Wrexham risers The Royston Club have shared their new single ‘Shivers’ the first track from the band to arrive in 2025 It’s the first taste of a new era after their 2023 album Shaking Hips and Crashing Cars and one which sees the band expand the dimensions of their sound Guitarist and main songwriter Ben Matthias says “‘Shivers’ is a love song I wrote it in the seaside village of Beaumaris where the majority of this album was written My girlfriend had made the trip to North Wales to spend a night with me there in the middle of a week writing the next day she left again and I wrote this song “I wanted to portray how quickly and almost morbidly time can ‘slip away’ when you’re spending time with the one you love Days can feel like hours when you’re with the right person and memories become intrinsically entwined to the point where time spent without them feels wasted It’s the first song I’ve written in a minor key which I can only attribute to all The Cure I was listening to at the time and it was arranged in a much more patient way than anything else we’d worked on up to this point.” The track follows their recent song ‘The Patch Where Nothing Grows’ and was produced by Rich Turvey (Blossoms Rachel Chinouriri) at Kempston Street Studio in Liverpool No doubt they’ll be airing the track tonight when they deliver an intimate date at Omeara ahead of a huge summer for the band Check out their 2025 schedule in full below Rolling Stone UK is published by Stream Publishing Ltd Find information and view all council services Our customer self-service portal and other online services How you can connect with us and get involved New user-friendly payment machines accepting cash and contactless payments including Apple and Google Pay are coming to council car parks in Royston One of the main new features will allow visitors to ‘Check In’ and ‘Check Out’ for up to the maximum stay removing the stress of guessing how long parking is needed for And there is also no need to display a ticket removing the need for visitors to return back to their vehicle to display a new ticket A parking session must be registered on the new machines Monday to Saturday even if you are parking after 3pm when it is free Although Blue Badge holders and season ticket holders in long stay car parks don’t have to if they display the appropriate permit which are solar-powered and operated by Flowbird UK are due to be installed next week (from 10 March) Some minimal disruption is expected and notices will be going up in the vicinity before work starts.Flowbird will have members of staff to support customers on the day of and for a couple of days following each installation The PayByPhone option will continue to be available using our existing app and all car parks will continue to accept cash Please note – we do not use QR codes as a payment option given the recent scams Leader of North Herts Council and Executive Member for Planning & Transport said: “We’re really excited to be introducing Flowbird’s modern and user-friendly payment machines in the town The best thing is if you pay electronically you don’t have to guess how long you’ll be and can just pay for what you use at the end up to the maximum stay and not worry about rushing back from shopping and enjoying our towns we want to make it clear that you can still pay with cash.”   You can subscribe to get news and service updates by email you can choose which topics you’re interested in and you can unsubscribe at any time We’re buzzing with pride to announce that a new bee corridor, originally launched in Letchworth, is coming to Royston! After winning two Green Apple Environment Awards this budding project is now spreading its wings to a second town in North Herts to enhance local biodiversity and create a thriving habitat for local wildlife involving the council but led by John O’Conner won a Commended Gold Green Apple Environment Award last year (pictured below) and this year won a Green World Award which recognises environmental best practice around the globe said: “We are incredibly proud to have received international recognition for our work with John O’Conner in preserving and enhancing biodiversity through the creation of a bee corridor in Letchworth This initiative has pollenated the town with enthusiasm for the importance of bees and local biodiversity We are really excited to be creating one in Royston next and hope other towns and villages will follow!”  Bee corridors join up bees' habitat over a specified area to help them buzz around more easily and also help other pollinators like butterflies and hoverflies especially with the impact of urban developments Pop along to Priory Gardens from 10am to 2pm for a bee-rilliant range of activities and groups The main community event will take place at 1pm with a ‘seed bomb throw’ where local people will throw seed bombs (as pictured above) into a specified area which we’re hoping will grow into a patch of wildflowers for bees to enjoy!  