Eastbourne Redoubt Fortress to reopen for guided talks
Guided talks in the fortress will run on 16, 17, 20, and 26 August, as well as 2 and 16 September.The talks will cover the history of the site, which was built in 1805 as a defence fort during the Napoleonic Wars.People on the tour will also be invited to discuss how to continue preserving the building.Stephen Holt, leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said: "The Redoubt Fortress is a cornerstone of Eastbourne's history, and I've been determined this year to ensure that we can provide some guided talks to allow residents and visitors the opportunity to see the Redoubt for themselves."We also want to use this opportunity to engage and consult with those who attend as part of the seafront strategy, and together develop ideas for its future."This is exactly the kind of project our seafront strategy is designed to support, bringing heritage to life while enhancing the visitor experience along our beautiful coastline."
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The Sun
12 minutes ago
- The Sun
Inside new £160million UK train station set to open in just weeks – and it's the first of its kind in 100 years
THE inside of the UK's incredible new £160million train station has been revealed ahead of its grand opening in just a few weeks time. New aerial footage and CGI animations have offered a new look at the site which could be open by autumn. 4 4 The brand new station, located in Chelmsford, will be the first of its kind in 100 years. Officially named Beaulieu Park Station, the huge regeneration project is being built in the north of the city. The newly released footage shows what the site will look like once it is up and running as well as clips of the main terminal building and the station's car parks. Among the services that it will provide are frequent trains to-and-from London Liverpool Street, Ipswich, and Norwich, EssexLive reports. These new routes will allow passengers to travel to London in just 40 minutes. Managed by Greater Anglia, its fleet of trains will also go to other towns and cities in the east of England with both stopping and direct services. It will feature three platforms, two car parks, a bus interchange, taxi rank, cycling facilities and drop off areas. The car parks will have a collective capacity of 700 spaces, with five per cent to be designated Blue Badge bays and motorcycle spaces. Among the cycling facilities is an on-site storage space which can house up to 500 bikes. New tracks will mean trains can stop at the station, while fast trains can continue through without any interruptions. There will be step free access onto the platform as well as ticketing facilities. The site is also billed to make history, being the first new station to be built on the Great Eastern Main Line in over a century. With construction well underway, Beaulieu Park is on track to be welcoming passengers ahead of schedule in a matter of just a few weeks. This exciting new venture is part of Chelmsford's wider infrastructure project which includes the construction of new roads and up to 14,000 new homes. More than 4,000 homes have received planning permission so far, with 2,000 of those already built. These houses are part of the Garden Community near the station site. In the coming years it is hoped that area will house another 6,250 homes, up to four more schools and over nine hectares of employment space. Councillor Louise Mckinlay, deputy leader of Essex County Council, told EssexLive: "It's really important that those homes come with the infrastructure that they need whether that's schools, GP surgeries and of course travel. "We can see that this will be fantastic for the local community." While Councillor Stephen Robinson, leader of Chelmsford City Council, added: "This is the first new station on this line for over 100 years and is a really important part of creating not just houses, but a new community in the north-east corner of Chelmsford." The station project has received a staggering total of £218million in government funding, as well as a further £34million in contributions from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and the developers of Beaulieu, Countryside, and L&Q. It is hoped that the new site will ease pressure on the existing Chelmsford station, located in the city centre. Chelmsford has a huge commuter rail service that sees over 15,000 passengers every day and 5.7 million annual users. The development of Beaulieu Park has also been put in place to try and relieve congestion in the city centre. The new north-eastern bypass will make access to the new station from surrounding towns such as Braintree much easier. The project has been years in the making with original planning permission granted in 2013. Work has been ongoing since 2023 with the opening date finally on the horizon. The three stations you can tour in London this year Celebrate 200 years of British railway with these tours... As part of Railway 200, a year-long celebration marking two centuries of train travel in the UK, Network Rail is running exclusive tours of London Waterloo, London Victoria and London Bridge stations. Railway historian Rachel Kolsky will lead small groups of around 15 people on two-hour tours, offering glimpses into hidden areas of each station. Tours of London Waterloo, the UK's third busiest train station, will explore seven areas, including the London Necropolis Railway. Brits can also book tours of London Victoria, where they'll learn more about the station's glamorous past thanks to its ties to the well-known Orient Express. Tours of London Bridge will also be taking place to mark 200 years of train travel in the UK. The tours last two hours and cost £25 per person, with just 15 people on each tour. Tickets are available through Eventbrite. 4 4
