Latest news with #council
BBC News
2 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Wolverhampton mosque-site nursery plan approved
Plans for a two-storey nursery on the site of a Wolverhampton mosque have been approved by the backing comes after confirmation the opening hours at the Staveley House nursery would not clash with the mosque's peak-time use, the authority proposal has also been amended, to make the nursery element of the building on Great Hampton Street was "completely separate from the mosque".Permission was granted subject to conditions, including that the premises should only be used as a nursery between 08:30 and 16:00 from Monday to Friday, and not during weekends and bank/public holidays. There should also be no more than 20 children there at any one time and the number of staff would not exceed four, the authority making its decision to approve the plan, it said it had confirmed the development would be of an appropriate design, scale and appearance "that would not have an adverse impact" on the area's include making sure external materials used in the development should match those of "the existing building in size, colour, form and texture".No construction operations, including site clearance work, delivering building materials and removing waste, should take place other than between 07:00 and 09:30 and 15:00 and 17:30 from Monday to Friday and 07:00 to 09:30 on should be no such construction work on Sundays or bank/public holidays, the council said. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Seadogs lay out plans to tackle financial losses
The club expect to return to their home stadium by August 2026 [BBC] Scarborough Athletic face a projected loss of about £150,000 for the upcoming season, the club has revealed. The shortfall is as a result of being forced to play home games in Bridlington, after works to repair damage to their pitch and ground meant it would be out of action for about a year. Advertisement In a statement, the Seadogs' board said unknowns meant working out future revenues was "extremely difficult". The National League North side's Sports Village home has been hit by "serious structural problems" but an expected repair bill of up to £3.2m would be covered by the council if talks with the original contractor failed. The fan-owned club said it feared that attendances, which had increased from about 400 to 1400 over the last three seasons, would be affected by the forced move to Bridlington Town's Mounting Systems Stadium. The loss of ticket revenue would also be aggravated by the loss of catering and hospitality income, which Bridlington Town would receive under the groundshare agreement. Advertisement The club, which football finance expert Kieran Maguire said generated an annual profit of about £80,000 last year, had created a fundraiser which has so far generated approximately £60k in expected funds. This plus other donations had slashed the shortfall from an initial £250,000, the club said. Mr Maguire said the loss of revenue under the groundshare was a "possible cause of concern" but added: "The club will need to maximise the revenue from every single item available". Patches became more visible on Scarborough's pitch throughout the 2024-25 season. [BBC] Scarborough chairman Trevor Bull said the club was working on options to provide transport to games in Bridlington. Advertisement He confirmed the club was communicating with Network Rail and coach firm East Yorkshire Motor Services over a deal to supply discounted travel. Mr Bull said if they could get more than 1,000 fans to games down the coast that would "help reduce the deficit further". North Yorkshire Council and the original contractors remain in dialogue over when the work to repair the Scarborough Sports Village will begin. There is currently no start date. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. More on this story Related internet links
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Hawke's Bay residents outraged over council's proposed water rate hike
The hike is due to a proposed regional water entity to replace the Three Waters Policy. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook A group of Central Hawke's Bay residents are accusing the council of causing 'geriatric poverty' because of a proposed water rates hike of $5000 dollars per household over the next decade. In the quiet township of Takapau, a group of angry residents have banded together to fight the council's proposed water rates increases. (Left to right) Takapau residents Carl Tippett, Owen Clough, Lincoln Taylor, Christine Ross, Carmel Thompson, Kim Mathewson and Diane Sweeney. