Danger on the rails

10 Feb 2012 09:38

Police warning after train strikes trolley ‘deliberately placed on tracks’ in Mansfield

 

 

 

British Transport Police (BTP) is appealing for information after a train struck a shopping trolley believed to be deliberately placed on the rail line in Mansfield last week.

PC Richard Bailey, investigating officer, said how the train struck the trolley on Wednesday, 1 February:

“The incident happened close to the footbridge next to Princes Street, Mansfield, and it’s believed those responsible threw the trolley on to the line sometime between 9.40pm and 10.10pm.

“The Worksop to Nottingham service which struck the trolley wasn’t badly damaged however the removal of the trolley from the track caused unnecessary delays.”

Officers are conducting several lines of enquiry including house to house visits in the local area and advising residents of the dangers of this type of malicious crime.

PC Bailey added: “This mindless act of vandalism could have been a lot worse, causing injuries or even worse.

“Although this may seem like fun to those who continue to play, what they don’t realise are the dangerous implications of this.

“Behaviour like this is incredibly risky and can result in dire consequences. The railway is an extremely dangerous environment that should never be considered as somewhere to hang out.”

Richard Pedley, Community Safety Manager for Network Rail, added: “Actions like these are totally reckless. The railway is a potentially dangerous environment for anyone who is not trained to be there. Passengers on the train could have been injured and were delayed and inconvenienced through this thoughtless behaviour.

“We work closely with local communities to address anti-social behaviour such as this and to stress its potentially life-threatening consequences.”

If you have information about the incident – or those responsible – please ring British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 quoting background referenceB13/NEA of 09/02/2012 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Tags: police

09 Feb 2012 15:…

09 Feb 2012 15:24

£1,000 reward after vandals put bin on tracks near Stoke-on-Trent

Northern Rail is offering a reward of £1,000 to catch vandals after a train struck a large metal bin in the area of Harecastle Tunnel, Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent on Tuesday, 7 February.

The incident was reported by the driver of the 2048 hours Manchester to Stoke train just before 9.50pm.

Two passengers were on the train but there were no injuries to anyone on board. However the driver was shaken by the experience and the train was taken out of service.

“The train was travelling at around 70mph when it struck the metal bin,” said Detective Inspector Steve Lewis.

“The bin caused a good deal of damage and completely disabled the train. We believe this was a deliberate act of vandalism that could have had much more tragic consequences.”

Gemma Colley, Public Relations Manager for Northern Rail, said: “We are relieved neither our passengers or crew were injured by this act of mindless vandalism and we were able to move our passengers onto an alternative service within half an hour of the event taking place. We will work closely with British Transport Police to identify those responsible and urge anyone with any information to come forward before this happens again.”

The passengers were transferred to another service and the train was eventually recovered shortly before 2am. Whilst recovery took place, trains were diverted and a number of trains were delayed.

The reward is being offered for information leading to the identification and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information can contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040 quoting reference B14/NWA of 9/02/12 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Glyn Hellam
British Transport Police – North Western Area
t:0161 200 8362
e: glyn.hellam@btp.pnn.police.uk

For the latest news, updates and insight, follow BTP on Twitter: @btp_uk.

British Transport Police is the specialist, national police service for Britain’s railways. BTP deals with major and minor crime, disorder and incidents, and covers the rail system in England, Wales and Scotland, including London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, the Glasgow Subway and the Midland Metro and Croydon Tramlink systems. Its 2,914 police officers, 322 Police Community Support Officers, 190 Special Constables and 1,316 support staff are recruited and trained like those of local forces and have the same powers. Find out more at www.btp.police.uk

The North Western Area of British Transport Police covers the National Rail system throughout the north west from Stoke to the Scottish border. It employs 269 police officers, 34 Police Community Support Officers, five Special Constables and 55 support staff.

Tags: british, incident, police, transport

A gig of two halves

So last night, Tuesday 13 December 2011, I took myself and my two oldest sons all the way to our home town of Sheffield to the Motorpoint arena to see three bands. Two of them where classic 80′s bands motley Crüe & Def leopard. They where to be joined as support By a new band called steel panther who have taken the term “cock rock” to the limit. They looked like hair metal bands did back in the 80s. They where great awesome and a lot of fun. They didn’t have all the bells & whistles of video and pyrotechnics of their older siblings. We totally enjoyed their set even if the use of swears was a bit excessive.

Then we move reluctantly on to motley Crüe. Let me start by saying that I was expecting a real good show. I was left wanting. The gimmic of Tommie Lee’s drum kit being able to revolve through 360 degrees through the vertical during his drum solo lasted a few minutes and looked great, but that that was it. It looked good for a few minutes then got boring and predictable. http://youtu.be/jW1XZeHMRFY  the rest of the Crüe set was a mish mash of stuff you would have to be a real hard core fan to even recognise. Girls girls girls popped up at the end of the show but by then we had had enough and wanted to see the back of the Crüe. You may just make out my words of disgust as I was told to get back into my seat YET again by the arena staff.

