Cash-strapped Woking Borough Council approves budget
The deficit on the business as usual budget for 2025-26 is £2.8m, which is expected to be covered by the government's Exceptional Financial Support.The council's balanced budget includes continued support for delivering core services, including housing, and a reduction in car parking charges.The council is still essentially spending above its resources, despite the level of cuts and savings made, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.The council has labelled the budget as one "the community can afford".
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Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE We live next to a derelict theme park plagued by ravers and anti-social gangs but we don't want it to be bulldozed as the alternative is far worse
For over a decade, a medieval theme park has lay derelict, decaying and rotting. Instead of welcoming young families, it now welcomes urban explorers, pill-popping ravers and anti-social youths. As indictments of 21st-century Britain go, Chorley's Camelot theme park is hard to top. However residents living in the shadow of this grim monument of despair want it to stay exactly how it is, for they fear that worse things could follow should the site be scrubbed away. An £80m plan to build 350 homes on the site of the former Camelot theme park has sparked anger among villagers who claim it will 'ruin' the area. The site has lay derelict since the attraction shut down in 2012 due to dwindling visitor numbers. Developers Story Homes, who bought the park in 2009 and have twice had plans (in 2014 and 2017) for similar housing schemes rejected, have now submitted an outline planning application to Chorley Borough Council. Documents claim the site is 'well positioned' to support wider regional growth and a 'prime location' for residential development and will also deliver improved transport infrastructure, facilities and a fully accessible open space for residents. 'Therefore, the proposed development is well positioned to contribute positively to the Borough's growth ambitions, whilst also making effective and efficient use of previously developed land within an accessible and sustainable location,' it's claimed. Half the new homes, which will take an 'assumed' seven years to build, will be 'affordable' and an 'entry point' for local key workers and younger families. Story say the scheme will also deliver wide-ranging social-economic benefits, which include helping to preserve social and family networks, extra jobs and higher household expenditure. But residents in the nearby village of Heskin, which has one convenience store, one pub and a population of less than a 1,000, fear it will spoil the character of the area. They object to development on green belt and the 'destruction'of wildlife, claim it will it lead to increased noise and traffic and point to 'insufficient infrastructure' such as schools and doctors to cope with an influx of new residents. Chris Davis, 62, says he has 'mixed feelings' about the plans because while he can see there will be economic benefits for the area he's worried about their wider impact if they're approved. 'I accept people have to live somewhere,' he said. 'At the moment the site is derelict and full of concrete so it's better to dig that up than more of the green belt. 'But if they start ripping down more trees that will change everything. 'They'll basically be creating a new village within a village, so you're going to need new schools, doctors, shops, that kind of thing. 'Also, the roads round here are busy enough, especially during rush hour or when there's an accident and they close the [nearby] M6 and re-route the traffic through here and Ecclestone. 'So it's all the extra traffic that's a worry and the lorries coming and going during the building work. He added: 'If it's green belt land you have to keep it green belt land.' Melvin Otter, 75, who's lived in Heskin for more than 50 years, is also against the plans to develop the site. 'The developers have twice had plans rejected but there's so much money involved,' he said. 'Money talks, so they'll probably get them approved this time. 'But where's all the new infrastructure coming from? 'It's already a real problem trying to get a GP appointment and the roads are bad now – so it will only get even worse. 'They're saying it's all brownfield land, but who's to say they won't submit further plans and build on the green belt too.' Neil Haslingden, 56, also says a 'lack of infrastructure' and 'extra traffic' are concerns and believes alternative schemes to redevelop existing homes and buildings are better options. 'I don't think the answer is just to keep building and building new homes,' he said. 'They need to do something with existing spaces, such as empty farm buildings or houses. 'As the village lies within the green belt I couldn't extend my home by more than 50%. 'So I had to look an alternative plans and I'm now going to convert my garage instead.' He added that new cycle lanes, which form part of the plans, would only benefit those living in the new properties and he fears that locals could be 'priced out' from buying them. Another villager, who didn't wish to be named, complained: 'The scheme will change the character of the area completely. 'It will be awful and the village will be ruined. 'There are other homes being built nearby that aren't even sold yet. 'So I can't understand why they need to build another 350.' So far, 22 official objections from residents have been sent to Chorley Council. One claimed the plans were 'ridiculous' and that house builders were determined to 'ruin' the local area. A 'significant development' Siobhan Sweeney, North West Land Manager for Story Homes, said: 'We are excited to bring forward plans for this significant development on a well-known local site. Our proposal not only addresses the strong demand for high-quality, affordable homes in Chorley, but also places emphasis on sustainability and community investment. 