About 2,000 residents are currently on Darlington Borough Council’s waiting list for a home despite a shortage of available properties.
But rival Conservative councillors fear the area’s value green spaces could soon be lost and be chosen by developers for new housing schemes.
At last Thursday’s council meeting, councillors were asked to back plans to formally designate Bellburn Field, a triangle of land off Sparrow Hall Drive in Whinfield ward, and Tommy Crooks Park as protected community green spaces.
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With more than 1,000 families on the waiting list naming the Whinfield area of the borough as their preferred option for a new home, opposition members fear sites like Sparrowhall Drive could be chosen for development.
Jonathan Dulston, leader of the Conservatives, said: “We understand the need to build affordable and quality housing across the borough. It has to be sensible but there are areas where the impact on the community has to be a priority, not making a profit for the council.”
The motion, backed by Conservative colleague Cllr Scott Durham, urged the council to “give a clear and binding commitment that Darlington Borough Council will not sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of these pieces of land for development or private ownership.”
Although it was not supported by cross-party councillors, leaders agreed in principle to protect Tommy Crooks Park and the Bellburn Field.
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But for Sparrow Hall Drive, Darlington Borough Council confirmed that, in February 2022, the land was included as part of the council’s housing allocation, meaning it is available for development.
The then Conservative-led administration removed Springfield Park, also in the Whinfield ward, from the allocation but did not remove Sparrow Hall Drive.
Chris McEwan, Labour deputy leader, said: “Cllrs Dulston and Durham are more interested in playing political games than improving residents’ lives. More focused on Facebook than facts.
“Now, they are calling on Tommy Crooks Park, Bellburn Field, and land at Sparrow Hall Drive to be protected. But if that is their priority, then why didn’t they protect them in the Local Plan that they published and voted for?”
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And highlighting the council’s ongoing housing issues, Cllr McEwan said the local authority needs to balance protecting valued green spaces with the need for new homes that residents “desperately need”.
He added: “We have nearly 2,000 people on our housing waiting list. We have over a thousand families naming Whinfield as one of their preferences.
“We need more council housing and I will work to deliver on that – and that’s why we are exploring this site.”
Private credit company Castlelake revealed late on Friday, after the stock market close in London, that it was in the early stages of considering an offer for easyJet, but had not yet approached the firm’s board.
The American firm, which confirmed it owns a stake of around 2.14% in easyJet through shares held on behalf of funds it manages, said on Monday any offer would be for “no less than” 403.23p a share, valuing the airline at a minimum of £3.06 billion.
The carrier said the takeover interest comes at a time when its share price has been pushed lower by worries over the impact of the Iran war on the airline sector.
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EasyJet said on Monday: “The board notes the highly opportunistic timing when easyJet’s share price is temporarily depressed due to the current situation in the Middle East and its impact on customer confidence and jet fuel prices.”
It highlighted its strong financial position and said it remained focused on its medium-term target to deliver more than £1 billion in pre-tax profits.
The Luton-based firm said it also “notes the considerable regulatory, financial and other execution challenges associated with a potential takeover of easyJet”.
But it said it has a duty to maximise shareholder value and would “consider any proposal, should one be made”.
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Castlelake has until 5pm on June 26 make a firm offer or walk away under UK takeover rules.
Led by executive chairman and founder Rory O’Neill, Castlelake and has assets under management worth 36 billion US dollars (£27 billion).
It entered talks in January with bankrupt US carrier Spirit Airlines over a possible takeover.
Castlelake has also previously bailed out collapsed Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and then sold on its shares to Air France-KLM.
According to the airport’s departure board for Monday, June 1, Finnair flight AY1362 to Helsinki, due to leave at 10.05am, has been cancelled.
Kuwait Airways flight KU114 to Kuwait City, scheduled for 11.35am, has also been cancelled.
Several departures are also running behind schedule.
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The easyJet flight U22099 to Montpellier, due to depart at 10.30am, is now estimated to leave at 1pm.
Another easyJet service, U22265 to Marrakesh, scheduled for 4.10pm, is estimated to depart at 6.18pm.
Jet2 flight LS991 to Pula, due at 4.20pm, is now expected to leave at 6.15pm, while TUI flight BY102 to Melbourne, Florida, scheduled for 11.05am, is estimated to depart at 12.15pm.
On arrivals, a number of inbound services are also delayed, including flights from Athens, Kuwait City, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Toronto, Doha and Amman.
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Air Transat flight TS206 from Toronto, due at 11.40am, is delayed until 12.33pm, while IndiGo flight 6E31 from Mumbai, due at 10.40am, is delayed until 11.20am.
