Latest news with #ShaneONeill
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
We're being forced to rip down our entire holiday park after splashing our life savings… but we have one last hope
A COUPLE have been ordered to tear down the holiday park they invested their life savings into - but they have one final hope. Bonnie Fisher, 53, and Shane O'Neill had previously dreamed of an idyllic retirement complete with their own glamping site. 6 6 6 6 The couple spent their life savings on the project four years ago. They both sold their homes, as well as a jointly-owned cottage they had renovated, to buy the farmhouse and campsite in the country in Llangain, near Carmarthen, Wales. The site has certification by the Caravan and Motorhome Club for five caravans, motorhomes or trailer tents. It later expanded to include three glamping pods before the couple bought the site - and currently has 29 pitches. Parts of the site needed significant work, as the pair replaced a toilet and shower block, in addition to constructing a new reception building. This cost thousands on top of the initial purchasing cost. However, the council has now ordered the couple to tear down the buildings, as well as the glamping pods. It claimed that the site "was largely unauthorised". The couple, who live in the farmhouse, could be forced to close Church House Farm Getaways as a result. Bonnie, a nurse who runs a private aesthetics clinic, said: "This is our retirement project. We sold my house, we sold Shane's house, and we sold a jointly-owned cottage which we'd renovated to buy this place. Shocking moment mob beats up Brit tourist after he 'ploughs into woman while pulling wheelie on motorbike' in Thailand "We've got no plans to enlarge it. Visitors always get a good welcome. We like to see people come and enjoy themselves." Carmarthenshire Council previously refused a planning application in 2006 for 30 touring pitches and a toilet and shower block due to highway safety. It had previously granted temporary permission for a portable toilet block for two years in 2004. Bonnie and Shane said they were unaware the new shower block and reception building required planning permission. They then applied retrospectively, but this was denied by the council who said that the site was largely unauthorised. A further application for a certificate of lawfulness for the three glamping pods was also refused. In March of this year, an enforcement notice ordered the couple to remove the glamping pods, toilet and shower block, and reception building. They were also ordered to stop using the land as a caravan and campsite. An exemption was made for the area that had been certified by the Caravan and Motorhome Club. While the couple did acknowledge to the Planning and Environment Decisions Wales that a planning breach had occurred, they argued that the site expansion could be lawful because it had been there so long. Their agents urged the planning inspector to extend the three-month deadline so that they could draw up a certificate of lawfulness application or other planning applications to the council. But the inspector turned the appeal down saying that extending it to 12 months "would considerably prolong the identified public harm". In the hopes of keeping their beloved site, their planning agents are submitting a certificate of lawfulness application to the council arguing that it is in keeping with its historic wider use. This could help ensure that the toilet and shower block, reception building and glamping pods remain. Bonnie said: "We would appeal it. If that decision was upheld we would have to close it (the site) down." The site has won awards in recent years while some neighbours have backed the couple to say the site was well run, an asset to Carmarthenshire, and that steps were taken to ensure a free flow of traffic when caravans arrived. Bonnie said a council tourism officer visited the site and estimated it was worth £2.6 million in visitor spend to the wider economy. A council spokeswoman said: "As the local planning authority, Carmarthenshire Council does not condone unauthorised development and will use its full range of powers to seek to regularise development in the public interest." 6 6
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dundee University ‘fell well short', says interim boss in response to report
Previous management at the University of Dundee 'fell well short' of the standards expected of them, the interim boss has said in his response to a damning report. Former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies was asked to look into the culture, leadership and financial management at Dundee earlier this year after a £35 million black hole was discovered, leading the institution to consider cutting hundreds of jobs. The report found former principal Professor Iain Gillespie, who has since resigned, ex-interim principal Professor Shane O'Neill, and previous chief operating officer Jim McGeorge had acted as a 'triumvirate', making decisions amongst themselves, and it also questioned the quality of information about the university's finances given to other senior officials. In publishing the university's response to the report on Wednesday, interim principal Professor Nigel Seaton said: 'It was evident from the Gillies report that there had been clear failings in financial monitoring, leadership, and governance at the university. 'The entire UK higher education sector has been forced to deal with significant external factors in recent years but our university's response to these, and its management of finances, fell well short of the standards that everyone should have expected.' Dr Ian Mair, the acting chairman of the university court, said: 'The actions we propose to take in the short, medium and long term are designed to ensure the university has a sustainable future built upon strong governance, financial competence, transparency, and accountability. 