A warning has been issued by a country park stating that it can cause “serious damage”

A Cambridgeshire country park has issued a warning after goldfish were found dumped in a lake at the park. The Environment Agency attended Milton Country Park near Cambridge after the abandoned fish were found in Halls Pool.

The Environment Agency removed the fish to prevent the spread of disease and cross-breeding with existing wildlife. A spokesperson for Milton County Park said: “It might seem harmless—but releasing fish, frogs, or other aquatic animals into lakes and ponds can cause serious damage to the environment.”

The spokesperson warned: “Introducing fish or fish spawn into any water without proper authorisation is illegal. Without the correct permits, you must not release fish or fish spawn into a fishery, remove fish (unless using a rod and line under angling rules), or be in possession of fish intended for release.”

Penalties can lead to hefty fines of up to £50,000 for illegal introductions.

The spokesperson added: “If you can no longer care for aquatic animals, please seek responsible alternatives—never release them into the wild.”

Milton Country park offers a family-friendly green space and outdoor activity centre. It has woodland, lakes, a cafe and numerous activities such as fishing and paddleboarding.

Half of them would be sold on the open market

Plans for 84 new homes with heat pumps on the outskirts of Carmarthen have been unveiled. Housebuilder Lovell Partnerships Ltd wants to build them in a field off Ffordd Pendre, west of the town centre and north of the A40.

Half of them would be for sale on the open market and the other half would be available for social rent or low cost home ownership. They’d range from one-bed to four-bed, and access would be via a roundabout at Ffordd Pendre.

A design and access statement submitted as part of Lovell Partnerships’ planning application to Carmarthenshire Council said air source heat pumps would heat all the 84 homes, along with a system which captured heat from shower waste water to further boost energy efficiency.

The properties would also have electric vehicle charging points, and solar panels would be installed on the homes for social rent. Over a quarter of the eight-acre development site would comprise open spaces, play areas, paths, new planting and surface water soakaways. New hedges and 155 trees are proposed.

The plans aim to create a neighbourhood that “will set a quality precedent in the rapidly-developing wider area,” said the design and access statement, and a place residents would be proud to call home. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here

The development land in question is part of a much larger site allocated for 1,100 new homes, a school, employment areas and recreation space.

The design and access statement said 157 parking spaces were proposed at the Lovell Partnerships site, plus 235 bike spaces. It added that there were bus stops on Ffordd Pendre but no buses serving them as yet. A transport assessment on the applicant’s behalf said the impact of the extra traffic on the surrounding road network would be negligible.

People and groups have been consulted on the plans at a pre-application stage. A person living nearby asked about potential impacts on privacy, air quality, the value of their house and whether the transport assessment accounted for other developments nearby.

The applicant’s response was that the transport assessment examined the impact of the 84-home proposal now and in the future including on the Ffordd Pendre-A40 eastbound junction. Council planning officers are considering the application.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has responded to a petition calling for the Motability Scheme changes to be scrapped, with more than 53,000 people having signed it ahead of the July 2026 reforms

Plans to reform the Motability scheme will proceed this summer despite mounting concerns from campaigners who caution the alterations could make it more difficult for disabled people to maintain their mobility. More than 53,000 people have signed an online petition urging the UK Government to abandon the reforms, arguing the changes are “unfair to the most vulnerable in society” and could affect people’s independence.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has replied to the petition, confirming the planned changes will take effect on July 1. However, should the petition reach 100,000 signatures, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for parliamentary debate.

Petition creator Dave Walton raises concerns about new costs associated with vehicle payments and stricter mileage limits, cautioning that many disabled people already depend on the scheme for daily journeys. He also stated higher costs could leave some unable to afford a car, particularly those on lower incomes, while people in rural areas may have no practical alternative transport options.

It’s important to be aware that changes to the Motability Scheme will only apply to new leases, meaning existing customers will not be affected until they renew their agreements , reports the Daily Record.

