Latest news with #Farnham
ITV News
a day ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Jersey 'gravely distressed' by civilian deaths in Gaza as it urges action from UK Foreign Secretary
The head of Jersey's government has called for urgent action from the UK Foreign Secretary over Gaza. In a highly unusual move, the island's Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, broke from convention to publicly express "the deep concern of Jersey's government and wider community" in a public letter to David Lammy. He says while Jersey aligns itself with the UK on international relations, he felt it "appropriate and necessary" to make sure the island's position is reiterated and understood. Deputy Farnham adds: "While Jersey is a Crown Dependency and does not conduct its own foreign policy, we are a community founded on values of human dignity, justice and the rule of law. "What we are witnessing in Gaza is a humanitarian tragedy on a devastating scale. "The loss of innocent civilian life, including thousands of children, is both shocking and unacceptable. "The international community must not turn a blind eye to breaches of international law or recent reports, including from Amnesty International, raising serious and credible concerns that aspects of Israel's actions in Gaza may be in breach of obligations under the Genocide Convention." The Chief Minister says his government are "gravely distressed by the scale of civilian loss of life in Gaza, including the deaths of thousands of children" and describes the situation as a "profound human tragedy". He explains: "There can be no justification for the disproportionate harm being inflicted upon civilians." Jersey says it fully supports Monday's joint statement from 25 countries, including the UK, which calls for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and states the Israeli government's aid delivery "deprives Gazans of human dignity". Deputy Farnham says: "There is a clear moral imperative for action. "I hope you will receive this letter in the constructive spirit it is intended, as an expression of our deep moral concern, and our support for the United Kingdom in applying the very firmest pressure in helping to bring an end to this unacceptable level of suffering."
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Call for more Surrey volunteers to train dogs to help deaf people
A charity has appealed for more volunteer puppy trainers as demand for hearing dogs continues to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People said its service expanding into Woking and Farnham was a "vital step" to help more deaf people live more independent lives. It added the volunteer trainers' tasks involved taking a puppy into their own home for six to 18 months and teaching basic cues including "sit" and "wait" and to experience different sights, sounds, smells and charity trains dogs to alert deaf people to important and life-saving sounds such as smoke alarms, doorbells and baby monitors. Lisa Meller, volunteering manager, said: "Volunteers can have an opportunity to train a puppy that will go on to completely transform the life of a deaf person."Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and we're now looking for kind, committed individuals or families in the local area."Hearing dogs not only provide practical assistance to deaf people, but also offer love, emotional support and help reduce isolation and loneliness, which many deaf people experience, said the charity."No prior experience is needed, just a love of dogs, enough time every day to dedicate to the puppy, and a willingness to learn about dog training," Ms Meller said. Karen Hardcastle, one of the charity's puppy trainers, said: "Becoming a volunteer trainer with Hearing Dogs has changed my life. "It's been the best thing I've ever done – to have a dog, to learn a skill, meet lots of people, get out and about, and make a difference to someone else's life."Volunteer trainers are supported by staff members and all costs are covered by the charity, which includes food, toys, bedding and veterinary costs.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
How a wall in Surrey helped the Allies on D-Day
Just a short drive from the Surrey town of Farnham lies the Hankley Common woodland, which hides a fascinating piece of World War Two history. Dozens stroll past the huge wall that runs through the wood each day, but few will know of the key role it played in the D-Day landings. By the end of 1942, German-occupied Europe stretched from the Atlantic coast of France in the west to the Russian Ural Mountains in the east. But Hitler felt the coastline to the west was vulnerable to invasion, so ordered forts be built on 2,000 miles (3,218km) of shoreline along France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and the northern tip of Norway. The defence system would inevitably fail, thanks in part to the tests carried out hundreds of miles away in Surrey in 1943. Royal Canadian Engineers based in the area built a replica section of wall in the woodland using plans smuggled from France, which showed how the real wall was built. The Army then began blowing the wall to pieces using two new armoured test vehicles. One of the vehicles was the AVRE mortar-firing tank, which was then used to break through the real Atlantic Wall during the D-Day landings. "It was about creating new armoured vehicles, vehicles that would be able to breach this wall," said military historian Paul McCue. "The people who built this went ashore during the invasion of France and many lost their lives. "There's a plaque on it but it's quite a modest one and it's tucked away, so people will walk past it and not see it." Today, it is clear to see the chasms that were blown out of the wall during tests, with metal rods still poking from moss-covered rubble. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook or X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story D-Day veteran says friends' sacrifice a 'waste of life' Why has a knitted tank rolled into Llandudno?
