Stapleford car park makes changes after criticism over fines
A spokesperson for UKPS said: "We believe this adjustment restores access, rebuilds goodwill, and offers greater flexibility for everyone who needs to park in the area."
Motorist Dave Knight previously told the BBC he had been fined £100 for stopping in the car park to be sick after stomach surgery, which gave him acid reflux. Another driver, Martin Leighton, started flagging down cars on their way into the car park and posted videos on social media to warn other drivers after he was fined for driving onto the car park for 70 seconds to drop off his sister and perform a U-turn.Both motorists said they were unaware that only drivers with a permit were allowed to use the car park and claimed the signs warning motorists broke the rules as they were not "visible from a distance". UKPS denied their allegation, but said it has now decided to introduce a pay and stay system instead after it listed listened to feedback from the local community..Mr Leighton said he welcomed the decision.
"I think they've obviously listened to what people have been angry about... they've done something about it which I can respect them for," he said."The prices are not that extreme either really, they're quite reasonable and they fit in with every other car park pretty much that I know."However, Mr Leighton said the operator would have to stop issuing charges to those who enter the land accidentally to start rebuilding goodwill.He also said he was concerned that the pay-and-stay option required the use of the internet and a mobile phone, which could limit the accessibility for older people.UKPS said it remained "committed to being responsive, transparent, and community-focused"."Thank you once again to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts - we value your input and are proud to act on it," the company added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Top Gear
23 minutes ago
- Top Gear
Rolls-Royce has driven a Phantom into a pool because Keith Moon did it once
Rolls-Royce has driven a Phantom into a pool because Keith Moon did it once RR parties like a literal rock star by plunging its big boi into a lido Skip 14 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 14 The Rolls-Royce Phantom is 100 years old in 2025, and to celebrate, Rolls-Royce has driven one straight into a swimming pool. Because The Who drummer Keith Moon famously did just that in the 1970s. Well, at least that's what the legend will tell you. Regardless of whether or not it happened, Rolls-Royce considers it a special enough story to recreate for Phantom's big 100th anniversary. Advertisement - Page continues below So it took an old extended Phantom prototype destined for the big scrapheap in the sky, and sent it straight into Tinside Lido in Plymouth. The famous Art Deco building sits next to the English Channel, and is itself linked to another music legend: it featured in a picture taken of a band called 'The Beatles' – yup, us neither – back in 1967. 'Over the last 100 years, music artists have used Phantom to project their identity and challenge convention,' said Rolls-Royce boss Chris Brownridge. 'Their motor cars often became icons in their own right, with a lasting place in the history of modern music.' Indeed, it's reeled off a list of musicians with connections to the Phantom. Elvis bought a Phantom V in 1963. Lennon too, famously repainting his in yellow. Liberace bought a 1961 V and covered it in 'tiny mirror pieces', with the car later appearing in the biopic Behind the Candelabra. Sir Elton John – heard of him? – bought a Phantom V and Phantom VI, the former resplendent in pink and white which he later gifted to his percussionist, the latter bought on the spot on the way to a concert in 1973. Advertisement - Page continues below And of course, Snoop Dogg's Drop It Like It's Hot video featured a Phantom VII in the backdrop. One of many appearances of the big boi Rolls in hip-hop videos. 'This enduring connection reminds us that Rolls-Royce and the extraordinary people who are part of the marque's story are united by one ambition: to make their presence felt,' Brownridge added. Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
Computer science graduates struggle to secure their first jobs
Eddie Hart studied computer science and cybersecurity at Newcastle University, graduating in says he knew getting into the tech workforce would be a challenge, but "I thought it would be a little easier".Even when "junior" roles were advertised, they often demanded two or more years professional experience, Mr Hart says."It's not realistic, and it's just discouraging the good candidates from even trying."To him it seems clear that potential employers are using AI tools to automate the simpler parts of coder's work, tasks which would traditionally allow newcomers to build up experience. While companies undoubtedly benefit from using AI in some parts of their operations, says Mr Hart, "I don't think replacing developers entirely with AI is sustainable." ChatGPT, and other coding tools, are being blamed for a collapse in tech job openings, particularly for younger software developers and engineers.A report by the UK's National Foundation for Education Research showed a 50% decline in tech job adverts between 2019/20 and 2024/25, with entry level roles particularly report cited the "anticipated impact of artificial intelligence" as one of the factors behind the same time, software developers have widely adopted AI code tools, while simultaneously expressing distrust in their by Stack Overflow, a software knowledge platform, shows almost half use AI tools daily, despite just one third actually trusting the output of such Chandrasekar, CEO of Stack Overflow, says it's "a tricky time to