A French lighting designer has won a $600,000 court ruling in a dispute with Brad Pitt over the re-design of the chateau in Provence that he and Angelina Jolie shared. But designer Odile Soudant isn't stopping there. Soudant says her business went under and her career was irreparably damaged because of Pitt's refusal to pay for costly architectural reveries. She's now fighting for the intellectual property rights to the Chateau Miraval's lighting design. Pitt's representatives argue the project was late and over-budget and the disputed lighting design was Pitt's brainchild — not hers. Soudant's legal actions are the latest challenge for Pitt, who is in protracted divorce proceedings with Jolie. Chateau Miraval is a symbol of happier times in the couple's relationship. They stayed at the sprawling 17th century estate when she gave birth to their twins in nearby Monaco in 2008, launched a successful wine venture from its rich vineyards, and married there in 2014. Soon after they … [Read more...]

English councils have been threatened with cuts to social care funding if they fail to meet “virtually undeliverable” targets to reduce bed-blocking. The Government has ordered councils to reduce the number of people remaining in hospital when they are fit to be discharged by as much as 70 per cent before winter, or see social care funding withdrawn from them in the Spring Budget next year. In a letter seen by The Independent delivered to all councils responsible for delivering social care, the Department of Health warns that NHS England will hold them "to account” for their role in delivering targets before the winter, and “take action” if they fail to meet them. Council leaders warned that the threats from central Government leave them facing a “double whammy” of underfunding and prospective cuts to funds, which they said would see the elderly, vulnerable, and disabled suffer most. Barbara Keeley MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for … [Read more...]

PARLEY LANE: Roadworks will be continuing on Parley Lane until April 3.Temporary two-way traffic lights were installed last week while Wessex Water carries out water main work on B3073 Parley Lane between Chapel Gate and Mill Lane at Hurn. Wessex Water has been constructing a new site access off Parley Lane since September last year. KINSON: Durdells Avenue will be closed from its junction with Wimborne Road to property No.8 until Tuesday, March 21, as part of a rolling scheme of highway improvement works. The road will then be shut from the Poole Lane junction to the Wakely Road junction from Wednesday, March 22, until Monday, April 3. The last phase of the works will see the road shut near Christ the King School from Monday, April 10, until Tuesday, April 25. POOLE: Sixteen weeks of roadworks on the Upton Bypass enter their half-way stage this week. A temporary 30mph speed limit is in place on the A350 and A35 eastbound from Bakers Arms Roundabout to approximately 100 … [Read more...]

WORK at the M4’s Junction 28 have started - and are expected take 16 months to complete. Here is everything you need to know. ROAD CLOSURES & TEMPORARY SPEED LIMITS Ahead of the works, Newport City Council has issued a temporary prohibition of traffic order and a speed limit order. In the order it says the temporary road closures will be in place between 8pm and 6am and that they will be phased as the work progresses. It says diversion routes will be signed for each closure. The order also states that a 40mph temporary speed limit will be in place in the majority of the roads affected from Tuesday, March 21, for the duration of the works. The speed limit will cover all carriageways of Tredegar Park roundabout, Cardiff Road from Pont Ebbw roundabout to its junction with Tredegar Park roundabout, Forge Road from its junction with Tredegar Park roundabout to the terminal points of the permanent 30mph speed limit to the south of Bassaleg roundabout and the Risca … [Read more...]

WORK at the M4’s Junction 28 is due to start today - and expected take 16 months to complete. Here is everything you need to know. ROAD CLOSURES & TEMPORARY SPEED LIMITS Ahead of the works, Newport City Council has issued a temporary prohibition of traffic order and a speed limit order. In the order it says the temporary road closures will be in place between 8pm and 6am and that they will be phased as the work progresses. It says diversion routes will be signed for each closure. The order also states that a 40mph temporary speed limit will be in place in the majority of the roads affected from Tuesday, March 21, for the duration of the works. The speed limit will cover all carriageways of Tredegar Park roundabout, Cardiff Road from Pont Ebbw roundabout to its junction with Tredegar Park roundabout, Forge Road from its junction with Tredegar Park roundabout to the terminal points of the permanent 30mph speed limit to the south of Bassaleg roundabout and the Risca … [Read more...]

