Latest news with #LeeBarron
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Ex-postman and Corby MP sponsors bill to ban low letterboxes
A Labour MP who used to be a postal worker is co-sponsoring a parliamentary bill to outlaw low-level letterboxes on front doors and Barron, who represents Corby and East Northamptonshire, said putting the slots close to the ground increases physical strain suffered by postal also puts them at greater risk of dog issue has been the subject of a campaign for more than 60 years. Although many letterboxes are at waist height, a good number are still at the bottom of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) started a campaign to raise the levels of letterboxes way back in British Standards Agency agreed that they should not be installed close to the ground, but this was never enshrined into building standards who was elected to the Northamptonshire seat last year, said: "As a former postal worker and as someone who represented Corby and East Northamptonshire postal workers for over a decade, I'm co-sponsoring a 10-minute rule bill that will go before Parliament with an aim for a UK-wide ban on the installation of ground-level letterboxes in all new builds and front door replacements."He wants to make the installation height dimensions in the relevant British standard mandatory. The standard states that letterboxes must be installed between 70cm (2ft 4in) and 170cm (5ft 7in) from the delivery floor level, except in special cases such as historic Barron said: "The reasons why this is so important is due to the cumulative physical strain induced by constant bending right down to floor level while out on delivery and also the increased risk of dog bites through the letterbox when it is at ground level."The CWU said a delegation from the union had met the current minister of state for housing and planning in March to discuss the issue.A union spokesperson said: "It was a positive meeting and this conversation is currently ongoing."The 10-minute rule procedure allows MPs to put the case for a bill to become law in a speech lasting no more than 10 minutes. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Unlucky trio to miss out on selection for Ireland
Lee Barron The Leinster hooker has impressed on loan with Munster in his two appearances off the bench since joining alongside Michael Milne for the final weeks of the season ahead of their permanent moves to the southern province this summer and Wednesday's Ireland selection may confirm the reasons for his departure. Barron had already been passed out in the pecking order by academy hooker Gus McCarthy, who was first capped by Ireland in November but now he has been overlooked in favour of another Leinster academy player in Stephen Smyth. No wonder the 24-year-old has left Leinster in search of quality game time with Munster. John Hodnett With another impressive, 22-game, seven-try campaign for Munster now in the books, it would not have been a surprise to see the 26-year-old former Emerging Ireland flanker named in a touring party alongside fellow back-rowers from his province Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes and Alex Kendellen. Yet Hodnett's niche as a genuine, out and out openside, and his comparative height at 6ft 0ins, may have counted against the West Cork man, which a real shame for talented forward with a huge appetite for the hard yards. Tom Farrell Perhaps the cruellest omission of all, Farrell's snub came a day after the uncapped Munster centre was named the URC's Playmaker of the Year, and on the same day he was voted the outstanding number 13 in the URC Elite XV of the year. The citation for the former award reads: 'Adaptability, creativity, and composure under pressure define a true playmaker. The Playmaker award is given to the player who creates chances and tries for his team, with three key metrics used to decide the winner – try assists for his team, successfully completed offloads, and defenders beaten on the pitch.' Throw in a joint league-leading nine tries, then consider the absences of Ireland's three frontline midfielders, Aki, Henshaw and Ringrose, and one wonders what more Farrell could have done to make this squad.
