Latest news with #ChrisMcDonald
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Stockton Shambles shop owners 'devastated' over move proposal
Independent shop owners trading at a 19th Century market hall said they have been told they will have to move if a redevelopment plan is approved. Stockton Council cabinet is due to vote on proposals to market the Stockton Shambles as a "food and beverage opportunity" and retailers have received letters about relocation shop owner Sarah Mann, one of the longest serving traders at the site, said she was "absolutely devastated" by the idea of moving to the high Rowling, cabinet member for resources and transport, said that the council was working closely with retailers to provide "support and advice" to help identify alternative accommodation. Ms Mann said moving premises was "unaffordable" and she risked losing loyal said: "We have been here for 14 years and the thought of having to start and build a customer base again is awful."It's such a shame that it has never been put to the public - it's not what they want."Fellow trader April Williams, who owns a cafe, said she was "shocked" by the plans."It is heart warming to see all the support from people saying the Shambles is the heart of the community," she said. "We are just in shock. We are all gutted. We put out hearts and souls into our business." Stockton Labour MP Chris McDonald said he believed the regeneration project was one of the "most exciting developments" in years and "would breathe new life into the high street". However, he said it was "vital to get this right" and he had been contacted by many constituents about the future of the Shambles."The people inside it (the Shambles), the traders who have stood by Stockton through difficult years, deserve respect."I've met with many of those businesses and they care deeply about our town."They've contributed to Stockton's identity and they must not be pushed aside now that the good times are returning," he also urged the council to help traders find new premises that were "affordable and appropriate". 'Alternative accommodation' Mr Rowling said: "The Shambles building is an important part of the high street and part of its current rationale is to support businesses to grow and move into individual town centre premises."Cabinet will be asked to consider marketing the building as a food and beverage opportunity as part of its 25 year vision."The existing retailers would need to relocate and the council is already working closely with retailers to provide business support and advice and identify alternative accommodation options to encourage their long term success." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Belfast Trust: Questions over cost of muscular dystrophy drug
Questions are being asked over why Belfast Trust is quoting ten times the amount of money to treat young muscular dystrophy sufferers with a new drug as a trust in issue was raised in the House of Commons by Chris McDonald, MP for Stockton North, who is concerned patients across the UK are facing a "postcode lottery".The drug, Givinostat, has been approved as safe for use, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is due to make a decision on whether to recommend it for use on the NHS later this drug manufacturers offering it for free, Belfast Health Trust, NI's specialist centre for the condition, has so far declined to begin the treatment. The Belfast Trust has cited the need for "additional staffing resources" as the reason for not offering the drug. Some trusts in England, Scotland and Wales have already started offering treatment under an early access programme (EAP).Under a Freedom of Information request, Belfast Trust revealed it had estimated it would cost £309,000 annually to treat 13 patients with the new drug. That's more than £23,000 per a separate FOI request, the Oxford University Hospitals said they estimated the cost at £66,000 for 35 to 40 patients: just under £2,000 a head. 'It's like a bottle of Calpol' 12 year old Alfie Pentony from Newry has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is a life-limiting muscle wasting disease which affects will eventually need a wheelchair and there is currently no cure but this new drug Givinostat has been shown to keep patients on their feet for mother Colleen Pentony said she cannot understand how the Belfast Trust came to their cost estimate."It's ridiculous. To me, all they need is a nurse and a consultant."They take the medicine at home, I would administer it to Alfie in the morning and night at home. "It's a stable medicine, you don't even have to keep it refrigerated. It's like a bottle of Calpol." Mrs Pentony said the only additional resources needed would be to facilitate the blood tests the boys need, at first every two weeks, then every three said Belfast Trust had included a physiotherapist, play therapist and psychologist in the costings."These job roles should not be included in this costing. We are supposed to have a physiotherapist already, why would these boys need a play therapist, the boys are all over 6?""And any time in the past I asked for psychiatric help for Alfie, they refer me to CAHMS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services)", she added. Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Chris McDonald MP, said there should be consistency in approach across the UK."Currently the Belfast Trust is not offering this drug to lads in Northern Ireland because they're claiming it will cost £309,000," he said."That's an order of magnitude out with the rest of the UK so I'd be grateful if the Minister would look very carefully at the situation in NI." 'Cruel postcode lottery' A spokesperson for Belfast Trust apologised to patients, saying said it was "not in a position" to offer the spokesperson said a multi-disciplinary team approach is adopted for patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which includes physiotherapists, neurology, cardiology and respiratory specialists as well as endocrine asked why their costing was higher than Oxford University Hospitals Trust, a spokesperson said: "It is not possible for the Belfast Trust to comment on costs associated with service delivery within another organisation as individual providers will have different infrastructure and staffing levels in place."A statement from the charity Duchenne UK said patients in Northern Ireland are losing out to a "cruel postcode lottery"."The estimated cost that Belfast Trust has produced seems high and does not align with any other figures we have seen from other places."
