A proposed direct
train link between Aberystwyth and London has been rejected
by the Office of Rail Regulation.
Arriva Trains Wales had planned
to offer a twice daily service to Marylebone station
from Aberystwyth.
The Office of Rail regulation
said it was concerned about the "financial viability
of the proposed new service".
It would have run via some of
the same stations used by the Wrexham and Shropshire
rail route to Marylebone.
Wrexham and Shorpshire had expressed
fears that the proposed service could put it out of
business as they would have shared some stations on
the route to London.
Aberystwyth is one of only a few
towns left in Britain without a direct link to the capital
after the last link to London was withdrawn in 1991.
In April last year, Virgin trains
dropped plans to run a competing service to Wrexham
& Shropshire.
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Police in Shrewsbury are appealing for information after
the same man is believed to have exposed himself to
a woman on two separate occasions.
The first incident happened on Saturday, January 16th
but was not reported to police until the second incident
occurred on last Thursday, both of them in the Belle
Vue area of town.
The offender, a white man aged in his mid to late 20s,
was riding a dark pedal cycle and wearing dark clothing
on each occasion.
Constable Ben Oakley, who is investigating the incidents,
appealed for anyone who might have seen this man or
who has any information as to his identity to contact
police on 0300 333 3000.
The first incident happened in January happened between
about 6.30pm and 7pm while the victim was using the
telephone kiosk opposite the Boar’s Head pub,
at the junction of Belle Vue Road and Betton Street.
The offender cycled up and stood outside the kiosk door,
where he exposed himself before cycling off towards
Old Coleham.
On the second occasion, which happened between about
7.10pm and 7.20pm on Thursday, the victim was walking
along Longden Road between the junctions for Arbourne
Gardens and South Hermitage, near the speed camera.
The offender cycled passed her before turning around
in the driveway of a property and heading back, slowing
down to expose himself before again making off towards
the Coleham area.
Constable Oakley said: “I am keen to hear from
anyone who might have seen this male or who knows who
he is. The victim did not initially report the first
incident but did so following the second, which we believe
was carried out by the same man.
“He is described as white, in his mid to late
20s, between about 5ft 7in and 5ft 9in in height and
of medium build. He was wearing a dark woollen hat,
dark jumper and jogging bottoms and had a scarf around
the lower part of his face.
“Anybody who might have information which could
help our investigation is asked to contact police on
0300 333 3000.
“Information can also be passed on anonymously
via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where a reward is
sometimes offered.
“If anybody sees a cyclist matching this description
in the area in the future, I would also ask them to
contact police at the time on 0300 333 3000.”
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A motorist died yesterday when his vehicle left the
A483 Chirk bypass near Oswestry.
The car left the road and ended up down an embankment
around 12pm, the incident closed the bypass for several
hours with police diverting traffic through Chirk.
The male driver died at the scene.
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A large amount of cigarettes have been stolen during
a break-in at a supermarket in Shrewsbury.
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed suspicious
activity near the Co-Operative in Welshpool Road, Bicton
Heath, between about 10.10pm and 10.40pm on Saturday.
The offender or offenders are believed to have made
off across fields behind the store and into a vehicle.
A car was seen in the Shepherds Lane area with a man
acting suspiciously around it between about 10.30pm
and 11pm that night but it has not been confirmed whether
this was connected, although it is something officers
are looking into.
The total value of the items stolen has also not yet
been established.
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Children and young people from Telford and Wrekin
schools have been making music that will be showcased
at Oakengates Theatre @ The Place on Wednesday 17 March.
The doors will open at 7pm where students will be ready
to hit the stage with their musical performances. Tickets
for the Telford and Wrekin Music Showcase are now on
sale at The Place Box Office.
Building on the success of two previous showcases,
the line up intends to appeal to all music tastes. Various
performances including orchestras, choirs, rock bands,
steel bands and many more feature on the events programme.
Students from the Lord Silkin, Blessed Robert Johnson
Catholic College, New College, Shortwood Primary, John
Randall Primary, Newdale Primary, Redhill Primary, Millbrook
Primary, Tibberton Primary, The Bridge Special School
and also the Telford and Wrekin Orchestra will all feature
in the showcase.
The event will be supported and organised by Telford
and Wrekin Music and Telford and Wrekin’s Find
Your Talent.
