Latest news with #PrimarySchool
Yahoo
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Judi Dench celebrates after community secures site
The future of a site of natural interest in North Yorkshire has been secured, after being taken over by the local community, campaigners have said. The Upper Ouse Conservation Trust (UOCT) raised £275,000 in just four weeks in order to purchase Townend Field in Great Ouseburn, near Boroughbridge. The 20-acre site features wetland habitats, native woodland, a stream and ancient trees including an iconic oak. Dame Judi Dench, who has family links to the area and lent her support to the campaign, called the achievement a "celebration": "I'm very, very pleased and I shall be raising several glasses of champagne to you all!" "We've saved the field and we've saved the tree," the Oscar-winning actress said, in a video message. The UOCT, which was set up by residents in February, will now focus on establishing a nature reserve on the land, the trust said. "It's a fantastic achievement, but I think the main emotion we're feeling is very thankful," said operations trustee Graeme Jackson. He said it was a "special area for a lot of people" in the community, highlighting the area's "extremely diverse" range of habitats. Mr Jackson said those who had contributed to the fund had recognised the importance of "giving the kids half an acre of green space to play in, to give some community access to the place, and to preserve and enhance it for wildlife". The area will include an area dedicated to nearby Great Ouseburn Primary School, with further fundraising under way to maintain a traditional stone boundary, develop wildlife habitats and create footpaths. One footpath is to be named "Judi's Walk" in recognition of Dame Judi's support of the project, Mr Jackson said. "She's been a huge help." He added: "If you get together and organise, you can do it - because we did!" Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Dame Judi Dench supports nature reserve purchase Plans for floating wildlife habitat approved Landscape that inspired Dickens made nature reserve Upper Ouse Conservation Trust
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Paedophile flew drone over school to ‘watch' children
A convicted paedophile has pleaded guilty to flying a drone over a primary school. Jeremy Bird, 47, has been accused of using the lightweight aircraft to 'watch' the young children. A court heard that on one occasion, Bird caused one pupil to 'run and cry' as he used the device to follow them. Bird accepted a charge of recklessly or negligently causing or permitting an aircraft to endanger a person or property at Salisbury Magistrates' Court. But, he said that he 'didn't have any control over it' and is only pleading guilty because he did not have the 'appropriate qualification' to fly the aircraft. Elizabeth Valera told magistrates that the charge relates to the use of a drone over Pembroke Park Primary School in Salisbury. She said: 'The Crown say he's flying them over primary school children to watch the children. 'He accepts he's flying them [but said in interviews] that he didn't have control over it. 'There's one video where a child is actually followed, and they're running and crying while he follows them with a drone.' Valera told the panel that he had previously tried to engage primary school children in conversations outside of the school. Paul Jones, defending, said: 'The charge is recklessly flying that drone – that does not relate to the question of taking images of children. 'He accepts recklessly flying the equipment because he does not have the appropriate qualification to do so.' At a hearing in Winchester Crown Court, Bird also pleaded guilty to two charges of making indecent photographs. These included Category A images, which are the most serious kind. Prosecutor Kellie Enever reminded the judge that Bird 'does have previous relevant convictions, albeit back in 2011'. Bird will be sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on July 18. He was granted bail until then on the condition that he does not have any unsupervised contact with any children under the age of 18 and that he does not enter any school grounds. Bird was handed a community order in 2011 after he was caught with indecent images. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Why Perth locals are covering this fence in dirty socks
A quirky sock-covered fence has become the latest symbol of community frustration in North Perth, as locals ramp up their protest against the controversial 24/7 service station proposed for Angove Street. Dozens of dirty socks cover the fence of the unused site at 41-43 Angove Street, a peaceful but meaningful protest aimed at the proposed development of a 24-hour petrol station by South Australian-based company On the Run. City of Vincent mayor Alison Xamon said that the protest is a non-violent direct action by community members in protest of an inappropriate proposal. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'The community is fed up and frustrated that their legitimate concerns are not being heeded, and this is a creative way to get their message across. It is obviously getting to the proponents, which is why they keep sending people out to take the socks down,' she said. The proposed location is within 50m of North Perth Primary School. Credit: Supplied Ms Xamon described the street as a 'well-loved and popular pedestrian-friendly hub' with an abundance of shops, cafes and restaurants. 