Economy

British Steel creates 180 jobs in production drive

by Hannah
written by Hannah

British Steel is to "ramp up" production and create more than 180 jobs.

The company said the majority of the roles would be based at Scunthorpe, with the rest at the Teesside and Skinningrove plants.

Officials said there would be a "wide variety" of opportunities, including jobs in engineering, cleaning and workplace safety, as well as legal roles.

Plans to make 2,700 workers redundant were scrapped last month after the government took control of the company from its Chinese owner, Jingye.

Allan Bell, the company's interim chief executive, said the new roles would help to "build stronger futures" for British Steel and the UK economy.

"With the backing of the government, we are focused on cementing British Steel as one of the world's leading manufacturers of steel," he said.

"To help achieve this, and meet customer demand, we will be upping production across all our sites and recruiting more than 180 people to help drive us forward."

The BBC has been told 165 of the 182 jobs will be in Scunthorpe, with 17 at Teesside and Skinningrove.

An open day for prospective applicants will be held at the Scunthorpe Conference Centre, on Brigg Road, on 17 May between 10:00 and 16:00 BST.

Last month, the government passed an emergency law to take control of British Steel amid accusations that Jingye was planning to switch off two blast furnaces in Scunthorpe.

The closure of the furnaces would have left the UK without the capability to produce "virgin" steel, which is used in major construction projects such as new buildings and railways.

Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds latest episode of Look North here.

Tech

Headlines: 'Pier boycott' and 'nightclub closure'

by Jayden
written by Jayden

Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.

Our pick of local website stories

There are calls to boycott Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier after it was announced that right-wing commentator Katie Hopkins will be performing there as part of a stand-up comedy tour.

A newly-qualified teenage driver was sentenced to two years' detention after killing three friends and seriously injuring two children and an adult in a "catastrophic" head on crash.

Finally, there was some good news for Swindon's conservationists after Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and a group of councillors discovered a population of rare Great Crested Newts in the town.

Our top three from yesterday

Tech

Future of handmade lace 'hanging by a thread'

by Evan
written by Evan

One of Nottinghamshire's most distinctive crafts is at risk of dying out if new people are not trained, enthusiasts say.

Bobbin lace-making is a centuries-old hand technique that evolved into machine lace-making and made Nottingham world famous.

But fans of the traditional bobbin lace-making say it is a skill in danger of being lost as few new people are discovering it.

Heather Harris, 80, said: "It used to be taught in colleges and schools, but now people just don't seem to know about it."

Getty Images
Bobbin lace-making was for years seen as a useful craft for women to learn

The craft began in Italy in the 15th Century but spread across Europe due to its relative simplicity.

A pattern is laid on a pillow, then pinned out, and threads, each held on a weighted bobbin, intricately wound round the pins.

In Nottingham this developed into a literal cottage industry where families would have frames in their homes.

But the arrival of the machine-driven Industrial Revolution turned this into a global trade which dominated part of the city, which is still known as the Lace Market.

Ms Harris took up bobbin lace-making 45 years ago when her then six-year-old daughter struggled to learn it at school.

Ms Harris said: "She brought it home but couldn't work it out.

"It seemed clear to me, and when I spoke to the lady who was teaching the children, she said I should go to night classes."

Getty Images
The craft requires patience, planning and concentration

Despite its seeming complexity, Ms Harris insists it is relatively easy to start.

"It is basically two stitches," she said. "You can learn those in 10 minutes, but it's how you put them together, that's the secret.

"I find it very calming. You sit with the pillow, and you can have the tele or radio on, and you lose yourself in it.

"If you are feeling down or worried or whatever, you sit at your lace pillow and you make your lace, and you enjoy what you are doing.

"And when you finish, you have such a lovely piece – I make wedding hankies or wedding garters for all my family."

Heather Harris
Two of the three teachers in the society are aged 80

Ms Harris feels the craft has been squeezed out of the public's consciousness.

