AN English village is often overlooked by a famous seaside resort nearby – and locals want to keep it that way.

Felpham is right next to Bognor Regis.

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But Felpham has its own place in history, being where the poet William Blake lived.

He once called Felpham the “sweetest spot on earth” as well as saying: “Away to sweet Felpham, for heaven is there.”

Despite being a small village, it has a long beach with both sand and shingle.

People have raved about the “lovely” beach, which has a long promenade next to it as well.

One wrote: “Great time just sitting watching the boats, brings back memories of when we used to go crabbing when the kids were a lot smaller.”

Another called it their “favourite local beach”.

The Boat House cafe on the beach is also popular with visitors as well as dog-walkers in the winter months.

But Felpham is lesser-visited and locals might want to keep it that way.

The Felpham website states: “Felpham is a secret we like to keep to ourselves.

“Why would we want to share our beautiful beaches and parks, our great pubs, restaurants, hotels and shops and so much more?”

However, they added: “I guess we have to let others know how lucky we are. Just make sure you don’t spoil it please.”

While there are no celebs who call it home, there are a number of famous faces who have backed the village.

Bill Nighy recently visited to support a local campaign to keep Felpham’s Post Office open.

And Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is a patron of The Blake Cottage Trust, which protects William Blake’s home.

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Despite being a small village, there are a number of pubs, restaurants and hotels to choose from.

There is The George Inn, The Thatched House and The Fox Inn, all within walking distance of each other.

Otherwise the beachfront The Lobster Pot has both sea views and seafood on offer.

And of course, a seaside village is nothing without a fish and chip shops, with the Felpham Chippy highly rated.

You won’t find any major hotel chains in Felpham – unless you head over to Bognor Regis – although there are B&Bs as well as the seafront Beachcroft Hotel, with rooms and beach huts to stay in.

Still want to go to Bognor Regis? Here is the new £15million attraction opening at the town’s Butlin’s.

And one mum has been visiting Butlin’s for 40 years – here’s how she thinks it has changed.

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ASLEF AND RMT members are set to strike over pay at the end of the year after failing to reach an agreement.

Here’s everything you need to know about when the strikes are and what you can expect.

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When are the next train strikes?

There are currently no train strikes planned over the next few months.

This is due to ASLEF reaching a deal with the Rail Delivery Group in September 2024.

When are the next Tube strikes?

There next set of tube strikes are scheduled from November 1 to November 12, 2024.

ASLEF strikes will take place on Thursday, November 7 and Tuesday, November 12.

Union members will also take part in an overtime ban from November 3 to November 16.

ASLEF members going on strike include drivers, instructors, management grades, and members in the engineering section.

The RMT strikes will take place between November 1 and November 8, but not all members will be on strike at the same time.

Is Eurostar affected by train strikes?

Eurostar services will not be affected by the strikes.

However, it is always advisable to double-check your travel plans in case any part of your journey is impacted.

On strike days, always verify that your connecting transport is operational before you set off, and allow extra time for potential disruptions.

This will help ensure a smoother journey despite any ongoing industrial action.

Can I get my money back for strike days?

Yes, you may be able to get a refund for a train ticket if your journey is delayed, cancelled, or rescheduled due to a strike. 

The type of ticket and how you purchased it may affect how you can request a refund.

If passengers have a return ticket they may also be entitled to a fee-free refund if part of the journey is cancelled.

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Season ticket holders who cannot travel can claim 100 per cent compensation for strike dates.

The specific refund policies vary depending on the train operator, so it’s important to check the terms and conditions of your ticket.

What are the strikes about?

The strikes organized by the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) is primarily about pay.

We don’t want to go on strike – we don’t want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don’t want to lose a day’s pay.

Finn Brennan

The union is demanding better wages for its train drivers, who have not received a pay rise since their last agreements expired in 2019.

Finn Brennan, ASLEF’s organiser on London Underground, said: “We don’t want to go on strike – we don’t want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don’t want to lose a day’s pay – but we have been forced into this position because LU management won’t sit down properly and negotiate with us.

