Latest news with #LibDem-led
Telegraph
16-04-2025
- Telegraph
Lib Dem-led council fined £6m over deadly 56mph busway
A judge has fined a Lib Dem-led council £6 million over a 56mph busway. Cambridgeshire county council was fined for health and safety breaches following three deaths and multiple incidents of injury. The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, which involves a modified bus guided along a track, is a 16-mile route which uses old rail lines to link Cambridge, Huntingdon and St Ives. Judge Mark Bishop said the council had taken a 'rigid and blinkered approach to safety issues' in its management of the system. He said the incidents spanned 11 years and noted that when the busway opened in 2011 the operating speed was to be 56mph – 'clearly too fast a speed for buses to move in an urban or semi-urban environment'. On guided sections, buses follow the track and cannot steer. Parts of the route have a busy pathway alongside, and originally there was no fence to separate it from cyclists and pedestrians. Jennifer Taylor, 81, Kathleen Pitts, 52, and cyclist Steven Moir, 50, all died in incidents on the transport link. At Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday the sentencing judge said: 'I acknowledge the financial challenges that face the defendant.' But he said the council had a turnover equivalent to more than £1 billion per year and had set aside more than £18 million in a fund to cover legal risks. Ben Compton KC, for Cambridgeshire county council, requested it be given six years to pay the £6 million. But the judge allowed three years and also ordered the authority to pay more than £292,000 in costs. He paid tribute to the 'dignity' of family and friends of those killed or injured who attended court. 'Nothing that can be said in court can take away the loss that you've suffered but I want to express publicly our condolences to the bereaved and also to wish you well for the future,' he said. 'And let us hope that nothing like this will happen again.' Mrs Taylor, who was fatally struck by a bus in 2015, had been trying to cross the carriageway. Father-of-three Mr Moir died in 2018 after his bike clipped a kerb separating him from the busway and he fell into the path of a bus travelling at 55mph. Ms Pitts died after she was struck on the head by a passing bus. The judge said the defence submitted that 'on the balance of probabilities' her death was 'caused by her own volition'. But he found that the risk Ms Pitts faced from the busway 'more than minimally contributed to her death'. Reductions in speed limits The council admitted at an earlier hearing to two charges under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The judge noted that since 2022 there had been reductions in speed limits and the installation of fencing. Mr Moir's brother, Rob Moir, said outside court afterwards: 'There are no winners here. It's taxpayers' money at the end of the day. 'Hopefully it will be sufficient to make sure that not just this county council but other people, other councils, make sure they apply the due diligence that they should to health and safety.' Graham Tompkins, a principal inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, said the death of Mrs Taylor 'should have been a wake-up call'. 'This is a significant moment for the families,' he said. 'I hope that finally this outcome gives them some closure.' However, a few hours after the court hearing on Wednesday there was another accident on the busway. A crash occurred between two guided buses and a fire engine on the B1050 Station Road in Northstowe, near Cambridge, around 2pm. Eleven people were taken to hospital. The road was closed in both directions and buses were diverted. A witness said the collision looked 'pretty horrendous'. The Busway lanes/tracks have raised concrete sides, which can only be used by modified vehicles, although they have junctions with normal roads. The council said it was working with the emergency services and the bus operator.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lib Dem-led council spends £10k to cut down ‘important' palm trees
A Lib Dem-led council has been criticised for spending £10,000 to cut down two 'really important' palm trees on a seaside promenade. The 35ft-tall trees were planted on the historic Esplanade in Weymouth, Dorset, in 2012, but town officials claimed they grew into a trip hazard after their roots made the surrounding ground uneven. They will be replaced with two smaller 'cabbage palm' trees instead, officials said. But the proposal has angered residents who said their removal would cause 'reputational damage' to Weymouth. Dennis Clark, who lives nearby, said the trees are 'really important to the town' and a 'valuable feature'. He added: 'I spoke with some of my friends about the palms and I was struck by the clarity of feeling about them 'The trees advertise and promote Weymouth and I believe they are an iconic feature of pride and quality for seaside towns.' Councillor Helen Toft also said the removal of the trees would damage the town's reputation and called the decision to fell them 'wrong'. Others took to social media to criticise the £10,000 proposed cost to remove the trees, branding it 'a waste of money'. Christopher Bates said: 'Shouldn't council taxpayers be asked if this is an expense they want to have?' He suggested the council should auction the palm trees to go towards raising money to pay for the work. James Williams called the price of removal 'ridiculous', adding 'leave them be and stop dreaming up unnecessary projects'. Another said: 'Del Boy would be proud to sell you a couple of trees for that sort of cash.' A Weymouth town council spokesman said leaving the palms trees as they are will only increase the risk and cost. They added: 'The trees have grown significantly since they were put in over a decade ago and are now causing structural damage to the promenade which needs to be managed now before any further repairs are needed. 'Councillors agreed they should be replaced with palms like those found further along the promenade which would still have visual impact. The stonework planters would also be repaired. 'Other palms along the seafront would be managed in the same way in future years.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
31-03-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Lib Dem-led council spends £10k to cut down ‘important' palm trees
A Lib Dem-led council has been criticised for spending £10,000 to cut down two 'really important' palm trees on a seaside promenade. The 35ft-tall trees were planted on the historic Esplanade in Weymouth, Dorset, in 2012, but town officials claimed they grew into a trip hazard after their roots made the surrounding ground uneven. They will be replaced with two smaller 'cabbage palm' trees instead, officials said. But the proposal has angered residents who said their removal would cause 'reputational damage' to Weymouth. Dennis Clark, who lives nearby, said the trees are 'really important to the town' and a 'valuable feature'. He added: 'I spoke with some of my friends about the palms and I was struck by the clarity of feeling about them 'The trees advertise and promote Weymouth and I believe they are an iconic feature of pride and quality for seaside towns.' Councillor Helen Toft also said the removal of the trees would damage the town's reputation and called the decision to fell them 'wrong'. Others took to social media to criticise the £10,000 proposed cost to remove the trees, branding it 'a waste of money'. Christopher Bates said: 'Shouldn't council taxpayers be asked if this is an expense they want to have?' He suggested the council should auction the palm trees to go towards raising money to pay for the work. James Williams called the price of removal 'ridiculous', adding 'leave them be and stop dreaming up unnecessary projects'. Another said: 'Del Boy would be proud to sell you a couple of trees for that sort of cash.' A Weymouth town council spokesman said leaving the palms trees as they are will only increase the risk and cost. They added: 'The trees have grown significantly since they were put in over a decade ago and are now causing structural damage to the promenade which needs to be managed now before any further repairs are needed. 'Councillors agreed they should be replaced with palms like those found further along the promenade which would still have visual impact. The stonework planters would also be repaired. 'Other palms along the seafront would be managed in the same way in future years.'
