Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Security Minister in India to discuss shared threats [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 August 2023.

Tom Tugendhat is in New Delhi discussing the UK and India’s joint work to fight extremism and will travel to Kolkata for G20 anti-corruption talks on Saturday.

The UK’s Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, is in India for a three-day visit to bolster bilateral cooperation on security initiatives and attend the G20 anti-corruption ministerial meeting.

During a meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, in New Delhi yesterday, Minister Tugendhat announced new funding to enhance the UK’s capability to tackle pro-Khalistan extremism.

The £95,000 investment will enhance the government’s understanding of the threat posed by pro-Khalistan extremism, complementing the joint work already underway between the UK and India through the joint extremism task force.

Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, said:

The living bridge between India and the UK reflects our deep and enduring friendship. As the world’s oldest and largest democracies, we have many shared opportunities to make the world a safer and more prosperous place.

A deeper partnership between our two nations means we can more effectively tackle the security threats we both face. I’m committed to working together to enhance our understanding of and capabilities against extremism – whatever form it takes.

Corruption also harms our prosperity, damages our society and threatens our national security. I am delighted to be attending the G20 anti-corruption ministerial meeting, presided over by India, to continue strengthening global resilience and cracking down on its corrosive influence.

Before travelling to Kolkata for the G20 anti-corruption ministerial, which will take place on Saturday 12 August, Minister Tugendhat will visit the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to discuss joint challenges posed by child sexual exploitation and abuse, and fraud. He will also meet with the Indian National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval.

The UK government recently launched a fraud strategy, which includes a new National Fraud Squad who will work with local forces, international partners – including the CBI – and the UK intelligence community to ensure that callous fraud cells are shut down.

At the G20, Minister Tugendhat will emphasise the UK’s unwavering commitment to fighting corruption, which undermines national security and global prosperity.

The G20 discussion will compliment work already underway by the UK government to deliver a new UK anti-corruption strategy.

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis said:

The unique connection between our people brings both huge opportunities and security challenges. Through mechanisms like the Joint Extremism Task Force we are acting jointly on countering threats, including pro-Khalistan extremism, as well as on migration, to keep our people safe.

Our migration and mobility relationship is a pillar of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which also includes ensuring a free and open Indo Pacific, and tackling the biggest challenges facing the world around climate and health. This is a partnership for now, including India’s G20 Presidency, and for the future.

August 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Former Halifax footballer jailed for 27 months for illegally acting as a company director [August 2023]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 11 August 2023.

Stephen Oleksewycz acted as director of an events promotion business whilst an undischarged bankrupt, and also committed fraud offences.

Stephen Oleksewycz, 39, from Halifax, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment, at Leeds Crown Court on 3 August 2023, for fraud offences and acting as a company director while an undischarged bankrupt. He was also required to pay compensation within three months to the two creditors he defrauded.

Oleksewycz started in the events promotion industry following his retirement as a professional footballer due to injury. He established his company, ‘An Exp With Ltd’, in February 2016 with himself as sole director but he was made bankrupt later that year due to an outstanding debt of over £16,000.

Individuals who have gone bankrupt are subject to certain restrictions, in particular it is a criminal offence for a bankrupt to act as a company director, or to manage or promote a company, without express permission obtained at court.

Oleksewycz did not have permission, however he continued to act as a director of An Exp With Ltd, which he used to deliver ‘An Experience With’ event in February 2017 involving Conor McGregor, the mixed-martial arts fighter.

The fraud offences related to this event, where Oleksewycz sent fake documents to the venue company, EventCity, and the company streaming the event, Groovy Gecko.

When both companies contacted Oleksewycz to advise they had not received their fees to run the event, Oleksewycz sent them doctored bank documents purporting to show the payments had been made, as a stalling tactic in the days leading up to the event. This succeeded, and both companies felt they had to proceed in the hope the lack of payments were due an honest mistake and would be addressed, or risk the event collapsing.

However, after the event took place Groovy Gecko did not receive any payment and was owed over £15,000. EventCity was paid just £5,000 of the outstanding total, which was nearly £80,000. Both companies were then informed that An Exp With Ltd had gone into liquidation.

