West Lynn and King's Lynn Ferry to reopen 'during school holidays'
There has been a ferry service across the river for 600 years, the council said. Ben Ellis, who runs the West Lynn Ferry, said he had struggled to support himself financially since the closure in January. After taking the ferry out on a practice run across the Great Ouse, he said: "You've got the tide and the wind that wants to push me in the mud on the West Lynn side."I thought I'd have to have several attempts to get back on the west Lynn steps and the King's Lynn steps, but it's just like riding a bike".Mr Ellis was keen to get back to transporting passengers as soon as possible but admitted the early alarms were going to be a challenge. "I'm down here for about half five, quarter to six," he added."Just to get all the boats ready, fuelled up and get them all set".
De Whalley thanked ferry users for their patience while the work took place and said he was excited to see it return. "The main issue has been safety," he said."We've had to review root and branch safety measures for the ferry operation at both landing stages. It's been complicated by working on a 190-year-old jetty".
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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE We're cycling through 30 countries in a year - there's a Brit holiday hotspot that's as magical as the Northern Lights and Grand Canyon
George and Josh Kohler like a challenge. The father and son duo, from Norfolk, are currently on a mission to circumnavigate the entire globe on two wheels. Their epic 30,000km route will take them through 30 countries across four continents over the course of a year, and they're aiming to pick up the Guinness World Record as the first father and son to complete the challenge. And along the way, they're raising money for two charities; UNICEF and Bicycle Links, a local Norwich charity that provides bikes to children in need. Speaking to MailOnline from their 15th country, Kyrgyzstan, 56-year-old George says: 'A few years ago we'd decided to cycle across America and then a couple of years later Joshua came up with the idea to cycle home from Singapore. And then we thought "if we're going to do that, we may as well do the whole thing". 'When we looked into it we realised that's nobody done it before as a father and son. So all of a sudden we've got Guinness World Records on board.' The pair will travel through Europe, Asia, Australia and South America in their attempt but so far, it's Turkey that's stood out. Joshua, 22, reveals: 'Turkey was probably my favourite. I guess you have kind of an idea of what it's going to be like from the media. LEFT: Josh and George in Uzbekistan which has so far been the most challenging country to cycle RIGHT: George is pictured above in very hot conditions in central Turkey 'But then it was so different in real life. The locals there were so friendly and kind. We got invited to breakfast by a shepherd and just the landscapes throughout the whole country were stunning.' And his father agrees, saying: 'Turkey was a real eye-opener for us. We had had a few days off in in Cappadocia in Turkey, which was the most amazing place that I think I've been to in my lifetime. It's up there for me with the Northern Lights and the Grand Canyon.' The pair's hardest cycling so far has been in Uzbekistan where they faced daily temperatures above 40 degrees. 'There was a sort of 450km stretch of single straight road through the desert,' explains Joshua. 'So we were waking up at 2am in the morning to get good distance in before the sun came up and the heat rose, but there's 50km periods without anything. 'We had to stock up on water but of course the water bottles turned hot within minutes. All you want is a cold drink and it's pretty impossible to get out there. We did have a couple of trucks stop and give us water but that was the hardest week of the trip so far.' There have also been technical challenges, the most serious so far when a crack appeared in the frame of Joshua's bike in Turkey. He explains: 'Our bikes are made of aluminum so you can't really weld them back together. Because of shipping and customs we couldn't get the frame sent to us in time.' A solution eventually came in the form of Joshua's mother who flew out to Tbilisi in Georgia with the new frame. Next stop on the journey is China which George explains is 'going to be so different to anything either of us have experienced before in terms of language, culture and scale.' The pair aren't fazed though and are looking forward to the challenges to come. 'It's either been good, really good or incredible [so far],' reveals George. 'The people that we've met have been universally hospitable. We've had nothing but goodwill from everyone we've met.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
How much parents will save on holidays at the Norfolk schools offering an extra week off at half-term
Parents whose children are being given an extra week off this autumn half-term for 'cheaper holidays' can cut the price of a trip abroad by nearly 50 per cent. Pupils in some areas are having the break extended from one week to two – with school days then extended slightly throughout the year to make up the deficit. But critics have attacked the 'ridiculous' changes, warning that they are more about 'making life easy for teachers' and are 'dumbing down' education – while claiming parents will struggle to take time off or arrange childcare during the time off. Schools spearheading the revolution include North Walsham High School and Long Stratton High School, both run by the same trust in Norfolk. One of the headteachers claimed the change would help parents avoid price hikes by holiday firms at peak times and reduce staff absence by giving them a 'better break'. But Chris McGovern, from the Campaign for Real Education, said: 'We have to ask what's more important – a passport to Majorca or a passport to [children's] futures?' To analyse the difference, research by MailOnline looked at the comparative costs