The developer said it was no longer possible to deliver the promised nine affordable homes and £50,000 towards local servicesFenland District Council offices in March, Cambridgeshire(Image: LDRS/CambridgeshireLive)Councillors have accused a developer of “making a mockery” of the planning committee after rolling back a pledge to put money towards services. Plans to build 36 homes in March were approved in 2023 on the condition that nine be affordable and a £50,000 contribution to local services.The money was to be put towards libraries, education, and healthcare. But Fenland District Council’s planning committee was presented with an application from developer Cannon Kirk to remove these conditions on Wednesday (May 13).The planning officer’s report said an independent viability review had shown that it was no longer possible for the scheme to deliver these conditions. They said that if “market conditions change” they could reassess this in the future.Officers said these changes would cause a “clear shortfall in affordable housing” but found the benefits still outweighed any harm and recommended they be approved.Another application from Fenland Future Ltd, the council’s social housing arm, had been approved earlier in the meeting for land east of The Elms in Chatteris.John Mason, the agent, told councillors the 54 homes would provide “much-needed local housing” and “additional revenue” for the council – but proposed affordable homes had been removed from the earlier application.Cllr Jan French called the change “disappointing”, adding that it “seems to be common practice with agents and developers at this time”. An off-site contribution of £67,000 was agreed for improvements to Wenny Recreation Ground and the plan was approved unanimously.Cannon Kirk, the developer behind the March proposal, was slammed by councillors for going back on their contributions. Cllr David Connor, chair of the committee, said: “36 houses, no infrastructure at all, no affordable houses – they’re taking not only the kitchen sink, they’re taking the rug away from us as well. My goodness me.“We can’t get any doctors, I know a friend of mine can’t and she’s been trying to get in the doctors now for two or three weeks – they’re all full. It’s only going to increase the pressure on local services and they can’t even give us £50,000 for doctors, schools or the library either. They’ve taken the whole lot away – this cannot be right.”Cllr Charlie Marks agreed, expressing frustration that the council was unable to do anything other than accept the plans. He said: “Things arrive here and it all glitters – it’s all gold, all sparkly and wonderful, and then they start coming back like this.“It’s not right, but unfortunately having spoken to legal there’s very little we can do about it. I think what speaks more volumes is the agent can’t even be bothered to turn up – to come to this planning committee to explain their reasoning why.”He hit back at their suggestion that if the market changes they may be able to contribute, and said, “we know we’re not going to see any more money from this site”.Cllr Marks said: “They’re just making a mockery of us as a planning committee, and the planners themselves. I think it’s very, very, unjust and I really think they ought to have a look at their conscience.”Cllr French said: “To say we’re disappointed is an understatement – I really do feel that our legs have been lifted this time.” She said removing the condition will “set a very dangerous precedent” and the developer could return to remove conditions from their other approved schemes.Cllr Connor said: “This is what we’re up against as a planning committee – people say, ‘we can’t get doctors, we can’t get this’. This is a typical application that we have had in the past many times and we’re going to see, certainly, a lot more times – just to sum it all up, we’re getting nothing.“If we, as a committee, turn this down – it would certainly go to appeal, and we would lose the appeal almost certainly. Then maybe there would be some costs awarded, which is obviously taxpayers’ money.”Councillors “very reluctantly” moved to approve the application and it passed unanimously.
