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Edinburgh Zoo urged to halt panda scheme

Fri, 16 May 2008 02:49:00 GMT

One of Scotland's most popular tourist attractions, Edinburgh Zoo, has come under fire from MPs and animal rights groups over plans to bring a pair of giant pandas from China to the Scottish capital.

Under the scheme, the two Chinese pandas would be brought to Edinburgh by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) - the zoo's owners - for ten years, during which time it is hoped that the pair will give birth to cubs.

However, animal campaigners have spoken out against the idea of breeding pandas in captivity, rather than protecting them in their natural habitat. According to the BBC, Ross Minett, campaigns director for Advocates for Animals, said:

"Edinburgh Zoo seems to be putting money, visitor numbers and the prestige of having unusual animals in its collection above concerns for animal welfare and conservation."

Politicians in Edinburgh and London have been speaking out against the scheme, with key figures such as Robin Harper, a Green Party MSP for the Lothians, and Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock expressing their disapproval.

However, the RZSS have defended their position, with chief executive David Windmill stating: "Zoos are able to invest valuable resources into researching the biology of this species.

"This information is then shared with conservationists in China to help them gain a greater understanding of the wild population."

Last week, a study released by VisitScotland showed that Edinburgh Zoo was the second most popular paid-for attraction in Scotland in 2007, following Edinburgh Castle.

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow was revealed to be the most popular free Scottish attraction last year.

Boris calls on Olympics to 'help entire city'

Fri, 16 May 2008 02:36:00 GMT

London's new mayor, Boris Johnson, has expressed his feelings that the 2012 Olympic Games should benefit the entire capital.

According to Mr Johnson, the event, which will be set in east London, should be part of a "boom" in renewed sporting energy and activity across the city.

As part of his Olympic vision, the mayor has appointed Labour MP Kate Hoey as his Commissioner for Sport. In this unpaid role, Ms Hoey - a former sports minister from 1999-2001 - will be working together with Lord Coe, chairman of the Olympics organising committee.

Speaking about her appointment, Ms Hoey said: "I am not going to be involved in the financial elements of the Olympics or sidetracked by them. My involvement is really about the sporting legacy and ensuring that when the Olympics have departed that the people of London, be they in Barnet, Croydon or east London have something to show for it."

In addition, she stated: "I'm sure we will all be able to work very hard together because I'm determined to really get sport much higher up the priority list of both government and London government."

Just two weeks since his victory at the London mayoral election, Mr Johnson has already plunged himself into the world of Olympic organisation.

The Guardian states that the mayor - who is still currently serving a term as MP for Henley in Oxfordshire - went to his first Olympic board meeting yesterday, and will meet the IOC next week in London.

The London 2012 organising committee came under fire earlier this week, when leading figures in the equestrian world suggested that Greenwich Park - the proposed venue for three-day events - would be too small to accommodate the large Olympic crowds.

Scottish train line reopens after a 40 year hiatus

Thu, 15 May 2008 02:25:00 GMT

After a break of 40 years, direct rail services between Stirling , Alloa and Kincardine are back on track.

Passenger services will be available from Monday 19 May.

According to the BBC, around 300 invited guests are anticipated to witness Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson officially open the track at Alloa's new station today.

The Alloa to Stirling maiden trip is expected to be made by a steam train hauled by the Great Marquess. It cost more than £85 million to upgrade the 13-mile stretch of track, which has lain idle since 1968, despite an original budget of £37 million.

A direct service between Alloa, Stirling and Glasgow will be provided by the new, line while commuters travelling to Edinburgh will be able to do so via connecting services at Stirling station. The track will end at Longannet power station, near Kincardine in Fife.

The track will also support freight services and a spokesman for Transport Scotland told the BBC that the new freight service would provide an alternative route for coal from the west of Scotland to Longannet Power Station and thereby reduce rail congestion on the Forth Bridge. As a result, services from Edinburgh to both Aberdeen and Perth (which cross the Forth Bridge) are expected to double in frequency from December.

The Scotsman reported that, Scott Prentice, the senior project manager for Transport Scotland, said:

"The business case for the line was a more efficient route for coal trains, but the absolute beauty of the project is that it provides passenger trains to Alloa at marginal extra cost."

Bristol Airport walkway plan suffers a setback

Thu, 15 May 2008 02:12:00 GMT

Plans for a new passenger walkway at Bristol International Airport suffered a setback this week.

North Somerset councillors have agreed that the structure should be treated as an extension to the building and therefore subject to a full planning application.

The two-storey walkway, costing around £7 million, would transfer passengers from the terminal building to waiting aircraft and provide eight waiting areas.

Local campaigners welcome the ruling, which could mean that certain conditions would be imposed on the structure. Opposition to the walkway includes concerns about the size of the structure and the environmental impact. According to the BBC, the Stop Bristol Airport Expansion Group claimed that the proposed walkway is part of a plan by the airport to expand by stealth.

However, a spokesman for Bristol International Airport, South West England, claimed that ferrying passengers from terminals to planes with the help of the walkway would be more environmentally friendly than other transport options.

Speaking to the BBC, Chief Executive Paul Kehoe said: "This is a case of the wishes of a few outweighing the needs of the many; that's democracy working back to front.

"The walkway will not increase capacity, it will convey people from one place to another. If I line buses up, it will have the same impact, which is not an environmentally sound situation.

"[However], this process does not replace the application for proper expansion of the airport. This was an operational building; the planning application for growth comes this autumn."

Trump's Aberdeenshire golf resort plans to be amended

Wed, 14 May 2008 02:01:00 GMT

The Trump Organisation has revealed amendments to its plans for a £1 billion golf resort in Aberdeenshire.

The proposed area for development is designated a site of special scientific interest and conservation bodies have opposed plans for the golf resort since its announcement.

Donald Trump's team said that the amendments to their plans will see them taking the environmental impact of the golf resort on sand dunes into account. The revised application details plans to reduce the amount of stabilisation required to secure the sand dunes at Balmedie, in the north of Scotland.

The amended application has been submitted to reporters conducting a public local enquiry - taking place next month - ahead of a ministerial decision. Following a narrow rejection by councilors last year, Scottish Government ministers in Edinburgh decided to have the final say on the application.

According to the BBC, an RSPB Scotland spokesman described the Trump Organisation's efforts at change as a "tweak" to the original plans - despite welcoming the amendments. He said:

"We've said all along that Mr. Trump shouldn't aim to develop the sand dunes in the SSSI, and these alterations are merely a tweak which doesn't change the substantial damage this development would cause."

American property tycoon Trump first unveiled his intention to build a golf resort north of Aberdeen in November 2006 but the application has seen opposition from local campaigners as well as environmental groups. His plans for Meine Estate include the construction of two championship golf courses and hundreds of holiday homes, as well and 500 private homes, and have been backed by many leading business figures.

Last month Aberdeenshire Council approved plans for a £115 million golf course at Blairs Seminary.

Manchester prepares for Uefa Cup Final

Wed, 14 May 2008 01:37:00 GMT

The Uefa Cup Final against Zenit St Petersburg has drawn thousands of Rangers fans to Manchester.

By tonight's kick off at the City of Manchester Stadium, up to 100,000 fans from both sides will grace the city. It's the Scottish club's first European final in 36 years and, according to the Telegraph, a record number of travelling supporters are expected.

The Rangers squad and management flew from Glasgow Airport and arrived in the city on Monday, while overseas fans have been arriving at Manchester Airport from all around the world in the last few days.

On Tuesday, a number of fans departed from Ibrox, Rangers' home stadium, in decorated cars - but the largest movement of fans is anticipated to occur closer to kick-off. To alleviate road congestion, Strathclyde Police have asked those travelling by coach or car to avoid forming a convoy.

Additionally, fans planning to travel by rail from Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverly have been urged by Network Rail to stay away from the stations unless they have booked seats already.

Manchester's hotels are reaping the benefits of the onslaught - with no available rooms in the city or for up to 20 miles beyond. It's expected that supporters unable to get a room will camp, spend the night in their cars or even sleep rough. Pub owners in Manchester and nearby Blackpool are also anticipating record takings over the period.

Three fan zones have been set up in the city - in Albert Square, Piccadilly gardens and Cathedral Gardens - where supporters can watch the game on big screens and enjoy pre-match entertainment. Fans that choose not to travel to Manchester will be able to enjoy the match via large screens at the Ibrox Stadium.

