The site is currently an office building located adjacent to a large residential development to the east and south of the site. It is proposed to redevelop the site to provide a new Lidl foodstore with associated car parking enveloping the northern portion of the building Residents are encouraged to share their views on the proposed development by filling out this form (external site)                 Exclusive: Treasury threat an example of ‘scare tactics’ to help force through private sector deal Whitehall officials have been at loggerheads over the fate of Thames Water since the Treasury told the environment department that it would have to meet the cost of a multibillion pound temporary nationalisation Britain’s biggest water company recently came within days of running out of money Thames is in a desperate race to find a buyer willing to inject cash with the US private equity firm KKR in pole position the heavily indebted utility could collapse into state hands via the special administration regime (SAR) Existing budgets at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which insiders describe as already stretched, would have to be used to meet the burden of keeping Thames Water afloat if bids to save the company fail That pressure to find a private sector solution rather than a state rescue is helping to force through KKR’s bid uncontested with potential long-term challenges and associated costs not being given serious consideration sources close the bid and Whitehall insiders said Some estimates have suggested temporary nationalisation could cost as much as £4bn over 18 months a figure used by senior Treasury officials in discussions with counterparts at Defra With Defra’s annual budget for last year totalling £4.6bn Departments have spent months waiting to hear what the chancellor’s spending review will mean for their budgets. This is to be revealed by Rachel Reeves on 11 June. She unveiled big cuts to overall Whitehall spending at her spring statement The Thames issue is causing what one source termed a “binary choice” for regulators and central government: higher customer bills but a recapitalised utility versus what another called “potentially catastrophic cuts” to Defra’s budget This need not be the case if the Treasury were to take a different approach One suggested threats to Defra’s budget were an example of “scare tactics” to shut down discussion about other options for Thames which serves almost 16 million customers in London and the Thames valley The debt levels are so great that some bidders for Thames suggested it would be better if it were to enter temporary nationalisation in order to force creditors to accept steeper losses and make the company more viable in the long term A consultancy, Teneo, provided estimates of what a temporary nationalisation could cost the government as part of a recent court case It claimed it could be as high as £3.4bn to £4.1bn over an 18-month period worked on the temporary nationalisation of the energy company Bulb Teneo suggested that if Thames were nationalised customers would be more likely to refuse to pay their bills the government would demand an interest rate of nearly 10% on any loans to the company and staff wages would have to go up by about 20% to stop them leaving Free daily newsletterGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning some economists and industry experts question whether there would be any long-term cost to the government at all in a temporary nationalisation the government would become first in the pecking order to recoup its money and could reclaim all the funds spent on financing it when the company was eventually sold with other lenders forced to suffer steep losses on their loans Even if a private market solution were to be favoured they were highly critical of the lack of transparency over the KKR bid This disquiet was echoed by several sources at regulators A spokesperson for Defra said: “The company [Thames Water] remains stable and the government is closely monitoring the situation It would be inappropriate to comment further on the financial matters of a private company.” Kaliyah had been attending a birthday party on a school inset day but ‘never returned home’ News | London 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 The family of an 11-year-old girl have said she “went to a birthday party and never returned home” after her body was confirmed to have been found in the River Thames A body was identified as schoolgirl Kaliyah Coa following formal identification on Tuesday She had been playing with another young girl and boy on a school inset day when she slipped into the Thames before a life ring could be thrown to her on March 31 The 11-year-old entered the river near Barge House Causeway, close to London City Airport her body was recovered in Maritime Quay on Sunday her family said: “Our hearts are broken and our lives will never be the same Kaliyah went to a birthday party and never returned home to her family “The family would like to thank all those who were involved in the search and recovery of Kaliyah “We sincerely hope that everyone will respect our wishes to be given the space and time to grieve as a family.” An inquest into Kaliyah’s death is due to open on May 2 added: “This tragic accident took away a little girl who was loved by many “Our specialist officers will continue to support Kaliyah’s family as they process this heartbreaking news "I echo her family’s request for privacy while they navigate the difficult road ahead and urge the public to refrain from wholly inaccurate speculation both on and offline “I would like to extend my thanks to our search and recovery teams I know the local community has been deeply impacted by this incident and also thank them for their support." Family ‘heartbroken’ after body found in River Thames confirmed