Press release: Planned roadworks in the North East: summary for Monday 20 to Sunday 26 March 2017

The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of Friday 17 March but could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible.

A1 junction 56 Barton to junction 51 Leeming Bar

There will be phases of overnight lane closures and full carriageway closures while work takes place to upgrade the road to motorway standards. There will also be narrow lanes and a 50mph speed restriction 24 hours a day. On Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 March there will be a carriageway closure northbound between junction 50 and Scotch Corner, and southbound between Scotch Corner and junction 51 as well as a southbound closure of the carriageway over Barton interchange with a diversion down and under the interchange.

On Wednesday 22 March there will be a carriageway closure northbound between junction 50 and Scotch Corner, and southbound between Scotch Corner and junction 51 as well as a southbound closure of the carriageway over Barton interchange with a diversion down and under the interchange and a partial closure of Scotch Corner interchange.

On Thursday 23 March there will be a carriageway closure northbound between junction 50 and Scotch Corner, and southbound between Scotch Corner and junction 51 as well as a southbound closure of the carriageway over Barton interchange with a diversion down and under the interchange. Then on Friday 23 March there will be a southbound closure of the carriageway over Barton interchange with a diversion down and under the interchange and a closure of the carriageway under Scotch Corner interchange with a diversion up and over the interchange and a partial closure of Scotch Corner interchange.

All these closures will take place between 8pm and 6am with diversions in place. From 8pm on Friday 3 March through to mid April the Junction 56 northbound exit slip will be closed 24/7 with a diversion.

A1 Blaydon Haugh Viaduct, junction 73 to junction 74, Newcastle upon Tyne

There is a 50mph limit in operation over Blaydon Haugh Viaduct due to the installation of temporary plates over defective viaduct joints. From Monday 20 to Friday 25 March there will be a carriageway closure southbound between 8pm and 6am. From 8pm on Saturday 26 March until 6am on Monday 27 March the southbound carriageway will be closed for the bridging plates to be removed. All these closures will take place with a diversion in place.

A1 Morpeth, Northumberland

There will be work ongoing until spring 2017 for the construction of a bypass. There will be various phases of daytime and night time lane and carriageway closures, with narrow lanes and a 40mph speed restriction in place. On Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 March there will be traffic signals in place southbound between 8pm and 6am.

A1 Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland

There will be a carriageway closure with traffic signals in place north and southbound for resurfacing work. This will take place on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 March between 8pm and 6am, with diversions in place.

A1 Warreners House to Earsdon, Northumberland

There will be convoy working in place north and southbound for resurfacing work. This will take place from Wednesday 22 to Tuesday 28 March between 8pm and 6am.

From Monday 20 March for five nights the A19 will be closed between 8pm and 6am with diversions in place for interchange improvement work. There will also be a 24 hour 30mph speed restriction with narrow lanes. This project is due for completion in March 2019.

A66 Long Newton, Stockton on Tees

There will be an off-peak lane closure in operation along the A66 westbound between Elton Interchange and Long Newton Interchange until Friday 24 March. It is anticipated that the works will be completed by Friday 31 March.

A66 Blands Corner, Darlington Bypass, County Durham

The circulatory will be closed for resurfacing work. This will take place from Saturday 18 to Monday 20 March between 8pm and 6am.

A66 Rokeby to Scotch Corner, North Yorkshire

There will be a carriageway closure east and westbound for barrier work. This will take place on Wednesday 22 March between 8pm and 6am, with diversions in place.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.



News story: Nowruz 2017: Prime Minister’s message

I send my warmest wishes to everyone celebrating the festival of Nowruz in Britain, Iran and around the world.

At this time of year families and friends will be gathering to celebrate the New Year and mark the start of spring.

To everyone celebrating Nowruz in the UK – I wish you a happy, healthy and peaceful new year.

Har ruzetan Nowruz, Nowruzetan piruz.



Press release: Join Anglian flood and coastal committee

The Environment Agency is looking for members to join the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC) which covers the River Great Ouse catchment, including large parts of the Fens, part of the Wash and North West Norfolk coast. Roles will start in July 2017 and January 2018.

RFCCs play an important role in deciding local priorities for flood and coastal work. They have a critical role supporting the Environment Agency and local authorities to work with communities and other partners to help bring in more funding.

More people are needed to help develop plans. They should have effective communication skills, be able to think strategically and bring enthusiasm, expertise and new ideas, using their particular skills and experience to advise and provide opinions during committee meetings.

A specific vacancy exists for a member with coastal expertise and focus. Someone able to network nationally and help develop innovative ideas with partners and communities. The RFCC has a varied and vulnerable coastline that extends from the west of King’s Lynn through to Hunstanton cliffs.

There are also 3 vacancies for general members and, in particular, applications will be welcome from people with knowledge and experience of incident management, community resilience, agri-business and industry, land drainage, water management or strategic/spatial planning.

New members will have a contact within the Environment Agency who they can work closely with to ensure they have a good understanding of the issues and discussions taking place at meetings and who will be happy to answer any queries.

RFCC members are all appointed as impartial individuals in their own right and not as representatives of any particular organisation. It is important that the committees represent the communities they serve. All public appointments are made on merit, following a fair, open and transparent process.

Members would be expected to attend 4 committee meetings per year and are able to claim expenses.

Anyone interested in helping to make a difference in their local area should get in touch to discuss further with Paul Burrows (Environment Agency Flood & Coastal Risk Manager) on paul.burrows@environment-agency.gov.uk or on 07824431597.

For an application pack please visit or contact Stephanie North on 02030 251938 or email AnglianRFCCs@environment-agency.gov.uk

Closing date for applications is 13 April 2017. Interviews taking place the week commencing 19 June 2017 at Environment Agency offices, Bromholme Lane, Brampton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE28 4NE.



Joint statement from Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson following today’s Shadow Cabinet meeting

Joint
statement from Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson

The
shadow cabinet met today to discuss Labour’s policy and election plans and had
a robust and constructive discussion about the challenges and opportunities
ahead.

The
shadow cabinet agreed on the need to strengthen party unity. It recognised the
right of groups across the spectrum of Labour’s broad church to discuss their
views and try to influence the party so long as they operate within the rules.

The
leadership represents the whole party and not any one strand within it. No one
speaks for the leadership except the leadership themselves and their
spokespeople.

The
shadow cabinet agreed our local and Mayoral election strategy and what a united
Labour Party can and must offer the whole country after seven years of Tory
austerity in terms of jobs, housing, education and health and social care.

We
will fight for a Britain where people aren’t held back and where everyone in
every community can lead a richer life.

Jeremy
Corbyn,
Leader of the Labour Party

Tom
Watson,
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party



Britain is about to embark on the most complex and important negotiations since World War II. This a hugely significant moment for the whole country – Keir Starmer

Keir
Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, commenting on
reports that Theresa May will trigger Article 50 on March 29, said:

“Britain
is about to embark on the most complex and important negotiations since World
War II, so this a hugely significant moment for the whole country.

“Theresa
May has repeatedly said that she wants to build a national consensus on Brexit,
but it is increasingly clear she has failed to do so. Britain is now more
divided at home and isolated abroad.

“It
is also extraordinary that the Prime Minister has failed to provide any
certainty about her plans for Brexit or to prepare for the clear dangers of not
reaching a deal with the EU.

“Labour
will hold the Prime Minister to account all the way, and argue for a Brexit
deal that puts jobs, the economy and living standards first.”