'No evidence' malign activity caused Wednesday's air traffic disruption, says transport secretary
Heidi Alexander said she has spoken with the chief executive of National Air Traffic Service (NATS), Martin Rolfe, and added that what happened was an isolated incident.
NATS has apologised for the IT problems after thousands of passengers suffered extensive travel disruption during one of the busiest times of the year.
The technical glitch led to more than 150 flight cancellations, leaving airlines reacting furiously.
Ms Alexander wrote on X: "I have spoken with NATS CEO Martin Rolfe who provided further detail on yesterday's technical fault.
"This was an isolated event and there is no evidence of malign activity.
"I know that any disruption is frustrating for passengers.
"Flights are now resumed and I am grateful to airlines who are working hard to get people to where they need to be.
"I will continue to receive regular updates. Passengers should check with airlines before travelling."
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
I was slapped an £18 Clean Air Zone fine then wasted FIVE months and £100s fighting the tickets... council is to blame
On the face of it, an innocuous work trip to Bristol offers the chance to get out of the office and take in a new part of the country with a few colleagues. But, for Colin Griffiths, what promised to be an enticing two-day visit to the West Country turned into a five-month ordeal as a battle over a pair of Clean Air Zone fines prompted sleepless nights, a ruined holiday and a spiralling bill on the company card. The 56-year-old, from Bedford, was initially handed a reduced penalty of £18 but, despite paying it immediately, saw it increase more than 10-fold to £267 after the council claimed he had not coughed up the cash. In reality, it was the local authority that had been kicking its heels, taking weeks at a time to respond to Mr Griffiths's appeals and hiking the fines with no apparent rhyme or reason. The beleaguered employee eventually paid the heavily inflated amount just to put the nightmare behind him, but it left a distinctly sour taste in his mouth. He told the Daily Mail that he should not even have been fined in the first place. 'I didn't see any any notices whatsoever,' he said. 'Absolutely none. 'My friend, subsequently, said, "yeah, they're an absolute nightmare, their signs are not obvious at all."' A month after his two-night stay in the city in early October 2024, Mr Griffiths was told by the company's accountant that he had received two fines for breaching a Clean Air Zone in the Green Party-run city. The policy was introduced in November 2022 and applies to all vehicles except a limited number of petrol-powered vehicles released since 2006; one type of diesel vehicles released since the end of 2015; fully electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles; Energy Saving Trust's Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme vehicles; and motorbikes. It is one of seven such zones in England, with London boasting a similar but separate Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez). But Mr Griffiths was none the wiser about the scheme, which meant his car had been slapped with a £9 daily charge, boosted to £69 each thanks to a supposed delay in paying despite the council not contacting him for four weeks. He appealed both of them - a decision that would prompt months of misery and a penalty which would soon spiral out of control. It took the council a further four weeks to respond to his correspondence, at which point it said he could be let off with a £9 fine for the Sunday offence, with seemingly no news regarding the Saturday one. Mr Griffiths claims he paid this straight away, through the link and code provided, and the money left his account, heralding what he thought was the end of an already frustrating ordeal. He should be so lucky. In January, Bristol City Council revisited the saga and told him he had not paid the fine after all and that he had supposedly ignored letters of reminder over the festive period. An investigation later found that he had paid the sum to Bath Council instead, although Mr Griffiths is insistent he used the link and reference code provided by Bristol. The local authority also finally got back to Mr Griffiths about the Saturday penalty and said that this was also late, meaning he owed £129 for this one alone. All this, despite it being the first correspondence he had had regarding the Saturday fine since he appealed it back in November. 'They just kept putting on more and more fines and fees,' he said. Nonetheless, he dug into his pockets to pay the penalty and end the saga once and for all. But it was still far from over. In February, Bristol revisited the Sunday penalty, claiming he had not paid it in December when he said he had. It turned out the fine somehow went to Bath Council despite Mr Griffiths using the link and code provided by Bristol in their email. The upshot was a rehiking of the already hiked penalty, the £120 added onto the original £9 would be shooting up to £180, creating a mega Clean Air fine of £189. Bristol also threatened the increasingly stressed Mr Griffiths with a court appearance. 'I'd been on holiday, and I was getting really stressed about this because their senior manager just wasn't interested in communicating with me anymore,' he said. 'So on that basis, [they said] "tough, it's going to go to a debt recovery agency, so we'll see you in court." 'I actually can't be dealing with this - it's a lot of money, but I don't need the aggravation. It's ruining my holiday. I'm having sleepless nights.' He gave in - and paid the eye-watering £189 figure Bristol had concocted, meaning he had now spent £267 on the two fines, including the £9 December payment and the £69 January transfer. This was painful for Mr Griffiths, who insists he did everything right and any delays were caused by the council's own tardiness. 