Latest news with #SteffAquarone
Telegraph
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Villagers save phone box by staying on the line
Villagers have won a David and Goliath battle to keep their historic red phone box after lining up – literally – to save it. Neighbours in the rural village of Sharrington, North Norfolk, queued for hours to drive up the number of calls from the phone box after BT threatened to remove it. It is the second time the community has come together to save thW box, after an attempt by BT to remove it in 2016 was also defeated. A minimum of 53 phone calls must be made from a public payphone every year if it is to be kept in operation, according to BT guidelines. Only nine calls were made from the Sharrington box last year. But the telecoms giant's plan to disconnect the K6 kiosk, one of around 40 of that type left in the county, came up against 89-year-old Derek Harris and his neighbours, who started 'a war between the village and BT'. Residents queued up to make calls this week, bringing the latest tally to 146 in a village of little more than 100 people. BT said it had reversed its decision after the 'significant number of calls made by villagers from the payphone highlighted its importance to the community'. A spokesman confirmed that it had decided not to remove the phone box. The K6 was the first red telephone kiosk to be used extensively outside London, and thousands were installed from 1935. Sharrington parish council had alerted Historic England about BT's plans, while Steff Aquarone, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, asked for the phone box to be listed. Mr Aquarone said: 'It just goes to show you that communities can achieve incredible things when we stand together to protect what matters to us. When BT said they were planning to remove it, the whole of Sharrington stood up and said 'absolutely not'.' Mr Harris, who has lived in Sharrington since 1975, said the news was 'a tremendous victory for common sense', adding: 'It means everything to me to know that the phone box will still be here long after I'm gone. 'We are an elderly population who are not great with technology. Some of them do not have iPhones, and I am not sure they even have land lines.'
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Banking hub for North Walsham after Santander announces closure
A banking hub has been planned for a rural town which is set to lose its last High Street branch on Market Place, North Walsham, Norfolk, is expected to close later this Norfolk's Liberal Democrat MP, Steff Aquarone, said he was told the branch would remain open until a banking hub was established by the company hubs are spaces shared by high street banks, where staff work on a rotating basis throughout the week. On Wednesday, Santander announced it was to close 95 of its branches across the UK - including in North Walsham - putting 750 jobs at risk."I am alarmed and distraught for the team at Santander in North Walsham who are set to lose their jobs when the bank closes," Aquarone said."I have been campaigning for banking hubs for three years, launching petitions and speaking on the topic in Parliament to highlight the importance of efficient local banking services for local people."I am pleased that I have now secured a second banking hub, this time in North Walsham – it is a busy town with bustling businesses, and I know that residents here need regular access to cash and services." Banking hubs already exist in Watton, Downham Market, Holt and further hubs are planned for Thetford and Walsham's banking hub will be delivered by Cash Access said the changes were due to a "a rapid movement of customers choosing to do their banking digitally".A company spokesperson added: "Closing a branch is always a very difficult decision and we spend a great deal of time assessing where and when we do this and how to minimise the impact it may have on our customers."It remains unknown exactly when Santander will close in North the company said it would begin closing UK branches from number of bank branches in the UK fell from 13,345 in 2012 to 7,400 in 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
07-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bacton gas terminal owner welcomes Starmer nuclear pledge
The owner of a major gas terminal said it welcomed Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to "build, baby, build" more nuclear power has been speculation that the firm which owns the Bacton terminal in Norfolk has been interested in constructing a nuclear plant said it was still in the early stages of any UK plans, but it was "pleased" that the government was "recognising the potential" of Norfolk Liberal Democrat MP, Steff Aquarone, said he was "not convinced that nuclear power is the straightforward easy option its supporters suggest". On Thursday, the prime minister said he would "take on the blockers" and change planning rules, so new nuclear reactors could be bought the Bacton terminal last year and in October said it had agreed a partnership with US firm Terrestrial Energy to develop a reactor project in the then there has been speculation from energy industry websites that it could develop a small nuclear plant at the Norfolk site. The company said it was "still in the early stages of planning an evaluation of siting, macro-economic and policy factors to confirm the viability of the nuclear plant project".It added: "Only once this initial phase is completed will Viaro and Terrestrial be in a position to complete a detailed evaluation of potential target sites, including external factors on which the realisation depends, before any concrete plans for a plant are made, for what will be a complex multi-year endeavour."Mr Aquarone said it would be better to develop hydrogen production at the Bacton processing plant, which is 20 miles (32km) from Great Yarmouth and provides about one third of the UK's gas supply."To make green hydrogen we need renewable energy, and I have today reiterated my call for more of the offshore wind infrastructure to help support the future electricity requirements at Bacton," he added. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
