Latest news with #A30
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Local access roads to Cornwall's A30 near completion
A road leading to the upgraded A30 in Cornwall is on course to open in July, transport bosses Highways said the opening of the Travalso underpass near Zelah is part of ongoing work to improve access to the new A30 for local programme of work has also seen the old A30 opened up to traffic between the Chybucca and Carland nine-mile (14.5km) stretch of dual-carriageway between Chiverton Cross and Carland Cross opened in June after four years of construction. National Highways said Pennycomequick Lane and the Church Lane underpass are also due to open in the summer, together with further hedging work and tree Alcorn, National Highways' programme manager for the scheme, said: "We've done a heck of a lot to get things moving forward."We've progressed a significant amount of ancillary work, including planting, hedging and landscaping, we're in touching distance of the finishing line now and we thank people in advance for their continued co-operation and patience while we carry out these final works."
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
How the BMW X7 elevates everyday life for families
As most busy families will understand, a car isn't just about getting from one place to another. It's a moving extension of the family home. It has to be safe – a buffer between loved ones and the elements outside. But it also needs to be a place of calm, particularly for younger kids who might need to nap or mellow out. It should present distractions for longer trips, preserving parents' sanity as the miles clock up and also have the flexibility to accommodate the bulk of everyday life, be that buggies and food shops or surfboards and pedal bikes. Acclaimed chef and BMW 'friend of the brand' Paul Ainsworth knows this as well as any busy father. Based in Cornwall, where long drives are standard practice and the weather is unpredictable, his BMW X7 M60i has become the lynchpin of both family life and work logistics. First and foremost, the focus is on safety. 'My daughter's school is 30 miles away, so we're on the A30 a lot,' Ainsworth explains. 'You need to feel the car's solid, that it's got you covered – and the X7 gives you that. It feels strong and sturdy. You just know your family is secure.' The X7 is full to the brim with safety-first features, such as Lane Control Assistant, Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation, and the optional Driving Assistant Professional, which includes steering and lane control support. For those who regularly drive longer distances, especially with children in the car, these features are invaluable. Add to those the Surround View and Parking Assistant Professional – letting you spot even the smallest obstacle and manoeuvre accordingly – and it's easy to see why the X7 offers peace of mind. Then there's the matter of keeping the screeching down and everyone entertained. 'In terms of how they travel, we definitely had them in the right order,' Paul laughs. 'CiCi, my elder daughter, is quite chilled and goes with the flow. She always has. Audrey, my younger one, is completely different. She's all about the routine. If that routine gets disrupted, you know about it.' Keeping the whole family happy on the road has never been so easy or pleasurable. The X7's third-row seating gives space for up to seven people in comfort, which is a boon for the Ainsworths. With two kids in the back, the rear entertainment screens are also a lifesaver. Plus, the four-zone climate control, the eight USB-C ports and generous storage compartments throughout means everyone can settle into their own comfort zone. The optional panoramic Sky Lounge sunroof is another road trip hero. On the A30 school run, it turns early morning drives into a visual experience. 'It's a long drive, and often we're doing it while it's still a bit dark, but we get sunrise over the moorland and that's a real favourite of Cici's,' Ainsworth says. And then, of course, there's the space. Living in Cornwall means loading up the car, which isn't just during a once-a-week grocery shop. 'I need a big boot,' says Ainsworth. 'You've got the wetsuits, the dog, Cici's skateboards, bikes, buckets – all the stuff. It just gets loaded in.' The BMW X7's electrically split tailgate and height-adjustable air suspension makes it easier to load heavy gear. The third row of seats folds away at the touch of a button, freeing up more than 750 litres of cargo space when needed. 'When I'm not filling the boot with produce for the restaurants, I'm filling it with all the stuff our life demands,' Ainsworth says. 'I think it's almost a prerequisite of living in Cornwall – you have to have hobbies that involve a lot of kit.' His wife Emma, he notes, is the only low-maintenance one in the household. 