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Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Dundalk Grammar School under starter's orders for major sports arena
The most significant part of the proposal is an all-weather playing pitch, eight-lane running track and covered spectator stand on a c.4.6ha site near the school between Hill Street/Dublin Road and the main railway line. While the facilities will be used primarily by Grammar students, they will also be available to other local sports clubs. The school's Board of Governors applied to the local authority for permission for an all-weather multi-use playing pitch also encompassing an 8-lane running track, a covered spectator stand (maximum capacity 700 persons), stand-alone single storey changing rooms building, three Padel-Tennis courts, 2 Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGA) and an outdoor gym. The proposal also includes an Ecological Park in the southern part of the site, which adjoins but does not form part of Balmer's Bog, incorporating a viewing deck/bird watching observation hide orientated towards Balmer's Bog, car parking, cycle parking and a bus set down area. Access via the existing access off Hill Street/Dublin Road (R132), adjust the existing R132 carriageway lane width to 3.1m along a c. 70 m section of Hill Street to the north of the proposed access and extend the existing cycle lane along the western edge of the R132 as far as the site entrance. Also, alterations to grounds levels within the site, a pumping station, site lighting (including flood lighting surrounding the pitch), landscaping and boundary treatments. Last September Louth County Council refused permission. It pointed to a failure to provide an appropriate pedestrian/cycling route from the Grammar School to the development and raised traffic and flooding concerns. "On the basis of the information provided with the application, the Planning Authority is not satisfied that the proposed development individually or in combination with other plans or projects would not adversely affect the integrity of the European Sites No. 000455 (Dundalk Bay SAC) and other sites in the Natura 2000 network in view of the sites' Conservation Objectives.' That decision was appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála by the Board of Governors. An inspector from the Commission noted, 'At the outset, the appeal expresses extreme frustration and disappointment at the decision given the level of pre-planning consultation carried out; the inadequate assessment by the planning authority; and the lack of opportunity to address any outstanding concerns by way of a further information request and/or conditions.' The appellant responded to the various issues raised by the council and referenced the permitted GAA stadium on the Inner Relief Road. "The application includes significant information on operation and use patterns, and the facility would be strictly managed by the school,' the appeal continued. "Given the location of the site within the built-up area where the 50km speed limit applies, the development would not give rise to road safety issues.' The appellant pointed out that no objections were received from local residents and any additional activity would not be significant. "The proposed development is generally well separated from existing properties. "The existing access/parking is already used by various parties and the proposed development will rationalise and improve the existing arrangements. The access will only be used periodically, at low intensity, and has been adequately designed to facilitate demands.' A response to the appeal outlined that pre-planning consultation established that the proposal was consistent with zoning objectives, but that key issues of concern related to flood risk, access and roads, and ecology. The Commission decided to grant permission generally in accordance with the Inspector's recommendation. "It is considered that, subject to compliance with conditions, the proposed development would constitute an acceptable use-type and scale of development at this location, would not result in any unacceptable flood risk, would not seriously injure the amenities of surrounding properties or detract from the character of the area, would not detract from ecological or archaeological value, would be adequately served by existing and proposed infrastructure, and would be acceptable in terms of pedestrian and traffic safety.' Eighteen conditions were attached. These include that the proposed layout shall be amended to provide access to the existing open drainage channel along the eastern site boundary for the purposes of management and maintenance. The operational hours of the floodlighting shall not extend beyond 2200 hours, with automatic cut-off of floodlighting at that time. Also, the sowing of commercial 'wildflower seeds' shall be omitted from the landscaping plan for the proposed development. Another, is that advertising structures/devices erected within the site shall not be visible when viewed from outside the curtilage of the site.