The Guardian
35 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Immigration crackdown causing ‘Trump slump' in Las Vegas tourism, unions say
The Trump administration's immigration policies are affecting workers and driving, in part, a decline in tourism, including international tourists, to Las Vegas, according to workers and the largest labor union in the state of Nevada. Visitors to Las Vegas overall dropped 11.3% in June 2025, compared to the same month last year. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, international visitors to one of the world's largest tourist destinations dropped 13% in June. 'A lot of departments are having a lot of layoffs,' said Norma Torres, a housekeeper for eight years at Mandalay Bay and a member of the Culinary Union, who has worked in the hospitality industry since she was 18 years old. 'In the housekeeping department, the people on call are barely called into work.' Canada is Nevada's largest international market. Flair Airlines, a Canadian airline, reported a 55% drop in passengers compared to last year. Air Canada reported a 13.2% drop in passengers from May to June this year to Las Vegas, and one third lower compared to last year. Trump administration officials have reportedly pushed for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents to arrest 3,000 people a day as part of their anti-immigration agenda. They have subsequently denied that those quotas exist. But they have continued to revoke immigration statuses, delayed action for childhood arrivals, and other humanitarian immigration programs. 'If you tell the rest of the world you're not welcome, they are going to listen. Our members are telling us that they're quite nervous, and that's why they're calling it a Trump slump,' said Ted Pappageorge, secretary treasurer of Culinary Workers Union Local 226. But the Ice raids, trade wars with trading partners and fears that rising tariffs will hit the finances of potential visitors are all having an impact on Sin City tourism. 'You have Canadians that have said, 'We're going to go elsewhere.' Some of our best customers are Mexican tourists. But the biggest one is southern California and visitation is down because they're nervous about raids, the tariffs, the economy riled up,' added Pappageorge. 'The way these kind of chaotic immigration policies have been handled have a direct impact, we think, on what's happening with this slowdown in Las Vegas and our members are quite concerned.' The union noted its members come from 178 different countries and speak 40 different languages. The union represents 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, and 45% of its members are immigrants. Nearly a quarter (24%) of Nevada's workforce are immigrants, and an even higher share of Nevada's leisure and hospitality industry are immigrants. Immigrants contribute an estimated $20.2bn to Nevada's economy annually. Norma Torres, who was born in Mexico, currently has Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) immigration status, a policy enacted in 2012 for immigrant individuals brought to the US as children. Torres explained she is worried about how the Trump administration will impact her immigration status. 'Before I had a Daca, I was living in fear. Since I've had DACA, I've been living free, I've been working, I've been having the best life with my daughters, but now with this administration that we have going on with Daca and TPS, they are in danger and again I'm living in fear,' said Torres. 'I can be driving on the street, they can pull me over. I can be separated from my daughters, they are US citizens who were born here and just thinking about that makes me afraid. For me and my family, we live in fear now.' Nery Martinez, a bartender at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and Culinary Workers Union Local 226 member for 10 years, has been in the US for decades under temporary protected status from El Salvador and is worried about the push from the Trump administration to revoke TPS for thousands of immigrants from El Salvador and other countries. 'That would be devastating, not only for me but for thousands of families,' said Martinez. 'After 25 years in this place, what would I do if they separate me from my children, from my wife, from my life I had built from scratch? Those things hurt not just me and people like me, but also hurt citizen children, the community and the economy we help sustain.' He said he loves working in Las Vegas, working alongside others from all around the world and interacting with tourists from abroad and throughout the US, but emphasized he now worries about what is going to happen to his immigration status. 'We are working people with families who love this country. We don't want privilege, just that we are allowed to stay here legally as we have done for decades. Our families are American, I also feel part of this nation. Taking away TPS (temporary protected status) would be tearing away my life. I can't have a nice night, go to bed, wake up the next day, because every night I have those thoughts about what's going to happen.' Ted Pappageorge noted that for 20 years the culinary union has secured in their contracts that any worker who has their immigration status removed or expired is able to maintain their job, seniority, and pay until they get their status resolved, a support mechanism he argues should be legally provided to all workers. 