Frome school safety scheme organisers want views of residents
The Safer School Street zones include the areas surrounding Oakfield Academy, Trinity First School, Critchill School and Avanti Park School.It aims to provide a "safer, healthier and pleasant environment for everyone", with less congestion, better air quality and pupils being encouraged to have a more healthy lifestyle, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The public consultation event will be attended by town council and Somerset Council representatives, along with officials from the government's active travel charity Sustrans."This scheme was designed in collaboration with the local community," said Matt Winfield, Sustrans' chief operating officer."It is really important that we check back in with residents to make sure that Frome's Safer School Streets scheme is enabling more children to walk, wheel and cycle to school more often."
Town councillor Carla Collenette added: "We hope lots of people can join us on 14 May or at the pop-up events and complete the online survey."The more respondents, the better and more complete the overall picture, so please do take the time to tell us your experience."The Oakfield Academy event will be held from 17:00 until 18:30 BST.
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Metro
11-06-2025
- Metro
Bomb-filled 'doomsday wreck' comes closer to collapse with no-fly zone in place
The masts of the wreck reach ominously above the water (Picture: Pen News) A shipwreck in the Thames full of World War II explosives is coming closer to collapsing, a new report reveals. The SS Richard Montgomery – nicknamed the 'doomsday wreck' – sank in the Thames Estuary near Sheerness in Kent and Southend-on-Sea in Essex in 1944. The ship's masts are still visible above the waterline despite plans to remove them to avoid triggering an explosion of the 1,400tonnes of explosives on board. It's feared an explosion could trigger a tsunami in the Thames, hurling a '1,000ft wide column of water, mud, metal and munitions almost 10,000ft into the air – risking wildlife and the lives of many people'. Waves up to 16ft high could engulf coastal Essex and the Isle of Sheppey. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. And an ominous new report suggests that potential outcome is drawing closer, with several changes detected in the year since the wreck was last surveyed a year ago. The SS Richard Montgomery before it sank in 1944 (Picture: Pen News) A no-fly zone has been put in place above the wreck by the Department for Transport (DfT), which bans civilian and non-emergency aviation from flying overhead – but the department insists the wreck is still 'stable'. The survey warns the front half of the ship – which broke in two when it sank – is slowly tipping over, moving about 19in (50cm) eastward in two years. More decay was observed in the second cargo hold, where the upper port side has cracked, and the lower starboard side has become 'significantly buckled'. This has caused part of the deck above to start collapsing into the hold, with the hatch supports in this area dropping by up to 6in (17cm) in a year. The report suggests the front part of the wreck is 'splitting in two', with the back section also in trouble. The ship sank in the Thames Estuary (Picture: Metro Graphics) It explains: 'Like the forward section, the rear section is hogging and potentially breaking in two about halfway along its length. 'This area was left unsupported when the ship broke in two back in 1944. 'Consequently, it has been badly affected by wave and current action and is steadily collapsing and falling into the gap between the two halves of the vessel. 'The degree to which the bow and stern may be being undercut as the supporting sediment is eroded away is a potential concern.' Daniel Cowan is leader of Southend council, which is just five miles north of the wreck and therefore at risk if the doomsday wreck explodes. He said: 'According to the experts, the wreck of the Montgomery remains stable, so I understand that the no-fly zone that's been put in is a precautionary measure. 'But we are seeking further clarity around the long-term plans for the wreck. 'What we'd like more than anything is clarity, to understand what the long-term plans are.' New scans suggest the front part of the wreck is splitting in two (Picture: MCA via Pen News) The DfT said the no-fly zone had been put in place on expert advice, and will remain until further notice. A spokesperson said: 'Our priority will always be to ensure the safety of the public and to reduce any risk posed by the SS Richard Montgomery. 'The condition of the wreck remains stable, and experts are continuing to monitor the site. 'As part of their ongoing monitoring, they have updated advice on how authorities can further minimise risk. 'They have recommended that pilots and operators do not fly in a limited area around and above the site as specified by the Civil Aviation Authority.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: In pictures: How the D-Day landings unfolded on June 6, 1944 Arrow MORE: Two men charged with murder after boy, four, killed in pick-up truck crash in Dartford Arrow MORE: Second World War bombs discovery in Cologne forces 20,000 people to evacuate their homes
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning over 'Doomsday wreck' at the bottom of the Thames: Bomb-filled SS Richard Montgomery is edging close to COLLAPSE – as officials frantically impose a no-fly zone over the site
