Latest news with #CatEccles
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP investigated over late filing of overseas trip
Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles is being investigated by the parliamentary standards watchdog over claims that she was late declaring a trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories. The standards commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, announced that he was looking into a possible breach under rules about the declaration of an interest and the late registration of an interest. In the most recent filings, Eccles listed a trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories, sponsored by Labour Friends of Israel, with flights, accommodation and meals totalling £2,600. Ms Eccles has been contacted for a comment. Parliamentary rules state MPs must "always be open and frank in declaring any relevant interest" and register such interests within 28 days. The trip was listed as having taken place between 25 and 29 May but was registered with officials on 9 July. The purpose of the visit was described as being for meetings with politicians, academics, activists and diplomats. The Express and Star reported on Saturday that a spokesperson for the MP said missing the deadline was due to an administrative error and there had not been any attempt to conceal the trip. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Standards watchdog investigates Nigel Farage MP Neil Shastri-Hurst under investigation Essex MP investigated by standards commissioner Labour MP Tahir Ali faces expenses probe Related internet links MP Cat Eccles
BBC News
02-08-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Stourbridge MP investigated over late filing of overseas trip
Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles is being investigated by the parliamentary standards watchdog over claims that she was late declaring a trip to Israel and standards commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, announced that he was looking into a possible breach under rules about the declaration of an interest and the late registration of an the most recent filings, Eccles listed a trip to Israel and Palestine, sponsored by Labour Friends of Israel, with flights, accommodation and meals totalling £2, Eccles has been contacted for a comment. Parliamentary rules state MPs must "always be open and frank in declaring any relevant interest" and register such interests within 28 trip was listed as having taken place between 25 and 29 May but was registered with officials on 9 purpose of the visit was described as being for meetings with politicians, academics, activists and Express and Star reported on Saturday that a spokesperson for the MP said missing the deadline was due to an administrative error and there had not been any attempt to conceal the trip. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Yahoo
Bollards to be installed and CCTV ramped up in fly tipping hotspot
BOLLARDS blocking larger vehicles from entering a car park in Lye that has become a fly tipping hot spot are set to be installed in a bid to tackle the problem. The car park off Clinic Drive has been plagued by fly tippers, with residents reaching the end of their tethers in recent weeks. Last month, a foul-smelling mound had been left accumulating on the car park for five weeks, with hundreds of black bags, industrial waste, mattresses, carpets and more being left in a heap. Just 48 hours after Dudley Council removed the heap, more rubbish appeared, including air conditioning equipment and floor tiles. Gary Farmer, a Lye local who has been going out of his way to clean up the streets of Lye over the years, said the situation was 'beyond a joke now'. Read more Clinic Drive, Lye hit by fly tippers again days after mound removed Clinic Drive, Lye: Mound of rubbish fly tipped in car park The severity of fly tipping in the town had also been condemned by MP Cat Eccles, who said she will work with the council to 'clean up our streets in Lye'. Today (August 1), Dudley Council announced two new measures to help put a stop to fly tipping in the area and catch those responsible. As well as bollards, CCTV surveillance will also be increased around the car park beyond current provisions by repositioning the cameras, the council said. Councillor Damian Corfield, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: 'We take flytipping extremely seriously – it is a blight on our borough and costs the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds each year to clean up. 'The car park on Clinic Drive has become a hotspot, and as a result we have changed the positioning of a couple of our fixed CCTV cameras so they point directly onto the site. 'There was also a gap in the wooden railings which could be being used to access the site directly from the bypass, so we will be putting in bollards to prevent that. 'Our message is very clear – we intend to catch the people flytipping on this site and make sure they are punished through the courts. 'I would like to place on record my thanks to the volunteers who work tirelessly in this area to clean up flytipping – their continued efforts are very much appreciated by the council.'
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Date confirmed for long awaited removal of diesel generator in park
A 'NOISY' and 'polluting' diesel-powered generator that has been powering a 5G mast in a popular park while 'billowing' out smoke will finally be removed after campaigning by local residents, councillors and MPs. Since February, residents have been calling on Dudley Council and telecoms company Cornerstone, which is responsible for the mast, to get the generator out of the park and allow mains power to the mast. Today (July 22), Dudley Council has provided a date for the controversial diesel generator to be disconnected. Dudley Council's delay in signing a wayleave agreement prevented connection works at the mast from taking place, with Cornerstone as a result installing the disruptive generator as a temporary measure. The Friends of Wollescote Park group, joined by other community members and the organisers of Stevens Park Junior Parkrun, previously highlighted numerous times their worries about the 'negative impact' the generator has been having on the popular beauty spot. MPs Alex Ballinger and Cat Eccles joined the calls for the generator to be removed from the park, alongside numerous local councillors, including Cllr Ethan Stafford. Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles went as far as to raise the issue of unnecessary generator use directly with ministers to ensure such measures are not repeated elsewhere. Read more Growing anger over Wollescote Park 5G mast diesel generator Anger over 'noisy generator' next to Wollescote Park 5G mast Dudley Council has now confirmed that the mast will be connected to the mains electricity and the diesel generator removed from Wollescote Park by the end of September. Cat Eccles MP said the time scale cannot be brought forward due to planned gas mains maintenance scheduled from July 21 until August 29 and electricity mains connection works planned from September 8 until September 29 on the road adjacent to the mast site. Following the positive news, she said: 'I am delighted to have confirmation that a date has finally been set for the diesel generator to be disconnected in Wollescote Park, with the long-awaited connection of the mast to electric mains set for the end of September. 'This has long been an objective of mine, as many residents have come forward to discuss this with me over the last year, and whilst it has taken time to progress this issue, I am so glad to see the right steps in a positive direction. 'Ministers are incredibly busy, but I am so pleased to see that in remaining persistent on this matter and continuously discussing over numerous meetings in Parliament, we can see now the change residents in Wollescote have campaigned for relentlessly.' Alex Ballinger, MP for Halesowen, added: 'This is a real result for Wollescote. Residents were right to be angry about a diesel generator polluting their park, and it's taken far too long to get this sorted. 'But by working together and keeping the pressure on, we've got a clear date and a clean way forward. 'This is what local campaigning should deliver: practical change that improves people's lives.' Matt Collins, the Labour candidate for Cradley and Wollescote, also said: 'The generator never should have been in a public park, and people rightly demanded better. 'This outcome shows what can happen when residents speak up and local representatives stay the course. 'It's a step forward for both our environment and our community.'
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
PHOTOS: Big crowds for Stourbridge Carnival 2025
STOURBRIDGE Town Centre was packed full of people on Sunday for the annual carnival. The popular event saw live entertainment, an array of food vendors and stalls, children's rides, and more take over the town centre. There was also a display of classic cars, which delighted vintage motor enthusiasts. Although there was rain pouring down in the morning, it fortunately held off for the carnival. Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles said on Facebook: "The rain didn't dampen people's spirits at Stourbridge Carnival. Jason Griffin and I really enjoyed the day, especially the musical entertainment at the two stages and from the brilliant Bhangra Smash Up on the parade". Check out our photo gallery from the day.