Britons soak up sun during hottest May on record

Tue, 13 May 2008 01:36:00 GMT

People across Britain have been enjoying the hottest May since meteorological records began in 1772, according to the Telegraph.

The Central England Temperature (CET), which is the world's oldest available instrumental record of temperature, reports that the average temperature for the first ten days of May was 14.7 C.

This reading just pips the second highest average temperature in May of 14.3 C, which was recorded in 1802. The average long-term temperature for May, according to the CET, is 10.3 C.

Sunday was officially the hottest day of the year, with temperatures in Great Malvern in Worcestershire coming in top at 27.5 C. This was even higher than temperatures in Athens and the Algarve in Portugal, which only reached 20 C.

It wasn't all sunshine this weekend, however. Merseyside saw heavy rainfall and some floods, which resulted in the evacuation of John Lennon Airport in Liverpool.

What's more, the rain is likely to spread to the rest of the country soon. Helen Chivers from the Met Office stated: "It has been a record-breaking start to May. It has been the hottest daily mean temperature since 1772.

"But now, I'm afraid, temperatures are going to drop a little bit every day through the week. Temperatures will fall to around what we normally expect at this time of year. It will feel quite humid and we expect that pattern of showers to continue through the weekend."

The CET is measured over a triangular area of Britain, with London, Bristol and Lancashire in each corner.

Wales extends its free OAP rail travel scheme

Tue, 13 May 2008 01:12:00 GMT

Pensioners in Wales will now get to enjoy free travel on local trains for another year, as the Welsh Assembly Government announces an extension to their pilot scheme.

Over the past year, OAPs in certain areas of Wales have been able to enjoy free rail travel as the Welsh Assembly tests how capable its railways system is of handling the increased number of passengers.

Under the pioneering scheme, pensioners in Wales will enjoy free travel all year on the Cambrian Coast line between Machynlleth and Pwllheli, as well as the Welsh section of the Borderlands line, from Hawarden Bridge to Wrexham.

In addition, free rail travel has also been extended on the Conwy Valley line in North Wales, from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno. However, free travel on the Heart of Wales line will only be available from October to April, as a result of overcrowding on this line when the scheme was first introduced last year.

According to Ieuan Wyn Jones, Welsh transport minister, the popularity of the Heart of Wales line was caused by a trend towards free long-distance travel, in particular to Shrewsbury in Shropshire - contrary to the original intention of the scheme, which was to facilitate local journeys.

Mr Jones stated: "I have concluded that there have been a wide range of benefits from the pilot scheme, which has extended the availability of free travel on trains to bus pass holders.

"In addition there have been benefits to the local economy and social accessibility, and it has encouraged a reduction in the use of private cars."

Last month, Wales saw its transport links to London increase considerably as a direct train service from Wrexham to London was re-established for the first time since 1967.

London Olympics site could be "too small"

Mon, 12 May 2008 01:01:00 GMT

Greenwich Park, which will play host to equestrian events at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, has been dubbed "too small" by local campaigners and leading equestrian figures.

The Telegraph states that those protesting against the use of the 180-acre site at the London Olympics object claim that 20, 000 people would find it difficult to fit in the park, while many three-day equestrian events typically attract much larger crowds.

For instance, the Badminton Horse Trials, held annually in May, are traditionally set in the 1500-acre park of Badminton House in Gloucestershire, which is able to accommodate an audience of up to 250, 000 people.

As well as its size, many campaigners have expressed their concerns for the ecological and archaeological welfare of Greenwich Park, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is home to vast array of historical treasures, including a herd of deer introduced by Henry VII and ancient Roman remains.

What's more, in order to prepare the site for the Olympic three-day events, Greenwich Park is likely to be inaccessible to the public for around 15 months - the longest closure of the site since it first opened in the 18th century.

Rider and Olympic Trainer, Dane Rawlins, told the Telegraph: "We shouldn't have to desecrate a jewel of London to put on a two-week horse event. The cross-country will ruin the park."

However, the newspaper states that a spokesperson for the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic Games disagreed, saying: "We think Greenwich Park will be one of the most amazing venues for the 2012 games and we believe that concerns about it being too small can be overcome."

The London games look set to transform the landscape of Britain's capital over the next few years. In March, for instance, it was revealed that the 2012 Olympic Stadium will be transformed into the largest public park to be established in the country for over a century.

The 270-acre park is expected to open in 2014, two years after the Olympics.

Restored Fife railway could cost £20 million

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:49:00 GMT

An MSP for Fife in Scotland has claimed that putting trains back on a railway line between Leven and Thornton would cost only £20 million.

According to the BBC, Tricia Marwick stated that tracks and signals along the line are still in place, but have not been sufficiently maintained. Re-opening the Levenmouth line would provide valuable public transport options to residents in south Fife, including a new rail service to Edinburgh.

The claims have further highlighted the efforts of campaigners to restore the branch line to St Andrews, which has been closed since the 1960s.

Currently, passengers travelling to St Andrews by rail must take the east coast line to Leuchars, before completing their journey to the seaside town by bus.

Campaigners have complained that the lack of a direct rail link to St Andrews causes traffic and congestion on roads in and around the city.

The BBC states that Sir Menzies Campbell, former Liberal Democrat leader and MP for North-East Fife, said: "The case for Levenmouth is extremely strong and adds weight to the restoration of the St Andrews link.

"If Levenmouth is being viewed as a serious option then St Andrews should be treated as a similar priority."

At £20 million, the cost of restoring the Levenmouth line is miniscule in comparison to that of the Glasgow Crossrail project, which aims to connect Glasgow's Central and Queen Street Stations.

Sandra White, a Scottish National Party list MSP for Glasgow, said last month that she expected the cost of the Crossrail plan to be close to £200 million.

Kelvingrove is Scotland's most popular attraction

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:36:00 GMT

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow has been revealed as Scotland's busiest tourist attraction in 2007.

According to VisitScotland, who carried out the research, 2.23 million visitors descended on the free Glasgow museum last year, while 45 million visits in total were made to all of Scotland's attractions.

The second and third most popular free Scottish attractions were the National Gallery of Scotland and the National Museum of Scotland, both in Edinburgh.

On the other hand, the most visited paid-for attraction in Scotland in 2007 was Edinburgh Castle, with Edinburgh Zoo and Edinburgh Bus Tours following close behind.

Other top performing Scottish visitor attractions last year included the Scottish Sea Bird Centre in North Berwick and St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, which is situated on the famous Royal Mile.

In addition, the Falkirk Wheel - a rotating boat lift that links the Forth and Clyde Canal to the Union Canal - saw a 17.5% increase in visitors from 2006.

Chief executive of VisitScotland, Philip Riddle, stated: "Scotland has some of the best visitor attractions in the world, attracting millions of visitors from home and abroad each year.

"Visitor attractions are a crucial part of our tourism sector, and will play a significant role in helping the industry achieve its shared ambition of 50 per cent growth in tourism revenue by 2015."

In 2003, the Kelvingrove closed for three years to undergo a major refurbishment. Since its re-opening in 2006, it has remained Scotland's favourite museum and art gallery.

'White Horse' could be Britain's largest public sculpture

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:24:00 GMT

Proposals for what is likely to be Britain's largest piece of public sculpture have been unveiled.

The five artists competing for the privilege of having their work exhibited at the apex of a hilltop in Ebbsfleet, Kent, are former Turner Prize winner Mark Wallinger, Rachel Whiteread, Richard Deacon, Christopher Le Brun and French artist Daniel Buren.

The planned artwork, the idea of which was first announced in January this year, is to mark the construction of Ebbsfleet International station in north Kent, as well as the launch of Ebbsfleet Valley, a development of 10, 000 new homes on land between Dartford and Gravesend. The structure will also be visible to motorists driving to and from Dover.

According to the Guardian, Wallinger's proposal - which involves a giant, 50-metre tall white horse, costing £2 million - is the current favourite among critics. Rachel Campbell-Johnston, Chief Art Critic for The Times, stated in a column today:

"The horse will articulate the landscape, and a work on this scale is as much about the landscape as the piece itself.

"Its location is not only astride the Garden of England, but also the Gateway to England - to be seen by people in their thousands every week, in minutes, even moments, as they travel by train, and road, between London and the Continent."

The Ebbsfleet sculpture is being touted as the south of England's answer to the Angel of the North, Anthony Gormley's 20-metre structure outside Newcastle/Gateshead.

