McFly in call for cool youngsters to join in Shades Day

YOUNGSTERS in West Somerset are being encouraged by the hugely successful British band McFly to put on their sunglasses on Friday, June 29, and join them in supporting Guide Dogs’ Shades Day - the coolest fund-raising day of the year.
The band - Danny, Dougie, Tom, and Harry - recently took time out from promoting their new album ‘Motion In The Ocean – Tour Edition’, to put on their favourite sunglasses and chat about their support of Shades Day.
They also posed for a few photos with their four cute namesake guide dog puppies, whose progress they are following until they are qualified guide dogs.
McFly made an unannounced visit to Minehead in January, when they played two gigs especially for students at the West Somerset Community College after fan Amy Prole, aged 15, won a competition on BBC Radio 1.
Tom said: “One of the best things about the summer is being able to put on my shades and spend the day out in the sun having a laugh with my friends.
“Wearing sunglasses is really important as it helps to protect your eyes against harmful UV rays from the sun.
“So make sure you are looking cool on Shades Day in support Guide Dogs… we will be.”
McFly will be joining thousands of people all over the UK who will be putting on their sunglasses and helping to do two things:

• Increase awareness of the need for everybody to protect their eyes when outside during the day, by wearing their sunglasses
• Raise money to help Guide Dogs breed, train, and support the 4,600 guide dogs in the UK who bring vital independence and freedom to their visually impaired owners.

Research has shown that spending five or more hours outside every day in the summer during teens and early adult years increases the risk of long-term damage to the eyes.
Putting on sunglasses, a visor, or a hat helps to protect from harmful UV (ultraviolet) sunlight which can cause long-term eye damage.
Guide Dogs suggests that if people are outside during the day and the light is so bright that they have to squint or turn their head away from the sun, then they need to wear sunglasses - the best protection comes from those with yellow or amber lenses and have the CE mark.
McFly are supporting Shades Day, as well as following the training progress of their namesake puppies, as part of their role as ‘Guiding Stars’ for the charity.
As ‘Guiding Stars’, the band members will help the charity to educate young people about the important work of guide dogs.
For further information about Shades Day and how to become involved, visit www.shadesday.org.uk.
The latest news on McFly can be checked out online at http://www.mcflyofficial.com/.

• Our photograph shows (left to right) Dougie, Danny, Tom, and Harry with their namesake puppies. Photo submitted.

£5.4 million vocational education centre to open in autumn of 2008

A HUGE increase in learning opportunities is on the way for West Somerset with the final go-ahead being given for a new £5.4 million skills and enterprise centre based in the West Somerset Community College, Minehead.
The final element of funding required to create the new centre has been confirmed, which means the first students can expect to enrol for courses as soon as September of next year.
The skills and enterprise centre will give young people and adults in West Somerset an opportunity to access high quality vocational education and training, leading to qualifications and skills which will help them succeed in the future.
The new facilities will be used to provide training in subjects including automotive engineering, construction, health and beauty, hospitality and catering, health and social care, and land-based skills.
The centre has been funded by the Learning and Skills Council and the European Regional Development Fund.
It is the first part of a New Horizons Project which newly-elected Independent councillors on West Somerset Council were campaigning against during the run-up to this month’s elections.
However, the new leader of West Somerset Council, Councillor Keith Ross, said: “Children and adults will benefit from the learning and training opportunities that the new centre will provide, and local businesses will benefit from being able to recruit qualified local people.
“Better career opportunities lead to higher wages which will improve social and economic standards in West Somerset, so we welcome the confirmation of funding for the new centre.”
The project is a partnership between the district council, Somerset County Council, Somerset Primary Care Trust, and the community college.
It aims to create opportunities for people to lead healthy lifestyles and raise their skills levels, which in turn will contribute significantly to the economic development of West Somerset.
College principal Nick Swann said: “This national flagship project represents another major breakthrough for the college.
“For several years, staff have been working with other training partners and potential funding bodies to develop more innovative approaches to the delivery of specialist vocational courses.
“This state-of-the-art centre, with the excellent facilities it will provide, will enable us to extend our curriculum to meet the individual needs of many more students, as well as the wider community.
“The outcome will be a much broader range of career opportunities for learners in West Somerset.”
Minehead’s Somerset county Councillor Ian Galloway said: “The skills and enterprise centre will provide an important and much-needed resource. I am proud that it is set to be built in Minehead.”
County council education portfolio holder, Councillor Gloria Cawood, said: “Currently, students from this area hoping to study subjects such as construction have to travel to Bridgwater or Taunton.
“That is a challenge to their learning and the extra miles travelled increase pollution. I am very pleased that we have secured significant new educational opportunities in West Somerset.”
Photo submitted.

Wedding fayre returns to Minehead - and it's free

IT is back by popular demand after a gap of several years.
The Crier has teamed up with bridal shop Treasured Moments, of Friday Street, Minehead, and Minehead Football Club to arrange a wedding fayre in the town.
The free-to-attend day-long event takes place at the football club premises, off Alexandra Road on Sunday, February 25, from 10.30 am to 4 pm.
It features businesses which provide everything a West Somerset bride and groom might need for their special day, from chauffeur-driven limousines to flowers to dresses to Indian cuisine for the reception, and details of venues for weddings.
The Crier’s marketing and promotions consultant, Dudley Seale, said: “There used to be a regular wedding fayre in Minehead but it stopped a few years ago.
“So, when Treasured Moments approached The Crier about sponsoring its return, we were only too pleased to help as part of our on-going work to support the community we serve.
“I made a call to the football chairman, Bryan Leaker, who is helping to revive their fortunes, and he quickly gave his support for hosting the wedding fayre.
“We have about 30 exhibitors taking part.
“Entry is free and there are refreshments provided and also a fashion show for visitors to enjoy.”
As well as churches, there are nine approved premises in West Somerset where weddings can be conducted, and a nearby recent addition to the list is Oakhampton Park, a Georgian family property not far from Brompton Ralph.

