image_pdfimage_print

Author Archives: HM Government

Press release: Planned road works in West Midlands: weekly summary for Monday 27 March to Sunday 2 April 2017

The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of 24 March 2017 but could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible.

A38 – Claymills to A50 Wood End Lane: carriageway repairs

The southbound carriageway and all associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A38 – Alrewas to Cappers Lane: carriageway repairs

The southbound carriageway and all associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 27 March until 30 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A449 – Gailey roundabout to Brewood road: carriageway repairs

The northbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A449 –Coven to Brabourne: carriageway repairs

The southbound carriageway will be closed overnight for one night from 8pm 27 March until 6am the following morning (28 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A449 – Brabourne to Coven: carriageway repairs

The northbound carriageway will be closed overnight for one night from 8pm on 28 March until 6am the following morning (29 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A46 –Stoneleigh entry slip road: carriageway repairs

The northbound entry slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 4.30am from 27 March until 1 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A5 – Gledrid roundabout and all approaches: carriageway resurfacing

The roundabout and all approaches will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A5 – M54 junction 7 to Preston Boats island: carriageway resurfacing

The westbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Meir Tunnel to Stanley Matthews way: carriageway repairs

The westbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 27th March until 2nd April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Heron Cross to Stanley Matthews including Blurton entry slip road: carriageway repairs

The westbound carriageway and entry slip road will be closed for 24 hours from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 – Wolstanton entry slip and Porthill exit slip roads: vegetation clearance

The northbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 – Wolstanton entry and Porthill exit slip roads: vegetation clearance

The northbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 – Porthill Entry and Wolstanton exit slip roads: vegetation clearance

The southbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 –Talke to Tunstall: carriageway repairs

The southbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 27 March until 30 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 –Talke to M6 junction 16: carriageway repairs

The northbound carriageway and associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 – Tunstall entry slip road: carriageway repairs

The southbound entry slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 28 March until 1 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 – Tunstall exit slip road: carriageway repairs

The southbound exit slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 29 March until 1 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 –Talke to M6 junction 16: carriageway repairs

The northbound carriageway and associated slip roads will be closed for 24 hours from 31 March until 3 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M40 – junction 15 to M42 junction 3a: carriageway works

The northbound carriageway and associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M40 – junction 16 entry slip road: carriageway works

The northbound entry slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M40 – junction 15 entry slip road: carriageway works

The northbound entry slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M40 – junction 3a M42 to M40 link road: carriageway works The southbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – junction 1 exit and entry slip road: carriageway works

The northbound exit slip road will be closed overnight for one night from 9pm on 27 March until 5.30am the following morning (28 March) A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – junction 6 to 7a including the Link Road: carriageway works

The northbound carriageway Including the Link Road from the M6 will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – M6 Junction 4a Link to M42: carriageway works

The southbound link to M42 northbound carriageway will be closed overnight for one night from 10pm on 29 March until 5.30am the following morning (30 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M5 – junction 4a to junction 5: carriageway works

The southbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am on 27, 28 and 29 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M5 – junction 5 to junction 4a: carriageway works

The northbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am on 27, 28 and 29 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M5 – junction 6 to junction 5: carriageway works

The northbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M5 – junction 5 to junction 6: carriageway works

The southbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M50 – junction 4 to junction 2: carriageway repairs

The westbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 27 March until 31 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M50 – junction 4 to junction 2: carriageway repairs

The eastbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M54 – junction 4 slip roads: carriageway repairs

The westbound slip roads will be closed overnight between 8pm and 5am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M54 – junction 4 slip roads: carriageway repairs

The eastbound slip roads will be closed overnight between 8pm and 5am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M54 – junction 2 entry to junction 3 exit slip road: carriageway repairs

The westbound carriageway and slip roads will be closed overnight for one night from 10pm 30 March until 6am the following morning (31 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M54 – junction 1 entry slip road: carriageway repairs

The westbound entry slip road will be closed overnight for one night form 10pm 31 March until 5am the following morning (1 April). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 10 to junction 7 including junction 10 and 9 entry slip roads and Link from M5: carriageway works

The southbound carriageway and associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 11 entry slip road to junction 10 exit including M54 junction 1 entry slip road: carriageway works

The southbound carriageway and associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 7 to junction 10 including junction 9 entry slip and Link from M5 northbound: carriageway works

The northbound carriageway and associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 10 entry slip to junction 11 exit slip road: carriageway works

The northbound carriageway and associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 9 exit slip road: carriageway works

The southbound exit slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 8 entry slip road: carriageway works

The southbound entry slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – Hilton Park entry and exit slip roads: carriageway works

The southbound exit and entry slip roads will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 27 March until 2 April. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 7 entry slip road: carriageway works

The northbound entry slip road will be 24/7 from 9pm 24 March ongoing until 6am on the 27 March. These are 24 hour working from Friday night until Monday morning. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 7 to junction 8: carriageway works

The northbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 9pm and 9am on the 24 and 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 2 exit slip road: carriageway works

The southbound exit slip road will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 27 March until 31 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 3a to junction 4 entry and exit slip roads: carriageway works

The northbound carriageway and entry and exit slip roads will be closed overnight for one night from 10pm 27 March until 5am the following morning (28 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 14 entry slip road: carriageway works

The southbound entry slip road will be closed overnight for one night from 9.45pm 27 March until 5.30am the following morning (28 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 15 exit slip road: carriageway works)

The northbound exit slip road will be closed overnight for one night from 9.45pm 27 March until 5.30am the following morning (28 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 16 to junction 15: carriageway works

The southbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 27 March until 31 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 12 to junction 13: carriageway works

The northbound carriageway will be closed overnight for one night from 9pm 28 March until 6am the following morning (29 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 12 entry slip road: carriageway works

The northbound entry slip road will be closed overnight for one night from 9pm 28 March until 6am the following morning (29 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 4a to junction 4: carriageway works

The southbound carriageway will be closed overnight for one night from 10pm 28 March until 5am the following morning (29 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 4 to junction 3 including M42 junction 7a link and junction 4 entry slip road: carriageway works

The southbound carriageway, Link Road and entry slip road will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 25 March until 27 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 6 exit slip road including the merge to A38m West Midlands. Carriageway Works

The southbound exit slip road will be closed overnight for one night from 8pm 1 April until 6am the following morning (2 April). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 5 to junction 6: carriageway works

The northbound carriageway will be closed overnight for one night from 10pm 1 April until 6am the following morning (2 April). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M69 – junction 2 exit slip road: carriageway works

The northbound exit slip road will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 27 March until 31 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

read more

HM Government •

Press release: Secretary of State for NI statement

Speaking after this afternoon’s deadline for the formation of a new Northern Ireland Executive, Mr Brokenshire said:

It is extremely disappointing that an Executive has not been formed in Northern Ireland today.

There will be widespread dismay across the community.

Over the past three weeks we have been engaged in intensive talks and progress has been made on a number of issues.

These include work to set a budget, a Programme for Government and ways of improving governance, transparency and accountability for politics here in Northern Ireland.

We have made further moves forward on agreeing a way to implement the Stormont House legacy bodies to help provide better outcomes for victims and survivors of the troubles.

In addition there was progress made around how Northern Ireland’s interests would be represented in our negotiations to leave the EU as Article 50 is triggered on Wednesday.

Yet it is also clear that there remain significant gaps between the parties, particularly over issues surrounding culture and identity.

Throughout this process the UK Government has been active in making positive proposals to try and bridge these gaps and help the parties to move things forward.

Despite these efforts, agreement at this stage has not proved possible.

This will have impacts.

We are rapidly approaching the point at which Northern Ireland will not have an agreed budget.

This is not sustainable and will have consequences for public services.

From Wednesday financial resources to allow Northern Ireland’s Departments to deliver key public services will fall under the control of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

I believe that there remains an overwhelming desire among the political parties and the public here for strong and stable devolved government.

I have spoken to the leaders of each of the main Parties this afternoon and there is no appetite for any alternative.

I will be making a Statement in Parliament tomorrow on next steps.

We now have a short window of opportunity to resolve outstanding issues and for an Executive to be formed.

Everyone owes it to the people of Northern Ireland to grasp that and provide the political leadership and the stability they want.

read more

HM Government • • •

News story: New app to report Asian hornet sightings

The nation’s smartphones are the latest weapon in the fight to prevent the spread of the Asian hornet, thanks to a new app which has been launched today.

People will be able to use the free app – called Asian Hornet Watch – to quickly and easily report possible sightings of the invasive species and send pictures of suspect insects to experts at the National Bee Unit.

While Asian hornets pose no greater risk to human health than a bee, they are a threat to our native honey bees, which is why it is important to quickly contain them.

By using the eyes and ears of smartphone users, we can more quickly identify any Asian hornet nests in the UK and eradicate them before they have the opportunity to spread.

Biosecurity Minister Lord Gardiner said:

This innovative new app is designed to be easy to use and allows people to report quickly any possible sightings of Asian hornets, which will help us to halt their spread.

This invasive species poses a threat to our native honey bees and we must do all we can to encourage vigilance – this new technology will advance this.

The interactive app, developed by the Great Britain Non-native Species Secretariat and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, will also make it easier for people to judge whether an insect may actually be an Asian hornet; with pictures available of other insects that it could be confused with and helpful information about their size, appearance and the times of year they are most likely to be spotted.

If there is a sighting of the Asian hornet, the government’s well established protocol for eradicating the species will kick quickly into action: This was the case in Gloucestershire last Autumn, when bee inspectors rapidly tracked down and destroyed an Asian hornet nest, containing any further outbreak.

There are fears the pest could reappear this spring, so members of the public are being urged to report any sightings quickly to again allow inspectors to intervene. Asian hornets can be distinguished from their native counterparts by their abdomens, which are entirely dark except for a single band of yellow – native hornets’ abdomens are predominantly yellow.

Martin Smith, Public Affairs Manager at the British Beekeepers’ Association, said:

This new app launched today by Defra is a welcome addition to current reporting methods that have enabled beekeepers and members of the public to report possible sightings. The key to containment is catching outbreaks as early as possible and allowing fast tracking of the insects back to their nest. We will certainly be encouraging all our 25,000 beekeepers to install the app and use it if they see what might be an Asian hornet near their hives.

Asian hornets arrived in France in 2004 and have since spread across large areas of Western Europe. It was discovered for the first time in the British Isles in Jersey and Alderney last summer.

The native European hornet is a valued and important part of our wildlife, and queens and nests of this species should not be destroyed.

Notes to editors

  1. The ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ app is available to download from the Apple and Android app stores.

  2. The Great Britain Non-native Species Secretariat is a joint venture between Defra, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government to tackle the threat of invasive species. More information can be found on their website http://www.nonnativespecies.org/home/index.cfm

  3. Members of the public can also report sightings by email to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk with a photo or on the Non-native Species Secretariat website.

  4. For details on the appearance of an Asian hornet please can be found on Bee Base guide or the non-native species identification guide.

read more

HM Government • • •