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Developer accused of ‘mockery’ after rolling back pledge to fund local services
Detectives probing motive for stabbing as they hunt for ‘Eastern European man’
Ch Insp Saqib Butt said Staffordshire Police is carrying out ‘reassurance patrols’ in the area after a man in his 60s was stabbed16:34, 15 May 2026Updated 16:35, 15 May 2026Chief inspector Saqib ButtA police chief inspector has sought to reassure members of the public after a man was stabbed in Stafford.The victim, aged in his 60s, was attacked while walking through Stafford Castle golf course, near Newport Road, at 7pm yesterday on Thursday, May 14.He remains in a critical but stable condition today, Staffordshire Police said.READ MORE: Stafford manhunt live after stabbing leaves man in critical conditionGet breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to joinA large police presence remains in place at the scene today, May 15, while officers hunt the attacker.A blue forensic tent was in place while the scene was taped off, and officers in high-vis uniforms patrolled.Chief Inspector Saqib Butt on stabbing at golf club in StaffordThe attacker is described as being a man in his mid-to-late 20s, potentially of Eastern European heritage, of average build, and wearing dark clothing.Asked by BirminghamLive if there was any indication of the cause of the attack, Chief Inspector Butt, who is the Stafford Borough local policing team commander, said: “At the minute, all I’d say to the public is that the enquiries are ongoing.”Our detectives are working really hard and at pace, as are some of our officers.”So don’t be alarmed to see them in the area; we are giving you our reassurance patrols, and all I’ll say is that inquiries are continuing.”Staffordshire Police at the scene of Stafford Castle golf courseCh Insp continued: “We understand this incident will cause concern within the local community.”I want to reassure residents that we are doing everything we can to identify and apprehend the person responsible.”Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who was “in the area around Redgrave Drive towards Stafford Castle shortly before the assault and who may have seen anything suspicious,” said Ch Insp Butt.He added: “If you live nearby or were passing through and have CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell footage, please take the time to review it and get in touch if you have anything that could assist our investigation.”I would like to thank everyone who has already come forward with information.”Your support is invaluable and we are continuing our inquiries today.Staffordshire Police at the scene of Stafford Castle golf course”A dedicated online portal has been set up to make it as easy as possible for people to share information with us.”Alternatively, you can contact us directly, or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal want Mateus Fernandes as Man United monitor Neco Williams
May 15th©IMAGO
The summer transfer window is approaching quickly on the horizon and clubs are already busy working on deals to acquire their top targets. For most clubs, planning will already be complete and they will have identified which players they want to sign, and which players they want to sell.
Managers will be constantly assessing their squads with sporting directors and recruitment staff scanning the market for potential deals this summer. The rumour mill is still gathering pace and we’ve collated some of the biggest current transfer stories – you can access the full rumour mill below.
Today’s biggest transfer storiesArsenal are the latest club to express an interest in Mateus Fernandes. The 21-year-old has been a standout performer for West Ham this season but he will realistically be available if the Hammers are relegated. Manchester United and PSG have also been linked.
Manchester Untied are monitoring Neco Williams at Nottingham Forest. The Welsh international’s versatility is a major asset and he’s equally comfortable at left or right-back.
Chelsea remain interested in Mike Maignan this summer but failing to qualify for European competition would scupper their hopes of signing the French international. The AC Milan goalkeeper was heavily linked last summer but penned a new contract.
What does Cranfield University merger mean for students and staff?
Cranfield said it had briefed the University and Colleges Union (UCU) on the merger.A spokesperson for UCU said: “Staff and students from both institutions will rightly be concerned about future provision, and the universities now need to provide guarantees that no jobs or courses will be cut.”The BBC also spoke to Frances Miles, regional organiser with union UNISON, shortly after the merger was announced.She said staff were “worried” about what it would mean for them.”Generally, there are risks in any merger that staffing will be cut to save money, and we need reassurance that this isn’t a smokescreen for more cuts and that the jobs are secure,” she added.However, Holford said that staff and unions did not need to be alarmed.”We don’t anticipate job losses – the merger is not predicated on job losses, so people should feel secure in that,” she said.Holford pointed out that the university had previously made a series of staffing cuts.She added: “Cranfield has already been through an exercise where we focused on our core strengths. We cut some courses, and we did have to have some job losses along with that.”We’re hoping to recruit more people, and actually, the five-year plan is for growth in the number of people, not for shrinkage.”
Andy Burnham, Wolverhampton licensing and the road to Number 10
Andy Burnham could end up in Downing Street — and out-of-area licensing should be worried
Andy Burnham’s name is back in the headlines as a serious contender to succeed Sir Keir Starmer, and if the Greater Manchester Mayor does eventually walk into Number 10, one of the longest-running rows in the private hire trade could finally come to a head.
