Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor results already declared showed no party can now reach the 40 councillors needed to get a majority and take control of Hertfordshire County Council The Liberal Democrats performed well in some areas of Hertfordshire and were on the way to picking up most seats But a newly resurgent Reform UK also scored notable victories who had been a distant third on the county council ahead of Thursday’s election also suffered further losses although they managed to pick up wards in in northern Hertfordshire On Hertfordshire County Council prior to this week’s elections the Conservatives had 42 seats and the Liberal Democrats 22 But with Reform UK entering the scene no party was near to getting 40 seats required for a majority this time Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5 £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with 100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline removing any financial barriers to connecting people The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large We hope you agree all this is worth preserving Christ Church Radlett has installed solar panels on Vision Hall with support from the Diocese of St Albans’ Net Zero Carbon Fund The project will reduce carbon emissions and energy costs contributing to the Church of England’s 2030 net zero target Christ Church Radlett has taken a major step towards sustainability with the installation of new solar panels on the Vision Hall – a significant milestone in the church’s commitment to environmental responsibility The project was made possible thanks to funding from the Diocese of St Albans’ Net Zero Carbon Fund which supports church initiatives aiming to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy As well as reducing the hall’s carbon footprint, the solar panels will help lower energy costs, supporting both environmental and financial stewardship. The project forms part of the wider ambition of the Diocese of St Albans and the Church of England to reach net zero carbon by 2030 A special thanks goes to Churchwarden George Verghese whose dedication and hard work helped make the project a reality From coordinating contractors to working with the Diocese and Local Authority George played a central role in bringing the vision to life “The church community is proud to be playing its part in the journey towards a more sustainable future Vision Hall is well equipped to serve future generations while caring for God’s creation.” VolkerFitzpatrick is currently working on the £72 million rail contract incorporating a new underpass as well as overhead line equipment works installation of switches and crossings for the main line connection and signalling The underpass is essential not only to enable further works on the project but will also carry the two road rail line feed into a new rail terminal area and allow the construction of 7 distribution units The new 60-metre precast underbridge structure currently being constructed next to the rail line when completed will weigh over 6000 tonnes will slowly be moved through an excavation under the rail line during a Network Rail 9-day blockade over the 2024 Christmas period.  The rail line will remain open for much of the duration of the whole project with the majority of possessions being carried out over night to minimise disruption to passengers Meticulous planning and co-ordination has been established to enable the completion of the tight timeframe.  VolkerFitzpatrick will provide employment opportunities over the course of the project As well as the companies head office being based locally they are working with supply chain contractors from the surrounding area they will engage with local educational establishments and provide a number of apprenticeship placements The vision for SEGRO Logistics Park Radlett is to create 335,000 sq m of state-of-the-art enabled by a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) on site enveloped in 250 hectares of managed woodland conservation grazing and public country park.  It will serve as a vital hub for the efficient movement of goods and will include the construction of extensive rail infrastructure all designed to support the growing demand for rail freight services.Currently rail freight contributes £1.7 billion to the UK economy with each train removing up to 76 HGV journeys from Britain’s roads helping to ease congestion and meet the country`s decarbonisation targets Tel: +44 (0)1992 305 000Email: enquiries@volkerfitzpatrick.co.uk  Office opening hours:Monday to Friday 8:30 – 17:00 MP for Hertsmere and former Deputy Prime Minister visited the Memory Café at Radlett Reform Synagogue The Memory Café – which alternates venues between the shul and a local church – is a social gathering for those experiencing memory loss and their loved ones The MP shared his personal anecdotes about growing up in the area adding: “I have a deep connection to the local community here The dedication of the helpers and volunteers who make the Memory Café a beacon of support and togetherness makes it a very special place.” the MP was greeted by Synagogue President Barry Hyman and met Jeanette and Elliot Lewis founding members of the community since its establishment in Bushey Heath in 1971 who has been a guiding presence in the community for more than 20 years The event showcased the remarkable dedication and growth of the Radlett Reform community celebrating its efforts toward inclusivity How do you