According to planning documents, 40% of homes on the 6.39-hectare (15.8-acre) site would be classed as affordable. A report submitted to the council by the developer said the scheme would be a “highly sustainable residential development”.”By approving the development proposed, a development will be brought forward which contributes towards sustaining and increasing the vitality and viability of the local services and facilities,” it added.The application will be subject to a Section 106 legal agreement in which the developer will pay towards services in the area, including £659,340 to improve Field Head roundabout, according to planning documents.
Author: admin
Plan for 135 homes near Markfield to be decided
The ‘historic gem’ town where popular wartime sitcom was filmed
This wartime sitcom was very popular in the 1960s and 1970sDads Army was filmed in Thetford(Image: Mirrorpix)Many places across the UK have been used for backdrops to some of people’s favourite TV shows. Any fan of a show loves to go visit the locations where they were filmed, and act just as if they are in the fictional universe they watch.Not far from Cambridge and only a 51-minute drive is Thetford in Norfolk, and this was the set of a popular British sitcom from the 1960s and 1970s. During its nine-year run, Thetford became the fictional town of Walmington-on-Sea, the home of Dad’s Army.Many of the town’s outside locations were used in the BBC sitcom. For example, Thetford Guildhall acted as Walmington-on-Sea’s town hall.Nether Row, which is a row of cottages, featured in several episodes of the programme, as well as Mill Lane which was a backdrop for many of the show’s comedic scenes. There was also the Palace Cinema that doubled as a cinema in the show, and it was also the real-life spot where the cast and crew used to watch weekly films.Today, there is a museum dedicated to Dad’s Army in Thetford. It was opened in 2007 by the show’s creator David Croft.Inside, there is a reconstruction of Captain Mainwaring’s church hall office, several display areas, a shop and the Marigold Tea Room. There is also a host of historic photographs on show, alongside other memorabilia.As well as being the centre of all things Dad’s Army, Thetford has much more on offer. The town is dubbed a “historic gem” by Thetford Town Council, and was also previously the ancient capital of East Anglia.It’s considered the perfect place for not only history buffs, but nature lovers as well. It’s surrounded by stunning landscapes waiting to be explored.There is Thetford Forest, which is the UK’s biggest manmade lowland forest. It’s made up of pines, heathland and broadleaves, providing the “ideal setting for a great day out”, according to Forestry England.
Bhatti is man of the moment as Alsager clinch first NSSCL Premier B victory
Round up of all the news from North Staffs and South Cheshire League Premier B as Bagnall Norton, Knypersley, Elworth, Norton in Hales and Hem Heath also winKashif Bhatti starred with bat and ball in Alsager’s North Staffs and South Cheshire League Premier B win at Wood Lane.(Image: Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)Alsager are off the mark at the fifth time of asking in NSSCL Premier B after an eight-wicket triumph at Wood Lane.Alsager were relegated from the top flight at the end of last season – and hadn’t made the start they would have wanted to life back in the fourth tier.A four-game winless run left them bottom of the early standings, but they finally sampled the winning feeling on their trip to Megacre.It was hosts Wood Lane who batted first, but they couldn’t make the most of the sunshine as they were bowled out for 167.Martin Dawson (33), Ben Forster (32no) and Jake Thompson (22) made the most progress with the bat for Wood Lane. Kashif Bhatti scooped 3-28 for Alsager and there were a couple of wickets apiece for Tom Bason and Lewis Pickford.Bhatti was then at the forefront of Alsager’s successful run chase after the interval.After James Bloor made 27, Bhatti took centre stage for the away side.He hit eight fours and two sixes in his 61 not out – receiving support from Muazammil Nizam, who made an unbeaten 40 – as Alsager crossed the