Engineering is essential to addressing the coronavirus crisis March 31, 2020 At first it seemed – at least in commentary – that dealing with the Covid-19 crisis was mainly a task for epidemiology, medical and public health experts, and they continue to lead the global effort to combat the outbreak. But the cross-sector scale of the challenge became apparent last week with the UK government’s appeal [...]
Coronavirus: Government poised to unveil rescue deal for bus industry March 31, 2020 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has said that a sector-specific deal for the UK’s bus operators will be announced shortly after passenger numbers collapsed nearly 80 per cent. Speaking to Sky, Shapps said that he was “working very hard on a package” for buses, having announced a set of emergency measures to protect the UK’s struggling [...]
Don’t leave the South East behind as Britain levels up March 31, 2020 The Big Smoke dominates — our economy, our culture and our, well, pretty much everything in the UK. In Westminster, just a small corner of the behemoth that is London, life-changing decisions — for better and worse — are being made that will dramatically impact public services, businesses, and families for years to come. That [...]
London’s transport is failing the people that need it most March 27, 2020 Imagine being a key worker tomorrow morning. A twenty-minute wait for the next tube — if you manage to get on. A carriage so overcrowded that you’ve got no hope of social distancing. And then a rush to your hospital, your police station, your school. We’re asking key staff to put their health on the [...]
Shaun Bailey: Three steps London must take to protect key workers on the Tube March 27, 2020 Imagine being a key worker taking the Tube tomorrow morning. A 20-minute wait for the next train — if you manage to get on. A carriage so overcrowded that you’ve got no hope of social distancing. And then a rush to your hospital, your police station, your school. We’re asking key staff to put their [...]
Sadiq Khan calls coronavirus rental protections ‘inadequate’ March 25, 2020 Sadiq Khan has demanded for more support to be given to the capital’s renters during the coronavirus crisis in an escalation of tensions between the government and City Hall. Boris Johnson rolled out protections for renters last week, including a three-month mortgage holiday for homeowners, increases to the housing allowance and measures to prevent landlords [...]
Coronavirus: UK airlines ask government to waive regulatory charges March 25, 2020 The UK’s airlines have again called for the government to implement rescue measures to protect the industry against the impact of coronavirus, which has decimated the sector. The plea comes despite chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday telling firms that state aid would only be considered as a “last resort” after they had exhausted other means of [...]
Brompton Bikes boss: long-term thinking is needed after coronavirus March 25, 2020 Coronavirus may have stopped everyday life in its tracks, but the boss of one of London’s manufacturing success stories says employers must adopt long-term strategies now for when the wheels start turning again. Will Butler-Adams, the boss of Brompton Bikes, says this applies to macro: the future of transport, as well as the micro: the [...]
Logistics industry calls on government to extend Brexit transition period to ease pressure on sector March 25, 2020 The UK’s logistics sector body the Freight Transport Association (FTA) is calling on the government to extend the current Brexit transition period to allow firms to concentrate on tackling the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, the industry body said that “the challenges posed by the Covid-19 virus will make the effective implementation of any new [...]
Coronavirus: Bring back retired Tube drivers, says Tory mayoral candidate March 25, 2020 Almost 150 recently retired Tube drivers should be brought back to reduce rush hour overcrowding during the coronavirus crisis, according to Tory mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey. Bailey, a London Assembly member, said 139 drivers could be brought back to increase the number of Tube services, similar to what the NHS has done with retired doctors [...]