Latest news with #Unsung
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lib Dem council's LTNs are against the law, say campaigners
A Liberal Democrat council's low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) may be against the law, campaigners have said. Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) council has been warned that it faces legal action if it presses on with an 'experimental' LTN in Bath's Sydney Place area. Councillors have pledged to make the scheme permanent, claiming it provides environmental and safety benefits. But after the High Court struck down a similar scheme in Lambeth earlier this month, Bath residents are now threatening legal action against the local authority. It comes after Nigel Farage's Reform UK party pledged to axe LTNs in all of the councils it controls and to block new ones. An LTN is where streets are blocked off to traffic. Advocates of such schemes say they improve air quality and make road safer for pedestrians. The schemes can be hugely unpopular because they often drive up traffic congestion on neighbouring roads. Locals next to an LTN elsewhere in Bath measured a 700 per cent increase in traffic passing a nearby primary school. The United Sydney Unliveable Neighbourhoods Group (Unsung) has instructed a lawyer to write to the council, asking it to withdraw the LTN because it failed to listen to local objections. First installed under a so-called 'experimental traffic restriction order', the Sydney Place LTN was originally meant to be temporary while council officials assessed if it was worth keeping. A failure by Lambeth Council, in the London borough's West Dulwich area, to listen to residents' concerns led to an LTN being declared unlawful by a High Court judge earlier this month. Lambeth officials may now have to rip out the obstructions blocking roads that have been subjected to the LTN – something that Bath campaigners now hope they can force their council to do. Neil McCabe, a spokesman for Unsung, said: 'B&NES has a track record of ignoring residents' groups' concerns when it implements ill-thought-out LTNs. 'The West Dulwich court case has now established that doing so is illegal. B&NES now needs to reverse any LTN with less than 50 per cent support from all affected residents, not just the few benefitting from the LTN.' Unsung's letter, seen by The Telegraph, alleges that the western England council's actions 'are exactly paralleled' by how the London council behaved towards residents. People living near the LTN expressed mistrust in 'the council's skewed consultation process' and separately petitioned the local authority to abandon the scheme. A total of 779 locals are said to have objected to the Sydney Place LTN, with the letter adding: 'Of note is that a greater number of residents took the time to sign the formal objections than voted for the LTN in the official consultation.' Last year, Manda Rigby, the council's cabinet member for transport, vowed to install further LTNs with no further say for local residents. She said in a YouTube video last year: 'We are very aware that there are strong feelings both for and against the experimental traffic regulation order and we have really carefully considered whether or not to reconsult, before relaying the new experimental traffic regulation order. 'We've decided against this, because over the last 18 months, we have designed, in consultation with our communities, four schemes that are all going to go to trial, so we can monitor what impact they have before we actually decide whether or not to make them permanent.' Her vow could now bring the council into conflict with the High Court. Ruling against Labour-controlled Lambeth council earlier in May, Mr Justice Smith said the authority was guilty of a 'serious failing' after it ignored an 'impressive' report that warned street closures in south London could lead to increased congestion and pollution. He also found the local authority had given a 'masterclass in selective partial reporting' after a council document failed to record how a public consultation about the West Dulwich LTN engendered tremendous 'hostility' from local people. A spokesman for Bath and North East Somerset council said: 'We have received correspondence and are considering it but will make no further comment at this stage.' 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.
Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Lib Dem council's LTNs are against the law, say campaigners
A Liberal Democrat council's low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) may be against the law, campaigners have said. Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) council has been warned that it faces legal action if it presses on with an 'experimental' LTN in Bath's Sydney Place area. Councillors have pledged to make the scheme permanent, claiming it provides environmental and safety benefits. But after the High Court struck down a similar scheme in Lambeth earlier this month, Bath residents are now threatening legal action against the local authority. It comes after Nigel Farage's Reform UK party pledged to axe LTNs in all of the councils it controls and to block new ones. An LTN is where streets are blocked off to traffic. Advocates of such schemes say they improve air quality and make road safer for pedestrians. The schemes can be hugely unpopular because they often drive up traffic congestion on neighbouring roads. Locals next to an LTN elsewhere in Bath measured a 700 per cent increase in traffic passing a nearby primary school. The United Sydney Unliveable Neighbourhoods Group (Unsung) has instructed a lawyer to write to the council, asking it to withdraw the LTN because it failed to listen to local objections. First installed under a so-called 'experimental traffic restriction order', the Sydney Place LTN was originally meant to be temporary while council officials assessed if it was worth keeping. A failure by Lambeth Council, in the London borough's West Dulwich area, to listen to residents' concerns led to an LTN being declared unlawful by a High Court judge earlier this month. Lambeth officials may now have to rip out the obstructions blocking roads that have been subjected to the LTN – something that Bath campaigners now hope they can force their council to do. Neil McCabe, a spokesman for Unsung, said: 'B&NES has a track record of ignoring residents' groups' concerns when it implements ill-thought-out LTNs. 'The West Dulwich court case has now established that doing so is illegal. B&NES now needs to reverse any LTN with less than 50 per cent support from all affected residents, not just the few benefitting from the LTN.' Unsung's letter, seen by The Telegraph, alleges that the western England council's actions 'are exactly paralleled' by how the London council behaved towards residents. 'Skewed consultation process' People living near the LTN expressed mistrust in 'the council's skewed consultation process' and separately petitioned the local authority to abandon the scheme. A total of 779 locals are said to have objected to the Sydney Place LTN, with the letter adding: 'Of note is that a greater number of residents took the time to sign the formal objections than voted for the LTN in the official consultation.' Last year, Manda Rigby, the council's cabinet member for transport, vowed to install further LTNs with no further say for local residents. She said in a YouTube video last year: 'We are very aware that there are strong feelings both for and against the experimental traffic regulation order and we have really carefully considered whether or not to reconsult, before relaying the new experimental traffic regulation order. 'We've decided against this, because over the last 18 months, we have designed, in consultation with our communities, four schemes that are all going to go to trial, so we can monitor what impact they have before we actually decide whether or not to make them permanent.' Her vow could now bring the council into conflict with the High Court. Ruling against Labour-controlled Lambeth council earlier in May, Mr Justice Smith said the authority was guilty of a 'serious failing' after it ignored an 'impressive' report that warned street closures in south London could lead to increased congestion and pollution. He also found the local authority had given a 'masterclass in selective partial reporting' after a council document failed to record how a public consultation about the West Dulwich LTN engendered tremendous 'hostility' from local people.
Press and Journal
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Elgin City's 82-year-old groundsman says the role helped him cope following the death of his wife
Elgin City groundsman Cecil Jack – the oldest in a professional club in Scotland at the age of 82 – has spoken about how the role helped him deal with the death of his wife. The Scottish Professional Football League are turning the spotlight on those behind the scenes at clubs throughout their leagues in a series of films called 'Unsung'. Cecil spends almost every day at the Black and Whites' Borough Briggs Stadium and believes the club's support has helped him recover from losing wife June, 59, to cancer in the mid-2000s. The grandad-of-one still travels across the country to every game and has been cheering on the side at matches for over six decades, including with late wife June, who used to work at the club's pie stall. His huge impact within Elgin is marked in the first edition of Unsung, celebrating the inspiring real life stories of characters from across the Scottish game, which will run in the coming months. 'I'd be bored sitting at home watching daytime TV without Elgin City' Cecil, who lives in the town's New Elgin, said: 'Elgin City's been a huge part of my life. I spend more time here than I do at home. 'I said I'd help out as groundsman for a few weeks around two decades ago and I've been there ever since. The pitch looks as good as it has in my whole time here, which I'm really proud of. 'Football gives me a lot of fun, even at this age. I'd be bored sitting at home watching daytime TV without Elgin City, so it keeps me going. 