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Tuesday 12 June 2012

Wales floods: Mines pollution fear investigated - BBC News

Wales floods: Mines pollution fear investigated - BBC News

Scientists are to investigate whether severe flooding near Aberystwyth has contaminated land with harmful metals from abandoned mines.

River banks that have stored toxic metals such as lead, zinc and cadmium for generations, could have been eroded and the toxins washed down stream.

A team from Aberystwyth University will survey the catchments areas of the rivers Leri, Rheidol and Ystwyth.

There are fears the pollution could pose a risk to land, animals and crops.

Parts of Ceredigion were flooded by 5ft (1.5m) of water with record high river levels in parts on Saturday.

A major clean-up operation continues in Aberystwyth and the nearby villages of Talybont, Dol-y-Bont and Llandre and other areas affected by the flooding.

The Met Office has confirmed that more than a month's worth of rain fell in the Aberystwyth area on Friday.

Start Quote

Prof Mark Macklin

There are concerns that farmland has been contaminated and this could pose a risk to animals and crops”

End Quote Prof Mark Macklin Aberystwyth University

There are concerns the heavy rainfall might have contaminated the flood plains in the area.

Mark Macklin, a professor of physical geography at Aberystwyth University, studies these events.

He said the force of the flood waters could have eroded river banks which stored harmful metals. These metals would have flowed down stream and been deposited on the flood plains.

"Much of Ceredigion was affected by metal mining, but most of it finished before the start of World War I," said Prof Macklin.

"As a result of the mining, rivers and river banks in the area have been contaminated from the mines themselves right the way down to the sea. We're concerned the flooding might have increased the level of contamination.

"There are concerns that farmland has been contaminated and this could pose a risk to animals and crops," he added.

"We're starting a survey of the flood plains on Tuesday. We'll take fresh flood deposits, such as silt, and they will be chemically analysed. We will hopefully have some answers in a month or so."

Meanwhile, planning consent given to homes built on a floodplain in Aberystwyth might have been considered differently if an application was submitted today, says a planning chief.

Start Quote

The planning system is more cautious than when the permissions were granted in 1994 for the development of the Parc y Llyn area”

End Quote Russell Hughes-Pickering Ceredigion council's assistant director of planning

Properties in Parc y Llyn were given the go-ahead in July 1994.

The area was flooded at the weekend forcing businesses and retailers to temporarily close. However, the homes on the site were not flooded.

Planning guidelines, TAN 15, were changed in 2004.

"The planning system is more cautious than when the permissions were granted in 1994 for the development of the Parc y Llyn area," said Russell Hughes-Pickering, Ceredigion council's assistant director of planning.

"I suspect there would be a different approach to the housing application - the retail perhaps not, they are less vulnerable."

He added that the planning system was "more cautious than back in 1994".

Mr Hughes-Pickering said "the defences worked in this case" but the retail outlets, like Morrisons and a newly opened B&Q, were flooded.

Significant damage

The houses are built on raised ground.

Environment Agency Wales said flood risk was an important factor which was considered in all relevant planning applications.

A spokesperson said: "Our role has been to advise local authorities on planning applications in line with Welsh government's planning policy Wales, and taking advice from its technical advice note TAN 15."

One of the services affected by the flooding in Aberystwyth was Ystwyth Medical Group.

Its medical centre in Llanbadarn Fawr, which has 9,000 patients, has been relocated temporarily after suffering significant damage.


Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tesco stays upbeat over recovery as sales suffer fresh slump - Belfast Telegraph

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Under-pressure grocer Tesco posted another UK sales decline but said its performance has been robust as it battles to revive its fortunes.

The UK's biggest retailer, which operates 2,800 stores, said like-for-like sales fell 1.5% in the 13 weeks to May 26, which was slightly better than the 1.6% decline in the previous quarter. But the group said it gained share from its rivals in a declining grocery market, helped by the addition of 4,300 extra staff and the overhaul of 100 stores.

And it said it had enjoyed its best ever week outside of Christmas amid the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, with more than £1bn of sales, but this was not included in yesterday's figures.

Chief executive Philip Clarke said: "Our customers are seeing the evidence of the changes we're making and they're telling us they like what they see."

Tesco kept its profits outlook for the year ahead unchanged, reassuring investors after the chain's first profits warning in 20 years in January.

Shares opened nearly 2% higher following the update.

Clive Black, a leading retail analyst at Shore Capital, said: "We see this as a steady statement suggesting stabilisation is coming through in the UK."

Mr Clarke launched his turnaround plan this year after admitting Tesco needed to sharpen up its pricing and customer service and that stores had become jaded and tired.

It has already given 145,000 staff specialist training, improved the offers through its Clubcard scheme and relaunched its Value range as Everyday Value with more colourful packaging.

Mr Clarke added: "We are rapidly implementing our six-point UK plan and I'm particularly proud of the relaunch of our Everyday Value range and the fact we have now put extra staff into 700 of our stores - in 500 of them within the last three weeks alone."