'Through the delivery of affordable homes, investment in green infrastructure, and the creation of new community spaces, we're committed to ensuring that this scheme supports local people and enhances the wider area.' 'We are rapidly losing our green spaces forever and there won't be much left for our future generations at this rate,' they added. Another called the plans 'an absolute disgrace', and would lead to the destruction of wildlife, increased crime and the lowering of village house prices among other problems. Alex Hilton, Executive Member for Planning and Development at Chorley Council, said: 'We understand that the former Camelot site holds a great deal of local significance, and we appreciate the level of interest and feedback received regarding the proposed residential development. 'At this stage, no final decision has been made. The application is still under consideration, and all comments submitted as part of the consultation process will be carefully reviewed and considered before the planning committee makes its decision. 'We are committed to ensuring that the planning process is transparent, balanced, and fair and that all voices are heard.' Camelot enthralled punters with rides and restaurants inspired by the mythical king, the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's legendary sword Excalibur for 29 years. But since its closure, the site had become overgrown and fallen into disrepair, with 'considerable' vandalism and anti-social behaviour, and it's become an attraction for urban explorers who've posted videos online. Many of the structures and buildings have had to be demolished for safety reasons, although some are still standing. The site is now used by a company which organises 'scare' experiences.
Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Tyson Fury's staggering daily earnings after amassing £160million fortune
EXCLUSIVE: Tyson Fury has raked in cash thanks to his career in boxing but brought an end to his career after falling to a second loss to Oleksandr Usyk in December Former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury is making £218,000-a-day in knock-out profits. The 36-year-old's private company, into which he channels his earnings, has assets of over £160million. Tyson Fury Limited reported a £79million profit between September 2023 and last September, newly-filed accounts reveal. Its net-worth is almost double the £82million held in the business the previous year. Fury is the sole director of the company and lists his profession as 'professional boxer'. The accounts show a £100,000 dividend paid to Fury, £50,000 less than he paid himself the previous year. No turnover is reported by the business on Companies House, which means it is not known how much it took through the tills. Its nature of business is listed as 'other letting and operating of own or leased real estate, public relations and communications activities, as well as other sports activities.' Dad-of-seven Fury set his company up in 2013 and the twelve-month period of the accounts predate his retirement following December 2024's loss to Oleksandr Usyk. But it does include his defeat last June to the giant Ukrainian, in which he lost his heavyweight title. The two fighters shared a staggering £150 million for the December fight in Saudi Arabia, which Fury lost on points. The fighter is in no rush to return to the ring but remains bitter over the result. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman recently said: "I call him regularly and he said: 'Oh I'm so happy, retired, I'm here with my wife.' He didn't hint whatsoever that he was planning on coming back. "He told me he was not happy with the decision in the second fight with Usyk. He's still very bitter about the judges' scoring and he was very upset but he was retired, that's what he said." Fury, nicknamed the Gypsy King, lives with wife Paris and their children in a lavish £1.7 million mansion in Morecambe. He has a fleet of luxury cars, including two Rolls-Royces worth £384,000 each, a red Ferrari Portofino and a £200,000 Porsche GT3 RS. But Fury also has a £20,000 Vauxhall Passat and a Mini Cooper. He owns several Rolex watches and also a Richard Mille RM 011 Flyback Chronograph worth over £100,000 and a Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph worth around £90,000. The heavyweight is also a fan of the designer labels, from Louis Vuitton to Gianni Versace which he shows off on Instagram. Fury and his teenage sweetheart Paris met when she was 15. They began dating when she was 16 and tied the knot in 2008. The couple were both brought up in caravans and left education after primary school. Fury is proud of his traveller background and sticks up for the tight-knit community.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- BBC News
Developer sets out new details for 475-home estate near Hinckley.
Developers have unveiled further details of their plans for an estate of 475 homes on the outskirts of Properties intends to build the homes north of the A47 Normandy Way and east of Stoke scheme was given the go-ahead by a government inspector in 2024 after Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council refused it planning a new application has been submitted for the site laying out the development's finer details. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said the latest documents did not provide any information about a potential new primary school, for which land has been set Properties' new planning application said there would be a mix of one-bed maisonettes, bungalows and flats and larger developer has said it would deliver at least 95 affordable properties. A number of children's play areas and green spaces, including three parks, are also included in the plansThe developer has said that "the vision for the site is to provide a new living environment of the highest standard".
