Latest news with #PaulJackson
Wales Online
30-05-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Not replacing 200-year-old bridge destroyed by storm branded 'easy cop out'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info North Wales Live readers have been voicing their opinions on the recent suspension of a bridge reconstruction project in North Wales, expressing both frustration and scepticism. The original bridge had been a community staple for over two centuries until it was carried away, and now, the plans to erect a new one have come to a halt. Denbighshire County Council's cabinet decided this week to drop the proposal to replace Llanerch Bridge, which succumbed to Storm Christoph in 2021 after the River Clwyd overflowed. Council officials cautioned that drilling into the riverbed might risk polluting the water supply for 85,000 households. This is due to the location of the former bridge, between Trefnant and Tremeirchion, situated above an essential freshwater aquifer utilised by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to provide drinking water to locals. Councillors were informed about the potential hazards of drilling into sandstone layers, which could lead to fissures and contaminate the water source. Paul Jackson, the council's head of highways and environmental services, remarked: "There's not been a design solution that has been found that completely removes the risk to that water asset." "Therefore, the detailed design stage has concluded that it is not possible to construct a new bridge without the required foundations penetrating the weathered section of sandstone and putting a potential fissure in the aquifer, and again, interrupting that water supply." One reader, Avanice writes: "The original bridge seemed to last for a few hundred years without drilling but modern man's expertise in bridge building can't design a bridge without it! The Councillors are being fed a line of bulls manure. Get the 1.5 wasted million back and give it to Army's Royal Engineers for their bridge design. The RGB would appear to fill the need and at a pinch (or 1.5 million), it could have been done within 24hours! It might not look pretty but it works!" Statistix questions: "Notice how many times the word 'risk' is used. Unfortunately we live in an age where 'risk' is the lid on a box that no one dares open 'just in case' something happens, and it has now become the excuse for 'can't do' when it used to be the challenge for 'let's see how to do'. How else did our ancestors get us to where we are today?" Flintshire adds: "Long winded way of saying that we're not building one because we're broke!" Cannonballdaze ask: "How about a walking and cycling bridge instead?" Wonkeye1 answers: "The article explains that it's not the weight of the bridge it's the water pressure. They discussed having a footbridge in the meeting." Steamnut says: "If the original bridge did well enough for 200 years so why not rebuild it as it was? How does the seven mile detour sit with the ECO campaigners? "If we were at war the army would drop a Bailey bridge over it in less than 34 hours. I think the Council will use any excuse not to spend the money and the Welsh Water problem was just what they were looking for. "And yet the same Welsh Water are happy to tip sewage into our rivers? There is just a possible problem 'could contaminate' with the ground water and that would not be for long I'm sure. That 'contamination', creating by drilling, would only be mud, sand and grit. That is not going to harm our health as much as raw sewage is it?" Mrrogerdodger writes: "This is absolutely hilarious - there is zero need to drill down into the riverbed - an A-Level Physics student could demonstrate this with a lego model! Whoever Denbighshire Council engaged with to produce these 'impossible' designs must be laughing all the way to the bank. If the proposals came from internal, please check, double-check and triple-check their qualifications! Unbelievable." Dave selwood replies: "Obviously they don't want to spend as the council do what whatever they want usually." TerryTruck believes: "Well, that was an easy cop out for DCC, I'm sure they had their fingers crossed that this would be the outcome that they so desired." Do you believe that not replacing Llanerch Bridge is the only option available? Comments below or HERE to join in the conversation.
