UK

Six-wheeled delivery robot is talk of village

Jake Zuckerman
BBC News

Jake Zuckerman / BBC
Luna is expected to stay in Witham St Hughes for the foreseeable future


A little six-wheeled robot has become a local celebrity, after starting work as a parcel courier in a Lincolnshire village.

The delivery robot, named Luna, began daily rounds in Witham St Hughes near Lincoln three weeks ago as part of a trial by the company DPD, which has a depot in the village.

People living there said they were astonished to see Luna crossing roads and avoiding pedestrians, all without the help of a human operator.

“Everyone loves it, it’s all over the Facebook page,” said one local woman. “The kids all go up to the gate at the school to watch whenever it goes past.”

Another man said: “I saw it the other day and I thought I was in a dream. It came past me and I stood there waiting for the postman to come and nobody came."

The robot has been trained to find its own way around the village, picking the shortest route to its destination. Sensors detect when it’s safe to cross busy roads.

One resident added: “It avoids me and my dog when it passes by.

“It’s absolutely brilliant and I think it’s really funny.”

Once Luna arrives at her destination, a text message alerts the customer that Luna is outside. After the customer enters a four digit PIN number to access their parcel, Luna returns to base to collect the next package for delivery.

Operations manager Daniel McCarthy says Luna is currently making "20 deliveries a day"

Operations manager Daniel McCarthy said the depot is the fourth in the country to receive an autonomous delivery robot, and that Luna is expected to stay in Witham St Hughes for the foreseeable future.

“Luna is currently making 20 deliveries a day, and there are plans to increase that to 30 a day.

“She works a 12-hour shift without the need for a lunch break, but she still has a long way to go before she can match her human colleagues, who average around 120 deliveries a day.”

UK

IRONY

Defaced Banksy gets ‘anti-graffiti’ protection

Tony Grew
BBC News
Adrian Zorzut
Local Democracy Reporting Service
EPA
The work was the second of nine works by Banksy to appear in London


One of London’s recent animal-themed Banksy artworks, vandalised shortly after being discovered, has been restored and will now be protected by an "anti-graffiti solution".

The work - of two elephants poking their heads out of blocked-out windows - was painted on the side of a house in Chelsea, before it was defaced with white stripes.

Council workers removed the unwanted additions and added a special coat to protect the artwork.

It was the second of nine works by Banksy that appeared across the capital over nine days in August.

Handout
The artwork was vandalised with white stripes of paint


Kensington and Chelsea council said the liquid is specially designed not to alter the appearance of the surface it is applied to.

Josh Rendall, who represents the ward where the piece is located, said: “We hope that residents and visitors enjoy this and our other Banksy piece on Portobello Road for many years to come.”

The appearance of Banksy’s works last month led to speculation about their significance, if any.

Search for meaning


James Ryan, CEO of Grove Gallery which sells Banksy originals and prints, told BBC London he initially thought the works had "politically charged and motivated messages, so the goat - references to Palestine and Gaza, and then the wolf crying for help - some kind of persecution".

Some of the works were removed shortly after appearing, while one, a howling wolf sprayed on a satellite dish in Peckham, south-east London, was seemingly stolen.

Two others were removed by London authorities - a silhouette of a cat on a billboard in Cricklewood was taken down for safety reasons; and piranhas painted on a City of London Police sentry box was moved so it could be viewed safely.

UK

Running group call for climate action in the sport

BBC

The Green Runners
Damian Hall (L) and David Starley (R) are among the founders of The Green Runners

A running club has launched a campaign to promote climate action in the industry.

The Green Runners, a group which helps athletes live more sustainability, have created the Race for Change project to build a community and work towards action for the environment.

It was launched by Jasmin Paris MBE, Dan Lawson, and Damian Hall, an ultra-marathon runner from Corsham, Wiltshire.

The Green Runners was launched in 2022, after the founders realised how much the sport contributes to climate change, mainly through travel, clothing and equipment.


The Green Runners were nominated for a BBC Green Sport Award in 2023

Through the campaign, the group hopes to raise £50,000 to expand its work.