create a new underpass beneath a main rail line with only a nine-day possession VolkerFitzpatrick and Tony Gee & Partners pulled off an impressive engineering feat at the Segro Logistics Park Radlett Segro Logistics Park Radlett in Hertfordshire will provide 335,000m2 of logistics space served by a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SFRI) the goal is to shift the movement of goods from road to rail reducing heavy goods vehicle (HGV) journeys on the UK’s road network Located in Hertfordshire on the site of a former aerodrome Segro Logistics Park Radlett sits west of the Midlands Main Line and just north of the M25 between junctions 21a and 22 the extensive programme of works includes a new relief road between the A414 and A5183 and upgrades to roundabouts and M25 junctions The logistics park will be the only SFRI serving the London and M25 area With each freight train able to remove an estimated 76 lorry movements from the roads that could add up to a maximum of 1,800 fewer HGV journeys every day – which would mean a significant reduction in associated carbon emissions and air pollution The development will also see the creation of a 243ha country park with the addition of 81ha of woodlands and over 17km of footpaths Rail freight will access the Park via a rail line that branches off from the adjacent Midlands Main Line and then passes underneath it VolkerFitzpatrick is delivering a £72M contract for the development’s rail infrastructure under NEC Option A The contract includes the construction of a new embankment for the rail branch switches and crossings for the mainline connection signalling and the construction of an underpass beneath the mainline The plan had always been to build the underpass offline and then slide it into place with a blockade of the railway programmed for Easter 2025 Network Rail had subsequently planned other works during a nine-day blockade over Christmas 2024 and requested that the Radlett project carry out its works during that same period VolkerFitzpatrick project director Graeme Howard rose to the challenge we could do it – much to most people’s dismay,” jokes Howard With four months slashed from the programme which was responsible for both permanent and temporary works under lead designer BWB Consulting had to devise a way to get all the design work done in time for the nine-day blockade – and approved by Network Rail and its Project Engineer team from Aecom The accelerated programme meant that Tony Gee was designing some elements of the works as construction was underway “We engaged early with Aecom and Network Rail on what we were going to provide and got feedback on what their expectations were so that we could adapt our designs accordingly,” says Tony Gee geotechnical director Roger Palmer Getting the rail lines into the logistics park is crucial to Segro’s whole programme of works Planning conditions for the Park mean that none of the warehouse buildings can be occupied until the interchange is operational and the warehouses will be built out as Segro secures tenants It is unusual for such works to be delivered by a third party but a spirit of cooperation helped the team to succeed: “There was a very collaborative approach between the [Network Rail’s] Asset Protection team discussions and face-to-face meetings to push the design through quicker than it would normally happen Tony Gee and BWB – which worked initially for Segro before being novated over to VolkerFitzpatrick – looked at three different options for the construction of the underpass The first option was to create a portal structure This would have been moved into place using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) with temporary propping which would be removed once a base slab between the walls had been cast This was rejected on a number of grounds: the footings would have required a larger section of embankment to be removed and there were uncertainties over the ground conditions and whether improvement work would have been needed to carry the SPMTs mainly firm-to-stiff clay but with the possibility of patches of sand and gravels “We would have needed a lot of SPMTs to move it into position and we were struggling to fit them in,” says Sam Hobbs “Network Rail had experienced a recent issue with SPMT installation which meant it was perceived as high risk.” The second option saw sheet pile walls constructed at either end of the underpass during an initial possession and then buried for the rail to be reinstated A bridge deck constructed offline would then have been slid into place during another possession followed by excavation beneath it “The problem with that was the number of steps and possessions required,” says Hobbs there could have been obstructions to the sheet piles within the embankment.” The transition onto the bridge deck could also have caused issues for trains as they passed from the 1800s-constructed embankment to the new deck And the offline construction activities would have been closer to the tracks than the final solution The chosen solution was Freyssinet’s Autoripage structure sliding system This sees a large base slab cast initially with a box underpass structure cast on top of that with strand jacks moving the box into its final position three groups of four 400t jacks – pull their way along strand cables which run under the box structure through channels cast into its base and anchored at the far end of the guide slab The jacks push against the temporary concrete push slab “We