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BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Durham County Council by-election date after Reform UK resignation
A by-election to decide the final vacant seat on Durham County Council is set to take place in July, following the resignation of a Reform UK Kilburn, who was elected to the Benfieldside ward in May's local elections, was forced to stand down after a week for failing to declare he worked for the local was elected with 1,007 votes, alongside Reform's Sandra Grindle, which saw the party gain seats from Labour and the by-election on 3 July will cost Durham County Council £22,800, a figure described as a "gross waste of taxpayers' money" by former council leader, Liberal Democrat Amanda Hopgood. National legislation means council employees are disqualified from standing as councillors simultaneously. Landslide victory Hopgood sent a petition to residents in Benfieldside calling for Reform UK to cover the cost of the election, according to the Local Democracy Reporting said: "Reform have made a huge issue of reducing council 'waste', but there can be few things more wasteful for the taxpayer than calling a by-election because they could not get their paperwork in order."Despite the setback, Reform UK said it hoped to retain its stronghold on the ward, which also covers Blackhill and Shotley Bridge. The party secured a landslide victory just weeks ago to control the council, with its 65 councillors officially inducted earlier this month.A Reform UK spokesman said: "We understand that Mr Kilburn did not declare his employment to the returning officer as expected and is now required to resign his seat."We look forward to contesting the upcoming by-election to give the people of Benfieldside a strong voice in Durham County Council."A full list of candidates for the July by-election will be released following the nomination deadline on Friday, 6 June. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
West Northamptonshire Council backs next stage of Norwood Farm
A plan to build 278 new homes has been approved by councillors as part of a larger housing homes, approved by West Northamptonshire Council, will be built on land between Harpole and Duston in Northampton, as part of the second phase of the Norwood Farm project. In total, the wider project will deliver 1,900 homes, along with shops, a school, and public green decision was made during the first planning meeting since Reform UK took control of the local authority at the recent local elections. The latest plans include a mix of one to four-bedroom properties and of the 278 homes, 139 will be officers said this was 92 more affordable homes than the developers were required to to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) each home will have its own parking space, and extra visitor spaces will be added along the roads. Green areas are also planned around the edges of the area covered in the upcoming phase is in the north-west part of the Norwood Farm site and is divided by New Sandy Lane. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Major expansion of Bluecoat Wollaton Academy set for approval
A multi-million pound expansion of a school in Nottingham is expected to be approved to help solve a shortage of classroom City Council wants to develop 12 extra classrooms at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy (BWA).The move would allow the school's roll to grow by 300, to 1,050, if it is given the green light by the council's own planning committee on expansion would increase full-time staff from 87 to 90, and the number of part-time staff by seven, to 34, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said. The school has been "significantly oversubscribed", and using temporary classrooms to meet demand, the LDRS added. Council planning documents said: "The proposed expansion of the BWA addresses a shortage of secondary school places within the city, with the greatest need in central, west, southwest, and northern areas."All secondary schools within Nottingham city are academies, and the council has no power to direct their expansion."Additionally, local authorities are required to support the expansion of schools rated 'good' or above by Ofsted."While the council has engaged with all secondary academies within the city, the expansion of the BWA is the only viable option."The documents added: "The BWA delivers excellent educational outcomes, with an Ofsted rating of outstanding in all categories. Furthermore, its geographical location corresponds with the areas of the city with greatest need for secondary school places." A new three-court sports hall is also proposed with 38 additional parking spaces. Some objections to the expansion have been lodged with the council, including claims that there will be "chaos" outside the school, in Sutton Passeys Crescent, at pick-up and drop-off council's planners said: "The concerns raised by residents about existing travel to and from the academy, compounded by the narrowness of Sutton Passeys Crescent and the potential for these to be exacerbated by an expansion in pupil numbers, are acknowledged."However, they said there had been no objections from the colleagues in the transport department, adding: "Consequently, there are no planning grounds to conclude that the proposal would lead to a significant increase in traffic that would warrant refusal of the application."
