The travel chaos sparked yesterday by the torrential downpours in the last night has delayed the arrival of Embassy staff to Glasgow for COP26. A German ambassador stated today that the delay was caused by the travel chaos.
Andreas Michaelis, Germany’s ambassador to Britain, said that embassies in London were unable to send staff to the climate conference because of flooding in the north west.
It happens just three days before Glasgow is due to host world leaders at the climate summit. Drivers were left stranded by floodwaters, roads were closed and motorists parked on central reservations to escape.
The city of Edinburgh is also experiencing a bin strike. This strike by refuse workers has seen rubbish pile up on the streets ahead of the COP26, which starts on Sunday.
After a foot-high rainfall overnight in the north west England and south of Scotland, train services between England’s and Scotland’s were disrupted by delays and cancellations for hours.
Avanti West Coast, rail company Avanti West Coast is warning passengers not to travel on the west coast, which runs through flood-hit Cumbria. LNER has speed restrictions that cause delays on the east-coast line.
Twitter was taken by Mr Michaelis to inform delegates that they were unable make the trip to Glasgow this morning.
He stated that ‘This morning many Embassies in London couldn’t send their COP26 staffs to Glagow.
‘No trains ran “because of rain “!!! We just have to accept the fact that nature surrounds our lives.
It is not known which embassies are affected by the delays. However MailOnline was informed by the Candian Embassy that most of its delegate were already in Glasgow ahead the COP26.
Others have also experienced delays in getting to Glasgow today. YahooNewsUK’s Nadine Boothelor-Hunt said: ‘Thoughts, prayers to all those like me who were due today to travel to COP26 but had their trains cancelled by biblical rainfall in Cumbria.
The travel chaos caused by the torrential downpours in England and Scotland last night has delayed the arrival of Embassy staff to Glasgow for the COP26. A German ambassador claimed today that this was the reason. Pictured: Emergency services arrive today to rescue motorists stuck on the A592 near Windermere, Cumbria.
Andreas Michaelis claims that the disruption has prevented London’s embassies from sending staff to the climate change conference.
It happened as the Lake District was hit by severe flooding today. The region was hit by ‘extreme downpours’ with more than a foot rain falling in less than 33 hours. This caused roads to be blocked, trains to stop and homes and buildings to flood.
After warnings by the Met Office of flood dangers in the area popular with holidaymakers, Honister Pass, Cumbria, saw an astonishing 335mm (13in), rain fall in just 33hrs.
Cumbria Police urged everyone throughout the county – including the thousands of families on their half term break – not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Flooding also affected A595 at Duddon Bridge, and A592 Patterdale Road. Avanti West Coast advised train passengers to avoid travel from stations in North West England and Scotland tomorrow.
Kendal was a tourist hotspot that was directly affected by the rising water level today. The River Kent looked very swollen, and the Keswick Rugby Club was completely submerged as nearby roads became rivers.
The River Rothay burst it banks, the Windermere ferry had to be suspended and there was flooding in Borrowdale. After Honister Pass, the next wettest place in Cumbria was Seathwaite with 273mm (11in) of rain.
Residents in Glasgow, the host city of the COP26 climate change conference, have been suffering from overflowing rubbish and gutters clogging with litter since the once-fortnightly garbage collection was pushed back.
Yesterday’s amber weather warning about a ‘danger of life’ remained in effect for South West Scotland up to this morning today. It was also in effect in Cumbria, most of Wales, and Lancashire until midnight tonight.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued 17 flood warnings and five alerts this morning, while the Environment Agency in England has nine warnings, 19 alerts, Natural Resources Wales has four, and the Environment Agency in England has 19.
Sepa warned: ‘Heavy and persistent rain across southern Scotland overnight into Thursday is likely to lead to river and surface water flooding in eastern Dumfries and Galloway and western Scottish Borders – expect flooding.’
A car was swept away by floodwaters near Derwentwater in Cumbria as heavy rains hit the Lake District this morning.
Heavy rain continues today to disrupt parts the Lake District, including on the A592 close to Windermere
Today, high water levels in Cockermouth (Cumbbria) have been warning of flooding.
Flooding was possible at Pollok Country Park, just south of the River Clyde’s passage through central Glasgow. Sepa also reported almost 24mm (1in), of rainfall over 36 hour at Dalmarnock.
The Borders was the most affected by flood warnings. The Eskdalemuir Observatory measured 79mm (3.1in), of rain in the same time period. There were also two warnings in Dumfries & Galloway.
Sefra has also issued flood warnings for Edinburgh, Lothian, Ayrshire and Arran. The Met Office stated that there is a risk of flooding that could cause danger to lives.
According to the Met Office, sustained rain is expected further south throughout today. A yellow warning has been issued for heavy rainfall to spread across South East Wales and then clearing to the west to clear to Friday.
There are also yellow weather warnings in place for parts of Yorkshire, County Durham and Northumberland – and Wales also has the same warning for rain across most of the country until tomorrow afternoon.
According to the Met Office, there are fears that the rain will cause travel delays and disrupt communities due to ‘persistent and severe downpours’. It also warned about power outages and properties being flooded.
Aidan McGivern, Met Office meteorologist, said in a forecast video, “These are exceptional rainfall amounts for even the wettest part of Britain, which is Cumbria on an average, as well as for the wettest parts of the year.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued 17 flood warnings in red and five alerts in amber today
The Environment Agency of England has nine flood alerts and 19 alerts. The majority of them are located in the North West.
Network Rail stated that it expected “extreme rainfall” and that speed limits would be in effect on some routes, as well as reduced services, with disruption to West Coast Mainline.
Travellers between Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Carlisle should only travel if absolutely necessary.
Network Rail Scotland route director Liam Sumpter stated: “Extreme rain can pose a risk to the railway, causing landlips or damaging our infrastructure.
“The safety of our passengers is our top priority during poor weather conditions. We will slow down services and run fewer trains to help manage these conditions.
The stream of warm moist, humid air that has moved up from tropics has caused the rain to pour down on the UK. Up to ten inches (250mm) is expected to fall in Cumbria over two days – almost twice as much as in a typical October.
Ben Lukey, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, stated that a slow-moving band heavy and persistent rain could cause surface water and river flooding, and disruption to travel, to communities throughout Cumbria and parts the north of England, from today (Wednesday), through Friday and Saturday.
Environment Agency teams are on the ground clearing waste screens and grilles with partners in local resilience forums. They are also ready to operate flood defences if required.
“They are also available to support local authorities in responding to surface water flooding. We urge residents and visitors to the Lake District to be alert and monitor their flood risk. Sign up for free flood alerts on Gov.uk and @EnvAgency on Twitter to get the latest updates.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service advised residents to be aware of the dangers associated with flooding. ‘Never walk or drive in flood water. The service tweeted that they are available to help anyone in danger.
Yesterday’s heavy rains began in the Lake District, where police launched a search for a 17 year-old boy who disappeared while walking. He was later found safe.
Stewart Mounsey, Cumbria’s flood chief, said that his teams work 24/7 to prepare for any impacts and remove debris from rivers and check flood defenses.
Flooding of Byres Road in Glasgow’s West End just days before the Cop26 summit on climate change begins on Sunday
He also advised residents to be aware about flood risk in their locality and said that they are prepared to operate defenses ‘if needed’.
In most areas, further spells of ‘prolonged, heavy’ rain are possible through the weekend. South East England will see sunnier and drier conditions.
Cumbria, Scotland, and parts of Scotland will bear the brunt. Other parts of northern England could get a maximum 150mm (6in), with more widespread totals of 30mm (1in) to 60mm (2in) at lower levels, 80mm (3in), to 100mm (4in), in the hills and valleys.
The wettest areas of Wales could see 160mm (6.2in); the general rule is that there could be 100mm (4in), to 120mm (4.8m), on high ground, and 40mm (1.66in) to 60mm (2.24in) at lower levels.
Today’s temperatures will be mild, despite heavy rains and clouds. They will reach 18C (64F) in the north and 17C (63/63F in the south.
The weekend is expected to be mild with temperatures reaching the mid-teens Celsius. Contrary to the North, West, and South, the South and East are likely to have dry and brighter conditions.
Additional showers are possible in most areas through the weekend, with the best chance for dry weather being limited to South East England.
The rain comes as Nicola Sturgeon continues to come under pressure over Glasgow’s preparations for the COP26 climate change summit after her critics warned she risks embarrassing the UK on the world stage.
Opposition politicians have attacked Ms. Sturgeon’s lecture on how to make the world cleaner after she took photographs of streets in her Glasgow constituency littered.
Yesterday’s photographs show litter all over the streets in Glasgow’s Govanhill neighbourhood
Opposition politicians called the situation an “international embarrassment” in a moment when the city is the center of attention.
There are concerns that the crunch gathering could be overshadowed and dominated by a number of problems. The SNP is told to fix the problems in their backyard.
The cleanliness of the city has been a topic of contention for council bosses. They denied that the bins were overflowing.
Opposition politicians have attacked Ms. Sturgeon’s lecture on how to make the world cleaner after she took photographs of streets littered in Glasgow.
Just two miles from the main venue where the COP26 summit will begin on Sunday, piles full of rubbish, fly-tipped articles and overflowing bins could be seen in the Govanhill Southside area of Glasgow Southside. This is where Ms Sturgeon represents the Scottish Parliament.
Dumped couches, sodden mattresses and piles of bursting black bags remained uncollected at streets corners and on pavements.
