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Camberley woman says double decker bus dispute was 'years of hell'

Camberley woman says double decker bus dispute was 'years of hell'

BBC News21 hours ago
A Surrey grandmother who said she went through "years of hell" in a dispute over a double decker bus she wants to repair said she was determined to make her venture work.Wendy Salmon, from Camberley, was issued a Community Protection Notice (CPN) by the council to remove the bus, which was parked outside her cul-de-sac home."One lady didn't like the look of the bus, I agree it's not pretty," she told BBC Surrey, but said she had planned to paint the outside of the bus and renovate it inside to make it a mobile bar business.A spokesperson for Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) said they issued the CPN due to "ongoing complaints" and that the bus remained in "poor condition".
Mrs Salmon said the "craters and bumps in the road" moving the bus to its current home included being told to move the bus, being called to court three times since 2023 and feeling "like a criminal"."But I've got here, now I'm going to make it work," she added.She now hopes to keep the bus outside the pub she is running in Windlesham, creating a bar downstairs and seating and a children's soft play upstairs.She said the local authority issued a warning letter before the CPN, which she described as "the modern day Asbo".
She said the CPN was issued for "upsetting the ambience of the area", but claimed most residents in the road she lived in could not see the bus until they were at the end of her drive.She claimed it would have been "impossible" to move the bus in the timeframe given by the council, as it needed work and was declared off road. Mrs Salmon said she had explained this to the council and felt she had no choice but to appeal the CPN, and therefore went to court three times."It's been years of hell, I feel like a victim, I feel like a criminal," she said.
"I'm just trying to provide myself and my children with a business opportunity and something a little bit different and a little bit out of the box," she added.The council said despite the owner's best efforts, the bus was not made roadworthy."While informal resolution was sought, formal action became necessary due to the continued impact on the local community," they added.
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Foreign repression on UK soil rising ‘unchecked', MPs and peers warn
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Foreign repression on UK soil rising ‘unchecked', MPs and peers warn
Foreign repression on UK soil rising ‘unchecked', MPs and peers warn

South Wales Guardian

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Foreign repression on UK soil rising ‘unchecked', MPs and peers warn

In a report published on Wednesday, the Joint Committee on Human Rights said transnational repression had increased in recent years, with foreign states using online harassment, lawsuits and physical violence to intimidate people in the UK. MI5 investigations into threats from other states have increased 48% since 2022, the report said, while committee chairman Lord David Alton warned the rise was 'going unchecked'. He said: 'This risks undermining the UK's ability to protect the human rights of its citizens and those who have sought safety within its borders. 'We have seen prominent cases of Hong Kongers with bounties placed on their heads, Iran intimidating journalists – but evidence submitted to the inquiry suggest this may be the tip of the iceberg.' The warning comes amid rising concern about transnational repression, including reports that China has offered rewards for people turning in pro-democracy Hong Kong activists based in the UK. Last month, Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee warned that Iran had attempted to kidnap or murder at least 15 UK-based people since 2022, while Russia has also targeted dissidents including the attempt to kill Sergei and Yulia Skripal with Novichok in 2018. While the cross-party human rights committee said China, Russia and Iran were the 'most flagrant' perpetrators of transnational repression in the UK, it highlighted evidence suggesting a string of other countries including India, Rwanda, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain had sought to target people in Britain. MPs and peers said they had also received 'substantial' evidence of intimidation by the Eritrean government, including surveillance of anti-government activists and infiltration of community groups and churches in an effort to isolate opponents of the regime. The committee went on to criticise Interpol, saying the organisation had refused to acknowledge misuse of 'red notices' – international requests for an arrest – to harass dissidents or take any steps to address this. Almost half of the 6,550 public red notices currently in circulation have been issued at Russia's request. Lord Alton said: 'We want to see a two-pronged approach from the Government. 'More needs to be done to give support and protection to the individuals and communities most at risk of transnational repression. 'We also want to see transnational repression prioritised in diplomatic relations and leadership at an international level to tackle the misuse and exploitation of systems of justice to silence and intimidate.' As well as pressing Interpol for action on abuse of red notices, the committee urged the Government to provide more training on transnational repression for police officers in the UK and greater protection from vexatious lawsuits known as Slapps (strategic lawsuits against public participation). The committee also called for China to be placed in the highest tier of the foreign influence registration scheme that came into effect last month, saying its omission risked 'undermining the credibility and coherence' of the scheme given the extent of Chinese transnational repression. An Interpol spokesperson said: 'Every year, thousands of the world's most serious criminals are arrested thanks to Interpol's systems. 'Children are saved from sexual exploitation and terrorists, cyber criminals and traffickers are brought to justice. 'Interpol knows red notices are powerful tools for law enforcement co-operation, which is why we have robust processes for ensuring that all Interpol notices and diffusions comply with our rules. 'Our constitution forbids Interpol from undertaking activities of a political, military, religious or racial character and all our databases and activities must also comply with the universal declaration for human rights.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We take the threat of transnational repression extremely seriously. 'Any attempts by a foreign state to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm individuals on UK soil are considered a threat to our national security and sovereignty, and will not be tolerated. 'The committee's review echoes many of the same findings and recommendations from the Defending Democracy Taskforce report on TNR, published in May, and we are already taking action arising from those recommendations to further strengthen our response.'

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