Latest news with #SoutheastEngland


Reuters
a day ago
- Business
- Reuters
Britain to invest 14.2 billion pounds in Sizewell C nuclear project
LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - Britain will invest 14.2 billion pounds ($19.25 billion) to build the Sizewell C nuclear plant in southeast England, the government said on Tuesday, as part of its wider spending review which will define its priorities over the next four years. Britain is seeking to build new nuclear plants to replace its ageing fleet to help boost its energy security and also reach its climate targets. Once build the Sizewell C plant is expected to generate enough electricity to power around 6 million homes. "We need new nuclear to deliver a golden age of clean energy abundance, because that is the only way to protect family finances, take back control of our energy, and tackle the climate crisis," Britain's energy minister Ed Miliband said in a statement. The release did not specific whether the funding includes the 6.4 billion pounds already pledged to the project or detail when a final investment decision is expected. It also gave no figures for the expected total cost of the project or give a date for when it is expected to be completed. It would be only the second new nuclear plant built in Britain in more than two decades, after French state-owned EDF's Hinkley Point C which has had several delays and cost overruns and is currently expected to start operations in 2029, with an estimated cost of between 31 and 34 billion pounds at 2015 prices. Sizewell C was originally and EDF project but is now majority owned by the British government with EDF a minority shareholder. The UK government's stake was 83.8% and EDF's stake was 16.2% at the end of December, EDF financial results showed in February with EDF's stake expected to decrease following Tuesday's announcement. Britain has been seeking to bring new investors into the project but Tuesday's announcement did not mention any other parties. The project's developer last December told Reuters there were five investors involved in a bidding process. ($1 = 0.7378 pounds)
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
The beautiful forest that inspired Winnie the Pooh just 2 hours from London
Looking for the perfect day out but aren't sure where to head? Then you're in luck, as we have the perfect destination for you. Ashdown Forest in East Sussex is an ancient area of open heathland and part of the High Weald National Landscape. The forest is most famous for being the location that inspired the children's stories, the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A Milne. Ashdown Forest is easy to get to from London, taking just under two hours via car, or you can take the train with a similar journey length. The forest covers 10 square miles and is one of the largest open-access areas in Southeast England, according to the Ashdown Forest website. The land is home to many rare and threatened species and has a rich human history connected to Kings and more. A.A. Milne lived on the edge of the forest and would often explore the area with his son, Christopher Robin. The stories of Winnie the Pooh gained mass popularity when they were illustrated by E.H. Shepard. It's understood that E.H. Shepard used Ashdown Forest to create the images for the fictional Hundred Acre Wood. Since then, the forest has attracted thousands of fans of Pooh who explore spots like Pooh Sticks Bridge, Galleon's Lap, Roo's Sandy Pit, the Heffalump Trap and the Enchanted Place. On the edge of Ashdown Forest is Pooh Corner, which celebrates the characters and is home to a shop and tearoom. The tearoom serves the likes of homemade sandwiches, cakes, scones and also runs a seasonal specials menu. On the online review site Tripadvisor, one fan of Ashdown Forest said: "The views in this forest are incredible. Recommended Reading Visit the picturesque town of Burford for the perfect day trip Discover the National Trust gem an hour from London 7 of the best nature walks to try in London this spring "We mainly stuck to the Winnie the Pooh themed areas, but the entire region is lush and green." Another visitor said: "Beautiful morning stroll through Ashdown Forest with the family. "Kids were blown away to see Pooh and friends everywhere in the woods."


Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Ration water as southeast drier than Marrakesh, says water boss
Customers in the southeast of England should ration their water because the region is 'drier than Marrakesh', the managing director of Southern Water has claimed. Tim Mcmahon said consumers would face higher bills unless they could cut back on their usage. 'If you look at the southeast of England, it's drier than Sydney, Istanbul, Dallas, Marrakesh,' Mcmahon told the BBC. 'We have got a very densely populated area and we need to start investing to cater for that. We need to reduce customers' usage. Otherwise, we will have to put other investments in place, which will not be good for our customers and might not be the best thing for the environment.' Water bills are expected to increase by £155 over the next five years, according to the regulator Ofwat GETTY IMAGES Price rises would be necessary to improve infrastructure because the majority of the