Residents have hit out at plans to triple the size of an immigration removal centre to make it one of the largest in Europe. 

Haslar Immigration Detention Centre in Gosport, Hampshire closed a decade ago but  is set to be reopened and enlarged to house 600 foreign criminals and illegal migrants over three storeys. 

People living near the site say they have seen the price of their homes drop by as much as £25,000 after the plans were revealed and fear they will be left ‘trapped’ inside them due to a lack of willing buyers.

The Home Office also wants to expand Campsfield House immigration removal centre in Oxfordshire from 160 beds to 400.

Both sites will be used to hold foreign criminals and immigration offenders awaiting deportation. Plans to expand them were proposed by the Conservatives but are being carried out by Labour at an estimated cost of around £399million. 

The developments have been designated as having ‘national importance’, meaning the planning process is dealt with by ministers rather than the local councils under the recently introduced Crown Development scheme. 

Residents in Gosport say their lives have been made ‘hell’ by two years of ‘constant’ building work starting in the early hours of the morning.

The facility will have 600 beds provided for the detained men, who will be unable to leave the centre or access the local area. The biggest immigration removal centre in Europe is Harmondsworth near Heathrow, which has a capacity of 676.  

Work to expand the centre is largely completed but is subject to a public consultation that closes on August 6

It is being refurbished after shutting down in 2015 following a parliamentary review, which highlighted immigration detention as ‘expensive and damaging to detainees’.

Dave Wakefield, 69, who lives directly opposite the seafront site with his wife Katie, was worried about the scale of the plans. 

‘We know it is going to be different – how can you go from 150 to 600 people?’ he said. 

‘Now we have seen everything that has gone on, and it is getting bigger and bigger. The people who are going there are criminals, so I have no time of day for them.

‘But they have got 600 people and 450 staff; where’s the planning and how’s it going to be governed?

‘Normally issues like this are sorted out by the boroughs, but it has gone straight to the government.’

A woman who lives only 50 yards away from the centre – and who asked not to be identified – said the plans had already hit the property market. 

‘At the moment we are prisoners in our own homes. We can’t sell our properties,’ she said. 

‘We are trapped. We feel like prisoners. We can’t go on social media and voice our concerns because if you do, you get trolled.

‘It is nothing to do with the political side of things, it is about a way of life. It is about mental health.’

The woman said she had gone through ‘hell on Earth’ due to builders creating large amounts of noise at 6am and blocking her car in.

She said that the amount of dust generated during the building work has made her worry for her health, and she feels like she can’t leave any of her windows open, even in the sweltering heat.

Another resident, Sandra Card, whose house backs onto the development, said that she felt she had been lied to about the plans as she believed it was only going to be two storeys when it is actually three. 

Dave Wakefield, 69, who lives directly opposite the seafront site with his wife Katie, was worried about the scale of the plans

An aerial view of the facility next to the town of Gosport in Hampshire 

The 67-year-old said: ‘The main issue is the fact that they have lied over it. They have said there was going to be 600 people, but they said it was going to be a two-storey building and now it is going to be three.

‘I think it is going to have a big impact on our privacy. They say it isn’t.’

One woman, who did not want to be named, said that she had her house valued recently and it was now worth £25,000 less.

Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage said she is pressing ministers for answers about the detention centre, having raised the issue in Parliament and written to the Home Secretary after a promised meeting with a minister was cancelled.

Redevelopment work at Haslar has taken a phased approach, with Phase 1 consisting of the refurbishment of existing buildings, and Phase 2 involving the building of new-build accommodation.

Phase 1 will provide 130 beds and is expected to be ready by autumn, while the first inmates are anticipated to move into the site in Spring 2027.

Dame Caroline has called for the application to be considered by Gosport Borough Council as the local planning authority – currently it is due to be decided by an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State after the local planning authority makes representations.

In a letter to the Home Office, she said: ‘It takes decision-making away from local people and into the hands of civil servants and Labour politicians in Whitehall.

‘I have serious concerns that the Government are trying to push this application through with minimal scrutiny, which isn’t acceptable.’ 

A local community impact assessment – funded by the Home Office – claims the site will create 341 additional jobs during construction.

