Connect with us
DAPA Banner

NewsBeat

People blame ‘unnecessary journeys’ for hospital traffic ‘nightmare’

Published

on

Cambridgeshire Live

NHS staff describe 40-minute queues on Hinchingbrooke Park Road as an “absolute nightmare”. Readers debated solutions from parking charges to better cycling infrastructure

CambridgeshireLive readers have been sharply divided over who or what is to blame for mounting congestion around Hinchingbrooke, after NHS workers described daily jams near the hospital. Dozens weighed in beneath our report, setting out competing solutions – from tougher parking and SUV charges to calls for better active travel infrastructure and planning that matches the area’s rapid growth.

Hospital staff have described traffic along a road where you can queue for up to 40 minutes at peak times as an “absolute nightmare”. Some staff at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and the Hinchingbrooke estate deal with traffic problems on Hinchingbrooke Park Road daily.

Advertisement

Especially during peak times, residents and staff never know how long it will take to get out of the road. One worker from Hinchingbrooke Hospital, who wished to remain anonymous, said she finds it an “absolute nightmare” to leave the hospital and get onto the road after leaving work at 3.30pm.

“I finish work and never know if I will have to queue down the road or not,” said the worker. She added: “It can be stressful working for the NHS, and when you finish work, you just want to drive home without sometimes having to sit in your car for 30 to 40 minutes to get to the bottom of the road.

“We very often have to queue to get out of the staff car park at the top of the hospital before we even join Hinchingbrooke Park Road. This is because the traffic is just backed up all the way down the road up to the hospital, and everyone is trying to get out.”

Multiple readers suggested the swiftest solution would be reducing non-essential vehicle journeys. One user, Windypants, comments: “The problem is people unnecessarily driving into offices when they could just work from home or cycle.”

Advertisement

Freddly adds: “There are clearly many things to say here. Firstly, parking at the hospital should be free for disabled, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of children staying overnight, and staff working night shifts (7.0pm to 8am). Everybody else should be paying much, much more.

“Secondly, it needs to cost much more to drive an ambulance-blocking SUV, both at point of sale and day to day costs for using it. That is a simply social-justice, and it verges on criminal that so few cities are doing it. Above all, if you are a driver yourself, don’t blame the council. Take some responsibility yourself.”

Whynot2 answers: “Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Hinchingbrooke School, Cambs Police HQ, Cambs F&R Service, a Primary School, Hinchingbrooke County Park, add one or two houses, it’s no wonder the road can become gridlocked. I assume that some people work from home, people do walk and cycle, you can see them in the morning and late afternoon/early evening going to and from the railway station. Why should the people who may one day save your life, who just happens to work the day shift have to pay more to park?”

Skipper writes: “Same old story – anti-car councils not catering for people’s preferred mode of travel. Parking should be free everywhere – after all, we pay councils a fortune in tax. Everyone is buying SUVs because our roads are breaking ordinary vehicles. I blame the council.”

Advertisement

Campete2 disagrees: “It’s the other way round. Councils are encouraging more motorists, leading to more congestion. It’s been proven time and again that the way to reduce congestion is to reduce the number of cars. Investment in active travel reduces congestion, and is far and away the most cost-effective way to improve the state of our roads – giving better and quicker journeys for motorists.”

Whynot2 answers: “I wouldn’t blame the council, blame the developers it’s still the same road that was built when the hospital was built and Hinchingbrooke School had two sites. Is the road between the houses and the business park still closed? You have the traffic coming off the A1307 straight onto the same road that leads up to the hospital.”

How would you solve the traffic issues around Hinchingbrooke? Comment below or HERE to join in the debate.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

NewsBeat

Donald Trump voted by mail in Florida special election as he bashes mail ballots

Published

on

Donald Trump voted by mail in Florida special election as he bashes mail ballots

President Donald Trump has cast another mail ballot in Florida as he continues to publicly bash the voting method as a source of fraud and push Congress to curtail the practice.

