
South Hams community heroes recognised with awards
Two winners were announced for the Climate and Biodiversity Champion award.Peter Brown was recognised for bringing people together to address local climate issues in and around Newton and Noss. Ross Kennerly of Sustainable South Brent won the award for his work on Hope Wood, a project to plant a new woodland in South Brent.Kai and Willow Wakeling were also recognised as joint winners of the Under 18s Community Award, for helping to keep the Kingston playing fields in Kingsbridge clean and tidy.
Chairman of South Hams District Council, councillor Bernard Taylor, said: "It is so important that we recognise those who work hard for our communities."We had an overwhelming number of nominations this year, which is testament to the amazing work our people and organisations do across the South Hams – congratulations to all of our winners."
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BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Sanitary bins to be added to Devon seaside toilets after row
Sanitary bins are to be installed at toilets in a seaside town following a row over a lack of waste disposal facilities. Photographer and artist Becci Hey, 58, has been installing sanitary bins in Hope Cove's public toilets for the past two years but South Hams District Council initially removed them.A council spokesperson said: "We are working... to ensure that we provide these facilities in the Hope Cove toilets and all our other facilities as quickly as we can."Ms Hey said the decision would mean that waste disposal bins would be installed in both female and male toilets and she described the move as "a great achievement". She said: "It was something that had to be done."It was a huge moral issue, an environmental issue, a hygiene issue and it was something that is such a fundamental necessity for everyone's dignity." Ms Hey - who was supported by harbour master Sean Hassall and other community members in her bid to install the bins - said she was "very happy with the decision" but would now wait for the council "to fulfill their promise".She said she wanted to thank all those who had "supported the cause". A spokesperson for South Hams District Council said: "The council recognises the importance of our public toilets to our residents and visitors and our council plan has committed to investing over £250,000 over the next three years to refurbish its 27 toilet blocks."This includes upgrading the sanitary facilities."The council added: "We agree that providing these facilities is important and disposing of the waste safely is equally as important."We appreciate the work that Ms Hey has done in supporting the facilities in Hope Cove and this is a great example of individuals helping support the wider community."


Glasgow Times
04-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
UK's most hazardous building still leaking radioactive water, MPs warn
In a report published on Wednesday, the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticised the speed of decommissioning work at the former nuclear power plant, citing examples of 'failure, cost overruns and continuing safety concerns'. Although the committee noted there were 'signs of improvement', PAC chairman Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said Sellafield continued to present 'intolerable risks'. Sellafield was described as 'the most hazardous building in the UK' (Peter Byrne/PA) He said: 'As with the fight against climate change, the sheer scale of the hundred-year timeframe of the decommissioning project makes it hard to grasp the immediacy of safety hazards and cost overruns that delays can have. 'Every day at Sellafield is a race against time to complete works before buildings reach the end of their life. Our report contains too many signs that this is a race that Sellafield risks losing.' The PAC said those risks were underlined by the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo (MSSS), which the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) described to the committee as 'the most hazardous building in the UK'. The MSSS has been leaking radioactive water into the ground since 2018, releasing enough water to fill an Olympic swimming pool every three years, and is likely to continue leaking until the oldest section of the building has been emptied in the 2050s, around a decade later than previously expected. Pointing to the fact that Sellafield Ltd had missed most of its annual targets for retrieving waste from buildings, including the MSSS, the committee warned: 'The consequence of this underperformance is that the buildings are likely to remain extremely hazardous for longer.' The NDA has acknowledged that the leak is its 'single biggest environmental issue', and a spokeswoman said managing it and retrieving waste from the MSSS was 'our highest priority'. Sellafield ceased generating electricity in 2003 (Owen Humphreys/PA) She added: 'As the report says, the leak in the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo is contained and does not pose a risk to the public. Regulators accept that the current plan to tackle the leak is the most effective one.' Sir Geoffrey said: 'It is of vital importance that the Government grasp the daily urgency of the work taking place at Sellafield, and shed any sense of a far-off date of completion for which no-one currently living is responsible. 'Sellafield's risks and challenges are those of the present day. 'There are some early indications of some improvement in Sellafield's delivery, which our report notes. Government must do far more to hold all involved immediately accountable to ensure these do not represent a false dawn, and to better safeguard both the public purse and the public itself.' Sellafield ceased generating electricity in 2003 and, in addition to work cleaning up the site, now processes and stores nuclear waste from power plants around the UK. In the longer term, the Government plans to create an underground geological disposal facility (GDF) to store nuclear waste for the thousands of years it will take to become safe. But the committee said delays in creating the GDF, which is now not expected to be done until the late 2050s, meant more costs for Sellafield as it required more storage facilities. NDA chief executive David Peattie said he welcomed the PAC's scrutiny and would consider how best to address its recommendations. He said: 'We take the findings seriously and the safety of the site and the wellbeing of our people will always be our highest priorities. 