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Man dies after crash near Stansted Airport

by Kimberly February 7, 2025
written by Kimberly

A man in his 60s has died after a crash near Stansted Airport, police said.

Officers were called at 02:30 BST on Sunday when it was reported a silver Renault Megane had left the road near to the Esso service station on Start Hill, Essex.

The road was closed while emergency services responded but reopened shortly before 08:00, Essex Police added.

The force appealed to anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.

February 7, 2025 0 comments
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Market

Madeleine McCann Portugal search continues

by Brooklyn February 1, 2025
written by Brooklyn

Searches for Madeleine McCann resumed on Thursday near to where the three-year-old disappeared from Praia da Luz, Portugal 18 years ago.

German and Portuguese investigators have until Friday to look for evidence relating to her disappearance but there has been no obvious sign of any major discovery so far.

Officers are scouring a 21 sq km (8.1 sq miles) site near where she went missing and where the German investigators' prime suspect, Christian Brückner, had been staying at the time.

The 48-year-old is serving a prison sentence in Germany for an unrelated rape case, however could be released as early as September.

February 1, 2025 0 comments
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Market

Mental health issues in 'brutal' building industry

by Heather January 30, 2025
written by Heather

Kent tradespeople say feelings of loneliness at work are impacting their mental health.

Two construction workers on average take their own lives each working day and mental health issues are around four times as prevalent in the industry than the general population, according to mental health charity Mates in Mind.

Matt, a carpenter from Medway, said tradespeople face multiple pressures including poor weather, tool theft and isolation.

He told BBC Radio Kent that construction was "unforgiving" and "brutal", and there were "clearly issues" within the industry.

Tony Steel, operations director at construction charity Band of Builders, said people in the industry "put our own stigma in place".

"People think that if you talk about mental health you are showing a weakness and it isn't a weakness at all," he added.

Mr Steel told BBC Radio Kent that mental ill-health is "no different to having a sprained ankle" and people can get help to recover.

The charity boss said construction was "an amazing, fantastic industry" that he encourages people to join, and his organisation was offering a "support network for people, should they need it".

Banter 'very important'

Isle of Sheppey bricklayer Tom Hutchinson, who typically works with his brother, said work was "definitely more boring" on jobs where he works alone.

He and his brother talk about mental health "more than most" but when working alone on smaller jobs or due to holidays "that's obviously not there".

"Banter and things like that are very important, and it is quite social," Mr Hutchinson added.

According to Mr Steel, solo tradespeople might have "no interaction" if working alone.

He said: "If they're starting to experience depression there's just no-one that can spot the signs."

Matt from Medway said feelings of isolation could extend to busy construction sites too due to financial pressures, tight schedules and a lack of the "camaraderie that there used to be".

The carpenter added: "If you work in an office or if there's time where things are a little bit more quiet, people have a cup of tea, have a conversation.

"On the site it's noisy. You're here, there and everywhere. There's not that period where people can actually sit and talk."

January 30, 2025 0 comments
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Market

Police chief warns of 400 job cuts due to funding

by Parker January 30, 2025
written by Parker

The chief constable of Lincolnshire Police has warned 400 staff and officer jobs could be cut if the force cannot secure extra funding by October.

It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the government's Spending Review, which includes a 2.3% real terms yearly funding increase for policing in England and Wales.

Chief Constable Paul Gibson said this was not enough for Lincolnshire and would leave the force facing a deficit of almost £70m. He said he had begun negotiations with the Home Office.

But Reeves told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme she did not "accept" the need for cuts to police jobs.

Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Paul Gibson was speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire presenter Frances Finn

Speaking during a hotseat with BBC Radio Lincolnshire presenter Frances Finn, Mr Gibson said the Home Office had recognised Lincolnshire as a "significant outlier" in terms of funding.

"If we don't get more money by October, then, unfortunately, I have to start consultation to reduce our organisation significantly," he said.

Mr Gibson said cuts to officer numbers could result in reductions to services that were "hugely important" to communities, including neighbourhood, roads and rural policing and crime prevention work.

He said: "I have to make sure that I balance the budget, and if I can't do that then I have to reduce resources, which obviously will be felt within the communities across our great county."

