Tag Archives: Catterick

Video: Richmond MP speaks up for former Catterick soldier

Richmond MP Rishi Sunak has spoken in the House of Commons about the plight of six former soldiers currently serving time an Indian prison for a crime they claim they did not commit.

The ex-soldiers, with a combined 74 years of service, were jailed in Ja­n­u­ary after being detained as they protected ships from Somali pirates. Indian officials accused them of importing guns for jihadists, even when told their weapons were legally held.

In the Commons Sunak raised the issue of Nicholas Simpson, of Catterick Garrison, one of the socalled “Chennai Six” currently jailed in India having been convicted of gun running.

On his blog, he says he pressed Foreign Office Minister Alok Sharma tomorrow to do everything possible to resolve his case.

You can read the full transcript from the Commons here.

One week to go until final Catterick road upgrade

The final junction upgrade at Whiteshops – the junction of Catterick Road, Byng Road and Horne Road – will begin with preparatory work from next Monday (Sep 5) as part of a £1.6m scheme.

The joint scheme by North Yorkshire County Council and Richmondshire District Council is improving junctions along the A6136 corridor  to enable housing development and economic growth.

Motorists are urged to be patient while the work is completed. County Councillor Helen Grant, local member for Central Richmondshire, said: “We fully recognise the disruption this improvement work will cause for residents, but I would ask them to look towards the end result, which will be the eradication of traffic gridlock in this area.”

Councillor Yvonne Peacock, leader of Richmondshire District Council, said: “As joint promoter of this project, the council is pleased that the planned improvements to the Whiteshops junction are about to start.

“Growth in our district is a key ambition of the Council and our Local Development Plan recognises the significant contribution that the land along the A6136 can make in terms of new houses and jobs. This project will address a known barrier to that growth.

“I would ask residents and visitors to the Garrison to be patient during the disruption that will result during the work.”

Last year, the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership awarded £1.2m for the scheme to the District Council via the Local Growth Fund and the County Council provided the remaining £400,000 to make the project happen.

When complete, the improvements across three junctions will help to create 1,900 new homes and hundreds of jobs based on a modern Catterick Garrison town centre, as well as improving key transport links and fast access to the upgraded A1 motorway and the region’s major cities.

Improvements at Catterick Bridge and complementary measures at Scorton crossroads were completed earlier this year. The junction resurfacing and lining will take place at Catterick Bridge next year to coincide with the re-opening of Fort Bridge, currently closed as part of Highway England’s A1 upgrade.

To keep disruption to a minimum, the A6136 Catterick Road will remain open. The work will require the closure of Byng Road and Horne Road at the A6136 junction from Monday, 12 September. Diversions will be signed. The work is expected to last 12 weeks. It will include the introduction of additional lanes, new signalling equipment and new pedestrian islands and crossing facilities.

A free shuttle bus service will be provided between Hipswell village and Tesco Catterick while the road closures are in place. Further details will be published online at www.northyorks.gov.uk/transportschemes.

“Our ambition is for North Yorkshire to be a thriving county that adapts to a changing world. Our priorities include working with our partners to deliver infrastructure investments vital to the growth of the county,” said County Councillor Carl Les, North Yorkshire County Council’s leader and one of the local members for the Catterick area.

“The completion of this major project will provide a package or necessary and welcome junction upgrades along the A6136 corridor that will improve traffic flow between the A1, Colburn and a modern Catterick Garrison town centre. Increasing the capacity of the A6136 will help to support Catterick’s potential for growth.”

Tributes paid to long serving councillor

Tributes have been paid to one of Richmondshire’s longest serving councillors who died this week.

Tony Pelton had served on the District Council for a total of 17 years – from 1995 to 2007 and from 2011 until present.

In a press release, a spokesperson said the 77 year old independent councillor who represented the Catterick ward died on June 1 after a long illness.

“We are saddened to hear of Tony’s death – he was a dedicated local councillor who carried out his work to support his ward with enthusiasm. He will be sorely missed,” said council leader Yvonne Peacock.

The council’s civic flag will fly at half mast until sunset on the day of his funeral.

Richmond MP joins military campaign

logoWithBgMP Rishi Sunak says he is backing the launch of the Homes for Heroes Foundation.

The foundation aims to make sure that servicemen and women leaving the forces do not face an uphill battle to find a home for themselves and their families.

Sunak said that veterans faced a number of challenges when finding a home after leaving the services. Under the Armed Forces Covenant ­– a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly ­– that needed to change, he added.

The difficulties veterans might face include physical injuries, poor mental health and the inability to put down roots while serving abroad. Local authorities often apply a “local connections” test to social housing applications. Mortgage lenders and credit references often don’t recognise Armed Forces PO Box numbers.