“This is a great event that highlights the young
talent we have in Telford and Wrekin,” said Councillor
Stephen Burrell, cabinet member for children and young
people.
“The students involved have been working extremely
hard to prepare for the music showcase and I would encourage
people to purchase tickets to attend an event that I
know will be one not to be missed”.
For more information or to book tickets for the Telford
and Wrekin Music Showcase contact The Box Office at
The Place on 01952 382382
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Police have appealed
for the driver of a car who failed to stop following
a collision with another in Oswestry to get in touch.
The crash happened at about 11.20pm
on Saturday in Welsh Walls, by the junction with Arundel
Road.
Damage was caused to a red MG
Maestro in Welsh Walls after a silver BMW 5 series with
a foreign registration plate collided with it.
The driver of the BMW failed to
stop and left the scene, passing a number of other vehicles
in the road as he or she did so.
Constable Neil Hardwick, who is
investigating the incident, said a number of those other
drivers are believed to have seen what happened and
may have further details about the offending vehicle
and its driver.
He urged them and anyone else
with information to contact police on 0300 333 3000.
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Police across Shropshire today renewed warnings for
people to be alert and keep a close eye on their valuables,
especially purses and handbags, while shopping.
The advice comes after a number of purse thefts reported
in various parts of the county in recent days, where
purses were ‘dipped’ from bags.
Officers urged people to keep handbags securely fastened
and to be aware of persons standing around or close
to them at all times while out and about.
Offenders usually target elderly or otherwise vulnerable
people such as mothers with young children but everyone
is urged to be alert.
In one recent incident in Market Drayton, a 94-year-old
lady had her purse taken from her wicker shopping basket,
which she had unfortunately left open, while shopping
in Morrison’s supermarket.
Between about 1.15pm and 1.20pm last Wednesday, she
felt her basket move and noticed a man standing very
close to her who moved away immediately when he saw
she had seen him. Moments later, she noticed her purse
containing cash was missing.
Incidents have also been reported in Shrewsbury town
centre during the past week or so, with purses taken
from the handbags of elderly women out shopping.
Constable Lyn Downes, who is investigating the Market
Drayton theft, offered the following advice in reducing
the risk of falling victim to purse thieves.
She said: “Keep an eye on your bag, never leaving
it on a trolley or unattended even for just a few seconds
and be aware of who is around you, particularly in shops
and just after you have used a cash machine.
“People should keep purses and other valuables
at the very bottom of their bags, which are securely
zipped up or fastened, or in the inside pocket of a
coat. This keeps them from the easy reach of thieves.”
The offender in the Market Drayton incident is described
as white, in his late 20s, of average build and wearing
dark clothing.
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Graham Jones from Much
Wenlock shows Halls' fine art director a Mintons
pewter mounted art nouveau vase, a Persian Iznik
plauque and an art nouveau pewter bowl, which together
were valued at up to £400. |
The
refurbishment of Priory Hall in Much Wenlock received
a £200 boost when a team of experts from a
leading Shropshire fine art auction house held a
charity antiques valuation event at the venue on
Friday afternoon.
The four experts from Halls in Shrewsbury were kept
busy by a steady stream of people who turned up
with a wide range of family heirlooms and unusual
items to be assessed.
A charge of £2 was made for each item valued,
with all the proceeds going towards a £2,500
refurbishment project at Priory Hall. Severn Hospice
also benefited from the event, as refreshments were
served by local supporters.
Amongst the items taken in for auction were a pierced
Satsuma vase and cover valued at up to £1,500,
a David Bates painting of highland sheep valued
at up to £3,000 and a 1925 silver basket by
James Dixon and Sons valued at up to £300.
Taken in for further research by Halls' fine art
director Jeremy Lamond were an interesting Italian
maiolica vase and a Satsuma vase and bowl.
Jewellery and silver specialist Christina Trevanion
took in a silver Masonic pair case pocket watch,
which was made in Birmingham in 1841 by Thomas Shaw
and featured a dial painted by W. T. Lees, Haslingden. |
"The
enamelling to the dial sets apart this pair case
pocket watch from other examples that I have seen,"
said Miss Trevanion, who valued the watch at up
to £500. She also took in for sale a selection
of gold jewellery valued at up to £1,200.
Halls' other valuers at the event were William Lacey,
paintings and books specialist and Derek Ainsworth,
coins and medals specialist.
