MK News, January 2, 2013

34.7 MB·English

by  LSN Media Ltd

Wednesday,January02,2013 | Issuenumber:539 | www.mk-news.co.uk | £1wheresold
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That was the year! Golden Greg gets
Dons 2012 review
New Year MBE
sEEpages18-19&21 sEEpage2
Nativity scene may
Man’s jaw
broken on
be axed after thefts Xmas Day
AMANneededanoperation
towirehisjawafterabrawlinthe
earlyhoursofChristmasDay.
Atabout3.30amafightbrokeout
neartoHarvesterandMcDonald’s
atthefrontoftheXscapebuilding
inCMK.Aroundeighttoten
byadamgrinsell
peoplewereinvolved.
[email protected] Thevictim,aged22,andanother
manstartedpushingeachother
A FIGURE of the baby Jesus has beforepuncheswerethrown.One
been stolen three times over manwasthenhandedalarge
Christmas from one of the woodenpolewhichheusedtohit
borough’sfavouritenativityscenes. thevictimtwicearoundthehead.
The small figure was taken from Theoffenderthenpushedback
the nativity on the High Street in otherswhowereinthegroupand
NewportPagnellforthethirdtime kickedthevictimintheheadashe
lateonBoxingDaynight,andyouths layonthefloor,beforewalking
werethenseenkickingitaroundin away.
thestreet. Thevictim’sjawwasbrokenand
The baby Jesus was also stolen someofhisteethknockedout.He
twicein2011. spentChristmasDayinhospital
Now members of the voluntary havingsurgerytowirehisjaw,and
committee which arranges the hassincebeendischarged.
nativity, along with the Christmas ThamesValleyPolicearenow
lightsinthetown,saytheyarecon- appealingforwitnesses.The
sideringscrappingitnextyear. offenderiswhite,inhislateteens
This would also include the tree, toearly20s,andwaswearinga
whichhasbeendamagedandhad whiteshirtbuttonedallthewayup
bulbsstolenfromitthisChristmas. tothecollarandtuckedintolight
InalettersenttoMKNEWSandon colouredjeansortrousers.
the group’s Facebook page, one Hishairisdarkblondetolight
member says they are ‘loathe to brownandhemayhavelight
installeitherthenativityortreenext facialhair.
year’. DCLeanneShepherd,whois
“Wewanttoimprovetheoverhead investigatingtheassault,said:
lightdisplaysbutcan’twhileweare “Thiswasaviciousattackusing
havingtorepairmindlessdamageto greatforcewithaweaponand
otherthings.Thisisnotadecision missing:ThelittlefigureofthebabyJesushasbeentakenfromthisnativitysceneonnewportPagnellHighstreet. couldhaveresultedinevenmore
wetakelightlyasitmeans,yetagain, membersofthevoluntaryChristmaslightsanddecorationsgroupareconsideringscrappingthenativitynextXmas seriousinjuries.
the minority spoil things for the “Therewereupto20other
majority but we can think of no MarkLombardoisthecommittee’s “ThebabyJesusdollwasactually wascalledtoareportofvandalism peopleintheareaatthetimeof
otheroptions,”theletteradded. treasurer,andhesaidthegroupwill screwed down, so they’ve gone to tothedisplayat11.46pmonBoxing theassault,howevernowitnesses
Thegroupismadeupcompletely meetinafewweekstodecidewhat theextremesofpullingitout. Day,butofficersfoundittobeintact havecomeforward.
ofvolunteers,whobegintheirprep- todo. “We are all volunteers, and why sonootheractionwillbetaken. “Iamurgingthesepeopleto
arationsinSeptemberandgiveup Hesaid:“Wearedoingthisforthe shouldweuseourtimetoputthisup CCTVisnowbeingaskedfor,along contactmeviathe24-hourPolice
their own time to install the dis- goodofthetown. ifpeopleareruiningit? withwitnessestotheincidents. EnquiryCentreon101.”
plays. “But we’ve got mindless people “We’vegotacommitteemeetingin Ifyoucanhelporcanmakesug- Anyonewithinformationcan
Theyalsoreceivenocouncilfund- that seem determined to spoil Januarywhenwewilldiscusswhat gestions on how to tackle these alsocallCrimestoppersanony-
ing so it is completely paid for Christmas.Idon’tknowwhattheir wearegoingtodo.” issues, contact the group at their mouslyon0800555111orwww.
throughdonations. reasonis. ThamesValleyPoliceconfirmedit websitewww.npcl.info. crimestoppers-uk.org.
