Giant crane now in place to help reinstate flood defences

Press release

A huge 800-tonne crane is now in situ near Matlock Bridge to help the Environment Agency reinstate the town’s flood defences.

The Environment Agency’s work to restore flood protection in Matlock, Derbyshire started last week when a huge 800-tonne crane arrived on site.

While the crane is situated on the A6 near Matlock Bridge, the road remains closed and a temporary 2-way traffic system on the bridge is now in place.

The crane is being used to assist in carrying out work to reinstate the River Derwent flood defences. This involves replacing the river wall that collapsed after this year’s February storms and the adjacent flood wall behind businesses in Crown Square, Matlock.

The work currently involves lifting 600 2-tonne bags into the river from the A6 to form a working platform for piling works to take place.

A family-fun ‘Name the crane’ day is being held in Matlock on Wednesday 10 August. In attendance will be Sarah Dines MP; the Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire; the Mayor of Matlock; and the Civil Chair of Derbyshire County Council among other local dignitaries.

Naomi Doughty, Project Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

The large 800-tonne crane situated on the A6 near to Matlock Bridge in Derbyshire is helping us to carry out essential work on reinstating the flood defences on the River Derwent. This involves lifting materials and machinery across the river to where the replacement river wall and flood wall will be constructed.

It will be in place until at least the end of the year and will then either remain in situ to enable the cladding of the sheet piles to take place or return in the spring when the weather is more conducive to the works being carried out.

We’ve listened to feedback from local businesses about the difficult times they’ve experienced recently so, in conjunction with our contractors, Jackson Civil Engineering, we are holding a ‘Name the crane’ family-fun day on Wednesday 10 August to encourage more visitors to Matlock.

Kathryn Battelle, Public Liaison Officer for Jackson Civil Engineering, added:

The crane is one of the biggest mobile cranes in the UK and we’re running a competition to find the best name for it.

We’re hoping that families will come and join in the fun at our event on Wednesday, which will also provide a unique photo opportunity among other fun activities. We have some great prizes on offer and Jackson Civil Engineering will match all public donations made on the day for Air Ambulance.

Published 8 August 2022

Charity Commission Annual Public Meeting 2022

News story

Charity Commission Chair, Orlando Fraser QC and CEO, Helen Stephenson CBE invite you to the Annual Public Meeting on Wednesday 12 October at 10:45am.

You are invited to join our Annual Public Meeting on Wednesday 12 October 2022 at 10.45am.

Our Chair (Orlando Fraser QC), CEO (Helen Stephenson CBE) and colleagues will provide updates and insight into the Commission’s work.

About the event

This year’s meeting is a hybrid event open to all members of the public and charity representatives.

This event is free of charge but pre-registration is a must. Please book online for this event.

More information will be available soon. In the meantime, If you have any questions about the event, please email events@charitycommission.gov.uk.

Date & Time

Wednesday 12 October 2022

In person: 10:00am for registration

Online: 10:45am

Our privacy notice for the live broadcast of our annual public meeting can be found on GOV.UK.

Published 8 August 2022

CNC assist at Commonwealth Games 2022

News story

CNC officers and specialist search dogs have been hard at work supporting West Midlands Police to bring safety and security to the Commonwealth Games.

CNC handlers and police dogs have been on duty each day for the duration of the pre-games (18 – 22 July) and the post-games (25 July – 7 August), conducting searches and engaging with the public.

Officers have searched hotels, conference facilities, bus stations, train stations, stadiums, the National Exhibition Centre, Coventry City football grounds and Alexander Track and Field Stadium in Birmingham.

Upon completion, a total of 90 days of operational searches will have been conducted.

Insp Andrew Potter, of the CNC’s Operational Dog Unit, said: “It has been an honour to be able to work alongside our West Midlands colleagues to provide specialist search dog capability during the Commonwealth Games.”

Published 8 August 2022

Supporting safer recruitment in the early years and education sector

News story

The DBS ‘Making Recruitment Safer’ campaign promotes the support available from our Regional Outreach service.

Graphic that reads: Making Recruitment Safer campaign by the Disclosure and Barring Service. There is an image of a shield to represent safeguarding.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has launched the latest stage of the ‘Making Recruitment Safer’ campaign. This stage of the campaign is aimed at the early years and education sector, and highlights the range of free advice and training available to organisations of all sizes. Advice and training ranges from covering DBS checks and eligibility, to the legal duty to make a barring referral, and how to make a referral.

DBS has teamed up with partner organisations in early years and education who have previously benefitted from DBS support, to help promote the campaign to other employers in the sector. Partners include Early Years Wales, PACEY – the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, Estio Training, and EMP.

The ‘Making Recruitment Safer’ campaign initially launched in June 2022 and has previously targeted charity and faith sectors.

Eric Robinson, CEO of DBS, said:

DBS performs a vital role in helping to protect children, young people, and vulnerable adults by supporting employers to make safer recruitment decisions. We are pleased to launch our new campaign with the early years and education sector to highlight the free training and advice we can provide to organisations through our Regional Outreach service.

This service provides organisations with a single point of contact for all DBS-related queries and questions, as well as the opportunity to access tailored, DBS training for their staff and volunteers. The team also collates feedback to ensure future improvements can be made to DBS services and processes.

Find out more about the campaign on social media by searching #DBSMakingRecruitmentSafer.

More information about DBS’ Regional Outreach service can be found in our outreach guidance.

Published 8 August 2022

NWS Annual Review 2021-22 – Safe, Sooner

Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) was formed in January 2022 for the safe, secure, and sustainable management of nuclear waste.

NWS is part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group and brings together the expertise of LLWR, which manages the LLW Repository Site in West Cumbria and associated range of services, RWM, which is responsible for delivering the GDF Programme, and the NDA’s Integrated Waste Management Programme, which looks across all activities and explores innovative approaches to managing nuclear waste.

We specialise in managing and disposing of radioactive waste produced from the nuclear technologies that have been part of our lives for more than 60 years – and our expertise spans many areas such as nuclear science, engineering, and community engagement.

The NWS Annual Review, published today, explains our organisational transition and development of NWS, alongside significant successes over the past year (1 April 2021-31 March 2022), including:

An outstanding safety record – with zero reportable incidents at the LLW Repository Site throughout a very busy Covid impacted year.
Real progress in the search for a suitable site and a willing community for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) – with four search areas and community engagement in different parts of the country.
Achieving multi-million pound savings through innovative management of nuclear waste, such as the treatment of plutonium-contaminated materials.

NWS CEO Corhyn Parr said:

This year NWS has formed to safely manage the UK’s nuclear waste innovatively and sustainably – and we’ve also seen some extraordinary successes. I’m particularly proud of our safety record and our active engagement with four communities about hosting a GDF.

Looking ahead, I’m looking forward to cementing our organisation as one team and working collaboratively with governments, partners in the supply chain, and community stakeholders to assess how we can make Britain safe, sooner.

Our expert, holistic, and integrated view of waste management will help ensure that we put the right waste, in the right place, and at the right cost.

The Annual Review also sets out our plans for the next few years. With a focus on delivery, we’ll progress our transformation, turning NWS into an organisation that continues to deliver now while building a new future.

Alongside the main Annual Review, a summary version has also been produced. Both documents are available in printed and online formats.

The online formats can be accessed below:

NWS Annual Review 2021-22

NWS Annual Review 2021-22 Summary