Due to planned engineering works, no trains will be servicing the line between London Paddington and Reading on either Christmas Eve – Sunday, December 24 – or Wednesday, December 27.

www.southwalesargus.co.uk

Network Rail is set to begin work on the new HS2 station at Old Oak Common.

Services are not scheduled to operate on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. 

Tickets for trains travelling towards Devon and Cornwall on Friday, December 22 and Saturday, December 23 are already almost sold out. 

The following changes are being made to the London Paddington services while the work is ongoing:

• Most GWR services start or terminate at Reading instead of London Paddington;
• Limited GWR and Elizabeth line train services will run between Reading and Ealing Broadway;
• Connecting Underground services will run from Ealing Broadway into central London;
• Customers travelling to or from central London can do so using London Underground’s District or Central line services at Ealing Broadway, as the Elizabeth line will not be in operation between Ealing Broadway and London Paddington;
• South Western Railway will accept GWR tickets on these days between Reading and London Waterloo, as will Chiltern Railways between Oxford and London Marylebone. 

Passengers are also advised that no Heathrow Express services will run during this time. Customers travelling to Heathrow Airport from central London should use the Piccadilly line instead. 

Operators have said anyone who needs to travel on Sunday, December 24, or Wednesday, December 27, should allow plenty of time to reach their destination as journey times will be significantly longer than normal.

Great Western Railway say services will also finish earlier than usual on Sunday December, 24 and all journeys will need to be completed by approximately 10.30pm. 

People who do need to travel on these dates are advised to travel before 9.30am. 

For the latest information, please click here. 

“It was great to chat with @ClaireWrightInd at Exeter Central today about our local rail services – in particular the vulnerability of the East Devon line. Passengers need a more reliable service, so they can commute with confidence.”

Richard Foord of course, not Simon Jupp. Simon is becoming increasingly isolated.

MP calling for improvements on Exeter-Waterloo railway line

Adam Manning www.midweekherald.co.uk

Liberal Democrat MP Richard Foord has called for urgent work to be undertaken to improve the Exeter-Waterloo railway line in the wake of flash flooding, which saw services between Exeter and Yeovil junction cancelled for ten days. 

Speaking in Parliament this week, Tiverton & Honiton MP Richard Foord raised the issue with Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, and asked for the line to be dualled between Chard Junction and Axminster, and a passing loop at Whimple would allow trains to pass. 

In response to Mr Foord’s calls, the Minister committed to reviewing the proposed project and said he would take extra steps to reduce disruption for people living in East and Mid Devon.

Bad weather saw huge levels of rainfall, which triggered a landslide near Crewkerne. This caused train services to be cancelled for more than a week, as there is only a single track on this section of the route.   

This was not the first time this route has been blocked following heavy rain. In November 2022, the service between Exeter-Waterloo had to terminate at Axminster for several days due to a landslip near Honiton. 

Mr Foord said: “Everyone living in our corner of Devon knows just how well-used our rail services are. They offer a vital commuter link to Exeter and London, as well as being a gateway to the wider West Country for tourists and visitors. 

“However, we’ve seen multiple issues in recent years that have caused many trains to be cancelled or delayed. In particular, the fact that there is only a single track between Chard and Axminster throttles capacity, meaning that one minor issue can derail services for everyone. 

“Solutions could include dualling the line, or adding a passing loop, so that services can move back and forth more easily. We also need to see greater investment in flood defences along our railways, to avoid more damaging landslips that can block the line. 

“I am glad that the Minister agreed to look into these proposals, which would benefit our communities and everyone who regularly uses rail services. I will continue to push for the signal to go green, so that this much-needed work can begin.” 

Liberal Democrat MP Richard Foord is calling for more to be done to tackle so-called broadband ‘not-spots’ in East Devon.

Adam Manning www.midweekherald.co.uk

Speaking in Parliament, Richard Foord MP highlighted the case of two communities who have been left lagging behind on broadband – Northleigh and All Saints residents say they struggle to get even a basic internet connection. 

The Honiton MP said that it was rural areas in East Devon where speeds were the slowest, clocking in at almost half the UK average. 

Communities such as Sidmouth, Axminster, and Seaton rank in the worst 10% of the whole country for broadband. Even places like Honiton, where speeds are notionally better, the average connectivity is still in the worst 30% in the country. 

Highlighting the impact this patchy connectivity has on people’s ability to access things like online banking, to work from home, and stay in touch with loved ones, Richard Foord is now calling for the Government to step-up efforts.  In Parliament, Richard called on the Minister to get people online with speeds that bring people into the 2020s. 