2|January2,2013|www.mkweb.co.uk|MKNEWS
Goldenboy:OlympianGregRutherfordhasbeenawardedanMBEalongwith,inset,Raymond‘Jerry’Roberts
Gongs for Greg and
Bletchley hero ‘Jerry’
BYDANPALMER metres on a night of athletics that some of Britain’s greatest
[email protected] dubbedSuperSaturday. heroes have not yet been
Meanwhile, 92-year-old acknowledged.”
OLYMPIC champion Greg Raymond‘Jerry’Robertshasalso Caroline Ward, founder and
RutherfordandaBletchleyPark beenawardedanMBEforbeing Manager of the Little Oaks
codebreaker are among those partofthefamouscodebreaking Community Nursery in
recognised in the New Year’s team credited with shortening Wavendon,hasbecomeanMBE
HonoursList. the Second World War by two for services to Special Needs
Long jump gold medallist years. Education.
Rutherford was made an MBE MrRoberts,whodespitehisage TheformerLeonSchoolteach-
andisamongahostofLondon isanactiveuserofTwitter,was ersaid:“Iwasabsolutelyflabber-
2012 heroes to be recognised part of a team charged with gastedwhenIgottheletter,Ihad
withagong. cracking the German High noideawhatsoever.
Hesaid:“Ican’twaittoreceive Command’sTunnycode.Hepaid “Ican’tevensayitwasinmy
my MBE. What an absolute tribute to others who he feels wildestdreams,becauseIhadn’t
honour.I’moverthemoontosay deservetoberecognised. evendreamtit.Ijustfeltsohum-
theleast. “Theawardseemstounderval- bled,privilegedandhonoured.”
“Iwantedtoshoutaboutitas ue my codebreaker colleagues, Milton Keynes’ Jabeer Karim
soonasIreceivedtheletter.But who broke Hitler’s top secret Butt, deputy chief executive of
nowyouknow.” code and helped shorten the the Race Equality Foundation,
Rutherford leapt to Olympic war,”hesaid. wasmadeanOBEforservicesto
glory with a distance of 8.31 “Itwillraisepublicawareness healthequality.
Man punched after
MKNEWSBRIEFS
Allotmentsneeded
ACALLhasbeenmadeformore parking space row
allotmentsinMiltonKeynes.
Britainhasalmostdoubledthe
amountoffruitandvegetables
growninallotmentsandback
gardensinthelastfouryears,
andtheMKLabourPartywants AMANwaspunchedinan punchedtheothermanonce
thecitytoexpandfacilities. argumentoveracarparking intheface.
“IhopethatMiltonKeynes spaceonFriday. Thevictim,a28-year-oldman,
Councilwillworkwithdevelop- Atabout1.45pmtwomenstarted sustainedaswollenandcutlipin
ersandparishcouncilsto arguingoverthespaceinthefront theassault.
ensurethatmoregoodlandcan carparkofTescoonBletcham Theoffenderiswhiteinhislate
beturnedtoallotmentsandto Way,Bletchley. 20sandabout5ft9ins,medium
helpmorepeoplewhodonot Theoffenderthengotoutofhis build,withblackrecedinghair.He
haveaccesstoagarden,” vehicle,asilverVWBeetle,opened waswearingablackT-shirtand
parliamentaryspokesman thevictim’sdriver’sdoorand bluejeans.Ifyoucanhelpcall101.
AndrewPakessaid.
