New traffic rules planned for 'iconic' Cotswold village


A high number of visitors contribute to traffic issues and road safety concerns

Permanent changes to coach bays in an "iconic" tourist destination have been proposed to improve road safety and manage high visitor numbers.

Bibury, in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, can sometimes see as many as 20,000 visitors in a weekend, and up to 50 coaches parking there a day.

Following a trial in the summer, Gloucestershire County Council is planning to introduce permanent restrictions on coaches entering the village.

Councillor Lisa Spivey, leader of the council, said: "Bibury is one of the Cotswolds' most iconic destinations, but its popularity has created real challenges. These proposals aim to make the village safer, reduce congestion, and protect its unique character."

Additional proposals include implementing a loading bay and disabled parking spaces, along with extended yellow line restrictions to prevent parking problems elsewhere.

Restrictions on coaches entering the village were introduced in May, with parking bays in the centre of the village closed and new public bus stop clearways installed. Council leaders said the clearways were introduced to create safer passenger drop-off and pick-up areas and to reduce the risk of crashes caused by "unsafe coach manoeuvres".

Plans to make the changes permanent are supported by a group called Bibury One, which includes representatives from the local community, parish councillors, coach and tour operators, the county council, and Gloucestershire Constabulary. Drop-in meetings for members of the public will begin on Wednesday. If approved, the measures could be implemented by early summer 2026.

A survey on the changes is running until 3 December.

Study finds shouting may stop gulls stealing food


Researchers found a recording of a man shouting was the most off-putting to gulls

Shouting at gulls makes them more likely to leave your food alone, research has revealed.

University of Exeter researchers put a closed box of chips on the ground to attract herring gulls and watched the effect different recordings had on them. Once a gull approached, they played either a recording of a male voice shouting the words "no, stay away, that's my food", the same voice speaking those words or the birdsong of a robin.

They tested a total of 61 gulls across nine seaside towns in Cornwall and found nearly half of those exposed to the shouting voice flew away within a minute. In contrast, 70% of gulls exposed to the robin song stayed near the food for the duration of the experiment. The team said they found 15% of the gulls exposed to the speaking male voice flew away, while the rest walked away from the food, still sensing danger.

Dr Neeltje Boogert of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the Penryn campus said: "So when trying to scare off a gull that's trying to steal your food, talking might stop them in their tracks but shouting is more effective at making them fly away."

The university said the experiment was designed to show that physical violence was not necessary to scare off gulls, and the researchers used male voices as most crimes against wildlife were carried out by men.

"Most gulls aren't bold enough to steal food from a person, I think they've become quite vilified," said Dr Boogert. "What we don't want is people injuring them. They are a species of conservation concern, and this experiment shows there are peaceful ways to deter them that don't involve physical contact," added Dr Boogert.

In 2020, a study by scientists at the University of Exeter found gulls were more likely to be attracted to food which had been handled by humans. In the study, scientists offered herring gulls a choice of two identical food items, from which 79% of the gulls opted for items they had seen in human hands.

In 2019, researchers at the university also found the secret to protecting your seaside chips from scavenging gulls was to stare at them. The study revealed birds were more likely to steal food when they avoided the gaze of their victims.

Gulls are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 so it is an offence to intentionally injure or kill any gull, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.

'Fantasy' to expect U-turn on Stonehenge tunnel


Almost £200m has already been spent on the now-scrapped tunnel

Campaigners who fought against plans for a road tunnel near Stonehenge have supported a government proposal to revoke permission for it.

The controversial proposals for the A303 in Wiltshire were originally granted permission in 2023, but the scheme - which had already had £179.2m spent on it - was scrapped last year due to finances.

Leaders of the Stonehenge Alliance have called it a "fantasy" to imagine that the government would reconsider investing in the scheme in this "current economic climate".

However, four councils have come together to condemn ministers' move to revoke permission, saying it is a "step backwards" for growth.

Despite the axing of the scheme, the power to build the tunnel – called a development consent order – currently remains in place following approval by the previous Conservative government. But the Department for Transport (DfT) has issued a draft revoking order, with a consultation until 21 November, before a final decision is made.


