Latest news with #StormDarragh
Powys County Times
28-05-2025
- Powys County Times
Lake Vyrnwy nature trail and farmer's market coming up
Families visiting Lake Vyrnwy during the May half-term will be able to test their nature knowledge. The visitor site will host its 'Move with Nature Trail,' inviting everyone to explore and enjoy the surroundings. Participants can engage in a nature quiz and try out some of nature's key movements. The trail, free for all, will run from Monday, May 26, to Sunday, June 1. There is no trail sheet for the week; participants are asked to follow the markers around the Dam Trail. Griff Watkins, Lake Vyrnwy visitor site manager, said: "Lake Vyrnwy is a fantastic place for families to visit during the half-term holidays with lots to explore and do. "But we wanted to make sure there was something a little extra for everyone to take part in. "The trail is a really fun way to engage the whole family and also use it as a learning experience for everyone as well. "We look forward to welcoming everyone along during the holidays and hope they have a fantastic time." Blue Monday's coffee and cake trailer will be stationed at Rhiwargor car park on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for visitors to enjoy. In addition to the trail, the next farmer's market is set to take place on Saturday, June 7. The market brings together local businesses and food producers to celebrate some of what Mid-Wales has on offer. Visitors can come along anytime between 10am and 3pm to discover new products and learn about Lake Vyrnwy through the Vibrant Vyrnwy project. During the holidays and events, more people are expected to visit Lake Vyrnwy, enjoy the spectacular scenery, and have a good time with the walking routes on offer. However, visitors are asked to take note of the accessible routes as the clean-up after Storm Darragh continues. Teams have been on site since the storm, working hard to clear the debris and remove the fallen trees. This important work will continue during the half-term. Rhiwargor Car Park has now reopened for visitors to use, although the circular road remains closed. Storm Darragh hit Lake Vyrnwy early in December last year, causing significant damage with many trees uprooting and falling, blocking many of the trails and a large section of the perimeter road. The Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, Artisan's café, The Chocolate Cabin, and the toilets are open, and the main car park and trails near the village are open and accessible. For regular updates on the works and what is happening on site with the clean-up, follow Lake Vyrnwy and Hafren Dyfrdwy on social media. Anyone interested in having a stall at the market should get in touch by emailing VisitorSites@
Pembrokeshire Herald
27-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Farm worker over drink-drive limit after car hit by fallen branch
A FARM worker who crashed his car during Storm Darragh after being struck by a falling tree branch was found to be more than twice the legal drink-drive limit following a vodka binge. Marcin Przybycien, 39, was driving his Kia Sportage on the A40 near the Corner Piece Inn, Rudbaxton, just before 9:30am on December 7 when the branch came down, leading to a crash. 'The Kia Sportage was at the mouth of the Spittal junction,' Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week. 'There was substantial front-end damage to the vehicle and it was covered in what appeared to be fresh mud. It seemed that the vehicle had collided with a wall.' Police carried out a roadside breath test which proved positive. Due to Przybycien's injuries, he was taken to Withybush Hospital for examination. 'His nose was bleeding and he complained of chest and stomach pains,' added Ms Vaughan. Because of his medical condition, officers were unable to conduct a formal drink-drive test until 2:30pm – around five hours after his arrest. A urine sample taken at that time showed 227 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine. The legal limit is 107. Przybycien, of The Caravan, Trebrython Farm, Fishguard, pleaded guilty to drink-driving with the assistance of a Polish interpreter. His solicitor, Katy Hanson, told the court that the defendant had been drinking Polish vodka with his brother the night before and had woken in pain due to a hernia. 'He felt unwell and thought he needed to get to hospital, which is why he decided to drive,' she said. 'As he passed the Spittal junction, a branch fell onto the vehicle and caused the crash.' Magistrates disqualified Przybycien from driving for 20 months. He was fined £300 and ordered to pay a £120 court surcharge and £85 in costs.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Damage from burst pipes is main reason for home insurance claims
Storm damage was the next most common reason for a home insurance claim in 2024, according to claims data from Peopl Insurance. Four out of 10 claims made were due to damage caused by pipes bursting or other leaks, which can be extremely expensive to repair. Around one in five claims made to Peopl Insurance were due to damage caused by storms, with tiles flying off roofs being a typical reason for a claim. Fire accounted for just 9pc of claims. Other reasons included subsidence and accidental damage. Peopl Insurance provides home, life and travel insurance in partnership with a range of credit unions across the country. Spokesman for the insurer Dominic Lumsden said: 'Given the ferocity of recent storms and the damage that extreme weather can inflict on people's homes and property, it is no surprise that storms now account for nearly one in five of home insurance claims.' He said the most violent storm to hit in 2024 was Storm Darragh, quoting Met Éireann data. Mr Lumsden said it left hundreds of thousands of homeowners without power, and caused considerable damage across the country when it hit last December. 'Given the freezing weather so often experienced in Ireland during the winter, it is no surprise that burst pipes and water leaks are the top cause of home insurance claims here.' He said homeowners should not underestimate the extent of the damage that can be caused by burst pipes and water leaks. A burst pipe could cost tens of thousands of euro worth of damage if water had been left leaking for a few days, Mr Lumsden said. 'The bill for the damage could even be more if a pipe bursts while you're away as you'll likely have to replace plasterboard, walls, wardrobes, kitchen units and so on – and you'll probably have to repair electrical damage too.' The Peopl Insurance figures are for 2024 alone, so do not capture the claims that arose following Storm Éowyn, which struck in late January of this year, and the big freeze of early January. Storm Éowyn wreaked havoc, with winds lifting roofs off some properties, falling trees causing extensive damage, and more than 768,000 homes, schools, farms and businesses losing power.