Richard Foord MP said: “It’s a scandal that rural towns and villages like ours are being left struggling to get even basic broadband access, all while urban areas surge ahead. 

“In recent years we’ve seen so many banks close branches on our high streets, forcing people to rely upon online banking to manage their finances. There’s also been a rise in online bookings for travel, particularly when it comes to our railways.  

“But all of this isn’t possible if you cannot get a reliable connection. For far too long, people in our part of the world have been neglected by this Government, which seems out-of-touch with some of the challenges we face on a daily basis.  

“Devon is tired of being left at the back of the queue. That’s why we need to see real action to fix this situation and to help our communities get online, ensuring that the South West – and East Devon in particular – catches up with the rest of the country.” 

East Devon District Council has apologised after the premature withdrawal of some council tax payments this month. The authority has blamed a ‘technical glitch’ which meant a payment was taken on Friday rather than on December 27.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com 

The council has said that they understand the financial impact this may have on households, especially at this time of year. They said: “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

For residents who do not have enough money in their account to cover the payment. EDDC, suggests they contact their bank and ask them to stop and/or reverse the transaction. If the banks do this the funds should appear back in their account on the same day, and they should avoid any fees.

A statement issued on Friday said: “ East Devon District Council deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to our residents due to an unforeseen error which has resulted in the premature withdrawal of some council tax payments this month.

“On Friday, December 22, a technical glitch occurred in our payment processing system, causing some residents to experience an early debit of their council tax payment. The normal date for payments (the 25th of the month) should have meant the 27th December was the date banks would have taken payment. We understand the financial impact this may have on households, especially at this time of year and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“Where the payment has been made by a resident’s bank and the loss of funds causes hardship, residents should contact their bank and ask for the payment to be reversed under the direct debit indemnity, EDDC will then make contact with residents in the new year to arrange for payment of the instalment.

“For residents who do not have enough money in their account to cover the payment. EDDC, suggests they contact their bank and ask them to stop and/or reverse the transaction. If the banks do this the funds should appear back in their account on the same day, and they should avoid any fees.

“If it is too late to contact the bank and fees are incurred due to this error, residents are asked to provide evidence of the fees incurred and email these to counciltax@eastdevon.gov.uk and the council tax team will look to recompense the fees incurred.

“For those who experience financial difficulties from this error, our financial resilience team will be dealing with emergency requests on the mornings of the 27 and 29 December. To submit a request for financial support, please click on the council website.

“The council wants to assure residents that steps are being taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and East Devon District Council remains committed to helping anyone affected by this error.”

The most recent figures showed one in 24 people in England and Scotland had Covid on 13 December, up from one in 55 two weeks before.

Matthew Weaver www.theguardian.com

The Royal College of Nursing has warned of an increase risk of Covid among hospital staff and patients due to the NHS’s failure to follow World Health Organization advice about infection control during a current spike in cases.

The most recent figures showed one in 24 people in England and Scotland had Covid on 13 December, up from one in 55 two weeks before.

On Tuesday, the WHO expressed concern about a new subvariant of Omicron, labelled JN.1, after its rapid spread in the Americas, western Pacific and European regions. To tackle the increase, the WHO advised that all health facilities “implement universal masking” and give health workers “respirators and other PPE”.

Now the RCN has written to the four chief nursing officers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland asking why this guidance has not been introduced across the NHS.

The letter, seen by the Guardian, points out that existing guidance in the national infection prevention and control manual (NIPCM) does not mandate hospital staff to use masks. It also leaves decisions about respirators to local risk assessors.

The RCN says this guidance to UK hospitals is “inconsistent” with WHO advice.

The letter by Patricia Marquis, the RCN’s director for England, calls for urgent revision to the NIPCM guidance to ensure the “universal implementation” of masks and respirators for health workers.

Marquis wrote: “I am mindful of the current unsustainable pressures on the health service, with … a rise in cases and hospitalisations with Covid-19, alongside other respiratory viruses in general circulation. I am concerned that without proper protections ill-health and sickness will continue to rise in nursing staff and impact on their ability to deliver safe and effective patient care.”

She added: “We are also concerned about the increased risks to patients from hospital-acquired respiratory infections.”

Marquis also raised the issue of ventilation in hospitals. She said: “We also have concerns about the adequacy of ventilation in general ward and outpatient areas within hospital buildings and believe that action must be taken to assess and improve this.”

In Tuesday’s update, the WHO said the global health risk posed by JN.1 was “low” based on the available evidence. But it added: “Despite this, with the onset of winter in the northern hemisphere, JN.1 could increase the burden of respiratory infections in many countries.”

