Upgrade for popular Spen Valley Greenway gets under way
The section, which runs from Tesco in Cleckheaton to the Knowler Hill Tunnel in Liversedge, would be closed for the duration of the work, with signposted diversions in place, they added.Moses Crook, deputy leader of Kirklees Council, said: "I'm delighted to see the improvement works on Spen Valley Greenway begin. "This investment is a fantastic boost for the community, enhancing access for everyone whether they're walking, cycling, using a wheelchair or pushing a pram. "It's a great step towards sustainable, inclusive travel and a healthier, more connected future for everyone."
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Tour de France 2025: stage 19 to La Plagne shortened due to diseased cattle
Update: Date: 2025-07-25T10:30:42.000Z Title: Preamble Content: Today's stage is hard. No change there. Although the route between Albertville and La Plagne, the last proper mountain stage of this year's Tour, has been shortened at the last minute due to an outbreak of disease among cattle in the local area. Initially the route was 129.9km, but the riders will now cover a little under 95km. A news update on the official Tour site reads: 'The discovery of an outbreak of contagious nodular dermatitis affecting cattle in a herd located specifically in the Col des Saisies has necessitated the culling of the animals. In light of the distress experienced by the affected farmers and in order to preserve the smooth running of the race, it has been decided, in agreement with the relevant authorities, to modify the route of Stage 19 (Albertville–La Plagne) and to avoid the ascent to the Col des Saisies.' There are three categorised climbs on the revised route: the Col de Pré (HC), the Cormet de Roseland (category two) and the HC climb to the ski resort of La Plagne to finish. The GC looks to be sewn up but there is plenty more up for grabs, especially after the Scottish rider Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) rode to within 22sec of third-placed Florian Lipowitz on yesterday's stage to Courchevel. The official update on Le Tour website explains more on the route: 'The ceremonial start will take place as planned at the exit of Albertville. After a 7km parade, riders will head towards the D925, where the official start will be given. The race will then rejoin the original route shortly before Beaufort (at km 52.4 on the original schedule). '… As a result, the start in the neutral zone will be given at 2:30pm, one hour later than originally scheduled.' C'est comme ça. Let's go/Allez! Stage start time: 13.45 UK/14.45 local time
ITV News
4 hours ago
- ITV News
Politics and protests: What to expect from Donald Trump's Scotland visit
Donald Trump will arrive in Scotland later on Friday, on his first visit to the UK since his re-election. The US president will be met by both political leaders and protests during the visit, which is expected to last five days, and will see him inaugurate a new golf course in Aberdeenshire. The trip comes two months before the King is due to welcome Trump for a formal state visit to the UK. The Trump administration continues to deal with turmoil on the home front, as the president struggles to salvage his reputation with voters amid reports around his friendship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. But Trump's visit to his ancestral home will hardly provide an escape from controversy. The visit has faced criticism from both political opponents and local residents, and will see a significant police operation across Scotland. Why is Trump visiting Scotland? Trump is expected to visit his Turnberry golf resort, as well as his course at Menie in Aberdeenshire. His trip also comes as a new golf course is about to debut on August 13, which the Trump family business has billed "the greatest 36 holes in golf." Trump is dedicating the new course to his Scottish-born mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who grew up on the Isle of Lewis. But Trump's existing Aberdeenshire course has been mired in controversy in recent years, after it struggled to turn a profit, and was found by Scottish conservation authorities to have partially destroyed nearby sand dunes. Trump's company was also ordered to cover the Scottish government's legal costs after the course unsuccessfully sued over the construction of a nearby wind farm, arguing in part that it damaged golfers' views. Critics also argue the trip - which is expected to cost tens of thousands of dollars - is a blatant example of Trump blending his presidential duties with promoting his family's business interests. The White House has brushed off questions about potential conflicts of interest, arguing that Trump's business success before he entered politics was key to his appeal with voters. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers called his visit "a working trip", but added that Trump has "built the best and most beautiful world-class golf courses anywhere in the world, which is why they continue to be used for prestigious tournaments and by the most elite players in the sport." Who will Trump meet during his visit? The president will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his stay, when the pair are expected to discuss the UK-US trade deal. Trump said the meeting would likely take place at one of his properties. He will also meet with Scottish First Minister John Swinney. The SNP leader previously said he would take the opportunity to raise various issues with the president, including tariffs, Gaza, and Ukraine. Speaking ahead of his arrival, Swinney said the global attention the visit will receive provides the opportunity to promote Scotland's tourism sector and economic investment potential, as well as to allow people to respectfully demonstrate the principles of freedom and justice. "Scotland shares a strong friendship with the United States that goes back centuries," he said ahead of the visit. "The partnership remains steadfast through economic, cultural and ancestral links - including, of course, with the president himself." The first minister said Scotland is a "proud democratic nation" that "stands firm on the principles of equality and freedom for all, and a society that stands up for a fair and just world." Swinney has been vocally critical of the US president in the past, and openly endorsed Trump's political opponent Kamala Harris before last year's election - a move branded an "insult" by a spokesperson for Trump's Scottish businesses. John Swinney has argued that it is "in Scotland's interest" for him to meet the president, and for the visit to go ahead. But some Scots disagree, and a major police operation is being mounted during the visit in anticipation of protests. Thousands of officers are expected to be deployed by Police Scotland, who will deal with planned mass protests around Trump's golf courses and major Scottish cities. Trade unions, disability rights activists, climate justice campaigners, Palestinian and Ukrainian solidarity groups and American diaspora organisations are among those holding demonstrations in protest of the visit. The Stop Trump Scotland group has encouraged demonstrators to come to Aberdeen and 'show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.' A spokesperson for the organisation said: "The people of Scotland don't want to roll out a welcome mat for Donald Trump, whose government is accelerating the spread of climate breakdown around the world." They also said that people in Scotland "simply wanted to live in peace near what is now [Trump's] vanity project golf course", and have "experienced Trump's abusive and high-handed behaviour first-hand, long before he entered the White House." Protests are planned in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dumfries. During Trump's visit to Scotland in 2018, similar gatherings drew thousands of protestors.
