City of York Council planning officers refused the application to change the use of a house in Compton Street, Clifton, so part of it could be rented out to tourists.

Applicants stated the changes would bring benefits to businesses in the area and the existing character and appearance of the street would be preserved.

But a neighbour and Labour Clifton ward councillor Danny Myers objected claiming approving another holiday let on top of the 13 already nearby would further deplete the supply of housing.

Council planning officers ruled the mixed residential and holiday let use could result in a material harm to nearby residents due to the comings and goings of a high turnover of guests.

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Plans for the change of use stated the property would be managed for short stays but the owners were also applying for permission to rent it out for longer periods.

They added clear rules would be in place for guests including not being allowed to hold parties or events and being required to check in and out by certain times.

Plans stated: “The reuse of an existing building for visitor accommodation supports sustainable tourism and the efficient use of existing housing.

“The use will be carefully managed to protect neighbouring amenity.”

31 Compton Street, in Clifton, York (Image: Google Maps)

But the neighbouring objector claimed adding more holiday lets to the area would erode its community atmosphere.

A council report on the objection stated: “There are concerns that the high turnover of guests will lead to increased noise, late-night disturbances, and disruption of the quiet nature of these residential streets.”

Clifton’s Cllr Myers said he was concerned about how the owners would manage potential antisocial behaviour and noise.

The ward councillor said: “In my experience, these assurances have never proven fruitful, details are not usually provided to local residents, and instances of anti-social behaviour by nuisance holidaymakers are put up with by residents and then have to be followed up after they have occurred.”

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In the last of our series on environmental issues and the Wales election campaign, we look particularly at countryside policies of two parties that are new contenders for seats in the Senedd.

The elections to Wales’s parliament, the Senedd, on May 7 are set to be the most unpredictable since the creation of the devolved government in 1999. With current polling indicating close contests in many constituencies, rural voters could make a critical difference to the final result.

Issues such as farming support, windfarms, pylons and changes to rural healthcare services are contentious, but they form part of a larger question about the future of rural Wales. Interestingly, the two parties projected to win seats in the Senedd through election for the first time – Reform UK and the Green party (Reform UK has two seats in the outgoing Senedd through defections) – represent contrasting visions of the Welsh countryside.

Reform’s rural vision

Reform UK has directly targeted discontented rural voters. With a cover image showing daffodil-covered green hills, Reform’s manifesto says it will “back Welsh farmers”. It promises “agriculture will be treated as a strategic national asset”.

Specific policies include: reforming the new post-Brexit Sustainable Farming Scheme to emphasise food production, funding for young farmers’ clubs, scrapping net zero targets and banning new onshore wind farms and solar arrays, reducing environmental regulations and protecting lawful game bird release. It also plans to “streamline planning regulations” and cut back on “red tape”.

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Why windfarms and electricity pylons have become a major issue in the Welsh election

Reform is competing with the Conservatives for the voters that this version of rural Wales appeals to. Although the Conservative manifesto is less dramatic in tone, especially on net zero, it also plans to scrap the Sustainable Farming Scheme and introduce a moratorium on industrial scale wind and solar power stations.

A Green vision

The strongest prospects for the Green party are in urban constituencies. However, their platform contains policies that would have significant implications for rural Wales. They include a Land Reform Act, making it easier for communities to buy land, a “Welsh Right to Roam” offering “responsible access to the countryside”, a national rewilding strategy and commitments to a Sustainable Farming Scheme that rewards “nature-friendly farming” and renewable energy targets.

These represent a very different vision for the Welsh countryside to Reform. But they also reflect an alternative, almost counter culture, strand of Welsh rural society that has welcomed people who moved to rural areas in search of a new way of life since the 1960s and pioneered organic farming and low impact development.

There are currently Green councillors in rural Monmouthshire and Powys. Some projections suggest the party could win two or three Senedd seats in significantly rural constituencies.

If the Greens achieve more than 10% of the vote nationally, they are likely to do so by taking votes from Plaid Cymru, including in rural areas.

Plaid Cymru needs both rural and urban seats to become the biggest party. Its manifesto contains a significant section on rural policies, but with less prominence than Reform UK’s. Plaid’s rural policies broadly share the pro-environmental approach of the Greens, but the influence of conservative rural voters in its heartlands is evident in careful positioning on farming, windfarms and pylons, as well as the absence of mentions of rewilding.

On rural and environmental issues the Greens are more aligned with Labour, while Plaid Cymru are closer to the Liberal Democrats.

