Industry

The location of a new M5 junction has been revealed as part of plans for the UK's biggest electric vehicle (EV) battery plant.

A £4bn gigafactory is under construction by Agratas, Tata Group's global battery business, between Puriton and Woolavington in Somerset.

A new junction, dubbed '22A', has been designed to alleviate pressure on the motorway and will be constructed immediately to the north of the former freight line which once served it.

National Highways said it is "looking to deliver this scheme at the earliest opportunity."

An Exeter Chiefs rugby player has been banned from driving after he was caught drink-driving.

Will Goodrick-Clarke told Exeter Magistrates' Court he made a "massive lapse in judgement" during the incident in the Westclyst area of Exeter in April.

The court heard the 29-year-old's BMW driver was stopped by a routine police patrol near his home.

Goodrick-Clarke, who has no previous convictions, was banned for 12 months and fined £569.

Plans for two new padel courts at one of England's oldest golf clubs have been resubmitted after they were previously withdrawn due to concerns about the loss of trees.

The planning application by Padel X was submitted to Peterborough City Council in February, with the idea being to construct two courts in the car park of Burghley Park Golf Club, near Stamford.

However, it was withdrawn in March following recommendations by planning officers. One council officer said the proposed loss of seven trees in the original plan would be "unacceptable".

A decision will be made by the authority at a later date.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the new application was resubmitted on 9 June, with the proposed site moved further to the north west to avoid the loss of existing established trees and landscaping.

The new courts are said to provide a "strategic opportunity" to diversify the club's offerings.

Padel, which is seen as a blend of tennis and squash, has been growing in popularity in recent years and the Lawn Tennis Association estimates there are now about 800 courts and more than 400,000 players in Britain.

However, some people who are keen to play have expressed frustration at a lack of courts, and the cost to play.

The planning statement for the proposed courts at Burghley Park stated: "Padel is a rapidly growing sport that is known for its accessibility and social appeal, making it a popular and ideal addition to Burghley Park Golf Club's amenities.

"The applicant, Padel X Club, are experienced operators of such facilities and therefore have a proven track record of identifying and developing successful sites for new courts that will not only be a valuable addition to the golf club but will also improve footfall and visitors to the area, benefitting the wider local economy and community."

During the sentencing hearing, the court heard there had been heavy rain in the days before and "the river was in flood conditions" with a "visibly strong current".

On Tuesday, the court was shown photos of a weir the group was trying to navigate.

This included a section called fish pass, which was 11m (36ft) long and on an incline of about one in seven, or 14%.

The court was shown conditions on the weir on the day of the incident, with Mark Watson KC, prosecuting, explaining on Tuesday it showed "immense turbulence" of the water.

Mrs Justice Mary Stacey said the group "fell down the face of the weir" in no more than 20 seconds.

They were sucked into a hydraulic jump – or spin – a recirculating flow similar to a washing machine.

She added: "The ankle leashes attached to the boards of those stuck in the hydraulic spin, which are totally unsuitable for fast-flowing water, made it even harder for them to get free."

Mrs Justice Stacey said that the "four participants were not wearing wetsuits and one had decided that a life jacket would not be necessary."

She added there had been "no safety briefing" beforehand, none of the participants had the right type of leash for their boards in these conditions and Lloyd did not have any next of kin details.

Mr O'Dwyer initially exited the river safely, but then re-entered the water in an attempt to rescue the others.

Mr O'Dwyer, from Port Talbot, Ms Rogers, from Merthyr Tydfil, and Ms Wheatley, of Pontarddulais, Swansea county, all died at the scene.

Ms Powell, from Bridgend, died in hospital on 5 November 2021, about a week after the incident.

The judge said it was clear to her Lloyd intended for the group to go over the weir down the fish pass if possible "which would be more interesting" than carrying the boards round the weir.

Mr O'Dwyer had researched alternative routes, but all were "dismissively rejected by you", the judge said.

Mr O'Dwyer deferred to Lloyd as the company owner to decide the final route but raised valid concerns, such as the drop over the weir.

Mrs Justice Stacey said Lloyd's interest "seemed to be more in an exciting route than safety" and it was clear from CCTV she went straight down the middle of the weir rather than making any attempt to get to the side.

She added she showed "a blatant disregard for a very high risk of death".

Her lawyer told the court Lloyd took "full blame for the mistakes" that led to the deaths. He said there was a plan to get out of the water ahead of the weir but the force of the water meant she and the others were carried over it.

Mrs Justice Stacey asked Mr Elias to explain why Lloyd's arms could be seen in a "joyful, confident, triumphant" manner in the video of her going over the weir.

The judge said this gave the impression it was "all intentional," adding the gesture seemed to convey "excitement and fun".

David Elias KC, defending, responded saying this was not the case and Lloyd "simply couldn't wait for those who were coming behind her because of the force over the weir".