'I did everything that they asked,' he said. 'I dealt with everything in a timely fashion as soon as I received it and paid them straight away, and even chased them. 'It's upsetting, and I like to do the right thing by people. And I was on holiday and getting these emails, I'm like, "I don't need this aggravation and worrying about it", especially as it's a company car, not mine, and I'm worried. 'My boss knows I wouldn't have abused his hospitality, but it was very stressful, it really was. 'Absolutely [the fact it was company car made it more stressful]. I just felt totally pressured into paying it. 'I paid it and I had to bite the bullet and walk away. I cannot emphasise the stress it put me under.' Will it make him think twice about visiting the Green-run city again? 'Definitely. My friend's wife said you can't obviously see the signs for the Ulez - they don't make it obvious at all,' he said. 'It's a money-making scheme.' For Mr Griffiths, the time for apologies is over and only a refund could make him feel better about his Clean Air Zone nightmare. He added: 'I would love my money back. Not expecting a penny out of them though. It was outrageous. 'I want my money back. Not an apology. 'I can't see compensation happening, but 100 per cent (think I'm entitled to it). They're keyboard warriors - or bullies rather.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
The quirky Brighton hotel that's the perfect base to explore the seaside city
THE Leonardo Hotel Brighton is the perfect base for anyone exploring the seaside city whether it's a family break, couples retreat or solo daytrip. Read on to find out more about the hotel and surrounding seaside city. 5 Where is Leonardo Hotel Brighton? This hotel is in the best location for any travellers heading to Brighton by train as it's a two-minute walk from the station. The four-star hotel is right behind the central train station, it's incredibly easy to find and the perfect place to stay while exploring the seaside city. Just a 15-minute walk from the hotel, there are shops aplenty, from classic brands to the vintage market - don't forget to stop at a local cafe for a coffee or an ice cream. If you take a leisurely stroll down the main road, you'll be at the beach in under 30-minutes. There's no parking at the hotel so any visitors by car will have to use the multi-storey or train station car park opposite the hotel. What is the hotel like? The first thing you'll notice in the Leonardo Hotel Brighton is a huge and welcoming reception area that literally says 'nice to see you'. Next to that is plenty of seating that's bright and colourful with glowing neon signs and pretty potted plants. There are games like table football too and even a little photo area too. What is there to do there? The hotel is the perfect vantage point for exploring the city, whether it's straight down to the beach or heading out for a night of clubbing, it's a great place to base yourself. Popular attractions in the city include the pier, Victoria Gardens, Brighton Toy Museum and the i360 observation deck. Beach Club that's like being on the Med 5 What is there to eat and drink there? To start the morning off right, guests can grab a full English breakfast, or continental option at the buffet. The Bar & Grill is also open for lunch and dinner too. On offer are lighter options like sandwiches and salads, all the way to curries, pizzas, pies and the seaside stable fish and chips. There's a choice of desserts too, as well as a children's menu and gluten-free options. Either in the restaurant or at the reception bar, choose from a long list of wine, champagne, beer, spirits and soft drinks. What are the rooms like? The hotel has 234 rooms and are perfect for every sort of traveller whether it's a solo daytrip, couples getaway or family break. Rooms range from standard doubles to family and executive king rooms. Each has everything you need like free Wi-Fi, a flatscreen TV with Freeview, tea and coffee facilities and it's kitted out with USB ports. There's a desk area for anyone needing to work or even use as a makeup station and a crisp white bathroom with all the basics you need. Rooms also come with air conditioning and heating too. 5 Is Leonardo Hotel Brighton family-friendly? Yes, I saw one child taking advantage of the deck chair in the hotel's reception and photo prop area. Family rooms cater for a family of four and have a double bed and sofa bed (suitable for up to 2 adults and 2 children under 12 yrs). Is there access for guests with disabilities? Yes, there are accessible rooms which are suitable for wheelchair users, and those with visual or hearing impairments. These rooms have lowered beds, wide doorways, roll-in showers, grab rails, and remote-controlled doors. Looking to book? Go to: 5
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Storm Floris to cause disruption into Tuesday in Scotland, Network Rail says