to be schoolgirl Quilts created during Covid pandemic to be celebrated in new exhibition Living on the water in London: the best houseboats for sale on the River Thames now How Guerrilla.Co is tackling road-runoff pollution in the UK Following confirmation that Kaliyah’s body had been found the Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz added: “This evening police formally identified the body recovered from the River Thames just over two weeks ago as that of 11-year old Kaliyah Coa “Every day since that fateful day in March when Kaliyah was lost will have been unimaginable for her mother and family I pray for their comfort during this time of anguish and pain “My thoughts also are with her friends and fellow pupils from the local school that Kaliyah attended The whole school community – both children and staff - will once again be desperately upset by this news because Kaliyah was a popular pupil who shone bright “As we feel deep sadness that her life was tragically taken too soon we will also reflect on Kaliyah’s preciousness On behalf of everyone in our community and at Newham Council my deepest condolences to her family at this saddest of times “Our local police and members of all the emergency services worked tirelessly in their search for Kaliyah and I am so grateful for their dedication and diligence.” Barge House Causeway is a concrete slope that goes directly into the Thames and is used to transport boats Residents pointed out that it appeared to be covered in moss and is slippery told reporters Kaliyah was “paddling” in the water and “must have slipped” Ms Benadjaoud said a male neighbour told her he had called police She said: “But he said at the time he could see her [the girl’s] hands going down by the time I got down there with the ring I couldn’t find her.” said: “I heard upstairs a guy was screaming ‘wait there Police previously warned Londoners to “never underestimate the risks” of open water swimming as temperatures rose died after getting into difficulties at Beckenham Place Park 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 David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' 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 Oxford City look to book themselves a place in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup Final as they face Thame United on Tuesday night at The ASM Stadium (7:30pm KO) Oxford City Manager Ross Jenkins welcomes this fixture as the side look to take their minds off the 7-0 defeat to Buxton from the weekend He said: "It will definitely focus our minds elsewhere It will be good for the younger players to be involved after they impressed during the midweek Town v Gown game ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | OXFORD CITY FOOTBALL CLUB A roofer has been sentenced after pleading guilty to contravening consumer protection offences in an investigation brought by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team Towersey (near Thame) – trading under his own company as Armoured Roofing Ltd – pleaded guilty to two breaches of consumer protection under the Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 flouting the requirement to undertake work with professional diligence who is also known as Milo Gallagher or Milo Lee was sentenced at Oxfordshire Magistrates Court on Friday 10 January He was fined £807 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £323 He was brought to the attention of Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team following roofing work on the home of an older Oxfordshire couple The original quote was for a small amount of work to their bay window for £1,200 when the amount of work required quickly escalated Mr Smith attempted to charge the couple £36,000 no money was handed over and a criminal investigation began Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health said: “These types of incidents can not only lead to Oxfordshire residents paying out large sums of money for work that is either not carried out properly but also suffering the emotional distress that comes with such situations “Our trading standards team will continue to work hard to protect residents whilst also protecting the reputation of the majority of builders who want to do the best for their customers.” Head of Trading Standards at Oxfordshire County Council added: “If you are looking to have some repairs or improvements made to your home take all the time you need to ensure you have found the right trader for you Never agree to having work done by somebody who is just passing or to take their word that any work needs to be done – no matter how small the price may seem or how urgent they claim it to be “Talk with friends and family about any tried and tested recommendations they might have or consider a trading standards approved trader from our Buy With Confidence scheme.” Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter let’s talk about the amazing staff at The Thatch in Thame Evelin Rae the general manager (see main pic) who’s been there for countless years and our waitress Jade who looked after us so admirably Getting staff at all is pretty difficult in the current clime but these excellent individuals who make you feel both welcome and at home It was a pleasure to be back at Thame’s beautiful 16th century hostelry whose credibility and consistency continues unabated knowing that our lunch there would deflect from the blustery weather outside There are multiple areas to enjoy its traditional cuisine; a light airy dining room children or the desire to escape the weather The appetising menu has also been updated with a new ‘deli plate section’ to whet the appetite and we dived in – opting for the smoked haddock rarebit with toasted ciabatta (£6.75) and the ham hock and vintage cheddar croquettes (£7.25) a master class in texture – crunchy