Latest news with #GaryHough
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Landfill site seagulls a 'menace' to nearby homes
Residents living near a landfill site say the waste attracts huge numbers of seagulls that are bombarding homes, businesses, cars and people with bird poo and food waste. More than 700 people have signed an online petition asking for the landfill site operators to stop the "menace" of an estimated 5,000 gulls gathering at the Whinney Hill site, Accrington. Petition organiser, resident Gary Hough, said: "When you have around 5,000 above your homes they are going to be dropping mess. Not only that, they drop food waste as well." Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd, which runs the site, says it operates in accordance with regulations and regularly works with the community to address concerns. Mr Hough said residents wanted Lancashire County Council to halt activities at the site. The council has been approached for a comment. He added the numbers of birds had risen from a few hundred in October 2023 to an estimated 5,000 at the turn of the year. "It's a huge problem, not only for our estate but also for the local community," he said. Mr Hough added: "It has probably got worse since the waste on the tip has been moving closer to homes." Mr Hough said he had even resorted to putting a gazebo over his washing while it dried on the washing line. Residents also say foul smells from the landfill are getting into houses, even with doors and windows shut. Richard Phillips, landfill operations manager at Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd, said: "It is simply unfair and untrue to state that the site is creating hazardous conditions. "We are a responsible operator, and we strive to be a good neighbour. "We keep our operations under constant review, and we will continue to take advice from experts, such as Natural England, to minimise any potential impact on our neighbours." The Environment Agency, which has a responsibility to monitor sites, said it was "taking action to ensure the operator, Suez, addresses issues at Whinney Hill landfill site and recognise the distress the odour and gulls are causing to members of the community". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Bin emptying times changed to deter resort seagulls Are seagulls a natural wonder or just a noisy nuisance? Environment Agency Lancashire County Council
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fayette set to reveal pick from field of 6
By next Tuesday night, the Fayette County Board of Education aims to reveal a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Gary Hough, who will retire from his post on June 30. This Saturday, Feb. 15, the board will stage a special meeting beginning at 9 a.m. at the board central office in Fayetteville for the purpose of interviewing candidates for the superintendent post. Saturday's agenda features an executive session. The motion for the session says the board will conduct 'structured interviews of the six screened applicants for the position of incoming superintendent for a term commencing July 1, 2025.' On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the board will meet in regular session beginning at 6 p.m. The group plans to consider and act upon the new superintendent who will guide the school system after Hough's departure. The board also will ask Jim Brown, executive director of the West Virginia School Board Association, in consultation with board President Pat Gray, to negotiate a contract with the chosen candidate. That discussion will include length, salary, benefits and other matters for a term beginning July 1. The proposed contract will be presented by Brown for board action at a future meeting. In a previous interview, Gray declined to divulge the names of the applicants, but he did say it was a mixture of people from both inside and outside the county. Also at the Feb. 18 meeting, the board will hear presentations from the Fayette County Family Resource Network's Diane Callison on Project Adventure 2025, as well as listen to a review of student achievement results and a scorecard review from Associate Superintendent Anna Kincaid-Cline. The board will act on several policy revisions and a slate of personnel action, in addition to addressing a student discipline issue. In March, the board will conduct several meetings, including four sessions on March 11. That day will include a special meeting for a work session (10 a.m.), a special meeting for the proposed levy order and rate sheet for FY 2025-26 (5:30 p.m.), a special meeting for a public hearing on the proposed school calendar for next year (5:45 p.m.) and a regular meeting (6 p.m.). There will be a regional LSIC meeting for Oak Hill middle and high schools at the high school on March 18 at 6 p.m., possible special meetings for RIF/transfer hearings on March 25 and 26, and a regular meeting set for 6 p.m. on March 25. Email: skeenan@ follow on Facebook
