Travel delays strikes and disruption

A MAJOR motorway is closed after a lorry caught on fire, causing significant delays.

The M6 northbound is closed between J3A for Coleshill and J4 for the M42.

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It has led to around five miles of congestion, with drivers being warned of long delays.

Delays of around an hour can be expected.

Motorists have been advised to plan alternative routes.

A diversion via the M42 up to the J9 roundabout is in place.

The incident occurred at around 4pm today, with pictures from National Highways showing fire crews tackling the blaze.

A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport has warned that the delays could affect routes to the terminal.

In addition to the M6 closure, the M42 and A4535 are also affected by closures amid “multiple ongoing road incidents”.

DRIVERS have been warned to brace for summer holiday chaos as a UK seaside hotspot is hit with months of road closures.

The Cornwall town will see significant travel disruption over the next four months as part of a gas work upgrade.

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The £110,000 gas work upgrade will start in the Marlborough Crescent area of Falmouth later this month.

Utility company Wales & West said the upgrade work should be completed by mid November.

They said: “The gas emergency and pipeline service is starting the work on 24 July and, barring any engineering difficulties, it will finish by mid-November. 

“The works are essential to keep the gas flowing safely to heat and power local homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations.”

Traffic management will be in place throughout after the company liaised with Cornwall Council to plan the work.

The road closures will include:

• A closure on Tregenver Road from the junction ‘Access to Garages and Rear of 16 to 25 Tregenver Road’ to the junction of Dracaena Avenue (July 24 – August 8)
• A closure on Penmere Hill between the junctions of Kings Avenue and Tregenver Road (July 24 – August 8)
• Rolling two/three-way lights starting on Penmere Road leading onto Theydon Road (August 4 – 29)
• Rolling road closure on Theydon Road, from the junction of Penmere Hill to the junction of Margaret Place and Marlborough Grove to the junction Marlborough Avenue (September 8 – November 14)

Further traffic management will also be required between September and November.

Wales & West Utilities Natalie Raphael is managing this work and said: “We have been working with the council to plan these essential works. We know that working in areas like this is not ideal, but it is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future.

“We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum.

“While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across Cornwall. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it.”

Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales.

Another busy road near one of Britain’s best beaches is also still currently closed as it undergoes 14 weeks of works.

For those travelling to Bournemouth from Walkford, they will need to follow a diversion route while a dodgy pipe is replaced.

A finish date for the works has not been confirmed, but the 14 week closure should bring us to the end of August.

And if you’re hitting the roads for your summer holidays this year, drivers have been warned about making a deadly mistake over the holidays.

Motorists have been urged to take regular stops on their long journeys after analysis revealed a steep rise in fatigue-related crashes during the summer months.

National Highways issued the advice and warned that driver tiredness can lead to “dangerous mistakes”.

Drivers have been urged by the agency to plan breaks that go “beyond quick pit stops”.

They suggest activities such as exploring a nearby tourist attraction or beauty spot to ensure drivers are alert before they get back behind the wheel.

EUROSTAR passengers were stuck for up to seven hours yesterday after two people were hit by trains.

The operator warned that delays and disruptions will continue into this morning.

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Trains in both directions between London St Pancras International and Gare Du Nord in Paris were either cancelled or delayed for hours.

It followed two separate fatalities, the first between Lille and Paris and around 5pm.

The second person was hit between Lille and Arras, according to local media.

Eurostar posted on X this morning to say trains will be running, but there area a “few cancellations” and “a lot of passengers travelling”.

“So the situation might still be difficult.”

Yesterday, there were massive queues at both the UK and French railway stations.

Many furious passengers who were stuck for hours took to social media to demand compensation.

One train, due to leave London at 2.31pm, was supposed to arrive at 5.57pm.

But it was delayed for four hours and didn’t get in until nearly 10pm.

Another frustrated passenger said they were on a train from London to Paris but they were stuck on it for seven hours.

Naomi Sanger, from Snodland, told KentOnline she boarded the 4.31pm at Gare Du Nord but it never left and she was left stranded at the station.

She posted on X that the food and drinks supply was running out, and the air con was not working.

In a statement on X, Eurostar said: “Due to a person struck by a train near Lille Europe, we are expecting delays and cancellations to our services this evening.

“We advise changing your journey for a different travel date.”

On Wednesday, Eurostar travellers were also hit by delays after a person was hit on the rails in France.

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THE MET Office has issued a fresh warning for thunderstorms this weekend, with up to 50mm of rain expected to fall in just a few hours.

The alert signals the arrival of severe weather, bringing the risk of flooding, hail, and lightning strikes across the UK.

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Brits are urged to be prepared as intense storms are set to hit several regions, sparking concerns of widespread disruption.