'Our response provides detailed assurances to our stakeholders that the immediate, robust, and impactful action required to implement significant operational and cultural change is under way.' The response looked at the financial dealings of the university, its culture and governance, laying out short, medium and long-term actions to ensure its improvement. The appointment of a permanent principal, chief financial officer and chief operating officer could take up to 18 months, according to the response, which puts the hiring of the three roles in the 'longer term (12-18 months)' category. The replacement principal, the response said, must have 'experience of transformation and change and with a people-focused leadership style'. Prof Gillespie was criticised in the Gillies report for not consulting with staff, as well accusing him of 'hubris' in his leadership and being unable to take criticism. In the next six months, it is hoped a new chairman of the university court can be found, along with regular members of the body, including those with 'financial skills and experience'. The university said it will cancel or defer all 'non-essential capital projects' and use financial modelling to devise rolling five-year budget forecasts for key areas to get back on its feet financially. The response also pledged to listen more to staff and students, with a number of events already being planned to do so.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Dundee University ‘fell well short', says interim boss in response to report
Previous management at the University of Dundee 'fell well short' of the standards expected of them, the interim boss has said in his response to a damning report. Former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies was asked to look into the culture, leadership and financial management at Dundee earlier this year after a £35 million black hole was discovered, leading the institution to consider cutting hundreds of jobs. The report found former principal Professor Iain Gillespie, who has since resigned, ex-interim principal Professor Shane O'Neill, and previous chief operating officer Jim McGeorge had acted as a 'triumvirate', making decisions amongst themselves, and it also questioned the quality of information about the university's finances given to other senior officials. In publishing the university's response to the report on Wednesday, interim principal Professor Nigel Seaton said: 'It was evident from the Gillies report that there had been clear failings in financial monitoring, leadership, and governance at the university. 'The entire UK higher education sector has been forced to deal with significant external factors in recent years but our university's response to these, and its management of finances, fell well short of the standards that everyone should have expected.' Dr Ian Mair, the acting chairman of the university court, said: 'The actions we propose to take in the short, medium and long term are designed to ensure the university has a sustainable future built upon strong governance, financial competence, transparency, and accountability. 'Our response provides detailed assurances to our stakeholders that the immediate, robust, and impactful action required to implement significant operational and cultural change is under way.' The response looked at the financial dealings of the university, its culture and governance, laying out short, medium and long-term actions to ensure its improvement. The appointment of a permanent principal, chief financial officer and chief operating officer could take up to 18 months, according to the response, which puts the hiring of the three roles in the 'longer term (12-18 months)' category. The replacement principal, the response said, must have 'experience of transformation and change and with a people-focused leadership style'. Prof Gillespie was criticised in the Gillies report for not consulting with staff, as well accusing him of 'hubris' in his leadership and being unable to take criticism. In the next six months, it is hoped a new chairman of the university court can be found, along with regular members of the body, including those with 'financial skills and experience'. The university said it will cancel or defer all 'non-essential capital projects' and use financial modelling to devise rolling five-year budget forecasts for key areas to get back on its feet financially. The response also pledged to listen more to staff and students, with a number of events already being planned to do so.
Washington Post
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Sydney Sweeney's jeans and an American (Eagle) controversy
Last week, clothing brand American Eagle released a series of short clips and images featuring 'Euphoria' and 'White Lotus' star Sydney Sweeney. They're part of a new jeans marketing campaign – where proceeds from the sale of 'The Sydney Jeans' are donated to a domestic abuse crisis hotline. But the provocative nature of the campaign and the messaging of the ads have come under scrutiny. Some critics call Sweeney's collaboration with clothing retailer American Eagle an anti-feminist, pro-eugenics campaign, while others celebrate a seeming shift from DEI-focused marketing. Colby Itkowitz speaks with The Washington Post's fashion critic, Rachel Tashjian, and Style Memo newsletter writer Shane O'Neill about the controversy, the long history of selling fashion through provocative imagery, and why we can't stop talking about Sydney Sweeney's jeans. Today's show was produced by Thomas Lu. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
Washington Post
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
How to find your personal style
If you look at social media these days, there's any number of fashion influencers and brands telling you what clothes to buy and how to wear them. In this episode of 'Try This,' host Cristina Quinn gets real with The Washington Post's fashion critic, Rachel Tashjian, and Style Memo newsletter writer Shane O'Neill about moving beyond trends and finding the outfits that match your identity – inside and out. You'll sashay away with tips on how to think about your clothes, how to experiment with different styles, and a new mindset on wearing what makes you feel good. Subscribe to The Washington Post or connect your subscription in Apple Podcasts.
