A scheme offering £500 to community groups wishing to put on events to celebrate The OVO Energy Women's Tour has been extended.

Coastguards find "nothing untoward" following a second cliff fall at Seaford.

The long-running dispute centres on union concerns about staffing and driver-only-operated trains.

On 21 June 2017 at Truro Magistrates Court, Cornwall Council successfully prosecuted landlady Julie Stoddern of Elunda, 1 North Roskear Village, Camborne.

Julie Stoddern pleaded guilty to the offence of failure to comply with a Prohibition Order served by Cornwall Council under section 20 of the Housing Act 2004.   Ms Stoddern was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £500 to Cornwall Council with a victim surcharge of £50.

The Court heard from the prosecution that the Council had concerns that the overcrowded property is known to have a negative effect on the wider community, as well as placing the health, safety and welfare of the occupiers at risk of harm.

Cornwall Council served a Prohibition Order on Julie Stoddern on the 03 April 2012.  The Prohibition Order was served because the premises were found to be overcrowded.  The Order had the effect of requiring Julie Stoddern to not permit more than a maximum of 5 persons in total to occupy the property ‘Elunda’. 

On the 04 February 2013 Julie Stoddern was convicted following a guilty plea at Truro Magistrates Court for two offences of a similar nature under the Housing Act 2004.

In February 2017, officers from the Councils Private Sector Housing Team, with assistance from Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornwall Housing Ltd, discovered that the terms of the Prohibition Order had been breached and the property had become overcrowded once more.  The evidence obtained indicated that on the 01 February 2017, at least 9 people were occupying Elunda (8 tenants and Julie Stoddern).  Council officers invited Ms Stoddern to be interviewed about the suspected offence, but the interview was declined.

Cornwall Council cabinet member for homes Andrew Mitchell said: “Cornwall Council has recently been handed more powers to take action against landlords who place the health and safety of tenants at risk. The Council aims to use these new powers, which include Banning Orders, to full effect.”

Landlords or property agents who wish to know more about their legal obligations are encouraged to contact the private sector housing team to find out more about the Council’s ‘Responsible Landlords Scheme’.  Email rlsc@cornwall.gov.uk or contact the Cornwall Responsible Landlord Scheme Lead Officer on 01872 224543 for more information.

 

Story posted 22 June 2017 

Pakistan seamer Mohammad Amir says he wanted to play county cricket to help him become a more complete bowler.

Roy Grenfell of Close Hill, Redruth pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates Court on 21 June 2017 to the supply of illegal tobacco products in the Pool area of Cornwall.

Grenfell, 67, had at the time of the offence been working in a burger van situated in Camborne Retail Park, Pool where, as a side line to selling burgers, he was also supplying illegal tobacco. 

Cornwall Council Trading Standards Officers received information about Grenfell’s illegal business and undertook a test purchase which led to further investigation.  When Grenfell’s home was searched, a total of 298 pouches of hand rolling tobacco and a substantial amount of cash was recovered.

Grenfell pleaded guilty to a total of 6 charges and was ordered to pay fines, a victim surcharge and a forfeiture order totalling £27,209.49

Cornwall Council Cabinet member for Environment and Public Protection Sue James said: “The low prices that illegal tobacco is sold for and the lack of any age checks being carried out by the sellers makes it easier for children to smoke. Illegal tobacco jeopardises our health and the health of the economy and it is really important that our Trading Standards officers continue to bring cases such as these before the courts”

Gareth Walsh, Public Health Practitioner for Cornwall Council and Tobacco Control lead said:  "The illegal tobacco work of Trading Standards is not only important in tackling crime but is also an important part of tobacco control in the county. Nearly 1 in 3 people (32%) from a Routine & Manual background still smoke in Cornwall, and smoking is still the single biggest preventable cause of death in the UK with 1,000 people dying because of smoking.  Illegal tobacco is sold at prices much cheaper than the duty-paid price of legally sold tobacco. Not only does this lessen the cost-motivation of smokers to quit, but also is often sold at 'pocket money prices' and is a cheap source for children and young people to smoke."

Elizabeth Kirk, Cornwall Council Senior Trading Standards Officer said “We are very pleased with the results of our case against Mr Grenfell.  We believe it sends a clear message to those who trade in illegal tobacco products that this criminal activity, which undermines legitimate businesses and the attempts of many people to quit smoking, will not be tolerated.  I would urge anyone with information concerning the sale of cheap tobacco to report it. This can be done anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

 

Story posted 22 June 2017 

Nigel Stevens was reversing across a road in the dark when David Mitchell crashed into his trailer.

Unfortunately one of the access points to the beach to the South of Fistral Beach, Newquay has been temporarily closed by Cornwall Council. The path, that leads from the dunes to the beach has suffered erosion to the top section of the path and has been closed on the grounds of public safety.

Cornwall Council will be looking at potential schemes to repair the route once the busy summer period has finished. An alternative access to the beach is available adjacent to the café to the South of Fistral Beach.