We’re hoping this community event will help us get ‘Bee Friendly’ status for Royston from the Bee Friendly Trust and lead project officer for the North Herts bee corridors said: “Being part of this incredible initiative has been an absolute privilege we aspired to achieve ‘Bee Friendly’ status for Letchworth we discovered even more opportunities to expand its impact It has truly grown into something remarkable Receiving a Green World Award is a well-earned recognition for the teams involved and the local community - everyone has put in so much effort They now have an improved habitat with greater access to food benefiting both the ecosystem and the town Our hope is to use Letchworth as a blueprint for other towns and villages in North Herts.” Cllr Debenham added: “Bees are fundamental to our ecosystem and we cannot afford to lose them – 1 in 3 mouthfuls of food eaten worldwide is dependent on pollinators from your morning cup of coffee to a lovely juicy apple!”  For more information please email BeePartOfIt@JohnOConner.co.uk Get ready for an exciting spring season of the Royston Pike lectures at Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre Dive into fascinating topics like Regency fashion “The Royston Pike lectures offer fantastic value and a chance to hear from passionate experts Don’t miss out on these engaging and informative evenings!” For more details, visit the Royston Pike Lecture Series web page, email arts@elmbridge.gov.uk Stay up-to-date on council and borough news through WhatsApp and our newsletter.  Join Elmbridge Borough Council’s WhatsApp  Sign up to the Elmbridge Borough Council newsletter Help improve this site by giving feedback The Government’s proposed legislation which it says will encourage a “pro-work system” would narrow the criteria for people with disabilities to claim PIP As rebellion grows among Labour MPs over the Government’s proposed £4.8bn in disability benefits cuts, Garden Court North’s Tom Royston says there is no clear or obvious route to legally challenge the flagship elements of the policy The Government’s pending legislation would tighten the criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for people with disabilities Any substantive challenges to four key components of the pending legislation would “be likely to fall at various places along a spectrum from ‘hopeless’ to ‘challenging’” Released in March 2025, the ‘Pathways to Work’ Green Paper outlines four main areas through which the Government will look to cut benefits spending: (I) ‘Focussing PIP more on those with higher needs’: the proposal to require at least one four-point descriptor to be met to qualify for PIP; (II) ‘Scrap the WCA’: the proposal to amend the process by which ill and disabled people can claim income replacement benefit (III) ‘New unemployment insurance’: the proposal to amalgamate contributory ESA and JSA into a single time limited contributory benefit; (IV) ‘Delaying access to the UC health element until age 22’: not paying 18-21 PIP recipients any extra means tested element in Universal Credit Successful grounds for legal challenges in future a charity which supports Deaf and Disabled organisations across the capital Tom examined the decision not to consult challenges under the Human Rights Act 1998 and challenges under the Equality Act 2010 While the probability of any successful early challenge to the PIP four-point rule remains low Tom stressed that there could be successful legal challenges in the future to elements of the above proposals These are likely to be to “contingent aspects of the proposals which emerge along the way rather than to the elementary principles which were clear at the start” the UK’s courts will have a major role in scrutinising the way they are interpreted and implemented but not in altering basic foundations such as the PIP four-point test Tom also highlighted that almost nine out of ten standard rate daily living awards currently fail the proposed PIP four-point test Leigh Day solicitor Carolin Ott said: “As a law firm that has successfully represented many people with claims relating to unlawful actions by the DWP we have been approached by a significant number of individuals who fear they will be affected by the proposed changes to disability benefits We made it a priority to explore available avenues to assist them and although Tom Royston’s assessment that there is at first glance no ‘silver bullet’ to challenge the flagship policies in the Green Paper will be disappointing we will keep all available options under careful review particularly as the specifics of relevant changes become clear.” Organisations including Benefits and Work have pointed to the brewing rebellion within the Labour Government over the proposed benefits cuts as a likelier route to success than any legal challenges This comes amid reports that the Cabinet may allow backbench MPs to abstain from the vote in June a marked difference from the suspensions handed out to rebelling MPs over previous votes Labour MP for York Central Rachael Maskell who is planning to vote against the legislation has said: “You can’t compromise with a trade-off under which you say you will take more children from poor families out of poverty by placing more disabled people into poverty “The