Published 22 January 2021
Last updated 18 February 2021 + show all updates
updated questions and answers document.
Updated the questions and answer document
Operational questions and anwser document updated.
Questions and answers published.
First published.
A new walk-through coronavirus testing facility has opened for people with symptoms to book appointments at the Royal Mint’s Visitor Centre Car Park as part of the UK Government’s drive to continue to improve the accessibility of coronavirus testing for local communities.
Testing at the new site, in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, started on Thursday 28 January with appointments made available each day.
The site is part of the largest network of diagnostic testing facilities created in British history which has the capacity to process more than 700,000 tests a day and includes more than 800 sites across the UK. In Wales, this includes 10 drive-through sites, 20 walk through sites, 22 mobile units, plus the Newport Lighthouse Lab which is working round the clock to process samples.
In March, prior to the setting up of the new testing centre in its car park, the Royal Mint transformed its visitor centre into an emergency production line – making 1.9 million medical visors for the NHS.
Before the new testing facility opened on Thursday afternoon, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart visited the site to thanks staff and to learn about how UK Government testing facilities are rolled at speed in communities.
The network of testing centres set up across the length and breadth of Wales by the UK Government and its partners is truly impressive.
It was fantastic to see the work that goes into setting up these facilities at speed and the dedication of the people who operate them.
Along with the rollout of vaccines, easily accessible testing is vital as we continue to combat the virus. Walk-through centres, like the one in Llantrisant, are crucial in this effort.
Testing at the new Llantrisant site is only available for those with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.
The testing centre is being operated in partnership with Mitie and will offer self-administered tests.
Our priority during the pandemic is to support efforts to fight COVID-19 and help keep the country running. Testing is a critical part of the UK’s strategy to combat coronavirus and we’re proud to support the UK Government with this vital task.
A big thank you to all the NHS staff, Mitie employees and other frontline heroes in Llantrisant, who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe.
News story
Close working with Merseyside Police leads to arrest.
Jacob Bullen. 2021 Crown copyright.
Drug dealer Jacob Bullen (26) was arrested in possession of just over 1 kilogram of cocaine with a street value of £75,000, an electronic currency note counting machine and multiple mobile phones.
His arrest in Everton, supported by Merseyside Police, followed a proactive intelligence gathering police operation by Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) detectives.
Bullen, who was already on a suspended sentence for possession with intent to supply controlled drugs from a previous offence, pleaded guilty to a similar offence at Liverpool Crown Court, where he was jailed for a total 6 years and 8 months on Friday 29 January 2021.
Quantity of white powder seized. 2021 Crown copyright.
Det Supt Raffaele D’Orsi, Head of Intelligence and Investigations for MDP Crime Command, said:
This is an outstanding milestone in safeguarding the communities of Merseyside and the MOD from those predisposed to peddle class A drugs to enhance their criminal enterprises.
I am proud of the officers and staff involved in securing such overwhelming evidence against Bullen that has resulted in him pleading guilty and being sentenced within 43 days of his arrest. The MDP Crime Command will continue pursue all threats to the MOD, its personnel, assets or estates, in whatever form they may take or wherever they my originate from.
Published 29 January 2021
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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has given the formal green light to a plan to create three miles of high-quality dual carriageway on the A303 in Somerset.
The upgrade, between Sparkford and Ilchester, will tackle congestion on the traffic-clogged single carriageway section of the arterial route.
On an average day the road carries 23,500 vehicles, but numbers increase significantly in the summer, particularly at weekends, making journeys unreliable and unpredictable.
The announcement comes just two months after the Transport Secretary gave the go-ahead for another congestion-busting scheme further west along the A303 – the project to dual the route between Amesbury and Berwick Down past Stonehenge, creating a tunnel under the World Heritage Site.
Together the upgrades will unlock economic growth and improve journey times and reliability between the M3 and M5, supporting the economy.
Highways England Acting Chief Executive Nick Harris said:
We welcome the Secretary of State’s decision to upgrade the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester.
Along with the A303 Stonehenge tunnel project, it is part of the biggest investment in our road network for a generation.
This scheme will support economic growth and facilitate a growth in jobs and housing by creating a free-flowing and reliable connection between the south east and south west.
It will also tackle a long-standing bottleneck, reduce journey times to the south-west and improve traffic flows in that area at peak times and during peak seasons.
Having completed all the necessary surveys, Highways England is now finalising the detailed design with contractors and currently anticipate starting on site in 2021.
Besides the new dual carriageway link the upgrade will include new and replacement slip roads, junctions and road bridges to replace existing junctions and direct access roads.
The new dualled section will start east of Podimore Roundabout, follow the alignment of the existing A303 to Downhead, and then move north of the existing A303 single carriageway, allowing the existing road to be kept for use as a local road in this section.
The route will rise up West Camel Hill before crossing over the existing A303 at the junction with Steart Hill/Howell Hill and meet up with the existing road again between Vale Farm and the Ministry of Defence signal station at Eyewell/Traits Land.
The final section of the route bypasses the existing Hazlegrove Roundabout to the north through the Registered Park and Garden associated with Hazlegrove House, before tying into the existing A303 Sparkford Bypass.
Lee Nathan, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) South West Regional Chairman, said:
Upgrading the single carriageway sections of this important route is key to supporting the south west economy, particularly as the only alternative route via the M4 and M5 into the south west is already heavily congested.
FSB believes that more investment should be directed to improving key links on the A road network across the UK as a way of supporting our local regional economies.
As a result, we are wholeheartedly in support of this new scheme.
Alongside the A303, Highways England is also moving forward with the A358 Taunton to Southfields scheme which promises a high-quality dual carriageway link.
Essential to the A303 corridor, the scheme has been allocated to Taylor Woodrow, which is progressing work on the preliminary design and initial survey work ahead of a public consultation.
In the meantime, further information on upgrading the A303 can be found on the programme page.
And for further information on the A303 Sparkford to Ilchester upgrade can be found on the scheme website.
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.