Press release: Event to mark Perry Barr & Witton flood scheme milestone

On Friday 10 March 2017, the Environment Agency held a public event to mark the end of the first phase of works to help reduce the risk of flooding in Perry Barr and Witton.

This is a key milestone in the £28 million, 2 phased flood risk management scheme that has been developed in partnership with Birmingham City Council and Sandwell Metropolitan Council. Once complete, the scheme will help protect approximately 1,400 properties from flooding from the River Tame.

The completed first phase involved rebuilding existing flood walls along Brookvale Road and constructing new walls alongside Atlas Industrial Estate and Tame Road. Channel improvements have also been carried out to help the river flow more quickly through the area.

Ian Jones, Environment Agency Flood Risk Manager said:

We’re delighted for the residents and businesses that the work on the first phase has been completed. Today’s event is a great opportunity for partners and the community to come together and mark this important occasion.

The next phase of the scheme involves increasing the existing flood storage area at Sandwell Valley Park. The site at Forge Mill Lake will see the construction of a new embankment to help control flows down the river during periods of high flow. A planning application is scheduled to be submitted in May this year with construction planned for early 2018.

More information on the scheme is available on the Perry Barr and Wittion flood scheme GOV.UK page



Correspondence: Industrial Strategy: important questions to address

In this letter to the Prime Minister, CST considers the questions that the industrial strategy should address.

The letter makes the case for putting all sciences, engineering, technology and design at the heart of the UK economy and industrial strategy.

It uses four lenses to explain how the industrial strategy can drive productivity and growth, and address important societal challenges. It identifies seven technology areas that the UK could focus on.

The paper that accompanies this letter provides further information on CST’s views and is structured around the same four lenses.



Temporary Traffic Order : Paton’s Lane

From Dundee City Council :

THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984  :   SECTION 14(1)

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of gas service connection works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Paton’s Lane (from its junction with Magdalen Yard Road to approx. 40 metres north), Dundee

This notice comes into effect on Monday 13 March 2017 for 5 working days.

The one way order relating to Paton’s Lane will be rescinded for the duration of these works.    Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Diversion routes for vehicles available via Magdalen Yard Road / Step Row / Perth Road.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development
Dundee City Council


Temporary Traffic Order : Paton’s Lane

From Dundee City Council :

THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984  :   SECTION 14(1)

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of gas service connection works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Paton’s Lane (from its junction with Magdalen Yard Road to approx. 40 metres north), Dundee

This notice comes into effect on Monday 13 March 2017 for 5 working days.

The one way order relating to Paton’s Lane will be rescinded for the duration of these works.    Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Diversion routes for vehicles available via Magdalen Yard Road / Step Row / Perth Road.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development
Dundee City Council


Recording of the week: a Welsh kibbutz?!

This week's selection comes from Dr Cai Parry-Jones, Curator of Oral History.

In this extract, Holocaust survivor, Judith Steinberg, talks about her husband who arrived in Britain in 1939 on the Kindertransport from Germany. Steinberg’s husband was one of 200 Jewish refugee children who spent their early war years living and working in Gwrych Castle, north Wales, one of several hachsharoat (agricultural training centres) established in wartime Britain by German-Jewish Zionist Youth Organisations such as Bachad and Youth Aliyah. Working on the land, the hachshara (singular of hachsharoat) at Gwrych sought to train its apprentices for kibbutz life in Eretz Israel. 

Jewish Holocaust Survivors_Judith Steinberg extract

Gwrych_Castle,_Denbighshire;_The_Seat_of_Lloyd_Hesketh,_Bamford_Hes

Gwrych Castle, Denbighshire; The Seat of Lloyd Hesketh (National Library of Wales)

Judith Steinberg's full interview is part of the Jewish Holocaust Survivors collection on British Library Sounds.

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