Posted 22 June 2017

Residents of the China Clay area are being invited to find out about local matters at the China Clay Community Network Panel meeting on Monday 3 July. As this is the Annual General Meeting, the Panel will be asked to agree and approve the draft local priorities for the China Clay area for the next 12 months as well elect a Chair.

The draft local priorities include continuing to develop an economic strategy for China Clay and maximising grant funding opportunities from both public and private sector sources. Other priorities are around looking to provide both infrastructure and transport improvements, and working with partners to reduce the lorry movements in built up residential areas.

The Environmental Protection Officer from Cornwall Council, Eloise Travis will be presenting the panel with a review of general levels of dust from mineral industries within the China Clay area between 2007 and 2017. This review is part of the Clay Area Dust Review Project.

Also on the agenda are a number of updates. At the meeting there will be a discussion relating to the Cornwall Council Electoral Review and Parish Councils will be invited to give an update on Neighbourhood Planning from their parishes. The latest information on economic development proposals relating to the China Clay area being led by the St Austell Bay Economic Forum (SABEF) will be given. The panel will also be brought up to date on the potential St Austell to A30 transport link and given an update about the Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre (CERC) and the community grants relating to the CERC. 

This meeting is a good opportunity for local people to come along and meet their local Parish and Cornwall Councillors. Everyone is welcome and there is some time is allocated for people to ask questions.

The China Clay Community network panel meets every two months to discuss matters that affect the local area and to agree priorities that can be delivered by Cornwall Council and its partners such as the police and health services. In recent meetings the Panel has focused on the delivery of Cornwall Council services in the China Clay area such as housing, planning, transport and highway issues, developing the local economy, the environment, conservation and community safety.

The China Clay Community Network Panel includes all six Cornwall Councillors for the area, representatives of the five Parish Councils (Roche, St Dennis, St Enoder, St Stephen-in-Brannel and Treverbyn) in the community network area.

This meeting is on Monday 3 July 2017 from 7pm to 9pm at Treviscoe Institute and Community Centre, Central Treviscoe, St Austell, PL26 7QW. The agenda and more information about the panel can be found on the China Clay Community Network webpage.

Posted 22 June 2017

We missed a number of bin collections in Farnborough today (Thursday) because one of our lorries broke down. We missed a number of bin collections in Farnborough today (Thursday) because one of our lorries broke down.

A guided bus crashed after leaving the tracks, leaving one man injured.

Dan Jones joins National League side Barrow following his release by Grimsby Town at the end of the 2016-17 season.

South African spinner Simon Harmer takes 8-36 for a match haul of 14 wickets as Essex beat Warwickshire by an innings.

                                                                                      No 16 - June 2017 Wroxham Road closure to avoid Half TermThe October closure of the A1151 Wroxham Road will not take place over the school Half Term.

Consultation with leisure-based and other businesses in and around Wroxham and Hoveton showed overwhelming opposition to any disruption to the important autumn holiday trade. Instead, the nine-day closure will be from Saturday 7 October to Sunday 15 October (inclusive).

According to Broads Tourism, the October Half Term is one of the peak weeks of the season, a view underlined by BeWILDerwood, who expect 20,000 visitors, and nearly 7,000 cars, over the October holiday.

The closure is needed to construct a culvert under the A1151 close to the roundabout junction with the NDR. The roundabout will be surfaced and tied-in during the same closure, so overnight closures in September will not be needed. Keeping the closure down to nine days is only possible by working extended hours and Sundays, so the next step is to obtain approval to work beyond the normal NDR working hours (7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday).

Cromer Road junction taking shape

Thanks to Mike Page for another bird's eye view of the NDR. This picture, taken on Wednesday 21st June, shows progress on the A140 Cromer Road junction, with the new roundabout and slip roads north of the bridge taking shape. The existing Holt Road roundabout, on the left, will be adapted to provide the slip road connections serving the NDR's westbound carriageway.

Extended Saturday working hours

Permission has been given to extend Saturday working hours on the NDR so that work can continue until 7pm  rather than stopping at 1pm. In practice, it was rarely worth mobilising to work only on Saturday mornings.

A condition of the approval is that during the extra hours, no particularly noisy activities, such as piling or breaking out with pneumatic tools, can take place within 300m of people's homes.

The first use of later Saturday working will be this coming weekend, where work on the Reepham Roada nd Fir Covert Road roundabouts will require temporary lights. Work may also extend into the afternoon on the main Drayton Lane/NDR roundabout, on a track being constructed on the north side of the North Walsham Road to Wroxham Road stretch, and on the main carriageway between the A1067 Fakenham Road and Fir Covert Road.

Broadland Way overnight closures

At Broadland Business Park the construction of a new foot and cycle path and Toucan crossing on Broadland Way is nearing completion.

One of the final tasks is surfacing, and this will be carried out under overnight closures of Broadland Way next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights (26-28 June) from 8pm to 6am the following morning. The work includes surfacing the Peachman Way roundabout, where temporary signals will be used to allow traffic to access Peachman Way and the new Postwick Hub access road, which will provide the diversion route.