North Wales Live
30-05-2025
- General
- North Wales Live
Not replacing 200-year-old bridge destroyed by storm branded 'easy cop out'
North Wales Live readers have been voicing their opinions on the recent suspension of a bridge reconstruction project in North Wales, expressing both frustration and scepticism. The original bridge had been a community staple for over two centuries until it was carried away, and now, the plans to erect a new one have come to a halt. Denbighshire County Council's cabinet decided this week to drop the proposal to replace Llanerch Bridge, which succumbed to Storm Christoph in 2021 after the River Clwyd overflowed. Council officials cautioned that drilling into the riverbed might risk polluting the water supply for 85,000 households. This is due to the location of the former bridge, between Trefnant and Tremeirchion, situated above an essential freshwater aquifer utilised by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to provide drinking water to locals. Councillors were informed about the potential hazards of drilling into sandstone layers, which could lead to fissures and contaminate the water source. Paul Jackson, the council's head of highways and environmental services, remarked: "There's not been a design solution that has been found that completely removes the risk to that water asset." "Therefore, the detailed design stage has concluded that it is not possible to construct a new bridge without the required foundations penetrating the weathered section of sandstone and putting a potential fissure in the aquifer, and again, interrupting that water supply." One reader, Avanice writes: "The original bridge seemed to last for a few hundred years without drilling but modern man's expertise in bridge building can't design a bridge without it! The Councillors are being fed a line of bulls manure. Get the 1.5 wasted million back and give it to Army's Royal Engineers for their bridge design. The RGB would appear to fill the need and at a pinch (or 1.5 million), it could have been done within 24hours! It might not look pretty but it works!" Statistix questions: "Notice how many times the word 'risk' is used. Unfortunately we live in an age where 'risk' is the lid on a box that no one dares open 'just in case' something happens, and it has now become the excuse for 'can't do' when it used to be the challenge for 'let's see how to do'. How else did our ancestors get us to where we are today?" Flintshire adds: "Long winded way of saying that we're not building one because we're broke!" Cannonballdaze ask: "How about a walking and cycling bridge instead?" Wonkeye1 answers: "The article explains that it's not the weight of the bridge it's the water pressure. They discussed having a footbridge in the meeting." Steamnut says: "If the original bridge did well enough for 200 years so why not rebuild it as it was? How does the seven mile detour sit with the ECO campaigners? "If we were at war the army would drop a Bailey bridge over it in less than 34 hours. I think the Council will use any excuse not to spend the money and the Welsh Water problem was just what they were looking for. "And yet the same Welsh Water are happy to tip sewage into our rivers? There is just a possible problem 'could contaminate' with the ground water and that would not be for long I'm sure. That 'contamination', creating by drilling, would only be mud, sand and grit. That is not going to harm our health as much as raw sewage is it?" Mrrogerdodger writes: "This is absolutely hilarious - there is zero need to drill down into the riverbed - an A-Level Physics student could demonstrate this with a lego model! Whoever Denbighshire Council engaged with to produce these 'impossible' designs must be laughing all the way to the bank. If the proposals came from internal, please check, double-check and triple-check their qualifications! Unbelievable." Dave selwood replies: "Obviously they don't want to spend as the council do what whatever they want usually." TerryTruck believes: "Well, that was an easy cop out for DCC, I'm sure they had their fingers crossed that this would be the outcome that they so desired."
Reuters
08-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Scarred UK assets soothed by US trade pact, BoE rate cuts
LONDON, May 8 (Reuters) - Investors are betting on long-depressed UK markets as a U.S. trade deal, rate cuts and hopes for renewed links with Europe spur optimism for a revival as they search for alternatives to a volatile Wall Street and flailing dollar. Britain's FTSE 100 (.FTSE), opens new tab share index completed its longest daily winning streak of all time this month and is now moving in line with international peers for the first time since 2021, while sterling sits near 38-month highs against the dollar . Money managers expect at least more stability for UK assets scarred by Brexit, ex-Prime Minister Liz Truss' 2022 mini-Budget scare and January's bout of capital flight as soaring bond yields threatened shaky government finances. A UK-EU summit, bets for Thursday's Bank of England rate cut to be followed by more easing this year and a wider move into Europe and Asia by investors spooked by potential tariff hits to U.S. growth are also sweeping gloom out of British markets. "These are all marginal benefits that together add up into something bigger," said Invesco global head of asset allocation research Paul Jackson, who sees UK stocks outperforming the U.S. this year. The FTSE is up just over 4% this year, while the broad S&P 500 index is down almost 