Passengers are being advised to check the latest flight information with their airline before travelling to the airport.
North Lanarkshire Council has received an application from agents Tragere Ltd whose client wishes to change the designated use of a building in Merry Street to allow the adaptation to residential accommodation.
A developer is seeking to renew expired planning permission to convert offices in Motherwell to create seven flats.
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North Lanarkshire Council has received an application from agents Tragere Ltd whose client wishes to change the designated use of a building in Merry Street to allow the adaptation to residential accommodation.
The conversion does not include alterations to parking provision, with five existing spaces to be retained. A note in the application explains that planning permission had previously been granted but has now expired due to the amount of time which has passed since then.
Nearby properties, including Cheque Centre, branches of William Hill and McDonalds, and Motherwell train station, have been sent notification of the new planning application.
For additional information or to leave comment for consideration, visit North Lanarkshire Council’s website and look for planning reference 26/00418/FUL.
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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Hundreds of youths in Kenya’s central town of Nanyuki on Monday demonstrated against the establishment at the Laikipia Air Base of an Ebola quarantine center for American citizens exposed to the virus.
The two organizations cited Kenya’s fragile health system as the reason why foreign Ebola patients should not be quarantined in the country.
U.S. officials said Thursday that the United States was planning to send Americans exposed to Ebola while abroad to a new facility in Kenya instead of flying them home. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the administration’s plans. They said the facility would be at Laikipia Air Base and would be operational with 50 quarantine beds by Friday.
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On Monday, hundreds of youths marched to the gates of the air base, chanting anti-Ebola slogans.
Health Minister Aden Duale on Sunday said the quarantine center was for “everyone” and not exclusively for U.S. nationals.
The U.S. government intends to commit $13.5 million toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.
Local leaders, including Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu, had told journalists that they were opposed to the establishment of an Ebola quarantine center.
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“This will expose our people to Ebola,” he said, adding that many locals work inside the air base and could be exposed.
A resident, Malin Ndegwa, said Kenya should not be exposed to the virus by hosting foreigners when it is not the epicenter of the outbreak.
“Why are they not doing it in the DRC (Congo)? Why are they not doing it in Uganda? Why must they bring it here? So we are saying, we categorically, no negotiations, no public participation, we want nothing. We want that facility taken out of our town, we want it taken out of Kenya,” he said.
Kenya has not recorded Ebola cases, but neighboring Uganda has reported nine and closed its border with Congo.
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At least 282 confirmed cases have been reported in Congo with over 1,000 suspected cases of the Bundibugyo virus, the current species of Ebola, which has no approved treatment or vaccine.
Two new Underground strikes have been confirmed this June, weeks after previous planned strikes were cancelled.
Recently, two National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) Tube strikes set for May 19 and 21 were called off “at the 11th hour”. June 16 and 18 strikes, which had also been set by the RMT, were abandoned too.
But now, two other 24-hour blocks are planned for the month.
When will the new Tube strikes take place?
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Tuesday 2 June from 00:01 to 23:59
Thursday 4 June from 00:01 to 23:59.
Which lines will be affected?
Per Transport for London (TfL)’s site, there isn’t expected to be any service on the:
Circle line,
Piccadilly line,
Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate,
Central line between White City and Liverpool Street
While TfL expects other lines to run on these days, they warn that there will probably be “disruptions” across the entire network.
They said there could be “limited services before 06:30 on both days,” and that “Customers should complete their journeys before 21:00 on both days”.
The four-day week trials were introduced on an optional basis after another union body, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), campaigned for the option.
Previously, the RMT said that this new structure basically amounted to packing five days’ work into four in a way which might affect the safety of their drivers and passengers.
They also said the changes could reduce flexibility and gave “the potential for only 24 hours’ notice of what shifts people will be doing”. They wanted TfL to confirm in writing that their drivers could stick with their “current shift patterns and agreed terms and conditions” if they wanted to, too.
The RMT expressed that “the fact that Transport for London has made no new offer despite months of negotiation” left them “no other choice than to take strike action”. TfL’s response mentioned the fact that the trials were optional.
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But the former planned strikes, which had been called off and were set for multiple dates in May and June, were cancelled at the last minute on 18 May.
An RMT spokesperson said this was because “the employer has shifted its position, allowing us to further explore our members’ concerns around the imposition of new rosters, fatigue and safety issues.”
But they warned at the time that “The dispute is not over, and more strike action will follow if we fail to make sufficient progress”.
