Campaigners vow to BLOCK £50m Holocaust memorial near Parliament

Political reporter(wp/es):

Campaigners have pledged to block a £50 million national Holocaust memorial from being built next to Parliament.

Skyline Campaign activists revealed talks had taken place with the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation over an idea to shift the planned monument and learning centre from Victoria Tower Gardens.

The group, which fights to prevent development of “badly designed tall buildings” in London, claim the plans are unsuitable for one of the capital’s most treasured spots.

Barbara Weiss, from the Skyline Campaign, said: “This is nothing against a memorial or learning centre to educate people about the Holocaust, it is about protecting one of London’s most beautiful assets.

“If it was a school or art gallery our position would be the same. Parks should not be built on. 

“We have had civilised conversations with the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation and we are trying to dissuade them.

“There are a growing number of people who are backing us and in my experience if you get enough traction people do tend to listen.”

Campaigners said better options are available for the tribute and urged authorities to consider College Green behind Westminster Abbey as an alternative.

An online petition calling for a stop to any building work in Victoria Tower Gardens passed 150 signatures since it was launched by the group two weeks ago. 

Campaigners previously challenged construction of the Paddington Pole, a 72-storey skyscraper proposed next to the station, which was eventually withdrawn.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron revealed in January a national memorial would be built next to Parliament by the end of next year.

He said the monument would show the importance Britain placed on preserving memory of the Holocaust and added it would stand beside Parliament as a “statement of British values”.

In September, the Government invited designers and architects from across the world to submit blueprints for the memorial and learning centre.

The winning designs are set to be exhibited in London in January before an overall winner is announced next summer.

Sir Peter Bazalgette, chairman of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation, said: "Ensuring that the memory and the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten lies at the heart of Britain’s values as a nation and this important new national landmark will stand as a permanent reminder of our commitment as a country to stand against prejudice and hatred in all its forms.

"I am delighted we have secured a site at the heart of our democracy and to have such strong cross-party support for the memorial and the learning centre which will accompany it. 

"They will be a logical and harmonious addition to the space, joining the existing memorials which can be viewed as a physical representation of the United Kingdom’s conscience and values."

British Airways flight crew held-up at gunpoint

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A British Airways flight crew were held-up at gunpoint by an armed robber in the Brazilian city of Rio.

Air steward Michael Nicholas, 45, said he was walking back to a hotel from a barbecue with 10 other colleagues when the gunman pounced.

The attacker held the gun against one of the crew’s face before forcing him and his son to hand over their phones and money, the Sun reported.

Describing the ordeal on his Facebook page, Mr Nicholas wrote: "One of our crew had a gun held to his face while his son and him were robbed.

“Half of us were unaware anything was going on behind us until we heard the commotion. Luckily, the son gave the robber his phone and money and they left.

“We are all safe and well but a little shaken. The local police refused to attend the hotel and BA security are on the case and dealing with this.”

Mr Nicholas, from Preston Candover, Hampshire, urged fellow crew members to take care if they ventured out of the hotel in Rio after dark and travel by taxi.

The Foreign Office website advises travellers to Brazil to hand over any valuables if threatened and not to resist attackers as they may be armed or under the influence of drugs.

A BA spokesman told the Sun: “We are supporting our crew and are thankful that they weren’t harmed.

“We take the safety of our pilots and cabin crew very seriously and issue them with information and advice for all the destinations to which we fly – specifying any extra precautions that should be taken in particular cities.

"We will be reiterating our advice to crew operating to Rio de Janeiro, including that they should remain vigilant when outside the hotel. We will now also be advising that they book taxis when travelling around the city.”

Boy, 4, dies after being hit by car

Staff reporter(wp/es):

A four-year-old boy has died after he was hit by a car outside a leisure centre. 

The child was struck by the vehicle outside a sports centre in Oxfordshire on Saturday morning. 

Emergency services raced to the scene after the crash in Oxford Road, Thame at about 10.25am.

The child died on his way to hospital, Thames Valley Police said.

His next of kin have been informed.

Senior Investigating officer Sergeant Jack Hawkins of Roads Policing based at Abingdon police station said: “We are investigating the fatal collision and appealing for witnesses. 

“Please can anyone with information which could assist enquiries contact police.

“The family of the deceased are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers at this very difficult time.”