graduate".More broadly, he says, its research shows developers are choosing to stay put, despite many expressing dissatisfaction with their work. "People are probably running for safety a little bit."All of this means young technologists are finding it harder to get that critical first job. The stress of finding a job is also being raised by the use of AI in the job application Hart came across one highly automated application process which had eight stages, the first of which was to answer 20 exam-style questions about exercises can take up hours of had been asked to record and upload answers to interview style questions."And then that's just reviewed by AI and a computer makes the decision. It just feels like you don't get that respect of at least being rejected by a human," he says. Colin, who didn't want his full name to be used, studied computer science at university, graduating in spent almost a year working through the recruitment process for one large company – only to be ultimately smaller firms often use AI to screen applications, he says, meaning CVs have to structured to be "AI friendly".Colin would then find he was being interviewed by people "who have clearly not read my CV".Both Mr Hart and Colin said they knew the senior roles were still out there. But, they wondered, who will fill them if younger developers like them were unable to secure jobs. Paul Dix, CTO and co-founder at California-based database firm, InfluxData says in any economic downturn or disruption, junior software developers were the ones who got hit he says, "If nobody's hiring younger developers, then you're going to arrive at this point where you don't have senior developers either, because you've completely killed your pipeline."More positively says Rajiv Ramaswami, CEO of US enterprise cloud firm Nutanix, "Some of these younger folks coming out of college actually have more experience using AI tooling compared to traditional ways of programming."Ramaswami adds: "I find the market for talent to be the best we've seen in several years."Mr Chandrasekar says the industry had always had an "apprenticeship" type model, with a pipeline of young people coming in and working with senior he suggests, executives and companies that had invested heavily in AI tech are under pressure to show some return on that investment. Even if that was by simply cutting back on hiring. Stack Overflow's research also found that while 64% of developers perceived AI as a threat to their jobs, this was four percentage points down on the previous year."They've now seen some of the limitations, where you need humans in the loop," Mr Chandrasekar tech disruptions had sparked fears that both senior or junior jobs would disappear, says Mr Chandrasekar. But invariably they result in more jobs as people uncover new problems and challenges."There's going to be an insatiable appetite for technologists and developers to go and build those things to help solve those problems."But that spike in demand might not come in time for some of today's Hart has secured a role as a security engineer at UK-based cybersecurity firm Threatspike, which he gained through a very human centred job Colin has turned his back on tech altogether and is considering a career in the police.
The Guardian
44 minutes ago
- The Guardian
The thong bikini boom: why the skimpiest swimwear is back
There are plenty of places where no one would bat an eyelid at the sight of a thong bikini; on a beach in Brazil or around the Love Island fire pit, visible butt cheeks are practically de rigueur. But my first sighting this year was not while surfing in Australia or sunbathing in the Caribbean, but at an open-water swimming spot, on a rainy day in Scotland. I should not have been surprised. Tiny swimwear is huge news this summer. It is no longer confined to sunny climes, but cropping up everywhere from lidos to leisure centres – and lochs, apparently. The trickle down from catwalks and influencers to holidaymakers and shoppers is notable. A search for 'thong bikini' on Asos yields 187 results, ranging from high-leg styles, to side-tie, to tanga (somewhere between a thong and a standard brief), while high-street outlets including H&M, Calzedonia and Zara all have thong bikini bottoms in their collections. And, as with any trend, there are plenty of celebrity forerunners, including gymnast Simone Biles, model Heidi Klum, actor Sofía Vergara and singer Nicole Scherzinger. Rapper Lizzo is a longtime fan. 'I won't lie, it was nerve-racking initially,' says Victoria, 29, who wore a thong bikini for the first time on a recent solo trip to Naples. As for many new converts, part of the appeal lay in the fact that she would be able to avoid the significant tan lines created by fuller coverage swimwear. 'I saw thong bikinis everywhere and wished I could wear one. But then I thought about it and was like, it's just a bum. Men wear those teeny-tiny trunks where you see everything, so why can't I wear this? Plus, it was really comfy.' The itsy-bitsy bikini revolution may have come to the fore this summer, but it has been rumbling for some time. In 2023, the New York Times declared that 'more women are adopting the 'less is more' philosophy' when it comes to beachwear; the same year, fashion site Who What Wear called thong bikinis the 'controversial swimwear trend you'll see on every beach this summer'. In 2024, New Zealand site The Spinoff asked: 'Why is every bikini bottom a thong now?' 'I think we've moved into another age of body consciousness – a much more expressive moment,' says Shaun Cole, associate professor in fashion at the University of Southampton. 