Latest news with #HampshireCounty
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Hampshire County Council nets £1.6m from school attendance fines
Over the past three academic years, a county council has slapped parents with fines totalling more than £1.6m because their children have missed County Council has issued more than 10,000 penalties since 2022, raising £1,666,113 over the three school years since 2021/22, a Freedom of Information request has County Council said the increase in fines reflected a rise in absences, both nationally and added that any money collected through the system was designated for the administration of the penalty notice system, with any remaining funds used for attendance support. Data showed that, over the years, penalties in Hampshire had steadily who take their children out of school during term time without permission must pay £80 per child for the whole absence. If parents do not pay their fine within 21 days, it doubles to £ a parent receives a second fine for the same child within three years, they are immediately charged £ 2022/23, Hampshire County Council generated £363,543 from the fines, while in 2024/25 the figure doubled to £698,403, according to the Local Democracy Reporting council said that, as the third-largest shire county in England, it had more than 180,000 students attending upwards of 500 also highlighted that its 93% attendance rate was above the national average by 0.1%.A spokesperson for the authority said: "We work closely with schools and families to understand the root cause of serious attendance issues and to identify appropriate support and solutions."Legal interventions, including fines, are only ever considered after all support possibilities are explored and exhausted." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hampshire County sees storm damage, power outages over weekend
HATFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – During Saturday night's Weather Alert, 22News received several reports of damage in Hampshire County. As summer approaches, experts say preparations for severe weather should begin Saturday saw widespread strong to severe thunderstorms in western Massachusetts, with some areas experiencing damaging winds and lightning. In Hatfield, there was a reported tree down on wires on School Street and Hill Street. In Williamsburg, wires and a utility pole were down on Mountain Street and Laurel Road. When 22News arrived in the area, the damages were already being repaired. According to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), most of the power appears to be restored in Hampshire County at this time. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Update: Damaging winds foreseen with thunderstorms in 3 Massachusetts counties Saturday
On Saturday at 7:26 p.m. the National Weather Service released an updated severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 8 p.m. for Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties. Residents should prepare for wind gusts of up to 60 mph. "At 7:25 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located over Williamsburg, or near Northampton, moving east at 25 mph," states the weather service. "Expect damage to trees and power lines." Locations impacted by the warning include Holyoke, Amherst, Northampton, Greenfield, Deerfield, South Hadley, Easthampton, Belchertown, Montague, Granby, Hadley, Sunderland, Hatfield, Northfield, Williamsburg, Huntington, Conway, Shelburne, Leverett and Erving. The weather service adds, "For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building." Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away. To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind: Lightning safety plan: When venturing outdoors, it's vital to establish a clear plan for seeking shelter in case of lightning. Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it's an indication that lightning is nearby. Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors. Indoors safety measures: Once you're indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors. These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways. Wait for the all-clear: After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities. It's important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution. When indoor shelter isn't available: If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety: Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk. Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees. If you're in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people. Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. Remember that a tent offers no protection against lightning. Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks. In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety. When heavy rain sets in, the risk of flooding and hazardous driving conditions rises. Whether it's prolonged rainfall or rapid runoff, being prepared is essential. Here are some valuable safety tips from the weather service to ensure you stay safe in heavy rain: Beware of rapid water flow: Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away. Maintain safe driving distances: Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain. Slow down and stay cautious: If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid. Choose your lane wisely: Stick to the middle lanes on multi-lane roads to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, as water tends to accumulate in outer lanes. Prioritize visibility Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them. Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery. Keep a safe distance from large vehicles: Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely. Mind your windshield wipers: Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas. When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position. In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey. Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service. Read the original article on MassLive.
