New research led by ARU finds barriers prevent everyone enjoying nature equally
New research indicates that UK adults experience less of a connection with nature than adults from most other countries, ranking 59th out of 65 national groups surveyed.
The study, which includes data from 56,968 adults aged between 18 and 99, also found that levels of connection with nature are associated with several socioeconomic and demographic factors across countries.
Led by Professor Viren Swami of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the study involved over 250 academics from over 60 countries and is published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.
The UK was ranked 59th out of 65 on the Connectedness to Nature Scale, which asks participants to rate statements, such as “I often feel a sense of oneness with the natural world around me”, “I have a deep understanding of how my actions affect the natural world”, and “I often feel part of the web of life”.
Data for some countries was separated into different languages – for example English and French responses from Canada – providing 65 national groups. Nepal, Iran, and South Africa were the top three nations, while Israel (63rd), Japan (64th), and Spain (65th) were at the bottom of the rankings.
The UK scored better on the Nature Exposure Scale, which measures people’s contact with nature around their home and work, their recreational visits, and their nature awareness.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Lithuania were the leading three countries, with the top 10 nations on the Nature Exposure Scale all European, with the exception of French-speaking Canadians. The UK was 31st out of 65, and the bottom three nations were Lebanon, South Korea and, finally, Brazil.
Across all nations, the study found that women reported both higher nature connectedness and greater nature exposure than men, consistent with previous research showing that women overall tend to have greater environmental concern and empathy with nature. Both connectedness to nature and nature exposure scores also increased with age, which is possibly linked to older adults having more time and opportunities to engage with nature.
Taking results from the two measures together, greater nature exposure and connectedness to nature scores were both linked to socioeconomic factors. Higher scores were significantly associated with greater financial security, living in a rural location, a higher level of education, being in a committed relationship, and being in a racial majority in that particular country.
Lead author Viren Swami, Professor of Social Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said:
“Spending time in a natural environment can provide a number of really important benefits.
“My previous research has shown how being in green spaces, ‘blue’ environments, such as by rivers or the coast, and even snowy landscapes can improve different facets of psychological well-being and mental health, and of course there are physical health benefits from spending time outdoors in nature.
“The evidence that being in nature is good for you is undeniable, but crucially this new study shows that exposure to nature and levels of connectedness to nature are not enjoyed equally by different nations or across different social groups.
“The significant associations with financial wealth, being better educated, and being part of the racial majority within a particular country reflects known socioeconomic inequities in terms of lack of access to natural environments. Racial minorities may also experience natural environments differently, for example in terms of a sense of belonging, and this can impact on people’s attitude to nature and their desire to access it.
“Unfortunately, barriers to accessing nature exist in countries across the world and it is important these barriers are broken down to allow people from all backgrounds to access and enjoy the benefits of natural spaces.”
Home » Latest News » QR codes on parking machines “highly likely” to be a scam
QR codes have been stuck onto some of our parking machines today, such as this one pictured in North Lane.
Payment for parking by QR code is not something we offer at any of our car parks, or for on-street parking.
Please do not scan any QR code you see on a parking machine.
We have checked these stickers and they go to what appears to be quite a professional website, but it is NOT legit and is highly likely to be a scam where you will lose your money.
Machines across the district are being checked and any QR codes will be removed.
If you are paying for parking using your mobile phone, either call the number on the machine or download the Ringo app from your Apple or Android device.
London Assembly Member Bassam Mahfouz has joined worshipers and community leaders to call upon transport chiefs to end the decades long wait for a bus service for deserted corner of Southall.
Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon held a community meeting in Johnson Street, Southall, with local MP Deirdre Costigan, former MP Virendra Sharma and worshipers of the Asamai Cultural Trust, Southall to press the case for a local bus service to serve their community.
Earlier this week Assembly Member Mahfouz held initial talks with transport chiefs from Transport for London (TfL) to discuss potential options for re-routing one of Southall’s many buses to serve this currently bus-free zone.
The transport provider aims for local people within the capital to live within 400 meters of a bus stop, however at twice the distance residents, worshipers and local businesses are forced to walk around 800m to the nearest bus stops on Western Road.
Around 500 people attend the Asamai Cultural Trust each week, around 800 households plus dozens of local businesses would benefit from a bus re-route through Johnson Street in Southall. As well as a site for worship, the Asamai Cultural Centre provides numerous health and wellbeing activities, including music and language schools.
Ashok Bhasin, General Secretary of the Asami Cultural Trust said: “Many of our worshipers attend regularly during the week to avoid social isolation, by connecting through our social groups, to eat together or attend one of our classes. The lack of a local bus service means that for many of our older members simply cannot access these key services without getting a lift, or an expensive taxi journey.
“As we approach Divali we hope and pray that even more elderly and disabled members of our community will be able to enjoy the important lifeline that our temple and community centre provides.”
Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, said:
“For far too long this corner of Southall has been barren of a bus service. I have long fought to make our borough a more accessible place and a simple re-routing of one of the many local buses would make a huge impact locally.
“Around 800 households, 500 worshipers and dozens of businesses would benefit from the change we are calling for. I am delighted that as a direct result of the meeting that I have organised, TfL have agreed to investigate the possibility of re-routing one of the local buses to end this decades long wait for a bus service.”
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
From 6pm on Saturday 26th October, Big Ben will be undergoing scheduled maintenance. That means the chimes will be silenced and the clock will temporarily be incorrect.
This is an important time our Clock Mechanics will use to test the clock mechanism and make sure everything is in top condition. It’s crucial that those illuminated faces shine through the cosy autumn evenings to come.
You can expect the chimes to begin ringing out again at 2am on Sunday 27th October, marking the start of British Winter Time.
On 24 and 25 October 2024 Chair of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Bauer visited Finland, upon the invitation of its Chief of Defence General Janne Jaakkola. Admiral Bauer’s visit underscored the value of Finland as a NATO Ally and the important contributions it provides to NATO’s deterrence and defence.
On Thursday 24 October, Admiral Bauer visited the Guards Jaeger Regiment and met with Finnish Defence Support Association members. This gave the opportunity to engage with members and meet current Finnish conscripts.
In the evening, Admiral Bauer addressed the Finnish National Defence Course Association. This association brings together leaders from across society Finnish society who complete a prestigious national course covering in-depth topics of security and defence. Admiral Bauer’s speech praised the spirit of resilience engraved in Finland’s national defence and emphasised what NATO can learn from Finland’s Comprehensive Security Strategy and Total Defence Concept.
Admiral Bauer took the opportunity to discuss Finland’s transition to NATO membership, and looked ahead to the future of its membership in the Alliance. The Chair of the NATO Military Committee stated “Finland’s movement into NATO is a transition, not a transformation. It is an opportunity to inspire Allies, whilst embracing a posture of international resilience. I urge you all to hold the spirit of ‘sisu’ as a firebrand leading the way as you carve out this new path. Knowing that there are friends on either side. And that you need never again navigate the darkness alone.”
On Friday 25 October, Admiral Bauer met with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, Minister of Defence Anti Häkkänen and the Finnish Parliamentary Defence Committee. These engagements allowed Admiral Bauer the opportunity to discuss strategic developments in NATO’s deterrence and defence and the need for continued support for Ukraine. In his engagements with the Finnish political and military leadership, Admiral Bauer praised the strength that Finland’s membership brings to NATO. Admiral Bauer commended the synergy of Finland’s civilian and military infrastructures and sectors in contributing towards societal resilience. He also underscored the crucial role of defence industries in Allied deterrence and defence.
Every year, five hours west of Mexico City on Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán, residents flock to the island of Janitzio to visit the graves of their departed relatives.
On the evening of Nov. 1, the Noche de animas, or Night of the Souls in Purgatory, families will bring a meal to share with their ancestors. They will also use the time to clean the graves and decorate them with elaborate displays of candles and marigolds. Some will spend the night sleeping among the tombstones.
In Mexico City, parades will feature people in colorful customs with large skull masks while skull-shaped floats move through the streets to the rhythm of Aztec drums. Marigolds, skull-painted faces and swishing skirts will fill the downtown from the main square of the Zócalo to Bellas Artes, the Palace of Fine Arts.
This vibrant scene reflects the blending of Indigenous, European and specifically Mexican customs that define Day of the Dead celebrations today.
As a scholar of colonial Mexico, I study how Indigenous people have maintained their traditions despite the Spanish invasion. Whereas scholars once thought that these cultures simply blended – a phenomenon called syncretism – researchers today understand more about how Indigenous people intentionally deliberated about which of their own traditions to continue, and how.
