South East Alliance release: A scheme to improve the accessibility of Shortlands station in south east London has now been completed with the opening of three new lifts In partnership with the Department for Transport’s ‘Access for All’ scheme (AfA) an investment of over £8million means that the station is now much easier to use for customers that are wheelchair users Work on the project began at the end of January 2024 and involved the installation of three new 16-person lifts providing step free access to each platform from the main entrance of the station up to platform level A new emergency staircase has also been constructed and new CCTV cameras and lighting installed The existing subway at the station is to be retained and will remain open to customers The station remained open throughout the work Shortlands is the latest station in Kent and south east London to benefit from accessibility upgrades as part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) AfA scheme Plumstead (November 2024) and Herne Bay (April 2024) said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to open our latest Access for All scheme at Shortlands which will provide step-free access to those in wheelchairs or with pushchairs or heavy luggage to be able to reach their trains “We want our railway to be as inclusive as possible and Access for All is opening up travel by rail to more and more people The newly opened lifts at Shortlands makes it a hat-trick of good news stories for our step-free stations It follows on from the lifts that opened at Herne Bay earlier this month and the £28million funding award for an Access for All scheme at Hither Green and it will be warmly welcomed by the increasing number of people with accessibility needs who are travelling by rail “We are always looking to do complementary work with our South East Alliance partner when they are delivering these schemes and to further improve the travel experience at Shortlands we have added an extra Help Point and re-positioned customer information screens “These lifts will provide step free access from street to platform we are working to replace our older Metro trains with a more modern and accessible fleet which will ease boarding from platform to train david.meechan@southeasternrailway.co.uk Southeastern is the trading name of SE Trains Limited Registered in England under company number 03266762 Shortland Street first launched in May 1992 and has aired continuously since then on state broadcaster, TVNZ. Shortland Street first launched in May 1992 and has aired continuously since then on state broadcaster TVNZ The “cultural phenomenon” is finally coming to UK screens with STV Player airing three brand new episodes on Monday The series follows staff working at Shortland Street Hospital in the fictional Auckland suburb of Ferndale and all the drama they face on a daily basis both in their professional and personal lives New episodes of the show will air every Monday in line with its New Zealand broadcast meaning new UK fans can join the already well-established community down under The show has been a training ground for dozens of Kiwi stars who’ve gone on to enjoy major international screen success Karl Urban who starred in Star Trek and The Boys as well as Temuera Morrison from The Mandalorian who is the longest-serving soap actor in New Zealand having played the character of Dr Chris Warner in Shortland Street since its first episode I’m absolutely thrilled to hear that Shortland Street is coming to your shores “This little show of ours has become such a huge part of the culture here in New Zealand over the last 33 years and to know that it’s now going to be part of the British soap landscape alongside legendary shows like Coronation Street and Emmerdale is a real honour,” he added because if there’s one thing I can tell you about Shorty it’s that drama is never more than a heartbeat away.” Discussing STV Player’s acquisition of Shortland Street said the show had become a “cultural phenomenon” and adding it to the streaming service was a “major” milestone “The show is a magical blend of ‘just-one-more-episode’ drama warmth and topicality – everything we know STV Player viewers look for when choosing their next TV obsession,” he said there’s a gap in the telly market for a regular medical drama We think Shortland Street has all the ingredients to not only fill that void but also find its own distinctive place in viewers’ hearts among the British and Australian soaps they already know and love.” VP global digital partnerships at All3Media International added: “We are thrilled to partner with STV Player to launch the brand new season of the iconic medical soap and three explosive new episodes available every week – NewBlood!” She continued: “The STV Player team are brilliant at identifying content that resonates with their audience and building loyal fanbases we’ve seen huge engagement with titles like Brookside and Red Rock which are also available to view on an AVOD basis on STV Player.” Shortland Street will premier on STV Player on Monday, February 17. STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" South London will soon benefit from step-free access at Shortlands station as Network Rail announces accessibility upgrades starting this January The £8.5m programme of work will begin on Monday 15 January and is expected to be finished in spring 2025 the station will be fully accessible making it much easier for passengers with limited mobility visual impairments as well as those travelling with pushchairs and bicycles to