ITV News reported this week that Burnham has quickly become one of the favourites to replace the Prime Minister in the event of a Labour leadership contest. The Mayor has previously signalled he would be willing to challenge Sir Keir, although his path is far from clear — he has no Commons seat, and Labour’s National Executive Committee blocked him from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election earlier in 2026. With Makerfield MP Josh Simons standing down, the route back to Westminster may now be opening up again.
For taxi and private hire drivers, the question of who leads Labour is more than just political theatre. Burnham has been one of the loudest voices in the country on the issue of out-of-area private hire licensing — and, in particular, on the role of Wolverhampton.
In comments reported by Local Government Lawyer following a BBC investigation, Burnham said operators licensed elsewhere “shouldn’t be doing it because they’re giving plates without being able to then monitor the performance,” arguing that Greater Manchester requires newer vehicles and more rigorous checks. The BBC investigation found that around 9,000 of the private hire drivers operating in Greater Manchester were licensed by Wolverhampton — roughly a third of the region’s total.
The numbers behind the row are striking. According to figures reported by the Oldham Chronicle through the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Wolverhampton Council took in £12.3 million in licensing fees over three years, with around a quarter of its drivers actually working in Greater Manchester. Professional Driver Magazine reported that 95.5% of drivers applying for a Wolverhampton licence in one year did not live in the city.
Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester’s ‘In the Hotseat’, Burnham said: “How can you guarantee the safety of people on the streets from there? I think the reason people go there is because they don’t charge as much to licence taxis. The checks they do aren’t as stringent and it is not right.”
Wolverhampton has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The council has stated that existing legislation requires it to grant any application that meets the requirements, and that it cannot refuse an applicant simply because they live in another area. That position is rooted in the 2015 Deregulation Act, which allows private hire drivers licensed anywhere in England and Wales — except London — to operate across the country.
What changes if Burnham reaches Number 10? Greater Manchester previously sought powers to restrict out-of-area operation as part of its Trailblazer devolution negotiations and didn’t get them. A Prime Minister Burnham would no longer need to ask Westminster — he would be Westminster. National minimum standards, stronger powers for metro mayors, or full reform of cross-border hiring would all sit firmly within his gift.
Whether or not he gets that far, his consistent campaigning on this issue has already pushed it up the political agenda. For drivers in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and other cities watching out-of-area plates flood their patch, it’s a fight that’s only getting bigger.
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Family’s tribute to Tyler Fairman after fatal Arnold Market Place incident | West Bridgford Wire
The devastated family of a man fatally injured by a car in Arnold have shared a deeply moving tribute to him.Tyler Fairman passed away on Tuesday (12 May) night — several days after a vehicle mounted a kerb and struck him.The 26-year-old was one of multiple pedestrians who were injured by the red Vauxhall Astra in Market Place at 1.12 am on Saturday (9 May).Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, Tyler was tragically pronounced dead days later, with a murder investigation subsequently being launched by detectives.Tyler’s heartbroken family have now written some words, which we can share today, paying tribute to someone who was “loved by everyone around him.”- Advertisement -They said:“On Tuesday, 12 May 2026, we lost our beautiful boy, Tyler Shea Fairman.“There are no words now, nor will there ever be, to truly describe how broken this has left us all. Our hearts are shattered, and the world has become a much darker place without him in it.“Anyone who knew Tyler knew there was never a bad word to say about him. He was the kind of person who would do anything for anybody. He was always there for everyone and was a devoted partner, a loyal friend, a loving son, and a father figure to so many people around him. If somebody needed support, Tyler would be there in a heartbeat.“From being a little boy, Tyler had the most infectious smile and laugh. He could light up any room he walked into, whether it was through his silly jokes, his kindness, or simply the way he made people feel safe and loved. He always knew how to make people feel better when they were down.“Nothing will ever feel the same again.