Latest news with #ITVNewsAnglia
ITV News
2 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
Bedfordshire could generate extra £5bn a year for UK economy after Universal and Luton Airport plans
A building boom across one of the UK's fastest-growing counties is set to add up to five billion pounds a year to the UK economy, ITV News Anglia can reveal. Europe's newest theme park, an airport expansion and a raft of other investment projects promise to trigger a gold rush in Bedfordshire, with tens of thousands of new jobs created in construction, hospitality and associated industries. Figures compiled for ITV News by the Bedford Chamber of Commerce suggest that up to an additional £5bn a year will be generated by projects which include the redevelopment of Luton Hoo, a golf venue and hotel hoping to host the sport's Ryder Cup, upgrading of the key A421 route and building of the East-West rail link. Now locals and business leaders - including construction firms, pubs and farms - are working to make sure the "once-in-a-lifetime" benefits can be felt evenly across communities. ITV News Anglia is exploring and explaining how the investment could change the face of the county in a special programme being broadcast on Thursday, 19 June. A time of change in Bedfordshire Universal In April, Universal announced it would turn a sprawling 476-acre disused brickworks in Stewartby, near Bedford, into one of Europe's largest tourist attractions, set to open in 2031. Bosses hope the theme park - located six miles south of Bedford in the hamlet of Kempston Hardwick - will see more than 8.5 million visitors in its first year, and the project is estimated to be worth £50 billion to the UK economy over the course of 30 years. The construction is set to create 20,000 jobs, with over 5,000 workers needed on-site at the peak of the building work, and the resort and theme park is expected to create 8,000 new jobs in the hospitality and creative industries. NBCUniversal has said 80% of these jobs should go to people in Bedfordshire and the surrounding area. Back to top Luton Airport Less than a week before the Universal announcement, the government approved plans to expand Luton Airport in a move that could nearly double its annual capacity to 32 million passengers, with a new terminal and an extension to the current airfield platform. According to Luton Borough Council, the expansion could create up to 11,000 jobs nationally, with 6,000 of those in the counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. Back to top Vauxhall plant closure The announcement came less than a week after Vauxhall's van-making factory in Luton was closed by parent company Stellantis, putting up to 1,100 jobs at risk 120 years after the company first came to Luton. The last van rolled off the production line in March, with pictures from inside the plant showing emotional workers gathered round as the final vehicle was finished. Outside, people spoke of their sadness at the end of an era and the loss of a community which they described as "like a family". Back to top Transport upgrades In January, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced transport in the region would also see significant investment, with the East West Rail project planned to deliver new and upgraded lines between Oxford and Cambridge - including improvements to the existing line between Bedford and Bletchley. She also announced a new railway station at Tempsford, east of Bedford, to connect the East Coast Main Line and East West Rail, as well as an upgrade to the A428 to cut journey times between Milton Keynes and Cambridge. Back to top Businesses in the area are already keen to make the most of the opportunities presented by the investment boom. "The impact has to be right, the infrastructure has to be right to accommodate projects of this size," said Justin Richardson, from the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce. "But it's a once in a generation project that will bring a huge amount of benefits to Bedfordshire.' Daniel Coyle, chief executive of Ryebridge Construction, agreed that both the airport expansion and Universal theme park meant it was a good time to be a construction company in Bedfordshire. "It gives us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand as a business, but also to take on apprentices," he said. For Pete Pestell, head chef and landlord of a pub in Felmersham, it was an "exciting" chance to welcome new visitors drawn in by the Universal theme park. "The villagers will continue to support us and we'll continue to be their pub," he told ITV News Anglia. "But pubs are closing, and hospitality is in a mess around the UK, so this could help us to give something special and a bit of a golden ticket compared to some of the other counties." And it's not just pubs and restaurants but the land around the site which could be about to see the benefits. Laura Ibbet, who owns the Sun Inn & Wild Berry Farm which produces food for the pub, wants to create a glamping site for theme park tourists. "I think we've got a really unique area here in the Ouse Valley, on the farm particularly," she explained. "Beautiful lakes, grassland, wildflower meadows, and people coming over for Universal are looking for more than just a one-night stay. "They're looking for an experience and I think we can offer that here."
