Latest news with #Gravesend
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Owners of fire-ravaged pub told to improve site
The owners of a listed pub wrecked by fire have been ordered to improve and secure the site. The former New Inn pub, on the corner of Milton Road and King Street, in Gravesend, Kent, was destroyed by a blaze on 27 May, 2022. Gravesham Borough Council said attempts to work with the owners had been unsuccessful. In June, the authority served notice on them, requiring an historic building professional to be appointed to supervise work. It demands salvaged material be stored securely and that hoardings be improved. Gravesham council's cabinet member for planning, Shane Mochrie-Cox, said: "I understand and share the frustration and anger of local residents and businesses that this key site in the town centre has been in a state of ruin for three years now. "The reality is, it is a privately-owned site, and local councils actually have very limited legal powers to compel the owners to take action in situations such as these." The council, Mr Mochrie-Cox said, understood the challenges and expense owning a listed site brought for owners. He said: "Despite initial reassurances that work would start, the site remains a blight on the town centre. "Enough is enough, and the serving of the Section 215 notice is considered a last resort after those offers of help and support have been ignored. "The owners have until October to comply." Failure to do so would be a criminal offence, Mr Mochrie-Cox added. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Theatre praised despite heavy financial losses Hospital helipad reopens after £170k donation Upcoming airshow postponed until next summer Related internet links Gravesham Borough Council
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Owners of Gravesend pub wrecked by fire told to improve site
The owners of a listed pub wrecked by fire have been ordered to improve and secure the site. The former New Inn pub, on the corner of Milton Road and King Street, in Gravesend, Kent, was destroyed by a blaze on 27 May, 2022. Gravesham Borough Council said attempts to work with the owners had been unsuccessful. In June, the authority served notice on them, requiring an historic building professional to be appointed to supervise work. It demands salvaged material be stored securely and that hoardings be council's cabinet member for planning, Shane Mochrie-Cox, said: "I understand and share the frustration and anger of local residents and businesses that this key site in the town centre has been in a state of ruin for three years now. "The reality is, it is a privately-owned site, and local councils actually have very limited legal powers to compel the owners to take action in situations such as these."The council, Mr Mochrie-Cox said, understood the challenges and expense owning a listed site brought for said: "Despite initial reassurances that work would start, the site remains a blight on the town centre."Enough is enough, and the serving of the Section 215 notice is considered a last resort after those offers of help and support have been ignored."The owners have until October to comply." Failure to do so would be a criminal offence, Mr Mochrie-Cox added.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Poisoning prompts urgent plea to Aussies over invasive backyard plant
A poisoning has prompted a plea to Aussies to be aware of the grim truth lurking behind the alluring appearance of a 'pretty' plant often found on roadsides. While it might look like a harmless succulent, mother-of-millions — an invasive weed that escaped from suburban backyards — poses a serious risk to humans, pets, wildlife and livestock. The plant, native to Madagascar, is known for its striking red flowers that emerge every winter, however the blooms have a less than attractive side. The flowers are 'extremely toxic' to cattle, which 'often seek out alternative food sources when seasonal conditions impact pastures', a spokesperson for NSW's Local Land Services (LLS) told Yahoo News. A case of mother-of-millions poisoning in livestock was recently identified by a LLS veterinarian near Gravesend in the state's north west, the spokesperson explained, prompting a warning from the government agency. 'Cattle are the usual victims of poisonings,' the organisation posted online, adding ingesting even a small amount can cause diarrhoea, drooling, loss in appetite and death from heart failure. Livestock poisonings occur more frequently during the cooler months when 'plants are flowering, and frosts and dry weather have reduced palatable feed'. Popular backyard plant causes sudden death in livestock Mother-of-millions is also toxic to pets — especially dogs — and humans, but it's unlikely either would eat enough to become poisoned, according to NSW WeedWise. 'While mother-of-millions poisoning is uncommon, it can cause sudden death in livestock,' the LLS spokesperson told Yahoo. 'Livestock can die quite rapidly depending on the amount ingested and they can continue to die for a number of days after removal from the source. 'Landholders are encouraged to regularly inspect their properties and learn how to identify weeds such as mother-of-millions using NSW WeedWise, and report any new weed incursions to the Local Control Authority.' Invasive mother-of-millions can 'spread rapidly' Mother-of-millions, which was historically planted in gardens due to its ornamental qualities, is a declared weed in Queensland, but it's also considered a problem species in NSW and the Northern Territory, Imogen Ebsworth, the Invasive Species Council's (ISC) engagement director, told Yahoo. 'It spreads rapidly and can quickly take over natural areas if it escapes gardens,' she said. 'Because it's still legally sold and traded in many places, it's slipping under the radar — most Australians don't think of succulents as weeds.' However, experts are taking the plant very seriously. 'It was nominated as a Weed of National Significance, which is reserved for species with the potential to cause major environmental and economic damage,' Ebsworth explained. Following an assessment process, the species was not included. Mother-of-millions remains a weed of potential national significance and is widely distributed in the country's east. It can also be found in Victoria and parts of southern and Western Australia. The plant is frequently introduced to new areas in dumped garden waste and spreads in waterways or flood events. It is commonly found growing on sandy soils and disturbed sites such as roadsides, fence lines, and rubbish tips 🌱 Council's warning as popular plant sprouts up in 'hectic' location Aussies urged to dig up invasive plant that becomes 'very difficult to remove' 🏙️ Aussies told to check their backyards as popular plant 'infests' major city Calls to remove toxic weed from nurseries Ebsworth told Yahoo the ISC would 'love to see mother-of-millions removed from sale across the country'. 'Escaped garden plants are the primary source of new weeds in Australia,' she said, noting three-quarters of all listed weeds started out as ornamentals. She described the status quo as "a regulatory failure". "To date, self-regulation has failed. We are relying on everyday Australians to either have a botany degree or realise they need to research legally sold plants to find out if they are a weed. That's a system designed to fail.' In the meantime, Aussies are encouraged 'to be really careful' and refrain from tossing garden cuttings. 'Don't share or swap it, and if you need to dispose of it, bag it up securely and put it in the bin, not the compost,' Ebsworth you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Plea to Aussies after 'pretty' roadside find leads to poisoning