Celebrations for the dead had an important place in Indigenous cultures before the Spanish came. But, as historian James Lockhart explained, the Spanish, in their attempts to impose their religion and customs, often did not recognize what was most important to local cultures. As long as Indigenous celebrations for the dead did not contradict Spanish preaching, they could go unnoticed.
Indigenous choices
The immediate effects of the Spanish invasion brought hard choices for Indigenous people. Most of the Indigenous deaths of the conquest came not by the sword, but by epidemic diseases such as smallpox and salmonella, for which the native population had no natural immunity. In the 16th century, whole towns depopulated, and people needed to decide where they would go to find the best opportunities.
After the Spanish came, around Lake Pátzcuaro, displaced families suffering the effects of European illnesses and the deaths of family members moved to cities and towns. On the shores of the lake and on the island of Janitzio, they continued their customs of sharing harvest produce with the dead.
Setting aside time to care for the tombs of the dead became a yearly observance during the colonial period. After independence from Spain in 1821, a series of state decrees in Michoacán even encouraged residents to honor the war heroes buried on Janitzio.
Since the island had already been sacred for hundreds of years, it was a logical site for the veneration of the new heroes of Mexican independence. So, patriotism strengthened the Indigenous tradition of honoring the dead, which was already underway.
How Indigenous practices survived
In Mexico City, colonial policies also ironically allowed Indigenous practices to survive. Before the Spanish came, the Aztecs displayed thousands of skulls of sacrificial victims on a skull rack, called the tzompantli.
The Aztecs honored many of their sacrificial victims before these rituals with days of feasting, fine clothes, luxury lodging and other pleasures. Each year, during the festival of Miccailhuitontli, the “little feast of the dead” in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, children were ritually killed. In the tenth month, it was the adults who were sacrificed during the festival of Huey Miccailhuitl, “great feast of the dead.”
Although Spanish military invaders suppressed these celebrations, they also unintentionally gave the newly colonized Aztecs ways to combine their beliefs with Christian celebrations.
Franciscans and other religious orders who followed brought the medieval rituals of religious theater and processions as part of their efforts to convert the local people. Both of these highly public medieval practices gathered large numbers of spectators, as Aztec rituals had done before the invasion.
The Indigenous actors in these plays, themselves recent converts, portrayed pageants during Christmas, Holy Week and other observances.
While the friars did not plan to draw on Indigenous beliefs, these religious plays had parallels with the preconquest Aztec practice of deity impersonation. For example, before the Spanish came, in the festival of Toxcatl the Aztecs would dress up a specially chosen prisoner as their deity of divination Tezcatlipoca. The impersonator danced and paraded through the city on his way to be sacrificed atop the main temple.
When Catholic religious theater came to the city, local actors continued to take on the persona they represented to such a degree that one local actor even hanged himself after portraying Judas in a Passion play.
Over time, taking cues from the “mascaradas” – the large, papier-mâché heads of Spanish processions and festivals – Day of the Dead began featuring enormous, colorful skulls parading through the streets, just feet away from where the Aztecs once displayed human skulls.
Beyond graves
Besides the usually cited All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2, more covert European elements have influenced Day of the Dead practices. One of these is the belief in the soul and an afterlife. Historian Jill McKeever Furst explains that in the Aztec view, only death in battle or during childbirth earned immortality.
Most people went to Mictlan, the Land of the Dead, releasing their vital energy into the universe and ceasing to exist as individuals. Today, depictions of the living interacting with the dead, singing to or talking with them, such as in the movie “Coco,” likely reflect adapted ideas about the afterlife from Christianity, as cultural critic Anise Strong has noted.
European influences have also shaped home altars with their seven or nine levels, representing layers of underworld, Earth and paradise. Research has revealed that many Indigenous communities in what is now Mexico viewed the universe as flat and placed Mictlan far away from the living, rather than below the Earth.
Historians Jesper Nielsen and Toke Reunert have noted that it is likely that Indigenous images of the universe as made of three realms, with a reward in the sky, Earth in the middle, and the world of the dead below, come from Dante’s “Divine Comedy”. Dante’s literature depicts the universe in a vertical fashion – from the heights of heaven, through purgatory, Earth and with abysmal hell at the bottom.
As local people converted, they left horizontal views of the universe and moved toward a positive up and a negative down. The vertical cosmos contrasts with ancestral Indigenous views of the universe as a plane where humans and supernatural beings interacted.
People gather on the island of Janitzio, Mexico, to clean the graves of their deceased loved ones, decorate them with marigolds and bring baskets with offerings for the Day of the Dead in Mexico. Gerardo Vieyra/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Celebrations continue
The island of Janitzio on Lake Pátzcuaro and Mexico City show how Indigenous choices helped their traditions survive despite Spanish influence. In the city of Pátzcuaro, sharing food with the dead during harvests continued alongside All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Meanwhile, in Mexico City, the history of public ritual sacrifice gave way to the religious pageantry of Spain’s Renaissance.
Today, individuals and groups continue to decide how to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Whether it’s about communicating with the dead, letting go, or believing they remain among the living, the holiday’s strength lies in its ability to hold many meanings.
As long as Indigenous, Spanish and modern Mexican customs continue in home rituals and public celebrations of past lives, current lives and cultural heritage, the Day of the Dead will be alive and well.
Ezekiel Stear does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in The Hill questioning the Biden-Harris administration’s decision to allow the United Kingdom to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Kennedy argued that this deal jeopardizes the safety of a key base on the island of Diego Garcia and benefits the Chinese Communist Party.
Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
“The importance of the base at Diego Garcia cannot be overstated. Diego Garcia is one of the only bases in the world where our military can reload submarines. The base also houses several Navy ships and long-range bomber aircraft that we use to carry out missions around the world. These key missions have made it a top target of Chinese Communist Party spies.
“Today, we know our assets on Diego Garcia are secure because the Chagos Islands are a British territory. The United Kingdom controls the island of Diego Garcia and the surrounding water to protect our shared missions.
“Our secure arrangement, however, just imploded. The United Kingdom announced that it will turn over control of the Chagos Islands to the island nation of Mauritius.”
. . .
“This decision wasn’t about righting the wrongs that the United Kingdom supposedly committed against the people of Chagos, though. Chagossians consider themselves an indigenous people. The Chagos Islands and Mauritius—which are more than 1,200 miles apart—speak different versions of Creole and have no shared pre-colonial historic ties. They are, for all practical purposes, strangers.”
. . .
“President Biden and Vice President Harris either truly believe that the government of Mauritius has the ability and the courage to stand up to China to ensure the security of Diego Garcia, or they withheld their objections to avoid being criticized by woke United Nations activists if they stood up for the American people’s best interests.”
. . .
“The American people deserve to know why President Biden and Vice President Harris allowed this irreversible deal to move forward. Congress must hold the Biden-Harris administration accountable for this short-sighted and dangerous decision.
“So, I repeat: Why? Why put American interests at risk? Why help the Chinese Communist Party?”
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has launched the Small Community Events and Heritage Assets Grants programme, to support local initiatives that enrich our city’s culture and history.
The programme, which is funded through a UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) grant, is aimed at community groups and heritage enthusiasts and will help secure the city’s heritage assets for future generations as the Centenary year approaches.
Leader of the city council, Councillor Jane Ashworth, said: “This is a great opportunity for anybody who has a real appreciation for culture and heritage in our city. Community groups are the lifeblood of maintaining a city’s culture, as well as providing education for younger residents and offering innovative ideas to celebrate what our city has achieved and will achieve in the years to come.
“Applications are now open, and we strongly encourage community groups with a real passion for their home city to get involved. Let us work together for this programme as a community to make Stoke-on-Trent an even more vibrant and culturally rich city than it already is.
“As we approach our Centenary year it’s more important than ever for us to not only celebrate our rich cultural heritage but how we can preserve it for the future. You could even apply for some money to have a Centenary party.”
There are two funding streams for successful applicants. The first of these is Small Community Events, which provides a small contribution towards community events. This grant is intended to cover the running costs of not-for-profit community events.
The second funding stream, Small Heritage Asset Grants, allows applicants to request funding for any repair services, land surveys, and labour costs for restoring or tidying up historical landmarks or breathing new life into long-standing monuments.
The values of these grants range from £500 to £5,000, which will cover 80 per cent of the total costs for a project, with applicants required to provide the remaining 20 per cent of contributions through revenue funding such as cash donations from online appeals, any associated expenses from hiring a function room or open space for an event, and volunteering time.
