Free parking will be available from 3pm in four council-owned car parks

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A date has been confirmed for the launch of free parking in Peterborough city centre. Subject to approval by Peterborough City Council’s Cabinet, the first day of free parking in four council-owned car parks will be Monday, August 3.

These four locations will be:

• Bishops Road;
• Car Haven;
• Riverside;
• Pleasure Fair Meadow.

Parking at the above locations will be free after 3pm.

The scheme was pledged by Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow in his manifesto. The Mayor committed £1.5 million in his budget to bring free parking to both Peterborough and Huntingdonshire.

“I said I would bring free parking and it’s happening this summer,” Mayor Bristow said. “I made this pledge because I believe our city centre needs a lift.”

The aim of the free parking scheme, which will be run on a time-limited trial, is to bring in more footfall to support local businesses, and increase the health and vibrancy of the evening economy.

“Free parking after 3pm means more people choosing to come into the city for an evening out, to shop, to eat and to support the businesses that make Peterborough worth visiting,” the Mayor said.

Leader of Peterborough City Council, Councillor Shabina Qayyum, welcomed the scheme. “Subject to Cabinet approval in July, it is great that the free parking will be in place from 3 August in time for people to enjoy what our city has to offer during the school summer holidays,” she said.

“The free parking… will only help to encourage more people to visit our city centre which of course we welcome. “

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) is also working on a free parking scheme in Huntingdonshire.

As Ecuador forward Enner Valencia raced through on Curacao’s goal inside the opening three minutes, the outcome seemed inevitable.

About 10 yards out and with just the keeper to beat, he looked certain to score. It would give Curacao a mountain to climb – and, as it did in the 7-1 defeat by Germany in their World Cup opener, could well set the tone for what was to come.

But goalkeeper Eloy Room anticipated where Valencia’s shot was headed, stooped low to his left and clawed the ball around the post. It was an improbable, barely believable save.

And the tone was, indeed, set.

By full-time, BBC Sport pundit and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was joking a calculator might be needed to tot up the number of times Room had bailed his team out.

Yet it was Ecuador who were left counting the cost of their missed chances as World Cup debutants Curacao celebrated their first-ever point in the tournament.

Room, the 37-year-old Miami FC keeper, produced a remarkable and record-equalling performance, making 15 saves to keep his country level and eventually secure a goalless draw which will live long in the memory of the island nation.

Since records began in 1966, no goalkeeper has made more stops in 90 minutes of World Cup action, according to Opta.

Only Tim Howard has made as many in a single game but, unlike Room, he failed to keep a clean sheet after conceding twice in extra-time for the USA against Belgium in 2014.

Room joked after the 0-0 draw that Howard would have been “sweating at home” watching the game and his performance means he “needs a statue in Curacao”.

“Take a bow, Room,” added Keown on BBC One. “Absolutely magnificent.

“The number of saves, you were almost getting a calculator out at the end of the game to count them up.

“It just became a shopping list of saves. His reactions were first class. He seemed destined to keep a clean sheet all night.”

It was a performance that inspired Room’s country to their biggest-ever result.

Baytown Coffee Company is based just outside Whitby, where an old cowshed was converted into a roastery in 2019.

The business is run by Nick and Ann Louise Hartley from Moorgate Leas Farm, and produces coffee for customers, cafes, restaurants and shops.

Two of the coffees that The Baytown Coffee Company offer (Image: SUBMIT)

The company says its coastal location is a “central part of its identity”, with several of its blends named after places and landmarks in the area.

One of its best-known coffees is Boggle Hole, named after the cove south of Robin Hood’s Bay.

Today, the beans are brought into the area and roasted on the farm before being packed and sent out to customers.

Baytown began after Nick Hartley, who grew up in North Yorkshire, returned to the area after spending many years working in London.

He had previously spoken about wanting to start a coffee business in the region and create employment in an area where many jobs are linked to seasonal tourism.

The business first operated from the coast near Robin Hood’s Bay before developing its roastery near Whitby.

Baytown says it works with farmers and importers who share its values around traceability and fair prices.

The company also says its packaging is recyclable.

Its website says the business aims to make coffee “straightforward” for customers, rather than “overcomplicated”.

Customer reviews for the company often mention the freshness and value of the coffee.

One reviewer described it as “absolutely first-class coffee”, while another said Boggle Hole was the best coffee they had tried after buying beans in Helmsley.

The company also has links with local community projects and has previously supported the Dalewood Trust in Whitby, a training centre for adults with learning difficulties.

Baytown has said it wants the business to contribute to the area as well as sell coffee.

The Crown Inn at Hutton-Le-Hole received the one-star rating, meaning major improvement necessary, from North Yorkshire Council following a visit on May 6.