Palm Beach County voter records show the president voted by mail in a Tuesday special election for state legislative seats and that his ballot has been counted. Early in-person voting in the contest ran through Sunday, when Trump was still at his south Florida estate.

The White House did not immediately return an Associated Press request for comment. Aides have said Trump’s ire is directed at states using universal mail-in voting, not individual voters who may not be able to get to a polling place.

Nonetheless, Trump has in the last week called mail-in voting “cheating” and “corrupt as hell.” He is urging Congress to pass the SAVE Act, a sweeping bill that would bar universal mail ballots and limit the options to a select few voters — such as those with disabilities, military commitments or who are traveling on Election Day. The measure faces steep odds in the closely divided Senate even with the president’s pressure.

Advertisement

Trump has fixated on mail ballots since he began falsely claiming that his 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden was the result of fraud. Multiple U.S. courts and Trump’s own attorney general have found no evidence of fraud that affected the outcome, despite the COVID-19 pandemic increasing the share of the electorate that cast mail ballots that year.

“We’re the only country in the world that does it that way. Corrupt as hell,” Trump said last week at the White House when hosting Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin.

Dozens of countries, including European democracies that are traditional U.S. allies, use some form of mail-in voting.

Trump said last week that the SAVE Act was the “biggest thing” pending in Washington, even as Congress and administration grapple with the Iran war and a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

Advertisement

Last August, Trump used a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to blast mail voting.

“We’re going to start with an executive order that’s being written right now by the best lawyers in the country to end mail-in ballots because they’re corrupt,” Trump said. “And it’s time that the Republicans get tough and stop it because the Democrats want it. It’s the only way they can get elected.”

The president, who changed his official personal residence and voter registration from New York to Florida during his first term, does not have a standing vote-by-mail request for all elections, according to the county records. That means he has to request a mail ballot for any individual election.

The ballot today includes Florida state House District 87 and Senate District 14.

Advertisement

Trump offered an endorsement late Monday in the House contest via his Truth Social platform.

“There is a very important Special Election tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24th, for Florida State House District 87 in beautiful Palm Beach County. … TO ALL GREAT PATRIOTS IN FLORIDA STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 87: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR JON MAPLES! Polls are open from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.” Trump wrote, without mentioning that he had voted by mail or at all.

The Florida election comes one day after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a Mississippi case questioning whether states can count mail-in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but not received until later. Trump has criticized those allowances in 14 states and the District of Columbia.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Neco Williams on Wales icons and World Cup qualification

Published

on

Neco Williams in action for Wales

Neco Williams is in awe of what came before him. The names of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Craig Bellamy revered as everlasting icons of Welsh football.

But is walking in their footsteps a gift or a curse? Living up to the soaring standards set by the aforementioned trio is an expectation Williams and his Wales colleagues have no option but to cope with.

Of course, Williams is working alongside one of his heroes in Bellamy, who is currently Wales head coach.

The pair face a big week. Wales face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday before a potential final against Italy or Northern Ireland next week for a place in this summer’s tournament.

Advertisement

The shadows of Bale and Ramsey et al continue to loom large – but are they an inspiration or a burden?

“A bit of both,” Williams told BBC Sport.

“As kids, you watched the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy. You grew up idolising them. You wanted to be like them.

“And now that they’ve retired, it’s the new generation to come in. We’re not a massive country and we don’t have loads and loads of players.

Advertisement

“But the way we are as a team and the togetherness, I think that’s what drives us and gets us through.

“Where I used to see myself as a youngster, now I’m not that youngster any more. I’m more the senior player and I need to mentor these young lads coming through. We’re a family.”

Speaking to Williams, you quickly grasp the level of admiration he holds for Bellamy, who has entrusted the Nottingham Forest full-back to be a key part of the team he hopes qualifies for a second successive World Cup.

Bellamy’s rambunctious and infectious approach to his playing career made him one of the Premier League’s most effective forwards.

Advertisement

Williams says his approach to management is just as enthralling.

