Torrential rain all through Wednesday has led to flooding in some components of England and Wales, inflicting disruption to journey on roads and railways this Christmas Eve.
A part of the M50 in Herefordshire was compelled to shut final night time because of extreme flooding, in addition to components of the M4 and M48. Prepare providers have been additionally cancelled in quite a lot of areas as flooding blocked rail strains.
In the meantime in Kent, lorry drivers who’ve been caught within the UK whereas ready to journey to France because of sudden border restrictions have slowly begun to cross the Channel. 1000’s nonetheless are ready to be examined for coronavirus, as solely hauliers with a unfavorable Covid take a look at will probably be allowed to cross into France.
Travellers from UK to New York face two week police-enforced self-isolation
Particular measures will apply to individuals arriving in New York from the UK, along with necessary self-isolation for 2 weeks upon arrival.
The town’s mayor Invoice de Blasio introduced a 14-day quarantine for travellers from the UK in response to the brand new variant of coronavirus that emerged within the UK.
Anybody who breaches the foundations will probably be fined $1,000 (£750) for every day’s breach, experiences our Journey Correspondent Simon Calder. Learn his full report:
Kate Ng24 December 2020 11:00
Santa to carry out ‘excessive power manoeuvres’, says NATS
NATS, the UK-Primarily based air site visitors management firm, has issued an “pressing message” for UK airspace customers, warning them to be on “alert” for Santa’s sleigh this night, which will probably be finishing up a gift drop operation.
In an entertaining “warning”, the corporate stated there will probably be a sleigh with the callsign “SANTA01”, powered by eight reindeer and a ninth “fitted with non-compulsory air navigation beacon” and travelling at “hypersonic velocity” by way of the UK’s airspace.
“Crews are to be particularly alert when transmitting areas with excessive concentrations of well-behaved kids, consult with up to date N.I.C.E. checklist (2020 revised version,” stated the corporate.
The sleigh is anticipated to carry out “excessive power manoeuvres and won’t adjust to regular guidelines of the air”.
“Social distancing from different airspace customers to be maintained always. Kids to produce cookies and/or mince pies with milk and/or sherry to allow pilot refuelling.
“Kids to be asleep to make sure profitable current drop,” added the message.
Kate Ng24 December 2020 10:40
Flooding in roads in Woolley, West Yorkshire
Highways England are nonetheless attempting to clear flooding on the A14 in Woolley, West Yorkshire, however added it “will take a while”.
Kate Ng24 December 2020 10:20
Testing continues for lorry drivers stranded in Kent
Listed here are a number of the scenes from Dover, as Covid testing of lorry drivers continues to clear the backlog and permit hauliers to return to the EU.
Kate Ng24 December 2020 09:59
100 flood warnings in drive
Emergency providers throughout England and Wales have been inundated with calls in a single day because the deluge of rain brought on flooding in some areas.
Greater than 90 flood warnings have been issued for England on Thursday morning, with not less than 16 warnings in relation to the River Severn on the Welsh border.
My colleague Chantal da Silva experiences on the main points:
Kate Ng24 December 2020 09:29
A14 East and West closed
The highway policing unit for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire has stated the A14 East and West continues to be closed between Thrapson and Ellington because of flooding.
The drive additionally stated that many roads in Cambridgeshire are “utterly not satisfactory”, and urged individuals to remain at house.
Kate Ng24 December 2020 09:10
Ferries will sail on Christmas and Boxing Day
Grant Shapps has additionally promised that ferries will sail on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as he praised French firemen for his or her “nice cooperation” in serving to to check the 1000’s of drivers who’ve been stranded on the Port of Dover this week.
He stated: “In addition to making certain ferries will now sail on Christmas and Boxing Day, we have additionally received nice cooperation by French firemen working with NHS Take a look at and Hint and our sensible army in a giant effort to clear the backlog created by the French border closure.”
Kate Ng24 December 2020 08:40
UK-France border to stay open by way of Christmas
The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, has introduced that France has agreed with the UK to maintain the border at Eurotunnel, Dover and Calais open to permit hauliers and EU residents return house.
1000’s of lorry drivers and EU residents discovered themselves stranded within the UK earlier this week, and are nonetheless ready to be examined for coronavirus to allow them to cross the Channel.
Solely these with a unfavorable Covid take a look at will probably be allowed to cross the border.
Kate Ng24 December 2020 08:29
Prepare strains blocked between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
In line with Nationwide Rail, all trains operating between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple will probably be cancelled because of heavy flooding this morning.
Kate Ng24 December 2020 08:20
Gloucestershire Police warn individuals to remain off roads as A40 closed
The A40 at Over is closed to each in and out-bound site visitors as extreme flooding continues to hit Gloucestershire.
Gloucestershire Police tweeted: “There are diversions in place however we predict them to be very busy with site visitors. Please keep away from the realm and plan your route accordingly.”
Kate Ng24 December 2020 08:18