Latest news with #GrahamHunt
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
Map reveals how hot it has to remain in each part of UK for a heatwave to be declared as temps to surge above 30C
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITAIN has been blessed with glorious blasts of heat so far in 2025, with temperatures set to soar to 29C in parts of the UK today. However, despite the sizzling heat, the Met Office has not yet declared a heatwave anywhere in the nation. 5 This map shows the heatwave threshold for each region of the UK Credit: Met Office 5 Brits soaking up the sun on Brighton beach last weekend Credit: Alamy 5 Sun seekers enjoying the heat in Exmouth Credit: ©Graham Hunt Will there be a heatwave in the UK? The UK's national weather service has said that parts of the UK could "very well be" in a heatwave by the end of the week, but this depends on certain thresholds being met. For a heatwave to be declared, a location has to record a period of at least three consecutive days where temperatures meet or exceed the heatwave threshold for that location. Temperature thresholds are different across the UK, with, as shown in the map above, the threshold for much of the north and west being 25C. In London and the Home Counties, the threshold is higher, at 28 degrees. Tony Wisson, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office said: 'By the beginning of the weekend we could very well be meeting heatwave thresholds in places. "While the warmest temperatures are likely across London and the east of England, by Saturday heatwave thresholds could be reached across much of the Midlands, low-lying areas bordering the Peak District and even parts of east Wales.' How long will the heatwave last? Tan happy Brits will likely be soaking up the sun today, as London is set to see highs of 29C, with residents of Wales basking in balmy 25C heat. In London - where the threshold is 28C - temperatures could peak at 29C on Thursday and 31C on Friday, before hitting 32C on Saturday. The hot weather will then spread further north, with Manchester and Newcastle enjoying temperatures into the late 20s by the weekend. The Met Office said several places were expected to exceed 30C on Saturday, making them the highest temperatures of the year so far. How to stay cool during hot weather Tony said: "Over the next few days, settled weather and warm sunshine will allow temperatures to rise day on day. "Temperatures will then rise further towards the end of the week as winds turn more southerly and even warmer air over continental Europe will be drawn across the UK. "While the warmest temperatures are likely across London and the east of England, by Saturday heatwave thresholds could be reached across much of the Midlands, low-lying areas bordering the Peak District and even parts of east Wales." However, high pressure is expected to move away from the UK early next week, meaning that temperatures will fall. Tony added: 'Temperatures are likely to peak in the low 30s Celsius this weekend before easing sometime early week. How to stay safe in hot weather The UK Health Security Agency advised you follow these tips to reduce your risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke: Keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm If you are going to do a physical activity like exercising or walking the dog, plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the morning or evening Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun If you go outside, cover up with light clothing, a hat and sunglasses and slather on sun cream Drink plenty of fluids but limit booze Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them Check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you Source: UKHSA "Some forecast models even allow temperatures to rise into the mid 30s of Celsius by Monday. "While this is feasible, it is considered a lower-likelihood scenario.' The London Fire Brigade has issued a warning over wildfires before the prolonged spell of hot weather and following one of the driest springs on record. A drought was declared by the Environment Agency across Yorkshire last week while the North West of England entered drought status last month. The UK's June temperature record stands at 35.6C, which was set in Southampton in 1976. Current forecasts suggest the record is unlikely to be broken this time - but it will come close. 5 Londoners enjoying the heat in sunny St James' Park Credit: LNP
The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
Map reveals how hot it has to remain in each part of UK for a heatwave to be declared as temps to surge above 30C
