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From Saturday 3rd July -
Friday 9th July 2004
(days
in reverse order)
Friday
9th July
New
anti-social behaviour laws prove a success Police
in Biddulph say powers to stop youths gathering on the street at night have been
so successful they might not need to renew them. For the last three months, any
youngsters under 16 seen out on the streets after 2100 BST have been taken home
by officers in town. The amount of trouble has fallen significantly, officers
say.
Coldest
July day recorded in region The West Midlands recorded its coldest July day
in history yesterday as dismal summer weather swept through the region. High winds
and rain brought temperatures to an all-time low of 11C (52F) a substantial drop
from the usual average of 20C (68F). However, gales, which left 21,000 homes without
power and caused many trees to topple, are not likely to return for a long time.
Staffordshire family are Britain's fittest The Robinsons, from
Chase Terrace in Burntwood, were officially named as Sport England's first ever
Champion family yesterday. The five beat eight families from regions across the
country at the finals of a competition staged in London. Father David, aged 51,
his wife Pat, 53, and their children, are now the new faces of a campaign to inspire
more people to exercise. Sport England launched the scheme as part of the fight
against increasing levels of obesity, inactive lifestyles and poor participation
in sport.
Boy given MMR vaccine by mistake A boy who had already
received separate jabs for mumps, measles and rubella is injected with the MMR
vaccine at a Kidsgrove surgery. Full
Story from BBC News
Thursday 8th July
Binge drinking crackdown begins Police forces across the country,
including Staffordshire Police, launch a crackdown on drink-related disorder in
city centres. Full
Story from BBC News
Unpaid fines recovered by police Staffordshire police say they have
recovered more than a £100,000 since they stepped up efforts to collect outstanding
fines and compensation payments.
Wednesday 7th July
Dementia
has dictated our history Psychiatrists might have been able to change the
course of history, according to specialist Dr El-Nimr, from Haywood Hospital in
Stoke-on-Trent.
Full
Story from BBC News
Water quality better than ever A new report says the quality of water
coming out of taps in South Staffordshire has improved greatly since last tested.
Full
Story from BBC News
Goose on loose in city A goose is on the
loose in Stoke-on-Trent. It has escaped from Hanley Forest Park where the city
council is rounding the birds up. The council says it occasionally has to transfer
the geese to other sites if they bully other wildlife. There have been sightings
of the animal in the centre of Hanley and in Shelton by Stoke-on-Trent College.
Deejay
dies Mel Scholes, one-time Compere Of The Year has died. The dj and
radio presenter from Stoke on Trent, well known for his shows on Signal Radio
and on BBC Radio Stoke, was also thought to be responsible for the success of
the Jollees Cabaret Nightclub in Longton.
Bishop leaves for Surrey
The Bishop of Stafford will be leaving his parish for Surrey at the end of the
year. The Rt Rev Christopher Hill's appointment as Bishop of Guildford is a promotion,
confirmed in an announcement made from 10 Downing Street.
Wealth spots
Two districts in Staffordshire are in the Top Thirty of a new list of the
fastest growing "wealth hot spots" in England and Wales, according to a new survey
by Barclays Financial Planning. The two are Stone, whose percentage of residents
earning over £60,000 a year have increased to 5.11% of the population to
3.32%, and Tamworth, where the figures have changed to 5.03% from 3.39%.
Old trade - new trade Enterprising people from Stoke-on-Trent are combining
old and new technology to earn an extra penny. They're buying seconds of world
famous pottery brands from factories in the city to sell on the internet, via
the "e-bay" site. A gravy boat costing £3 in Stoke-on-Trent can
sell to Australia for £25.
BRAG brought to book Two vandals
who damaged 20 speed cameras in Staffordshire and changed a road sign so it read
140 instead of 40mph were today warned they could be sent to jail. Roy Robotham,
aged 19, and Benjamin Taylor, 20, of the Horsefair, Rugeley, each pleaded guilty
to six criminal damage charges and 16 other charges to be taken into consideration.
Magistrates Court heard the pair had sprayed BRAG in graffiti on the Gatso speed
cameras along the A51 from Sandon, near Stafford, to Rugeley but it was only after
they bragged about what they had done that they got caught. The court heard BRAG
stood for Boy Racers Against Gatso. Magistrates adjourned the case.
