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Scottish Sun
38 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
I went to war with council over ‘illegal' garden deck & WON thanks to Google Earth – they didn't have a leg to stand on
Homeowner used google earth time stamps to save his decking ON DECK I went to war with council over 'illegal' garden deck & WON thanks to Google Earth – they didn't have a leg to stand on A HOMEOWNER has won an ongoing row with the council over his decking, thanks to Google Earth. Gareth Leek, 58, was left stunned after planning officials claimed he needed retrospective permission for a garden decking that had been in place for eight years. Advertisement 6 Mr Leek used Google Earth to prove that he should be allowed to keep his decking Credit: WNS 6 According to the satellite images it had been in place for eight years Credit: WNS 6 The decking stands 83cm tall Credit: Google According to councillors, the raised grey and white platform stood too tall at 83cm high, which is half a metre over the limit requiring planning permission. But, instead of backing down, Mr Leek, who lives in Pontypool, Gwent, took to Google Earth to save his beloved decking. If an unauthorised extension has been in place for more than four years without enforcement action you may legally be allowed to keep it. The aerial snap provided by the app showed the decking firmly in place in June 2018. Advertisement This proof that it had been there for eight years meant that Mr Leek should legally be allowed to keep it. He was also backed up by a neighbour who claimed the decking was in place in the garden since at least 2019. A planning hearing heard Mr Leek had retrospectively applied for a certificate of lawful development. According to the MaileOnline, planning officer Simon Pritchard acknowledged the evidence presented by Mr Leek, which came complete with a Google Earth aerial image from June 2018. Advertisement Mr Pritchard said the council had no evidence or reason to doubt that the decking had not been 'substantially completed for less than four years' and Mr Leek was told he could keep it. This also isn't the first time technology has been used as evidence in planning rows. In 2023, Dorset Council used Google Earth to prove that a resident had illegally built a decking and an extension. Satellite photos were able to prove that Colin Thomas's claims that his decking had existed for more than four years, were false. Advertisement As a result, Mr Thomas now faces the prospect of demolishing his rear extension and raised decking. Earlier this month, Oldham Council also rejected a retrospective planning application over a porch extension that left neighbours in uproar. While Mr Leek's neighbor seemed to come out in support, The Khanom family faced backlash from the community and a £2,000 fine from the council for building a porch that locals claim resembled the Trafford centre. 6 This isn't the first time Google Earth has been used in planning rows Credit: WNS Advertisement 6 Mr Leek's evidence once over the council and he was told he could keep his beloved decking Credit: WNS 6 The decking measured 4.84m wide and 3.82m long Credit: WNS A Gloucester businessman was also locked in a bitter row with developers earlier this year, over a two brick high wall which he insisted belonged to him. Roger White, 58, went head to head with the developers of a new housing estate in April, after they revealed plans to knock down the wall to create an emergency access route, required in their planning permission. Advertisement With both parties declaring ownership, White has been left feeling as if they want to 'bulldoze' the wall that he claims he inherited from his father in 1997.
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Keyword cannibalisation: what is it and how do you fix it?