However, while the Angel of the North was publically funded, the Ebbsfleet sculpture will be paid for by Eurostar, London & Continental Railways and Land Securities, who are the key developers in Ebbsfleet Valley.

All five proposals will be displayed at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent from May 27, and the winner will be announced in autumn this year. The building of the artwork is expected to be completed in 2010.

Dorset’s Jurassic Coast suffers huge landslide

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:13:00 GMT

The World Heritage Jurassic Coast in Dorset has suffered the area's biggest landslide in 20 years.

Beginning with a perceptible rumble on Tuesday night, the situation escalated until chunks of land were tumbling into the sea off Dorset. The Independent reported that by Wednesday (7 May), a 400m section of the coast between Lyme Regis and Charmouth had fallen foul to the landslide.

The protected south west England coastline forms part of the Jurassic Coast - a 95-mile stretch between Dorset and east Devon. The area was England's first Unesco World Heritage site, and features 150 mile-high cliffs containing 185 million year old fossils.

While landslides of this nature often attract fossil enthusiasts, West Dorset District Council is warning gatherers to stay away from the beach until the cliff is entirely stable. Portland Coastguard Watch assistant, Simon Palmer, indicated that saving the public from harm was the primary concern. He said:

"The problem is that keen fossilers will descend because it will turn up a lot of new fossils.

"Our biggest concern is the danger to members of the public putting themselves in danger by getting underneath these potentially hazardous lumps of rocks."

Residents of Lyme Regis - 29 miles west of Weymouth - are calling for methods to stop further coastal erosion, such as blockades on the cliff face. However, this proposition contested by Richard Edmonds, earth science manager of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage team, who believes it would not be in the best interests of the protected coastline. He told The Independent:

"Our concern is that the reason this coast is celebrated is that it is eroding, and if you cover it in rock it will look like Torremolinos,"

New Lego tower could be world's tallest

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A 100ft (30.4 metres) tall structure made entirely of Lego bricks has been unveiled at the Legoland theme park in Windsor, Berkshire.

Park officials hope the feature, which was created by thousands of children and their families over the Bank holiday weekend, will be declared the world's tallest Lego tower by the Guinness Book of Records.

Currently, the record for the world's highest Lego tower is held by a 96ft structure built in Toronto, Canada in August last year.

The new Lego tower at Legoland Windsor - approximately 26 miles west of Central London - was built to resemble a Viking longboat mast, in order to mark the launch of the new Land of the Vikings section of the theme park.

What's more, 2008 sees the 50th anniversary of the Lego brick, which was patented by Danish creator Ole Kirk Christiansen in January 1958.

Penny Jenkins, special events manager at Legoland, said: "We are thrilled to [hopefully] bring the world record to Legoland Windsor after four days of hard work, not to mention nearly 500,000 bricks.

"It has been a great way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lego bricks."

According to the Telegraph, Bank Holiday visitors at Legoland helped build the 100ft tower in 20cm sections, with each section put into place by a crane.

Guinness World Records judges are yet to verify the structure as the world's tallest Lego tower.

Royals to attend army fundraising show

Tue, 06 May 2008 23:36:00 GMT

Princes William and Harry are to attend a fundraising spectacle being held by the armed forces today outside St Paul's Cathedral in London.

The City Salute event - which will involve navy bands, a fly-past and ceremonial troops - is being held in order to raise funds for a new swimming pool and gym at Headley Court, an army rehabilitation centre in Surrey.

The princes are both patrons of the City Salute Appeal, in aid of which the show is being held, and visited Headley Court last month to speak to the injured servicemen.

Furthermore, the Epsom Guardian states that, during the visit, Prince Harry was reunited with a soldier who shared his return flight to the UK from Afghanistan.

Funds raised through today's events will go towards two charities - Help for Heroes and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA).

According to the BBC, Help for Heroes will use its funds to establish the proposed pool and gym complex at Headley Court, while the SSAFA will put theirs towards the running of homes for injured soldiers and their families, both at the Surrey facility and another rehabilitation centre near Birmingham.

In other news, Headley Court has just been awarded £24 million by the government to improve its services, including expanding its prosthetic limb workshop and neurological lab, and building a new accommodation block.

Defence Secretary Des Browne stated "Headley Court is globally renowned for delivering first-class rehabilitation treatment to troops with complex physical and mental injuries. I want to ensure that that reputation is maintained."

Summer auction of LS Lowry paintings announced

Mon, 05 May 2008 23:25:00 GMT

Christie's in London will be selling recently resurfaced paintings by popular British artist Laurence Stephen Lowry in June.

According to the BBC, the sale of 20th Century British art on June 6 2008 will see several Lowry paintings up for grabs, including four of his major works which have a total estimated value of £2.2-£3 million. Last year, one of Lowry's paintings - Good Friday, Daisy Nook - sold for £3.8 million at auction. Christie's art sale will feature 183 lots and is expected to raise a total of more than £12.5 million overall.

The Lowry works featured include: The Sea, which has been in the present owner's family since 1944, A Cricket Match (completed in 1952) and An Old Church - a painting that has been out of the public eye since the 1940s and described as recently discovered.

The famous piece Manchester City vs Sheffield United, dated 1938, will also be under the hammer.

According to the BBC, Rachel Hidderley from Christie's said:

"Manchester City vs Sheffield United is from a small and important group of paintings in which Lowry records an actual event rather than a composite image of different locations or impressions."

The Lancashire artist, 1887-1976, was best known for his scenes of everyday life in the industrialised towns of northern England and he produced many works depicting the city of Salford, in which he lived and worked for more than 40 years.

Bank holiday revellers blessed with sunny weather

Mon, 05 May 2008 23:24:00 GMT

People around the UK enjoyed warm and sunny weather over the May Day Bank Holiday this weekend.

Last week, the AA predicted that about 18 million vehicles would cause gridlock on roads across Britain if the expected sunny weather emerged. Yet a spokesman for the RAC told the Telegraph: "It is more likely to be an Ikea weekend than a bucket and spade weekend."

This proved not to be the case for many bank holiday revellers. The hottest weather on Monday May 5 was seen in South East England. Yorkshire and North West England also enjoyed the hottest days of the year so far for their respective regions, according to the Guardian.

Other regions were not so lucky, however, with thunderstorms striking along the Welsh border.

John Hutchison from MeteoGroup UK said: "It's been a bit of a mixed bag. The best Bank Holiday weather has been in the South-East of England and East Anglia.

"We've had a band of cloud and patchy rain in Central England drifting westwards, moving into South-West England and Wales.

"It looks like there will be quite a lot of dry and fine weather around [this week], with temperatures reaching 21C-24C even in parts of the highlands, although there will be a south-easterly breeze."

In an added boon, rail engineering works that were expected to cause chaos for people up and down the country seemed to run according to plan this weekend, while Heathrow's Terminal 5 has seen no repeat of the chaos that plagued its opening days during the Bank Holiday travel season.

Sunny spell could result in May bank holiday gridlock

Fri, 02 May 2008 08:49:00 GMT

Millions of Britons could be affected by gridlocks and disrupted train travel over the May bank holiday weekend due to warm weather.

The AA advises that about 18 million vehicles will take to the road over the bank holiday weekend following weather forecasts of temperatures reaching up to 23C, the Independent reports.

Jams are expected on routes to the west of England, from north England to North Wales, in the Lake District, Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth as well as in the Midlands and Norfolk. The AA said to expect significantly busier roads beginning tonight as commuters prepare for the holiday.

Those planning to travel by rail could also be facing disruptions. Rail chaos has been predicted for travellers on the West Coast Main Line in the Midlands and those heading for the London Liverpool Street Station - which will be closed for major bridge work on Sunday and Monday.

Engineering work on the West Cost Main Line means that there will be no Virgin Trains service to or from London's Euston Station over the weekend - although trains will still run south as far as Coventry and Birmingham.

Speaking to the Independent, Network Rail Chief executive Iain Coucher said:

"The work over the May bank holiday is all about improving the railway for passengers and freight users. Over the long weekend, we'll be investing millions of pounds to make services more reliable, more punctual and, in some cases, faster and more frequent.

"While the overwhelming majority of services remain unaffected, our message to passengers is to check before you travel."

The holiday will also result in busy airports this weekend, with up to 1.3 million passengers expected to pass though Gatwick, Stanstead and Heathrow - whose terminal 5 is reportedly operating well despite initial problems.

