One in five tenants have rogue landlords
Higher speed limits beside motorway roadworks are being trialled to beat delays while routes are improved and repaired. The rules preventing drivers going faster than 50mph near works could be scrapped if safety is not compromised during the test. Highways England is currently trialling a 60mph limit near upgrades on the M1 near Rotherham. The announcement came days after health experts called for wider use of variable speed limits and average speed checks to cut air pollution. Fumes play a role in
Report by Simon Stone
[email protected] around 25,000 deaths a year in England, almost five per cent of the total, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Transport Minister John Hayes said: “Motorists should not be needlessly held up as we deliver a £15 billion upgrade to motorways and major A roads to improve journeys. Safety is our absolute priority. Highways England are carrying out a trial
of 60mph on the M1 to see if we can raise the speed limit in roadworks without putting people at risk. “I will be looking carefully at the results of this trial before we look to roll this out more widely next year, if it is a success.” Last week Nice published draft guidance calling for increased use of variable limits to cut down on pollution-heavy traffic jams. The M1 trial taking place over a fourmile stretch of the northbound carriageway began in November and is due to go on for around another two weeks. AA president
Edmund King said: “We believe it would be safe to increase the speed limits in roadworks particularly if the continuous lengths of the roadworks are shortened to no more than 10 miles. “The current 50mph limit can lead to problems, particularly with HGV speed limiters set above 50mph, which often leads to dangerous tail-gating. “Some sections of roadworks, such as on the M3 between the M25 and Hook, are just far too long and can compromise safety. We welcome these initiatives.”
One in five tenants have rogue landlords Report by Jessica Labhart
[email protected]
A TOTAL of one in five people in the West Midlands have a rogue landlord and one in 12 will be without heating this Christmas, a new study has revealed.
MP opens refurbished farm shop
The study, which was based on an online poll of 2,000 tenants, was run by Help-Link.co.uk and revealed that one in 10 tenants in the West Midlands currently live in properties suffering from water leaks. It also showed that about 17 per cent will have issues with damp this winter. Paul Shamplina, property expert and star of Channel 5’s Nightmare Tenants and Slum Landlords show, has joined in the research to help try and resolve the most common problems faced by tenants.
Actor Henry Winkler has spoken of his anger at being diagnosed with dyslexia in his 30s. The former Happy Days star, now aged 71, revealed he endured years of punishment as a child because it was believed he was “stupid”. Winkler, who played The Fonz on the classic 70s TV show, said there was still a long way to go to improve understanding of learning difficulties. “What happened when I was first diagnosed and I found out I wasn’t stupid and I had a learning challenge? I was angry. Really, really, really angry,” he said. “All that yelling and all that punishment was for nothing. Intellectually I understand that at that time no one knew there was a learning challenge. No one Henry Winkler knew that the brain was wired differently. Emotionally it was tough. “Parents don’t quite get it. Parents are embarrassed by their child. We have a long way to go. Other kids make fun of children who are different.” Winkler’s childhood experience with undiagnosed dyslexia inspired him to write a series of children’s books about a schoolboy called Hank Zipzer who has learning difficulties. The novels were turned into a CBBC television show – in which Winkler plays teacher Mr Rock – which returns for a Christmas special later this month. Hank Zipzer’s Christmas Catastrophe will be shown on the CBBC channel on December 12 at 4.30pm.
Scarlett Moffatt could earn over £1 million in the next 12 months after being crowned Queen of the Jungle. Industry experts say that the I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! winner’s earnings are set to “skyrocket”. Moffatt was working as a disability adviser for students when she shot to fame as the straight-talking, fluffy slippers-wearing regular on Channel 4 show Gogglebox. Her quips – as she sat watching TV with dad Mark, 49, and mum Betty, 45, from their sofa in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham – turned the Moffatts into one of Gogglebox’s most-loved families. Offers have been pouring in for the 26-year-old during her time in the jungle. But a source close to Moffatt said she will not be rushing into anything and wants to spend time with her family – which also includes little sister Ava. Part of Moffatt’s appeal is her “authenticity”, according to Peter Mountstevens, managing partner at TV and consumer brand PR agency Taylor Herring. “She’s famous for playing herself and the public have fallen in love with her no-nonsense, witty personality,” he said.
