top of page


ChatGPT said:Scottish Travel Levels Recover, But Public Transport Satisfaction Remains Below Pre-Pandemic Standards
Travel in Scotland has bounced back to the levels seen before the pandemic, yet passenger satisfaction with public transport continues to lag, according to the 2024 Transport and Travel in Scotland survey. The survey revealed that 73% of respondents had travelled the day before being interviewed, up from 64% in 2023 and matching figures from 2019. Driving remains the most common mode of transport, representing 51% of trips, followed by walking at 25%. Passengers in cars or va
Safer Highways
Dec 31 min read


Council to ask government for greater street works powers
Westmorland and Furness Council is to ask for greater powers to manage and co-ordinate road works. A motion to Full Council, proposed by Cllr Peter Thornton, Cabinet Member for Highways and ICT, and seconded by Cllr Rupert Audland, said: "This council appreciates the challenge faced by utilities in the maintenance and repair of their assets. Street works are essential for many of the services we rely upon, such as internet access, electricity and running water but they ca
Safer Highways
Dec 34 min read


Oxfordshire Moves Forward with UK’s Largest Cross-Pavement EV Charging Programme
A major step has been taken in the UK’s largest initiative to provide electric vehicle (EV) charging for households without off-street parking. Oxfordshire County Council has awarded a contract to ODS to deliver up to 500 Gul-e cross-pavement charging units across the county. The innovative Gul-e system allows residents to charge EVs safely from their homes to vehicles parked on the street, without the risk of trip hazards. Councillor Ben Higgins, Cabinet Member for Future E
Safer Highways
Dec 22 min read


South West Police Launch Campaign to Improve Horse and Rider Safety on Rural Roads
Police across the South West have recently teamed up to raise awareness of the risks faced by horses and riders on rural roads. In a joint operation in Bampton last month, Devon and Cornwall Police’s Rural Affairs team worked with the British Horse Society (BHS) and mounted officers from Avon & Somerset Police to remind motorists how to pass horses safely. Figures from the BHS show the scale of the issue: in the past year, 3,118 horse-related incidents were reported on UK roa
Safer Highways
Dec 22 min read


Heidelberg Materials Delivers Challenging Overnight Resurfacing Project in Cheddar Gorge
Heidelberg Materials UK has completed a technically demanding road renewal scheme along Cheddar Gorge, the country’s deepest natural canyon and one of Somerset’s busiest visitor destinations. The upgrade to the B3135 was delivered under the firm’s long-term maintenance agreement with Somerset Council. To keep disruption to a minimum, all work took place overnight. Crews had to navigate tight bends, sheer limestone cliff faces and gradients reaching 16%, making access and logi
Safer Highways
Dec 22 min read


Public consultation opens for next phase of active travel scheme in Northampton as design refined
A public consultation has opened for the next phase of an active travel scheme in Northampton – and the design has been refined. The consultation, which is now open, seeks views on proposals to improve safety, accessibility, walking and cycling links around the Abington Park area. The scheme forms part of the wider Northampton Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which has been ongoing for a number of years. According to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC)
Safer Highways
Dec 22 min read


Aston University professor appointed as new Department for Transport chief scientific adviser
Professor Patricia Thornley appointed new chief scientific adviser at Department for Transport She has extensive expertise across sustainable energy and clean transport, which will help shape evidence-based policy and advance the UK’s transition to net zero Her role will be central to ensuring that excellent science advice sits at the heart of decision making and strengthens coordination across departments through the Chief Scientific Adviser Network. Aston University’s Profe
Safer Highways
Dec 23 min read


Shropshire | Schools invited to bid for up to £1,000 of active travel funding
Shropshire Council is again inviting schools to apply for up to £1,000 to help enable more children to cycle, walk or scoot to and from school. For the second year in a row the council has been awarded £30,000 of funding from Active Travel England and schools in the council’s area can apply for up to £1,000 to spend on active travel initiatives. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 17 December 2025. Earlier this year 18 schools received funding – in addition to 32 t
Safer Highways
Dec 22 min read