The tunnel plan was debated for decades

In a joint statement, the leaders of Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) councils, called the government move a "damaging and short-sighted decision that disregards years of planning, consultation and investment. "This is a major step backwards for the Wessex area and beyond," they said.

Councillor Ian Thorn, leader of Wiltshire Council, told BBC Radio Wiltshire the plan would be good for residents and business going through Wiltshire to the rest of the region. He said heavy congestion on the A303 slows industry growth. "This government is all about growth, but if it wants to see growth, it's got to put it's money where it's mouth is and sadly that's not what it's done here in relation to the Stonehenge tunnel," he said.

The Stonehenge Alliance said it agreed the area needs more investment, but an alternative solutions should have been looked at. Mike Birkin, acting chair of the group, called the world heritage site a "landscape without parallel".

"It's really a weight off the future of the Stonehenge world heritage site if this planning permission is revoked," he added, explaining that to have the permission "hanging over it" would not be "good for the protection of the site".

"In the current economic climate, it is a fantasy to imagine that government would want to invest in this scheme," a group spokesperson added. It references a report by the National Audit Office in 2019, which said the benefits of a tunnel were "uncertain".

Stonehenge was declared by Unesco to be a world heritage site of outstanding universal value in 1986.

A DfT spokesperson said "exceptional circumstances" make it "appropriate" to make a proposal to revoke permission. The department has said before that "difficult decisions" had to be made about a number of road projects due to the financial challenges the government is facing.

800306 left Eastleigh today (Nov 6th), leaving classmate 800309 as the only set there.

...there have been 10x5-car 800/0s, 5x9-car 800/3s, 17x5-car 802/0 and 8x9-car 802/1s from the
@gwr
 fleet treated, leaving 26 800/0s, 16 800/3s, 5 802/0s and 6 802/1s to go. Interestingly, maybe, more Eversholt-owned sets than Agilty sets have been for repairs...

Driving test rules to change in bid to stop bots booking slots

Only learner drivers will be able to book driving tests in plans aimed at reducing long waiting lists and preventing slots being sold at inflated prices.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said limiting third parties from reselling slots would stop people being "exploited" by online bots. But she admitted to MPs on the Transport committee that waiting times for driving tests would not be brought down to seven weeks by summer 2026, the most recent deadline she set. The average waiting time was 21.8 weeks at the end of June.

Currently, instructors can book tests on behalf of their students, but this will be banned as part of the changes. Limits will also be placed on the number of times a driver can move or swap a test, and the area they can move a test to once they have booked it.

Amelia Lightfoot, a 20-year-old learner driver from Devon, said it took more than a month for her to secure a test, having made daily visits to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) website to book a slot. She said when she eventually got a date, it was six months away. But she failed that test and is now struggling to book another. "Because I live in a rural area with very poor public transport, having a driving licence would significantly improve my quality of life. The situation is incredibly frustrating and feels very unfair," she said.

Additionally, 36 examiners from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will be brought into the DVSA to try to reduce the backlog. These examiners are civil servants, not military personnel.

The DVSA has recruited 316 new examiners, but Alexander said that has resulted in a net gain of only 40 as others have left. Driving examiners will be offered a "retention payment" of £5,000 from next year to try and keep them in the role.

Ruth Cadbury MP, the chair of the Transport Committee, said efforts to replace the current test booking system were moving at a "glacial pace" and it was "a shame" that the summer 2026 target would be missed. "We will continue to ask the Department for Transport for regular updates on this issue."

(BBC article continues)

Watchdog examines assault linked to train stabbings



The police watchdog is investigating a force's handling of an alleged attack in Peterborough and its possible link with the mass stabbings on a train.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was looking at a complaint from a man who said he was attacked by someone with a knife in Fletton, in the city, on 27 September.

Ricky Butcher, 35, told the BBC he suffered facial injuries while waiting for a taxi outside The Fletton Club with a group of people.

Cambridgeshire Police has already been reviewing its prior contact with the man suspected of stabbing people on the Doncaster to London King's Cross train on 1 November, which was stopped at Huntingdon.

