Nuclear disposal facility diagram ( from Nuclear Decommissioning Authority)
Dean Kilpatrick, Reporter
Thursday, June 14, 2012
8:50 AM
Leader of East Sussex County Council raises “serious concerns” about proposed facility
Proposals for a nuclear facility in Romney Marsh have been opposed by neighbouring East Sussex County Council.
Shepway District Council is currently considering plans to build an underground nuclear research and development facility in the marshes.
However, the leader of East Sussex council has raised their concerns about a nuclear site being built close to their border at a council meeting.
Peter Jones, council leader, said: “We have serious concerns about these proposals in a location close to our border.
“We believe the plan doesn’t stack up and has many unknowns including geology, economic benefit, infrastructure and community support.”
Shepway District Council has stated it has “no formal view”, and is asking local people to contribute to the ongoing consultation period.
Source: www.kentnews.co.uk
The calm before the 'once in 50 years' storm: Forecasters predict major flooding as huge low sweeps in from the Atlantic - Daily Mail
- Emergency services issue a 'major flood' alert in the South-West and Wales as Atlantic front sweeps in
- After a dry spell yesterday and today, downpours and gusts are set to return with a vengeance tonight
- Environment Agency issues two warnings where flooding was expected and 12 where possible today
- Temperatures up to 10C below normal and sunshine down 60 per cent in worst June since records began
By Daily Mail Reporter and Paul Sims
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Batten down the hatches. Another storm threatens to wreak havoc across the country.
Nearly two inches of rain – more than half the average for the entire month – is expected to fall today and tomorrow.
The latest deluge could lead to further flooding across large parts of the country after recent heavy downpours, forecasters warn. And that’s not all. Strong winds of up to 60mph are also expected to cause chaos.
Flying high... while they can: Paragliders take advantage of break in the miserable weather over Beachy Head and Eastbourne in East Sussex yesterday
Making the most of it: The paragliders may have to back up they chutes soon, though, as more downpours are sweeping their way across the UK
It's coming: NASA's Terra satellite took this stunning image of the 70mph Atlantic storm at 12.45pm yesterday as it span towards the South-West
The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings – the second-highest level of alert – for the South East and East Anglia and announced a further 12 flood alerts in other areas.
It said its specialist teams would closely monitor river levels and use pumping equipment in the worst-affected areas. The warnings cover 32,500 properties.
This latest storm comes just days after more than three inches, or 80mm, fell in just 24 hours and left homes and roads flooded.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: ‘The heavy rainfall is expected to spread into central and north eastern England on Friday, with heavy showers to follow throughout the day and into Saturday.
'The public should remain vigilant and stay away from swollen rivers and not drive through floodwater.’
The strong winds and heavy rain form part of a bout of low pressure building up over the Atlantic which is set to hit the South West first before spreading across the country.
Met Office forecaster Dan Williams said: ‘Over the next 48-hour period we could see up to 40mm (1.5in) of rain in those areas. Across high ground, particularly Snowdonia, we could possibly see 80mm (3in).
‘There’s been a lot of rain over southern England and Wales over the past week or so and the ground is pretty saturated, so that’s obviously going to be a factor when we get further rain. It could cause quite a few problems.’
He added: ‘This area of low pressure is moving in from the South West, bringing with it heavy and persistent rain and strong winds. We could get gusts of up to 60mph.’
Enjoying the final few glimmers of sun: With yet more rain and stormy weather forecast, Freya Kirkpatrick , 4, takes a last chance to play in the sunshine with her dog, Monty, in a giant field of ox eye daisies on the edge of Blithfield Reservoir near Rugeley, Staffordshire
Weather Channel forecaster Leon Brown said: 'There’s a 50 per cent possibility of extreme downpours seeing over 80mm of rain in 12 hours in south and east Wales, which is a once-in-50 years event.
'The greatest intensity of rain will be early Thursday night and again on Friday daytime. Overall, up to 110mm is expected in Wales in just over 48 hours to midnight Saturday.
'This rainfall will be widespread across river catchment areas and could completely overwhelm rivers downstream. There is a high risk of flooding, with situation made even worse by ground being saturated from previous rain this week.'