line in the 32nd over.Hem Heath seconds were another side celebrating a maiden league win after they won at their Stone SP counterparts. Stone SP set a tough challenge for their rivals, though, as they amassed 219-4 from their 45 overs in the formative stages.Half-centuries from John Cheadle and Reuben Hall helped them to break through the 200-run barrier.Cheadle’s 88 included five fours and one six, with Hall hitting eight boundaries and one maximum in his unbeaten 87. Jack Jones took two of the wickets to fall.READ MORE: Newcastle & Hartshill shrug off awful start to beat Hem Heath in NSSCL Premier AHem Heath rose to the challenge superbly on the resumption, with captain Ben Lucas leading the charge. He compiled 65, featuring seven fours, to give his side the platform to go on and chase down that tough target.His lead was followed by Nazakat Ali (43), Saj Patel (40) and Jaidel Richardson (28) as Hem Heath banked a three-wicket win in the penultimate over. Tom Caton claimed two wickets.Cheadle’s unblemished start to the league season came to an end with defeat at Norton in Hales.The Moorlanders had opened up with four straight victories, but were on the wrong end of the verdict in Saturday’s clash.Sam Cliffe’s 52, which contained five fours and one maximum, formed the backbone of Cheadle’s 193-7 in the first half.Matt Goodwin and Jack Hassall chipped in with 38 and 34 respectively for the visitors. Chris Dyer (3-43) and Salman Khan (3-47) did the bulk of the work with the ball for the Tractor Boys.Norton in Hales slumped to 32-4 in reply as it appeared that Cheadle’s winning run would be extended.However, Khan and Sajith Priyal De Silva Lamahewage had other ideas as they forged an unbroken alliance of 167 to see the home side past the post inside 39 overs.Khan walked off unbeaten on 106, having hit 12 fours and four sixes, with Lamahewage striking seven fours and three sixes in his 70 not out.Goodwin had caused early issues for Norton in Hales and eventually finished with figures of 3-38.Elworth made it five wins out of five by winning at home against Rode Park & Lawton. The visitors reached 216-6 from their allocation in the early part of the afternoon.O Gallimore (39), T Stirk (33), L Bent (32), J Heath (31no) and L Evans (23) led them to that score.J McKay and S Morgan shared four of the wickets to fall.Elworth then produced an excellent team effort to pocket a four-wicket win with nine balls remaining.A Banks hit eight fours in a top score of 52 to set the tone for the Cheshire outfit.J Stephenson (34), H Newton (32no), A Raheja (30), R Ballard (23no) and C Regan (22) were also in fine touch to chip away at the scoreboard. L Evans and M Valentine took two wickets apiece.Knypersley had a fine day on the road as they won at Barlaston.Knypersley were set 184 for victory and looked to be cruising as Shoaib Akhtar’s 52 – featuring eight fours and two sixes – Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti’s 45 and 23 apiece from Cameron Allen and Jack Muni, saw them sitting pretty on 150-3.Barlaston fought back as Fida Hussain scooped 3-18 and Ethan Squire picked up 3-39, but Knype managed to secure a two-wicket win in the penultimate over.Earlier in the day, Ben Sharp’s 63 was instrumental in the home side reaching 183 all out. Sharp’s knock contained six fours and one six, with Jack Davies (43) lending valuable support. Bhatti and Joe Dutton snared 3-17 and 3-47 respectively for Knypersley. Dominic Cumberbatch also struck twice.Bagnall Norton won by five wickets at Ashcombe Park.Hosts Ashcombe Park had Asif Raza (39), Phil Clowes (28no) and Haroon Mahmood (19) to thank for steering them to 150 all out.Hafiz Suleman (3-16) and Morgan Murray-Williams (3-20) took three wickets apiece and there were a couple of scalps for Alex Dodd.Euan Hurst (22) and Matthew Kenvyn (15) made starts in reply, but Bagnall Norton were teetering on 68-5. But there were no further alarms for the visitors as Justin Mould and Suleman produced a matchwinning partnership.Mould hit five fours in his 54 not out, with Suleman adding an unbeaten 36, as Bagnall Norton clinched a five-wicket win in the 41st over. Raza took two of the wickets to fall.