BRITAIN has been blessed with glorious blasts of heat so far in 2025, with temperatures set to soar to 29C in parts of the UK today. However, despite the sizzling heat, the Met Office has not yet declared a Advertisement 5 This map shows the heatwave threshold for each region of the UK Credit: Met Office 5 Brits soaking up the sun on Brighton beach last weekend Credit: Alamy 5 Sun seekers enjoying the heat in Exmouth Credit: ©Graham Hunt Will there be a heatwave in the UK? The UK's national weather service has said that parts of the UK could "very well be" in a heatwave by the end of the week, but this depends on certain thresholds being met. For a heatwave to be declared, a location has to record a period of at least three consecutive days where temperatures meet or exceed the Temperature thresholds are different across the UK, with, as shown in the map above, the threshold for much of the north and west being 25C. In London and the Home Counties, the threshold is higher, at 28 degrees. Advertisement Read more weather stories Tony Wisson, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office said: 'By the beginning of the weekend we could very well be meeting heatwave thresholds in places. "While the warmest temperatures are likely across London and the east of England, by Saturday heatwave thresholds could be reached across much of the Midlands, low-lying areas bordering the Peak District and even parts of east Wales.' How long will the heatwave last? Tan happy Brits will likely be soaking up the sun today, as London is set to see highs of 29C, with residents of Wales basking in balmy 25C heat. In London - where the threshold is 28C - temperatures could peak at 29C on Thursday and 31C on Friday, before hitting 32C on Saturday. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive The hot weather will then spread further north, with Manchester and Newcastle enjoying temperatures into the late 20s by the weekend. The Met Office said several places were expected to exceed 30C on Saturday, making them the highest temperatures of the year so far. How to stay cool during hot weather Tony said: "Over the next few days, settled weather and warm sunshine will allow temperatures to rise day on day. "Temperatures will then rise further towards the end of the week as winds turn more southerly and even warmer air over continental Europe will be drawn across the UK. Advertisement "While the warmest temperatures are likely across London and the east of England, by Saturday heatwave thresholds could be reached across much of the Midlands, low-lying areas bordering the Peak District and even parts of east Wales." However, high pressure is expected to move away from the UK early next week, meaning that temperatures will fall. Tony added: 'Temperatures are likely to peak in the low 30s Celsius this weekend before easing sometime early week. How to stay safe in hot weather The UK Health Security Agency advised you follow these tips to reduce your risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke: Keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm If you are going to do a physical activity like exercising or walking the dog, plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the morning or evening Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun If you go outside, cover up with light clothing, a hat and sunglasses and slather on sun cream Drink plenty of fluids but limit booze Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and Check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you Source: "Some forecast models even allow temperatures to rise into the mid 30s of Celsius by Monday. Advertisement "While this is feasible, it is considered a lower-likelihood scenario.' The London Fire Brigade has issued a warning over wildfires before the prolonged spell of hot weather and following one of the driest springs on record. A drought was declared by the Environment Agency across Yorkshire last week while the North West of England entered drought status last month. The UK's June temperature record stands at 35.6C, which was set in Southampton in 1976. Advertisement Current forecasts suggest the record is unlikely to be broken this time - but it will come close. 5 Londoners enjoying the heat in sunny St James' Park Credit: LNP 5 Sunbathers relaxing in Dorset Credit: Alamy
Local Spain
14-05-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
Q&A: What to know about paying your 'comunidad' building fees in Spain
If you own a property in Spain, the chances are you'll form part of a homeowners' association, known as a comunidad or comunidad de vecinos in Spanish. Part of this means that you'll have to pay comunidad (meaning 'community') building fees. What are comunidad fees? The rules on comunidad fees come from Spain's Horizontal Property Law (LPH), which are applied on properties integrated in a building or house on common land that has been split into different plots, forming a 'community of owners.' Specifically, Article 9 states that one of the obligations of the owners of any property within a horizontal property regime is contributing to the general expenses for the 'adequate maintenance of the property, its services, charges and responsibilities that cannot be individualised.' What types of fees are there? According to Spain's premier property site, Idealista, there are generally two types of community fees in Spain: General or ordinary community expenses: Costs to maintain the basic upkeep and functioning of the building. Think expenses like electricity, water, bank charges, gardening fees, doormen, lifts/elevator maintenance, cleaning and maintenance expenses. These are included in the annual budgets and are approved at the meetings. 