The Dawnay Arms, Church in West Heslerton is to close on Friday, May 1.

Posting on social media, the landlords said: “We are closing for good on Friday 1st May as our lease ends on the 1st June.

“We don’t know if there is a new tenant taking over or how long it will be closed for but would like to thank all our customers for their loyalty and custom. I’m sure you will miss the cheesecakes and Sunday lunches just as much as we will.

“Unfortunately due to rising running costs we can no longer keep working 70 hours a week for nothing and keep ploughing personal savings into the pub.

“A few lovely local pubs nearby which are definitely worth a visit and your custom are Star Inn, Weavethorpe, Ham and Cheese, Scagglethorpe, Coach and Horses in Rillington and Providence Inn at Yedingham.

“It’s the last Sunday lunch service this Sunday so a couple of tables left to book please ring to confirm.”

Nearly 400 people signed a petition in three days challenging the council to begin works on a long-awaited pedestrian crossing in Main Street, which runs through Monk Fryston.

It came after Keir Mather, the MP behind the petition, said that crossing the road could be “difficult” for most people – and made even more dangerous for young, elderly and disabled residents.

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He added: “Anyone who lives in Monk Fryston will tell you that near misses or collisions occur far too frequently, and residents are subjected to unacceptable risks when crossing the road.”

The MP’s petition gathered nearly 400 signatures in three days, calling for action to be taken on the busy road (Image: Supplied)

The busy rural road up to and through the village is subject to a high volume of HGVs and agricultural vehicles and was the site of five crashes between 2020 and 2024 – one of which was fatal.

Speaking about this and the road safety campaign, North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director of environment, Karl Battersby, said: “We take our road safety responsibilities seriously, and, based on a recent assessment, our engineers have been considering options for a puffin crossing, which uses smart sensors to detect pedestrians and adjust light timings.

“We have identified a potential site between Water Lane and the village shop.

“To introduce a pedestrian crossing, the kerb line would need to be changed on both sides of the road, losing some on-street parking spaces, including outside of the shop.

“It would also mean having to relocate kerbed islands, manholes and gullies.

“Therefore, we are working out the cost and considering how it could be funded.

“We are liaising with the parish council and, should the scheme be approved, a consultation would be carried out later this year ahead of it being delivered.”

Two soldiers have been arrested after a Scots teenage recruit was sexually assaulted during his basic training.

A former Royal Military Police officer says he is shocked by revelations that a teenage Scots rookie soldier was sexually assaulted and filmed while carrying out his basic training. SAS trained Graham Yuill was part of the elite 177 Provost Company which provided armed escorts for senior military personnel and politicians in Northern Ireland during the height of the Troubles.

During his service Graham worked closely with the The Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch (SIB) which is responsible for investigating serious crimes, including murder, rape and sexual assault, within the UK armed forces. Graham, from Glasgow, says the army needs to take urgent action to reduce what appears to be a rise in the number of sex attacks.

The 67 year old believes that failure to do so could affect future recruitment and deter young people from joining the armed forces. Yesterday we reported how a 17 year old male from Fife was sexually assaulted at his barracks by two fellow squaddies just weeks into their basic training.

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Two soldiers in their 20s have been arrested after the young man was attacked last week at Catterick Army base in Yorkshire. Graham added: “The army is less than it was before but there seems to be more allegations of sexual assaults.

“It is the type of incident if not investigated properly could affect future recruitment and drive young people away including women. The army has to address this and ensure better training of senior officers to identify potentially vulnerable recruits and protect young people from assault and bullying,

“The army have to get a grip because of dwindling numbers. Perhaps some of the old timers have got to realise they have to move with the times.

“It has to be zero tolerance of any type of violence or harassment.”

One trainee soldier is said to have carried out the serious sex attack while a second filmed it. Another trainee soldier is understood to have overheard the attack being discussed in a toilet by the pair.