chose strand jacks over push jacks because they give a better speed of installation at 4m/h versus 1m/h for push jacks,” explains Hobbs there is no temporary propping or base casting required There is also no footing standing out from the wall VolkerFitzpatrick proposed a rail system to slide the box into place which would not have required the concrete guide slab Brackets would have been cast into the side of the box structure which would then have been lifted up to run on rails positioned at either side But the uncertainty over ground conditions made that a less attractive proposition “Strand jacking is probably more expensive because you have to build a massive guide raft when you are facing millions of pounds of damages in overruns on the Midlands Main Line it was the right decision to make,” says Howard and anchored with 2.15m-deep shear keys — built with tolerances as tight as 3mm in 3m The initial plan had been to construct the guide raft to the west of the Midlands Main Line but that would have required the infilling of a massive lagoon created by former mineral extraction works That couldn’t happen in time due to programme constraints so the box had to be constructed on the east side a more cramped location which sat partly over a landfill was to remove the material from the landfill – mostly construction waste consisting of soil tyres and plastic from the construction of the M25 – and then backfill it with well-compacted granular fill Some 60% of the landfill was soil which VolkerFitzpatrick retained on site with all the remaining materials being recycled Since the bottom of the guide raft was to be constructed 2m below the toe of the railway embankment another early task was to install a sheet pile wall “This was designed for stiffness to stop ground movements that could affect the operation of the tracks,” says Hobbs the guide raft was one of the most substantial pieces of temporary works The slab is anchored by four 2.15m-deep shear keys running across the raft at intervals Structural design was carried out by Freyssinet The tolerance on the angle of the sloping back face of the shear keys was very tight; Freyssinet specified plus or minus 10 This had to be exact to create resistance to the potential forces caused by the slide The surface of the slab was constructed to a tolerance of 3mm in 3m reinforced concrete subcontractor Galldris began the construction of the underpass in July 2024 The nine-day possession for the slide started at 3am on 21 December with the removal of the track Earthworks specialist Collins then moved in to cut out a section of embankment at a slope of 27° for the upper portion and 45° for the lower portion “To assess the angle at which we could cut the embankment was quite challenging,” says Palmer “We had to take an observational method approach And while clay might stand at 45° for quite a while a silty sand might not stand at 45° for 10 minutes.” Built initially in 1860 and then widened by 1896 with material simply dumped onto the ground from the end of the growing embankment Ground investigation indicated that it was mostly clay with pockets of other material such as sand The decision to steepen the lower part of the slope was made with programme in mind explains Hobbs: “If we had increased the time needed for backfilling because we had gone for a shallower cut that would have impacted on other parts of the works.” The bulk excavation of around 12,500m3 of earth took just 24 hours Collins then used GPS to carefully control the excavation of the benches while an expert team looked on to observe the stability of the cutting we saw the degradation off some of the benches,” reports Palmer alongside Howard and Collins director David Collins but it did show that we could not have left it open for a week.” The slide itself ran smoothly – in all senses of the word – taking just over 12 hours to travel 62.5m at an average speed of 5.05m/h and a peak rate of 15m/h Freyssinet’s system sees omega channels cast into the bottom of the box structure with connected pipes supplying bentonite to lubricate the slide As the jacks pushed the box along the guide raft Collins was loading up the back end of the slab to provide additional weight The peak resistance could have been as the box started to slide from the concrete raft onto the excavated ground – which was clay and also lubricated by bentonite we might have had to mobilise a higher jacking capacity,” explains Palmer “We could have made the jacking base bigger but we decided to surcharge the base as the box moved and the team made a call to stop when we were satisfied that everything was safe That call came when the box was about halfway off the launch slab.” The jacking base was designed to cope with a maximum jacking force of 54MN “We only got up to 15MN because the bentonite was very effective,” says Hobbs Backfilling was the longest activity in the process Tony Gee’s design saw pea gravel used for the bottom 2.5m of the backfill in order to reduce the time needed for backfilling “Volker did trials to look at the behaviour of the pea gravel in that situation with the compaction on top of it,” says Palmer “That took away the uncertainties of how the pea gravel would behave during backfilling.” Three groups of four 400t strand jacks were used to move the underpass box which slid 62.5m into place in just over 12 hours As both temporary and permanent works designer one of the biggest balancing acts for Tony Gee was setting vertical tolerances that