‘This employment boost has the potential to provide opportunity to local people who are currently unemployed or with poor labour market contributions, as well as through apprenticeship opportunities providing wider social value in the borough,’ it states.

The document estimates that the project will be worth £19.7million a year to the local economy ‘reflecting the net direct and indirect employment in the local authority’. 

The Home Office also wants to expand Campsfield House immigration removal centre in Oxfordshire from 160 beds to 400. Pictured: A protest at the site in November  

Campsfield Immigration detention facility (pictured) was closed in May 2019 after a review highlighted serious welfare concerns 

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Plans to expand Campsfield House immigration removal centre in Oxfordshire have also been controversial, with the site picketed by protesters holding ‘refugees welcome’ banners. 

The Government says that expanding both centres will increase detention capacity by 40 per cent, which could facilitate the removal of 45,000 people over the next decade. 

It comes as Andy Burnham continues to grapple with the small boats crisis after more than 2,000 illegal migrants crossed the Channel into Britain during his first fortnight in power. 

During a visit to Dover yesterday, the new Prime Minister promised to ‘deal with it head on’ as he attempts to regain Labour’s credibility on illegal migration.

Speaking from the coast, Mr Burnham promised: ‘We have to deal with the issue rather than play politics with the issue. Just deal with it head on, grip it, and then make the changes that will bring that reassurance to the public.

‘The public don’t like the idea that the border looks like it’s not controlled.

‘We need to bring back that control, but also we need to offer support for people who genuinely need it.

‘It’s about changing the whole approach, and slowly but surely we are putting in place those building blocks of a very different approach to this issue. It’s working, but there’s more to be done.’

Hitting back, the Tories accused Mr Burnham of being ‘too weak’ to stop the ongoing migrant crossings, and called on him to follow their plan to quit the European Convention on Human Rights.

A Home Office spokesman said: “All Crown Development planning applications require extensive engagement, and we encourage residents and stakeholders to share their views through the formal process.

“We make no apology for significantly expanding our detention capacity which will see more than 45,000 additional foreign criminals and illegal migrants removed over the coming decade.”

The Tuesday letters page thinks the Nintendo Direct plan is a mistake, as one reader defends Valve’s record in terms of making console games.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Casual disregard
I’m not sure what anyone can say about Xbox now, after this latest price hike. It almost seems like a joke, except it’s not even a little bit funny. I don’t know how anyone would ever think to buy one after just the last year or so of bad news, but now with a £150+ price rise? You would have to be an ultra casual gamer, who has heard absolutely nothing of what’s going on, to even consider it. But I don’t feel that sort of person would go for Xbox at the best of times.

I’m genuinely curious though, to hear if anyone reading this is, or knows anyone who is, planning to get an Xbox this year. I’m not saying this to have a go at Microsoft (although I’m not sure they don’t deserve it) but I just cannot see any way that any of their ‘reset’ is going to work. Gears Of War: E-Day is never going to make its money back, nobody wants to buy an Xbox anymore, and definitely no one wants Project Helix if it costs £1,000.

It’s time for Microsoft to pack up the shop and admit that Xbox didn’t work out. More importantly, it’s time for someone else to step up and provide an alternative to PlayStation. They’ve only had free reign for a few months and you already see what they’ve been like. Imagine what they’ll be like in a year or two with no competition.
Xane

Video game bubble
I’d be curious to know if this one-Direct-per-game approach is working for Nintendo, because it definitely isn’t for me. When they had more general topic Directs I used to watch them all, from beginning to end, but there’s no way I’m watching one for Fire Emblem, just like I didn’t for Splatoon Raider or Tomodachi Life, and how I won’t for the new Wii Sports game either.

Life is short and I’m only going to watch the ones for games I’m interested in, but isn’t that bad for Nintendo or any company following the same plan? If Fire Emblem was in a general Direct I would’ve watched its bit, but now I’ll never have any idea what it’s about (the same old, I imagine). Surely encouraging people to get interested in things outside their comfort zone is very much in Nintendo’s interest?
Porko

Endless hiking
As if the recent announcements about Sony going digital-only was not bad enough, and Microsoft increasing the price of the Xbox, now both Nvidia and AMD have announced GPU price increases for PCs.