Def leopard did not disappoint at all from the very start of the set to the encore. Cranking out hit after hit intermixed with new material. The whole place was jumping, as long as you weren’t sat in out seats that is. Every time I stood to actually enjoy the music and get into the gig I was quickly told in no uncertain terms to return to my seat and to sit there, to keep the gang ways clear. Now I’m not sure if the staff at the Motorpoint arena have ever been involved in a rock gig but take it from me it’s not common practice to sit and clap along to the music. When you have paid £70 to see a gig you want £70′s worth of enjoyment. They totally ruined this gig for me and the boys. The ‘seating police’ where on top form patrolling even up in the nose bleeders. So frankly I’m fairly sure I won’t be going to see a band there again, that defiantly applies to MC who were frankly shite.

The whole experience was then topped off by the requirement for some greasy rock n roll snack food, so we headed over to the KFC just across the road from the arena. First off they had locked the front doors and were expecting customers on foot to order via the drive through! Yeah we arrived in the car to see two girls stood shivering at the drive through mic trying to order 2 lots of chips. That took 5 mins! Then the staff wanted me to drive to the window to pay for the girls chips!  When I finally convinced them that I wasn’t with these girls they attempted to take my order. I finally go them to accept the fact that I wanted three meals and not two, with drinks and not without then they wanted for £20 from me for the privilege. I was then left waiting and waiting and waiting whilst they tried to give the two previous two girls their two portions of chips.  I had totally had enough by now so I drove to the window and told the staff to stuff their chicken where the sun don’t shine and I cancelled the order, they wanted to know why??? I told them, they hadn’t even managed to get any of my order right and the fact that they couldn’t even serve the people stood shivering outside In the cold due to the locked doors was stupidity of the highest order. Frankly the arena needs to try and give its staff some training, KFC need to get some more staff and motley Crüe need to go and hide in a very small box and never come out, ever again.

 

Smokers Challenge the No Smoking Policy at Kings Lynn Hospital

The No Smoking Sign & the Cigarettes

After several visits to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here in Kings Lynn Norfolk, http://www.qehkl.nhs.uk/ I noticed that very often there would be several people, both patients and visitors, smoking across the road from the main entrance to the hospital. I found it particularly alarming on one occasion when I saw a patient standing there hooked up to a drip and they also appeared to have an oxygen supply! On this visit today I took a few minutes to speak to several people smoking outside the main Building of the Queen Elizabeth HNS trust Hospital in clear violation of the stated No Smoking policy. They felt that the policy of banning smoking anywhere with in the grounds of the hospital was “Pointless” and “stupid”. I have decided to keep the written article short as I think the recorded conversation really sums everything Their views are very clear in this conversation which was recorded at the hospital.

Richard Humphries, the media & communications spokes person for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital confirmed that currently the signs stated that the No Smoking Policy was across the grounds but that this had been reviewed recently by the Hospital board and that this part of the policy had been relaxed as the Hospital had no powers to enforce this NHS directive and the No Smoking Policy now only covered the buildings. The board had discussed and reviewed the entire smoking policy as recently as the end of Oct 2011 and was also looking to erect shelters for smoking and was looking closely at the placement and costing of these shelters. This does go someway to addressing the concerns expressed by the members of the public.  The recent review also begs the question how the NHS could expect a hospital to put an unenforceable directive in place?

Patients & Visitors use this area when smoking.

Its my belief that the Smoking Policy needed to be either enforced in some way or emended and it looks like the Hospital has identified that there was a need to make these changes.

I do wonder about the cost of those signs and the mind set of the people that ignored them.

As a follow up to this story I recently visited Norwich Hospital and found the same situation there, smokers openly flouting the No Smoking policy there.  Seated at a table which ad a No Smoking sign fixed to it was ‘David’ here is what he had to say.

David Norwich smoker

So it seems that the policy which covered the entire grounds of a hospital which is un-enforcable is common across Norfolk at least.  I look forward to the responses from these two hospitals and welcome stories from service users who are also smokers.  OR are you a non smoker who feels that this policy should be enforced?  Don’t you mind where and when smokers can smoke?  Respond at get your voice heard.

