November 2006

THE close-knit community of Horbury paid their respects to two local children who died while on holiday in Corfu. Christi, seven, and her brother Bobby Shepherd, six, tragically lost their lives after being poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes that seeped into their chalet. Their father Neil and his partner Ruth Beatson tried to save the two children but they were overcome by the fumes and fell into comas. They had all been on a holiday during the half-term break. A book of condolence was opened in St Peter’s Church, Horbury, for the townsfolk to pay their respects to the two Horbury Primary School pupils. A week later an emotional funeral was held at St John’s Church in St John’s. The children’s mother Sharon Wood was united in grief with Ms Beatson as they followed the tiny coffins of Bobby and Christi out of the church. Mr Shepherd and his father, Howard, as well as Mrs Wood’s husband, Paul, all acted as pall bearers.

A CHIPPY boss feared he could take a legal battering if council officials found his business was guilty of smelling like... fish and chips. Steve Morton, 42, had been running the New Scarborough Fisheries in Alverthrope Road without complaint for four years. But he received a letter from Wakefield Council’s environmental health department asking to investigate his premises’ fishy odour. Mr Morton, who runs the chippy with his wife Margaret, 39, described the smell coming from his business’s ventilation system as that of regular fish and chips and said the request to eliminate the odour had him all at sea. The father-of-one has asked his accuser to stop wreaking “haddock” and said he was talking codswallop. A Wakefield Council spokesman said: “We received a complaint about the smell coming from the fish shop and the law states that we have to investigate the complaint. “We have contacted the owner to let him know about the complaint and asked him to check that his odour extraction system is working properly. “Complaints of this type are not uncommon. “If everything is in order no further action will be taken. It is certainly not a case that fish and chip shops should not be allowed to smell of fish and chips.”

WAKEFIELD schools were set to receive £2m to help them go green. The money was part of £375m designed to encourage headteachers and local authorities to cut utility bills by improving buildings and investing in energy conservation schemes, such as solar panels and wind turbines. Jim Knight, schools minister, said: “We want schools to be fit for the 21st century. By investing in this way, schools can spend more on teaching equipment and staff – that’s why we are asking local authorities to prioritise sustainable improvements in their education facilities. “We want schools to lead their communities in cutting carbon dioxide emissions and reducing the demand on the world’s finite natural resources.” The money will also pay for modernisation and better kitchens so hot, healthy meals can be produced on site. Mr Knight added: “School buildings play a vital role in raising standards. Children and teachers cannot be expected to learn or educate in poor quality, out-of-date buildings.” Sandal Magna J&I School was also due to undergo a revolutionary revamp and become a £3.5m eco-friendly school complete with outdoor classrooms, landscaped gardens and natural works are in the pipeline. The new school is expected to be up and running by September 2009.