I guess my old Radeon RX 6650 XT GPU is going to have to last longer.

Hopefully the rest of my PC will be as reliable as the wireless Xbox 360 controller I still use to this day for it.
Commodore Fan
Currently playing: Indiana Jones And The Great Circle via Amazon Luna. So far so good…

GC: Nothing will be spared from the effects of the component crisis, as we heard from Samsung on Monday.

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

A funny kind of love
RE: Valve and consoles. Valve, along with various partners, have shown a fair bit of love to consoles over the years. Half-Life was on PlayStation 2 and Half-Life 2 on Xbox, this was the way I first played both those games.

The Orange Box was excellent and released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Portal was also released standalone on Xbox Live Arcade. Portal 2 was released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and as recently as 2022 as part of Portal Companion Collection on Switch, which also included Portal 1.

There was even a Dreamcast port that was cancelled weeks before release. I think due to Sega having officially discontinued the console.

Portal 2 and The Orange Box are backwards compatible on Xbox Series S/X and receive some visual improvements, though still locked at 30fps.

But it would be nice to see some native releases for all the games on PlayStation 4 and 5, Switch 1 and 2, and Xbox Series X/S.
Simundo

GC: If that’s showing love, we think Valve needs to upgrade their romantic aspirations. Apart from the anomaly of the Switch port the most recent of those releases was 14 years ago.

Priced out
So I read your article about the £150 price rise and concerns for next gen prices… I just don’t see how it’s going to work. They make a console so expensive that very few can afford it and then the cost of making a game for the new console, which won’t sell well as few have the console, is never got back.

On top of that my son, who is now 30… they were all console gamers in their teens but now all of them have migrated to PC gaming as games are much cheaper. Feels like the end of console gaming and I for one will be greatly saddened by that and my gaming days shall end.
TWO MACKS

Some are more equal than others
Per last week’s letter on reviews, I’d say that while reviews are just opinions, not all opinions carry the same weight. I’m much more likely to trust an independent reviewer whose job it is to play and write about a wide variety of games.

The writing is a key part of a review too. While I don’t always agree with GC’s reviews, I know them well enough to figure out from the text whether I might enjoy a game that they haven’t, or vice versa. It’s not necessarily about a reviewer matching your opinion, though that can be helpful too.

Inexpert views can still be useful though. A detailed verdict from a gaming friend whose tastes you know well is worth quite a lot. A score with no words from someone you’ve never met – not so much.

Just to clarify my letter on Monday, I was just suggesting that instead of digital related boycotts, comments, or articles, of which there have been many, it might be more productive to focus on the terms and conditions.

Shaking our metaphorical fist at digital gaming feels a bit like tilting at windmills rather than addressing the actual issue. Would people be as anti-digital if the terms were like Steam’s? If not, do Sony know that? (I’ve not seen it raised anywhere). It is hard to affect Sony, but I feel we have more chance of success by pointing to the actual issue and proposing a practical solution.
Matt (he_who_runs_away – PSN ID)

Lost the receipt
I can’t believe nobody else noticed how dodgy that Zelda: Ocarina Of Time rating is on Metacritic. Not that it doesn’t deserve the score, but I’ve seen indie games with more scores than that and they left out so many obvious ones they easily could have included, such as Edge – which you mentioned.

I’m not saying they need to go back to every old retro game and give them a score but if you’re going to include something that old, and say it’s the best game ever, you’ve got to have the receipts.
Tacle

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Legal trouble
I have just sat and read the morning Inbox and again I have seen letters about Sony and their system for digital purchases, and it has got me thinking.

I no longer own a PlayStation 5 and when I did, I tended to buy physical. This isn’t because of anything more sinister than this was my second console bought purely to play Sony games. I had no intention of keeping the games, it was as simple as buy them, play them, sell them. With this attitude I never got involved with the digital market.

I do, however, own an Xbox and PC and I do buy all of my games digitally. What I have found over the years is that there is always a cheaper offer somewhere online. Loaded do some good deals, even on day one releases, and if you can resist FOMO [fear of missing out] these deals get better as the weeks pass.

