Burton Mail
Anger at litter blighting beauty spot in Burton
OVERFLOWING litter bins at Burton’s Washlands have prompted renewed calls for action from a regular visitor, who says the problem is persistent. Keith Butlin, who lives in the town, walks his dog at the councilowned park every day and said he has...
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Bike thief jailed after two-week crime spree
A MAN stole two bicycles, an e-scooter and an e-bike during a two-week spate of thefts in Burton-upon-trent. Michael Hughes admitted two counts of theft of a pedal cycle, two counts of theft of conveyance other than motor vehicle or pedal cycle, one...
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Cash boost to help stage a ‘cultural carnival’ in Burton
FIVE community organisations in East Staffordshire will receive grants to help stage cultural celebrations across Burton this year. The money is part of a pilot project to deliver an event or series of events during the celebrations. The five...
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New PCSO pay offer in a bid to avoid strike action
THE county’s police chief has backed an offer to support PCSOS who will lose pay due to controversial shift changes. Police community support officers voted in May to take industrial action over Staffordshire Police’s changes to their shifts, which...
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County force ‘inadequate’ in responding to public
INSPECTORS have found Staffordshire Police ‘inadequate’ in how it responds to the public. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said the force was not attending priority incidents within its two-hour target...
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First responders celebrating their anniversary with a call-out milestone
A VOLUNTEER emergency response team is celebrating its first anniversary after reaching a remarkable milestone of 1,000 emergency call-outs in just 12 months. Burton Community First Responders marked its first year on Wednesday, July 15, having hit...
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250,000 extra appointments to see your GP every year
PATIENTS across Staffordshire are set to benefit from around 250,000 extra GP appointments each year following investment to modernise doctors’ surgeries. The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) said 19 GP practices have...
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Pre-school is among best in the country after Ofsted grading
A SOUTH Derbyshire pre-school has achieved one of the strongest Ofsted results in the country and is among the UK’S best after being rated ‘Exceptional’ in three areas of its provision. Woodville Preschool, near Swadlincote, is celebrating after being...
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Families urged to reduce water usage after a day of record demand
WATER company bosses are urging customers to reduce the amount of water they are using every day as demand hits record levels. Bosses at Severn Trent say they experienced the highest single day of demand for water ever recorded across its region on...
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Town park flagged up as one of country’s best
CLAYS Lane Park has been named one of the country’s best parks after winning the Green Flag Award for the bestmanaged parks and green spaces. The Branston-based park achieved the international quality mark for parks and green spaces as part of the...
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New ‘all-age’ special school in pipeline as part of major £28m plan for county
A NEW all-age special school could be built in Staffordshire - to help more children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities get support closer to home. Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to approve £28.6...
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250 local jobs safeguarded & more are in the pipeline after plan sanctioned
PLANS for a major £100 million distribution centre which will safeguard 250 jobs have been approved by councillors. They sanctioned an application, submitted by Prologis, to create a new national headquarters for Palletways, bringing together the...
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Rail travellers warned about delays as £5m scheme starts
PASSENGERS using rail services through Burton and the surrounding area are being warned to expect disruption over the next two weekends as a £5.1 million programme of railway improvements begins. Network Rail will carry out work at several locations...
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Mum hits out as delays leave 6-year-old son without school support
SEND delays are leaving children without vital support in mainstream education, a mum from Burton has claimed. Sarah Hall says long delays in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPS), poor communication and funding issues are affecting children with...
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Firm’s boxing clever!
A KING’S Award-winning Derbyshire manufacturer is expanding its defence work after delivering its first products supporting production of the new Boxer armoured vehicle for the British Army. Melbourne-based Acres Engineering has completed and...
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County council in vow to fix 40,000 potholes during the next 272 days
HIGHWAYS crews at Staffordshire County Council are looking to fix 40,000 potholes by the end of March 2027. The blitz will see defects across the county targeted by workers, including 14 new crews undertaking the crucial task of fixing the county’s...
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Rogue landlords fined more than £224k for having no licences for HMO
A LANDLORD has been ordered to pay more than £18,000 after losing an appeal against a financial penalty for operating an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Burton. East Staffordshire Borough Council’s HMO Licensing Team successfully...