Changes include:

• Some additional payments linked to Motability vehicles will face new taxes
• Insurance-related costs will rise for certain leases
• Standard mileage allowances are being reduced for new customers

The DWP response on the Petitions Parliament website, said: “The Motability Scheme is a lifeline for many disabled people and families, supporting their independence by enabling them to lease a car, a wheelchair accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair in exchange for an eligible disability benefit allowance.

“The Government and Motability have worked in partnership to develop a suite of reforms which strikes the right balance between delivering a key service for disabled people and fairness to the taxpayer, saving over £1 billion by financial year 2030/31. These reforms will not affect eligibility for the Motability Scheme or disability benefits.

“The VAT relief for Advanced Payments – a one-off payment made to lease more expensive vehicles – will be removed and Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) will apply to leases at the standard rate, bringing tax treatment in line with commercial leasing firms.

“These changes will only apply to customers taking out new leases with Motability and will not apply to current leases or to wheelchair accessible vehicles in recognition of the additional costs associated with these vehicles. VAT reliefs on weekly lease costs and vehicle resale will remain in place.”

The proposed changes aim to align the scheme more closely with the broader vehicle leasing market while ensuring its long-term financial viability. Motability has also confirmed it will maintain a wide selection of vehicles available without an Advance Payment, ensuring individuals can access vehicles that meet their requirements, whether that involves a larger model or additional boot space for wheelchairs, using only their disability benefit.

You can read the DWP response in full here.

What is changing?

The proposed changes concern qualifying schemes, the sole current example being the Motability scheme, which leases vehicles with preferential tax treatment to disabled individuals receiving eligible welfare benefits.

Reasons for change

Guidance on GOV.UK states: “The policy objective for the measure is to promote fairness and value for money for taxpayers. VAT changes restrict tax reliefs for more expensive vehicles provided under qualifying schemes, while IPT changes bring the tax treatment of qualifying schemes in line with other commercial lease providers.”

Who is likely to be affected

From July 1, 2026 onwards, qualifying schemes which lease vehicles to eligible disabled individuals will be impacted, the only current example of which is the Motability scheme, as well as businesses which provide insurance to qualifying schemes.

VAT

Eligible benefits paid to claimants by the DWP, the Ministry of Defence, Social Security Scotland, or the Department for Communities (Northern Ireland) can be used to cover the cost of leases. This portion of the payment will be disregarded when calculating the supply’s value for VAT purposes, meaning no VAT will be charged on it. Nevertheless, the measure will eliminate the VAT zero-rate on additional top-up payments, made beyond the transfer of eligible welfare benefits, for those who pay extra to lease more expensive vehicles.

This additional payment will be liable for the standard rate of VAT (20 percent).

These modifications will have no effect on the existing zero rate for vehicles designed or substantially and permanently adapted for wheelchair or stretcher users. Additional payments for such vehicles will therefore continue to be zero-rated.

Insurance Premium Tax

The guidance states: “This measure restricts the Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) exemption for insurance on vehicles leased through qualifying motor vehicle leasing schemes.

“Once changes take effect, the exemption will apply only to insurance contracts relating to vehicles that are substantially and permanently adapted for wheelchair or stretcher users, or originally designed for their use, where leased through a qualifying scheme.

“All other vehicles provided through such schemes will be subject to IPT at the standard rate of 12 per cent. The liability of insurance relating to all vehicles provided through leases entered into prior to 1 July 2026 will remain exempt.”

The scheme, recommended for approval by planning officers, would see an existing council-owned site demolished, cleared and redeveloped into a three-storey specialist facility for elderly residents.

If given the green light, the development would replace the former Hambleton District Council headquarters at Stone Cross Civic Centre in Northallerton, delivering modern care accommodation alongside communal spaces including lounges, a coffee bar, library and landscaped gardens.

The plans have been submitted by LNT Care Developments Ltd.

Stone Cross, the former Hambleton District Council offices.

The care home would include 66 ensuite bedrooms, communal lounges, a coffee bar, library, garden room, tearoom, sky bar and landscaped gardens for residents.