I have just looked at Loaded to see what they’re offering is for PlayStation games and to be fair it’s not great when compared to Xbox. It seems the games on offer there are much older. That suggests to me that Sony are keeping things back to force you into using their store for the latest releases.

This raises a question for me.

Will the EU be looking into this situation? If there is one thing the EU hates, it’s a monopoly. To my very limited knowledge this seems very much like a monopoly. The EU took a dim view on the Apple store and are certainly not afraid of taking on Sony. If the EU succeed it would certainly affect us in Blighty.

In my view this is where the fight needs to happen. A petition? Utterly pointless. I believe less than 1% of PlayStation owners signed up. A boycott? Equally as pointless. There are just too many users across the world for it to be effective. Most users couldn’t care less that they have to buy digitally through the PlayStation store.

The route to change is through the lawmakers.

Physical discs for gaming is a dead donkey. It has been for years. There will always be people out there that want to have things in their hand, but that ship has sailed. Get over it. What we should be fighting for is the protections that a disc gives us on digital transactions. As much as some people won’t want to hear this but the EU is our only hope.

Thanks GC have a good day.
Dirtystopout

GC: We’ve wondered this ourselves, as the ‘walled garden’ of consoles is little different, in theory, from the stores operated by Apple and Google. The EU seems to have washed their hands of it though, saying, in regards to PlayStation, ‘Companies are free to offer games and services in the manner they see fit.’

Inbox also-rans
Great interview with Chris Smith on The Spectrum White Edition, his work at Retro Games and everything around it. I really enjoyed it!
Bodhi

GC: Thanks.

I can exclusively reveal the character that’s caused the Wolverine game to be rated 18 for nudity is Seymour Butts. I forget what his superpowers are.
Bendai

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

MORE: Games Inbox: When will Spider-Man 3 be released on PS5?

MORE: Games Inbox: Will you play the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake or GTA 6 first?

MORE: Games Inbox: Are user reviews for video games reliable?

The first 50 customers in the queue will receive exclusive Popeyes merchandise and the first 100 customers will bag a free Chicken Sandwich

Popeyes has confirmed the opening date of its third location in Belfast.

Located at 5 Donegall Arcade in the heart of Belfast City Centre, the new restaurant will open at 11am on Friday, August 11, bringing the brand’s famous New Orleans hospitality to the former GAME unit.

On opening day, the first three customers will win the ultimate prize of free Chicken Sandwiches for an entire year.

The first 50 customers in the queue will receive exclusive Popeyes merchandise and the first 100 customers will bag a free Chicken Sandwich.

A spokesperson said: “Popeyes® has become known for its round the block queues on opening day across the UK, with fans regularly arriving from the early hours to be among the first through the doors.

“To be part of the action in Belfast, hungry customers are encouraged to arrive early to avoid missing out on the opening day giveaways.

“With dine in and speedy takeaway options available, fried chicken fans will soon be able to enjoy Popeyes® favourites like the iconic Chicken Sandwich, Signature Wraps and the Saucin’ Boneless & Hot Wings range.”

All Popeyes chicken is marinated for 12 hours in its signature blend of bold Louisiana seasoning, then hand breaded and battered to deliver that world famous “Shatter Crunch”.

The new Belfast store will create 50 new jobs for the local area.

Tom Crowley, Popeyes® UK&I CEO, said: “We’re excited to continue growing our presence in Belfast with the opening of our third restaurant but first in the city centre.

“Located right in the heart of Belfast, we can’t wait to welcome locals and visitors alike to experience our famous Louisiana hospitality, bold flavours and unmistakable crunch.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter here

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women under 50 in the UK.

About one in seven women develop breast cancer in their lifetime, yet only 5-10% of cases are linked to inherited genes.

Most cases – 96% – are in women over 40, while 25% are in women over 75.

Men can get breast cancer too, with about 420 new cases every year in the UK.

In England, guidance from Nice recommends GPs ask about family history if a woman is worried that she might have a higher risk of breast cancer, and sometimes if they are over 35 and using an oral contraceptive pill or considering taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Hormones have been linked to a slightly increased risk of breast cancer, although larger risk factors include alcohol intake and obesity.

The study, by a team from Cambridge University and the Institute of Cancer Research, looks at how to predict breast cancer risk in younger women.