and hot on the outside the strength of the cheese and taste of ham still conspicuous but the extensive specials board caught our eye particularly Jimmy Butler’s maple cured gammon ribs with chips and a crispy poached egg (£18) impossible to resist beef of course or the interesting veggie variation – celeriac and mushroom (£19) with an olive oil mash And as we cut into the plump yolk hidden in its crispy coating and ploughed through the moist succulent gammon and really light Th wellington was substantial with seasonal veg and a hearty gravy But for me the main attraction still beckoned; the pear and blackberry bakewell tart with vanilla ice cream crumbly and tart with fruit it hit the spot Another interesting option was the TOUCH OF SWEETNESS – a smaller slice of the cheese cake (Basque with spiced poached figs and a pistachio crumb) plus a cup of tea of coffee for £7 And as Jade served our coffees and stopped for a chat I reflected on how much credit should be given to restaurants that not only survived the pandemic staff shortages and the ongoing hospitality crisis but bolster the industry in their consistency and continual high standards because surely that’s what hospitality is all about So hats off to The Thatch and we will see you again soon The Thatch, Lower High Street, Thame https://www.thethatchthame.co.uk Freddie lives in Henley-on-Thames with his wife and young family Freddie is commitment to campaigning for better healthcare services for Henley and Thame He consistently speaks out against sewage dumping in our precious inland water ways As a Cabinet Member on South Oxfordshire District Council he championed Henley’s application for Bathing Water Status that would have forced Thames Water to clean up the river The Tory government rejected the bid and has suspended all new applications Freddie works as a consultant to healthcare companies and patient groups It gives him valuable insight into health systems and the issues they face He wants to bring this knowledge to improving health services in Henley and Thame The Liberal Democrats will use your contact details to send you information on the topics you have requested. Any data we gather will be used in accordance with our privacy policy at www.libdems.org.uk/privacy. To exercise your legal data rights, email: data.protection@libdems.org.uk Promoted by the Liberal Democrats, 1 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PN.Website by Prater Raines We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports Chearsley Wetland recently marked its two-year anniversary which has seen the site transformed into a shining example of how farming and wildlife can work in harmony to restore landscapes As well as a backwater – a large pond connected to the river where young fish can safely grow to maturity – the project created a variety of shapes and sizes of pools and scrapes (dips in the ground that can fill with water) All these features encourage species of plants insects and animals that thrive in wetland habitats a catchment coordinator at the Environment Agency While the Environment Agency supports many partnership projects improving local water environments Chearsley Wetland is a particularly inspiring example – and the success of the project is evident in the wide range of species recorded at the site since its transformation While it is still early days for the wetland gulls and egrets – including the still-rare great egret blackcaps and chiffchaffs in the surrounding trees and bushes An increase in plant and insect diversity has seen swathes of dropwort (a grassland plant with small white flowers) appearing across the meadow this summer and many different types of dragonfly and damselfly with children delighted to see the ‘fighter pilot’ dragonflies slicing through the air – and a grass snake has been spotted swimming in one of the ditches The site will be used for haymaking and grazing food production can continue and the livestock will increase the biodiversity It is already beginning to feel wonderfully wild a RTCT volunteer who monitors water quality in the Chearsley Brook and photographs the wetland each month Seeing the wetland site develop so quickly has been really encouraging and plenty of geese and roosting gulls using the pools There are often little egrets and hopefully some of the overwintering lapwings will find it suitable for nesting in the future Roe deer and muntjac are also around and I have come across otter spraint beside the Chearsley Brook which forms one boundary of the wetland Seeing how quickly the land has recovered from the initial groundworks to create the 15 new ponds and backwater and the speed at which flora and fauna has started to colonise new habitats it gives me hope that we can help to restore nature across our depleted landscapes With willing farmers and the right resources we can deliver change at a scale which is greater than the sum of its parts The project was made possible through partnership collaboration between RTCT Find out more about the river restoration and habitat creation projects involving the Environment Agency on the River Thame at https://www.riverthame.org/ Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details The Sunday TimesThis is a market town that takes its market seriously So seriously that the sweet stall owner Chris Hurdman was the local celebrity chosen to switch on the Christmas lights If the Tuesday market is when Thame is at its bustling best with its fish it’s a reassuring base on any day of the week or the 17th-century pub on the High Street that used to host bare-knuckle prizefights Pub life is more wholesome these days: there’s roasted pheasant supreme at the Black Horse for £22.50.It’s commutable thanks to the M40 and Chiltern Railways but Oxford City Football Club can confirm that Brayden Daniel has joined Thame