Risks
Gavin Williamson, who officially opened the refurbished Essington Fruit Farm, tucks into cake with owners Mary and Richard Simkin
Family reveals fruits of their labour MP Gavin Williamson officially opened a refurbished shop and tea room at Essington Fruit Farm after 11 months of work. Work has been ongoing since January at the popular site to improve facilities in both its shop and tea room, which boss Richard Simkin says has added a ‘more professional and up-to-date’ feel to the farm. The farm, on Bognop Road, Essington, held its official re-opening ceremony on Saturday morning, welcoming customers and South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson inside to take a look at the changes. Mr Simkin said: “It has been a long task and we have been eagerly awaiting this day. “To finally get everything finished and open to the public feels great, we can’t
Report by Jordan Harris
Mr Williamson said: “It was a fantastic visit and I was completely blown away by the transformation of the site. wait to hear their feedback. I think what “The cafe was absolutely wonderful and we have done is created a better, more you could see the time, effort and investmodern and professional set up which will ment which has gone into the farm shop. help the customer see more clearly the exQuality cellent work we do here on a daily basis. “While the update has brought us into “I have no doubts that it’s right up there a more modern era, we still hold the same with the best farm shops in the country traditional farming values as ever before.” because of it’s top quality produce. The event coincided with Small Busi“I’m very proud that South Staffordness Saturday, which Mr Simkin said was shire has such a top class farm shop.” a ‘great idea’ to encourage members of the Essington Farm is a family business run public to buy local. by the Simkin family who have farmed in He said: “It worked out nicely that we Essington since 1892. were able to do our launch on Small BusiIts restaurant opened in 1990, while the ness Saturday, it is a great idea and we Butchery and Deli opened to the public in are proud to be a part of it. I would also 2007. like to thank Gavin Williamson for comThe kitchen cooks daily for the shop ing out and setting us on our way.” providing traditional home baking. [email protected]
Being nuts about nuts I contracted Zika virus, says could help save your life Death in Paradise’s Gardner A handful of nuts a day can help to keep the doctor – and the undertaker – away, research has shown. People consuming at least 20g of nuts daily were less likely to develop potentially fatal conditions such as heart disease and cancer, the study found. Being nuts about nuts reduced the risk of heart disease by nearly 30 per cent, the risk of cancer by 15 per cent, and the risk of premature death by 22 per cent. The same amount of nuts – equivalent to a handful – was also associated with a halving of the risk of dying from a respiratory disease. Diabetes risk was cut by nearly 40 per cent. Study co-author Dagfinn Aune, from Imperial College London, said: “In nutritional studies, so far much of the re-
Winkler angry over dyslexia
Jungle winner to earn million
Not only that, but 17 per cent of people in the region live in a house with damp and 13 per cent are unable to deal with the issue with their landlord easily.
“The colder months present a series of significant risks to rental properties, particularly relating to heating systems,” he said. “One of the common complaints we have found in the past is that some tenants make it difficult for landlords to visit the property. However, regular inspections are imperative to check pipes for breaks, leaks and blockages, bleed radiators and arrange routine boiler checks. Blocked or leaking pipes can freeze during the cold months, then expand and burst.” According to the research, a fifth of tenants in the West Midlands also don’t receive their full deposit back. The average tenant in the UK loses about £355 at the end of their agreement. Almost half of tenants living in the West Midlands who have lost their deposit believe this is due to wear and tear, which they argue is something landlords should expect to happen when they rent out a house. Mr Shamplina said: “Landlords cannot simply retain a deposit or any part of it without giving explicit and clear written reasons for doing so. “There are many reasons why a landlord may need to make deductions from a tenant’s deposit, such as damage to the property or missing items. This is where the importance of a thorough inventory comes into its own as a check-out report can be compared against the inventory and schedule of condition.” However, it is common, according to the survey, for landlords to suffer damage to their property or have disputes over unpaid rent. “Tenants are often found to withhold rent for many different reasons. However, withholding rent is often the start of the breakdown between landlords and tenants,” said Mr Shamplina. “We regularly come across cases where tenants have fallen on hard times and rather than communicate with their landlord, they instead choose to avoid paying the rent until the landlord reaches breaking point.”
BRIEFING
search has been on the big killers such as heart diseases, stroke and cancer, but now we’re starting to see data for other diseases. “We found a consistent reduction in risk across many different diseases, which is a strong indication that there is a real underlying relationship between nut consumption and different health outcomes. It’s quite a substantial effect for such a small amount of food.” The team, whose findings appear in the journal BMC Medicine, analysed data on more than 800,000 participants from around the world. The study covered all kinds of tree nuts, such as hazelnuts and walnuts, as well as peanuts. Mr Aune added: “Nuts and peanuts are high in fibre, Tony Gardner contracted the Zika virus magnesium, and polyunsaturated fats.”
