Some have said that they have seen a negative impact on their businesses, while others said that it has made a positive effect on the area by reducing congestion

A controversial Cambridge bus gate continues to divide opinions nearly a year after it came into operation. Cambridgeshire County Council installed a permanent bus gate on Mill Road in 2025, with the first fines being issued from March.

The bus gate prevents all non-exempt vehicles passing through, meaning that they must use alternative routes. Those who breach this are issued with a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, discounted to £35 if paid within 21 days. Those exempt who can pass through without receiving a fine include buses, taxis, cyclists, and emergency vehicles.

More than 4,600 fines were issued in the first seven weeks after the bus gate was made operational, according a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Local Democracy Service. Nearly a year since the bus gate was introduced, we headed to Mill Road to find out what people now think about the bus gate.

A 23-year-old, who asked not to be named, works at Hilary’s Greengrocers. He claimed that some places on Mill Road have lost more than half of their business since the bridge closed to private vehicles.

“It has actually been a big problem”, he added. He said that he finds that there have been fewer people on the road, and said sometimes “you won’t be able to see a single person around here”.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “We want Mill Road to be an enjoyable, safe place to visit, where local businesses are supported. Mill Road bridge is open to buses, those walking, wheeling, and cycling, emergency services, taxis, and vehicles that are exempt, such as those being driven by blue badge holders.”

A 50-year-old lady who gave her name as Guzel runs a business in Mill Road. She said that it has “really badly affected us” and in her opinion “it is pointless because for people using a car, when the bridge was open, it was a shortcut but otherwise they are going triple [the amount of] time to reach the other side”. Guzel said that she hopes for a good environment and fresh air. However, this “was not my solution”, she said.

Others have said that the bus gate has made a positive impact. Mill Road For People (MR4P), a group of local residents and traders, said: “One year on from the implementation of the Mill Road bus gate, we have seen a big reduction in congestion (especially on the Romsey side), cleaner air, and fewer collisions.

“There has also been a significant rise in the number of people walking and cycling, with all the health and environmental benefits that brings.” The group continued: “Many people have told us that they feel safer walking and cycling, especially with their children, building up healthy habits for the future.”

Steve Bezzant, 55, runs The Retro Shed on Mill Road. He said that “people are still coming up with push bikes or walking, so even now, it is not really affecting me.” He added: “I get most people coming in, just walking in. If they need to have a car here, they can put it there [near his store], so it hasn’t really affected me.“

Jake, who asked to use only his first name, works at Halls of Cambridge. He said that the bus gate “has slowed down business a bit more for traders than the general public“.

Rather than improving traffic, Jake believes that “it just puts congestion elsewhere“. He said that it he is not personally affected by the bus gate because he doesn’t come from that way.

A 35-year-old who works at Ocean Supermarket said that “people avoid coming here to pick up their groceries” and they “avoid coming to this area to avoid traffic”.

The Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson added: “We are currently working with our partners to explore options for future public realm improvements for Mill Road. Over the next year, we will be hosting several public events and stakeholder meetings to bring forward ideas for the street that align with the requirements of local community groups, as well as businesses, faith organisations, and charities.”

In response to a list of questions about Project 2025, White House spokesman Davis Ingle said: “In just a year, President Trump has made America the hottest country in the world by securing the border, signing the largest middle class tax cuts in history, and bringing in trillions of dollars in investments.”

The victims were confirmed on Saturday as: Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs, California; Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho; Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, California; Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, California; Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco, California; and Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, California.

Movie fans have been left in a frenzy over a trailer for a brand new historical drama with a stellar cast

A WWII film centring on D-Day is already generating excitement amongst cinema enthusiasts after a trailer for the upcoming feature was released recently. The film boasts an A-list cast including The Mummy’s Brendan Fraser, Andrew Scott, Damian Lewis, Kerry Condon, and Chris Messina, reports the Express.

Pressure will be arriving in cinemas later this year and promises to be a hard-hitting watch. A brief synopsis for the film, which accompanies the trailer, reads: “In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, Pressure follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice-launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.”