The chief constable said he had a meeting planned with Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson for early July, and he would be "pitching for more money".

"I'm as optimistic as I can be, but I can't guarantee money will come along," he said.

In April, Lincolnshire Police announced previous planned cuts to 400 jobs had been delayed due to a new £5.7m government funding package.

But speaking on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Mr Gibson said this was "one-off money" to provide "stability" for six months.

'Working hard'

A report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue, released in May, rated Lincolnshire Police inadequate at investigating crime, responding to the public and managing offenders and suspects.

Mr Gibson said he appreciated the findings of the report would be "concerning" for residents, but he said funding had a "massive impact" on the level of service the force could give.

He said: "It's [the report] not as good as I wanted it to be, that's absolutely clear, and there's no doubt that there are things we need to do better. I completely accept that.

"We're working incredibly hard in the background to make sure we are investigating crimes better, supervising criminal investigations better, meeting the requirements of victims better."

Chief Constable Paul Gibson took questions from listeners

Caller Chris Fairweather, from Old Leake, near Boston, told the chief constable she had not been visited by officers after reporting a garage break in at her home.

She said tools and equipment had been stolen, but she had received a letter from police a week later to say the case had been closed.

Mr Gibson said it was "just not possible" to visit the scene of every crime, and officers had to work out the likelihood of solving a crime.

He said: "Finance, whether we like it or not, has a major impact upon what you're able to do, in terms of the quality of service you can deliver."

Later in the discussion, Mr Gibson said: "I know that people are concerned about policing – they always want more, quite understandably.

"But I also need to make sure that I balance that with my staff, who are operating in difficult circumstances.

"They get assaulted quite frequently. I write to them, I speak to them, almost daily, in terms of someone who's been punched, kicked, spat at."

The Home Office has been approached for comment.

Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds latest episode of Look North here.

January 30, 2025 0 comments
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Market

Heart attack care trial pulled to review feedback

by Melissa January 28, 2025
written by Melissa

A proposal to trial changes to heart attack services in part of Devon has been withdrawn to allow time to consider feedback on the plan.

NHS Devon's Integrated Care Board (ICB) was due to discuss a "test and learn" process for out-of-hours services in Torbay and Exeter during a meeting on Thursday.

As part of the move, the trial could have seen patients driven to hospital in Exeter rather than Torbay to help cut costs and release resources to cut treatment backlogs.

However, following concerns raised locally, NHS Devon said it had decided to delay the proposal so comments can be reviewed before an updated plan is presented to the ICB in July.

'Deeply concerning'

A report which formed part of the trial from NHS Devon said it believed consolidating centres might "provide increased value with minimal and clinically acceptable impact on safety and quality".

However, the idea was criticised by Liberal Democrat MPs Steve Darling and Caroline Voaden who both raised the issue in the House of Commons.

Torbay MP Darling said the proposal put patients at risk of not receiving treatment fast enough while South Devon MP Voaden said it would put people in critical danger.

Former Torbay Conservative MP Kevin Foster also raised concerns with the trial, which he described as "deeply concerning".

January 28, 2025 0 comments
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Market

Public toilets closed after 'mindless' vandalism

by Lillian January 24, 2025
written by Lillian

Public toilets in a popular seaside town have been closed after they were vandalised.

The toilets at Jubilee North on the seafront at Lowestoft were targeted on Wednesday night.

East Suffolk Council described the damage as "significant" and added: "The repairs may take some time and the toilets will remain closed until these repairs are complete."

They described it as a "mindless attack" and said the incident had been reported to police.

East Suffolk Council
The damage was described as "significant"

A spokeswoman from the council added: "We are currently assessing the damage and determining whether any repairs can be made before the First Light Festival [21-22 June], however, this is dependent on the availability of replacement items."

East Suffolk Council
The council has asked for any witnesses to get in touch
January 24, 2025 0 comments
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Market

Pet owners urged to be aware of travel checks

by Ella January 20, 2025
written by Ella

People planning to take their pets to Northern Ireland are being urged to be aware of new rules set to come into effect.

From 4 June, routine checks on animal health certificates (AHC), which are issued by vets for each journey, will be carried out at ports in Belfast and Larne.