Checksmokealarms Fork and club used to rob garage
BUCKSandMKFireServiceis
askingeveryonetomakeaNew
Year’sresolutiontocheckyour AMEMBERofstaffatapetrol withtheweapons,beforefillinga
smokealarms. stationwasthreatenedwitha binwithcigarettesandstealing
Pushthebuttoneveryweek, gardenforkandagolfclubina money.Theyleftinacarparked
makesurethealarmisupto robberyonNewYear’sEve. outside.
date,checkthereisanalarmon Shortlybefore1.30amtwomen ThamesValleyPoliceisnow
everylevelofyourhome,check enteredtheBPExpresspetrol appealingforwitnesses.
thoseoflessablelovedones, stationonAylesburyStreet, Anyonewithinformationcan
andfitalarmsonlandingand FennyStratford,anddemanded contactDCEdwardVinceon101,
hallwayceilingsistheadvice. cashandcigarettes. orCrimestoppersanonymously
Theythreatenedtheemployee on0800555111.
MKNEWS |www.mkweb.co.uk|January2,2013|3
English Heritage
‘no’ to bridge plan
BYDANPALMER said the proposals would ‘sub- initialmeetingdateofJanuary22
[email protected] stantiallyharmthesignificance waspostponed.
of the building and the public PressuregroupXplainhascam-
THErowoverplanstodemolish benefitsassociatedwiththepro- paigned against the extension
SecklowGatebridgetobuilda posalsarelessthansubstantial’. and its leader Linda Inoki said:
Primarkstorehastakenanew Richard Peats, Inspector of “English Heritage has made a
twist after English Heritage Historic Buildings and Areas, clear, well-argued case for
announced that they were said: “We believe the proposals refusal. By refusing permission
againsttheidea. aretailoredtotheneedsofaspe- for the scheme MK Council
Shopping centre thecentre:mk cificretaileranddonotmeetthe would actually be protecting
hopes to expand by removing long-termneedsforretailexpan- MiltonKeynes’history.”
partofthebridgetomakewayfor sioninMiltonKeynes.” Aspokesmanforthecentre:mk
a 90,000-square-feet, three-sto- MrPeatshighlightedtheneed saidthattheywere‘surprised’at
reyextension.Opponentsclaim tomaintainthegridroadsystem EnglishHeritage’sfindings.
SecklowGateisamuchneeded andpointedoutthearchitectural “We are confident that robust
asset which is vital for keeping significance of the shopping protectionoftheiconicnatureof
thecity’sgridroadsystemintact. centrebuilding. thebuildinghasbeenpreserved
Now English Heritage, which Anofficialdecisionontheplans inthedesignofthePrimark,”the
advisesonhistoricalmatters,has isexpectedinFebruary,afteran spokesmansaid.
Littlegivers:ElsieandAlfredhadtheirfriendsmakedonationsratherthangivegiftsfortheirbirthdays
Children forfeit gifts for charity
ABROTHERandsisterdecidedto December15inNewportPagnell adoptiveparentsforchildren
foregotheirusualbirthdaypar- tohelpvulnerablechildren. incare.
tiesandpresentsandinstead Ratherthanbringingbirthday MumDebbiesaid:“I’mreally
haveacharityfundraisingevent. presents,eachguestputa proudofthem.Childrenbecome
Seven-year-oldElsieParlorand donationtowardsStFrancis’ accustomedtopresentsatsuch
herlittlebrotherAlfred,five, Children’sSocietyinabucket anearlyagesoI’mdelighted
decidedtohaveadiscoon andraised£260tohelpfind they’relearningaboutgiving.”
Health services London move
MKNEWSBRIEFS
SixstuckonXmasDay
SIXpeoplespenttheearlyhours SERVICESsuchasmentalhealth, Services(MKCHS).
ofChristmasmorningstuckina children’scare,dentistryand Thetransferwillbecomplete
lift.Thethreemenandthree physiotherapywillsoonbe byApril1,2013.
womenhadtoberescuedby managedfromLondon. JaneHalpin,chiefexecutiveof
firefightersafterbecoming CentralandNorthWestLondon NHSMiltonKeynes,saidtheyhad
trappedintheelevatorat NHSFoundationTrust(CNWL) beendeterminedtofindthevery
ManhattanHouse,WitanGate hasbeenchosenasthepreferred bestorganisationtoacquire
East,CMK,at3.21am. organisationtotakeonMilton MKCHStoensuregoodquality
KeynesCommunityHealth communityhealth.
