BBC Local Live: Staffordshire & Cheshire on Friday 4 August 2017

Summary

Developer set to buy former police HQ for £15m
Council rules out referendum on hospital services
Rescued lamb 'not facing dinner plate'
Updates from Friday 4 August 2017

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

Travellers set up camp next to schoolpublished at 13:16 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Urgent action needs to be taken to move on travellers who've set up camp on fields near a Staffordshire school, according to people living in the area.
It's only a few weeks since a group of travellers left Baldy's Field, next to Wolstanton High School, and another eight caravans have appeared over the weekend.
Neighbours have told BBC Radio Stoke they're fed up with the noise, litter and disturbances from the site.
The travellers have been unavailable for comment to BBC Radio Stoke.
The land is owned by Staffordshire County Council, which says it will carry out legal proceedings to have them removed.
MPs revealed as still hiring relativespublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
BBC Politics
Two Staffordshire MPs are among more than 100 revealed to be continuing to employ a member of their family using taxpayers' money, despite the practice being banned for new members of Parliament.
Of the 589 returning MPs, 122 have declared the employment of a relative in the latest Register of Members' Financial Interests., external
Image source, PA
Of Staffordshire's MPs, Stone's Bill Cash declared he still employs his wife, while the Staffordshire Moorlands MP Karen Bradley said she employed her husband as office manager until October 2016.
None of the 61 new MPs who secured their seats at the general election on 8 June are allowed to do so.
Campaigners say there needs to be a clear end date for all MPs.
Football: Stoke boss 'hopeful' of Bruno Martins Indi decision in next fortnightpublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City's manager Mark Hughes says there's been no significant progress in their efforts to sign Bruno Martins Indi.
The defender is back with FC Porto after his loan deal at Stoke expired at the end of last season.
Image source, Gareth Copley/Getty Images
The Netherlands international did not miss a league game for Stoke in 2016-17.
Hughes told BBC Radio Stoke he's hopeful of reaching an agreement over Martins Indi in the next fortnight.
Quote Message
People might think it's getting close to the wire but these things can accelerate very, very quickly so hopefully there'll be something positive next week or, if not that, hopefully the week after."
Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager
Passchendaele centenary: Families attend memorial servicepublished at 12:01 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
Riyah Collins
BBC West Midlands
The great-niece of Private Thomas Madelin who died at Passchendaele will attend a service in Ypres to mark 100 years since the battle started.
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Pte Madelin had already been wounded twice before he died
Pte Madelin died aged 25 on 16 August 1917, just over two weeks into the battle.
He was buried in a marked grave on the battlefield, but fighting later destroyed it, meaning the soldier's descendents have commemorated him by tying a poppy cross to a nearby tree.
Miranda Ingram, who lives near Lichfield, will wear her great uncle's three service medals to the ceremony.
Your reaction: Phil Taylor 'greatest in darts' after farewell winpublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
Facebook
People have been giving their reaction on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page to darts player Phil Taylor's farewell win at the World Matchplay event in Blackpool.
The 16-time world champion thrashed Peter Wright 18-8. The Stoke-on-Trent man is set to stop touring after the 2018 World Championship, which ends in January.
Image source, Harry Trump/Getty Images
On Facebook, David Cookson wrote, external: "As Muhammad Ali was the greatest in boxing, Phil is without doubt the greatest in darts."
Cheddleton Cooks added, external: "Brilliant, never any doubt, it won't be the same without Taylor after retirement."
And Margaret Gidman posted, external: "Well done to the best dart player ever."
Staffordshire tug-of-war team wins international goldpublished at 11:25 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A Staffordshire tug-of-war team's won a gold medal at an international contest., external
Image source, The Tug of War Association
The Norton club was picked to represent Great Britain at the World Games in Poland, external, an event for a range of non-Olympic sports.
It took part in the 640kg outdoor category at the weekend and beat Switzerland in the final to take gold.
Image source, The Tug of War Association
Man rescued from flat after grill pan firepublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A man had to be rescued from his flat in Stoke-on-Trent after a grill pan caught fire., external
Image source, Google
Staffordshire Fire Service said it found the man inside the building on Hollings Street, Fenton, last night.
It said he was conscious when he was taken outside and was given oxygen but didn't want hospital treatment.