government really does need to start listening to MPs civil society and the population at large because there is really widespread opposition to these policies.” Approximately 100 Labour MPs are considering their position on the vote while an estimated 55 MPs are reportedly preparing to abstain MPs are also disgruntled at being asked to vote on the changes before they the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) reports on how effective they are likely to be at returning people to the workplace The OBR will deal with this issue in its next forecast The Government’s Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has said the proposed legislation would create a more “pro-work system” to encourage people to take up jobs Tom was instructed by Carolin Ott from Leigh Day to research the Government’s ‘Pathways to Work’ Green Paper and offer advice about potential legal challenges to Inclusion London and Benefits and Work The Guardian – Ministers scramble to avoid Labour rebellion on disability benefit cuts Benefits and Work – No legal ‘silver bullet’ to stop PIP proposals GOV.UK – Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper The Guardian – ‘The whole policy is wrong’: rebellion among Labour MPs grows over £5bn benefits cut For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk Chambers news Garden Court North’s Nina Grahame KC represented Liam O’Pray at the Court of Appeal inside the Royal Courts of Justice (pictured) Garden Court North’s Lily Lewis (pictured) delivers INQUEST’s opening statement to the Lampard Inquiry on 10 September Garden Court North’s Rosalind secured a £7,000 rent arrears reduction for her client at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre (pictured) Credit: Marmalade Photos / Shutterstock... Our mailing list is dedicated to professionals with an interest in our work Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board Websites for barristers by Square Eye Ltd Step back in time and immerse yourself in the world of Regency fashion with the first talk of the spring Royston Pike lecture series.  Keeper of Costume at Chertsey Museum on Wednesday 12 February at 7:30pm at the Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre Grace will invite you to explore the fascinating era of Regency dress through illustrations and photographs of costumes from the Olive Matthews Collections Trust this important collection was gathered over 40 years by Olive Matthews who began her journey as a collector at the young age of 12 The highlight of Grace's talk will be a stunning Spencer jacket from around 1815 is not only a fine example of the exquisite tailoring of the time but also reflects the historical context of its creation The year 1815 marked the Battle of Waterloo and the end of the Napoleonic Wars a period of significant political upheaval that influenced fashion trends Grace will explore the origins of the Spencer jacket tracing its roots back to the 1790s and its namesake She will draw connections between this intricate garment and the military dress jackets of the era offering a unique perspective on how historical events have shaped fashion over time Grace Evans has a wealth of knowledge and passion about costume She has been curating the Olive Matthews Collection at Chertsey Museum since 2001 highlighting and interpreting its national importance through exhibitions Her published works include "Fashion in Focus," "Treasures from the Olive Matthews Collection," and "Titanic Style: Dress and Fashion on the Voyage." Don't miss this opportunity to gain insight into Regency fashion and its historical significance. Tickets for this talk are available through the Riverhouse Barn box office at £4 per person or £10 for a season ticket covering all three lectures in the spring series Read more information about the full Royston Pike programme.   England Hockey Chair Royston Hoggarth will depart the role after serving three terms of three years as the sport’s first independent Chair leaving behind a legacy of transformational leadership he has built strong relationships with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Board the major country National Association Presidents and IHF President Tayyab Ikram Hoggarth’s passion for hockey has been evident throughout his term as Chair His leadership has seen unparalleled international success at the Olympics European Championships and Commonwealth Games hockey has also hosted several major tournaments as well as pioneering Big Stadium Hockey at The Twickenham Stoop in 2019 with the support of the Harlequins Board More recently hockey has enjoyed great success in the newly formed FIH Hockey Pro League where England Hockey continues to be one of the main drivers to help evolve this product into a leading international competition.   