Disruption to the rail network in Scotland from Storm Floris is likely to continue into Tuesday, passengers have been warned. Network Rail said it is working 'tirelessly' to clear routes blocked by falling trees and debris. However, some checks will need to be carried out on Tuesday morning. Ross Moran, Network Rail Scotland's route director, said: 'Storm Floris has caused significant disruption to Scotland's railway, with wind speeds of up to 90mph, unprecedented for a summer storm. 'Our teams have been working tirelessly to keep services moving where possible and to clear fallen trees and debris from the tracks. 'As the storm passes later this evening, our focus switches to inspecting routes which have been closed by fallen trees, debris and other damage. 'Our teams will work through the night, but this work will continue into Tuesday morning. 'We'll use two helicopters to assist engineers on the ground. We're grateful to passengers for their patience whilst we do this.' Rail, road and ferry travel have been disrupted and festival events cancelled as Storm Floris sweeps across Scotland, bringing with it heavy rain and gusts in excess of 100mph. Disruption on the railways has left passengers facing multiple cancellations, while a number of roads around the country have been blocked. Western coastal areas are bearing the brunt of the summer storm but strong winds and heavy rain are affecting much of the rest of the country. An amber weather warning is in place in an area stretching from the central belt to the north coast until 11pm, with the Met Office saying injuries and danger to life are expected from large waves hitting seafronts, coastal roads and properties. The rest of the country is covered by a yellow weather warning until 11.59pm on Monday. Police said they had received 'multiple reports' of campervans being blown over on the A87 between Broadford and Portree on Skye, while in Aberdeenshire the A96 is closed in both directions near Old Rayne because of several fallen trees. Fallen trees have also seen a number of other roads closed, including the A95 Rosarie road in both directions and the A96 in a number of locations, while the A9 at Daviot is partially blocked by a fallen tree. High winds have also led to the closure of the A9 Dornoch Bridge in both directions, and the A1 Tyne Bridge is only open to cars and single-decker buses. Those driving in poor weather have been urged to avoid the worst-hit areas and slow down when on the roads while allowing time for delays. The storm has also had a 'severe impact' on railways, with a number of services being pre-emptively cancelled and speed limits in place on all routes. Edinburgh to Fife/Perth/Dundee; Perth to Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness and the West Highland Line are among the routes that were closed at noon on Monday. Network Rail has reported a number of storm-related incidents, including trees falling on to overhead lines at King's Park in Glasgow, Cornton near Stirling and near Paisley, and damage to overhead wires in the Hamilton Circle area. LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle while Avanti West Coast has advised passengers not to travel north of Preston, as it warned it will be 'heavily impacted' by the weather. Meanwhile, ScotRail has urged people to secure all outdoor equipment such as trampolines. Posting on social media, the rail operator said: 'We're asking anyone with garden equipment, such as tents, trampolines or furniture, to secure items so that they don't blow onto the tracks and interfere with lineside equipment.' The Kusz family are among those contending with delays and cancellations on the railway, as they attempt to return home to Blackpool with 11 pieces of luggage following a family holiday in Ayr. They are currently at Glasgow Central station where they said there had been 'about nine cancellations'. Paul Audoire, 59, told the PA news agency: 'The weather is not as bad as we thought, they are just taking precautions. 'We need to get off at Carlisle, wait for another train, get off at Preston and change trains again. 'I don't know how long we need to wait at Carlisle or at Preston. It's just a case of leapfrogging all the way.' Ferries have also seen widespread disruption, with ferry operator CalMac cancelling a number of sailings on Monday as a result of high winds. Festivals in the Edinburgh area have also been disrupted, with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a ceilidh event on Princes Street Gardens and the Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick all cancelled on Monday as a result of the expected high winds. Earlier, Scottish Government ministers said it was 'imperative' that people follow advice as Storm Floris hit the country. In a post on X, First Minister John Swinney appealed to the public to 'please stay safe', adding that weather conditions would be 'very difficult' on Monday with disruption to some services. Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland news programme, Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'Storm Floris is well and truly with us today and it's imperative that people follow advice because there will be significant disruption on our travel network.' Ms Constance said the Government's resilience room had been activated to give authorities a clear picture of the situation around the country. The minister added: 'If you have an elderly relative or neighbour who may be a wee bit vulnerable, please be a good neighbour, be friendly, just check they're alright.' She said anyone who has to travel is likely to face disruption and should plan ahead, adding: 'Consider this a winter journey as opposed to a summer journey. 'Please make sure you've got warm clothes, food, water, plenty of fuel and that your mobile phone is charged up.' A yellow warning for other parts of Scotland is in place from 6am until midnight. Forecasters have warned people who are outdoors to avoid walking or seeking shelter near buildings or trees, and said that loose items including bins and garden furniture could blow away unless secured. The Met Office said there was the potential for power cuts in some areas as well as disruption to mobile phone coverage. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August. January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent.