All legally constituted organisations that are based within the boundaries of Stoke-on-Trent City Council can apply.
Projects will be prioritised based on their alignment with local development strategies; complementing ongoing initiatives to support community and heritage groups in the area; providing a cost-effective opportunity; and encouraging collaboration between organisations sharing the same vision.
The new grant comes as the city council is launching its ‘fit and proper person test’ to ensure heritage doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. The new ‘One Council’ approach will make sure heritage land and property is best managed to benefit the city, its communities, and residents.
Councillor Alastair Watson, cabinet member for financial sustainability and corporate resources, said: “As the city council we are guardians of our heritage and this is a responsibility that we take very seriously.
“That’s why we’re working to protect our historic buildings and cultural heritage as well as creating opportunities for our communities to be able to access them, and use them, and protect them for future generations.”
Applications for the Small Community Events and Heritage Assets Grants the must be completed by midnight on Wednesday 27 November 2024.
If a project is approved, a grant payment will be made to the group manager upon submission of a claim form alongside proof of any project expenditures. After further approval by the programme team, the project lead will then receive their grant via an electronic payment.
To request an application pack or for any other questions about the application process for this programme, please contact Angela Halls by emailing angela.halls@stoke.gov.uk.
You can read more information about the Small Community and Heritage Assets Grant programme by visiting https://www.stoke.gov.uk/grants.
Birmingham City Council today urges government to act now on England’s “broken council housing finances”, including “unsustainable” levels of debt previously given to councils by government.
It joins local authorities from across England calling for action ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget.
A report this autumn – Securing the Future of Council Housing – backed by more than 100 councils, highlighted that our national council housing system is in crisis, with finances pushed to the brink by past national policy decisions.
Today Birmingham City Council has signed a joint statement urging Government to help turn things round.
“The new government’s commitment to a ‘council housing revolution’ is a huge step forward for communities across our country,” says the statement.
“The Chancellor’s first Budget and spending review are a once-in-a- generation opportunity to fix England’s broken council housing finances.
“The last government tore up its 2012 council housing settlement and left local government with a £2.2 billion black hole in housing budgets.
“Our report urges the new government to turn this round, investing in urgently needed new council homes, addressing the unsustainable debt previously allocated to councils and creating a Green and Decent Homes Programme, so together we can deliver the more and better council homes and growth that communities up and down the country so desperately need.”
Councillor Jayne Francis, Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said:
“Council homes are so much more than bricks and mortar – they are a cornerstone of a better life.
“But our country’s council housing is in crisis – policy decisions over the past decade have pushed finances to the brink and undermined the sustainability of the system. In Birmingham, the demand for accommodation has never been higher. Currently, Birmingham has around 25,000 people on the housing register seeking a home.
“I see every day how council homes change lives for the better. Having a quality home to call your own gives people the stable platform they need to live a healthy life and to live it well. We want everyone in Birmingham to live in a warm, safe, sustainable home.
“We’re calling for government to take this once-in-a-generation chance to fix England’s broken council housing finances, address unsustainable debt, and help us to make sure future generations in Birmingham have the council homes they need.”
Securing the Future of Council Housing was supported by 109 councils across England, led by Southwark Council.
It highlighted that without urgent action a £2.2bn black hole in councils’ housing budgets is expected by 2028.
A ‘network review’ is now underway in Salford aimed at further improving the Bee Network.
As all Greater Manchester (GM) bus services come under local control by 5 January 2025, network reviews will be an important way to help plan simple, joined up, reliable transport services across Greater Manchester.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Salford Council will be speaking to local transport committees and forums, communities, businesses and elected members so see what they think of transport in their area – and what improvements they would like to see.
Alongside Bolton and Wigan, Salford is one of the first area to have a network review – as the first areas to get Bee Network bus services.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can see answers to most frequently asked questions about network reviews on this webpage: beenetwork.com/network-reviews
Bee Network Review now underway in Salford A ‘network review’ is now underway in Salford aimed at further improving the Bee Network.
As all GM bus services come under local control by 5 January 2025, network reviews will be an important way to help plan simple, joined up, reliable transport services across Greater Manchester.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Salford City Council will be speaking to local transport committees and forums, communities, businesses and elected members so see what they think of transport in their area – and what improvements they would like to see.
Alongside Bolton and Wigan, Salford is one of the first area to have a network review – as the first areas to get Bee Network bus services. Find out more about the network review.
Mayor urges public to stay safe at Derry Halloween celebrations
25 October 2024
As the city’s world renound Halloween celebrations begin in earnest this Monday October 28th, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr, has appealed to the public to make safe choices to ensure a safe and happy celebration for everyone.
The Awakening the Walled City Trail in the city centre will run nightly from 6pm to 9pm from Monday October 28th to Wednesday October 30th
It is set to draw crowds of up to 25,000 people each night before the climactic carnival parade and fireworks on Thursday 31st October which traditionally attracts over 30,000 people.
Other attractions include ghastly ghost tours, creepy arts and crafts, spooky story-telling and horrific haunted houses.
With such large crowds expected, Mayor Barr appealed to everyone to follow the Carnival Care guidance and plan ahead to ensure they get to and from the event safely.
“All the necessary preparations have been made for record crowds over the coming days but we still need the cooperation of the public to ensure that this is an enjoyable festive experience for everyone,” she said.
“To cope with the huge influx of people expected in and around our city centre, a number of measures have been introduced to manage the numbers.
“I would ask people to access the trail maps and to follow all signage.
“For those travelling to and from the event by car, please familiarise yourself with the traffic and travel advice and consider public transport or active travel to help reduce congestion in and around our city centre.
“Also please co-operate fully with stewards and the PSNI who will be there to ensure your safety.
“We all have a responsibility to safeguard those around us and to make sure our behaviour doesn’t put others at risk.”
Parents are being advised to be extra vigilant when it comes to keeping an eye on children and young people throughout the festival. Festival and Events Manager at Council, Jacqueline Whoriskey, issued some further advice to those attending.
“With such large crowds expected it is a good idea to plan ahead and arrange meeting points if you are out in a group,” she stressed. “Please ensure teenagers have transport home if out with friends, and that mobile phones are charged.
“Translink will have additional services operating over the weekend and especially on Halloween night to help reduce traffic and parking in the city centre and ensure people get home safely.
“We can’t wait to have everyone with us, so access all the information on the event website and plan an unforgettable Derry Halloween.”
Derry Halloween is funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council, Tourism Northern Ireland and The Executive Office, with support from Ulster University and Air Coach. Follow all the latest news at derryhalloween.com which includes traffic and travel, carnival care and accessibility advice.
A new community garden has opened in Sunderland’s historic Mowbray Park.
Funded with the support of £180,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the project has transformed an underused corner of Mowbray Park into a creative, active and vibrant growing space for the whole community to share and enjoy.
The Mowbray Park Community Garden was set up with the aim of creating a space where the whole community can come together to learn new skills, spend time in nature and make connections.
Since work got underway in June, a number of edible crops, including strawberries, have already been harvested after being grown from seed with the help of community volunteers and local schoolchildren.
The Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Allison Chisnall, who cut the ribbon officially opening the garden, said: “It was wonderful to hear all about this amazing community project and how it’s flourishing, and a real treat to have the children from Hudson Road Primary School there singing their harvest festival songs.
“They played their own special role in creating the garden by donating wild flower seeds at the very beginning of the project.”
Councillor Beth Jones said: “This is all about bringing local people together at the same time as increasing pride in the city centre and a space that can support people’s health and wellbeing.
“Local people have been involved in the community garden right from the start, from helping to shape its design to having a say in the plants they wanted to see growing there.
“So it’s very much a garden which has been created for the community by the community, with the help of skilled community development workers who have worked on similar projects in the past.
There are lots of ways for people to get involved with the garden whether or not they enjoy gardening or have any experience. Regular drop-in sessions are held every Tuesday 10am to 12pm for people of all ages and abilities.
There are also activities during the school holidays and an upcoming community art programme which will create art that will be installed and displayed in the garden.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On October 25, 2024, the State University of Management held a ceremonial opening of the student expeditionary corps.
The official ceremony took place in the lobby of the Information Technology Center. All those present were able to see unique footage of the expeditions conducted by the students of the State University of Management at a photo exhibition, and also watched a video about the first trip.
The opening ceremony was attended by the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev, the acting vice-rector of the State University of Management Nikolay Mikhailov, the vice-rector of the Russian Technical University MIREA Igor Tarasov and the deputy general director of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives Evgeny Murakhveri. The event was moderated by the head of the expeditionary corps of our university Vladimir Linnik.
