Latest news with #Newbury
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Appeal against Kennet Shopping Centre redevelopment decision begins
The appeal against a council's decision to reject a multi-storey redevelopment of a shopping centre has Berkshire Council's planning committee rejected the proposal for a residential and retail development with more than 400 flats at the Kennet Shopping Centre in then the developer has lodged another proposal for the redevelopment of the site – this time getting rid of the shopping street and multi-storey flats and proposing a mews house style housing quarter called Old Aston, the government's planning inspector heading the appeal hearing, said much would rest on whether the council has provided a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites. The inquiry is due to last seven days, and Mr Aston's decision is expected in August. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Oxford and Newbury Prides ban political parties from attending
Two Pride events have banned political parties from attending in response to what they call "growing inequalities" faced by transgender and Newbury Prides, which campaign for LGBT rights, said while any individual may come along, they were not allowed as part of a party and could not wear party follows similar bans at the Birmingham, Brighton, London and Manchester moves were prompted by a Supreme Court ruling in April, which said the term "woman" in the Equality Act was defined by biological sex. The decision was welcomed by some campaigners representing lesbian, gay and bisexual people, who said it protected single-sex others raised concerns about the impact on the trans community."Pride is a space for community, solidarity, and protest, not political promotion," the organisers of Oxford Pride said."We must keep the focus firmly where it belongs: on the growing inequalities and targeted attacks faced by our trans siblings here in the UK." But Oxfordshire Liberal Democrat member James Bliss said "grouping all political parties together" was unfair."The only way that we reverse the recent tide against trans rights is to fight back where it matters and where we can, which is in party politics," they Brookes, vice chair of Newbury Pride, said the lack of action against the Supreme Court's ruling by the government and other political parties was significant."Political parties in general have in recent years demonstrated no more than lip service to support for the LGBTQIA+ community," she said. 'Flags and banners' In the wake of the ruling, a Labour Party spokesperson said it gave "clarity and confidence for service providers" but that "we will continue to protect the trans community"."The laws to protect trans people from discrimination and harassment will remain in place, and trans people will still be protected on the basis of gender reassignment—a protected characteristic written into Labour's Equality Act," they case was brought by a campaign group that argued sex-based protections for women should only apply to those who were born female, a position backed by the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, and decisions made there cannot usually be Ms Brookes wants the laws about which the court was deliberating to be rewritten to explicitly include transgender women."They come and wave flags and banners," she said of politicians. "But we're done with the pink washing. We want actual action." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Section of Kings Road in Newbury permanently closes to vehicles
A section of road has permanently closed to motorists following a public consultation. West Berkshire Council said only cyclists and pedestrians would now be able to access the section of Kings Road in Newbury between Gordon Road (east) and Windsor authority said concrete barriers would be put up after the peak traffic period earlier, with more permanent changes to road layouts and signage to follow "in the coming weeks".It said the impact of the changes would be monitored. The decision prompted dozens of people to comment when it was announced on social media. Some described it as "barmy" and "flawed", while others said it would reduce noise for residents living on the stretch of road. 'Improvements' West Berkshire Council said: "We understand that changes like this take time to get used to. "We'll be monitoring the area throughout the summer to see how traffic adjusts and to make sure everything is working as it should. "Thank you for your patience and support as we make these improvements."The council said new road signs and markings would be installed along both ends of Kings Road and the surrounding area, to direct traffic towards Hectors Way via the roundabout at Hambridge were some road closures on Wednesday evening to allow the road markings to be added. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Sydney Morning Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Tax relief and home ownership at heart of opposition budget pitch, but savings lacking
The Victorian opposition has sketched its plans for the state's financial recovery, with a promise to cut tax, restore budget integrity, reduce debt, enable home ownership and shift the balance of economic activity away from the public sector and towards private business. Shadow treasurer James Newbury, delivering his first budget reply speech 18 months out from the next state election, offered a traditional liberal remedy to what he characterised as Victoria's 'slide' into a high-tax, high-debt, welfare state where 'the only sure thing is that when you put your hand in your pocket, Jacinta Allan's hand is already in there'. The centrepiece of his budget reply – a pledge to lift the current first home buyer stamp duty ceiling from $600,000 properties to $1 million – is one of several tax changes the Coalition is promising to make if elected in November next year. Newbury also said the Coalition would scrap recently legislated changes to the Emergency Services Levy, abolish the Short Stay Levy on Airbnb properties and reinstate payroll tax exemptions for non-government schools and GPs. He said the stamp duty change, based on an estimated additional 17,000 exemptions a year, would cost $1.09 billion, the Emergency Service Levy $3 billion and the entire tax package about $4.6 billion over the four years of the budget. Loading He did not nominate any savings measures to offset the reduced tax take. Newbury flagged the introduction of a debt cap – to be measured as a proportion of gross state product – but declined to say what the legislated limit would be. These omissions were derided by Finance Minister Danny Pearson, along with the recycled 'Go for Growth' title chosen for the Coalition's economic plan.
The Age
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Tax relief and home ownership at heart of opposition budget pitch, but savings lacking
The Victorian opposition has sketched its plans for the state's financial recovery, with a promise to cut tax, restore budget integrity, reduce debt, enable home ownership and shift the balance of economic activity away from the public sector and towards private business. Shadow treasurer James Newbury, delivering his first budget reply speech 18 months out from the next state election, offered a traditional liberal remedy to what he characterised as Victoria's 'slide' into a high-tax, high-debt, welfare state where 'the only sure thing is that when you put your hand in your pocket, Jacinta Allan's hand is already in there'. The centrepiece of his budget reply – a pledge to lift the current first home buyer stamp duty ceiling from $600,000 properties to $1 million – is one of several tax changes the Coalition is promising to make if elected in November next year. Newbury also said the Coalition would scrap recently legislated changes to the Emergency Services Levy, abolish the Short Stay Levy on Airbnb properties and reinstate payroll tax exemptions for non-government schools and GPs. He said the stamp duty change, based on an estimated additional 17,000 exemptions a year, would cost $1.09 billion, the Emergency Service Levy $3 billion and the entire tax package about $4.6 billion over the four years of the budget. Loading He did not nominate any savings measures to offset the reduced tax take. Newbury flagged the introduction of a debt cap – to be measured as a proportion of gross state product – but declined to say what the legislated limit would be. These omissions were derided by Finance Minister Danny Pearson, along with the recycled 'Go for Growth' title chosen for the Coalition's economic plan.