Grant awarded to Transport for London to boost regeneration and connectivity
Homes England has announced a £23 million grant to Transport for London to accelerate transport improvements that will unlock thousands of new homes across two major brownfield sites in East London. The funding will deliver a new bus transit link connecting Thamesmead Waterfront and Beckton Riverside to key transport hubs, including Abbey Wood and Woolwich Elizabeth line stations. This vital infrastructure will be in place ahead of the planned Docklands Light Railway (DLR) ex
Safer Highways
Dec 21 min read


TfL Adds New Journey-Planning Tools to TfL Go App
Transport for London has rolled out a series of enhancements to its TfL Go travel app, giving passengers more control and clearer information while planning and undertaking journeys. A major addition is the launch of real-time service alerts , which notify users when there are problems on the Tube, DLR, London Trams or other selected lines. Travellers can choose exactly which lines they want updates for, adjust notifications to specific times of day, and temporarily switch al
Safer Highways
Dec 21 min read


TfGM Launches Search for Contractor to Deliver Major Bus Depot Electrification Phase
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has started the procurement process for the next stage of its multi-million-pound programme to electrify bus depots across the region. A contract notice released on 1 December outlines plans for Tranche 5 , which will involve major upgrades at the Wigan and Wythenshawe depots. TfGM has also signalled that the successful bidder could be retained for Tranche 6 , though the locations for that phase have not yet been identified. The work w
Safer Highways
Dec 21 min read


Fire enforcement notice served on Hinkley Point JV
Already facing two separate prosecutions for health & safety failings at Hinkley Point C, main contractor Bylor JV has now been slapped with a fire enforcement notice. The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served a fire enforcement notice on Bylor JV (Laing O'Rourke and Bouygues Travaux Publics) after identifying significant fire safety shortfalls at the Hinkley Point C nuclear construction site. Following a fire safety intervention, ONR inspectors identified that Bylor
Safer Highways
Dec 22 min read


Blackpool Transport named the UK's top bus operator
A renewed commitment to matching services to the needs of both residents and visitors to the Fylde coast has earned us the prestigious title of Bus Operator of the Year. After scooping a Gold Award in the small to medium-sized (SME) operator category at the UK Bus Awards, we went on to be named the overall winner at a high-profile industry event in London yesterday (Tuesday, November 25). The prestigious accolade recognised the transformation of bus services on the Fylde coas
Safer Highways
Dec 22 min read


Confused swan surviving on a wing and a prayer until traffic officers swoop in
It was almost a swan song for this confused bird who was dodging high speed traffic and causing chaos on the busy M1 until National Highways traffic officers turned up. The swan was first spotted on the verge alongside the northbound carriageway of the M1 near Northampton. But within minutes it had wandered onto the carriageway and into the path of the mid-morning traffic. Watch footage of this swan being saved by traffic officers Footage captured on National Highways’ CCTV c
Safer Highways
Dec 22 min read


Fast forward – freshly laid road surface marks significant progress for A47 in Norfolk one year on
A smooth new surface has been laid on the A47 between Blofield and North Burlingham – a year on from work starting on the road dualling project. Meanwhile, 12 huge new beams weighing 35 tonnes each have been lifted into place for a new bridge, which will ultimately take traffic from Blofield to join the A47 East bound to Great Yarmouth. And unique features to enhance and protect wildlife are being created with a new wetland and special “bat and bird crossings” – with tall tr
Safer Highways
Dec 23 min read


Balfour Beatty regional civils boss moves to Costain
Costain has recruited Peter Mumford to be managing director for its natural resources division. Peter Mumford is joining Costain’s executive board on 2nd January 2026, in charge of its natural resources division, covering the markets of water, energy and defence. Mumford joins Costain from Balfour Beatty where he had been managing director of its regional civils business in the UK for the past three years. Before that, he spent five years at Highways England leading the deliv
Safer Highways
Dec 21 min read
Recent Posts
NEWS AND UPDATES
bottom of page