The Herald Scotland
31-07-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Woman who threatened to carry out 'another Dunblane' fined
Rennie took to the popular social media app on November 10 last year and shouted at the camera 'I hope a terrorist blows up' the schools in Prestonpans and Musselburgh and that 'children will die'. The shocking social media footage was recorded by a concerned member of the public who was watching the livestream and reported the incident to the police. Rennie was subsequently arrested and charged, and she pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by uttering threats to blow up a school and make reference to the Dunblane massacre when she appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in December last year. Read More Sentence had been deferred and Rennie returned to the dock for sentencing on Monday, where Sheriff Frances Gill issued her with a fine of £335. Previously, the shocking TikTok footage was played to the court and showed a wide-eyed Rennie, of New Street, shouting at the camera and stating: 'I'll get fireworks and blow up your school.' She was heard to say: 'It'll be another Dunblane, bang, bang, bang, bang. I'll go to the school and blow it up. 'I hope a terrorist blows up the [Musselburgh] Grammar School and the Pans school [Preston Lodge High School] for doing that to my f***ing windows. 'I can say that when kids do that to my windows and come here every f***ing night they will die. 'Your children will f***ing die for smashing my f***ing windows cos I'll blow all the f***ing bairns up, blow them up. 'Blow every single one of them up cos you don't deserve to be living today or walk and breathe. 'They don't deserve to breathe this world. They don't deserve to be here.' Following the TikTok rant, social media users described Rennie's comments as 'despicable' and 'horrendous'. One said: 'I can understand her being angry but to mention the Dunblane murders in that way is totally despicable. She deserves everything she gets for saying that.' A second user said: 'This is totally out of order. What kind of person says stuff like that about innocent children dying? 'These comments are totally horrendous and I am glad she has been arrested.' A third added: 'I hope they throw the book at her for what she said about those poor wee children. 'What kind of person says that she hopes children will die and that she hopes a terrorist blows up a school? 'She sounds like she needs medical help.' The Dunblane massacre took place at the town's primary school near Stirling and saw gunman Thomas Hamilton kill 16 pupils and one teacher, and injure a further 15 others, on March 13, 1996. Hamilton then killed himself and the incident remains the deadliest mass shooting in British history. Rennie pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly uttering threats to blow up a school, making intimidating gestures and making a reference to the Dunblane massacre via a TikTok livestream at her home address on November 10 last year.
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
The Other John Macdonald—the One Who Opposed Confederation
Commentary John Sandfield Macdonald was Canadian born and bred—something that was unusual among his political contemporaries at the time. Sandfield (he was referred to by his middle name) lost his mother when he was eight. An adventurous boy, he tried a few times to run away, thwarted on one occasion when an indigenous man demanded 50 cents to paddle him across to the U.S. side of the St. Lawrence River, but he had only 25 cents. He attended Cornwall's famous Grammar School established by Anglican churchman John Strachan, and upon graduation in 1835 articled in the law firm of the top local Tory, Later, Sandfield exercised his wanderlust by travelling the Niagara peninsula and playing cards aboard paddle steamers on Lake Erie. He once won $19 gambling against 'Sweet William' At the time, Sandfield had the high-level job of Queen's Messenger, carrying dispatch boxes between the British Ambassador in Washington, D.C., and the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. Miss Waggaman's first language was French, and she spoke Spanish too. She was a pretty good catch for the lanky man from Glengarry! So exciting was the six-foot-three Sandfield's company that she, also tall and dark, ran away from Mademoiselle Bujac's finishing school in Baltimore to elope with him, and they were married in New York. According to his biographer, Bruce Hodgins, Sandfield's pride was such that he Related Stories 4/25/2025 4/11/2025 Sandfield was first elected to the Assembly of the United Province of Canada in 1841, representing Sandfield's political star was rising but he was outmanoeuvred by Sir Francis Hincks, who found him too independent-minded. Sandfield felt 'let go to pasture like an old Composite photograph titled 'First Parliament of Ontario,' showing the members in session in the legislative chamber of the Parliament Buildings in 1871. Public Domain Sandfield stood up for the ' There were many coalitions in those days, one of them led briefly by Sandfield and Sicotte in 1862–63, and another by Sandfield and Antoine-Aimé Dorion in 1863–64, as co-premiers. As far as they were concerned, the Double Majority worked well to