Latest news with #ParishCouncil
BBC News
16 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Accessibility and equipment upgrade for Shaw Ridge playpark
A popular town playpark is being replaced with a new 'state of the art' play Ridge playground in west Swindon, which sits on a steep slope, will be moved to another location in the same area and upgraded to have better for the new park include flatter ground and installing a zip wire, fort towers with slides and a 'spiders-web' climbing Swindon Parish Council said it appreciates the hard work volunteers have carried out over the years to nurture biodiversity at Shaw Ridge and promised to create a brand-new meadow adjacent to the site. "From an environmental perspective, we estimate around two thirds of the current meadow will remain undisturbed," a council spokesperson said."The new play park will only take up approximately a third of the site, tucked into the corner. "There will be no loss of shrubs or trees."Those who have helped grow the wildflowers have always had our support. That remains. We will help with the continued care for the remaining meadow – untouched by the play park – as well as assisting with the development and maintenance of the new larger meadow."The new facility will be "ready for west Swindon families to enjoy" by the autumn.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Yorkshire Dales Wensley Quarry expansion met with 60 objections
The proposed expansion of a quarry has been met with 60 objections, amid claims from a parish council and local residents that the firm running it had ignored complaints about dust and Tarmac has applied to North Yorkshire Council to change planning permission for its Wensley Quarry, near company said it wanted permission to keep extracting minerals from one area of the plant while also starting other phases earlier than planned and extending the year it would finish working the quarry from 2042 to its objection, Preston-under-Scar Parish Council said Tarmac had a "documented history of ignoring and denying legitimate complaints from residents". The firm had also "consistently failed to take effective remedial action", the parish council its objection to Tarmac's application, the council claimed the company had failed to abide by its dust and noise management plan, meanwhile the proposed expansion would see work take place less than 980ft (300m) from nearby parish council added that Tarmac's claim there had been no complaints about dust in the nine years a dust management plan had been in place was "manifestly untrue".According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the parish council stated in its objection that there had been 22 documented dust complaints regarding the quarry between 2018-22 and no improvements had been made. Also lodging an objection, North Yorkshire Conservative councillor Karin Sedgewick said she was concerned dust from the quarry was affecting the village's air quality."The distance from the proposed quarrying will be far too near the village," she said."I do not think this continuation of quarrying should be allowed."In its application, Tarmac said that due to "unforeseen challenges" there were only two years of accessible mineral remaining in the current permitted areas of phase two, three and part of four quarrying, which were due to be worked up until documents also stated that Wensley Quarry was of regional importance due to its long-term supply of carboniferous said in its submission: "The site is in a sustainable location to serve mineral and waste needs."Although adverse impact is anticipated to two visual receptors, these impacts are temporary in nature, with beneficial impacts arising at these locations post-restoration."Tarmac argued there would be no other adverse impacts with regard to noise, dust, transport or the water environment.A decision on the application by North Yorkshire Council is expected at a date yet to be decided. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Romaldkirk Parish Council dispute cost more than £60k
An investigation into claims of bullying, assault and unlawful use of public funds in a rural village cost a local authority more than £60, County Council launched a probe after members of Romaldkirk Parish Council were accused of being "dismissive and disrespectful" to dispute ignited over long-running land disagreements, with residents exchanging "toxic and threatening" WhatsApp messages. Four parish councillors were ordered to take conduct training after several complaints against them were resident, summing up the dispute, said: "I say to all my friends and family, if you think Emmerdale is something, move to Romaldkirk." Police also looked into complaints of assault among members but closed their investigations. Report 'not fair' Durham County Council, which was run by a coalition at the time, spent a total of £62,989 on internal and external costs, the Local Democracy Reporting Service Bradley, director of legal and democratic services, said: "The report to next week's Standards Committee provides a breakdown of this, which includes £21,646 of internal costs and £41,343 of external costs."A Durham County Council standards hearing in March ordered councillors Jacqueline Barningham, Gillian Carter, Lesley Cutting and Derek Nixon to undertake were also investigated for the handling of finances and alleged false statements regarding funds. Investigating officer Rachel Antonelli was employed to preside over the feud, but Ivan Carter-Becker, representing the councillors, criticised her said it was not "fair, reasoned, or justified and it should never have been put forward"."When looking at the actual evidence, it's clear the councillors acted the best way they could. The allegations are not correct." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peacocks in Tutbury village are a 'serious problem', says council
A growing population of peacocks are "creating serious problems" for residents in a village, says the Parish Council in Staffordshire is asking everyone in the village to stop feeding the birds after residents have complained that they are becoming an "invasion of privacy".The council said feeding the peacocks leads to them roosting and making loud, early-morning calls near homes; droppings left on driveways and vehicles; and some have even been spotted on residents' chair Francis Crossley said: "We want to encourage the peacocks to find their food elsewhere, instead of coming to people's homes." 'Number is the problem' He believed there were 26 peacocks during the council's last count but said there could now be up to council said the peacocks were becoming more confident and "harder to deter", especially around homes where food is being provided for them."Residents are becoming distressed by the number of peacocks and the noises they are making; there are definitely more peacocks than there used to be," said Mr Crossley."They aren't aggressive to residents or attacking anybody; the number of them is the problem."He added that he would "hate" to see anybody get rid of any of the peacocks."They don't belong to anybody; they just roam around the village, so there is nobody to deal with them," said Mr Crossley."They are beautiful animals, so I can see why people like to have them around. We would just like them to find their food elsewhere and not around people's homes."In a statement, the parish council said they would be "exploring responsible and humane solutions, including working with local wildlife organisations". Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cotswold villagers say drones are an invasion
Residents in a Cotswold village said they're fed up with tourists invading their privacy whilst flying drones, with one man being filmed in his bath. Castle Combe in Wiltshire is home to just under 400 people but for generations has been visited by tens of thousands of visitors every year. Often referred to as one of the "prettiest villages in England", the area is known for its chocolate box cottages, timeless charm and picture-perfect backdrops. But Fred Winup, chairman of the Castle Combe Parish Council, said drones are a never-ending battle. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire "Somebody was sitting in his bath, looked out the window and there's a drone filming him," he said. "I've sat in my garden and there's been a drone flying 10ft (3 metres) above my head. "Villagers don't like drones flying over their gardens and looking in their windows," he added. While it is legal for drones to be flown in Castle Combe as long as the rules set out by the UK Civil Aviation Authority are followed, Mr Winup said the majority of the time these rules are being ignored. "There are three things that people are quite frequently breaking. They're flying too close to buildings, too close to people and they can't see the line of sight for the drone," he said. He said over the last few years, villagers have begun propping up 'no drone' signs in their windows in hope it will discourage tourists. Draven McConville, who lives in the village, said villagers feel they have no private spaces anymore. "It does get busy here so we feel that our only spaces are our back gardens so when a drone encroaches in that area, it feels like an invasion of our privacy," he said. "I've had someone stand right on my driveway flying one. Obviously you can hear it. I've gone out and spoken to them and had reasonable conversations. "However there have been occasions that have resulted in verbal abuse for no real reason," he added. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Drones can 'complement' traditional farming methods Drone popularity prompts rule review Holidaymakers' drones endangering planes, RAF says Castle Combe Parish Council Civil Aviation Authority
