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Tech

County's 'worst road' resurfaced after complaints

by Stephanie March 27, 2025
written by Stephanie

A road dubbed the "worst in Oxfordshire" has been resurfaced, after users called on the authorities to make it safer.

Work to resurface the A417 between Faringdon and Wantage was carried out by Oxfordshire County Council last week.

The council said recent dry weather meant it was able to bring forward the programme of work, which had originally been planned for late June.

Locals had previously told the BBC that the road was decaying and prone to flooding, with vehicles often having to drive through deep potholes.

In a statement, the council said: "Persistent flooding in the area had made it difficult to carry out these much-needed repairs, which needed to be completed in dry conditions."

It added that further work to clean drainage systems was planned "for the coming months".

The A417 was decaying and prone to flooding, locals previously told the BBC

Talking before the resurfacing work, Steve Henry, who runs an MOT workshop at Mellor's Garage, said the state of the road was "shocking" and "disgusting".

Mr Henry, who used to own the garage he operates from, told the BBC: "It's cost me my business. I had to sell it last year. It was closed for a period of time, flooded.

"If you're on a motorbike or pushbike it's dangerous. Someone will lose their life," he warned.

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber also raised concerns about the route, asking on his Facebook page: "Is this the worst road in Oxfordshire?"

"It's bad enough on four wheels, but imagine riding this stretch of road on a bicycle or motorbike," the post added.

Tech

New oxygen system a 'game changer' for battlefield

by Owen March 27, 2025
written by Owen

A new portable oxygen delivery system has been developed to improve casualty survival rates for soldiers and civilians.

The system, which was developed by the Wiltshire-based Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and the Defence Medical Service (DMS), weighs just 5kg (11lb) and is able to offer sustained oxygen supply in a safer and easier form than conventional gas cylinders.

"The ability to deliver oxygen at the point of injury represents a game-changing advance in battlefield medicine," said Major Andrew Maggs, DSTL military advisor.

The system works by taking air from the environment and removing nitrogen to leave a breathable oxygen-rich gas that can be delivered to patients.

'Every second counts'

Oxygen therapy is critical for trauma patients suffering from blood loss, head injuries and lung trauma.

By getting oxygen delivery directly to the point of injury, the system can dramatically improve the likelihood of survival and recovery.

"By reducing logistical burden and improving safety, the system will provide critical care in situations where every second counts," Major Maggs explained.

Dr Paul Hollinshead, DSTL chief executive, added: "In operational terms, this system will reduce the logistical strain on supply chains while improving battlefield care.

"The ability to also reuse the system with external power or replaceable batteries means it offers unparalleled flexibility."

It is not yet known when the system will be first used, but 15 prototypes will soon be ready to deploy.

DSTL is also working on a mass-producible version that can withstand rigorous military use.

The system currently costs £15,000 per unit but it is hoped a more cost effective version can be designed.

Economy

Reform UK elects Staffordshire group leader

by Levi March 26, 2025
written by Levi

Reform UK's Ian Cooper is expected to become the next leader of Staffordshire County Council.

The Perrycrofts ward representative was chosen as head of the party's Staffordshire group following a meeting of Reform's newly-elected councillors.

It means he will likely be elected as the authority's leader when a vote takes place at the next full council meeting on 22 May.

Reform won 49 out of 62 seats on the county council during the local elections on 1 May, winning control from the Conservatives who had led the authority since 2009.

Mr Cooper said it was an "honour and a privilege" to be elected as Reform's group's leader.

"The people of Staffordshire have given us a clear mandate for serious change and we fully intend to deliver that," he added.

Councillor Martin Murray, who represents Cannock Chase, was elected as the group's deputy leader at the same meeting.

Reform UK won 41% of the votes in Staffordshire having had no councillors on the authority prior to the recent election.

The Conservatives went from 53 seats to 10, while Labour lost four of its five councillors.

The two remaining seats were won by the Green Party and the Stafford Borough Independents.

Business

Man faces GBH charge over attack on pensioner

by Aurora March 25, 2025
written by Aurora

A man has been charged after an attack on an 88-year-old man in Evesham.

The elderly victim was badly injured in an assault at Murcot Turn in Broadway on 11 May and taken to hospital.

Adrian Paskin, 40, of Murcot Turn, Broadway, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, criminal damage and theft and is expected to appear at Worcester Crown Court on 9 June.

West Mercia Police said a 46-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the attack remains on bail.

Industry

Chatty camel born at zoo is 'squeaking at his mum'

by Henry March 25, 2025
written by Henry

A chatty camel calf who was born at a UK zoo appears to be "strong and healthy", his keepers have said.

Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire said the baby boy, who is yet to be named, was born on 18 May to first-time-mum Orla and dad Oakley.

Camel keeper Gracie Gee said Orla was "constantly reassuring him with murmurs and noises – and you can hear him 'talking' back with squeaks, which is very sweet".

The fluffy new addition joins his half-sister Sally, who was born in April 2024, and will live with the zoo's herd of five adults.

Whipsnade Zoo
The new calf, who shares a dad with his half sister Sally, has yet to be named

"Orla is very protective and attentive of her newborn," added Ms Gee.

"Despite being thought of as grumpy, camels are very nurturing and caring parents, and it's wonderful to see Orla proving to be a natural mum already.

"The calf seems strong and healthy – he was walking within hours of being born, and visitors will be able to see him getting used to his long, lanky legs as he races around the camels' vast paddock."

Whipsnade Zoo's domestic Bactrian camels are an ambassador species for their critically endangered cousins, the wild camel in Mongolia and China.

The charity behind Whipsnade Zoo is supporting conservation efforts in Mongolia, including in the Gobi Desert.

Ms Gee said there were as few as 950 wild camels left in the deserts of Mongolia and China, with "hunting and water scarcity caused by human-activity largely to blame".

"Natural predation from the grey wolf is also putting pressure on the remaining population," Ms Gee said.

Whipsnade Zoo
Mum Orla carried her baby for 13 months before giving birth in May
Business

Disco dog party in the sky, EMMY's ready for lift-off

by Oscar March 23, 2025
written by Oscar

Thirty years ago Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry helped win the Eurovision Song Contest for Norway – could an astro-dog themed favour be returned this year?

Enter EMMY, who will be flying the Irish tricolour in Basel, Switzerland, next week.

But how does a 24-year-old Norwegian singer, who had never been to Ireland, end up representing one of Eurovision's most decorated nations?

As it turns out, quite easily – after a chance encounter at a songwriting camp in her native Scandinavia, where she met Irish songwriter Larissa Tormey.

Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
EMMY's brother Erlend Guttulsrud Kristiansen, who co-wrote the song, joins her on stage to perform Laika Party

The pair collaborated on the song Laika Party – inspired by the stray Soviet dog who was sent on a doomed space mission in 1957.

The dog, described as a female Russian breed, became the first living creature to orbit the Earth when she was launched aboard the space satellite Sputnik II.

She died after 10 hours due to overheating and stress, but EMMY and her co-writers have imagined a different outcome in their bizarre, upbeat ode to Laika.

So far, so Eurovision.

Laika, the dog that orbited the Earth

"I've heard her story since I was a little kid, but it came to me again as an adult and I thought about how extremely sad her story really is. I wanted to create a scenario where she gets to be happy and alive instead," EMMY said.

After initially being rejected from the Norwegian Eurovision selection process, Laika Party was given a second chance when it was announced as an entry for Ireland's Eurosong.

"[Larissa] said she thought this song would fit Ireland, because of their love for animals… we decided to submit it and I'm so glad we did," she explained.

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Evidently, they were right – the song succeeded over the likes of Irish pop royalty Samantha Mumba, who was left unimpressed by the selection process, and will make its Eurovision debut at the second semi-final on 15 May.

"Eurosong was actually my first time in Ireland," EMMY said.

"We had about a week to become as Irish as we could!

"I'm so grateful that Ireland actually chose us, you know, it's just an amazing journey and we have done these pre-parties around Europe and it's so amazing to see the audience sing along, that means a lot."

Economy

British Steel solution is within reach, minister says

by Sophia March 22, 2025
written by Sophia

A "commercial solution" for British Steel is "within reach" according to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, as the government considers nationalising the Chinese-owned business.

Nandy told the BBC that British Steel – which employs 2,700 people – will "continue to be an important part of our economy for years to come" and an agreement over its future was "achievable and within sight".

The company is at risk of running out of raw materials within weeks, raising fears over whether its blast furnaces which make high grade steel can keep running.

It comes as the steel industry deals with a 25% tariffs on exports to the US, which came into force last month.

Global Trade

Family told to leave caravan site appeal to stay

by Landon March 21, 2025
written by Landon

A family of travellers who turned a field in West Sussex into a caravan site have launched an appeal after being told they must leave.

Benjamin Keet laid hardstanding and built waste tanks on land off Stall House Lane, near Pulborough, before installing caravans on 18 January.

Police were called to intervene after clashes between the travellers and local residents, but no further action was taken.

Horsham District Council said it already has "a number" of existing traveller and gypsy sites, and that it had rejected retrospective planning from Mr Keets because of potential harm to the area and a nearby listed building.

The land is jointly owned by Mr Keet, Tony Castle and William Hughes, and there are currently two static caravans and two touring caravans on site.

