BBC Local Live: Herefordshire & Worcestershire on Friday 14 July 2017

Summary

Ten years for man who drove off after hitting police officer
Teacher guilty of 'unacceptable professional conduct' over pupil emails
Lifeline for new football stadium plans
Allowances rises a 'slap in the face for local people'
Early opening for Cathedral square restaurants
Rare butterfly numbers on the rise
Updates on Friday 14 July 2017

Live Reporting

Jerry Chester

'No pursuit' involved in biker crash, say policepublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
There was "no formal pursuit" under way at the time of an accident involving a motorcyclist, police say., external
West Mercia Police say an officer in an unmarked car had been "concerned by the driving of the motorcyclist" before the accident but was not chasing the rider.
Image source, Google
A 26-year-old man from Ross-on-Wye was airlifted to hospital with serious head and back injuries after the accident.
It happened on Monday at around 16:15 on the B4234 Walford Road near to Green Colley Grove, Walford, Herefordshire.
The man is currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
Woman sexually assaulted by cyclistpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
A woman has been sexually assaulted by a man riding a bicycle, external, police say.
West Mercia Police say the woman, who is in her 40s, was walking along the Bath Road in Worcester on Sunday 2 July, between 01:00 and 01:45 when the cyclist "grabbed her inappropriately" and attempted to pull her towards him.
The man rode off towards The Anchor pub on Diglis Road, where he was later seen outside.
Slideshow: Views on a damp daypublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
BBC Weather Watchers
Despite the low clouds and damp weather, BBC Weather Watchers have been out and about getting photos.
Thanks to Mikesnapper, Postman Les, Johnqa and Rickyshentz for donning their waterproofs.
Media caption,
Views on a damp day.
Green belt developments: Where the houses could be builtpublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
You can see the various different proposals for building new houses in Wyre Forest on the Local Plan Review document on the council's website , external- the details start at page 172.
The 200-page plan shows where up to 3,000 homes could be built by 2034 - a public consultation will last until August.
Image source, Google
Some of the green belt sites being considered for house building include:
- Sion Hill school site (pictured) - 60 homes
- Settling Ponds - 100 homes
- Lea Castle hospital - 600 homes
- Land east of Offmore farm area - 1,735
There are full maps showing the proposed developments in appendix to the Local Plan which is on the council website, external.
Man given a curfew after being caught driving while disqualifiedpublished at 11:54 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
Hereford Times
A 49-year-old man who was caught driving while disqualified has been given a curfew, external.
Public inquiry call as MPs debate contaminated blood scandalpublished at 11:34 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
A Worcester woman infected with contaminated blood in the 1970s and 1980s has welcomed an emergency debate on the scandal in Parliament this afternoon.
It's claimed more than 2,000 have died after haemophiliacs and other people were infected with hepatitis C and HIV from imported blood products.
Image source, Science Photo Library
Collette Wintle is backing the calls for a public inquiry.
Quote Message
It's not before time that this debate is being held - there have been far too many debates I'm afraid. I've attended many and something should have been done by now but what we have here is a resistant by government over many, many years because the know the government is at fault."
Collette Wintle
Cricket: Full commentary from Cheltenhampublished at 11:01 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
Dave Bradley
Cricket commentator
I'll be commentating on the third day of Worcestershire's match against Gloucester here in Cheltenham.
You can hear our ball-by-ball coverage on BBC Hereford & Worcester's 738AM frequency and online.
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MP wants 'clarity' on hospital's futurepublished at 10:38 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
The new MP for Redditch says she wants more details of how proposed investments in Worcestershire's hospitals will be spent and what the timetable will be.
Rachel Maclean will use a debate in Parliament today to get more details.
Quote Message
It's a way of prioritising and actually getting ministers to focus on the services that are being delivered in our area. I want to get some more clarity on the timetable and what the proposed investment is going to be in the future
Rachel Maclean, MP for Redditch
Angry residents slam changes to Vélo Birmingham route as 'unacceptable'published at 09:58 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
Worcester News
Angry residents and businesses have slammed a decision to close most of a major road through their village, external to hold a 100-mile charity bike ride.
Weight problems 'no different from drugs or alcohol'published at 09:38 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
A Worcestershire woman who's lost 10 stone (63kg) thanks to an NHS operation says she's been given a new lease of life.
Rachel Murray, from Kidderminster, suffered from compulsive eating and last year weighed 38 stone (241kg).
She became partially sighted and suffering from reduced mobility because of her obesity, but had gastric band surgery after losing seven stone (44kg) - she's now lost another three (19kg).
