Cyclists around the country will benefit from more than 20 new and improved cycling routes, thanks to a £20 million government investment.

Cycling Minister Chris Heaton-Harris has today unveiled 22 upgrades for the National Cycle Network, including new routes, better surfacing, and improved links to other transport modes.

The schemes announced today (5 September 2019) follow 10 other projects announced earlier this year, to upgrade the National Cycle Network, which spans more than 16,000 miles of on-road and off-road cycling and walking paths.

Cycling and Walking Minister Chris Heaton-Harris, said:

Cycling and walking are sustainable forms of transport, which help to keep people active and clean up the quality of our air.

This funding will put the right infrastructure in place, so people can enjoy new routes on foot or by bike, supporting the government’s ambition for cycling and walking to become the natural choice for shorter journeys by 2040.

The funding focuses on fixing dangerous junctions, reducing traffic levels, building better surfaces, creating more accessible paths, and improving route signage. The projects include:

• re-routing the Fylde coastal path to become traffic-free, between Blackpool and St. Anne’s
• creating a new pedestrian and cycleway, the Gooseholme Bridge in Kendal
• improving accessibility and safety of the Liverpool Loopline
• a community-led re-design to improve the quality of the existing Bristol and Bath railway path
• improving signage and building a new crossing for the Wolverhampton Wayfinding.
• building a traffic-free and accessible HS2 corridor from Sheffield to Doncaster
• constructing a new traffic-free path alongside HS2 in Buckinghamshire

While the funding will be used to improve the quality of existing sections of the network, the projects will also improve integration with existing infrastructure. For example, cycle routes around HS2 in areas including Sheffield, Doncaster and Buckinghamshire will benefit from improved connectivity and safer off-road routes.

Anita Konrad, National Director, England at Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity and the custodian of the National Cycle Network, said:

The National Cycle Network is a UK-wide asset which helps nearly 4.4 million people make car-free journeys each year, benefitting local economies, public health and the environment.

This investment will help build on the network’s success and we look forward to working with local authorities and partner organisations around England to achieve a network of walking and cycling paths that are safer and more accessible for everyone, regardless of their age and abilities.

The cycling and walking investment strategy, published in 2017 sets out the government’s ambitious plan for active travel. Almost £2 billion is projected to be invested over this Spending Review period in cycling and walking between 2016/17 and 2020/21 and investment per head has increased three-fold since 2010.

The government’s long-term vision is for cycling and walking to become the natural choice for all shorter journeys, or as part of longer journeys, by 2040.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom has welcomed a significant boost for UK science in the government’s Spending Round, committing to significantly support investment in research and development (R&D).

In his Spending Round statement on Wednesday, Chancellor Sajid Javid confirmed the government’s ambition to achieve at least 2.4% of UK gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027.

The UK has long led the world in scientific breakthroughs, and this commitment will demonstrate that the UK will continue to hold its own on the global stage in research and innovations after Britain leaves the European Union.

In the autumn, the government will set out plans to significantly boost public R&D funding. This will enable us to support excellent research, and will build on achievements of recent years through our renowned universities and other institutions such as the Laboratory for Molecular Biology and The Alan Turing Institute, and back high-tech sectors which have the potential to boost our economy and benefit people across the country.

This also follows plans for a new fast-track visa process for highly-skilled scientists, encouraging the world’s brightest and best to choose the UK to study and work on the latest scientific innovations and breakthroughs.

In addition, Ms Leadsom welcomed an additional £30 million over the next year to support the UK’s world-leading efforts to tackle climate change, helping to meet the country’s legally binding target to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The UK was among the first countries to put this clear target into law – and recently doubled support to help developing countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through the UN Green Climate Fund. This new funding also comes on top of the £3 billion already being spent on low-carbon innovations.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said:

Leaving the European Union will offer the UK a wealth of opportunities, and the measures in the Spending Round will ensure we can make the most of them.

From Rosalind Franklin to Alan Turing, our scientific heritage is second to none, and our renewed commitment to invest at least 2.4% of our GDP in research and development will ensure this continues long into the future. The additional £30 million for tackling climate change will also ensure we continue to lead the world in tackling this critical issue.

And alongside investing in maintaining our global position in these fields, I’m proud that we’re also investing to improve people’s everyday lives and tackling head-on that small minority of firms that underpay their workers – ensuring that people get the pay they are entitled to.

Read the full list of announcements

The aircraft was operating a night flight to East Midlands Airport, with the left engine generator disconnected, and had just commenced its descent when the crew faced an unusual array of electrical failures on the flight deck. Despite the loss and degradation of a number of systems, the aircraft landed safely at East Midlands.

The electrical failures were caused by the right engine Generator Control Unit (GCU) which had been incorrectly secured in its mounting tray and had disconnected in flight. The investigation also uncovered a number of contributory factors including: the management of defects and Acceptable Deferred Defects (ADD), recording of maintenance, and a number of weaknesses in the operator’s Safety Management System with regards to managing risk.

Six Safety Recommendations are made to the operator regarding its safety management system and one to the Civil Aviation Authority.

Read the report.

Published 5 September 2019

Environment Agency completes fish pass that will help fish like Atlantic salmon and brown trout populate a further seven kilometres of the River Churnet.

Water once again flows under the 19th century pump house at the Grade II listed Crumpwood weir, after work to create a unique fish pass is complete.

The work, which involved opening up the previously sealed off channel to the pump house has seen around 240 tonnes of soil and silt cleared from around the pump house, one of the original pump house turbines removed and cleaned for display and the refurbishment of the old oak sluice gates. Which means the building is beginning to come back into use while helping to secure the future of salmon in this country.