Teenage thugs film attack on their mobile phones

A TEENAGE girl has been attacked in Minehead by a gang of youths some of whom used their mobile phones to video the assault taking place.
The shocking incident happened as the 16-year-old girl was walking in The Parks area at about 5.15 pm on Thursday, February 1.
She was set upon by a gang of around 15 youths said to be aged between 13 and 16-years-old.
They forced the girl to crawl through mud and repeatedly say: ‘I am Goldilocks, where are my bears?’ while some took humiliating pictures.
It marks a dramatic escalation of anti-social behaviour by the gang, who for some months are said to have engaged in petty vandalism, theft, intimidation, and assaults in the town.
The random attack is also thought to be the first time local youths have adopted the unpleasant practice seen in some urban areas of using their mobile phones to take photographs and film of an assault to show to their friends.
The gang included boys and girls from local schools and the ringleader was said to be a girl pupil of the 24/7@peritonmead special school who was also alleged previously to have used a stiletto heel to attack another girl.
The gang included a number of students from the West Somerset Community College, Minehead, and at least one youngster said to have previously been excluded from the college.
Police confirmed to The Crier that a 16-year-old girl had later been arrested on suspicion of common assault and would be dealt with through the youth court system.
The arrested girl, whose name cannot be revealed because of a law which protects the identity of juvenile criminals, is understood also to have been removed with immediate effect from 24/7@peritonmead.
Staff at 24/7@peritonmead were praised by the parents of the victim of the attack, who has since made a good recovery, for facing up to the situation and taking swift and appropriate action.
However, they were less impressed with the response they received when they spoke with staff of the community college.
The college’s principal, Nick Swann, would not talk to The Crier when we called to ask his views on whether anything could be done about the behaviour of students off the campus.
Mr Swann instead relayed a message through his personal assistant that he ‘is unable to comment on it because he knows nothing about it’.
The manager of 24/7@peritonmead, Craig Fletcher, told The Crier he had nothing to add to what had already been told to the parents.

McFly play surprise gigs for West Somerset students

STUDENT Amy Prole was a ‘star pupil’ when she arrived for lessons at the West Somerset Community College, Minehead, on Friday, January 26.
And to prove it, Amy, aged 15, brought pop stars McFly to college with her to perform live for her classmates.
The boy band visited Minehead to play two gigs in the school hall - they played twice because the hall can only accommodate half of the 1,200 students at once.
It was all because Amy was one of five winners of BBC Radio 1’s ‘Star Pupil’ competition run through the station’s website, which attracted more than 5,000 entries.
Students who took part were able to request a visit to their school by their favourite band.
As part of the prize, Radio 1 presenter Edith Bowman also went to the college and walked on stage during house assembly to break the news to Amy and her fellow students.
After lessons had ended, Radio 1 DJ Chris Mills also hosted one of his retro-discos especially for the students from 4 pm to 7 pm.
College newsletter editor Sue Bulpin told The Crier just before the exclusive McFly concerts began: “Students did not know about it until today. They knew something was happening, but not what. They are getting pretty excited about it.”

• Our photographs show: Top - Amy (rear, centre) with McFly and Radio 1 presenter Edith Bowman; Bottom - McFly meeting some of the pigs kept on the West Somerset Community College farm unit.

Public opinions sought on Seaward Way development plans

AN informal information evening is being held on January 17 to give local residents an opportunity to have their say on a proposed of health and well-being development planned for a site off Seaward Way, in Minehead.
The proposed development includes a £24 million replacement for Minehead Hospital and a leisure centre which will encompass a replacement for the Aquasplash swimming pool as well as a range of other health facilities, plus business services, and some housing for local people.
The information evening is open to the public and takes place from 5 pm to 7:30 pm in the West Somerset Community College.
The public meeting is being arranged in order to inform local residents about the current proposal for the site and to consult on the leisure facilities which should be included in the proposed learning and leisure centre.
The evening will include full graphic displays demonstrating all aspects of the project, known as New Horizons, and the project steering group members will ask attendees about the specific facilities they want to see in the new leisure centre.
Evidence gathered at the information evening will help to influence future design proposals.
A strong attendance will also help to demonstrate local support for the project, which is critical for the securing the remainder of the funding for the project.
District council leader, Councillor Christine Lawrence, said: “This ambitious project is all about positive partnerships.
“It will demonstrate the power of effective partnership working between organisations coupled with the positive partnership forged with local people interested in securing first-class health, learning, and leisure facilities for the residents of West Somerset.
“We actively encourage everybody to attend this meeting because it is their opportunity to see what we are offering, and their chance to influence this development to ensure that it meets the needs of the whole community.”
Community college principal Nick Swann said: “Local people, including college staff, have worked for years to secure this groundbreaking project.
“Close community involvement will continue to be essential to its success. We welcome all local people who would like to give their views on the proposals.”
Minehead ward county Councillor Ian Galloway said: “This meeting will explain the exciting developments that we hope to bring to the site and will give local people a chance to have their say.
“That is absolutely vital in this project and we need to have facilities that meet the requirements of local people.”
County council portfolio holder for economic development, Councillor Paul Buchanan, said: “Engaging the public is an absolute priority for Somerset County Council with regards to this project.
“Demonstrable public support will have a positive effect on gaining future project-critical funding streams, so I hope many people turn out to have their say and influence the future of the Seaward Way site.”
New Horizons is a partnership between West Somerset Council, Somerset County Council, Somerset Primary Care Trust, and the West Somerset Community College.