Statue of French General Accused of Torture Divides His Hometown
An effort to have a statue of Marcel Bigeard removed has reignited the debate over how the colonial past should be remembered.
local government
‘Cat-sized’ rat found in Teesside town puts focus on pest control cuts
Rodent said to be 22in (56cm) long from nose to tail found in Normanby, where rat problem is said to be worseningCuts to council pest control services are being blamed for a town’s rodent problem, which includes the discovery of a supersize rat said to…
Right to buy in England ‘fuelled housing crisis and cost taxpayers £200bn’
Common Wealth report calls discounted sales of council homes one of the ‘largest giveaways in UK history’Margaret Thatcher’s right-to-buy scheme has cost UK taxpayers almost £200bn, according to a report into the policy’s contribution to Britain’s hous…
‘A sign of how we live now’: friction in Notting Hill over counter-terrorism barriers
Film tourists, market traders and residents react as council imposes traffic control measures on famous London streetIf Richard Curtis had shot his romcom classic Notting Hill over the past month, things might have turned out very differently.Julia Rob…
Half of UK councils still use pesticides in public places, research finds
Pesticide-free movement has grown, but many local authorities still spray weedkiller linked to wildlife declines and cancerMore than half of councils in the United Kingdom continue to use pesticides in parks, playgrounds, pavements, playing fields and …
Green mission aims to raise £1bn to bring nature into UK towns and cities
Initial £15.5m will go to schemes such as launch of large regional park to improving green spaces along canalsA coalition of environmental and heritage bodies has launched a billion-pound mission to bring nature into the heart of urban areas in the UK….
Childminder costs over school summer holidays as high as £1,800, research finds
Coram survey in Great Britain finds 4% rise in holiday childcare club costs and shortage of places, especially for children with SendWorking parents who depend on childminders to look after their children during the British school summer holidays face …
Dismay after Southampton airport gets permission to cut down cemetery trees
Campaigners attack council for backing plan to fell trees in burial site near runway to allow for increase in passengersA Labour-led city council has been criticised for backing an airport’s scheme to cut down “majestic” trees in a historic, wildlife-r…
Is Reform UK a radical party or a home for ‘disgruntled former Conservatives’, asks James Cleverly
Former home secretary says Reform councils could struggle if they fail to manage services like bin collections and social careReform UK might have to choose between presenting itself as a new and radical political party or as a home for “disgruntled fo…
Reform-run councils once known for green policies expected to scrap climate pledges
Former Durham county council climate lead calls motion to rescind climate emergency declaration ‘reprehensible’Two councils that have been recognised for their work to cut emissions but are now under the control of Reform UK are expected to scrap clima…