WORK at the M4’s Junction 28 is due to start tomorrow (March 14) and are expected take 16 months to complete. Ahead of their start, we have put together all the information you need know. ROAD CLOSURES & TEMPORARY SPEED LIMITS Ahead of the works, Newport City Council has issued a temporary prohibition of traffic order and a speed limit order. In the order it says the temporary road closures will be in place between 8pm and 6am and that they will be phased as the work progresses. It says diversion routes will be signed for each closure. The order also states that a 40mph temporary speed limit will be in place in the majority of the roads affected from Tuesday, March 21, for the duration of the works. The speed limit will cover all carriageways of Tredegar Park roundabout, Cardiff Road from Pont Ebbw roundabout to its junction with Tredegar Park roundabout, Forge Road from its junction with Tredegar Park roundabout to the terminal points of the permanent 30mph speed … [Read more...]

More homes are to be built at a new housing development which is served by a controversial roundabout where traffic lights installed last year were blamed for causing huge tailbacks. In order to provide access to the Manor Kingsway development, work was carried out last year to reconfigure Kingsway traffic island. It involved creating a new access off the roundabout to the new housing estate and the installation of traffic lights to help with traffic flow. Last summer, the new lights were switched on - but not long afterwards major jams were caused, particularly at the neighbouring Kingsway Retail Park. According to motorists, they claimed that lights installed at the exit of the retail park were causing them to be trapped for hours as they tried to leave. See a video about the new housing development: After several days of chaos, the councillor in charge of transport, Asaf Afzal, gave the order to switch them off. In November, it was revealed that the traffic lights may never been … [Read more...]

WORK at the M4’s Junction 28 is due to start tomorrow (March 14) and are expected take 16 months to complete. Ahead of their start, we have put together all the information you need know. WHY IS IT NEEDED? According to data provided by the Welsh Government, the existing M4 Junction 28 roundabout together with the adjacent roundabouts at Bassaleg and Pont Ebbw are used by more than 6,000 vehicles an hour at peak times. A spokeswoman for the Welsh Government said: “Strategically, M4 Junction 28 is the principal link between the M4 and west Newport, which is a major employment area. “The improvement of all three junctions is seen by the Welsh Government as an important part of its programme for economic regeneration providing access to jobs, safe reliable journeys and improved resilience for the trunk road and local network in south east Wales.” The scheme specific objectives are to increase throughput at the junctions, increase the use of the Southern Distributor … [Read more...]

Lyde Road has now reopened in Yeovil as the third phase of the controversial roadworks starts. Cars will be prevented from turning right into St Michael's Avenue as four-way temporary traffic lights came into effect from today (March 10). The mini-roundabout at the junction of Sherborne/Lyde Road is being replaced with traffic lights in a scheme being carried out by Barratt Homes. What is happening to the road during this third phase and further into the future? Read more: Yeovil roundabout overhaul 'will not improve' traffic, council admits What is happening in the third phase? This work will continue until sometime in June, although no exact finish date has been given. It will see the completion and commissioning of the traffic lights, installation of signs and street furniture, surfacing and white lining. The current scheme on Sherborne Road is being carried out by Barratt Homes as part of the Wyndham Park development. Once this scheme has been completed the next will … [Read more...]

PUBLISHED: 10:06 10 March 2017 | UPDATED: 16:54 10 March 2017 East Anglian commuters could benefit from safer and quicker journeys from a £400,000 project which could see traffic lights installed at the notorious Fiveways roundabout on the A11. Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in. Philip Hammond earmarked cash for new lights in his Congestion Relief Programme fund in this week’s budget amid concerns about the safety of the junction following the dualling of the A11 in 2015. Highways England will now carry out a feasibility study to see if lights are needed. At the time the roundabout was designed, the option of lights was left open. West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock urged the government to act fast following the budget announcement. He said: “Since the A11 dualling was completed in 2015, I have campaigned tirelessly for safety improvements to Fiveways so I warmly welcome the announcement by the Department for Transport that … [Read more...]