Vladimir Stroyev admitted that the path to opening the corps was long and difficult. The first step in this direction was the project “Beacons of Friendship. Towers of the Caucasus”, which is still being successfully implemented, but has a relatively narrow localization. The expeditionary corps will significantly expand the geography of trips and diversify the areas of activity with environmental, patriotic and charity trips. As an example, the rector cited search expeditions to Sebezh.
“These works not only contribute to personal development, but also help preserve historical knowledge, are useful for society, especially in today’s situation. On behalf of the university management, I promise the corps comprehensive support and from this moment I propose to consider it open,” said Vladimir Vitalievich.
Vice-Rector of MIREA Igor Tarasov said that the volunteer expedition movement at his university has been around for 10 years, but previously trips were organized only for its students. And six months ago, the “Arctic Team” was created – a unique in its scale and subject inter-university project based on RTU MIREA. In a relatively short period of its work, 77 expeditions have already been conducted for 1,000 people from 45 universities in Russia. Their participants have visited many regions of Russia, the North Pole and Antarctica, as well as Armenia, Hungary and Kazakhstan. Right now, the ship “Mikhail Somov” is carrying another student expedition along the Northern Sea Route. At the end of his speech, Igor Aleksandrovich thanked several students of the State University of Management by name for their active participation in the activities of the “Arctic Team”.
Acting Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Nikolay Mikhailov, as a candidate of geographical sciences, has spent more than 10 years of his life on expeditions. At the opening ceremony, he admitted that he loves the mountains most of all and noted that students make a great contribution to the work of scientists, and their participation in the search for the remains of soldiers of the Great Patriotic War is extremely important for the whole society. Nikolay Nikolaevich wished those who have already started going on expeditions to preserve their love for them for the rest of their lives. He admitted that soon the current students will become qualified specialists, managers, will start families and will have less and less time for travel, but at least occasionally it is always nice to go on trips.
At the level of vice-rectors, Igor Tarasov and Nikolai Mikhailov signed an agreement on cooperation between the student expeditionary corps of GUU and RTU MIREA.
Deputy Director General of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives Evgeny Murakhveri noted that any expedition is a combination of business with pleasure, it is teamwork, which also reveals forgotten history and lost elements of culture to society, which is fully consistent with modern state policy, the tasks set by Vladimir Putin, and the direction of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. The guest said that in his youth he loved hiking, studied to be a geophysicist and spent an interesting scientific youth on expeditions. On hikes he made friends for life, became interested in rock music, acquired survival skills and worked with various tools, so he highly recommends enrolling in the student corps of the State University of Management – it will be interesting.
The head of the expedition corps Vladimir Linnik reported that before the opening, our students had managed to participate in 10 expeditions. The plans for 2025 include an archaeological expedition to the village of Khotylyovo in the Bryansk region to the sites of primitive people of the Paleolithic era, as well as to the Valdai Reserve to clean up the eco-trail. If the topic of future expeditions corresponds to the student’s field of study, then participation can be counted as practice. Nikolay Mikhailov, taking advantage of the occasion, presented Vladimir Linnik with a membership card of the Russian Geographical Society, of which he himself has been a member for 52 years.
Awarded with the Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation for her search activities, third-year student of the Institute of Search and Rescue Sciences Daria Monul briefly spoke about her four years of experience in expeditions and wished everyone to receive high awards for their favorite work.
At the end of the ceremony, the expedition participants showed a second video about the expeditions of the GUU students, after which, together with their friends from MIREA, they personally shared their emotions from the trips, talked about their travels and thanked the leadership of the two universities for the opportunities provided.
Anyone can join the GUU expeditionary corps.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 10/25/2024
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
On 24 October 2024, NATO kicked-off “Neptune Strike 2024.” This enhanced vigilance activity will take place across Europe, from the central Mediterranean and Adriatic up to the North and Baltic Seas and will run until 31 October 2024. During this period, NATO will take operational control of cutting-edge maritime warfare capabilities from numerous Allies, including multiple aircraft carriers and expeditionary strike groups that will be deployed across several operational domains.
In total, some 20 surface vessels and submarines, along with special operations forces and numerous aircraft, are participating, with around 15.000 supporting personnel. Participating nations to this NATO deployment include Albania, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States, a powerful demonstration of Allies’ ability to work together through NATO to deter and defend.
CORBY, United Kingdom, Oct. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nene Capital, a long term investor in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is proud to announce the acquisition of Cold Tech (Services) Ltd., a leader in refrigerated coldroom and cabinet maintenance. This acquisition enhances Nene Capital’s portfolio with a company renowned for its expertise and high-quality, bespoke solutions in food, retail, pharmaceutical, and logistics sectors.
Cold Tech (Services) Ltd. excels in maintenance, installation, and servicing of refrigeration, HVAC, and cold storage systems. Known for reliability and energy-efficient solutions, Cold Tech aligns perfectly with Nene Capital’s values of quality and growth.
Cold Tech (Services) Ltd. will continue under its established brand, ensuring uninterrupted service and trusted relationships. Nene Capital will support Cold Tech by investing in resources to expand its capabilities while maintaining quality and customer satisfaction.
Stephen Bayliss, Managing Director of Nene Capital, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Cold Tech (Services) Ltd. to our growing portfolio. This acquisition represents a significant step in our mission to invest in businesses that offer sustainable value and operational excellence.”
Simon Stringer, Finance Director of Nene Capital commented: “Cold Tech is a well-established business with over ten years of successful trading during which it has achieved a strong position in its market. We are excited to take the business into the next stage of its development.”
The transaction was supported by the corporate deal team at solicitors Howes Percival LLP and the Growth Finance team at Allica Bank.
Representatives of the African Development Bank, the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) initiative, the African Union Commission (AUC), and the government of Botswana came together in Gaborone, Botswana to develop a unified approach to addressing malnutrition in Southern Africa.
The event, held on September 10 and 11, 2024, also drew nutrition experts from 15 countries in the region to support the development of Africa’s first-ever Multisectoral Nutrition Policy Framework (MNPF). Participants also discussed high-impact interventions, the establishment of sustainable funding mechanisms for nutrition programs, and financing targets. The consultation outcomes are expected to guide policy formulation and promote increased investments in nutrition across the region.
The call for the development of a multisectoral policy framework and an investment target to ensure adequate funding for nutrition initiatives emerged from the 41st Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Executive Council, which was held in July 2022 in Lusaka, Zambia.
The economic and social impacts of malnutrition took center stage in the discussions. One-third of African children under five suffer from stunting, even as obesity is an increasing challenge, with rates reaching 55 percent in some countries.
In her remarks, Dr. Mareko Ramotsababa, Secretary for Primary Health Care in Botswana, observed: “The region is still lagging behind in achieving the goals set for the Africa Agenda 2063, particularly in ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition. Although there’s been some improvement in malnutrition rates in the SADC region recently, child undernutrition remains a significant concern. Most member states have stunting rates surpassing 25 percent and wasting rates exceeding 5 percent. This calls for immediate and concerted action.”
Prof. Julio Rakotonirina, African Union Commission Director for Health and Humanitarian Affairs in the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, said: “These statistics must worry us because they stand in the way of achieving our aspiration for Agenda 2063, the Africa We Want. It is clear from these statistics that investing in the nutrition of our people to create a healthy and productive society is an economic imperative and should sit at the very center of Africa’s transformation agenda. Investing in better nutrition also makes financial sense. For a typical African country, every dollar invested in reducing chronic undernutrition in children yields a return of $16.”
Mr. George Ouma, African Development Bank Coordinator of African Leaders for Nutrition, reflected on the event’s significance in the context of the Bank’s 60th anniversary, which took place on 9-10 September. “This regional consultation exemplifies the African Development Bank’s enduring commitment to advancing multisectoral nutrition strategies. As we celebrate 60 years of the Bank’s impact, we’re reminded that the mandate from the 41st Ordinary Session in Lusaka in 2022 anchors our gathering,” he said. “The urgency of a unified, multisectoral approach to combating malnutrition aligns perfectly with the Bank’s six-decade journey of fostering collaborative, cross-sector development initiatives.”
The regional consultation for Southern Africa follows one for the West Africa region held in Dakar, Senegal, in August 2024. Under the continental MNPF, regional consultations will take place in all five regions of Africa, culminating in the development of a unified policy and investment target for the entire continent.