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool pay classy tribute to Everton for emotional Goodison Park finale
Everton are set to host their final men's game at Goodison Park on Sunday before moving stadium for the start of next season Liverpool have paid tribute to Everton's Goodison Park as the Toffees play their final men's match at the famous old ground this Sunday, before they move into their new stadium next season. The Blues face bottom-of-the-table Southampton in an emotionally charged lunchtime fixture, with fans and the club alike looking forward to starting afresh at Bramley-Moore Dock. On Friday, it was announced that Liverpool will make their way to the newly named Hill Dickinson Stadium for next season's Merseyside derby, following Everton's disclosure of a naming rights deal with the law firm. Everton's women's team will then move into Goodison Park on a full-time basis. In anticipation of a momentous day at Goodison, Liverpool shared a touching message on social media, featuring a photo of Reds supporters expressing gratitude to Everton fans post-Hillsborough disaster in 1989. The poignant black-and-white photo displayed a banner from Liverpool fans directed at their neighbours, stating: "The Kop thanks you all. We never walked alone.", as reported by the Liverpool Echo. Accompanying the image, Liverpool wrote: "An historic stadium, a place where we have fought against one another and stood with each other. Highs, lows and so many memories. The end of an era at Goodison Park and the beginning of a new one." Liverpool's final outing to Goodison Park for a men's game concluded with a 2-2 stalemate in February, after the original December fixture was postponed due to Storm Darragh's impact on Merseyside. The newly crowned Premier League champions are back in action on Monday as they face Brighton and Hove Albion. Everton's big day at Goodison began with scores of fans descending on the ground, with the team bus forced to take an alternative route to the stadium due to the sheer number of people who wanted to be there. Blue-shirted fans with flags, banners and flares were in position much earlier than usual, and they had been expected to welcome the team bus into the ground at around 10.45am. However, an announcement on the PA system confirmed that the coach had been forced to be in a different direction due to the sheer number of people around the ground. Speaking ahead of the game, Everton legend Duncan Ferguson told TNT Sports: "It's really sad that we're leaving this great place. This is all we remember, it's here. This is all the history. It's going to be an emotional day for everybody and a tough one."
Irish Independent
18-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Truckers fear ‘greatly improved' Holyhead ferry timetable introduced after Storm Darragh is about to be scrapped
They say the new timetable greatly improved ferry services on the Irish Sea and even reduced congestion on Dublin's M50. Now, the two main haulage industry groups on both sides of the Irish Sea have lobbied both governments to ensure the retention of the temporary post-storm timetable because of fears that the ferry companies are set to go back to their old schedule. 'The current schedules should be kept in the interests of efficiency, competitiveness, connectivity and environment,' said a joint letter to Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien from the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) and the UK's Road Haulage Association. 'The more dispersed sailing schedules also provides more competition and choice on the key routes and reduces the potential impacts of the increased dominance of any one carrier or port,' said the letter, which was also sent to Tánaiste Simon Harris and Junior Minister Sean Canney, who has responsibility for ports and logistics at the Department of Transport. Prior to Storm Darragh in December, Stena and Irish Ferries crossings ran at almost the same time. Hauliers had previously lobbied for the timetables to be staggered, without success. But after the storm caused extensive damage to a berth at the port of Holyhead, it left just one berth available for Irish Sea services. Following the initial closure of the port a staggered timetable was introduced to allow both ferry companies to continue to operate their ferries while repairs were under way to one of two ramps at the port that trucks use to access ferries. The new schedule means that there is currently a roll-on roll-off ferry sailing to Ireland every 3.5 hours. The repairs are scheduled to be completed in July 2025 and haulier associations are demanding the timetable does not revert to what was in place before the storm. Asked to comment, a spokesman for Stena Line said it 'welcomes the news that with the planned reopening of Terminal 3 at Holyhead Port it will be able to revert to its normal sailing schedule from July 1, 2025.' An Irish Ferries spokesperson said the 'adapted timetable' was in place to allow for a berth-sharing arrangement and that it 'is currently finalising its freight schedule from July 1'. But the hauliers claim this new schedule has worked very well and reduced congestion at the ports. They have also said it has led to more competition and better prices for sailings – which ultimately means better prices for the consumer, 'The new schedule has had a transformative and positive impact on the flow of trade,' said the letter. 'Instead of two ferries leaving at broadly the same time, as happened prior to the storm damage, we now have seven spaced sailings a day leaving both Dublin and Holyhead. 'The more dispersed sailing frequency has led to less congestion at both Holyhead and Dublin Ports, with improved outcomes for traffic flow and customs processing or other regulatory compliance easier to deal with," it added. The increased variety of sailing times between Dublin and Holyhead leads to far better 24-hour connectivity between both Ireland and Britain, they argued. The new timetable has also had big environmental benefits with reduced congestion at the ports – and on the wider road network in Dublin in particular – meaning fewer emissions, they wrote. 'With the sailings from Dublin leaving now at 4am and 8am we have all the HGV traffic off the M50 and the Port Road before rush hour in the morning and likewise with sailings early in the afternoon the HGV traffic is off the M50 before rush hour going home,' said the letter.