They used a risk calculator called Boadicea that combines factors such as family history, lifestyle, reproductive history and genetic information to give a risk score.

If all women under 50 were to have this done, they estimate about a quarter (26.5%) would be categorised as at above-average risk and referred for further assessment.

This would include a third of women under 50 (34.8%) who develop breast cancer within 10 years.

By comparison, the current Nice criteria would result in 1.4% of women under 50 being referred for further assessment, which would include just 4.4% of those women who develop breast cancer.

A main reason for the disparity, the researchers say, is because three-quarters of women (73%) under 50 who develop breast cancer within a decade have no family history of breast cancer – the key criterion in the Nice guidelines.

The Garden Kitchen at the Pioneering Care Centre (PCC) in Newton Aycliffe welcomed back customers on Monday (August 3).

It will offer a changing menu of homemade food and coffee, and is promising affordable prices.

The café also hopes to support people with disabilities and health conditions to get hands-on experience in catering, customer service and hospitality.

Jenny, the Marketing and Communications Manager at the centre, said: “It’s been really busy in the café, I’ve recognised some faces, but I’ve also seen some new faces which is nice.

“All the prices, they’ve been designed to be quite affordable, so we’re hoping it’ll bring people in.

“The response has been really positive.

“We’ve had a lot of comments about how good the prices are and you can’t go wrong with a home-cooked meal.”

Carol Gaskarth, chief executive of the Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) , said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Hiyed CIC to relaunch the Garden Kitchen.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to building stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

“The Garden Kitchen will provide a high-quality, welcoming service for customers while creating valuable supported employment, work experience and skills development opportunities for people with disabilities and health conditions.

(Image: PIONEERING CARE PARTNERSHIP)

“By offering real-world experience in a supportive environment, we can help individuals build confidence, develop skills for work and progress towards sustainable employment.”

Hiyed CIC is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting people who are neurodivergent, have learning disabilities or face other barriers to employment.

It offers supported internships, volunteering placements and work-based learning to help individuals gain practical experience.

Tracy Fee, director and founder of Hiyed CIC, said: “The partnership with PCP is so important because both organisations share the same values of improving people’s lives, promoting wellbeing and supporting the local community.

(Image: PIONEERING CARE PARTNERSHIP)

“By working together, we can provide real work experience, supported internships, volunteering opportunities and clear pathways into paid employment within the hospitality sector.

“Every purchase made at the Garden Kitchen will help support training and employment opportunities for local people, creating a positive impact on the wider community.”

The Garden Kitchen is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 1.30pm at the Pioneering Care Centre, Carer’s Way, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, DL5 4SF.

Menus can be found at pcp.uk.net/garden-kitchen.

From August 17, the railcard will be valid for a full year from the date of purchase, even if the holder turns 18 during that time, allowing more young people to continue benefiting from 50 per cent off train fares.

Previously, the railcard expired on a passenger’s 18th birthday, leaving more than 70,000 young people each year without access to the maximum 50 per cent discount on rail fares.

The government says the change will help more students afford travel during a key stage of their education or training.

Lord Peter Hendy, rail minister, said: “This kind of common-sense change is exactly what passengers should expect from the railway.

“I’m proud that this change will support young people and their families to lower the cost of travel at a critical time for teenagers, whether they’re pursuing further education, vocational pathways or getting their footing in the jobs market.

“Making travel fairer and more affordable is central to the vision for Great British Railways.

“By delivering simpler fares and putting passengers first, we’re creating a railway that’s easier to use, better value for money and focused on meeting the everyday needs of the people who rely on it.”

The announcement comes ahead of broader reform plans tied to the launch of Great British Railways.

Other changes include the expansion of contactless payment options and digital ticketing trials in regions beyond London, such as Manchester, Yorkshire, the East Midlands, and the West Midlands.

Jacqueline Starr, executive chair and CEO at Rail Delivery Group, said: “The extension of the 16–17 Saver’s validity demonstrates the rail industry’s commitment to offering better value fares and delivering a more joined-up railway for customers.

“By enabling customers who turn 18 during their academic year to receive a full year of savings from the date of purchase, we’re ensuring that young people can continue to benefit from 50% off rail travel throughout this important stage of their education.