Glenn Wicks, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

Acting as a company director while being an undischarged bankrupt is a serious offence, and to compound this Stephen Oleksewycz deliberately defrauded two businesses who gave him the benefit of the doubt to run an event despite their concerns about his behaviour.

Oleksewycz had initially pleaded not guilty when the case was first heard at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 23 February 2021. However when the case eventually came to trial at Leeds Crown Court in June 2022, he entered a guilty plea for these offences while other charges against him were dropped.

Background
- Stephen Oleksewycz is of Halifax. His date of birth is February 1983.
- An Exp With Ltd (company number 09988094)
- Oleksewycz pleaded guilty to the following specific offences:
1. Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 section 11 – acting as a director whilst an undischarged bankrupt – 13 months
2. Fraud Act 2006 section 11 – obtaining services dishonestly – 27 months
3. Fraud Act 2006 section 11 – obtaining services dishonestly – 27 months
4. Insolvency Act 1986 section 206 – fraud during the course of winding up – 16 months
5. Insolvency Act 1986 section 206 – fraud during the course of winding up – 16 months
All to be served concurrently making overall sentence of 27 months.
August 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK set to do more with Malaysia on trade – new UK envoy [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 August 2023.

British High Commissioner-designate to Malaysia, HE Ailsa Terry CMG, has arrived in Kuala Lumpur to take up her new posting at the British High Commission.

Ms Terry arrives excited about the ever-growing UK-Malaysia relationship. In particular, she hopes to strengthen bilateral trade as the two countries are set to benefit from their first ever Free Trade Agreement, through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) which the UK signed up to last month.

The new British envoy will start her appointment as the British High Commissioner-designate on 10 August 2023 and succeeds Charles Hay MVO. She is expected to present her credentials to His Majesty The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong later this month.

Ms Terry said:

I am thrilled to be in Malaysia, a beautiful and diverse country with such a long standing and important relationship with the UK. This is an exciting time for both the UK and Malaysia as we build a modern partnership based around our many shared interests and I have a brilliant team to work with.

Building on the strong connections between our people, and our shared history and values as fellow Commonwealth members, I believe there is huge potential for the UK and Malaysia to work more closely together to boost our trade, education and tech relationship, tackle the climate emergency and uphold the international rules-based system. There is also opportunities to strengthen our defence partnership including through the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).

Malaysia is a global biodiversity hotspot and our UK-Malaysia Climate Partnership Memorandum of Understanding will enable us to work more closely together. I also look forward to working with Malaysia on important issues affecting regional security, stability and prosperity especially during the Malaysian chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025.

Before taking up the post of High Commissioner, Ms Terry was the Director of the FCDO’s inaugural Sanctions Directorate from 2022 to 2023, which she established as part of the UK’s response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Prior to that, she was the Foreign Affairs Sous-Sherpa and Director in the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for the UK’s Presidency of the G7 in 2021. She also worked in the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office which supports the work of the UK National Security Council.

During her time in the British diplomatic service, she has been posted to Islamabad and the UK Mission to the European Union (EU) in Brussels. Ailsa was also the Political Adviser to the EU Special Representative to Afghanistan in 2011.

Ms Terry is married to Adam Terry and they have twin sons. She read English Literature (BA Hons) at Oxford University. In her spare time Ailsa enjoys reading, cooking and spending time outdoors with her family.

August 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK’s Security Minister visits India to address joint threat of extremism and corruption [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 August 2023.

The UK’s Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, is in India for a 3-day visit to bolster bilateral cooperation on security initiatives and attend the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting.

During a meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, in New Delhi on Thursday (10 August), Minister Tugendhat announced new funding to enhance the UK’s capability to tackle Pro-Khalistan Extremism.

The £95,000 investment will enhance the government’s understanding of the threat posed by Pro-Khalistan Extremism, complementing the joint work already underway between the UK and India through the Joint-Extremism Task Force.

Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, said:

The living bridge between India and the UK reflects our deep and enduring friendship. As the world’s oldest and largest democracies, we have many shared opportunities to make the world a safer and more prosperous place.

A deeper partnership between our two nations means we can more effectively tackle the security threats we both face. I’m committed to working together to enhance our understanding of and capabilities against extremism – whatever form it takes.

Corruption also harms our prosperity, damages our society and threatens our national security. I am delighted to be attending the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial meeting, presided over by India, to continue strengthening global resilience and cracking down on its corrosive influence.