European negotiators to offer Brits option to retain EU status after Brexit

Staff reporter(wp/es):

Plans to allow UK nationals to retain their EU citizenship after Brexit will form part of the European Parliament's negotiating position, it has been revealed.

The "associate citizenship" status would give those who adopt it the right of freedom of movement and residence throughout the EU as well as the right to vote for a representative in the European Parliament.

It would be made available to nationals of former member states of the EU who "feel and wish to be part of the European project".

The proposal was put forward last month by Luxembourg MEP Charles Goerens for inclusion in a future EU treaty.

But following Wednesday's House of Commons vote backing Theresa May's plan to trigger withdrawal talks by the end of March, Mr Goerens agreed with the European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt that it should be brought forward more quickly.

Mr Verhofstadt told a meeting of the Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee in Brussels on Thursday that he would ensure associate citizenship status was "on the table" for the withdrawal talks under Article 50 of the EU Treaties.

"Some things cannot wait until treaty change," said Mr Verhofstadt.

"Therefore, the ability to keep European citizenship for those who risk losing it will be on the table of the upcoming Brexit negotiations and will be discussed at the moment of the Parliament's resolution, right after the triggering of Article 50 in March."

Mr Goerens said that Wednesday's vote had made the prospect of Article 50 being invoked "very real indeed".

He had therefore agreed with Mr Verhofstadt that "this has become a very important issue that cannot await treaty change - as was my intention when I first tabled my amendment - since this might take years".

The liberal MEP continued: "The European Parliament will define its position on the Brexit agreement through a resolution during spring 2017.

“This seems to be the best opportunity to give Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt the possibility to enforce the Associate EU Citizenship."

Reacting to the news, Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder told the Independent: “The option of being able to retain EU citizenship offers a glimmer of hope for the millions of British people devastated by the referendum result.

“Everyone who supports this should write to MEPs and tell them how passionately they feel about maintaining their rights as EU citizens, including the ability to live, study and work abroad."

Young man shot dead in Kilburn while walking 'with relatives'

Pic: Yasir
Crime reporter(wp/es):

A young man died after being gunned down in front of horrified shoppers in Kilburn as he crossed a busy high street.

Witnesses described how the victim, aged in his early 20s, staggered to the pavement and collapsed outside a cafe after being shot in the stomach yesterday.

Police sealed off a 200 yard stretch of Kilburn High Road as paramedics battled to save his life for 20 minutes, while scores of armed officers swarmed surrounding streets as they hunted the gunmen who were seen to flee down a side road into a housing estate. 

The victim, named locally as Yasir, was said to have been accompanied by an older woman and a younger boy - thought to be relatives - when he was struck by a single shot.

One witness, takeaway worker Yosif, 27, said there was a single “loud bang”.

He said: “I assumed he’d been hit by a car because he looked disorientated and was wobbling. 

“He was with an older woman and a younger boy. They were crying around his body, utterly distraught.”

A friend of the victim said he had been trying to turn his life around after being stabbed in a separate violent incident in Kilburn last year.

Bruno Tampo, 22, who runs a charity mentoring young people into work, said: “He got stabbed last year. He’d just recovered from that and I think he’d just moved in to a new place.

“When I found out he’d been shot I crumbled.

“Yasir had such a good heart. It’s crazy what happened to him. He was a good friend.”

A spokesman for the Met said detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating, and no-one had yet been arrested.

The killing comes three days after trainee gas engineer Salim Coulter, 24, was shot dead as he climbed into the passenger seat of a friend’s car in Fulham, four miles away.

Police said the gunman was “lying in wait” for Mr Coulter outside Jerky’s Jamaican restaurant in Walham Grove before blasting him in the head at close range.

Kingston Council made £525,000 in a WEEK from new traffic restriction

Staff reporter(wp/es):

A London council has made over £500,000 in just one week from a new traffic restriction.

Temporary bollards and signposts went up on earlier this year as part of a trial traffic-calming measure for a proposed cycling route.

But a letter sent to councillors revealed that 8,055 penalty charge notices were issued between November 14 and November 20 - totalling at least £525,000.

The traffic restrictions were set up by Kingston Council, south west London, and restrict usage of the road to buses, taxis and for access only.

Drivers passing through the bollards will receive a minimum fine of £65, with charges reaching £195 if not paid within 28 days.

Residents have criticised the unfair measures, claiming motorists are unaware of the new restrictions and the ensuing fine.

