Latest news with #Kier
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Outrage over £50m Welsh border checks post that could be redundant before it even opens
Outrage over £50m Welsh border checks post that could be redundant before it even opens The facility was built to handle the checks that would have been needed as a result of the Brexit deal that came into effect in 2020, but the new SPS agreement may make it unnecessary Kier was appointed to build a key new Border Control Post at Holyhead The news that a £50m facility constructed to manage border checks for goods arriving at Holyhead port on Anglesey may become redundant before it's even opened has been met with outrage. The structure was designed to conduct sanitary and phytosanitary checks on fresh produce entering from the EU, a requirement resulting from the Brexit deal that took effect in 2020. These checks were postponed due to worries about potential price increases for businesses and consumers. However, this was merely a delay in implementing the agreement reached with Brussels. In Anglesey, the UK Government allocated £47.8m for a border control post at Holyhead. The Welsh Government was slated to operate the facility, as the Cardiff Bay administration is responsible for biosecurity, food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls in Wales. The Kier construction group secured the £41m contract to build a new facility at Parc Cybi, just outside Holyhead, with completion expected in autumn. However, the recent SPS agreement between Keir Starmer's administration and the European Commission, struck in May, could render this facility redundant. The deal aims to reduce trade barriers for food, plants and animal products, simplifying and reducing the cost of trade between the UK and EU. Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Mon, commented on the situation: "The chaotic situation regarding the need – or not – for border control posts is symptomatic of the chaos and costs surrounding Brexit as a whole. Large sums of public money have been spent, Anglesey Council has faced significant pressures, and we even lost the very important truck stop that went to make way for post-Brexit border infrastructure. We need assurances now that the taxpayer won't be left further out of pocket, but the sad thing is that much of the damage caused will remain with us for many years to come." Article continues below WalesOnline readers were also critical of the situation. Commenter NoGoodBoyo57 said: 'Not sure anyone's surprised by this. Brexit was a disaster.' Harry Crumb agreed: 'Brexit is widely considered a disaster primarily due to its severe and lasting economic damage to the UK. Since the 2016 referendum, the UK has experienced a sharp decline in economic growth, with £140 billion wiped from the economy and London alone shrinking by £30 billion. Key industries such as hospitality, farming, and trade have faced crippling staff shortages and rising costs, while supply chain problems and labour shortages have led to business closures and inflation.' Dm68 disagreed saying: 'It is the lily-livered anti Brexit lot that is trying to water down the Brexit agreements to regain closer ties with Europe. If Brexit had been fully and properly implemented this facility would be in full use and there wouldn't be any waste of money.' Middleclasssocialist added: 'Unfortunately the majority voted for Brexit despite all the lies we told them about hospitals running out of supplies, supermarkets running out of food, pension funds collapsing and mass unemployment. I suppose when you live in a democracy you've just got to accept that people don't always vote the way they should.' AvidreaderII said: 'I live near it. It is a very expensive car park, lit very brightly at night, despite being in a dark skies area. Never see any trucks there, but it's lit up like a Christmas tree all year.' Jonowales suggested: 'Just turn it into a ferry port where lots of people can go on holiday, fishing boat days out etc.?' Mark Jenkins wrote: 'When you think about the housing crisis, that £48 million would have built a lot of affordable homes.' Robert Price agreed: 'Another Brexit bonus. What shocking waste of time, resources, and political power the whole thing has been.' Ian Layzell added: 'This whole thing is purely because of Brexit, blame Farage and the Tories. A border control post at Holyhead, by the UK Government, nothing to do with Labour, or Drakeford.' Article continues below What do you think should happen to this building if it remains redundant? Have your say in our comments section.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Further delays hit Paisley Museum refurbishment
The construction phase is expected to be completed by the end of the year - five months later than previously stated. Paisley Museum is now scheduled to reopen its doors in the second half of 2026, Renfrewshire Council has confirmed. The transformation of the museum - the first major refurbishment in the building's 150-year history - continues to progress, with construction expected to be completed by the end of the year - five months later than previously stated. The installation period to fit out the museum with artefacts and displays will take several more months, meaning the site will not now officially open until the later half of next year. The museum was initially scheduled to open in 2024 with a construction cost of £45million. However a number of unforseen problems with the building has caused several delays and costs to soar. In December last year councillors agreed to release an extra £12.5m to get the project over the line, having already increased the budget to £52.8m. Council officials said increased costs following the Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with issues such rotted roof joists, dry rot, wet rot, asbestos, extensive plasterwork repairs and historic drainage failures, means the budget now sits at £65million. In a statement issued this week, Renfrewshire Council and One Ren - the leisure arm of the local authority who will run the museum once opened – said they were are working closely with construction contractor Kier to 'expedite progress'. The statement reads: 'The modernisation of Paisley Museum into a world-class visitor destination is the first major refurbishment in the building's 150-year history. 'It is an extremely complex refurbishment and the contractors Kier have encountered a number of unforeseen issues which have impacted the timeline for completion and by extension, the opening. 'However, the work being undertaken will bring the historic building up to modern standards, protect its long-term future, and attract thousands of visitors to Paisley town centre each year. 'Construction is expected to be complete by the end of this year, after which the fit-out phase will begin to prepare the museum to exhibit its outstanding collections of art, heritage and artefacts.' It adds: 'We are grateful to all our funders for their continued support as we work together to create a destination that celebrates Paisley and Renfrewshire's unique place in the world.' Following the completion of construction, the fit-out phase will begin, with the newly extended galleries allowing more of the museum's remarkable items to be displayed than ever before. A date for the official reopening will be confirmed by OneRen once construction is complete.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Footage shows progress on long-awaited A417 scheme