Senior officers were then alerted and two men, both in their mid-20s, were arrested by the Royal Military Police and placed in custody. It’s understood that mobile phones were seized and examined as part of the investigation.

Graham believes that last weeks incident will be investigated to a very high standard. He added: “I worked closely with the SIB in Monchengladbach, West Germany and Hong Kong for a total of four years whilst serving as a general duty military policeman.

“Allegations were always treated seriously when I was there, nothing was swept under the carpet. It won’t matter that the two suspects have only been in the army for a few weeks, they are subject to military law and treated just like anyone else.

“We were the first person to be called out when there was a sexual assault and it would then handed over to the SIB. It will be investigated very thoroughly.”

Graham is an author of books on the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury in 2018 and the IRA assassination of King Charles’s great uncle Lord Mountbatten in 1979. He has also worked as a private security consultant providing personal protection services at home and abroad.

Yesterday Fife Labour MP Melanie Ward urged the victim of the sex attack to contact her office if he would like support. Ms Ward, who represents Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, said: “I am very concerned to hear about this and have raised it directly with the Ministry of Defence.”

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The army’s Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) has confirmed the arrests. A spokesperson said: “Two members of the Armed Forces have been arrested following an investigation by the DSCC.

“As the matter is subject to an ongoing investigation, we will not comment further.”

Last year, a record £3.2million was paid to compensate victims of rapes and other sexual assaults by military personnel, including £2.3million to Army staff.

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It comes as many Brits are worried their flights in May and early summer could be cancelled across numerous airlines, due to concerns of fuel shortages caused by the current Middle East conflict.

Supplies of jet fuel (which is used to fly planes) from the region have been disrupted since the US-Israel’s war with Iran because of Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical international shipping route.

This has led to soaring prices and warnings that flights could be affected because of Europe’s reliance on fuel imports from around the world.

easyJet issues flight update to UK passengers amid fuel shortage fears

However, for those who are planning on flying with easyJet over the next few weeks, there is no need to worry, as at present the airline is seeing “no disruption to flights” and doesn’t plan on making “any changes” to its flight schedule.

A spokesperson for easyJet which is headquartered at London Luton Airport (LTN) told Newsquest today (April 21): “We are currently seeing no disruption to flights and don’t plan to make any changes to our flying schedule”.

It appears the airline is remaining positive about its flights going into summer too, specifically in July, as someone asked @easyJet on X: “@easyJet I have a holiday package booked with you in July, with the fuel shortage looking ever more likely, is this looking likely to cancelled?”

easyJet responded: “We understand that you’re concerned about the status of your holiday.

“We are currently not seeing disruption to jet fuel supply and engage with fuel suppliers and government to monitor the situation.

“We have no plans to make changes to our flying programme.”

TUI confirms it is ‘monitoring’ jet fuel shortages

Elsewhere, TUI has said it is “monitoring” jet fuel shortages as a result of the US-Israel and Iran war.

The update from the budget airline comes after another concerned passenger asked the question on social media regarding their holiday in May.

They said: “With the reported jet fuel shortages, are you expecting holidays from May 1 to be affected?”

TUI replied: “We’re closely monitoring the developing situation in the Middle East and its potential impact on global aviation fuel supplies.

“At present, we’re not anticipating any immediate disruption to our flight schedules or holiday programmes from fuel shortages.”

Earlier this month, a trade body for European airports warned over a “systemic” shortage of jet fuel ahead of the peak summer season if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen in the weeks ahead.

Welcome back to #TUITriviaTuesday! Which Nordic country is famous for fjords, trolls and vikings! 🔍 Hint…it is west of Sweden 🧭

— tuiuk (@TUIUK) April 14, 2026

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Airports Council International (ACI), which represents more than 600 airports, wrote a letter to the European commissioners for energy and transport and tourism.

The body’s director-general Olivier Jankovec wrote in the letter: “At this stage, we understand that if the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU.

