Latest news with #NathanEvans
South Wales Argus
29-05-2025
- Climate
- South Wales Argus
RNLI warning after Porthcawl rescue of two trapped by tide
The rescue happened on May 11, when the Porthcawl RNLI crew saved two people trapped by the incoming tide beneath cliffs between Ogmore and Southerndown. Chris Missen, helm of the Atlantic 85 lifeboat, said: "The casualties weren't local to the area and were unsure of their precise location. "We had to get there quickly in order to locate them." The RNLI said the fact the pair had a means of calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard in this "time-critical rescue was a lifeline." Nathan Evans, helm of the D class lifeboat, said: "The Bristol Channel has the second largest tidal range in the world and it's easy to become cut off if you're not familiar with the area." The RNLI is reminding people to check tide times and have a way to call for help as large spring tides are expected during half-term. Sarah Lewis, from the RNLI Water Safety Team, said: "With large spring tides forecast this week, areas affected by tidal cut-off may be cut off faster than normal, and areas not normally known for tidal cut-off may see incidents occur."
Glasgow Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
First Bus giving away 7,500 free bus journeys in Glasgow
The company is providing complimentary travel to help people celebrate Glasgow's 850th birthday at a three-day music festival along the River Clyde. First Bus is the official travel partner of the Clyde Chorus, which takes place between May 29 to 31. Read more: Busy Glasgow road to close for two days - here's when The festival will see live music events at well-known venues such as the SEC Armadillo, SWG3, The Briggait, Pearce Institute, and The Savings Bank. The event will showcase local and homegrown talent, highlighting Glasgow's status as a UNESCO City of Music. Artists are set to include Nathan Evans & the Saint Phnx band, Nina Nesbitt, Scottish Opera, and many more. First Bus, in partnership with Glasgow 850 organisers, is encouraging people to travel sustainably by giving every ticket holder a free two-trip ticket to allow them to travel to and from the event. Everyone who has purchased a ticket to a Clyde Chorus event can access a unique voucher code by completing an online form here. Users will then be emailed their unique voucher code which they can enter into the First Bus app. After this, a free two-trip ticket will be generated which can be activated for the day of the event. This venture highlights the continued support from First Bus for Glasgow's 80th birthday celebrations. It follows a similar effort earlier in the year, after the unveiling of a specially designed bus alongside Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken. The bus, which is wrapped in Glasgow 850 branding, travels around Glasgow every day. Read more: 'Thrilled ': New centre will provide dedicated space for this community Graeme Macfarlan, commercial director for First Bus Scotland, said: "We are delighted to be playing our part in celebrating 850 years of our amazing city by making it easier than ever for people to use the bus to experience Glasgow's fantastic music scene. "Our partnership not only helps us to reach a wider audience but further encourages people to choose public transport as their preferred method of travel. "We look forward to welcoming concert-goers on our buses throughout the Clyde Chorus." Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "This fantastic offer from First Bus will make it free and easy to travel to the Clyde Chorus festival - part of Glasgow 850 - where those attending will enjoy a little piece of Glasgow's history as they watch a great line-up of local and homegrown artists perform over three days."