Politics in rural Wales

Wales is sometimes described as predominantly rural, but while 80% of the land is countryside, most people live in the towns and cities. Nevertheless, around a third of Wales’s population lives close to the countryside, in largely rural local authorities.

Over the last 25 years rural Wales has experienced substantial social and economic restructuring, including declining work in farming and manufacturing, along with many young people leaving to find jobs. These areas face challenges from low wages, sparse infrastructure, precarious public services and competing visions for land use.

Three issues in particular have attracted attention. First, plans for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (the Welsh government plans for agriculture subsidies to replace EU funding) provoked protests by Welsh farmers in 2024, especially over proposed requirements for 10% of farmland to be planted with trees. The later was subsequently withdrawn.

Second, there’s been opposition to new windfarm developments and pylon lines. Rewilding projects have also been controversial. Third, downgrading of services at hospitals serving rural areas and closure of village schools, have sparked local campaigns.

Public anger over these and other issues has often been directed at Welsh Labour, the governing party in Wales since 1999, with other parties trying to cast it as urban focused.

Labour did win rural constituencies in the 2024 UK general election, and current First Minister Eluned Morgan has a long-standing interest in rural affairs, outlining a plan for rural Wales in 2017. The Labour manifesto promises to “increase rural Wales’ skills and productivity” and to promote “food, farming and forestry”.

The traditional stronghold of nationalist Plaid Cymru is in the rural north and west Wales. While the Conservatives’ strongest support is in rural districts close to the English border and in parts of south Wales. The most enduring areas of support for the Welsh Liberal Democrats are in rural mid Wales.

Results to watch for

A few key results will provide an indication of the political temperature in rural Wales:

• Whether Plaid Cymru or Reform UK get most votes in Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, Gwynedd Maldwyn and Sir Gaerfyrddin

• Whether the Greens win a seat in Ceredigion Penfro, Gwynedd Maldwyn, or Sir Fynwy Torfaen

• Whether the Conservatives get seats in Bangor Conwy Môn, Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd and Ceredigion Penfro, and the Liberal Democrats retain their seat in Brychceiniog Tawe

• Whether Labour’s Eluned Morgan can hold on to her seat in Ceredigion Penfro.

If, as seems likely, no party has a majority, rural issues will play an important role in coalition discussions. A shared rural vision could assist agreement between Reform UK and the Conservatives; while negotiations between Plaid Cymru, Labour or the Greens will need to resolve differences in rural and environmental policies. This may have profound consequences for the future of rural Wales.

Footage captures the scale of the fire that could be seen as far away as Swansea

Shocking video footage shows the enormous scale of a fire in Port Talbot. The incident unfolded at around 3.30pm on Wednesday at Dock Road, with thick black smoke visible as far away as Mumbles.

The footage was recorded by Frankie Johnston who was travelling in the area on Wednesday afternoon as the blaze broke out. The sky appears almost entirely black due to the huge size of the plumes.

Emergency services were alerted earlier today to the incident, with police confirming they received multiple reports of a significant blaze in the area. Fire crews from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are currently responding and working to bring the situation under control. Stay informed on everything Neath Port Talbot by signing up to our newsletter here

In an official update, the service confirmed that at 3.36pm on Wednesday, April 29, crews from Port Talbot, Neath, Morriston, Ammanford, Tumble, Carmarthen, Pontarddulais and Glynneath fire stations were called to the scene.

Firefighters, supported by crews from the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, are tackling the blaze involving approximately 200 tonnes of commercial waste. The incident is ongoing as of 6pm on Wednesday and you can follow our live updates here.

As a precaution, residents living nearby have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to the heavy smoke.

Authorities have also urged the public to avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible to allow emergency services clear access. Drivers are being asked for their patience while the incident is dealt with.

Officials have further reminded the public to only call 999 if lives or property are in immediate danger, to ensure control room operators can manage resources effectively.

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Two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London in an attack that police declared as a terrorist incident.

The two victims – one man in his 70s, and another in his 30s – were in a “stable condition” and being treated in hospital, police said.

CCTV footage showed the moment the suspect was seen running along a street before approaching a passerby.

Another video showed the suspect approaching the officers. One officer Tasers him, sending the suspect to the floor, while shouting at him to drop the knife.

Northumbria Police said it came as a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) issues green spaces and park areas around Houghton-le-Spring, Hetton-le-Hole and Easington Lane.

Four bikes, two Sur-Rons and two motorbikes, were seized after being identified as possibly stolen or having no insurance.

a bike seized by police during a crime and anti-social behaviour crackdown in Herrington Country Park and in nearby Houghton-le-Spring and Hetton-le-Hole (Image: Northumbria Police)

Four people were stopped and searched with two people arrested for possession of cannabis, and arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods on Sunderland Street, in Houghton.

