Motorists are being warned of several overnight closures set to take place on the M6 near Wigan over the next few weeks.
As part of its ongoing ‘Warrington to Wigan Upgrade’ project, National Highways has now released the latest dates for overnight closures on the M6 – which will begin early this week, and run over the next couple of weeks.
Having started back in March 2021, the upgrade project involves the Government-owned company adding new emergency areas and technology, and a lane in each direction to the motorway between junctions 21a and junction 26, as well as resurfacing all four lanes of the carriageway across sections of the route between Croft and Orrell interchanges.
These next closures will be put in place so that “complete resurfacing” work can be carried out.
Most daytime activities on the project have now been completed, according to National Highways, however, overnight work will still need to be carried out to continue the installing of gantry signs, other signs, and to resurface what will be the new lanes two and three of the motorway.
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Several overnight closures are planned on the M6 near Wigan for ‘complete resurfacing’ / Credit: Wikimedia Commons | National Highways
The overnight carriageway closures – which will be carried out from 9pm to 6am – are due to the size of the equipment required for the resurfacing.
The first closure will be put in place on the M6 northbound junction 23 to 26 this evening (8 July), with the final closure in the scheme being the M6 northbound junction 21a to 22 on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 July.
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The full list of closures are as follows:
M6 northbound junction 23 to 26 – closed tonight (Monday 8 July) and Wednesday 17 July
M6 southbound junction 26 to 23 – closed Tuesday 9 July
M6 southbound junction 23 to 22 – closed Wednesday 10 and Friday 12 July
M6 northbound junction 22 to 23 – closed Thursday 11 and Tuesday 16 July
M6 southbound junction 22 to 21a – closed Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 July
M6 northbound junction 21a to 22 – closed Thursday 18 and Friday 19 July
National Highways says the precise dates and times of the work may be subject to change due to “weather conditions” or “unforeseen circumstances”.
Clearly signed diversions will be in place overnight when a carriageway is closed.
More information, including details of the diversion routes, is available on the M6 upgrade project webpage here.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has revealed that seven in 10 NHS workers believe the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic if one should arise.
After the recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent last month raised the conversation of mass contagion once again, of course following the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouGov survey of more than 1,000 NHS workers has now uncovered how well prepared staff in the health service think it is for another global pandemic.
The results show that 69% of staff surveyed think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic, and to make matters worse, 26% of those even say it’s ‘very poorly’ prepared.
Only one in five (22%) think the NHS is could properly handle another pandemic, but statistically, YouGov claims none of those surveyed said it’s ‘very well’ prepared.
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic / Credit: Pxhere | Rawpixel
When workers were asked how the NHS’s level of preparedness now compares to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 41% did concede that they think it is better prepared now than 2020, however 37% admitted they think it’s no better prepared.
16% actively think it’s less well-prepared now than it was prior to 2020.
This marked a new era of ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’ in the NHS, with the league tables delivering on the Government’s promise to drive up standards, tackle variation in care, and ensure people get the high-quality service they rightly expect.
Every trust in England – from urgent and emergency care, through to elective operations and mental health services – will now be ranked quarterly against ‘clear and consistent’ standards.
Featured Image – Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
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Emily Sergeant
Seven people have been arrested in Salford over plans to be part of a coordinated mass shoplifting campaign of ‘high end’ retailers and supermarkets across the country.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), it is believed the group had been training for ‘non‑violent direct action’ in Salford as part of a coordinated mass shoplifting campaign, where they were intending to steal goods from high‑value stores and major supermarkets across the country, and then redistribute them to places such as food banks.
Working in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Service, officers arrested one male and six females in Salford yesterday afternoon (Sunday 19 April) on suspicion of conspiracy to steal.
They all remain in police custody for questioning.
It has been reported in multiple sources, such as the BBC and the MEN, that the individuals arrested are believed to be part of the Take Back Power Action Group.
Take Back Power Action Group describes itself on its website as a ‘nonviolent civil resistance group’ that is aiming to ‘put the 99% in charge’ through citizen’s assemblies.
“We are ordinary people from all walks of life who believe that in order to fix Britain, taxing the rich is an essential first step, and we want ordinary people to decide how,” a statement on the group’s website declares.
Speaking following the arrests over the weekend, Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said: “This joint operation with the Metropolitan Police has resulted in the arrests of seven individuals who we believe were planning to take part in coordinated national activity targeting high‑value retail stores.
“We are taking robust action to disrupt this type of organised criminality, and it will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester.
Emily Sergeant -
8th July 2024 
