Return Great Western rail franchise to public ownership, says…
The Great Western rail franchise should be returned to public ownership, the Green Party has said.

Transport giant First Group will carry on running the service until September 2015 before bidding starts for a new long-term franchise.

The decision was made earlier this month after the Government’s awarding of longer-term rail deals ran into trouble last year following problems in the tendering process for the West Coast Main Line.

Now the South West Green Party wants the contract… – Read More.

Go to Somerset Guardian
Author: ChronReports
http://www.somersetguardian.co.uk/Drink-driving-elderly-motorists-rise/story-19930283-detail/story.html

Thousands of homes still without power after storms
Tens of thousands of people across the West remained without power yesterday 36 hours after the St Jude’s Day storm battered the region with 90mph winds.

And while most people got back to normal and enjoyed spells of sunshine and calmer winds, the problems caused by Sunday night’s storm still affected many villages and towns.

Southern Electric admitted some people were still suffering new power cuts – even if they had not lost power when the storm struck in the early hours of Monday…

– Read More.

Go to Somerset Guardian
Author: Western Daily Press
http://www.somersetguardian.co.uk/Drink-driving-elderly-motorists-rise/story-19930283-detail/story.html

Stormwatch . . . Latest traffic and travel updates as St Jude's…
11.30am update: First Great Western services through Bath between Bristol and London should return to normal within an hour
10.55am update:
W COUNTRY Confirmation now from @metoffice that highest regional gusts were 75mph at both #Yeovilton, #Somerset & #Lyneham in #Wiltshire— Ian Fergusson (@fergieweather) October 28, 2013

10.40am update: Fallen trees have been cleared from the A36 Warminster Road near Brassknocker Hill and Welton Road in Radstock
10.20am update: Latest message from…

– Read More.

Go to Somerset Guardian
Author: ChronReports
http://www.somersetguardian.co.uk/Drink-driving-elderly-motorists-rise/story-19930283-detail/story.html

Massive abnormal load on the move through Wiltshire
This is the massive abnormal load that has been holding up traffic across the west this morning.
Police have described it as one of the biggest abnormal loads ever transported on the roads of the west.The giant transformer is being moved from Avonmouth Docks to a sub-station in Melksham early on Sunday morning and had been due to take ten hours to travel the 41 miles via the motorways around Bristol, and then down the A350 to the Westlands Lane electricity plant.The huge transporter, described…

– Read More.

Go to Somerset Guardian
Author: ChronReports
http://www.somersetguardian.co.uk/Drink-driving-elderly-motorists-rise/story-19930283-detail/story.html