Latest news with #KeaneDuncan
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Row over charges for public toilets in Malton
An argument over introducing charges to use a public toilet has the potential to damage plans to devolve services to lower tiers of local government, a councillor has Yorkshire Council had agreed to transfer the conveniences in Malton to the town council as part of what it has dubbed "double devolution".However, the deal has been described as a "busted flush" after the town council opted to introduce a 40p charge per use of the Market Place town's mayor has not commented on the issue, but it is understood the argument has meant the transfer deal is in danger of being cancelled. The deal would have seen the town council receive a one-off grant of £57,000 from the authority to pay for a refurbishment of the would have been the first transfer to a smaller town or parish council since the unitary authority was launched in the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands the deal is at risk due to concerns from the public over prompted the launch of a "free to pee" campaign by Keane Duncan, who represents the neighbouring town of Norton on North Yorkshire Council, with more than 1,500 people signing a petition against the at North Yorkshire Council's meeting on Wednesday, Duncan joked he had recently "spent an unhealthy amount of time outside Malton's public toilets".Duncan said the town council had agreed to the transfer "behind closed doors and without public consultation". 'Show respect' In a question to executive member for corporate services, Heather Phillips, Duncan added: "Has this toilet mess turned double devolution into double trouble - and a revolution in localism into a local revolt?"Doesn't it show that when you try to flush democracy down the pan, you may end up knee-deep in political sewage?"The chair of Malton Town Council and the town's mayor is North Yorkshire Council's independent member, Lindsay said the mayor had taken "a bit of a beasting" after details of the proposed fee for using the toilets emerged and urged people to "show respect and restraint" pointing out the decision was a "corporate" one made by the town is understood the transfer may be discussed by the town council at its next meeting on 30 July. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'Free to pee' campaign over planned Malton toilet charges
Plans to charge people to use council-owned public toilets have been described as "scandalous" by one councillor who has launched a "free to pee" campaign in Town Council is planning to introduce a 40p charge to use the conveniences in the town's Market Place when it takes over their running from North Yorkshire Duncan, who represents the neighbouring town of Norton on North Yorkshire Council, said it was "deeply unfair" and claimed the decision to charge had been made behind "closed doors".When asked to comment Malton Town Council said it would issue a statement at a later date. "This is a deeply unfair deal for Malton," Duncan said."Other towns will continue to enjoy free public toilets under North Yorkshire Council — and toilets in Pickering and Helmsley will even be upgraded."Meanwhile, Malton is being singled out with our residents and visitors forced to pay for a basic necessity."He said there had been no consultation with residents about the plans to to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, members of North Yorkshire Council executive has agreed to hand control of the toilets to the town part of the deal, the town council will receive a one-off grant of £57,000 from the authority to pay for a refurbishment of the organisations agreed the town's Wentworth Street toilets, which are a four-minute walk from the Market Place facilities, will be permanently closed when the transfer goes ahead. 'Scandalous' decision Duncan said the decision to charge for use of the toilets was made at a meeting in minutes of the meeting show councillors agreed to introduce card payment machines as part of a refurbishment programme, with charges being levied on users once the improvements had been council also agreed the £10,000 annual maintenance fee for the conveniences would come from the authority's community infrastructure levy issue was discussed in a private session when the public was excluded."Agreeing this 40p charge, in private and without any public consultation, is scandalous," Duncan said he was urging the mayor and her fellow councillors to reconsider the decision to ensure "it remains 'free to pee' in Malton". Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ex-mayoral candidate quits North Yorkshire Council executive
A senior North Yorkshire Conservative councillor has resigned from the authority's executive after being asked to make way for fresh Duncan, who had held responsibility for highways and transport since the new council was created in 2023, said he would continue to represent his Norton Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, said it was normal practice to ask executive members to step aside, insisting Duncan had not been a letter confirming his resignation, Duncan said the Conservative group would need to "harness the energy" of party members in order to "confront the threat posed by Reform". Les told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he "thought it was time for a change"."This is something we do on a regular, almost annual basis," he said."A year ago I asked two people to stand down so two other councillors could take their place."In his letter to Les confirming his resignation, sent