Tag Archives: HM Government

Rail passengers are set for better journeys with 5 new stations to be built across England and Wales, the government announced today (28 July 2017).

The Department for Transport (DfT) has given the green light for the stations, which will provide long term benefits to passengers and the wider economy. The government will invest over £16 million in the schemes under the new stations fund, which gives local communities improved rail services. All of the new stations will be accessible, with step-free access throughout.

The successful bids announced today are:

• Horden Peterlee in County Durham which will receive £4.4 million of DfT funding towards a scheme worth £10.55 million
• Warrington West in Cheshire, which will receive £4.23 million towards a total project cost of £17.2 million
• Reading Green Park which will receive £2.3 million towards a total project cost of £16.5 million
• Bow Street in Ceredigion, Wales which will receive £3.945 million towards a total project cost of £6.76 million
• Portway Parkway near Bristol which will receive £1.672 million towards a total project cost of £2.23 million

Rail Minister Paul Maynard said:

We are committed to improving journeys for passengers right across the country. This means delivering more trains, quicker journeys and making more seats available.

The new stations fund is a great example of how our record investment in the railways and work with local authorities and industry is delivering better journeys for passengers and boosting local economies.

The stations will improve access to the rail network and create new leisure, training, employment and business opportunities, as well as supporting new housing developments. All of the stations will be completed by March 2020.

Today’s announcement is the second round of funding for the scheme. The initial round has already delivered improvements to passengers and communities with stations at Newcourt (Exeter), Lea Bridge (London), Pye Corner (Newport) and Ilkeston already open and Kenilworth due to be completed later this year.

David Biggs, Managing Director for Network Rail Property, said:

More people than ever are choosing to travel by train and this ambitious investment into brand new stations allows us to meet growing demand while providing greater connectivity across Britain.

New stations are proven to have a hugely positive effect on local areas, acting as a catalyst for regeneration driving social and economic improvements. We look forward to beginning work on these schemes as part of our continued efforts to create a better railway for Britain.

Details on each of the stations are:

Horden Peterlee

The new station, which will have 2 platforms, will deliver improved access to employment opportunities to the area, which has low levels of car ownership, making it easy for people to get around.

Warrington West

Key benefits include reducing congestion on the M62 motorway and supporting the Chapelford Urban Village housing development. The station will have 2 platforms and a 268 space car park.

Reading Green Park

The station has the potential to unlock 7,500 new jobs and 1,500 homes, serving an area currently only accessible by road. It will have 2 platforms.

Bow Street

The station will act as a park and ride site for Aberystwyth and Borth stations and will help traffic congestion in Aberystwyth.

Portway Parkway

The station will serve an existing park and ride site and will reduce congestion on inner Bristol roads.

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Up to £8 million is on offer for UK businesses to work on innovation projects that tackle the biggest healthcare challenges.

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Start-up companies and entrepreneurs with pioneering ideas are invited to apply for grant funding of up £20,000, by Thursday 17 August 2017.

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The four-minute film, which was created by Counter Terrorism police alongside the Foreign Office and ABTA – The Travel Association, was launched to the public on Monday 10 July and has since been viewed more than a million times on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

The chances of being involved in a terror attack are very small, but holidaymakers travelling abroad this summer have flocked to watch this video so they are prepared to act should the worst happen.

As UK schools break up for summer holidays and the travel industry enters one of the busiest periods of the year, police are once again asking the public to keep themselves safe abroad by watching the film before they travel.

Detective chief superintendent Scott Wilson, National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare, says: “I am delighted that the public have received this advice so well and that so many people have taken the time to prepare themselves in the incredibly unlikely event of being caught up in an attack.

One million views means that there are potentially one million more people in the UK who are better prepared to act.

This video is not intended to scare people, simply to make them spend a few minutes thinking about what they would do if the worst should happen.

We want people to think of this in the same way they do the safety film airlines show before take-off. They don’t expect anything bad to happen but it is a sensible safety precaution to show people what to do.

Run Hide Tell: Stay Safe in the event of a terrorist attack abroad

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I am deeply saddened that nearly 100 people have died in protests in Venezuela since the end of March. The citizens of Venezuela deserve better and urgent action should be taken to stop matters from getting worse.

Britain calls on the Venezuelan Government to refrain from divisive and inflammatory action, including the plan to form a Constituent Assembly later this month. This will only further undermine confidence in the country’s democracy. Human rights, the rule of law, the separation of powers and the integrity of democratic institutions must be respected.

Britain joins with the Vatican, the neighbours of Venezuela and our European friends to urge the Government to enter constructive talks with the Opposition. I call on President Nicolas Maduro to change course and break the deadlock for the benefit of all Venezuelans.

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