Crumpwood weir, originally built between 1807 and 1811 was part of the Froghall to Uttoxeter Canal and later used for public water supply. Today it forms an important historic feature in the Churnet Valley’s landscape. But, while it is very pretty to look at, the 2.7 metre difference in the height of the water means it is an impossible barrier for fish and wildlife to pass.

This new fish pass along the River Churnet means seven kilometres of river habitat can now be populated by Atlantic salmon, brown trout, grayling and chub to name a few. Helping fish migrate up and down the river means they can find the best habitat to feed, shelter, spawn and grow, helping achieve resilient and sustainable UK fisheries.

Local historians who are part of Lichfield Waterworks have also been involved, and they have helped the project team by providing invaluable advice by supplying historic plans and guidance on how to remove the historic turbine.

The fish pass has been built in partnership with South Staffs Water, JCB and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. The Environment Agency is very grateful to JCB who have loaned the heavy plant equipment for this project, and for the support of South Staffs Water who own the historic pump house. Without their support and contributions this project would not have been achievable.

As part of the work, Environment Agency fisheries biologists have tagged fish found below the weir and these will be monitored by the angling clubs above the weir so we can evaluate how successful the fish pass has been.

Chris Grzesiok, fisheries, biodiversity and geomorphology expert from the Environment Agency said:

This has been a wonderful project to be part of. As well as contributing over £330,000 to this project, we’ve been able to see how the 19th century pump house was built and with the help of local historians, we’ve been able to repurpose and breathe new life into what was a derelict building. This fish pass is another step towards delivering the 25 year environment plan’s vision of catchments functioning more naturally where wildlife can thrive and migrate freely.

Ken MacDonald, Head of Water Strategy, at South Staffs Water said:

We’re always looking for opportunities to work with local community groups and to protect and enhance the biodiversity of the natural environment. We aim to provide a reliable supply of high-quality drinking water for future generations at the same time as allowing wildlife to flourish. This new fish pass at Crumpwood is a practical example of how we can achieve this by working in collaboration with other organisations.

This project is being part funded by the Marine Management Organisation, which is contributing £240,000.

Funding from the Marine Management Organisation is part of a coordinated and funded programme of projects for 2018/19 with the aim of freeing migration routes of barriers to fish. This project is part of that programme funded by over £1.6 million of European Maritime and Fisheries Funds, which is matched by more than £1 million of Environment Agency/Defra funding and £300,000 of other funds.

A new online tool launched today will allow British business to report issues preventing them from trading around the world.

Barriers include unnecessary, legal, regulatory or administrative requirements. This includes labelling restrictions, out-of-date regulations and licensing requirements.

The tool will ensure British businesses can flag these issues and the government’s trade experts can work with countries around the world to resolve them.

The online form allows any UK-based business to report a barrier that is stopping or hindering their trade and investment overseas.

Once a request is submitted, it is shared with the Department for International Trade’s global team of trade experts who assess trade barriers and work with other governments to resolve these issues. The Department will also collect feedback to improve the service offered to businesses.

Market access barriers make British exports less competitive than locally produced goods and services. In some cases, they can prohibit imports entirely.

A study by the OECD suggests all G20 economies could see increased exports by more than 20% in the long term, if trade barriers were halved globally.

The government has also announced today that it has resolved market access issues to:

• Lift the Mexican government’s ban on British exports of food condiments and supplements containing beef.
• Reduced restrictions on Vodka exports to Canada.

Other recent market access wins secured by the UK government include:

• Lifting a ban on British beef and lamb exports to Japan in January 2019, allowing exports worth an estimated £130 million over 5 years.

• Helping UK pharmaceutical company’s like GlaxoSmithKline win a £35 million contract in Bulgaria through securing changes to health procurement rules.

• Lifting the ban on British pork exports to Taiwan in August 2018, allowing exports worth an estimated £50 million over 5 years.

International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss said:

Opening up new markets for British businesses is a top priority and the Department for International Trade has 1,000 people located around the world to help create more opportunities than ever before.

In the last 12 months, we’ve secured wins to sell beef to Japan, langoustines to China and pork to Taiwan – just to name a few.

I am delighted to announce today that we’ve secured new wins to lift the ban on exports of products containing beef in Mexico and reduce restrictions on Vodka exports to Canada.

I urge businesses to make full use of our new market access tool, which will help us to rapidly identify and knock down unnecessary trade barriers.

The Department for International Trade now has over 4,000 trade experts based in the UK and across 109 different countries worldwide.

One business already taking advantage of the opening of markets in Mexico is importer Impulsa.

Commercial Manager at Impulsa, Montserrat Cortina MP said:

Thanks to the support of the Department for International Trade in Guadalajara, over the last 2 years, the necessary procedures were carried out between Mexico and the UK at a government level to remove import restrictions on beef products from Great Britain. This means that, in 2019, we realised the reintroduction of products containing beef to Mexico after many years of absence in the market.

British businesses can now directly report barriers preventing them from trading online at great.gov.uk.

Notes to Editors:

Digital Market Access Service

In February 2019, DIT launched the new internal government digital market access service to collate a list of UK facing businesses, a sign of the close collaboration across Whitehall and with overseas missions that is allowing the government to better meet the needs of businesses.

Case studies

New opportunities for products containing beef in Mexican markets

• DIT has secured market access for UK food condiments including condiments and supplements containing beef. The win will create new opportunities for UK food suppliers and manufacturers.

Reduced restrictions on Vodka classifications in Canada

• DIT successfully encouraged a review of Canadian vodka regulations to allow for more flexibility in the compositional standard of vodka.

• Previously, only spirits derived from potatoes or grains could be marketed as vodkas in Canada.

• The new standards allow for vodkas to be produced from any products of agricultural origin. This increases the opportunities in Canada for UK distillers innovating with unique, cutting-edge spirit recipes.