Latest news with #NorthSomerset
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Backwell A370 bus lane plan to be reconsidered
A planned bus lane which caused "fear and anger" in a village is set to be reconsidered by the local Somerset Council planned to install the bus lane on the A370 through Backwell, which would have included moving a bus stop and removing a council committee meeting on 27 May, Jeff Wells of Backwell Residents Association said removing the railings would be "extremely dangerous."The council argued the new lane would reduce bus journey times between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, but some councillors warned that spending £2.2m on the 206 metre-long bus lane was a waste of public funds. "Lack of information for Backwell has created suspicion and a lot of fear and anger," Mr Wells bus lane was proposed to run west along the A370 for 260 metres, up to the crossroads with Station Road/Dark Lane, the Local Democracy Reporting Service was on the council to withdraw the plans, Conservative councillor Michael Pryke compared the bus lane to the Clevedon Seafront debacle "but with a much higher chance of fatalities"."The scheme is prepared to put lives at risk, damage everything that works well, for a bus lane that will increase journey times at a huge financial cost to the public," he added. '£300k annual savings' Currently the X1 - North Somerset's most-used bus with 142,000 passengers a month - takes one hour 40 minutes to get from Weston-super-Mare to Bristol during the morning rush cabinet member for highways and transport Hannah Young said that with one bus running every 15 minutes, this meant 14 buses had to be in use to run the service in peak travelling said: "I don't believe that we can afford to let buses that people need just get stuck in traffic to a point where they become the last choice for everyone."If five minutes can be shaved off the round trip time along the A370 corridor, she said the route could be run with one fewer bus, saving the bus operator £300k a on the committee voted 6-2 to support the call-in and ask the council to reconsider the plans.
The Sun
6 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Moment vile woman caught kicking dog and screaming abuse in its face on neighbour's doorbell camera
WATCH the shocking moment a woman swears and screams at her dog before kicking and dragging him by his lead. Vile Lauren Leigh Barker was caught on camera physically and verbally abusing her pooch, Rocco. 6 6 6 Barker repeatedly raises her voice and becomes increasingly aggressive with the distressed pup, shouting at him to move. She pushes him towards the door and he collides with the frame before she eventually muscles him in and shuts them both in. They disappear from view, but her shocking abuse continues behind the closed door and Rocco can be heard barking at his owner. In the footage, Barker, of Clevedon, North Somerset, bellows: "In there. Rocco don't wind me up. "Get in. Get the f*** in. I said move. Move, move. Stay." She can be seen kicking Rocco through to the next room and the doorbell camera visibly shakes as she slams the door. Barker, who owns another dog called Iddy, was banned from keeping animals for five years after the footage was shared with the RSPCA. This decision cannot be appealed for at least two years. After reviewing the footage, a vet said: "Rocco has been caused to suffer due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal behaving in an aggressive, intimidating and physically abusive manner. "Suffering will have been experienced by this animal via mechanisms of fear, distress and possibly pain for a period of at least several minutes, possibly longer." 6 6 6 Appearing at North Somerset Magistrates Court earlier this month, she was deemed to have caused unnecessary suffering to Rocco during an incident in September 2023. She was also found to have failed to meet her dogs ' needs to be protected from pain and suffering due to the infliction of physical violence and abusive behaviour for an incident in October 2023. She was sentenced to 12 weeks custody, suspended for 18 months, and must complete 30 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR). Barker intends to appeal the conviction and continues to plead her innocence, arguing that she was acting in self-defence against "aggressive" Rocco. Whilst at a rescue centre, RSPCA teams carried out behaviour assessments on the pup and found he was suitable for rehoming. He was deemed to be very tolerant of vets, allowing them to perform a range of checks without needing to restrain him. RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters said: 'We're extremely grateful when people report animal welfare concerns to us and share any evidence they have that can help our investigations."