BBC News
23-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Barrow's 'disgraceful' litter problem on road into town
Calls have been made for an "absolutely disgraceful" litter problem on the road into a town to be Anne Burns urged Westmorland and Furness Council to take tackle the issue on the A590 into Barrow, Labour councillor, who represents the Old Barrow and Hindpool ward, told a meeting that the road had never been in such a state. Cabinet member for environmental services at the Lib Dem-led authority, Giles Archibald, said the council was "very aware" of the problem and enforcement action would be taken. Burns said: "We want our streets clean, we want our area coming into Barrow not to look like a tatty add-on to this authority."She had previously warned there was an "epidemic of litter" in Barrow, at a council meeting in January, the Local Democracy Reporting Service pledged to have a walk around the affected area with said: "We have a suspicion of which businesses this might be, but I wouldn't mention this in a public meeting. "We are aware of this, we want to seek remediation, and officers are working on that now." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Four million people face huge council tax rises
More than four million people face huge council tax rises after eight bankrupt town halls asked for permission to raise bills by a larger amount than is normally allowed by law. In one district, household bills will increase by 25 per cent—the largest increase in England for two decades. Another seven councils have proposed huge rises of between 10 and 15 per cent from April. Under normal rules, local authorities can raise council tax by up to five per cent unless taxpayers approve a larger increase in a referendum. Struggling councils who are at risk of effective bankruptcy can apply for higher rises, which would be signed off by Angela Rayner in her role as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Some 4.4 million residents in eight local authorities are set to suffer this fate, according to an audit by the Daily Mail. Benjamin Elks, from the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group, told the newspaper: 'Local taxpayers are fed up with having to pick up the tab for reckless councils. 'As hard-working households across the country tighten their belts, local authorities are refusing to rein in their out-of-control spending, squandering cash on pointless pet projects. 'It's high time town halls focused on delivering core services efficiently, not asking local residents to keep funding their dangerous addiction to spending.' The 154,000 residents of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, are facing the largest council tax rise in the country - five times the usual maximum, adding £451 to the average cost. The Liberal Democrat-run local authority is looking to force through a 25 per cent increase, which would be the largest for two decades in England if ultimately approved by ministers. Birmingham is considering raising council tax by 10 per cent for a second consecutive year. If the rise goes ahead then Band D Council Tax payers in England's second city will see their bills rise by a combined £400 over two years. Labour-run Bradford council, which was bailed out by the government to the tune of £220 million last year and is currently the UK City of Culture, has also asked to increase the levy by up to 15 per cent from April for its 560,000 residents, putting around £170 on the average bill. In December, Lib Dem-led North Somerset Council also proposed the same increase, putting it by an average of £256 a year, as well as asking its 215,000 residents if they would donate £1,000 to help fill the authority's multi-million funding gap. Hampshire County Council has asked ministers for permission to hike council tax by 15 per cent in 2025/26, adding £230 to the bill of a Band D property. Huge rises are also being planned by the London borough of Newham, the Labour and independent coalition of Cheshire East and Tory-run Slough, which has already hiked by more than 5 per cent for the last two years. A spokesman for the Local Government Association said: 'Many councils have faced the tough choice about whether to increase bills to bring in desperately needed funding to provide services at a time when they are acutely aware of the significant burden that could place on some households. 'However, while council tax is an important funding stream, the significant financial pressures facing local services cannot be met by council tax income alone. It also raises different amounts in different parts of the country - unrelated to need. 'Councils need a significant change in our funding to stabilise local government finances so we can deliver the services local people want to see.' A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: 'No decisions have been made on council tax increases and we will only consider agreeing to requests for rises above 5 per cent in exceptional circumstances, in line with the previous government's position. 'Councils are ultimately responsible for setting their own council tax, and we will put taxpayers at the forefront of any decision.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