Travel chaos live as Merseyrail services disrupted and traffic gridlocked
Good afternoon,It is the hottest day of the year so far and it has coincided with a bank holiday. Thousands of people have headed to train stations as they head to beaches and parks to enjoy the heat.This has led to some services being affected as Merseyrail deals with high passenger numbers. The Liverpool Central to Chester service will run non-stop between Birkenhead Central and HootonThe Liverpool Central to Chester service will run non-stop between Birkenhead Central and Hooton, skipping Green Lane, Rock Ferry, Bebington, Port Sunlight, Spital, Bromborough Rake, Bromborough, and Eastham Rake.This is known as a “semi-fast service”, used by Merseyrail to help restore a disrupted timetable. This means that trains will run directly between two appointed stations, not stopping at stations in between.All other services on the Ellesmere Port, West Kirkby, New Brighton, Southport, Ormskirk and Hunts Cross, and Headbolt Lane lines are running as scheduled.A Merseyrail spokesman posted on X: “Due to the large number of passengers travelling, services on the Chester line face cancellations or alterations.”
Leicestershire council set to increase parking and wedding fees
The proposals include raising the price of a season parking ticket at council-run country parks from £85 to £95 as well as £10 increases for some register office ceremony fees.The report also suggests the council could increase meal prices at its staff restaurant at County Hall in Glenfield to generate £80,000.Kevin Crook, deputy council leader and cabinet member for culture and heritage, said: “Our efficiency review is about gripping our budget and making every pound we spend work harder. “It’s a major project, leaving no stone unturned, and includes increasing fees where it makes sense to do so, with all money collected going back into running and improving our services, including country parks.”Deborah Taylor, leader of the council’s Conservative opposition group, said: “This is Reform putting up the costs of services.”It’s a political choice.”They chose to increase council tax by 2.99% and made a big point of that. “Then they have hidden taxes like these increases to make up the difference.”
The Cambridgeshire village with ‘glorious’ pub once used to store coffins
Hidden in the countryside of south Cambridgeshire lays a quaint, picturesque village that holds a peculiar history. Fowlmere, one of the southernmost villages in the county, had only 1,259 residents as of 2018.The village is home to an ancient monument known as the ‘Round Moat’ which is the remains of an early Saxon settlement dating from around the ninth century. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a wildlife haven.
Fowlmere offers one pub called The Chequers, which has been in operation since the 16th century. It previously served as a coaching inn for travellers going to and from Cambridge. The intriguing pub was once used as coffin storage for those travelling with bodies.
READ MORE: {{title}}
Notably, the pub was mentioned in the diary of Samuel Pepys. In present times, the pub serves as a popular meeting hub for the locals offering a bar and restaurant – but no storage for coffins.
With an average rating of 4.7 stars out of five amid over 600 reviews on Google, it appears to be a much-loved establishment. One previous guest described the setting as “glorious”, highlighting the “brilliant service” they experienced.Another guest wrote: “Never had a bad meal here and it has risen top of my list for my local pubs. Staff are always outstanding and the menu is constantly evolving and improving. Amazing pub!”
Fowlmere was once struck by a tornado. On November 23, 1981, the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak tore through the village. The United Kingdom tornado outbreak of that year has been considered the largest recorded tornado outbreak in Europe history.
Fowlmere does not currently have a convenience shop but it does have a café and a village hall. Only a short 15-minute drive takes you to the renowned Duxford Imperial War Museum where visitors can take in the incredible history of the airfield and watch some beautiful air shows.
The village offers one school called Fowlmere Primary School, which teaches pupils aged four until 11. House prices in Fowlmere reflect its desirability – with an average price of £551,786 over the last year, according to Rightmove. The majority of properties sold in Fowlmere during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £693,125.