The force referred itself on Monday over the Fletton incident, the IOPC said.

IOPC director Emily Barry said her teams had been working closely with the force to "ensure that any complaints or conduct matters identified in its review are referred to us. We will keep the complainant and the force updated as our investigation progresses," she added.

Police have confirmed they are reviewing whether the Fletton incident is connected with the train attacks.

An IOPC spokesperson said: "We understand from the complaint that police were called by a member of the public to a report of a man armed with a knife. Prior to the police arriving the complainant reports he was punched by the man leaving him with facial lacerations. Police attended and spoke with the complainant however, the suspect had left the scene before officers arrived, and no arrest was made at the time."

Meanwhile, British Transport Police has linked the train attacks suspect with two incidents in which a man entered a barbers' shop in Peterborough earlier that weekend - as well as the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy.

Anthony Williams, 32, has appeared in court charged with 11 counts of attempted murder over the Huntingdon incident and a second stabbing in east London.

North Somerset Council sees 'depressing' overspend on recycling


A tonne of plastic that would have sold for £168 in 2024/25 is now only fetching £80 for the council

A council has been left with a "deeply depressing" overspend on waste recycling.

Unlike black bin rubbish, which local authorities have to pay to dispose of, materials from kerbside recycling collections and household waste recycling centres can be sold as a source of income. But North Somerset Council said this year, reduced prices and increased costs have hugely impacted this income stream.

Mickey Green, the council's director of environment, assets, and travel, said: "We are collecting more recycling but due to global […] pressures, it's all worth less." Mr Green said that recycling still generates millions to offset waste services at the council, although less than last year.

The price of plastic in particular has dropped by half since last year, according to the Local Democracy Service. A tonne of plastic that would have sold for £168 in 2024/25 is now only fetching £80. As a result, the council earned £260,000 less this year.

To help with recycling costs, a government spokesperson said £69bn had been available this year for councils to deliver public services, including a 6.4% increase in funding for North Somerset Council compared to 2024. Despite this additional government support, more than 20 plastics facilities have shut down in the country in the past two years.

A report which went before the meeting of the North Somerset Council corporate, assets, transport, and environmental services scrutiny committee (CATE) said the market was starting to improve, but it could take more than a year.

The council is estimated to lose out on another £100,000 because the off-takers used to dispose of wood have relocated from Newport to Barry in Wales.

Steve Bridger, chair of the CATE committee, said it was "deeply depressing" that the money lost due to market fluctuations was more than the council was set to save from its planned cuts to library services, which are "highly likely" to close three local libraries.

North Somerset Council is currently facing a £25m black hole in its budget for the next financial year, largely driven by a rapidly increasing demand for and cost of social care. The council's top finance officers have warned that the council will not be able to balance its budget without "exceptional financial support" from the government.

The crossing at Levington Heath, between Ipswich and Felixstowe, is on the list as a potential closure

The BBC understands 15 rail crossings in Suffolk are being considered for closure or modification by Network Rail.

The list was revealed earlier this year in a report to the Suffolk Local Access Forum, a statutory body which advises on public access.

Nigel Meadows from The Suffolk Ramblers said he "understood" why some of the crossings made the list but had concerns over alternatives at three of them that were used "regularly" by walkers — in Levington Heath, Wherstead near Jimmy's Farm, and at Old Newton/Dagworth.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said it was in the "early stages of discussions" and this was "to find ways to make the railway safer for everyone".

To shut or change a railway crossing which has a public right of way, Network Rail needs to apply for a Transport Works and Act Order (TWAO). This requires public consultation, can be objected to and the final sign-off has to be made by the secretary of state for transport.