It comes as the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warns that the planet is likely to warm by 1.5ºC by the end of the century.

Ross Brannigan, from The Green Runners, said: “For the last two years, every Green Runner who has pledged to make a change in their lives for the planet is taking genuine action for our environment.

"Now, it’s about expanding that work, working with clubs and communities across the world, and collaborating with brands and events.

"This crowdfund does not just affect runners; it affects all of us, and we can make a genuine difference in this time of crisis.”

UK

Electric bus fleet to start operating next year

Daniel Mumby

BBC
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Reporting fromSomerset

LDRS
Taunton bus depot will get an upgrade to install electric charging points


Electric buses will begin operating on five routes across Somerset next year.

Almost 30 new electric double-decker buses will run on routes around Taunton, Burnham-on-Sea, Wellington and Minehead.

Planning permission has now been granted for a new substation and charging points at First Bus South's Taunton depot on Hamilton Road with work due to start next month.

The new electric buses would start operating from Spring 2025.

Alex Ethridge
First Bus operate most of the routes in Somerset

The Department for Transport (DfT) announced in late-March that it would be providing £43.4m of grant funding to councils across the south west to help fund more than 350 new double-decker electric buses, replacing existing diesel models on key routes.

Somerset Council has received £2.2m of funding from the zero emission bus regional area (ZEBRA) scheme, along with £12.5m from First Bus South, which operates Buses of Somerset.

A spokesman said: “Buses of Somerset’s depots in Taunton and Minehead will be electrified, as part of a joint bid with Somerset Council which secured a £2.2m grant from the DfT’s ZEBRA scheme, alongside a substantial investment of £12.5m from First Bus South, which operates Buses of Somerset.

“Work is expected to start in late October, and will complete in early-2025.

“Once works are complete, the depots will support 26 brand new electric buses which will serve communities across Somerset.”

Royals really cost £510m, anti-monarchists say

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, BBC News

The royals cost more than official figures suggest, anti-monarchists say


The real cost of the Royal Family to taxpayers is £510m a year - nearly six times more than the £86m of state funding from the annual Sovereign Grant - anti-monarchy campaigners say.

The Sovereign Grant covers costs such as staffing, travel and the upkeep of royal buildings - but not security, for example.

And for security alone, the Republic group says - while calling on the government to provide a definitive figure - £150m is "indicative of a likely cost" based on press reports.

Keeper of the Privy Purse Sir Michael Stevens, who looks after the King's financial affairs, has previously spoken of the "determination to deliver value for money" in royal finances.

But Republic chief executive Graham Smith said: "How can we talk about cutting the winter fuel allowance while wasting half a billion pounds on the royals?"

The group's £510m figure also includes "lost income", such as the £96m a year commercial revenue it says could come from royal residences.

It also says the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall's property businesses should be paying into the public purse rather than funding the King and the Prince of Wales respectively, with the taxpayer losing out on £99m per year.




Royals to get extra £45m as Crown Estate profits soar


Republic attacks the current funding for the royals as opaque and secretive and a "scandalous abuse of public money".

A head of state should have running costs of £5m-£10m a year, it says, and the King should have an annual salary of £189,000, with increases pegged to that of the prime minister.

Buckingham Palace has declined to respond.

But the latest accounts for the Sovereign Grant, published in July, show state funding for the Royal Household will remain at £86.3m for 2024-25 and rise to £132m in 2025-26.

The level of funding is calculated against the profits of the Crown Estate, with next year's rise reflecting increased income from offshore wind farms.

"This is now the third year for which the Sovereign Grant has not increased by one single penny, despite the supplementary costs incurred by the change of reign and despite the double-digit inflationary pressures that have impacted on goods and services for all organisations in that same period," Sir Michael said earlier this year.

"What has remained constant is the determination to deliver value for money in ensuring the Royal Family are able to serve our communities to the best of their abilities, even in difficult personal circumstances."

Significant divides

As well as costs, there are also harder-to-measure economic benefits from the royals, such as boosting tourism and supporting overseas trade.