New Banksy addition to London’s underground art scene

Fri, 02 May 2008 08:36:00 GMT

Elusive street artist Banksy has organized a London exhibition with a difference. Eschewing conventional art galleries, Banksy's exhibition will take place in one of the Capital's many railway tunnels.

According to the Times, London's artistic elite will convene in Lamberth tonight before perusing the massive outdoor mural in a yet-to-be disclosed location.

Banksy gathered graffiti artists from around the world to contribute to his project, entitles the Cans Festival, including the Dutch artist Hugo Kaagman and Argentinian artist Frederico. London-born artist Leon travelled back from Los Angeles for the event. Speaking to the Times, he said:

"It's traditional for graffiti artists to paint together, but it's never happened in Britain on this scale."

For four days members of the public will be invited to add to the exhibition with the aid of stencils. Banksy said:

"I've always felt anyone with a paint can should have as much say in how our cities look as architects and ad men. So getting to cover an entire street with graffiti is a dream come true, or as some people might call it — a complete and utter nightmare."

The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday morning and will run until Monday evening. It is expected to attract thousands of spectators.

While installations will be taken down after the Bank Holiday weekend when the tunnel will revert to public use, the responsible artists hope that their graffiti will remain on the walls for Londoners' to enjoy.

This will be the first Banksy exhibition in Britain since 2005's Crude Oils.

'Screen Wales' gives Welsh tourism a boost

Thu, 01 May 2008 08:25:00 GMT

Welsh tourism has received an unexpected boost from a website that allows people to upload their own videos on life in Wales.

The Wrexham-based site, Screen Wales, was set up three months ago and follows a similar premise to the online video sharing YouTube, according to the BBC.

Kevin Smith, one of the co-founders of the company Screen Icon Ltd who runs the website, told the broadcaster that the main purpose of the site was to create a forum in which communities, councils and businesses in Wales could promote events and share videos of interest for free.

To date, Screen Wales offers footage of an array of historical incidents - such as the Cardiff floods and an Easter parade in Newport, both from the 1960s - and promotional videos from councils around Wales.

Other unique footage includes a film taken of Rhyl in North Wales that dates back to the 1930s.

Mr Smith told the BBC: "At the moment it's early days and we have got a lot of footage from Wrexham.

"But we hope that as the word spreads, more people will use it. There's so much material out there and it gives people a platform to show interesting footage not just to people in Wales but all over the world."

Recent Welsh events that have been promoted on Screen Wales include the Wrexham Science Festival and the upcoming Llandudno Victorian Festival.

In a related development, Screen Icon Ltd launched Screen Chester at the end of April, which appears to follow largely the same format as Screen Wales.

Capital of Culture remains England's "most deprived place"

Thu, 01 May 2008 08:12:00 GMT

Despite being this year's European Capital of Culture, Liverpool is still England's most deprived region, according to two recent reports.

According to the BBC, a study carried out by the University of Liverpool shows that the Merseyside city is ranked as the most deprived out of 354 towns and cities surveyed in England.

Research for this particular report was compiled from formal evidence taken over a year - during which time Liverpool has seen the investment of millions of pounds in aid of its Capital of Culture festivities.

As a result of this investment, Liverpool revealed a 30 per cent rise in visitors to its major Capital of Culture venues in April this year.

However, the Guardian also reports that official figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) show that Liverpool remains the most deprived city in England - barely moving from its 2004 position.

Local Futures - DCLG's consultants on the report - highlighted that people in Liverpool are ill-placed to benefit from its new investment as workforce skills are below average.

A spokesman for Local Futures stated: "As the city embarks on its year's reign as the European capital of culture, Liverpool appears at a crossroads.

"The title may provide the catalyst for change and the sustained regeneration needed to turn the city around; however, it is vital that the new opportunities are equally shared among the residential population as among those commuting into and investing in the city from elsewhere."

Liverpool Council has launched a range of schemes to tackle problems of entrenched poverty and unemployment, the Guardian states.

Though Liverpool may be the most deprived, the report also highlighted serious problems in London, the north east and the wider north-west area.

"Monumental" Carmina Burana coming to O2 Arena

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:01:00 GMT

A new production of Carmina Burana, classical music composer Carl Orff's most celebrated piece, will be coming to the O2 Arena in January 2009.

The O2 Arena, located in the former Millennium Dome, has a capacity of 18, 000. The London stadium opened ten months ago and has already won a number of industry awards.

However, the Times reports that some music industry insiders see such a large classical production as a gamble for the successful venue. The event is being billed as a 'monumental opera', and will incorporate such spectacles as naked dancing girls, bungee ropes and a four-story tower bedecked with fireworks.

According to the newspaper, this will be the first time since 1926 that a classical music event of this scale will be hosted at an indoor area in Britain.

250 performers will be involved in the British staging of the opera - including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Brighton Festival Chorus and Youth Choir.

While the composition is well-known amongst Britain's classic music fans, this particular version of Carmina Burana has never before been seen in Britain but has already played to more than a million people in 13 years of worldwide touring.

The production coming to the O2 was created, and will be conducted, by Walter Haupt - a student and friend of Orff.

Speaking to the Times, Franz Abraham, the German impresario behind the production, described the opera as an antiboring classical spectacle. He said:

"Carmina Burana is about drinking, food and sex, next to the spiritual aspect of course."

It remains to be seen whether crowds of music fans will flock to London to enjoy the opera - tickets for which will go on sale Friday 2 April.

Fife to Edinburgh bus route goes carbon neutral

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:36:00 GMT

Stagecoach had launched Scotland's first carbon neutral bus route, with plans to plant 140, 000 trees to offset emissions on journeys between Fife and Edinburgh.

According to the BBC, Stagecoach claims that all of its buses travelling between Fife and Edinburgh will remain carbon neutral for the next five years.

Under the scheme, services running from St Andrews, Leven, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and Dunfermline - Fife's major towns - will be included.

Stagecoach, working in partnership with Scottish charity Global Trees, says the initiative may save up to 21, 500 tonnes in CO2 emissions, while the new trees will absorb 4, 300 tonnes in annual CO2 emissions.

The Perth-based group already has procedures in place to reduce emissions from its 7, 000-vehicle bus fleet: it currently uses fuel with five per cent biodiesel and a hi-tech fuel additive manufactured using nanotechnology.

Speaking to the BBC, Stagecoach chief executive, Brian Souter, said:

"This is an extremely exciting initiative, which is setting the standard for greener, smarter bus travel and helping our customers reduce their own carbon footprint."

The project will see a mix of conifer, broadleaf and native woodlands planted on the Buccleuch Woodlands estates in the south of Scotland.

Additionally, Stagecoach is said to be investing more than £30 million in a fleet of buses that will meet the new "Euro 5" emission standards, due to come into force in September 2009. Falkirk-based bus manufacturing firm, Alexander Dennis, will provide all of the new Euro 5 buses.

A spokesman for Stagecoach told the Scotsman that current economic conditions and an increasing awareness of environmental issues has resulted in more people switching from cars to public transport.

Glastonbury reveals eclectic line-up for 2008

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:25:00 GMT

The Guardian revealed the official line-up for Glastonbury 2008 today, and it looks to be diverse collection of musicians.

Headliner Jay-Z will be joined by an eclectic mix of performers - ranging from Cardiff favourite Shakin' Stevens to England's Fatboy Slim. The festival, held near Pilton in Somerset, will also play host to the likes of Crowded house, Editors, Massive Attack, Elbow, Mark Ronson and Duffy.

The varied line-up will be welcomed by those who feared that Glastonbury 2008 was in danger of being dominated by hip-hop fans - a concern that arose following the announcement of Jay-Z's headlining spot.

Speaking to the Guardian, the organizers expressed their pleasure at presenting such a varied and diverse bill. Emily Eavis, who runs the festival with her father, claimed that the John Peel stage represents most of what's been going on in British music over the last year. She added that she and her father had a keen sense of what festival-goers are looking for. She also said:

"The consensus seems to be that there is something for everyone."

Despite the line-up announcement, speculation about one empty spot on the main pyramid stage is still rife. The Evening Standard reported that the organisers refused to rule out an appearance by London based songstress Amy Winehouse.

Established in 1971, the Glastonbury festival now typically attracts up to 150,000 visitors to South West England a year, and generated over £73 million in 2007. Michael Eavis continues to promote the environmentally friendly ethics of the festival by urging 2008 campers to use biodegradable tent pegs made of wheat and potato starch rather than the metal variety.