make their way around the station The work will make the station step free for the first time since it opened in the 1950’s and will involve installing three lifts and a new footbridge with staircases which will span between the platforms at the station Other improvements include refreshing the lighting and adding CCTV in the station which will make passengers feel safer and more comfortable when travelling as well as the installation of a new emergency staircase which will provide an additional exit for passengers to use in an emergency These improvements are funded by the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ‘Access for All’ scheme accessible route from the station entrance to the platforms This generally includes providing lifts or ramps as well as associated works and refurbishment along the route said: “It’s really great to see the investment being made to make stations fully accessible in the Kent region and we welcome the continued investment from the DfT and continue to work closely with local councils to provide the best experience for all rail users “We’d like to reassure passengers and local residents that most of the work will take place over weekdays during daytime hours and will not affect the train services during the week.” Southeastern’s station manager for Shortlands said: “We’re always wanting to do more for our customers “We’ll see the accessibility of Shortlands station transformed by Network Rail over the next year with the new lifts and footbridge set to make a huge difference to everyone who uses the station whether that’s people using pushchairs or wheelchairs Our customers will also welcome the planned security improvements that will ensure Shortlands station remains a safe place to travel to and from.” The Department for Transport’s (DfT) Access for All programme was launched in 2006 to address the issues faced by disabled passengers and passengers with mobility restraints (such as heavy luggage or pushchairs) when using railway stations in Great Britain 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 I’m Paula Shortland, an Education Officer for West Midlands Police working within the Safer Travel Partnership This collaboration between West Midlands Police and various transport operators ensures the safety and security of our public transport network.   we strive to make travel safe for all passengers and I take pride in being the Safer Travel Champion for Violence Against Women and Girls.  My daily responsibilities are diverse and rewarding They often involve visiting schools and colleges to conduct workshops on safe travel practices and speaking at various organisations about our pivotal campaign Empower is designed to educate the public on identifying and reporting unwanted sexual behaviours we emphasise what constitutes inappropriate behaviour and the measures in place to ensure a safe travel environment for everyone.  I’m continuously developing methods for vulnerable passengers to discreetly seek help if they find themselves in unsafe situations on public transport we’ve initiated events at busy transport hubs providing us with the opportunity to interact directly with passengers We also encourage passengers to use our Safer Travel reporting line by texting the word “SeeSay” to 81018 with details of any issues they encounter on their journeys.  Joining the Colmore Women’s Safety Forum  My commitment to public safety extends beyond the transport network. Inspired by Paul Street, a remarkable ambassador for Colmore BID I joined the Colmore Women’s Safety Forum This initiative aligns with my mission to ensure Birmingham’s city centre is safe and inclusive for everyone Being an active member of the Forum is vital to me Despite representing various organisations our shared goal of keeping women safe unites us The Forum is a fantastic platform where we learn about innovative safety measures like Hollie Guard and Ask Angela and I’m grateful for the chance to collaborate with other champions dedicated to this cause.  The Joy of Being Part of a Passionate Community  One of the most rewarding aspects of my involvement in the Forum is the opportunity to meet and work with inspiring individuals the Colmore BID area is home to many passionate people committed to safety and inclusion and contributing to the important work the BID undertakes is incredibly fulfilling.  I also relish the chance to showcase the good work we are doing in Safer Travel The enthusiasm and dedication of everyone involved in the Forum motivate me the events are often held in some of the best venues adding an enjoyable social dimension to our serious work.  we are making significant strides in ensuring our public transport system and city center are safe spaces for everyone I remain committed to this vital work and look forward to continuing our efforts to protect and empower passengers my role in the Safer Travel Partnership and participation in the Women’s Safety Forum allows me to contribute meaningfully to public safety This website uses cookies to improve your experience Famous faces from the sport and entertainment industries come together in a video to celebrate with pupils and staff after a primary school was rated ‘outstanding’ Harris Primary Academy Shortlands in Kingswood Road, Bromley was rated ‘outstanding’ following an Ofsted inspection in March The video included a message from Samuel L Jackson who offered his support after a school parent reached out  after the judgment rugby players Jonathan Joseph and Andy Powell and Premier League footballer Ethan Pinnock