Alan Taylor-Shearer

10 Nov 2011

All images Copyright atsukphotography Ltd 2011

Tags: kings lynn kingslynn norfolk NHS nhs hospital smoking smoke patients visitors cigarettes smokers nonsmokers shelter signs

Upcoming anti-EDL campaign

unite against fascism

uaf.org.uk • info@uaf.org.uk • 020 7801 2782 • twitter.com/uaf
Urgent petition: it’s our right to march against EDL racists and fascists

Thousands of people from the East End of London and beyond will demonstrate against the racist English Defence League in Tower Hamlets on 3 September – and we believe that antiracists should also have the right to march.

The national demonstration on Saturday 3 September, called by UAF and United East End against the racists and fascists of the EDL is going ahead.

Although home secretary Theresa May has announced a ban on the EDL marching, the racists and fascists will still be allowed a “static” protest in the heart of multicultural, multiracial Tower Hamlets.

This means it is essential that we have the biggest possible antiracist protest on Saturday 3 September.

But UAF is gravely concerned that the ban announced by the home secretary is aimed at all marches – although not static demonstrations – across five London boroughs for a month.

The protest against the EDL will go ahead in any case. But we believe that antiracists should have the right to march and have launched an urgent petition, based on the statement below. Please sign the petition, and pass on the link – http://is.gd/sept3petition – to everyone you know.

Tags: Edl, London, uaf, Uk

“My Fellow American”

I was recently contacted by Elizabeth Potter of Unity Productions Foundation about a project called “My Fellow American” which has produced a short film which can be seen here, myfellowamerican .
The film shows a selection of people going about their daily lives in typical, regular US neighbourhoods. The one thing they all have in common? Well that is revealed in the second half of the film. We see a set of establishing shots of taxis, fire fighters, police officers, scientists, mums in the park, cashiers in a supermarket all regular everyday scenes. The sound track however is a very different story. We hear the rightwing words of speakers advocating anti-Islam feelings and the deportation of Muslims. It’s a rather shocking contrast to the images.
Now it’s safe to say that my theological up bringing is firmly grounded in English Christianity and also that I am far from a practicing member of any faith. The belief that I do have is that each person has the right to believe what they want, where they want. It’s an important element of the society that I want to live in and raise my children in. They, my sons, have & are making their own choices as far as faith is concerned. They do however have the intelligence to respect the point of view of others, even if that is contrary to their own ideas. So I am writing as an independent point of view in the respect that whilst I am not a Muslim and I have some difficulties with elements of the faith I don’t have a problem with the faith in general and I don’t take a fundamentalist Christian view either. I have issues with elements of christianity too and there are extremes on both sides of every belief system like sikhism, judaism et al and there are ‘nutters’ inside and out of every faith. Unfortunately it’s usually the voices that shout loudest that are the ones that are remembered and pushed forward as examples. What this film aims to do, in my view, is show how Muslims can and have become a part of the everyday normal communities we all inhabit. The visuals counter & contradict the audio very well and the visuals also challenge the stereotype of what a Muslim is. An example is very well presented in the following. We see a mother with her child wearing the headscarf, we haven’t seen her face yet. After some other cuts of the fireman the police officer etc she stands and turns and we see a smiling Caucasian face surrounded by the headscarf normally associated with a woman of middle eastern background. An example of the wide breadth of people who have embraced their faith.
Over all I see this as a great example of using the media to give “the majority” a higher profile voice, to show the similarities whilst hearing the single one sided oneway aggressive words of the minority.
Please take the time to visit their site here
myfellowamerican

They are also on Facebook & twitter facebook.com/MyFellowAmericanProject & @usmuslimstories

Tags: America, Americans, children, Christianity, city, community, country, family, god, Islam, land, man, men, people, tolerance, woman, work

UAF press release

For immediate release: Saturday 23 July

UAF comment on Anders Behring Breivik, arrested as a suspect after the massacre in Norway

Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, said: “The evidence is mounting that Anders Behring Breivik holds far-right views and supports fascist and Islamophobic organisations – including the English Defence League and British National Party.

“If the terrorist atrocities in Oslo and Utøya in turn out to be the work of neo-Nazis, it wouldn’t be the first time this has happened.

“The Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 was initially blamed on Muslims, but was in fact carried out by the far right. And in 1999 black, Asian and gay communities in London were targeted by the Nazi nailbomber David Copeland.

“We must not allow this culture of race hate to grow. We have to stand up the EDL and their equivalents across Europe. That is why antifascists from up and down the country will be protesting against the EDL in Tower Hamlets on 3 September.”

ends

Notes to editors

1) The UAF website story Norway massacre suspect claimed EDL discussions notes evidence that Breivik was familiar with and claimed links to the EDL.

2) The national demonstration against the EDL on Saturday 3 September in Tower Hamlets, east London, is called by UAF and United East End and backed by trade unions, community leaders and others. For more details, see the UAF website.

3) For further comment, contact Weyman Bennett on 07734 032314.

