Latest news with #Bridgnorth
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Flying Scotsman helps Bridgnorth get back on track
The world-famous Flying Scotsman steamed into Shropshire on Friday, marking the full reopening of one of the county's top tourist Severn Valley Railway (SVR) heritage line, which runs for 16 miles from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster in Worcestershire, had been blocked since January after a major had meant trains could only run from Kidderminster to Hampton Loade, leaving Bridgnorth without the financial boost that thousands of railway passengers bring to the town each to travel on board Flying Scotsman sold out within minutes and the locomotive was then booked for an extra day - with trips now happening from Friday to Monday. Bridgnorth's mayor David Cooper said there was a "strong identity" between the town and the railway. "It does draw a lot of people into the town and it's very much valued by businesses in the town, so we're very grateful that the services are back up and running," he said. Bridgnorth station master Chris Thomas said: "Everyone here has been waiting for this day, and it's marvellous to welcome our first full-line train this season. "During the long months of isolation we've worked hard to keep people coming here and carried out a lot of maintenance and improvement work to keep the station looking good. "But of course, nothing beats a fully joined up railway, and that's what we're celebrating today." SVR managing director Jonathan Dunster said: "Securing the iconic Flying Scotsman to haul our reopening train was the absolute icing on the cake."This is about championing the SVR's spirit of survival, and the many remarkable people associated with it that have helped to bring us to the point of reunifying our line." Because of the current high risk of lineside fires, a Class 20 diesel locomotive provided assistance to Flying Scotsman."The vegetation alongside our line is still very dry, and the last thing we want on this very special day is a spark from Flying Scotsman inadvertently starting a fire," said Mr Dunster."Placing the diesel directly behind the steam loco gives the best level of assistance, which is so important when the train is tackling the infamous incline of Eardington Bank." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Morville Quarry gets permission to expand
A quarry in the Shropshire countryside has been given permission to extend its operations, trebling its Quarry near Bridgnorth had been due to run out of deposits to dig at the end of this year, but will now continue working for another 20 of Shropshire Council's Southern Planning Committee raised questions on Tuesday about the proximity to the planned Tasley Garden Village residential development and mud left on the roads by the proposal was passed by the panel with just one abstention. Shropshire Sand and Gravel will be allowed to quarry areas to the north and south of the existing site, which it said would help meet the county's need for mineral extraction as well as secure jobs. At the end of the 20-year period, a further two years will be allowed to return the siteProgressive independent councillor Rachel Connolly, representing Bridgnorth West and Tasley, expressed concerns about the 1,500 home development nearby.A planning officer replied that the proximity of the two sites had been taken into consideration as the Local Plan, overseeing major development sites, was drawn up. She also told another committee member, Conservative Nigel Lumby, that conditions would be put in place to keep the junction of the access road clear of mud. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bridgnorth resident blames postal delays for worsening stress
Residents in Bridgnorth have said delays in receiving mail resulted in missed medical appointments and important documents not being delivered to Thomas told the BBC he had been waiting for a pension form from a company in Peterborough which had been sent on 3 July."I've got stress and anxiety and it's only been made worse, and there have been days where I've sat and cried about it," he said.A Royal Mail spokesperson said the local team in Bridgnorth had faced higher levels of sick absence, and that no mail had been delayed within the last three weeks. It added that teams had worked to ensure mail was delivered Thomas said the only thing he had received in the last three weeks were flyers, but no said the claim for was "financially really a strain on me at the moment". Jean Corfield said a letter informing her of an appointment with her GP to see a podiatrist was not delivered."Of course, I didn't go, and then I had a letter to say that they would cancel it and they'd take me off their list," she said."It takes you a long, long time to get in touch with our doctors, and it was two months before I got another appointment."She added that she also had not received Christmas cards."Where have they gone to?" she Connolly, Progressive Independent councillor for Bridgnorth West, said she had also experienced some delays with her post."We do rely on the post arriving on time, particularly our elderly and more vulnerable residents, especially if they don't use the internet - this is the main means of communication for them," she said."I feel there are some serious consequences of late post, with people missing health appointments, there could be bills, fines and benefits decisions."She added that postal workers in the area were "brilliant", but believed there needed to be more staff to deliver post."Their [Royal Mail] statement does not reflect Mr Thomas' experience currently." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Shropshire pharmacist says weight loss jab industry 'a ticking time bomb'