'People are saying: 'It's my body and I can show it off in ways that I choose to, and if that involves wearing clothing that is sometimes deemed socially unacceptable then I'm going to do that.'' Gen Z, in particular, are less inclined to restrict themselves to clothes deemed to be 'flattering' – a term that has fallen spectacularly out of favour. Thong bikinis, once the preserve of those who conformed to a particular body type, are now being manufactured in a more inclusive range of sizes and marketed more diversely. 'Women of all shapes and sizes are leaning into bolder cuts with real confidence as part of a wider cultural shift towards body positivity and self-expression, which is great to see,' says Aliya Wilkinson, founder of luxury swimwear label Ôsalé. Her brand doesn't yet offer thong styles, but she plans to introduce them in the future. 'In the west, fashion has long found ways to augment the butt, to make it look bigger and put emphasis on this part of the female body,' says Roberta Sassatelli, professor of sociology at the University of Bologna and co-author of Body and Gender. 'This is perhaps because the butt is deemed to be very sensual but is not related to reproduction. Because it is totally related to pleasure, it feels more liberated.' The trend is reflected in the popularity of potentially dangerous cosmetic procedures, such as Brazilian butt lifts. Sculpting the perfect behind has also become something of a fitness obsession. In 2018, sports writer Anna Kessel noted that 'the emphasis on a firm, or 'juicy', bottom has now overtaken the flat stomach as the fitness holy grail in mainstream women's health magazines', with an increasing number of gym classes dedicated exclusively to the posterior. Seven years later, could it be that gym-goers are keen to display the results? 'I think the popularity of thong bikinis exists at the convergence of a focus on building glutes in the gym, a kind of exhibitionist creep in which the butt is one of the last frontiers that had remained mostly covered in public, and a greater cultural acceptance of a range of different body types,' says historian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, author of Fit Nation. 'The low-slung jeans of the early 2000s were certainly correlated with the age when flat abs workouts were all the rage.' Cole suggests there may be another reason why more people are choosing to wear less. 'It could be linked to what's been called the 'pornification' of culture and style,' he says, citing an idea put forward by fashion historian Pamela Church Gibson. '[It is] modelled on a style that has come out of pornography – at the points where pornography stars are dressed – which involves garments such as tiny bikinis or thong-style underwear. There's an acceptance of that style without people really realising where it originated. The popularity of shows such as Love Island, where people are there to show off their bodies as a way of attracting a partner, again ties to that pornification of style.' After years of falling audience figures, Love Island is also experiencing a boom this summer: increased numbers tuned in to watch the UK and US versions, with the New York Times attributing the popularity of the latter to its ability to offer reprieve during 'times of societal and economic hardship'. As dress and design historian Amber Butchart put it when curating Splash!, a recent exhibition on swimming and style at the Design Museum in London: 'Swimwear's close relationship with the body means it reflects changing attitudes to modesty, morality and public display. From the 18th century, bathing machines were used to protect sea dippers from prying eyes. But throughout the 20th century, a number of boundary-pushing designs challenged previous ideas of decency while also courting controversy. For the last century, what we wear while swimming has been used as an excuse to police bodies.' While it is predominantly women who are opting for poolside thongs today, this wasn't always the case. The earliest iteration of the style is thought to be the ancient loincloth, worn by men. Modern thongs are said to have been adopted in 1939, when the mayor of New York, Fiorello La Guardia, ordered that showgirls must cover themselves rather than perform nude at the city's World's Fair. When it comes to swimwear specifically, Austrian-American Rudi Gernreich – the fashion designer behind the monokini, or 'topless bikini' – is most often credited with creating the thong bikini, in response to Los Angeles city council banning public nudity, including naked sunbathing, in 1974. The thong bikini has prompted similar bans more recently. In January, a council in Greater Sydney, Australia, banned thong and (even skimpier) G-string bikinis at its public pools. A number of women have also been arrested for wearing thong bikinis in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the style is banned. In the UK, Greenwich Leisure Ltd, which operates 240 leisure centres under the brand Better, requires swimmers to wear 'full-coverage bikinis', which a spokesperson previously indicated did imply 'that thongs wouldn't be acceptable'. But even when thong styles are not prohibited, many bikini-wearers remain nervous. 'I do own one, but it's only been worn once, when my partner and I had a private villa in Portugal,' says Rebecca, 33. Even then, she says, she felt a little too exposed. 'I don't understand why someone would wear one on a family holiday, for example. Thong bikinis feel quite sexualised, so to me it seems inappropriate. Give me high-waisted bikini bottoms that cover your cheeks any day.' For Sassatelli, the reason thong bikinis are in vogue is not so surprising. 'The thong has never gone away completely,' she says. 'But for people who are in their teens and 20s, they haven't really been 'in fashion'. Once [the fashion industry] has forgotten something, then it can be recuperated – and it makes for a little sense of novelty.'