Roger Marlow, 74, from East Molesey, was fined after driving through the bollards to reach his bridge club last month.

He said: “I went through there and got a £65 ticket.

“When I went this week I flagged down a number of cars who didn’t know not to go through there.

“They must be making an absolute fortune, it must be a money making machine.

“At least eight or nine cars went through - there are some notices but there hasn’t been a consultation.”

Tony Edmonds, 57, who lives nearby, said: “I spoke to the council and they said they’re getting a lot of complaints about it.

“They said around 5,500 warning notices had been given out.

“That means people don’t understand the signage.”

Kingston Council issued 5,482 warning notices to drivers passing through the bollards before “live enforcement” of the restrictions began on November 14.

The council is trialling only allowing cyclists and buses to use the road as a cut through as part of their mini-Holland proposals, which hope to build European-style cycle tracks across the borough as part of a £33m scheme.

Liberal Democrat leader Liz Green said: “It’s a scary amount of money.

“The whole thing from start to finish has been badly implemented - it’s just a disaster.

“There is just a plethora of signs. There was no consultation, there was no chance to object.”

The council says on its website that money raised through fines will be ring-fenced for transportation services and the trial is not a “money making scheme”.

A Kingston Council spokeswoman said: “In order to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians, we are conducting a trial road closure which is aimed at reducing traffic.

“The council has been monitoring traffic flows, and following a lengthy bedding in process, which included the installation of cameras and the issuing of warning notices, has started issuing fines to motorists who fail to comply with the closure.

“Over the next few months the council will be measuring the actual impacts of traffic flow and congestion on neighbouring roads and will subsequently carry out consultation on whether or not to make the scheme permanent.”

Commuter hell as 'around half' of trains are out of action on final day of strike

Staff reporter(wp/es):

Frustrated commuters described a journey from hell as the crippling Southern Rail strike entered its third and final day.

Customers have been hit by three consecutive days of “utterly atrocious” travel misery in a walk-out which left services cut by around half.

While commuters are set to have a few days of relief from Friday, a second strike is set to hit from Tuesday next week – unless the crisis can be averted with a court decision.

On Thursday morning, passengers branded their journeys “abysmal” as services were cancelled due to a lack of staff.

Jo Crowley said on Twitter: “Think I might invoice @SouthernRailUK for lost hours working, lost income and stress due to their disgusting service. Everyone should.”

Jack Blythman called his journey a “hell commute” after his train was cancelled due to congestion while Roy Stephenson said: “Late, overcrowded and then trapped on the platform at London Bridge.”

Claire Llewellyn added: “Cattle are transported under better conditions. Sort it out!!!

The Brighton mainline, Oxsted and Redhill routes all faced major disruption while most other lines were partly closed.

Southern Rail apologised for the problems and urged customers to apply for special strike-day compensation for their journey if they were delayed for over half an hour.

A spokesman said that it was too early to tell on Thursday morning how many trains were cancelled but added that approximately 50 per cent of the normal timetable was planned to run.

This week’s strike – which ends at 11.59pm – is by RMT unionmembers and part of a long-running dispute over changes to the role of train conductors. 

The dispute began months ago when Southern’s parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway, revealed plans for drivers to be in charge of opening and closing the train doors.

Train drivers’ union Aslef joined in the row, also announcing a wave of walk-outs over safety risks of the proposed change.

This week’s RMT strike will be followed by two 24-hour walk-outs by Aslef from midnight on Tuesday, December 13 and again on Friday, December 16 at midnight.

But the High Court is set to rule later on Thursday on whether parent company GTR can block the train drivers’ strike planned for next week.

The company claimed the strike action breaches customers’ rights. A decision is expected to be reached at 2pm.

Two further 48 hour strikes are planned by RMT from Monday, December 19 at midnight and for 48 hours from December 31 to January 2.

Aslef have also planned a five day strike to hit Southern in January, from Monday 9 to Saturday 14.

A spokesman for Southern Rail said: "Services on the third day of the RMT conductors' strike are also being affected by the ASLEF overtime ban and as a result, we are having to withdraw more trains from the timetable today for which we apologise."

On Thursday, a Conservative MP representing constituents who use Southern, said the disruption on the line is straining passengers’ jobs and family life.

Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert, writing in the Telegraph, said he knows of some commuters who have lost jobs or become sick with worry due to the service.