“Six months after the date that a pay agreement for 2024 should have been implemented, ASLEF’s executive committee has given notice that our members on London Underground will take strike action to achieve a fair deal on pay and working conditions.”

A NEW tourist hub would soon transform a Spanish city – and it would be similar to one in London.

Three Chimneys in Barcelona was a thermal power station built in the 1970s, although was met with a lot of opposition at the time.

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It then closed in 2011, with plans to tear it down.

But now loved by locals – and dubbed the “the Sagrada Familia of the workmen” – it could become a whole new hotspot.

However, it is set to be converted into a destination for both tourists and locals, to reduce overtourism in the city centre of Barcelona.

Just four miles away, the brutalist structure could become a “digital media and audio-visual hub,” the Times reports.

New homes, extended promenades, more green areas and new bike lanes and public transport are all part of the major plans.

The redevelopment hopes to be completed by 2029.

More is to be revealed about what else could be included as well as how much it would cost, although it is expected to be millions.

This could encourage tourists to explore parts outside of the city centre, which welcomes million of tourists a year.

The mayor of Barcelona Jaume Collboni said the transformation as a “a vestige of the industrial past that becomes a window of opportunity”.

Barcelona city hall’s innovation directer added Eva Soria added that they want to “make the outskirts more visible”.

Tourists can’t currently visit Three Chimneys apart from during certain days of the year.

For example, it has opened to the public for the Manifesta 15 art event, running until November 24.

The outdoor area is also popular with skateboarders, who use the Three Chimneys gardens.

The conversion of the power plant could be similar to Battersea Power Station in London.

Once a working power station between the 1930s and 1980s, it reopened in 2022 following a massive £9billion renovation.

It was even named one of the must visit spots by Nat Geo earlier this year.

Free to visit, inside are 80 shops and restaurants, Lift 109 attraction and Art’otel, with a rooftop pool.

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The Sun’s Head of Travel Caroline McGuire recently visited, and said: “I generally avoid shopping centres entirely when with my 5 year old.

“But I’m surprised at how Battersea Power Station has become a regular family visit during school holidays.

“During autumn half term, my son and I enjoyed the free ‘brick’ soft play, spending more than an hour building a brick house.

“And we also designed a telephone box out of cardboard for £3 that is still on his chest of drawers at home.”

Sun Travel visit Barcelona

The Sun’s Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski recently visited Barcelona.

“You can’t go to Barcelona without admiring some of architect Antoni Gaudi’s impressive works.

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“There is the Sagrada Familia church, Park Guell and Casa Batllo all within a few kilometres of each other.

“I chose to explore Gaudi’s Casa Mila this time, with a behind-the-scenes Sunrise Guided Tour with GetYourGuide (£33.63pp).

“You also can’t leave Barcelona without drinking sangria, so head to bar Bubita, down a side road behind the Picasso museum.

“It serves the stuff in a huge variety of flavours, including limoncello and basil, and lime, orange and mint.”

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In other Barcelona news, the city has revealed plans to double the entry fee for the famous Park Guell attraction, but only for tourists.

Otherwise here is a different Spanish city which is set to be big in 2025.

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A NEW international airport is opening next month – and will welcome long-haul flights for the first time.

Greenland has reveals plans for three new airports on the island, which is largest in the world.

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Opening on November 28 is Nuuk Airport, with the small capital city home to 18,000 locals.

Despite being small, most of Greenland is found in Nuuk – this is a quarter of the population – and is where you will find the famous multicoloured houses as well as whale-watching.

The new airport’s longer runway and new terminal means airlines in both the US and Europe will be able to operate direct flights for the first time.

Previously, airlines would have to stop in Kangerlussuaq and then change to a smaller aircraft.

But current flights that will launch include direct flights from Copenhagen, followed by direct New York flights in 2025.

Brits travelling from the UK currently have to fly via Iceland, changing at Reykjavik Keflavik with Icelandair.

This takes around around 14 hours there, and eight hours back.

While direct UK routes are yet to be announced, flights could be as quick as five hours if added by Air Greenland.

Jens Lauridsen, chief executive of operator Greenland Airports, said the new airport will have a “big impact” on the island.

They added: “A flight from Europe to Nuuk is a little more than four hours.