“The fact that we are entering the peak summer season… is only adding to those concerns.”

Which airline are you due to fly with, in the coming weeks? Let us know in the comments below.

Archaeologists have found a papyrus copy of Homer’s Iliad in the gut of an ancient Egyptian mummy, the first time ever that a Greek literary text has been found incorporated into the preservation process.

The discovery has big implications for our knowledge of funerary practices and religious life in ancient Egypt.

The papyrus fragment was discovered in the abdomen of a mummy buried in a Roman-era tomb in Oxyrhynchus around 1,600 years ago.

Oxyrhynchus, known in the Pharaonic times as Per-Medjed, was one of the most important cities of Greco-Roman Egypt. Its remains are in the present-day town of Al-Bahnasa, about 190km south of Cairo, next to the branch of the Nile known as Bahr Yussef.

Researchers from the Institute of Ancient Near East Studies at the University of Barcelona found the mummy during a recent excavation campaign carried out between November and December 2025.

They found the mummy featured an unusual element, a papyrus placed on the abdomen as part of the embalming ritual.

Egyptian mummies from this period have previously been found to carry papyri written in Greek, but they have all carried text of magical or ritualistic content.

The discovery of the Iliad papyrus marks the first time that a Greek literary text has been found in the embalming context, researchers note.

The epic poem, divided into 24 books, is attributed to Homer and dates back to 800BC.

It mainly focuses on the Trojan War and the heroic deeds and tragic fate of Achilles, the mightiest warrior of the Greek army.

The poem unfolds a few weeks into the final year of the war, depicting the wrath of Achilles after he’s slighted by the Greek commander Agamemnon, delving into themes of pride, fate, honour, and mortality.

It combines elements of ancient Greek culture and mythology, providing valuable insights into the values of the ancient Greeks, continuing to be relevant even in modern times, inspiring countless adaptations.

The identified Iliad text in the recent dig belongs to the catalogue of ships in Book II of the epic poem, researchers say.

It contains a famous passage listing the Greek forces massing before Troy.

Researchers said they were unsure why this particular Greek text was chosen for the mummification process.

Roman-era mummification in Oxyrhynchus combined traditional Egyptian, Greek, and Roman customs.

Ancient Egyptian priests of the time focused on preserving bodies for over 40 days, using natron salt to dehydrate them and wrapping them up in linen.

Instead of using traditional canopic jars to preserve organs, they preferred to pack the body with preserved materials along with papyri containing Greek literature sealed with clay inside the chest or pelvic cavity.

Coffins and wrappings frequently displayed a mixture of Egyptian and Roman motifs.

“This is not the first time we have found Greek papyri, bundled, sealed, and incorporated into the mummification process, but until now, their content was mainly magical,” Ignasi-Xavier Adiego, a professor in the Department of Classical, Romance and Semitic Languages, said.

“Furthermore, it is worth noting that since the late 19th century, a huge number of papyri have been discovered at Oxyrhynchus, including Greek literary texts of great importance, but the real novelty is finding a literary papyrus in a funerary context.”

So far, excavations at Oxyrhynchus have revealed three limestone chambers containing Roman-era mummies and decorated wooden sarcophagi.

Previous campaigns in the ancient city led to the discovery of 52 Ptolemaic-era mummies, of which over a dozen had “golden tongues”, a symbol of preparation for the afterlife.

Hull and East Riding Friends of the Earth (HERFoE) has launched Tree Stories, a new project encouraging residents to reconnect with the living landscape in their communities.

Backed by £17,090 from the national lottery community fund, the two-year programme aims to inspire people to care for existing trees, support new planting, and explore the ways trees shape daily life.

Lauren Saunders, project artist and climate artist at HERFoE, said: “Tree Stories is about making space for many different ways of noticing, valuing and caring for trees.

“Whether your starting point is science, creativity, memory or everyday experience, this project invites people to build deeper relationships with the trees that shape our shared landscapes.”