Plans also include parking, electric vehicle charging points, cycle storage and ancillary buildings.

Planning officers say the proposal would help meet growing demand for elderly care provision in North Yorkshire, particularly dementia care and respite services, while also bringing employment and investment to the area.

A report prepared for councillors states the district has a significantly older population than the national average, with evidence showing a growing need for specialist accommodation and care home bed spaces over the coming decades.

Officers noted that the development would create around 62 jobs and make use of previously developed brownfield land in a sustainable location close to public transport, local services and walking routes.

The report concludes: “There is clear need for care provision in Northallerton given the ageing population and the scheme is supported by Economic Development and policy HG2 of the Local Plan.”

The existing civic centre building became vacant following local government reorganisation and the creation of North Yorkshire Council.

Officers said the current office building was “of no particular architectural merit” and its demolition was considered acceptable.

Only two public responses were received during consultation, with concerns raised over parking pressures and the loss of the existing building.

North Yorkshire Council, which owns the building, received nine bids when the site was marketed, with none of these bids proposing to keep the existing building.

The sale of the site to the care home operator was described as a “win, win, win” situation by deputy leader Gareth Dadd when agreed last year.

Planning officers concluded that highways, drainage, ecology, landscaping and contamination issues had all been satisfactorily addressed.

The development would also deliver a biodiversity net gain exceeding national requirements.

If approved, the development will also provide more than £32,000 towards expanding local healthcare facilities, alongside £5,000 for travel plan monitoring.

Warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers: our coverage contains references to and images of someone who has died

The case of a five-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered in Australia’s Outback has caused outrage across the country.

The BBC’s Katy Watson is in Alice Springs and explains the background of the case, the cultural sensitivities and why it has caused so much anger.

Aija Cernevica, 30, struck and kicked the dog before strangling it to death.

A sick carer who battered and strangled a dog to death in front of children in a park has been struck off.

Aija Cernevica, 30, was banned from working in the profession on Thursday, May 7. The brute, of Kilbirnie in North Ayrshire, is currently in jail serving a three-year sentence for the depraved attack.

She was caged at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court after admitting the crime in January. Cops were called to the horrendous incident after receiving reports of a dog being assaulted at Orr’s Trust Public Park in Beith in May last year.

By the time officers arrived at the scene, the helpless pooch was found dead. The court heard how Cernevica repeatedly struck the dog, which was in her care, with her hands.

She then kicked and stamped on it, bit it and seized it by the collar.

Cernevica went on to swing the animal across a fence before going on to drag and throw it around the ground in front of horrified children.

Evil Cernevica then straddled the dog, pinned it to the ground with her body weight, held it by its throat and strangled it to death. She committed the sickening offence while on bail.

The details of the horrifying incident were laid bare during a Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) hearing this week. The watchdog also revealed that Cernevica was in the possession of five blades when she launched the frenzied attack on the dog.

She was removed from the care register indefinitely.

A statement from the SSSC reads: “Your actions caused the suffering and death of an animal in your care. You reactions are likely to have caused significant emotional harm to members of the public who may have witnessed your behaviour. You engaged in a course of violent and abusive behaviour over the course of a day, which indicates a pattern.

“Your behaviour is indicative of significant attitudinal and values issues which have the potential to place others at risk of serious harm. Your actions amount to a significant abuse of power and trust, albeit that trust was not derived from your registrable role.

“The behaviours which led to your convictions were very serious. There are significant public protection concerns arising from your behaviour. We consider the public interest to be high and that the reputation of the profession could be damaged as a result of your behaviour. A finding of current impairment is necessary to maintain confidence in both the social services profession and the SSSC in an effective regulator.”

It concluded: “A condition would not be appropriate because there are no conditions which could be placed on you which would address why your fitness to practise is impaired. The type of behaviour at issue is not the type of behaviour which Page 5 of 6 conditions would rectify. You are not currently working in the sector. A condition would not be workable or enforceable.”

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