of going abroad during the autumn half-term later this year of Saturday, October 25 to November 1 - and the extra week for the schools between November 1 and 8. Prices were analysed for a family of four – two adults and two children aged 13, for the cheapest all-inclusive package holiday to Benidorm in Spain for seven days. The biggest difference was with easyJet Holidays, where a trip to the three-star Magic Cristal Park Hotel is £2,143 during the half-term week, or £1,189 the week after. The same hotel was available with Tui for £2,236 in half-term or £1,576 the week after; or with On The Beach for £1,813 in half-term or £1,440 the week after. Separate research by On The Beach has found more children are taken out of school for holidays this week than in any other term-time week of the year. What is the fine for taking your child on holiday in term-time? Parents in England can face paying a fine for unauthorised term time holidays under national rules – although individual councils decide when these should be issued. All schools have to consider a fine when a child has missed ten or more sessions – which equates to five days, morning and afternoon - for unauthorised reasons. Since August last year, the fine for school absences across the country has been set at £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days. But if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, the fine will be charged at a higher rate of £160. Fines per parent are capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit is reached, other actions can be considered such as a parenting order or even prosecution. Someone who is prosecuted and attends court because their child has not been attending school can be fined up to £2,500. It added that term-time breaks are up to £649 cheaper than school summer holidays, despite the threat of an £80 fine for a week's unauthorised absence. The difference was calculated by taking the average cost of all seven-night stays for families with children aged between four and 16 during term time, compared to all holidays during school holidays. Some 443,322 school holiday fines were issued in England for the 2023/24 year, according to the Department for Education (DfE). This was 24 per cent up on the year before, and three times higher than when records began in 2016/17. Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach, told MailOnline: 'Time away together isn't a luxury - it's essential for children's wellbeing and learning about the wider world. 'Parents tell us they're fed up of being punished for wanting to give their kids these experiences and for many, the only way they can afford a family holiday is by travelling during term time.' More than 180,000 people signed a petition calling for an end to term-time holiday fines which closed in January, but MPs have not yet debated the issue. Ms Harris added: 'The Government needs to look at ways to support more families so they can afford a break. 'We need a solution that prioritises attendance and helps more families holiday for less, and we're more than happy to start having those conversations with senior figures.' The DfE's position is that evidence has diproved pulling a child out of education for holidays is harmless - and allowing them to regularly miss school can be detrimental to their chances in life. It comes as a separate survey revealed half of frazzled parents want summer holidays to be slashed from six to four weeks and half terms extended. Research by the charity Parentkind found many families think the summer break is too long, and would prefer time off to be spread more evenly throughout the year. Mr McGovern said decisions about school breaks should be based on children's education, rather than convenience to parents. He said: 'We need to be upping the academic demands on children. This is dumbing down.' He added: 'Children need to have shorter lessons, rather than longer lessons. They get tired during the day. 'They have to provide a minimum number of hours per year, so in theory they could just make days longer and longer and the number of days shorter and shorter. 'Education is not about making life easier for teachers – it's what's in the best interests for children. 'The workload for teachers has been reduced, for example school reports are now AI-generated. In some respects, they have never had it so good. 'It is still a hard job but it's a vocation as well. We shouldn't be changing the school year to fit in with the holiday plans of teachers.' Announcing the new school year – which includes adding ten minutes a day to make up for the extra week off - North Walsham executive headteacher James Gosden said: 'Over the past few years, we have had numerous requests for holidays which we cannot authorise. 'This would provide an opportunity for parents and carers to access cheaper holidays.' He added: 'At a time when sickness increases due to the winter months and fatigue, this would add a lengthier break into the longest term to support a reduction in absence – as students would have a greater opportunity to rest and enjoy the break. 'This would also give staff the chance for a better break and ensure less absence, thus minimising cover lessons and ensuring staff are rested, so they can continue to do an excellent job.' Parents had supported the change, Mr Gosden said, with 78 per cent of the 157 families who responded to a consultation in favour. But one parent, who asked not to be named, complained: 'It's ridiculous. October isn't when most families are taking holidays. 'I was against this because I don't see how it's going to benefit my kids. I've also got to make arrangements for them on these days, while teachers get more time off.' Another said: 'Ten minutes a day won't make up for losing a whole week in school. 'And a week either side of the summer holidays would have been better than a week at Hallowe'en.' There was further criticism online, with comments including: 'Are holidays more important than getting an education? 