Latest news with #IanRichards
CBS News
05-08-2025
- Health
- CBS News
North Fayette Township firefighters help save choking child
A young child who was choking was saved on Monday afternoon by North Fayette Township firefighters. The North Fayette Township Volunteer Fire Department said Deputy Chief Ian Richards was walking outside of the station along Steubenville Pike on Monday afternoon when he saw a vehicle in the parking lot. When Richards was investigating, the fire department said a mother got out of the vehicle in a panic along with an infant child who was choking for an unknown reason. Richards called for help from other firefighters and EMTs who were at the station and they helped stop the child from choking and allowed them to start breathing normally and crying. The fire department said the child was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. "Quick thinking by the mother and quick action from the staffers allowed for the situation to be mitigated very quickly," the fire department said. "We are proud to staff our station with paid and volunteer staffers, their presence in the big red building on Steubenville Pike and their experience are invaluable to the community." The department gave recognition to Deputy Chief Richards along with firefighter and EMT Zac Cummings, firefighter and EMT James Gray, Lieutenant and EMT Brandon Spencer, and Lieutenant EMT Tyler Pilewski.
Powys County Times
06-06-2025
- Powys County Times
Powys: A479 Talgarth drunk driver resisted his arrest
A drink driver who was more than three times over the limit and was not wearing his seatbelt went on to assault an officer as he resisted his arrest. The Honda car, which was being driven by Ian Richards on May 17, was also without an MOT, Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court was told last week. Richards, 44, was stopped by police on the A479 in Talgarth. His vehicle did not have an MOT, he was not wearing a seatbelt, and a breathalyser test showed he had 116 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. The court was told he then assaulted PC Evans with the intent to resist his arrest. Richards, of Bell Street, Talgarth, pleaded guilty to all four charges when he appeared in court last Friday (May 30). For the assault charge, magistrates handed him a 12-month community order which will include 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 80 hours of unpaid work. And for the drink-driving, he was banned from the roads for two years, but this can be reduced if he completes a drink-driving awareness course. No separate penalties were issued in relation to driving without a seatbelt and the lack of MOT.
Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
UK seaside village vanishing into the sea and the £15m plan to tackle it
A five-year project with £15m of government funding aims to help residents impacted by the worsening threat of coastal erosion - as experts predict one seaside village will soon vanish A tiny UK seaside village famed for its rugged cliffs and sugar-like sand is in grave danger of vanishing into the sea. Since the 1990s, more than 250 metres of coastline at Happisburgh, in Norfolk, has been eroded. If it continues at this alarming rate, the village as it is now will be underwater water in just 30 years. It may sound like something out of an apocalypse film, but for residents quite literally living life on the edge - it's a terrifying reality. "What's happening in places like Happisburgh isn't just a prediction - it's a process that's already underway," explains climate analyst Dr Ian Richards. "Homes have collapsed, roads have disappeared and the cliff line is retreating faster than anyone expected." Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, a North Norfolk District Council spokesperson explained how the authority has been working tirelessly to protect the beaches and seaside communities that are threatened by erosion. Over the last 15 years, several coastal projects have sought to mitigate the worsening disaster and help locals impacted by crumbling cliffs. "The council has been working with and will continue to work with partners such as the Environment Agency and the national government to maintain sea defences where possible," they added. "Where this isn't possible or feasible, the Council has been working with coastal communities to develop, prepare, and adopt more options to help those communities impacted by coastal erosion." Coastwise - which started in 2022 and will run to 2027 as part of the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP) - is one of the only ongoing projects still trying to help residents adapt to the effects of erosion and climate change along a section of the North Norfolk coastline. It has received £15 million from Defra, as part of the government's £200 million innovation fund, to help 'transition and prepare' coastal communities in the area. "Coastwise will work with residents and businesses to prepare and plan for the long term," the initiative states. "Some immediate changes will support the long-term resilience of communities near the coast." These actions may include: 'Rolling back' property and facilities most likely to be affected by coastal erosion. Improving and replacing damaged community facilities like beach access or coastal transport links. Replacing public or community-owned buildings in areas at risk with removable, modular, or other building ideas. Repurposing land in coastal erosion zones for different uses, such as creating temporary car parks or restoring natural habitats. "Actions may also include working with the finance and property sectors to explore funding methods to help move communities away from fast-eroding areas," Coastwise added. "For example, schemes to encourage the relocation of at-risk infrastructure for businesses and homeowners." After the project ends, it is hoped that communities in North Norfolk feel they have a 'more sustainable future' and can access support helping them move away from risk. The initiative also aims to give the council enough resources and capability to 'assess, find funding, manage and deliver effective adaptation and transition options to its communities'. While Coastwise will not provide compensation for homes lost to erosion, it may be able to offer financial support for residents needing to transition out of the coastal erosion risk area. At the moment, there are around 600 properties in Happisburgh, homing some 1,400 people. Despite Happisburgh's bleak future, the Parish Council says tourists should 'definitely visit' the village. "It is a wonderful holiday destination with a fabulous beach and is a beautiful village," a spokesperson added. This attitude has also been adopted by locals, including Maria Jennings - a B&B owner who is confident the village's environmental challenges won't put off tourists just yet. "We know the risks, but we also know the beauty," she said. "People come here to relax, enjoy the beach and walk the coast. Most understand the situation - they just want to enjoy it while they still can."
