StaffsLive » Rajinder Gill

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue launch grass fire prevention campaign

Rajinder Gill — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:32:37 +0000

By Raj Gill: The annual grass fire prevention campaign has been launched by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue.

The “Flames aren’t Games” campaign aims to highlight the dangers of deliberate grass fires.

This is after recent statistics showed there were over 1000 grass fires in Staffordshire last year.

Nearly half of the grass fires were started during school holidays. This led to the Fire and Rescue service educating students about the dangers of deliberate fires.

Mick Warrillow, the Neighbourhood Co-ordinator for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spoke to StaffsLive:

“We have caught children in the act of lighting fires. We immediately contact the police. They are questioned depending on their age and taken home to their parents.

“We do offer counselling services if that person becomes a fire setter. Grass fires are the small beginnings – they then move on to the larger things unless it is nipped in the bud.”

Click below to hear Mick Warrillow explain more about the campaign:

Statistics of grass fires for 2011

Tamworth – 168

Newcastle – 88

Moorlands – 70

South Staffs – 238

East Staffs – 30

Cannock – 179

Lichfield -79

Stoke – 272

Stafford – 67

Staffordshire set for £7.5million investment in super-fast broadband

Rajinder Gill — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:55:37 +0000

By Raj Gill: Residents in Staffordshire are set to benefit from better internet speeds after a new £7.5million scheme to introduce super-fast broadband was given the go ahead.

Staffordshire County Council approved the plans on Wednesday (March 21) and are now conducting a consultation with people living in the county.

A survey will be made available to the public within the next few weeks and will influence where the super-fast broadband is installed.

It is hoped that 90 per cent of residents and businesses will have access to quicker internet by the middle of 2015.

JCB to recruit more than a hundred youngsters

Rajinder Gill — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:01:27 +0000

By Raj Gill: JCB will be recruiting more than a hundred young people this September as part of a £3.5 million apprenticeship scheme.

JCB Uttoxeter

Those involved will be able to study up to degree level.

Among the apprentices already taken on at the Uttoxeter company are triplets Katie, Liam and Jack Rowe from Cheadle. Katie is the only female welding apprentice at the firm.

The Rowes are Level 2 apprentices and are being trained in fabrication and welding. They will complete their apprenticeships in June next year.

The Chairman of JCB, Sir Anthony Bamford, said: “Manufacturing is a good way of employing people. It does mop up a lot of unemployment.”

Stoke-on-Trent named as 15th happiest place in the UK

Rajinder Gill — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:00:49 +0000

By Raj Gill & Stephanie Kaur: Stoke-on-Trent has been named as the 15th happiest place in the UK.

A survey by online property website Rightmove looked at how homeowners felt about factors such as safety, neighbourliness and well-being.

Click below to see how local residents StaffsLive spoke to felt about their area: