Latest news with #AlisonHume
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Scarborough gas rig plans opposed by local council
Plans for a new gas-drilling rig near a seaside town have been unanimously opposed by local decision-makers. The planning application to North Yorkshire Council has proposed using a controversial "proppant squeeze" method to extract the gas in Burniston, near Scarborough, and installing a 98ft (30m) drilling rig on the site. But Reform-run Scarborough Town Council said during consultation that it had concerns about light and noise pollution, lorry traffic and water contamination and gave its "full and unwavering support" to local residents, who also opposed the plan. Europa Oil & Gas said its scheme would be positive for the local economy and "no one is going to notice" its presence. Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume and David Skaith, elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, have also objected to the proppant squeeze technique has been described as "small-scale fracking" and has been accused by some of being a loophole in the UK's moratorium on the fossil fuel extraction of the Earth wrote to North Yorkshire Council notifying it of the legal opinion it had obtained that said that proppant squeeze qualifies as fracking under relevant planning policy, and that it must be considered as such when the council considers Europa's application for planning permission. Proppant squeeze procedures have been regularly used in the UK for several years, and industry experts consider the technique low volume, unlike the process formally termed 'hydraulic fracturing', according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Friends of the Earth lawyers also wrote to Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy, urging him to close a loophole in the current fracking moratorium "as a matter of urgency".The environmental group said that having different definitions for fracking is creating confusion, and that the moratorium must be widened to cover all types of fracking, regardless of the volume of the injected has maintained that "it is a misconception that there is a loophole" in the fracking application is currently under consideration by North Yorkshire Council, with consultee responses awaited. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
MP criticises DWP as she accuses them of cutting off her own son's PIP
The Department for Work and Pensions has been accused of being 'at war' with the people it is supposed to protect The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is facing heavy criticism from an MP over her son's Personal Independence Payments (PIP). She said the department had cut his funds 'entirely' despite his health worsening. During a debate in the House of Commons about the government's latest benefit reform bill last week, the DWP came under heavy criticism from Labour MP Alison Hume. She criticised the department and suggested they were often antagonistic towards those they are meant to support. She said: "The DWP is too frequently at war with the people it is supposed to protect. Too frequently, it lets down the most vulnerable in our community, and it mostly gets away with it." A 'hostile' culture to disabled people She said there was a pressing need for change within the DWP. At this point, she shared her personal ordeal, highlighting what she said was the department's adversarial approach towards disabled claimants - but said the DWP offered to reinstate her son's benefits if she dropped a tribunal. She added: "That experience cemented in my mind something that I believe to this day: the culture of the DWP is hostile to disabled people. That culture must change if we are to have any chance of building a sustainable, fair and compassionate welfare system for the future." She then made the claim that despite a decline in her son's health, the DWP entirely stopped his benefits following the submission of new evidence for his reassessment. She said: "In May, after reporting a deterioration in his health, he submitted new evidence to support reassessment for a higher rate of PIP, which led to the DWP removing his award entirely. "He was left with no income or support despite his ongoing need for care." Less support for those returning to work Speaking on the challenges faced by those with fluctuating health conditions, Ms Hume pointed out that rejected PIP applicants often resort to the health component of Universal Credit. She drew attention to the fact that such people may return to work during brief improvements in their health. But she cautioned that when they experience another downturn in health and need to rely on Universal Credit again, under the government's proposed bill, their financial support would be diminished. She argued: "That completely ignores the realities faced by disabled people and their experience of their conditions. Without the protections provided for in amendment 38, we would create a two-tier system where people with unpredictable conditions would be valued less than those with more predictable ones." 'Genuine support' for disabled people A DWP spokesperson commented: "While we were not provided with the details to look into this specific case, we will consider all the available evidence when making decisions and people have the right to challenge them and provide additional information. "We're reforming the welfare system so people are genuinely supported into work while putting it on a sustainable footing. We are putting disabled people at the heart of a ministerial review of the PIP assessment to make sure it is fit and fair for the future, and we will work with them and key organisations representing them, to consider how best to do this."