Last month, 55% of those surveyed by YouGov viewed the monarchy as good value for money, while 30% saw it as poor value.The institution was seen positively by 59%, negatively by 32%
The King was seen positively by 63%, negatively by 29%

But below these headline figures, there are significant divides, particularly in terms of age groups, with support for the monarchy strongest among older people and opposition strongest among the young.

UK

XL Bully dogs found beheaded and floating dead in cages as neglect against the banned breed soars

IT'S NOT THE DOG IT'S THE OWNER

Cases of the XL Bully dog being abandoned have also increased by 692 per cent since the ban came in

Holly Evans
16 hours ago

The RSCPA have recorded a dramatic increase in abuse towards XL bullies since the government ban (PA) (PA Wire)

Shock figures from the RSPCA show a dramatic rise in abuse toward XL Bully dogs since the government ban on the breed, with the animals decapitated, injured and abandoned.

The animal charity has revealed that in the eight months since it became illegal to own the breed on 31 December last year, reports of neglect have increased by 239 per cent.

The number of reports made to the RSPCA of intentional harm to XL Bully dogs in the first eight months of 2024 was 103, compared to 39 in the same period in 2023.

Recent disturbing incidents of abuse towards the breed include the body and head of a decapitated dog being found in a shallow grave in Evesham, while another dog found in a south London alleyway in January with a fractured skull.

The charity has also responded to reports of a cage with a dead XL Bully dog found floating in a Birmingham canal in June, and a puppy discovered in Bexleyheath with blunt force trauma injuries to its dead.

XL bullies have been banned since 31 December after a spate of deadly attacks (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, reports of XL Bully dogs being abandoned have increased by 692 per cent, with 103 reported to the charity during the same time period.

Dr Samantha Gaines, the RSPCA’s dog welfare expert, said: “These are very concerning figures. We’ve seen an increase generally in reports of serious abuse to animals - particularly intentional harm and beatings - but the increase in reports relating specifically to XL Bully types is very alarming and we fear this is a direct result of the recent UK Government ban on this type of dog.

“This could be a result of the extra pressures this ban has placed on desperate owners who may already be struggling to care for their dogs during this cost of living crisis. But even worse, these could be deliberate acts of cruelty towards dogs who have become increasingly demonised in recent months.

“We’re also heartbroken that many dogs have been and will be put to sleep simply because they are considered to be dangerous because they look a certain way.”

Tens of thousands of the dogs are still kept by their owners who have successfully been granted exemption certificates. Under the agreements, they dogs must always being on the lead, muzzled in public and having been neutered.

Despite the ban, exclusive figures obtained by The Independent revealed that dog attacks have continued to rise, with 6,392 attacks recorded by police in England and Wales in the five months from 1 February.

This was up from 5,888 in the same period in 2023 with campaign groups slamming the “knee-jerk” policy while demanding an overhaul of legislation by the new Labour government.

 SPACE / COSMOLOGY

WALES/CYMRU

Opponents of space radar station project call MoD consultation a shambles

Photo Parc Against Darc Campaign

Martin Shipton

NATION CYMRU

09/23/24

Campaigners who oppose plans to open a space monitoring centre at a barracks in west Wales have strongly criticised the Ministry of Defence after a consultation website became inaccessible.

The MoD says a survey link was temporarily disrupted, but opponents of the project say it was typical of a public engagement exercise they have described as “shambolic”.

Proposals are being developed for the future of Cawdor Barracks – formerly RAF Brawdy in south Pembrokeshire – as part of the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) programme, a strategic agreement between the US, Australia, and the UK to provide 360° global space monitoring to detect, track, identify and characterise objects in deep space (up to around 23,000 miles).

National security

The MoD has said of the project: “Space is crucial for the nation and plays a critical role in our daily lives. Space services, including those delivered by satellites, underpin many aspects of modern life, from enabling navigation, monitoring the climate, forecasting the weather, supporting our emergency services, supporting our Critical National Infrastructure and protecting the public. Understanding what is in space is crucial for the UK’s interests, especially as space becomes more congested with satellites and debris.