NewYear’sEvecrash
SEVENpeoplewereinjuredina Man seriously injured after crash
three-carcrashonNewYear’s
Eve.TheV7SaxonStreetwas
closedinbothdirectionsforsev-
eralhoursonMondayafterthe AMANwasleftincriticalcondi- theH4andthevanwasemerging
accidentoutsidestadiummk, tionafteracrashonFriday, fromDownsBarnatthetimeof
betweenDenbighandAshland December21. thecollision.
roundabouts,shortlyafter11am. Atabout1.45pmasilverFord A61-year-oldmanwhowas
No-onewasseriouslyinjuredin Transitwasincollisionwitha drivingtheAstrasufferedserious
theincidentbutthreepeople silverVauxhallAstraatthejunc- injuries.Theotherdriverwas
hadtobetakentoMilton tionofCapelDriveandtheH4 uninjured.
KeynesHospital. DansteedWayinDownsBarn. IfyoucanhelpcallSgtDan
TheAstrawastravellingalong Colletton101.
4|January2,2013|www.mkweb.co.uk|MKNEWS
MKNEWSisproudtobethetrulylocalnewspaper
forMiltonKeynesandthesurroundingareas.We
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Politicians shouldn’t EvenmembersoftheToryparty foodpoisoning.Despitethese More views on
MANAGINGDIRECTOR havecomeoutandadmittedit dangers,astudybyLiverpool
try to fool the public wasasmokescreentojustify JohnMooresUniversityfound the new Primark
MikeRichardson destroyingallthingsstate. thatfewerthanoneintenhomes
SIR–InanswertoStuartMoore Sobeforepoliticiansspeakout hasacarbonmonoxidealarm.
mike.richardson chairmanUKIPMKBranch(MK andpromisethingsthereshould Carbonmonoxideisknownas Youcanfindmorecommentson
@lsnmedia.co.uk LETTERS,December26). bealawtobringtobookthose thesilentkillerasithasnosmell, www.mk-news.co.uk
Hetalksof“honesty”andthen thattrytofoolthepublic. tasteorcolour.Itcankillyouor
rantsonaboutthemessLabour Youonlyhavetolookatthe causelastingdamagetoyour
leftusin.Obviouslyhehasnot amountofU-turnsDavid health. Idon’tmindiftheybuildPrimark
EDITOR keptintouchwiththenews Cameronhasmadeandthe Theonlywaytofullyprotect ornot,andIdon’tevenmassively
eventsof2012.Itisnowaknown statementsthattheNHSissafein yourselfandyourfamilyisto mindabouttheroad(carscango
CallyJenkins factthatLabourleftaneconomy hishands.Thatwastheelection haveacarbonmonoxidealarm roundeasilyenough,andthere’s
thatwasrecoveringonlytobe pledge. thatmakesaloudnoisewhengas notalotofcongestioninCMK).
cally.jenkins destroyedbytheToriesandtheir Peopleonlyhavetolookattheir ispresent.Theyarewidely TheproblemIhaveispedestrian
@mk-news.co.uk unnecessaryausteritycutswhich historytoseewhichGovernment availableandcostaround£15. accessthroughthecentreat
alsohavebeenslammedbymajor didthemostfortheworkingclass. Carbonmonoxideisproduced night.Itismyview,alreadyputto
economistsworldwide. Truthisastrangertomost whenfuelssuchasgas,oil, thecouncil,thataconditionof
Thestoriesthesepoliticianstell politicians. charcoal,coalandwooddonot thisdevelopmentshouldbe
NEWSDESK toblackentheoppositionjust DavidSawyers burnfully.Themostcommon accessprovidedthroughthe
makeUKIPasbadasthe Bradville causeofthisiswhenahousehold shoppingbuildingforpedestrians
Whetherit’sastory,picture,community,
LibDems.Theywillsay fuel-burningappliance,suchasa andcycles(dismountedifneces-
business,sportsorleisureevent,our
anythingtogetinthedoorof boiler,isinstalledincorrectlyor sary)24hoursaday,365/6daysa
newsdeskiswaitingtohearfromyou 10DowningStreet. Stay safe from carbon poorlymaintained. year,roughlyatthelocationofthe
Newsdesk:01908689595
TheUKnationaldebtinthelast Formoreinformationvisit bridge,withallsecurityarrange-
Pictures:AndyHandley01908689586 yearoftheToryGovernmentin monoxide poisoning www.co-bealarmed.co.uk. mentspaidforbythecentre.