The trailer for the film has already accumulated 8.5million views – and counting – since it appeared on YouTube on February 19. Numerous fans also headed to the comments section to praise the teaser as one person posted: “I have a feeling we are about to witness one of the greatest war films that ever made.” A second wrote: “This looks great and very Very epic I can’t wait to see it.” Whilst a third stated: “This story can’t be told enough. The heroic sacrifice these “ordinary” made must not be forgotten.”

Many film and television fans also observed how Band of Brothers alumni Lewis, who played Lieutenant Winters in the HBO drama series, and Scott, who portrayed Private Halls in the show, were reunited once more on the new film. “Ok, time for my yearly rewatch of Band of Brothers,” said one viewer.

As another wrote: “I can’t believe some of the cast of band of brothers are in this movie.” Someone else joked: “So you’re telling me there were 2 different versions of Damian Lewis in D-Day? ! (The other was Lt. Richard Winters in Band of Brothers).” Another quipped: “Pvt Hall and LT Winters have been working overtime on leave,” whilst another observed: “Ah, Damian Lewis, from playing an airborne soldier criticising Montgomery to playing Montgomery himself.”

Others went on to praise Oscar winner Fraser for being cast as Dwight D. Eisenhower and his huge, triumphant return to Hollywood following a lengthy absence from the industry.

One fan commented enthusiastically: “The Brenaissance is in full swing and I’m on board”, referencing Fraser’s much-celebrated comeback to the limelight.

A second wrote: “Count me in. This dude is one of the good ones. Rare these days.”

A third posted: “Never in a million years did I think Brendan Fraser would ever play Dwight Eisenhower… And it looks like he nails it.”

Pressure is based on David Haig’s 2014 stage play of the same name, with the playwright also collaborating on the screenplay with director Anthony Maras.

Pressure will be released in cinemas on May 29 in the USA and on September 11 in the UK.

A reader puts the blame for Xbox’s current problems squarely on Microsoft, blaming management failures, a lack of vision, and unwillingness to take risks.

It was November 2001 when Microsoft entered the gaming console arena. The green, cyberpunk style dashboard was dazzling, and it had one true game-changer: Halo: Combat Evolved. Players could battle grunting aliens across vast landscapes and drive amazing vehicles. Not only did this elevate the game to new heights, but it also drew huge crowds to the console.

In 2004, Microsoft dropped the price of the Xbox to an affordable £149. Sales increased, and Microsoft had established itself as a major player in the industry.

The Xbox 360 followed and held a firm grip on the market, even with the infamous Red Ring of Death incidents. It seemed Microsoft was poised to do for gaming what it had done for operating systems and office software – but that changed. You could blame Nintendo or PlayStation for focusing solely on consoles, rather than trying to turn them into all-singing, all-dancing media hubs.

In 2017, Microsoft launched Game Pass, positioning it as the ‘Netflix of gaming’. But Netflix does not release brand new, unproven films on the platform immediately after production. How can a studio make real profit that way?

Instead, Microsoft thought it clever to release major games like Starfield on Game Pass on day one, rather than waiting at least eight months to a year. With over 10 million players engaging with these titles but only an estimated 1 to 2 million Xbox users purchasing the actual product, out of a 34 million strong userbase, this represents a major shortfall.

Microsoft is not destroying its Xbox base through a lack of games, but through a lack of foresight. Day one releases should not exist on any gaming streaming service. Xbox titles should launch traditionally, for at least eight months to a year before being added to Game Pass.

Xbox is being suffocated by Microsoft, kept afloat only by PlayStation and PC purchases – and perhaps soon by the Nintendo Switch 2 platform. It is sad to see. Within five years, I believe the Xbox platform may cease to exist – not because of its fanbase, but because its owner has never truly learned how to compete in the gaming space.

Look at Sony and Nintendo: gaming consoles are not PCs. Streaming should give players choice, but it should not starve production studios of the glory – and profitability – of successful launches. You may disagree with this article, but you will likely agree that Microsoft is losing with Xbox; not because of the fanbase, but because Microsoft itself is no longer a fan of the Xbox.