United on loan Brayden signed his first contract with the club in the summer The 18-year-old had a stint on loan with Aylesbury United last season and will now enjoy another stint in the Southern League Division One Central with Thame United a village near Everest and the birthplace of legendary Sherpa climbers such as Apa Sherpa and Kami Rita Sherpa Locals suspect a glacial lake burst its banks and fear further floods after a sudden surge of the Bhotekoshi River The Bhotekoshi is a tributary of the Dudhkoshi River the main watercourse of the Khumbu Valley which is directly fed by the Khumbu glacier About 45 families live permanently in Thame the flood has severely damaged 50% of the village and the remaining houses are uninhabitable The exact origin of the flash flood is unconfirmed “There are a couple of glaciers about a two-hour walk above the valley it is currently impossible to investigate the source of the outburst,” Laxman Adhikari Ward Chair of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Four told the Himalayan Times Local authorities have warned those living in villages near the banks of the Dudhkoshi River to stay alert members of the community are asking for helicopters to scout the lakes up the valley to try and anticipate any further floods Among them is Pasang Tsering Sherpa, a local entrepreneur, who considers it essential to find out where outbursts might occur: “If [the flood] comes from the right side of Kongde Ri Google Map with the affected area circled by Pasang Tsering Sherpa Increasing temperatures are creating huge glacial lakes burst because of avalanches from nearby peaks or sudden downpours during monsoon season The rains are hitting Nepal hard this summer including some parts of the Kathmandu Valley Angela Benavides graduated university in journalism and specializes in high-altitude mountaineering and expedition news She has been writing about climbing and mountaineering adventure and outdoor sports for 20+ years Angela Benavides spent time at/worked at a number of local and international media She is also experienced in outdoor-sport consultancy for sponsoring corporations Sign up to receive ExplorersWeb content direct to your inbox once a week An appalling incident of river rage on the River Thames at Kingston-upon-Thames in July 2024 has ended with £4,334.54 in fines compensation and costs at Staines magistrates’ court on 28 January 2025 The perpetrator had navigated his boat dangerously and used abusive language at other river users He was also found guilty of obstructing a boat race and interfering with the safety of persons gathered failing to comply with a harbour master’s notice and failing to register his boat for use on the Thames along the Thames into a closed area of the river being used for Kingston Amateur Regatta narrowly avoiding colliding with and swamping rowers The court heard how Keen was advised by an umpire that the river ahead was closed and he should return to a navigation channel He ignored the request and continued past the umpire cutting across the racing line and narrowly missing one of the boats which had to take last-minute evasive action to avoid a collision His cruiser than caught the anchor rope of a race stake boat before he stopped and launched a foul-mouthed tirade against participants yelling that ‘they did not own the (expletive) water.’   His actions and the way he navigated his vessel endangered the safety of those present at the Regatta An eyewitness captured the full extent of the drama on a mobile phone Environment Agency officers carried out a detailed investigation into the incident and discovered that Barney McGrew was also an unregistered vessel Keen was invited to a voluntary interview but failed to attend A summons was subsequently issued for his appearance at Staines magistrates’ court on 28 January 2025 operations manager at the Environment Agency and harbour master of the Thames Keen showed no regard for the safety of other river users and could easily have caused a tragedy it was no surprise to discover that his boat was unregistered “We hope that this serves as a clear warning to all – anti-social and dangerous behaviour on our rivers will not be tolerated and we will take robust action to deal with those who disregard the rules and regulations for boating on the River Thames.”  The magistrates fined Keen the maximum penalty of £1,000 for interfering with the boat race and navigating his boat without due care and attention The court explained that it used its discretion to go outside the sentencing guidelines to deal with the matter robustly The court heard the incident was shocking in its totality with clear criminality that endangered the safety of other people including the young people involved in the regatta The court also complimented the Environment Agency’s investigation for separate and unrelated incidents was Paul Campbell of West Molesey who was found guilty in his absence of having not registered his boat for 2024 and failing to comply with directions to move his vessel from its location at West Molesey riverbank compensation and costs to be paid within 28 days we have no hesitation in bringing offenders to court who avoid their obligations and responsibilities to lawful river users Just one day in court has resulted in more than £6,000 of fines and compensation which should serve as a major deterrent.”  