were also among those who featured in the celebration put together by the Academy’s Principal Mr Jordan Hollis sees celebrities ask “am I famous enough?” to celebrate the school’s achievement Mr Hollis said: “We are so pleased with this Ofsted report and are so grateful to all the celebrities who kindly offered to help us celebrate this brilliant result in such a special way for our pupils and our wider community Pictured top: Harris Primary Academy Shortlands pupils celebrate their outstanding Ofsted rating (Picture: Harris Primary Academy Shortlands) Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" THE Mindset Plus Training and Community visits in the Shortland Islands proved to be a valuable and insightful experience for both the Royal Solomon Islands Police Officers and the local communities With 15 officers participating in the training led by PC James Opa of the National Crime Prevention Department the focus was on developing high-performing teams and implementing effective crime prevention strategies.  The presence of eight operators from the Police Response Team who are responsible for securing the border between Bougainville and the Solomon Islands further reinforced the importance of maintaining safety and stability in this remote region The training sessions highlighted the officers strong understanding of using local resources to address community concerns combined with the traditional leadership of village chiefs ensures that law and order are maintained in a way that respects and integrates cultural values.  known for their natural beauty and deeply rooted traditions Visits to Maleai and Pirumeri villages provided further insight into the strength of the chiefly system which plays a critical role in resolving disputes and maintaining peace Chief Dominique Barclay of Maleai and Chief Alex Tilda of Pirumeri demonstrated strong leadership with their communities showing great respect for their guidance.  The officers witnessed firsthand how traditional conflict resolution remains effective as they observed a land dispute being settled through this system Discussions around crime prevention strategies reinforced the importance of ongoing support from the RSIPF to maintain stability Maleai and Nila primary schools were also visited where constable Opa delivered important safety messages focusing on the five drivers of crime.  The engagement with students and teachers highlights the importance of educating young people about making positive choices to contribute to safer communities Small gifts were presented to the schools as a token of appreciation for their participation and support The support from the RSIPF and partner New Zealand Police through the Solomon Islands Policing Support Programme (SIPSP) continues to play a vital role in ensuring these communities have the tools and knowledge needed for effective crime prevention.  school visits and discussions reinforced the commitment to keeping the Shortlands a safe and peaceful place If something big is going to happen in Ferndale This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If there’s one episode of Shortland Street you should watch each year The final episode of the year is always a super-sized dose of drama If something’s going to happen in Ferndale Given that Shortland Street is going down to three episodes a week from 2025 due to falling advertising revenue there’s a sense that the show wants to bid goodbye to this year with a literal bang Here’s everything you need to know about what’s been going down in Ferndale before the iconic New Zealand soap leaves us hanging on Monday night The last few months in Ferndale have centred on the mysterious death of Louisa Gunnell a woman Nicole met in an online grief support group but who turned out to be a freaky stalker with grand plans of kidnapping Nicole’s grandson Knox Louisa even locked Nicole in a chest freezer inside a haunted house She bonked her head on the bench and was hit on the head with an urn or something – but was it Nicole or Maeve’s teenage drug addict daughter-in-law Cassie who committed the crime Siale from The Traitors NZ turned up to investigate who was faithful and who should be banished to prison and while we thought (prayed) that this storyline was over when the jury found Nicole not guilty she then had a freaky flashback and confessed that she did actually kill Louisa who spend their lives lurching from one depressing crisis to another The last few weeks have been tumultuous for Ferndale’s power couple but they also ended last night’s episode far too happy which means they’re likely to have a terrible time in Monday night’s cliffhanger After Harper had a steamy affair with colleague Phil and Drew discovered his wife’s lies he immediately demanded a divorce and everyone in Ferndale cried about it Phil and Drew even argued while they operated on some unfortunate patient whose insides slowly filled with the hot tears of a spurned lover and the humiliated rage of Ferndale’s moodiest alpha male But things shifted this week when Harper was offered a prestigious promotion in New York Watching Harper deliver a baby in ED made Drew realise he didn’t want his cheating hornbag wife to leave Ferndale They spent Thursday’s episode in a loved-up state of marital bliss which I hope they enjoy because you don’t have to be the ghost of Leanne to sense that this joy will not last past Monday night Celebrity Treasure Island star Turia Schmidt-Peke returned to Ferndale recently as Nurse Steph and she’d barely been back for five minutes before hospital CEO