Temporary closure of A345 to remove diseased trees

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), together with its strategic partner, Landmarc Support Services (Landmarc), is carrying out a tree-felling clearance scheme to remove trees infected with ash dieback.

Thousands of ash trees across Salisbury Plain Training Area, as well as many more across the country, are infected with a disease called ash dieback. There is no cure or treatment for the disease and over time infected trees will weaken, causing branches to fall and trees to eventually collapse and die.

This presents a significant health and safety risk, especially alongside roads, public rights of way and woodland areas used by the public for recreation activities and military personnel for training. For the safety of road users it is therefore necessary to remove infected trees along the A345.

It has been decided, in consultation with Wiltshire County Council, to undertake the majority of closures over the school summer holiday to help minimise disruption. The closures will take place from 9:30am until 4:30pm on weekdays only from 10 August 2020. The work is expected to be completed at the end of October. The closures will be rolling so only one section of the road will be closed at a time. Details of specific closures as they occur will be available on gov.uk using the link below, on the @mod_dio twitter feed or on the website one.network.

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Jalland, DIO’s Commander South West Training Estate, said:

While it is unfortunate that these trees must be felled, it is sadly necessary for the protection of everyone using the A345, whether military or civilian. We apologise for the disruption this will cause and ask for the patience of road users.

DIO and Landmarc began a programme of felling many infected trees across Salisbury Plain Training Area in early 2020 at Ashdown Copse near Tidworth. Removal of infected trees will continue into 2021 on 250 sites across the training area.

Further information on ash dieback can be found on the MOD estate page.

Queries regarding the felling process on Salisbury Plain Training Area should be directed to nsc@landmarc.mod.uk or 0800 022 3334.

ash dieback is a serious fungal disease of ash trees, caused by a fungus now called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus
infection can lead to the death of young trees in just two to three years and of mature trees within three to five years
all trees to be removed have been identified during health and safety tree inspections and surveys. These are carried out annually to monitor the health of our trees in high risk locations
the ash dieback tree felling work across Salisbury Plain is taking place in phases and aims to be completed in 2022, with tree health surveying and monitoring continuing once felling is complete. The first phase of felling targeted Ashdown Copse. Work is also underway at Warminster Ranges to take advantage of the summer maintenance shutdown. Phase two includes the A345 felling and will continue work at Ashdown Copse, as well as other locations where ash dieback has been identified including Erlestoke, Everleigh, Heytesbury and along neighbouring roadsides. However, there may be further outbreaks to be dealt with in future years
to protect the public and estate users, DIO foresters, Landmarc staff and ecologists are working with the Forestry Commission and Natural England to inspect and remove the infected trees
felling licences have been approved by the Forestry Commission. Licences are only granted by the Forestry Commission after consultations with statutory bodies and a period of public consultation. Trees felled will be replaced with suitable alternatives, in line with the Felling License approved by the Forestry Commission
we are felling the minimum number of trees to reduce risk to an acceptable level and only in areas where there is a clear risk of harm to people. In other areas infected ash trees will be left and regularly surveyed, to see if they have any natural resilience or resistance to the disease

Call for armed forces community to contribute to the Frontline Project

News story

The Frontline, launched by StoryLab ARU, is a living digital archive collating the stories of health care practitioners and associated key workers during COVID-19.

The archive by StoryLab ARU will serve as a permanent record and testament to the lives, efforts, challenges, and achievements of health workers during the on-going pandemic.

The project is inviting all healthcare practitioners and associated key workers to share their experiences from the frontline with the archive, and they particularly would like to hear from members of the armed forces community. All contributions will be anonymised and your story or experience can take any form – videos, photos, audio reflections, text and artwork. You can contribute once or many times, this archive and your contribution to it will be of enormous cultural and historical significance.

Learn more about the project and contribute your story on the StoryLab ARU website.

You can also follow The Frontline project on social media via Twitter.

Published 6 August 2020

Joint Statement on the U.S. – UK Financial Innovation Partnership meeting

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U.S. and UK participants in the U.S.-UK Financial Innovation Partnership (FIP) met virtually on 5 August, 2020, to exchange views on topics of mutual interest as part of their ongoing partnership.

The Regulatory and Commercial Pillars of the FIP met jointly to discuss deepening U.S.-UK ties in financial innovation. The U.S. participants included officials from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Participants from the UK included representatives of Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) and the UK Department for International Trade.

In addition, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and HMT co-chaired a discussion of the Regulatory Pillar of the FIP, engaging on topics including digital payments, operational resilience, cross-border testing of innovative financial services, and regulatory and supervisory technology. U.S. participants included staff from independent regulatory agencies, including: the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. UK participants included representatives of HMT, the Bank of England, and the Financial Conduct Authority. Participants intend to continue to engage on these topics, as well as other topics of mutual interest, in support of the U.S.-UK Financial Regulatory Working Group meeting later this year.