However, following a re-inspection on June 12, the rating has been upgraded to four, meaning good.

Pub owner, Richard Murray Wells, told The Press: “We had a very disappointing, but we thought fair, inspection at The Crown.

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“We have taken the comments on board, replacing old equipment and altering out-dated systems.

“We were reinspected recently and have been awarded a four-star rating.”

The Crown Inn at Hutton-Le-Hole now has four stars, meaning good, for food hygiene. (Image: Street View)

The Crown Inn is a traditional country pub noted for ‘great food and real ales with friendly service and warm welcome’, according to TripAdvisor.

In addition to food and drink, it also offers luxury letting rooms and has space for caravans and camper vans.

The venue is a Traveller’s Choice winner, achieving 4.5 stars out of five, based on 900 reviews.

Google awards The Crown Inn 4.7 stars out of five, based on 994 reviews.

The black poplar, once a common sight across the English countryside and immortalised in John Constable’s 1821 painting The Hay Wain, now faces extinction with only around 7,000 trees left across the British Isles—just a handful of which survive in North Yorkshire.

Ambrose Greenfield from Forgotten Flora said: “If anything the problem is a bit worse than it seems because of the 7,000 or so trees left, only about 600 are female and the rest male.

Ambrose Greenfield with one of the few remaining mature black poplar trees in the Howardian Hills Nationla Landscape in the background. He is holding a young sapling propergated from this tree.. (Image: Supplied)

“This severely limits natural seed reproduction.

“We’ve taking cuttings from the two mature trees we do know of in the Howardian Hills, one of which is female.

“We are nurturing these in our polytunnels at Terrington, near Malton, and they are growing well.”

Across the 79-square-mile Howardian Hills National Landscape, a conservation effort led by the Forgotten Flora project and funded by the Howardian Hills Partnership is working to change the black poplar’s fate.

Ambrose Greenfield with one of the few remaining mature black poplar trees in the Howardian Hills Nationla Landscape. (Image: Supplied)

Partners include the North York Moors National Park’s woodland team.

Wetland creation is a key element.

The species, which once thrived along riverbanks and damp floodplains, has declined mainly due to habitat loss.

Conservationists hope to replant the new saplings within the Howardian Hills over the next year or two.

Mr Greenfield said: “Hopefully we’d be looking to plant these out over the next year or two at suitable sites within the national landscape, with some also going to the national park’s woodland team.”

Ambrose Greenfield from Forgotten Flora Project with a black polar sapling, part of a bid to revive the threatened tree. (Image: Supplied)

Wetland creation is a key element in giving the species a stronger foothold. The Howardian Hills Partnership has recently helped restore 40 acres at two sites along with funding hydrology surveys and pond creation.

The black poplar can reach 100 feet in height and live for more than 250 years.

It is known for its deeply fissured bark, leaning trunks, and triangular leaves.

Male trees produce red catkins, while females show yellow and green, and the leaves carry a faint scent of balsam.

The wood has traditionally been used for floorboards, cart wheels, and wagon bottoms because of its springiness and shock resistance.

Forgotten Flora is also working to propagate other declining species, including creeping willow and bay willow.

The Howardian Hills National Landscape was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1987 and was renamed as a National Landscape in 2023.

The firm will relocate from its current premises on Clifton Green to a larger, more modern office at Colonia House, Toft Green, which it says will support future expansion.

The new office has also been designed to offer improved meeting facilities, enhanced accessibility, and a comfortable space where clients can discuss their financial plans with confidence.

Mark Fisher, Managing Director at Ardent said: “Our move to Toft Green marks an exciting next chapter for Ardent. The new office gives us the space and environment to continue growing our team, while creating a professional and welcoming place for clients to meet with us.

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“It also reflects our long-term commitment to York and to building a values-led financial planning firm that serves our clients, our people and the wider community for many years to come.”

During the relocation, clients can expect business as usual, with no interruption to services.

Ardent Financial Planning’s new office will officially open on Wednesday June 24 at Colonia House, Floor 2, 16 Toft Green, YO1 6JT.

The vet said that one of the dogs was even on a banned list in Norway

A veterinary expert has shared a list of five dog breeds that, despite loving, would not take home.

Speaking on his own TikTok channel, Alex the vet cautioned that although he loves these dog breeds, they can cause a range of issues. Calling the reasons “hard to hear”, he says he loves to see them in the clinic.

Also a team vet at Pooch and Mutt, Dr Alex Crow stresses that this isn’t criticism of the dogs or their owners. Instead, it comes from a place of concern s about the way they have been selectively bred.