A poisoning has prompted a plea to Aussies to be aware of the grim truth lurking behind the alluring appearance of a 'pretty' plant often found on roadsides. While it might look like a harmless succulent, mother-of-millions — an invasive weed that escaped from suburban gardens — poses a serious risk to humans, pets, wildlife and livestock. The plant, native to Madagascar, is known for its striking red flowers that emerge every winter, however the blooms have a less than attractive side. The flowers are 'extremely toxic' to cattle, which 'often seek out alternative food sources when seasonal conditions impact pastures', a spokesperson for NSW's Local Land Services (LLS) told Yahoo News. A case of mother-of-millions poisoning in livestock was recently identified by a LLS veterinarian near Gravesend in the state's north west, the spokesperson explained, prompting a warning from the government agency. 'Cattle are the usual victims of poisonings,' the organisation posted online, adding ingesting even a small amount can cause diarrhoea, drooling, loss in appetite and death from heart failure. Livestock poisonings occur more frequently during the cooler months when 'plants are flowering, and frosts and dry weather have reduced palatable feed'. Invasive plant causes sudden death in livestock Mother-of-millions is also toxic to pets — especially dogs — and humans, although incidents of poisoning in the latter are unlikely. 'While mother-of-millions poisoning is uncommon, it can cause sudden death in livestock,' the LLS spokesperson told Yahoo. 'Livestock can die quite rapidly depending on the amount ingested and they can continue to die for a number of days after removal from the source. 'Landholders are encouraged to regularly inspect their properties and learn how to identify weeds such as mother-of-millions using NSW WeedWise, and report any new weed incursions to the Local Control Authority.' Mother-of-millions can 'spread rapidly' if it escapes gardens Mother-of-millions, which was historically planted in gardens due to its ornamental qualities, is a declared weed in Queensland, but it's also considered a problem species in NSW and the Northern Territory, Imogen Ebsworth, the Invasive Species Council's (ISC) engagement director, told Yahoo. 'It spreads rapidly and can quickly take over natural areas if it escapes gardens,' she said. 'Because it's still legally sold and traded in many places, it's slipping under the radar — most Australians don't think of succulents as weeds.' However, experts are taking the plant very seriously. 'It was nominated as a Weed of National Significance, which is reserved for species with the potential to cause major environmental and economic damage,' Ebsworth explained. Following an assessment process, the species was not included. Mother-of-millions remains a weed of potential national significance and is widely distributed in the country's east. It can also be found in Victoria and parts of southern and Western Australia. It is introduced to new areas in dumped garden waste and spreads in waterways or flood events. 🌱 Council's warning as popular plant sprouts up in 'hectic' location Aussies urged to dig up invasive plant that becomes 'very difficult to remove' 🏙️ Aussies told to check their backyards as popular plant 'infests' major city Calls to remove toxic weed from Bunnings, nurseries Ebsworth told Yahoo the ISC would 'love to see mother-of-millions removed from sale across the country'. 'Escaped garden plants are the primary source of new weeds in Australia,' she said, noting three-quarters of all listed weeds started out as ornamentals. 'That's not a Bunnings problem or a rogue nursery problem — it's a regulatory failure. To date, self-regulation has failed. We are relying on everyday Australians to either have a botany degree or realise they need to research legally sold plants to find out if they are a weed. That's a system designed to fail.' In the meantime, Aussies are encouraged 'to be really careful' and refrain from tossing garden cuttings. 'Don't share or swap it, and if you need to dispose of it, bag it up securely and put it in the bin, not the compost,' Ebsworth said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The England superfan who spends thousands supporting Lionesses
A Lioness superfan says she spends thousands of pounds supporting the England women's national Bleach, from Gravesend in Kent, has travelled around the world to watch her favourite footballers – and even built a Lioness-themed pub in her back garden."I don't regret a single penny I've spent supporting the Lionesses," said Ms Bleach, ahead of England's World Cup quarter-final against Sweden on 42-year-old said while she had been a football fan since the age of two, the Lionesses winning the Euros in 2022 "catapulted women's football in this country into the stratosphere". She added: "I have watched both the men's and women's for years, but to be able to watch women's football on mainstream channels feels very special. This is what I wanted since I was 15." Ms Bleach, a sports physiotherapist, said she previously coached an 11-year-old Chloe Kelly at the Middlesex Centre for said she was proud that the formerly "quiet and shy" girl was now an inspiration for millions as a striker for both Arsenal and England."She wouldn't say boo to a goose," Ms Bleach said. "I wouldn't have looked at her then and said she would be who she is today."It's not handed to any of the girls on a plate, so they deserve it all the more." Ms Bleach says she also uses 10 days of annual leave a year to pursue her 2003, she travelled to the US to watch the Lionesses and meet her idol Kelly and her partner Elizabeth also spent five months building a £3,000 pub in their garden - The Lionesses Den - to watch the Women's World Cup in 2023, and a further £1,000 on memorabilia."When there's big tournaments, I look at the schedule and book annual leave right up to the final, in the hope they get there," Ms Bleach said she booked tickets to most matches, including the final of the 2023 World Cup in Sydney, which England finished as face Sweden in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women's Euro at 20:00 BST on Thursday on BBC1.
