Anna Whittaker

Nottingham

Political Reporter at BBC Radio Stoke

BBC political reporter for the Black Country/ #30ToWatch journalist / @IpsoNews panel/ [email protected] / IG: annawhittakerbbc

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Articles

New Aldi at former Yate cinema site 'better than empty shop'

1 week ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

New Aldi at former cinema 'better than empty shop'Anna WhittakerAdam PostansLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceGettySome residents say the new supermarket is not neededA councillor says turning a former Cineworld site into a supermarket is "better than an empty shop". Residents in Yate have mixed opinions on the town's first Aldi opening after South Gloucestershire Council approved the supermarket chain's planning proposal for a new store at Yate's Riverside Retail Park on 15 May.
New Aldi at former cinema 'better than empty shop'

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Anna Whittaker |Adam Postans

A councillor says turning a former Cineworld site into a supermarket is "better than an empty shop". Residents in Yate have mixed opinions on the town's first Aldi opening after South Gloucestershire Council approved the supermarket chain's planning proposal for a new store at Yate's Riverside Retail Park on 15 May. Set to open in early 2026, creating 40 jobs, 314 residents objected to the plans, along with Yate Town Council.
Bristol parents 'so worried' about plan to cut teaching assistants

1 week ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Parents 'so worried' about plan to cut teaching assistantsAnna WhittakerBBC News, West of EnglandBBCAbi Griffiths and Stephanie Clements both have children at Cheddar Grove School Parents say they are "filled with fear" about a primary school's plans to cut five teaching assistants. They say the changes at the school in Bristol would affect their children's education, particularly for those with additional needs, and could pose safety problems.
Adoptive mother says adoption fund cuts will be 'devastating'

3 weeks ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Adoptive fund cuts will be devastating - motherAnna WhittakerAmandaAmanda said her children had relied on the funds to access therapyA woman who adopted siblings has said government cuts to therapy funding will be devastating for families. About 1,000 people attended a march in London on 3 May protesting against the government's cuts to the fund which were announced in April. The Department for Education (DfE) said it would mean more children would be able to access support.
Bloxwich food pantry finds strong community response

1 month ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Food pantry finds strong community responseAnna WhittakerBBCJane Collins is one of the customers of the new community pantry in Bloxwich in the West MidlandsOrganisers of a new community pantry to help people who are struggling and needing food say there has been high demand for their help.
Frustration about collections over border

2 months ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Bin woes on Birmingham's borders as strike goes onAnna WhittakerSophie MillwardBBC Hereford and WorcesterBBCMaggie Boylan and Andreas Gabriel work at Bakers Lane Fish Bar near the Birmingham-Black Country borderResidents and businesses on Birmingham's borders have spoken of their frustration as the city's bin strike continues.
Campaign to save Dudley's Crystal Gateway dementia centre

2 months ago | bbc.co.uk | Anna Whittaker

Image caption, Marilyn Beattie and her husband Bob, who has dementiaBBC political reporter, Black CountryFamilies are campaigning to save a "lifeline" dementia centre which is set to close. Dudley Council axed Crystal Gateway Dementia Centre in Amblecote last month as part of its budget to save £500,000 a year. The centre offers an outreach service to those living with dementia and their carers, as well as art, knitting and choir sessions for an hourly fee.
Three more Dudley councillors resign from Labour

2 months ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Three more councillors resign from LabourAnna WhittakerBBC political reporter, Black CountryAlex McIntyreDudley CouncilCouncillors Matt Cook, Peter Drake and Karl Denning have quit the Dudley Labour groupThree more councillors have resigned from the Labour Party in Dudley as the fallout over the government's welfare cuts continues. Councillors Peter Drake, Karl Denning and Matt Cook confirmed they had quit the party and would sit as independents on Dudley Council in the West Midlands.
Dudley Labour group leader resigns from party over benefit cuts

2 months ago | bbc.co.uk | Anna Whittaker

The Labour group leader of a Conservative-run council has resigned from his party over huge changes to the benefits system and will sit as an independent member. Dudley councillor Pete Lowe said welfare cuts announced on Tuesday were "the final straw" after months of heart-searching and tears. He said he objected to the "stigmatisation of the most vulnerable" including the Labour government's decisions over women's pensions and cuts to pensioners' winter fuel payments.
Government school breakfast club pilot begins

2 months ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Government school breakfast club pilot beginsAnna WhittakerBBCLotty Summers is excited about the new free breakfast clubs Parents at a school in Walsall that is part of the government's breakfast club pilot said the free rollout will enable them to get to work. Rivers Primary Academy in Bloxwich is one of 750 schools which will get a free daily breakfast club from April. Over a third of schools in the pilot are said to be in deprived areas – with 82 in the West Midlands.