Eden Project architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw dies

The firm founded by the Eden Project designer announced the news on Monday afternoon
By Lisa Young South West     Published     15 September 2025 Updated 4 hours ago

Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, the architect of the Eden Project in Cornwall, has died at the age of 85.

Sir Nicholas also designed the landmark Ship building in Plymouth and the glass-and-steel International Terminal at Waterloo in London which won The Royal Institute of British Architects Building of the Year Award in 1994.

The news was announced on Monday afternoon by the architecture firm Grimshaw, which he founded in 1980.

In a statement, it said he had been "a man of invention and ideas" who would be remembered for "his endless curiosity about how things are made".

"With this pragmatic creativity, Nick had an extraordinary ability to convince others that daring ideas were possible," the firm added.

Sir Nicholas was knighted in 2002 for services to architecture.

He served as president of the Royal Academy from 2004 to 2011.

In 2022, he established the Grimshaw Foundation, which aims to promote innovative design, creativity and sustainability among young people.

In Cornwall, his design of the Eden Project was constructed in a former clay pit near St Austell and opened in 2001.

The visitor attraction and environmental charity's huge domes, called biomes, were built to recreate some of Earth's different climates, as well house thousands of different plant species.

A railway station in West Yorkshire is to close for three years from 13 December and be rebuilt close to its original site.

Ravensthorpe station near Dewsbury is to be demolished, with a new station planned to open in the summer of 2028, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).

The work is part of the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) programme of railway improvements being carried out by Network Rail.

A DfT statement said between closure and reopening a rail replacement bus operation run by Network Rail would be put in place.

The existing Ravensthorpe station is located to the south of Ravensthorpe village on the North Transpennine Route, between Mirfield and Dewsbury stations.

The TRU Upgrade involves re-siting Ravensthorpe station 656ft (200m) west of its current location, just ahead of the Wakefield – Leeds junction, according to the DfT.


The DfT statement included a "visualisation" of the proposed new station

A DfT statement said plans for the new station included 500ft (150m) platforms to enable longer trains offering more seats to call at the station.

During the closure of the current railway station a replacement bus operation would run once an hour between Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury and Ravensthorpe and Mirfield, "as per the current rail service", a DfT spokesperson said.

TRU is a £10.7bn railway upgrade programme which aims to improve journeys across the Pennines between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

Network Rail said it did not expect the full project to be completed until at least 2036. Once complete, a spokesperson said passengers could expect faster, more frequent journeys on greener trains and a more reliable railway.

New Wellington railway station could open in 2028

A new railway station in Somerset could open in 2028, according to Network Rail and the local MP.

The rail operator said final plans were being drawn up for a station in Wellington and should be completed by the spring, followed by a construction schedule.

Local MP Gideon Amos recently met Network Rail officials at the site where the station would be built. "Contractors are still being re-engaged and therefore have not yet provided timings," he said. "However, Network Rail believe the opening of the station will be in two-and-a-half to three years' time."

Amos said the site being on the London-Penzance mainline meant construction activity would happen in phases, including at weekends.

Wellington lost its station in the Beeching cuts of the mid-1960s.

A project to reopen it was among dozens of transport schemes shelved by the government last year because of financial pressures.

In June, the chancellor confirmed in her spending review that a project to rebuild Wellington station, along with Cullompton station in Devon, would receive funding, which campaigners hailed as "fantastic news".

It is estimated an investment of about £45m will be needed to fully construct and deliver both stations.

"It's disappointing we had to lose so much time while the money was being found, but we're now in an exciting phase. If you'll excuse the pun, the wheels are finally in motion," said Amos.

Police investigate England flag on white horse

A police investigation has begun after a historic white horse carved into a Wiltshire hillside was temporarily turned into an England flag.

Red fabric was draped over the Westbury White Horse in the shape of the St George's cross on 9 September, and was attached to the 175ft (53m) tall landmark using pegs.

The installation was later removed after being reported to English Heritage, which said the site had been assessed and the pegs had caused "minimal damage".

Following English Heritage's assessment, Wiltshire Police said: "We have received a report regarding minor damage being done to the horse through the use of pegs". The force added it was "in the early stages of our inquiries". The force originally said it was not investigating the incident.

The red fabric on the landmark appeared after thousands of St George's flags appeared across England in recent months.

The Westbury White Horse is thought to have been originally carved in 878 AD to commemorate King Alfred's victory over the Danes at the Battle of Ethandune.

The landmark is a scheduled monument, which means it is protected by legislation. It is a criminal offence to damage it. Heavy fines, or even a prison sentence, can follow deliberate damage or removal of items from such sites.

16:32 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 19:29 will be started from Worcester Foregate Street.
This is due to passengers causing a disturbance on a train.
Last Updated:16/09/2025 15:47

15:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 18:26 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:16/09/2025 13:46

19:02 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 21:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:16/09/2025 13:46

22:51 London Paddington to Worcestershire Parkway Hl due 01:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:16/09/2025 13:46

From this Saturday, 20th September 2025, the Saturday through train from Chippenham to Oxford returns.  Connection at 10:09 from Melksham, 10:44 from Chippenham, arrive at Oxford at 11:27.  Return service direct to Chippenham from Oxford at 17:12, or return to Melkshan at 16:30, 18:02 or 20:05, changing at Didcot and Swindon.

Day return fare - £21.80 each, or £14.50 each with a railcard or in a group of 3. Same fare also applies if you want to go on from Oxford to Bicester Village, and it's the same fare from Melksham or Chippenham.

Tickets can be purchased prior to departure at the ticket machines at Melksham or at Chippenham Station, or from the ticket office in Chippenham or if you are paying in cash on the train from Melksham.

(I've put a link to said picture in img tags above, which is displayed in Preview, but not in the final post? Update: tried setting height/width, which results in an empty box?)

Residents are calling for CCTV to be installed at the Bath Road underpass following an assault on a man in his 60s last month

The incident took place on 9th August, when the man was attacked by four teenage boys, believed to be between 13 and 15 years old. He required hospital treatment as a result of the attack.

Following the incident, residents have taken to social media to call for improved safety in the area. Many are calling for CCTV to be installed, and for better lighting so people feel safe walking home late at night.

One resident said, “It’s always been a dodgy area of town. I don’t understand why, after all these years, there isn’t decent lighting or CCTV down there. Yes, the professional graffiti is an improvement, but that hasn’t improved safety.”

Another added, “Clearly there should be CCTV there. It’s a main pedestrian route from the railway station to the north of the town. Lighting should be checked before the winter nights set in too.”

Melksham Town Council, which manages the town’s CCTV network, was asked whether it has any plans to install cameras at the underpass. Melksham News also asked about the £13,000 mobile CCTV cameras purchased in 2023 and whether they have been deployed in Melksham, and if so, when and where. It is understood they have yet to be used.

No response had been received from the council prior to going to press.

Campaigner James Wright pushes case for reconnecting West Somerset to mainline trains

EXMOOR farmer and political campaigner James Wright has visited Shadow Railways Minister Jerome Mayhew in Westminster to push the case for reconnecting West Somerset to the national rail network.

Mr Wright said: “Restoring this rail link would be transformative.

“It would provide reliable school and commuter transport, boost tourism, and strengthen our local economy.

“The Conservative party is clear that projects like this can happen with the right political will.

05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09

05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09 was terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Dilton Marsh, Warminster, Salisbury, Romsey and Southampton Central.
This is due to a fault on this train.

I thought members might be correctly sway-ed in that direction.