Esther diagnosed her with cancer Chris Warner discovered a wonder drug and Steph began a new medical trial even though the official red tape hadn’t been sorted Esther evidently loves a fast track project but what bureaucratic hot water will this put her in because Steph was Esther’s husband Curtis’ secret gang girlfriend from when Curtis was working as an undercover cop in Christchurch Esther isn’t about to let Steph cark it without a fight “The whole system is broken!” Esther told her husband Marty I can’t believe it’s been 12 whole months since the fruit of Chris Warner’s loins went rogue and killed sweet Dr Rahu in last year’s Christmas cliffhanger Rahu had discovered that Harry Warner had faked his medical qualifications and finding out about his son’s lies made Chris Warner grow much hairier than he has even been “If I ever get the chance to bring Harry to justice I won’t hesitate,” Dr Love told the assembled mourners at Rahu’s one-year memorial service this week what’s with the mystery phone call that Chris received in the middle of the service What could make Dr Love so angry that he refused Selena’s heartfelt gift of a new cap Was Harry calling to offer Dr Love a new hat It’s not Anchor Me, but it’ll do. The hour-long Shortland Street cliffhanger screens on Monday, December 23 at 7pm on TVNZ2 and streams on TVNZ+. Sign up to Rec Room, The Spinoff’s weekly guide to the very best in entertainment, delivered to your inbox every Friday. A complaint must be first directed in writing the complaint may be referred to the online complaint form at www.presscouncil.org.nz along with a link to the relevant story and all correspondence with the publication Things are going to look a little different this year Shortland Street fans: after a well-earned summer holiday New Zealand’s longest running drama returns to TVNZ2 and TVNZ+ tonight loving and laughing in the nation’s most action-packed hospital as Ferndale’s doctors and nurses continue to have lives in their hands pain in their hearts and a whole lot of hanky-panky in the supply cupboard But this year, things are a little different for Shortland Street. The show will now screen three nights a week instead of five, several new characters are joining the series, and viewers can expect a different style of storytelling. Change can be hard to accept even when you are Chris Warner’s beard here are five things you need to know about Shortland Street in 2025 For the past 32 years, Shortland Street has screened five nights a week, but TVNZ recently announced that the soap would reduce to three episodes per week in 2025 It’s a reflection of the changing habits in television and a tough commercial environment but Shortland Street has approached the change with a sense of optimism Head writer Jessica Joy Wood told The Spinoff that the move to three nights a week (Monday to Wednesday) is a chance to revamp the show’s style of storytelling and that this year will deliver more compelling drama that reaches new levels of intensity we mix longer term character arcs with shorter self-contained stories that emerge from our medical cases,” Wood says of the show’s new direction “We call each week a “chapter”— three episodes that build together into a complete story You’ll get a taste of new challenges in the first episode leaving our audiences with a satisfying and engaging Shortland Street experience.” For everything there is a season: a time to be born and a time to introduce four “mini-seasons” into an iconic medical soap This year’s drama will be split up into four smaller seasons with each season focusing on one or two big storylines involving the show’s core characters Each season will build to “an exciting one-hour episode that raises the stakes,” Wood teases There will also be a greater medical focus in the storylines The first season (launching tonight) is titled New Blood and promises plenty of fast-paced and intense scenes This year Shortland Street is partnering with Play It Strange a local charitable trust that supports songwriting for New Zealand secondary school students The collaboration means that all music featured in the New Blood season will be created and performed by Play It Strange alumni and will celebrate the talents of several emerging local musicians Since the trust began two decades ago, Play It Strange has helped create over 7,000 songs and seen over 1,000 songs professionally recorded and released. Shortland Street’s New Blood season involves nine young NZ artists including 19-year-old Billie Carey whose song featured during the 2024 Shortland Street cliffhanger Speaking of majestic, the climatic 2024 cliffhanger delivered a deadly dose of drama that will have ramifications for this year’s storylines. In last year’s final episode, Drew and Harper fought for their lives after a motorcycle accident, with Harper carking it in the hospital she loved more than a hot poonami through her hallway Harper’s best pal Nicole confessed to murder and was hauled off to jail by Siale from The Traitors NZ leaving Nicole’s sad wife Maeve to be even sadder while a naughty Esther was fired as hospital CEO Shortland Street returns to TVNZ2 on Monday 10 February at 7pm and streams on TVNZ+.  