'And who can afford a two-week autumn holiday anyway except teachers?' Another said: 'Public schools have been doing this for decades, they don't think TUI has twigged?' Others supported the plans, with one saying: 'Good idea. My school day was much longer than most high school days at present.' Another commented: 'If 78 per cent of families responded favourably then it sounds like the trust is onto something with this. 'Two weeks for autumn half term makes a lot of sense, especially if the children don't lose any education as a result.' Priestlands School in the New Forest has already introduced a similar scheme, while three others in Hampshire – secondaries Wildern and Deer Park and Boorley Park Primary schools – announced in March they were looking into doing the same. But there was opposition from residents, with one, Stacey Rabbetts, arguing children rely on routine and the changes would 'give them great stress'. Claire Jenkins pointed out if only a few schools extended the autumn half term, there would not be sufficient demand for holiday clubs to take the pressure off parents who have to work and have no other options for childcare. The Enrich Learning Trust, which runs North Walsham and Long Stratton high schools, said there were no immediate plans for the changes to be introduced at its seven other schools in the area – but admitted other trusts had adopted it. A spokesman added: 'Having consulted with their school communities, they are planning a pilot of a two-week half-term in October 2025, with the aim of improving attendance in the second half of the autumn term, having had a slightly longer break. 'It is our understanding that this is something that is being tested by other trusts too.' In April, it emerged another Norfolk school was planning to close early on Fridays to reduce 'financial pressures'. Buxton Primary School said 8.30am to 3pm school days would become 8.10am to 3.05pm. A similar scheme launched at several English schools, particularly Birmingham, in 2019 led to protest marches in Westminster. Today's Parentkind research comes ahead of state schools starting to break up for the summer this weekend. It found that as well as parents, most teachers also support cutting the summer break from six to four weeks, as long as they do not lose the total amount of holiday they get throughout the year. Previous studies have shown pupils regress during the holidays because they get out of practice with their reading and writing. The charity's research is based on its own poll of 3,000 parents and a separate poll of 9,000 teachers by Teacher Tapp. It found that 53 per cent of parents would back plans to reduce the school summer break to four weeks from six and only 33 per cent would oppose this. Many parents would prefer two-week half-term breaks and a longer Christmas holiday. A shorter summer break was seen as a financial positive by 32 per cent of parents, compared with 17 per cent who saw it as a negative. Thirty-seven per cent of parents said a shorter break would be beneficial for childcare, compared with 14 per cent overall who said it would be detrimental. The Teacher Tapp polling found that 62 per cent of teachers would accept a shorter summer holiday, 38 per cent would support it being reduced from six weeks to five and 24 per cent were in favour of it being cut to four weeks. However, 35 per cent wanted to stick with the traditional six weeks, while the remainder gave other answers. Jason Elsom, the chief executive of Parentkind, told the Times : 'While children will no doubt be looking forward to extended time away from school, the long summer break is a challenge for some parents. 'Our large parent poll shows that most parents want to knock two weeks off the six-week summer break to give teachers and children a month off instead. 'Parents tell us that a shorter summer holiday would help with costs and childcare, which would be particularly welcome at a time when some families are struggling to keep their heads above water. 'We need to make sure the long summer break doesn't add further stress and hardship for parents, particularly those on low incomes.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Holyhead Port to reopen fully after Storm Darragh damage
One of UK's busiest ports will fully reopen on Friday, seven months after a berth was shut due to damage caused by a car ferry docking during a berths at Holyhead, the UK's second busiest passenger port, were damaged in two separate incidents hours before the height of a rare red weather wind warning that battered Wales in port was closed for five weeks, including at Christmas and new year, as engineers fixed one of the damaged berths before Holyhead partially reopened in January and services resumed to a revised other berth has taken seven months to repair and reopened on Friday with the economic impact of the closures an estimated £500m in lost trade. "It's the busiest time of year and is really important and timely," said Wales' First Minister Eluned comes as schoolchildren in Wales will finish their term within the next few days while most Republic of Ireland schools have already closed for the than 1.5m people pass through Holyhead every year making it the most popular sea route between the UK mainland and the Republic of Ireland. Why did Holyhead Port close? Holyhead's operators have said its closure was after successive ferries made "contact" with berthing terminals at the port just before the height of Storm Darragh in December incidents shut both of Holyhead's terminals because of the "interconnecting nature" of the support structures as the terminals run parallel to each blocked the busiest and shortest route between the UK mainland and Republic and Ireland over the busy Christmas and new year 40-day closure, before one berth reopened on 16 January, caused chaos for passengers and truck drivers using the four daily services of both Stena Line and Irish Ferries as people and freight had to find alternative routes over the Irish Sea. A boss of Stena Line, which runs the port, gave evidence to a Welsh