“The proposed redevelopment of Cawdor Barracks for the DARC programme would help to protect our present and future prosperity and national security. By enhancing our awareness and understanding of what is happening in space, we can continue to ensure it remains safe, sustainable and accessible to all.”

The MoD announced in 2016 that the barracks, home to 14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), would close and this is currently planned to take place no earlier than 2028. The development of the site for DARC would, says the MoD, help keep the site open, with a permanent presence of up to 100 personnel to operate DARC.

But opponents of the proposal see it as a way of facilitating the US’s ability to militarily dominate all of space at the same time as having major safety concerns about the 27 radar dishes that would be built.

The campaigners have set up a group called PARC against DARC and recently attended two public engagement sessions in Solva and St Davids.

Serious questions

A PARC spokesperson said: “Person after person came out from these so called public engagement meetings telling us that they were an ‘utter shambles’, that they were being told completely different things by different ‘experts’ and that when pushed on any of the serious questions, they were answered with ‘we can’t answer that’ or ‘we don’t know yet’ over and over again. Others repeated the mantra that DARC was still at the ‘conception phase’, leaving us thinking it was strange they could have so much confidence in a proposal they seemed to know very little about at all.

“One local attendee told us that when they’d asked one of the top military officials present if he’d stand next to one of these radars himself, he’d replied, “No, I wouldn’t stand next to one of these radars myself; it’d be like putting my head in a microwave.’

“Another official, when quizzed as to why they hadn’t re-sent the invitation leaflets sent out to locals which had got wrong the local place names of Newgale, Middle Mill and Penycwm – calling them Newgate, Middle Hill and Penycwn – replied: ‘We could have done, but there wasn’t any point.’

“A further attendee told campaigners that when he asked if it was true that the construction phase of DARC would involve 120 LGV and HGV lorries per day driving along the Haverfordwest to St Davids road and up the narrow and angular Newgale hill, the reply he received was, ‘We don’t know, but I can tell you it will be less than you think.’

“Local resident Jenna asked a question about what the MoD could possibly do about the visual impacts of 27 radars on the landscape that would be unavoidable, Jenna was given answers that ranged from nothing, to maybe something if forced, to a man who confidently said they’d be growing enormous hedges in an area famous for its lack of anything growing beyond 3 ft in the harsh salt wind.”

Technical questions

The spokesperson added: “PARC Against DARC representatives asked a series of technical questions on safety and other issues but received no responses of any meaningful value or reassurance. The London-based PR company Cascade, which was responsible for running the event, were clearly out of their depth here in Wales. It was very apparent this firm was conducting a PR exercise and not the public engagement it was statutorily obliged to carry out.”

Criticising further the way public engagement had been handled, the spokesperson for PARC Against DARC said: “The MoD’s handling of this engagement process has just gone from bad to worse. First they got the names of our towns wrong, then they put on a consultation it’s fair to say was widely described as a shambles. But now, when we as residents get together to send the feedback they wanted from us as a community, they take their own form off the internet altogether. Anyone would think they’re looking pretty afraid of what people around here have to say about the proposal.

“ We’re sure the idea of running a public engagement process is that you want people to engage with it, so it’s strange to us that the MoD seems to be doing as much as it can to make sure as few people say anything about DARC in the area as possible.”

Committed 

An MoD spokesperson responded: “We are committed to engaging with the local community in developing proposals on the future of Cawdor Barracks as part of the DARC programme.

“Two public information events were recently held in Pembrokeshire and we are currently collecting feedback via a dedicated survey on our public website.

“Access to the survey link was temporarily disrupted and it has since been restored. At no point was the survey removed from the website. We look forward to continuing to receive feedback from the public.”

UK

Company fined as worker suffers six bone fractures

Eleanor Lawson
BBC News, West Midlands

HSE
Andrew Elson said he "totally lost my independence for around two months"

A manufacturing company has been fined £28,000 after an employee broke his arm while operating machinery.

Andrew Elson from Rugby suffered six fractures in his right arm and hand which required surgery, while working at Screening Consultancy and Supplies Ltd on 25 November 2022.