Members of the public are invited to tell the story of a tree in their community, sharing creative responses, ecological observations, memories, historical research or hopes for new plantings.

A previous creative commission by Hull and East Riding Friends of the Earth – “Where beings are” (Image: Lauren Summers)

These stories will be added to a growing online ‘Digital Forest’ – an interactive map showcasing tree stories across the East Riding and Kingston-upon-Hull.

The project builds on local surveys highlighting strong public support for more green spaces, alongside HERFoE’s ongoing work to protect trees.

Originally conceived as an ‘adopt-a-tree’ scheme, it has grown into a broader community effort that blends creative, scientific, heritage and community-led approaches to nature connection.

Submissions are welcome in text, images or audio-visual formats, and can be sent online or by post.

To ensure the project is accessible, key resources are available in Romanian, Polish, Kurdish (Sorani), and Arabic through a partnership with Hull-based translation service Language Is Everything.

The programme will include free workshops, talks, walks and community events.

These will offer opportunities to learn about tree care and planting, while also exploring artistic and cultural connections to trees.

Friends of the Earth member Hilary picking litter from a local wooded area in East Yorkshire (Image: Supplied)

Lauren Saunders said: “Tree Stories invites people to slow down, notice and build relationships with the trees they live alongside – to see them as part of our shared community.

“Through observation, creativity, curiosity and shared knowledge, we can strengthen our collective responsibility for the places we call home.”

Tree Stories launches today, which is also Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

HERFoE is inviting community groups and public-facing organisations across the East Riding and Kingston-upon-Hull to take part, whether tree-focused or not.

Partners will be able to connect with new audiences, raise the profile of their work and contribute to a growing, county-wide celebration of trees and community action.

A dedicated Partner Pack and digital resources will be available to help organisations get involved.

For more information, visit hfoe.org.uk/treestories.

US Vice President JD Vance will again lead the American delegation

Donald Trump says he ‘expects to be bombing Iran’ and that the US military is ‘raring to go’ as JD Vance departs for eleventh‑hour talks in Pakistan.

The US President told CNBC he had no intention of prolonging the two‑week ceasefire with Tehran as the deadline approaches, insisting Washington now holds the upper hand and is “going to end up with a great deal”.

Fresh negotiations in Islamabad are already overshadowed by uncertainty, set against a tense stand‑off in the Strait of Hormuz that continues to disrupt global shipping and unsettle energy markets.

The effective closure of the critical supply route during the conflict has inflicted a global economic shock and sent energy prices soaring.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who has been holding discussions with counterparts aimed at safeguarding the strategic waterway, has described it as “a critical diplomatic moment” in the crisis.

US Vice President JD Vance will again lead the American delegation while Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has been tipped as Tehran’s chief negotiator.

The timing of the talks has not been confirmed, and the White House said Mr Vance was still in Washington on Tuesday afternoon.

Threatening to resume strikes if a deal is not struck with Iran soon, Mr Trump said: “Well, I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with. But, you know, we’re ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go.”

Mr Trump also said he did not want to extend the current ceasefire, which he said runs out on Wednesday. He told CNBC: “I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time.”

The president added: “What I think is that we’re going to end up with a great deal. I think they (Iran) have no choice. We’ve taken out their navy, we’ve taken out their air force, we’ve taken out their leaders.”

He again claimed “regime change” and said those now in charge were “much more rational”. Mr Trump said: “I think we’re in a very strong negotiating position to do what other presidents should have done during a 47-year period.”

Meanwhile, Mr Qalibaf has accused the US president of seeking to turn the negotiating table into a “table of surrender”. “We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats,” he wrote in an X post and said Iran was preparing “to reveal new cards on the battlefield”.

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In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer held talks with ministers and officials on the Government’s work to ease pressures on the public caused by the conflict.

