Latest news with #IanThompson
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Refurbished Cornwall police enquiry office opens to public
Camborne Police Station has opened the doors of a newly refurbished public enquiry office (PEO).The improved office replaces the old PEO which has operated at the police station since it was built in the hope the new-look facility has created "a welcoming space for members of the public".The office is located in the centre of the police station and is open to the public from Monday to Saturday, 08:00 to 18:00 BST. Supt Ian Thompson, who heads up policing teams across west Cornwall, said: "When people visit a police station, it's often because they need advice, they have been a victim of crime or would like to report something to us. "We're aware that this can sometimes cause people worry or anxiety, so our hope is that by creating a modern space which offers a calming environment for anyone who visits, it can help to make their experience as comfortable as it can be."Insp Lou Brown, who heads up neighbourhood teams in Camborne said: "We've received positive feedback from members of the public who have visited already. "It's been great to hear how it's already having an impact."Devon and Cornwall Police said the public enquiry office remained open throughout the development of the new refurbished office is part of a £3m overhaul of the police station, with planning permission, granted in January 2024.
South Wales Argus
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
Severn Crossing: M4 Prince of Wales Bridge resurfacing delay
The original M48 Severn Bridge will be closed to heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes from Tuesday, May 27 as operators National Highways aim to reduce weight on the bridge due to weakening cables. However during planned closures of the M4 bridge National Highways has said it will allow lorries over 7.5 tonnes to cross the M48 bridge at Chepstow. Officials from the UK Government owned company answered questions from Monmouthshire county councillors at a special meeting of its public services scrutiny committee on Monday, May 12. But the body ruled out financial compensation for firms impacted by the weight restriction though support for resurfacing roads on the Welsh side of the bridge impacted by higher traffic volumes could be considered. National Highways manager Ian Thompson told councillors the body hadn't consulted on the restriction, which was announced on April 11 as it was a decision made on safety grounds. He said: 'Is the bridge safe to operate? Yes it is but if we don't reduce the weight and load we will see further deterioration and weakening of the structure. 'We made an operational safety decision and because it was a safety decision it was not negotiable.' Jonathan Hill, National Highways' route manager, said the weight restriction, expected to be in place for 12 to 18 months is a short term measure. The medium term plan is to manage vehicles over 7.5 tonnes to allow them to cross the bridge and the longer term solution to strengthen the bridge's suspension cables could cost between £300 million to £600m and take five years or more. Both managers stressed funding for the 'groundbreaking' longer-term engineering solution will be dependent on the outcome of the UK Government's spending review, which is due to be held this summer. Mitigations to reduce the impact of the closure to heavy goods vehicles include postponing resurfacing works on east bound lanes, going out of Wales, on the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge to a date yet to be decided. Mr Hill said the bridge has been restored to three lanes, eastbound, at 70 miles per hour. Regular inspections of the surface of the M4 bridge will be made and Mr Thompson said: 'We're not delaying, it forgetting about it and hoping for the best it will be closely monitored and we will need to do some patching work, hopefully overnight, to ensure the integrity and safety of the road surface.' Asked about contingencies, when the Prince of Wales Bridge is closed, Mr Thompson said during planned closures it will be possible for HGVs to use the M48 bridge. 'We will operate a system to allow HGVs over 7.5 tonnes over the M48 in a controlled way, mainly overnight.' Managing the crossings will, Mr Thompson said, be 'resource intensive with boots on the ground.' During unplanned closures those vehicles will be diverted up to the M50 which has been described as a 100 mile detour. Police and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will enforce the weight restriction and will also use ANPR number plate recognition technology. But councillors were told using the technology to exempt locally-based HGVs isn't being considered, due to difficulty in determining which locations or firms should be exempt, and were also told implementing the intended medium term managed crossings couldn't be put in place immediately. A team is planning how that can be done while a procurement process will also be needed and the technology then put in place. Along with extensive consultation with local authorities and the transport industry National Highways has also held talks with the New House Farm industrial estate, in Chepstow, which is