Alright, let's get this one out of the way:

5.  Taunton.

CfN 

From the BBC:


Regulator backtracks on 'ghost train' plan

OBR head resigns over Budget leak


Chair of the OBR Richard Hughes said he took "full responsibility" for the shortcomings identified in the report

The chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has resigned following the Budget day error which saw a key document published early.

Richard Hughes said in his resignation letter he took "full responsibility" for the issues that were identified in the OBR's investigation into the error.

That investigation found the early publication of the OBR's forecasts was the worst failure in the organisation's 15-year history.

The UK's official forecaster confirmed the market-sensitive report was accessed 43 times from 32 different devices in the hour before the chancellor's speech.

In a letter sent to both the chancellor and the chair of the Treasury Select Committee, Dame Meg Hillier, Mr Hughes said he believed the OBR could "quickly regain and restore the confidence and esteem" it had earned by implementing the report's recommendations.

"But I also need to play my part in enabling the organisation that I have loved leading for the past five years to quickly move on from this regrettable incident," he continued. "I have, therefore, decided it is in the best interest of the OBR for me to resign as its Chair and take full responsibility to the shortcomings identified in the report."

Mr Hughes had been due to face questions from the Treasury Select Committee on Tuesday about the Budget and the OBR's economic forecasts, but Dame Meg confirmed that he would no longer attend.

In response to his resignation, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "I want to thank Richard Hughes for his public service and for leading the Office for Budget Responsibility over the past five years and for his many years of public service."

But Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused the chancellor of "trying to use the chair of the OBR as her human shield".

Paul Johnson, the former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and provost at Queen's College, Oxford said he was not surprised Mr Hughes had resigned. "That was a really bad mistake," he told BBC News, but added that Mr Hughes had been a "very effective and very robust" head of the OBR. "I think it's a shame for Richard Hughes and a shame for the OBR."

Mr Hughes had only recently started his second five-year term as OBR chairman, after being renominated by the chancellor in May. He first took up the job during the Covid pandemic in October 2020. Prior to that, he had been director of fiscal policy at the Treasury, and earlier he was the division chief of the International Monetary Fund's fiscal affairs department for eight years.

Following the Budget day leak, Mr Hughes called in a leading cyber-security expert to investigate how the crucial document was put on its website too early.

On Monday the report into the mishap concluded it had "inflicted heavy damage on the OBR's reputation", but added that it was inadvertent. The "ultimate responsibility" for the circumstances which meant people could access the report early lay with the OBR's leadership, the report added.

"It is the worst failure in the 15-year history of the OBR," the report said. "It was seriously disruptive to the chancellor, who had every right to expect that the EFO (economic and fiscal outlook) would not be publicly available until she sat down at the end of her Budget speech, when it should, as is usual, have been published alongside the Treasury's explanatory Red Book."

Monday's report also found that somebody gained early access to the equivalent financial forecasts in March while Reeves was delivering her Spring Statement, though they did not act on the information.

The Chancellor's Budget was thrown into chaos when the OBR's forecast was discovered online.

The OBR assesses the health of the UK's economy. It is independent of the government but works closely with the Treasury. Its reports are released alongside big government events such as the Budget, details of which are supposed to be kept under wraps until the chancellor announces them in the House of Commons.

The OBR's early publication effectively confirmed a number of new measures, including a pay-per-mile charge on electric vehicles, and a three-year freeze on income tax and National Insurance thresholds, before the chancellor announced them. The OBR quickly removed the forecast document from its website and apologised for the release, which it blamed on a "technical error".

The OBR brought in Ciaran Martin, the former chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, to lead the investigation into how the forecasts were accessed early. However, the OBR concluded there was no reason to suspect the involvement of foreign actors or cyber-criminals, or of "connivance by anyone working for the OBR".

Prof Martin's technical account was that the OBR analysis was available at a hidden url for 38 minutes between 11:30 and 12:08 on the morning of the Budget.

An attempt was made to access the URL as early as 05:16. The review did not seek to trace who accessed or attempted to access the document.

Prof Martin concluded this was a pre-existing weakness in the OBR publication system because of the premature access to March's forecasts. Prof Martin said that breach, half an hour before when it should have been published, could have been accidental, but it led him to conclude the issue was not new. On the reason for the early publication, Prof Martin said it was related to the software the OBR chose to publish to its website, which was more suitable for a small or medium company than a major publication of critical market-sensitive data.

While OBR staff thought they had applied safeguards to prevent early publication, there were two errors in the way in which they were set up on the publishing platform WordPress that effectively bypassed these controls. WordPress is a content management system, and is said to be the most popular tool of its kind for creating and designing web pages.

One error was to do with a plug-in (an optional extra) the OBR had installed in WordPress, which had the unintended effect of bypassing the need to log in to access documents intended for future publication. And the second was the directory in which the file was put ahead of publication allowed anyone to download a file directly.

The OBR got an exemption in 2013 from using a more secure government publishing platform for independent authorities in order to help with its autonomy. In other IT security areas, such as secure email, the OBR had adopted the secure Treasury systems.

A Treasury spokesperson thanked the OBR for its report and said a minister would respond "in due course".

From the BBC:

Regulator backtracks on 'ghost train' plan

Plans to ban passengers from a peak train service between Manchester and London have been abandoned after a U-turn by the government's rail safety regulator.

The Office of Road and Rail (ORR) reversed its decision to run the 07:00 GMT Avanti West Coast service from Manchester Piccadilly to London without passengers after a public backlash.

On Sunday the ORR announced only staff would be on board as of mid-December - citing concerns that allowing passengers to get on would "harm the overall performance" of the line.

But just over 24 hours later a ORR spokesperson said after listening to feedback it would give Network Rail and Avanti permission to continue running the service with passengers.

"On the basis of the information we have, we believe the running of this 7am service could have a negative impact on reliability and punctuality of services on the West Coast Main Line, but we recognise its importance and popularity and will support its continued operation," the ORR spokesperson continued.

The ORR has confirmed this U-turn only relates to the 07:00 GMT Manchester Piccadilly to Euston service and says four other services will run without passengers later this month.

They are:
- 12:52 GMT: Blackpool North – London Euston (Monday to Friday)
- 09:39 GMT: London Euston – Blackpool North (Monday to Friday)
- 19:32 GMT: Chester – London Euston (Monday to Friday)
- 17:53 GMT: Holyhead – London Euston terminates at Crewe (Sunday)

Weather warnings issued as heavy rain hits the UK with flooding expected

Heavy rain is expected to bring flooding and disruption across large parts of the UK on Monday.

An amber Met Office severe weather warning for rain is in force across south Wales, while multiple yellow warnings are in force for many western areas of the UK.

Nearly a month's worth of rain could fall onto already very saturated ground after above average rainfall throughout November across England and Wales. There will also be some gusty winds, especially around coastal areas.

Winter - meteorologically speaking - has started on a very wet note with rain across much of the UK. That trend is likely to continue for most of Monday and turn particularly heavy at times. Rainfall totals will build quite widely but with very saturated ground there are numerous yellow Met Office warnings in force.

A more severe amber Met Office warning is in force for south Wales until 21:00 GMT. Between 20 and 40mm (0.8 and 1.6in) of rain is expected to fall widely here, with some south-western facing hills seeing nearer to 120mm (4.7in).

The average rainfall for south Wales and south-west England for the whole of December is 152mm (6in)

Extensive flooding is possible along with disruption on the road and rail network, loss of power and communities potentially cut off.

The Met Office has also warned that fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life.



Additionally, yellow Met Office weather warnings are in force for:
- South-west Scotland until 21:00 on Monday
- North-west England and parts of the West Midlands until 23:59 on Monday
- Most of Wales and south-west England until 21:00 on Monday

Again, between 20 and 40mm of rain is forecast to fall quite widely but some areas, such as the higher ground of the Cumbrian Fells and Eyri, could see between 80 and 120mm (3 and 4.7in).

This too could bring some localised flooding and transport disruption.

Parts of East Yorkshire were flooded on Monday morning with fire crews needing to pump water away from properties.

Flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). An EA spokesperson has said "We urge people not to drive though flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm (1ft) of flowing water is enough to float your car."

Strong winds will also accompany the heavy rain, with gales possible around coasts and over high ground.

November has been very wet overall, especially across England and Wales.

Data released from the Met Office Hadley Centre shows that it has been the wettest month of 2025 so far, recording rainfall that was 31% above average. In parts of eastern England, some weather stations have recorded their highest November rainfall on record.

Bridlington, Yorkshire for example has had nearly three times the normal rainfall with 180mm recorded compared to an average of 66mm - a new record for November. Other parts of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have received more than double their normal rainfall with the wettest November on record.

Autumn has been the only season this year to record above-average rainfall. The UK as a whole saw 20% more than the long-term meteorological average, with Northern Ireland and Wales seeing significantly more.

Autumn has continued the run of above-average temperatures in 2025. But with a mean temperature of 0.4C above seasonal average, no records have been broken.

11:52 London Paddington to Hereford due 14:44 has been delayed at Didcot Parkway and is now 8 minutes late.
This is due to a late running train being in front of this one.
Last Updated:01/12/2025 13:27

Concerns over 'life line' bus after firm leaves

Residents in a rural village say they are concerned about a "life line" bus service after its operator said it would withdraw its 14 services.

First Bus announced plans last month to withdraw from its five depots at Camborne, Falmouth, Penzance, Summercourt and Truro due to rising costs and falling passenger numbers.

Bus operator Go Cornwall said it would step in as a replacement by the middle of February 2026 when First Bus would stop operating. Managing director for Go Cornwall Richard Stevens said no community "will be left unserved".

Margaret Deans, who has lived at Praa Sands since 1993, said she used the First Bus service which runs from Falmouth to Penzance to visit her friend and attend hospital appointments. She said: "I'm very concerned [that Go Cornwall won't] cover the route to the standard that we have got at the moment, which is an hourly bus service coming right through the village." She added: "That's what we need...I don't want to lose it. I'm visually impaired. My mobility is restricted. I need to get to places and see people. I certainly need to get to the hospital and the bus is how I do it."

Heidi Mellor, owner of cafe SiSu, said it was a "great shame" First Bus had withdrawn. "I think it will impact a lot of, particularly in this village, our older customers who use the buses on a regular basis," she said.

Sue Holman has lived in Praa Sands for 49 years. If the bus services changed, Ms Holman said she would be concerned residents would be "unable to get into town".

The managing director for Go Cornwall added: "We want people to know that any area currently served by these routes will continue to have access to bus services. While the network will not be replicated like-for-like, we will ensure alternative or amended services are in place. Our priority is to keep Cornwall connected."

Dan Rogerson, the transport portfolio holder on Cornwall Council, said officers were looking through Go Cornwall's proposed routes and timetables. "Obviously, people will be feeling that people rely on these bus services to get around with young people, older people, people trying to get to employment opportunities," Mr Rogerson said. "Go Cornwall have said that they will serve all the communities currently served. The devil will be in the detail about frequency and times and those sorts of things, and that's the stuff that our officers will now be going through in terms of what Go Cornwall is submitting."

Go Cornwall said further information would be provided once planning was complete and discussions with Cornwall Council have concluded.

The incident happened on an LNER Middlesbrough to London King's Cross service

Several passengers suffered minor injuries when a train "lurched sideways" after passing a set of points on the East Coast Main Line at more than twice the speed limit, investigators have said.

The 07:08 Middlesbrough to London King's Cross LNER service travelled through the points near Grantham at 56mph (90 km/h) on 26 September.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said the permanent speed restriction was 25 mph (40 km/h) and the associated signals displayed the expected indications. It added it would publish safety advice following the incident.

LNER said safety was its "top priority" and it would review any recommendations made.

The maximum speed on the East Coast Main Line through Grantham South junction is 115mph (184 km/h).

On 26 September, the train was routed on to another line by the points, which meant the speed limit was reduced to 25mph ((40 km/h).

The RAIB said the speed of the train caused it to lurch sideways and follow-up inquiries "led to the seriousness of the event being understood".