The Middle East Response Committee discussed ongoing contingency planning such as work with fuel suppliers, airlines and international counterparts, a Government spokesperson said.

They also talked about diplomacy to support negotiations between the US and Iran, military planning as part of the post-war mission to keep the Strait of Hormuz open co-led with France, and wider measures such as efforts to weaken the link between gas and electricity prices.

As Game Pass undergoes a major overhaul and Project Helix edges closer to release, GameCentral asks whether the glory days of the Xbox 360 will ever come again.

When Phil Spencer was still in charge of Xbox, he used to balk at the idea that the Xbox 360 was the golden age of the brand, arguing that there are more people playing Xbox today (by which he meant the console, PC, and streaming) than there ever was in the late 2000s. But that was missing the point. The Xbox 360 maintains its reputation as the best Xbox console for many reasons but the most important is that it was the only time Microsoft was leading the conversation in the industry.

The Xbox 360 sold less than both the PlayStation 3 and Wii and yet still most people refer to that generation as the Xbox 360 era. That’s not because anyone cares how many it sold but because it set the pace for the generation, in terms of introducing new ideas – from indie downloads to Achievements – and had better first party support than Sony, while being the lead format for almost all third party games.

It’s a common argument that competition benefits everyone and the Xbox 360 is clear proof of that. Without Xbox keeping Sony on their toes, the introduction of online features to PlayStation formats would have been much slower. The PlayStation 4, in particular, was a pointed response to the lessons learned from Xbox and the console’s outstanding first party line-up would likely have never existed without its stimulus.

Despite all Microsoft’s money they never again had that sort of influence over the games industry, with the Xbox One selling less than the Xbox 360 and the Xbox Series X/S less than both. Something had to change and inevitably that meant replacing Spencer, with new boss Asha Sharma – who has no experience in the games industry and barely seems to have played any games before.

That should not count against her though, as many execs have little or no experience in game development (reportedly, legendary Nintendo boss Hiroshi Yamauchi could barely use a controller) and Spencer being a self-avowed gamer did not seem to help anything.

Sharma’s first few months on the job have mostly consisted of mood talk, as she insists that she won’t ‘chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop’, despite that being precisely what everyone expects from Microsoft at the moment.

It’s easy to assume that the next gen Project Helix hardware was designed with AI in mind, given Microsoft’s attachment to the technology and the threat of not just Gaming Copilot but generating whole games with AI. In addition, Sharma’s background is with generative AI, so backing away from it completely seems very unlikely.

The first part of her statement is just as important, as one problem with Xbox since the very beginning has been short-termism. Perhaps blinded by its own wealth, Microsoft is always looking for a short cut and time and again has proven itself happy to rip up the roots of the business just to chase the latest trend.

Its support for the original Xbox was cut short as soon as they realised it wasn’t an instant hit, the Xbox 360’s time in the sun lasted only a scant few years before the introduction of Kinect (an attempt to copy the Wii) and the deterioration of its first party studios, the Xbox One started its life trying to be anything but a games console, and the Xbox Series X/S bet everything on Game Pass… and lost.

The big annoucement this week was that Game Pass prices are being cut, following a previous increase, and that Call Of Duty will no longer be part of it from day one. That’s a sensible U-turn, but there’s still no sign that Microsoft has accepted the fact that most people have no need for a video game subscription service and don’t want to pay for games that way.

With rumours of another massive round of lay-offs coming up, it’s unclear what other changes Sharma will make. The return of Halo and Gears Of War will be important steps forward, but they were initiated before she started. There’s been talk of her bringing back console exclusives but that seem very unlikely given how small the Xbox Series X/S userbase is and how unlikely it is Project Helix will do better (not least because, according to Microsoft, it will be very expensive).

For a long time now, it’s seemed as if Microsoft is just treading water, aware that they are unable to break Sony’s stranglehold on the games market. It often feels like they’re just biding their time until video game streaming becomes practical for everyone – at which point they will have an instant and potentially unassailable advantage over their rivals. And yet playing the waiting game doesn’t seem to be Microsoft’s style.