Appeal over disturbance after deathpublished at 10:43 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
The disturbance happened in Burton upon Trent four days before a man's body was found.
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Town centre road to be closed for weeks from todaypublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A main road in the middle of Congleton is going to be shut for several weeks from today, external as part of five months of improvements to the town centre.
Image source, Google
Cheshire East Council is carrying out improvement work son traffic lights and lighting., external It is also set to introduce new street furniture and plants.
The authority's shutting part of Swan Bank from today until the middle of September so it can be resurfaced along with work on the footpaths.
They say diversion routes will be signposted, with the closure between the Bull’s Head Hotel and the Counting House.
Parents' anguish as premature twin boys at hospitals 50 miles apartpublished at 10:04 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
The Sentinel
The parents of identical twins born 11 weeks premature have spoken of their frustration at the boys being treated in different hospitals – 50 miles apart, external.
Image source, The Sentinel
World Swimming Championships: Adam Peaty helps GB to men's 4x100m medley silverpublished at 09:42 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
Nick Hope
BBC Sport Olympic sports reporter
Uttoxeter's Adam Peaty helped the men's 4x100m medley relay team to silver as Britain ended the World Swimming Championships with seven medals.
Media caption,
World Swimming Championships: 'Wonderful' win
The line-up of Chris Walker-Hebborn, Peaty, James Guy and Duncan Scott also won Olympic silver at Rio 2016.
They finished in three minutes 28.95 seconds - 1.04 seconds behind the USA.
The British team's total of seven medals, which included four golds, helped them finish second in the overall standings behind USA.
Quote Message
It's always special getting to compete with these guys and we really wanted that medal. Silver is okay, but we know there's a gold medal in there as we're a young team that can still make improvements."
Adam Peaty, Swimmer
World Matchplay: Phil Taylor beats Peter Wright to win 16th titlepublished at 09:21 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
BBC Sport
Stoke-on-Trent's Phil Taylor thrashed Peter Wright 18-8 to win his 16th World Matchplay title in his final appearance at the event in Blackpool before retiring.
Image source, Rex Features
The 16-time world champion, 56, raced into an 8-3 lead and held off a brief fightback from Scotland's Wright to reach the fourth interval 13-7 up.
Taylor then won four straight legs, with Wright taking one in consolation before the Englishman sealed victory.
Quote Message
This couldn't have come at a better time - it's a bonus for me. I'm done now, my back is in half, my legs are killing me - I'm doing everything I can to prolong my career so to win a major now at my age is fantastic."
Phil Taylor, Darts player
Tower blocks planned for city centre sitepublished at 08:59 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News
Plans for two 11-storey apartment blocks at the Smithfield site in Hanley are being unveiled by Stoke-on-Trent City Council this morning.
The towers would join the existing office buildings on the site as well as a new hotel on which work is due to start later this year., external
The proposals go on display this morning as part of a consultation, external exercise before they're submitted to the council next month.
Post-mortem examination due over suspicious deathpublished at 08:41 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A post-mortem examination is due to take place today as part of an investigation into a suspicious death in Staffordshire.
Image source, Google
Emergency crews were called to Main Street, Burton upon Trent, on Saturday evening over concerns about a man in his 60s.
Police found his body inside a property and subsequently arrested a 41-year-old man in connection with the death, a spokesman said.
As part of the inquiry, police say they want to hear from anyone who saw a disturbance on The Green in Stretton on Tuesday., external
Video: Your 50-second weather forecastpublished at 08:22 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
After a bright start, cloud will build bringing some heavy and potentially thundery showers with highs of 19C (66F).
Media caption,
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Welcome to Monday's live coveragepublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Good morning everyone, it's a sunny start to the working week and BBC Weather Watcher Patrick took this photo in Crewe of the sun rising this morning:
Image source, Patrick
We'll have a look at the rest of the day's weather forecast in a few minutes and, through the day, there'll be updates on Monday's news, sport, travel and more.
You can also share your photos of Staffordshire and Cheshire and I'll feature as many as I can - do that via email or post on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke, external to show you agree to share them.