PUBLISHED: 17:28 10 March 2017 Matt Reason At “long last” traffic lights are set to be installed at a busy accident blackspot on the A11. Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in. The issues at Fiveways came after the A11 was dualled towards Thetford. The recent opening of a McDonald’s off the roundabout was also said to have made traffic worse. Dr Richard Greenfield, chairman of Mildenhall Parish Council, said: “It seems that at long last there is some progress. “All credit to the group that has been working for some time to achieve this. Wendy Chipping has really worked hard and it is brilliant that is paying off. “I know some are saying they should build a flyover, but I think we should be glad that they are doing something. “The traffic is incredibly poor for people trying to use the roundabout, and hopefully the traffic lights will resolve this.” Matt Hancock, West Suffolk MP, has supported the campaign since a … [Read more...]

PUBLISHED: 10:06 10 March 2017 | UPDATED: 14:17 10 March 2017 East Anglian commuters could benefit from safer and quicker journeys from a £400,000 project which could see traffic lights installed at the notorious Fiveways roundabout on the A11. Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in. Philip Hammond earmarked cash for new lights in his Congestion Relief Programme fund in this week’s budget amid concerns about the safety of the junction following the dualling of the A11 in 2015. Highways England will now carry out a feasibility study to see if lights are needed. At the time the roundabout was designed, the option of lights was left open. West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock urged the government to act fast following the budget announcement. He said: “Since the A11 dualling was completed in 2015, I have campaigned tirelessly for safety improvements to Fiveways so I warmly welcome the announcement by the Department for Transport that … [Read more...]

PUBLISHED: 10:06 10 March 2017 | UPDATED: 10:20 10 March 2017 East Anglian commmuters could benefit from safer and quicker journeys fromm a £400,000 project to install traffic lights at the notorious Fiveways roundabout on the A11. Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in. Philip Hammond earmarked cash for new lights in his Congestion Relief Programme fund in this week’s budget amid concerns about the safety of the junction following the dualling of the A11 in 2015. Highways England will now carry out a fesability stuudy to see if lights are needed. At the time the roundabout was designed, the option of lights was left open. West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock urged the government to act fast following the budget announcement. He said: “Since the A11 dualling was completed in 2015, I have campaigned tirelessly for safety improvements to Fiveways so I warmly welcome the announcement by the Department for Transport that £400,000 will … [Read more...]

PUBLISHED: 09:47 10 March 2017 | UPDATED: 09:47 10 March 2017 East Anglian commmuters could benefit from safer and quicker journeys fromm a £400,000 project to install traffic lights at the notorious Fiveways roundabout on the A11. Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in. Philip Hammond earmarked cash for new lights in his Congestion Relief Programme fund in this week’s budget amid concerns about the safety of the junction following the dualling of the A11 in 2015. Highways England will now carry out a fesability stuudy to see if lights are needed. At the time the roundabout was designed, the option of lights was left open. West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock urged the government to act fast following the budget announcement. He said: “Since the A11 dualling was completed in 2015, I have campaigned tirelessly for safety improvements to Fiveways so I warmly welcome the announcement by the Department for Transport that £400,000 will be … [Read more...]

Get what's on updates directly to your inbox + SubscribeThank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email It’s all eyes on The People’s Theatre as its remarkable transformation is revealed to Newcastle audiences. Following a large-scale revamp, the 1930s theatre in Stephenson Road is showing off its new look in stages to regulars and first-time visitors alike. And, as the curtain goes up this Tuesday on its new production of The Tempest, audiences will see the newly-laid foyer floor in all its glory. Head of the development Tony Childs, who also plays the lead of Prospero in Shakespeare’s magical play, says that the interior of the theatre, which dates from around 1932, is currently changing on a weekly basis. Most of the revamp is now complete, thanks to £1.5m raised by the theatre itself and to the skills of its volunteer members who represent a variety of trades. But a further £200,000 needs to be raised to complete and … [Read more...]