She said: "There used to be clubs in schools and evening classes run by colleges, but these seem to have gone.

"We demonstrate at the industrial museum and Brewhouse Yard every month, and we have tried and tried to put it out there, but it is hard.

"We need someone who can learn and then teach it because it feels like its future is hanging by a thread.

"Two of us are 80, and the other teacher is a bit younger, but we need someone to come along and build experience.

"It seems like I've got to keep strong and go on for a few years more."

Christopher Lillimen, a trustee at the Nottingham Industrial Museum, said: "The lace industry is a major part of the area's history, and bobbin lace is a major part of that story.

"Having the bobbin lace makers here really shows the impact of mechanisation – hand lace uses a few dozen bobbins, while one of our machines here has 4,500.

"And visitors can have a go at bobbin lace-making – which they can't do with the big machines!"

Industry

Contract signed to transform old bus station site

by Parker
written by Parker

An agreement has been signed to transform the site of an old bus station that was demolished a decade ago.

The Greyfriars development in Northampton will include 1,000 homes, an amphitheatre, shops and restaurants.

The 25-acre (10.1ha) site also includes two existing car parks, a disused corn exchange, and a derelict office block.

West Northamptonshire Council said the deal would "revitalise a long-neglected area of the heart of the town centre".

The site includes the space left by the demolition of the old bus station in 2015

Ever since Northampton's Greyfriars bus station, labelled "the mouth of hell", disappeared in a huge cloud of dust in 2015, the site has been vacant and unused.

The agreement that has now been signed means work could be starting soon on a project that will, according to the council, "unlock the true potential of Northampton".

The signatures on the document are those of the council and ECF which is a joint venture between the government's Homes England agency and private firms Legal & General and "placemakers" Muse.

ECF
The vision includes affordable homes as well as built-to-rent houses and student accommodation

As well as the bus station site, the regeneration area includes the Mayorhold and Victoria Street Car Parks and the traffic islands either side of the bus station.

There is also the Corn Exchange, built in 1851, and Belgrave House – a giant 1970s brutalist office block.

Under the plans, Belgrave House is set to become a "flexible space for established and emergent businesses".

ECF
A new linear park is included in the vision along what is now Lady's Lane

The Corn Exchange is likely to be turned into art and performance space, alongside a new amphitheatre on what is now the West Island.

A park is included in the plan, occupying the area which is now Lady's Lane.

The plans include affordable, built-to-rent and student accommodation alongside shops, restaurants and leisure facilities.

The council claims 7,000 full-time equivalent jobs will be created during the construction phase and "over £1bn in economic value" will be "unlocked".

Martin Heath/BBC
Reform UK's James Petter, nearest the camera, said the project would strengthen the local economy

James Petter, cabinet member for local economy at the Reform UK-controlled council, said: "The regeneration of Greyfriars will not only revitalise a key part of our town centre but also strengthen our local economy, improve connectivity, and create a more inclusive and vibrant place to live, work, and visit."

Sir Michael Lyons, who chairs ECF, said: "Entering a development agreement will enable us to take the next important step in the delivery of this important opportunity."

He added that both parties would now "move at pace" to deliver a masterplan for the project.

Economy

Date set for referendum on mayor for Plymouth

by Harper
written by Harper

A date has been set for a referendum to decide if Plymouth should have a directly-elected mayor paid in the region of £75,000 a year.

Plymouth City Council has to hold a referendum after a campaign, led by Angus Forbes, former banker and husband of celebrity dancer Darcey Bussell, gathered more than 10,000 signatures in favour of the process.

Opponents said the campaign was based on false promises and hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on it would be a waste of money.

Campaigners for the referendum, due to be held on Thursday 17 July, claimed it was a chance to change how the city was run.

Tudor Evans, the Labour leader of Plymouth City Council, says the referendum is a waste of money

If Plymouth residents vote in favour of a directly-elected mayor, the first elections will be held in May 2026.