1997was42percent.InLabour’s KarenRoe,CampaignManager Iurgeotherstoobjectwiththis
Governmentupto2008,before SIR–We’repleasedthat CarbonMonoxide–BeAlarmed! asmitigation.
COMMERCIALMANAGER theglobalbankingcrisis,itwas36 CoronationStreet’slatest NeilWilliams
percent.Andthenin2010theUK storylinehasalertedpeopleto Thanks for all your
TraceyToombs nationaldebtasaproportionof thedangersofcarbonmonoxide Whycan’ttheyusetheold
01908689566 GrossDomesticProductwas52 poisoning. support – the NSPCC Sainsbury’sbuildingratherthan
tracey.toombs percent.Thiswasthesecond Unfortunately,carbonmonoxide knockingdownbridgesand
@mk-news.co.uk lowestoftheG7countries. poisoningismorethanjustasoap SIR–OnbehalfoftheNational buildingnewshopswhenwehave
TheTorycoalitiontookovera storyline.Accordingtothe SocietyforthePreventionof vacantonesopen?Istherenot
countrythatwasrecoveringand DepartmentofHealth,morethan CrueltytoChildreninMilton plentyofroomthere?
becauseoftheiridealisticattitude 50peoplediefromcarbon KeynesIwouldliketothankyour KelliArnold
ADVERTISINGENQUIRIES
toallthingsstate,destroyedour monoxidepoisoningintheUK readersfortheirsupport.The
DISPLAY,CLASSIFIEDAND recoverywithharshausterity,VAT everyyearandthousandsmore NSPCCreliesheavilylocalpeople WearenotinfavourofPrimark
risesandmassredundancyinthe aretreatedinhospital. inordertoprovideourservices comingthereandwillnotshop
RECRUITMENT publicsectorwhichonlyaffects Itislikelymanymorevictimsgo andwereallyappreciatethe thereifitgoesahead.Itcanlook
Tel.[phone] Fax.[phone] theworkingclassandthepoor.If unrecognisedbecausethesymp- effortspeoplemaketosupportus. forwardtomanydemosagainstit.
Email:[email protected] Stuartwasinterestedinhonesty tomscaneasilybemistakenfor SallyPhipps GraceQuinn
hewouldhavementionedthis. commonillnessessuchasfluor NSPCC
Wewouldlovetoshowyoujusthoweffectiveadvertising
inMKNEWSis.Forthemostcost-effectiveadvertising New Year Message
solutionsacrossMK,calloneofoursalesstaff
DISTRIBUTION
01582390365
[email protected]
From the Mayor of MK, Catriona Morris
www.mailboxdistribution.co.uk
IFYOUhaveaqueryregardingthedeliveryofyour
newspaperorwouldliketojoinourteamasateenageor
adultnewspaperdeliverercontactourdistributiondepart-
mentonthetelephonenumberabove.
2012 has been an amazing year as Mayor
WECAREFULLYdelivertheMKNEWSeveryWednesdayto
thewholeofMKaswellasmostofthesurroundingtowns
andvillagesstretchingintoCentralBedsandpartsof
Northants.
Wealsodeliverothernewspapertitlesintotherestof
Bedfordshire,Northants,Cambsandfurtherafield. REFLECTINGon2012asMayorof as2013beginsIwillhaveattended I’makeensportsfan,andthere-
Inadditiontoourhouseholddeliveries,wehandcopiesof MiltonKeynes,ithasbeenan nearly340events. forehavelovedbeingthehostfor
MKNEWStocommutersatMKRailwayStationevery incredibletime.AsacouncillorI Oneparticularlykeyactivityisthe theMayorofeachplacetheMK
Wednesdaymorningbetween6.15amand9-15am.