New London-Stirling train service launching in Crewe
It’s a budget rail option via Crewe stationAuthor: Adam SmithPublished 3 hours agoCrewe will soon benefit from a new train service beginning on 25th May 2026, linking the town to London and Stirling.The operator, Lumo, owned by FirstGroup, is introducing this service to provide more affordable travel options on the West Coast Main Line (WCML).The new route will offer up to four return journeys daily from London Euston to Stirling, enhancing both accessibility and competition.What is Lumo?For those unfamiliar with Lumo, the brand operates on an open-access basis, setting its own prices and assuming revenue risks.Currently, Lumo connects London King’s Cross with cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, providing passengers straightforward travel without premium seating.As part of the launch, Lumo has partnered with the Stirling Pride festival, offering free tickets to London, marking the occasion and forging community ties.Stuart Jones, managing director of First Rail Open Access, said:“This is a very exciting moment in our journey to launching a pioneering new service for the West Coast.“Customers can look forward to simple, low-cost fares with an excellent experience on our services between Scotland, the North West of England and London.”Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.
Robertson pays classy tribute to Everton captain Coleman after Liverpool goodbye
Liverpool legend Andy Robertson paid special mention to Everton great Seamus Coleman after both called time on their careers on MerseysideAndy Robertson paid tribute to departing Everton captain after his Liverpool farewell Liverpool legend Andy Robertson made sure to pay tribute to Everton great Seamus Coleman after the pair called time on their illustrious playing careers on Merseyside.Robertson was making his 378th and final appearance for Liverpool in their final-day 1-1 draw at home to Brentford alongside fellow modern-day Anfield icon Mohamed Salah.The Scotland captain and Egypt skipper were interviewed on the pitch after the match and, unprompted, the former made sure to namecheck Pep Guardiola, the long-time Reds rival who is leaving his position as Manchester City manager, as well as Coleman.Over in north London, the Everton captain was making his 435th and final appearance for Liverpool’s city rivals.READ MORE: Mohamed Salah in tears as he and Andy Robertson get guards of honour on Liverpool farewellsREAD MORE: What Seamus Coleman did at full-time as Everton captain delivers one final classy actAnd Robertson told Sky Sports: “For me there’s two other people leaving other clubs today who are pretty important.”Pep Guardiola pushed us to completely new limits – I think both of us (Robertson and Salah) would agree with that.”We should have won more Premier Leagues if it wasn’t for that man. What a servant to Manchester City and I wish him all the best.”And finally Seamus Coleman. When I was growing up he was one of the Premier League full-backs who played at a very, very high level and he was certainly a better bargain than me at 60 grand!”He’s leaving Everton and he’s been a fantastic servant to that football club and I wish him all the best as well.”Coleman, a £60,000 signing from Sligo Rovers in January 2009, has the offer to remain at the Blues in a non-playing position.But the Republic of Ireland stalwart, who came on a second-half substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, will use the summer to weigh up whether to continue his playing career at another club.Robertson, an £8m arrival from Hull City in 2017, will now leave Liverpool along with Salah at the end of his contract.
