West of England headlines: Bus conversion and 'parking plagues'
Here's our weekly roundup of stories from across local websites in the West of England.We have a daily round up as well. Make sure you look out for it on the website and the local section of the BBC News app.
What have been the big stories in the West this week?
A new parent and baby bay has been opened at Bath's Royal United Hospital. It has been named the Lori Grace room, in memory of Lori Robertson, who died in a car accident shortly before starting a role as a paediatric nurse there. Bristol 24/7 featured a double decker bus which has been converted into a classroom. The bus, at Blaise Primary & Nursery School in Henbury, will be a space for 30 pupils. A "plague" of illegal parking in Trowbridge was the focus of this Wiltshire Times article, reflecting calls for "stronger enforcement" in the centre.Gloucestershire Live reported on concerns that Gloucestershire Constabulary is paying its chief constable more than £150,000 while he continues his national work on the National Police Chiefs' Council. This comes as the police force faces a £12.3m funding gap.And a single mum has become the first female fire fighter in Winscombe for more than 30 years, reports the Weston Mercury. She told them that she wanted to show her children that "anything is possible".
Top five local stories for the BBC in the West
Something longer to read
Gloucestershire Live ran an article on discord in the county over plans to potentially split it into two new unitary authorities. The area's Labour MPs and councillors say devolution could unlock more funding for the area, but Conservative County Council leader Stephen Davies says the plan will waste taxpayer's money.
Explore more with our daily roundups
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
Halving violence against women and girls will require more cash, watchdogs say
More investment will be needed if the government wants to achieve its promise to cut violence against women and girls in half, Keir Starmer has been warned. A major spending review set to be announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves next week will decide budgets for government departments for years to come. Two senior government watchdogs have written to the Prime Minister to say those plans must include more funding for helping victims and survivors. Dame Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, and Baroness Newlove, the Victims Commissioner for England and Wales, were behind the letter. According to BBC News, they wrote that with 'bold and ambitious investment, we can finally tackle the systemic stain of violence and abuse' and the 'cost of inaction is one this country can no longer afford'. They warned that 'piecemeal policies' were being caused by 'funding cuts and scaled back ambition'. The Home Office, which is responsible for victims, is reportedly still in negotiations with the Treasury over its funding deal in the review. Yesterday, Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips pointed to extra investment in County Lines operations as she announced a plan to outlaw coerced internal concealment. Funding for the police, also controlled by the Home Office, has come under the microscope in recent days with Metropolitan Police head Sir Mark Rowley writing to the PM to express his concerns. In his letter, he warned any budget cuts would have 'far-reaching consequences'. Asked about his intervention, Reeves said: 'We will be increasing spending on police in the spending review next week, so that's not a decision or a choice that I would recognise.' More Trending Campaign group End Violence Against Women said on Monday they are 'yet to see any detail' on how the government's commitment to halving violence against women and girls will be measured. The coalition, which has worked with Metro on the This Is Not Right campaign, said: 'We need a plan from the top that sets out clearly how the government intends to tackle this national crisis.' Earlier today, Reeves tried to temper expectations ahead of her announcement next Wednesday by saying there were 'good things I've had to say no to'. The Chancellor said: 'Not every department will get everything that they want next week and I have had to say no to things that I want to do too.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Women who have a miscarriage in West Virginia could be prosecuted MORE: Boy, 14, 'hacked to death in an instant by man with Samurai sword' on way to school MORE: TikTok star Sana Yousef shot dead by man who repeatedly contacted her online
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Mayor of Fuengirola on Eddie Lyons Jr and Ross Monaghan shooting
A gunman fired several shots at Monaghan's Bar in Andalusia, Southern Spain, on Saturday evening, killing Eddie Lyons Junior and Ross Monaghan. Spanish detectives previously told BBC News that investigations into the double murder, which took place at around 11.30pm on the day, were ongoing. READ NEXT: Spain bar shootings: Who was Glasgow man Ross Monaghan? Left to right: Eddie Lyons Junior and Ross Monaghan (Image: Mike Gibbons, Spindrift) Now, Ana Mula, mayor of Fuengirola, is asking for more resources and help from the Spanish central government, Sur in English reports. In an emergency meeting with national and local police, as well as the area's councillor for public safety, Jose Luis Ponce, she demanded more police specialised in organised crime. She said: 'We live in a world and at a time when crime knows no borders. And in places like the Costa del Sol, phenomena are occurring which, by expansion, affect us irremediably. 'This is why our determination is to tackle it without hot air, to put all possible threats on the table and to prepare ourselves to face this new context, with the means at our disposal, with the best guarantees. 'We need the involvement of the state to be much greater in this matter.' READ NEXT: Spanish tourists' on Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan shooting Mayor Mula stated that she had organised the meeting to 'reinforce collaboration and improve prevention and action in terms of public safety'. She did, however, go on to highlight that this is already 'extraordinary'. It comes after graphic footage of the shooting emerged recently. Spanish TV aired the horrific scenes inside Monaghan's Bar on Fuengirola's promenade. (Image: BBC) These showed Ross Monaghan in his final moments, just seconds after Eddie Lyons Junior was gunned down outside. The gunman appeared to be wearing a black baseball cap, a black jacket, black shorts, and had a white T-shirt around his neck, which he is thought to have used to hide his face before opening fire. He later fled on foot before rejoining an accomplice in a car. No details about the getaway vehicle have been released. READ NEXT: Footage emerges of Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jr shooting Spanish police confirmed on Monday that they had yet to make any arrests. A spokesperson said: 'The investigation is continuing into the fatal shooting of two men at a pub in Fuengirola, with nothing new at the moment.' There is speculation that the shootings are linked to the ongoing 'gangland feud' in central Scotland, which has resulted in dozens of incidents, including alleged attempted murders, and more than 40 arrests. Some of the people targeted in the violence are linked to the Daniels crime group - long-time rivals of another serious organised crime group, the Lyons family, of which Eddie Lyons Junior, 46, and Ross Monaghan, 43, were members. Monaghan was acquitted of the murder of Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll in 2010 after the judge at his 2012 trial ruled there was insufficient evidence. Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll (Image: Archives) Eddie Lyons Junior had previously been shot in 2006 in an incident that was believed to be part of a gang feud. Meanwhile, Monaghan was shot in the back after dropping his child off at a primary school in Glasgow in 2017.
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Stockton arson attacks lead to four arrests
Tom Burgess BBC News, North East and Cumbria Google There have been 11 fires across Stockton in the last 48 hours, including one at Heaton Road Four people have been arrested in connection with a spate of overnight arson attacks. There have been 11 fires across the Stockton area in the last 48 hours involving accelerants being used on vehicles or properties, police say. No-one has been injured, but officers believe they are "targeted and not random". Three men aged 28 and a 15-year-old boy were arrested on Monday on suspicion of arson with intent. Elsewhere, two properties have been targeted in arson attacks in Ingleby Barwick with fires started in their letterboxes. A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "Overnight police received reports of incidents on Heaton Road, Piper Knowle Road, Windmill Terrace, Trefoil Court and Newton Walk in Stockton where accelerants were discharged on to vehicles or towards addresses. "We are investigating whether they may be linked with previously reported incidents from Sunday/Monday." A spokesperson previously identified other arson reports on Swale Road, Raleigh Road, Appleton Road, Hope Street and a reported firearms discharge at a property on Howard Place. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Related internet links