He has also overseen the introduction to major changes in the talent pathway system with our clubs to create an environment for the very best young players of all diverse backgrounds to become exceptional hockey players competing for places in our developmental and international teams England Hockey introduced new strategies in 2016 and 2023 and oversaw the implementation of an ED&I Framework in 2022 He steered the organisation through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with hockey emerging as one of the first team sports to restart their leagues and competitions He worked with the Board and members to guide the organisation through a major restructure of the sport initiated by an AGM resolution in 2021 from member clubs This restructure included the establishment of a new Area structure across England and a new governance model with the Area Standing Committee ASC Hoggarth’s time as Chair has also enjoyed meaningful growth in player numbers including the doubling of junior participation in hockey since 2012 and the expansion of Masters Hockey across all age groups Hoggarth said: “I am very honoured and privileged to have had the opportunity of working with the Board of England Hockey for the last nine years I cannot thank enough everyone who has supported me the International Hockey Federation and our international colleagues and hopefully we have put England Hockey in a very strong place to compete internationally but to also see the continued growth of our sport in our clubs and schools I shall remain eternally grateful to have had the opportunity of working with everyone it has been a wonderful and memorable experience I wish Kath Russ and the team every success going forward I look forward to seeing hockey continue to grow as a sport and the Board continuing to provide strong leadership in the years ahead.” England Hockey CEO Nick Pink said: "Royston's genuine passion for the sport and his commitment to everyone involved has been truly inspiring His dedication to hockey's growth has driven remarkable achievements I am deeply grateful for Royston's unwavering support during my tenure as Chief Executive especially in helping me and the board navigate significant challenges including the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic Royston leaves England Hockey in a strong and thriving position and I look forward to working alongside Kath Russ who will assume the role of Chair on 1 September." England Hockey extends its sincere gratitude to Hoggarth for his exceptional leadership His efforts will leave a lasting mark on the hockey community for years to come Website by The MTM Agency We use cookies to make sure you get the most from our website. Learn more there’s no doubt you would have seen an endless stream of The Royston Club T-shirt-wearing fans heading for Omeara The band formed in Wrexham at school and have only grown up – and bigger – since Their burgeoning fan base packed out the venue they all remarked how this was their sixth The sweaty room was infused with heat and excitement as the crowd chanted “Royston described the audience afterwards as “Loyal They were relentless considering that heat” sharing how “ it felt nice to be brought back to where we started out with our journey with a smaller venue “The word could be intimate?” Jones laughed along it was nice to be intimate with a select 300 people.” Bassist was still wiping off the sweat from his forehead The crowd erupted as The Royston Club opened with The Patch Where Nothing Grows With their breezy button-ups and suit trousers this might just be the boy band we need now more than ever As Faithfull and Matthias shared the mic on Shallow Tragedy the love these guys have for each other was evident They made the room jump with tracks like Blisters & Mrs Narcissistic then brought them back down with emotional songs The Royston Club dropped their newest track Shivers their fans knew every word just as well as they knew all the rest Faithfull said he knew playing the track was “a bit of a risk It’s even riskier when you use the line: ‘You’re gonna know this one'” The band all laughed at his wisecrack jokes one imagines much in the same way that they always did in school together Their chemistry is undeniable; they played every song without cue shooting little glances at each other and being boisterous on stage That’s just what we do together.” Tute threw it back to their school days where you cram it all in the day or so before.”  Mosh pits ensued and the crowd yearned for more They capped off with the heavy guitar riffs of I’m A Liar The boys made sure to give back to their devoted fans throwing out setlists and guitar picks to a lucky few who whispered to me about which band member was their favourite it’s clear this is only the beginning of The Royston Club With this show being a warm-up for their headline set at Liverpool’s Sound City For further information and future events, visit The Royston Club’s website here [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (1) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (2) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (3) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (4) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (5) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (6) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (7) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (8) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (9) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (10) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (11) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (12) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (13) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (14) [Royston