Latest news with #LeamingtonSpa
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Leamington Spa shop closed down over illicit vape sale concerns
A convenience store has been forced to shut down after concerns around the sale of "illicit" vapes and tobacco and child exploitation.A full closure order was served on Mars Mini Market, on Clemens Street, Leamington Spa, after the application was granted at Coventry Magistrates' Court on 30 May, Warwick District Council said.A spokesperson added the notice followed "serious concerns" from the community around anti-social behaviour and exploitation of children and young people."Working in close partnership with Warwickshire Police and Warwickshire Trading Standards, we took decisive action to prevent further harm from taking place," they added. The council's community safety team encouraged people to continue reporting concerns so that it could "respond swiftly" and take action against any other businesses operating in a similar way."The community safety team would like to express our sincere thanks to the community for providing vital intelligence that supported us throughout this process," it added."Your information made a significant difference and directly contributed to the success of this case." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Hindu statues could be submerged on Dorset's Jurassic Coast
Twelve marble statues could be lowered onto the seabed on the Jurassic Coast as part of a Hindu Weymouth Bay has been chosen as the site for a Murti Visarjan - the ritual immersion of a deity's idol in water, signifying the cycle of creation and dissolution in Hindu statues belong to 30-year-old Hindu temple Shree Krishna Mandir in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, which is set to be of the temple Dharam Awesti said Weymouth had been chosen as another temple in the Midlands previously carried out the ritual at the same location. If approved, the event would take place in September. Mr Awesti explained the 12 statues, five of which are human size and weigh 800kg (176lb) each, would be taken by lorry from Leamington Spa to Weymouth.A crane would be used to lift the statues on to a barge which would take them out to sea for them to be submerged."Before the statues are lowered onto the seabed we will have a religious ceremony and bring our priest with us, Mr Awesti explained."Instead of dumping them anywhere, they have to be ceremoniously submerged in to the sea safely so we can feel comfortable that we have done our religious bit by following all of the scriptures." Mr Awesti continued: "Life, in Hinduism, starts with water and ends in the water, even when people are cremated we celebrate with ashes in the water."The idols, which are made of marble, would not have an impact on the ecosystem of the water or the marine life, he added."When they are in the temple they are dressed in bright colours but when they are submerged they will be in their original shape and form."A Marine Management Organisation (MMO) spokesperson: "The marine licencing application for the submersion of Hindu idols in Weymouth Bay is still ongoing. "As part of the marine licensing process, the application is subject to a public consultation which will run until 22 June. "Once this is completed, we will consider responses received from stakeholders and the public before making determination." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Fly invasion ‘ruining lives' in Leamington Spa
Residents in a royal town have said a 'nightmarish' invasion of flies has become 'absolute hell' and is 'ruining people's lives'. Homeowners in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, have described being trapped indoors by the infestation, which happens each summer. Some have sold up and moved out of the area because of the problem, which has also led to a 'rancid toxic smell' lingering in parts of the town. Parents said they were now draping fly nets over cots, and that children could not eat dinner without flies near their mouths. Others have reported falling ill. The problem was raised in Parliament by Matt Western, the MP for Warwick and Leamington Spa, who called the problem – which affects around 10,000 people – a 'public health risk'. Richard Manly, 37, a local welder, said: 'It's been nightmarish, really. These flies have left people gagging and choking, even kids and babies in their cots and beds. 'Drivers and cyclists have been sick getting a mouthful while going down the street, some are being sick. It's a crazy situation and we can't believe it's been allowed to go on. 'I go to Wickes quite often and workers say customers are staying away because of the smell. I know pubs, restaurants and other businesses have a similar issues because of both the flies and the smell.' Locals said the problem began around three years ago and has got progressively worse. Those living around the Heathcote area said they cannot go in their gardens and have resorted to filling their homes with fly strips and zappers. 'The smell is quite repulsive' Many residents have blamed a nearby recycling plant owned by Amcor, formerly known as Berry Circular Polymers, which is regulated by the Environment Agency. Kevin Shanahan, a retired law teacher, 64, said: 'It's the recycling business. Someone said the waste comes dirty and it attracts the flies. 