The consultations will also help mobilize support for African countries ahead of the Nutrition for Growth Summit scheduled to be held in France in 2025. That Summit, a global event held every four years in the Olympic host country, brings governments and other key stakeholders together to accelerate progress toward ending malnutrition by 2030.
About ALN
The African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) Initiative, spearheaded by the African Development Bank and championed by African leaders, works to galvanise political will and significant investments to end nutrition. Since it was officially endorsed on January 31, 2018, by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Governments, ALN has secured critical commitments from governments across Africa, leading to impactful policy changes and cross-sector collaborations.
Headline: Meeting the moment: Microsoft’s 2024 Impact Summary
In the past year, we’ve witnessed remarkable examples of how AI can be applied to address some of the world’s most difficult problems—problems that until recently, we accepted as unsolvable either because the scale was too enormous (monitoring the health of the Amazon rainforest) or because getting powerful technology into the hands of everyday people was too expensive (diagnostic tools to detect disease in remote areas).
But it turns out that when you enable teams of scientists and engineers to develop creative AI-driven solutions designed and implemented with the input of local communities, governments, private companies, and NGOs, the results are astonishingly effective and efficient.
At Microsoft, we know that AI is going to be the driving, transformative force in the effort to bring education, healthcare, and opportunity to everyone, everywhere. But to realize our mission of empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more in this AI era, we need to bring AI and the infrastructure that supports it to the areas of the world that were left behind in prior industrial revolutions.
That’s why, in addition to making AI investments in the past year in places like Australia, the UK, Germany, France, and the United States, we also went to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Kenya, Mexico, and Brazil. We aren’t doing this alone; we are partnering with governments, private companies, and NGOs to build infrastructure that will result in carbon-negative, water positive data centers as well as skilling courses to create meaningful employment.
None of this works without trust. Our business runs on trust, and it’s earned through an overriding commitment to security built into our products, openness to regulation, and transparency. This report details how we’re living up to our exacting standards in expanding opportunity, building trust, protecting fundamental rights, and advancing sustainability. There’s much more to do, but with AI and the collaborative power of billions of people worldwide, we will continue to tackle tough problems and solve them together.
Home » Latest News » Cost of hundreds of parking spaces could fall, says council
The cost of parking in more than 4,000 car park spaces across the district is set to be frozen.
And the cost of parking in 220 spaces in one Canterbury city centre car park is proposed to fall by a huge 37%.
In a report to Canterbury City Council’s Cabinet asking for permission to consult on the coming year’s parking charges, tariffs at the following car parks are set to stay the same:
all three Park and Ride sites – New Dover Road, Wincheap and Sturry Road
at most Band 2 car parks including St Radigunds, Northgate, Longport, Millers Field in Canterbury; Beach Walk, Oyster and Middle Wall in Whitstable; Neptune in Herne Bay; Reculver Towers and Reculver Country Park in Reculver
Band 3 car parks including Castle Street Multi-Storey, Holmans Meadow, Station Road West Multi-Storey, Toddlers Cove, Victoria Rec Ground in Canterbury; Cow Lane and Maynard Road in Wincheap; Gladstone Road, Shaftesbury Road and Victoria Street,in Whitstable; William Street, Market Street and Memorial Park in Herne Bay
Band 5 car parks including Ocean View, Swalecliffe Avenue and Bishopstone Lane in Herne Bay, Tankerton Road in Tankerton, Reculver Drive in Reculver, Hampton in Hampton, Faversham Road in Seasalter and the Gorrell Valley Nature Reserve
A space at the Riverside complex will fall from £2.70 an hour to £1.70 with the resident rate or £1.90 without.
And, after concerns were raised about the increase in the cost of parking in School Lane, Herne, which was imposed last year, the report says the cost of an all-day space should fall from £15 per day to £1.60 on weekdays and £3.20 during the weekend and bank holidays.
Motorists could also benefit from:
the introduction of an annual Park and Ride permit for £50 per month or £600 per year saving motorists money
the introduction of a Park and Ride corporate account allowing businesses to encourage their staff to park for just £2.50 per day including free parking at the weekend
applying the resident rate to the daily capped charge in Band 3 car parks controlled by ANPR cameras so it will cost a maximum of £13.50 per day. Non residents will pay £15
applying the resident rate to the daily capped charge in Band 2 car parks so it will cost a maximum of £18 per day. Non residents will pay a maximum of £20 per day
Cllr Alex Ricketts, Cabinet Member for Tourism, Transport and Rural Champion, said: “Parking charges are never popular but the income they generate helps to pay for vital frontline services like waste collections or providing temporary accommodation for families that find themselves without a roof over their heads.
“Feedback from the public has been instrumental in the formation of this set of proposals and, if Cabinet gives its permission to consult, we’re keen to hear everyone’s views before any final decisions are taken early next year.
“I’d urge people to take a moment to feed into the process. We do listen and adjust charges where we can.
“I hope our proposal for School Lane is evidence of that.
“And it is worth noting, we’re still waiting to hear from the new Chancellor how much money she can find for local government so some our assumptions may have to change.”
The draft Off Street Parking Places Order (OSPPO), which sets council car park tariffs, also proposes:
to add 10p an hour to the cost of parking in the council’s Band 1 car parks
to move North Lane and Castle Row car parks in Canterbury from Band 2 to Band 1
to increase the cost of off-street parking permits by 3%
Cllr Ricketts said: “Everyone who lives, works and studies in Canterbury knows it is impossible to drive around the city at certain times of the day and how difficult it is to find a space in our most popular car parks.
“We have to cut the queues and change people’s habits. Park and Ride is key.
“These proposals are designed to reduce the demand for city centre car parking spaces and persuade people and businesses to use low-cost and convenient alternatives like the Park and Ride scheme.
“They align with our emerging bus-led transport strategy which is aimed at making alternatives to the car far more attractive to cut congestion, boost air quality and combat climate change.
“We really do want to hear what people think especially if they have alternative ideas.”
The banding of the council’s car parks and the resident rate was introduced last year.
Car parks have been placed in bands with the most popular and convenient in Band 1 and the far less well used in Band 5.
If you’re a resident of Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable or the rural villages and you have a parking permit account, you can sign up for a resident rate permit in certain car parks.
You pay 10% less in all ANPR-camera controlled car parks in bands 2 and 3 and 20% less at all Park and Ride sites.
The Cabinet will decide whether to give permission to consult on the OSPPO at its meeting on Monday 4 November at 7pm in the Guildhall, St Peter’s Place, Canterbury.
If approved, the consultation will run from Monday 11 November 2024 to Monday 6 January 2025.
Home » Latest News » Draft budget hopes to tackle council’s financial challenges head on
Coping with ever-rocketing external costs and increasing demands for council services are at the heart of Canterbury City Council’s budget proposals for 2025/2026.
If nothing else changed, rising prices alone would account for an increase in spending of just over £1m.
To counter this, the draft budget says it has identified £701,000 in efficiency savings and can shave a further £393,000 because of proposed changes to some service levels.
Cllr Mike Sole, Canterbury City Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “It is no secret that councils across the country of all political persuasions are facing a really difficult financial situation. We are no different.
“And drafting this budget is a touch more challenging than it usually is as we’re waiting to find out how much money the new Chancellor will be able to find for councils which are facing a plethora of challenges.
“Some of our assumptions could well change for the better.
“As an administration that is determined to be prudent and careful with council taxpayers’ money, we know we are not able to significantly expand the services that are important to us right now.
“But we are determined to use advances in technology to help us to work smarter, achieve more and generate extra cash especially when it comes to our property portfolio.
“Finally, the draft budget promises we will put aside the extra money needed to ensure we cement and build on the legacy of the Levelling Up Fund projects.”
The draft budget also proposes:
the introduction of a cultural grant pot of £30,000 per year to support more events and festivals
freezing parking charges for more than 4,000 parking spaces in council-owned car parks including Park and Ride, reducing the cost of parking at the Riverside complex by 37% and reversing last year’s increase in School Lane, Herne
the introduction of an annual Park and Ride permit for £50 per month or £600 per year saving motorists money
the introduction of a Park and Ride corporate account allowing businesses to encourage their staff to park for just £2.50 per day including free parking at the weekend
to convert 20 of Canenco’s larger diesel refuse collection vehicles to run on hydrogenated vegetable oil to help cut emissions and help the environment, at a cost of approximately £20,000 a year
a 3% increase in council tax meaning people living in an average Band D property will pay an extra 14p per week
saving £58,000 by reducing the number of times the grass is cut in amenity sites, such as parks and playing fields, from 18 times a year to 10 times a year
If accepted, the draft budget suggests most of the council’s fees and charges should only go up by 3%. The exceptions are:
a 20% increase for developers seeking what is known as pre-app advice before putting in a press release
a 5% increase for beach hut owners except for those at East Cliff which will be reduced by 14%
a 5% increase for people using the council’s slipways for launching jet skis etc
Leader of the Council, Cllr Alan Baldock, said: “Finding more than £1 million in cost savings after years and years of finding ways to be more efficient is no mean feat and is a real testament to officers and we are incredibly grateful for their hard work.
