Latest news with #Stanmore
Times
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Deacon's Bank restaurant review: ‘Lamb belly bites — only £7!'
I t's true, I do not review in Derbyshire very often. In fact, I just googled 'Giles Coren and Derbyshire' to find out exactly how many times I had reviewed in Derbyshire in the past 25 years and the answer is… no times. Although I did discover that, 'Giles Coren has a family connection to Derbyshire through his maternal grandparents, who fled to Derby in 1939 possibly due to the Israel/Palestine conflict.' Which is a nice try from the search engine's AI Overview, but rather misunderstands what Jews were fleeing in 1939. But it is true that my mother was born in Derby not long after my grandparents arrived there from partially annexed Czechoslovakia so, yes, I know what you're thinking, she could have played professional cricket for Derbyshire. If they had had women's cricket then, of course, and she smoked a bit less. But she wasn't there for long. The prewar East Midlands were more appealing to my brutally deracinated grandparents than Nazi-occupied central Europe, but not as appealing as Stanmore, which is where they ended up, and spent the next 40 years. And I've never reviewed in Stanmore either, so it's nothing personal I've got against Derbyshire.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome warnings issued in north-west London
People have been warned not to sit underneath or near trees after a number of large branches fell suddenly in some north-west London notices were issued by Harrow Council after branches fell in Stanmore, Hatch End and Pinner. No one was reported to have been injured. The council said it was due to Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome, which has no known cause, but heatwaves and changes in tree moisture levels could be a inspections have been made of trees in parks, near play areas and outdoor gyms, the council said, and none so far have been found to be hazardous. The council asked the public to be aware of the issue, and to report any concerns with local trees via their website. It added: "Trees are vital to our environment and wildlife, and we remain committed to maintaining and growing our tree stock."They provide better air quality, reduce flooding, and is good for mental health and wellbeing." SUDDEN BRANCH DROPAffects large trees such as oak, beech and horse chestnutCan occur after a long dry spell, especially if followed by a sudden downpourBranches often fall in calm conditions In 2012, a woman was killed at Kew Gardens after a branch fell unexpectedly from a tree in the the Royal Botanical Gardens referred to the incident at the time as a "terrible freak accident".
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie dad slashes $2,000 electricity bill to zero as $2.3 billion battery rebate kicks off
Australians will be able to get a discount on the cost of installing a solar battery from next week when a new federal government scheme kicks in. Some Australians say they have managed to lower their electricity bills to zero after installing batteries, but there can be a big upfront cost involved. Anthony Barrett said he no longer receives electricity bills for his Stanmore terrace home, which he shares with his wife and son, and instead gets credits. The 58-year-old lighting designer told Yahoo Finance he has spent about $30,000 installing solar panels, inverters, batteries, switching to a heat pump and electrifying his gas kitchen over the years. While he admits it was a 'crazy expense', he said he hopes he will offset the costs through savings on their electricity bills. The family previously spent between $2,000 and $2,800 on their energy bills, including gas and electricity. RELATED Aussie mum's $1,200 electricity bill shock sparks warning for millions Centrelink $836 cash boost for 'very real' truth facing thousands of Aussies ATO issues July 1 warning to Aussies waiting on $1,500 tax refunds 'We've had both batteries for about two years now and we're thousands ahead,' Barrett said. 'We're earning well over $1,000 a year.' Barrett said installing solar batteries had made the biggest difference for them. He has two 10kwh batteries, which cost $21,000 altogether. The family also switched to a wholesale electricity provider Amber Electric which allows customers to access wholesale prices directly rather than fixed rates. This means prices can be more on not paying any bills and their current earnings of $1,600 a year, Barrett has calculated it will take them seven years to pay off the batteries. The batteries are warranted for 10 years, but he expects they will last for 12 years based on current usage. Barrett said he and his wife had made a 24-year plan for paying off their solar system and batteries, along with replacement batteries they expect they will buy. 'It's a long-term thing and it's a big upfront cost too. It's nothing to be sneezed at,' he said. 'Everyone's different. I can really only speak for myself and we looked at all the maths, we did a lot of research and so far on our little journey, it's coming up exactly as was promised.' The federal government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program will be open for households, businesses and community organisations from July 1. The $2.3 billion scheme, which was first announced during the election campaign, offers a 30 per cent discount on the cost of installing a battery and is designed to encourage the uptake of batteries. Recent research by Brighte found half of Australians thought the upfront cost of investing in home energy upgrades was too high, with a third finding the process overwhelming. The Smart Energy Council welcomed the scheme when it was announced and said it could help millions of people 'permanently reduce their energy bills'. 'Four million Australian homes have solar and this policy will help them store that energy for later when it will be at its cheapest,' Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said. 'Australians can take control of their power bills and when and how they produce and use electricity. This literally gives power back to Australians.' There are currently around 77 solar batteries on the Australian market, starting at around $4,000 for a 5kwh battery. Smart Energy Council said a range of between 5 to 15kwh for home batteries was generally appropriate for households. According to government modelling, households with existing rooftop solar could save up to $1,100 extra off their power bill each year by installing a battery, while those with new solar could save up to $2,300 a year. It comes as states scrap their solar battery sweeteners, with NSW replacing its home battery rebate with a smaller incentive for households who connect to virtual power plans, Victoria ending its interest-free solar battery loan worth $8,800, and Queensland closing its $4,000 battery rebate at the end of last year. Barrett said the energy bill savings he got from installing batteries were welcome, given other general living costs, including insurance, had been going up. 'Life in general is not cheap, it's not getting any cheaper, but the thing we don't worry about is our electricity bill and power bill,' he said.