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Moment woman is caught on doorbell camera repeatedly abusing her dog and dragging him by the lead is shown in court as she is banned from keeping any animals for five years
This is the shocking moment a woman was caught on a doorbell camera repeatedly abusing her dog and dragging him by the lead. Lauren Leigh Barker could be seen screaming and swearing at little Rocco as she forced him through a door and physically pushing him around. The poor pup was repeatedly kicked before she slammed the door - bellowing at him to 'move', after which he can be heard making pitiful noises. Others show her dragging Rocco around on a lead, shouting at him and repeatedly slamming doors. Baker, of Clevedon, North Somerset, was found to have failed to meet her two dogs' need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease due to the infliction of physical violence, abusive and intimidatory behaviour for an incident in October 2023. She was also found to have caused unnecessary suffering to Rocco through aggressive and intimidatory behaviour for an incident in September 2023. The vet who viewed the footage said in their report: 'In my opinion Rocco has been caused to suffer due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal behaving in an aggressive, intimidating and physically abusive manner towards this dog. 'Suffering will have been experienced by this animal via mechanisms of fear, distress and possibly pain for a period of at least several minutes, possibly longer.' Baker, who had a second dog called Iddy, was disqualified from keeping animals, which she cannot appeal for two years, after being prosecuted by the RSPCA. She was also sentenced to 12 weeks custody, suspended for 18 months, and 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days and ordered to pay £500 costs when she was sentenced at North Somerset Magistrates Court on May 6. Baker maintains she is not guilty and that Rocco was an aggressive dog so she was acting in self-defence and plans to appeal her conviction. Behavioural assessments were carried out on Rocco while he was being cared for by a team at an RSPCA rescue centre. He was found to behave favourably in a range of situations, including being tolerant of vets who were able to carry out checks without any issues or the need for additional restraint, making him suitable for rehoming. RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters, who investigated for the charity, said: 'We're extremely grateful when people report animal welfare concerns to us and share any evidence they have that can help our investigations.'
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Global cancer cases rise at alarmingly high rate – why are so many young women getting deadly disease?
A month before her 21st birthday, Amy Clark was given the earth-shattering news that she had stage four lung cancer. It was a moment Amy, now 26, describes as: 'Like having an out-of-body experience,' so shocking was the diagnosis. 5 5 'I couldn't really process what the nurse had told me. I had lung cancer that had spread to my rib and lymph nodes. It felt totally surreal,' she says. Five years on, thanks to ongoing treatment, Amy lives a full and relatively normal life, working in insurance in North Somerset. However, her experience of developing cancer at such a young age is, worryingly, no longer so unusual. Young people like Amy are being diagnosed with cancer at an alarmingly high rate. While it is a disease that typically strikes later in life, more and more young women and men are being diagnosed in their prime. Globally, diagnosis and deaths related to early-onset cancers – meaning those affecting people below the age of 50 – rose by 79% and 28% respectively, between 1990 and 2019.* And according to Cancer Research UK, the increase in cases among those aged 25-49 in the UK is more than double the rise in over-75s, with cancers of the digestive system, skin and breast most common in younger people. High-profile women, including the Princess of Wales, 43, Strictly's Amy Dowden, 34, and comedian Katherine Ryan, 41, have all been diagnosed with cancer in the past two years, and by bravely going public they've brought a lot of attention to the fact that, increasingly, age guarantees no protection against cancer. Before her death at the age of 40 in June 2022, bowel cancer campaigner and The Sun columnist, Dame Deborah James, worked tirelessly to highlight that cancer impacts younger people too, after her own symptoms were dismissed. 'Deborah was passionate about awareness of bowel cancer symptoms and early diagnosis, because being diagnosed in the earliest stages means you have a much better outcome,' says her mum Heather. 'You know your body better than anyone, so if something doesn't feel right, get it checked. She often said that if she could save one life, all the effort would be worth it.' For Amy, a diagnosis came completely unexpectedly, following investigations into an old injury. 