Latest Telford News...

‘Clarity’ sought after concerns raised over future of Telford solar farm hedges

FeatureTelford CrimeTelford News

Telford & Wrekin Council has now been given permission by its own development controllers for a new 3m-high fence to be installed around the site at Wheat Leasows following an assessment period.

Objections from members of the public included an opponent of the solar farm who wrote: “Ripping out a hedge adjacent to this very busy rat run in January will cause considerable disruption.

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Hospital director wins national finance award

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Carol McInnes, Director of Planning and Transformation at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), has been named ‘Finance Champion of the Year’ at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Awards.

The award recognises and celebrates someone who stands out for demonstrating exceptional dedication and initiatives within their organisation.

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Dawley students turn reporters for writing contest

FeatureTelford NewsTelford People

Year 6 pupils at Captain Webb Primary School in Dawley have been showcasing their creative talents this month. The school recently reached out to share the work of their young writers following a similar project held last year.

The winning entry from Ariella was a completely independent piece of work. She described the student as a talented writer and said the school is excited to see what she creates in the future.

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Town centre car parks could become housing in new plans

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Three Telford town centre car parks – one disused and the other two currently active – could be turned over for development if major issues can be overcome.

Some 158 houses could take the land at the Blue Willow car park while another 138 could be built on the next door Lime Green Car Park (Odeon cinema).

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Wonky chimney would be problematic for Santa as well as the planners

HighlightsTelford News

A Telford resident is in a tangle with planners after building a storage unit on a parking space without first getting planning permission.

There are also issues with “misaligned corrugated sheeting“, a “wonky chimney” and plans allegedly not matching up with what a planning officer found had been built.

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Memorial bench for volunteer gardener who died suddenly aged 40

FeatureTelford NewsTelford People

Chris Nutt, who worked at Fujitsu and initiated the firm sending volunteers to the Friends of Telford Town Park (FOTTP) group as part of a staff welfare programme, died suddenly in December 2024, aged 40.

A bench in memory of him has now been installed by Fujitsu and the Friends as they were so grateful for the work he did and wanted to honour him.

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Plans to replace bungalow with two three-storey buildings

HighlightsTelford News

A landowner in Wellington has applied for planning permission to demolish a bungalow and replace it with eight new homes in two new three-storey buildings.

The new buildings would replace one three-bedroom bungalow on a plot at Constitution Hill, Wellington, with two townhouses and a total of six apartments.

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Fire service “making steady progress”

FeatureTelford News

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) says it is “continuing to make steady progress” and is on schedule to complete a number of improvements highlighted in an inspector’s report.

Last year His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said the service “requires improvement” in six key areas, and is “inadequate” at managing its resources.

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Permission granted for 57 homes in Shifnal despite objections

FeatureTelford News

Nearly 60 homes are to be built in Shifnal, despite many people being against it.

The proposal by Taylor Wimpey will see 57 properties built on land southeast of Windmill View. The development will consist of two, three, and four-bedroom houses, with 20 per cent designated for rent or shared ownership.

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Police council tax set to rise for Telford

HighlightsTelford CrimeTelford News

Mr Campion is proposing a £15 annual increase for the average household, but he says even this will not be enough to bridge the gap.

“To put it simply, my hands are tied,” said PCC John Campion. “Whilst the Government will claim record uplift of funding for policing, they do not make it clear that it is at the expense of inflation-busting council tax rises.”

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Students bring festive cheer to the community

FeatureTelford NewsTelford People

Pupils from Ercall Wood Academy in Wellington hosted their third annual Christmas afternoon tea and welcomed older members of the local community for the celebrations.

Principal Nick Murphy said the much-loved event had become a highlight of the Academy’s calendar and reflected the school’s commitment to community engagement and bringing multiple generations together.

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Housing plan for Newport site ‘used for fly-tipping’ withdrawn

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Potential developers of a vacant site close to Newport town centre have withdrawn plans to build nine homes to consider options following council feedback.

Staffordshire-based MAG Developments Ltd has told Telford & Wrekin Council planners that it is “disappointed and perplexed” by the council’s feedback about requirements for the site.

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Bigger shops needed say retail park owners

FeatureTelford BusinessTelford News

London-based agent Montagu Evans has told the planners at Telford & Wrekin Council that interest in retail park investment is coming from the larger retail operators.

“Recent market activity and enquiries have indicated that interest is increasingly being driven by larger format retail operators who typically require greater internal floor areas to support their operational models.” the agents wrote.

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New SpongeBob movie is a letdown for me

HighlightsTelford EntertainmentTelford News

Jason Wright went to see the latest Spongebob film and has this suggestion for you…

I headed down to Southwater in Telford this weekend to see if the yellow sponge still has it. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants tries to bring back the charm of my childhood, but…

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Shifnal HMO plan at dentist turned down

HighlightsTelford News

Shifnal Dental Care, which has been in the town since 1971, relocated to the former Odfellows Wine Bar in Market Place last year following a state-of-the-art refurbishment.

