UK scientists have joined forces with their Pacific counterparts today to help turn the tide on marine litter.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey is in Vanuatu for the South Pacific Region Commonwealth Litter Programme conference, which brings together governments, policy makers, educators and scientists to share expertise in the fight against plastic pollution.

The UK and Vanuatu co-chair the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance – an initiative to unite countries across the Commonwealth in protecting the marine environment.

Since its launch in April last year, 24 countries have joined this alliance and pledged action on plastics – whether that’s a ban on microbeads, cutting down single-use plastic bags, or other steps to eliminate avoidable plastic waste.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said:

Protecting our marine environment is a global challenge which requires global action. This conference is a fantastic opportunity for our world-leading scientists to share their expertise in the international fight to tackle marine litter.

Through the UK and Vanuatu-led Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance we will use the collective power of the Commonwealth to protect our marine environment for future generations.

Scientists from the UK’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) have been busy in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu since November 2018, monitoring the environment to collect data on marine litter and working with partners to tackle plastic pollution in the ocean.

This forms part of the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLiP), a £6million programme which sees the UK help countries develop national litter action plans.

Cefas’ CLiP Programme Lead Thomas Maes said of the work so far:

It has been a pleasure to work with Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands to tackle the emerging issue of marine litter. Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much! We only have one earth and our oceans are vital to our existence. We should all work together on keeping our oceans clean, healthy and sustainable for future generations to enjoy. To stop marine litter, we thus need a unified vision and a plan of action while developing ways of working together at national, regional and global scales

Globally it is estimated that eight million tonnes of plastic make their way into oceans every year. Cefas scientists have already recovered 15,000 items of litter from beaches monitored across Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

Recognising the international scale of the problem, the government has pledged up to £66.4million through the CCOA to boost global research and prevent plastic waste entering the oceans.

Back home, the UK is a world leader in tackling the scourge of plastic – introducing one of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads, taking 15million bags out of circulation through the 5p plastic bag charge and consulting on a ban on plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers.

Defra has also today launched a suite of consultations to overhaul the waste system, cut plastic pollution and move towards a more circular economy – building on the landmark Resources and Waste Strategy in December.

The South Pacific regional conference is taking place in Port Vila, Vanuatu, from 18-19 February.

A new footbridge has been installed and flood walls built as part of the initial phase of construction of flood defences in Mytholmroyd to be completed.

This phase is along Cragg Brook with the new steel bridge for pedestrians upstream of the railway viaduct between the back of the Shoulder of Mutton pub and Streamside Fold.

The new bridge is designed and manufactured by Huddersfield-based company CTS Bridges. The old footbridge had to be removed to allow the new flood walls to be installed.

As part of the works new footpaths have been constructed in the area and an access ramp and safety handrails fitted to improve access to the bridge. Work to improve drainage, landscaping and lighting has also been carried out around the car park of the pub.

New flood walls are now in place in this area with glass panels installed at the back of the pub to provide views of Cragg Brook, also known as Elphin Brook.

Mark Tupman, senior flood adviser for the Environment Agency, said:

In designing the works we have worked closely with Historic England and Calderdale Council to ensure our work considers the Conservation Area status of the surrounding environment.

While the flood walls are constructed using new natural stone, they will become weathered and blend in with the existing stone over several months. It is extremely difficult to find an exact match to the original stone used along parts of Cragg Brook as that stone has had many years of exposure to the elements. The quarry where it was first sourced is also no longer in existence. There are a range of stone and brick types on buildings surrounding the defences and the works will provide cohesion to the existing environment.

Chris Blenkarn, VBA Project Manager, said:

We are pleased that the initial phase of the works are complete and look forward to further progress for the remainder of the main scheme to reduce the flood risk to Mytholmroyd.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Strategy, Cllr Barry Collins said:

We are pleased to see things beginning to take shape with the completion of this first major milestone as part of the Mytholmroyd flood alleviation scheme.

As well as reducing flood risk for local homes and businesses this important piece of work provides improved access and should gradually blend well with the local setting.

