Latest news with #JulieWhite
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Traveller family WIN right to stay at car park after it is ruled their human rights were breached when council turfed them out - but they say it's not enough
A family of travellers who have won a landmark case to stay at a car park have insisted they will 'never stop fighting' for permanent residency. The group, comprising of 15 adults and 14 children, first arrived at the former park-and-ride site in July 2023, setting up home at the Wigmore Coach Park, just off the M2. Medway Council, based in Kent, had initially granted them permission to stay at the site for three months if they paid a monthly fee and stuck to a number of rules. However, in October last year, the local authority handed the Romani Gypsy family an eviction notice, stating that they had planned to sell the land, previously a park and ride used for those commuting to London, in the near future. Now, a judge has made the milestone judgement that the authority wrongly interfered with the group's human rights by attempting to turf them out, having heard that no steps were taken to sell the site. Speaking to MailOnline about the milestone case, described by one involved solicitor as the first of its kind in a decade, Julie White, who lives at the site, said: 'We're over the moon with the initial decision, it's like winning the lottery. To have somebody on our side that is willing to help us has been absolutely amazing.' However, much to the family's fury, the significant decision means that while the travellers can remain on the site for now, they still do not hold the permanent rights to stay at the car park. While an initial planning application was submitted last May, it was refused just two months later. An appeal against the refusal set to take place next Wednesday, with the family anxiously awaiting the verdict. Oldy Herring, 67, the eldest member of the family, described the battle with Medway Council as the 'fight of our lives'. He added: 'There's nowhere else we can go. If this place is not fit for us, then where is fit enough? 'We've been all over Kent. We've been pushed from pillar to post all of our lives, this is the only thing we have been given in our lives. 'People don't understand our lives or our culture. We don't cause any harm to anybody, we just want a home. We are literally begging for help.' The family said that the rules placed on them by the council when they first arrived at the site included 'no anti-social behaviour', 'no work', 'no complaints' and that they had 'to keep the place tidy'. They insisted that all of these rules have been 'strictly' followed and that the council has 'no good reason' for kicking them out. Relying on generators for electricity and water, the travellers currently pay £33 a month to the council for the bins and animals on the land. Now, as they fight for permanent residence, the family have indicated that the council's refusal to grant the planning application is bound to have 'worrying' impacts on their children's mental health. And, with no fixed place to stay, members of the group have no postcode and therefore have limited access to essential services such as healthcare and education. Marie Conde, who lives on the site alongside her husband and children, said: 'I do worry about the kids, moving them out of school would be awful for them. They have finally been accepted and been able to make friends, they're getting an education which is so important. 'It's the first time they've felt truly settled and accepted, how can they take that from them? 'We are decent people and a close family that deserve to be together. We just want to make this our permanent home and a place for our children and grandchildren, the next generation.' Speaking about the landmark case, described by one solicitor as the first of its kind in a decade, Julie White (pictured), who lives at the site, said: 'We're over the moon with the decision, it's like winning the lottery' Meanwhile, Tina Herring, 17, who spent the majority of her young childhood on the road, described the car park as 'the closest it's got to feeling like home'. The teenager added: 'Being here has made me feel so much more settled and safe, rather than being on the road all of the time. 'Not knowing what's going to happen next is so stressful for all of us, but especially on the younger kids.' While the family celebrated the decision as a 'turning point' and anxiously await the results of next Wednesday, Medway Council, however, said that it was deciding 'how best to move forward' - describing the judge's verdict as 'disappointing'. Cllr Louwella Prenter, Medway Council's Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness, said: 'We are disappointed with the county court judgement not to grant possession of the former Wigmore commuter car park in Maidstone Road, back to Medway Council. Previous investigations have shown that many local authorities in Kent are still failing to meet the accommodation needs of the travelling community, despite it being a legal requirement 'This is a lengthy and detailed decision, and we will give it due consideration before deciding how best to move forward. 'Granting use of the site was only ever intended as a temporary three-month measure, and the car park is not deemed to be suitable as a long-term site for permanent occupation.' Previous investigations have shown that many local authorities in Kent are still failing to meet the accommodation needs of the travelling community, despite it being a legal requirement. After legislation was introduced allowing local authorities to evict, fine or arrest travellers setting up unauthorised encampments, they are often left being moved from roadside to roadside. In 2021, there were 5,405 people across Kent who identified as a Gypsy or Irish Traveller, representing up to 0.3 per cent of the population, according to the ONS. Meanwhile, an additional 2,225 people identified as Roma, amounting to 0.1 per cent of the population, with many of these individuals housed on traveller sites.