'It is not a suitable location for a 24/7 service station,' she said. Sally Baker, North Perth resident and member of the local campaign Stop The Station, said the fight had been going on for two years. 'We just want the community to know we're still fighting, so we did the dirty socks to raise awareness that it's ongoing and we're not stopping,' she said. 'OTR want it to be like Bunnings — completely take over. Their main thing is 24/7 service with a convenience store that actually makes more money than the petrol.' She also shared health concerns residents have due to the proximity to North Perth Primary School and many homes. 'There's proven research that benzene is in the air around petrol stations and we're all going to suffer,' Ms Baker said. 'The EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) recommends 100m from sensitive land uses, but this is just 50m from the primary school. Local campaigners outside the site on Angove Street. Credit: Facebook / Stop the Station 'My apartment block butts up against the site, like 5m. The risk of cancer, especially leukaemia in children, doubles when living close to service stations. That's a fact.' The group has organised a petition, protests and letter drops to raise awareness and now waits anxiously for an outcome from the State Administrative Tribunal. The petition currently has more than 1060 signatures. Ms Baker said that a community development, such a cafe with apartments, would be a more suitable option for the area. 'Even something like Chinta would be great,' she said. OTR purchased the site for $3.25 million in 2021. In May 2023 a development application submitted to the Metro-Inner City Joint Development Assessment Panel was rejected and then appealed by the applicant. Dozens of dirty socks cover the fence of the unused site at 41-43 Angove Street, Credit: Supplied 'Our Local Planning Scheme No. 2 also prohibits new service stations from being built in residential, mixed-use and centre zones, including the North Perth town centre,' Ms Xamon said. At the time Ms Xamon said there were already 24/7 petrol stations in the area so there was 'no need for another one in the heart of Angove Street'. 'This has been a controversial issue for a number of years now and we have made it clear that we do not want a service station operating on the vacant site,' she said at the time. Ms Xamon said that the city would 'continue to defend council's decision and represent the community's concerns on a proposed service station operating in the heart of the town centre at future SAT meetings'. PerthNow reached out to OTR but did not receive a response. A mediation meeting between OTR and the DAP is scheduled on June 27 and a preliminary hearing on July 22 and 23.
SBS Australia
16-05-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
NITV News: May 16, 2025
Criticism of the Northern Territory's budget, which goes big on prison spending at the expense of housing. The Primary school kids learning about Indigenous language and culture through dance
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Parents in limbo over future of Queensway Primary School in Yeadon
Parents and staff at a primary school which was under threat of closure say they have been left in limbo over its long-term Primary School in Yeadon, Leeds, was due to shut at the end of the school year due to financial pressures and the low number of five-year-olds in the those plans being put on hold by Leeds City Council last month, the authority said a further report on options for the school's future was being drawn parent Lyndsey Cope said she had been "sick with worry" over the school's fate and the council needed to "act fast". The Labour-led council had agreed in March to press ahead with permanently shutting the the plans were put on hold after parents launched a legal challenge based on on "significant flaws in the consultation process". However, since the decision was reversed, parents said there had been no indication on when the matter would be finally resolved. Sibel, whose child attends Queensway, said the whole process had been "emotionally draining"."The council have no idea how much damage they've done to my whole family."The time I've wasted worrying about my son's future... and the impact it's had on his older brother who has also been worrying about his little brother."She added: "The council needs to do the right thing now and support our school." Rick, another parent of a six-year-old pupil, said: "Leeds Council now has the chance to make up for all their failings on this issue but must do immediately and sincerely and go on the record now to state they will not look to close Queensway ever again." Lisa Lavelle, learning support assistant in social, emotional and mental health provision at Queensway, said the effect it had had on children, staff and the whole community had been "unacceptable"."The lack of transparency and understanding from the council's assessment team is extremely worrying," she the council's latest executive board meeting, Councillor Alan Lamb, leader of the Conservative group, said the "pain and distress" caused to the school, staff, pupils and wider community was "enormous".He added: "We need to give absolute clarity and certainty to them as soon as possible."The authority's leader James Lewis said the council was sorry for the distress caused, adding: "I'll be very clear that we will learn from how we got here."He added: "We will bring a further paper forward soon proposing next steps and time will be taken to consider all possible options before coming back to the executive board." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