Mrs Norma Uttley, of Streamside Fold, said:

We are really pleased with the new footbridge, walls and railings, looking good so far also the landscaping all done to a high quality.

Her husband Robert added:

The men have worked hard in some terrible weather conditions, please pass on our thanks to all concerned. We look forward to all the flood prevention work being completed, we can then return to village life pre flood.

The Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme, which will cost in the region of £30m, has been developed by the Environment Agency in partnership with Calderdale Council and is expected to be completed by Winter 2019 / 20. Design and construction of the scheme is being carried out by main contractor VBA, a joint venture comprising VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business.

Vital works to be completed as part of the scheme include construction of new, raised and improved flood walls, relocation of Caldene Bridge, widening of the river channel at key locations and flood proofing of the buildings next to the river.

If anyone has any questions about the scheme they can email the project team:-mytholmroydFAS@environment-agency.gov.uk A regular news bulletin is produced with information about the scheme which is distributed throughout the village and you can request online by emailing the team.

Visit or contact Floodline on tel: 0345 988 1188.

Find out what to do when you receive a flood warning and how to prepare for a flood

The Government is investing £475 million in Yorkshire to better protect 66,000 homes across the county as part of our current six year programme to 2021.

The Environment Agency is investing £2.6 billion in flood and coastal erosion risk management projects nationally between 2015 to 2021. This will help reduce the risk of flooding from rivers, the sea, groundwater and surface water and from coastal erosion for at least 300,000 homes.

9 April, 2019

featuring

Nequela Whittaker

Gangs Specialist, Author & Founding Director of Committed Empowered Originals (CEO) Youth Service

Please see the attached seminar flyer for further information and how to book.

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Published 18 February 2019

In a project that will improve a key east-west road link, journeys on the A1, the A421 and the A428 will be improved by a new three tier junction at the Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire, which will allow drivers to pass through the junction uninterrupted, while keeping the roundabout clear for drivers making turns between the roads.

And a brand new, 10 mile dual carriageway will link directly between the upgraded Black Cat junction and the Caxton Gibbet roundabout near Cambourne in Cambridgeshire, with a new junction at Cambridge road and new bridges. The existing A428 will become a local road serving communities between St Neots and Caxton Gibbet.

Options for the new road scheme were put to the public in 2017, and the route being announced today (18 February 2018) combines the best mix of benefits and were also the most popular options at consultation. The chosen options were referred to at the consultation as the Orange Route and Option C respectively.

Highways England project lead Lee Galloway said:

This major new dual carriageway between St Neots and Cambridge and upgrade for the Black Cat junction will mean quicker and safer journeys for people and will also boost the economy and unlock housing. As well as significant improvements locally, the project will be a vital component in improving the regional and national road network. The improvements will complement our £1.5bn A14 upgrade and form part of a wider transformation of road links between Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford.

Well over 4,000 people took part in our consultation last year, with more than 2,000 people attending one of our public events, and it is great to see that our proposals have such strong backing. I would like to thank everyone who took part for their contribution in helping to shape this vital upgrade for the area’s road network. With the options now chosen, we can push ahead with a more detailed design, which we will put to people for their input again later this year.

Currently, the A428 between the A1 at Black Cat and the A1198 at Caxton Gibbet is a single carriageway with a series of roundabouts and give-way junctions. It experiences severe congestion and delays during peak periods or if there is an incident in the wider South Cambridgeshire area. The improvements will cut the average peak time journeys between the Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet junctions by more than a third – around a 10 minute saving on every trip.

The improvements will tackle these delays by creating a new dual carriageway, with junctions served by slip roads, and bridges to carry local roads over it. The new dual carriageway will lead directly to the Black Cat junction which is itself being upgraded to allow smoother, safer access between the A1, the A421 and the A428. The A428 currently joins the A1 at Wyboston 1.5 miles to the north.

Retaining the existing A428 for local traffic will offer significant benefits for communities along the route, while four new routes for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians will maintain and improve access across the new road.