“So we’re placed right in the middle. There is a very, very big interest from all major carriers in Europe.”

Jens also said they expect to see “a lot of tourism and change”.

Locals are excited too.

One told the BBC that they they were going to “open to the world,” adding: “It’s so exciting that we’re going to have the opportunity to travel from here to another country.”

And another said: “l look forward to having a shorter route for Copenhagen, Iceland, or maybe London Heathrow, who knows?”

Nuuk Airport is just one of three new ones opening in Greenland.

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Following the opening of Nuuk, a new airport will open in Ilulissat in 2026.

The town is the most popular tourist destination in Greenland, where many go iceberg spotting.

Also in 2026 will be Qaqortoq Airport, a new airport in Greenland’s largest town.

The overall cost of the three airports ix expected to cost around £615million.

In the mean time, here are five mega airports opening across Europe in the next decade.

And the world’s best airport is now in Europe – here’s everything you need to know.

A HOLIDAYMAKER has lashed out at Ryanair staff for charging him £75 because his suitcase was “too big”.

Austin Price, 28, was preparing to jet off to Krakow from Bristol Airport on October 4 when airline workers asked him to stuff his luggage into a measuring stand.

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The traveller, from Plymouth, claimed the bag fit in the gap – but the “wonky” wheels did not.

Cyber security worker Austin then alleged that a “rather rude” Ryanair employee demanded he cough up an eye watering add-on fee.

The holidaymaker shamed the brand online in a post, ranting: “What kind of f**ery is this? Just been charged £75 for a bag which clearly fits. Sort this s*** out.”

However, the holidaymaker’s snaps appear to show the suitcase stuck out at the front.

The apparent error appeared to miss that Ryanair’s website states 10kg bags must fit within the three dimensions – 55 x 40 x 20cm – and his appeared to be deeper than the permitted 20cm.

Ryanair defended the decision, stating that the “passenger’s bag exceeded the dimensions allowed’ for a 10kg cabin bag and was “correctly required to pay a standard gate baggage fee of £75.”

Austin slammed the employee for “trying too much to do his job”.

He then claimed: “We had priority, with which you get one hand luggage bag and one small suitcase. I used the same suitcase I have probably used for the last three years.

“When boarding, there was one individual [member of staff] that was rather rude.

“There was a guy that was asked to put his backpack in the box and the worker’s response was that he has an attitude problem.

“The guy had his headphones on so he did not even hear him. He seemed confused; he had to put his backpack in when it obviously fit.

“They have changed the [measuring] boxes now. Before, you could wheel the suitcase in, while the new ones are like an open gap, almost like they are trying to catch people out.

“My suitcase was the size that fit in the gap and I have a photo of it sitting in, but because the wheels area a bit stiff it wouldn’t sit flat because of the weight of the wheels.

“The wheels are not the size of the suitcase. I said it clearly fits in but he said that I have to pay.

“I thought it was only going to be around £28 as it is on their website and I thought ‘that’s annoying but I’ll take the hit, gave my bank details and all of a sudden I got charged £75.”

Austin was angry at how much he was charged after already paying for Priority boarding so he could take on the 10kg case.

The customer then wrote a seething email to the budget airline.

However he claims they simply responded informing him how much he had to pay.

Austin said: “I sent an email and the response was sh*t.

“They obviously didn’t read what I wrote in the email because the response I got was them stating how much I have to pay but that’s not what I asked.

“I have already paid and was told that I shouldn’t have paid so I wanted a refund.

“I literally used it a month ago with easyjet. I flew with Ryanair in April with the same bag and had no issues.”

However Ryanair pointed out that the suitcase simply didn’t fit in the ‘fit to fly’ measuring box.

A spokesperson for the airlin said: “This passenger’s bag exceeded the dimensions allowed for a 10kg cabin bag and was correctly required to pay a standard gate baggage fee of £75 to carry a 10kg cabin bag onboard.”

The Sun Online has reached out to Ryanair for comment.

TO help you beat those summer blues, we have partnered with Away Resorts to give one lucky Sun reader a seven-night stay at one of their fabulous holiday resorts, worth up to £2,000. 

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