Mr Lamond said the event had been very worthwhile
and he thanked the people of Much Wenlock and surrounding
area for turning out with such an interesting range
of items to be valued.
Mrs Joy Sims, Priory Hall Committee lettings secretary,
thanked the Halls' team for their generous support.
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Residents, businesses and community groups are being
given another opportunity to get involved in developing
regeneration plans for Oakengates next month.
Urban Designer David Orr has already held a successful
walkabout in the town to identify what the current issues
and challenges are for the local community and what
they see as priority for making future improvements.
The next event will be held on Saturday 6th March to
give more people the opportunity to share their views.
The event will be a drop-in workshop and will attempt
to engage residents in different activities to get them
to really think about the future of their town.
The workshop will take place at Oakengates United Church,
in Stafford Street, between 10am and 1pm. Anyone interested
in shaping the regeneration of Oakengates is invited
to drop in during the morning and get involved.
Cllr Eric Carter, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration
and Prosperity, said: “We are committed to the
wider regeneration of Oakengates and all the ideas we
gain from these events will be fed into a programme
of projects for us to look at funding now and in the
future as part of our overall Borough Towns Initiative
programme.
“This is the ideal opportunity for anyone who
cares about the town to come forward and voice their
opinions to David Orr who will be putting together a
masterplan of short, medium and long term projects for
the regeneration of Oakengates.”
The event follows the successful launch of the new
Oakengates Town Partnership which brings together businesses,
residents, community groups and councillors to oversee
the development of regeneration plans for Oakengates.
Nick Hughes, Oakengates Town Partnership secretary,
added: “We have already had a lot of interest
from residents about how they would like to see Oakengates
develop as a town. I would urge everyone who has not
yet had their say to come along to the workshop on March
6th and let us hear your ideas.”
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Police are appealing for witnesses to a two-car collision
on the A41 at Woodcote, Shifnal on Saturday.
The drivers of a blue Peugeot 306 and a red Seat Altea
were slightly injured in the collision which happened
at the junction with the B4379 at around 3.30pm.
The cars were travelling in the opposite direction.
A woman driving the Seat towards Newport was taken to
the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford and treated for
neck and back injuries before being discharged.
The driver of the Peugeot, a man, sustained a minor
cut to his cheek. He was travelling behind a third car
which was intending to turn right onto the B4379.
Police Constable Keith Rowley, the investigating officer,
has appealed for witnesses to contact him at Shifnal
police station on 0300-333-3000. He is particularly
anxious to hear from the woman who was driving the car
intending to turn into the B-road.
He said: “This car was not damaged in the incident.
It’s believed it was being driven by a white woman,
aged in her late thirties to early forties and wearing
glasses who may have stopped briefly at the scene, speaking
to the other parties.
“I would ask her, and indeed anyone else who saw
the collision or the circumstances leading up to it,
to please get in touch.”
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Drooping plants and
dry brown grass might seem a long way off with the current
rain and snow across Shropshire but when the weather
warms up, watering the garden can be an expensive business.
The RSPB wants to make sure gardeners take the necessary
steps now to keep their lawns, trees and shrubs green
and lush for wildlife this summer.
With the threat of increasing water bills with summer
tariffs – and the ever-present need to conserve
water – the wildlife charity is reassuring us
all that keeping gardens alive can be done at no extra
cost.
The RSPB is encouraging gardeners to install a water
butt now so it is full by the time the weather warms
and gardens need constant watering.
The snow and rain predicted in the next few days mean
butts will start to gather large amounts of water quickly.
Louise Pedersen from the RSPB’s West Midlands
office says: “The RSPB realises that keeping bills
down is a priority for everyone but by installing a
water butt you can still care for your garden –
and for wildlife - without worrying about the cost.
“Many water companies and local councils offer
good deals on the water butts to get you started, and
the rest just happens naturally – literally!
“We all like to see our gardens looking their
best and full of colour and life. As well as looking
great for all those family barbecues, regular watering
will ensure our garden birds are fed too.
“Natural food like berries and insects are absolutely
vital for birds, especially during the breeding season
as baby birds can digest them easily, and flourishing
trees and shrubs will ensure both of these.
The RSPB offers more information on saving energy in
your garden and making a haven for wildlife with its
Homes for Wildlife scheme. Visit rspb.org.uk/hfw
for details.
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