Last year’s crackdown on unregistered vessels in the Thames resulted in 40 boaters having to pay a combined total of over £55,000 for their offences Renewal invitation letters for 2025 registrations on the River Thames were sent in November last year to everyone that registered their boat in 2024 and owners were encouraged to register early to ensure their boats were compliant by 1 January when the new season began The Environment Agency’s approach to non-registration on the Thames has changed – boat owners are given ample opportunity to register their boat even if the boat owner subsequently pays their registration fee boat registration fees allow the Environment Agency to manage and maintain more than 600 miles of inland waterways across England keeping them open and safe for thousands of boaters to enjoy must register their boats annually with the Environment Agency for use on the non-tidal River Thames Boat registration on the Thames starts on 1 January every year Any boats found on the water after that date Environment Agency officers recorded the locations of 10,890 boats on the river being the master of the vessel Barney McGrew in the vicinity of Ravens Ait and Kingston Bridge on the River Thames Keen failed to comply with a harbour master’s notice contrary to section 84 of the Thames Conservancy Act 1932 – found guilty in absence and fined £50 Keen navigated his vessel in a manner as would risk obstructing impeding or interfering with such boat race regatta or function or endangering the safety of persons assembling on the river or preventing or interfering with the maintenance of order thereon contrary to byelaw 52 and 86(a) of the Thames Navigation Licensing & General Byelaws 1993 – found guilty in absence and fined £1,000 threatening and language towards officials and volunteers involved in the regatta and conducted himself in a threatening or offensive manner contrary to 63(a) and 86(a) of the Thames Navigation Licensing & General Byelaws 1993 – found guilty in absence and fined £440 Keen failed to navigate with care and caution and at such a speed and in such a manner as not to endanger the lives of others of cause injury to person or endanger the safety of or cause damage to other vessels or any moorings or to the banks of the Thames or other property contrary to section 97 of the Thames Conservancy Act 1932 – found guilty in absence and fined £1,000 being the owner or master of a vessel named Barney McGrew Keen failed to register the vessel with the Environment Agency in accordance with article 4(1)(a) of the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010 contrary to article 18(1)(a) of the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010 – found guilty in absence and fined £220 £265.54 compensation and a £1,084 victim surcharge was found guilty in absence of the following charges  contrary to article 4(1) and article 18(1) of the Inland Waterway Order 2010 Failure to adhere to an officer’s directions to move Thames Navigation and General Byelaws 1993 He received £440 in fines – £220 for each charge – £275 costs £1,593.40 compensation and £176 victim surcharge Journalists only - 0800 141 2743 or communications_se@environment-agency.gov.uk Both cases were heard at Staines magistrates’ court on 28 January 2025 The Chancellor of the Exchequer sets out the government’s commitment to delivering the Lower Thames Crossing Today (Wednesday 29 January) the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out the government’s commitment to delivering the Lower Thames Crossing She said: “We will work with a private sector to deliver the infrastructure that our country desperately needs This includes the Lower Thames Crossing which will improve connectivity at Dover alleviating severe congestion as goods destined to export come from the North  and the Midlands and across the country to markets overseas To drive and deliver value for money for taxpayers we are exploring options to privately finance this important project.” Read more about the Chancellor’s plan to kickstart economic growth. Executive Director of the Lower Thames Crossing said: “The Chancellor’s statement today set out the government’s commitment to delivering the Lower Thames Crossing one of the UK’s most important and vital growth projects with our planning application due to be decided this May in the meantime our focus remains on developing the UK’s greenest road to drive out carbon restore nature and improve the benefits for the local community.”  The Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order is due to be determined by 23rd May Find out more about the DCO process.  Coastal habitats along the Greater Thames Estuary the life source of England's capital and far beyond will be restored as part of the $5 million project providing vital spaces for wildlife and healthier environments for people awarded by the Endangered Landscape and Seascape Programme and worth almost £4 million will enable the team to kick off the first four years of their pioneering mission to restore key habitats across the estuary tackle the biggest threats destroying existing habitats and empower others – from individuals to businesses - to scale up transformation across the region “Decades of degradation and fragmentation from building works, pollution, overfishing and climate change have unfortunately left the estuary in a poor state. We all rely on healthy, functioning ecosystems for our own wellbeing we’re uniting people from across the region to bring this incredible landscape to life once more.”   The project will focus on restoring six vital habitats found across the estuary – native oyster beds, seagrass meadows The Thames has lost over 95% of native oysters since 1800s and up to 44% of seagrass since 1936 while Essex has lost 92% of its coastal grazing marsh between 1938-1981 removing the very foundations that native wildlife relies upon Through restoring these habitats and rebuilding healthy resilient ecosystems throughout the estuary the work will also help reduce flooding and coastal erosion improve water quality and capture carbon – simultaneously helping tackle climate change while also lessening its impacts on local communities Anna continued: “The Thames can recover, but it needs our help. ZSL has been working in the area for over 20 years so we’re delighted that this funding allows the coalition to take restoring the Thames to the next level and really scale up what we can achieve together.”     