Club] at [Omeara] - [Nick Bennett]- The Upcoming – (15) Watch the video for the single Shivers here: but the truth is the clubs are the best of friends no favours were expected in Hitchin’s latest tilt at the windmill that can knock them out of the division The eventual result made that a virtual certainty began in startling fashion by being awarded a penalty in less than two minutes when Aaron Green was upended by Ekongo and to make the irony greater former Canary Josh Coldicott- Stevens converted the spot kick Not the best of starts for beleaguered Hitchin An early recovery was essential but not forthcoming as the Crows flew forward at every opportunity Then a Hitchin substitution was called for when Titchmarsh went off injured to be replaced by Daniel Stokoe Then Harness was released for a shot on goal that Stacey did well to hold But there were holes in the Hitchin defence The hosts were awarded a free kick well inside the Royston half and this led to a corner A shot from Ciaren Jones was sent over the bar This effort was fifteen minutes into the game After a mistake which led to a Royston chance Murray fouled Gleeson and showed some sporting concern for the Hitchin player who was then replaced by Luton Town loanee Dominic Martin  Back came Royston with a decent scoring chance for Ben Weyman and then there was a fierce effort from Harvey Beckett Ekongo went on a run but was dispossessed too easily but he did get in another cross that was headed away  A long throw for Royston caused the usual concern but Stacey tidied up adequately  Brighton tried one from range that was blocked and the best I could say is that by this stage last week we were three down instead of just the one A free kick was conceded just outside the area giving Royston a chance but it was defended Hitchin were still failing to make any progress in front of goal but there was a moment when Ekongo conspired a cross aimed for Hutchinson but was easy for Jamie Head  A well- organised attack from Royston culminated in a weak shot from Weyman Four minutes were added to a half where Hitchin had looked largely unimpressive A corner from the Crows was defended but they soon retrieved the ball for a further attack a hopeful Hitchin cross was neatly caught by Jamie Head  The half ended almost mercifully and no doubt a tactical talk for the home side was forthcoming Royston had looked consistently dangerous and were physically dominant Hitchin began the second half in full flight from which Jacob Hutchinson snatched the equaliser which was welcome and indeed it was hoped to enliven El Hertico as a contest Ekongo had been replaced by Dixon- Smith and the Crows replaced Brighton with Warner- Eley The goal seemed to restore Hutchinson’s confidence and he was beginning to see much more of the ball  Syme’s free kick saw a deflection off Martins that Head monitored well A Hitchin corner gave Heaps a chance but from his effort The evergreen Toby Syme volleyed the ball into the net from close range and the hosts were ahead and from the start of this half they had looked the better side in what had been a remarkable turnaround Brooks then provided Martins with a chance that brought a corner This was defended just a little awkwardly to suggest that the hitherto slick Crows had felt their feathers ruffled uncomfortably and the Hitchin free kick was only just cleared Hitchin tried to capitalise on their opponents’ loss of rhythm and Martins good run was only spoilt by a pass that was too heavy Stacey held a corner kick and made a save before an offside ruling but this served to remind us that another goal would bring us the comfort we could nurture A Royston long throw led to a Hitchin counter with Deall looking likely until the unruffled Head intervened The Crows were now beginning to reassert themselves and there was still plenty of time for more goals A free kick in the left for the visitors brought a headed equaliser which was powered in by Adam Murray who has the disconcerting habit (to us) of scoring repeatedly against us This was a fine goal and netted after eighty-two minutes It was another reminder of Hitchin’s predilection to concede from set pieces well substitute Luke Johnson came very close to this with a fine shot Another Royston effort saw a fine save from Stacey I recalled the game at Garden Walk where Hitchin had come from a two-goal deficit to earn a creditable draw and it looked as if this score would be replicated The last few minutes constituted a battle royal with both teams sensing the win and a draw was of little use to the hosts Franklin won a challenge and sought Hutchinson who won a central free kick which won a corner Stacey launched the ball forward in search of a last chance This indeed fell to Hutchinson with a one on one and this unsuccessful punt was the last kick