Emmy nominations 2025: See our updating list of the best in TV
We and our
912 partners store and access personal data, like browsing data or unique identifiers, on your device. Selecting I Accept enables tracking technologies to support the purposes shown under we and our partners process data to provide. Selecting Reject All or withdrawing your consent will disable them. If trackers are disabled, some content and ads you see may not be as relevant to you. You can resurface this menu to change your choices or withdraw consent at any time by clicking the Manage Preferences link on the bottom of the webpage . Your choices will have effect within our Website. For more details, refer to our Privacy Policy.
If you click 'I accept,' in addition to processing data using cookies and similar technologies for the purposes to the right, you also agree we may process the profile information you provide and your interactions with our surveys and other interactive content for personalized advertising.
If you are an EU, Swiss, or UK resident and you do not accept, we will process cookies and associated data for strictly necessary purposes and process non-cookie data as set forth in our
If you click 'I accept,' in addition to processing data using cookies and similar technologies for the purposes to the right, you also agree we may process the profile information you provide and your interactions with our surveys and other interactive content for personalized advertising.If you are an EU, Swiss, or UK resident and you do not accept, we will process cookies and associated data for strictly necessary purposes and process non-cookie data as set forth in our Privacy Policy (consistent with law and, if applicable, other choices you have made).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Changes to plans for huge Sutton Coldfield 5,500-home development labelled 'eco vandalism'
Amended plans for a huge housing development on the edge of Birmingham have been submitted and are set to be discussed next week. The Langley Sutton Coldfield Consortium has submitted revised plans for the big 5,500-home development set to be built on former greenbelt land in Sutton Coldfield next to Walmley. The consortium, made up of a series of developers who are set to build the homes, says plans have been reviewed and changed to take on board residents' and local councillors' concerns. But local representatives have said some of the proposals are still opposed by residents and there is a demand for a further rethink. Read more: Hundreds oppose 'wildlife corridor destruction' plan linked to development There will be a chance for residents to quiz the developers direct at a public meeting held in Falcon Lodge next Monday (July 28). The Langley Consortium has said it has amended two key elements following the receipt of feedback to its previous proposals. A hedge row erupted last year, when the developers announced plans to remove more than 400 metres of mature hedgerows to make way for a new combined 3.5-metre wide cycle way and footpath. At the time more than 1,000 people had objected to the proposal to rip out the established hedgerow, home to a range of wildlife. And that figure is now almost 2,000. The consortium says it has 'listened' to those objections and now proposes intalling an 'instant hedge' along the western boundary of the site by Springfield Road. Another concern raised over the location of a primary electricity sub-station has also been addressed with that plan not now going head. On the hedge 'row' the Langley Consortium insisted the current hedgerow had to be removed as there was not space for a new cycleway, which Birmingham City Council insists must be installed – and must be next to the existing road. It said: 'The need for a walking/cycling route along the western boundary was prescribed by the city council's Highways to encourage sustainable travel and deliver a visible, safe and usable route for both new and existing residents. 'The existing verge on Springfield Road between Churchill Road and Reddicap Heath Road is too narrow to accommodate this facility resulting in the need to remove a 400m section of hedgerow. 'The consortium has committed to replanting a native, species-rich mature 'instant' hedgerow which will be circa 1.8m high in the first year of planting (broadly equivalent to the height of the existing hedge).' In addition to the new 'insta-hedge', the consortium said there will also be new tree planting and the hedge may go above 1.8 metres. It also claimed the new hedge would be better than the old one saying: 'This will provide an enhancement to biodiversity when compared with the existing, single non-native species hedgerow 'And can immediately reinstate the visual screening function provided by the existing hedgerow.' A spokesperson for the Langley Consortium said: 'We have listened to the concerns of residents and have amended our plans. 'We have removed the proposed primary electricity sub-station and are investing in an 'instant hedge' along Springfield Road. 'This new, 'instant hedge' enables the creation of a safe walking and cycling route together with an improved landscaping and biodiversity function. 'This forward-focused approach to delivering enduring benefits forms part of the wider drive to deliver an exemplar development.' Read more: Rising crime in suburb sparks plea on how to spend police station sell-off cash But Sutton Reddicap councillor, Richard Parkin, aired his frustrations claiming he had to fight to get a public meeting, with the consortium at first not willing to do so. And he also said the hedge replacement issue misses the point that residents want the existing hedgerow to be retained and the cycleway to be the new homes side of that natural barrier. That's rather than it being destroyed and replaced by a new hedge metres from where one already exists. Cllr Parkin (Sutton Reddicap, Cons.) said: 'Langley Consortium recently submitted updated plans and there's 80 new documents and almost 400 in total. 'There's pages and pages of stuff, which is virtually impossible to read and understand. 'Residents have contacted me and said 'how do we work out what we are looking at here?' 'The Langley Consortium was reluctant to have a meeting initially and then wanted to be at a ward meeting and only answer written questions. 'I said you have got to talk to people and eventually they agreed to have a public meeting – next Monday.' On the 'instant hedgerow' proposal Cllr Parkin said: 'I have many questions on it. 'The general view of residents they remain opposed to removing the hedgerow that's been there at least 90 years. 'It's eco-vandalism to encourage people to walk and cycle and active travel but to remove a mature hedgerow which a wildlife expert has said is home to a massive variety of birds and other animals. 'How long will it take for them to come back to the instant hedgerow, will it last as it will need a lot of watering before it is established. 'It seems sacrilege to remove a bio-diverse hedgerow to replace it with a new one metres away. 