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook Kim Mathewson told RNZ she's outraged about the entire council process, and fears the devastating impact it'll have on their community. "There will be geriatric poverty here. That's really sad when someone thinks 'can't turn on the heater because of the power bill, I can't buy food because I have to buy the rates'. What kind of country are we living in? "Does this council have any social conscience? Because the way it is right now it appears they don't," she said. Kim has crunched the numbers on her own rates bill and said if, or when, water rates reach the council's forecast of $7000 a household by 2035, it will simply be unaffordable because it takes the total annual rates bill to about $9,500. "That's $180 a week per household of rates alone, plus $100 insurance, plus your power bill... if you're on a pension you're pretty much going to be left with $50 a week if you're lucky. No one can afford that," she said. Lincon Taylor owns Takapau business Taylor Made Gates and said under the CHBDC proposal he's facing a water rates rise of more than $25,000 a year for his business and the four properties he rents to his workers. "It's a huge increase. I find it hard to understand how the figures add up, what the council is trying to achieve, and who is paying for it," Taylor said. He said the regional model was probably needed, as Hastings and Napier could help make it an economy of scale for borrowing money, but worried about smaller rural communities like his. "I hope it doesn't turn around and bite small communities too hard because they can't afford it. "I'm proud of the fact that Takapau township has become a retirement village effectively... but they are the ones who are going to be affected the most. To add $4000 to their rates is going to be horrendous," Taylor said. Under the CHBDC proposal, Taylor Made Gates owner Lincoln Taylor estimates his water rates bill will increase by about $25,000 a year for his business and the rental properties for his workers. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook Carmel Thompson manages the CHB budget service and helps over 300 families and pensioners with their spending. But with the inevitable water rates increase, she's concerned about how her clients - both homeowners and renters - will make ends meet. "We have a lot of elderly women on our books and those living off only the pension are already struggling with the rates so I hate to think what will happen if we end up with these huge water rates, I'm not sure how these people will manage. "The elderly on pensions are our new poor. Everyone in the community is suffering though, it's really really sad," Thompson said. Fellow Takapau resident, Carl Tippett agreed. He moved from a rural property into the village of Takapau, but was now looking at moving away. "This is the beginning of the death of small towns right throughout New Zealand. If this goes ahead then people like us, over 65's, will not be able to afford to live... I feel angry. "We're at the end of the rope not the beginning. Frankly it's too late... there should have been a much longer consultation," he said. Owen Clough felt the council and government had failed to properly consider the huge impact on its residents if water rates skyrocket over $7000 by 2035. "There's no social thought about what is going to happen. No one has sat down and said 'can they afford afford this, can the country afford this?', because the answer is no," he said. Takapau pensioner Diana Sweeney was frustrated by the same issues, and questioned whether CHBDC was doing enough to lobby the government for help. "The lack of responsibility to this community by previous councils, the buck has to stop somewhere. The council needs to be our voice, we are a small town and we count. They need to spend our money responsibly," she said. A feeling echoed by Christine Ross, she's also part of the group and is one of 208 people who made submissions on the 'Local Water Done Well' proposals. "I can't afford to pay an increased rate on a single pension, it'll be almost 50 percent of my pension each week being spend on rates and I don't have it. "I won't be able to afford to live here, or anywhere at this rate. I'm horrified, I don't understand why the council isn't working for us, to help us," she said. CHB Mayor Alex Walker told RNZ the 'Local Water Done Well' was government's policy and framework. "The costs outlined in the current model are confronting, however council is actively working on options to reduce this cost, as outlined in the report to Council on 5 June. "We take every person, in every community seriously. Takapau was the first community in the district to get major water treatment plant upgrades in 2019," she said. CHBDC Mayor Alex Walker. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook CHBDC said it had the "perfect storm" of water problems in the region, with years of underinvestment, increasing regulations and an intimidating list of three waters infrastructure that needed upgrading or replacing. 85 percent of total council debt is related to the three waters programme with 25 percent of the drinking water piping network and 40 percent of the wastewater piping network at high risk of failure. Two water reservoirs are over 100 years old and need replacing, seven water treatment plants need $47 million of upgrades, and six wastewater treatment plants are not compliant and urgently need upgrading to the tune of $112 million. Central Hawke's Bay residents feel their council hasn't been transparent about the forecast future water rates hike. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook The Mayor said the council had consulted with the community for five weeks and had 10 meetings including two in Takapau. "Affordability. Affordability. Affordability. It is our key challenge and Local Water Done Well does not convincingly deliver that for us yet. Our community can see it and they are, quite rightly, not happy," Walker said. She said the council was continuously talking to government about the district's challenges and opportunities. "We have made multiple approaches to government, including seeking financial support and leading early work across the region on the Hawke's Bay Model in 2019. "Local Water Done Well is the government's approach to address the challenges districts, like ours, face which sets out that ratepayers not government pays for water assets like any other utility, such as electricity or gas," she said. Residents don't just have an issue with the cost, but also with what they said was a lack of consultation with residents over the massive water rates hike being proposed. Kim Mathewson told RNZ the council had known about the proposal since December, but only informed residents in May. "They're not being transparent right now and presenting all the figures. The information they gave us at the community meeting was like a power point presentation for a business, it didn't give you the facts. "It didn't highlight the $7000 increase and it was so small at the bottom of the page... to me that's not being transparent... it's being dishonest," she said. But mayor Alex Walker said the council had been transparent, and the financial rules presented in December have rapidly changed and are no longer correct. "That we were approaching consultation has been flagged in the media, and the regional work towards LWDW has been reported on repeatedly over the last few years. "We have had constructive conversations with people across the district. Most people are aware we are fighting for them, not with them, to make the district a better place and figure out an affordable solution," Walker said. However, residents want to see CHBDC lobby the government for more funding, to try and reduce the burden on ratepayers. "They have to fight the fight with the government. I've said to them: 'when you first saw this why did you not come to us, we are your biggest ally and you chose not to use us'. "We could have been fighting this fight two years ago. The consultation period has been too short, but I do know it's been the same for every community," Kim Mathewson said. Under the new 'Local Water Done Well' scheme, the Central Hawke's Bay District Council consulted with its community on three options: A regional controlled organisation (its preferred option), a stand-alone district council controlled organisation or an in-house delivery unit. However, under the scheme there are also two other options that weren't presented to CHB resident; a mixed council and consumer trust owned model, and a consumer trust owned organisation where assets are transferred from council to a trust. "They should have showed us all the options and presented them much better," Kim Mathewson said. However, CHBDC said it was only able to legislatively comply with three options, which was what it presented to the community in the Consultation Document, and this was explained on its website. Having now heard the public submissions on the proposed options for water services, the council will deliberate these at its meeting on July 3rd. All councils have to submit a 'water service delivery plan' to the government by September 3rd 2025. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Call the Midwife confirms return of young star for series 15
The BBC previously confirmed that cast members returning for series 15 of Call the Midwife will include: Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne Laura Main as Shelagh Turner Helen George as Trixie Aylward Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle Stephen McGann as Dr Turner Linda Bassett as Nurse Crane Annabelle Apsion as Violet Buckle Georgie Glen as Miss Higgins Call the Midwife confirms young star's return Now, a behind-the-scenes image from on set has revealed Teddy Berriman will be returning as Andrew Trottwood in the new series of Call the Midwife. The image, posted on Instagram, shows Teddy and his mum Nicola with the caption: "Look who's on set this morning! It's Teddy Berriman and his mum Nicola. "Teddy is back as Andrew Trottwood for a day of VERY warm filming!" Fans were excited by the news that the young star would be returning for series 15, rushing to the comments section of the post to pass on their well-wishes. One fan commented: "Lovely he's back where he belongs." Another added: "Love this little star." A third person said: "Amazing!! So glad Teddy is back." While this fan posted: "I'm so glad to see him back on set as his whole storyline was definitely an emotional one that got me in both my mom heart and my teacher one. "It was hands down my favorite episode of season 14 and I cannot wait to see what happens next." Top 10 best British TV series Teddy wins award for role on Call the Midwife Teddy appeared in series 14 of Call the Midwife as the measles-injured Andrew Trottwood. Earlier this month, the young star won Young Influencer of the Year at the council Youth Awards hosted in Bishop Auckland. The award came due to his performance on BBC's Call the Midwife. Following the award, Teddy's mum Nicola said: 'Teddy and myself were so excited when we heard the news! "Teddy has a massive spring in his confidence - it's unbelievable." READ MORE: When will series 15 of Call the Midwife air on TV? Series 15 of Call the Midwife will feature eight hour-long episodes, set in the East End, which will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from January 2026. The new series will follow a two-part Christmas special, which will be set in Hong Kong and Poplar.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Newry: Planning permission granted for £17m civic centre