of the game but home supporters retained the despairing image of Jacob Hutchinson’s golden chance right at the end where they feel he really ought to have scored and secured the win We know a draw is not of real practical use but it does much to restore our pride in the team’s fighting spirit Sponsors’ and this reporter’s Man of the Match Hitchin Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Hertfordshire Our Men's team currently play in the Southern League Premier Central Division Garden Court North Chambers’ barrister Tom Royston (pictured) in the Supreme Court on 12 March In Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Jwanczuk, heard on 12-13 March, 2025, Garden Court North Chambers’ Tom Royston addressed the Supreme Court in relation to a widower’s claim for bereavement support payment made oral submissions on behalf of Mr Jwanczuk resisting the Secretary of State’s appeal Tom said: “Bereavement support payment is described by the government as ‘an important part of the state safety net’ but families of severely disabled people who are unable to work throughout their lives are excluded from receiving BSP after the disabled person’s death Mr Jwanczuk’s case is that this is unjustifiably discriminatory the Court is being asked to determine an important point of procedure – the correct approach in the courts of England and Wales to social security law decisions in other parts of the UK.” Mr Jwanczuk was refused Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) because its National Insurance contribution condition can only be met by work had a progressive lifelong disability that prevented her from working Mr Jwanczuk began judicial review proceedings against the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions The High Court and Court of Appeal both agreed that it is unlawful to deny BSP to families of people with lifelong inability to work they relied on a decision of the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal which had upheld a claim challenging the same rule provided for by benefits legislation in Northern Ireland The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions appealed to the Supreme Court Tom and Ben Jaffey KC were instructed by Public Law Project Coverage of the appeal can be found on the Supreme Court’s website Tom’s address comes during the morning session on 12 March For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk Thameslink and Great Northern passengers urged to plan ahead as no trains will travel to and from London King’s Cross over a weekend in May for East Coast Main Line transformation work Network Rail teams will be carrying out significant upgrades on the East Coast Main Line on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May as part of £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) It means no trains between London and Peterborough/Royston or between Moorgate and Stevenage (via Hertford North) and rail replacement buses covering various journeys* The work represents another major milestone in the transformation to digital signalling technology that will create a more reliable Colleagues will be working over the weekend to carry out: The high-speed testing involves running trains through the already upgraded section between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin to test the new digital signalling systems before its planned go live date in early 2026 Additional preparatory work for digital signalling will also be undertaken for the next stage of the project between Biggleswade and Peterborough – work that is required for the future operation of in-cab signalling The signal removal work between Moorgate and Finsbury Park marks a significant milestone This section will become Britain’s first fully ‘no signals’ commuter railway meaning trains will operate solely with in-cab digital signalling Great Northern services already use digital signalling on this stretch and removing the physical signals completes the transition to a fully digital railway route Due to the engineering work, there will be no services to or from London King's Cross on 17 and 18 May. Journeys to and from London will take significantly longer than normal, and passengers are urged to check www.nationalrail.co.uk before they travel Network Rail's head of access integration for the East Coast Digital Programme said: “The testing work is another step towards the introduction of digital in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line enabling a more reliable and greener railway The work will also see the removal of traditional signals on a stretch of commuter railway in London pointing the way to the next generation railway “We recognise the work will lead to journeys taking longer over that weekend We would like to thank all those affected for their patience and understanding.” customer service director for Thameslink and Great Northern said: “The vital work this weekend will bring us yet another step closer to a digitally-signalled East Coast Main Line which means more reliable journeys for our passengers passengers will have to allow extra time to complete their journeys – and I’m sorry for any inconvenience or changed plans this might cause on your travels between London and Peterborough Please do check on the Thameslink or Great Northern website before leaving to make your journey “We’ll have plenty of buses running to make sure you can get to your destinations – and staff on hand to help you with every step of your journey “The works will also mark a huge milestone on our Great Northern route between Moorgate and Finsbury Park where traditional traffic-light style signals are being removed so our modern class 717 trains can operate using fully digital technology inside the cab.”  