ITV News
12-06-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Family of autistic man who died after 10 days in mental health detention call for change
ITV News Anglia's Katie Ridley reports on Declan Morrison's family's call for change after his death. The family of an autistic man who died after being kept in a mental health detention suite for 10 days have called for changes to how people with learning disabilities are treated in the mental health system. An inquest which concluded in October last year found that Declan Morrison, 26, died from "catastrophic" injuries after banging his head repeatedly against a wall in the detention suite which should only have been used for 48 hours. Mr Morrison, from Cambourne near Cambridge, was non-verbal and required 24-hour care for his autism, ADHD, severe learning disabilities and bipolar disorder. He had lived in private placements sourced by Cambridgeshire County Council, but by the end of 2021 his placement was unable to meet his needs and the council could not find anywhere suitable for him to go. In March 2022, Mr Morrison was detained under the Mental Health Act and taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital, then transferred to a suite at Fulbourn Hospital where he was kept for 10 days. His mother, Samantha Morrison, told ITV News Anglia: "He was lost, he was alone, he was left, he was frightened, he was under-stimulated. And he was misunderstood. "The biggest thing is that he was alone." A Prevention of Future Deaths report issued by the coroner after his inquest stated the suite was not suitable for someone with Mr Morrison's needs. His family wants to stop people with learning disabilities being detained in these spaces - and they now have the support of their local MP, Ian Sollom. The Liberal Democrat MP for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire told ITV News Anglia: "There's over 2,000 people who are either autistic or have learning disabilities who are currently detained under the Mental Health Act, and that's just far too many, and for far too long as well." Tim Nicholls, policy director at the National autistic Society, said that while autism is not a mental health condition, many autistic people develop mental health problems and can get into crisis. He added: "What is absolutely vital is that the mental health system is better equipped with the right environments and staff training to really support people." The Department for Health and Social Care said the number of people with learning disabilities in mental health hospitals is "unacceptable". It told ITV News Anglia: "Our proposed reforms in the Mental Health Bill will limit the scope to detain people with a learning disability and autistic people, ensuring their needs are met in the community."
ITV News
02-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Norfolk villagers angry after letter says their homes could be 'required' for East Pye solar farm
A great-grandmother has told ITV News she feels "overwhelmed" after dozens of residents in her village received a letter saying their homes "may be required" by a solar farm developer. The East Pye Solar Project would see more than 2,500 acres of countryside across 100 fields in south Norfolk turned into one of the UK's biggest solar farms, affecting villages including Hempnall, Saxlingham and Tasburgh. Proposed last year, it would power around 115,000 homes and a statutory consultation will begin this summer. But 89-year-old Yvonne Davy and dozens of fellow residents have received a letter from developer Island Green Power's lawyers which has left them "alarmed". The letter, from firm Dalcour Maclaren, said East Pye Solar Ltd believe they may have an interest in the residents' land or property, which could be "required for the project". Ms Davy told ITV News Anglia she was "absolutely appalled" to receive the letter, which she feels implies residents' property could be acquired. The great-grandmother, who has solar panels on her roof and drives an electric car, said: "I thought, they'll get my property over my dead body, which is a bit extreme but it would really damage me a great deal. "I'm just overwhelmed by it, really." The project is deemed to be of national significance, meaning the final decision will be made by the Planning Inspectorate. That could give the developer the power to compulsory purchase land, but they have said their intention is to deliver the scheme without doing that. "It left me feeling unsettled": Rob Setchell spoke to Hempnall residents who received the letter The parish council said residents felt "harassed" after residents were also contacted on their personal mobile phones. David Hook, chairman of Hempnall Parish Council, told ITV News Anglia the power to compulsory purchase property and land is "a very worrying thing". He said: "Everyone should love the countryside, it's a precious national asset. "We should be protecting it, not destroying it. "It's everybody's legacy." Island Green Power said: "East Pye Solar will be undertaking Land Interest Questionnaires (LIQ) to identify people and organisations that have a legal interest in land or property that may potentially be impacted by the Scheme. "This is a statutory obligation under the 2008 Planning Act and is routine for helping to identify those with legal interest in land. "Completing land referencing questionnaires allows these stakeholders to be consulted on the Development Consent Order (DCO) application and ensures they receive formal notification such as when the Scheme is accepted for examination." It said East Pye is crucial for meeting climate targets to triple solar power by 2030. Around three quarters of people who responded to the first local consultation last autumn were against the plan.