At a heated meeting at Plymouth City Council, members expressed their frustration with the process that the council said would cost about £410,000.

Several councillors spoke about other areas such as Bristol, Liverpool and Torbay which have had directly elected mayors but then abolished the posts.

The leader of the Labour-led council, Tudor Evans, said there was a great difference between a possible mayor for Plymouth and the directly-elected mayors in London and Greater Manchester who have greater powers.

Evans also pointed to the current reorganisation of local government taking place, in which the government has indicated it wants to scrap directly-elected mayors for single authorities such as Plymouth in favour of mayors for combined authorities.

The city council's chief executive, Tracey Lee, acknowledged the reorganisation as a potential risk and said talks were ongoing with the government.

Forbes claimed the cost of the referendum was "the best money a Plymouth taxpayer could ever spend to change to a successful system of direct democracy".

He said the current system had "failed to grow the economy".

Forbes said: "Our greatest opportunity is to have a place-based leader to galvanise us, to unify us with a vision for Plymouth, and to be an ambassador, to attract private capital and private citizens to come to Plymouth."

Industry

Suspected arson at derelict pub

by Natalie
written by Natalie

A severe fire overnight at a derelict pub in Dudley is being treated as suspected arson, police have said.

Six fire crews were dispatched to the former Crown Inn in Netherton at the height of the blaze, after it was reported at about 00:30 BST on Friday.

It involved the roof space at the old Simms Lane pub, which closed in 2018. No-one was believed to have been injured, the fire service said.

West Midlands Police has asked anyone with information to get in touch with officers.

The road, which was closed in both directions, has since reopened.

Global Trade

Child dies after minibus overturns on slip road

by Stephanie
written by Stephanie

A child has died after a minibus overturned on a motorway slip road, police have said.

The M4 in Berkshire was closed in both directions following the single vehicle collision on the link road from junction 10 of the motorway to the A329M near Reading at about 14:45 BST on Sunday.

The motorway reopened after about three hours but the slip road remained closed, Thames Valley Police (TVP) said just before 20:00.

The force said other passengers were seriously injured in the crash and confirmed no arrests have been made.

National Highways said earlier on Sunday that the M4 was closed eastbound, between junctions 11 and 10, and westbound, between junctions 8/9 and 11, because of a "serious injury incident involving an overturned vehicle" on the link road.

It warned of "severe" delays approaching the closures in both directions, partly because of broken down vehicles in the queues.

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) confirmed it had five critical care units and six ambulances at the scene near Reading, and a spokesperson for Thames Valley Air Ambulance said it sent a helicopter and a critical care response vehicle.

Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue crews were also in attendance.

National Highways
Traffic was queueing eastbound at junction 11 following the incident

Global Trade

Teenager dies after being hit by lorry

by Christian
written by Christian

An 18-year-old pedestrian has died after he was struck by a lorry, police have said.

Officers were called to the A623 Bay Gateway, between Mellishaw Lane and Northgate, in Morecambe at 03:00 BST on Sunday.

Lancashire Police said the man, who was from Morecambe, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The force has appealed for any witnesses to come forward and has asked for any CCTV or dashcam footage.

Tech

'Dáithí's letter from Bill Clinton stopped me in my tracks'

by Jamie
written by Jamie

A young boy from Belfast has received a letter from a former US President.

Dáithí Mac Gabhann who inspired a change in Northern Ireland's organ donation rules received a silver envelope through the letterbox on Thursday.

The letter was embellished with "William Jefferson Clinton", who many will know as Bill Clinton.

Dáithí's dad, Máirtín Mac Gabhann said the letter "stopped me in my tracks… the fact someone like President Clinton took the time to write this letter is amazing".

Dáithí's Law was named after seven-year-old Belfast boy Dáithí Mac Gabhann, who has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant since 2018.

The legislation means that most adults in Northern Ireland are now considered as potential organ donors after their death, unless they actively opt out.