It said it had undertaken a preliminary examination and reviewed a similar incident at the same location as well as two previous investigations into similar "overspeeding" events at Spital Junction, Peterborough, in April 2022 and May 2023.

On 4 May 2023, a Grand Central service from Sunderland to London approached Spital Junction at about 65mph (104 km/h) - where the speed limit was also 25mph.

Following that incident, the RAIB said some people on the train suffered minor injuries as it went over the points. An investigation found the train operator Grand Central did not "effectively control" risks.

The branch made four new recommendations to both Grand Central and Network Rail. At the time, a Network Rail spokesperson said it was acting on recommendations, reviewing how to make signalling clearer, and how changes were communicated so they are fully understood.

On Monday, RAIB said, as the previous investigations still had open recommendations, it would publish a "safety digest" for the incident near Grantham in the next few weeks.

According to the branch's website, "when it is clear that the safety learning from an event has been identified by a previous investigation or relates to compliance with existing rules, we may choose to publish a safety digest, rather than carry out a full investigation".

An LNER spokesperson said: "The safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority. We have supported RAIB in their preliminary examination and will review any recommendations made in their safety digest, alongside continuing to work with partners in the industry."

'We made charity shops look like designer stores'



Charity shop manager Ashira Zaneb decided to completely abandon the traditional layout of her store in Greater Manchester for something resembling a designer shop.

The interior design graduate said she want the shop in Northenden to become the kind of place she would choose to visit, and as a result, customers have told "they have never been in a shop like it".

It is part of a growing trend to rebrand the shops which often dominate high streets depleted by established retailers facing spiralling overheads and fierce online competition.

Nora Masefield had no idea she was walking into a charity shop when she entered the doors of a newly-rebranded store in the square of the small historic market town of Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire where she lives.

The shop, called Attire and run by Blackpool-based Trinity Hospice, has a prime spot for footfall and specialises in items like high-end menswear and books.

"It's quite urban. It's quite funky. So a lot of people like it because it doesn't look like a traditional charity shop," said Paul Guest, the hospice's head of retail and volunteer services.

An impressed Nora said, as she surveyed an interior which looked like it was set for a photo shoot for an upmarket style magazine, "I didn't know what it was at first, I was pleasantly surprised".

She added: "It looks nothing like the average charity shop - they used to look like jumble sales."

Mr Guest said the aim was to create an "urban masculine" look for the shop, with many props on display "to keep that ambience".

(BBC news article continues)

Train company awarded for service for autistic people

For a person with autism, catching a train can be incredibly challenging.

Great Western Railway is the first train operator to achieve a national award in recognition of its work to provide a friendly environment and inclusive customer service for autistic people.

Twenty-six-year-old Alex Richardson from Didcot went to find out more.

New owners take over cross-Solent ferry operator



The take over of Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel by investment firm, Njord Partners has been completed.

The ferry firm said the deal, announced in September, had successfully gone through after being approved by the government.

Red Funnel said it had reduced the company's debt by more than 75% allowing it to improve its service between Southampton and East and West Cowes. The operator, which has served the island for more than 164 years, has struggled in recent years due to debt and also faced criticism over high ferry prices and unreliable crossings.

Chief executive Fran Collins said one of the commitments it had made with the new owners was to undertake a review of its fare structure. She added that with the deal "taking the debt down," the company has "more money to invest in the business".

"Securing the backing of Njord Partners gives Red Funnel the stability and confidence to progress with real ambition and renewed focus,' she said.

The takeover comes after Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson introduced the Ferry Services (Integration and Regulation) Bill in the House of Commons in November. It would bring boat routes throughout the country more in line with railways and buses. He said that travellers are "tired" of paying "rip-off prices" for ferry travel to and from the island.

The private member's bill is unlikely to become law without government support but the Department for Transport said it recognised the "vital importance" of ferry services in connecting island communities.

Njord Partners also operates Valiant Pub Company, Ambassador Cruise Line, and Geoquip Marine.