The RMT has since said, “Strike action by London Underground drivers next week is scheduled to go ahead following TfL’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully with the union’s concerns over the proposed compressed four-day working arrangements.
“Our members have raised serious concerns around fatigue, longer shifts, reduced flexibility and the impact these proposals could have in a safety-critical role.”
In response, TfL’s chief operating officer, Claire Mann, said: “We still believe that the points they have raised can be worked out in time, through more detailed discussions and we are continuing to talk to the union’s representatives to find a way to avoid disruption to London.
“A significant number of drivers have indicated that they want us to progress plans for the pilot of this new working pattern on the Bakerloo line, bringing benefits both for our colleagues and our customers.”
In the Chinese zodiac, there are 12 animals, each carrying its own traits and character – here’s what June 2026 has in store for each sign
14:05, 01 Jun 2026Updated 14:05, 01 Jun 2026
June has arrived, and the planetary alignments don’t just affect a person’s star sign but also their Chinese zodiac animal. Based on your birth year, you’re assigned one of 12 Chinese zodiac animals – rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, or pig.
While 2026 marks the year of the Yang Fire Horse, representing strength, speed, perseverance, and intense ambition, what does June hold for those born in specific years? Oxen (1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997) might find themselves needing to make an important decision this month. Your horse sign friends could prove significant during this period, and you may experience a boost to your finances.
Horses (1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002) can anticipate a magical month where they feel their personhood and deepest desires are honoured. It will feel like the ideal moment to reach new heights and explore. That said, horses should watch out for burnout – all of this lofty energy could result in their life-force being depleted.
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Monkeys (1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004) will be empathising with their fellow humans on both a personal and global level this month. This month may require you to dig deep and remain optimistic in the face of despair.
Roosters (1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005)… will feel their worrying minds reach a peak at the start of the month but you will begin to settle into yourself after confronting the fact that other people’s problems are not your own.
Dogs (1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006) will find their relationships reaching a crossroads, facing tough choices about who deserves a place in their lives. Apply this same decisive thinking to your living space and have a thorough clear-out. Finding the balance between staying true to yourself while maintaining friendships is a lesson worth learning.
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Pigs (1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007) can look forward to a peaceful and settled month ahead. Take time to show appreciation to those closest to you, while also nurturing your own wellbeing. On that note, this could be the ideal moment to dust off your gym kit and get your health regime back on track.
Tigers (1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998) may find themselves at a fork in the road this month, needing to embrace forgiveness while potentially walking away from a situation that no longer serves them.
Rats (1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996) this is the month where personal accountability comes into sharp focus, prompting you to take meaningful steps towards positive change.
Rabbits (1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999) will be challenged to reflect deeply on whether they are being truly honest with themselves and those around them. Avoid draining influences and nourish yourself with plenty of warming food.
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Dragons (1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000) will kick off the month with drive and a need for courage. From the 6th – you will hit a turning point – don’t give up on yourself.
Snakes (1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001) may sense someone or something intruding upon their personal boundaries early on. Standing firm and taking decisive action to protect their space will be essential.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is expected to publish recommendations of a lengthy service review by the end of the month. Many within the service fear cutbacks.
Councillors have backed a call for guarantees that no West Lothian community with a fire station will see it closed following a review of service.
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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is expected to publish recommendations of a lengthy service review by the end of the month. Many within the service fear cutbacks.
Conservative Angela Doran-Timson raised a motion at the full council stating: “Public safety must not be compromised by funding pressures.”
Proposals were initially expected before the Holyrood election however the SFRS said in February that it would need more time to collate the responses and set a new publication date for late June.
Councillor Doran Timson’s motion said: “Council recognises the vital role of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in protecting communities across West Lothian and Scotland.
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“ It notes the ongoing Service Delivery Review, including proposals to close, merge or relocate fire stations, and the significant concern these have raised regarding resilience, response times, and local fire cover.
“The delay in final decisions until after the Scottish Parliament election has prolonged uncertainty for both communities and staff.
“There is concern that sustained real-terms budget pressures from the Scottish Government are influencing these proposals, raising the risk that financial constraints, rather than operational need, could impact public safety.
“Public safety must not be compromised by funding pressures, and communities must have confidence in the services they rely on.”
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The motion called for the Chief Executive to write to the First Minister: “To seek an explicit guarantee that no fire station closures or service reductions will take place where they would increase response times or reduce public safety and to raise concerns regarding any proposals that would reduce frontline fire service capacity in West Lothian and across Scotland.”
The motion also called for clarity on the financial pressures driving the review.
