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Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Major incident as police and fire crews swarm area near Glasgow river
Police officers are standing guard at a path beside the road RIVER DRAMA Major incident as police and fire crews swarm area near Glasgow river Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EMERGENCY services have swarmed an area next to a river in Glasgow amid a major incident. Cops, paramedics and firefighters are all in attendance at the scene on Kelvindale Road near the city's Maryhill. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Mercy crews have swarmed Kelvindale Road near Maryhill in Glasgow amid a major incident 3 Cops, firefighters and paramedics all descended on the scene this evening 3 Two officers stand guard at a path beside the road leading onto the National Cycle Network The emergency services, including water rescue support teams, are parked up on the busy road beside the River Kelvin. Police officers are standing guard at a path beside the road leading onto the National Cycle Network. The nature of the incident is currently unknown. Locals reported seeing a police helicopter circling overhead. A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "There is an ongoing incident we are currently attending." Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service have been contacted for comment. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun. is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun.
Wales Online
08-07-2025
- Wales Online
Upgrade for crumbling coastal path with stunning views of North Wales icons
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A popular coastal path with some of the most dramatic views in Wales is to be upgraded after falling into disrepair. Each year, tens of thousands of people walk or cycle the route along the banks of the Conwy Estuary. In recent years the path has begun to degrade and cycling charity Sustrans worries this is starting to affect its usage. After heavy rain, it becomes almost impassable as huge puddles form on its uneven surface. Resurfacing work is now planned for the path at Deganwy. This section forms part of the Conwy Estuary Trail, a 3km walking and cycling route that links Deganwy and Llandudno's West Shore. It is part of the Wales Coastal Path. Each year an estimated 429,871 walking and cycling trips are made on the trail, which gives views towards Conwy Castle and the town's quay and marina, backed by the mountains of Eryri. An economic analysis in 2019 estimated that, were the 3km trail to fully upgraded, it could attract almost 600,000 users each year – almost as many as those who visit Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Sustrans will soon be organising improvements on the Deganwy section to enhance the path's 'quality and usability'. The resurfacing work is being funded by the Welsh Government. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone As the Conwy Estuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Sustrans has liaised with Natural Resources Wales to ensure marine habitats are not disturbed during the work. An on-site ecologist will be employed for pre-nesting survey checks. (Image: Anthony Jones/Sustrans) Anthony Jones, network development manager at Sustrans, said: 'It's very clear to us just how important this route is to the people who live in this part of Conwy, as well as its role in tourism here. 'This is a very popular route by an important ecological site here in North Wales, so we need to ensure we're doing everything we can to ensure the route's quality and accessibility for everyone.' The works are due to be completed by the end of 2025. The aim is then to 'celebrate' the resurfaced route with led walks and rides the following spring. As the Conwy Estuary Trail incorporates Route 5 on the National Cycle Network, Sustrans said it is one of the most popular cycling routes in North Wales. Route 5 runs from Holyhead to Reading, spanning a massive 367 miles. 'This is an especially popular and well-used section of National Cycle Network,' added the charity. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find family activities near you
North Wales Live
08-07-2025
- North Wales Live
Upgrade for crumbling coastal path with stunning views of North Wales icons