Planning permission has been granted for a £17m civic centre in Newry Mourne and Down District Council project has been the subject of extensive objection, including from the Catholic Church who are concerned about its proximity to the near 200 year old Newry centre is part of a broader city regeneration scheme that includes a 15 acre park, a theatre and a road bypass and is supported by the Belfast Region City council say the wider scheme will increase vibrancy and footfall in the city centre and stimulate further Thursday's decision objectors say they will consider whether to judicially challenge the decision. The project seeks to relocate 215 council staff in the city onto a single site on what's currently a multi-story car park in the Abbey Way area. As the council operates a hybrid working model the building is expected to cater for 162 staff on a daily basis. The building would provide space for council meetings, weddings, office and meeting rooms, and an innovation the planning process the project has received more than 2,600 objections relating to traffic and parking, need, design, scale, flood and ecology concerns and the processing of the application. A decision on planning approval has been deferred on a number of May, a proposed approval was deferred after objectors highlighted concerns in relation to the way the project's planning application had been the overriding objection to the scheme has been in relation to the removal of car parking spaces adjacent to the city's cathedral and main shopping street, Hill building, which is more than 5000 sqm would be around 45 minutes from the cathedral. On Thursday, the council's planning committee heard representations from the project's promoters and team behind the proposal said the project was sympathetic to the gothic style cathedral in terms of design and choice of materials. It was highlighted that the current multi-story carpark where the building is to be located is poorly used and 136 spaces would be retained immediately say this isn't enough to cope with demand during weddings, communions and funerals at a near 200 year old Cathedral or to serve Hill Street businesses and shoppers. Objectors have also questioned aspects of the project's planning application in terms of what they perceive to be errors, gaps and missing or outdated planners said they were satisfied with the information provided and recommended morning's meetings were split in two. An initial meeting hearing evidence in support and objection and a second meeting which saw planning committee members vote on the matter. At the beginning of this second meeting committee members took legal advice in closed session. When the meeting reopened, Alliance Cllr Cadogan Enright withdrew from the meeting."I think there's other councillors here should be doing the same," he put to a vote committee members approved the scheme by four votes to one with one abstention. Outside the chamber, Sinn Féin's Cllr Declan Murphy said he believed the civic centre and the other regeneration schemes will drive investment."This has been scrutinised more than any other application that has been in front of me," he said. "Everyone had their view heard. Our view was that we were satisfied with what has been proposed."Newry will be transformed over the next five years – with the civic centre, the southern relief road, the city park, the new theatre and streetscape a huge amount of public and private money is being invested."This will attract more investors to the area and it will be transformative," he added. The SDLP's Cllr Declan McAteer agreed."That one part of Newry stood out to me as it was completely dead," he said. "As it is it is an absolutely ugly carpark. We can put something in, a centre that people can focus on."The innovation hub also fills a gap on the Belfast-Dublin axis and will really put Newry on the map. And if there are problems around parking we can resolve them." However, Canon Francis Brown from the cathedral said he was disappointed with the decision."All the parishioners are opposed to this building," he said. "It's far too close to the cathedral which is 200 years old. We're all very disappointed."Andy Stephens of Matrix Consulting has been representing the objectors at planning meetings. He says consideration will now be given in relation to what happens next."It's not the end of the road," he said. "Obviously there is a decision that has to be issued. We'll take a look at that and then take advice and see what the outcome of that advice is. "The only remedies in Northern Ireland for third parties is to judicially challenge – there's no third party right of appeal like in the south. We've three months to launch those proceedings."
