Latest news with #beautyspot
The Sun
15-07-2025
- The Sun
Man in his 60s dies on path at popular beauty spot near to where axed Sycamore Gap tree stood
A MAN in his 60s has died after suffering a medical episode at a popular beauty spot near where the Sycamore Gap tree once stood. The man got into difficulties on a path close to the Steel Rigg car park in Northumberland National Park on Saturday July 5. Emergency services scrambled to the area but despite the best efforts of paramedics, the man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: "At 1pm on Saturday, July 5, we received a report via the ambulance service that a person was suffering a medical episode while on a path close to Steel Rigg car park in Northumberland. "Emergency services attended but the person – a man in his 60s – was sadly pronounced dead a short time later. "The man's next of kin have been informed. "A report into the man's death has been prepared for the coroner." Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team were one of the emergency services called to the incident. They added: "Our thoughts and condolences go to the walker's friends and family." The man suffered the medical episode near the same beauty spot where the iconic Sycamore Gap tree stood before it was axed. The pair of thugs who chopped down the natural landmark are being sentenced today. He and Adam Carruthers, 32, face years in jail at Newcastle crown court after being convicted of causing over £600,000 damage to the tree and Hadrian's Wall. Trial judge Mrs Justice Lambert warned them after the verdict in May that they face "a lengthy period in custody". 1
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Fury over plans to build six giant wind turbines in a Yorkshire beauty spot immortalised by artist David Hockney
Villagers are protesting against plans to erect six giant wind turbines in a Yorkshire beauty spot immortalised by Britain's greatest living artist, David Hockney. They claim the 492-foot-high turbines proposed for a site near Woldgate in the Yorkshire Wolds will 'ruin' the rolling landscape which inspired the artist. Hockney, 88, created a series of paintings of nearby Woldgate Woods which he regularly passed on the way to Bridlington, East Yorkshire, where he had a studio. One piece - titled Woldgate Woods - sold for £9.4million in New York in 2016. Hockney has previously objected to wind farm proposals in the area, describing the turbines as 'big ugly things'. But the fresh plans have alarmed local residents in the nearby village of Rudston. Robert Booth, 57, said: 'It's unthinkable that the beauty and tranquility of Woldgate, made world famous by Hockney, could be eroded by this industrial scale wind farm. 'Woldgate has historical and cultural significance and is loved by locals and visitors from around the UK and internationally. 'I'm staggered that a developer would even contemplate erecting them here. David Hockney, 88, (pictured) previously objected to wind farm proposals in the area, describing the turbines as 'big ugly things' 'We accept that steps need to be taken to reach net zero, but allowing something like this site will set a dangerous precedent for the industrialization of the countryside.' Another local, retired art teacher Nancy Millar, 74, who lives in the nearby town of Carnaby, said: 'Surely a more suitable location could be found that isn't as enjoyed and celebrated as an area of natural beauty as the Wolds. 'I'm a massive advocate of green energy and the drive to tackle climate change; I understand the need for clean energy solutions and that they have to go somewhere but just not here. 'It's an area that has inspired hundreds of artists by its visual interest and beauty, not least David Hockney. 'Once giant industrial structures are imprinted on the landscape that heritage and future depictions are gone for good.' Residents of Rudston only became aware of the turbines plan last week after receiving leaflets in the post which invited them to three Public Exhibitions in surrounding towns to showcase the plans. Formal planning applications have not yet been submitted by Ridge Clean Energy (RCE), but the firm says it has already started an environmental survey. According to the leaflet the turbines will be based on the land south of Woldgate between Thornholme and Haisthorpe. It says the windfarm will be adjacent to the recently approved Three Oaks Renewable Energy Park. This will be a 161 acre solar farm and was approved by East Riding County Council in Spring 2024. An image included outlined six red boxes in lines of three outlining the proposed areas for the turbines, a marked box outlines the solar farm. Inside the boxes are small black dots indicating where each of the turbines will be roughly located. Information from the leaflet states the site will be accessed using the A614 of the local road network. It outlines the turbines will have, if approved, a six to nine month construction period and will be functional for 40 years and will be fully decommissioned. It also says the turbines could provide local energy discounts to households near the site. Ridge Clean Energy claims the turbines would produce 25.2MW of green energy which is as much as 24,000 homes use in a year based on the average household usage in the area. The leaflet reads: 'The addition of the wind to the already approved Three Oaks solar farm would create a hybrid renewable energy park supporting the UK's ambition to become a clean energy superpower. 'The scheme would deliver an excellent source of secure and reliable renewable energy at a time when it is needed most.' They also say project would create a £5 million Community Benefit Fund, which could be used for local projects and initiatives and potentially provide an energy rebate for the properties surrounding the area. Hockney created several pieces in the Woldgate area most notably a six-month project titled 'The Arrival of Spring' he painted on his iPad from January 1 to early June 2011. He also painted a piece called Woldgate Woods which sold for £9.4 million at an auction in New York in October 2016. A spokesperson for Ridge Clean Energy said: 'We are pleased to make public our proposals for the Three Oaks Renewable Energy Park Extension. 'We look forward to discussing the potential project with the local community in the coming weeks. 'We have greatly enjoyed supporting and working alongside the communities of Burton Agnes and Carnaby in recent years, such as our winter fuel voucher initiative with East Riding Food Poverty Alliance this past winter, as well as the Joyful Connections Welcome Space Project in Burton Agnes more recently. 'We are focused on ensuring this potential project reflects local priorities, and we recognise the role onshore wind plays within the Government's welcome drive towards UK energy independence and lower bills for households and businesses.' In 2012, planning permission for six turbines in the region were denied by the council when they ruled they would cause unacceptable interference to the radar at a nearby RAF station. They also said the height and location of the structures would dominate the landscape and would affect the visual quality for visitors of nearby town Burton Agnes. In 2011, more than 1,000 people signed a petition calling for the Yorkshire Wolds to be granted special protection status amid plans for wind turbines. The area is still yet to receive Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status. The No To Wolds Windfarm Group were fighting plans to erect a series of wind turbines across the area. At the time, they faced a number of proposals including 14 turbines up to 145m (475 ft) high near Hunmanby, 11 turbines near Fraisethorpe, nine turbines at Thornholme and 10 turbines east of Malton. Mr Hockney commented, saying they are 'big ugly things' and are 'completely out of scale'. He added: 'I certainly wouldn't paint them. They are unnatural. 'The coastline and countryside around Bridlington is more charming than people realise. 'People should stand up for themselves and say no to these things if they don't agree with them. 'They should let the politicians know what they think.' A spokesperson for East Riding Country Council said they would not be providing a comment, stating it is a 'planning matter'. The locations for the Public exhibitions starting week are Burton Agnes, Carnaby, and Rudston.
