Warwickshire Police launch survey asking the public to comment on its handling of the covid crisis
ENFORCING the latest Covid rules is proving something of a minefield for Warwickshire Police.
The force has been getting flak for its approach at the same time as launching a survey asking the public to comment on its performance dealing with the crisis.
Fines have been issued over incidents that have been seen by some as trivial.
In one case last week a couple were fined when they visited Burton Dassett Hills and were caught by officers sitting in their car watching The Only Way is Essex on a smartphone.
New fleet of Warwickshire gritters are given jaunty names by imaginative public
| Updated: 08:05, 25 January 2021
GRITTERS that have been added to the county councilâs fleet have been given names by the public.
Warwickshire County Council asked people to pick names for the five new vehicles in a competition in October. The rules were simple â be creative, original and funny â and the public did not disappoint, with hundreds of suggestions.
After the competition closed, the challenge for the council was to pick from the huge list of suggestions, ranging from the subtly brilliant Slip-not to the less subtle Snowgone-o-Saurus Rex, to come up with a list of names that were announced this week.
Stratford fish seller whoâs having one of his best years in almost five decades
| Updated: 12:57, 23 January 2021
IT S a fishy tale with a happy ending for a Stratford fishmonger who s netting a big catch in trade despite coronavirus.
Tim Gardiner, who owns Fishy Business, has cast off the doom and gloom of Covid-19, by offering his customers a healthy eating choice which doesn t cost the earth and features 50 varities of fresh fish at his market stall in Rother Street, Stratford which is open every Friday.
Tim, who has been trading for 48 years, says he s had some of the best sales he s ever known during lockdown but he s not the only beneficiary. He believes the surge in demand for fish is due to his customers desire for a healthy diet.
Prepare for lockdown crackdown, say Warwickshire police
| Updated: 16:46, 20 January 2021
WATCH out, our bobbies are on the beat â thatâs the message from Warwickshire Police, who say they will be issuing fines to those not abiding by Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Stratford officer PC Amy Jones was on patrol in the town last week, following the forceâs âfour Esâ approach to Covid enforcement â engage, explain, encourage, enforce.
A spokesperson for the force said: âFirst we will try to engage with someone, explain how we think they are breaking the rules and encourage them to change their behaviour to reduce the risk to public safety and health.â
Fight launched to save Shipston hospital
| Updated: 18:43, 19 January 2021
A LOT can change in six months and that is a realisation that has really hit home with those fighting to save Shipston hospital, the Ellen Badger.
In May the South Warwickshire Foundation Trust revealed an ambitious £17million development of the hospital site. A colourful brochure with architectural plans was widely distributed around the town that revealed the existing Ellen Badger Hospital, which was deemed unfit for purpose, would be demolished and a new hospital, GP surgery, health and wellbeing centre built on the expanded site.
Then in November a new two-phase scheme was quietly ushered in. The new surgery and wellbeing centre will go ahead in the first phase but the hospital has been relegated to the phase two, with no guarantees that it will actually go ahead.