to the 44-strong Conservative group on North Yorkshire Council, Duncan said he had been told the request to stand aside was not peformance-related. Duncan, who unsuccessfully stood in 2024 as the party's candidate to be the first elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire, wrote he had remained committed to the unity and stability of the group which had been their leading the letter to Les, Duncan wrote: "You explained during our conversation that your purpose was to prepare for the future and to make way for new blood."I agree that as we approach the election, the next generation will be key to our party's renewal."Duncan said the party's "greatest strength lies in the wealth of talent and experience we possess across our benches"."To win in 2027, we must be a dynamic and forward-looking party that inspires the trust of the electorate," he said a project to realign the A59 at Kex Gill, which had recently been the subject of delays and rising costs, was one of his leading his letter, he added that he had also worked to protect at-risk bus routes, and had drawn up proposals to extend free parking to every town in North said he would confirm a replacement for Duncan in due course, but already had someone in asked by the LDRS if he was concerned about the political impact of the move, Les said it had been done to allow other members of the group to develop. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Glasgow Times
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Victims of UK's worst-ever road accident remembered 50 years on
Those who died, and another 13 who were injured, were enjoying a pensioners' day trip from Thornaby, near Middlesbrough, on a bus which left the road at Dibble's Bridge, near Hebden, North Yorkshire, plunging 20ft and landing on its roof. An inquest found the driver, who died in the crash, failed to negotiate the bend, which is at the bottom of a steep hill, due to faulty brakes. The crash at Dibble's Bridge resulted in 33 deaths (PA Archive) A memorial service was conducted by the Bishop of Whitby on Tuesday at St Paul's Church in Thornaby, and members of North Yorkshire Council's executive and officers held a minute's silence at County Hall in Northallerton. North Yorkshire Council's executive member for highways and transport Keane Duncan said: 'The Dibble's Bridge coach crash remains one of the darkest days in British motoring history. 'Our thoughts are with the families and communities forever changed by the events of that day. 'In the years since, there have been significant and welcome improvements to vehicle safety standards, including to braking systems – progress shaped partly by this tragic incident.' Mr Duncan said: 'Sadly, though, we have seen further fatalities at Dibble's Bridge since the 1975 crash, including three cyclists who have lost their lives on the bridge's notoriously tricky descent. 'We've taken key steps to help reduce the risk of further tragedies, through improved road safety measures and enhanced signage.' The coach plunged nearly 20ft into a field and rolled onto its roof (PA Archive) Glenn Eastick, Chair of Thornaby Town Council and Mayor of Thornaby on Tees, said: 'The Dibble's Bridge coach crash was a moment that shocked the nation and left a lasting impact on our community. 'Today's memorial at St Paul's Church was an opportunity to remember those that sadly lost their lives 50 years ago.' The 1975 tragedy followed an almost identical disaster at the same site 50 years earlier, when a coach crashed at Dibble's Bridge, killing seven, in June 1925.
North Wales Chronicle
27-05-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Victims of UK's worst-ever road accident remembered 50 years on
Those who died, and another 13 who were injured, were enjoying a pensioners' day trip from Thornaby, near Middlesbrough, on a bus which left the road at Dibble's Bridge, near Hebden, North Yorkshire, plunging 20ft and landing on its roof. An inquest found the driver, who died in the crash, failed to negotiate the bend, which is at the bottom of a steep hill, due to faulty brakes. A memorial service was conducted by the Bishop of Whitby on Tuesday at St Paul's Church in Thornaby, and members of North Yorkshire Council's executive and officers held a minute's silence at County Hall in Northallerton. North Yorkshire Council's executive member for highways and transport Keane Duncan said: 'The Dibble's Bridge coach crash remains one of the darkest days in British motoring history. 'Our thoughts are with the families and communities forever changed by the events of that day. 'In the years since, there have been significant and welcome improvements to vehicle safety standards, including to braking systems – progress shaped partly by this tragic incident.' Mr Duncan said: 'Sadly, though, we have seen further fatalities at Dibble's Bridge since the 1975 crash, including three cyclists who have lost their lives on the bridge's notoriously tricky descent. 'We've taken key steps to help reduce the risk of further tragedies, through improved road safety measures and enhanced signage.' Glenn Eastick, Chair of Thornaby Town Council and Mayor of Thornaby on Tees, said: 'The Dibble's Bridge coach crash was a moment that shocked the nation and left a lasting impact on our community. 'Today's memorial at St Paul's Church was an opportunity to remember those that sadly lost their lives 50 years ago.' The 1975 tragedy followed an almost identical disaster at the same site 50 years earlier, when a coach crashed at Dibble's Bridge, killing seven, in June 1925.