The work will include planting seagrass to recover these biodiversity-boosting underwater meadows restoring marshes that provide a home and breeding grounds for birds such as sandpipers along with mapping pollution sources to tackle poor water quality throughout the estuary RSPB South East Regional Manager said: “The Thames Estuary is an amazing place for wildlife and rightly recognised as internationally important  We’re really excited to be working with ZSL on the Transforming the Thames project which will bring together abroad range of partners for the first time all with the interests of the Estuary at heart  We will be creating large areas of new wetland habitat as part of this project  I’m feeling really optimistic about the future of the Thames.” By recovering these precious ecosystems so close to London and restoring the cultural social and economic benefits that they bring the ambitious project hopes to set an example for other major cities in the UK and globally of what can be achieved for people and nature Head of Marine and Coastal Recovery at Essex Wildlife Trust said : “Essex’s coastline is iconic varied and special - from moody marshes teeming with wildlife to characterful towns built from their coastal heritage “Essex Wildlife Trust is thrilled to be a partner of Transforming the Thames and are excited to bring our 60+ years of experience working for nature and people in Essex to the project This is the first time these multiple coastal habitats will be recovered under one umbrella partnership; and it is this collaboration and our joint ambition that will enable us to scale up restoration and connect our valuable coastal habitats to enable our coastal wildlife to thrive.”   The project is a partnership between 19 organisations working in the Thames;  Bird Aware Essex Coast Kent Wildlife Trust Group (Adonis Blue Environmental Consultancy) We have been working passionately with partners and volunteers since 2004 to drive improvements to the ecology and biodiversity of the Thames estuary and the wider river basin and to conserve and better understand the habitats and species that are found here From working to establish the first UK project restoring native oyster reefs to monitoring the river’s seal populations from the skies protect and restore the estuaries coastal habitats for people and wildlife Climate change and human activity have pushed our precious planet to its limit causing the devastating loss of so many habitats and species shaping agendas and influencing change to support better life Sign up for wildlife updates and ways to get involved Zoological Society of London is incorporated by Royal Charter with Company Number RC000749 Registered Charity in England and Wales number 208728 Rising temperatures are increasing algal growth which can be dangerous to fish and other aquatic life despite a dramatic drop in phosphorus loads in the last 40 years Phosphorus is normally needed for algal blooms to form.  Scientists looked at 150 years of water quality data from the River Thames - the longest record of its kind in the world The data is helping us understand how human activity has changed the river over time.  The team’s analysis showed that phosphorus levels have gone down by about 80% because of better sewage treatment and farming practices But rising water temperatures are still causing more algae to grow.  The rising river temperatures driven by climate change are increasing the risk of so-called spring diatom blooms and summer cyanobacterial blooms.   These blooms can be dangerous because they block sunlight reduce oxygen in the water when they decompose It also makes drinking water more expensive to clean and limits activities like swimming Scientists say that reducing phosphorus in the river is still important but climate change is making it even harder to control algae Even with all the progress in cleaning up the Thames warmer water is keeping the algae problem alive.  The Palatine CentreDurham UniversityStockton RoadDurham DH1 3LE Plantation Wharf Pier in west London is now called St Mary’s Wandsworth A pier on the River Thames in west London has been renamed St Mary’s Wandsworth after criticism by anti-racism campaigners is located between the Wandsworth Riverside Quarter and Chelsea Harbour piers Uber Boat by Thames Clippers acquired the site in 2019 and has been in consultation with stakeholders and residents from the wider local development to change the name after an outcry in 2021 The name Plantation Wharf Pier was inherited from a nearby residential and commercial development of the same name Critics of the name associated it with colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade The Labour MP Marsha de Cordova had previously called on the nearby housing development Plantation Wharf to also change its name The developers launched a consultation to research and review the names associated with the housing complex Uber Boat by Thames Clippers announced that the renaming of the pier had gone into effect on Monday after talks with house and boat residents The pier’s signage has been updated to reflect the change “The updated pier name will appear in our new Uber Boat by Thames Clippers timetable and route map which comes into effect on the same day as the official name change,” the company said in a statement The pier before it was renamed Photograph: Benjamin John/AlamyVanessa Brady the chair of the board of directors of Plantation Wharf Management Ltd said that while the housing estate was interested in following suit this is not an unwillingness to negotiate but as a private estate it means any changes must be funded by the residents,” she said but we