Northern promises 'improvement' to Lancashire rail services
Bosses of the rail company Northern have promised a "substantial improvement" in services across Lancashire.In a meeting with the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Northern, councillor Phil Riley said there was a recognition that the current level of cancellations and unreliability of service was unacceptable, particularly at weekends. He met Craig Harrop, north-west regional director for Northern and Owain Roberts, its regional stakeholder manager, alongside Lancashire County Council's rail development manager, Mike Cliffe.The company executives said the key issues included resolving long-running industrial disputes and investing in training.
Mr Harrop said a shortage of conductors had contributed to high cancellation rates which Northern was addressing by recruiting and training new ones.He also highlighted plans to enhance services starting with the introduction of a seven-day service, speed up the training of new drivers and to scrap the controversial practice of planned cancellations. Mr Riley, who also chairs Lancashire's new combined county authority's Transport Board, said: "It was good to meet Northern senior management and to convey the ongoing concerns from local residents about the poor quality of service."Lots of plans were outlined and we will be meeting again, hopefully, when there have been measurable improvements."
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Watchdog slams social media giants for dragging heels over online scam crackdown
Scroll on for more bad news for bank customers - as one giant confirms it's closing 55 branches Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SOCIAL media giants such as Meta must stop dragging their feet and tackle online fraud, the UK's financial watchdog says. Financial Conduct Authority boss Nikhil Rathi criticised tech firms for being too slow to remove harmful content. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 FCA boss Nikhil Rathi has hit out at tech giants for being too slow when removing harmful online content Credit: Houses of Parliament 4 Social media giants such as META have been told to stop dragging their feet and tackle online fraud Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Speaking to MPs, he urged companies to 'get on and do it' without waiting for further guidance. There is concern people are being fleeced by dodgy investments promoted by so-called 'finfluencers'. Last May, the watchdog charged nine suspects, including ex-Love Island and former The Only Way Is Essex stars, over a dubious online trading scheme promoted on social media. If convicted, they could face up to two years' jail. The trial is set for 2027. Consumer group Which? has also exposed a surge of misleading health adverts on Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram. These include false medical claims, fake endorsements and products that never arrive. One targeted diabetics with a fraudulent glucose monitor. Another promoted bee venom cream with bogus claims of medical approval. Mr Rathi said the FCA needs social media firms to cooperate to remove harmful content. Some are, but others are slow to act. The Online Safety Act should force platforms to remove illegal content. But Which? warned it could take until 2027 to fully implement. Facebook users bombarded with 'happy birthday posts' in bizarre glitch as people joke 'someone messed up' NATWEST SHUTS 55 MORE 4 NatWest will shut 55 more branches in the coming months, on top of 53 closures already announced for this year Credit: PA NATWEST is closing 55 more branches in the coming months, adding to 53 closures already planned this year. The move follows a shift towards online banking by customers. Since 2015, NatWest Group has shut more than 1,400 branches across the UK. NatWest said more than 80 per cent of current account holders now use digital banking. It plans to invest £20million to upgrade surviving branches and improve customer service. Pop-up services will support communities during 'branch transitions'. RENTALS COOL 4 Average rents for new leases rose 2.8% in April - from 6.4% recorded earlier in 2024 Credit: PA RENT rises have slowed to the lowest rate since the market was dealing with the impacts of the pandemic, figures show. Average rents for new leases in April increased by 2.8 per cent year-on-year, from the 6.4 per cent recorded in 2024. Average monthly rent is £1,287. Richard Donnell at property site ZOOPLA said: 'The average annual cost of renting is still over £2,500 higher than three years ago.' WATER BLOCK MILLIONS of households are being blocked from bill support due to a loophole in the WaterSure scheme. It helps the disabled and benefits claimants using lots of water, but requires a meter which many homes cannot install. Scope's Abdi Mohamed urged change, saying: 'Consumers cannot choose their supplier, and more needs to be done to ensure consistency and fairness.'