In October, practice owner Dr Maciej Wozniak submitted an application for permission to turn the first floor into an HMO.

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College donates gift boxes for the homeless and vulnerable

FeatureTelford NewsTelford People

Telford College students have donated dozens of Christmas gift boxes to a local charity which supports homeless and vulnerable people.

Students from the college’s foundation learning department have made up a total of 35 festive gift boxes for Stay Telford & Wrekin, from donations collected around the campus.

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School heads on fact-finding visit to Telford College

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Head teachers and leaders from local schools visited Telford College to learn more about potential placement opportunities they could offer to T Level students.

A delegation from the Learning Community Trust, which runs more than a dozen school sites across the county, visited the college’s Wellington campus to chat with students on business and accounting courses.

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Untidy land notice slapped on property in Telford

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An enforcement notice has been slapped on a property in Telford after the borough council received a complaint about alleged untidy land.

The notice was served on the property in Beckbury Drive, Stirchley, on December 12 this year after Telford & Wrekin Council received a complaint on October 20.

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Shropshire Youth Awareness campaign tops £10,000 mark

FeatureTelford NewsTelford People

The new Shropshire Youth Awareness Day which saw the county turn blue to show its support has so far raised more than £10,000 for youth charities across the county and the amount is still rising. 

Pic: The High Sheriff of Shropshire Jane Trowbridge with pupils at Wombridge Primary School taking part in the Youth Awareness Day

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Telford dog rehoming centre appeals for support to improve ageing facilities

FeatureTelford News

Hilbrae Dog Rehoming Centre has launched its Build a Better Bark appeal to fund the replacement of outdated kennel blocks and re-fence its exercise paddock, saying the work is vital to ensure dogs arriving at the centre who have lost everything have the facilities that they need whilst they wait for their second chance.

Anyone wishing to support the Build a Better Bark campaign, through donations or practical help, can contact Hilbrae Dog Rehoming Centre for more information or use the link here to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jo-wrate-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

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Telford College students serve up a festive feast

HighlightsTelford NewsTelford People

Students from Telford College laid on a festive food feast for members of a local community dining group.

Public uniformed services students joined forces with catering students to treat members of the Dawley Dinner group to a Christmas meal in the Orange Tree restaurant on the college’s Wellington campus.

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Council set for £67m funding boost

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Essential services across Telford and Wrekin are set for a multi-million pound boost following a landmark government funding deal. The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, announced this week, will see the council receive an extra £67 million over the next four years.

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Four arrested during Telford pub immigration raid

FeatureHighlightsTelford CrimeTelford News

Four individuals were arrested for immigration offences during the visit on 17 December. The group included two Indian nationals and two Nepalese nationals.

West Mercia Police supported Immigration Enforcement during the action. The Fire Service also attended the premises on the same evening and provided a list of required improvements.

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MP vows to fight Green Belt building plans

FeatureTelford NewsTelford People

The government announced new planning reforms that could see more homes built on Shropshire’s Green Belt. Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard spoke out in the House of Commons against the changes, which were unveiled by the Housing Minister just before the Christmas recess.

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Community spirit shines at Khushdil Day Centre

FeatureTelford NewsTelford People

Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and has set itself an ambitious goal – to raise £75,000 to help tackle loneliness and social isolation among older people across the county.

Members of the charity’s Khushdil Day Centre, based at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Hadley, have enthusiastically risen to the challenge. Through a series of fundraising activities, they have already raised more than £1,900 to support older people throughout Shropshire.

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Wellington householder denied retrospective planning permission

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A householder has been refused retrospective planning permission for work carried out on a house in Wellington after officials alleged that it had broken the rules.

Planners wrote that it is “considered disproportionate in size in relation to the existing host dwelling, being substantial in scale and massing”.

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Trolley problem on Telford housing estate shows signs of improvement

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Abandoned shopping trolleys continue to be an issue in parts of Telford despite a parish council’s best efforts, a meeting heard.

Parish warden Glyn Johnson, who picks up abandoned trolleys from across the area, said that there has been a “big improvement” in the abandoned trolley situation but the “only downfall is kids moving them, but you are always going to get that”.

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Telford residents invited to shape future youth strategy

FeatureTelford NewsTelford PeopleTelford Talking Shop

Telford and Wrekin Council is inviting young people, parents, carers, and professionals to share their views on the priorities for the Borough’s new Youth Strategy.

The public consultation is a final check to ensure the priorities truly reflect local needs before the final version goes to Cabinet in January.

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Little Wenlock bungalow plans rejected after residents object

HighlightsTelford NewsTelford People

“As a fourth-generation family from New Works, we have deep ties to the village and its heritage,” wrote one objector.

“Throughout our family’s lifetime, there has never been a demonstrated need for further development here.”

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