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
School board reveals names for new Caledonia, Brantford schools
A trailblazer in education and a waterway synonymous with Haldimand County and Six Nations of the Grand River have inspired the names of two public elementary schools currently under construction in the Grand Erie District School Board. Grand River Public School is set to open this September in a newer subdivision on the edge of Caledonia. Students, school board officials and politicians took part in a ceremonial groundbreaking in Caledonia in May 2024 to mark the start of construction on the new joint-use facility. The $33-million elementary school and 49-space child-care centre at the corner of MacLachlan Avenue and Whithorn Crescent is a joint project between Grand Erie and the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board. The Catholic half of the 76,000-square-foot complex will be named Pope Francis Catholic Elementary School and welcome 305 students this fall, while Grand River Public School will have space for approximately 440 pupils. The new building will alleviate enrolment pressure at nearby schools in both boards, school officials say. In a media release, superintendent of education Julie White noted the Grand River was a recurring theme in school names suggested by the community. The river traverses the region and 'holds tremendous ecological and cultural significance in this region,' White said, as it forms the backbone of the Haldimand Tract, territory granted to the Haudenosaunee under the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784. 'By naming the school after the Grand River, the board aligns with these rich educational opportunities and encourages students to explore and appreciate this important watershed,' she said. In Brantford, a school scheduled to open in September 2026 will pay tribute to Blanche E. Williams, a Brantford resident who made headlines in the 1880s for being one of the first Black women in Canada to study at university with the same privileges as white students. 'With education as the path to transformation, Blanche Williams interrupted racial barriers and showed us what's possible,' superintendent of education Liana Thompson said of Williams, an alumna of Brantford Collegiate Institute. 'Her story inspires all of us to be courageous (and) strong and to persevere to achieve our dreams,' Thompson said. The $34-million Blanche E. Williams Public School is currently under construction at Shellard Lane and Strickland Avenue in West Brant. The names for both schools came out of a public consultation process. Trustees finalized the names at the April 28 school board meeting.
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway under spotlight in next stage of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry
Dumfries and Galloway will come under the spotlight during the next stage of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. The ninth phase begins on Tuesday, with evidence being heard on a number of sites – including Ladyfield at the Crichton in Dumfries and Woodlands School in Newton Stewart – over the next three weeks. The evidence will relate to the provision of residential care in establishments for children and young people with long-term healthcare needs, additional support needs, and disabilities. A spokesperson for the inquiry said: 'Over the next three weeks our focus will be on healthcare settings – primarily those which provided for children with learning disabilities or mental health needs. 'This will cover provision by three NHS institutions – Lennox Castle, Ladyfield (and other units at the Crichton Royal) - and the Royal Scottish National Hospital. 'It will also cover St Joseph's, Rosewell (operated by the Daughters of Charity), and Algrade (operated by the Algrade Trust). 'In late May, the focus will move to other settings, including residential schools providing for children with additional support needs.' NHS Dumfries and Galloway is among the organisations due to give an opening statement on Tuesday, with chief executive Julie White appearing on Wednesday. Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. The independently-run Woodlands School – also known as Monken Hadley and Corsbie Hall – closed around two decades ago. The investigation into abuse at these establishments covers the period from within living memory until the end of 2014. It will explore the nature and extent of all forms of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse including the abusive use of corporal punishment and restraint. The inquiry will include the presentation of evidence from individuals who experienced and/or witnessed abuse when in residential care in one of these settings, from relevant experts, from regulatory bodies, and from providers.