“How good he was as a player, he’s the exact same as a manager. He’s obsessed with football,” said Williams.

“He’s just constantly talking about football. He’s obsessed with Wales and you want a manager like that.”

Having qualified for World Cup 2022 through play-off wins over Austria and Ukraine, Williams knows all about what lies ahead over the next seven days.

Advertisement

Nerves, tension and stress – but Williams insists it will all be worth it if they reach the finals in June.

“It would mean everything,” he said.

“I’ve been blessed enough to get to one and to get to another would be an incredible achievement.

“The World Cup in Qatar – our play-offs were staggered because we played Austria the first game and then because of what was happening in Ukraine, that got pushed on to the summer.

Advertisement

“So it felt like everything about that tournament was a little bit rushed. We were the last team to qualify. We had the last pick with basically everything – the hotels, the travel, the hotels for our family.

“And when we were there, it was all was our first World Cup, so we didn’t really know what to expect.

“I think we’d do better if we get to this World Cup.”

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Two arrested after Range Rover stolen from Beverley home

Published

on

Two arrested after Range Rover stolen from Beverley home

The men, aged 30 and 34, were arrested by Humberside Police on suspicion of the theft of a motor vehicle at 1.10pm on Monday (March 23).


Recommended reading:


The pair remain in custody, police said, and are assisting with ongoing enquiries.

Advertisement

It came after police were called to an address in Watts Road in Beverley yesterday afternoon following a suspected theft of the vehicle from outside the home.

A white Transit van was then seen heading south on the Humber Bridge towards Scunthorpe, carrying the stolen Range Rover on a trailer.

A police spokesperson said: “A short pursuit ensued, and the vehicle was stopped in the Lincolnshire area, with the driver and passenger both being detained.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

‘Travel chaos’ as lorry stuck under Walkden bridge

Published

on

‘Travel chaos’ as lorry stuck under Walkden bridge

Police closed Walkden Road, between Chestnut Avenue and Mullineux Street, following the incident at the junction.

The HGV became stuck under the low bridge, prompting a response from emergency services.

The low rail bridge is clearly signposted for motorists (Image: James Jordan)

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Yesterday afternoon, Monday 23 March, at around 4pm, we received a call advising us that a lorry had struck a rail bridge on Walkden Road in Walkden.

We immediately put in place safety precautions for trains travelling over the bridge and sent a team to inspect the site.

Advertisement

“The railway was fully reopened at around 5.30pm.

Bridge strikes like these have the potential to be very dangerous and disruptive but they can be avoided.

“We urge drivers to always know the height and size of their vehicles, including any loads they are carrying, and to carefully plan their routes so our infrastructure isn’t put at risk in this way.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that no injuries were reported.

Advertisement

“Officers were on hand to support with road closures whilst the lorry was removed,” the spokesperson added.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Loose dog injures multiple lambs near Kirkbymoorside

Published

on

Loose dog injures multiple lambs near Kirkbymoorside

Police are appealing for witnesses and information about a sheep worrying incident on the Ravenswick estate, Kirkbymoorside, that occurred yesterday (Monday) between 5.30pm and 6pm.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “A flock of ewes and six-week-old lambs have been attacked by a loose light-coloured, medium-sized dog that has caused significant injury to multiple lambs and one of the ewes.

“In particular, we need to speak to a potential key witness who may have observed what happened to assist us with our enquiries.

Advertisement

“We also need the woman who was with the dog to contact the police as soon as possible.”

The spokesperson added: “Please be aware that dogs should not be loose or beyond the control of the owner whilst walking in the countryside.

“Loose dogs can have a devastating impact on livestock and wildlife.”

RECOMMENDED READING:

Advertisement

“Please email calum.sutherland@northyorkshire.police.uk if you have any information that could help our investigation. You can also call 101 and ask for Calum Sutherland.”

If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or make an online report.