Joint visits by the trading standards team, the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and immigration officers, resulted in the seizure of over 300 illegal cigarettes.

A closure order is being progressed for the business involved on North View Terrace in Chilton Moor, Northumbria Police said.

Superintendent Scott Cowie from Northumbria Police said: “Policing is much more than just putting in front doors and making arrests, as this week of activity demonstrated.

“It’s also about strengthening our communities by listening to your concerns and acting upon them in a strategic way so that we reduce crime and ASB over time.

A motorbike seized by police during the asb prevention week in Herrington, Houghton and Hetton areas of Wearside (Image: Northumbria Police)

“Officers from a host of different teams were involved in the timetable of events as we made arrests for a variety of offences and boosted community engagement by speaking to people.

“We also targeted those using vehicles to carry out anti-social behaviour, which is something nobody should have to put up with on their doorstep at any time.

“Alongside that, by working together with our local authority partners, we’re making sure that retailers in the area are abiding by the law, providing reassurance to the general public in the process.

“Our sincere hope is that we’ve been able to further build the local community’s trust in us.

“Rest assured, we will continue to be a visible presence in our communities and ensure we are here when the public need us the most, delivering on our priorities to keep people safe and fight crime with an enhanced focus on prevention.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, added: “The range of activity which took place is more than just tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

“It’s about preventing it from happening in the first place and making a real difference in our communities.

“Visible policing and enforcement will always play an important role, but they cannot deliver long-term change on their own.

“That’s why, through Northumbria Police, the Violence Reduction Unit and our partners, we are focused on a preventative approach that tackles the root causes of offending and reduces harm before it escalates. 

“Earlier intervention is key to that approach, ensuring we identify vulnerability early and put the right support in place at the earliest opportunity, through joined-up working with communities and local services.”

Michelle Coates, Community Safety Manager at Sunderland City Council, said: “This week of activity is a strong example of how effective partnership working helps keep our communities safe.

“By working closely with Northumbria Police, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and other partners, we are able to tackle anti-social behaviour, support compliance among local businesses and address the issues that matter most to residents.”

Neil Moore from Unite the Union, said: “I’m an officer who represents both workers in Queens, but also workers across the hospitality sector.

“I want to thank everybody for coming down to this emergency protest on quite short notice. I think from talking to people here, the outrage from customers, from Clement’s staff, from staff and students at Queens is quite palpable that a situation like this can be allowed to happen, that a rogue employer such as John Elliott from Clements can simply say so long, say anara to his workers and expect the taxpayer to pick up the bill.

“In the letters that workers got, and workers, obviously nothing turns without workers. They understood where the business was at, seemingly a dispute between their employer and Queens, and their employer has decided to throw the baby out with the bathwater, and workers are collateral damage for that.

“That is a shame.

“I think, We really want to hear from Clement’s workers, so I’m gonna invite Sophie from Clement’s up to speak first, just about Clement’s workers’ experience and of course anybody else from Clements who wants to speak as well.”

While Atletico are well off the pace in LaLiga and lost the Copa del Rey final on penalties 11 days ago, they did overcome Barcelona in the quarter-final to keep their trophy hopes alive and, perhaps crucially, have previously knocked Arsenal out of a European competition at the semi-final stage. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri.

Jane McCarry, best known for playing Isa in the hit BBC comedy, will bring Whit’s Yer Chat? to the venue on Friday, May 8.

Still Game star Jane McCarry will appear at Rutherglen Town Hall next month with a new live show.

McCarry, best known for playing Isa in the hit BBC comedy, will bring Whit’s Yer Chat? to the venue on Friday, May 8.

She will be joined by Britain’s Got Talent stars Edward Reid and Vinnie McKee, radio presenter Ali Wright and TV Presenter Liam Dolan.

The show will feature a mix of humour, stories, and audience interaction in an informal setting.

Jane McCarry said: “We’re really looking forward to coming to Rutherglen. It’s bound to be a great night of laughs and chat, and the audience are a big part of it.

“Whit’s Yer Chat? is the ultimate night out with pals – an exuberant mix of laughs, stories, and chat, brimming with madness, music, and mayhem.”

Tickets are available now from South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture’s online box office, at SLLC cultural venues, or by calling 0141 613 5700.

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READ MORE: Rutherglen youngsters climb Tinto Hill to fundraise for St Anthony’s Primary