Parcel firm to create new £100m hub at Hinckley Commercial Park
Parcel firm DPD has announced plans to build a new £100m hub at Hinckley Commercial Park, close to J1 of the M69.
The company won a record £70m of new business from online retailers in 2012 off the back of Predict.
This is now the firm's fourth hub in the Midlands. It has three sites in the West Midlands, around Smethwick. The new hub is expected to help the firm create another 1,500 jobs as part of its overall investment across the UK.
“It is very exciting to be able to announce our plans for the East Midland hub today.
"We are investing significantly in the brand and delivering the network capacity we are going to need in the future for our customers. By continuing to invest in infrastructure and technology we will secure not only the 6,700 jobs we already provide in the UK, but also create another 1,500 new jobs across the UK in the next two years."
Three men have been sentenced to 10 years in jail for conspiracy to conceal, disguise, remove, transfer and convert criminal property.
Golam Merzaj, 32, Ali Raza Ahmed, 64, and Yusef Arman, 32, were each jailed at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday 15th March. All three business men pleaded guilty to the charges after a three week trial that started on Tuesday 12th June last year.
Chopped cars hidden at the back of the trailer Credit: West Midlands Police
It comes after detectives from West Midlands Police followed a tip-off that stolen cars were being stripped down, disassembled, and packaged ready to be shipped.
The cars, which had been stolen over the course of two years from September 2008 included BMWs, Audis, Mercedes, Range Rovers, Porches and Volkswagens. Police found they had been stolen from addresses in Birmingham, Kilmacolm in Scotland, Rochdale, Sandwell, Stafford, Solihull and Swindon.
The trailer then opened Credit: West Midlands Police
They were destined for the United Arab Emirates where detectives believe they would have been sold as expensive spare parts to wealthy locals.
Code named operation Bromwich, detectives intercepted a container in Southampton. They discovered tonnes of scrap metal and used car parts packed around a central core of Audi doors, BMW bonnets, Range Rover wheels and other valuable spares.
Police then found that cars had been driven to a Black Country garage operated by brothers Golam Merzaj and Yusef Arman where they would be carefully taken apart by a team of mechanics.
The lock-up where the cars were prepared Credit: West Midlands Police
From the unit on Alma Street, Smethwick the parts were then loaded into containers at a shipping company owned by Ali Raza Ahmed, who would organise for them to be transported overseas.
Ali Raza Ahmed Credit: West Midlands PoliceGolam Merzaj Credit: West Midlands PoliceYusef Arman Credit: West Midlands Police
"This was an incredibly complex case with international connections.
"Criminals across the UK clearly knew about the racket Merzaj, Arman and Ahmed had set-up and would steal expensive cars from homes in towns and cities across the country just to drive them down to the West Midlands in exchange for cash.
"Through a painstaking policing operation we were able to identify the ring leaders of this illegal export business and bring them to justice."
The Waterloo Hotel in Smethwick was opened by Mitchell’s and Butler in 1907 and today the Grade II listed building went under the hammer selling for £150,000.
The brewery wanted an impressive venue in which to showcase their products, and decorated the Waterloo to the highest standard Credit: ITV Central
The buyer Zafar Rashid, a solicitor from Perry Barr, already owns a similar property in Sheffield.
It is thought the cost of making the property habitable could run into hundreds of thousands Credit: ITV Central
He says he is not yet sure what he will do with the place, but he is not worried about the cost of repairs.
"Obviously we factored that in to the price before bidding. I do love these old Victorian buildings for their character. I'm very pleased with the price," he said.
Because the building is Grade II listed not much can be altered on the inside or the out Credit: ITV CentralThe exterior features elaborate terra cotta detail in classic Edwardian baroque style, with colourful tile work throughout the interior Credit: ITV Central
Wingfield Station, Derbyshire Credit: The Victorian Society / Stephen Lee Church of St Peter and St Paul, Essex Credit: The Victorian Society / David RobartsFormer County Hall, Ipswich Credit: The Victorian Society / Ian Bareham Holborn Circus, London Credit: The Victorian Society / Alan McFaden Langton Dock Pumphouse, Bootle, Merseyside Credit: The Victorian Society / Barry Walker Agecroft Cemetery Chapel, Salford Credit: The Victorian Society The Waterloo Hotel, Smethwick Credit: The Victorian Society / Andrew ClaytonHendrefoilan House, Swansea, South Wales Credit: The Victorian Society / Debra John Mechanics Institue, Swindon Credit: The Victorian SocietyButterley Spillway, West Yorkshire Credit: The Victorian Society / Diane Ellis
Midland's top 10 endangered buildings worthy of being listed
The Waterloo Hotel in Smethwick is already a Grade II listen building.
The Victorian Society has launched a national appeal to find the buildings they find most worthy of being considered for a listed status.
Waterloo Hotel, Smethwick, West Midlands Credit: The Victorian Society / Andrew ClaytonWeather Vane on top of the Waterloo Hotel, Smethwick Credit: The Victorian Society / Tony Hisgett Interior tiling inside the Waterloo Hotel, West Midlands Credit: The Victorian Society
