughes told us: “The Garages are set to be demolished soon and we are currently negotiating with the 2 remaining tenants, but until alternative locations are found we can’t demolish them”.

Since our original article, the story has been picked up by local paper the Express & Star and today we were contacted by Wolverhampton Homes who told us that vacation notices have been served to the two remaining tenants. These orders are due to expire on the 25th March and once this has happened a demolition order will follow.

We have asked Wolverhampton Homes for more information on what will happen to the land the garages currently stand on as they form part of the perimeter fence of the park and will report on any news we receive.

The flood damage, which was caused by a burst pipe in the empty flat above the library was discovered by cleaners on the morning of Monday 11th January. After phoning the library today we were told that the building could be closed for “several weeks” whilst repairs take place.

This is the second time in four months that the library has suffered flood damage. In October 2009, Nicola Harrison, 21 was found guilty of theft and criminal damage and sentenced to 18 weeks in prison after being seen dragging the boiler out of the flat and storing it in a wheelie bin, causing water damage to the library below.

According to the Express & Star, proCity Librarian Karen Lees said: “We are doing all we can to try to re-open Ashmore Park library as quickly as possible. Work is currently underway to dry out the building, replace the ceiling tiles, check the electrics and to replace damaged books. It is expected, however, that the library will be closed for at least two weeks.”

“We will continue to keep people informed as to when Ashmore Park will re-open but concerned borrowers can use any Wolverhampton library to renew or return their books.”

See our resources page for a list of libraries in WV11.

As we reported last month, following requests from governors at Deansfield High the school’s revamp has been moved to August 2011 to allow for more time to improve exam results. This means that work at Coppice Performing Arts College and Wednesfield High, which is part of a £370 million building scheme will be brought forward to May 2011 – 3 months earlier than planned.