A bomb-filled 'doomsday wreck' which threatens to unleash a tsunami in the Thames is edging closer to collapse, an ominous new survey of the ship reveals. The SS Richard Montgomery sank in the Thames Estuary near Sheerness, Kent, in August 1944, taking 1,400 tons of WW2 explosives to the bottom. Her masts still loom above the water line and there are plans to remove them, lest they collapse on to the wreck and trigger an explosion. But a new survey of the ship has revealed the hull itself is deteriorating, with several alarming changes detected in the year since the last survey. Now a no-fly zone has been imposed at the wreck site by the Department for Transport, banning civilian and non-emergency aviation from the skies overhead. One problem flagged up by the survey is that the front half of the ship – which broke in two as it sank – is slowly tipping over, tilting half a metre further eastward in two years. More decay was observed in the second cargo hold, where the upper port side has cracked, and the lower starboard side has become 'significantly buckled'. This has caused part of the deck above to start collapsing into the hold, with the hatch supports in this area dropping by up to 17cm in a year. All told, it looks like 'the forward part of the wreck is splitting in two,' the new report states. The back end of the wreck is in similar trouble. The survey says: 'Like the forward section, the rear section is hogging and potentially breaking in two about halfway along its length.' Further deterioration was detected where the front and back of the wreck split apart. 'This area was left unsupported when the ship broke in two back in 1944,' the report says. 'Consequently, it has been badly affected by wave and current action and is steadily collapsing and falling into the gap between the two halves of the vessel.' If the seabed is anything to go by, the worst is yet to come. The report warns: 'The degree to which the bow and stern may be being undercut as the supporting sediment is eroded away is a potential concern.' One area of seabed close to the wreck was found to have dipped by 1.6m in a year. The front of the ship has now been 'undercut to the degree where it has started to move', according to the findings. A 1970 report from the Royal Military College of Science predicted what would happen if the whole explosive cache detonated at once. It would unleash a column of water and debris 3,000 metres high, and a five-metre tsunami, engulfing nearby Sheerness, the report said. Also in the firing line is Southend, which lies some five miles north of the wreck site. Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend Council, is looking for answers. He said: 'According to the experts, the wreck of the Montgomery remains stable. 'So I understand that the no-fly zone that's been put in is a precautionary measure. 'But we are seeking further clarity around the long term plans for the wreck. 'What we'd like more than anything is clarity, to understand what the long-term plans are.' The Department for Transport, the ministry responsible for the wreck, said the no-fly zone had been implemented on expert advice and would remain in place until further notice. A spokesperson said: 'Our priority will always be to ensure the safety of the public and to reduce any risk posed by the SS Richard Montgomery. 'The condition of the wreck remains stable, and experts are continuing to monitor the site. 'As part of their ongoing monitoring, they have updated advice on how authorities can further minimise risk. 'They have recommended that pilots and operators do not fly in a limited area around and above the site as specified by the Civil Aviation Authority.' The SS Richard Montgomery, which lies at a depth of 49ft, was an American vessel carrying munitions for the allies in the Second World War. She ran aground on a sandbank and broke her back on it when the tide went out, sinking before all of her cargo could be recovered. What is the SS Montgomery and why is it dangerous? The SS Richard Montgomery was a US Liberty Ship built in 1943 to transport cargo across the Atlantic The 7,200-tonne vessel safely crossed the Atlantic on convoy HX-301 without incident and was ordered to anchor off Sheerness. The vessel was carrying some 7,000 tonnes of munitions and it was due to carry on to Cherbourg to unload its cargo. However, on August 20, 1944, the Montgomery dragged her anchor and ran aground on a sandbank around 250 yards from the Medway Approach Channel. A major salvage operation was launched to unload the vessel's deadly cargo although, within 24 hours cracks began appearing across the hull and the forward areas began flooding. By September 25, the salvage operation had to be abandoned after the entire vessel flooded. The Richard Montgomery was one of 2,700 Liberty ships built during the war.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- BBC News
Alfreton railway station's £6.75m upgrade completed
A £6.75m project to improve accessibility for passengers at a Derbyshire railway station has been lifts were added at each side of the track as part of the work at Alfreton station, while the ageing footpath was upgradedThe changes are aimed at making it easier for passengers who have limited mobility, use wheelchairs or have heavy luggage, bikes or pushchairs with Midlands Railway said the lifts will be in use at certain times of the day throughout June as part of a trial period and they will not be working on Sundays. A new ramp and steps connecting the car park with the station entrance have also been provided as part of the platforms were fully resurfaced as part of the work, with tactile paving. New CCTV and new lights have also been installed. The project was delivered as part of the Department for Transport's Access for All scheme to deliver accessibility improvements at railway stations, with a portion of funding also coming from Network Matthews, Network Rail head of operations delivery, said: "We are delighted to bring the new lifts at Alfreton into use, complementing the upgraded footbridge and bringing step-free access to the station for the first time."We hope the improvements will encourage more people to travel by train."Amber Valley MP Linsey Farnsworth added: "This significant investment will make a real difference for local residents and visitors, ensuring that everyone, regardless of mobility, can travel with greater comfort and independence."She also thanked Alfreton Town Council which has "campaigned tirelessly" for improved access at the station for decades.