MeteoGroup forecaster Julian Mayes said: 'We cannot find a period of June weather worse than this month since records began. For a 12-day period, it’s as bad as it can be.
'There’s no parallel with this month’s combination of very high rainfall, very low sunshine and very low daytime temperatures.
'The outlook is unsettled and although we don’t yet know for sure if it will be the wettest June, it’s well on the way.'
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said its 650 firefighters and 100 support staff were ready to take flood action.
A spokesman said: 'Ourselves, the police and county council are monitoring the weather forecast and will take appropriate action when needed. We have vast experience dealing with flooding, in particular floods which devastated Cornwall in November 2010.'
Calm before the storm: The sky above the Queens tennis club on day three of the AEGON Championships in London hint at what is to come
Enjoy it while it lasts: For much of yesterday, however, the sun was trying to come out, but the reprieve will only be temporary, forecasters warn
When 80mm of rain fell in 24 hours in west Wales last Friday, 150 people were rescued and 850 relocated as 5ft floods swept through caravan parks and villages.
Government forecasters predicted 15-20mm of rain today, plus 70-100mm over higher ground in 48 hours from midnight, with 30-50mm on lower ground.
The Weather Channel forecast more than 100mm on higher ground and warned of a 'major flooding event.' Rivers running off higher ground will fill rapidly.
The Met Office forecast wind gusts to hit a gale-force of 55mph-60mph on coasts in the South-West tomorrow.
Other parts of the UK will escape the worst of the conditions, with up to an inch of rain across tomorrow and Saturday, with 35-40mph gusts, the Met Office said.
The storm will peter out by tomorrow night, to be followed by sunshine and showers on Sunday.
Who says the weather's bad? Two girls from Oregon in the U.S. enjoy ice creams on one of the bridges that straddle the village of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire
Sunshine after the rain: A young lady takes advantage of the weather in a deckchair in St James's Park, London, yesterday before the downpours sweep in
Gusts on the horizon: The flags in Parliament Square, London, were blowing more vigorously yesterday, indicating that the expected high winds of up to 60mph could soon be upon us
The Met Office said it was too early to say whether this month was on course to be the wettest June on record, beating the 2007 figure of 136.2mm. The average June rainfall is 72.6mm.
Despite the torrential conditions, the Met Office said the UK was still below its average rainfall for the year. Between January and May, 392.5mm of rain fell across the country, compared with an average of 439mm.
Nevertheless, temperatures have been miserable for many. Forest Row, East Sussex, only reached 10.7C on Tuesday, almost 10C below normal for June.
Sunshine is down 60 per cent so far this month, with England and Wales averaging just 30 hours’ sunshine. June normally sees 178 hours’ sunshine.
Although there have been heavy showers in parts of the South West, Wales and the North West, parts of the country which were on flood alert after days of heavy rain were given breathing space this week with clear skies in the South East and London.
The break in the weather came as three of the UK’s biggest water companies announced they would lift hosepipe bans, imposed to deal with drought, following weeks of heavy rain.
Thames Water, Anglian Water and Southern Water were to remove the restrictions in place since early April from yesterday.
Seven water companies across southern and eastern England brought in hosepipe bans after two unusually dry winters left some groundwater supplies and rivers as low as in the drought year of 1976.
The Environment Agency had urged people in Devon, Cornwall, west Somerset, North Wales and parts of the Midlands to remain prepared for the possibility of floods as the Met Office issued a weather warning for heavy rain.
Underwater: The ford near Charvil, Berkshire, which flooded to a depth of 6ft after heavy rain hit parts of the UK. Temperatures are up to 10C below normal and sunshine is down 60 per cent
At one point yesterday the agency had five flood warnings in place for rivers where flooding was expected, and 21 less serious flood alerts.
There were also 17 flood alerts, mainly in East Anglia and the South East.
Today, that had been downgraded to two warnings where flooding was expected and 12 where it was possible over the next 12 hours.
Sussex Police, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and council officers said they evacuated people from flooded homes in the village of Elmer, near Bognor Regis, after reports of flooding of up to 6ft in some homes.
Inflatable boats were used to reach 250 vulnerable homes, knocking on doors and searching properties to make sure people were safe and received the help they needed, a Sussex Police spokesman said.