'The idea that you're bringing in Marines and arresting dishwashers or landscapers, people that actually contribute to society, pay taxes, that go to our churches, their kids go to our schools, they're neighbors, is just crazy. This is just chaos what's going on here,' concluded Pappageorge. 'There needs to be a complete 180 course correction on this damage being done to the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, that's ground zero here in Las Vegas.' The Nevada governor's office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Telegraph
42 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The best golden visas
Are you leaving the UK to start a new life abroad? Share your story by emailing money@ The urge to escape the UK remains strong among many families, who are fleeing from punitive tax changes, high inflation and increases in school fees. Better employment opportunities, quality of life, EU access and tax perks are among the pull factors to Europe – or beyond. Golden visa programmes, which came about after the 2008 financial crisis, offer residency in exchange for investment. They provide a permit that can begin the pathway to citizenship after five to 10 years if required, and if certain conditions are met. And for many of them, tax residency is optional. They can be distinguished from so-called 'golden passports' that sell citizenship from the outset, notably offered by Malta and Grenada. Both golden visas and passports are opposed by the European Union, and some national governments have ended or limited their schemes, particularly those that incentivise real estate investment which they have caused property prices to soar. But of those that remain, which are best? It depends whether you want to claw back your EU status, relocate or save tax. The European golden visas offering Schengen access have an edge over those that don't – but note that these visas do not necessarily give the right for holders to live (or work) in other countries across the EU, only the country issuing the visa. Other considerations include level of investment required, convenience of location, pathway to citizenship and the number of days required to stay there per year. But not all golden visas are equal. Here, with input from immigration advisers, we examine the schemes which are among the five most favoured and useful schemes for British people. Best for... a quicker path to citizenship Portugal Portugal's golden visa remains a favourite. Last year, Portugal approved a record-breaking 4,987 golden visa applications from people of all nationalities, 72pc more than the previous year, according to the immigration agency AIMA. Many attribute this increase to the end of the Spanish golden visa, which ceased in April this year. But there are strong lifestyle drivers, too. Patricia Casaburi, of Global Citizen Solutions, says: 'Portugal is the top choice for many wanting to relocate in Europe. Lifestyle, and the huge influx of foreigners over the last few years, have made it increasingly easy to find a community to connect with. English is widely spoken.' The growth of international schools in Portugal is another pull, and you only have to spend seven days a year there to retain your visa. Often it is Schengen access that is the real clincher – the Greek golden visa also offers this, but a key difference is that in Portugal you are allowed to work locally on this visa, unlike golden visa holders in Greece. Schengen access gives the right to visa-free travel within the Schengen area, but not the right to reside or work in those other countries. This is especially sought after by Chinese and Indian applicants who make up a large proportion of golden visa holders. Casaburi adds that there is a straight-forward process to secure citizenship in Portugal, after only five years, although there are possible changes to the timescale in September. To qualify for the golden visa, you must either donate €250,000 (£217,000) to an accredited Portuguese foundation or invest €500,000 in private equity or capital funds, which is the more popular option. After five years you can apply for permanent residency or citizenship – and there's a tax-efficient way to get your money back, says Casaburi. 'Portuguese non-residents are generally exempt from paying taxes on dividends and capital gains from the venture capital fund, so those who maintain their tax residency in their home country pay no Portuguese taxes on fund distributions or capital gains.' If you opt to become a Portuguese tax resident, you'll pay 10pc tax deducted at source on distributions from golden visa-eligible investment funds, which is significantly lower than Portugal's standard capital gains tax rates. Biggest negative? The backlog of applications means waiting times of 18 to 24 months for this visa. However, the Portuguese government has promised to reduce this in 2025. Best for... access to flat-tax regimes Greece Greece's golden visa has been increasing in popularity: last year there were 9,100 applications, according to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, which is double the amount in 2023. However, this can in part be explained by a rush to beat the changes to the scheme at the end of 2024. The raising of the property price threshold from €250,000 to €800,000 on popular islands such as Crete and in Athens has now put it beyond the means of many British homebuyers. The UK does not feature in the top 10 nationalities applying for it, which is headed by China, Russia and Turkey. Interest from the US has grown, says Eleni Acquarone, of Elxis – a Home in Greece. 