Mother’s Day on track for rail pair
It comes as quarry curtails operations
A MOTHER and daughter train driving duo will celebrate Mother’s Day on the rail network.
Trainee drivers Cynthia and Vicki Mccarry work and learn alongside each other at Gillingham station, Kent.
Operator Southeastern said they are the first mother and daughter drivers to train together at the company. A 2019 study commissioned by trade union Aslef found just 6.5% of train drivers in Britain were women.
Cynthia, 60, has held a variety of roles at Southeastern since 2003, including being a member of platform staff, working in the ticket office and as a train manager. She started her training to become a driver in August last year.
Her daughter, 30, joined Southeastern in 2012 and worked as a passenger host and train manager before beginning her driver training in September 2020.
Cynthia said: “I’m really enjoying training to be a driver and to do it alongside Vicki makes it even more special.”
Vicki said: “As a new mum, I’m proof that anyone can apply to be a train driver.
“The flexible shift work means my mum and I can share childcare responsibilities, all while working hard at our training.”
AN investigation is to be launched into ‘allegations of criminal activities’ at under-fire Walleys Quarry.
The Environment Agency (EA) is to look into the allegations relating to the operation of the Silverdale landfill.
It comes after The Sentinel revealed yesterday quarry operator Red Industries is to ‘curtail landfill operations’ from today.
An EA spokesman said: “We have been made aware of the allegations about criminal activities at Walleys Quarry and, as with all reports of this nature, we will investigate accordingly.
“We encourage residents to report any concerns regarding the site to our incident number which operates 24/7 on 0800 807060, or by email to ics@environment-agency.gov.uk.”
The latest development comes as Newcastle MP Aaron
Bell, right, has met Prime Minister Boris Johnson to highlight the situation.
Mr Bell said: “The PM agreed that action is clearly needed. I have also been speaking with all three Stoke-ontrent MPS, as well as Bill Cash who represents Madeley and rural Newcastle.
“They are all fully behind my campaign on this issue, as the stink is now affecting their constituents too.”
Site operator Red Industries is aware of the latest complaint to the EA.
A Red Industries spokesman said: “We have operated this site since 2016 and have never, and will never, accept hazardous waste at Walleys Quarry.
“Capping off the site is a continual process. Engineering clay or a geomembrane is used on areas not currently used for landfill, or that have reached their final levels.
“Work will begin shortly to cap more of the site, resulting in more than half the worked area being covered.
“All capping work is overseen by an independent consultant and approved by the Environment Agency.”
In relation to ‘curtailling landfill operations’ from today, Red
Industries said it would all them to ‘accelerate the programme of extensive capping work planned for the facility’.
They revealed that soil, clays, filter cakes and engineering materials will still be brought to the site to support the ongoing works. And that they will continue to extract gas and manage site rainwater.”
Red Industries chief executive Nigel Bowen said: “This is in response to community concerns and we will assess the impact of the changes made.”
VILLAGERS are burying a time capsule to mark repair work to their much-loved community hall.
Residents raised £21,000 for a new roof and floor at Mow Cop Community Hall, on the Staffordshire and Cheshire border, after years of wear and tear.
Due to the work it was suggested they bury a time capsule to capture life in the village today.
Now the community is preparing to bury the box after residents and three schools – Thursfield Primary, Castle Primary and Woodcocks’ Well Primary – put together a range of personal items such as photos and glass coasters.
Community hall committee member Marg Howley, from Mow Cop, said: “For our local community, the hall is the only outlet they’ve got. We don’t have a post office anymore, and we’ve been without a bus in the area for about three years now.
“We are always working to take care of the hall, and the floor desperately needed fixing. It was rotten underneath and had originally been built on soil.
“We raised enough money through various events, and then the back roof collapsed, so we had to use the money for that.
“So now we are finally able to repair the floor. As we were putting the original flooring back down someone suggested we make a time capsule.
“Mow Cop residents have chosen different things, all personal to them, to include.
“One lady works with glass, so she created a glass coaster with a picture of her family and dogs, and someone else took a panoramic photograph of Mow Cop which they have decided to include. We wanted it to be filled with bits of our history and lots of personal items from local people.”
The hall – next to St Thomas’ church on Congleton Road – was built in 1842 and originally functioned as a schoolhouse.
It was then used as a base for a Sunday school, and more recently, a variety of community events.
Committee member Ingrid Bibbygoodfellow, from Mow Cop, held her wedding at the hall.
The 53-year-old said: “We have a lot going on here, including our foodbank, film nights, line dancing and yoga.”
Fellow committee member Margaret Austin, from Mow Cop, added: “We wanted to take the opportunity, with the time capsule, to do something that the whole community could get behind.”
Brothers Sam and Alex Webber, aged seven and nine, were excited to be involved in the project.
The Woodcocks’ Well pupils donated a map to the capsule, which they followed around their village, taking them on an adventure that they uploaded to their Youtube channel.
Dad Simon Webber, from Mow Cop, said: “The boys love the hall we all do. They have had birthday parties there and there’s just a lot of happy memories.
“The process of creating the capsule has really brought the whole community together – everyone has been involved.”