'After a fall in 2016, I'd experienced lower-back pain on and off for a few years, and in May 2019 I saw an orthopaedic consultant about it. "An X-ray and PET scan revealed I had a badly healed old rib fracture, which explained the pain. But it also showed a 3mm lesion in my right lung,' says Amy. 'I was referred to a respiratory consultant, who said he didn't usually see this sort of lesion in someone my age – they were more associated with older people who'd been long-term smokers. "It was agreed I'd have another scan the following year, but he didn't seem concerned, so nor was I. Lung cancer never even crossed my mind.' In February 2020, a second scan showed that whatever was in Amy's lung was now also in her lymph nodes. She was referred for a bronchoscopy, which enables doctors to look at the lungs and air passages using a thin tube with a camera, and perform a biopsy. 'It wasn't until I was actually on the trolley, going into theatre in March 2020, that someone said the word 'cancer' to me. 5 5 "I was so shocked – it hadn't been on my radar at all. I was 20, in a happy relationship with my boyfriend Danny, 25, working and socialising, like any young woman. "I felt fit and well, with no symptoms of anything untoward.' The following month, Amy received her diagnosis. 'Not only did I have cancer, but it had spread, meaning it was now stage four. It was a devastating moment – my memories of it are hazy, because I was immediately plunged into a state of shock. "But I remember my mum Jan crying. I didn't think about myself, but about how this was going to impact my family and Danny. 'I didn't ask what my prognosis was, as I didn't want to hear my life reduced to a countdown.' Between April 2020 and May 2023, Amy – who went on to learn she had a relatively rare form of lung cancer called ALK positive, which affects 3-5% of lung cancer patients – began oral targeted therapy, as well as 20 rounds of radiotherapy to shrink her tumours. Tough to cope with 'Emotionally, it took a long time to come to terms with my diagnosis. It felt totally at odds with the fact I was just 21, with so many plans for my future. "I still felt like 'me' and I had no cancer symptoms, though I experienced side effects from the treatment, including highly sensitive skin and an internal burning sensation, which were tough to cope with. 'Danny, an engineer who I'd met on a night out with friends and started dating in 2018, was my rock, as were my family. "But nobody that age ever expects to have to tell the people they love that they have stage four cancer and be supported by them.' In January 2023, Amy, who lives with her parents, was told she'd had a 'complete response' to treatment, meaning there was no evidence of cancer in her body. She was able to return to work and get back to her passions of hiking, attending music festivals and seeing friends. However, that March, a scan revealed cancer in Amy's hip area, and she needed more radiotherapy. 'That was the hardest time, emotionally, even worse than receiving my diagnosis,' she says. 'I kept thinking – is this my life now, in and out of treatment, waiting for the cancer to appear in another part of my body?' Amy is now having regular scans, alongside medication, and she takes huge strength from her relationship. 5 'Danny has never wavered in his support, lifting my spirits on days when I've felt overwhelmed,' says Amy. 'We don't shy away from talking about cancer, but we talk about our future, too, and are planning to move in together next year.' There are countless theories swirling among the medical community about why rates of early-onset cancer are on the rise. These range from people having more exposure to artificial light, modern diets of ultra-processed foods, red meat and alcohol, as well as obesity, poor gut health and microplastics in food and water supplies. Research published by Cancer Research UK last month pointed to a possible link between bowel cancer in under-50s and childhood exposure to a toxin produced by E. coli. Dr Rachel Orritt from the charity says that, although around nine in 10 cancer cases still happen in people over 50, early-onset cancers are a growing cause for concern. 'We don't know what's causing early onset cancer. Preventable factors like changing diets and higher rates of obesity, as well as improvements to early detection, could all be playing a part. "But it's vital we have more research to understand the causes, so we know how to prevent it,' she says. Like Amy, Ellie Stacey was left in shock after being diagnosed with a rare but extremely aggressive form of ovarian cancer at 32, in March 2023, after experiencing stomach pain, bloating and pain down one side of her chest. Tests revealed she had stage 3C ovarian carcinosarcoma, which typically affects women aged over 60. She was told by doctors that, although her cancer was incurable, it could be treated. 'I was convinced I was going to die, beside myself with anxiety. It was like a nightmare. "My boyfriend Andrew, 35, who's a radiographer, was with me and was able to hold it together, while I was a mess,' says Ellie, now 34 and an ecologist, from Glasgow. 