Latest news with #Havant
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Major rail disruption after Havant signal fault
A fault with the signalling system at Havant in Hampshire has caused major disruption to rail trains between Brighton and Portsmouth & Southsea and Southampton Central have been affected. London Victoria to Horsham and Portsmouth Harbour services are also experiencing on South Western Railway services between London Waterloo and Portsmouth and Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour are tickets can be used on First Bus and Stagecoach routes. The disruption is expected until 14:00 BST. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Independent
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Pro-Palestine protesters demonstrate against supply of F-35 parts to Israel
Protesters have gathered outside the premises of F-35 fighter jet manufacturer Lockheed Martin UK, calling on it to stop sending parts to Israel for use against Palestine. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign organised the demonstration at the site in Havant, Hampshire, with protests also taking place at other manufacturers in Rochester, Kent, and Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Scores of people waving flags and holding banners and placards paraded from Havant town centre to the Lockheed Martin premises which had closed ahead of the protest taking place. A speaker told the crowd: 'I am ashamed at the police today, they should be storming this building, this is a terrorist training camp, this is the sponsored UK terrorism and the police should be shutting it down.' Protester Alan Elliot, 70, from Southampton, who served in the Army for 28 years held up a placard saying 'Veterans against genocide in Gaza'. He told the PA news agency: 'I don't want to see babies, children and women being killed indiscriminately – this sends a message but always that message is ignored. 'The only way to stop these things is to stop the money.' Writer and activist Sarah Goldsmith-Pascoe, 69, from Bournemouth, Dorset, said: 'I feel compelled to do everything I can to stop this horror, especially as a Jew because all of us Jews have been told a load of lies about what Israel does. 'This is genocide and large companies are doing nothing about it, I have nightmares.' The Government halted 30 out of around 350 arms sales licences to Israel in September last year, for fear they may be used for war crimes. MPs critical of Israel's actions have called on ministers to go further, and to halt all UK arms sales to the country. A Foreign Office spokesperson said previously: 'Since day one, this Government has rigorously applied international law in relation to the war in Gaza. 'One of our first acts in Government was to suspend export licences that could be used by the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza. 'We have successfully implemented the suspension decision and continue to refuse all relevant licence applications. 'We have suspended direct exports of F-35 parts for use by Israel, and we categorically do not export any bombs or ammunition which could be used in Gaza. 'We have also suspended negotiations on a free trade agreement, while supporting humanitarian efforts through the restoration of funding to UNRWA, and the commitment of over £230 million in assistance across the past two financial years.' A Lockheed Martin spokeswoman said: 'We respect the right to peaceful protest, and we remain focused on supporting our customers to deliver strategic deterrence and security solutions.'
BBC News
16-06-2025
- BBC News
Cornwall drug smuggling accused 'not involved in trafficking'
A man accused of conspiring to smuggle millions of pounds worth of cocaine into the UK was not involved in trafficking drugs, a court has been Johnston, 38, of Havant, Hampshire, was arrested on Gwynver Beach at Sennen, Cornwall, last being part of a conspiracy to smuggle drugs with an estimated wholesale value of more than £10m, he told Truro Crown Court he used cocaine personally "a few times a year" but there was no truth in the allegations against trial continues. Mr Johnston was one of three men on a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) which beached after jettisoning the bales of drugs into the sea as a National Crime Agency RIB tried to intercept court heard that, after he was taken into custody, he offered a one-line explanation to an interview, the 38-year-old said: "I just want to state that I had no involvement in any sort of trafficking in any kind of drug."He did not answer any other questions after his arrest following advice from his solicitor. 'No prior knowledge' The court heard that Mr Johnston had £2,615 in cash on him when he was said this was money left over after he bought some Musto clothing - a sailing and outdoor Johnston told the jury he had no prior knowledge of the purpose of the trip in the RIB and was not paid any money for going on added he personally uses cocaine a few times a year at festivals and Johnston is on trial with Michael May, 47, of Kelveden Hatch, Essex, who also denies a charge of conspiring to smuggle other men have admitted being involved in a conspiracy to smuggle cocaine.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- BBC News
Driver jailed for 120mph fatal Havant by-pass crash
A driver has been jailed for seven years after admitting causing a crash in which he lost control of his car at more than 120mph, killing one of his Hill, 36, died when the BMW, driven by Robbie Hawes, crashed on the A27 Havant bypass in Hampshire in November 26 previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. Hampshire Constabulary said it had been raining heavily on the night of the crash and he had "ignored the dangerous conditions".Paying tribute to Mr Hill, his family said he would be "forever be in our hearts". No other vehicles were involved in the crash which happened shortly before midnight on on Saturday, 5 November car had five occupants. Mr Hill, from Havant, died at the from Ranelagh Road, Havant was also banned from driving for 11 years and four months at a hearing at Portsmouth Crown Sgt Gary Doughty said there had been a lot of surface water on the road at the time and the speeds Hawes was driving at were "outrageous"."This was without doubt a completely avoidable and needless loss of life brought about by speed and a manner of driving which is not appropriate at any time, let alone for the atrocious conditions of that night," he added. In a statement, Mr Hill's family said his young son "never got the chance to meet him but is already so much like him."It described him as "the light in any room"."People gravitated towards his infectious charm and his incredible gift of making people smile and laugh."He was loved by everyone that had the pleasure to meet him, and without him in this world, an emptiness has been created that can never be filled."His love for life, his friends and his family was deep, compassionate and selfless."There isn't another like him and his unique personality will be relentlessly missed by us all, including his heartbroken mum and girlfriend," it added. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Times
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Times
How sunny spring has helped building of Britain's newest reservoir
For firefighters, farmers and frogs, the relentlessly dry spring is bad news. Ironically, however, it turns out to be helpful for builders of reservoirs. Last year's incredibly wet weather was a headache for Bob Taylor, the CEO of Portsmouth Water, which broke ground last September on Britain's first new reservoir in more than three decades. 'It became a bit of a quagmire here because we had stripped all of the vegetation and topsoil from the site and it was just mud or clay exposed. It was quite difficult,' said Taylor as he surveyed lorries and earthmovers busily working on a bright May morning. One of the challenges facing his project north of Havant is he needs the temperature and moisture levels to be just right