Actor Tony Gardner has told how he contracted the Zika virus while filming in the Caribbean. The 52 year old said he felt pretty rough for a week after being bitten by a mosquito which was carrying the disease. Gardner was filming the hit BBC crime series Death in Paradise on the island of Guadeloupe when he became infected. “There are now about 200 Brits who have had Zika, but quite a lot of them, possibly, come from the group of people that go out to Guadeloupe for six months a year to film,” he said. “About a couple of hours before I flew out I got a rash. And then for a week I wasn’t particularly well with joint pain and swelling. I just felt pretty rough actually for about a week,” he said. But the father and qualified doctor said that the virus was not a problem for him because he has no plans to have more children.
Janette dismisses the Strictly ‘curse’ Strictly Come Dancing professional Janette Manrara has dismissed the show’s ‘curse’ as she plans her wedding to fellow pro dancer Aljaz Skorjanec. The so-called curse has seen marriages and relationships ruined when celebrities fall for their dance partners on the popular BBC One dancing show. But speaking to Hello! magazine, Manrara said: “We don’t think about it much. What happens in relationships has nothing to do with Strictly. It’s down to individuals – if they want to do something, they will.” The engaged couple both saw their Strictly journey end early in the show’s 14th series with Manrara crashing out in week two alongside partner Melvin Odoom. Meanwhile, Skorjanec and model Daisy Lowe left the show in week eight after losing the dance-off to Olympic goldmedallist Greg Rutherford and his partner Natalie Lowe. The pair are set to tie the knot in 2017, but Manrara revealed that she is yet to pick out a dress for the big day. “We’re on the verge of finalising the venue and are about to compile our guest list. As for my wedding dress, I haven’t even looked for one yet,” she said.
Winter floods ‘most extreme on record’ Last winter’s floods were the UK’s most extreme on record, experts have said. An appraisal of the winter floods of 2015/2016, published on the first anniversary of Storm Desmond, reveals it ranks alongside the devastating flooding of March 1947 as the largest event of at least the last century. November 2015 to January 2016 was the wettest three-month period in records dating back to 1910, while December was both the wettest and on average, the warmest on record for the UK. Many rivers across northern England and Scotland saw record peak flows, the study by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) in collaboration with the British Hydrological Society found.
BIRTHDAYS TODAY JoBeth Williams, actress/director, 68; Peter Willey, former Test umpire, 67; Geoff Hoon, politician, 63; Peter Buck, rock guitarist (REM), 60; Nick Park, animator, 58; Gordon Durie, former footballer, 51; Judd Apatow, film producer 49; Andrew Flintoff, former cricketer 39.
17 Express & Star Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Trial of higher speed limits at roadworks
E&S
Report by Simon Stone
[email protected] around 25,000 deaths a year in England, almost five per cent of the total, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Transport Minister John Hayes said: “Motorists should not be needlessly held up as we deliver a £15 billion upgrade to motorways and major A roads to improve journeys. Safety is our absolute priority. Highways England are carrying out a trial
of 60mph on the M1 to see if we can raise the speed limit in roadworks without putting people at risk. “I will be looking carefully at the results of this trial before we look to roll this out more widely next year, if it is a success.” Last week Nice published draft guidance calling for increased use of variable limits to cut down on pollution-heavy traffic jams. The M1 trial taking place over a fourmile stretch of the northbound carriageway began in November and is due to go on for around another two weeks. AA president
Edmund King said: “We believe it would be safe to increase the speed limits in roadworks particularly if the continuous lengths of the roadworks are shortened to no more than 10 miles. “The current 50mph limit can lead to problems, particularly with HGV speed limiters set above 50mph, which often leads to dangerous tail-gating. “Some sections of roadworks, such as on the M3 between the M25 and Hook, are just far too long and can compromise safety. We welcome these initiatives.”
One in five tenants have rogue landlords Report by Jessica Labhart
[email protected]
A TOTAL of one in five people in the West Midlands have a rogue landlord and one in 12 will be without heating this Christmas, a new study has revealed.
MP opens refurbished farm shop
The study, which was based on an online poll of 2,000 tenants, was run by Help-Link.co.uk and revealed that one in 10 tenants in the West Midlands currently live in properties suffering from water leaks. It also showed that about 17 per cent will have issues with damp this winter. Paul Shamplina, property expert and star of Channel 5’s Nightmare Tenants and Slum Landlords show, has joined in the research to help try and resolve the most common problems faced by tenants.