“Tyler will always live on through his brothers and sisters, his beautiful two-year-old son, his partner, and his soon-to-be-born daughter. He was an incredibly proud family man who worked hard every single day to provide for the family he loved. He had his whole life ahead of him until it was cruelly ripped away in circumstances that are every parent’s worst nightmare.“Tyler truly had a heart of gold, and with his passing, we have all lost a part of ourselves.“He loved football, and one of his biggest dreams was to one day take his little boy to football and stand watching him from the sidelines, just as we proudly did for Tyler when he was young.“The hundreds of messages, tributes, and support we have received from people sharing how Tyler touched their lives in such a positive way have shown us just how deeply he was loved by everyone around him.“The pain we are feeling because of Tyler’s senseless death is unimaginable — a pain no family should ever have to endure and something we still cannot fully comprehend. But through all this heartbreak, we remain so unbelievably proud of the young man he was and everything he achieved in his life.“Tyler will be loved forever, missed beyond words, and remembered every single day for the incredible person he was. We love you always.”Suspect Duane Anthony was arrested on Saturday evening and charged with five counts of attempted murder on Monday (11 May) morning.The 40-year-old was additionally charged with aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, and driving without valid insurance.Anthony, of Marton Road, Bulwell, was remanded into custody on Monday. He is currently next due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on 8 June, while a trial date at the same court has been set for 7 October.Detective Inspector Clare Gibson, of Nottinghamshire Police, added:“I’d firstly like to thank Tyler’s family for sharing such a moving tribute, which I imagine must’ve been incredibly difficult to write.“While once again expressing our deepest condolences for their loss, I’d also like to reiterate the family’s previous plea to give them privacy and allow them to grieve in peace.“A murder investigation is now underway following Tyler’s death, so anything relating to this incident should be shared with the police, not online, as doing so could potentially impede the pursuit of justice.“That includes any videos relating to the incident, which should be shared with the police and taken off social media immediately.”Anyone who witnessed what happened or has any information relating to the incident should please call 101, quoting incident 46 of 9 May 2026.
Locals split as Leisure Park changes could cause ‘chaos’ or ‘attract people’
Cambridge Leisure Park is currently up for sale and could be redeveloped by new ownersAr Julius and Kenette Zuluete at Cambridge Leisure Park(Image: CambridgeshireLive)People are divided over plans to potentially redevelop the Cambridge Leisure Park. Some have said that it would cause “chaos” for local businesses while others say it would “inevitably attract people”.Cambridge Leisure Park is up for sale and could be redeveloped with new offices, labs, retail, and leisure opportunities. It currently hosts a hotel, car park, restaurants, cinema, and bowling alley.According to a sales brochure by real estate company JLL, it is the city’s “only multiplex and drive-to leisure destination”. A proposed masterplan shows how the 8.4-acre site could be redeveloped.The brochure explained: “The proposed master plan would comprise of massing ranges from 2 stories to 10 storeys. These buildings would comprise a mixed-use estate for Office, Lab, Retail, F&B, the Junction, Creative Workspace, Leisure, Car Parking and Energy centre.”This includes a “new sustainable home” for the Cambridge Junction, which hosts a variety of events. The repurposing opportunities also suggest that a “big box retail warehouse space” could be explored to draw in shops like M&S, TK Maxx, Next, and Superdrug.CambridgeshireLive went to the leisure park to speak with locals about their thoughts on the potential plans. Ishwar Bankar, 28, who works at Pizza 1889, said: “We have offices here but adding more offices, I think it will affect the hospitality.”Pizza 1889 in Cambridge(Image: CambridgeshireLive)Ishwar said business is regularly brought in to Pizza 1889 from Cambridge Junction and he believes that if the Junction moves, even within the site, the “visibility of small businesses would be less”. He is concerned about the impact this could have on businesses.The site currently has a 611 space multi-storey car park but the proposed plan has 145 spaces. Cambridge City Council is the freehold owner of the site and Land Securities is the leaseholder.Ishwar believes that one of the main aspects of coming out is spending time with family. The “main concern” is that if parking is reduced, he “would lose on lots of customers because they would then go to other places like the city centre where there are more spaces, so that would affect us as well”.Anish Bakrania, 21, is a student from Cambridge. He said that it “sounds like a good idea” and that “if there’s space” it could work well.He believes that there is “definitely better ways to use the space” but