There will be no trains between Peterborough and London King’s Cross meaning passengers travelling from further north will need to use rail replacement coaches between Peterborough and Bedford and Thameslink trains between Bedford and London St Pancras Passengers are urged to avoid travelling via Sheffield or Chesterfield on East Midlands Railway services if possible due to extremely high customer numbers on this route engineers will also renew and refurbish track switching equipment near Hornsey and Huntingdon while completing drainage work near Fletton These improvements will allow for smoother more reliable journeys on the East Coast Main Line For more information on the East Coast Digital programme, please visit here Ticket acceptance will be in place on Thameslink services between Bedford and London and on Greater Anglia services between Cambridge North/Hertford East and London Liverpool Street East Midlands Railway services to and from London St Pancras are expected to be extremely busy and it is also the FA Cup Final weekend Passengers travelling between Leeds/Doncaster/Newcastle/Edinburgh and London are strongly advised to use LNER services to and from Peterborough and rail replacement coaches between Bedford and Peterborough which connect with Thameslink services to London St Pancras Derby or Chesterfield if possible due to extremely high customer numbers on this route For the latest travel information, please visit: East Coast Digital Programme Upgrade Work | National Rail to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years Passengers using the East Coast Main Line are being advised to plan ahead and check before they travel ahead of consecutive weekends of planned engineering work Services will be affected and London King’s Cross station closed on 25-26 January and 1-2 February as vital improvements are made to the track drainage and overhead lines which power trains Preparatory work is also taking place as part of the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) greener journeys through the introduction of in-cab digital signalling There will be no Thameslink or Great Northern services between London and Peterborough Other operators heading further north will be running reduced services, some with rail replacement bus services covering part of the journey, more details can be found here said: “The work our teams will be carrying out over both these weekends goes well beyond regular maintenance tasks “This work is carefully planned to maximise the time when there are track closures allowing us to undertake several projects at once and avoiding more frequent track closures “We’re sorry to passengers affected by the disruption and thank them for their patience as we make improvements that will help make the railway more reliable.”  Govia Thameslink Railway’s customer services director said: “We’d like to thank passengers for their patience during upgrade works to bring you more reliable journeys on the East Coast Main Line “It means we’ll be running a significantly altered service on our Thameslink and Great Northern routes north of London over two weekends at the end of January and start of February shuttle trains between Royston and King’s Lynn and ticket acceptance on other routes to help you complete your journeys “Please check a journey planner before you travel and allow extra time to make it to your destination.” The engineering work includes renewing the line north of Stevenage investment in bridge timbers south of Finsbury Park and upgrading switch and crossing equipment which allows tracks to separate Tunnel drainage work will be undertaken Hadley Wood and there will be improvements to the overhead line kit at Biggleswade and Bounds Green Under-track cables will be installed between Biggleswade and Peterborough to prepare for digital in-cab signalling It follows further testing of the new signalling system having been carried out between Welwyn and Hitchin during the Christmas shutdown Check all parts of your journey with National Rail Enquiries or your train operators before travelling A rail replacement bus service will run between:  *On Sunday 26 January only there will be train services between St Neots and Peterborough from 8pm On Sunday 26 January and Sunday 2 February a shuttle train service will run from Letchworth to Cambridge/King’s Lynn On Saturday 25 January and Saturday 1 February they run from Royston to Cambridge/King’s Lynn using the European Train Control System is a proven technology