‘These are 5 dog breeds I would avoid’

These opinions are Alex’s only, not those of Pooch and Mutt.

In his video’s caption, he writes: “As a vet, there are five breeds I genuinely love but wouldn’t take home myself, and it comes down to what I see on the table week after week. Before anyone gets upset, this isn’t a go at the dogs or the people who own them. It’s about how we’ve bred them.”

5. Daschund. That long back comes at a cost. Around one in four develops IVDD, a disc problem that can cause serious pain and sometimes paralysis.

4. Pug. Brachycephalic, or that flat face, means a lot of them can’t breathe properly as their airways are too narrow. Their eyes bulge, which can make them more prone to eye ulcers, and they often develop twisted spines. Overall, he says that this breed suffers in silence to do the most basic things.

3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This is the one that breaks his heart as he says he really loves these dogs. However, many go on to develop syringomyelia – a painful condition where the skull is too small for the brain and presses on the spinal cord. Not only that, but the majority of the breed will likley develop mitral valve disease by age 10.

2. French Bulldog. Calling them the UK’s most popular breed, he notes that this dog has been flagged as having multiple chronic health issues at higher rates than almost any other dog by the Royal Veterinary College. Issues include breathing trouble, slipped discs, eye issues skin problems.

1. English Bulldog. Taking the top spot, he notes that this breed’s features are so extreme that most cannot give birth naturally. They also can’t exercise without overheating. Because of their skin folds, they’re also prone to skin infections. Norway even banned the breed in 2022 based on welfare grounds, Alex said;

In fact, the Independent noted that Norway banned the breeding of British Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles spaniels in the country.

In his caption, he added: “None of this means these dogs can’t have a lovely life, and if you own one you can give them a brilliant one. The real issue is that we’ve put looks ahead of health for generations. If you’ve got your heart set on one of these breeds, buy from health-tested parents and go in knowing what you’re taking on.”

Why does my dog’s breath smell?

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Speaking on the official Pooch and Mutt TikTok channel in a separate video, Alex cautioned that your dog’s smelly breath may be a sign of a disease.

He explained: “Most of the time, bad breath in dogs is a sign of dental disease. Plaque and bacteria build up on the teeth, harden into tartar and start to irritate the gums.

“Over time, that can lead to infection, pain, loose teeth, and eventually, tooth loss if not managed.” Sharing some “good news” he said, brushing your dog’s teeth at home can help prevent this. In fact, “it’s the most effective thing you can do”.

And it makes sense given that we brush our teeth twice daily to avoid dental issues and losing any teeth. “Even a few times a week can make a big difference,” according to Alex.

The expert added if “the smell is really strong, suddenly worse than usual or you notice red or bleeding gums, drooling, difficulty eating or your dog going off hard food, then that’s your sign to see the vet because they may already need treatment.”

Stressing that “bad breath isn’t just a mouth problem”, Alex said that “in some cases it can be linked to digestive issues or even heart and kidney disease.” Ending his video, he said that “if your dog’s breath could clear a room, don’t ignore it. Prevention is always better than a cure.”

The former pub, which has been closed for more than a decade, has been described by locals as an ‘eyesore’

A former Peterborough pub, described by locals as an “eyesore”, could be demolished to make way for a new shop. A planning application has been submitted to Peterborough City Council for the demolition of the former Golden Lion pub on Church Street in Stanground, which has stood vacant for more than a decade.

Since closing in 2024, the pub has been left abandoned and derelict. People in Stanground have previously raised concerns over the state it has been left in, with some branding it as an “eyesore” in the Peterborough suburb.

A woman, who wished to remain anonymous, previously told CambridgeshireLive that the site is “very messy”. She said: “It’s a complete eyesore. It’s a shame it has been left this way.

“Whenever you drive or walk past it, it’s just not nice to look at. I wish something could be done about it, cause it just gets worse every time you go past it.”

Several planning applications have been submitted for the building since the closure of the pub. A new application, submitted by TYS Retail Ltd, proposes completely demolishing the building to replace it with a ground floor retail shop alongside a residential flat above it.

The applicant describes the building as being in “very poor condition” at the first floor level and is open to the elements where leadwork has been taken from the roof. The statement adds: “This proposal will allow a prominent site to be brought back into use which is also likely to be considered a brownfield site.”

The proposed opening hours would be between 6:30am and 11:30pm on Mondays to Saturdays and 7am to 10:30pm on Sundays and bank holidays. The proposals would likely see 10 full time staff and 20 part time staff for the retail use.