Before travelling to Kolkata for the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial, which will take place on 12 August, Minister Tugendhat will visit the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to discuss joint challenges posed by child sexual exploitation and abuse, and fraud. He will also meet with the Indian National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval.

The UK Government recently launched a Fraud Strategy, which includes a new National Fraud Squad who will work with local forces, international partners – including the CBI – and the UK Intelligence Community to ensure that callous fraud cells are shut down.

At the G20, Minister Tugendhat will emphasise the UK’s unwavering commitment to fighting corruption, which undermines national security and global prosperity.

The G20 discussion will compliment work already underway by the UK Government to deliver a new UK Anti-Corruption Strategy.

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis said:

The unique connection between our people brings both huge opportunities and security challenges. Through mechanisms like the Joint Extremism Task Force we are acting jointly on countering threats, including pro-Khalistan extremism, as well as on migration, to keep our people safe.

Our migration and mobility relationship is a pillar of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which also includes ensuring a free and open Indo Pacific, and tackling the biggest challenges facing the world around climate and health. This is a partnership for now, including India’s G20 Presidency, and for the future.

August 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : British Commandos train hundreds of Ukrainian Marines in UK programme [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 11 August 2023.

Ukrainian marines were trained by Royal Marines and Army Commandos to conduct small boat amphibious operations, including beach raids.

Nearly 1,000 Ukrainian marines are returning home after being trained by Royal Marines and Army Commandos, during a six-month UK programme supported by international partners.

The training, announced by the Prime Minister during President Zelenskyy’s visit to the UK in February, has seen British Commandos training Ukraine’s forces in small boat amphibious operations – conducting beach raids using inflatable boats.

It is the first programme of amphibious training delivered by the UK to Ukraine, culminating with the Ukrainian marines planning and conducting raids by both day and night.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

The UK has led the way in training the Armed Force of Ukraine, providing world-leading training in frontline combat skills to more than 20,000 of Ukraine’s Army recruits through Operation Interflex.

This programme of training, delivered by elite British commandos, will support Ukraine to build its own distinct marine force and expand its capability to operate in a maritime environment.

Approximately 900 Ukrainian marines have completed the course, which included training to use Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons (NLAW) and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, use of mortars and drones for reconnaissance, and explosive demolition of obstacles such as Dragon’s Teeth anti-vehicle fortifications.

Equipment used in the training is the same as some of the military support the UK has provided to Ukraine, with more than 10,000 anti-tank weapons including thousands of NLAW systems already provided.

Trainees came from a variety of backgrounds, with many being civilian volunteers with no prior military experience, while others have transferred from other sections within the Armed Forces of Ukraine – some having already been engaged in combat on the frontline.

Instructors from 42 Commando and 47 Commando Raiding group delivered the training, alongside Army Commandos from 24 Commando Engineers and Royal Artillery Gunners from 29 Commando. Instructors from the Netherlands Marine Corps were also part of the training programme.

One of the recently trained Ukrainian marines said:

The training I have received from the UK Royal Marines has been far more intense than I expected. I have learned so much and never expected to be doing the things I have done. All the way through, our British instructors have been beside us, showing us how to move and how to work together in a small team – this will make a difference when we return home to Ukraine.

Each training cohort underwent a rigorous five-week programme, developing individual skills including fieldcraft, battlefield first aid, close quarters combat, and fitness, and unit planning in realistic scenarios. The training will further support Ukraine’s capability to develop its own marine force and develop an international training concept for marines.

More than 20,000 recruits from the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already received training in the UK since the start of 2022, learning essential frontline skills including trench and urban warfare, leadership, and medical training.

At the start of 2023, the UK committed to train a further 20,000 Ukrainian recruits – approximately double the amount trained last year – under one of the largest training programmes of its kind in the world.

Beyond teaching combat skills to recruits, the UK has provided a broad package of in other skills including medical training to provide pastoral care, spiritual support and moral guidance.

Including both the Op Interflex and the programme for marines, the UK’s training for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is supported by Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden.

The UK remains fully committed to supporting Ukraine, with a further £2.3bn already earmarked for further military support through 2023, with additional munitions and equipment to be delivered in the coming months. Further UK government assistance continues in the form of humanitarian support and economic aid.

