Only guillotine lock for 2,000 miles gets refurbishment
The Canal & River Trust is undertaking major maintenance and repair works on its only guillotine lock.
Shakespearean housing row debated in Parliament
Stratford-upon-Avon MP Nadhim Zahawi has described plans to build 800 homes near the cottage of Anne Hathaway as a "permanent scar".
Anger as 800 homes planned on Shakespeare's homeland
At Ann Hathaway's cottage where Shakespeare courted his future wife a storm is approaching.
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Protesters gather to protect Shakespearean heritage
Over 100 protesters opposing the development of 800 new houses in Stratford-upon-Avon have held a demonstration today.
The campaigners gathered outside the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in the town centre, in opposition of two new housing developments near the village of Shottery.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust owns some of the land needed for the project and the group, 'Residents Against Shottery Expansion', is lobbying trustees to block its sale.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has said it supports the campaigners efforts to overturn the decision to build the 800 new homes.
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust issues statement after protest
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has issued the following statement after a protest outside its base in Stratford-upon-Avon earlier today.
It says it supports the campaigners efforts to overturn the decision to build 800 new homes on land near the village of Shottery, which is feared will ruin historic links to William Shakespeare's birth place.
"We fully appreciate the concerns of the lobby groups and the strength of local opposition to the proposed development. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust was extremely disappointed by the Secretary of State's decision to grant the developers' appeal.
The Trust has been an objector to the proposed development and our position is unchanged. The Inspector himself and the Secretary of State acknowledge that there is some harm to the setting of Anne Hathaway's Cottage and a risk to tourism in Stratford arising from this development."
"Today's meeting is our regular, scheduled half-annual meeting of Trustees. Today will be the first opportunity for the Trustees to collectively discuss the implications of the appeal decision.
The situation is complex, and still evolving, so no decision will be made today about the Trust's next course of action in relation to Shottery. That will be a matter for Executive Trustees and the wider Board, as and when they have all the relevant information before them, and the input of our professional advisors. No date has been set for a decision about our next steps."
– Spokesperson, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust"We have been greatly encouraged that the overwhelming majority of people who have written to us about the Shottery situation have expressed such strong support for the virtues of Anne Hathaway's Cottage and our Shakespearean heritage and culture here in Stratford-upon-Avon."
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Campaigners protest against new houses near Shakespeare's birthplace
People opposing two new housing developments on the edge of Stratford-upon-Avon are staging a protest outside the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust today.
It's after the Government over-ruled the council to allow plans for 800 new homes to be built near the village of Shottery.
It includes a link road which would run behind Anne Hathaway's cottage, which is Grade One listed.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust owns some of the land needed for the project and the group 'Residents Against Shottery Expansion' is lobbying trustees to block its sale.
Council says it will appeal against planning permission
Stratford-on-Avon Districty Council says it will appeal against the government's decision to grant planning permission for 800 homes to be built near the cottage of Ann Hathaway.
A new primary school, health centre and local shops are planned for land near Shottery in Warwickshire, after Communities Secretary Eric Pickles approved permission last month.
A unanimous decision to appeal was made at a council committee meeting today.
Social media campaign to stop building near a Shakespearean home
A social media campaign has been started to try to stop the building of 800 homes and a link road on land near Anne Hathaway's cottage in Stratford. It's a Grade 1 listed building.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust owns some of the land developers want to building on.
SAVE SHOTTERY aims to persuade trustees to say 'No' to the selling or leasing of the land to developers when they meet on Saturday 17th November.
Last week a Stratford MP criticised the plans to build on the greenfield land.
Mark Griffiths, SAVE SHOTTERY, said: "There's no time to lose - we've got a week to convince Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to save Shakespeare's Shottery for the nation and the world."
Shakespearean housing row: Homes "a permanent scar"
Nadhim Zahawi MP has criticised a planned housing development near the cottage of Anne Hathaway in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate last night (8 November), he said the decision to give the development the go-ahead was "not a modest conservatory extension" and would "create a permanent scar on the landscape".
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Shakespearean housing row debated in Parliament
by Nimesh Joshi
Stratford-upon-Avon MP Nadhim Zahawi has described plans to build 800 homes near the cottage of Anne Hathaway as a "permanent scar".
Read the full storyShakespearean housing row debated in Parliament
A Parliamentary debate will take place tonight over the controversial building of two new housing estates near a Shakespearean house in Stratford.
Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi has secured the adjournment debate. Planning Minister Nick Boles will be called to the adjournment debate to explain the decision to give the eight hundred home development the go-ahead. despite fierce local opposition.
Uproar as Government says 'yes' to 800 houses next to Shakespearean cottage
There's anger tonight in Stratford after the government has been accused of ignoring the wishes of thousands of people, the local MP and the council - and told a developer it could build two huge new housing estates near a Shakespearean house.
There's been a petition against it. The council turned it down. But the developer appealed - and the secretary of state Eric Pickles gave it the go ahead. Tonight there's a threat of legal action against the Government.
Anger as 800 homes planned on Shakespeare's homeland
At Ann Hathaway's cottage where Shakespeare courted his future wife a storm is approaching.
Read the full storyToday's top stories
