Latest news with #JohnRenshaw
BBC News
03-07-2025
- BBC News
Worcester residents bolt park gate after altercation
A community in Worcester have taken security into their own hands after two residents claim they were assaulted by a group of travellers. The two people were injured and a vehicle was vandalised after a resident parked his car to prevent access to neighbouring Power Park in St Peter's on living in the area also used heavy duty bicycle locks and screws on the park's height restriction Mercia Police has said it is investigating the incident with "enquiries ongoing", while Worcester City Council said the security measures around its open spaces were "under review". Billy Welch, a spokesperson for the traveller community, stressed attacks like Sunday's are "extremely rare", but said due to a lack of legal traveller pitches it was something that appeared to be getting worse. He also stressed there were "two sides to every story". Councillor John Renshaw, of St Peter's Parish Council, said: "As soon as the last of the travellers left on Sunday evening, some of the local residents came out."One of them put a lock on the gate, another one wrapped a heavy duty cycle chain around the gate, and another put some screws through."If any of [the travellers] try to come back they're going to have a hard time getting back into the park." Discussing the attack, Mr Renshaw said one man suffered a "deep gash" underneath his left eye."The medics who treated him said had that gash been two or three centimetres higher, he'd have probably lost his left eye." 'Two sides to every story' Mr Renshaw has now started calls for an "urgent look at security" for open spaces and warned that "something needs to be done". Mr Welch added: "Some of [the travellers] had got onto the park and then someone parked their vehicle in front of the gate stopping them from leaving, and they wanted to leave. "And apparently they had only turned up there for a few days for a funeral, there was a funeral a few miles up the road, that's what they had come for. "There was nowhere else for them to stay but when they tried to leave they were blocked, that is when the altercation happened." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Travellers terrorised families with drills and threatened to burn down their homes after they ask them to leave a park
Terrified residents claim travellers attacked their cars with drills and threatened to torch their homes after they begged them to leave a park. Locals called police after a fleet of caravans and motorhomes pitched up on land by a cul-de-sac in Worcester. Around five caravans moved onto Power Park in St Peters, Worcester, last Thursday. The majority of the group moved off the site on Sunday afternoon and quick-thinking residents of Trefoil Close quickly padlocked the gates. Fifteen minutes later a different group of travellers in 15 caravans and motorhomes arrived but were unable to manoeuvre around a parked car. When the owner refused to move the car, one of the group smashed the windscreen with a drill while others stormed into the quiet close. Shocked residents called 999 claiming they had been assaulted while one said a yob threatened to 'burn down their homes'. Pictures show one bare-chested man and a woman in a leopard-print jumpsuit walking on the road past a police officer. Other photos show cars which have been dented and had their windscreens smashed. John Renshaw, chair of St Peter's Parish Council, said: 'At 5.45pm, the group which had been on Power Park left, but they left one of their vehicles behind. 'Fifteen or 20 minutes later, another group showed up but they couldn't get their vehicles past a car which was parked on the road. 'One traveller shouted to the owner, 'get your car out the f***ing way', he refused so they smashed his car up. 'They smashed his lights and drilled his windows with a power tool.' Residents say several groups of travellers are playing a game of 'cat and mouse' with the authorities by constantly swapping sites in Worcester. One resident, who did not want to be named, said: 'The travellers who had been here since Thursday swapped sites with the travellers who were at Perdiswell Leisure Centre. 'We had no warning this was going to happen to us.' One resident said: 'They threatened to burn people's houses down, they have assaulted people, they tried to get into people's back gardens. 'It just feels surreal that this could have happened here. It's a quiet street. 'We feel like we are not going to be able to sleep for weeks after this.' Residents also blasted West Mercia Police for their response to the illegal encampment. Another resident said: 'We called 999 and the police said that four wagons were on their way, but they never came. 'It wasn't until we had to call for an ambulance for someone that the police finally arrived.' Another woman added: 'When they saw the police van they turned away, but if the police move the van, we're in trouble. They'll get on the grass again no problem.' The travellers managed to get onto the park despite a locked metal barrier at the entrance. An elderly woman resident said: 'They came Thursday night and stayed a couple of days. 'We just called the police because the kids were naughty, and were going in people's gardens and pulling at their car doors. 'Some the children even went into an old man's garden and turned on his outside tap to fill buckets with water. 'Then on Sunday night 15 caravans came down the road. All of the residents came out and told them we don't want all these people here. 'One of them had an electric drill, and they started to drill the car's windscreen and said they would burn our houses. 'Some of them were pushing the kids. There was a woman fighting with a woman and a man hit one of the guys on his eye. 'Everyone is scared, those with kids are scared. Everyone is frightened. We're all stressed out and none of us can sleep.' A standoff between the travellers, residents and police lasted for around an hour before they left. Cllr Renshaw said: 'The police said they could either go into the caravans and arrest the people who assaulted the residents, or they could escort the caravans off the park. 'The residents did not want them yards away from where they were sleeping so they wanted the police to move them on. But they do not feel safe in their own home anymore.' A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: 'Officers were called to Trefoil Close at around 7pm on Sunday following reports of disorder involving an unauthorised traveller encampment and local residents. 'There was a report of criminal damage to a vehicle and reports of assault, and enquiries are currently ongoing into these incidents. 'The group were directed to leave the area, which they complied with. 'Officers remained in the area to carry out patrols.' Before the group arrived in Worcester, villagers in neighbouring Kempsey blocked the entrance to Kempsey Playing Fields with their cars.
BBC News
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Life's work of Cheshire artist with Alzheimer's goes on show
The life's work of a renowned artist with Alzheimer's is to go on display. John Renshaw's paintings will be on display at the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery later. Renshaw, 78, from Macclesfield, trained in Stockport and then went on to teach at its daughter Anna Lomas said her father "remembers very little but his passion for art, painting, drawing, and literature is one thing he has not forgotten". Amongst Renshaw's many achievements was being selected for the Royal Academy of Painters' Summer Exhibition in Helen Foster-Grime, cabinet member for community, culture and sport at Stockport Council, said: "We are delighted to host this special exhibition of John Renshaw's work."Through his connection with Stockport College, John is remembered fondly by colleagues and former students alike and this is a unique opportunity to see a diverse collection of his work all in one place." Ms Lomas said: "Dad's love of painting, teaching, and talking about art is all consuming. "He is immensely proud of his career in this field, and making a difference to those he worked with and for along the way is something he cherishes deeply. "Now dad has Alzheimer's he remembers very little but his passion for art, painting, drawing, and literature is one thing he has not forgotten."She added: "We have chosen to show his work now so he can share his love with the public and be present to see how much it is appreciated."The exhibition will be by the Renshaw family and the University of Chester, where he was a long serving senior lecturer, head of department and Emeritus Professor of Fine will be hosted by Stockport Council, and will run until 18 May. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
