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Milton Keynes University Hospital is set to expand its surgical facilities with the construction of two new operating theatres, a move NHS planners hope will help reduce patient waiting times.

Construction is scheduled to begin soon, with completion expected by spring 2026. The hospital said the additional theatres would increase surgical capacity and relieve pressure on existing facilities.

“Reducing waiting times is one of our top priorities,” said Ian Reckless, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at MKUH NHS Foundation Trust. “These new theatres will allow us to treat more patients, faster, and ensure that MKUH continues to provide excellent care to our community.”

The project will employ modern construction methods, with most work carried out away from the hospital site. This approach is intended to minimise disruption, reduce waste, and lower emissions during construction.

Looking further ahead, the trust hopes to begin building a new “fit for purpose” hospital between 2027 and 2030 to meet the needs of Milton Keynes’ growing population, expected to double by 2050. In 2024, the hospital highlighted that its maternity unit was too small, with some expectant mothers being sent to London or Luton to give birth.

Recent developments on the hospital site include the opening of a £17m radiotherapy centre and a multi-storey car park for staff in July, alongside ongoing construction of Oak Wards, a new 48-bed block. These projects form part of a wider effort to modernise facilities and meet the increasing healthcare demands of the local community.

A High Court judge has rejected two legal challenges aimed at halting the construction of 170 new homes in Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire.

Environmental charity WildFish argued that Buckinghamshire Council had unlawfully approved changes to the development without proper public consultation. The charity also raised concerns about the local sewage system, warning it could be overwhelmed by the extra demand and potentially pollute nearby waterways, including the River Great Ouse.

A separate challenge was brought by resident Jane Wood, who focused on biodiversity issues. She claimed that nature gains linked to the development had been overstated and that councillors had been misled by planning officers’ reports, which she described as “significantly misleading” and “insufficiently investigated.”

However, Justice Lang DBE dismissed both challenges, ruling that the council had acted in accordance with planning law. The development is now allowed to proceed, but the judge emphasised that no homes may be occupied until necessary sewage system upgrades have been completed to prevent environmental harm.

WildFish had called for a fresh environmental screening, highlighting potential risks to rivers and the wider ecosystem. Meanwhile, Ms Wood’s claims over biodiversity figures raised questions about how nature gains were calculated and communicated during the planning process.

The ruling clears the way for the project, which was first granted outline permission in 2022, and confirms that proper legal and procedural steps were followed by the council.

Catherine Salmon has urged authorities to “find every penny” lost to wine investment fraudsters after her father was scammed out of a substantial sum. Three men from London were jailed in October following a trial that revealed they had stolen at least £6 million from 41 victims.

Benjamin Cazaly, Dominic D’Sa, and Gregory Assemakis were found guilty of fraudulent trading after a Hertfordshire County Council trading standards investigation. Catherine, 62, of St Albans, described the men as “despicable” and called for a successful proceeds of crime case so the criminals would “feel the financial pain they inflicted.”

The jail sentences handed down at St Albans Crown Court were significant. Cazaly, 43, of Orpington, south-east London, received six and a half years. D’Sa, 46, from Wimbledon, south-west London, was sentenced to four and a half years, and Assemakis, 40, from Bromley, south-east London, was given three and a half years. Judge Jonathan Mann noted that some victims, including small investors, had lost pensions, homes, and in one case, a marriage.

The fraud was operated through a company called Imperial Wine & Spirits Merchant Ltd. Trading standards officers explained that although the prosecution focused on 41 victims, the company had defrauded hundreds more by convincing them to invest in fine Bordeaux wine, claiming profits would only be made when the wine was sold. In reality, the company had marked up prices by over 400 percent, leaving many investors with heavy financial losses.

Founded in 2008 by Cazaly as Imperial Wines of London, the company claimed to be a family-run investment house with offices in Paris and Hong Kong. In fact, it was a call centre in Groveland Court, London. Victims were manipulated into investing through false assurances and personal attention from staff.

Mrs Salmon has spoken about her father, Richard Burden, who was not part of the trial but lost £130,200 between May and November 2018. He died in 2024 aged 87. She described him as “a vulnerable, elderly, lonely, bereaved widower” who trusted the company. “He didn’t think for a moment that he was being scammed of a large chunk of his life-savings,” she said.

While praising investigators as “brilliant,” she stressed that their work was far from over. “Trading Standards, and ideally the police, now need to conduct a thorough investigation into the assets belonging to these shameless criminals and seize them,” she said. “I didn’t hear one word of remorse. It’s not enough that they’re in prison — they need to compensate their victims.”

Proceeds of crime cases enable courts to order that the assets of convicted criminals be used to compensate victims if they can be located. Ajanta Hilton, executive member for community safety at Hertfordshire County Council, said the impact on families had been “truly awful,” adding that trading standards officers are now conducting a financial investigation into the convicted men.

Judge Mann, who presided over the criminal trial, said he would oversee trading standards officers’ attempts to recover money from the fraudsters. He acknowledged the public interest in releasing images of the convicted men, stating it would help victims see “the people involved being named and shamed.”

The case is a stark reminder of the thriving “scam economy.” A recent analysis by verification service ClarityCheck revealed that fraudsters exploit empathy and politeness, with many victims being too polite to hang up when approached.

