BBC Local Live: Herefordshire and Worcestershire on Tuesday 8 March 2016

Summary

Worcester nPower office escapes job cuts
M5 overnight closures begin
100 year old WW2 dive bomber pilot dies
Updates on Tuesday 8 March 2016

Live Reporting

Jerry Chester

Heavy rain forecast brings flood warningpublished at 13:13 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
The Environment Agency is warning heavy rain could lead to flooding tomorrow or Thursday.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
The phallic tree of Sidemoor is no morepublished at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
Bromsgrove Advertiser
The Bromsgrove man who grew a phallic-shaped tree in his front garden in Sidemoor has chopped it down during a television interview, external, saying he was getting fed up with the publicity.
Where should travellers sites be built?published at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
A six-week consultation is being held on where travellers sites should be provided in south Worcestershire, external.
Malvern Hills District Council, Worcester City Council and Wychavon District Council are asking the public what they think about proposed locations for pitches for travellers and travelling showpeople.
Up to 2021, 25 new pitches need to be provided and seven south Worcestershire locations are being proposed:
- Hillbee Farm, Upton-upon-Severn
- The Orchard, Knowle Hill, Badsey
- Blossom Hill, Village Street, Aldington
- The Laurels, Kemerton Rd, Bredon
- Two locations in Cropthorne; Seven Acres, Main Road and Evergreen Bank, Main Road
Travel: No traffic chaos promise as overnight closures on M5 beginpublished at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
There will be overnight lane and slip road closures from tonight on the M5 between J4a (M42) and J7 (Worcester south), the Highways England say.
The closures will continue until Monday,14 March.
The agency says the closures are necessary to prepare for the start of the main "smart motorway, external" construction between junctions 4a and 6 on the M5.
Last month, over-running work removing a gantry from over the motorway in the same area caused long delays for commuters (pictured).
Quote Message
The work we’re doing each night differs in nature from the works undertaken on the 5 February, which caused considerable disruption. I want to reassure motorists that we are doing all that we can to minimise disruption to journeys and to complete the work timely and efficiently."
Janice Allen, Highways England
Weather: Rain warning issued by Met Officepublished at 11:57 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
The Met Office is warning heavy rain is on its way - more from BBC Weather.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Temporary venue for funeral services sought in Redditchpublished at 11:33 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
A new temporary venue to hold funeral services is being sought by Redditch Borough Council while "vital improvement works" are carried out at the crematorium.
Image source, Google
An alternate place to hold ceremonies will be needed through the summer, while the 40-year-old crematorium gets a £400,000 upgrade "to meet increasing customer demand", the council says.
Quote Message
Services will not be held at the chapel while the improvements are happening but we are looking for a suitable venue nearby where people can say their final farewell to loved ones.”
Councillor Debbie Taylor, Redditch Borough Council
Live commentary: Worcester City v Alfreton Townpublished at 11:19 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Worcester City could be without first-choice goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan for tonight's clash with Alfreton Town at Aggborough.
Vaughan came off injured in Saturday's 0-0 draw with FC United - on-loan keeper Ethan Ross stepped in.
The match is live on BBC Hereford & Worcester 738AM and online from 19:45 tonight.
Power company to create 70 new posts in Worcesterpublished at 11:05 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
nPower has confirmed 70 new posts are to be created at its base in Worcester, despite big job cuts being made elsewhere in the company.
Image source, Getty Images
The company today said it is shedding 2,400 jobs across the UK and is closing its Burton-on-Trent site.
Npower lost €137m (£106m) last year, compared with €227m profit in 2014.
Chaddesley Corbett retailers offer new future for the villagepublished at 10:49 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
Kidderminster Shuttle
Residents of Chaddesley Corbett have rallied together to keep trade alive in their historic village street following the closure of their village store, external.
Retiring chief constable backs merger with neighbouring forcepublished at 10:29 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
The retiring chief constable of West Mercia Police says he supports a potential merger with the Warwickshire force.
David Shaw has been in his current role since 2011.
He says, though, that any decision to combine the forces is out of his hands
Quote Message
I've said both publicly and privately that I think [the merger] would work, but I think the question now needs to be answered very early in the life of the next two police and crime commissioners and when my successor is in post, and then get it done
David Shaw, Retiring chief constable of West Mercia Police
Police appeal for help to find missing woman in Herefordpublished at 10:15 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
Hereford Times
Police are appealing for information to help find a missing 43-year-old woman in Hereford, external.
Remembering 'Woodbine Willie'published at 09:57 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
The Church of England remembers the Worcester cleric who became a national figure after his work in the trenches in World War One.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Hereford FC give squad players a chancepublished at 09:42 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Hereford FC will make changes for tonight's Midland League Cup match at Highgate United.
The Bulls won 5-0 at Loughborough University on Saturday, but boss Pete Beadle says he'll give some of his squad players a run-out this evening.
Quote Message
It's another game, we're on the road again and it gives us the chance to sue the squad we've got and get some of the players we haven't used on the pitch again
Pete Beadle, Hereford FC manager
New Homes Bonus used for council's day-to-day spendingpublished at 09:27 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
James Pearson
Journalist, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Councils in Herefordshire and Worcestershire have been using some of the £25m New Homes Bonus they've received from the government on day-to-day spending, rather than projects in the areas where the houses have been built.
Image source, Getty Images
The scheme, which sees councils getting payments when homes are created in the area, was introduced in 2011.
Worcester News front page: Rat captured under bucket at Subway in Worcesterpublished at 09:13 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
Worcester News
Staff at a Worcester branch of Subway dealt with an unusual - and unwelcome - visitor, external this lunchtime.
Image source, Worcester News
Concerns over plans to close town's road maintenance depotpublished at 08:59 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
There are concerns plans to close a road maintenance depot in Bromyard could result in the town becoming cut off in bad weather.
Image source, Herefordshire Council
Balfour Beatty, which has a 10-year contract worth £200m with Herefordshire Council, is planning to shut the depots in both Bromyard and Ross-on-Wye as it looks to save money.
People in the town say it will take longer to deal with accidents and road problems as crews and equipment will have to travel across the county.
The company says "substantial savings" are needed across the board and that discussions are "ongoing" about how to achieve these.
Npower confirms 2,400 job lossespublished at 08:45 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
About 600 Npower staff in Worcester face an anxious wait as the energy firm has this morning confirmed it'll be cutting 2,400 jobs across the country.
Image source, Getty Images
The "big six" energy firm has been plagued by customer complaints over billing and in December was fined, by the energy industry's regulator, a record £26m for those problems.
Npower lost €137m (£106m) last year, compared with €227m profit in 2014.
Latest: New Homes Bonus used for day-to-day council spending; fears over road maintenance depot closure planpublished at 08:31 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
Gavin Kermack
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Here are some of the main stories we are looking at in Herefordshire and Worcestershire:
- Councils are spending much of the £25m they get from the government's New Homes Bonus on day-to-day spending rather than local projects
- Fears Bromyard could be cut off in bad weather if the town's road maintenance depot is closed
- Police boss calls on new chief constable to bring stability
Weather video: Bright start but rain by the afternoonpublished at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
Although it may be a bright start, cloud will increase through the day, with spells of rain throughout the afternoon. Highs of 7C (45F).
Travel: One lane blocked on the M50published at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2016
BBC Travel
A broken down vehicle is blocking one lane on the M50 westbound, between J1 (A38) and J2 (Ledbury). More from BBC Travel.