will continue to consult with residents to see if they agree to pay for the costs incurred in changing the name and indeed if they want to change their name “We can only consult and then act on the wishes of the leaseholders Another idea would be to receive a fund from the mayor’s office to pay for it.” De Cordova welcomed the decision to change the name of the pier as an important step forward “The term ‘plantation’ carries highly offensive connotations does not serve the wonderful diversity of Battersea’s residents and makes a mockery of the violent history of chattel enslavement,” she said “Having campaigned for Thames Clippers to change the pier’s name It marks an important step forward in how we structure our public spaces.” She called on the developers who own Plantation Wharf to follow suit describing it as disappointing that they had yet to make a similar announcement Free daily newsletterOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters “I encourage them to think about how a change of name could better serve our community and Battersea’s shared values,” De Cordova said Plantation Wharf a riverside commercial development between the Battersea and Wandsworth bridges in London Photograph: I-Wei Huang/AlamyOne of those who first raised concerns about the name was Rachelle Ferron after dining at an Ivy restaurant that served Plantation rum Ferron walked past the housing complex and pier and was struck by what she described as a shocking pattern of normalised references to slavery She later wrote an opinion piece in the Guardian calling on the restaurant group and the developers of Plantation Wharf to change the names After Ferron’s complaint, Ivy removed all Plantation rum products from its restaurants, bars and menus, and Maison Ferrand last year renamed the drink Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has now followed suit by taking action on the pier name Ferron welcomed the pier’s renaming as a positive step forward “While advocating for Plantation Rum to rebrand in 2022 I was taken aback to learn about Plantation Wharf on the world-renowned River Thames which stood as a shameful signpost to slavery Uber Boat by Thames Clippers inherited the name from a neighbouring development which continues to brand its bricks with references to the transatlantic slave trade,” she said “I am pleased that Uber Boat by Thames Clippers listened and led the way by renaming its pier to St Mary’s Wandsworth which is much more appropriate for our times and diverse city I sincerely hope this encourages Plantation Wharf Management Ltd to follow suit.” Police say body is yet to be formally identified but girl’s family have been informed A body has been found in the River Thames in the search for 11-year-old Kaliyah Coa who entered the river in North Woolwich on 31 March According to the Metropolitan police, officers were alerted to a body in Maritime Quay in east London at about 9am on Sunday While the body is yet to be formally identified the girl’s family have been informed of the development and are being supported by specialist officers The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this time Kaliyah is said to have been playing on a school inset day when she entered the water near Barge House Causeway Local residents noted that the slope appeared to be covered in moss and was slippery while other children who were playing said a girl had disappeared in the water and they could not find her had taken a life ring to the water but could not see Kaliyah She said a boy at the scene told her: “The little boy turned around and said: ‘I tried to hold her hand but it slipped.’” Emergency services launched a “large-scale response” on 31 March but it was later scaled down The Met released Kaliyah’s name and photograph at the start of this month Thame Food Festival 2024‘ kicks off this weekend (Sept 28-29) at Thame Showground with cookery demos Headlining the celebrated Big Cookery Stage is Matty Edgell – winner of the last year’s Great British Bake Off who will be joined by fellow finalist Dan Hunter.  Look out for other familiar faces including Steven Carter-Bailey DJ Supper Club is the epic partnership of Daniel Adams (ex-3 Michelin star-trained chef who honed his skills under Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck) and Joel Mignott The dynamic culinary duo will share their love of food by creating tempting dishes Don’t miss the Artisan Market and its delicious mix of sweet vegetarian and flavours from around the world LumberjAxe Food Company”s BBQ demonstration and The Wine Studio hosted by Jane Rakison (see main pic) the wine expert on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen Live or the dog shows and demonstrations by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People No festival is complete without live music – cue the ever-popular Pop-Up pub where a range of great bands will entertain and the dedicated Children’s Activity Area will return with local charity Thomley entertaining kids with lots of art and fun things to do plus circus skills workshops to teach juggling Tickets cost £12 for adults, £5 for children aged 12 – 16, with under 12s free. Gates open at 10am. 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We're here to provide you with more information or connect you with the right people to help with your needs Earth Day 2025: the role of solar power in commercial real estate Earth Day is the world’s largest environmental awareness initiative 2025’s theme – ‘Our Power Our Planet’ – spotlights the urgent need to scale up renewable energy to triple clean electricity generation worldwide by 2030.  