Pilot arrested at Bristol Airport after failing breath test: The pilot of a passenger plane was arrested last night on suspicion of being over the alcohol limit. The Aer Lingus Regional flight from Bristol Airport was delayed after the man failed a breath test. The airline had to find another pilot and crew to fly the ATR72 plane to Cork, Ireland. The 24 passengers were told the delay was due to a “technical problem”. Worried airport staff called police when the pilot went through a passenger security gate rather than a crew entrance and was dressed in civilian clothing. One source claimed he had earlier gone to a hotel with a member of the cabin crew. More from The Mirror…
Depot planned in Stoke Gifford for electric trains: An application to build a new depot to service electric trains on the Great Western mainline has been submitted. Agility Trains wants to construct the depot on land at Stoke Gifford, close to Bristol Parkway railway station. South Gloucestershire Council said if the new depot was built it could create up to 200 jobs. More from BBC News…
Hangar where Concorde was built at risk after listing bid fails: A question mark hangs over the future of Concorde’s birthplace – a massive hangar which sits next to the runway at Filton Airfield. The Brabazon Hangar, which is big enough to park four jumbo jets inside, was used to build Concorde during the 1970s. More from Bristol Evening Post…
Work experience fee ‘unfair’ says Bristol students’ leader: A Somerset company which helps organise work experience has been criticised because applicants have to pay. Web-based agency Etsio puts people who want experience or training in touch with small businesses, who usually charge a daily fee. Gus Baker, president of the University of Bristol Students’ Union, said it was “unfair” to poorer graduates. Etsio director Kit Sadgrove said he provided opportunities with businesses that typically do not provide training. More from BBC News…
Appeal for information after prowler seen in gardens: Police are urging people living in Bradley Stoke and Little Stoke to make sure doors and windows are secured after reports of an early-morning prowler. Officers were called to two incidents on Wednesday morning in which householders spotted a man in their gardens. A man was seen in a garden in Elm Close, Little Stoke, at about 6.45am. He made off when the householder shouted at him. A second similar incident happened in Oaktree Crescent, Bradley Stoke at about 8.50am. More from Avon and Somerset police…
Judd Trump beats Ronnie O’ Sullivan: Bristol’s Judd Trump reached the semi-finals of the Masters after a 6-2 victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan at Alexandra Palace. Trump, 22, fired a tremendous 140 break and raced 4-0 ahead at the interval. O’Sullivan won two of the next three frames, including a 141 clearance, the highest of the tournament so far but Trump sealed victory with a smooth 65. More from BBC Sport…
News in brief
Bristol City Council leader mocks elected mayor consultation: The leader of Bristol City Council has said the small number of people who responded to a government consultation on an elected mayor for the city is “the clearest evidence yet that people are not interested in elected mayors and very few people can even explain why it would be good for a city to have one”. Barbara Janke urged opponents of the plan to turn out and vote in the referendum scheduled for May to ensure against the “real danger of a tiny majority of enthusiasts foisting an unwanted mayor
on the rest of us”.
Bristol child protection teams featured in new series: The usually hidden world of child protection will be in the spotlight this month in a new fly-on-the-wall documentary to be broadcast on BBC Two. ‘Protecting Our Children’ follows eight Bristol social workers and the families they are working with for a year. To be shown in three one-hour programmes, the documentary illustrates first hand many of the difficult decisions that are made every day by social workers in the city to protect children from abuse or neglect. Protecting Our Children will be broadcast at 9pm on Monday January, 30 and at the same time on the following two Mondays.
City centre guide for disabled access is launched: Bristol City Council has produced a new City Centre Access Guide, aimed at encouraging disabled people who would like to visit Bristol and would like to know about access around the city centre. The guide highlights places of interest including sports grounds, shopping, entertainment and places to eat. Both documents are available electronically on the council website at www.bristol.gov.uk/equality.