Quote reference number 12260052206 when providing details.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Afghan Taliban government frees American held since January 2025

Published

on

Afghan Taliban government frees American held since January 2025

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities on Tuesday released American academic Dennis Coyle after holding him for over a year, with the foreign ministry saying the release came on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

A statement from the ministry said the academic researcher had been released in Kabul, the country’s capital, following an appeal from his family and after Afghanistan’s Supreme Court “considered his previous imprisonment sufficient.”

Coyle was detained in January 2025 on allegations of violating laws, although Afghan authorities never publicly stated what laws he was accused of having violated.

In a separate statement, the ministry indicated the United Arab Emirates and Qatar had helped mediate Coyle’s release, and said Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi had met in Kabul with former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad ahead of the release.

Advertisement

Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department announced the designation of Afghanistan as a sponsor of wrongful detention, accusing it of engaging in “hostage diplomacy.” Afghanistan joined Iran as countries singled out by the United States for detaining Americans in hopes of extracting policy concessions.

Afghanistan’s government rejected U.S. allegations that it detains foreigners to obtain leverage over other countries, saying Afghan authorities arrest people for violating laws not to make a deal.

Afghanistan released Coyle “based on humanitarian sympathy and goodwill, and believes that such steps can further strengthen the atmosphere of trust between countries,” the Foreign Ministry said in its statement, adding that Kabul “also expresses the hope that both countries will find solutions to the remaining problems through understanding and constructive dialogue in the future.”

The U.S. State Department had no immediate comment on Coyle’s release.

Advertisement

Afghan authorities are believed to hold at least one other U.S. national. Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan American businessman who worked as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications company, vanished in the country in 2022.

The FBI and Habibi’s family have said they believe he was taken by Taliban forces, but Afghan authorities have denied holding him.

Habibi’s brother, Ahmad Habibi, welcomed Coyle’s release but said in a statement that “we hope that our family will soon have the same feeling of relief, when Mahmood is returned home to us.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Indie hot chicken shop replaces popular curry spot in Cardiff

Published

on

Wales Online

Hot chicken is the fast food snack du jour and Cardiff’s got a new independent tenders and wings spot in the city centre

A popular city centre curry spot has closed but it’s not all bad news. Chai Street stood at its High Street home next to what was the Kitchen Shop, now Bosco, for more than a decade.

Advertisement

But Chai Street’s unit will not stay empty as it will be filled with Welsh hot chicken shop, Doolally Hot Chicken. It seems hot chicken is the ultimate trend in fast food right now as Doolally is opening right before TikTok sensation, and Drake-loved, Dave’s Hot Chicken is due to open the other end of the street this April.

Dave’s will be found on the corner of Caroline Street and St Mary Street and is known for head-popping hot seasonings and sauces. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here

Doolally’s is blazing its own chicken trail and offering hot chicken boxes, sandos and wings with a system of five distinct global sauce options: Seoul (sweet soy, garlic-forward), Hanoi (tangy chilli, citrus lift), Kingston (smoke first, heat later), Bombay (deep heat, no sugar safety net), and Nashville (extreme heat, zero negotiation).

They will have beer on tap and five cocktail options, keeping their concept simple and they claim they want to “reduce decision fatigue. Pick your chicken. Pick your heat. Have a beer.”

A spokesman said: “Doolally offers five global flavour lanes aka ‘options’ – each one a distinct cuisine rather than a spice level. Seoul is not a milder Nashville. Kingston is not a smokier Seoul.

“They are separate flavour systems drawn from street food traditions worldwide.”

Doolally is operated by Inspiring Restaurants Ltd, the same team behind Chai Street, which occupied the same address for years.

Advertisement

It’s not just Dave’s Hot Chicken that is planning to open in Cardiff, YouTube sensations The Sidemen have unveiled plans for a city centre restaurant, too. The chains are in addition to other global names like Wingstop, Popeye’s, Slim Chickens and, of course, KFC, to have venues in Cardiff.