MAJOR works to replace an old gas main in Lymington is due to start tomorrow. Gas company SGN is investing £360,000 to replace our the old metal gas main with new plastic pipe on the A337 Stanford Hill. The work, which is expected to take 10 weeks, will be completed in three stages. Stage one - which starts on Monday - will see work being done on the southbound carriageway of the A337 from Anchorage Way towards Belmore Road. A spokesman from SNG said engineers would cone off the part of the carriageway they are working on but temporary traffic lights would not be needed. It is expected to take four weeks. The second phase of work - which is also expected to take four weeks - will see temporary traffic lights installed while work is carried out to the section of the road between Belmore Road and the White Hart pub. The lights will be controlled by the SGN team from 6.30am to 6pm. The final stage of works, which is expected to start at the beginning of May, will … [Read more...]

They have become a common site in everything from supermarkets to hospitals. But these fluorescent blue lights in public toilets aren't there to bring an ambient atmosphere. Instead the dark blue light is to deter addicts from taking drugs in toilet cubicles. The heavy blue tint means heroin users have difficulty finding veins to inject their drugs into. Hull Royal Infirmary had the lights installed to deter drug addicts who were using the loos to feed their habit. More news: Upside down rainbow spotted over Hull Medical research has suggested the lights have a mixed impact on drug users. Studies have found although some drug users were deterred others tried to use veins in their neck or groin instead of their forearm as they were easier to find. Read more: Health watchdog finds big improvements at Hull Royal Research for Injecting Advice, a website for health workers dealing with drug users, said: "The purpose of fluorescent blue lights in public settings (especially toilets) is to … [Read more...]

HEARTBROKEN sisters have launched a road safety campaign after the death of their uncle. Less than five months after popular Gosport man Gary Martin lost his life, his nieces Michelle Ralph and Danielle Bennett are battling to make sure no-one else suffers the same pain. There’s nothing that is going to bring my uncle back but if we can help anyone in that situation it would make me feel better Michelle Ralpg They want changes at the junction of Kirpal Road and Eastern Road, Portsmouth, where moped rider Gary, 52, died last October. They believe the junction would be made safer if there were traffic lights installed. Michelle, 30, told The News: ‘When I visited Kirpal Road coming from Gosport, there are flowers at nearly every single bit along the road. ‘I know they won’t put traffic lights there because of timing, but if it makes someone else’s family not have to go through what we’ve gone through, it’s worth it. ‘Something like a … [Read more...]

Motorists in Dundee suffered rush-hour delays on Monday as resurfacing works started in the Nethergate. Nethergate is closed for three weeks between West Marketgait and South Tay Street because of carriageway resurfacing works. Temporary traffic lights are also in place on Perth Road at Arnhall Drive because of work to replace gas mains in the West End. The combination of the two sets of roadworks caused headaches for motorists with lengthy tailbacks building up in both directions. Irate drivers said they were stuck in queues up to 15 minutes long as a result of the works, which saw traffic heading into the city from the east backed up as far as the Tay Road Bridge. There were also lengthy queues for cars coming into Dundee from the opposite direction, with one driver claiming traffic had backed up along Riverside Drive as far as Invergowrie. One taxi driver said: “There was chaos with Perth Road shut and traffic reduced to one lane at Marketgait. “There was a 10 minute … [Read more...]

The ex-boyfriend of late singer George Michael, Kenny Goss, has expressed regret following the singer's death. In a candid interview with Dallas Morning News, Kenny Goss described the Faith singer as the true love of his life. Goss, 58, dated the Careless Whisper singer for 13 years between 1996 and 2009 but Michael only revealed their break-up two years later in 2011. In his first real interview, following a statement issued on the pop star's death on Christmas Day (25 December), Goss said: "We just had a really good, sweet relationship". The Texan art dealer mused with sadness at Michael's passing: "I really miss him, you really miss him when you know that's not an option anymore, OK, yeah... that's crazy" he said, staring at the ground of The Goss-Michael Foundation gallery – a space housing works by many notable British artists, such as Tracey Emin's neon light installation 'George Loves Kenny' – that the couple set up while together. The true aim of the foundation is … [Read more...]