'She just needs a pair of fully charged AirPods and she's off for a long walk along the coast with her favourite podcasts.' His daughter CiCi, on the other hand, is constantly levelling up her interests. 'If it's not surfing, it's skateboarding. And now her surf coach has recommended surf-skateboarding, so adding yet another board to add to the pile.' The flexibility of the X7's boot space, combined with its thoughtful family-first features, makes it uniquely suited to this kind of lifestyle. Whether it's heading to school, the beach, or London for a work meeting, the car adapts seamlessly. What stands out about the BMW X7 is its ability to merge performance, space and comfort in one attractive package. 'It's really everything,' Ainsworth says. 'You've got the height, the views, the comfortable seats – but also that family-friendly flexibility. It doesn't feel like a compromise. It works for us.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Long awaited mid-Cornwall link road becomes a reality
A new road that will link St Austell to the A30 has opened in Cornwall after nearly three years of 3.9 miles (6.3km) single carriageway road connects the A391 at Singlerose Roundabout in Stenalees with the A30 at Victoria and includes new junctions on its June 2022, the government announced funding of £78.5m for the project, and work started the following month, with Cornwall Council contributing a further £ council said the new road would support employment, housing and regeneration in the area. 'Improving health and wellbeing" The A391 at St Austell is currently closed for resurfacing works, and due to be completed on 30 project has also created 5.5 miles (8.9km) of off-road paths and routes for walking, cycling and horse riding and includes a "green corridor" of wildflowers, heathland, trees and shrubs to support wildlife habitats. Work on the road will continue over the next few months and a temporary speed limit of 30mph is in place in sections along the route. Council leader councillor Leigh Frost said: "I want to thank local residents for their patience over the last two years as our contractors have worked hard to deliver this project."He said the route would alleviate congestion and provide a catalyst for economic growth."It's also about improving health and wellbeing – the walking and cycling paths will open up new areas of clay country for people to enjoy and these safe, off-road links will give residents the option to make local journeys without having to drive." Tim James, managing director for Alun Griffiths Contractors, said: "We're proud to have delivered this important new link road for Cornwall Council and the local community. "This has been a significant project over the past three years, and we're grateful for the patience and support of local residents throughout."
BBC News
14-05-2025
- BBC News
Inquest into driver's death at Plusha junction on A30
A 79-year-old woman died at a road junction in Cornwall after she pulled into the path of an oncoming car, an inquest Gibson, who lived near Launceston, was seen on CCTV driving towards the central reservation of the A30 at Plusha before her vehicle was struck by a car on 11 August 2024. The inquest at Cornwall Coroner's Court on Tuesday heard driver Amelia Collins had been travelling at 70mph along the A30 and said: "I did not see her pull out. I could not have done anything to avoid the collision."Assistant coroner Emma Hillson heard between 2015 and 2024 there had been 22 crashes leading to three deaths, nine serious injuries and a total of 54 casualties at the junction. Miss Hillson said the majority of the collisions had involved the same manoeuvre turning right from the B3257 on to the Launceston-bound A30 Mason, road safety manager for National Highways in the South West, said the biggest contributory factor in these collisions had been "driver error".He said improvements had been made to the Plusha junction and further changes to the area would be made from 2026 to right turn from the Callington junction across the A30 would not be reopened following a temporary closure after the third fatal crash last November, he Gibson's grandson Sam Johnson said it was a "shame" safety measures could not have been made sooner and added he was "sad that other people have been affected".Devon and Cornwall Motor Police Constable Jamie Hubbard said there had been no suspicious circumstances and no criminal proceedings would Hillson recorded a conclusion of road traffic collision.
Canberra Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Canberra Times
NZ to increase payments to state care abuse victims
The average compensation payment for new claims will be raised to NZ$US30,000 ($A47,000) from NZ$US19,180 ($A30,000), and more money will be provided for survivors who suffered extreme abuse, while processing of claims will be sped up from 2027 to cut wait times, the statement said.