Wealsodeliveranadditional8,000copieseachweekinto thoughtIwasawareofmostthings Mayor’sCharity.ChoosingMKDons Donshaveplayedatahomegame.
publicbuildings,offices,industrialareas,bars,restaurants thatgooninthisgreatplace.But SportsEducationalTrustasmy IalsolovedgoingtoaMKLightning
andshopsforpeopletoreadthatmaynotlivelocallyand sincebecomingMayorI’ve Mayor’sCharitywasimportantto hockeymatch–timehasn’t
receiveacopyathome. continuedtobeamazedand me,especiallyas2012wasan allowedmetoreturnyet,butIwill.
Accordingtothelatestindependent,auditedreadership humbledatthewonderfulthingsso Olympicyear.It’sasportscharity Thenextfivemonthsarefullof
figures,MKNEWShasaweeklyreadershipinexcessof
130,000adultsandthisfigureisgrowingasweaddon manyresidentsareinvolvedin. thatsupportssomanyresidentsin excitingevents,andMay(theend
morecopiestoourdistributionacrossMK.Weaimtodeliver Ihavebeentosomeincredible avarietyofways(notjustfootball) ofmyMayoralyear)doesn’tseem
thebestpossibleservicetoourreadersbutifyouhaveany charities,withhardworkingvolun- andchangessomanylives.Iam veryfaraway–andyetthereisstill
questionsorconcernsaboutdistributionpleasefeelfreeto teers,andtolotsofschoolswith keenthatmyMayoralyearwill anawfullottobedone.
contactourteamonthenumberlistedabove.Ourdeliverers incrediblydedicatedandcaring leaveastronglegacybehindforthe Itisanhonourandaprivilegeto
earntopratesofpay.Ifyou’dliketojoinourteamplease
contactthedistributiondepartmentonthenumberabove. staffandgreatkids.I’veopened charity,andtodothisI’velaunched bethefirstcitizenofMilton
newbusinessesandcelebrated theFriendsoftheTrustscheme. Keynes.Wehavesomuchtobe
LEAFLETDISTRIBUTION successesandmilestoneswith andalift! We’vebeengettinglocal proudofinthisincredible,diverse,
manyexistinglocalemployers.I’ve Asmuchasmypredecessors businessestosupportthecharity strongplacethatisourhome.
01582390357 cutnumerousribbonsandunveiled warnedmethatlifeastheMayorof year-on-year.Havingraisedmore I’llcontinuetodomybestto
[email protected] avarietyofunexpectedthings, MiltonKeyneswouldbebusy,I’m than£30,000sofarisafantastic representandpromoteMilton
TOTARGETyourbusinessmessagebyleafletwithinour includingopeningawindturbine notsureIreallybelievedthem;but surprise! Keynesanditspeople.
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MKNEWS |www.mkweb.co.uk|January2,2013|5
Salesfever:ShoppersatMK1
Hundreds queue
for sales at 1am
BYDANPALMER
[email protected]
MOREthan2,000peoplequeuedoutsidethe
Next store in thecentre:mk at 1.15am on
BoxingDayassalesfevergrippedthecity.
Thekeenshoppershadnoproblemwiththe
earlystart,orwithspendingthenightonthe
streets,astheyeyedapostChristmasbargain.
Intotal,morethan26,000customerspiled
intothecityshoppingcentrewithinthefirst
fivehoursofBoxingDay,asnumerousstores
launchedtheirsales.
Similarly strong numbers were seen at
MidsummerPlaceandatMK1,thenewretail
parkwhichhasbeenbuiltatstadiummk.
Next, which completed its refurbishment
andextensionearlierthisyear,hasreported
increasedsalesof30percentatthecentre:mk.
AtHouseofFrasersaleswereupnineper
cent on last year and it is predicted that
slashed prices will continue to tempt more
shoppersintheearlypartofJanuary.
RobertHall,directorofthecentre:mk,said:
“This is a crucial time for retailers and the
phenomenal success we have seen over the
Christmasandsalelaunchperiodisevidence
of the strong local and regional pull of
thecentre:mk.
“Thesalesarenowinfullswingandweare
confidentthatwithsomehugereductionsin
storesincludingHouseofFraser,JohnLewis,
Boots,Next,BHSandMarksandSpencer,we
will continue to attract more crowds as we
moveinto2013.”