Maybe I sound harsh, but I remember the original Xbox. Microsoft promised a multiplayer experience. One example was a game called Brute Force, a brilliant title where you control four characters on a mission. It had four-player local support, but everyone was waiting for the Xbox Live add-on. Microsoft again underdelivered, not realising that adding this component would have boosted sales and expanded its catalogue of exclusive titles. Instead, they prioritised the Halo explosion.

Look at Nintendo and Sony: they protect exclusives because good products sell consoles. Consider No Man’s Sky – not exclusive to any platform – but the studio persisted despite a rough launch. Their belief in the project created growth in a small but talented production team. I mention this because Microsoft has repeatedly given up on gaming projects, stifling the growth of Xbox exclusives.

Perfect Dark was cancelled – a perfect example of Microsoft destroying its own platform. With over a million units sold on the original Xbox, cancelling a sequel makes little sense. A return on DLC and season passes could have bolstered profits and helped sell the Xbox Series X in solid numbers.

Microsoft owns Activision, which promised exclusive games for Xbox, but instead the company cancelled titles as the new owner. Did you know Microsoft lost $300 million putting Call of Duty on Game Pass? Someone should have been held accountable for that decision.

Microsoft is destroying the Xbox – not because it can, but because it lacks vision. Leaders like Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, Elon Musk (yes, I said it), and Bill Gates understood customer needs and delivered great products that were also profitable. Xbox, unfortunately, will fade because no one at Microsoft is taking bold enough risks.

Goodbye, Xbox. It’s sad to see the Chief Master lose the fight.

By reader S.D.E Wilson

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

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NEW YORK (AP) — A rapidly intensifying storm triggered blizzard warnings Saturday for New York City, New Jersey and Boston as communities along the East Coast prepared for the Sunday arrival of heavy snow and damaging winds.

The National Weather Service increased its assessment of the potential severity of a storm that was projected to be much milder only days earlier.

The weather service said 1 to 2 feet (about 30 to 61 centimeters) of snow was possible in many areas as it issued blizzard warnings for New York City and Long Island, Boston and coastal communities in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Flooding was also possible in parts of New York and New Jersey, it said.

“While we do get plenty of these nor’easters that produce heavy snow and strong impacts, it’s been several years since we saw one of this magnitude across this large of a region in this very populated part of the country,” said Cody Snell, a meteorologist at the service’s Weather Prediction Center.

Snell said the storm would arrive Sunday morning in areas around Washington before stretching toward Philadelphia and New York City and reaching Boston in the evening.

The weather service said the storm could begin as rainfall in some places before worsening, with the heaviest snowfall expected at night and as much as 2 inches (5 centimeters) of snow per hour at times in some areas, before tapering off by Monday afternoon.

The weather service warned that the storm, with steady winds of 25 to 35 mph (40 to 56 kph) would “make travel dangerous, if not impossible. Scattered downed tree limbs and power outages possible due to snow load and strong winds.”

Officials scrambled to prepare for a storm that forecasters days ago believed would have a much more limited impact.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city would expand on efforts it used to deal with a major snowfall weeks ago. But officials held off on deciding whether to open schools Monday for the time being.

“We saw on Friday there was expectation that the likelihood was that we were going to face maybe 3 to 4 inches of snow. Quickly that then changed,” Mamdani said. “So we want to make sure that we make a decision based on up-to-date and accurate information.”

New York brought in additional snow clearing equipment from outside the city and planned to increase use of geocoding to keep track of bus stops and crosswalks that need clearing, he said.

With the storm zeroing in, John Berlingieri scrapped plans for a family trip to Puerto Rico to prepare his company, Berrington Snow Management, for what could well be a mammoth task: Clearing snow from millions of square feet of asphalt surrounding shopping malls and industrial parks across Long Island.

Employees spent the last few days recharging batteries on the company’s 40 front-end loaders and replacing windshield wipers on snow removal vehicles, before resting up Saturday.

