Latest news with #Crofts
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Final phase of £150 million Cross Tay Link Road project delayed
Works on two bridges - as part of the Perth City Centre Improvements - have been rescheduled Scheduled works on two Perth city centre bridges have been pushed back by a year each. The works form part of the final phase of the £150 million Cross Tay Link Road project. A Perth City Centre councillor has raised concern that the Perth City Centre Improvements phase is not forgotten. A brief reference was made to the delays in an update on PKC's six-year composite capital budget for 2024-2030 put before the Finance and Resources Committee on Wednesday, April 30. At Wednesday's meeting, Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett asked what the renewed timeline would be for the planned works on both the Old Perth Bridge (also known as Smeaton's Bridge) and Queen's Bridge. PKC's strategic lead for Environment and Infrastructure Fraser Crofts explained: "We've had some further staff turnover within the team unfortunately." "In terms of delivery of those two schemes, it's been pushed back by one year each." Building work on the Old Perth Bridge has been postponed until 2026/27 and Queen's Bridge until 2027/28. Mr Crofts assured councillors there were "ongoing inspections" of both bridges in terms of safety. Cllr Peter Barrett asked that this final phase "doesn't get forgotten about". The Liberal Democrat councillor said: "Obviously, we have all been really pleased to see the completion of the Cross Tay Link Road and the reduction in traffic that that has created in the Scone Main Street, Old Perth Bridge, Atholl St corridor which is really welcome in terms of road safety for residents and amenity for shoppers. "But I am concerned the final phase of Transport Futures' Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR) project doesn't get forgotten about. And are the staff shortages going to have an impact on delivering the environmental and road safety improvements in the Scone Main Street, Old Perth Bridge, Atholl St corridor area?" Councillors were told the rollout of national initiatives, as well as staffing issues, had impacted the planned works taking place. Mr Crofts said: "In terms of the majority of the work we agreed to undertake on the back of the CTLR that has been carried out. We continue to work through the programme as we go forward. "Members will be aware of some other national initiatives that have come our way, not least the pavement parking ban and the 20mph rollout as well. "But we will work and prioritise, within the resources that we have, to deliver on all fronts. To the best of my knowledge, we are pretty much back to capacity now across the Traffic and Network team."
STV News
05-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Work on city's bridges delayed until next year
Scheduled works on two Perth city centre bridges have been pushed back by a year each. The works form part of the final phase of the £150m Cross Tay Link Road project. A Perth City Centre councillor has raised concerns that the Perth City Centre Improvements phase is not forgotten. A brief reference was made to the delays in an update on PKC's six-year composite capital budget for 2024-2030 put before the Finance and Resources Committee on Wednesday, April 30. At Wednesday's meeting, Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett asked what the renewed timeline would be for the planned works on both the Old Perth Bridge and Queen's Bridge. PKC's strategic lead for Environment and Infrastructure Fraser Crofts explained: 'We've had some further staff turnover within the team unfortunately.' 'In terms of delivery of those two schemes, it's been pushed back by one year each.' Building work on the Old Perth Bridge has been postponed until 2026/27 and Queen's Bridge until 2027/28. Mr Crofts assured councillors there were 'ongoing inspections' of both bridges in terms of safety. Cllr Peter Barrett asked that this final phase 'doesn't get forgotten about'. The Liberal Democrat councillor said: 'Obviously, we have all been really pleased to see the completion of the Cross Tay Link Road and the reduction in traffic that that has created in the Scone Main Street, Old Perth Bridge, Atholl St corridor which is really welcome in terms of road safety for residents and amenity for shoppers. 'But I am concerned the final phase of Transport Futures' Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR) project doesn't get forgotten about. And are the staff shortages going to have an impact on delivering the environmental and road safety improvements in the Scone Main Street, Old Perth Bridge, Atholl St corridor area?' Councillors were told the rollout of national initiatives, as well as staffing issues, had impacted the planned works taking place. Mr Crofts said: 'In terms of the majority of the work we agreed to undertake on the back of the CTLR that has been carried out. We continue to work through the programme as we go forward. 'Members will be aware of some other national initiatives that have come our way, not least the pavement parking ban and the 20mph rollout as well. 'But we will work and prioritise, within the resources that we have, to deliver on all fronts. To the best of my knowledge, we are pretty much back to capacity now across the Traffic and Network team.' STV News is now on WhatsApp Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Milton Keynes mum makes comic conventions 'more inclusive'
A mum has launched inclusive comic conventions events across the country for people with disabilities after being inspired by her son who has Crofts, from Milton Keynes, founded Bolt Events and hosted her first inclusive convention in Northampton in 2022 after she felt other events were not accessible for children with hidden disabilities."I have a son who is autistic and I have always found as a parent we couldn't always do the things we wanted to do," the 48-year-old make her events more accessible, they were hosted in smaller locations outside of London and designed to be held in less busy environments where individuals can enter early to adjust to their surroundings. "We would rather take less vendors and have bigger aisles so people in wheelchairs can come through," she explained."And, if you just need a time out, we will always find a room for you." In September, Nicola Nenadovic attended one of the events hosted in Bedford with her son, daughter and two 10-year-old nephew, Jack, has the rare genetic disorder KPTN syndrome, along with autism and Nenadovic said: "Jack finds crowded situations very scary, but he desperately wants to enjoy these things. He just struggles to understand them.""He was always really scared of people dressed up." To help him feel more comfortable at the event, Ms Crofts explained to Jack that he had the power to control Spider-Man, Iron Man and other characters who were at the event in costume. She told all the characters to turn around and they were not allowed to look at him until he gave permission. He then walked around with his camera and took photos of all the characters until he was Nenadovic said: "Zoe worked to help him feel comfortable, it was real lovely and he really enjoyed it - it was a job to get him out of there.""2024 was the first year he wanted to meet Santa and have a photo with him. This had a lot to do with the comic con event and conquering his fears there."He keeps asking when can he see Spider-Man again." The events featured a retro gaming zone, cosplayers, cars from films, workshops, and more than 100 exhibitor tables full of geeky memorabilia and handmade year, Ms Crofts was scheduled to run 31 events across the country and will visit Daventry, Luton, Ipswich and Crofts hoped her family-run events could set an example that showed conventions could be safe spaces for said: "It's not just for the child; it's for the parents and the stress it causes the parents. They know someone has their back - if the child has an autistic meltdown, we are there to support them."I want to help, I want to make it accessible for others, and I want them to have a bit of fun." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