if it will “attract more investment and more businesses coming here”, change could have a positive impact. He added: “I think having offices and labs will inevitably attract people and will bring more business here.”Abi Thk, 39, said that more offices and labs would not be a good idea. The 39-year-old added: “The reason is that if you look at this place [Cambridge Leisure] it is a very open place. People hang around here. It’s not only about coming to these restaurants or for bowling, but it gives a lot of space, and especially in the summer this place becomes energetic.”So, if offices get built here, there will be change. It will be more of a corporate vibe which I would not say is a good thing. So, my suggestion would be not to have offices here. We have offices already, just opposite the [railway] station and I think that would be the perfect place but not somewhere where people come to enjoy.”When describing the potential parking space changes, Abi said that Cambridge has a range of companies and businesses nearby who would most likely park their car on site, so to “reduce the number of car parking, again, it would be chaos”.Cambridge Junction would get a “new sustainable” home under the potential redevelopment plans(Image: CambridgeshireLive)Ar Julius, 33, lives in Cambridge. He said that at the moment he does not have any problem with parking, and said “it is really good” but “that could all change” if anything happens at the leisure park.The 33-year-old continued: “If they put offices here, people might need even more parking spaces, and if they lessen the spaces, that could be a problem.”Kenette Zuluete, 35, believes “there is pros and cons” to the possible plans and that “if they bring more work here, the cost of living will rise”. However, Kenette said it could also be an “opportunity” for many people to find work.
Adults in Staffordshire to get new route into higher level learning > A Little Bit of Stone
Adults in Stone and across Staffordshire who want to retrain, upskill or return to higher level learning are set to get access to more flexible student finance under government reforms due to begin from 2026.Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, Keele University and the University of Staffordshire are among the first providers approved to offer shorter courses through the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
The changes are aimed at people who want to study around work, childcare or other commitments, rather than committing straight away to a full degree.
From September 2026, people will be able to apply for student finance for shorter higher level courses, known as modules, as well as traditional university degrees. The first courses and modules under the new system are due to start from January 2027.
The Department for Education says the funding will allow people to build qualifications over time, with support linked to the size of the course being studied rather than only being available for full academic years.
For Stone residents, the Staffordshire providers on the first approved list mean there will be local and regional options available through nearby colleges and universities.
The full Staffordshire and nearby providers named in the West Midlands list include Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, Keele University and the University of Staffordshire. Other approved providers across the region include Aston University, Birmingham City University, Coventry College, Dudley College of Technology, Harper Adams University, Solihull College and University Centre, Telford College, University College Birmingham, University of Warwick, University of Worcester and Walsall College.
The government says modules will focus on subjects linked to skills shortages, including computing, engineering, architecture, economics, health and social care.
Under the new system, eligible people will be able to access funding equivalent to four years of post 18 study, currently worth up to £39,160. The money can be used flexibly across shorter courses, modules or full degrees during a person’s working life.
Maintenance support will also be available for eligible students to help with living costs.
People who already have a degree may still be able to access the new funding if they have remaining student finance available, or if they want to retrain in certain priority subject areas.
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said
“Financial support should be available whether you want to do a degree, take a short course, or retrain later in life. Our changes will make that happen, with the option to access student finance in any stage of life.
“Whether it’s fitting study around a job, retraining for a completely new career, juggling childcare, or getting qualifications later in life, the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement will open up new opportunities for thousands more people to build the careers they want and get on in life.”
Applications for student finance under the new system are due to open in September 2026, for courses and modules starting from January 2027.
