Babak Belurs

Jumat, 14 Agustus 2020

Firefighters tackle blaze at Cadbury Club as smoke seen across Birmingham - Daily Mail

Fifty firefighters tackle huge blaze at Cadbury Club as nearby homes are evacuated and plumes of smoke can be seen across Birmingham

Fire has broken out at Cadbury's sports and social club in south Birmingham
More than 50 firefighters brought to tackle blaze, helped by hydraulic platform
Club was set up more than 35 years ago for employees of the chocolate company

Published: 19:55 BST, 14 August 2020 | Updated: 22:32 BST, 14 August 2020

A huge fire that broke out at the famous Cadbury Club in Birmingham has left employees 'absolutely devastated'.

More than 50 fire fighters have been brought in to tackle the blaze at the company's Bournville site, where flames are still lingering five hours after the fire started.

Plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the air from several miles around.

The building, a sports and social club for employees, is believed to have been severely damaged in the fire, but luckily no injuries have been reported.

West Midlands Fire Service said that seven crews were in attendance.

'Crews are currently dealing with a severe fire in Bournville. Four main jets are in use,' they tweeted.'Please avoid Bournville Lane, Mary Vale Round and the surrounding area.'

A huge fire has broken out at the famous Cadbury Club in Birmingham, sending a plume of smoke hundreds of feet into the air

As night fell, fire trucks were still working to bring the blaze under control five hours after it had started

West Midlands Watch Commander Steve Harris said: 'Crews are working very hard to to contain the fire and stop it spreading to any other buildings. Obviously in these hot conditions it is extremely difficult for them at the moment.

'When asked if the fire had been brought under control, Steve added: ‘I wouldn’t say it i sunder control but we are fighting it from all four sides at the moment.

'We do know that everyone is out of the building, there were some people in at the time the fire started.'

Set in the heart of Bournville in southern Birmingham, the Cadbury Club has been established for over 35 years as a sports and social club, serving the chocolate company's employees and the local community.

The social club is believed to have caught ablaze at around 5pm this afternoon, casting smoke across the city.

West Midlands Watch Commander Steve Harris said: 'Crews are working very hard to to contain the fire and stop it spreading to any other buildings'

West Midlands Fire Service have more than 50 firefighters tackling the blaze

The building serves both as a bar and a reception room for weddings, birthdays and christenings.

Cadbury Committee member Peter Lucas has said he is devastated over the loss of the 100-year-old building.

'It is just absolutely devastating - so sad. Firefighters are doing their best to try and save the original roof which is 100 years old but I am not sure it can be saved,' he told BirminghamLive.

'It is such a popular club. We have more than 400 members here and they are going to be absolutely devastated.

'We are not sure what caused the fire at the moment though we believe it started in a small room by the bar area.'

Dramatic footage taken from the scene shows a large emergency service presence, and witnesses reporting smoke from the fire several miles away.

One man wrote: 'Devastating news about the big fire The Cadbury Club. 400/250 capacity venue, excellent asset to the factory community and beyond.

'On a personal level it also hits hard as me and my wife had our wedding reception there. Hope it can be saved.'

Dramatic footage taken from the scene shows a large emergency service presence, and witnesses reporting smoke from the fire several miles away

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2020-08-14 18:55:39Z
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Coronavirus: North England Covid-19 restrictions extended - BBC News

Lockdown restrictions on social gatherings for parts of northern England will continue despite measures being relaxed across the country.

In Greater Manchester cases have risen in Oldham, with a similar trend in Pendle, Lancashire, while case numbers remain high in Blackburn with Darwen.

Bradford and Kirklees in Yorkshire have also seen case numbers rise.

The government will work with leaders in the region to address the rising trends.

The ban on indoor gathering continues to apply in these areas and people will continue to be prohibited from mixing with other households within private homes or gardens.

Oldham had 112 cases per 100,000 people in the week up to 8 August, the highest in the country.

Second lockdown warning

Blackburn with Darwen Council, which figures for the week up to 10 August show had 82 cases per 100,000 people, said it was looking to increase local testing.

Despite an England-wide easing of restrictions planned from Saturday with reopening of venues including casinos, bowling alleys and conference halls, such places in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and East Lancashire will remain shut.

Pools, indoor gyms and other leisure facilities as well as nail bars, spas and beauty salons will open across England but will remain closed in Blackburn and Bradford, with shielding to continue for people in Blackburn with Darwen.

What can't I do in the local lockdowns?

Oldham Council leader Arooj Shah, said "despite the efforts of our residents, businesses and public services positive cases continue to rise" and warned of a second lockdown.

"Earlier this week we warned of the risk of imminent lockdown for the borough and, despite today's announcement, those warnings remain," he said.

"In the absence of a vaccine, an effective testing and tracing system is vital in the management of this crisis. We welcome the opportunity to work more closely with government both to improve our access to government testing facilities for residents and to deliver more contact tracing at a local level."

In a joint statement Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Mohammed Khan, Sayyed Osman, director of adult social care and Prof Dominic Harrison, director of public health, said the local authority has acted "decisively and proactively since cases started to rise".