Daily Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Telegraph
Central Sydney, M1 traffic: Crashes, delays, updates
Don't miss out on the headlines from HyperLocal. Followed categories will be added to My News. Latest traffic alerts and road works for the Central Sydney region: Traffic incidents since midnight: 3 Roadworks to avoid: 25 New roadworks this week: 3 Roadworks projects to be completed in the next 30 days: 0 Traffic incidents by suburb (most recently updated items are listed first): Eastlakes Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Southern Cross Drive near Wentworth Avenue Alert created at 10.43am, June 13. Last updated at 10.46am, June 13. Advice: Reduce your speed. Prepare to merge. Petersham Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: New Canterbury Road near West Street Alert created at 9.31am, June 13. Last updated at 10.12am, June 13. Advice: Prepare to merge. Exercise caution. Stanmore Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Parramatta Road near Bridge Road Alert created at 10.25pm, June 12. Last updated at 5.47am, June 13. Advice: Reduce your speed. Prepare to merge. Mascot Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: General Holmes Drive near Airport Tunnel Alert created at 12.50am, June 13. Last updated at 2.37am, June 13. Advice: Reduced speed limit. Prepare to merge. Mascot Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: General Holmes Drive near Airport Tunnel Alert created at 2.42pm, June 12. Last updated at 2.47pm, June 12. Advice: Reduce your speed. Prepare to merge. Mascot Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Qantas Drive near Robey Street Alert created at 1.29pm, June 12. Last updated at 2.26pm, June 12. Advice: Reduce your speed. Prepare to merge. Mascot Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: General Holmes Drive near Wentworth Avenue Alert created at 1.40pm, June 12. Last updated at 2.08pm, June 12. Advice: Reduce your speed. Prepare to merge. Surry Hills Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Chalmers Street near Cleveland Street Alert created at 11.49am, October 11. Last updated at 2.27pm, June 10. Advice: Check signage. Exercise caution. Special event clearways will be in place at the following locations to facilitate Sydney Trains trackwork replacement bus operations. Chalmers Street, western side, between Cleveland Street and Devonshire Street Chalmers Street, eastern side, between Cleveland Street and Rutland Street Special event clearways are strict no-parking zones for all vehicle types, and apply even to local residents and TfNSW Mobility Scheme Permit holders. Check signs carefully as vehicles left in clearways will be towed and a fee applies. If your vehicle is towed, you can search your vehicle registration at the Find My Car website to find its new location, or alternatively call 132 701 to speak to an operator. Sydney Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Sydney Harbour Bridge near Alert created at 9.20pm, July 18. Last updated at 11.53pm, May 26. Advice: Reduced speed limit. Check signage. Changes to traffic conditions will be in place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge at various times while the bridge and other infrastructure are being upgraded and maintained. These changes include a combination of lane closures and speed reductions. At least one lane will be maintained in each direction during work hours. Access to Cahill Exp over Circular Quay southbound may not be available at times. Motorists can detour via the city using Grosvenor St, Bridge St, and Macquarie St for access to the Eastern Suburbs and airport. Roadworks by suburb (most recently updated items are listed first): Sydney Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Bathurst Street near Day Street Alert created at 3.49pm, June 12. Last updated at 3.51pm, June 12. Ends: 6am, June 23 Advice: Reduce your speed. Check signage. Traffic lights at the intersection of Bathurst St and Day St will be blacked out, and traffic controllers will direct motorists. Lane closures will also be in place on Bathurst St and Day St, with at least one lane to remain open at all times. Sydney Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Sydney Harbour Tunnel near Alert created at 12.35pm, March 28. Last updated at 6am, June 12. Ends: 6am, June 17 Advice: Use diversions. Plan your journey. Ultimo Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Bridge Road near Wentworth Park Road Alert created at 3.35pm, June 11. Last updated at 3.38pm, June 11. Ends: 7.30pm, June 15 Advice: Reduce your speed. Exercise caution. Bridge Rd will be reduced to one lane in eastbound direction between Wentworth Park Rd and Wattle St. Glebe Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Bridge Road near Ross Street Alert created at 11.22am, June 11. Last updated at 11.27am, June 11. Ends: 6am, July 14 Advice: Use diversions. Exercise caution. Alexandria Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Fountain Street near Belmont Street Alert