England’s First Bedfordshire Beavers in 400 Years Are Already Changing the Land – AOL
Following years of careful preparation, the beavers are back in Bedfordshire (a county in the east of England). This is the first time in 400 years that these remarkable mammals have returned to the county’s rivers, marking a historic milestone for the area. Their presence is already demonstrating why the species is so vital for UK ecology.About Britain’s BeaversThe UK beaver (Eurasian beaver) species is different from that found in the US. They look similar and lead similar lives, but the Eurasian beaver typically has fur that is a lighter shade of brown than its American cousins, and its tail is a little narrower.Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) are found in riparian habitats, close to freshwater and surrounded by wetland plants and woodland. They are the largest rodent in Britain and weigh up to 80 pounds or so. Their most distinctive feature is their flat, scaly, paddle-shaped tail, which can be up to 13 inches long.What Happened to Britain’s Beavers?The Eurasian beaver has a chequered history in the UK and indeed in many parts of Europe. The species likely evolved in the early Pleistocene era, around 3 million years ago. During the late Pleistocene ice age, they apparently disappeared from much of Europe and Asia, but later rebounded as the climate warmed.Beavers were over-hunted in Britain.©Michal14/Shutterstock.comMore recently, they have been hunted throughout the UK and Europe for their fur, meat, and castoreum (an exudate produced to mark their territory and which was traditionally used in perfumes). This took a heavy toll on populations, and the last sighting of a British beaver was recorded in Loch Ness in the 1500s. It is possible, however, that a few small, isolated populations survived into the 1700s. No further sightings of live beavers were recorded until 2002, when the first official reintroduction occurred at a fenced wetland site.Where in the UK Have Beavers Been Reintroduced?There have been several fenced enclosure trials of beaver reintroduction in the UK. Two licensed free-living populations can be found on the River Otter and in Knapdale, Scotland. Several additional licensed wild populations now exist as beaver reintroductions have expanded in recent years.Also, there are likely unlicensed free-living populations elsewhere. In 2019, beavers were granted protected species status in Scotland, and in 2022, the UK government officially recognised them as a native species. Beavers are a protected species in the UK, so they cannot be culled there without a license. Why Release Beavers in Britain?Beavers are widely recognised as ecosystem engineers. This means they modify their environment to create habitats and resources for other species. Beavers live in riparian habitats—transitional areas between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In these partially wetland and partially woodland areas, they eat vegetation such as rhizomes, pondweed, ferns, and grasses.In the winter, however, they switch to wood and tree bark. They prefer deep, slow-moving rivers or lakes, and if they can’t find them, they will create their own!To do this, they build dams to slow down the flow of water and dig burrows into the riverbank. Alternatively, they will construct a ‘lodge’ from wood, twigs, and soil, where the beavers can hide from predators.The Bedfordshire Beaver ReleaseThe beavers have been released at Southill Estate in Bedfordshire under a Natural England license. It has taken two years to obtain the license and to prepare a purpose-built enclosure. The work was carried out in partnership with the Beaver Trust. The news release on their website describes how they “led on the [license] application, co-designed the main release pond, coordinated trapping operations, and oversaw the safe transfer of animals to [the] site.”Beavers modify their habitats.©Tomas Palsovic/Shutterstock.comThe estate team and specialist contractors carried out many modifications to create a suitable habitat, including pond creation, willow planting, and restoring a more natural hydrological flow and habitat complexity to an existing ditch.During the first stage of the release, an adult male and two kits that had been humanely trapped under license from Scotland were introduced. A few days later, an adult female was introduced, who had spent 14 months being prepared for independent living at the Wildwood Trust.Beavers and Land ManagementThe beaver release is part of a broader commitment to manage the land so that there is space for nature alongside productive land use. The project aims to achieve ecological restoration, which brings drought resilience to the wider estate. Bedfordshire is one of the driest counties in England. When beavers build dams, they also create a mosaic of wetland habitats, including pools, channels, and standing deadwood. This process retains water in the landscape, benefiting both humans and wildlife. It also reduces peak water flows, lowering the risk of downstream flooding.The benefits are already apparent: grey partridges are being seen in greater numbers, along with increases in wading birds, songbirds, and invertebrate communities.This new beaver community will be closely monitored. Future offspring may even be trapped and relocated to additional licensed reintroduction sites.The post England’s First Bedfordshire Beavers in 400 Years Are Already Changing the Land appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Burnley 1-1 Wolves: Zian Flemming rescues point for Clarets to ensure Rob Edwards’ side finish bottom of Premier League
Relegated pair Burnley and Wolves played out a 1-1 draw in their final Premier League game before they return to the Sky Bet Championship next season.Adam Armstrong’s fifth-minute penalty put Rob Edwards’ men in front, but Zian Flemming struck inside the first two minutes of the second half to earn the Clarets one final point.