'My grandmother died from ovarian cancer in her 80s, and the thought of having to tell my mum I had it, too – in my 30s – was so painful.' Ellie has now had her fallopian tubes and ovaries removed, undergone eight rounds of chemotherapy, a hysterectomy, and had a cancerous growth attached to her liver removed. Currently, she's having maintenance IV chemotherapy infusions and oral targeted therapy, along with regular scans. She's had to come to terms with the realisation that she will never carry a child. 'It wasn't possible to freeze my eggs before my ovaries were removed, because by then they were covered in tumours, and now I have no womb either. "I have felt angry – I'd worked so hard to get to the point I wanted to in my career, assuming I'd have children at some point in the future, never imagining the choice would be taken away from me.' Having cancer so young has meant Ellie's life in the last few years has been in stark contrast to that of friends the same age. 'They've been getting on with their lives – excelling in careers, starting families – and although they've been so supportive, it's hard when my life hasn't been 'normal' for two years.' Dr Zainab Noor, a specialist clinical psychologist at the Cancer Psychology Collective says: 'Receiving a cancer diagnosis at a young age not only interrupts the normal momentum of life, but also forces a confrontation with mortality at a time when life is meant to feel limitless. 'It's not uncommon to feel untethered: caught between a life you were expecting and the reality you're suddenly living in. I call this 'emotional whiplash.'' For Ellie, one of the hardest parts about being a young cancer patient has been the uncertainty about the future. 'My career has stalled,' she says. 'I'm only able to work 12 hours on a good week, due to fatigue, and my memory and concentration are poor now. 'I get incredibly frustrated, because I feel I should be living the hell out of life, but I can't manage more than one or two things socially in a week,' adds Ellie. High recurrence rate 'Andrew and I are lucky to have such great friends, some of whom can't have children, and it's been helpful to talk to them. "Well-meaning people have told us we could still have a family via adoption. But when one parent has incurable cancer and may die younger, is that fair on a child?' Ellie has forged connections with other young cancer patients via the charity Maggie's which, she says, has been invaluable. 'There are certain things that, no matter how understanding your friends are, people can't understand unless they've been where you are. "Throughout, Andrew has been incredibly supportive. He's had a lot to deal with and I do worry it will hit him one day. "But if I'm having a down day or feeling guilty about us not being able to have children, he reassures me it's me he wants to be with.' Ellie's cancer has a high recurrence rate, although her latest scans showed that her condition is stable. 'People think that with cancer you either die or get better, but that's always not the case,' she says. 'For me, it's always going to be there and I've just got to try and live my life the best I can.' Amy still encounters shock when she reveals to people her diagnosis, but she counters it with hope and belief in medicine. 'When I meet new people and they learn I have stage four cancer, they're so shocked, and I get that. "Nobody expects to hear that from a 20-something woman who looks completely well. Their mind turns to the absolute worst outcome,' she says. 'Last year, my mum co-founded the charity Oncogene Cancer Research, and she's thrown herself into not only understanding my condition, but supporting patients and fund-raising for research. 'Through her work, I know research is happening and medicine is always evolving, so I try to remain confident that treatment will keep working for me, so I can live a long and full life. 'To this day, I've never asked what my prognosis is and I have no plans to. I am looking to, and planning for, my future.'
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Clevedon's 'bizarre' wiggle road markings removed amid £1.5m cost
Work to remove wiggly road markings that sparked controversy in a seaside town has been Somerset Council caused outrage in Clevedon when it introduced the changes, which included the removal of sea-facing parking, along the waterfront in 2022. RAC previously described the lines as one of the "most bizarre" road schemes it had originally cost about £1m and a further £425,000 was spent on the reversal, but the council said the move was "in line with significant public feedback" from businesses and residents. Councillor Hannah Young, cabinet member for highways, said: "We have listened to the local community and reinstated sea-facing parking." Work to remove the markings started in February and also included creating new loading bays, a single contraflow cycle path, a mini roundabout, a pedestrian crossings and vehicular access to the promenade for boats and ice cream vans. New planters will be added to the area and the community will be consulted on the plans. Councillor Young added: "We would like to thank everyone for their patience and encourage all residents and visitors to come and support the seafront businesses that have been affected as you enjoy the new configuration."