Weekend rail travel disruptions expected

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Travellers across the UK are expected to face travel disruptions over the upcoming May Bank Holiday weekend.

According to the Telegraph, hundreds of thousands of travellers' plans will be thrown into disarray by engineering works on railways all over the country.

The biggest problems will be experienced on the West Coast Main Line: no trains will run between London Euston and Birmingham from Saturday May 3 to early morning on Tuesday May 6. This closure is the result of engineering works at Nuneaton, Milton Keynes, Rugby and Trent Valley.

Instead, passengers have been advised by rail companies to travel to the Midlands on the Chiltern Line, while people going to London from North West England have been instructed to travel on the East Midlands Trains from Manchester, via Sheffield.

Alternative routes to London include the National Express East Coast service from Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Engineering works will also cause major delays and interruptions to travellers in South West England and Hampshire, as well as across the capital.

Additionally, UK airports will find themselves facing one of their busiest weekends of the year. As a result, this Bank Holiday period could be a crucial test of the capabilities of Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5, following its chaotic opening weeks.

The Telegraph states that, in total, Heathrow expects to see 684, 000 passengers travel from its terminals over the weekend, with New York being the most popular destination amongst British travellers.

War memorial to be built in Edinburgh gardens

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:49:00 GMT

An international competition to create a significant new war memorial in central Edinburgh was launched this weekend.

According to the Scotsman, the memorial will be erected in West Princes Street Gardens and will commemorate people from Edinburgh who have been killed in battle.

The newspaper states that officials at Edinburgh council have looked to war memorials across the globe for inspiration, including those in Washington, Paris, Amsterdam and Australia.

Ultimately, a worldwide competition to design the war memorial in the Scottish Capital was settled upon. It is hoped that the planned structure will be the country's equivalent of England's Armed Forces Memorial, which was unveiled in Staffordshire last year.

Chief executive of Edinburgh City Council, Tom Aitchison, told the Scotsman: "Any move to create a new memorial is sensitive and will need to be the subject of further consultation with representatives of veterans organisations and families."

Currently, Edinburgh's most famous war memorial is perhaps the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle.

Last week, Prince Charles unveiled a set of memorial gates for the Queen Mother at Glamis Castle in Angus.

The castle, which dates back to the fourteenth century, was also used as a military hospital during World War One, during which time the Queen Mother helped to care for injured soldiers recovering there.

Wrexham to London train runs after 41 years

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:25:00 GMT

A direct train service running between Wrexham and London has started up for the first time since 1967.

The new rail service will be operated by a new open access operator, Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway, and will run between the Welsh city and London Marylebone station five times a day.

The train will stop at ten stations en route to the capital, including Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton and Banbury.

According to the BBC, the service will also re-establish a direct link to London from Shropshire, which lost its service in the 1990s, and Walsall in the West Midlands, which last saw a rail route straight to London 30 years ago.

Ieuan Wyn Jones, Deputy First Minister of the Welsh Assembly, said: "This expansion of services will play a key role in building a more effective rail network for Wales - one of the ambitions set out in our 'One Wales' programme for government...

"For the first time in 41 years, there will now be a regular rail service between Wrexham and London, and I congratulate all involved for completing this significant project."

Currently, the route's operator is using hired carriages; however, the BBC states that the company's own carriages will be used from this summer. Features of these new trains will include free wireless internet access and charging points for mobile phones and laptops.

According to transportbriefing.co.uk, Virgin Trains has extended its daily service between Chester and London to Wrexham, in order to provide travellers in North Wales with a further direct route to the capital.

Cutty Sark restoration passes "major milestone"

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:13:00 GMT

One of the Britain's most famous historic ships, the Cutty Sark, has passed a "major milestone" in its restoration plans, according to the Chief Executive of the Cutty Sark Trust.

In May 2007, the nineteenth century tea clipper was ravaged by a vicious fire in Greenwich, its current London abode. The effects of the fire - which all but destroyed the ship's three decks - added another £10 million to the £25 million budget initially estimated for its restoration, although its masts, riggings, cabins and figureheads remain unharmed in a storage facility in Kent.

According to the Independent, the Heritage Lottery Fund granted the Cutty Sark Trust £10 million in January this year, but the organisation still remains £3.7 million short of its target.

Nevertheless, its recent restoration achievement is sure to add some cheer to the construction team currently working on the Cutty Sark. The Independent states that the ship's counter - one of its most important but most fragile components - has been rescued. It will now be restored through electrolysis treatment before being reattached to the stern.

Stephen Archer from the Cutty Sark Trust told the newspaper: "We're trying to combine conservation with restoration. Every nut, bolt and plank, charred or otherwise, will be put back into its original place. It's the same with the counter: the cheaper, easier option would be to just replace it with a brand new one. But that wouldn't be the Cutty Sark. We're determined to keep its authenticity."

The Cutty Sark was first built in 1869 and was designed to be the fastest ship to deliver tea from Shanghai to London. Since then, it has become one of the most well-known ships in British naval history.

Plan for new Aberdeenshire golf course gets approval

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:00:00 GMT

A new plan for a £115 million golf course in Scotland has been granted approval by Aberdeenshire Council.

The golf course, designed by Scottish golfing pro Paul Lawrie, has been proposed on the site of Blairs Seminary in Aberdeenshire, which was once the country's only seminary for training Catholic priests.

According to the BBC, the development will stimulate the building of hundreds of houses and a hotel on the site, as well as the preservation of existing listed buildings like the former seminary and Blairs Museum.

Aberdeenshire Council are said to have approved the plans on the basis that it will bring substantial economic benefits, with both employment and tourism opportunities being created.

Now, in order for the plans to go ahead, they need national approval from the Scottish Government in Edinburgh.

Mr Lawrie is an Aberdeen-native and is currently the last British golfer to win a major tournament - the Open in 1999, which was held in Carnoustie in Angus. He said:

"Aberdeen has truly the potential to become one of the world's top golfing destinations and Blairs provides the ideal golf course setting.

"I am delighted with today's support from the full council and now wholeheartedly urge the Scottish Government to use its power to allow this development to go ahead and help me deliver to my local community an international championship golf course they can be proud of."

Aberdeenshire Council caused a stir at the end of last year when they rejected a lucrative £1 billion proposal for a golf complex put forward by American tycoon Donald Trump in November.

In December, however, the council sacked its chairman - who had been instrumental in rejecting Trump's plan - and reversed the decision.

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games gets new leader

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:48:00 GMT

It has been revealed that John Scott has been appointed as chief executive of the organising company for Glasgow's Commonwealth Games in 2014.

According to the BBC, he will take on his new position on August 4 - leaving his current role as international director and director of drug-free sport at UK Sport. Mr Scott will bring over 30 year of experience to the role, including working in an advisory capacity for the 1994 Victoria State and 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.

He also acted as an advisory to the UK government concerning the feasibility of London bidding for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Mr Scott will replace Derek Casey, who had occupied the post on an interim basis, and described the position as "the most exciting opportunity of my career". He also said:

"I'm determined that in 2014 the thousands of athletes, officials, spectators and those watching at home will experience the best Commonwealth Games ever staged."

"Through these Games, the whole Commonwealth will see what an amazing place Scotland is.

"With world-class facilities and venues, world-class competition and a fantastic cultural offering, we also want to showcase the very best of the city of Glasgow."

The Herald reported that Mr Scott is also determined to keep the games within the budget of £375m, which includes public investment of £298m, and dismissed comparisons with the burgeoning costs for London's 2012 games.

The Commonwealth Games, taking part over an 11 day period, will bring more than 6,000 athletes and officials from around the world to Glasgow.

Rail tickets changing to four categories

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:24:00 GMT

Train companies are expected to announce the biggest overhaul of rail ticketing since privatisation today.

Passengers will no longer be able to ask for Cheap Day Returns, SuperSaver and Apex tickets under the new simplified system. Instead various discounted advance purchase fares will be reclassified as Advance fares from the 18th of May and from the 7th of September all tickets bought on the day of travel will fall into Anytime, Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak categories, the Guardian reported.

The Government released a white paper proposing a simplification of UK ticketing systems last year. According to the BBC, the Association of Train Operating Companies says that the bulk of passenger complaints were in regard to the complicated range of tickets currently available.

They added that the new structure will not result in price increases. The news was welcomed by consumer groups, despite complaints that the fares were still too high.

While the advent of Railcard discounts on all Advance tickets will benefit some passengers, concerns have been raised that a number of travellers will end up out of pocket.

