The Milton Keynes-born football star Leah Williamson helped England qualify for next year’s Women’s Euros.

England captain and Arsenal defender Williamson played the full 90 minutes as England drew 0-0 with Sweden in Gothenburg.

The draw means England advance as runners-up in League A Group 3, and means the defending champions will qualify automatically for next year’s Women’s Euros in Switzerland.

England finished as runners-up to France, with the two sides joining hosts Switzerland, World Cup winners Spain, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Denmark and the Netherlands in qualifying for the Euros finals.

The other seven spots will be determined by play-offs, which will be determined by a first round of two-legged play-offs in October and then a second round to be played in November & December.

In a brief statement on Instagram, Williamson said “Qualification. Thank you for the incredible away support across the campaign!”

Williamson had previously played the first half as England beat Ireland 2-1 at Norwich’s Carrow Road last Friday, which combined with a defeat for Sweden against France meant a draw would’ve been enough for England to advance to the Euros proper.

In Gothenburg, Williamson played the whole game as England got the point that they needed. A game of few chances saw Sweden apply second half pressure in search of a winning goal they required, but they were unable to breakthrough as the Lionesses got the job done and confirmed their presence in Switzerland next summer.

The Euro 2025 group stage draw is scheduled to take place on 16th December 2024.

Milton Keynes City Council has today published the first draft of MK City Plan 2050 and have opened a public consultation.

The initial plan sets out a preferred blueprint for the city’s development until 2050, at which point Milton Keynes is expected to grow larger and have a population of around 400,000 people, up from around 260,000 as per the 2021 census.

MK City Plan 2050 is intending to describe the type of homes, jobs and facilities needed to meet that growth and put local people’s needs first, including that no development should happen without the health facilities, schools, shops and community facilities the city needs.

This common sense ‘Infrastructure First’ approach includes allocating space for seven new care homes, 33 dentists, 30 new schools, around 4,000sqm of land for GP surgeries and health care, and other facilities.

Headline figures in the plan include an additional 30,000 homes to be built in addition to those that are already planned for, based on a government formula. Previously undeveloped sites must have at least 40% affordable homes.

In addition, growth in rural areas where local infrastructure could not support development is ruled out.

A new mass rapid-transit system is being investigated to find something that could connect the city’s highest growth areas with the city centre through efficient, reliable and eco-friendly public transport.

A city centre would be transformed with facilities including an undergraduate university, state of the art events arena, and space for an expected 30,000 new jobs with a focus on tech. Around one in three jobs in MK is now in technology or a related business.

The City Council also intends for it’s plan to include bold ideas to try to help tackle climate change and protect green spaces.

Leader of MK City Council, Cllr Pete Marland, said, “The MK City Plan sets out a clear roadmap about how we can deliver well-planned sustainable growth over the next three decades. While our housing numbers are set by government, the responsibility to ensure that growth is delivered sustainably and in the right places is ours.

“Issues with young families getting on the housing ladder are not unique to Milton Keynes. Through the MK City Plan we will require developers to build at least 40% affordable family homes that align with local incomes. MK is already an economic powerhouse which we want to continue to grow. The MK City Plan will ensure we create the right jobs, secure a university in CMK and deliver regeneration in Bletchley to secure a better quality of life for our people.

“We understand concerns about the pressure that growth could put on existing services, and that’s why we’re taking an infrastructure first approach to secure funding for our local hospital, new health facilities, new schools and places for the community to enjoy. Growth must be measured and sustainable, which is why we won’t be allocating sites in places like west of Olney, MK North and in some other rural areas because the infrastructure isn’t right.

“This is a really important opportunity for people to tell us about the things that matter to them when it comes to the future of our city. I encourage people to get involved in the consultation and share their thoughts with us.”

MK City Plan 2050 is an important planning document that will be submitted to the UK government’s Secretary of State next year.

The full draft plan can be read on the Milton Keynes City Council website and local people can make comments and propose alternatives until 9 October. Feedback received from local residents and businesses will be used to refine the draft Plan before it is submitted to the Secretary of State next year.

Dawson Devoy has left MK Dons after the Irish midfielder re-joined his former club Bohemian FC.

The 22-year-old returns to Bohemian two years after leaving the Dublin-based side to join MK Dons, whom he had joined in the summer of 2022.

Devoy has signed a contract of undisclosed length described as a “multi-year” deal with the Bohs, with the Irish club paying an undisclosed fee to facilitate the deal.

The move sees Devoy move after two seasons with the Dons, for whom he made 58 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice.

Most of Devoy’s appearances came in his first season with the club, when he made 44 appearances in all competitions for a Dons side relegated from League One in the 2022/23 season.

Devoy’s last appearance for the Dons came in a match against Crawley in December 2023, with the midfielder finding his opportunities reduced under both Graham Alexander and Mike Williamson last season.

The Irishman would spend the second half of last season on loan with the Dons’ fellow League Two outfit Swindon Town, making 16 appearances for the Wiltshire-based club and scoring three goals, two of which coming in a win over AFC Wimbledon.

Devoy told the club’s official website of his delight to return to Ballymount and hoped to help the club push up the league after a slow start to the season.

He said, “I’m absolutely buzzing to be back, and can’t wait to get back playing for Bohs again. This is where I played some of my best football, and I want to do even better again.

“I’m not coming home for an easy life – I loved my time at Bohs before and I want to be a part of getting the club back to where we belong.

“I had really good conversations with the manager, who obviously I knew well from the Ireland U21s, and with Stephen O’Donnell and Derek Pender. The plans that they have for the club and how they want to play really excited me.

“The club isn’t where it should be at the moment, so all of us coming in are determined to help the team push on.

“There’s a new manager in and now there’s new players in too, so we all have a role to play in getting the club back kicking and in getting Dalymount back rocking.”

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward following an incident of sexual assault in Milton Keynes.

The incident occurred between 7.05pm and 7.20pm yesterday (16/7) in the park between Nevis Grove and Laidon Close, Bletchley.

During the incident, a man argued with a group of children, and then proceeded to chase them around the park.

He then approached a girl, pushed her and inappropriately touched her over her clothing. The girl then ran away.

A 31-year-old man from Milton Keynes has been arrested on suspicion of assault by touching. He remains in police custody at this time.

Investigating officer PC Krystyna Klisz, based at Milton Keynes police station, said, “I am appealing for anyone who was in the park at the time of the offence, and have not yet spoken to us, please get in touch.

“Please get in touch by making a report online or by calling 101 and quoting reference 43240338411.

“You can also provide details via the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”