SNP councillors defended the Scottish Government’s investment record and tabled an amendment. Councillor Janet Campbell said “Under the SNP Scottish Government the SFRS is major public success story widely celebrated for its modernisation transformation into a unified national organisation.
“Its shift toward proactive community safety represents a landmark achievement in emergency flexible response.
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“Formation enabled resources optimisation and eliminated post code lottery in response and ensured consistent high value service across 55,000 kilometres or roads. The most significant success lies in preventative approach The service has cut the number of accidental dwelling fires to historic lows with a reduction of 18 % in the last decade.”
SNP councillors earned a rebuke from the Provost Councillor Cathy Muldoon, chairing the meeting, for their sniggering and exaggerated coughing as Councillor Doran-Timson made her final plea for support. The motion was passed.
A spokesperson for the SFRS told the the Local Democracy Reporting Service there is no confirmed date for issuing the results of the review.
In February the SFRS said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has confirmed that final decisions on proposed changes to more than 30 fire stations across Scotland will be made after the Scottish Parliament election, with outcomes expected by the end of June.
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“As part of its Service Delivery Review, SFRS consulted on 23 potential options for change during summer 2025.
“The 12-week consultation received more than 3,700 responses from the public, staff and stakeholders. This feedback is currently being analysed alongside the operational evidence that informed the proposals.
It added: “There are statutory restrictions that prevent public bodies such as SFRS from making significant announcements or policy decisions during the pre-election period, which commences in March.”
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Russell T. Davies has been quizzed on Doctor Who’s return following its last airing in May 2025
Doctor Who fans have been “promised” an announcement about the new Doctor – and this is when it’s likely to happen, according to showrunner Russell T. Davies.
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The 63-year-old has given a promising update on the future of the beloved sci-fi programme, which comes after plans for the show’s future were thrown up in the air when lead actor Ncuti Gatwa made the decision to step away from the titular role after just two series.
Scenes aired in May last year saw the Doctor regenerating into Billie Piper, who previously played the Doctor’s companion for two seasons. She was one of the most popular assistants during her time paired with Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant in the 2000s.
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Her return marked her character Rose’s first Doctor Who appearance since the 2013 50th anniversary special The Day of the Doctor. However, with Billie not credited as the Doctor in the credits, fans were confused about whether she’d be the second actress to lead the TARDIS.
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In a statement, at the time, she said: “It’s no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there. So to be given the opportunity to step back on that TARDIS one more time was just something I couldn’t refuse, but who, how, why and when, you’ll just have to wait and see.”
On top of this, it wasn’t confirmed if the show was coming back for a long period. It means viewers are still in the dark regarding the status of a potential festive special later this year, after reports suggested one is on the way. However, asked whether fans will get an announcement about a new Doctor soon, Russell told Gary Davies on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show: “You will get an announcement.
“There is a press release lumbering through the BBC, which, as you know, is like the Jurassic period, and 57 people have to sign off on every single word. I promise you in about a week, two weeks, there will be some sort of press release, and yet I can hear the gears slowing down even as I say that. You know this place!”
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Russell also gave insight into his role as Doctor Who’s showrunner, as he explained: “It’s scripts, actors, casting, when you’re finding Ncuti Gatwa, who had just come out of Sex Education, keeping your eye on business, like who’s the next upcoming star? Oh my god, Ncuti – what a meteor of a star he is.
“It’s also the other end of it with the budget and the schedules and what’s on location where, and the writers, of course, and getting directors in. It’s kind of running everything, but helped by a vast team of people – please don’t think it’s just me, as much as I like to claim otherwise!”
Rosamund Pike said the texter ‘broke the bond’ in the theatre (Picture: Facebook/PTC Management)
Rosamund Pike has publicly berated an audience member for texting during the finale of her West End play.
The British actress, 47, plays a Crown Court judge in Suzie Miller’s Inter Alia at the Wyndham’s Theatre.
However, after the curtain had fallen for one of her performances, Rosamund returned to the stage to address a member of the audience for ‘texting’.
The Gone Girl star claimed that texter had ‘broken the bond’ between the cast and audience.
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She also said that it’s ‘hard’ for actors to continue with their performances after they notice an audience member not paying attention.
Speaking to The Times, one person who was at the play said: ‘She suggested that someone texting in the climax of this devastatingly emotional play broke this bond. She seemed genuinely upset.’
The British actress was reportedly ‘genuinely upset’ by the incident (Picture: Facebook/PTC Management)
Rosamund stars as Crown Court judge Jessica in Inter Alia (Picture: Dave Benett)
The source also added that her criticism left everybody ‘a bit stunned’ and made them feel as though ‘we had all let her down’.