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106 new houses locked in after Branston scheme gets the go-ahead
PLANS for 106 new homes on the Branston Locks development have been approved - despite concerns that some properties fall below national space standards. Councillors at East Staffordshire Borough Council unanimously approved the plans. The Branston...
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BOOM! Burton festival is set to expand with live music nights
SONIC Boom Festival is expanding beyond its annual free town centre event with two new live music nights celebrating Burton’s heritage. The festival returns to the town centre on Saturday, September 12, with indie band Pale Waves confirmed as...
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Burton-based solar firm set to take on 80 staff to meet demand
A BURTON-BASED solar firm is creating 80 new jobs across the UK as record demand for home installations is expected to continue throughout the summer. Bosses at Project Solar said most of the new roles will be in sales following a sharp rise in...
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Shock as firm has to appoint administrators
A STAFFORDSHIRE metal finishing specialist that has served UK industry for more than four decades has fallen into administration. Pym & Wildsmith (Metal Finishers) Limited – which traces its roots back to 1979 and operates from Bramshall Industrial...
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Teen Evie gives up her dream of seeing pop star to help animals in need
A BURTON teenager gave up her dream of seeing Billie Eilish after spending £160 she had saved for concert tickets on food and supplies for animals in need at the RSPCA instead. Evie Dyer, 15, had been saving for around six months to buy expensive...
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22 incidents of dumped waste uncovered in a day with joint ops
A JOINT day of action targeting fly-tipping and environmental crime in Shobnall uncovered 22 incidents of illegally dumped waste and dozens of other issues requiring further investigation. Officers from East Staffordshire Borough Council’s...
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Proposal for new forest school for kids – right behind their care home
BURTON could be home to a new forest school under plans submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council. Bayleaf Care Ltd submitted the proposals, which, if approved, would see provision for six pupils. The school is set to be located on land behind...
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Student Ruth scoops award after ditching childcare to be a plumber
AN apprentice plumber at Trent & Dove has been named Adult Learner of the Year after being praised for her dedication, professionalism and resilience in a traditionally maledominated industry. Ruth Binks, 52, received the accolade at Burton and South...
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Man arrested in murder inquiry after woman is found dead
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a 72-year-old woman in South Derbyshire. Police were called to reports that a woman had been found with stab wounds at a property in The Crest, Linton, Swadlincote, at just after...
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14 new repair teams launched for big summer blitz on potholed roads in county
EXTRA highways crews will be in place to help tackle road defects across Staffordshire over the summer. A total of 14 extra repair teams will be up and running by the end of June, with the crucial task of fixing the county’s potholes and other...
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Couple ‘channel stillbirths pain’ to repay charity for its support
A HILTON couple are tackling a gruelling 100km ultra challenge this weekend to raise money for a charity that helped them through the loss of two babies. Hollie and James Langton will take on the North Yorkshire Ultra Challenge today and tomorrow in...
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New ‘taskforce’ is launched now to help families ‘feel proud of where they live’
ACOUNCIL has launched a new Love Your Neighbourhood Taskforce – focusing on areas in need of support, tackling issues that matter most to residents and helping to create cleaner, safer, and more welcoming neighbourhoods. Working alongside local...
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Huge town estate to finally get shop 11 years after plan was first proposed
PLANS for a shop on a huge Burton housing estate have finally been approved – more than 11 years after first being proposed. Now, a Sainsbury’s convenience store is set to be constructed on Upper Outwoods Farm. The estate was first proposed in 2013,...
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Parents and kids urged to walk to school as part of a day of action
A COUNCIL is urging parents and children to walk to school in Burton as part of its support for Global Action Plan’s Clean Air Day tomorrow. East Staffordshire Borough Council says the air quality in the region has shown a steady improvement in recent...
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MP in call for a lifeline VAT cut for hospitality businesses in the area
THE MP for Burton and Uttoxeter has called on the Government to reduce VAT on hospitality firms from 20 per cent to 10 per cent. Jacob Collier’s call follows the launch of a VAT’S The Problem campaign, spearheaded by chef and publican Tom Kerridge and...