Metro
20-05-2025
- Science
- Metro
Coastal time bomb could wipe out 800,000 years of history in Norfolk
An 800,000 year old beach on the coast of Norfolk is at risk of vanishing into the sea amid accelerating coastal erosion. Experts are predicting that Happisburgh – where around 1,400 people live – could be gone completely by 2050. The popular seaside village has already lost over 250m of coastline since the 1990s. Dr Ian Richards, a climate analyst and expert in UK coastal erosion, said the coastal erosion is already destroying the lives of some locals. He added: 'What is happening in places like Happisburgh is not just a prediction – it is a process that is already underway. 'Homes have collapsed, roads have disappeared and the cliff line is retreating faster than anyone expected.' The reason for the hasty coastal retreat is because the cliffs are made of boulder clay, which erodes very easily. Norfolk sees erosion as high as 13 feet each year on some beach fronts, which has left more than 200 villages and towns in east England at risk. Dr Richards explained: 'Sea defences were built decades ago for a very different climate. 'Now, they are no match for the pressure we're seeing year after year. And places like Happisburgh are part of our cultural heritage. 'We should visit, support the community, and learn from it – because once it's gone, it's gone.' Happisburgh became a site of national archaeological importance when flint tools from 800,000 years ago were discovered there in 2010. Two years later, early human footprints were uncovered on the beach. They were at the time the earliest evidence of human footprints outside of Africa. Now Happisburgh boasts a miles long coast which is popular with tourists, as well as the oldest working light on the Norfolk Coast. Despite the coastal erosion, many are still optimistic about the beaches future. Maria Jennings, a local B&B owner, says: 'We know the risks, but we also know the beauty. People come here to relax, enjoy the beach and walk the coast.' While one tourist, Emma Cartwright, 41 from Birmingham, said: 'We come every summer. It's beautiful and quiet – like stepping back in time. 'You're aware of the erosion but that makes you appreciate it more. We treat every trip like it might be the last.' More Trending A number of coastlines in the UK are being battered by coastal erosion. The Holderness Coastline, also made of boulder clay, is one of Europe's fastest eroding coastlines. It loses ground at a rate of around six feet per year. While many cliffs in the UK are made of boulder clay, others are composed of less risky chalk, such as the Seven Sisters cliffs in Suffolk, as well as limestone, or sandstone. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: This UK beach is 'more relaxing than the Algarve' — two hours from London MORE: 'It's very chill': Your favourite European beaches that aren't full of tourists MORE: The UK beach with 'crystal clear waters' named the best hidden coastal gem
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Pretty English seaside village with secluded beach that could disappear in 25 years
A SEASIDE village in the UK is at risk of disappearing for good. Happisburgh in Norfolk is known for being it's archeological importance, having the oldest known human footprints outside of Africa. Advertisement 4 Happisburgh Beach is at risk of disappearing in just a few decades Credit: Alamy 4 Some parts of the cliff have already collapsed Credit: Alamy However, it is now at risk of disappearing in the next 25 years. High levels of erosion are affecting the Norfolk coastline and nd Happisburgh in particular has been hit hard, with around 250m lost since 1990. Climate analyst Dr Ian Richards, who is an expert in coastal erosion, warned that it's disappearance is "already underway". He explained: 'What's happening in places like Happisburgh isn't just a prediction - it's a process that's already underway. Advertisement "Homes have collapsed, roads have disappeared and the cliff line is retreating faster than anyone expected." He added: "Sea defences were built decades ago for a very different climate - now, they're no match for the pressure we're seeing year after year." Back in 2012, several projects costing £3million were put towards preventing any further erosion. But this hasn't stopped a number of houses being abandoned because of the crumbling cliffs. Advertisement Yet some tourists said they will still be visiting, with one saying the beach is like "beautiful and quiet - like stepping back in time". Dr Richards also said tourists should keep visiting, adding: "Because once it's gone, it's gone." Stunning seaside village you've probably never heard of named among the best in the UK…and it's not packed with tourists The main attraction of Happisburgh is it's iconic red and white striped lighthouse, dating back to the 18th century and is one of the oldest working ones in the UK. There is also The Hill House Inn, a cosy pub and B&B near the beach, and the Happisburgh Village Shop selling souvenirs. Advertisement It's not the only part of the UK at risk of the beach disappearing. In 2024, the East Yorkshire coastline saw up to 12m of coastal erosion, an extremely high rate compared to the rest of the UK. Because of this, Barmston Beach - once a Blue Flag beach - has since seen huge parts of the seaside disappear, which has even stopped access to the beach theme park. In Southport, too much sand could also make the main beach disappear, as it could turn into inaccessible vegetation instead. Advertisement 4 Some sea defences are already in place Credit: Alamy Former Southport MP Sefton Lib Dem councillor John Pugh explained: "Nature is being allowed to take her course and that could mean the total greening of the Southport foreshore or letting it become an inaccessible mudflat plain - good for birds but not for holidaymakers." Some seaside town's have revealed major plans to reduce the rate of erosion. Blackpool is investing £30million in beach defences with new groynes on Anchorsholme Beach. Advertisement Similar plans are in place across Brighton & Hove, with the plans costing around £11million. And Yaverland on the Isle of Wight wants to raise the sea wall to also slow the rate of erosion - but will cost £40.6million.