A popular coastal path with some of the most dramatic views in Wales is to be upgraded after falling into disrepair. Each year, tens of thousands of people walk or cycle the route along the banks of the Conwy Estuary. In recent years the path has begun to degrade and cycling charity Sustrans worries this is starting to affect its usage. After heavy rain, it becomes almost impassable as huge puddles form on its uneven surface. Resurfacing work is now planned for the path at Deganwy. This section forms part of the Conwy Estuary Trail, a 3km walking and cycling route that links Deganwy and Llandudno's West Shore. It is part of the Wales Coastal Path. Each year an estimated 429,871 walking and cycling trips are made on the trail, which gives views towards Conwy Castle and the town's quay and marina, backed by the mountains of Eryri. An economic analysis in 2019 estimated that, were the 3km trail to fully upgraded, it could attract almost 600,000 users each year – almost as many as those who visit Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Sustrans will soon be organising improvements on the Deganwy section to enhance the path's 'quality and usability'. The resurfacing work is being funded by the Welsh Government. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone As the Conwy Estuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Sustrans has liaised with Natural Resources Wales to ensure marine habitats are not disturbed during the work. An on-site ecologist will be employed for pre-nesting survey checks. Anthony Jones, network development manager at Sustrans, said: 'It's very clear to us just how important this route is to the people who live in this part of Conwy, as well as its role in tourism here. 'This is a very popular route by an important ecological site here in North Wales, so we need to ensure we're doing everything we can to ensure the route's quality and accessibility for everyone.' The works are due to be completed by the end of 2025. The aim is then to 'celebrate' the resurfaced route with led walks and rides the following spring. As the Conwy Estuary Trail incorporates Route 5 on the National Cycle Network, Sustrans said it is one of the most popular cycling routes in North Wales. Route 5 runs from Holyhead to Reading, spanning a massive 367 miles. 'This is an especially popular and well-used section of National Cycle Network,' added the charity. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Glasgow Times
24-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Muddy woodland route transformed into accessible greenway
The revamped path, now known as the Oakridge Greenway, connects Bargeddie and Coatbridge via a fully traffic-free route. National Cycle Network Route 75 from Coatbridge leaves the Monkland Canal and runs through the Oakridge Estate Community Woodlands to reach Bargeddie. The path in muddy conditions (Image: Supplied) Oakridge Greenway is designed and constructed by Sustrans. Chris Brace, principal network development manager at Sustrans, said: "The path's transformation is truly like night and day. Read more: LIVE: Huge police presence in city centre as activists stage takeover Motherwell club to host its first-ever armed forces and family fun day Glasgow's police force welcomes two adorable new recruits "We are thrilled to have made these vital improvements, meaning people in Bargeddie and the surrounding area can now choose to walk, wheel or cycle for more of their local journeys. "The National Cycle Network is the backbone of our infrastructure for active travel, connecting communities across Scotland. (Image: Supplied) "But it also provides us with unique access to local nature. "Improvements like the Oakridge Greenway project allow more people to not only get active but to get out into green spaces – ultimately feeling healthier, happier and more connected to where they live." The route had previously never been surfaced, which led to muddy conditions and limited use during wet weather. (Image: Supplied) This made it difficult for wheelchair users, people with prams, and cyclists to use the path. To address this, Sustrans worked with the community to redesign the path with an all-weather, accessible surface. Environmental considerations were central to the project, with a 'no-dig' approach, a floating path design, and a tree root protection membrane included to protect the woodland. Friends of Monklands Canal, a local group, were consulted throughout the project. Alan McCormack, chairman of the group, said: "It's fair to say the new path is a game changer for the local community and Friends of Monklands Canal. "As a gateway to the canal and beyond, the benefits it will provide over its lifetime will be immeasurable to people's physical and mental health."