'A man who works nearby to the unit says the plastic is brought in dirty and then it's left outside to fester. The smell is quite repulsive. We can't enjoy our homes as we can't go in our gardens or open the windows because of the flies and the smell.' Retired cleaning company owner Robert Horely, 69, added: 'We have the problem every year and it lasts for months. 'We have fly strips hanging down that are covered, you can't see a space on them – it's that bad. You can't go outside in the summer, when you do there's flies around you. You can't eat outside. 'Local pubs were having problems. A family went for a meal and they had to abandon their food as the flies were all over their food. 'People have been struggling to sleep as there's flies crawling all over you. How do you get them out? 'Plus this smell, which again appears to be coming from the same site. It's not a very pleasant smell, and quite strong at times. It's between a gone off, eggy disinfectant-type smell and chlorine. 'There's been a couple times where I've opened the front door and it's taken my breath away it's that smelly. It's a health and safety issue.' Regularly inspected A spokesman for the Environment Agency said permitted sites in the Leamington Spa area were regularly inspected, with operators required to make improvements where required. The spokesman added: 'Since April 1st we have inspected the Berry Circular Polymers site four times and identified a category three (minor) breach of the permit as they were not following their prescribed management techniques. 'We encourage residents to continue to report environmental issues via our 24/7 hotline on 0800 807060 to help with our investigations.' A spokesman for Berry Circular Polymers said previously: 'We take these concerns extremely seriously, and although both ourselves and our regulators cannot find a substantial causal link, we are committed to ensuring we do not negatively impact Warwickshire residents.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Leamington Art Gallery and Museum shut as rain affects repairs
A town's Art Gallery and Museum has been temporarily closed due to ''unforeseen circumstances'' relating to roof repairs. Recent weather impacted a multi-million pound project to restore the Grade II listed Royal Pump Rooms building in Leamington Spa, Warwick District Council said. A statement on the gallery's Facebook page said it had shut as a ''precautionary measure'' for the safety of visitors and staff. It said the closure was necessary due to the "ongoing complexities" of essential roof repairs, "made more challenging by recent and forecast heavy rainfall". The closure, which has been ongoing since 29 May, means the opening of the gallery's latest exhibition, A Different View: Women Artists in the collection, has been postponed. A spokesperson said a further update would be provided on Wednesday. A crane is being used to remove air-handling units from the building's roof before ''critical repairs'' the council said would preserve the "iconic building for generations to come''. The Royal Pump Rooms, in the town centre, houses a museum, library, café and visitor information centre and is "an integral part" of the town's history, the local authority has said. The library and cafe remain accessible to the council had originally said the building would stay open for business despite being covered in has promised further updates on the works as soon as possible. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
We live in posh town invaded by flies - it's gotten so bad we're scared our babies might choke to death
Residents of a posh royal town have been plagued by a 'nightmarish' invasion of flies which swarm their homes each summer, making their lives 'absolute hell'. Homeowners in Leamington Spa have described being left trapped indoors by the infestation of flies which crawl in people's mouths and 'choke babies in cots'. Those living around the Heathcote area say they cannot go in their gardens and have resorted to filling their homes with fly strips and zappers, while others have spent thousands on fly screens for their home. Parents are draping fly nets over cots, children can't eat dinner without the insects crawling into their mouths and others have reported falling ill due to the swarms of winged creatures blighting the area. The problem has become so unbearable that some locals have sold up and moved out of the Regency town, which has a population of just over 50,000. The matter was recently debated in Parliament by Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western who branded the issue, affecting around 10,000 people, a 'public health risk'. Locals say the problem began around three years ago but has got progressively worse - with more flies and a disgusting raw sewage smell descending on the area. They blame a nearby recycling plant owned by Amcor, formerly known as Berry Circular Polymers, which is regulated by the Environment Agency. Foster mum Maureen Kerr, 64, has lived in the area for three years and said trouble only started after the new plant was opened. The 64-year-old gran-of-six said: 'We foster babies from birth and have had to put nets over their cots and chairs. 'They go full pelt at you and you can't do anything. Especially when the babies are laying there after milk, it's awful - they try and swarm them. 'We started off with fly spray not realising why we had so many. Then we had fly papers and those fly zappers. 'We have to keep changing them. It got so bad there were 50 flies on them over 24 hours. 'The smell is terrible. Our next door neighbour moved because she couldn't stand it. I just keep the windows and doors shut to stop the flies. 