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Munster save their season with second-half surge to book URC play-off place and secure Champions Cup qualification
Today at 17:17 Munster saved their season with a second-half surge that ensures they can plan for Champions Cup rugby for the 31st consecutive season and look forward to a URC quarter-final in two weeks' time. Results elsewhere ensured that they needed a result here and it was far from straightforward against a Benetton side who threatened from the very first minute and led at half-time, only to be blown away by their hosts who refused to countenance the idea of joining Ulster and Connacht in the Challenge Cup as Lee Barron, Thaakir Abrahams and Josh Wycherley scored tries after half-time.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP criticises 'fee chasing' over warehouse error
An MP has told the House of Commons a council is demanding £5,000 in legal fees from residents following a case arising from its own planning error. North Northamptonshire Council failed to consult people living close to the proposed site of a Corby warehouse in 2021, which was then built metres away from gardens. The town's MP, Lee Barron, told MPs that a consultation was carried out in the wrong street and the residents who took the council to court were being pursued for the costs, after their case was dismissed. The Leader of the House called the case "troubling". The council's leader said it was the judge who decided the party who brought the case should pay the fees. The first time residents realised a giant warehouse was being built next to their homes on Hooke Close was when a 60ft (18.3m) metal frame appeared at the site. They complained to the council and it transpired that the people of Hubble Close, about half-a-mile (750m) from the site, had been sent notices about the development instead of those on Hooke Close. Planning notices had also been placed on the wrong lampposts. An internal review found that the consultation errors meant the decision to grant planning permission did not comply with the law. One resident, Georgie Wallis, applied for a judicial review of the decision on behalf of herself and neighbours. In December 2024, Mrs Justice Beverley Lang dismissed the application, saying Ms Wallis had not issued it quickly enough. The judge did say, however, that the council's handling of the planning application had "fallen well below the standard to be expected". Speaking during questions to the Leader of the House, Lucy Powell, on Thursday, Barron (Labour) said: "Now, the council who didn't consult the residents, who consulted the wrong street, who the judge criticised, is pursuing £5,000 in legal costs from the very people it failed." He asked Powell (Labour) whether she agreed that "authorities should be held accountable when serious consultation failures occur and that residents should not be financially penalised as a result of the incompetence of the consultation". She described the Hooke Close case as "troubling" and said she would raise it with ministers. Ms Wallis told the BBC: "The council have already made a public statement apologising for their errors. "I think they should just do the honourable thing, wipe the fees and take accountability." Jamie Hume, who also lives near the warehouse, said residents had agreed that they would share the liability for costs, even though only one of them applied for judicial review. He added that having to pay legal fees was "not fair for trying to hold a public body to account who've admitted wrongdoing". The leader of the Conservative council, Jason Smithers, said: "The court has adjudicated the resident liable for the sum of £5,000. "In the event that the resident experiences difficulty in discharging this obligation, it shall be her responsibility to petition the court for reconsideration, as this constitutes a judicial pronouncement and not an imposition by the council. "Moreover, it is not appropriate for elected members to seek to intervene in a judicial determination." A spokesperson for North Northamptonshire Council said: "Due to the ongoing legal conversations around costs, it's not possible to comment any further at this stage." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Judicial review into giant warehouse dismissed High Court to decide on giant warehouse review Planning for huge warehouse did not comply with law Woman 'let down' by wrong-street council blunder North Northamptonshire Council
BBC News
26-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Corby MP criticises 'fee chasing' over warehouse error
An MP has told the House of Commons a council is demanding £5,000 in legal fees from residents following a case arising from its own planning Northamptonshire Council failed to consult people living close to the proposed site of a Corby warehouse in 2021, which was then built metres away from town's MP, Lee Barron, told MPs that a consultation was carried out in the wrong street and the residents who took the council to court were being pursued for the costs, after their case was Leader of the House called the case "troubling". The council's leader said it was the judge who decided the party who brought the case should pay the fees. The first time residents realised a giant warehouse was being built next to their homes on Hooke Close was when a 60ft (18.3m) metal frame appeared at the complained to the council and it transpired that the people of Hubble Close, about half-a-mile (750m) from the site, had been sent notices about the development instead of those on Hooke Close. Planning notices had also been placed on the wrong internal review found that the consultation errors meant the decision to grant planning permission did not comply with the law. One resident, Georgie Wallis, applied for a judicial review of the decision on behalf of herself and December 2024, Mrs Justice Beverley Lang dismissed the application, saying Ms Wallis had not issued it quickly judge did say, however, that the council's handling of the planning application had "fallen well below the standard to be expected". Speaking during questions to the Leader of the House, Lucy Powell, on Thursday, Barron (Labour) said: "Now, the council who didn't consult the residents, who consulted the wrong street, who the judge criticised, is pursuing £5,000 in legal costs from the very people it failed."He asked Powell (Labour) whether she agreed that "authorities should be held accountable when serious consultation failures occur and that residents should not be financially penalised as a result of the incompetence of the consultation".She described the Hooke Close case as "troubling" and said she would raise it with ministers. Ms Wallis told the BBC: "The council have already made a public statement apologising for their errors."I think they should just do the honourable thing, wipe the fees and take accountability."Jamie Hume, who also lives near the warehouse, said residents had agreed that they would share the liability for costs, even though only one of them applied for judicial added that having to pay legal fees was "not fair for trying to hold a public body to account who've admitted wrongdoing". The leader of the Conservative council, Jason Smithers, said: "The court has adjudicated the resident liable for the sum of £5,000. "In the event that the resident experiences difficulty in discharging this obligation, it shall be her responsibility to petition the court for reconsideration, as this constitutes a judicial pronouncement and not an imposition by the council."Moreover, it is not appropriate for elected members to seek to intervene in a judicial determination."A spokesperson for North Northamptonshire Council said: "Due to the ongoing legal conversations around costs, it's not possible to comment any further at this stage." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
