£50K FUNDING BOOST FOR NEW CYCLING TRAILS AT BEAUTY SPOT
Chase to be used at Commonwealth Games
MOUNTAIN bikers could soon find themselves racing around new trails at a beauty spot ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The trails are being built at Cannock Chase along with a new bike play facility aimed at families.
There will also be a regional centre of excellence to promote safe, offroad biking.
They will then be used as a venue at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in and around Birmingham.
Staffordshire County Council has given Forestry England £50,000 of funding to support the trails.
Victoria Wilson, cabinet member for communities and culture at the authority, said: “There’s huge passion for cycling here in Staffordshire already and we’re pleased to be able to support and help fund the new trails.
“Not only will this give us a fantastic facility for visitors and families to use for years to come but it will also help encourage more people to stay active.
“It also means people will be able to come and enjoy the dedicated trails while protecting the rest of the Chase’s precious landscape.
“Having Cannock Chase forest chosen as one of the venues for the mountain biking trials for the 2022 Commonwealth Games is also wonderful news.
“Cannock Chase is one of the jewels in our tourism crown, and with some of the best mountain bike trails in the region, this is a great opportunity to show off our amazing county to the world.”
A 71-year-old former firefighter threatened to kill his wife – after pulling out a knife from under their bed.
Jon Mansell clashed with his wife of four years at their marital home in Grangewood Avenue, Meir, on July 9.
Stoke-on-trent Crown Court heard there were ‘difficulties’ in the marriage and the couple had received counselling in February 2020.
The court heard the row broke out in the bedroom.
Prosecutor Jonathan Veasey-pugh said: “The defendant became much angrier.
“At some stage, the complainant alleges, he went under the bed and took out what I call a utility-type knife which was seized when the police arrested him.
“She described him pointing the bladed end of the knife towards her. He was kneeling over her with the knife close to her but it wasn’t touching her skin.”
The court heard a voice recording of the incident.
Mansell told his wife: “You are being close to being murdered, you ******* will be. I will ******* show you how I am going to do it. I will ******* stab you, you ******* cow.”
The court heard Mansell has been affected by bereavements.
His barrister called for him not to be jailed.
Mark Moore, mitigating, said: “My client is concerned that there are factors which lead to him being in an emotional position.
“It doesn’t appear that he has dealt with that baggage. It seems to me that there are reasons why the matter could be suspended. His risk of reconviction is low. Given his age there will be lessons learnt.”
Mansell has been handed an eightmonth prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Judge David Fletcher told Mansell: “I’ve heard that recording. I would hope you feel ashamed by the content of it. It’s clear you were in a highly emotive state at the time. It’s quite clear your wife knew there was a knife under the bed. You were extremely unwise in producing that. One slip and it could’ve been a disaster.”