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Search is on for people with a passion for poetry
THE search for the next Staffordshire Poet Laureate (2026–28) and Young Poet Laureate (2026–27) has been launched. The two posts are seen as playing an important role in supporting creativity, inspiring communities and raising the profile of poetry...
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Creating new play den is child’s play for students!
CONSTRUCTION students at Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) have designed and built an imaginative outdoor play den for pupils at Anglesey Primary School in Burton. The project began after Anglesey School launched a “Junk Project” challenge,...
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Medium to the stars moves her podcast from London to Uttoxeter
A MEDIUM and podcast host has moved her growing operation from London to Uttoxeter – bringing celebrity guests and a communityfocused vision with her. Chloe Smith, presenter of the Chloe Mediumship podcast, says the move felt like a natural step, with...
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U-turn means top private school is now set to remain open
A PRIVATE Staffordshire school has been saved from closure. Abbotsholme School, near Rocester, had been due to shut on Monday, June 22 after being purchased by Abbotsholme 2026 Limited. But the decision sparked outrage among parents and staff had not...
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YOGA STUDIO PLAN FOR OLD SCHOOL
A HISTORIC former village school could be turned into a yoga studio, cafe, deli and wellness centre, putting to rest fears of housing. The former Willington Old School, in The Castle Way, next to the canal and opposite Derbyshire County Council’s...
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£180k boost as 6,000 explore new Staffy Trail
MORE than 6,000 people are estimated to have explored the Staffy Trail since its launch - generating an early boost of up to £180,000 for the county’s visitor economy. The popular public art and heritage trail has already attracted almost 3,000 app...
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£200k fund to help people in need of instant fuel bills support
A STAFFORDSHIRE council is preparing to spend £200,000 on a fuel voucher service and energy adviser to support struggling residents. East Staffordshire Borough Council hopes to launch the service, which will last for two years, at the start of...
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Stalker jailed after jumping into woman’s car in Burton
A MAN from Burton-upon-trent has been jailed after he stalked and harassed a woman for more than a year. Mohammed Qasim Ali, 25, was jailed for two years and eight months at Stafford Crown Court on May 28, after he admitted stalking involving fear of...
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Plans unveiled to turn vacant town boozer into a mosque
PLANS have come forward to turn a vacant Burton pub into a mosque and community centre. The Hanbury Arms, in Sydney Street, has been closed since the end of December 2024, the application form submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council...
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Council launches fly-tipping probe after complaints about lake litter
FRESH concerns have been raised over worsening litter and anti-social behaviour at a fishing lake in Stretton – with residents claiming the problem has escalated during the summer period. A Stretton resident, who previously complained about the issue...
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Row about just how many potholes have been filled on roads across the county
REFORM UK councillors have hit out at “false” claims that fewer potholes are being filled in across Staffordshire. Philip White, below, Conservative group leader at the county council, said that “deciding to pause new pothole repairs last summer has...
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80 new staff are ‘loving it’ as restaurant finally opens
A NEW Mcdonald’s restaurant has finally opened its doors after surviving a rejected planning application more than two years ago. The restaurant, which will seat nearly 200 diners and has created around 80 new jobs, opened on Wednesday on The Castle...
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MP in pledge of support for pubs and breweries in constituency
THE MP for Burton and Uttoxeter has shown his commitment to supporting the pub and brewing industry after hearing directly from operators about challenges facing the sector. Throughout the day, Jacob Collier MP spent time at The Blacksmiths Arms in...
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Retailer insists it’s ‘business as usual’ despite roadworks
A BURTON furniture retailer has reassured customers it is “business as usual” – despite ongoing £2.3 million roadworks on Derby Road. Neighbouring stores Coytes Bed & Sofa Shop and Coytes Carpets are both based on Derby Road, close to the stretch...
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Top award for ‘hero’ cop who rescued OAPS from vehicle inferno
HERO traffic officer Mike Riach helped rescue two elderly people from a blazing car after a crash. Now Mike, from Uttoxeter, has received a Chief Constable’s Award from Leicestershire Police for his efforts at the scene of a collision on the A453 near...
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MP calling for more Sunday train services at two railway stations
TRAIN passengers in Tutbury and Uttoxeter are being urged to have their say as their MP steps up a campaign for better Sunday rail services across the area. The campaign, led by Burton and Uttoxeter MP Jacob Collier, is aimed at improving connectivity...