"We have been lobbying for increased testing capability, including hyperlocal community testing; more funding for businesses and more funding to help people who unable to work because they are isolating," they said.

"As many people as possible need to get tested as well as it helps us understand what is happening with the virus in our borough."

'Remain vigilant'

The council did not rule out the possibility of further lockdown measures which it said could be imposed unless "significant progress" is made in reducing cases.

Health minister Edward Argar said it was "essential" people remained vigilant.

"I urge everyone in these areas to continue to follow the rules - wash your hands regularly, follow social distancing, get yourself a free test as soon as you get any symptoms, and isolate if NHS Test and Trace tells you to," he said.

Measures will be reviewed next week alongside the latest data.

Pendle Council has been contacted for comment.

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2020-08-14 17:08:16Z
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A-levels: Worcester College 'will honour offers' despite results - BBC News

An Oxford college has said it will honour all places it offered to UK students, irrespective of their A-level results.

There has been anger among schools, colleges and students since Thursday when 40% of awarded A-level grades were lower than teachers' predictions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the results were a "robust set of grades".

Worcester College said it had given offers to its "most diverse cohort ever" before exams were cancelled.

In England, 36% of entries had a lower grade than teachers predicted and 3% were down two grades after exams were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

School and college leaders are calling for a review and have said all fees for appeals should be waived.

However, the overall results, across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, show record highs for A* and A grades.

A statement on the website of Worcester College, which has about 700 students, said: "Many members of our college community and beyond have expressed their concern for the potential impact of yesterday's A-level results on this year's incoming students.

"At Worcester we made offers in 2020 to our most diverse cohort ever, and in response to the uncertainties surrounding this year's assessment, we have confirmed the places of all our UK offer-holders, irrespective of their A-level results."

Staff at another Oxford college, that has not confirmed places, told the BBC they had been "flooded with emails" from concerned alumni that deserving students could lose out.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said pupils would be able to sit exams in the autumn if they felt they "could have done better" or felt there had been "an injustice".

He added: "But looking at the big picture, I think overall we've got a very robust set of grades, plus you've got the situation in which more pupils than ever before are getting their first choice course at university and more kids from disadvantaged backgrounds going to university."

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2020-08-14 16:52:30Z
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Coronavirus restrictions in parts of England to remain in place as new areas added to watchlist - Sky News

Coronavirus restrictions in parts of England are to remain in place for at least another week, the government has announced.

Current rules on gatherings in parts of the North West, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester will remain in force, the Department of Health and Social Care said.

It means people in the areas affected cannot meet others in their homes or gardens, unless they are in a support bubble.

The restrictions will be reviewed again next week.

While casinos, bowling alleys and conference halls are among a range of venues that will reopen across England on Saturday, this will not happen in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester.

The government said the latest data does not show a decrease in the number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in the areas affected.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock, in conjunction with local leaders, agreed that restrictions should remain in place.

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There has been a continued rise in COVID-19 cases in Oldham and Pendle, while numbers are still high in Blackburn with Darwen.

Local leaders have established an "enhanced incident team" in a bid to bring infection rates under control.

Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire has been designated as one of the "areas of concern" on a watchlist of council areas with higher-than-average incidences of the virus.

In Leicester, infection rates have fallen. A further review is being carried out and an update will be issued next week.

Health minister Edward Argar said: "I'd like to thank everyone in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester for their continued patience in following these vital rules put in place to tackle the spread of the disease - I know it hasn't been easy."

He added: "It is essential we all remain vigilant and I urge everyone in these areas to continue to follow the rules - wash your hands regularly, follow social distancing, get yourself a free test as soon as you get any symptoms, and isolate if NHS Test and Trace tells you to."

The current restrictions allow people to meet others in groups of up to six individuals, or two households in public spaces outdoors.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock — Hancock: People ignored social distancing rules

A range of premises will remain closed in Bradford, Blackburn and Leicester, including pools, indoor gyms, nail bars, spas and beauty salons.

Shielding will continue for individuals in Blackburn with Darwen and Leicester City.

According to Leicester City Council, those who are deemed clinically extremely vulnerable people and shielding until at least 7 September will receive a letter or text from the NHS telling them that guidance will be slightly relaxed from Monday.

People in this category will be informed they can meet in a group of up to six people outside, that they do not need to maintain social distancing with other members of their household, and that a single adult household can form a support bubble with one other household.

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2020-08-14 14:37:30Z
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Stonehaven train derailment: Crash investigators confirm train struck landslip - BBC News

A derailment which left three people dead happened after the train struck a landslip covering the track, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch has said.

The driver, conductor and a passenger died when the 06:38 Aberdeen to Glasgow service crashed near Stonehaven.

The RAIB said the train had turned back towards Aberdeen after reports of a landslip further down the track.

The six-vehicle train had travelled more than a mile when it was derailed after hitting a separate landslip.

The track curved to the right, but investigators said the train continued in a straight line for about 100 yards before hitting the parapet of a bridge.

The locomotive at the front of the train continued over the bridge and fell down an embankment, as did the third passenger carriage.