MeteoGroup said that the highest rainfall had been at Culdrose in Cornwall, where 16mm fell, with 13mm in Nantwich, Cheshire.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Petkovic, Szavay, Kanepi withdraw from Wimbledon - YAHOO!
LONDON (AP) Andrea Petkovic of Germany has withdrawn from Wimbledon because of a persistent right ankle injury.
She missed the Australian Open because of a lower back injury, then hurt her ankle in her comeback tournament and missed the French Open.
Petkovic reached three Grand Slam quarterfinals last year at the Australian, French and U.S. Opens, and the third round at Wimbledon. She was replaced by Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia.
Hungary's Agnes Szavay (back) and Estonia's Kaia Kanepi (foot) also withdrew, and were replaced by Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine, and Heather Watson of Britain.
Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay, who has hardly played in more than a year, was replaced by Vasek Pospisil of Canada, who will make his Wimbledon main draw debut.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Four Kent men held after raids on suspected internet paedophiles - Kent Online
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Four men have been arrested in Kent as part of an operation against suspected internet paedophiles.
Officers from Kent Police carried out raids on homes in Rochester, Gillingham, Maidstone and Herne Bay.
The arrests, on suspicion of downloading indecent images, were made over two days this week.
Two men aged 25 and 50 from Gillingham and a 43-year-old from Maidstone have now been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
A 49-year-old man from Herne Bay remains in police custody.
Across Britain, 76 people were arrested in raids.
The operation, led by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), was overseen in Kent by DS David Shipley.
He said: "Over the past two days Kent Police have executed four warrants at homes in Kent, all of which resulted in the arrest of adult males who are believed to be actively engaged in downloading indecent images.
"We remain dedicated to targeting those individuals who possess indecent images of children and we were keen to support this national operation organised by CEOP who provide a valuable contribution to the fight against child abuse.”
Thursday, June 14 2012
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Source: www.kentonline.co.uk
Margate's £100,000 boost 'not tied' to Mary Portas show - BBC News
A high street rejuvenation project will go ahead in Margate whether or not traders take part in a Mary Portas reality TV show, an MP has promised.
The Kent resort is among 12 towns chosen by Ms Portas to share £1.2m of government cash and her expertise.
However, she told hundreds at a meeting on Tuesday: "You either let the cameras in with me or I go back on the train and some other town gets it."
Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale said there was no question of money being withdrawn.
"It is entirely up to individual companies and tradespeople in the town whether or not they take part in the programme," the Conservative MP said.
"The Margate Town Team Regeneration Project, backed with £100,000 of government money, will go ahead whatever."
'Warts and all'Margate is the first of three towns to be chosen by TV production company Optomen Television to feature in a Channel 4 programme, Mary Queen of the High Street, about the regeneration process.
“Start Quote
End Quote Sir Roger GaleI wouldn't have issued a contract like that”
Ms Portas received applause as she addressed the meeting, but acknowledged some people saw the documentary as a "downside".
"If we put this on prime TV people will come," she said. "That is a decision you have got to make.
"It's going to be warts and all but at the end, from my heart, I want this to be wonderful and I want Margate to be wonderful."
Robin Vaughn-Lyons, leader of the regeneration bid, said he was unaware anything had been done "to offend Mary".
"It wasn't until after the event that someone pointed it out to me what she said," he said.
"It was bit of a shock of course but we have got an awful lot to do and we are just getting on with it."
Contract 'redrawn'Sir Roger, a former TV producer, said contracts local people had been asked to sign with the production company were "restrictive".
"I wouldn't have issued a contract like that and I understand Mary Portas herself has insisted that what she describes as the restrictive parts of the contract will be redrawn.
"I want to see the project succeed and if there is a documentary that shows how and why it has been approached and succeeded that would be very good news for the town."
Ms Portas tweeted that her remarks were "heat of moment stuff with camera stuck in face".
Channel 4 said in a statement: "Optomen is in early talks with a number of local shopkeepers and town representatives.
"Some businesses have been given standard TV agreements. As usual, these agreements will evolve once we have received everyone's initial feedback.
"Mary is passionate about her work to help reinvigorate the high street and the programme will be made in that spirit, so we're keen to work closely with everyone involved."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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