Once the surfacing has finished, detector loops will be cut into the road to serve the new Toucan crossing, and white lining will be added.

Special arrangements have been made to access Heath Farm properties from the Postwick direction.

1,700 tonnes of asphalt a day!

Up to 1,700 tonnes of asphalt a day is being laid by Tarmac as the base layers of the NDR dual carriageway extend along the route.

After working along both carriageways between the A1067 Fakenham Road and the A140 junction construction site, the double-width paver - which lays two lanes without a joint - has now been moved to the stretch between Wroxham Road and North Walsham Road.

Before the asphalt base layers can be laid the sub-soil layers have to be stabilised with cement, and this process has moved on to the stretches between Plumstead Road and Postwick. This process is much slower than the asphalt paving.

Lorry movements on public roads

Huge amounts of soil and sub-soil have been moved during construction of the NDR, and this has been kept off public roads by using a haul route along the NDR. 

Unfortunately, we have had to start moving material from the Spixworth area to the Plumstead area by road.  It is needed to bring forward the completion of the embankments serving the Middle Road bridge so that the road can be reopened.  Some material has been won nearby, but more needs to come from west of the Norwich to Sheringham railway - and the bridge under construction at Rackheath will not be able to take construction traffic for some time.

The lorries are only running until 4pm each day and drivers have been asked to avoid White Woman Lane when children are going home from school. 

....................................................

~ Construction of the bridge over the railway took a big step forward this week with the pouring of the concrete on the steel-reinforced bridge deck. Mike Page's aerial picture (left) shows the new concrete protected as it hardens and gains strength.

Stay up to date with NDR developments

The NDR Facebook page is a good way of getting up to the minute information on the project, as well as providing a lively discussion forum. 

~ Follow NDR progress on Facebook and Twitter @NorwichNDR.
~ Visit our web pages at www.norfolk.gov.uk/ndr .
~ Email Norwich.transport@norfolk.gov.uk, or call 0344 800 8020.

Anyone with an email address can sign up to receive the 'NDR Extra' and 'Transport Matters' newsletters - simply email Norwich.transport@norfolk.gov.uk..

Former bishop Peter Ball was jailed for sex offences against 18 teenagers and young men.

Former bishop Peter Ball was jailed for sex offences against 18 teenagers and young men.

Cornwall Trading Standards is advising visitors who went to this year’s Royal Cornwall Show not to use a small batch of in-car USB chargers which were handed out. 

The 6cm white branded chargers fit into car cigarette lighters and were freely given out in a goodie bag at the show by Sekoya Specialist Employment Services on Thursday and Friday.

The in-car USB chargers were supplied by local St Austell firm Gloweasy Promotions. They are accurately CE marked with clear amperes and voltage instructions.

Problems have been reported with some of the chargers which may be due to combination of the wet weather conditions at the show and the charger having 2 USB ports. As a result Trading Standards officers are advising people not to use them. “As a precaution we would urge anyone who was given a charger to stop using it immediately” said Andy Burnside from Cornwall Trading Standards. 

“Electrical chargers are convenient if used in vehicles to charge products like sat navs, mobile phones, lap tops, tablets, cameras and phones. You should always check the rating output voltage and amperes ratings are the same on both the charger and the electrical device to prevent exploding or igniting from user error”.

When plugging in and unplugging chargers from a socket always disconnect your appliance and check that when you plug any charger into a wall, USB or lighter socket it fits easily. If it does not fit properly it can cause overheating, arcing and mechanical damage to both the socket and the charger.

“Suppliers and retailers have a legal duty to ensure that all charging devices they sell are safe” said Andy Burnside. 

“Cornwall Trading Standards test purchase and carry out product safety testing on chargers from across the county to help protect consumers. Chargers from the internet, markets or temporary shops may not follow safety regulations.”

 

Story posted 16 June 2017

Highcliffes Got Talent

Highcliffe Castle aims to showcase local talent by playing host to the first ever Highcliffe’s Got Talent event, to be held on Sunday 6 August. Does your pet parrot sing the Eastenders theme tune? Are you known as the office joker and you want to test your comedy skills with a bigger audience, or do you have a fantastic singing voice? If so, we would love you to get in touch.

The best entries will have the chance to perform live, for a maximum of five minutes, in front of up to 2000 people within the grounds of the castle.

Jack Hartwell

Jack Hartwell, Functions & Events Coordinator at Highcliffe Castle said “We know the talent is out there. Highcliffe’s Got Talent will be the perfect opportunity for local entertainers to showcase their routines in the beautiful setting of Highcliffe Castle.”

 

How to enter

If you would like to take part in this exciting event, and you are over the age of 12, please contact Jack Hartwell. There is an application form to complete and you may be asked to submit a short video.

The closing date for entries is Sunday 16 July

Jack at Highcliffe Castle can’t wait to hear from you!

Highcliffe Castle

The post Highcliffe’s Got Talent! appeared first on Dorset news.

The government said it would not publish the Southern rail report before the election

The list of 49 buildings range from private homes to large buildings for public institutions.