BBC Local Live: Staffordshire & Cheshire on Friday 21 July 2017

Summary

Barry Bennell sex abuse trial set for January
Cheshire CCG given 'inadequate' rating
Election candidate charged over blogs
Kurt Zouma: Chelsea defender joins Stoke on season-long loan
Updates on Friday 21 July

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

HS2 will be 'great opportunity' for town says MPpublished at 17:21 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Stuart George
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke
HS2 is a great opportunity for the economy in Crewe, according to the town's MP.
Labour's Laura Smith was speaking to me about the plans to expand and refurbish Crewe station and make it a high-speed hub on the HS2 line.
Image source, Jonathan White
Up to 14 trains per hour could stop at Crewe’s new high-speed rail hub station, under a government consultation that's just been launched.
Some trains to and from Crewe could also call at Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford.
Thunderstorms warningpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Two weather warnings for the West Midlands have been issued by the Met Office., external
Thundery showers are expected across the south of the region, including Herefordshire, Worcestershire and parts of Warwickshire, from 17:00 today.
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Just after midnight they are expected to turn into scattered thunderstorms, with intense downpours affecting the whole region.
In both cases the Met Office says there is a chance of localised flooding.
Man told to remove bottom-baring gnomepublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Cheshire East Council says such objects "could easily" distract motorists.
Read More
Stafford Global Hygiene blaze: No further action to be taken against companypublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Express and Star
No action will be taken against Global Hygiene, external following a huge blaze at the company last year.
Image source, Express and Star
Number of children left home alone on the increasepublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
A children's helpline charity says there's been a rise in calls from people in Staffordshire worried about children left home alone.
The NSPCC say that means the number of calls they pass on to police and children's services has gone up.
Sixty-three referrals were made in the county this year, that's up from 50 in the previous year.
Image source, Thinkstock
Quote Message
The general public are a lot more aware of children being left alone and being prepared to actually report it on which is really good."
Stuart Faville, NSPCC
How gang that blew up cash machines was caughtpublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
A gang that blew up cash machines across the UK, including four in Scotland, stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds, is sentenced.
Read More
Bare-faced cheek at the roadsidepublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
John Acres
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Meet Laurence Perry and his friendly, if somewhat under-dressed, gnome.
He's been told to move it because it could be a distraction to motorists.
Media caption,
The unwelcome gnome
Quote Message
While we do not wish to spoil people’s fun, there is a safety issue here as such objects could easily cause a distraction to motorists and other road users, leading to an accident."
Spokesperson, Cheshire East Council
Police appeal after break-in at property near Tamworthpublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Atherstone & Coleshill Herald
Police are appealing for witnesses after a break-in at a property in Polesworth., external
Donkeys left in painpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A Leek man has been fined after being found guilty of causing suffering to three donkeys and failing to meet the needs of seven others.
The RSPCA says the animals are now being cared for by the Donkey Sanctuary, external - after the 82-year-old failed to trim their overgrown hooves - leaving three in pain.
Meeting to plan the next step after leisure centre closurepublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
Newcastle borough councillors are meeting tonight to decide what's next after the closure of Kidsgrove Leisure Centre.
The centre closed at the end of June because Staffordshire County Council, which owns it, says it's no longer fit for purpose.
Image source, Google
Both councils say they're looking at a number of plans, including the potential development of the current site for leisure facilities.
Hospital fire accused charged over deathpublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
A man alleged to have set fire to a hospital is charged with the manslaughter of a patient.
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Football: New signing at Port Valepublished at 13:28 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale have made their 11th signing of the closed season with the arrival of Burton Albion winger Marcus Harness on a season-long loan.
As part of the deal, Burton will have the option of a recall in January 2018.
Image source, Getty Images
Harness made 13 appearances for the Brewers during the 2016/17 season, adding to the 44 career appearances he made for Nigel Clough's side.
Van driver tailgated couple for miles - after claiming he worked for MI6 Special Branchpublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
The Sentinel
Van driver Brian Dudley 'deliberately intimidated' a couple by tailgating their car - after claiming he was working undercover, external for MI6 Special Branch.
Port Vale sign Wilson and loanee Harnesspublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Port Vale sign Burton Albion winger Marcus Harness on a season-long loan and ex-Bolton defender Lawrie Wilson.
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Man charged with manslaughter and arson following hospital firepublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
A man's has been charged with manslaughter and two counts of arson following a fire at the Royal Stoke hospital.
Thomas Ashcroft, 39, is accused of setting a fire at the hospital following which an 89-year-old woman, May Maxfield, died.
The fire at the hospital led to the evacuation of hundreds of patients and the declaration of a major incident.
He's also charged with setting fire to a building at Staffordshire University on the same day, 7 June.
Mr Ashcroft, of Musgrave Crescent, Shirecliffe, Sheffield, has been remanded in custody until his next appearance.
Historic railway station to be revamped for HS2published at 11:22 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News
A revamp of Crewe's railway station is being proposed to accomodate HS2.
The high speed rail service is due to arrive in a decade's time, and the government has launched a consultation, external on the local plans.
Image source, Google
Money for the Crewe work is yet to be confirmed - the government says decisions on investment will come at some point this year.
Crewe was selected as an HS2 station over Stoke-on-Trent.
Your pictures: Staffordshire Moorlands through a lenspublished at 10:53 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
BBC Weather Watchers
Our Weather Watchers have been busy taking pictures in Cheadle (top) and just outside Leek (bottom).
Thanks to Terry Eyre and Birds Eye View for these two.
Image source, Terry Eyre
Image source, Birds Eye View
Cheeky gnomes cause rumpus in Wistastonpublished at 10:20 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Nantwich News
Green-fingered Laurence Perry’s cheeky garden gnomes have sparked a rumpus, external in Wistaston – and a council letter threatening action!
Image source, Nantwich News
MP says he will oppose HS2 votepublished at 09:56 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
The Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has warned of "devastation" after details of the HS2 route north of Birmingham were revealed.
Quote Message
There are farms facing devastation in my constituancy. There are quarries being planned for them under phase 2a. This legislation certainly will not have my support when it comes to a vote."
Michael Fabricant, Lichfield MP
The Department for Transport said the full line would connect Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and the East Midlands in a Y-shaped network, with all of them being linked to London.
Sport headlinespublished at 09:31 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Here are some of the stories involving the region's clubs:
- Stoke City's chairman believes the experience of manager Mark Hughes (pictured) will help attract new players to the Potters
- Derby County come to Vale Park tonight - it's the Valiant's first game against a league side in these pre-season matches
- Crewe Alexandra's manager say he's getting his team used to long journeys in the season ahead with a friendly away tonight at National League side, Barrow.