The company’s impatience is most obvious in its constantly changing marketing focus, which ping pongs from one feature to another with the attention span of a bored toddler. Sharma was praised for killing the ridiculous ‘This is an Xbox’ campaign, almost as soon as she took over, but at the same time that means yet another switch in brand messaging.

There are some things that never change at Microsoft, including the way current and previous execs always seem to talk as if Xbox is a market leader, despite the fact that it’s very clearly not. Sharma immediately fell into this trap and while it wouldn’t matter so much if it was just an act, most execs seem to end up believing their own hype, which then goes on to adversely influence their decision making.

Xbox’s other big problem has been its inability to appeal to anyone outside of North America and the UK. Occasionally, it half-heartedly acknowledges the importance of Japan but it has never had the exclusive games or publisher relationships necessary to succeed there. Continental Europe has been much the same, with Xbox’s marketing attempts amounting to nothing more than the occasional FIFA bundle (‘They like soccer there, right?’) while they give the job of translating the Xbox dashboard and documentation to AI, with predictably incoherent results.

By this point, these failings seem baked in at Microsoft but the biggest issue for Sharma is the simple question of what is the purpose of Xbox? What is its trying to do or be? As a console format it’s never been less popular and its ecosystem offers little tangible appeal to anyone else. People can be drawn into it via the right kind of exclusives but, as mentioned, that prospect seems unlikely.

This year’s Forza Horizon 6 will be a huge hit on PlayStation 5, and there’s a chance the Fable reboot will be too, but that doesn’t make Xbox any different from a third party publisher like EA or Ubisoft. Which is fine, as long as you’re making money, but Microsoft’s aspirations have always been greater than that.

They got into the games industry to prevent Sony from taking over the living room with PlayStation, a concern that smartphones rendered irrelevant. So what is the goal now? Xbox Game Studios is already the biggest games publisher in the West, simply by virtue of owning Activision Blizzard, but so what?

Despite that, Xbox’s influence on the games industry has never been more insubstantial. Neither friend nor foe seems to care what they do and, unlike in the Xbox 360 days, they have no big ideas that everyone’s trying to catch up with and implement themselves.

That is what Is needed though and the worst case scenario is that they’ve convinced themselves it’s AI. One can only hope that the response to DLSS 5 has disabused them of that, but if they have seen sense they still need something else. Not just a selling point but a sign that they understand the games industry and its future better than anyone else.

If you’re a PlayStation owner you should hope they come up with something, so that they can in turn light a fire under an increasingly complacent Sony. Competition is good for the industry, but Xbox has not provided any for a worryingly long time.

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The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will now be put forward for Royal Assent, giving ministers new powers to regulate tobacco, vaping and nicotine products

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Legislation designed to prevent anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, from ever legally purchasing cigarettes has passed through the UK Parliament.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will now proceed to royal assent in what Health Secretary Wes Streeting has described as a “historic moment for the nation’s health”. The Bill has a four-nations approach, meaning it will be enforceable in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Bill was crafted to establish a “smoke-free generation”, and, once it receives the royal seal of approval, will grant ministers fresh powers to control tobacco, vaping and nicotine products, including their flavours and packaging. Both the Commons and Lords agreed on the final version of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, reports Devon Live.

Health minister Baroness Merron told the Lords on Monday: “This afternoon marks the end of this Bill’s journey throughout Parliament. It is a landmark Bill, it will create a smoke-free generation.”

Mr Streeting said: “This is a historic moment for the nation’s health as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill ends its journey throughout Parliament. Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm.

“Prevention is better than cure – this reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain.”

Ash Scotland said: “The rising age of sale proposal to stop future generations from becoming addicted to tobacco will mean that, from 1 January 2027, it will be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.

Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said: “This is a decisive turning point for public health. The end of smoking, and the devastating harm it causes, is no longer uncertain – it’s inevitable, and the focus now is on how soon we get there.

“Over the past half-century, smoking has claimed millions of lives across the UK, leaving a legacy of preventable pain and loss. Ending its harm is a lasting gift to generations ahead and families everywhere can now feel secure that their children can grow up free from the harm of tobacco.”

Sarah Sleet, chief executive at Asthma and Lung UK, said: “This landmark piece of legislation will transform the nation’s health. A smoke-free future means the tobacco industry will no longer be able to wreak havoc on the lungs of the next generation.

“The Bill also introduces desperately needed restrictions on where vapes, cigarettes, and heated tobacco products can be used, protecting vulnerable people around schools and outside hospitals.”

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive officer at Cancer Research UK, said: “Thanks to decades of research and campaigning, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill has secured full parliamentary approval and is set to become law in the UK. This is a historic achievement that will shield our children from the devastating grip of tobacco addiction and help to put an end to cancers caused by smoking.

“The first smoke-free generation is now within reach.”

Uphall Councillor Tony Boyle told the meeting the feeling within the community was the proposal amounted to a “land grab”.

Plans by a West Lothian Church to run a village community centre have been put on hold after councillors raised doubts about public access to the building.

Uphall Councillor Tony Boyle told a meeting of the Asset Transfer Committee that the Community Council had already had to find an alternative venue for their meetings.

And he told the meeting the feeling within the community was the proposal amounted to a “land grab”.

Council officers have recommended a Community Asset Transfer of Uphall Community Centre to a new trust formed as a joint team of the former management committee and the King’s Church West Lothian, an evangelical church.

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No representatives of either group turned up at a meeting of the Asset Transfer Committee in Livingston to promote their plan.

That absence prompted surprise and comment from across the political spectrum of a Conservative, Labour and SNP councillors.

Conservative Alison Adamson asked: “Is there any reason why there’s no representatives of Uphall community centre or the King’s Church here today?

“Normally with these types of applications we have the applicant to speak up about what they’re asking for. Were they aware they could make representations in person?

Martin Thomson, a Business Growth Adviser with the council said the applicants “were very much aware” they could attend but had decided not to.

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He added: “We have had recurring monthly meetings with them and officers have been satisfied. The applicant did have the opportunity but decided not to.”

An officer report to the committee said the offer from the joint trust: “is considered to represent the best available option for the use of this property. There are considered to be no reasonable grounds for refusing that request.

“The committee is therefore recommended to approve the community asset transfer request submitted for the Uphall Community Centre subject to the conditions.”

Councillor Tony Boyle proposed delaying a decision until questions on the future running of the community centre, which had been initially posed by fellow ward member, the SNPs Tony Carlin, could be answered.

Councillor Carlin had questioned some of the proposed figures about projected income at the centre and future employment plans.

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Councillor Boyle pointed out that there were local fears that some in the community could lose access to the hall in Strathbrock Place.

He told the meeting that the local community council had already had to secure another venue for its meetings. “The community council were told there was no space for them at the centre,” he told the meeting.

Councillor Boyle said that people at a public meeting to discuss the future of the building did not realise what the potential changes would mean.

He added: “What I am getting from the community is that they think this is a land grab”.

Cllr Carlin said: “I echo what Tony is saying and I’m also disappointed there’s no representation from the applicant because some of the questions I have asked have been deflected because there’s no representation here.”

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He expressed doubts about the business plan adding: “The margins are so tight, a £104 surplus in the first year? You could sneeze and lose that.”

Chairing the meeting, Labour councillor Craig Meek said he would move the recommendation to allow the asset transfer to proceed, as per the officer recommendation, but this won no support from fellow councillors.

After a short adjournment Councillor Boyle proposed a delay to request more information, and the hope the applicants could attend a further meeting.

The King’s Church has been asked for a comment.

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