Axios
17-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
NCDOT is considering a "temporary station" at Charlotte Gateway Station, records show
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is considering building a "temporary" station at the unopened Charlotte Gateway Station to begin running passenger trains, according to records obtained by Axios. Why it matters: The existing train station on North Tryon is inconvenient — and, some may say, embarrassing — for visitors arriving by train. NCDOT acknowledges the station is "poorly located, subject to flooding, too small, and not an ideal front door to the Queen City." NCDOT has another brand new $84.6 million train station that it could use in Uptown, where it's successfully tested running trains, but the Charlotte Gateway Station hasn't opened yet. The agency is waiting for the city to begin the project's second phase — a mixed-use development with a transit hub built in partnership with a private developer — which has not broken ground. Driving the news: As an interim solution, NCDOT has discussed building a "temporary" or "early" station along Wilkes Place between Trade and Fifth Streets. The state-owned land is adjacent to the completed platform and across from the permanent station and future development site. NCDOT confirmed it is in discussions with its partners, including the City of Charlotte, about establishing an early station. The station needs additional infrastructure to "safely access and support serving customers." The proposed temporary station building, according to one slideshow obtained by Axios, would be 4,828 square feet, including a 2,500-square-foot waiting room. No plans, including estimated costs or the timeline, have been finalized. What they're saying: In a letter to Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones, NCDOT Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation Julie White wrote that the early solution would "ensure we reap the benefits of the completed infrastructure the State invested in as quickly as possible and provide the best possible access for visitors to Charlotte's Uptown." NCDOT is requesting $10 million from the Federal Rail Administration for an "early station" that could be completed in the next few years, according to the letter. The agency asked the City of Charlotte to provide half of the required nonfederal match ($1.25 million), contribute $1.5 million for upgraded facilities such as elevators, and cover any cost overruns. An NCDOT spokesperson said there are no updates on these funding requests. Catch up quick: Over two years ago, in October 2022, NCDOT completed construction of the track, structures and signal infrastructure for the first phase of Charlotte Gateway Station. The project was on time and within budget, NCDOT says. However, phase two has not begun swiftly. The city is still working on a "preliminary master plan" with Spectrum Companies, a Charlotte-based developer, and Republic Metropolitan. It has not shared a timeline. The development is expected to include hospitality, shops, residential and office towers, the intercity passenger rail facility and a new bus facility. "Naturally a complex project like this can take time. There is nothing delaying the project," a city spokesperson told Axios in December. Reality check: The project is years behind schedule. The city was supposed to review the master development plan in late 2022, the Observer reported at the time, with the headline: "Work on new $86M Amtrak station in Charlotte is done. You still can't catch a train there." Spectrum's managing director told Axios on Monday there were no updates and the project is still "in approval phases." In December, Axios Charlotte put Charlotte Gateway Station on a list of developments that are " ghosting us," aka developments we had heard no update on in years. Between the lines: Charlotte Area Transit System officials discussed funding Charlotte Gateway Station through the proposed 1-cent transportation sales tax, but the General Assembly has yet to authorize a Mecklenburg County referendum on the tax increase. The Charlotte Gateway Station will one day connect with the Red Line commuter rail — the city's next rail line to be built — and the Silver Line light rail. Currently, the North Tryon station is only served by bus. Train passengers have limited options in the modes to reach their next destination. The big picture: More people than ever are taking the train in North Carolina. NC By Train carried over 720,000 passengers in 2024, marking a 12% uptick from 2023 and a 55% increase since 2019. Rail officials attribute the record growth to the train service's convenience, affordability and environmental benefits. Charlotte Gateway Station is expected to boost ridership even more once it opens. "The project locates the busiest station in North Carolina into the heart of the City's Uptown," White wrote in her letter to Jones, "with substantially improved access to destinations, amenities, and transportation connections."