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE A gate too far! Couple who lost bitter war against neighbours over Bond-villain mansion finally remove illegal barrier after failing in their attempt to create a new access route
A couple who defied a council enforcement order to remove a £10,000 set of gates stopping locals accessing a beauty spot they've enjoyed for generations have had to tear them down in a humiliating defeat. Instead of immediately complying with their enforcement notice, Adam and Laura Drew spent a fortune building two new paths a few metres further away from their £500,000 home nicknamed the James Bond House. The Drews hoped the new entrances to the forestry paradise would allow them to keep the 8ft-high gates and retain their privacy. But council chiefs warned the couple to take them down this weekend - or else. Today to the delight of locals the 'gates of hell' were finally removed. Walkers, cyclists and horse riders said they had used the path next to the sprawling 11-bedroomed property for as long as anyone can remember. It leads to Cwmparc Forestry, a haven for wildlife and a place of natural beauty where some locals had their ashes scattered. But a year ago the Drews bought the ugly grey house and began complaining of anti-social behaviour by people accessing the mountain. Chartered accountant Mr Drew and his slimming consultant wife Laura, both 40, claimed they were subjected to illegal parking, dangerous driving, out-of-control dogs, people urinating, dog-fouling, aggression, theft, drugs, and people with air rifles. They said the last straw came when torches were shone into bedrooms where their three children were sleeping. In a statement the wealthy couple said: 'A decision was made that we needed to put security gates at our home to keep our children safe.' Residents of Cwmparc, near the historic Welsh Valleys coal mining town of Treorchy, disputed the couple's claims and launched the 'No to the Gates' campaign, staging peaceful protests and getting up a 4,000 signature petition. After an investigation, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council gave the Drews 30 days to take the gates down saying highway rights exist because the path has been in public use for over 20 years. Locals looked forward to seeing them dismantled and taken away but last Sunday(June 8) the deadline passed and the gates were still standing. It appears the Drews believed they had solved the problem by building a road on their land for fire service and other official bodies to access the mountain and a narrower path for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Tons of chippings were laid, steel fences erected and 50-year-old conifers felled to make way for the two unofficial thoroughfares. But campaigners want the original right of way opened up because the new road and path are not legal highways. Richard Clarke, 57, a local businessman, said: 'We've kept this campaign as clean as we possibly can, in fact we've protected these people (Mr and Mrs Drew) by stopping some of the remarks about them posted on social media. 'I sincerely hope they do the right thing and return to us what we started off with - a legal right of way to Cwmparc forestry.' The council agreed and gave the Drews until midnight on Sunday to pull down the gates or they would send in their own contractors. Council leader Andrew Morgan said: 'Following the expiry of the notice served on the homeowners, Council officers are not satisfied with the current access arrangements which do not provide the public with unfettered access. 'The current unapproved arrangements do not fulfil the legal order for the gates to be removed. 'As a result, the Council requires the homeowners to remove the gates with their specialist contractors and we expect this to be done over the weekend. 'If the gates are not removed then the Council will dispatch contractors to remove them.' Mr Morgan said diversions and changes to the highway must follow the correct legal process and rest with local magistrates. He added: 'This remains a delicate situation and we ask that the community act responsibly. The Council is committed to seeing this through.' This week, the quiet road has been thronging with furious villagers arriving to inspect the damage caused by the installation of the new road and pathway Nature lover Rhiannon Evans, 49, who used to walk the mountain tracks with her three-legged dog Belle said: 'They've chopped down at least six large conifers where magpies were nesting. There are bats roosting up there too. 'They have no planning permission for what they've done and have shown utter contempt for the law and the villagers who have enjoyed the forestry for years.' Retired probation office manager Irene Price, 77, told Mail Online: 'I'm outraged by what's been going on since these people moved here. 'If you buy a house next to forestry you can expect people to walk past. The walk up the mountain was one of my favourite things in the village. What they've done is a disgrace.'
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Daily Mail
'Cruel' angler 'tries to hook wild seal' at Devon beauty spot
An angler has been slammed for allegedly trying to hook a wild seal at a Devon beauty spot. The woman fishing with a rod off the rocks was spotted appearing to snare the animal. Click above to watch the full video.