The weather warnings will affect several areas, including London, the South East, and the East of England, until 5am Sunday morning.

There is also a follow-up amber warning that continues until 5am on Monday.

The Met Office has highlighted the risk of “fast flowing or deep floodwater” that could endanger lives, with some communities potentially becoming cut off due to flooding.

During the thunderstorms, some parts of the UK could receive up to 50mm of rain in just a few hours.

This will bring major disruption, including road closures, train cancellations, and power outages.

The Met Office also warned of the potential for strong winds, reaching up to 50mph, which could exacerbate the impact of the storms.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin commented that the day would start off “hot and humid,” with some areas of the country potentially seeing temperatures climb as high as 30°C.

However, conditions will soon change, with thunderstorms beginning around 2pm in Wales and the South West, spreading to other areas later in the day.

Parts of southern England, including London, could see temperatures remain as high as 28°C on Friday evening, though the heat will quickly give way to more unsettled weather.

With 30–50mm of rain expected in some areas before the storms ease early on Saturday, residents across Greater London, Plymouth, Bath, Brighton, Norwich, and parts of the South East are advised to remain alert.

Cardiff and other southern regions could experience the heaviest downpours, with some areas possibly receiving up to 80mm of rain.

This level of rainfall is likely to cause significant surface water flooding, making driving conditions dangerous and leading to the risk of accidents.

The situation has already caused significant flooding in parts of the South West, particularly in Plymouth, where local residents battled knee-deep water.

The storms have already resulted in closures, with some roads, such as Gdynia Way and Kings Street, shut down due to flooding.

The Theatre Royal in Plymouth has also closed its doors as a result of flood damage.

James Mackenzie-Blackman, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of TRP, stated: “The torrential rain has required us to close the Theatre Royal today as we continue to deal with a significant flood into our basement.

Our priority is the safety of our staff, our artists, visitors and participants.”

In addition to the potential flooding, strong winds of up to 50mph are expected to cause problems along coasts and hills, further complicating the situation for drivers and emergency services.

Local authorities have advised caution when travelling, particularly in affected areas, as there may be delays and possible cancellations to train and bus services.

The disruption could continue into the weekend, particularly in areas where floodwater lingers.

The Met Office has issued a warning about the increased risk of power cuts, especially in areas where storms bring lightning strikes.

Residents are urged to be prepared for the possibility of service interruptions, with some homes and businesses potentially losing power due to the extreme weather.

This follows Friday’s amber weather warning for thunderstorms, hail, and lightning strikes.

The public is encouraged to monitor the weather closely and take precautions to protect themselves and their property.

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PASSENGERS could enjoy quicker journeys and fewer delays under the first shake-up of flight paths in 70 years.

Ministers have ordered an overhaul of UK airspace to create more direct routes.

The review could also let planes climb into the sky quicker to reduce the noise for communities below.

In the long-term, the government says the redesign would even create the necessary airspace for the “flying taxis” of the future to operate.

Britain’s flightpaths have not been changed since the 1950s when there were just 200,000 flights per year, compared with 2.7million in 2024.

It has resulted in flight congestion that often forces planes to circle overhead before landing, causing frustration to passengers as well as more emissions.

A new UK Airspace Design Service will be up and running by the end of the year, and will first focus on re-carving London’s flightpaths in anticipation of a third Heathrow runway.

Transport Minister Mike Kane said: “Redesigned ‘skyways’ will turbocharge growth in the aviation industry.

“Not least by boosting airport expansion plans and supporting job creation, driving millions into the UK economy as part of the Plan for Change.

“Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying and will set the industry up for a long-term sustainable future.”

Tim Alderslade of Airlines UK added: “Modernising UK airspace is long overdue.

“These changes will help to speed up a programme that will provide tangible reforms, from a reduction in delays, improved resilience and lower carbon emissions.”

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A TOP doctor campaigning for pay rises and strike action has a sideline running two start-up companies, we can reveal.

Cardiologist Dr U Bhalraam is deputy co-chairman of the British Medical Association’s resident doctors committee — which is backing six more months of walkouts.

It is urging members to strike, claiming they are paid 23 per cent less in real terms than in 2008.

This is despite resident doctors — formerly known as junior doctors — getting an almost 30 per cent pay rise over the past three years.

On his website, Dr Bhalraam says he’s “focused on full pay restoration”.

But The Sun on Sunday has found that Dr Bhalraam has also set up two firms of which he is sole director and owner.

He launched Datamed Solutions Ltd, a data processing company, last June and just a few days later UBR Property Holdings Limited, which is described as a letting company.

They are both registered to his smart £330,000 house in Norwich, where he works at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Resident docs have taken industrial action 11 times since 2022, causing about 1.5million appointments to be cancelled.

A YouGov poll of 4,100 adults found almost half oppose the strikes.