In a posting on his blog, Mr Sunak said the foundation aimed to work with housebuilders, key figures in the military, local authorities and the financial services industry to make sure that the UK offered the finest package for returning armed forces of any country in the world.

“The Armed Forces Covenant has made great progress in addressing the disadvantages that the armed forces community often faces but the Covenant is not always properly applied when it comes to housing,” Mr Sunak said.

“At Catterick we have recently seen great improvements in the accommodation provided for serving personnel and their familes,” he added.

“We now want to make sure their housing needs after leaving the service of Queen and Country are met.”

You can read the full statement here.

* Are you in housing that’s not fit for heroes? You can share your experience in the comment below or contact us in confidence via email to richmondnoticeboardATgmail.com and we will look into the issue further.

Horse deaths prompt call for Catterick racecourse shutdown

National campaign group Animal Aid has called for Catterick racecourse to be closed down after four horses died there in just three days of racing this month.

In a posting on the group’s website,  Animal Aid horse racing consultant, Dene Stansall: “Animal Aid is bringing the horse deaths to light to prevent them from being swept aside as if they are of no consequence.

“For too long there has been a “business as usual” approach to horse deaths within racing circles. It is deeply irresponsible of the racecourse management and the British Horseracing Authority to continue with racing while so many horses are dying – accompanied by an official silence. Catterick Racecourse should shut down with immediate effect.”

A spokeswoman for the racecourse said it took safety very seriously. She told the D&S: “Catterick Racecourse takes the death of any horse extremely seriously and it is thoroughly investigated.

“We are quite satisfied that the racing surface together with the hurdles and fences at jump race meetings are prepared and presented for race days to the highest possible standards.”

 

#RichmondShops: Views from Catterick Garrison

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Catterick’s new centre

Following the recent opening of Catterick’s Princes Gate out-of-town shopping complex opens its doors, Darlington College journalsim student Lauri Cox talks to some local residents about their views on the new centre.

Phoenix House Army rehabilitation centre, which is within half a mile of the new complex, has seen the benefits first hand.

One service woman, a beneficiary of the centre, who wishes to remain anonymous spoke of the new confidence that she has gained in being able to easily take advantage of the shopping centre: “I like it. Before, I had to go into Richmond or Darlington and

I couldn’t do that without somebody with me. Now I can go down the road and get my shopping, and I can go alone.”

These positive sentiments are echoed by Melanie Dickinson, executive officer at Phoenix House.

“We have a gentleman who comes on a mobility scooter, so he can go from here to a shopping centre, to a cinema, easily, without having to even take any additional transport.”

John Burbridge, logistics and support assistant at Phoenix House also told me about the employment opportunities the new shopping centre has bought to the area.

“They work on a system where they can work on zero hour contracts, part time contracts, or full time. The army wives can come and go.”

And one former beneficiary of the centre, Justin, who now works there part time is ecstatic that he can now go out for tea in Catterick.

“I work on reception part time, but I came through the centre as a wounded soldier back in 2013 and I never left. It’s great, if all the rooms are occupied and they don’t want to eat here they go and eat down in Hungry Horse or Brewers Fayre, fantastic idea having them both together.”

It isn’t only the local Garrison, the largest in Europe that is speaking about the benefits. Pupils at local Risedale School also spoke of their delight at the new centre, and how it has made them more sociable.

Reece Winsfield, a pupil at the school spoke of the different benefits it has had for him.

“It’s all in walking distance and not too far away.” Commenting also on how it has

made him more able to socialise with his friends: “Before this complex was here I used to just go to a football pitch around the corner, but now I’m more sociable with my friends.”

While Laura Middleton highlights the fact even saving the bus fare into Darlington for her and her friends is a benefit. “It saves a lot of money because I used to get the bus down, maybe once every other weekend me and my friends would go down for a shopping trip.”

Defence secretary visits Catterick psycho skills centre

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Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has been visiting new Army recruits at Catterick Garrison as well as visiting the centre specialising in mental resilience and psychological skills training.

During the visit on Friday he met instructors at the School of Infantry, where what is described as ‘innovative, dynamic and combat focused’ training is delivered.

The school also leads in the development of mental resilience training and psychological skills in order to maximise training effectiveness.

The drop-in at Catterick concluded his visit to the North East where he also announced that the supply of track for the Army’s heavy, medium and light armoured vehicles has been secured through a contract with Cook Defence Systems Ltd.

Mr Fallon toured Cooks’ facility in Stanhope, County Durham, where the track – the metal band around the wheels of an armoured vehicle which readies them for different terrains – is manufactured.

The four year deal will help sustain the jobs of 110 people while ensuring the UK has a critical battle winning system for its Armed Forces.

You can read the full details of the event here.