“I’m anticipating at least one week of work around the clock,” Berlingieri said. “We’re going to work 24 to 36 hours straight, sleep for a few hours and then go back.”

The storm approached just as the icy remains of a snowstorm that struck the region weeks earlier were finally melting away.

Officials in Atlantic City, New Jersey, urged residents and casino visitors to stay off the streets, especially in low-lying neighborhoods prone to flooding.

“I could go on and on probably with a good two dozen streets where we know we will get water and there will be snow on top of that,” said Scott Evans, the city’s fire chief and emergency management coordinator. “So you won’t be able to see it until it’s too late, so therefore please stay at home.”

Many churches canceled Sunday services and other activities. To compensate, St. Veronica Parish in Howell, New Jersey, added an extra Mass on Saturday evening.

“Please stay safe, avoid unnecessary travel, and keep one another in prayer during the storm,” the Rev. Peter James Alindogan posted online.

___

Associated Press writers Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, Julie Walker in New York and Larry Neumeister in Brick Township, New Jersey, contributed.

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Scotland exhibited so much in their revival and, as well as Russell and Turner, prevailed thanks to tries from wings Kyle Steyn and Graham. “We dug deep and did what we needed to do to win,” said Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu. “Full credit to Wales. They came out with fight and we had to find a way to win ugly.

“I said to the boys at half-time we would need to find a little bit in ourselves to come away with the victory. Several of the boys really held their hands up. It was not as sharp a performance as last week [against England], but that was down to Wales’s performance.”

This was an enthralling game from which both teams would have taken huge positives. For Scotland, their second-half fightback means that they are within one Six Nations match of winning their first Triple Crown in more than three decades.

And for Wales, despite the agony of not being able to hang on to a commanding 15-point lead with 30 minutes to go, this was the resurrection of competitive spirit.

So much for Townsend’s men traditionally being flakes after beating England. Inspired by their fly-half maestro, Russell, they produced a revival that was characterised by guts and adventure.

Wales had the Scots on the ropes and were ahead with just seven minutes to go and looking for their first victory in the Six Nations since 2023. But replacement hooker Turner crashed over and for just the second time in 24 years, the Tartan Army left the Principality Stadium savouring a Cardiff victory.

Presuming that Wales do not win in Dublin in two weeks’ time then the last day promises a delicious shootout with Ireland for Triple Crown honours. In contrast, Wales will feel that a third wooden spoon in succession may not be so inevitable.

“I think the Welsh deserve so much credit,” Tuipulotu said. “I don’t want to discredit their performance or how passionate they were. I thought Steve would get them up for this. But I did think they might die off a lot sooner than they did. I felt the Principality was bouncing today. Credit to them for putting in a performance that they needed.”

Britain’s Got Talent returned with a bang on Saturday night, but fans were left divided by one act

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Britain’s Got Talent viewers were left divided by one act that closed the first episode of the ITV series.

This year, hundreds of hopefuls will be welcomed by award-winning hosts Ant and Dec before showing their talents to judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and the new addition, KSI.

Performers from every corner of the UK and all around the world will be taking to the stage in the hope of not just impressing the judges, but also the voting public in a bid to win the life-changing cash prize of £250,000 and a sought-after slot at the world-famous Royal Variety Performance.

However, fans were quick to share their thoughts after the Somerset act Celestial closed the show with a mega-drone display. As the judges and audience made their way outside, Celestrial put on an impressive display using drones and lights.

Towards the end of the performance, King Charles’ voice was heard in an emotional tribute, and some viewers felt it “couldn’t have come at a worse time”.

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The voice said, “Wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love.

“Our nation and the wider family of realms, of whose talents, traditions and achievements, I am so inexpressibly proud. Have prospered and flourished, which makes us great as a nation.”

Amanda Holden went on to say, “I am going to start crying.”

Reacting to the performance, one viewer said, “An act with the King’s voiceover could not have come at a worse time!”

“This is kinda sick #BGT,” another commented while a third added, “Not good timing but wow this is cool.”

Someone else pointed out, “Celestial- very cool very different I love it but I can’t see the King going outside to watch it that’s the only thing #BGT.”

