Latest news with #MarkDunn
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Hundreds attend Bradford-on-Avon flood information event
Hundreds of people have attended a special event held to provide information on how to protect homes and businesses from River Avon has burst in banks in Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire on numerous occasions in recent years, flooding nearby roads and event came just a week after a multi-million pound flood protection scheme for the town was scrapped, so the Environment Agency and other organisations were present to listen to local local resident - who said he had eight feet of water in his basement last year - said he wanted to hear something to "give the population some hope". Mark Dunn lives in an old mill next to the river and said: "For 360 days a year it's idyllic. For four or five days a year, it's pretty terrifying to see 30,000 litres of water go by your window a second."He explained he has been in the home for the last three big floods in the town - 2013, 2012 and 2024. 'Writing on the wall' "We know we can't completely get rid of it, but I was hoping to hear about something to be offered to give the population some hope" he added, disappointed that the £11m protection scheme was Dunn felt the scheme would have been worth the money because of the impact of the floods in the area ,and said residents do end up feeling abandoned."The climate is only going to get worse. The writing is on the wall," he said he did not hear what he wanted to hear at the event but added it was "good news" that the local MP and Environment Agency are not giving up on finding a solution. Local Liberal Democrat MP Brian Mathew was at the event and told the BBC he has been speaking to the head of the Environment Agency about the issue."There's no single one solution," he said, adding that the original £11m plan "wouldn't have been enough".He added: "There's not a lot of point in spending a lot of money on what wouldn't have been enough anyway."Mr Mathew said people are concerned and worried, and that more does need to be done for his constituents. "The voluntary flood wardens have been absolutely brilliant. In November, they were down at four in the morning, and they were there before us" said Mike Pugh, who runs art gallery SerenArts at the Tithe Barn explained the community has been very supportive, but wanted to find out "who else can help form further up the ladder". Having been there since 2009, he has experienced flooding four times, and has adapted, using plastic boxes and making sure everything can be lifted Pugh said it "appears to be an increasing problem".He added he uses the Environment Agency website which monitors water levels."You can calculate where it's going to get to. That's a good way of knowing when to press the panic button." Mayor of Bradford-on-Avon Jack Vittles said he is "really, really pleased" that people have been able to speak directly to the agencies involved."A lot of people are realistic about what they can do in their own homes and they're clued up on that now."I want to make sure people get the full story" he Environment Agency has said previously that it is "committed to supporting Bradford-on-Avon in adapting to flood risks through community resilience measures".Wiltshire Council and Wessex Water were among the other organisations there responding to residents.
BBC News
28-04-2025
- BBC News
Arson probe into Burslem derelict Wade Ceramics factory fire
A fire at a derelict pottery factory site is being treated as than 30 firefighters tackled the blaze at the former Wade Ceramics factory on Westport Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, on Fire and Rescue Service, which was called at 20:10 BST, put it out in about six hours and nobody was reported to have been Police said it was treating the blaze as being deliberately started and its investigation was ongoing. The fire was out by about 02:00 BST on Monday, the fire service said, after they were called to the road following reports of smoke coming from a roof. Mark Dunn, who lives nearby, told BBC Radio Stoke: "It's dangerous for them, [isn't] it? It just shouldn't be happening."But in my opinion [the building] just wants razing to the ground."The cause was deemed to be deliberate and the investigation was left with police, the fire service said. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Chicago Tribune
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
One for the Books: In honor of April Fools' Day, why not pick up a ‘punny' book from a Naperville library?
