Great Western Coffee Shop

Winter officially starts on 21st December doesn't it?

Using the traditional definitions shouldn't December 3rd have to be considered the Chancellor's winter statement?  Is it usually this late?

Previous Autumn Statements have been delivered by the Chancellor on 29 November 2010, 29 November 2011, 5 December 2012 and 5 December 2013.

That's the winter solstice surely, the shortest day.  The met office apparently consider winter to be the three coldest months (taken on average), i.e. December, January and February.

We'll obviously have to wait until George makes his pre-budget statement, but ^3bn is a heck of a lot for a rail transport capital project outside the scope of Network Rail's Control Period spending. Especially for one in the West Country.

I'll believe it when I see it. If it is true then no doubt George and Dave have their eyes on some marginal seats in the west and are looking to make gains and shore up the tory vote.

Barack Obama in Stonehenge visit on return from Nato summit

US President Barack Obama paid a visit to Stonehenge on his return home from the Nato summit in Newport.

The White House said the presidential helicopter Marine One stopped at Boscombe Down Airbase, Wiltshire, before his motorcade drove to the ancient monument. The president was then given a guided tour by curator Heather Sebire.

English Heritage, which manages the site, said it was "an honour" to host the president. General manager of Stonehenge, Kate Davies, said: "His office told us the president was very interested to see the iconic monument for himself. "Every day people from all over the world make the trip to the ancient stones but this visit was a particularly special one."

Ms Sebire said Mr Obama "was fascinated by the story of the stones, what we know about them and the mysteries that have yet to be solved".

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/77410000/jpg/_77410838_023766427.jpg)
The president reportedly commented that he had "knocked this off my bucket list"

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/77410000/jpg/_77410837_023766851.jpg)
He was given a personal tour of the site by Heather Sebire from English Heritage

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/77412000/jpg/_77412257_obamna.jpg)
Mr Obama stopped to chat with a local family during his visit

She went on: "He described the atmosphere around the stones as 'really special' and his visit to Stonehenge as 'a highlight of my tour'. It was a beautiful still evening and it was a privilege to show the US president around this unique monument which continues to inspire and intrigue people."

Mr Obama described seeing the monument as "cool" and said it was something he could tick off his "bucket list". He also chatted briefly to a local family and posed for photos.

Janice Raffle, who lives near Stonehenge, had come down to the monument with her husband and three sons after hearing Mr Obama was there. She said: "We had a brief tete a tete across the barbed wire. He was really a sweetie. He asked all our names and he was commenting on the fresh air and the beautiful countryside. He also said that I was quite outnumbered because I have three little boys as well as my husband and there was a bit of banter between the boys saying boys are best and he said well I don't know if I agree with that."

Dawlish rail line future announcement 'imminent' William Hague tells House of Commons

The Government will ^shortly^ announce whether to fund an additional rail line to the vulnerable coastal link at Dawlish that collapsed into the sea earlier this year, the House of Commons was told yesterday, Friday.

Leader of the House of Commons William Hague confirmed the Department for Transport will reveal its plans imminently after being pressed for a debate on the options mapped out by rail bosses Network Rail.

This summer, the Government published the report that detailed seven alternative routes that would cost between ^400 million and ^3 billion.

The quango said that even in the best-case scenario the financial case for each new route remains ^unpromising, with each one still offering poor value for money^.

It could therefore mean ministers opt to shore-up the existing line, however critics say the analysis has so far failed take into account the full economic impact of a new line.

During Business of the House Questions in the Commons, Oliver Colvile, Conservative MP for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport, said: ^Earlier this year, the railway line at Dawlish was swept away, completely cutting off Plymouth, west Devon and Cornwall from the rest of the country^s rail network.

^Earlier this summer, Network Rail published a report suggesting alternative routes. Will the Government find time either for the Secretary of State for Transport to make a statement, or for us to have a proper debate on the matter, because it is incredibly important to the South West and to my constituents?^

Mr Hague responded: ^That issue is of massive importance to your constituents.

^As he has said, Network Rail^s study considers alternative options for providing a long-term, resilient route west of Exeter, including reopening alignments, making the existing route more resilient and maintaining rail connectivity to coastal communities.

^The Secretary of State will announce his findings on the study shortly, so I ask you to await that announcement.^

Only if there's a 'no' vote, but that is looking more unlikely the closer we get. So I doubt it...

Danny Alexander speaks - but doesn't say much

http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2014-11-04/danny-alexander-hints-that-a303-upgrade-on-the-cards/

isn't that 4 tracks by 2040-something?....