
Seasonal speed limits return to Guernsey coastal roads
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Times
7 hours ago
- Times
The Lords may have some dodgy donors and clowns but it kind of works
N othing about the British state works. The civil service is too big: mired in layers of time-eating bureaucracy. The Prime Minister's Office is too small, and struggles to exert its will over that bureaucracy, often ceding power to the Treasury because at least the Treasury has enough staff to throw a spreadsheet together presenting its case. The Treasury in turn is plagued by groupthink, obsessed with the balance sheet, prone to prioritising short-term savings over investments or structural changes that will deliver future growth. Meanwhile, local government groans under the weight of too many expensive statutory responsibilities and not enough money left over to do the basics like bin collection and pothole repairs. As for the House of Commons? Every day, MPs stand up and read from their iPhones questions written by their party whips, and then shuffle through the voting lobbies only dimly aware of whether they are voting for changes to farming regulations or war with France.


BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
'Sleeping at Guernsey Bathing Pools was lowest night of my life'
A man who has been sleeping rough for more than a week said spending his first night on a bench at his local outdoor bathing pools was his "lowest point".Tian, 29, slept in the shower area at La Vallette in St Peter Port, Guernsey, after several weeks sofa who has two jobs, said: "The night I spent at the Bathing Pools was absolutely the lowest night I've ever had", adding that he questioned what the "point [was] anymore".Deputy Steve Williams, president of Housing, said: "We know there's a [hidden homelessness] problem, we know we need to do something about it." Tian said he went through an emotional "maelstrom" when he realised he had nowhere to spend the night. He said he wondered whether he had hit "rock bottom" or there was worse still to feeling "hopeless", he said he found a "nice quiet spot", adding: "There was shelter, water, I could go to the bathroom and not worry."After about four hours of broken sleep he was woken by a cleaner at 03:00 BST, who apologised and said he could stay."I felt a human connection for once, which was nice". Charlie Cox, from charity At Home in Guernsey, said more than 25 new people facing homelessness had contacted them for help during June said: "Although everyone's experience is unique, a lot of those people are sleeping outside, in their cars, in different places."Hidden homelessness really is a problem in Guernsey."She said the service could offer help and signpost people to other services on the Channel Island, which has a population of 65,000. Tian said he had been asked to leave his previous flat several weeks ago by his flatmate, from whom he sublet, after their relationship "ended up going quite sour".This coincided with moving from a job that paid weekly to one paid monthly in arrears, temporarily reducing his spent two weeks sofa surfing with a series of friends, but did not want to "risk their landlords finding out".He said both his employers were aware of his situation and had been "very sympathetic", allowing him longer breaks to make phone calls and visit a launderette. 'Isolating' Tian said he had posted on Facebook and was registered with local rental had also tried emergency accommodation without success, he someone born in Guernsey, he felt the housing crisis was exacerbated by rental subsidies for some people moving to the island."It does feel isolating," he said, "You've got flesh and blood in the island."You work your whole life, [you pay] your taxes just to basically be shunted aside, left to find some quiet corner and just get on." Tian said he hoped the States' new housing committee would do more to help islanders in his situation, but was not optimistic."Everything in Guernsey takes time," he said, "We've got people that will talk about [improving things] but no one who would actually drive [changes through]."Tian said the States should "set up hostels, man, anything" even if it was just for "a night or two". "You don't realise how much of a difference that can make to people at rock bottom." Deputy Williams said he wanted to explore alternative emergency housing options to "increase the supply"."There must be buildings out there [we could use]... ideally at a minimal cost."He hoped new emergency housing pods could be ready within 12 months, but that it was important to "under promise and over deliver". 'Reason to keep going' Tian has now bought a tent and rucksack and found a quieter sleeping spot, elsewhere on the some "bad nights", he had managed "about seven hours" sleep the night before he spoke to us, adding: "I finally got a bit of a lie in."He had started to spend time each day at the Town Church, despite not being a "religious person"."[I went for] some silent words to myself as a bit of reflection," he said."Hopefully someone is hearing me - because no one else is now."He now wears a green, plastic rosary on his wrist, which the church gave him, and keeps a Bible in his backpack to read when feeling finding solace in aspects of the church, Tian's plea to deputies was to make a material difference."There's a reason people go to churches," he said, "They want hope... a reason to keep going."So why don't you guys be the pillar for once, rather than us having to just struggle every day?"


BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Temporary speed limits brought in on Isle of Man Mountain Road
Temporary speed limits on sections of a major route between the Manx capital and the north of the island are set to come into force for the duration of the Manx Grand Prix and Classic A18 Mountain Road, from Creg ny Baa to Barrule Park in Ramsey will be shut from 10:00 until 12:00 BST for signage to be put in place.A restriction of 50mph (80km/h) will be in place from Ramsey Hairpin to the Gooseneck, while a 60mph (97km/h) limit will be in force from Keppel Gate to speed limits on the stretches of road, which are usually derestricted, will be in place until 1 September. Unlike the TT event in June, which sees the route made one-way, the entire road remains open to two-way traffic for the August speed limits will also be in place on several other roads around the island fort he period, including the Douglas to Ramsey Coast Road, Douglas to Peel Road and the A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road and the Sloc and Shoulder Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT run from Sunday until 29 August. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.