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Gang of four targeted victim in vicious town park attack
THREE men and a boy who viciously attacked a man in a South Derbyshire park have been charged and dealt with in court. Lincoln Baker, Aston Durkin, Ewan Litchfield and an unnamed boy, aged 16, launched the attack in Eureka Park, Swadlincote, in late...
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Plans for 4 new gypsy sites get go-ahead after years of debate
CONTROVERSIAL plans for four Gypsy and Traveller caravan sites in Burton have been approved after more than two-and-a -half years of debate. The Horninglow Basin scheme would see 13 mobile homes placed across four plots, reducing the number currently...
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Safer rides for town cylists as work on £1.2m route finishes
A NEW cycleway linking Burton railway station with the town hall has been completed as part of a £1.2 million investment in active travel across the town. The scheme, delivered by Staffordshire County Council, has seen the creation of a new two-way...
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£3.8m to save historic house
ONE of Burton-upon-trent’s most historic buildings has launched a major crowdfunder appeal as part of its is fight for survival. Sinai Park House, Shobnall Road, staged the event on Friday at the Welcoming the May: A Celebration of Rebirth for Sinai...
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Martyn’s mission to back air ambulance
A FUNDRAISER is preparing to take on all 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District to raise money for life-saving air ambulance charities. Martyn Culley, 65, a retired postmaster from Willington, will begin the challenge today as part of his ongoing...
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ROAD RAGE!
RECORD ‘AGGRESSIVE AND THREATENING ONE HIGHWAYS CREW MEMBER WAS ‘CLIPPED’ BY A CAR AND THREATENED BY A DRIVER AFTER FALLING TO THE FLOOR; CONTRACTOR REVEALS 76 INCIDENTS SO FAR THIS YEAR OF DRIVERS FLOUTING REGULATIONS AND ABUSING...
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‘Floating market’ to make a splash this bank holiday
A ‘FLOATING market’ of boat traders will arrive in Burton-upon-trent this bank holiday weekend promising wood-fired pizza, retro sweets and handmade jewellery. The Roving Canal Traders Association (RCTA) is running the market at Trent & Mersey Canal,...
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Investors get a tour of two towns in a bid to create new jobs
INVESTORS and developers were given a tour of key regeneration sites in Burton and Uttoxeter during a visit organised by MP Jacob Collier. The tour brought national investors to East Staffordshire to showcase opportunities for growth and redevelopment...
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Leader of drugs line in Burton is jailed for more than six years
A DRUG dealer from Burton-on-trent has been jailed after pleading guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine. Shane Gledhill, 37, from Branston, was sentenced to six years-and-twomonths in prison at Stafford Crown Court on Monday, after admitting...
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Burton bids for £500k to boost the night-time economy
BURTON is bidding to become a pilot town for Staffordshire County Council’s new night-time economy strategy. Selected towns could receive funding of £500,000 to improve and develop the offering. Earlier this year, the authority commissioned Night...
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Mum’s at ‘wit’s end’ over three year battle with ‘mould’ in council property
A Mum-of-two says she is at her ‘wits end’ after three years of repair delays have left her living in a mould-infested home. Laura Aucote, of Swadlincote, says the health of her children has been impacted as a result of the on-going issues related to...
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Drivers fined and cars towed away in crackdown on untaxed vehicles
DRIVERS were fined and saw their cars removed as officers joined forces for a road tax crackdown in Burton. East Staffordshire Borough Council’s enforcement team and environmental crime team linked up with the DVLA and the county council’s parking...
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Fresh Hope for those with lung problems living in fuel poverty
A NEW £179,000 programme has been launched aimed at improving the lives and housing conditions of respiratory patients in Burton and Derby. Advice and support will be offered by the Cadent Foundation and Hope 4U, who will work directly with University...
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Police warn man to stop jumping out into path of cars in the town
POLICE have taken action against a man who repeatedly jumps out in front of vehicles in Burton. He’s been issued with a community protection notice (CPN) and warned there will be ‘consequences’ if he continues. The man – who has not been named – was...
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