Latest news with #Chippenham
BBC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Chippenham road was resurfaced while 'meeting net zero' standards
A street dubbed the "worst road" in a town has become one of the first in the UK to be resurfaced while meeting net zero standards, according to a Road in Chippenham was resurfaced in October, after residents' vehicles suffered damage and discomfort by cracks and it has come to light that the work was part of a trial between Wiltshire Council contractors and academics to product a "net zero" road biochar, a waste product from the biomass industry, Wiltshire Council said the process had increased the cost of the project by 5%. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the process included superheating straw waste, used to power boilers to heat industrial greenhouse, in a vacuum, locking in carbon rather than releasing it into the makes up about 7% of the road surface material. The contractors also used UK-produced steel slag, a by-product of the steel industry, rather than virgin top of the new road surface material was Milepave, which is produced at lower mixing temperatures than traditional Tarmac, requiring less energy and bitumen, and which is derived from crude oil, according to scheme used 871 tonnes of Milepave across 8,216 sq m (about two acres) of road surface, cutting carbon by 40%, equivalent to the carbon emissions of 10,000 litres of diesel, the LDRS road was later sealed with a special asphalt grout that stops water getting into the road surface – making cracks and potholes far less at Aston University in Birmingham are are trialling the new road surface.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Man celebrates 60 years working at Chippenham camping shop
A man has been celebrating his 60 years working for a camping shop that he considers his "second home".Doug, 79, joined Millets on 10 May 1965 at a store in Wales when he was 19 but settled in Chippenham, Wiltshire, where he has been for five 1965, there were still a lot of surplus World War Two goods on the shelves. "When I first started, I was selling gas masks," he said. I would wear a smart suit – now it's more casual."Just a few years later, he became one of the youngest store managers in the company's history. Charlotte Johns, regional manager, said: "I adore Doug, he's one of the kindest people I know. He is always happy and smiling."Doug said the best part of the job was the people. "Most people in the town know me – they always pop in to see me. This is like my second home." His colleagues, who have joined in the celebrations, described Doug as a "local legend".One said he was a "joy to work with" who "always has a story to tell and always has help and advice when you need it". Doug stepped down from management 15 years ago but still works part-time in the one moment in his long history with the shop that he remembers well – when the owner of the whole chain presented him with a cheque to help him buy his first house."I'll always be very grateful," he said.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wiltshire shop owner forced to ditch vape stock as ban begins
A vape shop owner says he will be forced to bin more than 1,000 disposable vapes ahead of the ban this new government rules make the sale and supply of single use and disposable vapes illegal from 1 June. Aref Bareqzia owns Smok Vape City in Chippenham, Wiltshire, where disposable vapes make up the majority of his said the upcoming ban will have a detrimental impact on his business adding: "I'm losing money, the business is losing money. This whole year's profit is gone."The ban was introduced to tackle their impact on the environment with disposable and single use vapes defined as being non refillable and use a battery which cannot be recharged. It is also hoped the move will help cut the number of children and young people vaping. Mr Bareqzia said he understands the reason for the ban but added that it does not make things easier: "I have nearly 1,000 (disposable vapes), maybe even 1,500.""I'm going to be struggling for a long time to be honest."Retailers caught breaking the law in England face a minimum £200 fine, with a prison sentence of up to two years for repeat offences. Penalties are broadly similar in Scotland, Wales and Northern Standards will be able to seize any single-use vapes they find. The government said the ban is part of a crackdown on littering, calling them an "inefficient use of critical resources" that "causes harm to biodiversity".Last year, Material Focus estimated that almost five million single-use vapes were either littered or thrown away in general waste every week in the UK.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Town still recovering six months on from flooding
Residents of a Wiltshire town are still feeling the impact of devastating flooding caused by Storm Bert six months ago. Chippenham saw its worst flooding for 50 years after the River Avon burst its banks on 25 November 2024. Several businesses, charities and local groups based in the town lost their buildings, stock and personal possessions. Since then, members of the community have rallied around those worst affected to help them find a sense of normality and try to return to life as it was before the storm. James Lucas, commanding officer of the town's air cadets, said: "The people of Chippenham and the community have been unbelievable… it makes us feel like a family." More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire The 1304 Chippenham Air Cadets' base is located off Long Close, just outside the town centre. The building sits along the banks of the River Avon. Mr Lucas was on holiday when the storm hit and was alerted to the "really bad" damage by a colleague. "The water was so high... it was pure fear - what would happen, what could happen and