Another agreed, “How is a drone act going to work on the stage at The Royal Variety Show?”

Praising the emotional performance, one fan said, “Celestial, best act of the Night #BGT.”

“Well, wasn’t that brilliant? Brought a wee tear to my eye #BGT,” another shared.

In the first episode, the fans met Liwei Yang, who left everyone in awe as she juggled a burning table with just her feet.

Another act that impressed the judges was Paul Nurrari, who made Australia’s Got Talent final and received the first Golden Buzzer of the series.

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

When speaking about what fans can expect from the new series, Ant said, “Like we always say, expect the unexpected!

“We never know who’s going to walk around that corner when we’re on the side of the stage, and the viewers never know who’s going to walk on stage when you’re watching on telly.”

Dec added, ” There’s more madness and more fantastic talent from here and around the world.”

Britain’s Got Talent is available to watch on ITVX.

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“I was actually told many times to not make this show about Belfast with international producers saying people won’t get it, and the comedy will be lost”

An “outrageous” musical comedy set in Belfast is returning to the city after two decades.

The award-winning Belfast Ensemble is gearing up to perform GROUP! at the Lyric Theatre from 24 March to 4 April, returning to the theatre for the first time since 2002 as part of the theatre’s 75th anniversary celebrations.

Created by Conor Mitchell and Matthew Hurt, GROUP! delighted audiences in New York, Philadelphia, Australia and London two-act musical comedy is a rapturous audience experience likened to The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q.

READ MORE: Lyric Theatre Belfast celebrates 75 years as cultural hub with new free exhibition ‘A House of Play’READ MORE: Belfast Children’s Festival highlights as over 100 events planned for 28th year in the city

A description reads: “GROUP! is set in a typical Belfast community centre. Despite the relatively uninspiring backdrop, the plot follows eccentric individuals attending a weekly therapy session with each confessing their funniest, scariest, darkest and most embarrassing moments. It delves into familiar yet uncomfortable themes in a way that only Belfast humour can.

“Jean is a volatile, untrusting woman attending on the advice of her GP after a violent public outburst, whilst Frank, a taxi driver, tries to deal with his divorce and PTSD through unconventional tactics.

“Chris, an unemployed incel with obsessive tendencies is planning a grand public gesture because he is suffering from the unrequited love of a certain local celebrity.

“The group dynamics are disrupted by the introduction of a new member, Amy, the friend and IVF nurse of Jackie – a heavily pregnant, outspoken professional unhappy in her marriage.

“Emmet, the incompetent group counsellor struggles to keep things on track, while Babs, the unfiltered oldest member of the group throws curveballs with inappropriate jokes destined to keep audiences on their toes.”

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Originally written and performed in 2002, with such a small budget that seven chairs had to be borrowed from a local Belfast bar, GROUP! has stood the test of time and evolved into a “unique production that Belfast, and Northern Ireland, can be proud of”.

Co-writer and director Conor said: “I remember taking the production to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011 – we were walking around the city promoting the show and carrying our seven chairs.

“This commitment to the production has sustained over two decades – in fact, despite how much Belfast has transformed in that time, only minor changes have been made to the original script to ensure it still hits as hard in 2026 – a testament to its quality.

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“I was actually told many times to not make this show about Belfast with international producers saying people won’t get it, and the comedy will be lost. I have always disagreed – in fact, the Belfast-isms are what is special about this production.

“We are now bringing GROUP! home to where it belongs, bigger and better than ever, and what I am most proud of this time around is the indigenous talent we have on board across the cast and crew.

2Belfast Ensemble’s core purpose is to nurture talent and create ambitious works that support artistic growth, ensuring that Belfast’s creative community reap the benefits of collaboration and continuity.”

Belfast Ensemble is a pioneering force in cross-disciplinary theatre, seamlessly uniting music, theatre, and visual storytelling for audiences in Northern Ireland.

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Its production of GROUP! will run from 24 March to 4 April at the Lyric Theatre and is recommended for audiences aged 15 and above.

For more information and booking visit lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/group

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