would give the best outcomes during the construction and positioning of the underpass and during its operation “There were trade-offs on the design between temporary works and headroom clearance needed to provide headspace for the possible installation of OLE in the future,” explains Hobbs “There are competing factors when you are thinking about how thick to make the deck slab and how much clearance we needed We kept the vertical installation tolerances as big as we could – plus or minus 150mm – to de-risk the installation.” A designer thinking about permanent works only could have been tempted to make the deck thicker “How bouncy the deck is effects one of the factors in train loading,” he explains “Keeping the deck thinner makes that factor marginally higher but it de-risks the installation of the box.” With the track handed back to Network Rail three hours early it’s safe to say that the balancing act worked beautifully The installation of the Radlett underpass is a testament to competent cooperative engineering and effective teamwork Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here. Enterprise models can solve infrastructure delivery’s longstanding issues Movement of large and heavy modules through a constrained space in a… A collaborative ‘near net zero’ road resurfacing trial in Yorkshire is being… An alternative technical solution for the substructure of high-spec laboratory buildings in… XFASTINDEX During a nine-day closure of the Midland Main Line railway between Bedford and London St Pancras over Christmas, a 6,000-tonne pre-cast concrete structure was pulled into place to create a new underpass The line was being closed anyway for wider improvements during the festive period so VolkerFitzpatrick coordinated its work for the logistics park to put in the new underpass The underbridge is needed not only to enable the construction of the logistics park but it will also allow for a two road-rail line feed into a new rail terminal area on the wider Radlett strategic rail freight interchange (SRFI) project It will be one of 20 in the UK and the only one serving the London area VolkerFitzpatrick’s divisional director for rail and depots said: “With an unprecedented tight schedule to deliver over a nine-day period the successful installation of the underbridge is a testament to the teams meticulous planning 12,000 cubic metres of soil was excavated from the embankment Segro director Charles Blake said: “The successful installation of the jack box is a critical first construction milestone in the development of the SRFI at Segro Logistics Park Radlett and the result of months of meticulous planning preparation and delivery to ensure it could be completed during the Christmas period when the railway was already scheduled to be closed “In the context of the wider development it is a relatively small component but it is vitally important to ensuring that the freight terminal will be capable of operating by the time the first building has been constructed and reinforces our commitment to rail freight being at the heart of this development.” The structure was pre-cast alongside the railway Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk 3 hours Ebbsfleet Development Corporation is undertaking early market engagement for infrastructure works. 20 hours Following a recent expansion into North America, Murphy Group has now entered Australia. 2 hours Innovative tracked carrier manufacturer among 2025 King’s Award for Enterprise recipients 2 hours Modular construction business Integra Buildings has received royal recognition for its approach to sustainability. 4 hours MTX Contracts has been selected as the preferred bidder to build a diagnostic centre in Pitsea, Essex. 4 hours House-builder Springfield Properties has promoted Darren Thomson to construction director for its north of Scotland operations. © 2025 The Construction Index [Company No ' + response[i].created_nice + ' ' + response[i].description + ' Check if you already have access from your company or university VolkerFitzpatrick is currently working on the multi-million pound rail contract  The underpass is essential not only to enable further works on the project but will also carry the two road rail line feed into a new rail terminal area and allow the construction of the associated warehousing.  This prestigious project marks a significant milestone in enhancing the UK's rail freight infrastructure providing substantial benefits for the local economy and the national supply chain To install the new 60-metre precast underpass structure VolkerFitzpatrick is using Freyssineyt’s unique and complex cabling system that has been constructed underneath the concrete structure the underpass structure weighing over 6000 tonnes will slowly be moved through an excavation under the rail line during a Network Rail 9-day blockade over the 2024 Christmas period.  