The fee for changing journey times is set to double from £10 to £20 on many routes and rail companies such as First Great Western, Virgin, East Midlands Train and TransPennie Express previously offered refunds on some advance tickets but will no longer do so. The no-refund policy is coming into play from today on tickets purchased for travel from the 18th of May onwards.

Speaking to the BBC, the commercial director of ATOC, David Mapp, said:

"This is the biggest shake-up in the fares and ticketing system for many years and we want passengers to take advantage of it and also encourage more people to take the train."

Campaign launched to safeguard Scott's home

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:13:00 GMT

A new campaign to save the historic home of Sir Walter Scott has been announced, the BBC revealed.

The future of Abbotsford House, in the south of Scotland, has been uncertain since the death of Scott's last direct descendant. Since Dame Jean Maxwell-Scott died four years ago, the house has been run by executors - and the future of the building under discussion.

Previous reports suggested that an estimated £10m would be needed to preserve the Borders tourist attraction, approximately 35 miles from Edinburgh, for the enjoyment of future generations - without which the house would face imminent closure.

Speaking to the BBC in 2006, Abbotsford administrator Jacquie Wright said:

"It is a major visitor attraction in the Borders without a doubt," she said. "He was the world's first best-selling author."

"It's a sort of place of pilgrimage for many people."

Edinburgh-born Sir Walter Scott stayed in Abbotsford House from 1824 until his death in 1832 and the building now attracts about 30,000 visitors a year.

A new organisation, the Abbotsford Trust, would aim to ensure a long-term future for the property as one of Scotland's top tourist attractions. Proposals to preserve and enhance the building as well as developing additional offering for visitors are expected to be announced by the trust.

Plans by Kelso-based property developers M&J Ballantyne proposing a housing development opposite Abbotsford House were rejected by the Scottish Government last year.

BAA break-up could benefit UK travellers

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT

UK airport congestion may be alleviated if BAA is forced to sell three airports by the Competition Commission.

According to the Times, the Commission indicted that poor passenger service from the Spanish-owned company is behind the decision to break-up BAA's airport and monopolies in London and Scotland.

By diversifying ownership of the three main London airports, the Commission hopes that a greater effort will be made by owners to implement measures to relieve overcrowding. A spokesman stated:

"Separate ownership would itself create a greater incentive to expand capacity."

In August they will publish recommendations to sell either Gatwick or Stansted (or even both) as well as either Edinburgh or Glasgow and possibly Southampton. BAA is expected to act before the Commission's recommendations are published and may even sell Gatwick within months.

It is widely anticipated that a new owner would revive plans for a second Gatwick runway. Possible locations for an additional runway, south of the existing one, were published by the Department of Transport in 2003 and could potentially double the number of flights to 486,000 a year. While an agreement to hold off on a new runway until 2019 was signed between BAA and West Sussex County Council in 1979, Parliament has the power to overturn it.

The Government is keen to avoid disruptions to plans for a sixth terminal and third runway at Heathrow and an expansion at Stansted. A review of the countries airport regulations was announced by Ruth Kelly, the Transport Secretary, yesterday.

Speaking to The Times, Theresa Villiers, Shadow Transport Secretary, said:

"BAA's monopolistic grip on so many of the UK's major airports has not been serving passengers or airlines well. The case for breaking up BAA gets stronger by the day."

Queen Mother memorial gates unveiled in Scotland

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:36:00 GMT

Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, visited northern Scotland yesterday to unveil a set of memorial gates in honour of the Queen Mother.

The gates, which took six months to build and feature the deceased royal's coat of arms, were revealed to a crowd of around 200 people outside Glamis Castle in Angus, the Queen Mother's childhood home.

According to the BBC, Glamis Castle has had royal links since 1372. During World War One, it was also used as a military hospital, during which time the Queen Mother helped care for injured soldiers. She is also said to have spent her honeymoon in the castle.

Speaking to audience gathered to watch the unveiling of the gates, Prince Charles said: "Like many here, I suspect, I miss my grandmother every day.

"I miss her vitality, her interest in the lives of others, her courage and determination, her perceptive wisdom, her calm in the face of all difficulties, her steadfast belief in the British people and above all her sense of mischievous humour.

"These are all qualities and characteristics we recall with love, pride and gratitude and the physical presence of these gates provide a fitting memorial in the most fitting family place."

The gates were erected by the Queen Mother Memorial Fund, which was launched in 2003 by former Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell.

The fund has received over £1 million in donations from Scotland and the world over, and was also instrumental in the creation of the Queen Mother's Memorial at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.

London to Lincoln train service could start early

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:01:00 GMT

A direct rail service running between London and Lincoln could be set in place a year earlier than expected.

The BBC reports that National Express East Coast, which bought over GNER last year, had previously planned to have a direct train route running between the capital and the Lincolnshire town in 2010.

However, since the infrastructure is already in place, the plans could be brought forward to December 2009.

Currently, passengers travelling by rail between Lincoln and London need to change at Newark in Nottinghamshire. However, the new train service will start at Cleethorpes and run through Grimsby and Market Rasen as well.

According to the BBC, John Gelson from National Express East Coast said: "There was a very strong case made around the time we won the franchise for this link.

"The economic benefits for Lincoln are a given. We know people want them [the trains] and we want to get on and deliver them."

In addition, the Market Rasen Mail quotes Mr Gelson as saying: "There has been a 10 to 15% increase in passenger numbers on the East Coast main line and the forecast is that, with more people switching from road to rail for environmental and fuel cost reasons, this increase will continue."

The proposed train service between London and Lincoln will be the first to run between the two cities for over twenty years and the journey will take approximately two hours.

New Forth road bridge could be a double-decker

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:49:00 GMT

The new road bridge planned for the Forth crossing could be a double-decker, The Scotsman reports.

A number of crossing designs have been released for the central Scotland crossing. The three options include the two-tiered approach, which would feature a separate deck for buses or trams, as well two designs featuring a single deck with dual carriageways.

The engineering consultants carrying out the preparation work for the scheme, Arup-Jacob, have begun conducting land surveys. The work is expected to begin in 2011 and the new bridge will not be completed for and estimated eight years. Ministers have not yet announced how the project will be funded and approved.

The new bridge connecting Edinburgh to Fife will join its iconic predecessors and its creators aim to create a world-renowned structure without over-shadowing the previous bridges.

Leading Edinburgh Architects Bill Black and Malcolm Fraser commented positively on the proposed designs, although Fraser stated that he was opposed to a new bridge as he believed it would increase road use.

South Queensferry residents, whose lives are likely to be most disrupted by the new construction, have already launched a protest group against the proposed bridge, although its precise positioning has not yet been determined.

A spokesman for the Transport Scotland agency, which is in overall charge of the project, said told The Scotsman it aimed to "minimise any disruption to communities associated with the new bridge".

The Scotsman also recently reported that The Forth Bridges Visitor Centre Trust may be considering converting disused buildings near the FETA headquarters in South Queensferry into a tourist attraction.

General joins campaign to save Norfolk Broads

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:25:00 GMT

General Sir Richard Dannatt has lent his weight to the battle to protect the Norfolk Broads from flooding.

A proposition by environmental organisation Natural England to abandon 25 miles of the Norfolk Broads to the sea has attracted much criticism from locals and conservationists since its announcement in March. The plan would entail sacrificing low-lying areas as far inland as Potter Heigham and Stalham, as well as leaving land between Lowestoft to Felixtowe in Suffolk open to potential flooding.

The Telegraph reports that Sir Richard, the Chief of the General Staff, has announced his intention to defend the nation's largest protected wetland. He referred to the scheme as "a tragedy" and voiced his shock that the area around Horsey was in the heart of the locale at risk.

If coastal erosion were allowed to take place, as one of the plans for the area suggests, the region would lose hundreds of homes to the water - as well as thousands of acres of farmland and some of Norfolk's top wildlife sites. The prominent General owns a farmhouse south of Norwich and has gained a reputation for the unabashed expression of his views since his appointment in 2006.

Speaking to the Eastern daily Press, Sir Richard, said:

"I think it would be a tragedy if we allowed that area to be given up and inundated. To give up a great chunk of Norfolk to the sea without a fight is something I find quite counter-intuitive and quite difficult to do."

The region is the third biggest inland waterway in Britain and is a major tourist attraction. A spokesman for Natural England said that no decision has yet been taken and that they were committed to maintaining the Norfolk coast for the next 50 years.