After moving onto the land, they sought retrospective planning permission for four static caravans and four touring caravans.

But the council has rejected the application "due to concerns that the extent of the development was harmful to the rural character of the countryside location and to the setting of an adjacent listed building".

The authority then served an enforcement notice ordering the owners to remove the caravans and return the land to how it was before they moved in within six months.

All three landowners have appealed against the order, claiming the site is well screened and not visible from the road or other properties.

"You'd be chucking me and the kids on the side of the road in a caravan with a generator if I couldn't live here, same for my brother," said Mr Keet.

Shortage of traveller sites

Elizabeth Pleasant, from the planning inspectorate, heard from residents opposed to the development and council planning officers as well as the travellers, their agent and their barrister.

Michael Rudd, the barrister for the owners, said they had intentionally developed the land without permission, but said the law allows for retrospective applications and appeals.

"The impact from this development on the landscape is limited and can be reduced with planning conditions," he claimed.

Mr Rudd also said there was "significant need" for places for travellers to live.

A review carried out for the council last year concluded that 80 pitches for travellers and gypsies should be provided over the next five years and 128 by 2040.

But Mr Castle said the council have "little interest" in finding sites for travellers and gypsies.

"We're trying to create homes for our community that the local authority is failing to do," he said.

Mr Hughes added: "It's down to us and it's hard to find a site that's not in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a flood zone or a protected area, and if we do find one, developers want it for housing and pay millions."

The planning inspector will decide whether to uphold the appeal in about four weeks.

The council accepted that there is a need for additional traveller sites, but said: "This application was refused due to concerns that the extent of the development was harmful to the rural character of the countryside location and to the setting an adjacent listed building, and therefore contrary to relevant planning policies."

"The council reserves its position on any further planning enforcement action until after the planning inspector's decision is received on both appeals."

Tech

World Marble Championships take place

by Parker March 20, 2025
written by Parker

The World Marble Championship is taking place in Tinsley Green in West Sussex on Friday.

The championship, which has been held at the Greyhound pub since 1932, has been staged annually since 1588, except for when Covid-19 forced the postponement of the competition.

Organiser of the championship, Julia McCarthy-Fox, told BBC Breakfast that she has travelled over from New Zealand for the tournament, which she has been helping to run for 35 years.

She said: "I like it, as a tournament we have built it up to what it is today and it is an old tradition we want to keep going."

Fiona Landam/BBC
Sand is placed on the rinks ahead of the match

The village of Tinsley Green, less than five miles from Gatwick Airport, is known worldwide as being the home of British marbles.

It attracts visitors from all over the world, with some wishing to take part and some just there to watch the games.

The competition will be made up of 15 or 16 teams, with six players per team – although some people just turn up on the day, Ms McCarthy-Fox said.

Other competitors come from Germany, France and the USA.

Chris Pampel, one player who is from Germany, said sometimes "you only need a little bit of luck" in the match.

Fiona Landam/BBC
Alison Reimer (with her son Louie – left) and Chris Pampel (middle and right) have won multiple world titles in the women's and men's categories respectively

Alison Reimer, the ladies world marble champion, could win her 13th title in the competition, which would make her the most successful ever competitor.

She said: "My great-grandfather used to play and my father and brother also won titles.

"I've got my son (Louie) involved now too, so it is quite the family tradition."

Some first-time competitors, who have travelled from Germany to participate in the world championships, said: "We came for some fun and to see how good we are."

Business

Mass-cycling and raving fills city streets

by Owen March 20, 2025
written by Owen

Imagine this – you're out cycling, but you're not alone and, in fact, as scores of people pedal alongside you there's rave music playing on scores of speakers they've taken along for the ride.

It is just what cyclists enjoyed in Birmingham on Sunday afternoon, during a free rave hosted by self-styled "DJ on the bike" Dom Whiting.

Whiting's West Midlands party came after similar pedal-raves he has hosted across the world in the likes of Vienna, Berlin and Barcelona.

From bikes to scooters and skateboards to roller skates, any mode of transport was welcome, with riders hooking their own speakers up to the drum 'n' bass party, which was streamed live on Facebook.

DJ Dom Whiting encouraged everyone to bring their own speaker to the event

This weekend's route saw music lovers tour round the city, starting and finishing at Centenary Square, passing through Newtown and Hockley.

Mr Whiting headed up the mass-ride, as it took over the city streets with drivers having to queue patiently, as they waited to return to the roads.

Along with all that pedalling, Whiting's DJing skills have also led him to play a guest drum 'n' bass mix on Radio 1.

Drum and bass music boomed from speakers during the event
Smoke flares were let off as the rave began
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