BBC News
28-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Flying displays and parades mark Armed Forces Day in Scarborough
Thousands of people attended Armed Forces Day celebrations at Scarborough's South Bay earlier in support of military events at St Nicholas Gardens included marching bands, air displays and parades, while also marking 80 years since the D-Day Hume, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said the celebrations were a reminder of the importance of the armed said: "It is a very uncertain time, as a government we're looking to spend more on defence. "The world is shifting on its axis so today is an important reminder that it's not just about the past, it's about keeping our country safe today."Some people aren't here today and we have to remember them. Others who have served and are here today are a reminder of how much we depend on people to serve so that we can enjoy all the freedoms of democracy." Wing Cdr Toby Steward, station commander at RAF Fylingdales near Pickering said his team were proud to be involved in the said: "It's enormously important because of the incredible efforts that we all know the armed forces are making at the moment here and overseas and I think that sense of recognition adds to the energy."The event included displays from the Norwegian Marching Bands, the City of Hull and Scarborough Royal Air Force Cadets and Starlings Aerobatic Team. Hume said she had attended the parades before, but it was her first year attending as MP for the town."We do a really good armed forces day in Scarborough, it's great to see the town turn out," she said."I'm incredibly proud to represent a town like this that puts veterans and service personnel at the heart."I always look forward to the parades. I look forward to seeing the Sea Cadets particularly, I've got a soft spot for them. Their parents will be incredibly proud of them." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Inquiries continue after two unexplained deaths in Scarborough
Emergency services are continuing to search properties close to homes where two men were found dead. North Yorkshire Police officers were called to Gatesgarth Close in Scarborough on Monday, following the death of a 69-year-old man. Five days earlier the force was called to a similar incident at the adjoining home, where a 49-year-old man was found dead. Residents in the neighbouring properties have been evacuated as a precaution and they remain in alternative accommodation while specialist searches continue, a force spokesperson said. Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume said she was saddened to hear about the unexplained deaths and her thoughts were with the men's families. "Understandably, people in the town will be concerned. North Yorkshire Police have stressed they do not believe there is any risk to the wider community at this time," she said."I know they are working extremely hard to get to the bottom of what has happened in both cases." Police tents and a cordon have been set up in front of the properties while an examination of the scene takes place. Officers said tests were being carried out to determine the presence of any environmental factors that may have contributed to the deaths. They said fire and police officers would be wearing protective clothing as a precaution until they know more about how the men housing association responsible for the properties, Beyond Housing, said: "We are deeply saddened by recent events at Gatesgarth Close. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of the two men who have sadly passed away. "This is a distressing time for all those affected, and our thoughts remain with them." Ken Rumford, who lives in the area, said he noticed emergency services arriving on the street on Monday."It just escalated from there," he said. "Two fire cars came and the gas board. They put sensors around the windows but then cleared off."Mr Rumford said police had knocked on his door to reassure him and confirm the investigation was taking place. "We're just waiting to see now," he added. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital trust among worst to work for
A trust which runs hospitals in North Yorkshire has been ranked by its staff as one of the worst in England to work in. The York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust came in the bottom five when staff were asked if they would recommend working there in a national survey conducted last autumn. The NHS Staff Survey looked at the experiences of 700,000 employees throughout England's 215 trusts in 2024. The trust said the results "do not reflect where we want to be" and mirrored the "hugely challenging environment we are working in". It was ranked the lowest in the North East and Yorkshire region, with only 45% of staff "agreeing" or "strongly agreeing" they would recommend it as a place to work, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Speaking at a meeting of North Yorkshire Council's Scarborough and Whitby Committee, Councillor Rich Maw said: "I'd like to spare a thought for our dedicated local NHS staff doing their best to care for us all, despite the difficulties they endure. "The Health Service Journal has analysed the full results of the 2024 NHS Staff Survey and the York and Scarborough NHS Trust was one of the worst performers nationally." Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume said: "The staff do such a wonderful job and work so hard for all of us, that it is disappointing that the working conditions they're reporting aren't good enough." The trust runs hospitals across North Yorkshire in York, Scarborough, Selby and Malton and also Bridlington Hospital in East Yorkshire. The chief executive of the York and Scarborough NHS Trust, Simon Morritt, said the message from colleagues was "loud and clear that we have a long way to go". "The overall response rate of 36% means we are not hearing from almost two-thirds of our staff," he added. "We have also seen a decline in our overall engagement score, and the extent to which colleagues would recommend our trust as a place to work and to receive treatment. "The responses also suggest that people are not confident they can influence improvement or drive change." Mr Morritt, who described the results as disappointing, said solutions would not arrive in the form of significant new investment in services or workforce and that a "fundamental shift in our thinking" was needed towards "how we use what we already have". Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