based at the foot of the bridge. Chepstow Conservative councillor Paul Pavia said it was 'only fair' National Highways put some money towards resurfacing the local road network that would come under greater strain from increased traffic. Mr Thompson replied 'We will take that forward for consideration' and added: 'I'm not promising any funding I'm not in a position to do that.' National Highways will share modelling information on the likely impact of traffic on other roads with Monmouthshire County Council and the Welsh Government's South Wales Trunk Road Agency to manage the impact. Councillors suggested traffic lights should be installed at the M4 Junction 23a Magor roundabout, which is managed by Monmouthshire County Council, while the council is still pushing for a Rogiet link road from the M48 which it believes would also reduce traffic on Chepstow's Highbeech roundabout. Chepstow Labour councillor Armand Watts, who chaired the meeting, said the weight restriction had 'shocked' councillors. He said Monmouthshire had hoped to develop Severnside by 'piggybacking' on to the 9,000 jobs across the channel at Avonmouth: 'That suddenly disappeared and slipped away from our hands.' Buses and coaches, recovery vehicles and fire engines will still be able to cross the M48 Severn Bridge when the weight restriction is in place.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- BBC News
Elderly man trapped under tree in Cornwall forest for 12 hours
Police dogs have helped to rescue a man who was trapped under a fallen tree for nearly 12 man in his 70s had left his home at about 13:30 BST on Saturday to chop wood in a forest in west Cornwall and was reported missing at 22:30 when he had not officers and dog handlers searched the wooded area which was too dense for the police helicopter to and Cornwall Police Supt Ian Thompson said a dog unit found the man "pinned to the ground by a felled tree deep within the forest" at about 00:40. 'Difficult terrain' He said the man had been treated by paramedics for minor injuries and brought to safety by fire and rescue Thompson thanked the staff in the force control room for coordinating the search and officers on the ground that had helped the other emergency service workers to reach the man in the remote said: "It is without doubt that officers' actions helped to save this man's life."I'd like to thank all the officers and staff involved in the search. They were faced with difficult terrain and challenging circumstances, but their determination and persistence led to this positive outcome."
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ferrybridge Workshops staff left without wages over RWE dispute
Staff at an engineering workshop say they have been left without wages and unable to work due to a dispute between their employer and its people employed at Ferrybridge Workshops in Knottingley found themselves locked out of the premises when they arrived for work on 19 claimed the following day they were told their outstanding wages, due 24 hours later, would not be Industrial, which runs Ferrybridge Workshops, said it was unable to pay rent or wages due to monies owed by the site owner, RWE. However, RWE claimed the amount owed was "a much smaller amount than the sums owed to RWE". Father-of-three Ian Thompson, who worked at the factory as a mechanical fitter, told the BBC "every single" member of staff had been "affected in a bad way"."We have got young lads there with families who have moved to Ferrybridge in the last two months."They saw a future and it has been taken away from them through no fault of their own. The workforce has always given their all here."Mr Thompson said he had a "small amount" of savings to live off temporarily, but without knowing when his outstanding wages would be paid he admitted he may have to look for another said he and his colleagues were "still shocked" about the news, adding: "From our point of view Ferrybridge needs to resolve it with RWE."We can't be kept in limbo with our wages and our future." Shane Sweeting from the Unite trade union said it was trying "to get RWE and the employer around the table to resolve this issue".Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, whose constituency covers Knottingley, said she was "extremely concerned about what is happening and about the impact on the workforce"."I have been contacted by Ferrybridge Workshops and I have written to RWE calling for urgent discussions to resolve this and to support local jobs," she Industrial director Tim Brooksbank told the BBC: "Although we owe some money to RWE, they actually owe us far more."They ceased paying us, which has left us strapped for cash, so we have not been able to pay the rent or the staff."Mr Brooksbank insisted his company was not "at odds" with RWE, adding: "They are, after all, our biggest customer. We want to reconcile with them."An RWE spokesperson said it had been left with "no choice" but to take legal action against TGM Industrial due to a series of missed added: "We are aware of an ongoing dispute relating to the delivery and payment of an item of substandard work from TGM Industrial to RWE."This is a much smaller amount than the sums owed to RWE." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