Recordfootfallnumberswerealsorecorded
intheweekleadinguptoChristmas.
John Lewis reported 15 per cent sales
increases on last year and the Marks and
Bargainhunt:Customersfloodintothecentre:mkasthe SpencerFoodHallannouncedanincreaseof
NewYearsalesopenforbusinessinMiltonKeynes 60percent.
Acts needed to Rock the House
MUSICIANSandsmallvenues followingcategories:soloart- madeofinternationalmusic
acrossMiltonKeynesarebeing ist,band,under19soloartist, industryexpertswillpickthe
encouragedtoentertheRock under19band,andbestsmall finalists.Theywillcompeteina
theHouse2013competition. livemusicvenue. livebattleofthebands,andthe
MarkLancasterMPwants MarkLancastersaid:“Rock winnerofeachcategorywill
actstogetintouchtoenter theHouseisagreatopportuni- thenperformliveonthe
Parliament’sbiggestcompeti- tyforaspiringartistsofanyage balconyoftheHouseof
tion,whichcelebratesup-and- lookingtofindawayintothe Commonsontheeveningof
comingBritishartistsandthe industry.Iamexcitedtolisten June26.
livemusicvenuesthatsupport tothetracksthatthepeopleof In2011,thecompetitionwas
them. MiltonKeynescancomeup partofacampaignwhichsuc-
Applicationsopenedon with,andhopetoreceiveas cessfullypersuadedthe
November30andwillcloseon manysubmissionsaspossible.” Governmentthatvenueswitha
March1. MrLancasterwillnominate capacityof200peoplewillno
Thecompetitionisopentoall hisfavouritefromeachcatego- longerneedalicenceforlive
musicloverswhofallintothe ry,afterwhichajudgingpanel music.
6|January2,2013|www.mkweb.co.uk|MKNEWS
MKNEWS |www.mkweb.co.uk|January2,2013|7
New glass attack
spurs campaign
BYDANPALMER
[email protected]
CITYcampaignerswhowantto
seeglassbannedfromlatenight
pubs and clubs have been left
shocked by another bottle
attackinMiltonKeynes.
A teenager suffered deep cuts
to his head, neck injuries and
bruising after a bottle was
smashed over his head at the
Wonderworld club at Xscape at
about1amonDecember23.
Thisisthetypeofattackthat
thePOPCampaign–whichwas
launched after Blake Golding
wasleftfightingforhislifeand
permanently scarred in 2004 –
wantstostop. Campaign:OrganisersofPOParerenewingtheireffortstogetglass
Thebottleattackondoorman bannedatlatenightbarsandclubsfollowingthelatestbottleattack
Blake came on Christmas Eve, Marjorie told MK NEWS that Commons.
meaning it was almost eight they hope to ‘wipe out’ these “Thejobisn’tdoneuntilthereis
yearstothedaybeforethelatest typesofattacks. a change in the law,” Marjorie
incident. “Blake was attacked on said. “If we need to we will go
Blake, along with parents ChristmasEveanditisanawful backfighting withanotherpeti-
Robert and Marjorie, have timeforittohappen,”shesaid. tion.” The e-petition can be
alreadypresentedapetitioncon- “Itputsagreyblanketoverthis foundathttp://epetitions.direct.
taining 2,500 of 116,000 signa- timeofyearforyearstocome.” gov.uk/petitions/43147.
turestheyhavecollectedonthe Thecampaignhasrecentlycre- The suspect for the
issuetoDowningStreet. atedaseconde-petitiononthe Wonderworldattackiswhiteand
Aswellascallingforaglassban matter. about 5ft 8ins, in his early 20s
in all city centre venues which Ifitcollects100,000signatures with short blonde hair. He was
sellalcoholafter11pm,thecam- byadeadlineofDecember21of wearingbluejeans.
paignhasalsorequestedapar- next year MPs could consider Anyone with information
liamentarydebateontheissue. holdingadebateintheHouseof shouldcall101.
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8|January2,2013|www.mkweb.co.uk|MKNEWS