created at 1.07pm, June 4. Last updated at 2.03pm, June 10. Ends: 6.15am, June 17 Advice: Check signage. Reduce your speed. Alternating (stop/slow) traffic conditions will be in place to allow motorists to pass in one direction at a time. Glebe Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Wentworth Park Road near Bridge Road Alert created at 10.59am, May 2. Last updated at 9.43am, June 10. Ends: 6.30am, June 23 Advice: Check signage. Allow extra travel time. Bridge Road: Contraflow traffic conditions will be in place to allow motorists to pass in both directions. Alexandria Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Botany Road near Mandible Street Alert created at 4.04pm, August 28. Last updated at 6.01am, June 6. Ends: 6am, June 14 Advice: Check signage. Allow extra travel time. Contraflow traffic conditions will be in place to allow motorists to pass in both directions. Alexandria Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Gardeners Road near Kent Road Alert created at 4.38pm, May 16. Last updated at 5.30am, June 6. Ends: 6am, June 22 Advice: Reduced speed limit. Check signage. Work will occur in stages on Gardeners Rd between Kent Rd and Botany Rd. Contraflow traffic conditions will be in place at each stage to allow motorists to pass in both directions. Sydney Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Western Distributor near Anzac Bridge and Harris Street Alert created at 5.04pm, June 5. Last updated at 5.04pm, June 5. Ends: 5.45am, July 17 Advice: Reduced speed limit. Use diversions. The Western Distributor southbound access from Sydney Harbour Bridge to Anzac Bridge and Harris St will be closed. Erskineville Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Erskineville Road near Septimus Street Alert created at 3.58pm, June 5. Last updated at 3.58pm, June 5. Ends: 2.01pm, June 27 Advice: Reduce your speed. Exercise caution. Traffic lights at the intersection of Erskineville Rd and Railway Pde will be flashing yellow. Alternating (stop/slow) traffic conditions will be in place to allow motorists to pass in one direction at a time. Sydney Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Domain Tunnel near Cahill Expressway Alert created at 3.23pm, June 5. Last updated at 3.27pm, June 5. Ends: 6pm, July 10 Advice: Use diversions. Allow extra travel time. Alexandria Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Botany Road near Shirley Street Alert created at 11.49am, June 4. Last updated at 11.14am, June 5. Ends: 6am, July 1 Advice: Reduced speed limit. Check signage. Portable traffic lights will allow motorists to pass in one direction at a time. Mascot Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: General Holmes Drive near Southern Cross Drive Bridge Alert created at 5.25pm, April 14. Last updated at 9.32am, June 4. Ends: 5.30am, June 17 Advice: Reduced speed limit. Exercise caution. Traffic lights at the intersection of General Holmes Dr and Joyce Dr will be blacked out, and portable traffic lights will allow motorists to pass in one direction at a time. Banksmeadow Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Botany Road near Beauchamp Road Alert created at 10.57am, December 9. Last updated at 9.11am, June 4. Ends: 6am, June 19 Advice: Reduced speed limit. Exercise caution. Alternating (stop/slow) traffic conditions will be in place to allow motorists to pass in one direction at a time. Mascot Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: General Holmes Drive near Southern Cross Drive Alert created at 4.10pm, June 3. Last updated at 4.10pm, June 3. Ends: 5am, June 27 Advice: Check signage. Allow extra travel time. Up to three lanes will be closed while roadwork is undertaken. Woolloomooloo Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Cahill Expressway near Conservatorium Road Alert created at 3.46pm, March 17. Last updated at 5.12pm, June 2. Ends: 5.45am, June 24 Advice: Check signage. Use diversions. Sydney Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Loftus Street near Bridge Street Alert created at 4.24pm, June 2. Last updated at 4.24pm, June 2. Ends: 4.13pm, July 13 Advice: Use diversions. Exercise caution. Rosebery Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Botany Road near Gardeners Road Alert created at 2.53pm, June 2. Last updated at 2.53pm, June 2. Ends: 6am, June 30 Advice: Reduced speed limit. Exercise caution. Alternating (stop/slow) traffic conditions will be in place to allow motorists to pass in one direction at a time. Portable traffic lights will be used. Darlinghurst Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Eastern Distributor near Cleveland Street Alert created at 3.58am, May 31. Last updated at 3.58am, May 31. Ends: 6am, June 19 Advice: Use an alternative route. Plan your journey. The Bourke St and Cross City Tunnel Airport link on-ramps will be closed southbound to the Eastern Distributor. Ultimo Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Wattle Street near Thomas Street Alert created at 4.43pm, May 30. Last updated