Wales Online
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Tourist left fuming at 20mph fine on Welsh road expected to return to 30mph in coming weeks
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A tourist has been left fuming after getting his first ever speeding fine on a 20mph Welsh road that could soon revert to 30mph. Martin Toms, a 74-year-old retired salesman, said he had been driving since the age of 17 without ever receiving a speeding ticket. But this changed on a visit to North Wales in March on a road that has been 20mph since the default limit came in back in September 2023. Mr Toms had come from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire to stay in Chester with his wife Wendy. They decided to have day trip to North Wales to look at the Duke of Lancaster ship, a former passenger vessel beached at Llannerch-y-Mor Wharf near Mostyn, Flintshire. But he fell victim to the 20mph limit in Wales. He was caught by a fixed camera doing 31mph in his Mercedes Vito campervan on a 20mph stretch on the A548 at Greenfield. Mr Toms said he saw the camera sign but as the area was not built up he thought he was in a 30mph zone. He received a speeding ticket a week later and has now paid £95 for a three hour speed awareness course. The pensioner is particularly annoyed because the road is expected to return to 30mph in the coming weeks. This follows a Welsh Government review that is due to see local authorities revert hundreds of roads across Wales back to 30mph this spring and summer. Flintshire council confirmed this location was on the list under review. Go Safe - who manage speed enforcement in Wales - said that while a review is ongoing they have not been informed of any decision at this stage to alter the limit. They added: "Until any change is confirmed and implemented by the Local Authority, drivers are required to comply with the posed 20mph speed limit." Mr Toms said: "I have had a clean licence all my life and I am now 74 years old. I have never knowingly broken a speed limit or had an accident in all that time. "I find this very annoying and even more so because the road could be back at 30mph in a few weeks, which in my view is the correct speed for that section." He added: "We had been staying in Chester for a couple of nights and literally dipped our feet into Wales with a trip to see the ship. We went through Flint and saw it was 20mph there and people were doing that speed as it is a built up area. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox "We carried along the coast road and given that it was not built up and there are no schools here I assumed I was on a 30mph road. I saw the camera sign - although the camera itself it quite hidden - but I checked my speedometer and thought I was within the limit threshold. It was a complete surprise when a week later I received a speeding fine in the post. "I thought maybe they would look at my clean licence, the fact we are not from the area, and that this road could soon revert to 30mph and show some discretion. There must be so many visitors caught out as well as local people. "I would understand if I was doing 40mph or if I was caught in a built up area like Flint going at this speed but in all my experience of driving a road like this has always been 30mph. "I've certainly nothing against the Welsh people but I've something against the people who brought in this limit. I know friends who've also been fined on 20mph roads in Wales and say they are concerned about going back. "I've decided to bite the bullet and pay for the three hour course but I still don't consider that I did anything wrong." Flintshire have announced dozens of roads in the county that are now under review and could return to 30mph.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
LTNs and cycle lanes cost Oxfordshire County Council almost £4m
A local authority has spent millions of pounds on its contentious Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme, a Freedom of Information request has 2021, Oxfordshire County Council has spent almost £4m combined on both its LTNs and its quickways cycling scheme in were first installed on six roads in east Oxford and Cowley in May 2022, and were made permanent in 2023 following an 18-month restrictions have proved controversial, with some hailing them as a "proven road safety measure", whilst others claimed they caused "misery on a daily basis". New figures obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service showed the council spent more than £3.8m on the installation and maintenance of both LTNs and quickways cycle routes in Oxford between 2021 and total includes £2.5m spent in 2022, which was the year the schemes were first the installation of the schemes was funded by central government, the council covers maintenance costs. 'Excellent value' Councillor Saj Malik, who represents Cowley on the county council, said the spending was "completely tone deaf"."We expect the county council to provide the services we pay for but then they tell us there's no money because they waste it on their pet projects like the LTNs," he said."In Cowley we're at the sharp end of these transport restrictions and they make our lives a misery on a daily basis."But Green Party councillor Emily Kerr said LTNs were a "proven road safety measure, cutting pedestrian accidents by around 85% inside and on the boundary roads"."Given the emotional and financial cost of car crashes, which can run into tens of thousands of pounds per collision, as well as the positive health impacts of the switch to walking and cycling, I think the annual cost to the council of £55,000 represents excellent value for money," she Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson added: "LTNs make residential streets healthier to live on and safer and more comfortable for walking, wheeling, and cycling." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