August 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Courts operate at full throttle to cut delays [August 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 11 August 2023.

The Crown Court will work at maximum capacity for the third year running to reduce waiting times to deliver access to justice, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has today (11 August 2023) announced.
- The Crown Court to work at maximum capacity to deliver swift justice
- Funding increased to modernise and improve courts – minimising disruption
- Immigration and Asylum Tribunal capacity boost continues
The decision to continue not to cap judicial ‘sitting days’ will mean the Crown Court can hear the highest possible number of criminal cases this year.

Court buildings across the country will also benefit from £220 million for essential modernisation and repair work across the next 2 years, meaning annual investment will increase to £120 million by March 2025 – to minimise disruptions caused by old buildings.

These improvements will maintain the heritage of the estate while ensuring it is equipped with the latest technology to deliver modern justice, as well as improving accessibility for all court users.

The government is also extending a separate capacity boost first announced in December to allow the Immigration and Asylum Tribunals to work through asylum appeals as quickly as possible and remove unnecessary delays while cases are considered.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk, said:

This government knows victims want to see justice served as quickly as possible and so we are making sure Crown Court judges can hear as many cases as possible this year.

We have a world leading justice system and a legal sector that is a cornerstone of our economy, and we should have modern, fit for the future court buildings that reflect these high standards.

The Crown Court worked for more than 100,000 sitting days across the country last year after the caps in place before the pandemic were removed.

It heard cases for more than 98,500 days in 2021/22 after the Ministry of Justice first lifted the cap, compared to around 82,000 in 2019/20.

In May and June this year, criminal courts dealt with thousands more cases compared to previous months as judges, court staff and those across the legal profession worked to tackle the outstanding caseload.

Over 10,000 days were sat in March alone – the most days in a single month since July 2015.

The government has made £220 million available over the two years to March 2025 to improve court and tribunal buildings.

This additional funding has been agreed by the government, the Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals to ensure professional and public court users have the modern and accessible buildings needed to deliver justice.

The improvements to the court estate will ensure those on the front line of the justice system will benefit from modern energy efficient heating and cooling systems to projects that will make our buildings accessible and sustainable.

The announcement builds on the 24 Nightingale courtrooms – opened as temporary spaces to boost capacity following the pandemic – that have remained open in 2023.
August 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Communities at the heart of new fund to boost local growth and energy security [August 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 11 August 2023.

£10 million fund to open in early Autumn and help deliver government’s ambitions to restore optimism and pride in local communities.
New £10 million funding pot to empower local people to develop energy projects to benefit their local areas

projects will generate clean energy, such as rural heat networks or rooftop solar, while kick-starting private investment to scale up projects

fund will support local jobs and growth, build stronger communities, and enable places to directly benefit from clean, affordable, locally sourced energy

Rural and local communities across England will be supported in setting up local energy projects that will provide local jobs and deliver energy security, thanks to a new £10 million government fund.

Both urban and rural communities will have the chance to win a portion of a new £10 million Community Energy Fund – new government grant funding to help communities develop local renewable energy projects. The Community Energy Fund will open to applications in the early Autumn.

This funding will help to kickstart projects including small-scale wind farms and rooftop solar partnerships, as well as battery storage, rural heat networks, electric vehicle charging points, and fuel poverty alleviation schemes – all proposed, designed and owned by local people.

Minister for Nuclear and Networks Andrew Bowie said:

Local communities are at the heart of our plans to boost our energy security and grow the economy. The Community Energy Fund for England will empower communities to do just that.

With it, they’ll be able to drive forward innovative energy projects that will have a lasting positive impact, bringing costs down, building stronger communities, and securing clean energy for generations to come.

Importantly, these energy projects could expand beyond local areas by attracting further investment from the private sector, in turn inspiring other communities to power their area with energy from England.

Whether in a remote village or city neighbourhood, the projects will deliver families and business with affordable, secure and clean home-grown energy, while helping homes to manage their own energy consumption to bring down costs and reduce fuel poverty.

Promoting local growth, surplus money generated from the schemes can go directly back to the community through funding local projects such as community gardens and youth employment groups.

The fund will act as a catalyst for attracting private investment to scale up projects further down the line, supporting high-quality jobs and growth in the area.