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Market trader slams claims high street is a 'no go zone' for affecting footfall
A market trader has hit out at claims a Teesside town's high street is a 'no go zone' after online criticism he says is hitting footfall. John Buckle, known as John the Pie Man, has been selling his pastry-filled creations at Stockton High Street's market for 13 years. The high street has faced criticism in a handful of social media groups, with posts claiming the market area is a 'no go area' and pictures shared of alleged anti-social behaviour. But the 52-year-old pie man is determined to quash what he calls a 'false narrative' affecting footfall, insisting the high street is a good place to visit and work. "There have been quite a lot of negative posts about the high street," he said. "It's just not true. "I work there twice a week, and have done for years. "I love this town. I love the people, they are so down to earth, so honest. "We don't sugar coat stuff. We all say how we feel. "But people see stuff online that looks in all aspects like it's from a genuine verified news source. So they can't be blamed for believing the false negative narrative. "Obviously crime exists everywhere. I don't know the statistics for the town centre but it's never felt unsafe during the day. I'm there for 11 hours twice a week. I shop there regularly. John the Pie Man with his grandchild in Stockton. (Image: John the Pie Man) "It's all lies and affecting footfall for no reason." John has met with Stockton North MP Chris McDonald to discuss the issue and highlighted his work serving free pie and peas for homeless people in the town - something he has done for about four years. He hopes that his work will prove that 'Stockton High Street is a safe space to shop' and more people will come into the town as a result. Stockton Borough Council said efforts had been made in recent months to clean up the street and more police were visible throughout the town now. Chris McDonald MP said: "I've been contacted by many local residents who've raised concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour on Stockton High Street - and they're right to care deeply about their home town. "Fourteen years of cuts in Government funding have hit towns like Stockton hardest, stripping away vital services and undermining community safety. "We are turning a corner. Since being elected, we've committed to 13,000 new officers across the country. Stockton is getting its share of those new officers and we have secured 7-day-a-week policing in the town centre. "I won't pretend all the problems are solved, but confidence is growing. The High Street is safer, busier, and more vibrant - and we're only just getting started." Criticism of Stockton came to the forefront of the political world in 2023 when then Conservative home secretary James Cleverly was accused of calling the town a 's***hole' in the House of Commons. Mr Cleverly apologised at the time, insisting he called then-Labour MP Alex Cunningham 'sh**' instead. Councillor Norma Stephenson, Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: 'We want our town centres to be welcoming places, where residents and visitors can enjoy spending time and businesses can flourish. RAF warns of 'increased activity' in North East this week as advice issued The moment a wanted North East man was rugby tackled to ground by cop Baby left fighting for life after Darlington incident remains in critical condition 'Daily patrols take place by dedicated town centre civic enforcement officers but as part of Operation Shield, they are boosted by regular joint patrols with Cleveland Police. There is also targeted substance misuse support taking place for those needing it. 'Although crime is down in both Stockton Town Centre and the Ropner Ward, we have listened to both residents and businesses about their concerns around safety in the town centre, and how this affects people's perceptions and experience. "We hope Operation Shield provides further reassurance for members of the public who live, work and visit the town centre."
Dominion Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- Dominion Post
High Street craft cocktail eatery, parkside ice cream shop get BZA nod
MORGANTOWN — An upscale restaurant with a craft cocktail bar downtown and an ice cream shop next to 1st Ward's Jack Roberts Park each got the all-clear from the Morgantown Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday. The owners of Von Blaze, located at 1 Wall St., were granted a 'restaurant, private club' designation for 341 High St., which is the former UniversiTEES location and sits directly in front of the space Von Blaze is located in. The 'restaurant, private club' conditional use designation from the city is required before a downtown business can seek a liquor license from the state. 'We plan to put in a kind of upscale craft cocktail bar and finer dining restaurant in that space, trying to kind of fill a gap for more adult-oriented restaurants and options downtown,' applicant Chris McDonald said, adding, 'We consider Von Blaze kind of upscale casual, but this will be more of a kind of fine dining area … We're going to be doing small plates, shareables and things like that.' McDonald, a chef, said the idea is to use the momentum generated by Von Blaze to launch this new venture. 'Von Blaze has worked very well for us, so we have a jump start in kind of getting this rolling,' he said. 'It is going to be a kind of classier place. The food is definitely going to be more elevated than what Von Blaze sells, but it's still going to be the same quality.' Meanwhile, Adelheid Schaupp is thinking less about hot food and more about hot fudge. The Greenmont-based entrepreneur received a 'restaurant, fast food' approval as well as variance relief from off-street parking requirements for an ice cream shop to be located at the corner of Leonard Street and West Virginia Avenue – directly across from Jack Roberts Park. The project will begin with the rehabilitation of an approximately 500 square-foot structure on the property. Schaupp said seating will be primarily outdoors at Eisgarten Morgantown. 'It's a very European-style based setup, where it's right next to the park, which is convenient, but also we have enough greenspace there where everyone can be on site eating ice cream outside,' Schaupp said. 'This would be a seasonal type of business. This would not be open year-round.' The idea, she continued, is that a majority of the business's patrons would arrive on foot, either from the neighboring park or the surrounding neighborhood. The BZA approved the off-street parking relief under the condition that Schaupp apply to the city to get an on-street space adjacent to the business designated as an ADA-accessible parking spot.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Four Stars Auto wins several prestigious awards in Texas and Oklahoma
HENRIETTA (KFDX/KJTL) — The Four Star family of dealerships is celebrating after winning numerous awards from The general manager of Four Stars Auto Ranch in Henrietta, Chris McDonald, said the location won the Texas Chevrolet dealer of the year award for superior customer experience. PREVIOUS STORY: Four Stars dealership family wins numerous awards from That is their third time in a row. Four Stars Toyota in Altus won the Oklahoma Toyota Dealer of the Year award for superior customer experience for the fifth consecutive year. Four Stars Ford out of Jacksboro won Texas Ford Dealer of the Year for superior customer experience. McDonald said these awards are a true testament to their employees and their daily hard work in satisfying customers. 'Our goal every year is to continuously improve, you know, we want not only we want to be number one in the state of Texas, but we want to move up in the national rankings as well, and that's always our goal. But our main goal is to take care of our customers,' McDonald said. 'If we take care of our customers, they will take care of us, which is what they did in providing these, providing these results that we get to receive.' Four Stars won additional awards as well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
