Latest news with #Wye
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Residents of Ashford and Folkestone reflect on Labour government
It has been nearly a year since the general election which saw Labour win a landslide majority and turn parts of Kent red for the first time ever.A lot has changed in the past 12 months, so how is the government faring in the eyes of the voters as we approach its first anniversary?BBC South East recently spent time in Wye, near Ashford, and in Folkestone and Hythe - both former Conservative strongholds now represented by Labour these places, we found the level of satisfaction with the Labour government very much policy dependent. Regulars at a weekly coffee morning at the local library in Wye want more from their Labour a constituency held by the Conservatives since the 1930s, now has a Labour MP, which came to the surprise of many, including Labour themselves, who had not included it on their list of target there was some unhappiness among residents at the coffee morning, particularly over the removal of the winter fuel payment for some pensioners last year. 'Pull up their socks' Patricia Dalton said she was "cross" when the policy was first said: "They did it when we really needed it. People that can't get out, they either go without food or heating."Although Ms Dalton welcomed the recent U-turn on the policy, she said this was not enough at the moment to change her attitude towards the government."They've got to pull up their socks and change what's going on and if things get better, I'll change my opinion," she said. Recent headlines around the government's planned changes to disability benefits, including the personal independence payment (Pip), concerned Kay said: "We become quite vulnerable as we get older… I've got a friend that needs benefits and she's frightened that they're going to take it away from her."The government has been keen to emphasise that the health service is a priority, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing an increase to NHS funding of 3% a was something former intensive care nurse Devaranee Chant welcomed. She said: "They are trying to put money into the NHS. I was with the NHS for 42 years, I got the best end of it… It is very important."But the issue of small boat crossings is a worry for Robert Taylor, who thinks the amount of money spent on asylum hotels is "absolutely ridiculous". The National Audit Office (NAO) has predicted that asylum housing costs will hit £15.3bn over the next decade, while earlier this month the government pledged to end their use by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, aimed at tackling the crossings, is currently going through Parliament. 'More time' needed There is a more positive outlook towards the government's policies, particularly those centred around education, at the gates of Mundella Primary School in and Hythe, once the constituency of former home secretary and opposition leader Michael Howard, had also been blue for decades before Labour's surprise victory last school is part of the government's pilot for free breakfast clubs, which co-headteacher Lauren Wharmby said had made "a real difference".Having run a free breakfast club for a couple of years, the school now has extra income to provide daily breakfast to all its pupils after becoming one of the early adopters of the Wharmby said: "It's really successful, we have about 60-80% of our children turn up every day… Our children come in so much more settled and ready to learn." One parent, Douglas Slocombe, who the BBC met at pick-up time, said he believed investing in an "underfunded" education system would prove effective but patience was said: "It's hard to tell after a year, I think you need to give them [the government] a bit more time." In the recent Spending Review, one of the largest funding boosts announced was for the education sector. The core schools budget is due to rise by £2bn in real terms by 2029. "So far, so good", says another father, Agberia Martins Biuwovwi. "We parents, we know we are benefitting from it," he key priority for Labour over the past year has been housing. They have reintroduced mandatory housing targets and committed to building 1.5m homes by the next while mother Lily Reynolds said she recognised homes needed to be built, she was worried about the impact of new said: "If there's more houses, at least more people [are] able to get somewhere… [but] it seems to they're trying to take the history out of Folkestone."The government has been contacted for comment.
The Independent
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Government will not be lenient with Thames Water creditors, suggests Reed
Environment Secretary Steve Reed has suggested that the Government will reject calls from Thames Water creditors for leniency from fines and penalties. Taking questions in the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Reed said the Government had 'stepped up our preparations and stand ready for all eventualities', amid Thames Water's search for a rescue plan. The troubled utility company's lenders put forward proposals to pump cash into it. But they have also demanded leniency from regulators over performance targets and fines for environmental failings. The creditors argue that without regulatory leniency, the utility's 'pollutions, asset health deterioration, and customer service levels are likely to worsen'. Labour MP for Monmouthshire, Catherine Fookes, told the Commons: 'I am really concerned by reports of Thames Water seeking regulatory easements. 'Can the Secretary of State assure me that this Government will continue to crack down on water pollution from all sources, including in the Wye and the Thames and all across the UK?' Mr Reed replied: 'The Government will always act in the national interest on these issues. 'Thames Water must meet its statutory and regulatory obligations to their customers and to the environment. 'It is only right that the company is subject to the same consequences as any other water company. 'The company remains financially stable, but we've stepped up our preparations and stand ready for all eventualities, as I've said before, including a special administration regime if that were to become necessary.' It comes after US private equity giant KKR recently pulled out of a rescue deal to inject much-needed cash into Britain's biggest water supplier, which has 16 million customers and is sinking under £19 billion of debt. The move threw the future of Thames Water into doubt once more and raised the threat of temporary nationalisation by the Government if a deal cannot be agreed. A Thames Water spokesperson said: 'Thames Water is committed to improving outcomes for the environment and its customers. 'We are investing billions of pounds in our network and any recapitalisation of the business will need to ensure that is maintained for the benefit of all our stakeholders. 'Our focus remains on a holistic and fundamental recapitalisation, delivering a market-led solution which includes targeting investment grade, credit ratings.' The creditors are the bondholders who now effectively own Thames Water after the High Court, earlier this year, approved a financial restructuring through a loan of up to £3 billion to ensure it can keep running until the summer of 2026. As part of their plans, the creditors would commit to spending £20.5 billion over the next five years, as agreed under the current five-year plan with Ofwat. But they are calling for a 'pragmatic approach' to regulation – including 're-basing incentives and performance targets' – and 'realistic levels of compliance'. It is understood they have been holding intensive talks with regulator Ofwat in the hope of securing approval for their deal in early July. A spokesman for the creditors said: 'Broad regulatory support is needed to unlock a market-led solution for Thames Water that will secure billions of pounds in fresh investment for its aging network, allowing a world class leadership team to start the intensive turnaround and deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. 'This investor group is committed to working with the Government and regulators to agree a pragmatic plan that recognises what Thames Water can realistically deliver and they expect to be held accountable for an ambitious trajectory for the company's return to compliance. 'More than £10 billion would be written off to get the company back to investment grade, expected to be the largest financial loss on an infrastructure asset in British history.'