The re-emergence of some 80′s stars.

I took the time to travel down to a festival that promised to “take you back in time to celebrate those Happy Days!”
With a combination of legendary artists from the 70s, 80s and 90s, the crowd was guaranteed hit after hit. The people were there to reminisce and get into the party vibe at the venue, a 40 acre site in Surrey, called ‘Imber Court’, East Molesey, Surrey.
The Festival blended 3 decades of amazing music with other entertainments including themed retro bars, pyrotechnics, games area, family fun activities
and an exclusive after show party that went onto the very early hours. I was able to catch up with Leee John from “Imagination” who really kicked the 80′s off to a great start with their hit “Body Talk”. His energetic performance really got the crowd jumping. I also took the opportunity to photograph Nick Kershaw performing his hits, ‘Wouldn’t It Be Good’ ‘I Won’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ ‘Human Racing’ ‘When a Heart Beats’. Also on the bill was Martin Fry & ABC who’s smart image and sharp tunes ‘The Look of Love’ ‘All of My Heart’ ‘When Smokey Sings’ whilst a contrast to Leee John’s jumping, sparkly show it complemented the day perfectly. This was not a day for new material by any means. Leee John has a new album which is planed for release next summer & he has a lot of recent material, however it was a time to stick to the 80′s classics.
I am posting a small selection of the shots from the event here.

Martin Fry

Martin Fry

Nick Kershaw

Leee John

Leee John

All these images are Copyright ATS UK Photography Ltd 2011 Alan Taylor-Shearer
Unauthorised use will result in legal action being taken.

No to the Incinerator campaigners lobby councillors

A Recent public referendum overwhelmingly voted against the construction of  waste incinerator near to kingslynn, Norfolk, UK.  65000 members of the kingslynn community voted against, whilst 5000 voted for.  The plans were however accepted by the county council in the face of overwhelming rejection by the public.

This meeting tonight is a crucial step in the progress of the incinerator

The council will make a resolution tonight for or against the incinerator.

The result at this borough council meeting was resoundingly against the construction of a refuse incinerator proposed to be built near kingslynn.

This resolution will now be taken forward to the future county council meeting to be held in Norwich.  The ‘NO’ movement plan to take their campaign to national MP’s in parliament and to the high court if necessary.

Richard Burton an environmental management consultant, said he has been opposing the incinerator since the very early days of it’s proposal and he claims that the Norfolk county council have made a number of misleading claims about it.  The council claimed that waste would  only be coming from parts of north Norfolk, Richard had found evidence that showed it was planned that waste would be brought in from all of Norfolk, parts of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire the two neighbouring counties.  At county hall, in norwich on the 7th of march 2011 the county council rejected the overwhelming NO vote.  Richard stated that the 65000 votes against and 5000 votes for was a 92.68% rejection.  He went on to state that this was the same level of turnout as would be expected for a general election and that the against vote was double the percentage that PM Tony Blaire received at the 1997 general election which saw him become prime minister and that was called a landslide victory.

Richard quoted Mr Mike Jackson, director of environment, transport and development, a very senior director at the county council who is behind the proposal for the incinerator, was quoted as writing that “emissions would be so low they wouldn’t even be measurable”.  Richard counted this by saying the Teeside incinerator had emissions of a quarter of million tons of carbon dioxide alone, which equated to the weight of 5 Iowa class battleships.

Dioxins given off by the incinerator would be monitored for 8 hours on four days per year, Richard said this was totally inadequate.  Richard said that Recycling & composting figures show that Norfolk only recycles 43% Cambridgeshire is doing far more than this.  Richard went on to quote percentages for other areas outside the Uk like Flanders, which is half of Belgium recycled and composted  75% of its waste and SanFransico is also above 75% for it’s recycling rates.

Richard claimed that these figures could only be changed by an integrated waste policy and better information to householders.

Campaigners claim that The county council has predetermined itself by including in its contract with the developer that the council would have to pay £20.5 million if the plans are rejected at the planning stage and that no councillor would be willing to reject a plan that would then see the county council having to pay this self inflicted fine.  The construction cost of the incinerator is currently claimed to stand at £500 million, a figure which is also in dispute.

Kingslynn is a mile downwind of the proposed incinerator site, the worst place for it campaigners state.

The original plans to construct this incinerator near norwich were previously rejected by Norwich city council hence the current plans to build it near kingslynn although the argument goes deeper than this it does look like a case of “Not on our doorstep” by Norwich county council.

Alan Taylor-Shearer.

UkUncut protest in Cambridge

Here’s the link to my latest story, http://www.demotix.com/news/595675/ukuncut-tax-demonstration-barclays-bank-cambridge

Tags: Cambridge, protest, UkUncut