'One man spent thousands on fly screens. We've only lived here for three years and the first year was absolutely fine. But then all this started in the second year.' Retired primary school teacher Diljeet Kang, 65, said once the flies swarm indoors it's nearly impossible to get them out again. The gran-of-six said: 'It's not just the flies, it's the horrendous, nasty odour as well. When the summer starts you can't open the windows for the smell and the flies. 'The smell is just awful. I haven't opened up my windows. It gets worse and worse as the warmer months. I daren't open them if the flies come in. 'They're tiny ones, really fast. You can't even swat them. Once they get in it's hard to get them out. 'Everyone on the street is complaining about it. The amount of people that have sold their houses on the road because of that. 'We can't go out and enjoy our barbecues either because the flies will swarm the meat and get us ill.' Richard Manly, 37, a local welder, added: 'It's been really nightmarish really, these flies have left people gagging and choking, even kids and babies in their cots and beds. 'Drivers and cyclists have been sick getting a mouthful while going down the street, some are being sick. It's a crazy situation and we can't believe it's been allowed to go on. 'I got to Wickes quite often and workers say customers are staying away because of the smell. I know pubs, restaurants and other businesses have a similar issues because of both the flies and the smell.' Retired cleaning company owner Robert Horely said the stench was enough to take his breath away when he left his house. The 69-year-old dad-of-one said: 'We have the problem every year and it lasts for months. 'We have fly strips hanging down that are covered, you can't see a space on them, it's that bad. You can't go outside in the summer, when you do there's flies around you. You can't eat outside. 'Local pubs were having problems. A family went for a meal and they had to abandon their food as the flies were all over their food. 'They come in and get everywhere. People have been struggling to sleep as there's flies crawling all over you. How do you get them out? 'Plus this smell which again appears to be coming from the same site. It's not a very pleasant smell, and quite strong at times. It's between a gone off, eggy disinfectant-type smell and chlorine. 'There's been a couple times where I've opened the front door and it's taken my breath away it's that smelly. It's a health and safety issue. 'The council and environment agency keep playing ping pong, it's back and forth between them. One of the biggest queries is how did it get planning permission in the first place.' Retired law teacher Kevin Shanahan, 64, added: 'It's the recycling business. Someone said the waste comes dirty and it attracts the flies. 'A man who works nearby to the unit says the plastic is brought in dirty and then it's left outside to fester. The smell is quite repulsive. 'We can't enjoy our homes as we can't go in our gardens or open the windows because of the flies and the smell.' Addressing parliament two weeks ago, Mr Western said: 'Imagine being in your own home and unable to eat with your family, unable to leave food for even a minute without your kitchen being swarmed with flies, and unable to sleep in your own bed without flies landing on your face. 'Imagine flies everywhere, in every room of your house, in business premises, in pubs, in restaurants and in takeaways, and vile odours permeating your life whether at home, walking the streets or driving your car. 'That is the reality for hundreds of families in one part my constituency. 'I estimate that as many as 10,000-if not more-of my constituents in south Warwick, south Leamington and Whitnash are impacted by this. 'They have faced swarms of flies and foul odours for three years running. Their houses are infested with flies. They are unable to open their windows for fear of swarms entering their home. 'They are unable to prepare food in their kitchen without the constant cleaning of their work surfaces to clean off the fly excrement, which also adheres to their walls. 'Would any Member of this House be satisfied with their family living like that? This is not just a minor inconvenience; this is ruining people's lives. 'People are getting ill, and some residents are actually selling up. 'Then there is the all-pervasive foul-smelling odour. Constituents describe the smell as being like "raw sewage". They say it is "sulphuric" and "toxic". 'Many have told me that the smell is utterly unbearable.' A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: 'We are committed to ensuring that people and the environment are protected. 'This includes regularly inspecting permitted sites in the Leamington Spa area and requiring operators to make improvements where they are required. 'Since April 1st we have inspected the Berry Circular Polymers site 4 times and identified a Category 3 (minor) breach of the permit as they were not following their prescribed management techniques. 'We encourage residents to continue to report environmental issues via our 24/7 hotline on 0800 807060 to help with our investigations.' A spokesperson for Berry Circular Polymers said previously: 'We take these concerns extremely seriously and although both ourselves and our regulators cannot find a substantial causal link, we are committed to ensuring we do not negatively impact Warwickshire residents.'