Book it to a Naperville Public Library and get ready for some pun with a punny title! In honor of April Fools' Day, we're highlighting this Amazing Book Challenge category that encourages you to choose a title featuring a clever play on words or a witty twist on a popular phrase. From a town that's constantly banning letters of the alphabet to a talking cat with nine lives, you can be sure of one thing with each title in this collection — it's pun intended. To see the full list of recommendations and to check out the other categories, visit 'Ella Minnow Pea' by Mark Dunn Ella Minnow Pea lives on the island of Nollop, named after Nevin Nollop, author of the famous pangram, 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.' When the island's council bans letters from the alphabet as they fall from a statue of Nollop, Ella must act to save her community from growing totalitarianism. As letters vanish, they also disappear from the novel. 'Heart and Seoul' by Jen Frederick Hara Wilson, a Korean adoptee, has always felt different from her white parents. At 25, she thought she had accepted it, but after her father's sudden death, a comment at his funeral sparks an identity crisis. She travels to Seoul in search of her roots, where she encounters a mysterious stranger, new family ties and a forbidden love that could either bring her home or tear everything apart. 'Home Is Where the Bodies Are' by Jeneva Rose After their mother's death, three estranged siblings — Beth, Nicole and Michael — reunite to settle her estate. While sorting through belongings, they find home videos that reveal a chilling memory from 1999: their father, covered in blood, and a dead body. As they uncover their parents' dark secret, the siblings must decide whether to confront the truth or leave the past buried. ''Til Heist Do Us Part' by Sara Desai A year after pulling off a high-wire diamond heist, Simi Chopra and her crew are back to struggling with bills. When a Mafia boss demands the return of the jewels plus interest, they must reunite to track them down. But the necklace is in the hands of a vengeful nemesis, forcing Simi to work her con to get it back. As she navigates a billionaire's mansion, a rival thief and a determined detective, Simi risks ending up in serious trouble. 'Fool Moon' by Jim Butcher Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, has been struggling to find work — magical or mundane — until a brutal murder brings him back into action. A mutilated corpse, strange animal markings and the murder occurring on the night of a full moon point to one thing: a werewolf stalking the city. With his supernatural expertise, Harry must navigate Chicago's dark underbelly to stop the killer before more victims are claimed, all while dealing with the dangerous creatures and forces that lurk in the shadows. 'Cat Out of Hell' by Lynne Truss Alec Charlesworth, a grieving librarian who's lost his job and wife, discovers a file of interviews between a man named 'Wiggy' and a cat named Roger. To his shock, Roger speaks — and Alec learns that much of what we fear about cats is true: they think they're smarter than humans and they have nine lives. Roger, ancient and wise, reveals a dark history that may connect to the death of Alec's wife and other local tragedies. But can Alec trust the cat, or is Roger part of the dark forces at play? 'The Pun Also Rises' by John Pollack A former world pun champion's funny, erudite and provocative exploration of puns, the people who make them and this derided wordplay's remarkable impact on history. 'Uganda Be Kidding Me' by Chelsea Handler Chelsea Handler takes readers on a wild, hilarious ride through her travel misadventures. Whether she's fumbling through a safari in Africa, getting into trouble in the Bahamas or escaping a German hospital on crutches, Chelsea's sharp wit and outrageous humor make every journey unforgettable. With stories of family chaos, missteps and her devoted dog Chunk, Chelsea hilariously tackles the world's most absurd travel situations. 'The Ride of A Lifetime' by Robert Iger Robert Iger reflects on his journey as CEO of Disney, where he led the company through a transformative period by prioritizing quality, embracing technology and expanding globally. Under his leadership, Disney became the world's largest media company, acquiring Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox. Iger shares the leadership principles that guided his success and highlights the importance of curiosity, thoughtfulness and a decency-first approach in shaping his decisions and Disney's growth.
BBC News
18-03-2025
- BBC News
Island Line set to reopen in May after months of work
A railway line is set to fully reopen after nine months of "intensive and complex" repair Isle of Wight's Island Line closed in September 2024 for Network Rail and South Western Railway engineers to carry out refurbishments to the Ryde Pier Rail has now announced the service is set to reopen between the pier head and Shanklin on Friday 2 May. The upgrades to the pier mean it should be more resilient to extreme weather, a statement from the rail service explained. Ahead of the reopening, the entire line from Shanklin to Ryde Pier Head will be shut for six days from Saturday 26 April for engineers to complete final preparations. Network Rail confirmed a replacement bus would be operating instead of the 2 May, the first service is due to depart Ryde St Johns at 05:23 GMT, with the first train from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin leaving at 06: Rail engineers are expected to return to the line later in 2025 to complete additional upgrades. George Murrell, from Network Rail Wessex, said: "We're now on the home stretch of this work and while I know it will be disappointing, we will need to close the line for the week preceding the resumption of services to finish the final pieces of work..."I'd like to again thank passengers, residents and businesses... for their patience and understanding while we've undertaken this programme of critical repairs and upgrades."Mark Dunn, Island Line general manager, said the works would "preserve the historic pier for many years to come"."We're extremely grateful to our customers and islanders for their patience while these important works were completed and look forward to welcoming them back for the full service soon," he added. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