He said the group's sales overseas proved resilient, despite battling slowing economic growth in China and the eurozone debt crisis.

'Our customers are seeing the evidence

of the changes and they're telling us they like what they see'


Source: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Sussex on flood alert (From The Argus) - The Argus.co.uk

Sussex on flood alert

Sussex is on flood alert after a month's worth of rain fell in just 12 hours - with experts warning of more to come.

The deluge forced people out of their flooded homes while animals stranded in fields resembling rivers had to be rescued.

Officials warned residents in the worst hit areas to prepare as rain continues to fall today into the county's swollen rivers.

Driving conditions are treacherous this morning across the county.

There are renewed risks of further flooding, the Environment Agency has warned.

Forecasters have revealed there will be no respite from the rain over coming days.

The EA said there is a "continued" risk of surface water flooding from overwhelmed drains across parts of East and West Sussex.

Some 50 flood alerts have been issued across England and Wales and six flood warnings, including for:

Gatwick Airport

The Barnham Rife at Barnham, including the B2233, Lake Lane, Orchard Way, and Downview Road, West Sussex

The Aldingbourne Rife at Bersted, including Addison Way, Riverside Caravan Park, and the South Bersted industrial estate, West Sussex

The Aldingbourne and Lidsey Rifes at Felpham, including the Whitfield Close, the A259, Links Avenue, and Butlins Holiday Centre, West Sussex

Wiggonholt in West Sussex received the biggest lashing with 63 millimetres of rainfall during the last 24 hours.

"It is June's rainfall in one day," said Victoria Kettley, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association.

The average June rainfall for south east, central and southern England is 50 millimetres.

Despite the heavy rainfall, an Environment Agency spokesman confirmed areas of southern England remained in drought.

He said: "The rain we have had since the start of April - following the driest March for 70 years - has led to a huge improvement in water resources, putting us in a much more positive position for the summer.

"Water companies have seen reservoir levels rise, river levels are mostly back to normal, and many wildlife habitats that were suffering due to a lack of water have recovered.

"While the risk of drought with further water restrictions and associated environmental impacts this summer has reduced, the situation could deteriorate again next year if there is not enough rain this winter, particularly as groundwater levels are still low for this time of year."

The Met Office said the UK was still below its average rainfall for the time of year.

Between January and May, 392.5 millimetres of rain fell across the country, compared to an average of 439 millimetres.

INCIDENTS - updated 7.50am

A fallen tree near the junction of the the A27 and A24 in Worthing is causing delays to commuters.

Traffic reports suggested the road remains closed both ways, just west of the Offington Corner roundabout, alongside Durrington Cemetery.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue reported that the volume of calls to its centre had stedied overnight.

A spokeswoman said its crews were still out pumping water where it could.

She added the worst affected areas were the Felpham and Middleton areas of Bognor.

A group of elderly people in the Elmer area of Bognor had to be rescued and were taken to the Arun rescue centre in Felpham.

Those staying at Butlin's holiday park in Bognor said last night they had to be reallocated rooms as water in some blocks had reached waist height.

Others due to visit have been turned away by staff.

Crews from Hove Fire Station assisted colleagues in West Sussex in pumping water from properties and areas in Littlehampton.

Send us your wet weather pictures. Email them to news@theargus.co.uk or text them to 80360 starting your message with SUPIC.

Road closures currently in effect:

A23 closed southbound near Slaugham; A259 Felpham Way - traffic through; A27 Chichester to Emsworth - diversion along A259 (old A27); A272 Bolney; A29 Shripney Road, Shripney; Aldwick Road, Aldwick; B2114 Rose Cottage Lane, Staplefield; Bernard Road, West Worthing; Blakes Farm Road, Horsham; Chichester Road, Bognor; East Mascalls lane, Lindfield; Elmer Road, Middleton; Fitzalan Road, Littlehampton; Gossamer Lane, Bognor; Holmbush Sub Way, Faygate; Ifield Avenue and Ifeld Green, Crawley; Kerves Lane, Horsham - tree down and flooding at Amies Mill bridge; Lake Lane, Barnham; Maidenbower Lane, Crawley; North Parade, Horsham; Titnore Lane, Worthing; Warninglid Lane, Warninglid; Yapton Road Barnham

Roads passable with care but causing long delays:

A24 Findon bends southbound; A259 at North Bersted, Bognor down to one lane and getting worse; A281 at the Bull pub, Henfield; A29 North junction A27; A29 Shripney bends; B2178 West Ashling; B2233 Yapton - Barnham Road; Cuckfield Road - A23 to Burgess Hill; Ifield Avenue, Ifield - Gatwick stream up, surface water unable to discharge; Kennedy Road, Horsham; Main road, Southbourne; Monteswood Lane, Lindfield - river flooded; Rose Cottage Lane Jct B2114 Staplefield; The Oaks, Burgess Hill; Water Lane, Angmering.


Source: www.theargus.co.uk

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