Aside from Doolally’s, Cardiff also has a healthy independent hot chicken scene, with Fowl and Fury operating its piping hot tenders, wings and sauces in Canton and Cathays. Mr Croquewich at Bridge Studios will sate your fried chicken hankerings, too, and has some less brain-blowing heat options on their menu.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

10 Manchester United players set for extra training during international break

Published

on

Manchester Evening News

The March international break is in full swing with several Manchester United players remaining at Carrington over the next two weeks

Manchester United will have several players not on international duty over the next two weeks. As a result, those players will be expected to train at Carrington or work on their respective fitness or injury concerns.

Advertisement

United’s last match before the international break was the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last week, a result which leaves the Reds in third place in the Premier League table and one point above fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Michael Carrick and Co. are not back in Premier League action until April 13, when they will host Leeds United at Old Trafford. United do not have a game the weekend of April 4/5 due to not being involved in the FA Cup, with the quarter-finals taking centre stage.

READ MORE: Senne Lammens explains training ground behaviour after leaving Man United with clear opinionREAD MORE: Training camp, friendly decision, momentum – What Manchester United will do with 24-day break

While several members of United’s squad are away with their respective national teams, some players are remaining at Carrington to train at the club’s base to maintain their fitness levels.

Advertisement

Patrick Dorgu is continuing to recover from a hamstring injury which has kept the defender on the sidelines since February. United posted a video on their official website of Dorgu working on his rehabilitation at Carrington.

Matthijs de Ligt (back) and Lisandro Martinez are also sidelined with injuries and will be working on their recovery during the international break.

United also confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo had been withdrawn from the Cameroon squad as a precaution, with the forward being withdrawn in the second half of their draw with Bournemouth last week. Before Mbeumo left the squad, the United player had been expected to feature in the friendly matches against Australia and China.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Advertisement

Benjamin Sesko also withdrew from the Slovenia squad as he recovers from a minor fitness issue, with United hoping to have both players available after the international break.

Mason Mount and Luke Shaw were both not called up to the England squad for the friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan, while Tom Heaton is retired from international football.

Tyrell Malacia and Joshua Zirkzee were not called up by Ronald Koeman for the Netherlands squad for their round of international matches.

Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.

Advertisement

Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.

And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Rachel Reeves warns of ‘significant’ economic challenges from Iran war

Published

on

Rachel Reeves warns of ‘significant’ economic challenges from Iran war

At Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Defence Secretary John Healey told ministers the UK had defended allies in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan from attacks overnight, “while a counter-drone team had brought down 13 drones during an attack on a joint base in Iraq”, No 10 said.

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Michelle Gomez Quits One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest Play

Published

on

Michelle Gomez Quits One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Play

Michelle Gomez will no longer be starring in a new London production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest due to undisclosed “personal reasons”.

The former Doctor Who star had been cast as the villainous Nurse Ratched in the Old Vic’s new revival of Dale Wasserman’s play, which will also star Aaron Pierre and Olivier winner Giles Terera .

However, on Monday, the theatre confirmed that Michelle had withdrawn from the production, performances of which are due to get underway on Wednesday 1 April.

In Michelle’s absence, Olivia Williams of The Crown and Friends fame will now be taking over the role of Nurse Ratched moving forward.

Advertisement

“The Old Vic is sorry to announce that Michelle Gomez has stepped down from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest for personal reasons,” the theatre’s statement read. “The theatre, cast and company wish Michelle well and thank her for her time on the production.”

It continued: “The part of Nurse Ratched will now be played by Olivia Williams and we are pleased to welcome Olivia to the company. All performances are scheduled to go ahead as planned.”

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest started life as a novel by Ken Kessey in the early 1960s, telling the story of a group of men at a psychiatric facility, overseen by a Nurse Ratched, who looks after the ward with an iron fist.

Nurse Ratched was most famously played on the big screen by Louise Fletcher in the 1975 film adaptation of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, earning her the Oscar for Best Actress.

Advertisement

The character has also been played on TV by Ingrid Torrance and Sarah Paulson in the family adventure Once Upon A Time and the Netflix drama Ratched, respectively.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest will run at the Old Vic until Saturday 23 May 2026.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025