Latest news with #SouthEast
BBC News
an hour ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Road bridge over M25 in Surrey closed all weekend
A road bridge over the M25 is closed all weekend with diversions in place due to roadworks. National Highways South East says the closure, which began at 21:00 BST on Friday, is in place on the Cobham Road to re-waterproof the bridge and replace an 18-year-old closure does not affect the M25 and the bridge will be reopened by 06:00 BST on Monday, the agency says. A National Highways spokesperson said: "We're working closely with both major and local roadworks to ensure our closures and diversion routes are coordinated effectively." This bridge is located on Cobham Road between Shamrock Close and River Lane in to all nearby properties and businesses on both sides of the Cobham Road bridge will remain available. However, motorists will not be able to drive across the bridge during the full diversion route is available here.A second weekend closure of the bridge will be needed later in 2025, the agency says.
The Independent
16 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Why does London get so hot?
Another heatwave is forecast with weekend temperatures in the south of England set to soar to as high as 30C degrees on Sunday. Then, on Monday, the Met Office has predicted temperatures could reach a sweltering 34C degrees in London. Met Office spokesman Graham Madge said: 'Temperature models have been edging up slowly and we do believe that the temperatures will be the hottest on Monday in this heatwave period.' He added that it is 'most likely be an isolated temperature somewhere in the South East, London or maybe Cambridge.' It could mean the country could see its hottest June day, with the previous record standing at 35.6C, recorded at both at Southampton Mayflower Park on June 28 1976 and at Camden Square, north London, on June 29 1957. So, why does it get so hot in the capital? And is there a reason London heat feels so much more unbearable? Lack of air conditioning Unlike other countries around the world that experience temperatures above 30C degrees, most houses in the UK are not fortunate enough to have air conditioning to escape the heat. While there are air-conditioned shops and offices in London, not all public transport has the luxury – resulting in some very sticky commutes. However, although air-conditioning in city centre shops offer some relief, waste heat from air conditioners and vehicles can add warmth to the surroundings, increasing temperatures. Buildings are designed for cold weather For most of the year, weather in the UK is not baking sunshine, but instead a chillier climate, as a result houses are designed to keep the heat in. The country focuses on making homes insulated to reduce energy usage and retain heat in winter, but that means it can get very hot in the summer. Dr Oscar Brousse, an expert in Urban Meteorology at University College London, told the Independent: 'Buildings absorb heat efficiently because of their radiative and thermal properties induced by the common materials we use to build them.' She added: 'These properties can be changed, by implementing green or cool roofs, for example.' Concentration of people in urban areas The urban heat island effect is another phenomenon that occurs with a dense population. 'Living in a city can increase vulnerability to heat. Many deaths during heatwaves occur because of the combined effect of high temperatures and the urban micro-climate,' the Met Office has warned previously. Buildings absorb rather than reflect the sun's heat, the forecaster explained. Dr Brousse added: 'Buildings also release heat really efficiently and can cool down quickly. 'The issue in urban environments is that this heat is then radiated back to surrounding buildings, therefore delaying the cooling process and leading to the so-called 'urban heat island effect', particularly pronounced in the early morning just before sunrise; the coolest hours of the day.' In cities like London, tall buildings and narrow streets reduce wind speeds, and the removal of trees reduces the natural cooling effect of shading and evaporation, the Met Office said. Air pollution Pollution from car fumes and planes overhead not only decreases air quality but also increase heat by trapping it in. 'Air pollution can also cause the effect of a micro greenhouse gas layer, stopping heat from radiating back into the atmosphere,' the Met Office said. Dr Brousse said: 'Certain aerosols may indeed impact incoming solar radiation, in particular, and reflect back part of the incoming energy, thus having a protective effect. 'It can also contribute to increase cloud coverage which have important implications on heating/cooling of land during day/night.' London's location The record-breaking temperatures are often recorded in London and Kent - which are the furthest South and East parts of the British Isles. Dr Brousse explained that heatwaves tend to come from southern and eastern continental climates. He said: 'As they progress further North, they lose energy, thereby making Southerner parts hotter relatively speaking. 'All of this contributes to hotter temperatures on average in the southeast of England. On top of this, London observes a pronounced urban heat island which further increases the average temperatures experienced in the city.'
BBC News
17 hours ago
- BBC News
Fourth man sentenced for motorhome theft spree across Surrey
A fourth man has been sentenced for a string of motorhome thefts across the South East last year. Appearing at Reading Crown Court, John Lehane, 51, from West Byfleet in Surrey, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of motor vehicle and was given 40 weeks in prison and ordered to pay a £187 who had failed to turn up for a previous court appearance earlier this year, was located by Surrey Police on 11 June. Three others - John Doe, 46, and Cornelius Buckley, 35, who are both from Woking, and Joseph Wickens, 42, from Hailsham, East Sussex, were given their sentences in March. The investigation into the ring of thieves first began in May 2024, after a motorhome was stolen from Chobham and taken into Sussex.A second motorhome was stolen from Hook a few days later and tracked to Woking, where it was recovered and returned to its afterwards, a grey Volkswagen Tiguan being used as the lead vehicle for the thefts was spotted by officers in convoy with a fourth stolen vehicles were successfully stopped in Farnborough in Hampshire, and Doe, Wickens and Buckley were all arrested. Doe was handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for 18 months and 30 rehabilitation days, while Wickens got 16-months inside suspended for 18 months and 20 rehabilitation was given a 12-month community order and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
The Guardian
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Telly-shrubbies', morris dancers and living graffiti: Glastonbury's Shangri-La gets a revamp
Tucked away in the south east corner of the Glastonbury festival site, Shangri-La has been long known for its mixture of hedonism and political satire. But this year the area has received a striking eco-conscious update Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian For Shangri-La's new theme, The Wilding, the area's billboards savaging late-era capitalism have been replaced by greener, more sustainable decoration Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian A 'Telly-shrubby' prepares for a performance in the revamped Shangri-La Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian One of Shangri-La's hidden areas, Sonic Bloom is an oasis away from the noise of the festival site that allows you to listen to music created by the natural world Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian Performers and revellers take part in a daily immersive procession throughout the festival site, led by a renegade Morris dancing side (or group) Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian A 40-year memorial to the Battle of the Beanfield, when 1,300 police officers prevented a convoy of new age travellers from attending the Stonehenge Free Festival. Dozens of travellers were injured in the incident Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian Political slogans accompany plant life in the revamped Shangri-La Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian Giant 'living canvasses' will have an AV show projected on to them as part of the programme Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian This allotment, tended by the Anarchist Gardeners Club collective, is one of 12 on site in Shangri-La Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian Performers on the daily Wilding procession Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian One of the artworks at Shangri-La, a living piece of graffiti by textile artist India Rafiqi. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian A reveller struts his stuff during the daily procession at Shangri-La on Thursday Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
‘Possibility' 50-year-old June heat record will be broken, Met Office says
A heatwave is forecast for the UK, with temperatures expected to peak on Monday, potentially reaching 33-34C in London and the South East. There is a 20 per cent chance that the June temperature record of 35.6C, set in 1976 and 1957, could be met or exceeded. A second amber heat health alert has been issued for London, the East Midlands, South East, South West, and East of England, effective from Friday to Tuesday. The UK Health Security Agency also issued a yellow alert for Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands, warning of significant impacts on health and social care services. The Met Office attributes the warm conditions to south-westerly winds drawing humid air, advising the public to take precautions, especially for vulnerable individuals, due to high UV and pollen levels.