More people than ever are using weight loss jabs, with some GPs describing them as a "gamechanger" in tackling obesity and type 2 diabetes. But some practitioners in Shropshire say they have many aesthetic clinic owners, David Kelly offers clients injections to lose weight alongside treatments like Botox and dermal fillers.A registered nurse working at Tinkable in Bridgnorth has even had her own weight loss experience, sharing her personal journey face-to-face with those wanting to shed the stones to help inform their however, people are obtaining the jabs online. Mr Kelly, who runs Tinkable in Bridgnorth, says he has been told horror stories of how easily Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic self-injectable pens are being dispensed."We've heard of people putting a carrier bag on their back, filling it full of exercise weights and then taking a photograph of their weighing machine and sending that off to an online pharmacy and getting as many pens as they want," he said. "I've heard of people who have got a friend to do the picture side of things for them and then being able to get a pen even though they didn't meet the requirement of being a certain BMI."He said he believed that people were able to get the drugs from online pharmacies without many jabs have been available through NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, since the end of June, but patients must meet strict criteria in order to be eligible. Mounjaro is a GLP-1 - a medicine that helps people feel fuller by mimicking a natural hormone released after Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it should only be obtained through legitimate pharmacies, including those online, with a prescription issued by a healthcare said the drugs should only be used by those who are overweight or diabetic, not for aesthetic or cosmetic added that it had not assessed the safety and effectiveness of GLP-1s when used outside of their licensed use, for example, when used for weight loss in people who are not obese or June, the BBC was able to obtain weight loss drugs online by falsifying a patient's weight and sending photographs.A study into potential serious side effects was launched in June after hundreds of people reported problems with their pancreas. How do weight loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy work?'I feel blessed to get weight loss jab' - but can the NHS afford it for all?Weight loss jab Mounjaro 'game changer', says GP However, many say they have had a positive experience with the drug, and research shows that there are some health benefits to the 50, from Telford, started taking Mounjaro in November after getting a private prescription online but admitted she did not do a lot of said she had lost almost three stone but admitted she was "winging it" in terms of added that she had followed what friends had done. "I didn't really know what I needed to do," she said."I still don't think I'm at my target, but a lot of people are saying I've lost a lot of weight, and I do feel better in my clothes now," she told the she said she was anxious about stopping the injections due to lack of guidance. 'They have effects all over the body' It is unknown exactly how many people in the UK are on weight loss drugs due to the amount of people obtaining them from unregulated health officials acknowledge the jabs could help drive down obesity levels, the drugs often come with side effects, commonly including nausea, constipation and pharmacy superintendent Nigel Dugmore said the online weight loss jab industry is a "ticking time bomb" due to the ease with which they are able to be purchased believed the jabs came with "serious consequences" that had not fully been investigated and wants to see tougher regulations."They're not short-acting drugs; they're long-acting drugs, and they do have effects all over the body," said Mr Dugmore."It can't be right that people with very little medical training are being able to sell these things literally from their garden sheds."
BBC News
19-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bridgnorth man credits grief education campaign to mum's death
At just 12 years old, John Adams lost his mum, his father openly talked about death and grieving afterwards, Mr Adams found that in school, communication around the subject was "non-existent".Becoming a funeral director at Perry & Phillips in his hometown of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, opened his eyes - he said adults appeared scared to get children involved in funerals, or to speak to them about death at was in 2022 that he started campaigning to get grieving education into the curriculum, and this week, he has achieved that goal. On Tuesday, the Department for Education published its statutory guidance on relationships education, relationships and sex education and health said by the end of primary school, pupils should be taught that change, loss and bereavement can provoke a range of feelings, that grief is a natural response to bereavement, and that everyone grieves the end of secondary school, they should be taught how families and relationships change over time, including through birth, death, separation and new relationships. "I received a phone call on Tuesday," Mr Adams said, "to say it's happened and it's now going into the guidance, and to congratulate me." "It's been relentless. I haven't stopped, it's become who I am. So it's a moment to pause and reflect on what's been achieved."I'm also aware there's more work to do now – it's about what it looks like in the curriculum." 'Death is the only guarantee in life' It was a long road to this point - Mr Adams became president of the National Association of Funeral Directors in 2022, and spoke then about his goal."The idea of it, is that we have more of an idea of the emotions that are affiliated with when someone dies," he said."It's the only guarantee in life, and therefore we should be more informed about what these emotions are and how we deal with them."In October 2022, he launched a parliamentary petition which amassed more than 11,000 signatures. It was debated in Parliament in December 2024."Having a base level within school, I recognise that's where it needs to start," he said."So, when these young people become adults, they have more awareness of knowing how to communicate about death dying and bereavement." Looking ahead, Mr Adams has been asked to help shape how the subject is told the BBC that the first steps would be to provide support and reassurance for teachers who would be delivering the education."The right sessions will come from that," he on the announcement, he said: "My mum, Maria, has been the fuel for the whole of this process and campaign – she's pushed me on. "I hope that she'd be pleased and proud that despite being such a sad time when I was 12, that something good has come of it to help other people." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