'As the committee has noted, Sellafield is the most complex and challenging nuclear site in the UK. We are pleased they recognise improvements in delivering major projects and that we are safely retrieving waste from all four highest hazard facilities. 'With the support of our employees, their representatives, community and stakeholders, we remain committed to driving forward improved performance and continuing to deliver our nationally important mission safely, securely and sustainably.' As well as criticising delays in clean-up operations and calling for an overhaul of how the site functions, the PAC expressed concern that there was a 'sub-optimal culture' at Sellafield. The committee pointed to the 16 non-disclosure agreements signed by Sellafield Ltd in the last 16 years, and called on the NDA to publish information about the prevalence and perception of bullying in its annual report. The NDA spokeswoman said: 'We're committed to an open and respectful culture and we've taken decisive action to enable this, including strengthening our whistleblowing policy. 'Evidence shows the improvements are working and the report acknowledges the improvement in staff survey results over recent years, but we are never complacent and will continue to strive to ensure the NDA group is a place where everyone feels respected and empowered to raise issues, knowing that they will be acted upon appropriately. 'As the report notes, it is one of the conditions of Sellafield's nuclear site licence to have a robust process for reporting safety issues and the independent nuclear regulator has given the site a green rating of compliance.' A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'We expect the highest standards of safety and security as former nuclear sites are dismantled, and the regulator is clear that public safety is not compromised at Sellafield. 'We continue to support the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in its oversight of Sellafield, while driving value for money. 'This is underpinned by monthly performance reviews and increased responsibility for overseeing major project performance, enabling more direct scrutiny and intervention. 'We have zero tolerance of bullying, harassment and offensive behaviour in the workplace – we expect Sellafield and the NDA to operate on this basis, investigate allegations and take robust action when needed.'


Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Daily Record
Memory foam garden kneeling pad 'works wonders' on aching knees
If weeding and tending to your garden is leaving you in pain, this durable mat is a 'godsend' Pottering in the garden is something lots of householders have been able to enjoy in the warmer weather. But when it comes to weeding or tending borders, our knees take a beating. Kneeling down to pull weeds or to plant seeds is the only option other than bending over which can put strain on our backs. If you want to make the job more comfortable, you might be wondering whether to invest in a kneeling pad. These simple mats can make a huge difference to kneeling for long periods as it protects your joints, even if you don't normally suffer from knee problems, while you get on with the task in hand There are, of course, plenty of options on the market with varying prices but But one which has been hailed as a 'godsend' is the Taylor & Brown Memory Foam Kneeling Pad. This thick mat is reduced at the moment from £16.99 on Amazon to £14.99. The pad made from thick, high quality memory foam and moulds to your shape while offering support. The outer cover is made from 600D PVC-coated polyester, making it both water-resistant and easy to wipe clean - ideal for use on wet grass or dirty surfaces without worrying about damage or mess, reports The Express. And it folds up which means it can easily be transported to wherever you need to be and weighs just 1.2kg with a built in handle too. Unfolded, the mat, which comes in either grey or green, measures 54cm x 34cm x 5cm size to give plenty of room. When folded, the measurements are 33cm x 26cm x 11cm. This means you have plenty of room to do jobs without having to stand up and move it so often. Another option for gardeners, especially those who like the option to sit and work as well as kneel, is the Strata Padded Garden Kneeler, Seat and Tool Storage for £14 from Argos. The kneeler is made of plastic, weighs 1.18kg and is said to be ideal for sitting and kneeling during gardening. A slightly pricier option is the Ergodyne Proflex 380 Standard Black Foam Kneeling Pad for £29.16 from Safety Gloves. This pad is described as a black standard foam rubber pad for kneeling, is ideal for manual labour professions that strain knees, has dense NBR foam rubber that will not compress over time and improved practicality with water/petroleum-resistant construction. However, the Taylor & Brown pad has a 4.7 out of 5 star rating from a total of 286 reviews on Amazon. One person said it offered great support writing: 'Great kneeling pad. Very thick and versatile. Can double in size when opened but still provides more than adequate support for your knees.' Another reviewer said: 'Great product to help cushion the kneeling down tasks we all have to do in the house and garden. "Thick, comfortable memory foam, a godsend for painful, aching knees when you just have to get down low. I wouldn't be without mine. "I bought this one for a friend, and can recommend this product, even if you don't have knee issues. You can work longer in the kneeling position and in a lot more comfort. "Wipe clean and water resistant. Compact design and a neat little carrying handle which fastens securely. Definitely worth 5 stars.' However, some didn't agree that the pad is all memory foam. One said: 'This is simply thick, dense plastic foam with a thin layer of regular foam top and bottom. It isn't memory foam. It's resilient enough, but if you're expecting real memory foam you'll be disappointed. 'Used once and days later I can still see the kneeling indentations,' said another shopper. 'Pleasantly surprised at how good this is. Purchased it because it was very painful to kneel and do my garden borders. The memory foam works wonders, providing the knee support that I need. Would recommend,' said another shopper. Another added: "So much more comfortable than other kneeling pads." However, for a good price on a handy piece of kit to make gardening easier, the Taylor & Brown Memory Foam Kneeling Pad, here, could be well worth a look.