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Telegraph
Cycling charity misled public with ‘save the dormouse' campaign
Britain's biggest cycling charity misled the public by running an inaccurate fundraising campaign which claimed donations would save endangered wildlife, a regulator has found. Sustrans, which manages the vast National Cycle Network (NCN), launched a series of hugely successful Facebook adverts in 2022 pleading for money to help protect rare birds, bats, dormice and hedgehogs. The following year, the Fundraising Regulator received two complaints that the charity, which has received more than £100 million of taxpayers' cash to promote cycling and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), was wrongly 'portraying' itself as a 'wildlife charity'. The watchdog launched an investigation and was sent examples of social media adverts in which Sustrans asked potential donors: 'Will you help save the dormouse?' Other adverts asked people to give money to tackle the 'environmental emergency' by preventing animals' homes from being 'razed to the ground' and paying for a nest box for a 'beautiful barn owl'. The Facebook adverts featured 'cute, fluffy' creatures, including a toad crossing a road, a Willow Tit and a young hedgehog snaffling for food. Now the regulator has ruled that Sustrans, twice breached the code of fundraising practice by giving the impression it was 'solely focused on wildlife protection activities'. The nature enthusiast who lodged the official complaint said Sustrans had to be 'dragged kicking and screaming' to the charity regulator before it eventually 'stopped misleading the public' and withdrew the adverts. The regulator's full ruling, seen by The Telegraph, will prove hugely embarrassing for the cycling charity, which after the pandemic benefited massively from controversial 'active travel' projects. 'The complainant is concerned that potential donors would not be aware their donations could fund work that has a potentially negative impact on wildlife,' the ruling says. 'We find that Sustrans positioning itself within this fundraising campaign as solely focused on wildlife protection activities on the NCN is likely to mislead potential donors.' It concludes that the 'fundraising campaign' was 'inaccurate' because 'a potential donor... could assume their donation will be used for wildlife protection' but could fund a 'different purpose'. Sustrans' 'wildlife protection work is predominantly a direct result of... increasing active travel and by expanding and developing the NCN', the ruling said. It added some sample ads were 'not clear about the charity's broad strategic aim', leaving some likely to 'conclude the charity's activities are mostly the promotion and protection of wildlife.' The complainant initially used the charity's internal complaints procedure, prompting Sustrans to pause and review the campaign, before making the adverts 'clearer'. But, the complainant, who is not named by the regulator and has maintained his right to anonymity, then contacted the regulator. The regulator found the charity 'acknowledges' its work expanding cycle networks 'could negatively impact protected wildlife species' and has a 'statutory obligation towards ecology work and biodiversity in relation to its charitable aim of expanding and improving the NCN' by installing bird, bat and dormouse boxes and managing hedgerows. Sustrans was found not to have breached the code that requires it to prove any 'direct or indirect claim' in its campaign. The dossier at the centre of the Fundraising Regulator's investigation, seen by the Telegraph, shows Sustrans' £140,000 a year chief executive, Xavier Brice, twice rejected the complainant's concerns saying: 'I have full confidence that our fundraising adverts are not misleading to the public in portraying us as a wildlife charity, only that we do spend time and money to support ecology and wildlife on the NCN.' The complainant said he was 'shocked' by the response after he raised concerns about 92 Facebook ads which he claimed attracted 'three million hits'. He said: 'It's brazenly unethical as they confirmed to me a lot of ecological work they do is to mitigate the negative effects of implementing cycling infrastructure. 'Sustrans' website only showed they sowed seeds and put up boxes for birds, bats and dormice. That's like a primary school eco-project. 'Sustrans had to be dragged kicking and screaming to stop misleading the public after two years. 'I believe it's unprecedented for the regulator to censure a charity this large which is mostly funded by the taxpayer.' The campaign was so successful that in its 2022/23 accounts, Sustrans boasted that tests of 'new digital engagement' fundraising campaigns found 'the best performing adverts' included 'cash gifts to support ecology work on the National Cycle Network'. A Sustrans spokesman said: 'All the work mentioned in our fundraising campaign appropriately reflects the work our in-house team of ecology experts and volunteers have done to improve biodiversity on the National Cycle Network. The regulator agreed we were able to show evidence that we had completed this work. 'Our ecology campaign was an unrestricted appeal, helping us to raise donations for our charitable objectives and we had a statement to that effect on every landing page. We accept the regulator's recommendation that we should have included more about our core mission, to make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle, throughout the adverts to ensure it was clear to potential supporters that our mission is not solely ecology on the National Cycle Network. 'The last thing we would want to do is mislead our supporters, who are vital to our mission. We have been grateful to collaborate closely with the regulator and we are implementing their recommendations.'