Britain's smaller art galleries dominate Art Fund prize shortlist

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:24:00 GMT

The 2008 shortlist for the largest arts prize in the nation is dominated by small regional galleries and art exhibitions.

According to the Independent, the Art Fund award - previously known as the Gulbenkian Prize - aims to stimulate originality and excellence and recognises the best new galleries emerging in Britain, as well as renovated galleries and shows that have taken place in the past 12 months. The prize is open to all accredited galleries and museums in the UK.

The shortlist includes the Lightbox Gallery and Museum in Woking, north west England, the Shetland Museum and Archives in Lerwick, an anti-slavery exhibition at the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol and the Wellcome Collection in central London.

The shortlist was selected from a longlist of 10 museums and galleries from around the country and will be judged by an independent panel.

Aside from the Wellcome Collection, the shortlisted organisations are all small scale establishments who have triumphed against longlisted forerunners of the art exhibition world, including 'Sacred', The British Libraries' exhibition of religious scripts, and the much lauded International Slavery Museum in Liverpool. Last year's winner was Pallant House Gallery in Chichester.

Speaking to the Crawley Observer, the Art Fund director David Barrie said:

"These four astonishingly diverse projects not only span the country, but also a dizzying range of topics, from slavery and medical science to contemporary art and seafaring."

The winner will receive the prize fund totalling £100,000 and the results will be announced at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London in May.

New seaplane service slashes time between Hebrides and Glasgow

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:12:00 GMT

A new air service provided by Loch Lomond Seaplanes will connect Glasgow and Tobermory on the Island of Mull, the Guardian reports.

Even though Mull does not have an airport, the nine-seat Cessna 208 will provide a direct airlink to the island and a return ticket will cost £179, or £99 one way. The new service cuts a five-hour journey to a 35 minute breeze.

Loch Lomond Seaplanes, Europe's only aquatic airline, already run a twice-daily service between Glasgow and Oban - pioneered last summer.

In a statement to the Glasgow Evening Times, Susie West, one of the two directors of the company, said: "We had a lot of people asking, When are you going to go to Mull? So it really has been customer-driven."

She also suggests that with a quick trip from the Clyde to Glasgow Airport and a connecting flight to London, commuters could make it into the capital a mere three hours after leaving the Hebridean idyll

A representative of the Tobermory Harbour Association, Brain Swinbanks, welcomed the launch, stating:

"It is a tremendous service and it allows the people of Mull to leave and go down and, say, watch football matches and visit trade shows, and within two to three hours they can be on flights going to the continent. There are lots of other ways to get to the mainland but this is fast, modern access for the people of Mull."

The company plans to expand to provide seaplane operations to destinations such as the Isle of Skye, Bute and Arran later this year.

Victoria Crosses exhibition opens to the public

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:00:00 GMT

The largest display of Victoria Crosses (VCs) in Britain will be shown in a public exhibition at the Spink Gallery in London.

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration for gallantry that can be awarded in the Armed Forces, and is a very prestigious accolade.

According to The Times, the 50 Victoria Crosses that will be displayed at the Bloomsbury gallery are owned by Lord Ashcroft, who is in possession of 10 per cent of the 1351 medals that have been awarded since the inception of the Victoria Cross in 1856.

The VCs featured in the exhibition originate from 15 different armed conflicts, from the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900 to the Lancashire Landings at Gallipoli in 1915.

The Times states: "Among them is one awarded to RAF Sergeant Norman Jackson, who climbed out on to the fuselage of his Lancaster bomber to extinguish a fire 22,000ft above Germany during the Second World War."

Lord Ashcroft is the author of the book 'Victoria Cross Heroes'. His collection of VCs will remain on display at the Spink Gallery in Southampton Row until April 25, but is expected to go on permanent display in 2010.

He said: "I am delighted to be co-operating with Spink, the world's oldest medal dealers, by loaning them a selection of Victoria Crosses for their forthcoming exhibition.

"I hope that this Spink exhibition will provide a worthy foretaste of my aim to celebrate and commemorate 'the bravest of the brave' from our history."

Heathrow passengers experience the longest delays in Britain.

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:36:00 GMT

Recent figures showed that passengers travelling with Heathrow suffered longer delays than at any other major British airport, according to the Telegraph.

The Civil Aviation Authority monitored 10 airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Luton, Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London City - and found the average delay to be 17 minutes.

With scheduled flights departing 21 minutes late on average, Heathrow passengers endured the longest delays while London City passengers were also faced with punctuality issues - 42 per cent of services were found to be arriving or departing at least 15 minutes late. The findings cover the last quarter of 2007 and reveal that while 61 per cent of flights left Heathrow on time in 2006, this dropped to 60 per cent at the end of last year.

London City and Heathrow were the only two airports of the ten that failed to improve their on-time performance.

The news follows the difficult opening of Terminal 5 last month. The Telegraph reports that it was hoped the new Heathrow terminal would to ease delays but the problems T5 experienced are likely to impact punctuality over the next two quarters.

Former Labour MP Lord Soley, the campaign director of Future Heathrow, used the figures to highlight his belief that Heathrow was in need of a third runway. Speaking to the Telegraph he said:

"Heathrow's two runways are currently operating at 99 per cent of their permitted capacity and this is leading to unnecessary delays for passengers."

Lord Soley compared the conditions at Heathrow to those in Paris and Frankfurt, adding:

"These figures show that additional capacity at Heathrow is needed now if the UK is to maintain its competitive edge."

Cross-Glasgow link could connect Edinburgh to West Coast

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:25:00 GMT

The Scottish Government is putting pressure on its transport minister to approve the construction of a cross-Glasgow rail link, which would connect passengers on Scotland's West Coast to Edinburgh and beyond.

The approval of the Crossrail project would mean that Glasgow's Central and Queen Street stations would be connected. This would mean that commuters coming from Ayrshire and the south of Scotland could travel through the city and on to Edinburgh without changing trains.

Conversely, the cross link would mean that tourists travelling by rail from Edinburgh to Scotland's West Coast - which is well-known for its scenic beauty - would also be able to avoid changing trains at Glasgow.

Behind the motion is Bill Butler, a Labour MSP for Anniesland, who stated: "It is not simply a Glasgow project but will have national benefits and we believe it is time for the Government to support this project."

According to the Glasgow Evening Times, the cost of the Crossrail project was estimated at £115 million to £187 million in 2005. However, more recent estimates - including one by Glasgow SNP list MSP Sandra White - place the cost at nearer £200 million.

Speaking on the project, Ms White commented: "This is not a parochial line for Glasgow but a Scottish line which links Ayrshire to Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen.

"I don't think that's a lot of money to get a transport system working the way people want it to work in the 21st century."

St Pancras attracts two million more to Eurostar

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:12:00 GMT

Rail operator Eurostar has reported a 21 per cent increase in passenger numbers in the first three months of 2008.

The high-speed Channel Tunnel operator said that its sales rose to £178.4 million between January and March this year, a rise of 25.2 per cent, with 2.17 million customers travelling between London, Paris and Brussels.

According to the Guardian, Eurostar's commercial director Nick Mercer claimed that the £5.8 billion high-speed link and the central location of the new St Pancras International station have been instrumental in boosting Eurostar's passenger numbers.

He stated: "The passenger increase is coming from shorter journey times, better punctuality and improved connectivity, particularly from the UK regions. We have seen a near doubling of passengers from places such as York and the East Midlands."

In addition, Mercer told the newspaper that half the growth in passengers had come from customers north of London. What's more, the shifting of the main Eurostar terminal from Waterloo to St Pancras had meant that a small number of customers from south west England had been lost, but not as many as Eurostar predicted.

The newspaper states that the rail operator is currently working on a new marketing strategy with domestic rail firms Virgin Trains, East Midlands Trains and National Express East Coast.

The result of this campaign, due to launch this summer, will see residents in some northern cities - including Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham - being offered special, cheaper deals to Paris.

Plastic pigs descend on Bath

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:01:00 GMT

The city of Bath will be adorned with 100 fibreglass sculptures of pigs throughout the summer, as part of a public art project designed to raise awareness of the city's history.

Famous for its stately Georgian buildings and Roman Baths, the life-size, white coloured plastic swine are sure to make a quirky addition to the streets of Bath.

The pigs are designed to raise awareness of the 3000-year old legend of how King Bladud founded Bath, according to the BBC. The tale states the King discovered the healing powers of Bath's spring waters while walking through the area with his swine.

