Latest news with #Higham
Telegraph
14-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Network Rail ‘devastated' valley by felling more than 100 oaks
Network Rail has been accused of 'devastating' a valley by felling hundreds of trees, including ancient oaks. Contractors were brought in to clear vegetation across the Midland Mainline near Higham, Derbyshire, but have been accused of causing widespread destruction. Distraught residents questioned why healthy oak and birch trees had been chopped down during nesting season, and described the 'heartbreaking' scene of watching birds returning to nests that lay in piles of logs on the ground. The taxpayer-funded company has been accused of illegally felling without an ecologist on site, before putting the remains through a chipper in an effort to remove evidence. In September, a handful of residents were said to have received correspondence from Network Rail outlining plans for 'vegetation management' between November and March. It said the work was designed to 'remove or reduce trees and vegetation that could disrupt railway operations' and laid out plans to 'clear all vegetation within 6.5 metres of the tracks'. But this was extended to include overnight work during weekends in May, as horrified locals awoke to the sound of chainsaws. They found hundreds of trees, including more than 100 oaks, felled along a three-mile stretch of the line between South Wingfield and Ogston Bridge, near Higham. Devastated residents said the stacked piles of trunks and branches – containing nests to which birds still returned – were then put through a large chipper. Cllr Heather Liggett said the work had devastated the area, a unique area of greenery that had remained mostly untouched aside from when the train line was built in 1840. She added: 'Some of those oaks will have been there before the train line was even built. The residents have been woken up by the chainsaws overnight. To know what is happening and be able to hear it makes it even worse. 'They took out every single tree that was in front of them, even if they were healthy.' Workers initially took out hawthorn trees, but soon reached mature oaks that were home to many birds. Cllr Liggett accused the train company of operating illegally because it did not have an ecologist on site and questioned how it could justify such sweeping removals on health and safety grounds. The local community has shared its distress, confronting workers and vowing to tie themselves to trees to try and stop the contractors. Sarah McRow, 56, who co-owns a nearby alpaca farm, said: 'What they are doing is bordering on corporate malfeasance. Nobody in the valley can believe it, it's truly horrifying. 'I was devastated beyond belief. I actually burst into tears. This is hundreds of trees and thousands of years of tree heritage wiped out in a couple of nights.' She said the trees up to 6.5m did not need to be felled as that was only for electrified lines. Ms McRow added that the biggest cause of cancellations had been industrial action and nothing to do with trees or overhanging vegetation, making it even more 'appalling'. A Network Rail spokesman said: 'Our railway lines are important corridors for wildlife and biodiversity, but safety comes first, and we sometimes must remove trees. 'There are strict rules around undertaking essential vegetation management during the bird nesting season. 'That's why we have a qualified ecologist who works closely with us to ensure that our teams on site are carefully briefed on the rules and follow them.'
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Cape Town Libraries launch exciting writing competition for young authors
Cape Town libraries invite young writers to explore their imaginations in exciting new competition Image: Supplied The City of Cape Town's Library and Information Services is excited to announce the return of its much-anticipated writing competition for children aged nine to 13. Following the success of last year's competition, which focused on environmental awareness and received entries from over 100 talented young writers, the City is once again inviting primary schools, book clubs, and aspiring authors to participate. This year, the winners will be celebrated at the Open Book Festival on 6 September 2025. The theme for this year's competition promises to spark curiosity and creativity among participants. Entrants are asked to imagine a scenario where they stumble upon a mysterious box hidden between the shelves of their school or local library. This box, adorned with strange symbols and emitting a faint humming sound, is the starting point for a magical adventure that contestants will describe in their short stories. Participants will be challenged to explore what happens when they finally open this enigmatic box, allowing their imaginations to run wild. "Writing provides a creative outlet and helps children to organise their thoughts and emotions," said Francine Higham, the Mayco Member for Community Services and Health. "By putting pen to paper, they learn a new way to communicate and express themselves. Our children are creative, with vivid imaginations, and I'm sure the judges will have a hard time picking a winner. I want to encourage all our learners to participate, as they could very well write their way to a future as authors." Entries will be open from Monday, 5 May until Friday, 8 August 2025. Competition submissions must adhere to a set of criteria designed to inspire originality and creativity: Word limit: Between 500 and 1,500 words Must be an original story—no AI-generated stories will be accepted Entries must be submitted in handwritten form. Stories can take the form of a picture book, short/long story, or graphic novel Encouragement for drawings and illustrations throughout the work Key elements to include in the stories are: A mysterious box in a library setting A magical adventure A relatable main character or object Entrants are reminded to unleash their imagination and creativity while keeping their work original. Points will be awarded for artistic presentations, including illustrations and drawings. 'Most importantly—have fun.' Higham said, adding a supportive nudge to budding writers. Students interested in participating can submit their stories via email to or drop them off at their nearest library. As young authors prepare to embark on this literary journey, the City of Cape Town is eager to witness the incredible imaginations that will unfold through their words.
The South African
08-05-2025
- The South African
Retreat Swimming Pool reopens after recent vandalism
The City of Cape Town's Retreat Swimming Pool has now reopened after undergoing repairs to address damages caused during a recent break-in at the facility. The vandals caused significant damage to the plant room, stealing all pipes leading to the swimming pool filters and vandalising a number of other components in the plant room. There is also an issue with the heating units, which has caused the water to not heat to its usual 26 degrees Celcius, the City of Cape Town said. The City of Cape Town revealed that repairs cost in excess of R50 000 and included the replacement of pipes and two gauges (one was damaged and one was stolen), the replacement of a tap inside the plant room as well as repairs to mixing drums. 'I am really happy that the Retreat Swimming Pool is open for business again. While the water is slightly cooler than normal, we are working hard to get it back to optimal levels, and we are eager to welcome back all of our regular users. The pool is a well-used facility and offers a space for exercise, recreation, socialising, fun, health and fitness.' Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham said. 'The closure, even though temporary, once again highlighted the impact that vandalism and theft of our infrastructure has on communities. I want to encourage residents to take ownership of our facilities and say something when they see something. Help us bring the perpetrators to book as these facilities belong to all of us,' Higham added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
25-04-2025
- The South African
Vandalism forces another Cape Town swimming pool to close
Cape Town's Retreat indoor swimming pool has been forced to shut its doors again, just six months after a major upgrade, following a break-in that caused significant damage to critical systems. When staff arrived at the swimming pool on Friday morning, they discovered a scene of destruction. The facility's plant room had been broken into overnight. Thieves reportedly stole all the pipes connected to the pool's filtration system and vandalised other key components. As a result, the water level in the swimming pool had dropped significantly. Officials shut off the facility's water supply to prevent further losses. 'This setback is incredibly disappointing and frustrating,' said Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health. 'An assessment has to be completed to determine the extent of the damage, and then the process will begin to do repairs.' Despite the damage, the City's project team has already started emergency repairs that could allow a temporary reopening as early as today. However, complete repairs are only scheduled to begin on Tuesday. The Retreat pool had just reopened after critical maintenance and upgrades, some of which have now been destroyed. 'This facility is a hub for many local users, including swimming clubs, and the latest closure is a blow,' said Higham. City officials have urged the community to help identify those responsible for the swimming pool vandalism. 'I want to appeal to the community to please come forward with any information that could help identify those responsible for this wanton act of destruction,' Higham added. Residents can report incidents to the City's Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700. Tips can also be shared anonymously via the City's 24-hour tip-off line at 0800 110 077, with the possibility of a reward. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