Ten beams - weighing 100 tonnes each - are being lifted into place to build the largest environmental bridge in the £460m A417 Missing Link Scheme in Gloucestershire will create a three-mile (4.8km) dual carriageway on the A417 between Gloucester and part of the project, 10 steel beams are being lifted to create the base of the Gloucestershire Way bridge at Shab crossing - which will be 197ft (60m) long and 121ft (37m) wide - will serve walkers, cyclists and horse riders, in addition to providing better connectivity for wildlife, National Highways said. Gavin Jones, Kier's project director for the scheme, said: "The green bridge is the centrepiece of the scheme, linking up habitats and the landscape on one side of the road to the other.""The focus is the ecology, the animals that are going to use it, but not forgetting the people - it's going to be a footpath as well."We're on budget, ahead of programme, and [have] a good safety record. I couldn't be prouder of the team," he added. As part of the project, 89ft (27m) of calcareous grassland and hedgerows will be planted on the Gloucestershire Way bridge to mirror the surrounding landscape. Deer, badgers, voles, insects and birds are hoped to be among the fauna to make use of Cotswolds' heritage will also be a part of the project, with each member of a stonemasonry team building about 8ft (2.5m) of traditional drystone wall each day to contribute to the eventual 4.3 miles (7km) finished product. Bernard McEnroe, manager of Master Stonemasons, said: "It's integrating the new with the old."You have a beautiful, brand new road - a fantastic thing. And then you look up and see what defines the Cotswolds: the dry stone wall."The scheme is due to be completed in 2027.
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New Shropshire pothole filling team to launch within months
Shropshire Council is to launch a third in-house pothole filling team within the next few months, speeding up the process of repairing council leader Heather Kidd has made improving the state of Shropshire's roads one of her top priorities within the first 100 days in new Liberal Democrat administration said road maintenance over the past 20 years had not been good the group, which took control of the council following local elections earlier this month, admitted that the previous Conservative administration had begun the process of launching a third team. The poor state of the county's roads was an issue raised by residents across the county in the lead up to elections on 1 May."People have been complaining about potholes time and time again and often repairs have not been good quality," said Lib Dem councillor David Vasmer, the new portfolio holder for Highways and Environment at Shropshire Council."There is a huge backlog and catching up will be an enormous job." Mr Vasmer said the council was not putting a target on the number of potholes it intends to fill, but hopes residents will see "a bit of a difference" in key areas, like roundabouts and than 41,600 potholes were filled in 2023, with half being carried out within five days of being Council is funding its new team using some of the £33m it received from government last year to improve the county's road network. Council highways contractors Kier and Multivo are also part of the multi-agency effort to maintain Shropshire's 3,200 miles of contract, which has been worth about £28m a year since 2017, will end next April, following a 12-month extension. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Yahoo
Road closures to watch out for in and around Falmouth this week
Public notices in Falmouth this week include several road closures and probates. For the latest public notice updates in Falmouth and Cornwall, visit the Public Notice website. A busy road will be closed for two days for cabling work. Maenporth Road, Falmouth, will be shut between Hard To Come By Farm and Maen Valley Park from April 16 to April 17. The closure, issued by Cornwall Council, will be enforced between 9.30am and 4pm on weekdays. A diversion will be clearly marked, and access to properties will remain open for both pedestrians and vehicles. The closure is part of a temporary traffic regulation order, set to last until April 17. For further details, visit or contact Sunbelt Rentals Ltd on 03700 500792. Road closures have been announced for sewer cleaning works. Cornwall Council will block traffic on North Parade, Tehidy Terrace, and Stratton Terrace, Falmouth, from Monday, April 28, to Friday, May 2, under the County of Cornwall (North Parade, Tehidy Terrace, Stratton Terrace, Falmouth) (Temporary Prohibition of Traffic) Order 2025. The closure will be in place on weekdays between 9.30am and 5pm. Alternative routes will be signposted. For more information, visit or contact Kier, on behalf of South West Water, on 0344 346 2020. Pedestrian and vehicle access to properties will remain open. The closure is necessary for sewer cleaning works. A road closure will affect Mylor Bridge for two days. Comfort Road will be shut between the junctions of Cogos Park and Bells Hill on Tuesday, April 29, and Wednesday, April 30, for poling works. The closure will be in place between 9.30am and 2.30pm on both days, with an alternative route signposted. Cornwall Council has said the closure is necessary for poling works. The council has noted that pedestrian and vehicular access will be maintained to properties. For any further information, people can go to or contact Sunbelt Rentals Ltd on 0370 500 792. A Penryn road is set to close for a day for poling works. The County of Cornwall (Road From Bohelland Road To Junction At Bissom Bungalow, Penryn) (Temporary Prohibition of Traffic) Order 2025 will come into effect on Friday, May 2. The closure will be in place from 9.30am to 3.30pm. An alternative route will be available, but pedestrians and vehicles will still be able to access properties. For more information, visit or contact Sunbelt Rentals Ltd on 0370 500 792. The closure is being organised by Cornwall Council under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