Metro
6 hours ago
- Metro
TUI announces extreme day trips to Lapland from major UK airport
Summer isn't over yet, but TUI is already looking ahead to the festive season with the launch of its 'ultimate Christmas day trip'. Announced as part of the 2026 winter schedule, the travel company's 'Search for Santa' package is back, and this year, travellers from Cardiff Airport can get in on the fun too. The 'extreme' day trip — which costs £750pp and runs from 11 airports across the UK and Ireland — offers families the chance to jet off to Lapland, meet Santa Claus, and be back in their bed by evening. Travellers land in Kittila in Finland around midday before heading to the Snow Village, with its ice hotel, which features igloo-like rooms and an icebar. Then its time to hop on a sleigh ride, led, of course, by Rudolph. There'll be husky rides, snowmobiling, and storytelling ahead of the main event: meeting Santa and his elves in the snowy woodland. Flights depart from London Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol, East Midlands, Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham, Stansted and Dublin. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. A route from Bournemouth Airport to Lapland will also resume in Winter 2026 after it was suspended in 2019. It's a whirlwind winter adventure, but these day trips aren't without criticism. While a quick jaunt might be a chance to squeeze in a holiday without knocking your annual leave balance, there are environmental consequences to consider. A Facebook group called 'Extreme Day Trips', which boasts over 240,000 members, is a hub for advice on flights and itineraries, and whether making it there and back in 24 hours is even possible. Some UK travellers have made it as far as Dubai and New York in under 48 hours, while others have dashed to Cairo to see the pyramids in less than a day. Many more have taken advantage of Britain's proximity to Europe for a quick getaway. But Matt Phillis, travel expert at Polarsteps, previously told Metro that th trend is not without risk. 'A flight generates 100 times more carbon dioxide per hour compared to a train or bus ride,' he said. 'But short-haul flights, covering less than 1000 miles, contribute disproportionately more to carbon emissions. This is because take-off and landing are so energy-intensive.' For a more sustainable approach, Matt suggested taking the train or bus instead of flying. 'Taking the train from London to Paris instead of flying cuts your CO2 emissions by a whopping 90%,' he said. 'You'd be surprised by how easy it is to do a day trip to Brussels or Amsterdam if you catch an early Eurostar out of London. If you are flying, however, he recommends doing your research and using a sustainable airline. He said: 'British Airways is the highest-ranking UK-based airline due to its roadmap to net zero. 'When it comes to short-haul airlines, Easyjet ranks top with its emissions intensity being almost 18% lower than the global average.' Metro previously spoke to extreme day trippers about their fast flight turnarounds and jam-packed itineraries. Lauren Brogan became an accidental extreme day tripper after she calculated that a quick trip to Geneva would be cheaper than staying overnight at a hotel in Glasgow, near where she lives. Lauren found cheap flight tickets to the Swiss city on Skyscanner and paid just £52 for a return from Edinburgh, staying at a hotel by the lakefront in Versoix. She said she loved the 'spontaneity' of the trip, adding: 'It was a city I'd never thought about visiting before, but there were loads to see and do and it's absolutely stunning.' More Trending She organised a full itinerary, which included visiting the United Nations Building, Botanical Gardens, The Flower Clock, Favarger Chocolate Factory, the Broken Chair monument, Mont Blanc Bridge and Lake Geneva. Lauren said she would recommend an extreme day trip to anyone. She said: 'It's a great way to maximise annual leave and visit more places around the world on a budget.' However, there are some downsides, the most obvious one being time. Lauren said it was 'difficult' trying to fit everything into the trip, admitting that there wasn't enough time to see anything and that she 'still needs to go back to see more of the city'. Eloise Skinner, author and psychotherapist, warns that with extreme trips, 'people might be less concerned about the quality of the experience, and more about the ability to display the trip online'. She added: 'Another factor could be the sense of achievement or adrenaline as a whole – quick trips can feel thrilling, exciting and non-stop – all emotions that we can crave, especially if our daily lives start to feel routine and predictable.' These trips, she says, could result in negative health effects. She said: 'Exhaustion and a sense of being drained might be a result of extreme day trips. 'We might feel and bit disorientated since we don't spend long enough in a particular place to get our bearings or a sense of comfort within the environment.' Eloise advises that spending time researching may help 'reduce feelings of overwhelm and exhaustion'. She also advises 'finding ways to stay grounded during fast-paced trips' – such as scheduling moments to rest or 'move to a slower pace'. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Mystery as man 'dies' on US flight but then completely disappears MORE: I was Jet2 and Virgin cabin crew – here's 3 'secret' European destinations MORE: An-24 plane carrying 49 people crashes with 'no survivors' after vanishing mid-flight