In turn, this will help deliver on the government’s ambitions to restore optimism and pride in local communities as we build a better future across the country.

Today’s new Community Energy Fund follows the success of the former Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF), expanding the remit to include renewable energy investment for both rural and urban areas.

As with the Rural Community Energy Fund, the new fund will be delivered through Local Net Zero Hubs, which support local authorities to develop net zero projects and attract commercial investment.

The Community Energy Fund will fund projects like Congleton Hydro, which received £73,511 funding from the Rural Community Energy Fund.

Thanks to government funding, the Congleton Hydro project is producing affordable, clean and secure electricity from a local weir – enough to power the equivalent of 60 homes. The project is not only reducing emissions in the area, but its success has also led to the creation of an annual £5,000 fund for local community projects. This has so far funded a re-wilding programme to protect nature in the local area and an educational programme on helping young people to deliver local sustainability.

Bob Owen, Chartered Engineer at Congleton Hydro, said:

The Rural Communities Energy Fund (RCEF) has been a real enabler for Dane Vally Community Energy’s Congleton Hydro, helping us to refine the system design and commission additional environmental studies required by the local planning authority.

The support received from RCEF is just not monetary, their facilitation of advice and assistance from a great range of contacts has been invaluable. The RCEF support also provided us with the opportunity to develop an education activity that focusses on the sustainability of the environment and a re-wilding programme—giving nature a helping hand.

Further funds from RCEF have enabled us to successfully specify and design the next Hydro Scheme based on another historic Weir in Congleton park and fund the research and the realisation of a Community Solar Scheme—the Community Share Prospectus. Without this incubator funding from RCEF, it is most unlikely that either scheme would have seen the light of day.
August 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Minister visits New Hospital Programme schemes in East of England [August 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 10 August 2023.

Health Minister visits schemes across East of England which have been prioritised for rebuilding by 2030 due to significant amounts of RAAC.
- Patients and staff to benefit from safer facilities as well as modern, standardised hospital designs and state of the art technology
- New Hospital Programme now expected to be backed by over £20 billion of investment in hospital infrastructure, with 7 new hospital schemes in the East of England
This week Health Minister Lord Markham visited 3 hospitals across the East of England, which have all been prioritised to be rebuilt by 2030 due to the significant amount of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the hospitals. Forming part of a summer tour, his visits saw him discuss the government’s plans to build 40 new hospitals across England by 2030 with staff, patients and local leaders.

Beginning at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, Lord Markham saw first-hand how over £11 million has already been spent preparing the site ready for construction, and the development of its business case. He spoke to the trust’s management team, local councillors staff and patients to discuss the benefits of the new hospital, particularly after timelines for rebuilding were brought forward due to the risks posed by the RAAC. This means construction will begin as soon as possible and will be completed by 2030.

Lord Markham also travelled to King’s Lynn to discuss the rebuild of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Rebuilding these facilities will not only ensure they’re fit for the future but will also improve the lives and safety of both staff and local patients in West and North Norfolk who use the buildings. The trust has already been allocated nearly £80 million since 2021 for works to mitigate and minimise the risk of RAAC on patient and staff safety, including propping. As part of the New Hospital Programme, fast progress is already being made with planning permission granted for a car park at the site.

Finally, the Health Minister visited Hinchingbrooke Hospital  near Huntingdon, to discuss its plans for the new hospital after it was also included as one of new five hospitals that have been identified as requiring a full rebuild due to the presence of RAAC. Having already been given over £43 million of funding on works to mitigate the impact and risks it poses to patient and staff safety since 2021, Lord Markham met with local representatives, and staff and patients to hear their views on what’s needed in the new hospital.

The three hospitals are all in their strategic outline case phase – this means they are planning the content and structure of the proposed new hospital plans which will then be reviewed by ministers to ensure they meets the needs of staff and patients and provide value for money for taxpayers.

In total, 7 new hospitals will be built in the East of England by 2030 and the government recently confirmed for the first time that the New Hospital Programme is expected to be backed by over £20 billion of investment in infrastructure.

Separately through wider capital funding, the James Paget hospital is also receiving £17 million of government funding to build a new Orthopaedic elective Hub. The Hub will be completed next summer and will have 2 operating theatres, a post-surgery recovery area and four patients bays. It’ll also be open 7 days a week and provide 1,400 extra theatre sessions per year.