'Nearly 2,000 residents have objected to that and they haven't listened.' Cllr Parkin also said the new north A38 junction should have a northerly exit, not just one to the south – a point other councillors and residents have raised before. Read more: Hundreds more trains to serve city suburb weekly creating 'London-like' service His views have been echoed in a report by Jon Lord, head of regeneration & sustainability at Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council. In a report set to be discussed at the town council's planning committee next Tuesday (July 29), he recommended objections to the instant hedgerow plan saying the consortium and city council's arguments on why the new cycleway cannot be put behind the existing hedgerow 'can be refuted'. He referred to previous objections in December 2024 'remain unchanged and in some cases exacerbated' – namely the cycleway behind the existing hedge 'would be much more sensitive and beneficial in environmental terms compared to that currently being proposed'. Get the latest Sutton Coldfield news delivered direct to your inbox Mr Lord also questioned the internal road design within Langley as not 'safely accommodating cyclists' with question marks over the 6.5 metre (3.25 metre per carriageway) width of the road. And said the cycleway stops before reaching the northern section of the site. He also called for north facing slip roads on the second A38 junction – yet to be built, with fears traffic will be pushed onto more minor roads and cause congestion. And for a reliable bus service. The revised plans will be able to be discussed by Langley Consortium at an informal residents' drop-in question and answer session at Falcon Lodge Methodist Church Hall in Newdigate Road on Monday, July 28 between 4pm and 7pm. The Langley Consortium is made up of developers Homes England, Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd, Vistry Homes Ltd, William Davis and Bellway Home. It is set to build the majority of the 5,500 homes on the site and says 35 per cent will be 'affordable'.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Community group raises money to buy woodland
People in Stroud have successfully raised £66,000 to purchase a local woodland. The community benefit society, Stroud Woodland, are now in the process of purchasing Slade Wood, with the hope of protecting it for future generations. Slade Wood forms part of continuous woodland beginning above Summer Street and extending along the Slad valley to Swifts Hill. Co-director of Stroud Woodland , Ben Spencer describes the wood as "a little pocket of woodland which is really treasured". More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire The Stroud Woodland Community Benefit Society was set up in 2010, to purchase Folly Wood, just north of Stroud. "What people really enjoy is having the opportunity to spend time in the space on their own or with their family, at Folly Wood," said Mr Spencer. This week, the group announced it had raised the necessary £66,000 to buy Slade Wood, a steep three-acre piece of woodland on the edge of the Slad Valley, on the outskirts of Stroud. "Because it's tucked away, it's a bit of a hidden gem," Mr Spencer said. Members of the public who bought shares to fund the purchase will get no financial return. Mr Spencer insists the benefit is social and environmental. "It's for people taking some time out. People locally have grown up and visited it over the years, as kids and teenagers, as well as parents of young children," he said. Once they have taken ownership of Slade Wood, the group plans to keep it open to the public, as it was under the previous owner. "We thought there was a danger it could be bought privately and fenced off with people no longer able to have access to the space," Mr Spencer said. On the environmental side, the group points to successes at Folly Wood where the creation of clearings and ponds has increased biodiversity. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Campaign launched to buy waterfall beauty spot We bought woodland where we walk our dogs for £900k Woodland at Unesco site for sale after 300 years
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Call to shorten the length of school summer holidays
The summer school holidays have kicked off, with students across the country set to enjoy six weeks of freedom and hopefully, plenty of sunshine. However, there's a growing debate over whether this lengthy break is beneficial, with factors such as educational attainment, childcare costs for parents, and increased screen time on tablets and mobile phones all playing into the discussion about potentially shortening the longest period of leisure that British youngsters receive. Have your say! Should the school holidays be shortened? Do you think it would help pupils to get higher grades? Is it worth it to reduce the burden on working parents? Comment below, and join in on the conversation. Earlier this year, Ofsted chief Sir Martyn Oliver suggested it might be time to reassess the duration of the school holidays. Speaking to LBC, he said: "I think 190 days of children going in out of 365 - I think the question should be 'is that long enough'?". READ MORE: Coventry police warning to all drivers over 'pinch-and-park' tactic READ MORE: Face of Exhall dealer caught in Bedworth just two days after starting out Sir Martyn warned that pupils could experience "dysregulation" - the loss of good habits, discipline, and structure built up over the academic year. This change could particularly impact vulnerable or disadvantaged children. As part of its recovery strategy following the Covid-19 pandemic, the Tory government contemplated reducing the summer holidays to help students recover from two years of disruption, but this idea was never implemented. Warnings have been issued that children's screen time is set to soar during the summer holidays. A study by Vodafone, as reported by the Daily Star, suggests that youngsters could spend up to four hours a day on mobile devices. This represents a 42% increase in scrolling time compared to when children are in school, according to the report. Parents' concerns range from the potential for devices to disrupt sleep and negatively impact their child's mental health, to the risk of exposure to harmful content. The six-week summer break can pose challenges for working parents who need to organise childcare. Reducing the length of the summer holiday could ease this burden and prove more cost-effective for families. However, such a move could have repercussions for the traditional summer family getaway. Condensing the demand for flights, hotels, and long car journeys into a shorter period could lead to disruption and price hikes, with the cost of family holidays already a contentious issue - not to mention the importance of quality family time. Have your say! Should the school holidays be shortened? Do you think it would help pupils to get higher grades? Is it worth it to reduce the burden on working parents? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.