4% (.SPX), opens new tab. Jill Hirzel, senior investment specialist at London-based Insight Investment, said the 626 billion pounds ($834.27 billion) asset manager expected 30-year gilt yields, which underpin UK government borrowing rates, to likely drop from current levels around 5.2% . When bond yield falls, their price rises. U.S. President Donald Trump, who unleashed market turmoil with universal levies on April 2 before pausing most of those, on Thursday unveiled a trade agreement with the UK. Britain's car industry will see U.S. tariffs immediately slashed to 10% from 27.5%, while levies on steel and aluminum will reduce to zero. In late London trade, the domestically-focused FTSE 250 index was up 0.6% (.FTMC), opens new tab. The UK was already viewed as unlikely to be targeted by punitive import taxes, Fidelity International portfolio manager Shamil Gohil said, but a clear trade deal would lift market and economic sentiment from here. "It reduces uncertainty, with clarity on tariffs helping to give confidence to businesses and consumers to start spending and investing," Gohil added. "We could even see a GDP bump because of it." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also wants annual UK-EU summits to follow talks in London on May 19, which will focus on defence partnerships but could set the scene for renewed cooperation in areas like youth mobility and labour. UK assets have been on a rollercoaster ride for years, with the latest selling spree in January pushing sterling to 14-month lows and 10-year gilt yields to 17-year highs as fiscal and market stability fears fed on each other. A brief market rally alongside the labour government's landslide election win last year faded fast as investors stayed cautious on British assets layered with extra risk after the 2022 rout and 2016 Brexit vote. Heightened U.S. trade uncertainty, however, which has sparked anxiety about growth slowing and inflation rising and shaken faith in U.S. assets, means Britain appears relatively steady. "I think the political volatility (in the UK) continues, but hopefully from an international perspective investors become less concerned about the fiscal issues than they have been in the last decade," Aberdeen Investments fixed income fund manager Mark Munro said. "Some of that concern might move elsewhere (with investors) starting to look again at U.S. budget deficits and the volatility of Treasuries." Big investors have warned that protectionist and volatile U.S. trade policies may erode the safe haven status of U.S. Treasuries, with higher yields raising the cost of financing $37 trillion worth of national debt. In the UK, weak growth and high borrowing are still driving finance minister Rachel Reeves towards hiking taxes or breaching budget targets, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research think tank said, but investors see rate cuts helping. "The UK has been viewed poorly and discounted for quite a long time now and I think overall it is a lot more stable now than what we've had," said Janus Henderson global equity income manager Andrew Jones, who said he has had overweight stance on UK stocks for some time. And although Bank of England rate setters were split on Thursday's rate decision, lower oil prices and a stronger pound would help contain price pressure and clear the way for further rate cuts ahead, analysts said. Premier Miton CIO Neil Birrell added that while he was not currently raising exposure to the UK, he was receiving an unusually high volume of queries about this long unpopular market from clients. Fidelity's Gohil said overseas pension fund clients had started expressing interest in buying into Britain to diversify away from the U.S. He was also raising holdings of debt issued by UK banks and utilities groups. "The UK's definitely more immune to the direct impact of trade wars. So actually, as a place to hide, it's not the worst." ($1 = 0.7504 pounds)
Wales Online
01-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Denbighshire Leisure toilets takeover plan sparks 'losses' concern
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A concerned Rhyl councillor questioned the council's plans to transfer public toilets to the management of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd. At a meeting this week, cabinet members voted in favour of closing public conveniences at St Asaph, Rhuddlan, and Dyserth in a cost-cutting exercise that will also see six other public toilets upgraded. But before the vote was taken in favour of the move, backbench Rhyl councillor Brian Jones raised concerns that the council was planning to transfer some facilities over to the council-owned Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL). As part of the local toilet strategy, Denbighshire Council is looking to introduce cashless payment systems on upgraded toilets at Rhyl, Prestatyn, Denbigh, Ruthin, Llangollen, and Corwen. After a failed grant bid to Welsh Government, the council is now looking to apply for Lottery funds to pay for the upgrades. Sign up for the North Wales Live newslettersent twice daily to your inbox. But Denbighshire is also looking at other ways of managing its public toilets, including asking businesses to allow the public to use toilets for a £500-a-year payment and transferring facilities to town and community councils – as well as other third-parties. Cllr Brian Jones said at Tuesday's meeting he was concerned DLL were also in the mix for taking over toilets in Rhyl, with concerns about the company's financial situation, citing council papers detailing the plans not made public. 