Scan here for all the latest UK and world news with NationalWorld THAT WAS OUR WEEK
MON January 1
More crown court cases in Hampshire and Isle of Wight are waiting for an outcome, new figures show. The Data from the Ministry of Justice shows there were 1,394 outstanding crown court cases in Hampshire and Isle of Wight as of September – up from 1,039 a year earlier. This was also a rise from 837 outstanding cases in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.
‘ICING ON THE CAKE’
In his first interview after being made an MBE in recognition of his work with the Prostate Cancer UK charity, broadcaster Jeff Stelling said it was the "icing on the cake" for his career.
TUE January 2
Almost 1,000 businesses in the Portsmouth City Council area shut their doors for good in 2022, new figures showed. Office for National Statistics figures show around 930 businesses in Portsmouth ceased trading in 2022 – up from 865 the year before. More UK businesses closed since records began in 2002, surpassing the number of new start-ups for the first year since 2010.
DONATION PLEA
Mark Hobbs, 58, from Cowplain, was urging people to become plasma donors. It saved his life when he spent 300 days in hospital after being diagnosed with a rare auto-immune syndrome.
WED January 3
Scientists from the University of Portsmouth have debunked a theory that the “beer goggles” effect works by people finding someone more attractive because their faces appear more symmetrical. Researchers questioned 99 men and women in a pub in the city. They found alcohol did impair face symmetry detection, but had no influence on attractiveness judgements.
FIGHTING BACK
Pompey's top scorer Colby Bishop hit back in a concerted response to recent flak he's faced. Bishop returned to the goal trail on New Year’s Day in the victory over Stevenage.
THU January 4
Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital declared a critical incident due to “extreme pressures on services”. One witness said dozens of patients were waiting for beds. Some of those were reportedly waiting more than 26 hours as ambulances backed up at the hospital. It came as the longest strike in the history of the NHS is under way as junior doctors take part in a six-day walkout.
POMPEY PANTO
A staggering 60,000 people watched the pantomime Hook at The Kings Theatre throughout December. The Southsea venue’s CEO has thanked those who came to see the show.
FRI January 5
Beachgoers will be warned not to swim in Southsea after the Environment Agency found a bathing site with poor water quality. The EA has changed the classification of Southsea East bathing site from “sufficient” to “poor” for the 2024 bathing season. As a result, signage featuring an “advice against bathing” symbol will be necessary for the area around South Parade Pier.
BURSTING
Southern Water has come under fire following the latest burst sewer incident which will see the southbound stretch of Portsmouth’s Eastern Road closed yet again this weekend.