Latest news with #Broadland
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Dog playground ban confirmed by Norfolk council
A council has voted to ban dogs from playgrounds in its area amid concerns about the safety of Council in Norfolk voted to bring in the measure after it received complaints about dogs being let off leads in play areas around rule forms part of its updated public spaces protection order (PSPO) across the district, which means people can be fined for failing to pick up dog Riley, a Liberal Democrat county and district councillor for Aylsham, said the new restriction on enclosed playgrounds could help to prevent some children becoming "seriously ill" due to contact with dangerous bacteria. Aylsham Town Council requested Broadland Council consider the new rules due to locals using play areas to exercise their dogs, both on and off was suggested that dog urine and dog mess in playgrounds may leave behind traces of bacteria even once it has been cleared up, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said."People may pick up faeces within enclosed play areas, but the scientific evidence is that there is still surface contamination," warned Riley."I do not doubt this new ban will protect some children who would otherwise become seriously ill."Concerns were also raised about young children and dogs being in an enclosed space together and the increased risk of biting. 'Widespread support' A meeting of the full council last Thursday agreed to bring in the rule change, after it was backed by a committee earlier in the Davis, leader of the Green group, said there had been "widespread public support" for the move.A ban on dogs in playgrounds has already been implemented by other authorities, including South Norfolk new measures in Broadland will remain in place for three years, after which time they will be reviewed.A report to the council says it currently receives "relatively low" complaints of uncleared dog mess, with 44 being recorded last year. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Norfolk councils trial AI for routine public queries
Artificial intelligence (AI) bots have been drafted in to answer questions about tax and services at two local trial at South Norfolk Council and Broadland District Council was estimated to cost £149,000 for one would be used online and over the phone to provide automated responses to "routine inquiries" from some councillors warned the technology could be "more irritating" for people wanting to speak with a human. Speaking at a meeting of South Norfolk Council's cabinet, officers said the use of AI agents was "no longer optional".Instead, they said it was essential to make services more cost of running the technology would be shared between both authorities, using it to answer queries such as how to pay council it was not planned to be used for more personalised questions, such as finding out a caller's outstanding tax AI bot would be the first point of contact for every caller to the councillor Kim Carsok said: "I wonder if there is a risk that some customers will be more irritated by the virtual agent."I think we all have phoned up a company and had to speak to a computer and didn't enjoy the experience quite as much as if we were talking to a real person."Council officers hoped the AI agent would stop people having to trawl through websites for information. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
New rule set to ban dogs from Broadland play areas in Norfolk
Dogs are set to be banned from playgrounds in parts of Norfolk over hygiene and safety in Broadland are expected to change existing rules on dog fouling by restricting access to play this year, the authority ran a public consultation on an existing public spaces protection order (PSPO) which meant people could be fined for not picking up pet mess.A report advises councillors that banning dogs from enclosed play areas "will protect the health and well-being of our residents and the quality and cleanliness of the district's public spaces". It said that, in its consultation, 13 town and parish councils backed the idea of continuing the order, with Aylsham Town Council warning there had been issues in play report explained there had been "a number of incidents where such spaces are being used to exercise dogs" and dogs had said that, even if cleaned up, the mess could leave bacteria behind, creating health show there were just 103 reports to the council about dog mess between 2022 and 2024, but the report put the low number down to the provision of waste bins, signage and the threat of councils in Norfolk – including Great Yarmouth and North Norfolk, have similar restrictions for playing fields and play councillors are expected to vote in favour of the protection order on Thursday. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
01-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Emergency services block off Ludham road overnight
Police have closed a road between two Broadland villages for more than 13 hours while they deal with an "incident".The A1062 from Ludham to Potter Heigham has been blocked since about 20:00 BST on Police posted on social media: "Emergency services are currently on scene dealing with an incident on the A1062 at Ludham. The force advised people to use alternative routes. The BBC has contacted the constabulary for more details. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform UK wins first council seat in Broadland in Norfolk
Reform UK ha won its first seat on a district council in Norfolk, following a ward in Broadland became vacant when Conservative Lana Hempsall resigned last Lee took the seat for Reform with 322 votes, ahead of the Conservatives on 208, Greens on 200 and Labour on council has been run by an alliance of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Labour since the local elections in 2023, when the Tories lost control after 24 years in power. Hempsall had held the seat since victory comes after Reform gained its first seats on Norfolk County Council in by-elections earlier this party also has councillors on the authorities in Breckland and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
