Hospitals chief exec talks up plans for urgent care centres
Evidence of English Civil War siege discovered
Lions coach records wedding message for couple
Updates on Friday 2 December
It's been a cold day, but we've had some beautiful clear skies over Shropshire today and these are two of the photos shared by the BBC Weather Watchers this afternoon.
Image source, Nickgtb
Image source, Along came a spiderThe latest proposals for Shropshire's hospitals have been getting a mixed response from the county's MPs.
The MP for North Shropshire, Owen Paterson, tweeted to say he welcomed the recommendations adding: "New emergency centre brings £300m. Shrews/Telford A&Es continue to provide 80% current service".
But the Telford MP Lucy Allan said she was disappointed, external, adding: "I am very concerned that Telford’s needs have not been given the weight they merit. These are concerns that have not been addressed by Future Fit, despite the best efforts of local representatives."
Bomb disposal experts have closed off a road in Telford, while they examine a post box which the police say has suffered "significant damage".
Waterloo Road, near Sinclair Gardens in Ketley, has been closed since 14:10 and a 100m (330ft) cordon has been set up around the site.
The Royal Mail and officers from Shropshire Fire and Rescue are also at the scene.
Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire
A third player has left the Telford Tigers, as the club continues to restructure its finances under new owners.
Forward Phil Hill has not been offered a new contract and will be leaving immediately.
Image source, Steve BrodieTigers head coach Tom Watkins described him as a "consummate professional" and that he had "nothing but good things" to say about him.
Quote MessageIt was a very difficult decision and undoubtedly creates a hole in our dressing room and team. I would to thank Phil personally for his dedication over the last 18 months.”
Tom Watkins, Telford Tigers head coach
Shropshire could have one emergency and trauma department under recommendations being put forward by NHS bosses.
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Market Drayton Advertiser
Shropshire Council's cabinet met at Shirehall this afternoon to discuss opening hours at council customer service points, external in the county and the future of Shrewsbury's Meole Brace Pitch and Putt.
The leader of Telford and Wrekin Council has described the review of Shropshire's hospital services "a total farce that is being railroaded through".
Councillor Shaun Davies is once again threatening to take the recommendations to a judicial review, claiming the Future Fit project failed to take full account of needs of the people of Telford.
Mr Davies said he thought the process was "neither fair nor legal" and will call for an emergency council meeting to discuss the matter.
Quote MessageWe have always said there should be two fully-funded, fully-equipped Accident & Emergency units for a county the size of Shropshire. If there is to be only one, then it makes sense from a financial and clinical perspective to locate it at Princess Royal Hospital, in the area where there is a growing population and significant concentrations of under 5s and people who live in deprived communities."
Cllr Shaun Davies, Leader of Telford and Wrekin council
Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire
Here's a recap of our top stories this afternoon:
- Council leader brands hospitals review "a total farce" and threatens legal action
- Muller to pay an extra £2.5p per litre to dairy farmers from January
- Plan to create nearly 100 extra winter beds at hospitals
If you're travelling between Birmingham and Shrewsbury on the trains it's bad news, warns London Midland.
The train operator is warning of signifcant delays to its services due to overhead line problems at Smethwick.
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Faith Page
Reporter, BBC Shropshire
Shropshire's acute hospitals are almost 100 beds short of what they'll need to get them through the busy winter months, the trust says.
They've come up with a plan to provide extra capacity, which will cost £1.7m and be put to the board tomorrow, but the trust will still be 29 beds short.
Image source, SaTHHospital admissions normally increase over winter, especially just after Christmas.
Today's recommendations from the Future Fit health review have been welcomed by the chief executive of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
Simon Wright said that while a final decision was still some way off, the result would be "renewed and revitalised" hospitals capable of creating new jobs and serving patients better.
Image source, SaTHMr Wright went on to say that the NHS has always had to evolve and must continue to do so in the future.
Quote Message“This is a great opportunity for us to ensure the future of both our hospitals for at least the next 20 years and to provide a sustainable workforce to ensure we provide the safest and kindest care to our patients.
Simon Wright, Chief executive of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
This picture, taken by BBC Weather Watcher Ice Queen, is so good it's been made an editor's choice.
It was taken in Norton, and I bet it was cold.
Image source, Ice Queen
Tracey Higgins
BBC Local Live
Plans for more chicken-sheds in south Shropshire are due to be discussed next week.
The owners of Wigley Farm, near Ludlow, and Hurst Barn, at Clunton, have each submitted proposals for two poultry-rearing units, feed-bins and ancillary equipment.
The applications will be dealt with at a planning meeting at Shirehall on Tuesday.
James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire
Shrewsbury Town will continue to invest in its youth programme to bring talent up through the ranks, the club says.
Connor Goldson and Ryan Woods moved on recently for big money, and Dom Smith is currently in the first team squad.
Image source, Shrewsbury Town Youth ManagerAndy Jones, who manages the youth academy, is proud of the way the club develops its young players.
Quote MessageAs long as we're doing it and supporting the first team, that's the main thing. I've said to the lads time and time again, if you're with Shrewsbury you've got a good chance of getting through and you've got a good chance of moving on with football as your career, because this is a club that supports youth."
Andy Jones, Manager of Shrewsbury Town youth academy
A man has admitted stealing a BMW that was later traced using a mobile phone tracking app., external
Several Shropshire contenders are in the frame at tonight's West Midlands community sports awards, external.
Telford kick-boxer, Adam Summers, is there for the Aspiring Talent Of The Year, and there's double chance for Ellesmere's Alan Bircher.
He is nominated in the Coach of the Year category for his work with the Ellesmere College Titans swimming club, which is also up for Community Club of the Year.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Telford Be Active scheme is nominated as the top Community Project in the region, and in the Power of Sport category, for enhancing someone's life, Darren Ford, from Telford's Inclusively Fit Project, is on the shortlist.
Today's recommendation that the county should have just one emergency department, based in Shrewsbury, has a number of hurdles to clear before a final decision is taken.
The report, from the Future Fit review group, will now go before a Joint Committee of Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups.
If the plan is agreed by the CCGs, this will be followed by public consultation, starting in January and lasting a minimum of 12 weeks.
Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire
Our headlines this lunchtime:
- Review recommends Shrewsbury has the county's only full A&E department
- Muller to pay dairy farmers an extra 2.5p per litre from January
- Shropshire hopes in community sports awards
Muller is going to pay dairy farmers an extra 2.5p per litre for their milk, starting in the new year.
That's in addition to the 2p rise due to be introduced tomorrow and means the Market Drayton-based company will have increased milk prices by 7p since the start of October.
Muller says it has reached the decision to put prices up after meetings with farmers and that it also wanted to introduce more stability into the market, saying a better relationship with farmers was key to achieving this.
Quote MessageIt’s clear that in the past few years the whole dairy sector has suffered from supply and demand imbalance. Real damage has been caused to farmers and processors as a result of having to dispose of large volumes of excess milk at very low values when production surges, or conversely having to buy from third parties at high values when production falls."
Lyndsay Chapman, Agriculture Director at Müller Milk & Ingredients
It's been another frosty start to the day and these are just two of the photos sent in by the BBC Weather Watchers this morning.
They were taken near Meole Brace (top) and Hinstock (below).
Image source, Lorraine333
Image source, Seabunny