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
How a quiet Surrey woodland helped the Allies on D-Day
Just a short drive from the Surrey town of Farnham lies the Hankley Common woodland, which hides a fascinating piece of World War Two stroll past the huge wall that runs through the wood each day, but few will know of the key role it played in the D-Day the end of 1942, German-occupied Europe stretched from the Atlantic coast of France in the west to the Russian Ural Mountains in the Hitler felt the coastline to the west was vulnerable to invasion, so ordered forts be built on 2,000 miles (3,218km) of shoreline along France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and the northern tip of Norway. The defence system would inevitably fail, thanks in part to the tests carried out hundreds of miles away in Surrey in 1943. Royal Canadian Engineers based in the area built a replica section of wall in the woodland using plans smuggled from France, which showed how the real wall was Army then began blowing the wall to pieces using two new armoured test vehicles. One of the vehicles was the AVRE mortar-firing tank, which was then used to break through the real Atlantic Wall during the D-Day landings."It was about creating new armoured vehicles, vehicles that would be able to breach this wall," said military historian Paul McCue."The people who built this went ashore during the invasion of France and many lost their lives."There's a plaque on it but it's quite a modest one and it's tucked away, so people will walk past it and not see it."Today, it is clear to see the chasms that were blown out of the wall during tests, with metal rods still poking from moss-covered rubble.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Businesses in Farnham call for cheaper parking as works continue
Businesses in Farnham are calling for Waverley Borough Council (WBC) to reduce parking fees during the next phase of improvement works in the part of the changes by Surrey County Council (SCC), which include wider pavements and the introduction of two-way traffic, one of the main roads, Downing Street, is due to close to through traffic and become semi-pedestrianised from 18 August until 1 Conservative MP for Farnham and Bordon, Greg Stafford, has also called for support with business said it recognised the impact the works were having on some businesses and residents. Parking charges increased in parts of the borough of Waverley in Dawkins, the owner of Farnham Family Butchers, told BBC Radio Surrey the increases had happened at the "wrong time" and were potentially "another deterrent" to stop people from coming into the said "an hour of free car parking", or a discount if shoppers stayed a certain amount of time, would help businesses. Steve Hamilton, from Hamilton's Tea House, said all the businesses were "feeling the effects" of lower footfall and reduced said it would be "really nice if Waverley could join hands with us" and take a financial hit "rather than it just being the public".Ginny Young, from Wylde Thyme, said there had been "a lot of disruption" and that it would be good to have "some leeway with parking just to give people confidence" as Farnham had "so much to offer". Mr Stafford has also urged WBC to "use its powers to give some kind of relief from business rates" to help businesses during the works."I don't want to give the impression at all that Farnham isn't thriving," he said. "It absolutely is. "It's a fantastic place to shop, to live, to work, but businesses are asking just to get a little bit of support during the disruption so that [they] can carry on because…if they were to go under because of this, that would be an absolute disaster."WBC councillor Tony Fairclough said the council recognised that "business is the lifeblood of Farnham"."We've been working with the business community in all four major settlements to develop a car park offer that will actually be effective in stimulating business revenue rather than merely bringing short stay traffic into our towns, and I'm delighted to say that they are extremely enthusiastic about the concept," he councillor Liz Townsend added that the council only retained 6% of business rates."The rates are set by the Government's Valuation Office Agency, not the council, but we do help local businesses by actively supporting them to apply for available reliefs, including small business rate relief, retail discounts and hardship support," she has been approached for comment about the impact of the works programme.