Addressing students at Strathclyde Univ. in the city, the leader of the SNP said that he wanted to encourage ‘national government to match the ambitions cities, regions, or state governments’.
Opposition politicians called it an “international embarrassment” at a time when all eyes are on the city.
Nicola Sturgeon ordered her house to be in order before the COP26 summit in Glasgow. She was unable to dispose of rubbish in her OWN constituency during the bin strike
After being criticized for her preparations for the COP26 summit on climate change, Nicola Sturgeon is now under increasing pressure. She was warned by critics that she could embarrass Britain on the global stage.
Boris Johnson will host world leaders in the city to discuss a plan to reduce harmful emissions.
However, there are concerns that the crunch gathering could become overshadowed. The SNP will be told to ‘fix their own problems’.
The cleanliness of the city has come under fire from council leaders. They deny that there are too many bins.
Opposition politicians have attacked Ms. Sturgeon’s lecture on how to make the world cleaner after she took photographs of streets littered in Glasgow.
In the meantime, hotel prices have risen to an all-time high due to reports that summit attendees will not be able to find accommodation and will instead stay in neighboring cities or towns, relying on possibly sporadic train services.
The summit will also take place against the backdrop of high coronavirus incidences.
Nicola Sturgeon is under increasing pressure about Glasgow’s preparations for COP26, the international conference on climate change.
Ms. Sturgeon delivered a speech earlier in the week to educate world leaders about how they can protect the environment.
The First Minister was asking politicians to take ‘credible steps’ to achieve net zero emission and a cleaner environment. However, photographs were taken in her constituency of streets ‘overflowing’ with rubbish.
Two miles from the main arena, where the COP26 summit starts on Sunday, piles and fly-tipped items, as well as overflowing bins, were visible in the Govanhill Southside of Glasgow Southside, where Ms Sturgeon represents at The Scottish Parliament.
Dumped couches, sodden mattresses and piles of bursting black bags remained uncollected at streets corners and on pavements.
Addressing students at Strathclyde Univ. in the city, the leader of the SNP said that he wanted to encourage ‘national government to match the ambitions cities, regions, or state governments’.
Opposition politicians called it an “international embarrassment” at a time when all eyes are on the city.
Conservative MSP for the Glasgow region Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland should use the “power of our example” to lead the fight against climate change – yet what kind of example is it that the streets of our First Minister’s own constituency are overflowing with rubbish?
“The mess in Glasgow’s street is set to become an international embarrassment.
“Our city is in this condition because of years of neglect and incompetence at the government and council levels by the SNP.
‘Nicola Sturgeon must immediately fix the problems in her backyard if they are to have any credibility when discussing environmental issues on an international stage.
For months, concerns have been growing about fly-tipping and littering in Glasgow. This has been fuelled by charges to bulk uplift domestic waste.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: ‘Credibility begins at home – with bins collected, trains running and Glasgow flourishing.
‘Instead of rubbish lining the streets in First Minister’s back yard, while their government misses its own climate targets. If Nicola Sturgeon wants to take credible action, she should.
Yesterday’s statement by Glasgow’s council leader was a denial that bins are overflowing, and that rubbish collectors have had to be admitted for treatment for rat attacks. She also insisted that the city is ready for COP26.
Susan Aitken stated that Glasgow is ready “with caveats” to host the UN conference and that no of the problems the city faces should be considered panic-inducing.
For months, concerns have been growing about fly-tipping and littering in Glasgow. This has been fuelled, critics claim by charges for bulk uplifting domestic waste
Pillows of black garbage bags, couches dumped and sodden mattresses remained uncollected on streets and corners.
From October 31 to November 12, the UN COP26 summit in Glasgow will be held. Yesterday, the Hydro, one venue being used for this summit, was pictured
Ms. Aitken, giving evidence to Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee on preparations for COP26 said that other cities are dirtier and she is not embarrassed’ about the condition of Glasgow.
She stated that it was ‘entirely absurd’ to suggest that the city is in disrepair, but that the cleansing staff are ‘working around the clock’ ahead the climate summit.
Leader of Glasgow City Council said that the COP26 co-ordinating Board within the council met last Wednesday and the verdict was that they are ready, with caveats.
“I would say that the caveats are mostly technical. Some of them have been resolved or are being worked on. None of them were overwhelming, and none of them were sufficient to cause panic.
Douglas Ross, a Scottish Conservative leader, asked if the ‘technical problems were that the bins overflow, there are rats in the streets and some employees have been taken into hospital while collecting that rubbish.’
Ms Aitken denied the claim, but she later admitted that there had been’small instances’ where rubbish collectors were taken into hospital after’very minor contacts with a rats’.
The rows over rubbish began amid fears that strike action by train workers could disrupt the summit.