It also pointed out that Covid “is not the only respiratory disease circulating. Influenza, RSV and common childhood pneumonia are on the rise”.

The UK Health Security Agency, which is responsible for the guidance, has been approached for comment.

Christina Pagel, a professor of operational research at University College London, suggested JN.1 was likely to cause a wave of infections second only to that recorded in England in March 2022, which was driven by the Omicron variant.

“After a quieter 2023, it’s a sign that we can’t just assume that Covid has gone away or can’t cause us significant issues any more,” she said, adding as many people had not been eligible for recent booster programmes, they had not had a Covid vaccination for two years.

“This will likely mean they feel sicker [if they do catch Covid] and also [have an] increased risk of long Covid too,” Pagel said. “Given we’ve got millions of leftover vaccines from the autumn booster campaign, why not try to put them in people’s arms instead of the bin and open them out to the general population?”

Long-established Christmas seaside swimming locations have been flooded with sewage over the last year, prompting concern that swimmers could fall ill.

Aletha Adu www.theguardian.com 

They would not be able to claim compensation, as Tory MPs earlier this month blocked a Lib Dem amendment that would have allowed anyone who got sick as a result of illegal sewage dumping to claim from water companies.

During the festive season, swimmers traditionally wear cheery fancy dress as they plunge into the sea at beaches from Eastbourne, Sussex, to St Ives, Cornwall.

Statistics analysed by the Lib Dems have found that this year, festive swimmers will be using beachfronts where 4,574 hours of sewage has been spilled. Between the 32 event locations analysed by the party, almost 1,000 sewage spills were found to have occurred this year.

The former party leader Tim Farron said there needed to be a ban on sewage dumping in swimming areas.

In Sale, Greater Manchester, swimmers attending a Boxing Day charity event will be exposed to waters that have had 94 sewage discharges nearby. On the same day, an event in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, will expose swimmers to waters in which there have been 67 sewage discharges lasting a total of 405 hours over the last year.

A New Year’s Day swim location in Saunderfoot, Wales, has had 1,244 hours worth of sewage pumped into nearby waters this year.

At Brighton, which holds a festive swimming event, Southern Water fails to even monitor sewage, leaving revellers oblivious to the water quality.

Two years ago, outdoor swimmers in Oxfordshire were forced to cancel their Boxing Day swim after Thames Water announced a sewage dump on Christmas Day.

Farron, now the Lib Dem’s environment spokesperson, criticised the “Christmas stink” left by Conservative ministers. He expressed fears swimmers who could be made ill by the sewage, with no compensation from water companies after Conservatives blocked a proposed new law in parliament earlier this month.

MPs rejected the amendment, tabled by Farron, to the victims and prisoners bill by 267 to 27, a majority of 240, with the Lib Dem MP calling the result an “absolute disgrace”. He said Conservative MPs had “yet again voted to let water companies off the hook.

“This is a real Christmas stink for so many hoping to enjoy their traditional festive swim. The freezing cold water should be the only thing swimmers worry about, not sewage floating by them,” Farron said.

“It’s disgusting that our coastlines and lakes have been polluted by this foul habit. There needs to be a ban on sewage discharges in swimming areas. When will Conservative ministers finally clamp down on profiteering water firms who are destroying our environment?

“It was shocking to see Conservative MPs block plans to compensate swimmers made sick by sewage. Not only are they letting them pump sewage into waterways, but they are also content for swimmers to get sick.”

A report from the marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage found 1,924 cases of people getting sick because of suspected sewage pollution over the last year, nearly triple the number of cases reported in the previous year.

The shadow environment secretary, Steve Reed, accused the government of turning a “blind eye to corruption and cover-ups” in the water industry.

He was referencing a BBC Panorama report that examined sewage releases into waterways by companies deemed to have good environmental ratings. It found United Utilities, a water company in the north-west of England, wrongfully downgraded 60 incidents to the lowest possible category, meaning they officially caused no environmental harm.

The environment secretary, Steve Barclay, insisted the government was taking a tougher approach to monitoring and penalties, and said spills from storm overflows were worse in Labour-led Wales.

A spokesperson for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “This year 96% of our bathing waters met minimum standards with 90% now ranked as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ – up from just 28% in the 1990s.

“Our Plan for Water is delivering more investment, stronger regulation, and tougher enforcement to clean up our waterways and bathing waters, including £1.7bn of this being used to tackle storm overflows to cut over 10,000 discharges by 2025.”