Extension Granted For Fracking Permit Consultation

A public consultation on an application by Third Energy for a permit to undertake fracking in North Yorkshire has been extended.

The Environment Agency has confirmed the consultation will now remain open for submissions until Friday 7 August.

The consultation initially opened on 10 June after Third Energy UK Gas Ltd applied to the Environment Agency for the relevant environmental permits to extract shale gas from a site near Kirby Misperton.

Environmental permit consultations usually run for four weeks, but the Environment Agency has extended this consultation period to allow more people time to read the company's proposals and submit their comments, in response to a request for an extension.

All comments submitted into the consultation will be taken into account when a decision is made on whether a permit should be issued.

Man Jailed For 13 Years Following Knife Attack

A man has been jailed for 13 years after being found guilty of a knife attack.

Cuneyt Sungu, 33, attacked a colleague following a disagreement in work on 27 May 2014. It is understood Sungu had put the victim's keys in a microwave oven as a prank and the pair had a disagreement.

After work, the victim, aged 27, met with Sungu to resolve the matter, only to be confronted by him carrying a knife in a sheath on his belt. The victim punched Sungu in the face in self-defence and ran away but was then pursued behind units at the rear of the Colebrook Industrial Estate, situated on Longfield Road. He was stabbed three times in the stomach and chest.

He did manage to escape and drove himself to Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Mr Sungu was arrested that evening at the hospital where he was being treated for a facial injury.

Appearing at Maidstone Crown Court, Sungu denied a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, claiming he had been provoked and acted in self-defence. A jury found him guilty of the attack on Thursday (2 July) and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

New Mental Health Unit Opens In Dundee

A new £8m unit for child and adolescent mental health has opened in Dundee.

The Young People's Unit provides a 12-bed inpatient unit, including family accommodation for parents. All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms and there is a private outdoor space, education facility and a gym. The centre provides specialist care to young people from across the north of Scotland, and is based on the site of the former Young People's Unit in Dudhope Terrace.

The new unit is a partnership between NHS Tayside, Grampian, Highland, Orkney and Shetland, who have come together to form the North of Scotland Regional Child and Adolescent Mental Health service project.

Welsh Govt Funds Affordable Homes

The Welsh Government has allocated funds to deliver new affordable homes in Rhyl, Finance Minister Jane Hutt has said.

The £2.3m Brickfields development, located on Cefndy Road, is being supported by £2.1m from the Welsh Government's Housing Finance Grant (HFG) scheme. The money has helped to transform a former ITT factory site into 24 homes consisting of 16 houses and eight flats. These will be managed by Wales & West Housing.

The project is also providing a boost to the local economy through jobs and training opportunities.

Anwyl Construction have been appointed to build the homes.

(JP)