The Crescent is a prestigious new scheme of 23 four and five bedroom villas set within seven acres of parkland in Thame Inspired by the 19th century ‘rus in urbe’ (country in the city) architectural style for which the World Heritage cities of Bath and Edinburgh are famous the development encompasses three central crescent-shaped terraces complemented by two ‘Parkside’ terraces The Bath stone buildings are evocative of some of the finest examples of classical architecture while introducing contemporary design elements and sustainable materials and technologies ‘An amazing opportunity to design a completely contemporary yet contextual piece of urban architecture in the heart of a beautiful The villas are arranged over three storeys The 12 Crescent Villas offer large footprints of between 3,350 and 3,475 square feet while the 11 Parkside Villas are between 3,675 and 3,875 square feet The interiors have been designed with elegance and contemporary comfort in mind encompassing features such as double-height atriums and rooflights Indoor-outdoor living is embedded within the designs with large windows and private outdoor spaces which take full advantage of the parkland setting A rich specification includes bespoke fitted kitchens with features including a central island with breakfast bar and champagne trough media charging drawer and Quooker hot and filtered water tap Other notable interior features include bespoke joinery within the living room and principal bedroom and a freestanding bath in the principal bathroom Rectory Homes has made use of local suppliers across the scheme which supplied the Italian porcelain tiles Situated within the former grounds of an early 19th century Grade II listed house The Crescent is set within over 7 acres of parkland in the heart of Thame Located on the edge of the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with nearby Haddenham and Thame Parkway providing a 37 minute journey into Marylebone ‘I am delighted to be bringing this innovative scheme forward I have been building homes in the western Home Counties for some 40 years and we always design each scheme to suit and complement its surroundings the combination of this site’s location in the very heart of the town centre the backdrop of The Elms house and the exceptional design that so elegantly takes all these factors into account I am grateful for the concept created by Yiangou and the vision of South Oxfordshire District Council Officers and Members who acknowledged what this might bring as a landmark scheme to Thame.’ head of Savills residential development sales in Oxfordshire Its architecture blends striking contemporary design with period elegance to incredible effect layouts and specification are second to none in terms of quality Beautifully situated within acres of parkland and within close walking distance from Thame’s High Street The Crescent provides its residents with an exciting opportunity to enjoy much sought-after connected countryside living.’ Find out more about the development here.  Director, Head of South Central Region, Residential Development Sales Associate Director, Residential Development Sales ' + articleIntroContainer[0].innerHTML + ' Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Kaliyah Coa was playing with friends when she fell into the River Thames I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An 11-year-old girl still missing after she entered the River Thames has been named and pictured by the Metropolitan Police as Kaliyah Coa. Kaliyah, who had been playing with another young girl and boy during a school inset day, slipped into the water before a life ring could be thrown to her, residents said. Shaleen Rajaendram, 59, said: “I heard upstairs a guy was screaming ‘wait there, wait, the police is coming’.” The schoolgirl entered the water near Barge House Causeway, near London City Airport in east London. Kerry Benadjaoud said a male neighbour told her she had called police. She said: “But he said at the time he could see her (the girl’s) hands going down. So, by the time I got down there with the ring I couldn’t find her.” The lifelong area resident said she discovered shoes, a sock, a coat and a phone near the river, and handed the items to the police. “Apparently she was paddling, so her socks and shoes were off, her coat, then she must have slipped and gone down”, she added. Emergency services were called at 1.23pm on Monday with London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, the RNLI and the Coastguard searching for the missing schoolgirl. A police statement said officers are now leading a recovery mission along the Thames to find Kaliyah. Chief Superintendent Dan Card said: “Our specialist officers are supporting Kaliyah’s family through this deeply upsetting time and our thoughts go out to all those impacted by what has happened. “We are committed to finding Kaliyah and are working with partners to conduct a thorough search over a wide area – utilising drone technology and boats. “I’d like to thank the members of public, our first responding officers, and colleagues from other emergency services, as they responded rapidly to carry out a large-scale search during a highly pressurised and distressing time. “Equally we appreciate this has affected the wider community who have been extremely supportive. You will see extra officers in the area during the coming days – if you have any concerns then please speak to them.” If anyone has any relevant information they wish to share, please contact 101, quoting 3699/31Mar. If it is an emergency, dial 999. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies govt and politics"},{"score":0.717,"label":"/law govt and politics/law enforcement"},{"score":0.671522,"label":"/society/crime/personal offense/homicide"},{"score":0.634699,"label":"/society/crime/personal offense/assault"},{"score":0.607183,"label":"/law who went missing after entering River Thames named and pictured by police","description":" Kaliyah Coa was playing with friends when she fell into the River Thames