“We’re determined to do all we can to spot opportunities to invest in improvements to our services so that we can save money in the future and spend it on the key priorities we were elected to deliver.
“This really is a listening exercise and we want to hear the views of everyone that lives, works and studies in the district.
“People have become jaded when it comes to consultations around key but difficult issues.
“I hope our proposed changes to tariffs in School Lane in Herne show we are more than prepared to listen.”
The Cabinet will decide whether to give permission to consult on the draft budget at its meeting on Monday 4 November at 7pm in the Guildhall, St Peter’s Place, Canterbury.
If approved, the consultation will run from Monday 11 November 2024 to Monday 6 January 2025.
Upgrades are continuing along Derby Road and Nottingham Road to deliver better transport choices for Derby.
As part of the next phase of works, Derby Road will be closed twice to allow for kerbing, footway and drainage works, and resurfacing. These closures will be:
Between Raynesway/Acorn Way roundabout and Oregon Way. 7am Saturday 26 October to 8pm Sunday 3 November.
Between Raynesway/Acorn Way roundabout and Lime Grove. 7am Saturday 16 November to 8pm Sunday 17 November.
Both closures will be in place 24/7 with no through routes for vehicles. Pedestrian access will be maintained. Traffic will still be able to use the Raynesway Roundabout in other directions.
During the closures, a signed diversion route will be in place via the A52, Pentagon Island and Nottingham Road for through traffic.
There will also be local diversion routes in place for the weekend of the 16 and 17 November when the Derby Road/Oregon away junction is closed.
The closures have been planned for the half term week and a weekend to minimise disruption and make the most of lighter traffic. This also means school runs and bus services are not affected.
These works are part of Nottingham and Derby’s Transforming Cities programme, a wider package of works that is creating a more sustainable transport network for the city.
For Derby Road and Nottingham Road this means the creation of new active travel provision through improved pedestrian and cycle routes.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, said:
Sustainable transport is an essential part of our mission to create a greener, better-connected Derby, and we have embarked on a wide range of schemes to improve infrastructure around the city.
I’m glad to see work progressing well on both Nottingham and Derby Road, but to allow it to continue some temporary road closures are necessary.
We know the impact that roadworks can have in busy areas, so we have worked hard with our contractors to reduce the duration of the closures to the half-term week and a weekend to help minimise disruption.
It’s a big day for the north of Plymouth and a big day for the Council with the first units at the new district centre at Derriford now being handed over from the developer to the landlord, Plymouth City Council.
Shoppers have been waiting with excitement for the new stores to open their doors, with Aldi’s now open and the count down on for the new Marks & Spencer Foodhall to open next month. Ahead of that, the Council has formally taken ownership of the first three units of the site, which was developed by ADC Kimberley on behalf of the Council.
Councillor Evans said: “This is a massive deal for the north of the city and for the Council.
“We’ve been keen to see more facilities for people in the north of the city for a long time. This ambition has been part of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan to make this happen in a measured and thoughtful way.
“Not only is this good news for people living nearby, but it is great news for the 100 or so people who will be employed here and the centre will bring a longer-term rental income into the Council.”
Council leader Tudor Evans with developer Jonathan Banham
Other businesses taking space in the centre are also well on the way to completion. Tenants include a Marks & Spencer Foodhall, a Costa Coffee, PureGym, and an Oggy Oggy pasty shop.
There are 12 electric vehicle charging points installed by Gridserve and sustainable transport links to and from the centre are being created to help reduce car use, with cycle lanes and easy pedestrian access to bus stops.
Councillor Evans added: “As with all exciting, shiny new shops opening, we expect to see a rush of interest with people checking out what’s on offer. We know it could be busy in and around this new centre when it first opens, so are asking people who would automatically come up Tavistock Road, to consider getting off the A38 a junction earlier and heading up the Forder Valley link road. There’s a choice now!”
Jonathan Banham of ADC Kimberley said: “This is a project that will provide much needed new facilities for the growing population in the north of Plymouth,”
“As well as bringing essential new facilities to the people who live and work in this area, the project has given a significant boost to the construction industry locally and regenerated a brownfield site that had sat unused for over quarter of a century.
The district centre builds on previous investments at Derriford made by Plymouth City Council which has resulted in the Range Head Office being built, new housing and NHS facilities popping up on Council owned land, including the new Royal Eye Infirmary on William Prance Road. It is near some of Plymouth’s biggest employers, including Derriford Hospital and the Land Registry.
Timeline
2009 – Plans for a district centre at Derriford unveiled as part of Local Development Framework. People invited to give their views
2019 – The new district centre for Derriford has been a strategic city objective and Seaton Barracks was designated as the preferred site for the district centre in the Joint Local Plan, which was adopted in March
2019 – ADC Kimberley Ltd, selected as the Council’s preferred developer following a competitive bidding process
2021 – big-name brands secured Marks and Spencer (M&S) for a new foodhall, supermarket Aldi and Costa, which will operate a café and drive through. Other features proposed a gym, pet shop, a further, smaller retail unit and 12 rapid EV charging points.
2022 – planning application for a new district centre on former Seaton Barracks Parade Ground site approved
2023 – Following renegotiations with occupiers which led to increased rental income, the Council agrees £1 million investment deal to close a funding gap as project has hit by rising construction costs.
Repairs to fix the Mount Edgcumbe slipway will begin next week and the ferry will resume tomorrow (Saturday 26 October).
During a review of the slipway at Mount Edgcumbe, Plymouth City Council surveyors identified cracks that needed to be repaired. Whilst plans were being put in place to carry out the works, a further survey was carried out following the recent bad weather.
The surveyors found that the storms have caused further deterioration beneath the slipway, resulting in the main concrete walkway coming loose and collapsing in places.
Repairs are now urgent, so the slipway has been closed and repair works will commence from Monday 28 October. Works include removing and replacing loose stone work, reinforcing the propping of the concrete slab and filling in any voids or gaps. It is hoped that the repairs will take around eight weeks, but this will be dependent on the weather.
The Council has been working with the Cremyll Ferry to identify an alternative landing site. From Saturday 26 October, the ferry service will operate from the beach next to the slipway at low tide, rather than the slipway. Boats have been adapted to enable passengers to get on and off from the beach. Users are encouraged to take care when getting on and off the ferry.
Councillor Chris Penberthy, the Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for facilities management, said: “As the owner of the slipway at Mount Edgcumbe, we have been planning for some time to carry out repairs. Unfortunately, the situation became urgent earlier this week when we found further damage due to the recent storms.
“We closed the slipway straight away and worked with the ferry operator to put together an alternative plan to enable them to continue operate. I would like to thank them for their patience and support, particularly as they had to suspend their services for two days.
“We will work as fast as we can to repair the slipway, but obviously it is winter and the weather might impact how long it will take.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Royal Navy mark milestones in major project at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.
Representatives of RNAS Culdrose, Royal Navy Infrastructure, Kier Construction, Mott MacDonald and Defence Infrastucture Organisation inspect plans to demolish and replace the Engineering Training School. Credit: Crown Copyright
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and the Royal Navy have concluded a contract-signing and groundbreaking ceremony for a major construction project at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Cornwall.
This marks the beginning of work on a £99.5 million project to replace and refurbish the 820 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) hangars, associated office buildings, and the full replacement of the Engineering Training School (ETS). The contract was awarded to Keir Construction with Mott MacDonald as the designated Technical Services Provider.
DIO and its contractors will deliver the project on behalf of the Royal Navy, with the first phase seeing the construction of a new air Engineering Training School, a new hangar and refurbishment of existing buildings for 820 Naval Air Squadron, the helicopter unit dedicated to protecting the Navy’s aircraft carrier strike groups. The project covers a combination of demolition, a new build within the same site footprint, and the refurbishment of existing infrastructure.
Sustainability will be a key feature of the project which will include integrated water-saving measures, Net Zero carbon emissions, solar photovoltaic panels, energy efficient lighting, and air source heat pumps to improve energy efficiency and contribute to carbon reduction.