She defends having the operation on the NHS.
Quote Message
It's no different to drugs or alcohol. Some of us just have addictive personalities and have used a substance as a crutch, rather than getting the help we need for mental problems - which is what it all stems from, mental health issues."
Rachel Murray
Man arrested after M42 multi vehicle crashpublished at 09:12 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
A man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after a fatal motorway pile-up which led to three cars catching fire on the M42.
West Mercia Police said, external officers investigating the Sunday evening crash were questioning a 52-year-old man from Exmouth in Devon.
The driver of one of the cars involved died at the scene on the southbound carriageway between Redditch and Bromsgrove.
Three other people were taken to hospital for treatment.
Parliament to debate future of Worcestershire hospitalspublished at 09:04 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
The future of Worcestershire's acute hospitals will be discussed in Parliament later today.
The new MP for Redditch, Rachel Maclean, will use a half hour debate to push the Government for more detail on extra investment for the county's main hospitals.
A reorganisation of services at Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester, which is set to be approved by health bosses tomorrow, calls for £29m of improvements.
Plans unveiled for thousands of houses on green belt landpublished at 08:46 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
Proposals have been launched to build thouasnds of new homes on the green belt in north Worcestershire.
Wyre Forest District Council has published a 200-page plan, external revealing where 2,000 to 3,000 new homes on green belt land could go by 2034.
Image source, Getty Images
The draft local plan for the Wyre Forest includes room for up to 6,000 new houses and is out for consultation until mid-August.
The council's deputy leader Ian Hardiman says he knows the idea of building on the green belt will be unpopular.
Quote Message
It's quite understandable if you live on a very nice development which backs on to fields and the prospect at the moment is that there may be houses built on it - we can understand people will be very concerned. All we can say is that this is your chance to reply to us
Ian Hardiman, Deputy leader, Wyre Forest District Council
Video: How much rain can we expect today?published at 08:23 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
BBC Weather
A wet day is in store for many, with patchy rain growing steadily throughout the morning and into the afternoon.
It will feel cooler than yesterday, with highs of about 15C (59F).
Media caption,
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Good morning from today's Herefordshire and Worcestershire live pagepublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 11 July 2017
Jerry Chester
BBC News Online
Welcome to the Local Live service for Herefordshire and Worcestershire on Tuesday morning.
I'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather as it happens.
If you'd like to get in touch you can email, tweet us on @bbchw, external or message via Facebook, external.
Cox career-best leads Worcs recoverypublished at 18:41 British Summer Time 10 July 2017
Wicketkeeper Ben Cox's career-best 124 helps Worcestershire recover from a precarious position against Gloucestershire.
Read More
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 10 July 2017
We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.
Tom Jones meets his long-lost god-daughterpublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 10 July 2017
Russell Truran
Journalist, BBC Hereford and Worcester
Sir Tom Jones has been reunited with his Herefordshire god-daughter, years after her parents lost touch with him.
Susan Gibbs' parents were friends with Tom when she was born, but they lost touch after he found fame.
Susan (pictured left) says he remembered her when they met recently.
Image source, Susan Gibbs
Quote Message
Very emotional. As soon as I mentioned my mum and dad's names, straight away he remembered. He gave me a hug... It was nice to think I met him and he remembered me, because as a child I don't remember him coming into the house for a cup of tea, because I was too little."
Susan Gibbs, Tom Jones's god-daughter
Traders told to 'look for the positive' in cycle event closurespublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 10 July 2017
Residents and business owners who are affected by road closures for a cycling event coming to Worcestershire have been told they will not receive compensation, but should try to see the wider advantages.
The organisers of Velo Birmingham say they're taking a second look at the route which would currently see the closure of the A4133 through Ombersley for seven hours.
John Ridgeon from the organisers CMS Active says people should be celebrating the event coming to their area.
Quote Message
15,000 people are going to ride. Millions of pounds will be made for charity. It's going to have an enormously powerful impact. No one's talking about these things. Everyone's talking about the negative. Inevitably with a big event there are some negatives. No event in the UK pays compensation."
John Ridgeon, CMS Active spokesperson
Brintons Carpets sheds workforce in restructure at Kidderminster sitepublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 10 July 2017
Kidderminster Shuttle
Bosses at Brintons Carpets have confirmed more than 50 employees have lost their jobs, external after a month-long consultation period ended last week.