what can we do with the kids? "Seeing it flooded and actually seeing inside brought a few tears to quite a few of us," he said. He estimated there was about £20,000 worth of damage to the building, which has been home to the cadets for many years. The community has helped raise £13,000 to get the group back to their base, but there is still no indication of when they will be able to return. Until then, they are operating from a temporary home in the town centre. Sarah McClymont is from Doorway, a charity based in the town centre that helps homeless people in north Wiltshire. She said the team had been in high spirits at an "amazing" fundraising event the day before the storm hit. "It was almost dream-like... It was all cordoned off, there was a very deep pool of water through the middle of town and you couldn't get through," Ms McClymont said. Six months on, the building is still in the same "broken state", with no flooring or walls. In the meantime, the "resilient" team have secured a temporary base at the town's rotary hall to keep helping those in need. "The community has really rallied around us, but we've just been in a paused state and there wasn't much we could do. "Once we get up and running we'll be fine - we'll be able to come back and deliver Doorway to our guests in a brand new, shiny, sparkly building," Ms McClymont said. Francesca Whitworth is the general manager of Grounded, a cafe located on Bath Road, alongside the river. She said the town "looked like an island" after the storm, leaving many people "stopped in [their] tracks". Ms Whitworth now worries whether it could happen again and finds herself observing the river levels whenever there is heavy rain. Her colleagues feel the same and often start thinking ahead in case they have to prepare flood defences. "There is that automatic panic," she said. The team has managed to get the business going again and has secured new customers over the past six months. "Everything has its silver lining, there was a real sense of community spirit. "Everyone was just so dumbfounded by the damage and how far up the High Street the water went. Everyone pulled together," added Ms Whitworth. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. 'Like it wasn't real' - 100 days since Storm Bert Town hit by Storm Bert flooding still recovering Wiltshire town submerged in Storm Bert flood water Shop damaged by flood like 'a scene from Titanic' Clean-up continues for areas hit by Storm Bert Storm Bert leaves flooding problems across the West
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Chippenham still recovering six months after Storm Bert flooding
Residents of a Wiltshire town are still feeling the impact of devastating flooding caused by Storm Bert six months ago. Chippenham saw its worst flooding for 50 years after the River Avon burst its banks on 25 November 2024. Several businesses, charities and local groups based in the town lost their buildings, stock and personal possessions. Since then, members of the community have rallied around those worst affected to help them find a sense of normality and try to return to life as it was before the storm. James Lucas, commanding officer of the town's air cadets, said: "The people of Chippenham and the community have been unbelievable… it makes us feel like a family." The 1304 Chippenham Air Cadets' base is located off Long Close, just outside the town centre. The building sits along the banks of the River Avon. Mr Lucas was on holiday when the storm hit and was alerted to the "really bad" damage by a colleague. "The water was so high... it was pure fear - what would happen, what could happen and what can we do with the kids?"Seeing it flooded and actually seeing inside brought a few tears to quite a few of us," he said. He estimated there was about £20,000 worth of damage to the building, which has been home to the cadets for many years. The community has helped raise £13,000 to get the group back to their base, but there is still no indication of when they will be able to return. Until then, they are operating from a temporary home in the town centre. 'A paused state' Sarah McClymont is from Doorway, a charity based in the town centre that helps homeless people in north Wiltshire. She said the team had been in high spirits at an "amazing" fundraising event the day before the storm hit. "It was almost dream-like... It was all cordoned off, there was a very deep pool of water through the middle of town and you couldn't get through," Ms McClymont said. Six months on, the building is still in the same "broken state", with no flooring or walls. In the meantime, the "resilient" team have secured a temporary base at the town's rotary hall to keep helping those in need. "The community has really rallied around us, but we've just been in a paused state and there wasn't much we could do. "Once we get up and running we'll be fine - we'll be able to come back and deliver Doorway to our guests in a brand new, shiny, sparkly building," Ms McClymont said. 'Automatic panic' Francesca Whitworth is the general manager of Grounded, a cafe located on Bath Road, alongside the river. She said the town "looked like an island" after the storm, leaving many people "stopped in [their] tracks".Ms Whitworth now worries whether it could happen again and finds herself observing the river levels whenever there is heavy rain. Her colleagues feel the same and often start thinking ahead in case they have to prepare flood defences. "There is that automatic panic," she said. The team has managed to get the business going again and has secured new customers over the past six months. "Everything has its silver lining, there was a real sense of community spirit. "Everyone was just so dumbfounded by the damage and how far up the High Street the water went. Everyone pulled together," added Ms Whitworth.
