Latest news with #OfficeHorizon
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Labour councillors resign over Starmer's leadership
Three district councillors in Derbyshire have quit Labour in protest at the direction of the party under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Councillors Chris Kane, Emma Stevenson and Sandra Peake are all now listed as independents on the Bolsover District Council website. Peake told the BBC: "I've got principles, it's not the Labour party I joined over 30 years ago." A Labour Party spokesperson told the BBC the party was having to make "tough choices" in government. Peake cited concerns over changes to welfare along with a lack of support for WASPI women and the victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal. "The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer," she added. She also distanced herself from reports her decision to quit the party was also down to the performance of the Labour MP for Bolsover, Natalie Fleet. However Peake did suggest constituents felt their MP was hard to contact, a view the BBC understands is shared among other members of the local Labour branch. "We miss Dennis Skinner," she said. In response, Fleet said: "As the MP for Bolsover, I'm dedicated to delivering for my constituents. "Whether it be helping families through casework, supporting charities and businesses in the community, or raising pressing issues in the Commons, they are always my priority. "It is such a privilege to serve residents, I try to meet as many of them as possible, and urge anyone who needs my support to get in touch." It is also understood that the recent policies unveiled by the party in Westminster on welfare have contributed to unhappiness within the local party beyond the three councillors who have resigned. However, the group do not expect any more resignations. The Labour leader of Bolsover District Council, Jane Yates, said she was "extremely sorry to lose three valued Labour councillors". "I would welcome them back into the party in the future if they changed their minds," she told the BBC. A Labour Party spokesperson said: "Labour has had to make tough choices in the wake of 14 years of Tory-led chaos and decline, including on how to fix the broken welfare system we inherited, which is failing everyone. "But this Labour government is delivering on our Plan for Change. Waiting lists are coming down, breakfast clubs are being rolled out, and the minimum wage is rising. "Now we must bring about a new era of security and renewal in a world which is changing before our eyes. "Our Labour councillors in Bolsover are dedicated to serving and delivering for their residents, and will continue to fix the foundations in Derbyshire." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. New district council leader announced
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Councillors 'burying their heads' over roundabout
Council executives have "their heads in the sand" over a controversial redesign of a roundabout junction, a councillor has said. Peter Harper has called upon Wokingham Borough Council to make changes to California Cross, between Finchampstead Road and Nine Mile Ride. He said councillors were "waving the flag about how wonderful the scheme is" despite safety concerns being raised, including a 1,600-signature petition. Leader of the council, Stephen Conway, said the project, dating back to 2015, had been treated with "incredible care and thoroughness". Mr Harper said: "I get a feeling of this as a sort of discussion the Post Office were having when the Horizon scheme was being discussed – everyone was raising concerns, we have the executive members waving the flag about how wonderful the scheme is, with their heads in the sand. "I think we should be listening to the people who are using that scheme, we should be listening to the safety experts. "We should make the change now." The Post Office Horizon scandal involved thousands of innocent sub-postmasters being blamed for financial shortfalls caused by faults in the IT system. At an overview and scrutiny management committee meeting on Tuesday, he asked highway officers why certain recommendations made in a safety audit, carried out in September 2024, were rejected by the council. He also presented the committee with the petition calling for safety improvements to the junction. The £5.5m revamp resulted in a unique colourful leaf design replacing the junction's double roundabout, with the aim of making it more pedestrian-friendly. Instead of zebra crossings, there are white painted leaves showing where people should cross via foot. Highways officer Chris Easton said his team was monitoring the junction, and there was "nothing factual to demonstrate it's not safe". Mr Easton said there had been no recorded accidents on the junction since it reopened six months ago but if any accidents did happen appropriate action would be taken. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Leaf-design junction is safe, council insists Colourful roundabout redesign divides village More than 1,400 oppose colourful crossing Pedestrian crossing 'looks like a playground' Wokingham Borough Council
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Wokingham councillors 'burying their heads' over roundabout redesign
Council executives have "their heads in the sand" over a controversial redesign of a roundabout junction, a councillor has Harper has called upon Wokingham Borough Council to make changes to California Cross, between Finchampstead Road and Nine Mile said councillors were "waving the flag about how wonderful the scheme is" despite safety concerns being raised, including a 1,600-signature of the council, Stephen Conway, said the project, dating back to 2015, had been treated with "incredible care and thoroughness". Mr Harper said: "I get a feeling of this as a sort of discussion the Post Office were having when the Horizon scheme was being discussed – everyone was raising concerns, we have the executive members waving the flag about how wonderful the scheme is, with their heads in the sand."I think we should be listening to the people who are using that scheme, we should be listening to the safety experts."We should make the change now."The Post Office Horizon scandal involved thousands of innocent sub-postmasters being blamed for financial shortfalls caused by faults in the IT an overview and scrutiny management committee meeting on Tuesday, he asked highway officers why certain recommendations made in a safety audit, carried out in September 2024, were rejected by the also presented the committee with the petition calling for safety improvements to the junction. The £5.5m revamp resulted in a unique colourful leaf design replacing the junction's double roundabout, with the aim of making it more of zebra crossings, there are white painted leaves showing where people should cross via officer Chris Easton said his team was monitoring the junction, and there was "nothing factual to demonstrate it's not safe".Mr Easton said there had been no recorded accidents on the junction since it reopened six months ago but if any accidents did happen appropriate action would be taken. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