ITV News
28-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Northamptonshire drinks manufacturer says pubs are at breaking point as industry calls for change
An alcoholic drinks manufacturer has called on the government to take urgent action to stop British pubs from closing during a "perfect storm" of financial turmoil. Philip Saxby of Saxby Cider in Irchester, Northamptonshire, said he wants to see "meaningful tax breaks" for pub landlords. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, the industry employs over 1 million people - but six pubs in England and Wales closed for good every week in 2024. Mr Saxby told ITV News Anglia: "Prices are going up, pubs are therefore having to put their prices up more, people are not going out so much, the amount of pubs is shrinking all the time. "So we're basically at a place where our prices are higher, and our customer base is getting smaller - that's not a good situation for anybody.' Joanne Ellis, landlady at The Red Lion in Bozeat, Northamptonshire, has felt the strain ever since the increase in employer's National Insurance contributions. She said: "I think the pressure is relentless, you have to keep on top of everything." She is now working more hours in the kitchen and behind the bar because she can't afford to pay her staff. Ms Ellis added she is having to get creative to get more people through the door on top of the bingo and quizzes she already runs, adding: "I'm going to have to do more events, we'll have to put on more bands which is costly again. "I'm thinking of doing fancy dress parties. If things like that weren't happening, I think people would just stay at home, it is easier isn't it, to just stay at home." The BBPA has called on the government to mitigate employment cost rises and modernise the business rates system.
ITV News
30-04-2025
- General
- ITV News
Guide dog users 'humiliated' after being refused access to public spaces
A blind woman has said she has lost count of the number of times she has been illegally refused access to public places because she has a guide dog. Siobhan Meade from Stevenage in Hertfordshire, who qualified as a guide dog owner in 2003, says she has been refused access at least 30 times. The most recent figures from charity Guide Dogs show 90% of guide dog owners have experienced an unlawful refusal at some point, and 72% experienced one in 2024. Ms Meade told ITV News Anglia she "hung her head in shame" the first time it happened "I just didn't know what to do," she said. "I just felt humiliated standing on the doorstep, knowing that I was allowed to go in, (with) everyone watching me. "It just felt so embarrassing. Nobody should ever feel like they don't belong, because at the end of the day we're all one medical condition or accident away from disability - disability doesn't discriminate." Under the Equality Act 2010, guide dog and other assistance dog owners have the right to enter most services, premises and vehicles with their dogs - but more than 40% of guide dog owners who faced an access refusal last year have been turned away from food and drink premises. However, there are some exceptions, such as where taxi drivers have a medical exemption certificate due to a dog allergy. The 41-year-old, who creates online content to educate people about blindness, is one of the 79% of guide dog owners who say they have changed their plans or limited where they visited because of access refusals. Ms Meade said the extra planning and research she does before she visits anywhere new with her current guide dog Marty has left her "mentally and emotionally drained". She wants to see better staff training and public education on the issue. "Every time it just knocks my confidence," said Ms Meade. "Over a pattern of so many years you're just thinking, I just don't have it in me anymore. "It's simple, I'm not asking for anything extra. I'm asking for what you already have - and that's the freedom and choice to live the life I choose." Clive Wood, from Guide Dogs, said: "We can give somebody with sight loss the skills to get out and about with their guide dog and feel independent, but if they're a guide dog owner who's refused access to a service, it does chip away at that person's confidence and that's completely against what we're trying to do." Guide dog user Emma Norman, from Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, told ITV News Anglia she has to "hype herself up" when she goes somewhere new in case she has to fight to be let in. The 33-year-old Pilates teacher and her guide dog Archie have experienced refusals in settings including restaurants, hotels, taxis and supermarkets. "That one refusal could ruin someone's day," she said. "I almost go into places expecting something, so when you get a good experience, it's like, oh my God, thank you so much for being so nice. And it shouldn't be like that."