‘It’s a very emotional play. She indicated the area of the stalls where the person was sitting but said she would not single them out,’ they continued.
‘She joked that maybe they were a doctor who saved someone’s life and she hoped that was the case.’
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After she addressed the audience, the source said that she was given a round of applause by everybody.
Rosamund’s performance in Inter Alia runs for 100 minutes without interval.
Written by Suzie, the play follows Rosamund’s character Jessica as she gets put to the ultimate test when her teenage son is accused of rape.
The Gone Girl star won an Olivier award for best actress for her performance in the play (Picture: Dave Benett)
An audience memebr said that Rosamund’s criticism left everybody ‘stunned’ (Picture: Dave Benett)
A proud feminist, the London Crown Court judge sees her sharp legal mind – which has routinely challenged the justice system particularly in cases of sexual violence – clash with her maternal instincts.
The narrative also grapples with modern masculinity and the ‘manosphere’, as well as how young teenagers are being radicalised online.
It also marks Australian playwright Suzie’s second play, after her smash legal hit Prima Facie, which starred Jodie Comer in a one-woman performance.
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The airport saw drop off costs rise by more than 40 per cent last month
One of Scotland’s airports has the second priciest drop-off charges in the UK after a recent price hike came into force. Costs at the hub for dropping passengers off were recently hiked by more than 40 per cent.
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Fees at Edinburgh Airport were increased from £6 to £8.50 on May 18 making it the most expensive drop off charges in the country. And it is now just behind the prices to drop off at two major London hubs, according to new research.
New analysis from Good Business Travel found that Edinburgh is the second most costly city for airport drop-off charge in the UK after the new fees were implemented with London airports taking the top spot at £10 for 10 minutes.
To find out where drivers are paying the most for a quick goodbye at the airport, Good Business Travel analysed drop-off fees across the UK’s 20 busiest airports, comparing the cost of using designated terminal express drop-off zones and the maximum time allowed before additional charges apply.
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Their analysis found that London Gatwick Airport and London Stansted Airport top the list as the UK’s most expensive airports for passenger drop-offs, both charging £10 to access designated terminal zones.
But while Stansted allows drivers 15 minutes for their money, Gatwick only gives you just 10, meaning travellers are effectively paying £1 per minute just to get their suitcases out and say their goodbyes.
Bristol and Edinburgh Airport are joint second for most expensive, charging £8.50 for 10 minutes.
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Other Scottish airports on the list include Aberdeen Airport and Glasgow Airport which both charge £7 for 15 minutes in drop off fees.
At the opposite end of the scale, Cardiff Airport offers one of the UK’s lowest drop-off charges at £3 for 10 minutes, while Belfast City Airport (£4) and Manchester Airport (£5) also come in below the national average.
The UK’s most expensive airport drop-off fees
London Gatwick – £10 for 10 minutes
London Stansted £10 for 15 minutes
Edinburgh Airport £8.50 for 10 minutes
Bristol Airport £8.50 for 10 minutes
Leeds, Bradford £8 for 10 minutes
London City £8 for 5 minutes
Southampton £7 for 20 minutes
Aberdeen Airport £7 for 15 minutes
Birmingham £7 for 15 minutes
Glasgow Airport £7 for 15 minutes
London Heathrow £7 for 10 minutes
London Luton £7 for 10 minutes
Bournemouth £6 for 30 minutes
Liverpool Airport £6 for 10 minutes
Newcastle Airport £6 for 10 minutes
Manchester Airport £5 for 5 minutes
Belfast International £5 for 10 minutes
East Midlands £5 for 10 minutes
Belfast City £4 for 10 minutes
Cardiff Airport £3 for 10 minutes
The study comes as Brits continue to struggling with rising travel costs as recent reports suggest some air fares have jumped by 24% in the last year.
Natasha Inglis, Implementation and Client Success Director at Good Business Travel said: “For lots of travellers, it’s not just the flight itself that feels more expensive anymore, but it’s every little extra around the journey. Between baggage fees, airport food, parking and now premium drop-off charges, the cost of simply getting to departures can quickly add up.
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“That £5 or £10 drop-off fee might seem small in isolation, but when people are already spending more on travel overall, it can feel like yet another charge added to the holiday budget. For families travelling during peak season or businesses managing travel budgets for employees, it all adds up.”
For those looking to keep costs down, Natasha encourages travellers to check airport drop-off policies in advance or research alternative drop-off destinations to avoid an unexpected expense before the journey has even begun.
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