General News

HA: Work to resurface an eastbound section of the M4 Second Severn Crossing will start on 9 June 2011 and continue for approximately 5 weeks. To carry out this work safely and as quickly as possible, it will be necessary to close 2 of the 3 lanes on the affected stretch of the crossing and reduce the speed limit to 50mph.  Work will take place round the clock.
 
The Highways Agency strongly recommends that road users follow advance signing and Variable Message Signs which will advise traffic to use a clearly signed version via the M48 Severn Bridge during busy times.  This will provide an additional two lanes of network capacity with a 70mph speed limit.
Press release & links
 
TfL:   The Mayor of London's war against unlicensed minicabs has resulted in 1,300 arrests over the last 12 months in a crackdown on touting & other cab-related offences during 2010/11. The latest figures show the success of the ongoing Safer Travel at Night (STaN) initiative, a partnership between the Mayor, Transport for London (TfL), Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the City of London Police (CoLP), who are working together to make travelling in London safer at night.
 
STaN aims to reduce the number of cab-related sexual offences by raising awareness of the dangers of using unbooked minicabs, also known as touts and illegal cabs, and by using targeted police and enforcement activity to identify, disrupt and deter illegal cab activity.
Press release & links
 
LSN: The Learning & Skills Network is proud to be delivering a public speaking project for young people with support from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.  This project aims to develop innovative & replicable methodologies, resources and an accredited qualification, for widening access to public speaking in the context of real-world active citizenship activities.
 
The project intends to provide opportunities for low/under-achieving learners in the 16-19 age group, helping to develop relevant speaking & listening skills and to experience a sense of empowerment & increased self esteem.
Press release & links ~ Paul Hamlyn Foundation
 
EA: The Environment Agency has been breeding native crayfish at its fish hatchery near Brecon.  Agency experts are also searching the country for suitable sites to release them – where they are safe from American crayfish and human disturbance.
 
American signal crayfish not only drive out native white clawed crayfish as they compete for food & habitat, but also carry a water-borne fungus which is fatal to our native species.  It is predicted that white clawed crayfish could become extinct in the UK within decades if efforts are not made to protect them.
Press release & links
 
Newswire – TUC: The growth of homeworking stalled during the recent recession, the TUC says in a new analysis of official figures to mark National Work From Home Day (last Friday), which was organised by Work Wise UK. High unemployment and job insecurity during the recession is likely to have made staff more reluctant to ask to work from home, says the TUC.
Press release & Links
 
FSASnax 4 U has withdrawn all packs of its Chicken Tikka Drumsticks, and Chicken Biryani & Rice Ready Meal, because the 2 products were made on & supplied by an unapproved premises.  The Food Standards Agency has issued a Product Withdrawal Information Notice.
Press release & links
 
FSA: All packs of these Booja Booja chocolate truffles have been withdrawn because they might contain milk: Hazlenut Crunch, Around Midnight Espresso, Ginger Wine, Cognac Banana, Champagne, Gourmet Selection and Luxury Gift Box.  These 7 products are a possible health risk to anyone with an allergy to, or intolerance of, milk.  The Food Standards Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
Press release & links 
 
STFC: A storm in the atmosphere of the planet Saturn, that happens only about once every 30 years, has been captured in more detail than has ever been possible before.  The European Southern Observatory (ESO's) Very Large Telescope (VLT) has teamed up with NASA's Cassini spacecraft to study the dramatic planet-wide disturbance that occurs about once every Saturn year (about 30 Earth years).  The results are in the journal Science (19 May 2011).
Press release & Links
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