'Extraordinary' community expenses: There are also 'exceptional' costs that go beyond general upkeep. This is where the so-called derramas come from, which are usually used to meet specific improvement needs in the building like installing a lift, for example, or making alterations or repairs to the façade or terrace. These extra fees are usually approved in an extraordinary comunidad meeting and it is also possible to pay them with the money saved by the community throughout the year - the surplus. Who pays the comunidad fees? Payment of community fees are the responsibility of the homeowners. However, as Idealista notes: 'it is possible to transfer community fees to the rent if the property is rented by agreement with the tenant. In any case, it is always the landlord who is responsible for the payment of the community fees.' Note that it is possible to exclude ground floor commercial premises of a building from payments for stuff like staircase or lift charges. However, in order to be able to exclude one or more owners from paying a specific expense, it's necessary that: It's clearly stated in community statues or by-laws. It's unanimously approved in the owners' meeting. How are fees calculated? Spanish property expert Graham Hunt wrote about la comunidad for The Local, outlining how it works: 'Effectively the vast majority of properties in Spain are sold freehold meaning you own them outright but obviously if you have an apartment in a building then you only hold a percentage of the freehold which is decided on a percentage basis. What percentage of the whole freehold does your apartment make up? It depends on the percentage of the size of the whole building that your apartment comprises." So basically, a proportion of the space you rent depending on the size. "All of the building fees every month are estimated so that the community runs a slight surplus. Let's say the costs for a building, electric, lift, insurance, cleaning etc…come to €900 per month and there are 30 flats in the building," Hunter added. "The community will charge around €1,200 for each month and divide that between the doors in the building and make sure to run a small surplus (This becomes important later). So if we assume every flat is the same size and has the same percentage of the whole building then each door will pay €40 per month. Usually this money will be directly debited from your bank account every three months meaning a quarterly payment of €120.' How much are monthly comunidad fees usually? As Hunter told The Local: 'How long is a piece of string? Community costs have many variables. We have seen community costs from €6 per month, or even zero in a few cases, up to €600 per month in an outlying case.' So, as is so often the case in Spain, the answer is: it depends. The services and facilities are not the same in every building, nor the number of neighbours or the quota that each one has based on their property. All these factors will influence the amount to be paid in community fees. Generally speaking, most communities will use the quota system although there are some in which all neighbours pay a fixed quota that is the same for all of them. This is usually between €100-€110 per month on average, according to Fotocasa. A comunidad fee on the lower end of the scale – roughly €10-20 per month — might cover an apartment with no lift, where neighbours take turns cleaning and/or doing the relevant paperwork or banking. Can comunidad costs be increased? At the annual general meeting of owners, which in most communities is held during the first quarter of the year, the budget for the financial year is outlined taking into account the expenses foreseen for the year as well as the income. As noted, expenses are distributed among neighbours according to their quota. In order to raise the community fee, it must be passed by unanimous vote. The reason for the increase must also be justified, whether it is due to inflation, new maintenance costs or the increase in the cost of energy bills, for example. Where do comunidad fees go? Community fees are usually paid by direct debit to the community president or treasurer. Many buildings set up separate bank accounts for this purpose or have an external property management company to handle the money. Some smaller builders may do it in cash. Can I lodge a complaint if the fees go up? Yes, as a member of the community you are within your rights to complaint against a rise in fees. There's no promise it'll have any effect, however. According to Spanish property management site SuperVecinas, you can complain when 'you disagree with the new residents' association budget, you disagree with reform to comunidad statutes, [or] there is a dispute with the residents' association.' However Idealista notes that although it is possible to claim back the increase in community fee, this is only when it goes against community agreements or statutes. 'In general, the increase of the fee is legal as long as the calculation is done correctly,' it notes. 'The only way to avoid paying the increased fee would be to prove that the increase is illegal or that the proper procedure has not been followed.
Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Sale of derelict Wexford property to Singaporean bidder falls through as council will now ‘return to underbidder'
The sale of a long-term derelict property in Wexford town to a buyer in Singapore has fallen through. 55 Davitt Road South had been purchased by Wexford County Council (WCC) for approximately €140,000 using funding made available through the Department of Housing. Bought under a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) this government funding tranche is designed to allow local authorities to purchase and then sell vacant properties on the private market. And when a bid for €170,000 came from a party with an address in Singapore it appeared as if WCC had made a tidy profit on the house, money which would subsequently be reinvested to purchase derelict houses. But at the April meeting of the Wexford Borough District (WBD) it was revealed that the buyer in Singapore had pulled out of the deal. Confirming that the buyer was no longer interested, executive planner Graham Hunt said WCC would now return to the underbidder to gauge their interest. 'They have indicated that they still want property,' said Mr Hunt. 'We will bring this issue forward for the members' consideration.'
Daily Mail
21-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment greedy seagulls terrorise young families by stealing their hot dogs and chips on Dorset seafront
This is the moment greedy seagulls terrorise young families during the Easter holidays by feasting on their hot dogs and chips. The gulls laid in wait above a fish bar before swooping down to help themselves to a hearty lunch. One attempted to single-handedly devour a hot dog, with others loitering nearby to pick up the scraps. Another gull spotted an unguarded box of chips and helped themselves to it on the seafront at Lyme Regis, Dorset. The gulls at the coastal town are notoriously aggressive, even hospitalising a Swedish girl last August. The culprit had spotted the casualty eating a croissant and cut her hand with its beak. She was taken to hospital for a tetanus shot following the ambush. Lyme Regis Town Council have tried using gull-proof bins, flying drones and even employing bird handlers with hawks and eagles to scare off the gulls after complaints they were terrorising visitors. There is an anti-social behaviour Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in place, which makes it a civil offence to intentionally feed the gulls and anyone seen doing so can be issued a £100 fine. Despite being a menace, seagulls are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it illegal to kill or injure them. In 2022 police launched an investigation after one harassed tourist attacked a gull with a cricket bat in Lyme Regis. A similar picture was taken last year, when a seagull in the town swooped down and stole a woman's cake. She was seen eating the sweet treat before the bird approached from a nearby lamppost. It came from behind her and pounced quick as a flash to take the snack from her grasp. The man sitting next to her appeared nonplussed as he carried on eating his pie. Photographer Graham Hunt said: 'There were quite a few seagulls flying around the beach. 'It came down and snatched the cake from her hand. She looked a little startled but the man she was with just carried on eating.' Speaking last year, Lyme Regis Town Council clerk John Wright said: 'The town council is very aware of the seagull issue in Lyme Regis and has tried many ways over the years to deter them and make people aware of the dangers. 'This has included bringing in birds of prey, flying a drone, issuing advice leaflets to residents, installing signs on the seafront warning people of seagull thieves, and introducing bins on the seafront which make it harder for gulls to pull waste from them. 'The council also has two enforcement officers who are authorised to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £100 to anyone who intentionally feeds seagulls. 'However, due to the number of food outlets in Lyme Regis and the resulting waste, this makes the town an attractive place for seagulls to find food. 'The seagulls may be more aggressive at the moment because it is breeding season and adult gulls are protecting their chicks.' In the nearby Dorset town of Weymouth, a seagull became a regular customer at a shop, known for stealing crisps. A video captured the bird red-breaked as it stole one of the packets from the shelf The gull, nicknamed Steven, was a regular visitor of the Central shop in Weymouth, Dorset, with staff even putting up a joke warning sign about their 'resident shoplifter'. In the video, the bird brazenly saunters in through the open doors and waddles over to the nearest shelf stocking food which he helps himself to. Staff had moved the Flamin' Hot Walkers crisps to his favourite position in the hope the spicy surprise will put Steven off. However it did not work and after pinching a packet of the hot crisps, the gull took it outside and ripped it open before devouring the contents. Shop supervisor Sally Toogood said: 'He has been quite a pest. We thought we would need footage and to put a sign up to make people believe it. 'He hangs around outside, waits for any opportunity to come in and grab a packet of crisps. 'He takes it off the shelf, shakes it open and all of his mates come down as well. He didn't seem to be bothered by the spicy crisps.'