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Government will not be lenient with Thames Water creditors, suggests Reed
Environment Secretary Steve Reed has suggested that the Government will reject calls from Thames Water creditors for leniency from fines and penalties. Taking questions in the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Reed said the Government had 'stepped up our preparations and stand ready for all eventualities', amid Thames Water's search for a rescue plan. The troubled utility company's lenders put forward proposals to pump cash into it. But they have also demanded leniency from regulators over performance targets and fines for environmental failings. The creditors argue that without regulatory leniency, the utility's 'pollutions, asset health deterioration, and customer service levels are likely to worsen'. Labour MP for Monmouthshire, Catherine Fookes, told the Commons: 'I am really concerned by reports of Thames Water seeking regulatory easements. 'Can the Secretary of State assure me that this Government will continue to crack down on water pollution from all sources, including in the Wye and the Thames and all across the UK?' Mr Reed replied: 'The Government will always act in the national interest on these issues. 'Thames Water must meet its statutory and regulatory obligations to their customers and to the environment. 'It is only right that the company is subject to the same consequences as any other water company. 'The company remains financially stable, but we've stepped up our preparations and stand ready for all eventualities, as I've said before, including a special administration regime if that were to become necessary.' It comes after US private equity giant KKR recently pulled out of a rescue deal to inject much-needed cash into Britain's biggest water supplier, which has 16 million customers and is sinking under £19 billion of debt. The move threw the future of Thames Water into doubt once more and raised the threat of temporary nationalisation by the Government if a deal cannot be agreed. A Thames Water spokesperson said: 'Thames Water is committed to improving outcomes for the environment and its customers. 'We are investing billions of pounds in our network and any recapitalisation of the business will need to ensure that is maintained for the benefit of all our stakeholders. 'Our focus remains on a holistic and fundamental recapitalisation, delivering a market-led solution which includes targeting investment grade, credit ratings.' The creditors are the bondholders who now effectively own Thames Water after the High Court, earlier this year, approved a financial restructuring through a loan of up to £3 billion to ensure it can keep running until the summer of 2026. As part of their plans, the creditors would commit to spending £20.5 billion over the next five years, as agreed under the current five-year plan with Ofwat. But they are calling for a 'pragmatic approach' to regulation – including 're-basing incentives and performance targets' – and 'realistic levels of compliance'. It is understood they have been holding intensive talks with regulator Ofwat in the hope of securing approval for their deal in early July. A spokesman for the creditors said: 'Broad regulatory support is needed to unlock a market-led solution for Thames Water that will secure billions of pounds in fresh investment for its aging network, allowing a world class leadership team to start the intensive turnaround and deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. 'This investor group is committed to working with the Government and regulators to agree a pragmatic plan that recognises what Thames Water can realistically deliver and they expect to be held accountable for an ambitious trajectory for the company's return to compliance. 'More than £10 billion would be written off to get the company back to investment grade, expected to be the largest financial loss on an infrastructure asset in British history.'
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Train damaged and stuck after hitting tree
A train has been damaged after hitting a tree on a railway line in Kent. Southeastern said one of its trains was "unable to move" after the incident in Wye, near Ashford. The rail operator added it had begun running a replacement bus service between Canterbury West and Ashford stations as trains were unable to use the line. The BBC understands no injuries have been reported. Network Rail said it was "working as quickly as we can" to reopen the line. Southeastern said a rescue train had travelled to the incident to take passengers onboard to Ashford, and that it expected disruption to continue until at least 14:30 BST. The collision occurred at about 10:30. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. New Southeastern timetables to be rolled out Investment of £306m to 'help keep trains on time' Southeastern Network Rail
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Train damaged and stuck after hitting tree
A train has been damaged after hitting a tree on a railway line in Kent. Southeastern said one of its trains was "unable to move" after the incident in Wye, near Ashford. The rail operator added it had begun running a replacement bus service between Canterbury West and Ashford stations as trains were unable to use the line. The BBC understands no injuries have been reported. Network Rail said it was "working as quickly as we can" to reopen the line. Southeastern said a rescue train had travelled to the incident to take passengers onboard to Ashford, and that it expected disruption to continue until at least 14:30 BST. The collision occurred at about 10:30. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. New Southeastern timetables to be rolled out Investment of £306m to 'help keep trains on time' Southeastern Network Rail