VolkerFitzpatrick is also committed to being sensitive to the surrounding community and have implemented a range of measures to minimise disruption and maintaining clear communication channels with residents The project also includes junction improvement works The wider Radlett SRFI project is set to be a state-of-the-art facility strategically located to optimise rail freight logistics all designed to support the growing demand for rail freight services You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this video Radlett Reform Synagogue has appointed Rabbi Elisheva Salamo to join their clergy team She will work part-time for the thriving Hertfordshire community whilst continuing in her history-making role as rabbi of York Liberal Jewish Community – the city’s first in more than 800 years pictured with her beloved service dog Lylah said: “I’m delighted and excited to be joining the team at Radlett Reform “I grew up in a deeply Jewishly engaged family in San Francisco and spent many years serving a sweet congregation in a small leafy town outside the city chatting over a cup of tea and studying Torah in its myriad forms together.” Rabbi Elisheva was born in California and has held posts in the USA She has a background in biology and enjoys her companion animals recreating 19th century patterns in thread and fabric and contemplating the philosophy of John Ruskin Alongside a passion for dance her creativity extends to preparing gourmet seven course dinners using the themes of creation or the Torah portion for Shabbat meals Paul Freedman said: “I’m delighted to have Rabbi Elisheva with her wonderful creativity enthusiasm and warmth join our community and add to our rabbinic team “It is clear that she has so much to offer and that combining her new role in Radlett with her existing rabbinic position in York promises exciting new opportunities for us all.” Radlett Chair Spencer Grant added: “The addition of Elisheva to our Rabbinic team will enable us to grow and further develop our community in Radlett and the wider area” A full shul of people at Radlett Reform Synagogue celebrated social action within the community by taking part in a Tikkun Olam Quiz Night The evening was lively and filled with brain teasers and trivia It also gave attendees the chance to hear directly from Radlett’s High Holy Days charities about how the funds raised will make a difference Speakers included Gordon Morrison (Helping Herts) and Dr Caroline Elton (UK Friends of the Parents Circle – Families Forum) Each shared insights into their organisation’s work and the impact of the community’s support Attendees also learned about future social action opportunities available through the synagogue’s Tikkun Olam Team fostering a sense of unity and purpose as the community continues working towards making a meaningful difference Radlett’s Rabbi David-Yehuda Stern said: “The evening highlighted the power of collective effort and the importance of supporting charitable initiatives leaving everyone with a renewed commitment to tikkun olam added: “This fantastic evening is just the start of efforts to make social action integral to synagogue life and at the heart of our community.” SEGRO has successfully completed the first major construction milestone at SEGRO Logistics Park Radlett following the installation of a major underbridge structure under the Midland Main Line between London St Pancras and Bedford The structure enables the installation of the new section of track that will connect the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) to the rail network The works were carried out over five of the nine days that the railway line was already scheduled to be closed for wider improvements during the festive period including an overhead line upgrade and a major bridge replacement in Camden The process involved cutting out a 60m section of track and removing approximately 12,500 m3 of material from the 19th century rail embankment using hydraulic jacks to push a 6,000-tonne pre-cast concrete structure into place at approximately 4m per hour then re-filling the earth around the concrete structure and reinstating the track the Radlett SRFI is set to be a state-of-the-art rail connected logistics facility Strategically located near the M1 and M25 motorways serving as a vital hub for the efficient movement of goods and help facilitate the broader modal shift from road to rail as part of the UK’s pathway to net zero The Radlett SRFI scheme spans approximately 1,000 acres highly sustainable logistics warehouse space enveloped in 600 acres of managed woodland conservation grazing and public country park The country park will feature 17km of new footpaths and bridleways connecting into improving and expanding the existing network in Hertfordshire along with supporting and providing recreational amenities such as horse riding said: “The successful installation of the jack box underbridge structure is a critical first construction milestone in the development of the SRFI at SEGRO Logistics Park Radlett “In the context of the wider development it is a relatively small component but it is vitally important to ensuring that the freight terminal will be capable of operating by the time the first building has been constructed and reinforces our commitment to rail freight being at the heart of this development.” Route Director for Network Rail in the East Midlands added: “This has been a really exciting piece of work Our teams have been working closely with SEGRO and their rail partners to make sure the new jack box was installed with minimal effect upon passengers It’s been a great example of private investment and our railways working together.” The works were undertaken by SEGRO’s principal contractor, VolkerFitzpatrick Rail Business Daily’s market leading news and profile enhancement services enable your business to tell your story to the wider rail community Engage with thousands of readers via our rail news platforms including the hugely popular 7am newsletter rail news website and Rail Director magazine you agree to us sending you emails on behalf of railbusinessdaily.com