“Whether it’s getting to school or college, seeing friends or exploring new places, this change provides greater flexibility and more opportunities to make the most of their journeys.”

Priced at £35, the 16-17 Saver offers a full year of half-price travel for the eligible age group.

The National Union of Students (NUS) welcomed the change.

Kaynat Ahmad, NUS vice president for further education, said: “The 16-17 Saver is essential for young people reliant on trains to get to college, work or training.

“Allowing young people to access the savings past their 18th birthday will ease the financial pressures that commuting brings.”

Cambridgeshire Live readers have been sharing their views on the proposed 20mph speed limit across Cambridge city

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Cambridgeshire Live readers have been discussing a proposed citywide 20mph limit, sharing passionate opinions on safety, cost, enforcement, and how roads should accommodate all users. The responses reveal a significant divide.

Some support more radical measures, such as banning vehicles from the centre. Others believe the emphasis should fall on cyclist behaviour or on reopening some roads. A handful argue that one straightforward limit across the city might help drivers.

A cycling charity has urged that proposals for 20mph zones should be expanded to encompass all routes within Cambridge’s city boundary. Cambridgeshire County Council is presently consulting on schemes to introduce new 20mph restrictions on roads around the city – but CamCycle wants the plans to be more ambitious.

A new Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) would establish 20mph limits on nearly 20 additional streets, including Queen’s Road, Northampton Street, Chesterton Road until Mitcham’s Corner, Victoria Avenue, East Road and Lensfield Road. Further streets and sections include the Mitcham’s Corner gyratory, Corona Road, Brooklands Avenue, and the northern section of Coldhams Lane.

A county council spokesperson said of the proposals: “Over 100 people have been seriously injured across these routes since 2017. This proposal follows on from widespread engagement to put in 20mph limits on roads across Cambridge in 2024. Since then, there has been a positive response from communities to more focussed proposals for new 20mph limits in residential areas including Orchard Park.”

One commenter, Skipper, feels: “One of the problems is that councillors who force these unwanted anti-car measures on the majority in spite of consultations showing most are against (e.g., Cottenham, Ely 2000 signature petition against) are members of Camcycle. Vested interest or what?

“‘Over 100 people have been seriously injured across these routes since 2017.’ So, over 22 streets, that’s 10 per year, one per street occurring in half of the streets, the others being accident-free. This kind of record does not justify the imposition of blanket 20 mph limits. No accident records are given for individual streets.”

Aljan says: “Perhaps they should teach children road safety and not expect every vehicle driver to be subject to a permanent 20 mph limit. If children are not of an age of responsibility, then they should be supervised.

Over on our Facebook page, SD Lawrie writes: “I live in Wales. You do not want 20mph.”

Jane A suggests: “Why not open up all the closed roads and Mill Road Bridge?”

Kieth B mentions: “Only if cyclists are made to use cycle paths & cycle lanes. And stop at crossings & traffic lights. Everyone needs to adhere to rules & laws before altering anything. The most dangerous thing where cyclists are concerned is cyclists.”

Adam B comments: “To be honest, I drive all day in Cambridge for my job. A complete 20mph zone throughout the city would make it easier.”

So what are your thoughts on 20’s plenty? Comment below or HERE to have your say.

Jet lag threatens to turn even a dream vacation into a slog.

And with peak travel season underway, millions of people may have to contend with this disorienting condition, which can cause sleep disturbances, daytime tiredness, headaches and nasty gastrointestinal symptoms.

But you can minimize the effects of jet lag — and not just by adjusting your sleep-wake schedule. What and how you eat and drink can make a difference too.

Jet lag occurs when your body’s biological clock is out of sync with the time zone you find yourself in. Usually, environmental cues such as sunrises and sunsets help set your internal clock. But when you cross time zones, it may take a few days for your body to adjust.

“I’ve personally experienced pretty severe jet lag before,” during two European trips, said Tara Schmidt, a registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “It really kind of ruined the first few days of my vacation.”

