Northern corrects wrong pronunciation of Wylam
Ms James said she and her friend Izzy Flynn had noticed the incorrect pattern on the way back from Newcastle a few months ago. "Where does the 'em' come from?" said Ms James. "I think 'Why-lam' makes more sense."She said a few people had mentioned the mispronunciation to her. Northern said the previous announcement had only played on certain trains, so not every passenger had heard it. "It's a bit of a small place not a lot of news happens...so the name on the train change is interesting," Ms James said.
The re-recording follows backlash faced by ScotRail for using artificial intelligence for some of its train announcements.Northern said it did not use artificial intelligence for its voiceovers. Fellow Northern passengers said they had regularly heard mispronunciations of Wylam, as well as nearby villages such as Prudhoe on local trains in the past. "It's not terribly important is it as long as the train comes on time," said Rob Doughty. "As long as that happens, I don't mind what they say."
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Parents occupy community centre with buggy blockade in protest over cost of childcare
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With a buggy blockade at the entrance and a family fiesta outside, the demonstrators have begun running a programme of free meals and kids activities from the space. Gemma Brown, a local mum and dance teacher said: 'We didn't know what kind of reactions we might but support from the community has been overwhelming. On Friday when we reclaimed the centre over 100 neighbours turned up to celebrate with us. We already have a programme planned for the summer but it keeps growing. Rebecca, a single mother and kitchen volunteer at the community centre who only wished to give her first name, added: 'When the centre closed, I felt like I lost my other home... We won't let them take our community centre.' The six-week summer break poses a severe challenge for thousands of London families. Childcare costs in inner London now average £306 per week for a childminder, which totals more than £1,800 over the course of the summer holidays, according to a survey conducted by the children's charity Coram this year. Many parents, therefore, cannot afford to work while schools are closed, with many relying on community centre programmes over the school holidays. Haringey, the borough where the Tottenham Hale community centre is located, has some of the highest child poverty rates in the UK. However, demand for the government's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, appears to exceed supply, with nearly three-quarters of eligible children not attending the programme last summer, according to a Department for Education report this year. Nationally, HAF reaches only 29 per cent of eligible children, according to the government's latest data, while most councils offered just four weeks of clubs, leaving a gap of up to two weeks with no funded support. According to the protesters, the community centre run by LUOS was one of the last in Haringey to run a programme of free kids activities throughout the summer holidays, including multi-sports, crafts and gardening. But the council has announced the centre is now set to be demolished. Local newspaper Haringey Community Press reported LUOS confirmed it was leaving the premises in March following a funding dispute with the council. In response, the local parents and childcare workers said they decided to occupy the centre and run a free community holiday programme to support families who are struggling over the school holidays with food and childcare. Alongside their childcare calls and demands for the centre, the protesters are also urging transparency and real community control over money spent on planning in Tottenham Hale. Pamela Berrocal, a play worker involved in the occupation, said: 'I run playgroups and parent support groups for the Latin community in Tottenham. 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'The council will be seeking possession of the building to remove the unlawful occupants so we can ensure the parties we have engaged with are able to run activities through the correct channels. 'As part of the planned long-term programme, the council have engaged extensively with residents and will be providing a new building and other facilities in the park to ensure long-term community provision.' The Metropolitan Police told The Independent the protest was not a police matter. A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'We recognise the school holidays can be a pressurised time for parents, which is why through the Plan for Change this government is putting pounds back in parents' pockets both during the holidays and in term time. 'We're rolling out 30 hours of government-funded childcare from this September, helping to give every child the best start in life and saving parents up to £7,500 a year. 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The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
My ex-girlfriend has moved on with new man but we still have weekly sex – I want her back
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BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Concern after 50 allotments built on South Downs National Park
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