As a result, Wolves finish bottom of the table, without an away win all season. Burnley finish 19th, two points ahead.A rarity at Turf Moor
This was just the fifth instance of two already relegated teams meeting in the Premier League, after Leicester vs Ipswich in 1994/95, Coventry vs Bradford in 2000/01, Leicester vs Southampton in 2024/25 and Leicester vs Ipswich in 2024/25.
How Burnley and Wolves bowed out with a drawWolves flew out of the traps and, inside five minutes, were awarded a penalty. Ladislav Krejci’s header was handled by Florentino and, after a swift glance at the VAR monitor, referee Andrew Kitchen pointed to the spot.Armstrong has been less than prolific since his February move from Southampton, but he stepped up confidently and beat Max Weiss emphatically to take his return to two in 14 Premier League games.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Adam Armstrong converts a penalty after Florentino Luis’ handball
Burnley then started to dominate the ball, but could have been 2-0 down after 15 minutes. Only the slightest of fingertips from Weiss took Mateus Mane’s shot from the edge of the box – after a magical run down the right – onto the post.
They did have the chance to level proceedings deep into first-half stoppage time, but a full-stretch save from Jose Sa kept out Florentino’s thunderous strike from 25 yards.
It was 1-1, though, after 47 minutes. Flemming took charge after a tidy exchange of passes with Loum Tchaouna and fired a controlled strike into the bottom-left corner.Image:
Zian Flemming celebrates his equaliser with team-mate Axel TuanzebeThere was never much danger of either side hitting a winner thereafter, and that was the way it ended.Two notable milestones were hit, however. Ashley Barnes came on for his 320th – and thought to be final – appearance for Burnley, shortly after 16-year-old Jerome Abbey was sent on to become the second-youngest player in Wolves’ history.Jackson: We must learn from latest relegationBurnley interim head coach Mike Jackson speaking to Sky Sports:”In terms of the game, we didn’t start well at all. It was a really poor start from our point of view.”We’ve not been used to having lots and lots of the ball, so when you actually do get that, sometimes your habits within that can be a little bit sloppy and we gave the ball away too easily.”We had a few words at half-time, fixed a couple of things and, in the second half, I thought we were a lot better, created a lot of chances and solved a lot of problems we caused ourselves in the first half.”You want to keep all of your best players if you can, but with the reality of what’s happened this season sometimes it can be difficult.”I’m sure the club will do their best, but it’s a balancing act going down.”Since Scott [Parker] left, it’s been quiet on that front [Burnley’s next head coach]. The club have to do their due diligence in the way they want to go.”We’ve been in this situation before and it’s not good to be in it again, but we have to learn from this and know what’s required from the Championship next season.”Everything should be geared towards that. I don’t think setbacks should define you and it’s about what we do next now. That’s the most important thing.”Edwards: Either team could have won thatWolves head coach Rob Edwards speaking to Sky Sports:”I thought we started the game brilliantly. We had a number of set-pieces, got the goal, went 1-0 up and I thought we could’ve got two or three in that first. The ‘keeper has made a couple of amazing saves. And I didn’t like the start of the second half.”Then the game became a bit basketball-like and quite open; maybe a bit end-of-season and the heat played a part. But after the second drinks break, we were able to get things together again.”Either team could have won it. It was probably quite exciting for the neutral to watch, but we wanted to win the game and we weren’t able to do that.”On debutant Abbey: “We’ll see how he progresses. He’s a young player we really like. He’s trained with us a number of times and we’ve always really liked him.”He’s got a great future and an exciting future ahead, but let’s not put too much pressure on too soon. That’s a nice one for him and I thought he did really well when he came on.”Story of the match in stats
What’s next?Here’s your summer diary:June 11: World Cup starts – day-by-day fixture listJune 14: Scotland’s opener vs Haiti (2am)June 15: Summer transfer window opensJune 17: England’s opener vs Croatia (9pm)July 19: World Cup finalJune 25: Championship fixtures releasedAugust 14-25: Championship opening weekendSeptember 1: Transfer Deadline Day (window closes at 11pm UK time)