Eat on the local schedule at your destination

While symptoms of jet lag vary, digestive problems such as bloating, constipation or diarrhea are not uncommon, said Joanne Slavin, a nutrition expert at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

One way to minimize jet lag is to begin gradually shifting the timing of your meals as you get ready for travel. Schmidt suggested first moving them by 15 minutes, then a half hour, then an hour closer to the destination time zone.

Then, after you get where you’re going, eat when the locals eat.

If it’s morning, have breakfast. A hearty one aligned with your new time zone can help you recover from jet lag, a 2023 study co-authored by Northwestern University researchers suggests.

As the day goes on, keep to the same schedule, having lunch and dinner at times appropriate for the location.

“Immediately go on your new schedule,” Slavin said.

To avoid stomachaches, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises keeping meals smaller just before and during travel. Schmidt said this is particularly important in the early days of a trip.

“Smaller meals tend to be more easily tolerated for people, especially if you have a sensitive stomach or maybe are dealing with some of those GI discomforts,” Schmidt said.

Later in the trip, she said, you may be able to ease into eating more at one sitting. Just be mindful about foods that you might not be used to, especially greasy or high-fat items.

“Enjoying a meal abroad is so fun, especially when you’re experiencing a new culture, a new food,” she said.

Watch what you drink on vacation

It’s also best to skip that glass of wine or pint of beer.

“As fun as it is sometimes when we travel, we really do endorse avoiding alcohol because alcohol is such a huge sleep disruptor,” Schmidt said.

Another pro tip: Use caffeine strategically. If you normally have a cup of coffee or tea in the morning, it’s fine to do that while traveling. But don’t have caffeine so late in the day that it will keep you up. And be aware that both caffeine and alcohol can make you more dehydrated.

“Dehydration can certainly worsen fatigue and those perceived jet lag symptoms,” Schmidt said.

Drink water before, during and after your flight to combat the effects of dry cabin air. At your destination, eight glasses of water a day is a good, easy-to-remember goal, but keep in mind that some people may need more fluids, others less, depending on things like weather and exercise. Cleveland Clinic experts suggest choosing bottled water if you have any questions about water safety.

When the trip is over, get back to your normal schedule

Experts say how and what you consume while traveling is only part of the equation for minimizing jet lag. But these changes complement the better known tips for adjusting your sleep schedule to the new time zone.

When your vacation begins winding down, the advice is much the same for sleep and eating: Ease back into your normal schedule and try to fully resume it at home.

“The sooner you get back to it, to all of your habits,” Slavin said, “the better off you’re going to be.”

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Plans have been submitted to City of York Council to repurpose and change the use of Prestige Autocare York at 1 Avenue Road, Clifton.

The commercial premises in an urban space in York appears to have been empty since at least late 2022, when plans were submitted to demolish the site and build three flats.

Recommended reading:

The 454 square metre site could see the adaptation of the existing structure and would lead to the creation of a boat store and three additional car parking spaces, taking the total up to five, according to plans.

Alterations would be limited to bring the building into domestic use and “ensure that the adapted building sits comfortably within its setting”, say the plans.

The former Prestige Autocare repairers could become a private garage and storage under plans submitted to City of York Council (Image: The Planning & Design Associates / City of York Council Planning)

Planning documents said: “The proposal adapts the existing structure by removing portal and the corrugated roof to form an open-air enclosed courtyard, with garages positioned along one side of the retained enclosure and a boat store located opposite.

“The principal alteration is the removal of the existing corrugated asbestos roof to form an open-air courtyard, which reduces the overall built form while retaining the existing enclosure.”

The former Prestige Autocare repairers could become a private garage and storage under plans submitted to City of York Council (Image: The Planning & Design Associates / City of York Council Planning)

The proposed layout is designed around the existing footprint, with perimeter walls forming the basis of the conversion.

Alterations to access are described as minimal, though plans include creating a single shared access point and introducing a new “pedestrian access point.”

The overall arrangement reflects the existing character of the site whilst providing a practical and efficient layout for the long-term use of the building, according to the plans.

City of York Council said consultation on the plans runs until Tuesday, August 18

Many of Tuesday’s papers lead with the latest on the early prisoner release scheme. “Cop killers will go free”, headlines The Sun. The paper says police officer Andrew Harper’s widow has called the plans, which will not exclude prisoners such as Harper’s killers, “disgusting”.