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Brit wine tycoon, 65, dead from mystery cause after being found in his luxury Spanish villa following Italian car rally
The vintage car enthusiast came from a family of socialites and entrepreneurs TRAGIC DEATH Brit wine tycoon, 65, dead from mystery cause after being found in his luxury Spanish villa following Italian car rally Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BRIT wine tycoon has been found dead at his luxury Spanish villa hours after returning from a car rally in Italy. Tarik Wildman, 65, died "peacefully" in his sleep on Sunday, according to friends, but the cause of death is unknown. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Tarik Wildman has passed away at 65 Credit: Facebook 6 The fun loving socialite died in his sleep at his house in Marbella Credit: Facebook 6 Tarik's grandfather founded a wine empire called Frederick Wildman & Sons Credit: Facebook The socialite, who was managing director of PJ Investments according to his LinkedIn page, had just returned from running a rally team in Italy. He was a vintage car fanatic and had competed in the iconic Monte Carlo Classic rally. His paternal grandfather founded the wine empire Frederick Wildman & Sons, which to this day turns over hundreds of millions of pounds a year exporting wines and champagne from France to the US. Tarik's British mother, the late Hon Corinna Cunliffe, was a celebrated fashion magazine editor and the daughter of a baron. She is pictured in three portraits hanging in the National Portrait Gallery. He was married to Susan O'Reilly, daughter of the late Sir Anthony O'Reilly - from one of Ireland's most prominent families. It is believed Tarik owned a six-bedroom, five-bathroom holiday home in the swanky La Virginia neighbourhood of Marbella, with a private pool. The Classic and Sports Car Club of Andalucia, of which Tarik was a member, posted a memorial to him online, which read: "He had just returned from organising and running his Team Schh rally in Italy which he had done in his beautiful Lancia Flamina, a car he loved. "He died peacefully in his sleep but, at this moment, the cause is not known. "He had amazing friends all over the world, had competed in the Monte Carlo Classic rally and had a depth of knowledge of all things that always astonished me. ESPN legend John Brenkus' tragic cause of death aged 54 announced as family make desperate plea "His passion for life in general and motoring in particular was something that others could only envy. "The world here will never see the like and will never be the same again. RIP Tarik Wildman, a legend and a titan." Another friend, US TV personality Ingrid Hoffman, wrote: "Thank you for being a stand up kind and generous friend, host exraurdinaire, creator, planner, navigator and pilot to the most fun adventures and Team Shhhh rally's. 6 American TV personality Ingrid Hoffman paid tribute to her friend Tarik online Credit: Facebook 6 Tarik organised a rally team called Team Schh, which he had just been to Italy with Credit: Facebook "I am going to miss you and the days and nights spend cooking, talking, drinking, driving and telling stories at your Marbella "La Virginia" and Casa Hombre Salvaje center of the universe of all things fun. "Capileira that little house above the clouds you loved so much and took all of your friends so we could love it too. "Grateful for all the cast of characters now friends you introduced me too. You always wanted all of us to be friends. "You leave behind a beautiful family a bigger than life legacy. "I will miss your naughty spirit, history lessons, poetry, writings, waking all up to beautiful classical music."
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I bagged a gorgeous £80 sideboard in B&M for just £1 – it's such a good bargain, trolls say I'm lying
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SAVVY shopper has insisted she's found the "bargain of the day" after snapping up some huge furniture for just £1 - but was accused of lying by jealous trolls. The stunning two-door sideboard is usually priced at £80 in B&M which means you could save £79 if you manage to get yoúr hands on it. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A £1 sale item in B&M has caused a frenzy with shoppers Credit: Alamy So if you're looking to give your home a glow-up but don't want to break the bank, you've come to the right place. B&M have not announced or advertised a discount for the product. But one bargain hunter revealed she was able to get it for the heavily slashed price by scanning it with the B&M scanner app. The scanner lets you see if the item's price is cheaper than advertised on the shop shelf. Products that are typically discounted are seasonal items and old stock that B&M is trying to shift, or they're labelled "big brands" and "big savings". Brits up and down the country have already bagged massive bargains at B&M using the method. Cheap items snapped up include a £12 herringbone side table, £25 bedside table and £60 wooden unit for a quid in the flash sale. And now it looks like the £80 Ezra premium sideboard is included in the 'secret' clearance. A shopper took to the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group, which boasts 2.6million followers, to inform others about the jaw-dropping price reduction in B&M's Clydebank branch. Alongside a picture of her buy, she wrote: ''Bargain of the day - scanned at £1 in b&m!" I transformed my garden patio into summer haven for less than £100 with cheap B&M buys including gadget to keep bugs out Many social media users were delighted for her over the cheap find, as one gushed: "Wow what a bargain." "Wow, right place, right time. Well done you", chimed in a second. A third wrote: "Think that's bargain of the year!" And a fourth added: "I got 4 of them today made them into one long unit £4 and some brackets brilliant." Others, however, refused to believe such an amazing bargain was possible and accused the shopper of lying. One fumed: "Deffo don't believe it at this point. We scan EVERYTHING and nevvvvvver £1." "I do not believe this one bit", sneered a second while someone else simply wrote "not true". As a result, the woman was forced to add a picture of her receipt to prove she only paid £1. 3 A savvy shopper bagged this £80 sideboard for £1 Credit: Facebook/Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK 3 She was forced to share a picture of her receipt to prove the price Credit: Facebook/Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK She said: "Have added the receipt for everyone accusing me of lying. Posted it to let people know in case they had them in their stores. But as usual you get a few." And a B&M worker instantly jumped to her defence to give their verdict on the sale. They said: "I work for B&M and can assure you, MANY products regardless of how big or expensive they originally are, ABSOLUTELY go down in price like even to 10p! "Most of the time when it goes down that much, there is VERY low stock so the chances of others going into their store and actually finding the same products is very low. "Just gotta be in the right place at the right time!" How to use the B&M scanner app Using the B&M app will help you bag plenty of bargains on your next shopping trip. The app is free and easy to use. Here's how you can join the bargain hunt. You'll first need to download the B&M app for free on any smartphone with an App Store or Google Play. Once you've installed it on your device, click on the option labelled "more" on the bottom, right-hand side of the app home page. You'll then find an option that says "barcode scanner". Click on this and you'll open a camera screen. Use the camera to hover over the barcode of the product you wish to check. If the price comes up as lower, take it to the cash desk and it will automatically scan at the lower price. You don't need to sign up for the B&M app to use the barcode scanner.