The 54-year-old had been clearing debris off the bed of a radial arm drill at the firm’s site on Somers Road in Rugby, when his right hand became entangled in the machine.

Mr Elson said: "I totally lost my independence for around two months and my wife had to do everything.

“I don't know what the future holds. I work a manual job with my hands, I don't know how long I can continue to do this for.

“I still have trouble using my hands and fingers, and sometimes I wake up and they are stiff, numb, and achy.”

HSE
The drill which caused Mr Elson's injuries

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Screening Consultancy and Supplies Ltd had failed to undertake a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk associated with this work activity, and subsequently failed to implement a safe system of work.

Screening Consultancy and Supplies Ltd, of Somers Road, Rugby, Warwickshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

HSE
Mr Elson sustained six fractures to the ulna and radius bones in his right arm, which required surgery

The company was fined £28,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,616 at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

HSE inspector Charlie Rowe said: "This prosecution highlights how employers should adequately assess the risks and then ensure they have a safe system of work in place for the operation of all machinery."

Nursing union votes to accept NHS 5.5% pay rise in Scotland

PA
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has voted to accept a 5.5% pay rise from the Scottish government.

The union in Scotland said 61% of members voted to accept the deal that would see almost 170,000 NHS staff - including nurses, midwives, paramedics and porters - receive a pay rise backdated to April.

The Scottish Government said the pay offer would cost around £488m. Last week members of Unison and the Unite unions also voted to accept the deal.

However, RCN members in England have rejected an equivalent offer saying it was not enough.

The 5.5% offer would see newly-qualified Band 5 nurses earn around £1,600 more on £32,000, while experienced Band 8 advanced nurse practitioners would earn over £60,000.

The increase is expected to be applied to October salaries with the backdated element paid in November.

RCN Scotland Director, Colin Poolman said: “This increase is long overdue. We have been clear that we expect the Scottish government to be better prepared to enter negotiations in a timely fashion for 2025-26.

“There is still much to do to ensure the safety critical role of nursing is recognised and rewarded. Further reform of Agenda for Change is needed."

Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray previously said the package would ensure "Scotland's nurses and NHS staff have the best pay package in the UK".

UK

Evicted pro-Palestinian camp relocates to park

Victoria Scheer
BBC News

BBC/Simon Thake
The encampment, which was previously located on university grounds, has moved to Sheffield's Weston Park

A pro-Palestinian encampment evicted from a university campus has relocated to a nearby park.

In July, the University of Sheffield obtained legal powers to remove the camp set up by the Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine (SCCP) outside the students' union.

In a bid to continue their protest, activists arrived at Weston Park on Monday to raise awareness about what they say is "the university's complicity in the Israel-Gaza war" due to links with arms firms.

Sheffield City Council, which looks after the park, said it was aware of the encampment and would monitor activity over the coming days.

The University of Sheffield declined to comment when approached by the BBC.

The first encampment set up by the SCCP on 1 May was ordered to leave following a court judgment in July.

During the hearing, the university said protesters did not have permission for the camp and had "ignored" health and safety concerns.

According to the SCCP, the encampment had been a "place of inspiration, growth, love and safety" for those "heartbroken" by the Israel-Gaza war which followed the Hamas attack on Israel last October.

The attack killed about 1,200 people and more than 250 others were taken as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 41,000 people, the Hamas-run health ministry said.

BBC/Simon Thake
Activists arrived at the site on Monday, saying they would be there all week

The SCCP said it hoped the new camp would prompt the university to "sever its ties with arms manufacturers" and "to boycott Israeli companies and institutions".

One member of the encampment said: “It's evident that the University of Sheffield believes that their eviction of our 93-day encampment marked the end of our demands.

"SCCP's steadfast statement is that we are just beginning and that we will not be silenced."

The camp, which consists of several tents and gazebos, would remain at the park until the end of the month, the group said, with educational events held throughout the week.

Sheffield City Council's Kurtis Crossland, chair of the communities, parks and leisure committee, said: “We are aware of the encampment that has been set up in Weston Park and along with our partners at South Yorkshire Police will be monitoring protests and activity, which are currently peaceful, over the coming days.”