at 4.44pm, May 30. Ends: 6pm, June 13 Advice: Reduced speed limit. Alternating (stop/slow) traffic conditions will be in place to allow motorists to pass in one direction at a time. Portable traffic lights will be used. Redfern Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Cleveland Street near Regent Street Alert created at 2.46pm, May 30. Last updated at 2.46pm, May 30. Ends: 6.15am, June 18 Advice: Reduced speed limit. Check signage. Alternating (stop/slow) traffic conditions will be in place to allow motorists to pass in one direction at a time. Ultimo Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Harris Street near William Henry Street Alert created at 11.51am, March 11. Last updated at 5.07pm, May 28. Ends: 6.15am, July 1 Advice: Reduced speed limit. Allow extra travel time. Alternating (stop/slow) traffic conditions using portable traffic lights will be in place to allow motorists to pass in one direction at a time. Alexandria Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Mitchell Road near Fountain Street Alert created at 10.37am, May 27. Last updated at 10.37am, May 27. Ends: 6am, June 16 Advice: Exercise caution. Alternating (stop/slow) traffic conditions will be in place to allow motorists to pass in one direction at a time. Ultimo Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Harris Street near William Henry Street Alert created at 3.03pm, May 26. Last updated at 3.04pm, May 26. Ends: 6am, July 2 Advice: Reduced speed limit. Exercise caution. Traffic lights at the intersection of Harris St and Macarthur St will be flashing, and portable traffic lights will allow motorists to pass in one direction at a time. Woolloomooloo Notavailable(NotAvailable) Affected street: Cahill Expressway near Conservatorium Road Alert created at 4.10pm, May 23. Last updated at 4.10pm, May 23. Ends: 5.30am, July 30 Advice: Use diversions. Plan your journey. Today's hyperlocal stories are available here. The previous Central Sydney traffic article can be viewed here.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mansion left 'gutted' by works to be restored
A 17th Century Grade II listed building in north-west London is set to be restored to its former glory after works carried out by the owner left it "literally gutted". Harrow Council's planning committee has approved plans for the complete restoration of The Rookery, a Georgian mansion house and stables in Stanmore. It was originally built for the owner of the adjacent Clutterbuck Brewery – Lord Clutterbuck – and remained in the same family for several generations. In recent years a series of "unlawful works" were carried out, the committee was told, including using décor described as "fake old" and removing original plaster from the walls, which had done "harm to the listed building". A new owner of The Rookery took possession of the site in 2022. Listed Building Consent, required to make changes to a listed building, was not obtained before work began. The refurbishment was halted by conservationists and enforcement in December that year, and has ceased ever since, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Consent has now been granted for internal and external alterations to take place, including a full interior "strip out" – much of which has already taken place – and renewal of the decoration. The plans outline how the building will be restored to "match the historic details" and "recreate the historic features" where genuine, according to Harrow Council's planning officer. The Rookery was described as of particular historic and architectural importance due to its age and association with the brewery, as well as its traditional architectural features and historic fabric. The planning officer said the restoration work would provide a "unique opportunity" to find out more information about the significance and historic development of the building as the modern surface fabric is removed. Asked if the building could be restored to its original state, the planning officer said it was "the best proposal [in] the moment we are at". No enforcement action was served when the works were discovered because officers sought "to get a better understanding of what had happened", but prosecution was still be an option, according to the committee chair Marilyn Ashton. She described the application as "a positive" in respect of moving things forward but called the building's current condition "a big disappointment" and that "accepting what's happened and being pragmatic doesn't make it all right". "Having studied the report very clearly, one might infer that we have still got the option of prosecution because it is actually quite a serious problem to do this to a Grade II listed building. It isn't just one room or just a small feature, the whole place has literally been gutted." She added there was "not much left of its historical value but hopefully we can put some of it back to make it look at least something like how it was". Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Harrow Council