Wales Online
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Welsh club announce departures list as Wales international isn't offered deal
Welsh club announce departures list as Wales international isn't offered deal The Dragons have announced who will be leaving Rodney Parade ahead of next season Scott Williams in action for the Dragons (Image: Getty Images ) Wales international Scott Williams won't be offered a deal at the Dragons as the Rodney Parade club announced their leavers' list following a nightmare season. The former Scarlets and Ospreys centre had trained with the Dragons this season after leaving Parc y Scarlets at the end of last year. The 34-year-old made two appearances off the bench, before putting in an impressive performance against the Scarlets at Judgement Day to raise hopes he would be offered a deal. However, that wasn't to be. The Men of Gwent won just one game in the United Rugby Championship this term, having lost 17 on the bounce after beating the Ospreys on the opening day of the season. Filo Tiatia has made a host of signings ahead of next year, as he looks to turn the club's fortunes around in his first full campaign in charge. As such, it was always likely there would be a number of departures too. Article continues below The departures of wing Ashton Hewitt and second-row Joe Davies had already been announced by the club, as had Wales international Dan Lydiate's retirement. Deals for Taine Basham and Dane Blacker at Cardiff and Scarlets had also been confirmed, while Will Reed joined Worcester this week. The Dragons have now confirmed tighthead prop Dmitri Arhip, loosehead prop Josh Reynolds, second-row George Nott, flanker George Young, fly-half Lloyd Evans and full-back Jordan Williams will also leave Rodney Parade. Nott is expected to follow Basham to the Arms Park. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Wales international Cai Evans isn't named on the list, despite his deal being up this summer. The full-back, who can also play fly-half, ruptured his Achilles in January, but will remain with the club to do his rehabilitation and is likely to sign a deal for next season. Tonga prop Paula Latu is also leaving after joining the club in December on a short-term deal. As well as Williams, Newport tighthead Nathan Evans and Lloyd Lewis were also thanked for their service during the season. 'The club would also like to thank Scott Williams, Nathan Evans, and Lloyd Lewis for their endeavours with us throughout this season,' said the Dragons' statement on their leavers. Wing Walker Price and hooker Tomoya Nieuwendijk-Adachi also leave the Dragons academy. Article continues below Tiatia said: 'I'd like to take this opportunity on behalf of everyone at Dragons RFC to thank those leaving for the commitment, dedication, and professionalism they have shown throughout their time at Rodney Parade. 'Players such as Taine, Ashton, Joe and Dan have played more than 100 games for the club and leave a lasting impression with their impact and performances. 'Every single player had a role to play, and we wish them all every success moving forward. We look forward to welcoming them and their families back to Rodney Parade in the future.'
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'We're worried...we've been kept in the dark': Inside leafy Cheshire town convulsed by fear after 300 male migrants arrived at hotel in dead of night
They were a party of hundreds of mostly male asylum seekers, smuggled in secrecy in a fleet of coaches in the dead of night into a four-star hotel in a leafy village in the Cheshire commuter belt. But six months on from that covert operation to take over a hotel in Altrincham to house migrants MailOnline has discovered that many of those original arrivals have been evicted - only to start living in tents nearby. It marks the latest twist in the ongoing saga surrounding the well-to-do market town that overnight became home to around 300 single male asylum seekers. Residents living in the so-called 'Golden Triangle' town, home to a number of footballers, soap stars and wealthy professionals, were left in the dark about the original decision to take over the popular Cresta Court Hotel. But they can't miss what's happening now as many successful asylum seekers have fallen foul of what's called the '56 day rule' - and end up living rough on their streets. This is the Home Office regulation which states that asylum seekers who are successful in being granted refugee status are from that moment only given 56 days more accommodation in asylum seeker hotels. After that period, refugees are supposed to find their own accommodation. But in practice many find it impossible to find accommodation within this time limit so having no alternative accommodation - while new migrants have taken their places inside hotels - they are effectively rendered homeless. Many successful asylum seekers have fallen foul of what's called the '56 day rule' - and end up living rough on their streets Home Office regulation states that asylum seekers who are granted refugee status are from that moment only given 56 days more accommodation in asylum seeker hotels So because of those stuck with nowhere to go, many tents have popped up around the area, most prominently outside the town hall in the neighbouring town of Sale. When MailOnline visited the council offices this week there were five tents propped up, housing seven men, who had previously been housed at the hotel, and one woman. The three migrants who spoke with us had travelled to the UK from war-torn Sudan, while the others camping nearby are said to have been from the East African countries of Eritrea and Ethiopia. One of the migrants, who spoke to us in broken English, said that he had been living in the hotel for a few months but after being granted a temporary e-visa was waiting to be housed. The young man, no older than his mid twenties, said he had been camping on the streets for 30 days - while the other two young men accompanying him had been there between one and three weeks. 'I don't know where we shall live,' another one of the asylum seekers told MailOnline. 'We can't shower and it is difficult to find a toilet. 'We can't wash our clothes and I've been here 30 days but haven't been able to wash our clothes.' Leader of the Trafford Conservatives Nathan Evans said: 'It seems a number of the migrants get kicked out of the hotel and they have to find their own accommodation. 