The Isle of Man government said the changes were part of the implementation of the Brexit deal, which sets trading rules between the UK and the country.

Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture Clare Barber urged pet owners to "plan ahead to avoid disruption or distress" as the shift represented a "significant change for pet owners" .

"Please speak to your vet in good time, and check official guidance before you travel," she said.

The requirement for the certificate remains unchanged, but the inspections are set to be introduced to align the island with other jurisdictions.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, which operates ferry services to Belfast, is working with the Manx government to make people aware of the changes.

Pet owners travelling by ferry must report for the checks at a facility in Belfast upon arrival.

To travel from the Isle of Man to Northern Ireland pets must be microchipped and be vaccinated against rabies.

They are required to enter via a recognised point of entry, and dogs must be treated for tapeworm.

All pet owners must also be able to provide a valid AHC or EU Pet Passport.

Scheduled commercial flights from the Isle of Man do not currently allow pets, but those travelling by private aircraft must follow the same rules.

January 20, 2025 0 comments
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Market

Floral spectacular as castle celebrates 50 years

by Louis January 17, 2025
written by Louis

Twenty volunteers and staff from 10 National Trust properties across Devon have teamed up with the British Academy of Floral Art for a celebration with flowers.

Together they have created floral installations for Castle Drogo in Devon to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Trust at the historic attraction.

The site is hosting the "spectacular" event in collaboration with the academy from 2-8 May, organisers said.

Visitors can admire more than 18 floral designs which the academy says will enhance the castle's grand interiors.

British Academy of Floral Art
National Trust staff and volunteers have been working with the academy

Tina Parkes, director of the academy, told BBC News: "We've taken each of the rooms and designed floral arrangements to enhance the colour scheme, furniture, and style of the room.

"We've also had a look at some of the floral arrangements that they would have used in the 1920s and 1930s, so we'll include some of those as well."

She said it had been "lovely to have the privilege of going and looking at the house and going around all the different rooms".

National Trust
The National Trust is marking 50 years with Castle Drogo

The trust and the academy "seem like a really nice fit", she said.

"I'm going to be taking two of my students with me.

"It's a great opportunity for them as well, not just to practice their flower arranging skills but also their teaching and working with other people skills.

"The National Trust is an amazing group of people who work so hard, and it's really nice to work with them.

"We're hoping that this event might lead to many more interesting ventures."

January 17, 2025 0 comments
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Market

Coroner's concern over 'compromised' older drivers

by Layla January 2, 2025
written by Layla

Older drivers with "compromised" ability may cause further deaths, a coroner has said.

Rosemary Macandrew, 64, died from chest injuries after she was hit by a car "reversing at speed" in the car park of a Waitrose store in Newark, Nottinghamshire, in July 2024.

The car was driven by 89-year-old Noel Maguire who had reported back and leg pains to his GP, and went to an emergency centre in October 2023 with symptoms suspected to be the result of a mini stroke.

Assistant coroner for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Beth Brown has issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report noting Mr Maguire's medical conditions were self-reportable to the DVLA but no such referral had been made.

The driver died of dementia and gangrene in both feet eight months after the incident.

Following the inquest last month, Ms Brown sent a report to the secretary of state for transport, warning the number of older drivers was increasing "rapidly".

The coroner wrote in the report: "The current system for vehicle licensing relies largely upon the self-awareness of a driver and their willingness and/or ability to self-report medical conditions to the DVLA.

"I am concerned that older drivers with vulnerabilities, including age, decreasing mobility and cognitive decline pose a risk of future deaths through compromised driving ability thereby creating a risk of deaths in the future."

'Laxest in Europe'

Ms Brown has also sent copies of the report to Ms Macandrew's family, the driver's GP and Nottinghamshire Police's serious collision investigation unit.

It comes a month after Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was "open to considering" making older drivers pass eye tests to keep their driving licence.

Last month, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley described the UK licensing system as the "laxest in Europe".

He pointed out the UK was one of only three countries to rely upon self-reporting of visual conditions affecting the ability to drive.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with Rosemary's family.

"All drivers are required to ensure they are medically fit to drive, and all car drivers over 70 must renew their licence every three years.

"The government is committed to improving road safety and we continue to explore ways to achieve this."

January 2, 2025 0 comments
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