already in use in many countries in Europe and elsewhere The ECDP will see the first introduction of ETCS to an intercity mainline in Britain and will provide the foundation for the future expansion of digital signalling across the network ETCS is currently in use in the central London section of Thameslink and on the Cambrian Line in Wales and now on the Northern City Line (Finsbury Park to Moorgate) For further details about ECDP, visit www.eastcoastdigitalprogramme.co.uk Passengers using the East Coast Main Line are being reminded to plan ahead and check before they travel ahead of two consecutive weekends of planned engineering work with no trains in or out of London King’s Cross station closed on 25-26 January and 1-2 February drainage and overhead lines which power trains (see editors’ notes for details).  Preparatory work is also taking place as part of the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) greener journeys through the introduction of in-cab digital signalling.  there will be no Thameslink or Great Northern trains between London and Peterborough although trains will run slightly further south of Royston – to and from Letchworth Garden City.  rail replacement buses will not run beyond Alexandra Palace between 12.30pm and 8pm because of operators’ concerns around safety and overcrowding The limited national rail replacement bus service could not safely accommodate the numbers of fans using them to reach the Arsenal v Manchester City match at the Emirates Stadium Fans are advised to travel via the Midland Main Line on Thameslink services to London St Pancras International for Victoria or Piccadilly line services to Finsbury Park or Highbury & Islington stations said: “The work our teams will be carrying out over both these weekends goes well beyond regular maintenance tasks.  allowing us to undertake several projects at once and avoiding more frequent track closures.  Govia Thameslink Railway’s customer service director said: “We’d like to thank passengers for their patience during upgrade works to bring you more reliable journeys on the East Coast Main Line.  over two weekends at the end of January and start of February.  shuttle trains between Royston or Letchworth and King’s Lynn and ticket acceptance on other routes to help you complete your journeys.  “Please check one of the online journey planners before you travel and allow extra time to reach your destination.”  Other East Coast Main Line operators heading further north will also be running amended services, with rail replacement bus services covering part of the journey, more details can be found here.  and there will be improvements to the overhead line kit at Biggleswade and Bounds Green.  It follows further testing of the new signalling system having been carried out between Welwyn and Hitchin during the Christmas shutdown.  Check all parts of your journey with National Rail Enquiries or your train operators before travelling.  buses are limited and are expected to be extremely busy You may have to queue and may not be able to board your chosen service.  Engineering work is taking place between Tottenham Hale and Stratford with diversions and rail replacement buses in operation.  Ricky Barsby, head of access & integration, ECDP, is available for interview at Peterborough station on Thursday 23 January (after 10am). To arrange, contact gareth.dennison@networkrail.co.uk/07561874858 Interviews over Zoom or in other locations on the East Coast Main Line may also be requested and we will facilitate where possible Royston Town Council and North Herts Council have worked together with Cash Access UK to arrange for a temporary banking hub to be located in the annexe at the back of the Town Hall which already houses the Citizens’ Advice Bureau The hub is a 5-minute walk from the town centre and there is pay and display parking in the Civic Centre Car Park next to the Health Centre and Town Hall a not-for-profit organisation set up by nine major banks to protect nationwide access to cash will be managing the temporary hub whilst working on finding a permanent location The hub will be open five days a week until a permanent banking hub is opened It will offer a counter service where customers of all major banks can carry out regular cash transactions and such facilities as paying utility bills There will also be a community banker service where customers can discuss more complicated issues with their bank A Community Banker Service will also be available where customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues on the day their bank is in the hub said: “I am delighted that Royston residents will have a temporary Banking Hub open before the last bank in town finally closes its doors and I look forward to a more permanent arrangement in due course” North Herts Council’s Executive Member for Enterprise & Arts said: “We understand how important access to banking services is for our community By working together with Royston Town Council and Cash Access UK we’re ensuring that local residents and businesses continue to have convenient access to essential financial services.”