Health Minister Lord Markham said:

We are investing in new NHS facilities across the country so patients can access high quality care in state-of-the-art hospitals, both now and in the years to come.

The East of England will benefit from seven new hospitals by 2030 and this week I’ve been visiting some of the sites which will be prioritised due to the presence of RAAC. I’ve enjoyed speaking to patient, staff and local leaders across the region about the plans and progress These which will help to improve safety as well as care and allow patients to be seen more quickly. This is a fundamental part of our plan to cut waiting lists – one of the government’s top five priorities.

In the long term, our new standardised design means we can rapidly replicate new hospitals across the country, helping to speed up construction and deliver on our commitment of 40 new hospitals by 2030.

Across the region, staff shared their experiences and discussed how the new hospitals will support the transformation of healthcare in the East of England by improving the patient experience with new, high-quality environments as well as improving clinical outcomes with modern theatres, wards, and diagnostic facilities to help cut waiting lists.

Making use of the latest technology, the new hospitals will have digital solutions included at the design stage which will help to reduce staff workloads and support working from any location, whilst improving the patient experience. The hospitals will also have ‘smart buildings’, which will collect and process data to optimise energy usage and contribute to the NHS’s sustainability goals.

By developing a national approach to delivering new hospitals, known as Hospital 2.0, they can be built more quickly and at a reduced cost, providing value for taxpayers. Patients and staff will benefit from a modern hospital design making use of the latest technology, digital innovation and sustainability to improve overall patient experience and provide a better working environment for staff. This will also put the NHS on a sustainable footing for the future.

Backed by increased staff with the first ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, we will deliver the biggest training expansion in NHS history and recruit and retain hundreds of thousands more staff over the next 15 years. This will be supported by over £2.4 billion in government funding.
August 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Pick up your butts! Cigarettes top plastic litter in rivers [August 2023]
The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 10 August 2023.

Volunteers cleared rubbish on England’s waterways for Plasticblitz. Cigarette butts most common plastic item found in 2 weeks of litter-picking.
Bringing together volunteers from all walks of life, the annual Plasticblitz has people clearing rubbish from rivers and riverbanks, recording what they find and recycling it where they can.

Organised by environmental charity Thames21, the Plasticblitz sees community groups, environmental charities, rotary clubs and Environment Agency staff taking part in a mass litter-pick and citizen science event on England’s waterways.

Over two weeks this summer:

585 volunteers cleared around 58km of river.

699 bags of rubbish were collected.

71 per cent of recorded waste was plastic.

Cigarette ends were the most numerous plastic items, followed by drinks lids and food wrappers.

Cigarette butts are believed to be the no.1 most-littered single-use plastic item in the world. The vast majority of cigarette filters contain plastic fibres.

Maria Herlihy, a waterways manager at the Environment Agency, said:

Plasticblitz is a great initiative and we were happy to take part again this year.

Although the figures for plastic pollution are shocking, it’s always great to see how much difference determined volunteers can make to our rivers.

And everyone has a part to play – by reducing their plastic waste, and disposing of it responsibly. Please – pick up your butts!

This is the first year that the Plasticblitz expanded beyond the Thames basin.

Chris Coode, chief executive of Thames21, said:

Since 2021, Thames21 has worked with Environment Agency teams, communities and river action groups to remove plastic waste from the River Thames and its tributaries.

Now all UK rivers can be included in this annual citizen science event, and we hope to see even more people participating next year.

Water quality and the health of rivers must improve. As we keep on reiterating, plastic litter has no place in our rivers or the natural environment. So it is great that the Plasticblitz has brought community groups together for the third time in the space of two years to raise awareness of the issue and help us gather vital evidence to push for change. Pollution is a widespread problem and we must all act together to combat it.

For the first time, Plasticblitz partners joined forces with a new charity, ReAP UK, which specialises in recycling aquatic plastic.

Tony Booker, of ReAP UK, said:

We offer a route to recycling for plastics collected by volunteer groups litter-picking in their local areas. Once processed, even dirty plastics – yes, cigarette butts – can be turned into useful items like benches, birdboxes, even otter holts – and returned to the areas the plastic was found.

We’re excited to be working with the Plasticblitz and look forward to working with the partners again in the future.