The Commercial Pillar, led by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the UK Department for International Trade, engaged in discussions on bilateral market access issues, connections between financial technology firms and financial institutions, and the forthcoming U.S. financial services trade mission to the UK in June 2021.

Participants acknowledged the importance of the ongoing partnership in monitoring and analysing trends in global financial innovation, as well as being an integral component of the U.S.-UK financial services cooperation. The FIP was inaugurated last year at the Financial Regulatory Working Group as a means of boosting U.S.-UK engagement in financial innovation issues. The inaugural FIP statement can be found here.

Published 6 August 2020

Hot weather warning issued for parts of the country

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Public Health England issues a heat-health warning as the Met Office forecasts high temperatures.

With hot weather arriving at the end of this week, Public Health England (PHE) has issued advice for staying safe.

Parts of the country are likely to feel very warm and there will be pockets of very high temperatures in the East of England, London, Southeast England and the Southwest. The spell of hot weather is expected to continue into next week.

Ishani Kar-Purkayastha, Consultant in Public Health at Public Health England, said:

Many of us welcome warmer weather, but some people may find it more difficult to cope. People recovering from COVID-19 at home, those who are self-isolating, older people and people with underlying health conditions are all more vulnerable during hot weather.

This summer, many of us are spending more time at home due to COVID-19. A lot of homes can overheat, so it’s important we continue to check on older people and those with underlying health conditions, particularly if they’re living alone and may be socially isolated.

If you need to provide care to someone at risk from hot weather, follow government guidance on how to do this safely. The most important advice is to ensure they stay hydrated, keep cool and know how to keep their homes cool.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Dan Suri, said:

It’s going to turn very hot for parts of England with temperatures widely reaching above 30 Celsius on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Met Office heatwave criteria will be reached over East Anglia and southeast England.

Friday is likely to be the hottest day with temperatures of 36 to 37 Celsius in parts of east and southeast England. Temperatures could reach similar levels on Saturday.

Along with hot weather by day, it will stay warm and humid overnight with temperatures remaining in the high teens and low 20s Celsius.

To enjoy the sun while staying safe:

drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol. Everyone is at risk of dehydration in hot temperatures, but babies, children and older people are particularly vulnerable
stay cool indoors: open windows when the air feels cooler outside than inside; shade or cover windows exposed to direct sunlight; move to a cooler part of the house, especially for sleeping
slow down when it’s hot: exertion heats up our bodies so plan any strenuous activities (such as exercise and gardening) outside the hottest time of the day, typically 11am to 3pm
cool your skin with water. You could use a cool wet sponge or flannel, cool water spray, cold packs around the neck and armpits, or a cool, wet sheet
stay connected and up to date with the weather forecast. Knowing the forecast can help you plan ahead and adapt what you’re doing
dress appropriately for the weather – wear a hat, and light, loose cotton clothes
protect yourself against the sun’s radiation by applying sunscreen and monitoring the real-time UV index
eat salads and fruit – the perfect summer foods as they contain more water so can help keep you hydrated

For more information on the common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, visit NHS.UK.

Read our COVID-19 and summer temperatures blog for more advice on how to stay well in hot weather.

Published 6 August 2020

Dame Barbara Woodward appointed UK Permanent Representative to the UN in New York

News story

The Foreign Secretary has appointed Dame Barbara Woodward as the UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

Barbara is currently the British Ambassador to China and previously served as the Foreign Office’s Director General for Economic and Consular Affairs and the International Director of UK Border Force.

Barbara succeeds Karen Pierce, now British Ambassador to the United States.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:

I am delighted to announce Dame Barbara Woodward as our next Ambassador to the United Nations in New York.

Dame Barbara will bring her formidable intellect and dynamic diplomatic skills to bear – to deliver for Britain, and forge the cooperation we need with our international partners to tackle the toughest global challenges we face.

FCO Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Simon McDonald said:

The UK has a proud history of tackling the world’s most pressing issues through the United Nations. Barbara is a fantastic diplomat who has the skills and experience to lead this important work, and I congratulate her on the appointment.

Dame Barbara Woodward said:

I am honoured and delighted to be asked to lead the UK’s mission at the United Nations at a time when the rules-based international system faces pressing global challenges and a significant reform agenda. The UK has a vital role to play as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the UN’s third largest donor.

Further information

Barbara joined the Foreign Office in 1994 having worked in DfID (then ODA) and the Cabinet Office.
Barbara’s first posting was to the UK Embassy in Moscow in 1994 before serving as Head of the EU Enlargement Section from 1999-2001 and Deputy Head of the Human Rights Policy Department between 2001 and 2003.
Barbara was first posted to China in 2003, rising to Deputy Head of Mission before moving to the UK Border Force to serve as the International Director from 2009 to 2011.
Barbara was appointed Director General (Economic & Consular) in 2011 before returning to China as Ambassador in 2015.

Published 6 August 2020