'We had briefing papers sent out last week or a paper about today separate to the papers, and in there, there was reference to the Events Arena toilets (in Rhyl) and that DLL might be taking them on,' he said. 'I think it is £37,000 per annum for the upkeep of the running of those toilets, so how can a company who has posted three years of losses at Companies House be taking on another burden of £37,000 a year? I couldn't get my head around that.' Council officer Paul Jackson responded: 'I won't comment on the DLL finances. It is not really an area I have any knowledge of, so apologies for that. All I will say is, yes, discussions have been taking place with third parties. DLL are one of them, about some of the facilities and their appetite to take them over. 'It's part of the proposal today that - where we can, if it's right to do so, and (if) it's financially viable to do so - we will transfer those facilities to third parties.' The cabinet voted in favour of the strategy to close three public toilets and upgrade six, with discussions ongoing involving third-party transfers of other facilities. Public notices in your area
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
If you see these changes on tinned food, DON'T eat it: Expert warns ignoring these signs could be deadly
Tins of baked beans, tuna and soup could be teaming with a gruesome bacteria that leads to paralysis and death, a hygiene expert has warned. Many of the cans we have lurking in the back of the cupboard feature 'red flag' signs like dents, rust and spurting liquid when opened. These are all indicators that the food may be contaminated with harmful bacteria including C botulinum, which can cause a life-threatening condition where toxins attack the nervous system and cause paralysis. C botulinum most commonly occurs with tinned food that is improperly preserved. In the past, the bacteria has been linked to cans of vegetable soup, fish and beans. Paul Jackson, director at waste specialist firm, NRC, advises shoppers to inspect tins before they buy them. He told the Mirror: 'Food from a can with a shallow dent is generally safe to eat if there are no other signs of damage. 'Deep dents in food cans are a major red flag though.' This is because deep dents can cause micro-fractures, which allow bacteria to enter and infect the contents. While the bacteria themselves are not harmful, when deprived of oxygen, such as in closed cans or tins, they can produce highly poisonous toxins. When someone eats food containing the toxins, they can become extremely ill with the paralysing condition, known as botulism. Depending on the exact type, some will initially experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea or constipation. But without treatment, the infection will attack the nervous system, getting into the nerves, brain and spinal cord, eventually causing paralysis that spreads down the body from the head to the legs, the NHS warns. Symptoms can include drooping eyelids, blurred or doubled vision, facial muscle weakness, breathing difficulties an difficulty swallowing. An estimated 10 per cent of cases result in death, according to the NHS. As well as deep dents, Mr Jackson cautions against eating from cans that are rusty, which may be a sign of similarly dangerous bacteria overgrowth. 'Rust on a can is a concern as it can weaken the metal and contaminate the contents. Even minor rust spots can indicate the food inside may no longer be safe to eat', Mr Jackson warned. 'A visibly bulging can is also a clear sign of trouble', he added. 'This bulging is typically due to gas build-up from bacterial activity inside the can, showing the food is spoiled and not safe to eat. Be sure to throw away bulging cans to reduce risk of contamination.' Finally, Mr Jackson advised people to throw away any cans that spurt liquid or give of a foul smell when opened. 'If a can spurts liquid when you open it, this could be due to gas build-up from microbial growth. 'This affects the taste and the quality of the food but also poses a serious health risk, so be careful.' Mr Jackson suggests storing tinned goods in a cupboard away from the sink, where temperatures are likely to fluctuate and create conditions where bacteria will thrive. He said: 'Extremely cold temperatures can cause cans to burst, potentially leading to air and moisture seeping in, which can then lead to rust and potential contamination. 'Keeping tinned foods in a stable, moderate climate helps to preserve their longevity and safety.' It is also good to be aware of expiry dates for different food groups. 'High-acid foods like tomatoes generally maintain their quality for about 18 months after the use-by date due to their acidity, which helps preserve them. 'In contrast, low-acid foods, such as meats and vegetables, can retain their peak freshness for two to five years after the use-by date, provided they are stored properly.' One victim of botulism is 23 year-old Claudia de Albuquerque Celada who, in 2023, found herself fighting for her life after eating tinned soup. Ms Celada, who is originally from Brazil but lives in Colorado, developed botulism as a result of the contaminated contents of the tin. Ms Albuquerque became ill around 15 days after eating the food and within 24 hours, her entire body was paralysed. In a separate instance of botulism, Doralice Goes was paralysed after eating pesto contaminated with C botulinum. Ms Goes remained in the hospital for about a year while she learned to walk again.