Actor Henry Winkler has spoken of his anger at being diagnosed with dyslexia in his 30s. The former Happy Days star, now aged 71, revealed he endured years of punishment as a child because it was believed he was “stupid”. Winkler, who played The Fonz on the classic 70s TV show, said there was still a long way to go to improve understanding of learning difficulties. “What happened when I was first diagnosed and I found out I wasn’t stupid and I had a learning challenge? I was angry. Really, really, really angry,” he said. “All that yelling and all that punishment was for nothing. Intellectually I understand that at that time no one knew there was a learning challenge. No one Henry Winkler knew that the brain was wired differently. Emotionally it was tough. “Parents don’t quite get it. Parents are embarrassed by their child. We have a long way to go. Other kids make fun of children who are different.” Winkler’s childhood experience with undiagnosed dyslexia inspired him to write a series of children’s books about a schoolboy called Hank Zipzer who has learning difficulties. The novels were turned into a CBBC television show – in which Winkler plays teacher Mr Rock – which returns for a Christmas special later this month. Hank Zipzer’s Christmas Catastrophe will be shown on the CBBC channel on December 12 at 4.30pm.
Scarlett Moffatt could earn over £1 million in the next 12 months after being crowned Queen of the Jungle. Industry experts say that the I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! winner’s earnings are set to “skyrocket”. Moffatt was working as a disability adviser for students when she shot to fame as the straight-talking, fluffy slippers-wearing regular on Channel 4 show Gogglebox. Her quips – as she sat watching TV with dad Mark, 49, and mum Betty, 45, from their sofa in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham – turned the Moffatts into one of Gogglebox’s most-loved families. Offers have been pouring in for the 26-year-old during her time in the jungle. But a source close to Moffatt said she will not be rushing into anything and wants to spend time with her family – which also includes little sister Ava. Part of Moffatt’s appeal is her “authenticity”, according to Peter Mountstevens, managing partner at TV and consumer brand PR agency Taylor Herring. “She’s famous for playing herself and the public have fallen in love with her no-nonsense, witty personality,” he said.
Risks
Gavin Williamson, who officially opened the refurbished Essington Fruit Farm, tucks into cake with owners Mary and Richard Simkin
Family reveals fruits of their labour MP Gavin Williamson officially opened a refurbished shop and tea room at Essington Fruit Farm after 11 months of work. Work has been ongoing since January at the popular site to improve facilities in both its shop and tea room, which boss Richard Simkin says has added a ‘more professional and up-to-date’ feel to the farm. The farm, on Bognop Road, Essington, held its official re-opening ceremony on Saturday morning, welcoming customers and South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson inside to take a look at the changes. Mr Simkin said: “It has been a long task and we have been eagerly awaiting this day. “To finally get everything finished and open to the public feels great, we can’t
Report by Jordan Harris
Mr Williamson said: “It was a fantastic visit and I was completely blown away by the transformation of the site. wait to hear their feedback. I think what “The cafe was absolutely wonderful and we have done is created a better, more you could see the time, effort and investmodern and professional set up which will ment which has gone into the farm shop. help the customer see more clearly the exQuality cellent work we do here on a daily basis. “While the update has brought us into “I have no doubts that it’s right up there a more modern era, we still hold the same with the best farm shops in the country traditional farming values as ever before.” because of it’s top quality produce. The event coincided with Small Busi“I’m very proud that South Staffordness Saturday, which Mr Simkin said was shire has such a top class farm shop.” a ‘great idea’ to encourage members of the Essington Farm is a family business run public to buy local. by the Simkin family who have farmed in He said: “It worked out nicely that we Essington since 1892. were able to do our launch on Small BusiIts restaurant opened in 1990, while the ness Saturday, it is a great idea and we Butchery and Deli opened to the public in are proud to be a part of it. I would also 2007. like to thank Gavin Williamson for comThe kitchen cooks daily for the shop ing out and setting us on our way.” providing traditional home baking. [email protected]
Being nuts about nuts I contracted Zika virus, says could help save your life Death in Paradise’s Gardner A handful of nuts a day can help to keep the doctor – and the undertaker – away, research has shown. People consuming at least 20g of nuts daily were less likely to develop potentially fatal conditions such as heart disease and cancer, the study found. Being nuts about nuts reduced the risk of heart disease by nearly 30 per cent, the risk of cancer by 15 per cent, and the risk of premature death by 22 per cent. The same amount of nuts – equivalent to a handful – was also associated with a halving of the risk of dying from a respiratory disease. Diabetes risk was cut by nearly 40 per cent. Study co-author Dagfinn Aune, from Imperial College London, said: “In nutritional studies, so far much of the re-
Winkler angry over dyslexia
Jungle winner to earn million
Not only that, but 17 per cent of people in the region live in a house with damp and 13 per cent are unable to deal with the issue with their landlord easily.