'In six months we've already reached the total number of American citizen applications we had for 2024.' She is seeing a broader spread of locations now, shifting across the Greek mainland where the €400,000 threshold applies – to the Ionian Coast and the Peloponnese, especially around Kalamata. The Greek golden visa offers Schengen access and has no stay requirement per year. There are options to get the visa by spending only €250,000 (on either an historic property to restore or the conversion of a commercial building into a residential one). But much of Greece is less easily accessed from the UK than Portugal and the path to citizenship is seven years, not five. While it can be used in tandem with Greece's two flat-tax regimes (€100,000 lump sum per year, or 7pc income tax for retirees), it offers no access to the labour market – you can work for a foreign company remotely in Greece but you cannot get a job in Greece. You are also not allowed to rent out the property for short-term lets. Biggest negative? The new €800,000 threshold has priced out lower and mid-market buyers. Best for... zero income tax United Arab Emirates Despite increases in the cost of living, especially housing costs, the UAE remains the hotspot for British people relocating to the Middle East for tax perks and lifestyle benefits. Those moving are attracted by the UAE's political stability, economic growth, pro-business environment and regulatory certainty as key drivers. Of course, the zero personal income tax on salaries, investments or rental income earned within the country is another. There is no capital gains tax, inheritance tax, wealth tax or annual tax on worldwide assets. Entry points are relatively low, compared to other countries: a 10-year golden visa requires at least AED 2m (£405,000) of investment into a business or property purchase, while the five-year 'silver visa' for those over 55 requires the purchase of a property of AED1m (£202,000) or to invest half that sum in a pension account. Real estate purchases for golden visas are usually required to be unmortgaged, but the UAE scheme was altered this year to make eligible those with a 20pc deposit. Some off-plan properties are eligible, if 50pc of the cost is paid off. A separate work visa is not required. Biggest negative? No Schengen access, though there is the right to live in seven emirates. Best for... EU access at a lower price Latvia Latvia's low entry point of €60,000 (£52,000), and the fact it offers Schengen access, have made this Baltic state's golden visa scheme very popular. You can move around the EU with this golden visa, though it doesn't give you the right to live and work there. Russians dominated applications until they were banned in 2022, but after a drop in popularity the scheme recorded notable growth during 2024, according to relocation adviser Savory & Partners, which reports a shift in demand to Chinese and Turkish buyers. Of the options available, the €50,000 investment into a Latvian fund (plus €10,000 donation to the state) dominated demand, with the real estate investment option (more than €250,000) way behind, showing its appeal as a mobility tool rather than for relocation. It does, however, allow visa holders to work in Latvia. 'Schengen access is the real driver, but the annual in-person renewal requirement is a burden compared to other golden visa programmes,' says Artur Saraiva at Global Citizen permit is for five years, but requires the holder to confirm their status every year by travelling to Latvia to do this. There is also a long 10-year path to citizenship. For those moving there, the tax regime in Latvia is attractive; the top rate of income tax is 31pc. Biggest negative? Northern European climate and the lack of lifestyle appeal. Cyprus You need to invest a relatively low €300,000 to qualify for Cyprus's Residence by Investment visa. This can be into new-build real estate, shares in a Cypriot company employing at least five people, or units in a Cypriot Collective Investment Organisation. But it also requires proof of financial resources: €50,000 per annum, plus €15,000 for a spouse. The scheme is popular with wealthy non-EU citizens from Russia, Israel, Lebanon and increasingly Asia, who are drawn to Cyprus's stability, English-speaking environment and favourable tax regime, according to Global Citizen Solutions. For UK and US nationals, the distance to travel is less convenient than Portugal. Cyprus is not yet part of the Schengen area – it has applied to join – so this is a reason why it is less popular than other countries offering Schengen access. But the tax benefits do attract British people: the non-dom tax regime offers no tax on passive income such as dividends and interest for 17 years, while for retirees there's a 5pc flat tax on pensions. Although it is in a strategic position between Europe, the Middle East and Africa, small-island life is too restrictive for some, and it doesn't offer the right to work. Biggest negative? Lack of Schengen access