Moments after leaving the club, people were calling me a nonce
Lucien Jack wants to remind people “there is a human being” underneath the glitz and glamLucien Jack claims he experienced homophobia in Liverpool city centreA man has claimed he was called “a nonce” among other homophobic slurs as he finished his shift in Liverpool city centre. Lucien Jack, originally from North Hampshire, said within minutes of leaving nightclub Dysco on Saturday night, he was targeted on Stanley Street.The 37-year-old, who now lives in the city’s business district, said he was vlogging, as he does every week, for his YouTube channel when the incident happened on May 9. At the time, Lucien was dressed as his drag persona, Teena, and was promoting two events he his hosting this week.When the ECHO met with Lucien, he said he wanted to be photographed and interviewed as himself, as opposed to Teena. He said this was to highlight that “there is a human being” underneath the glitz and glam of a drag persona.He told the ECHO: “Every week I do a vlog called Teena Talks, and I always try to create different content – whether I’m touring or at home. Because I had shows coming up, I decided to go around Liverpool to promote them.“I have a drag character, and her personality can be quite confrontational in a playful way. The joke is always on me, and I never set out to make anyone feel uncomfortable, it’s part of the act and part of the fun. I perform across Liverpool in lots of different venues – bars, private events, and restaurants. This time, I just had finished on Stanley Street and left the venue.Lucien was dressed as their drag persona when they were targeted in the city centre “Within seconds of leaving, and starting filming in the Pride Quarter, someone shouted ‘yuck’ at me and pointed. It immediately felt like this wasn’t going to be an easy start. Someone called me a nonce and someone else shouted transphobic slurs.“I’m in the Pride Quarter, where I perform regularly, so I should feel safe there. But quite quickly, things escalated. I heard derogatory comments, including slurs and being called offensive names. It was relentless, and it made me feel quite unsafe in that moment.“I have dyspraxia and I am neurodivergent so I tend to be able to focus on what is happening in front of me. I didn’t even realise everything that was being shouted at me until I watched the footage back later while editing.“A man also came up to me and asked, ‘Are you a man?’ in a confrontational way. That moment made me feel scared. It all happened very quickly, with more comments from people around him.”Lucien said the homophobia had “nothing to do” with the venues on Stanley Street, nor did he report the incident as he said it is something he has become used to as a drag queen.Lucien said he is determined not to be deterred by the incidentHe added: “You are always going to get prejudice. I can go home and take my drag off but there are others out there who can’t. There are trans people who will be perceived in a certain light by these people. It’s quite scary how people feel they can be openly rude.”Lucien also claimed this was only part of the abuse he received that day in drag. He said earlier on, while still promoting his shows, teenagers kept “making noises” at him.He added: “It wasn’t the main issue of the day, but it made for a difficult start. I can deal with things like that – it’s just kids. But I was more conscious that I was being filmed, and I was concerned about the person filming me at the time.”Despite what happened, Lucien said he is still going ahead with his events. The first being Queerovision on Friday, May 15 at Navy Bar 2.0 and a Eurovision viewing party on Saturday, May 16 at Hot Water Comedy Club.He said: “I’ve lived here for a year and it’s such a welcoming city. I love it, but it does show the current times we are in and where we are headed. People should be able to live their lives how they want to without the relentless attacks.”If, for any reason, you do not wish to report a hate crime to the police, the independent charity Stop Hate UK runs a 24/7 confidential helpline for all victims of hate crime on 0800 138 1625 or www.stophateuk.org. You can also download the Stop Hate UK reporting app on Google Play or the Apple App Store. You can also report hate crime via:
Cranfield University to merge with King’s College London
The move follows the merger of the universities of Kent and Greenwich in 2025.As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield will benefit from the interdisciplinary breadth and scale of King’s. King’s, in turn, will be strengthened by Cranfield’s world-renowned expertise in technology, engineering and management, alongside its deep and long-standing partnerships with industry and government. Prof Dame Karen Holford, chief executive and vice-chancellor at Cranfield University, said the merger would “create a global university” delivering excellence with “purpose, drive and scale”.She added that they would continue their mission to tackle real-world issues with “Cranfield University’s outstanding applied research… and long-standing industry links to King’s”.Lord Patrick Vallance, science minister, said the merger “creates an extraordinarily powerful university”.”It holds huge potential for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor” and gives “King’s a place at the heart of one of our most important regions for science and technology”, he said.