In homage to this legend, the plastic pigs will be placed all around the city and will be painted and decorated with ideas suggested by local communities and businesses.

The Western Daily Press states that artists from across Somerset have been clamouring to offer designs for the synthetic hogs, with choristers at Bath Abbey among the first to decorate their own beast.

This is not the first time farmyard animals have found pride of place in Britain's cities. Edinburgh, Manchester and London have all played host to the CowParade, an international public art exhibit which sees fibreglass cows designed by local residents take over the city for a summer.

At the end of each CowParade, the cows are auctioned off and proceeds are donated to charity.

According to kingbladudspigs.org, net revenues from Bath's parade of fibreglass pigs will be donated to the charity Sustrans, specifically towards the Two Tunnels Project.

Liverpool venues see 30 per cent rise in visitors

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:36:00 GMT

Liverpool's status as European Capital of Culture this year has significantly boosted the number of people visiting the city's venues.

According to the BBC, more than two million people attended a cultural event in Liverpool between January and March 2008, a 30 per cent rise on 2007 figures.

Among the Merseyside venues experiencing a rapid rise in visitors are the Walker Art Gallery, Empire Theatre, Tate Liverpool and National Museums Liverpool.

John Millward from National Museums Liverpool told the BBC: "There's a big increase in people from Europe - from Spain, from France, from Germany - and particularly from China and the Far East.

"Certainly the Capital of Culture as a brand has got across to people."

The Liverpool Culture Company's creative director, Phil Redmond, seems to agree. He told the broadcaster: "There's definitely a Capital of Culture effect. People are now realising and actually getting on board.

"There's so much going on across the city that people are now realising it's up to them to get out there and enjoy it."

Officials in Liverpool expect the number of visitors to continue increasing over the course of 2008. Overall, more than 350 events are being staged as part of the city's Capital of Culture celebrations, including a Gustav Klimt exhibition at Tate Liverpool, the Liverpool Sound concert at Anfield in June and the MTV Europe Music Awards in November.

Scottish wild moose to pioneer Europe's first wilderness reserve

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:24:00 GMT

Free roaming wild moose have been introduced into the Scottish Highlands. They are the first of their kind to grace the hills and glens of north Scotland in 1000 years.

Scottish landowner Paul Lister released the pair of wild moose on the 23,000 acre Alladale Estate north of Inverness, in a move that could set in motion his controversial plan to create Europe's first wilderness reserve. He hopes to return a variety of other once-native species to the wild, including the brown bear, lynx and wolf.

Mr Lister is creating a 50,000 acre reserve for the animals which will be surrounded by an electric fence - within which they will be able to roam free. He has planted 80,000 traditional trees in the heart of the Highlands, an hour from Inverness, and has also released a breeding population of wild boar. According to the Telegraph, he hopes that the venture will also prove a successful lure to tourists and will allow visitors to enjoy the beauty of the animals in their natural setting.

His plans have been welcomed by conservationists but have faced opposition from some farmers and landowners. Mr Lister will also have to overcome a barrage of red tape if he wants to see his plans for the Highlands realised; re-introduction of once-native species is supported by the EU but there is currently no model for a wilderness reserve.

Mr Lister voiced his determination in an interview with the Telegraph. He said:

"There's always going to be people out there that go: 'This isn't going to work. He's a crackpot. He's this, that and the other'. But as long as the majority of people can see what we are trying to achieve here, then it will happen... totally, it will happen."

Athletes and fundraisers complete London Marathon in style

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:01:00 GMT

The 28th London Marathon was completed with typical aplomb by a mixture of athletes, celebrities and citizen fundraisers.

The weather was mixed for the marathon but the 35,000 participants ran valiantly on through bursts of chilly rain. The cool weather was in stark contrast to last year's marathon, when temperatures reaching 23 degrees Celsius forced hundreds of runners to pull out.

The Independent reports that professional runners set a number of records this weekend; the top three in the men's race broke the course record and the first six finished with personal bests. However, it was not only the professional athletes and celebrities that chalked up achievements.

According to the Guardian, a select group of 24 individuals started the race together and wore specially printed t-shirts in celebration of the fact that they are the only people to have competed in every single London Marathon since its inception in 1981. Jeff Aston from Cardiff is one of the founding members of the group and estimates that he has already raised around £25,000 for charity over the years.

Additionally, officials ruled at the 11th hour that Stratford-on-Avon residents Mick Curry and his son Phil, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair, were allowed to compete. Wheeled vehicles were previously disallowed for health and safety reasons. Mr. Curry told the Independent:

"I don't know how many more marathons I have got in me and I wanted to take Phil round the London Marathon, the biggest marathon carnival in the world."

The first London Marathon saw around 7,000 entries and has grown in popularity as a fundraising event since. The 2008 marathon was the third biggest in the 28 years of the event.

Tower of London set for facelift

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:00:00 GMT

The Tower of London's oldest building, the White Tower, is set for a £2 million facelift in what is to be the biggest restoration work ever undertaken at the site.

The White Tower has been covered by a giant canvas, which will cover the façade of the building until work is completed in 2011 - the same year as the Tower's 225th birthday.

According to 24hourmuseum.org.uk, the drawing covering the giant canvas was created by St Albans artist Rydal Hanbury, and was decided by a competition held by Tower officials.

The drawing, realised at a size of 15m by 23m (50ft by 75ft), depicts a series of charcoal sketches of ravens, prisoners, armour and Beefeaters, the Telegraph states.

Built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, the White Tower may be covered from the outside but visitors - two million of whom visit the Tower of London every year - will still be able to explore the interior.

Major general Keith Cima, Resident Governor of the Tower of London, said: "We look forward to delivering in 2012 a fully conserved and re-presented exterior to the White Tower, as a shining symbol of Britain for the London Olympiad and beyond."

The White Tower, a World Heritage Site, is one of the most visited attractions in London and is home to Henry VIII's royal arms and armour, as well as being as being at the centre of life at the Tower of London.

Glastonbury raised £73 million in 2007

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:36:00 GMT

A recent survey commissioned by Mendip District Council has found that the Glastonbury Festival generated over £73 million last year.

The 177, 5000 people that attended Glastonbury 2007 spent an estimated total of £52.1 million over the three-day festival, which is held near Pilton in Somerset.

According to the report, which was carried out by Bristol-based firm Baker Associates, the adverse weather conditions at last year's event meant that spending levels were not "typical".

It was found that more money was spent on food and drinks than previous years, while expenditure on non-food items (except for waterproof clothing and wellies) was down.

The research revealed that the average person at Glastonbury in 2007 spent an average of £144.11 on-site, while £148.13 per person was spent on items such as accommodation, transport and food and drink in nearby pubs and restaurants.

Harvey Siggs, leader of Mendip District Council, said: "We've always recognised that the Glastonbury Festival is an important event for our district and the country, but have never been able to judge how important it is.

"This information will enable us to better understand how it effects our local economy, which is so important to many aspects of our lives and business, and has shown us in detail how large scale events impact our local area."

The survey also found that the majority of Glastonbury festival-goers (46.8%) come from London and South East England, while a quarter (23.3%) came from South West England.

Edinburgh Royal Museum to celebrate revamp

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:25:00 GMT

Edinburgh's Royal Museum plans to celebrate its £46.4 million revamp with a series of special events over the last weekend of April.

The free event, which takes place on April 26 and 27, will offer a series of "last-chance" tours of the Edinburgh museum, as well as music from popular bagpipe rock band the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and "in conversation" book festival talks from authors Maggie O'Farrell and Kate Atkinson.

Other events hosted throughout the free weekend include workshops in circus skills and Indian dancing, as well as a series of live music and dance performances.

When the party ends on Sunday April 27, half of the Royal Museum will be closed for refurbishment until 2011, during which time parts of the historic building will be rebuilt and lifts will be added.

As one of the most popular attractions in central Scotland, the partial closure of the 147-year-old museum will be unwelcome news for some. However, the scheduled revamp plans to make the Royal Museum better than ever.

According to the BBC, Jane Ferguson, the museum's spokesman, said: "This is an exciting time in our history, and while we will be sad to temporarily close parts of the museum, over half will remain open with an exciting programme of events and exhibitions continuing."

The Edinburgh museum made headlines recently when it was left a £2 million legacy by Adele Stewart, an elderly patron who died in late 2006.

As a token of their gratitude, the museum's directors have decided to name the new World Cultures galleries, which will be built during the refurbishment, after Ms. Stewart.