RNAS Culdrose is integral to the UK’s defence posture and is home to the Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare helicopter fleet. RNAS Culdrose also houses the Engineering Training School responsible for Air Engineering (AE) specialist training, delivering fully trained engineers to support Merlin helicopter operations.
L to R: Andy Roberts of Mott MacDonald; Stu Johnson, Head of Navy Infrastructure; Cpt Stuart Irwin, Culdrose CO; Doug Lloyd of Kier Construction; and Dan Ross of DIO. Credit: Crown Copyright
Daniel Ross, DIO Programme Director, Major Programmes and Projects, said:
“I am delighted that we can celebrate this significant milestone at RNAS Culdrose, marking the next phase of collaboration with our suppliers and the Royal Navy. Building on the sustainable designs already delivered, the project will continue to contribute towards defence’s Net Zero targets and ultimately enhance our military capability.”
Captain Stuart Irwin, Commanding Officer, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose said:
“This project marks the start of an exciting regeneration and investment in RNAS Culdrose with new, modern facilities. The Engineering Training School is at the heart of our operations to maintain the Merlin helicopter fleet. Our young people, many of whom are just at the start of their naval careers, will learn how to maintain aircraft in a high-tech and modern teaching environment.
The refurbishment of aircraft hangars and buildings at 820 Naval Air Squadron is another significant investment. It will provide us with more suitable and sustainable places to operate Merlin Helicopter Force now, and into the future.”
Stu Johnston, Deputy Head, Navy Infrastructure and Projects, Senior Responsible Officer, said:
“The DIO and Navy infrastructure teams have worked closely to develop what will be hangar and training facilities fit for the 21st Century Royal Navy. The project will reflect our wider sustainability and energy efficiency ambitions. The team has embraced a collaborative and agile approach built on years of hard work by stakeholders.”
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and the Royal Navy to deliver these new facilities. We have a wealth of experience in delivering buildings of the highest quality across the defence estate and are proud to be creating this important enabler to the UK’s future defence capability.”
Chris Ackerman, DIO Account Lead for Mott MacDonald, said:
“We are really pleased to be working for DIO as their Technical Service Provider and alongside Kier, the Principal Contractor. This project will provide a suite of modern and sustainable infrastructure for the Royal Navy in accordance with the Defence Operational Energy Strategy.”
The project is scheduled for delivery in the spring of 2028.
A proposed impression of the new Engineering Training School at RNAS Culdrose. Credit: Crown Copyright
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
New website and toolkit launched ahead of next annual celebration of skills and apprenticeships
Preparations are underway for the 18th annual celebration of apprenticeships and skills and the contributions they make to businesses and communities.
Individuals, employers, and partners from across England are gearing up for National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2025 following the launch of a new website and communications toolkit.
National Apprenticeship Week will take place 10-16 February 2025, with people from across the country being asked to get involved by sharing the good work apprentices do. NAW will highlight how apprenticeships are an excellent option to consider for young people wishing to start a career, for employees looking to progress in their current role or retrain for a new career, or for employers needing to fill skills gaps to help grow their business.
The NAW website and toolkit contain support and guidance on how to get involved. This includes social media graphics, key apprenticeship messages, facts and figures, graduation toolkits, and advice so that individuals and businesses can explore the full range of benefits that apprenticeships offer.
We are focused on apprenticeships all year round, and I am looking forward to celebrating the achievements of the thousands who take on apprenticeships every year this coming National Apprenticeship Week.
They wouldn’t have these opportunities without the support of employers who train these talented individuals in the skills we need for the future.
With our new Growth and Skills Levy, we are giving these businesses greater flexibility over their training, and through Skills England we will boost opportunities across the country so even more people can get on in life and drive our economic recovery.
From November, an events map will be available online for organisers to register their own celebrations so that local communities can also get involved, followed by the announcement of the National Apprenticeship Week 2025 Supporters Club – a list of leading employers sharing how apprenticeships are benefiting their organisation and how they’re lending their support to NAW 2025.
The week itself will also shine a spotlight on other government skills and training programmes, such as Higher Technical Qualifications and Skills Bootcamps. T Level Thursday will return, with a focus on the experiences of T Level students and the contributions they are making during their industry placements. A dedicated toolkit to support T Level Thursday will also be available.
National Apprenticeship Week 2025 is part of the Department for Education’s ongoing Skills for Life campaign which is engaging young people, adult learners, and employers with government skills and training programmes and the opportunities they bring.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A few years ago, after a high number of bridge strikes across the country, the Senior Traffic Commissioner, Richard Turfitt, wrote a letter to all operators across the country.
Whilst the number of incidents has declined, many new operators have joined the industry and bridge strikes still remain a serious issue. The advice forms an integral part of the messaging sent to all operators joining the industry. The STC has now chosen to make it available to all current operators and drivers, through the Traffic Commissioners website.
Bridge strikes are avoidable, and their cost is huge, both in monetary and safety terms.
Commercial vehicle operators and drivers have a duty to take all practical steps to ensure that vehicles avoid colliding with infrastructure. This starts at the very basics with adequate training on risk assessment.
The Senior Commissioner suggests some control measures which operators and drivers can take, including the information which should be given to those planning or altering a route. Network Rail also publishes useful good practice guides.
Operators and drivers who fail to take appropriate measures can find themselves subject to significant regulatory action.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefanie Broszeit, Senior Scientist, Marine Ecosystem Services, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Drake’s Island in Plymouth Sound, Devon, is part of the UK’s first national marine park.Artur Niedzwiedz/Shutterstock
Nature protection, conservation and restoration is “not a trivial matter but key to human survival,” according to scientists quoted in a 2005 UN report. To demonstrate this, they developed the concept of “ecosystem services” – the benefits that people derive from nature. Over the next 20 years, this concept has been in constant development to reflect our growing understanding of how ecosystems work and how we benefit from them.
For many people, it feels wrong to take a human-centred view on nature. But for governments and conservation organisations, this concept is a useful tool. It helps us quantify the value of nature and make sure certain aspects are conserved and protected.
My team and I provide other scientists with information about how coastal areas help to regulate the climate and reduce water pollution. In part, we work with marine conservation experts who restore ecosystems that have been depleted, such as seagrass or oyster beds. This can help choose the best approaches to restoring coastal areas to healthy habitats while providing other benefits, such as shelter for young fish or food for seabirds. Another group of scientists use our data to assess the value of these habitats, now and in the future once they have been restored to good health.
In my work as a marine ecologist, I split ecosystem services into three different groups. First, provisioning services include the provision of food or timber along many other material gains we get from nature. For marine ecosystem services ,this includes fish and chemicals used for research and medicines. Second, regulating services support our planet and human wellbeing. Mussels clean water by filtering it and seagrass takes up and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby helping to regulate the climate. Third, cultural services include leisure and recreation such as sea swimming or fishing.
Diving deeper
A baby crab on seagrass growing at Kingsand, Plymouth Sound. Stefanie Broszeit, CC BY-NC-ND
To better understand these marine ecosystem services and how to use them sustainably, my research delves into some of the more complicated processes that regulate ecosystem services. In terms of the ocean’s role in regulating climate, it’s not just about seagrass.
Seaweeds such as kelp take up carbon too, but cannot bury it in the soil beneath them due to holding onto rocks rather than having roots. They store carbon by getting buried in the deep sea when they are whipped off the rocks during winter storms and transported by currents into deeper waters. There, worms and crabs can feed on this important food source, drawing the carbon deeper into the sediment.
Another step is to measure the benefits of particular ecosystem services. Food provision can be relatively easily measured by data collected by harbours to quantify how much fish is being landed and sold. So we can estimate the volume of harvested fish and calculate their market value. Some cultural services, such as measuring the wellbeing benefits people receive from interacting with coastal environments, can be more difficult to measure.
Plymouth Sound is a great place to assess both benefits to human wellbeing and marine ecology, because not only is this city a hotspot for marine biology research with three internationally recognised marine institutes, it’s also the UK’s first national marine park. Here, I can engage not only with the ecological sciences and datasets but also with environmental psychologists who study how nature affects us and how we affect nature. My team and I have created the marine, social and natural capital laboratory to explore this more.
Because of so many complex variables, it’s important that scientists like me choose the appropriate indicators to estimate the value of contributions from different ecosystem services. Then, we can assess whether interventions such as restoring seagrass or building a port might help or hinder the marine environment.