Parliament committee and said berths were designed to "take contact but very slow-speed contact"."These contacts, maybe of a different magnitude, happen all the time," Stena's head of UK Ports Ian Davies told the Senedd's Economy and Trade port or ferry companies say they would not elaborate on how these specific contacts closed the port despite both the Welsh and UK governments asking."Those incidents are now subject to an insurance claim and I can give no further details without prejudicing that insurance claims at this time I'm afraid," Mr Davies told the UK Parliament's Welsh Affairs Committee earlier this chair Ruth Jones MP replied: "That is very frustrating for us but, obviously, we understand where you are coming from." When Mr Davies was before the Welsh Parliament's economy committee, he was asked by chair Andrew RT Davies was it "not necessarily the storm caused the damage, but the actual seamanship?"Mr Davies replied to the Senedd committee: "All we can say is there's an ongoing investigation into the actual cause, and part of that is a claim going on." Ferries that use Holyhead include the 50,000-tonnes Ulysses, which was the world's largest car ferry when it launched in terminal five reopened on 16 January and the port has been able to operate its normal daily number of sailings - eight arrivals and eight to accommodate that, both Irish Ferries and Stena Line had to adjust their timetables to synchronise arrivals and departures at the only operational told the Senedd the damage had happened to part of terminal three, which is "predominantly" used by Irish the port operators or the ferry companies would confirm who was taking action against whom. Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have both declined to berthing incidents happened during Storm Darragh - but before the red weather warning for wind kicked in at 03:00 GMT on 7 to Met Office data, three of the UK's five strongest gusts during Storm Darragh were in north included wind speeds of 79mph (127km/h) at Valley - about eight miles (13km) inland from Holyhead - which is the highest recorded gust on Anglesey for 27 years. The Health and Safety Executive did not investigate the incidents, while the Marine Accident Investigation Branch made some "preliminary enquiries" into the "maritime aspects" of the added in a statement: "The information gathered does not indicate any significant safety issues that would necessitate further investigation at this time."Mr Davies said there was a "onward-going investigation" about the incidents and the port and ferry operators would review what happened once Holyhead was fully reopened. Why has it taken so long to fully reopen Holyhead? Seven months may seem like a long time without half of its berthing capacity but port bosses explained replacing Holyhead's damaged infrastructure was complex."The berths are a series of very large steel pile structures... roughly 2m (6ft 7in) in diameter and 50m (164 ft 1in) in total length and driven into the seabed," Mr Davies of Stena explained in his Senedd evidence. He said the affected structure on terminal three "partially collapsed and had fallen at an angle" so engineers needed to charter specialist barges to get to the site and remove the fallen 120-tonne needed to design, order, check and fit their new pile and its associated mechanisms."It was hoped we could replace the pile in the same pile socket, like replacing a false tooth, but that was not possible," added Mr have had to drive the new pile into the sea bed and test before declaring the berth ready for passenger ferries."To be frank, seven months is a short amount of time," said maritime expert Dr Stavros Karamperidis. "The analogy is having a car accident, insurance companies investigate and might offer money, the other company might dispute that and it goes back and forth."I'm sure the authorities have all the information but you can't give that publicly," added Dr Karamperidis, head of Plymouth University's maritime transport research group. How important is Holyhead Port? At just over 100 miles (161km) between Holyhead and Dublin, the three-hour and 15 minute crossing from north Wales is the quickest route between the UK mainland and the Republic of more than 400,000 lorries and 400,000 cars a year using it every year, Holyhead is the second busiest passenger ferry port to is Wales' biggest international transport hub with almost double the amount of annual passengers of Wales' only major airport in Cardiff. "It is one of the large corridors that connects Wales and the UK to Ireland because of the shortness and frequency of the crossing," Mr Davies told Parliament."It adds a dynamic, especially to the just-in-time logistics industry, which perhaps other corridors do not have. I cannot overemphasise how important it is. It is critical."He added night ferries could create freight lorry convoys of up to three miles (5km) long, such is the strategic importance to both the UK and Republic of Ireland."Holyhead is a huge economic driver for us here in Ireland because so much of our exports by sea go through Holyhead into the UK," said Irish government Minister Sean Canney. He said more than a third of roll-on, roll-off traffic traffic to the Republic of Ireland came through Holyhead, emphasising the importance part of another country is to his nation."Both countries rely on Holyhead for stuff coming in and out between the UK and Ireland, it's a huge vein across the Irish Sea," added estimate the economic impact of Holyhead Port and its supply chain in north Wales is more than £100m a year with 1,000 jobs locally relying on it. Bangor University's senior economics lecturer Edward Jones also told Parliament an "additional 1,600 to 1,700 jobs at a national level is dependent" on Holyhead.A Senedd Committee heard in April the value of trade going through Holyhead during the complete closure was almost £500m less than the year the Welsh and Irish government also hoped everyone involved could "learn lessons" on how they react to incidents like this.