Mr Meadows said he had been made aware of the Network Rail "wish list" in January and had researched the crossings. He had concerns about lack of alternative routes and said closing them would be a "major loss":

* of most concern was Old Newton, near Stowmarket, "because that's part of the Mid-Suffolk path and a very well-used"

* Levington Heath, near Felixstowe, was "currently very well-used as a link up to the old A12 with a lay-by there and open access land"

* The Wherstead crossing, south of Ipswich, had issues because he had used it this year and "it's near Jimmy's Farm and there seemed to be a lot of people walking around there... obviously a very well-used route again"


(BBC article continues)

A widespread engine fault on GWR’s fleet of intercity trains is causing overcrowding, late running and cancellations on London–Oxford services, and onwards into the Cotswolds. Fuel pumps are said to be “disintegrating”, leading to trains running slow with several engines out of service.

Over the last four weeks, only 60% of Oxford–Paddington services have run to time (or within 5 minutes). Some services have been particularly unpunctual: the 2035 from Oxford has been on time for just 15% of its scheduled runs, with the 1331 little better at 25%.

The engine failures mean that services booked for 9-coach trains are often run with just 5, with passengers being left on the platform at Oxford on occasion. A 9-coach train has 5 engines: GWR withdraws them from service if 3 of the 5 have failed.

Teen arrested after railway station assault

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested and bailed in connection with a serious assault at a railway station.

British Transport Police said a man in his 50s sustained multiple facial fractures following an assault at Polsloe Bridge Station, in Exeter, on 30 October.

Officers have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Police said a boy, from Exeter, had been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and had since been released on police bail while inquiries continued.

The derailed train south of Shap.

At around 06:10 on 3 November 2025, a passenger train travelling from Glasgow Central to London Euston derailed after striking a landslip around 3 miles (5 km) south of Shap, Cumbria. The train was travelling at around 83 mph (134 km/h) when it struck debris that had been washed onto the track. This lifted the first bogie off the rails and to the right, where it ran derailed for around 560 metres. There were 9 staff and 86 passengers on board the train at the time of the collision.

Four people were treated for minor injuries as a result of the accident, and damage was caused to the train and to railway infrastructure.

The landslip occurred during a period of heavy and sustained rainfall. RAIB’s preliminary examination found that a drainage channel, which runs across the slope above the washed-out material, was unable to accommodate the volume of water which was present. This led to the slope material below becoming saturated, initiating the landslip.

Our investigation will determine the sequence of events which led to the derailment and will include consideration of:

•     the design, maintenance and management of earthworks and drainage in this area
•     the effectiveness of on-site monitoring equipment
•     the operational response to adverse weather warnings
•     the performance of the train during the derailment
•     any underlying factors which might have contributed to the derailment.

Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.

We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation. This report will be available on our website.

14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59

15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Further Information

If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
Last Updated:12/11/2025 13:48

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19

17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to the train for this service having broken down.

Further Information

If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
Last Updated:12/11/2025 14:28

Queen Camilla joined a service from Chippenham for the service - there is ITV video of her standing next to Mark Hopwood at the service.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gpyekyvkko



I worry (is it just me?) that if someone takes so many attempts to pass a test that have a safety implication, their eventual passing might just be a stroke of luck on that occasion and they might not actually be safe on the road thereafter.  A car is a lethel weapon after all, probably responsible for more none-medical deaths in the UK than knives.

Edit to add - about 1600 road deaths / 290 knife crime deaths last year .... UK figures

In March next year I need to get from Prague to Krakow. An open access Operator called Leo Express is coming up extremely cheaply. Under £10 once converted to GBP.
Has anyone any experience of this operator? Any comments ? Are they reliable?

Less than a tenner for a journey of around 550km seems too good to be true, or maybe I’m just used to U.K. pricing.

A learner driver has failed their theory test 128 times, according to a new report.

The candidate would have spent about £3,000, findings released by the AA Driving School and based on official statistics have shown.

Another driver passed on their 75th attempt last year, costing them an estimated £1,700.

According to data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, obtained by the AA, two learners have taken their practical test 37 times without passing.

It took 43 tries for another candidate to pass, the report said, potentially costing them up to £3,200.

Can it be confirmed that the option to stay logged in has been removed? I only seem to be getting 360minutes now as an option.

What are we doing about it?
-
Engineers are on site monitoring the issue. There is a plan to fix the defect overnight but we will advise further here if this plan changes.


Well that's helpful.