The line between Shortlands and London Victoria is now open The stations below will have two trains per hour to London Victoria via Herne Hill in peak times a reduced stopping service from four per hour: The following stations will have three trains per hour at peak times to London Victoria a reduced stopping service from four per hour During off-peak times it will be one train per hour reduced from two The most up to date information on train times will be available on southeasternrailway.co.uk or by following our Twitter @Se_Railway Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 13th December 2023 by ianVisits in Transport News Shortlands station near Bromley is to get step-free access with works on building a new footbridge with lifts due to start in the new year The station has four platforms on two islands and is raised on an embankment so the railway can pass over the main road next to it The entrance at street level links to the platforms via a subway running under the railway and stairs up to the platforms The plans are to build three lifts and a new footbridge — with two lifts to each of the island platforms and one linked to the ticket office The subway and stairs will remain in use for most people with the lifts offering step-free access to the trains The upgrade is being delivered as part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) nationwide Railway Access for All strategy The lifts will be Network Rail’s standard 16-person capacity lifts which are large enough for large wheelchairs and will have doors on each side of the lift so people going in won’t have to reverse to get back out A new emergency access staircase will also be added to the side of the new footbridge There were some local objections to the plans as the footbridge would stand above the station and most suggested having the lifts linked to the existing subway A similar scheme had been approved in 2017 but never carried out that option would have likely been considerably more expensive and may have required the station to be closed at times to allow for the subway conversion works to be carried out Network Rail says that the work is due to begin in late January 2024 and the station will remain open during the building works Hoarding will be installed on both platforms to segregate the construction site from commuters The upgrade is expected to be completed in late Spring of 2025 This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here but a snag with the design for the bridge itself looks like holding things up and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits will take place on 16 June at the Station Car Park This year the Southeastern team are raising money for local guide dogs and Project 5000 a project which seeks to help local homeless people Station Manager Roy Vinnicombe commented “We hope to surpass the amount that was raised last year for these two great causes and look forward to welcoming familiar and new faces to our fun event” The event will be full of old-school capers to a bouncy castle and a face painting stall Budding canine stars can strut their stuff in the dog show – and there will be lots of eats and treats including Indian nibbles and indulgent cakes A Southeastern Manager will be in the stocks and the British Transport Police and the local Fire Service will return this year with their vehicles hopefully not having to rescue one of the managers The Mayor of Bromley will be attending Shortlands Fun Day at lunch time Emma.Owen@southeasternrailway.co.uk THE recent installation of three telecommunication towers in the Shortland islands has not only enhanced connectivity for local communities but also benefits residents of Bougainville in the autonomous province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) residents of Buka Town and surrounding areas can now connect to Solomon Telekom services.This cross-border telecommunication infrastructure has been hailed as a milestone for improving communication between Solomon Islands and Bougainville fostering better links for both social and economic activities.Thanks to the Australian Government and the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) for collaborating and making this happen especially for the benefit from the people and rural communities in the far western border.The new towers giving access to Solomon Telekom’s network to communities that previously struggled with connectivity.The new tower in Komeleai has a strong catchment that can reach out to Buin on Bougainville.Local authorities and residents have expressed optimism as the enhanced network coverage is expected to boost communication trade and emergency services in the region.The strengthened telecommunications links will also support the exchange of information between Bougainville and Solomon Islands.This development is a significant step forward in bridging the digital divide and fostering regional cooperation in the Western Pacific.According to reports there is also frequent movement from Bougainville into Solomon Islands a total of six new telecommunication towers have been installed in Western Province Isabel Province and the Malaita Outer Islands as part of a major infrastructure project funded by the Australian Government.The project delivered in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Government and Our Telekom comes at a cost of approximately USD 7.6 million.By ULUTAH GINASolomon Star Message Invalid character found in the request target [/detail.cfm?i\u003d5299] The valid characters are defined in RFC 7230 and RFC 3986 Description The server cannot or will not process the request due to something that is perceived to be a client error (e.g. Note The full stack trace of the root cause is available in the server logs A man in his 20s is in a critical but stable condition following the attack News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed on a train in front