The first passenger carriage came to rest on its roof, at right angles to the track, with the second passenger carriage on top of it.

The fourth passenger carriage remained upright and also came to rest on top of the first carriage. It was still attached to the rear locomotive.

The RAIB said the train had left Stonehaven station and passed Carmont on Wednesday morning when it was stopped by a signaller who had received a report of a landslip further along the track.

The decision was taken to return to Aberdeen, and the train was routed back over a crossover at Carmont.

The RAIB said it was collecting evidence on the cause and consequences of the accident.

It will examine the sequence of events and the actions of those involved, as well as the management of earthworks and drainage in the area, including recent inspections and risk assessments.

Simon French, chief inspector of the RAIB, said: "Thankfully, fatal derailments are a rare occurrence on the UK's national network.

"However, landslips and other earthworks failures remain a risk to trains that needs to be constantly managed - and this is becoming even more challenging for the rail industry due to the increasing incidence of extreme weather events."

Driver Brett McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie and passenger Christopher Stuchbury died in the crash.

On Thursday, their families told of their devastation at their deaths.

In a fresh tribute on Friday, the Roxburghe House hospice in Aberdeen where Mr Stuchbury volunteered in his spare time said he was "incredibly caring".

Prince Charles thanked emergency responders for their bravery when he visited the site crash on Friday.

He met some of those among the first on the scene, including Pc Liam Mercer and Pc Eilidh McCabe.

It earlier emerged that an off-duty rail worker walked a mile to raise the alarm after surviving the accident.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson told BBC Scotland's The Nine that a "number of actions" were taken after the derailment to raise the alarm.

He said: "There was a call made by someone who believed that an incident had taken place locally and they contacted Police Scotland.

"There was also an off-duty railway person on the train who, after it derailed, walked around a mile to the next signal box and advised them that an incident had occurred, which allowed Network Rail at its national control centre to close the line.

"During the course of that, Police Scotland obviously dispatched their staff and Network Rail dispatched some of the staff that they had working nearby to respond to the incident."

UK Transport Minister Grant Shapps has asked Network Rail to produce an interim report by 1 September.

Network Rail said it would carry out detailed inspections of high-risk trackside slopes with similar characteristics to the site of the Aberdeenshire crash.

Dozens of sites across Britain will be assessed using in-house engineers, specialist contractors and helicopter surveys.

Scotland's Lord Advocate has asked Police Scotland, British Transport Police and the Office of Rail and Road, the independent regulator, to conduct a joint investigation into the accident.

This will run in parallel with the independent safety investigation being carried out by the RAIB.

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2020-08-14 13:58:38Z
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Coronavirus cases stable across most of England - BBC News

Coronavirus cases across England appear to be levelling off, despite flare-ups in local hotspots, according to estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

An estimated 1 in 1,900, or 28,300 people in England currently have the virus.

The ONS said evidence of a "small increase" people testing positive in July has now stabilised.

It has been regularly testing people in private households since April.

The ONS survey provides a consistent picture of what's been happening, because it regularly tests a large group of people - whether they have symptoms or not.

That means any changes are down to fewer or more infections, not just because more testing is taking place.

In areas where there have been spikes, more testing takes place.

Looking at the government's figures, this can make it look like cases are rising, when in fact more are simply being uncovered.

On the other hand, the relatively small number of people involved in the survey means the conclusions are based on 58 positive tests out of 122,000 swabs in the past six weeks.

But the ONS takes this uncertainty into account and even, with a margin of error, believes cases are levelling off.

Symptom check

The Covid Symptom Study app run by company ZOE and researchers at King's College London shows a similar picture.

It estimates 22,702 people currently have symptomatic Covid in the UK.

Symptom study figures. which are slightly more up to date than ONS figures, also show a rise in cases in July which then tailed off and have since fallen.

The government's figures on "confirmed cases" - which just look at positive tests, but don't adjust for more tests being done - look like cases are rising.

But there hasn't, yet, been a corresponding rise in hospitalisations or deaths.

LOCKDOWN BABIES: How have pregnancies and births changed?
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2020-08-14 11:48:45Z
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Coronavirus: Restrictions in parts of England to remain in place - Sky News

Coronavirus restrictions in parts of England are to remain in place, the government has announced.

Current rules on gatherings in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester will remain in force, the Department of Health and Social Care said.

It means people in the areas affected cannot meet others in their homes or gardens, unless they are in a support bubble.

The restrictions will be reviewed again next week.

While casinos, bowling alleys and conference halls are among a range of venues that will reopen across England on Saturday, this will not happen in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester.

The government said the latest data does not show a decrease in the number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in the areas affected.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock, in conjunction with local leaders, agreed that restrictions should remain place.

There has been a continued rise in COVID-19 cases in Oldham and Pendle, while numbers are still high in Blackburn with Darwen.

Local leaders have established an "enhanced incident team" in a bid to bring infection rates under control.

In Leicester, infection rates have fallen. A further review is being carried out and an update will be issued next week.

The current restrictions allow people to meet others in groups of up to six individuals, or two households in public spaces outdoors.

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