PA Media
Máirtín Mac Gabhann and Dáithí outside Stormont when Dáithí's law was passed in 2023

Mr Mac Gabhann told BBC News NI it was as if fate helped Dáithí receive this letter.

"Dáithí and I were at (Belfast) City Hall to see the Secretary of State at a Good Friday Agreement event but he was running late… so we took a tour of the Freedom of the City Exhibition."

When they went to view the exhibition Mr Mac Gabhann said President Clinton and Senator George Mitchell had been a couple of the last to receive the honour, in 2018.

Dáithí also received the honour in 2023 in recognition of his campaign to raise awareness around organ donation.

"I just had a thought and I reached out to Queen's and said I've written letters out about Dáithí and everything that's happened," Mr Mac Gabhann said.

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He added that a response did come from Senator George Mitchell quickly because he had still been in Northern Ireland to respond.

But the letter from the former president was something unexpected.

"Dáithí hit a big redner, jaw on the floor… he knew this was big… he couldn't believe it… he was even getting a bit emotional about it all."

He added that it's so positive to have this letter as Dáithí is about to reach his 7th anniversary of waiting for a heart transplant.

"It gave us a much needed boost… Dáithí is stable now but this letter has saved the day for us… as he had been at hospital."

Dáithí's 7th anniversary of being on a waiting list for a heart transplant falls on 2 June.

Máirtín Mac Gabhann
The letter sent to Máirtín Mac Gabhann from President Clinton

In the letter to Dáithí, President Clinton said he was "so proud" to share the Freedom of the City honour "with someone as amazing as you".

"Keep up your great work and know that you have a big fan pulling for you in New York."

President Clinton ended the letter with one message – "Keep going!"

"It was just an amazing letter, I got a separate letter from President Clinton and he said 'Your letter took my breath away. Press on!' and that's momentous," said Mr Mac Gabhann.

Speaking about his son, Mr Mac Gabhann said it has been a long fight and journey for Dáithí but "luck has been on our side" and "the hope is what keeps you going".

He reiterated his call for those to consider joining the organ donor register and to talk about it with family and friends.

"We rely on the community, our close community, far and wide… don't forget about us. At our lowest points they (the community) have brought us up… as has President Clinton."

Business

GP surgery to remain shut over mystery illness

by Noah
written by Noah

A GP practice will remain closed until the end of the week due to ongoing safety concerns, the owners have said.

Caister Health Centre was first closed on 29 April after 16 people fell ill, and again on Tuesday as a "precautionary measure".

The practice said the fire service had worked with gas engineers from Cadent and with Anglian Water but no concerns had been identified so far.

A spokesperson for the health centre said patient appointments would be rearranged at other surgeries, and that patients would be contacted with further information.

Jonathan Knights, the practice's executive manager, said further tests would be carried out at the site in the coming days.

"We're going to engage experts in air quality to come down and try and advise us whether there's any cause for concern," he said.

"The steps we've taken so far have been precautionary measures, and so far there has been no concern found.

"But we want to make sure, for the safety of our patients and staff, that remains the case."

Mr Knights said those that fell ill had symptoms such as headaches and tiredness.

Andrew Turner/BBC
The GP practice said it had contacted other people who had visited the surgery on the day 16 people fell ill and none had similar symptoms

The building's dental practice and pharmacy, which originally opened as usual this morning, decided to close later in the day.

The GP practice urged patients to order their prescriptions over the phone or via the NHS App instead.

Emergency services were called to the practice on 29 April when four of the 16 people who fell ill took themselves to hospital.

The practice reopened the following day.

Four fire engines, two ambulances and a police car where then sent there on Tuesday afternoon after a number of staff felt slightly unwell.

Network gas operator Cadent confirmed it was called back to the site, but the gas had already been turned off after last week's incident.

Mr Knight said the building's landlord had been made aware of the issue.