Mrs Justice Stacey said in her sentencing remarks said that Mr O'Dwyer and Lloyd did not intend to harm any participants.

"But you chose to lead the group over a weir in conditions that could not have been more treacherous, placing all of them in extreme danger," the judge added.

Lloyd trained as a firearms officer after joining South Wales Police following university and Mrs Justice Stacey said she would have been "well-versed" in the importance of health and safety and risk assessments.

Lloyd was sacked by the police in November 2021 for a matter "unrelated to the paddleboarding incident," the force said.

A month earlier she accepted a caution for fraud, relating to a vehicle insurance claim.

The judge paid tribute to the families of those who died for their "dignity and courage in the midst of overwhelming grief".

Det Supt Cameron Ritchie, of Dyfed-Powys Police, described the paddleboarding tragedy as "completely avoidable".

Speaking after the sentencing, Lisa Rose, specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service special crime division, said Lloyd was not qualified to take inexperienced paddleboarders out in such conditions.

"There are no words that can articulate the devastation this tragedy has caused, and I can only hope that this sentence provides a sense of justice for those affected," she said.

Helen Turner, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector said the victims placed their trust in Lloyd to deliver a safe and enjoyable paddle, "but through her incompetence, carelessness and complacency she failed to plan or assess the obvious risk at the weir or to take even basic safety measures".

'Guided to her death'

On Tuesday, the court heard powerful impact statements from the families of each of the victims.

Morgan Rogers' mum, Theresa Hall said Lloyd "guided Morgan to her death" and the "physical and mental pain that I now live with is too much to bear".

Speaking to Lloyd, she said, "you, in your arrogance have stopped me being able to fully grieve for my daughter".

Nicola Wheatley's husband Darren Wheatley called Lloyd "a coward" who had "hidden behind your carefully orchestrated smoke screen".

With audible anger in his voice he said while they "cried all day" that Christmas, Lloyd was posting pictures on social media celebrating Christmas lights with her family and friends.

Mark Powell, the husband of Andrea Powell, said when he saw his wife in a coma he "burst into tears" seeing the cuts and bruises to her face and body.

Mr Powell said their son Finn "had the most amazing bond" with his mum.

When he told Finn, who was seven at the time of her death, that she had died, he burst into "uncontrollable tears" and that noise would stay with him forever.

Ceri O'Dwyer, the wife of Mr O'Dwyer, had a statement read on her behalf. She told Lloyd she was once her friend but was met with "blame, rejection and gaslighting" when she tried to "shift blame" on to her husband.

Paul made a "devastating mistake" but "died trying to save others". "Grief is in our household every single day. You carried on as if nothing ever happened," she added.

India has announced that it will stop its water from flowing over international borders.

"Now, India's water will flow for India's benefit, it will be conserved for India's benefit, and it will be used for India's progress", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

While he did not mention Pakistan specifically, Modi's comments come about two weeks after India suspended a 65-year-old water sharing treaty with its neighbour.

Relations between India and Pakistan have declined sharply following a deadly militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. India accuses Pakistan of backing cross-border terrorism – a charge Islamabad flatly denies.

On Tuesday night, India said it had launched missile strikes on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan's military said eight people had been killed.

India said three civilians were killed by Pakistani shelling on its side of the de facto border.

• Follow live: India launches air strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir

Several rivers flow from India into Pakistan, providing vital water supplies to about 80% of farms there. Pakistani leaders previously warned that any attempt to stop the flow of water "will be considered as an act of war".

The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which governs the water sharing of six rivers in the Indus basin between India and Pakistan, survived two wars between the nuclear rivals and was seen as an example of trans-boundary water management.

Modi's suspension of the treaty was one of several steps he took against Pakistan after the attack, which killed 26 civilians.

The PM did not elaborate on how India plans to use the excess water, and experts say the country needs to build more dams, reservoirs and lakes to store it, which will take time to build.

The escalation prompted the US to repeat its calls for calm.

"We continue to urge Pakistan and India to work towards a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.

The future of a Victorian bridge hangs in the balance after councillors deferred a decision to demolish it.

Boxted Bridge, which straddles the Essex-Suffolk border near Colchester, was shut over safety fears in June 2023.

Essex County Council was expected to approve a scheme to remove it on Friday, but members instead voted to conduct a site visit before deciding its fate.

Parish councillor Jon Hunt said it sent a "strong message" about seeking alternative solutions.

The steel structure was built four years before the end of Queen Victoria's reign, carrying people over the River Stour.

An inspection in 2018 found the bridge was "dangerously weak" due to corrosion of its beams.

The county council planned to demolish it and build a wider structure in its place, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillors voted to defer the demolition decision so they could inspect the bridge themselves and consider alternative options.

Labour councillor Dave Harris told the meeting: "I don't think we've got enough in front of us at the moment to do anything but either refuse or defer."

It was not specified when the inspection would take place.