of horrified passengers The British Transport Police were called to Beckenham Junction station just before 4pm on Wednesday following reports of a fight on board the train travelling from Shortlands railway station Footage posted online showed passengers screaming for the attacker to stop as he is seen to be swinging the large knife The chilling footage showed the attacker wielding a large machete-like knife and repeatedly thrusting towards the victim while nearby passengers desperately called for police and paramedics Teenager who killed schoolgirl Elianne Andam named and pictured for the first time Kilburn shooting victim named as neighbours pay tribute to'sunshine of the community' The Perfect Couple: Meet the cast in the new Netflix drama Notting Hill murder: Photos issued of witnesses sought following chef's death A man in his 20s is in a critical but stable condition following the attack and his family are being supported by specialist officers In the footage one audibly shaken passenger can be heard to say: “F*****g stop it now” before adding to a 999 call handler: “There’s a man with a big knife … This man is stabbing someone on the train.” Another can be heard asking: “Where’s the ambulance Superintendent Darren Malpas said: “We understand the concerns of the public following this incident and our detectives have been working tirelessly to investigate I hope this arrest will bring some reassurance to those on the rail network “High-visibility patrols will continue in the area and across the network as a visible reassurance to the travelling public.” Separately, two people remain in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed in a “senseless” attack by a stranger at Kennington Tube Station on Wednesday night. Officers and paramedics were alerted to reports an innocent man had been wounded on the northbound platform at 10.35pm Detective Inspector Paul Attwell said the second male “was injured after bravely stepping in to try to prevent the attack” BTP confirmed the two incidents on Wednesday are not linked Anyone with information can contact police by texting 61016 calling 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital BBC admits to ‘lapse’ in standards after Today coverage of Harry interview We planned to open the railway line between Brixton and Beckenham Junction this morning after nine days of work to replace the track inside Penge Tunnel a damaged cable was found inside the tunnel as the project team were doing checks overnight We are working to get this fixed as soon as possible but in the meantime we’re sorry to say that no trains can run between Shortlands and Victoria via Penge East or Herne Hill through the morning We’re really sorry for the impact this short notice change of train service will no doubt have As well as the damaged cable that was identified overnight we need to complete other outstanding work through the course of the week We will do this overnight when trains are not running this will result in changes to Southeastern services until Monday 8 August Work has commenced and is progressing steadily on phase one of the Western Border Outpost in the far western Shortland Islands with the arrival of the first barge on Thursday The development marks a significant milestone in the establishment of the patrol base which aims to bolster security and surveillance at the Solomon Islands’ western border The project has been a top priority for national authorities from the Solomon Island Government given its strategic importance in safeguarding the nation’s maritime boundary and deterring illegal activities construction of the phase one which includes constructing of 27 houses for workers working at the Lofung Border Patrol Base and other temporary buildings include Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Immigration Unit and Customs that will look after the Outpost and the workers whilst working on the first phase “Currently work has been commencing and this is just a first phase whereas real output of the Patrol Base will begin next year around March or April,’’ one of the local workers from Lofung Shortland islands told this paper we are slowly working from breaking of the ground after scoping and constructing of temporary buildings around Lofung is underway,” the worker said regarding working at the Patrol Base here in Lofung the real construction of the Patrol base will begin next year around March or April and next year will be a heavy work for us,” the worker added Since the arrival of the barge on August material and equipment has been delivered to the remote outpost site.  Local workers and contractors are actively involved in the construction which has been lauded as a collaborative effort between the government and the local community Residents in the Shortland Islands have expressed optimism about the progress seeing the development as a potential boost to the local economy and infrastructure will house advanced facilities for border security operations The Western Border Outpost is a collaborative initiative developed in partnership between the Solomon Islands Government and Defence.  The state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure will support the operation of the Solomon Islands’ Guardian-class Patrol Boats and biosecurity officials to strengthen border security and enhance the nation’s natural disaster response capabilities stakeholders are keeping a close watch on the project’s timeline.  The government has emphasized transparency and regular updates to maintain public confidence in the initiative