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Jeremy Clarkson is now in remission after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, as the former Top Gear host urges fans to get checked — saying early detection saved his life

Jeremy Clarkson has announced he is in remission, updating fans on social media and expressing his gratitude for their support following his revelation that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The former Top Gear presenter, 66, broke the news in the latest episodes of the fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm, disclosing that the disease was “aggressive” but had been caught at an early stage.

The television personality also confirmed that he underwent surgery to remove part of his prostate, with the series concluding with him revealing he had suffered complications during his treatment.

In a recent interview with The Times, he disclosed that he was now in remission, after a follow-up PSA test two months ago showed no signs of cancer.

He said, as per the Mirror.: “I am without a doubt, officially, the world’s luckiest man. It was an aggressive type of cancer. It could have spread, it could have gone into the pancreas, it could have gone anywhere, and that would have been trouble.”

“This is why I have to say to everybody who’s reading this, please, please, please go and get checked. It’s not uncomfortable, it’s not undignified. And it’s a no-brainer.

“I did, and that’s why I’m sitting here talking to you 11 months down the line. I’ve seen so many people die of cancer. It doesn’t bear thinking about what it must be like to live knowing that an illness is going to kill you.”

Taking to Instagram for the first time since the new series aired, Clarkson shared a post captioned: “Thank you so much for all the kind messages I’ve had but now, a announcement.”

In it, the television presenter urged his followers to “get tested”, even encouraging them to “lie” about having symptoms in order to do so.

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“The more observant among you will have noticed that I’m not dead, and I’m not just not dead, I’m perfectly fine. My eyebrows, in particular, are looking very lustrous, and the reason why I’m fine is because the doctors caught the prostate cancer early, and they caught it early because I got tested,” he said in the video posted to social media.

“Now I know a lot of you will say I don’t want to be tested because it means someone will have to put their finger in me, but it’s just a blood test these days, and if you go to your doctor and he says, Well, I’m not going to test you because you don’t have any symptoms, and you’re not in a high-risk category.

“Just lie, just lie, say you have got symptoms, say that you have to get up 32 times in the night for a wee, and that there’s some dribbling, because look, 10, 12,000 people people, men to be honest, men die every year in the UK from prostate cancer. Don’t be one of them. Get tested.”

Clarkson, 66, has been flooded with messages of support after viewers watched him disclose his diagnosis in an episode of his reality TV show. “I’ve got cancer,” Clarkson told farm manager Kaleb Cooper and land agent Charlie Ireland during discussions about harvest planning.

The TV presenter said he expected to be “fine” but would be out of action “for a while”, before revealing in the final episode of the series that he had undergone an operation to remove part of his prostate.

He said: “I won’t know whether it’s worked or not until November probably…The prostate, 10% of it’s dead, the 10% where the cancer is.”

Speaking from a hospital bed at the end of the series finale, Clarkson disclosed he had suffered complications during treatment.

He said: “We started season five with me in a hospital bed and here we are at the end of season five and I’m back in a hospital bed.”

The 66-year-old reflected on what lies ahead for the programme. Clarkson added: “What I wanted to say was if this is all successful, I’ll see you for season six, and if it isn’t, I won’t. Take care, everyone.”

Clarkson’s partner has also expressed her appreciation for the wave of support following his prostate cancer diagnosis.

Irish actress Lisa Hogan, who has been in a relationship with Clarkson since 2017, posted a photograph to her Instagram story showing the presenter seated on a garden chair while holding a camera.

Across the image she wrote “back at the farm”, signalling her return to their residence after attending day two of the races at Royal Ascot in Berkshire. Hogan also shared a screenshot of charity Prostate Cancer UK’s Instagram post expressing gratitude to Clarkson for disclosing his diagnosis and treatment on the Prime Video show, stating it would generate “vital awareness”.

The Dublin-born actress wrote: “Thank you for all the support today.”

Prior to the new episodes of Clarkson’s Farm dropping on Prime, the former Top Gear host had cautioned viewers that series five was not purely light-hearted entertainment.

He said: “Sombre news – Clarkson’s Farm, ordinarily we try to keep the show bucolic and charming, and cheerful, but two episodes which drop in the middle of the night tonight are, they’re none of those things, really. They’re a difficult watch, they’re really, really difficult.”

Farmhand Gerald Cooper had revealed in a previous series that he too had received a prostate cancer diagnosis, before later confirming he was cancer free in 2024.

Clarkson’s Farm follows the long-standing television presenter and his team as they tackle the trials and tribulations of managing Diddly Squat Farm near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.

Since taking on the running of his farm in 2019 and subsequently launching his hugely popular reality series, Clarkson has become a passionate champion of farmers and attended a demonstration in London opposing the Government’s plans to impose inheritance tax on agricultural land in November 2024. The sixth series of the programme is set to air in 2027.