Three options for the new road were put to the public in 2017, along with three options for the junction upgrade. The chosen options announced today were referred to at the consultation as the Orange Route and Option C respectively. 89 percent of respondents agreed with the need for the upgrade, with a clear majority of respondents backing the options chosen today (83 per cent for the Orange route and 60 per cent for Option C).

The scheme is valued between £810m and £1.4bn, and is being funded by the Government’s £15bn Road Investment Strategy, the biggest investment in road infrastructure since the 1970s.

Today’s announcement paves the way for a further, more detailed consultation later in 2019, and a planning application, expected in 2020. Subject to statutory processes, main construction work on the upgrade could start before April 2022.

For more information about the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements and to keep up to date, visit the scheme web page.

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

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

On her first visit to Burma, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt called for the most vulnerable to be given a say in their country’s future after shifting the work of UK aid there to help disadvantaged and conflict-affected people.

Her words come after the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya in Rakhine State and violations in Kachin and Shan States, all in Burma.

In Yangon, Ms Mordaunt met women who are being protected from modern day slavery, trafficking, gender inequality and poor sexual and reproductive health, at the Eden Project and Aung Myin Hmu, both supported by UK aid through the Department for International Development (DFID).

Women training at the Aung Myin Hmu project learn how to make garments safely in a factory setting, so they can go on to work for registered, safe and fair employers and support their families.

The garment sector in Burma is expected to grow from 400,000 to 1.5 million workers over the next five to 10 years, and these women migrants from Rakhine and Kachin will be protected from trafficking through better jobs and improved livelihoods.

Across the country, UK aid is providing life-saving humanitarian assistance in conflicted affected areas, and helping provide the healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities needed to build a more democratic, safe, and prosperous country.

UK aid is also providing life-sustaining humanitarian assistance to many of the Rohingya in Rakhine State, as well as to almost one million Rohingya refugees in neighbouring Bangladesh.

This visit follows the terrible violence in Rakhine in August 2017 when the British public donated incredibly generously towards the Rohingya crisis through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal, raising £28 million, including £5 million matched pound-for-pound by the UK government.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said:

I believe the British people want human rights to be at the heart of the work we do and for UK aid to be delivered in the smartest way possible.

In Yangon I’ve seen UK aid doing just that by tackling organised crime, protecting vulnerable girls from trafficking, training women to have jobs and livelihoods and giving British businesses confidence in the standards of their supply chains here.

The British public showed tremendous compassion for the Rohingya and it’s clear to me that protecting those who are still here and supporting them to live side-by-side and in peace in their communities is what we should be focusing on here in Burma.

Around 600,000 Rohingya remain in Rakhine State. However, many Rohingya have been killed and over 700,000 have fled over the border into Bangladesh.

During her visit, Ms Mordaunt met Rohingya leaders and heard about the terrible conditions many Rohingya are now facing. Even those not caught up in the violence live in difficult conditions.

UK aid has been supporting the Rohingya in Rakhine state since 2012:

• More than 100,000 people have been given food or cash assistance including 24,000 children under the age of 5
• More than 100,000 people now have access to safe water
• UK aid has helped expand and refurbish Sittwe General Hospital
• 8,000 people across Rakhine State now receive sanitation services

Almost 16 million people live in extreme poverty in Burma and one in every three children in Burma is malnourished.

Children who receive the right nutrition in their first 1,000 days complete more grades at school, earn up to 21% more as adults and are 10 times less likely to die of childhood diseases.

Poor nutrition is linked to 45% of child deaths and losses of up to 11% of GDP. DFID Burma is improving the nutrition of the poorest people. This is one of best development interventions that can be made – with every US$1 giving a return of US$16 from health and education outcomes.

Notes to editors

UK aid supports all communities in Rakhine State and the UK has led the way in terms of both the speed and scale of its humanitarian response. It is one of the largest donors to the Rohingya refugee crisis, providing £129 million in funding in Bangladesh, since the crisis began.

The Department for International Development does not provide financial aid to the Burmese government.