secure the interests of both halves of Canada. When proposals came for a wider Union, Sandfield cried foul. He opposed Confederation as an 'American' scheme. The federal principle was American, as were the idea of 'one from many,' and a Senate of the provinces. Provinces resembled U.S. states, loosely united under 'Ottawa,' a Canadian version of Washington, D.C. Sandfield resented how quickly Confederation's proponents were trying to push it through. And he argued, not unreasonably, that there should be elections in each province before such a big change was accepted. Sandfield believed the United Province would work just fine 'if we were free from demagogues and designing persons who sought to create strife between the sections.' He invoked his own Canadian birth—adding that the troublemakers had arrived 'yesterday' full of 'audacity.' Men like George Brown, John A. Macdonald, and Thomas D'Arcy McGee were not born in Canada. Sandfield didn't believe Confederation would do anything to eliminate the province's political, language, and religious conflicts—and in that he was correct. Sandfield was highly regarded for his integrity and courage—but some resented that, as they saw it, he did not always control his temper, and tended to ' Despite his opposition, Sandfield adjusted to Confederation once it became inevitable. In 1867, he travelled upriver by steamboat to Ottawa where he was the His term as a reforming premier was quite successful, working to populate northern Ontario and build railways, though he suffered from two accusations. The public found him too subservient to Sir John A.—and John A. found him too independent. He also never quite let go of the Old Canada centred on its greatest metropolis of Montreal. In the winter of 1872, he fell ill. 'A touch of the horse distemper,' he called it. He had suffered from fevers before, 'chill shadows of the evening of life.' Doctors said his repeated fevers meant that his heart was now fatally 'displaced and impaired.' Having lived a life of service, he did not regret leaving his body behind, calling it a 'bag of old bones.' Having received the last rites, he died at Ivy Hall surrounded by his extended family on June 1 at age 59. Hodgins Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Conversion plans for former Richmond Grammar School
A former grammar school in the Yorkshire Dales could become a community centre, under plans due to be considered by Grammar School, which was founded in the 14th Century, taught pupils including the author Lewis Carroll but closed in Grade II listed building has been vacant since then, despite previous efforts to bring it back into community use.A proposal, drawn up by the Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust, would see it become a centre for "cultural activities and digital enterprise". It would also focus on providing opportunities for young people, allowing them to access activities in their local Yorkshire Council's executive will discuss a report on 6 May, which sets out plans to transfer the council-owned site to the preservation trust. 'Last chance saloon' Deputy council leader Gareth Dadd said: "This is an exciting opportunity to bring opportunities and experiences for local communities and visitors to Richmond that would normally only be seen in large towns and cities."The proposals do have a strong focus on young people which would allow them to take up a host of new opportunities, bringing digital to the Dales. "It is a major ambition for us as a council to ensure that we can bring vitality and enterprise to our market towns."If approved, the preservation trust would launch a fundraising campaign to finance the Dadd added they were in the "last chance saloon" because the building would have to be sold if this project did not former grammar school site has a current market value of about £370,000. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Parkrun to attract 'alphabeters' in search of letter Q
The organiser of a new Parkrun believes it could attract people from far and wide because of its obscure 5km (3-mile) event at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, is the first in the Harrison said it would appeal to people hoping to complete the "A to Z of Parkruns", because venues beginning with the letter Q are rare."Alphabeters" are enthusiasts who seek to finish Parkruns starting with all 26 letters, for example from Aberdeen to Zielony Jar, Poland. According to Mr Harrison there are only two other "Qs" in 64-year-old running enthusiast, who also volunteers at Parkruns in Lincoln, said he "liked to help others"."If I can make people happy and they enjoy it, that's good enough for me." Global success Mr Harrison said it was "absolutely wonderful" to have a course in Horncastle after spending about five years finding the ideal course features four laps around the school's grass playing fields, with runs every Saturday at 09: started in London in 2004 as a weekly "free-for-all" 5km event. There are now more than 1,200 around the events rely on volunteers, with more than 400,000 helping to organise runs in the of all ages and abilities gather on Saturday mornings, with a start time of 09:00 or 09:30, depending on the to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