As SEOs and digital marketers, we rely on keyword optimisation to rank our content higher in search results. The more keywords we cover, the better our overall search presence will be. Because of this, it's very easy to fall into the trap of producing numerous pieces on the same topic, hoping that Google will choose one to rank highly. However, this approach can and will lead to keyword cannibalisation issues and ultimately reduce the chances of any single page ranking well. Here, we'll break down what keyword cannibalisation is, how to avoid it, and how to fix it using SEO tools and best practices. What is keyword cannibalisation? Keyword cannibalisation is when similar content on different pages of your site compete for the same keyword. In instances of cannibalisation, pages will be in conflict with each other for one spot on the SERPs. Typically, the end result is that none of the pages rank well for the target keyword, significantly impacting performance and preventing your website from reaching its full potential. Some examples of keyword cannibalisation Imagine you're planning a hiking trip and need a reliable pair of trainers. You head to Google and search for 'best trainers for hiking'. Among the top results, you find two articles from the same website, one titled The Best Trainers for Long Hikes, and the other The Best Trainers for Long-Distance Walks. Although both titles align with your search intent, it may be difficult to decide which is most relevant and up-to-date. Google views this scenario in exactly the same way. When its crawlers encounter multiple articles from the same site targeting nearly identical keywords, it can cause confusion. This overlap may be interpreted as duplicate content, potentially resulting in lower search rankings and a loss of authority and trust for the site. How keyword cannibalisation impacts performance It's easy to see why keyword cannibalisation is harmful, but understanding why it undermines your site's SEO is key to resolving the issue: Internal competition Instead of one strong page ranking highly, Google may distribute authority across several weaker pages, meaning none of them perform as well as they could have done individually. This weakens your overall visibility. Reduced authority Each page ends up competing for clicks, backlinks and user engagement metrics, such as dwell time. As a result, your potential link equity and authority are diluted across multiple pages, reducing the ranking strength of each piece of content. Confused search intent When your pages overlap, it becomes unclear to Google which page is the best answer for a search query. This confusion can result in lower rankings for all the competing pages and a poor user experience, as visitors may struggle to find the most relevant content on your site. How to fix keyword cannibalisation Addressing keyword cannibalisation involves refining your content strategy to ensure each page has a distinct focus and purpose. Here's how to fix it: Audit your content Start by conducting a full content audit using tools such as PiDatametrics or Google Search Console. Look for multiple pages ranking for the same term, or pages with very similar content that could confuse search engines. Consolidate similar content If you have multiple pages covering the same topic, consider consolidating them into a single, detailed resource. Use 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new page to preserve link equity and ensure a seamless user experience. Revise content focus There will be times when instead of merging content you can repurpose it. In these instances, review the content to ensure each page targets a distinct keyword and serves a unique purpose. Use keyword variations, different angles, or more specific long-tail keywords to differentiate the pages. Use canonical tags In cases where merging or deleting content isn't possible – for example similar product pages on an e-commerce site – use canonical tags to signal to Google which version should be treated as the primary source. This helps avoid internal competition in search results and consolidates ranking signals. Optimise internal linking Use internal links strategically to signal to Google which page is most authoritative for a particular topic. For instance, if you want one article to rank as the definitive guide for 'best hiking boots', link to it from other related pages, using relevant anchor text. This strengthens the internal hierarchy of your content and boosts the targeted page's chances of ranking higher. Create a content strategy Once you've resolved existing keyword cannibalisation issues, prevent them from recurring by developing a content strategy that maps out target keywords and topics for each page. Regularly review and update this strategy to ensure your site remains well-structured and SEO-friendly. Final thoughts Keyword cannibalisation is a common pitfall, but with the right approach it's completely manageable. By auditing your content, consolidating where necessary and maintaining a structured content strategy, you'll not only resolve internal competition but also strengthen your site's overall SEO performance. Focus on creating unique, high-quality content for each keyword to ensure that every page is optimised to reach its full potential.
Glasgow Times
10 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Paisley school announced death of 'loved' English teacher
In a letter sent to parents and carers on June 24, St Andrew's Academy's headteacher, Kevin Henry, announced the 'very sad and sudden passing' of Derek Allison, the school's Principal Teacher of English. Derek, who was described as being an 'incredibly valued and trusted' teacher, began teaching as an English teacher in August 2012. READ MORE: Glasgow football club announced death of 'friendly' member The headteacher said: "I am incredibly sorry to inform you of the very sad and sudden passing of Derek Allison, Principal Teacher of English in St Andrew's Academy. "I know that this will be very upsetting news to our school community, where Derek was loved and respected by our young people and staff alike. "Derek started as an English Teacher in August 2012 and was always passionate about his love of the English language and the value of education. "He later became Principal Teacher of English and was an incredibly valued and trusted colleague to the staff of not only his department but the whole school community. "I know that this news will be upsetting to many of our young people as well as the full staff of the school." (Image: Google) Henry added: "To support any young people in the school tomorrow, who may require it, there will be educational psychologists and pastoral staff available. "Young people who need this support should come to the pastoral support corridor. "Father John, our school chaplain, will be in school to offer spiritual support to young people and staff. "We have a number of young people who are making their way back from trips today, and the accompanying staff will look after these young people as they become aware of this loss before returning to their families. "Senior staff will be at the school as these buses arrive. "We have passed our deepest condolences to Derek's family and will remember "Derek and his family in our prayers. May he rest in peace."