Find out more about the 2023 Plasticblitz at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fd09faa432324f058a9e4b38f5439593 – and keep an eye on the Thames21 website for information about signing up for next year’s! www.thames21.org.uk

Thames21 joined forces with the Environment Agency and Rotary International to call on volunteering, community and environmental groups to take part in a mass clean-up of plastic waste from rivers across the UK between Saturday 27 May and Sunday 11 June 2023.

Participating groups were asked to collect data, where possible, on what types of litter they encountered, allowing the Plasticblitz partners to gain an idea of what the most problematic items are. This data feeds into the Europe-wide ‘Preventing Plastic Pollution’ Project: preventingplasticpollution.com

Plastic pollution is a serious and growing problem within our rivers. Plastic waste threatens wildlife through ingestion and entanglement, and slowly breaks down into tiny plastic fragments called microplastics that can work their way into the food chain.

Once plastic enters our rivers, no-one is responsible for removing it. Many of our rivers are therefore effectively acting as plastic taps, allowing a constant stream of plastic from inland areas to flow into the sea. Some 80 per cent of plastic pollution found in the sea has passed through rivers and streams on its way there.

During last year’s Plasticblitz, which covered the Thames river basin, 461 volunteers collected 437 binbags-full of rubbish along 45km of river.

Thames21 is an environmental charity that works with communities to improve the River Thames and its tributaries. Find out more at www.thames21.org.uk

ReAP UK encourages the collection of plastic waste from rivers, canals, lakes, and oceans, ensuring it is properly recycled and kept out of landfill. Find out more at www.reap-uk.org
August 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Historic 19th-century wall restored at Royal Marine base [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 10 August 2023.

An historic 19th-century wall on a Somerset military base has been restored by VIVO Defence Services.

The renovation work, carried out on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), is the first since the wall at RM Norton Manor gained English Heritage status nearly four decades ago.

The 164-feet long Serpentine Wall was built around 1810 to border the sweeping approach to Norton Manor house at Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton in Somerset. For more than a century, the manor was used as country residence by landed gentry, including the Queen Mother’s uncle the Hon. Francis Bowes Lyon.

This changed during WW2 when the manor became a military base. In 1983 it became RM Norton Manor – the home of 40 Royal Marine Commando. The decorative Serpentine Wall was built between the main entrance of the estate and follows the contours of the woodland bordering the driveway up to the stable clock tower.

The main faces of the intricate yellow gault brick wall are mass brickwork with large decorative brick coping and dog-tooth cornicing, similar to that used in the adjacent stables. The way it sweeps the land and follows the woodland led to its name of the ‘Serpentine Wall’, and it was given a grade II listing by English Heritage in 1985.

The busy military base and the vehicles that use the road next to the wall – which is up to 2 metres high in parts – led to it becoming discoloured and covered in grime, moss, and other biological matter. It also required repointing.

DIO’s industry partner VIVO Defence Services completed the work with its partners Robert Rice Contractors in 15 weeks, cleaning the wall sensitively using a low pressure, chemical-free heated water system before carrying out the repointing work and returning the wall to its original beauty.

Stuart Clerkson, DIO Estate Facilities Manager said:

Norton Manor Camp is nestled into hillside woodland on the outskirts of Norton Fitzwarren and contains three Grade II-listed structures. Being able to carry out cleaning and repairs to The Serpentine Wall allows you to fully appreciate the beauty and craftmanship of the original construction. Following cleaning, the yellow gault bricks glow in the dappled sunlight that falls through the trees that sit above this retaining wall.

The Conservation Stewardship Fund award of £25,000 was matched from the site maintenance budget to enable this restoration to be carried out.

Jerry Moloney, Managing Director at VIVO Defence Services said:

As a facilities management and maintenance provider working solely for the UK military and its partners, we carry out a lot of varied work, whether it’s repairing runways, making military buildings more energy efficient, repairing Service Family Accommodation or providing restoration work to heritage structures.

The MOD is the UK’s second largest landlord and that means there is a lot to do. Renovating the Serpentine Wall at Norton Manor marine camp is certainly an interesting job and helps highlight the huge array of heritage buildings there are across the UK’s military bases and keeping them in good condition is historically important. Well done to our team.

August 10, 2023