'The club really helped me during my mourning process of losing my wife June and being involved in the club has helped me immensely in recent years.' Late wife June persuaded Cecil to join the club board Cecil first became connected to Elgin City aged 15, selling club raffles and then running matchday coaches. He was persuaded to become a supporters' club committee member in 1986 and later served as vice president and president of the supporters' club. The retired carpet fitter travelled to games with June, who was also a member of the supporters' club, and she worked in the club's pie shop. Cecil's late wife June pictured with the late Elgin City Supporters' Club president Ronnie Eddie. Cecil was asked to join the club's board shortly after June was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and she persuaded him to take up the role in the months before her death in 2006. Shortly afterwards he took on the role of club groundsman. Been to more than 1,000 games The dad-of-one, whose son Arthur is a youth coach at Caley Thistle, estimates he's been to around 1,000 games during his time following the club. And Cecil speaks about the impact June had on his life, with their passion for football certainly shared. He added: 'June helped out in the pie shop after we got married and was a stalwart of our supporters' club. We had a really happy marriage and loved going to games together. 'June was unwell when I was asked to join the club board, and I wasn't sure if it was the right time, but she said I should do it as that's where I belonged. I went on the board with her blessing and it was the best thing for me. 'I've travelled home and away to every game since I joined the board 17 years ago. I'll have been a few years round the world following Elgin, and I do it because I love it.' 'He portrays himself as Mr Grumpy, but he's a great guy.' – Isla Benzie Elgin City vice chair Isla Benzie has known Cecil for life as he is best friends with her mum and dad Susie and Martin Graham and said he's a huge character at the club. She said: 'Cecil's whole life is Elgin City. He's at the club every day. 'He's a huge character. I've known him all my life. He portrays himself as Mr Grumpy, but he's a great guy. 'He's an encyclopedia on club history. Pretty much everyone in Elgin knows him. Isla Benzie, Elgin City vice chair. 'Joining the board has helped keep him young and keep going after June's death, which has been great.' Delight to have Cecil as first featured Calum Beattie, SPFL chief operating officer, said: 'There are so many unsung figures doing vital work at clubs right across the country in our men's and women's game, which is why we wanted to launch this new series. 'It's great to hear the huge impact Elgin City has had on Cecil's life, and how well appreciated he is by everybody at the club. 'We'd like to pass on our thanks to Cecil for the incredible contribution he's had to his club and Scottish football, and we look forward to telling more Unsung stories in the coming months.'
Scottish Sun
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
I'm Scotland's oldest groundsman aged 82, I only came in to help out for a few weeks but 20 years later I'm still here
There's still hope for his side to see glory this season STILL GAME I'm Scotland's oldest groundsman aged 82, I only came in to help out for a few weeks but 20 years later I'm still here SCOTLAND'S oldest groundsman has shared the touching story of his involvement with his club. Cecil Jack is 82 years of age and as part of the SPFL's Unsung series has told all on how working at Elgin City helped him through the loss of his wife. 4 Borough Briggs - the home of Elgin City Credit: PA:Press Association 4 Cecil Jack, 82, is Scotland's oldest groundsman Credit: SPFL 4 The club helped him through the loss of his wife June, pictured here with late Elgin Supporters' Club president Ronnie Eddie Credit: SPFL Cecil spends almost every day at Borough Briggs - the home stadium of the League Two side - preparing the pitch and generally being a handy helper. He's been cheering on the club for more than six decades and late wife June did too. She also used to work in the club's pie stall. The granddad-of-one still makes the long trips across the country to see every game, which has kept him busy in the nearly 20 years since June passed. She lost a battle with cancer aged 59 in 2006. Cecil first became connected to Elgin's football team when he was 15, selling raffles and running supporters coaches. He said: "Elgin City's been a huge part of my life. I spend more time here than I do at home. 'I said I'd help out as groundsman for a few weeks around two decades ago and I've been there ever since. The pitch looks as good as it has in my whole time here, which I'm really proud of. 'Football gives me a lot of fun, even at this age. I'd be bored sitting at home watching daytime TV without Elgin City, so it keeps me going. 'The club really helped me during my mourning process of losing my wife June and being involved in the club has helped me immensely in recent years.' Both he and his wife served on the supporters' club committee where Cecil later became vice-president and then president. During her bowel cancer fight June persuaded her husband to join the club board, which subsequently led to his involvement as groundskeeper. Elgin City supporter filmed dancing at Ibrox He said: 'June was unwell when I was asked to join the club board, and I wasn't sure if it was the right time, but she said I should do it as that's where I belonged. I went on the board with her blessing and it was the best thing for me. 'I've travelled home and away to every game since I joined the board 17 years ago. I'll have been a few years round the world following Elgin, and I do it because I love it.' The club's vice-chair Isla Benzie is a lifelong friend of the 82-year-old, she said of him: 'Cecil's whole life is Elgin City. He's at the club every day. 'He's a huge character. I've known him all my life. He portrays himself as Mr Grumpy but he's a great guy. 'He's an encyclopedia on club history. Pretty much everyone in Elgin knows him. 'Joining the board has helped keep him young and keep going after June's death, which has been great.' The northern club still have hopes of promotion to League One this season as they kick off their playoff campaign tonight against Annan Athletic. 4 Elgin beat league winners Peterhead 4-0 last month Credit: SNS Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