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BRITS chasing the sun this summer could face fresh holiday hell as bar staff prepare to strike during peak season.

It comes after 80,000 employees took to the streets in Tenerife earlier in the year demanding better pay and working conditions.

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In a move that could spark chaos for Brits travelling to Tenerife this summer, union bosses said industrial action could start as early as July.

The unions, Sindicalistas de Base and UGT, have issued bosses with an ultimatum, warning of a major walk out if they are not granted a 6.5 per cent salary bump.

They have made it clear that no further negotiations will happen if these conditions are not met.

This isn’t the first time Tenerife has been at the centre of sweeping industrial action.

Last month, cleaners and restaurant workers in the sunny hotspot took to the streets after deeming an offer from their employer not acceptable.

The tourism employers’ association, formed by Ashotel and AERO, had offered a four per cent increase in pay for workers, hoping it would prevent them from protesting during the Easter holidays.

But unions wanted 6.25 per cent.

They said their decision was unanimous and would not change plans to strike against tourists.

With over 170,000 tourism workers in the Canary Islands set to protest, business owners about to welcome thousands of tourists were despairing.

They planned to demonstrate in all the tourist hotspots, including Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.

By law, strikers have to provide a “minimum service” but the unions said hotel cleaning, food and entertainment don’t fall into this category.

They said they must try and preserve the health of hotel workers and provide them with the very best of working conditions.

Elsewhere, locals flooded the streets to protest against mass tourism in the area.

Activists vowed to storm popular tourist attractions, disrupt public events and “confront political leaders” in a fiery new phase of protests kicking off May 18 — right as peak holiday season begins.

“From now on, we will take our fight to the very spaces where their predatory model is perpetuated,” declared pressure group Canarias tiene un límite (The Canaries Have a Limit).

“We will boycott public events, confront political leaders during their appearances and occupy symbolic tourist spaces to make it clear that we will not stop until real change is achieved.”

“The Canary Islands can no longer be a postcard backdrop for the enjoyment of a privileged few,” the statement read.

In a separate warning, the group said: “This cry, which reflects the feelings of a people tired of being ignored and mistreated, will be the beginning of a new stage of struggle: firmer, more direct, more uncomfortable for those who refuse to listen to us and take real measures.”

The backlash follows a 170,000-strong hotel and restaurant workers’ strike across the islands just days ago, with locals slamming low wages and poor working conditions in the booming holiday industry.

In June last year, beach workers also walked off the job over what unions called “precarious” conditions.

As tensions boil over, the Canary Islands Government has now announced plans to completely overhaul its outdated 30-year-old tourism laws in a landmark reform effort.

Alfonso Cabello, spokesperson for the regional government, said: “We’re doing this the Canary Islands way — extending a hand and listening to everyone.”

The sweeping reforms aim to tackle everything from sky-high housing costs in tourist areas to crumbling infrastructure and overworked public services.

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A MAJOR change to a motorway used by around 180,000 drivers daily is set to take effect from today.

A reduced speed limit is being introduced on a long stretch of the M60, requiring motorists to slow down.

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The new limit on the motorway is to be set at 50mph – with the road slowed for at least three months.

The change was revealed in the wake of National Highways announcing a key programme of safety work along the motorway.

Work will stretch across several junctions on the busy carriageway, with motorists slowed as a result.

Traffic management will start at junction 16 and end east of junction 17 – with the project set to end in August with the speed limit change in place for the duration of the works.

Drivers have been told to expect delays throughout this period as motorway traffic is significantly slowed.

Work will take place mainly at night to reduce disruption, but the speed limit change will be in effect throughout the day.

Engineers will install a new central reservation between junction 16 and junction 18.

National Highways said: “We’ll mainly work at night Monday to Friday, but some activities will also be done during the day.

“For safety, a 50mph speed limit and narrow lanes will be in place round-the-clock throughout our work in both directions.

“Traffic management will start at junction 16 and finish east of junction 17 near Prestwich.

“Some minor delays are expected, so we’re advising drivers to plan and allow extra time to complete journeys.”

A resurfacing project will be undertaken at the same time to avoid disruption.

This project at junction 17 will require overnight closures for three weeks.

National Highways said: “To reduce disruption, we’re coordinating programmes with nearby resurfacing schemes at junction 17 close to Prestwich.

“This includes our work on slip roads and Bury Council’s project to resurface the junction roundabout.

“Please note, this requires overnight closures for three weeks from Monday 16 June to Friday 4 July.

“During any road closure, please follow the clearly signed diversion.

“We’re working hard to minimise the impact of our work. However, it will generate some delays and noise.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you and thank you for bearing with us.”

According to Highways England, some 180,000 drivers use the M60, as well as the M62, each day.

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