Tuesday 6th July
New toll motorway to
be built Plans to build a new M6 toll road through Staffordshire, from Cannock
northwards, to link Birmingham and Manchester, have been announced by Transport
Secretary Alistair Darling. Full
Story from BBC News
Reaction
Gillian Cox, a member of
the "M6 Forum" a group made up of parish councils to fight the widening
proposals more than 10 years ago, said the toll road would have a terrible impact
on the village where she lives, Derrington.
Faye Burton of the Staffordshire
Badger Group said: "Whatever the route it will have a devastating effect on wildlife."
And local MPs reacted angrily. Stafford MP David Kidney said: "The whole town
of Stafford would be affected with many back gardens already butting right up
to the existing motorway". South Staffordshire MP Sir Patrick Cormack said:
"I am extremely concerned that people living in the north of my constituency will
be subjected to years more disruption, devastation and blight". Labour's
Cannock Chase MP Tony Wright said: "This seems to be a different version of the
old idea of widening the motorway. It is a 'no win' situation." Meanwhile, Michael
Fabricant, Tory MP for Lichfield, said: "I have mixed views about whether an M6
Toll following precisely the same route as a non-toll road will work as well."
Armed men rob Dutch lorry driver A Dutch lorry driver was woken
and threatened with a handgun in Northamptonshire before being driven to Great
Bridgeford, just off junction 14 of the M6, in Staffordshire and his lorry full
of electrical equipment was stolen, before being dumped in Merseyside. Full
Story from BBC News
Smokers' quitting scheme hailed a success
More smokers in north Staffordshire are trying to give up using a local NHS scheme.
The North Stoke Primary Care Trust says more than 5,000 people made use of their
Quit Smoking Service last year. Smokers using the scheme can receive one-to-one
support, as well as nicotine patches or gum on prescription. The trust said 46%
of people using the service were successful in kicking the habit.
However
a Lichfield pub which banned smoking has had to do a U-turn after losing more
than £20,000 in trade. The Three Tuns, in Walsall Road, introduced its ban
in May. But it has lost a significant amount of its customers, and subsequent
trade. The Three Tuns was the only pub in the county to have introduced such a
policy.
Jones dropped Great Britain hockey team leader Jason
Lee has dropped a number of recognised names from his squad for next month's Games.
However the Staffordshire's club's trio of Craig Parnham, Mike Johnson and Barry
Middleton will all go to Athens, though there's no place for Cannock's rising
young forward Martin Jones.
Monday 5th July
New Lord Mayor's aims
for unity Stoke-on-Trent's first Asian Lord Mayor, Karamat Ali, takes office
with a promise of racial harmony for the city. Full
Story from BBC News
Police bill puts doubt over event The
popular Crewe Carnival could be cancelled this summer after police say it will
cost thousands of pounds to man. Full
Story from BBC News
Sunday 4th July
Extra cash for specialist school Leek High School in Staffordshire will benefit
from an extra £500,000 after gaining specialist status in technology and
science. Full
Story from BBC News
Shop workers call for more respect Shop
workers in Crewe and Nantwich are sending out the message that the customer is
not always right. Their union, USDAW, said there has been a disturbing trend towards
increased verbal abuse and threats of violence and physical attacks. A stall will
be manned in Crewe's indoor market on Monday reminding shoppers to respect people
working in retail. The Union will be asking shoppers to sign its Freedom from
Fear petitions.
Residents raise concerns over congestion People
living near Stoke city centre have raised concerns about an increase in traffic
as motorists avoid queues on the A500. The queues are the result of work being
carried out to build an underpass on the dual carriageway which is not due to
finish until summer 2006. Residents say one of the problems is the reorganisation
of the Stoke Road roundabout with new lanes and temporary traffic lights. Kevin
Williams, who lives on nearby Avenue Road, says his road is being used as a rat
run.
Saturday
3rd July
Vandals hampering wildlife move Conservationists
trying to protect wildlife at Hooters Hall, Lymedale in Staffordshire, are having
their equipment damaged by bikers. Full
Story from BBC News
Appeal a year after violent raid Police are appealing for
information nearly one year after a man's skull was fractured in a raid on a Cannock
shop. Full
Story from BBC News
Wham! success A Stafford wig making company has won a new contract
to supply NHS patients. Wig Wham!, in Little Haywood near Stafford, is
run by Jo Hilton. She had breast cancer and started the business after losing
her hair during chemotherapy.
See more about Wig
Wham
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