Founding partner Jakob Kjellberg said: "We are delighted to be the new owners of Red Funnel. We are excited to build on the long legacy of this essential lifeline service, and work hard to improve the business performance and regain the trust of all stakeholders."

Man refuses to appear at court over train attacks

A man accused of stabbing 10 people on a train failed to appear in court after refusing to join a video link from prison.

Passengers were seriously injured on the train, which was travelling from Doncaster to London King's Cross, after it stopped at Peterborough on 1 November.

Anthony Williams, 32, from Langford Road in Peterborough, is charged with 13 counts of attempted murder, which also relate to other alleged attacks.

The short hearing was adjourned at Cambridge Crown Court and proceedings are due to resume on 28 January.

The 18:25 service was diverted and stopped at Huntingdon - where Mr Williams was eventually arrested - after multiple 999 calls from the train.

Mr Williams, who was represented in court by barrister Graham Arnold, is accused of 21 offences.

Huntingdon allegations:

- Attempted murder of ten people who were on the train

- Possessing a bladed article

- Actual bodily harm in connection with the alleged assault of a police officer while in custody

Other allegations:

- One count of attempted murder and possessing a bladed article after a man suffered facial injuries at the Pontoon Dock DLR station in Silvertown, east London, in the early hours of 1 November

- Attempted murder of a 14-year-old boy at Henry Penn Walk in Peterborough on 31 October

- Attempted murder of a 22-year-old man at Rail World Car Park in Peterborough on 31 October

- Attempted wounding with intent of a 28-year-old man at Henry Penn Walk in Peterborough on 31 October

- Possession of a bladed instrument in a public place at Henry Penn Walk

- Affray in connection with an alleged incident at Ritzy Barbers in Peterborough on 31 October

- Theft of knives from an Asda supermarket in Stevenage on 31 October

- Common assault of a 31-year-old man onboard a train travelling between Hitchin in Hertfordshire and Biggleswade in Bedfordshire on 1 November

Eleven people received treatment at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge after the incident on 1 November. They have all since been discharged.

Earlier, the court was told Mr Williams had refused to go into the video-link room from prison.

Judge Mark Bishop fixed a provisional trial date for 22 June.

Airport reveals plans to expand onto green space

Bristol Airport says plans to extend its runway to accommodate long-haul aircraft will include taking over a small section of open access land.

The development would see landing lights and fencing installed on a small section of Felton Common, at the eastern edge of the runway, so it can handle larger long-haul planes needed for transatlantic flights.

A public consultation will open this week, but campaign group Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN) has described the plans as "unacceptable".

A Bristol Airport spokesman said: "We realise how important the open space is to local people, and so we are consulting with those with rights on the common, users of the common and local residents. We would encourage people to find out more about our proposal and provide any feedback they might have to help shape our plans."

Richard Baxter, a local environmental campaigner speaking for BAAN, said: "Felton residents shouldn't have their community space reduced and their homes and wildlife facing such intense light pollution just to spare the airport its blushes for forgetting about the safe landing of its long-haul flights."

Last year, the airport announced its 'Masterplan to 2040', detailing its long-term vision to provide long-haul flights to destinations such as the Middle East and the east coast of America.

However, BAAN has claimed that the airport's plans did not take into account the need for approach landing lights, which are an essential safety feature.

Since publishing the master plan, the airport said it has has continued to refine its design to ensure it meets all relevant safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Authority, the UK's independent regulator for aviation.

In order for the runway to continue operating safely, for all types of aircraft and in all weather conditions, the airport said it would need to relocate the existing approach lighting and install additional safety features at the end of the runway.

BAAN said their research suggests the new approach on Felton Common would be a row of bright white elevated lights placed 30 metres apart and 250 metres long (820ft) - roughly equivalent to the length of Park Street in Bristol.

Bristol Airport said people will still be able to continue to use all of the bridleways on the common and that care has been taken to maintain access across the green space. As the enclosed lighting would result in some loss of accessible open space and affect grazing rights, the airport said replacement land would be provided adjacent to the area.

The six-week consultation will open on Friday 7 November and close on Friday 19 December, with the feedback from the public collated ahead of a possible planning application in early 2026.