“The colder months present a series of significant risks to rental properties, particularly relating to heating systems,” he said. “One of the common complaints we have found in the past is that some tenants make it difficult for landlords to visit the property. However, regular inspections are imperative to check pipes for breaks, leaks and blockages, bleed radiators and arrange routine boiler checks. Blocked or leaking pipes can freeze during the cold months, then expand and burst.” According to the research, a fifth of tenants in the West Midlands also don’t receive their full deposit back. The average tenant in the UK loses about £355 at the end of their agreement. Almost half of tenants living in the West Midlands who have lost their deposit believe this is due to wear and tear, which they argue is something landlords should expect to happen when they rent out a house. Mr Shamplina said: “Landlords cannot simply retain a deposit or any part of it without giving explicit and clear written reasons for doing so. “There are many reasons why a landlord may need to make deductions from a tenant’s deposit, such as damage to the property or missing items. This is where the importance of a thorough inventory comes into its own as a check-out report can be compared against the inventory and schedule of condition.” However, it is common, according to the survey, for landlords to suffer damage to their property or have disputes over unpaid rent. “Tenants are often found to withhold rent for many different reasons. However, withholding rent is often the start of the breakdown between landlords and tenants,” said Mr Shamplina. “We regularly come across cases where tenants have fallen on hard times and rather than communicate with their landlord, they instead choose to avoid paying the rent until the landlord reaches breaking point.”
BRIEFING
search has been on the big killers such as heart diseases, stroke and cancer, but now we’re starting to see data for other diseases. “We found a consistent reduction in risk across many different diseases, which is a strong indication that there is a real underlying relationship between nut consumption and different health outcomes. It’s quite a substantial effect for such a small amount of food.” The team, whose findings appear in the journal BMC Medicine, analysed data on more than 800,000 participants from around the world. The study covered all kinds of tree nuts, such as hazelnuts and walnuts, as well as peanuts. Mr Aune added: “Nuts and peanuts are high in fibre, Tony Gardner contracted the Zika virus magnesium, and polyunsaturated fats.”
Actor Tony Gardner has told how he contracted the Zika virus while filming in the Caribbean. The 52 year old said he felt pretty rough for a week after being bitten by a mosquito which was carrying the disease. Gardner was filming the hit BBC crime series Death in Paradise on the island of Guadeloupe when he became infected. “There are now about 200 Brits who have had Zika, but quite a lot of them, possibly, come from the group of people that go out to Guadeloupe for six months a year to film,” he said. “About a couple of hours before I flew out I got a rash. And then for a week I wasn’t particularly well with joint pain and swelling. I just felt pretty rough actually for about a week,” he said. But the father and qualified doctor said that the virus was not a problem for him because he has no plans to have more children.
Janette dismisses the Strictly ‘curse’ Strictly Come Dancing professional Janette Manrara has dismissed the show’s ‘curse’ as she plans her wedding to fellow pro dancer Aljaz Skorjanec. The so-called curse has seen marriages and relationships ruined when celebrities fall for their dance partners on the popular BBC One dancing show. But speaking to Hello! magazine, Manrara said: “We don’t think about it much. What happens in relationships has nothing to do with Strictly. It’s down to individuals – if they want to do something, they will.” The engaged couple both saw their Strictly journey end early in the show’s 14th series with Manrara crashing out in week two alongside partner Melvin Odoom. Meanwhile, Skorjanec and model Daisy Lowe left the show in week eight after losing the dance-off to Olympic goldmedallist Greg Rutherford and his partner Natalie Lowe. The pair are set to tie the knot in 2017, but Manrara revealed that she is yet to pick out a dress for the big day. “We’re on the verge of finalising the venue and are about to compile our guest list. As for my wedding dress, I haven’t even looked for one yet,” she said.
Winter floods ‘most extreme on record’ Last winter’s floods were the UK’s most extreme on record, experts have said. An appraisal of the winter floods of 2015/2016, published on the first anniversary of Storm Desmond, reveals it ranks alongside the devastating flooding of March 1947 as the largest event of at least the last century. November 2015 to January 2016 was the wettest three-month period in records dating back to 1910, while December was both the wettest and on average, the warmest on record for the UK. Many rivers across northern England and Scotland saw record peak flows, the study by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) in collaboration with the British Hydrological Society found.
BIRTHDAYS TODAY JoBeth Williams, actress/director, 68; Peter Willey, former Test umpire, 67; Geoff Hoon, politician, 63; Peter Buck, rock guitarist (REM), 60; Nick Park, animator, 58; Gordon Durie, former footballer, 51; Judd Apatow, film producer 49; Andrew Flintoff, former cricketer 39.
17 Express & Star Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Trial of higher speed limits at roadworks
E&S