'But there isn't any accommodation so they end up on the streets - camped outside the town hall in Sale or in Manchester city centre or wherever.' Mr Evans said that even if they can find accommodation the pressure on limited housing stock is forcing rents up for all. The hotel, on a road where the average house costs £708,000, only found out about their new neighbours when coachloads arrived late one night last October. The decision has caused division in the community - with almost weekly protests being held outside of the hotel by frustrated residents as well as anti-migration and anti-racism demonstrators. Those perhaps most affected by the decision are the people living on or near Burlington Road, where houses sell for an average of £708,000, which directly faces the hotel. Kenneth Lee, who also lives nearby, said: ''It was a big surprise because we only heard about it when the newspaper said something. 'I believe the council are not worried about us residents and our council taxes are paying for it whether we like it or not. 'If the house wants to change to an office or another use, we have to apply for permission from the council. But something like that, the council supposedly did this overnight. 'When they go to election they send us loads of leaflets but nothing when it is something that really affects the local area. But there's not much we can do. We can't even help our own homeless.' Karen, who did not disclose her surname, said: ' Some of them [who were spirited into the hotel last autumn] are now homeless and living in tents near the town hall. 'It is a sad situation. It is not easy for anyone - you wouldn't want to be them but it is a politically hot potato.' Maria and Ray Williams said the decision to suddenly close the hotel was 'soul destroying' for locals for whom it had long been a community hub. Mr Williams said: 'We got married there and our daughter did as well. What they are doing is such a disgrace.' Mrs Williams added: 'It's just awful for people who had their weddings, baptisms and things like that planned. They did events for everything. We'd go in for a nice meal, disco nights, all of those things, it was very very sad and even now it was a lovely place to go.' Pensioner Peter Hutchinson added: 'It's pointless trying to complain to anybody, what are they going to do?' The Cresta Court is owned by Vine Hotels – whose chairman is former BBC Director General Greg Dyke. The company owns a number of Best Western hotels around the country. The hotel was reportedly given a contract worth £10million for the year to October, meaning the owners would earn £2 million more in profit than they would from normal paying customers. Those perhaps most affected by the decision are the people living on or near Burlington Road, where houses sell for an average of £708,000, which directly faces the hotel Earlier in the year, local Conservative councillors held a meeting in a church hall so locals could air their concerns. But tempers flared when it was wrongly suggested that asylum seekers would receive medical treatment from a private doctors' service at a time when it was announced that Altrincham Hospital's minor injuries unit would be closing permanently. The unfounded claim had been circulating on social media with a Facebook post Altrincham residents were told 'migrants staying at the Cresta Court will be receiving private health coverage FOR FREE!!' being shared more than 1,700 times. In reality, Gtd Healthcare, a not-for-profit organisation, rather than local services that had been given a 12-week contract to provide publicly funded NHS healthcare to the migrants. The false claims have led to a number of so-called anti-migrant influencers turning up with film cameras to the hotel's reception almost daily. Local anti-racism campaigner Mark Krantz told the Independent previously: 'It's a persistent thing. The lead security staff member told me it was almost every day that they have hostile individuals coming down.' Far-right groups Britain First and Patriotic Alternative have also been amongst those staging protests across the road from the hotel. A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: 'A number of tents appeared outside Sale Waterside in early April. Our housing options team have spoken to people in the tents and our understanding is that they are predominately former asylum seekers who have been granted leave to remain. 'They are non-priority need homeless, which means the Council doesn't have a duty to accommodate, though our team are trying to source private rented accommodation which we would do for any other applicant who wasn't in priority need. As a result, we have managed to source accommodation for some people who were previously there in tents. 'We are aware they have been using a public toilet in Sale and we have encouraged them to behave appropriately and use publicly available facilities. We have had no reports of anti-social behaviour and we are also aware they could be victims of crime. 'Our housing options team will continue to engage with the people as we are firmly of the view that the current situation is not in anyone's best interests, nor is it a suitable place for anyone to stay.' Support for newly recognised refugees in the UK is available through Migrant can help individuals appl;y for universal creedit and find housing options. Since July 2024, the Government returned 6,781 hoping to find asylum in the UK to their home country.
Press and Journal
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Gallery: All the best pictures as thousands celebrate the second day of MacMoray
Thousands packed Cooper Park for the second day of the MacMoray festival – and our photographer was there to capture the best pictures. Festival-goers gathered in Cooper Park on Sunday for what many thought would be the 'final MacMoray'. Thousands danced to a line-up that included 911, N-Trance as well as Nathan Evans and the Saint PHNX Band. To close the night, following a dramatic film created by his team, organiser Andy MacDonald made the announcement that the festival will continue. Speaking to the P&J, Andy now says he is going to 'throw the best party ever' at next year's festival.