Often, different ecosystem services might interact or conflict with each other. Fishing in the northeast Atlantic might, for example, negatively affect marine mammals such as seal if the fish they rely on as food are also being eaten by humans. So we need to look at the bigger picture to assess all of the ecosystem services provided by a particular area of ocean. And as our understanding of ecosystem services develops, we can refine efforts to give nature a helping hand.
Swimming, sailing, even just building a sandcastle – the ocean benefits our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection helps drive marine conservation, scientists are diving in to investigate the power of blue health.
This article is part of a series, Vitamin Sea, exploring how the ocean can be enhanced by our interaction with it.
Stefanie Broszeit receives funding from the United Kingdom Research and Innovation and from Horizon Europe, funding European research through the European Commission.
European Council President Michel, along with the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, invited heads of state and government across Europe to the fifth meeting of the European Political Community, which will take place in Budapest on 7 November 2024.
Two men will appear in court charged with the murder of Ahmed Deen-Jah who died after being stabbed in east London in 2017.
[D] Lekan Akinsoji – 26 (15.01.98) of no fixed abode and [E] Sundjata Keita – 26 (11.03.98) of St Margaret’s Court, E12 will appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 26 October.
Both were arrested on Friday, 25 October.
Ahmed died after being attacked in Freemasons Road, Custom House on 2 April 2017.
Résultats financiers au 30 Septembre 2024 du Crédit Agricole Mutuel Nord de France
Septembre 2024
Septembre 2023
Variation
Activité :
Encours de collecte globale
38 188 M€
37 110 M€
2,90%
Encours de crédit
28 749 M€
28 862 M€
-0,39%
Résultats sociaux* :
Produit Net Bancaire
494,2 M€
455,6 M€
8,47%
Résultat Brut d’Exploitation
206,9 M€
158,7 M€
30,38%
Résultat Net
126,7 M€
114,7 M€
10,45%
Résultats consolidés IFRS :
Produit Net Bancaire
545,8 M€
495,8 M€
10,08%
Résultat Brut d’Exploitation
226,8 M€
162,4 M€
39,66%
Résultat Net Part du Groupe
157,7 M€
129,1 M€
22,18%
Structure financière :
Bilan consolidé
38 221 M€
38 273 M€**
-0,14%
Ratio CET1 Bâle 3
28,37%***
29,05%
-0,68 pts
Ratio de liquidité LCR 1 mois****
120,97%
156,99%
-36,02 pts
Ratio Crédit Collecte (yc Greenlease)
124,08%
125,69%
-1,61 pts
Le Conseil d’Administration a arrêté, lors de sa séance du 25 Octobre 2024, les Comptes sociaux et consolidés du Crédit Agricole Nord de France au 30 Septembre 2024.
Activité commerciale
Depuis le 1er janvier plus de 42 380 clients ont rejoint la Caisse régionale, portant le total de clients à 1,15 million. La Caisse régionale devait franchir le seuil symbolique de 1 Million de Clients particuliers à la fin de l’année 2024.
L’activité crédits progresse de 24,9 % par rapport au troisième trimestre 2023, pour s’établir à 2,7 Mrds€ de réalisations mais les encours de crédits s’affichent en léger recul de 0,4 % à 28,7 Mrds€. Les crédits aux entreprises se maintiennent à un niveau élevé et les réalisations de crédit habitat progressent de 19,1% par rapport au T3 2023, sans pour autant revenir à la dynamique des années antérieures.
L’encours d’épargne progresse de 2,9 % sur 12 mois, pour s’établir à 38,2 Mrds€. Cette épargne est portée par les dépôts à terme qui s’élèvent désormais à 4,3 Mrds€ (soit 11,2% du total de la collecte). L’encours des dépôts à vue baisse de 8,4% sur un an et l’épargne de nos clients est orientée vers des supports mieux rémunérés. Cette déformation du profil de la collecte impacte la marge d’intermédiation mais la dynamique de notre activité en atténue les effets.
L’activité assurances s’intensifie, avec un nombre de contrats d’assurance de biens et de personnes qui progresse de 34 500 contrats, soit une hausse de 4,6%. La Caisse régionale devrait franchir le seuil symbolique de 100.000 contrats vendus en 2024.
Résultat social
Le Produit Net Bancaire de la Caisse régionale, à 494,2 M€, est en hausse de 8,5%. Cette évolution est le reflet d’une activité commerciale soutenue, d’une marge d’intermédiation qui montre une inflexion à la hausse et d’une bonne performance des filiales et participations.
Les charges générales d’exploitation affichent une baisse de -3,2%. La hausse des salaires est compensée partiellement par les efforts d’optimisation et de rationalisation de nos charges et par l’absence de dotation au Fonds de Résolution Unique.
En 2024, la Caisse régionale est impactée par une hausse significative du coût du risque, qui s’établit à -49,4 M€ en septembre. Elle s’explique notamment par une montée du risque de contrepartie sur le segment des entreprises et des professionnels. Ce coût du risque ne s’améliorera pas sur la fin de l’année 2024 et est le reflet d’une dégradation de la situation économique.
Le résultat net social intègre une dotation du FRBG (Fonds pour Risques Bancaires Généraux) de 20 M€.
Après prise en compte des autres incidences sur le résultat, le résultat net social (y compris résultat des titrisations) s’établit à 126,7 M€, en hausse sur un an de 10,5%.
Résultat consolidé
Le résultat net consolidé du Groupe Crédit Agricole Nord de France s’élève à 157,7 M€, en hausse de 22,2% sur un an, en lien principalement avec l’évolution du résultat brut d’exploitation de la Caisse régionale.
La contribution des Pôles métiers au résultat net consolidé s’établit comme suit :
Pôle Bancassurance : 144,1 M€ contre 120,4 M€ au 30 Septembre 2023,
Pôle Capital Investissement : 8,4 M€ contre 8,2 M€ au 30 Septembre 2023,
Pôle Presse : 0,4 M€ contre 0,1 M€ au 30 Septembre 2023,
Pôle Foncière : 3,7 M€ contre 2,4 M€ au 30 Septembre 2023,
Pôle Immobilier : 1,6 M€ contre – 1,2 M€ au 30 Septembre 2023,
Pôle Innovation : – 0,4 M€ contre – 0,8 M€ au 30 Septembre 2023.
CCI Nord de France
Le certificat coopératif d’investissement a clôturé à 12,19 € au 30 septembre 2024, en baisse de 4,5 % depuis le 31 décembre 2023.
Perspectives
Depuis l’été 2024, l’environnement des taux est plus favorable à l’investissement mais la dégradation de l’environnement économique peut impacter la dynamique crédits sur les prochains mois. La remontée du rendement de nos encours crédits devrait se poursuivre et le coût de la collecte et du refinancement se stabiliser après avoir été fortement impacté par la transformation de la collecte. Ces effets favorables sur la marge d’intermédiation devraient s’accentuer progressivement. La dégradation du coût du risque reste un élément de prudence et la Caisse régionale poursuit ses efforts pour maintenir un niveau de couverture élevé dans un contexte économique incertain.
Part of an annual series of exercises hosted by the ROK Navy, MNMIWEX 24 increased proficiency in mine countermeasures (MCM) operations within a multi-national naval force.
This year’s iteration had 19 nations and approximately 100 personnel participating, making MNMIWEX 24 the largest of the series to be held.
“I was grateful for the opportunity to work with our hosts, the ROK Navy, and our partner nations and allies,” said Capt. Antonio Hyde, commodore of Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCMRON) Seven, which belongs to Task Force 76, U.S. 7th Fleet’s expeditionary warfare force. “This multi-national training refines how we operate in a complex maritime environment to maintain open sea-lanes and freedom of navigation for all countries in the region.”
MCM forces from the U.S., Australia, Canada and New Zealand embarked the tank landing ship ROKS Cheon Wang Bong (LST 686), which teamed with the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) to conduct mine hunting operations during the eight-day at-sea phase.
A multinational watch floor directed MNMIWEX operations ashore. This facilitated a command structure that promoted interchangeability and helped build the capacity of multinational MCM forces to operate effectively as a team.
“Through this exercise, we improve our abilities to carry out multinational mine operations to protect major ports and sea lines of communication from the complex threats of enemy in case of emergency,” said Capt. Lee Taek-sun, commander of ROK Navy Mine Squadron 52. “We will continue to develop the combat capabilities necessary for mine warfare and further improve mine operation abilities and procedures with multinational forces.”
MNIMIWEX 24 featured participants from the United States, Republic of Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of the Philippines, Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Thailand, Belgium, Malaysia, Oman, Colombia, United Arab Emirates, Chile and the Netherlands.
The exercise took place in U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, which routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