Catherine Salmon’s call for rigorous asset recovery underscores the ongoing fight to ensure victims of investment scams are compensated and justice is fully served.

A burst mains pipe has left homes flooded and dozens of residents without water in Stutton, near Ipswich.

A tragic incident that occurred last week has claimed the life of a pedestrian in Buckinghamshire. The 78-year-old man from Lathbury, Milton Keynes, was involved in a collision on the B526 Northampton Road near Newport Pagnell at approximately 18:45 GMT on 19 November, and has now died as a result of his injuries.

Thames Valley Police confirmed that the collision involved a white Seat Ibiza and a black Kia Picanto. They have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation.

A 67-year-old man from Wootton, Bedfordshire, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while over the legal alcohol limit. He has since been released on bail while inquiries continue.

Det Sgt Ed Crofts, leading the investigation, thanked members of the public who assisted at the scene. “I am grateful for all the members of public that stopped to assist at the scene of this tragic collision, including an off-duty police officer and medic,” he said.

Police are particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw the white Seat Ibiza travelling north from Newport Pagnell prior to the crash, or the black Kia Picanto heading south. Eyewitness accounts are vital in helping investigators understand the circumstances of the collision.

Road safety remains a pressing concern, especially for pedestrians in areas with busy traffic. Even a single act of reckless or impaired driving can have devastating consequences for the most vulnerable road users.

Det Sgt Crofts reiterated the appeal: “I am looking for any witnesses that saw the white Seat travelling north from Newport Pagnell prior to the collision or the Kia that was travelling south to get in touch.”

Local residents have been left shocked by the death, mourning the loss of the elderly man while authorities continue their investigation. The case is a stark reminder of the risks posed by dangerous driving and the importance of public vigilance.

The investigation into the collision remains ongoing, and Thames Valley Police continue to urge anyone with information to contact them as soon as possible.

Farmers in East Anglia staged their third go-slow tractor protest on Monday, voicing opposition to proposed inheritance tax changes set to affect agricultural assets over £1m from April 2026. About 100 tractors began their convoy at 10:00 GMT in Ipswich, travelling along the A14 to Felixstowe and back. Organisers described the demonstration as “a show of strength” against government plans.

Russell Abbott, a leading member of East Anglian Farmers Unite, farms at Crag Pit Farm in Tattingstone. He told BBC Radio Suffolk, “There are various farmers and organisations that have set up to show a sign of strength before we head to London on Wednesday. We want to show the unity that we do have in our industry and we want to be heard.” He added that farmers were “worried” about their futures and hoped the government would “start to take heed of our warning.”

Previous go-slow protests took place in February and December, following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement of the proposed tax changes in her Budget speech last November. Another demonstration is planned in London this Wednesday, coinciding with the government’s next budget announcement.

Farmers at Monday’s protest emphasised the wider impact of agriculture on society. Richard Wrinch, a Shotley farmer, said, “It keeps the profile there, it shows the unity of our industry and I think that it is essential to keep those who have got an influence on the decisions aware of the feeling of the agriculture industry.”

Will Hitchcock, who farms at Ringshall, explained the urgency felt by many in the sector. “We had to keep pushing on because there is too much to lose to sit back and do nothing,” he said. “For the greater good of everyone involved, not just farmers, no end of other businesses depend on farmers, it is society as a whole. We are producing food for people. Everyone eats three times a day, we are here for them.”

Cath Crowther, regional director at the Country Land and Business Association, highlighted the misconception that farmers are wealthy. “While farmers may look wealthy on paper, their money instead sits in assets that cannot be sold, like machinery, land, property and livestock. They are required to be able to grow food and put food on your tables, so we need to ensure that they understand that this is an unaffordable tax,” she said. Crowther added that most farmers already pay other taxes, and very few currently face inheritance tax. “These changes will really impact on the profitability and viability of farming and wider family businesses,” she said.

Suffolk Police monitored the protest to ensure safety as tractors moved in convoy along the A14. Some vehicles carried signs reading, “Save our farms. Save our future. Fight the tax” and “Family farms. Not corporate farms.”

A government spokesperson said that while farmers were demonstrating concerns, the government was “backing British farms with £1m annual investment allowance for plant and machinery investments, billions for sustainable food, and action to cut EU export costs.” They noted that 40% of agricultural property relief, worth £219m, goes to just 117 estates, and reforms would redirect funding toward vital public services.

The demonstration underlined the growing tensions between the farming community and policymakers. Farmers insist their message is clear: the survival of family farms and food production in the UK depends on recognition and support rather than additional taxation pressures.

A major road scheme in west Norfolk has cleared a significant hurdle after winning planning approval, with councillors now preparing to take the next decisions needed to keep the project on track.

The West Winch Housing Access Road, designed to “cut congestion on the A10 and A47” and “take heavy traffic out of the village of West Winch”, also underpins plans for up to 4,000 new homes in the area.

Norfolk County Council’s planning committee signed off the application this morning. A newly published report sets out how officers intend to maintain momentum towards an expected start of construction in just over a year. Among the recommendations is approval to award a contract for the final design and construction of the road, with an appointment expected this winter.

However, progress has been complicated by a sharp rise in the projected cost of diverting two large high-pressure gas mains, work that must be completed before construction can begin. National Gas Transmission’s latest estimate, issued this autumn, has jumped to £24.5m—more than twice the figure it provided last year.

Cllr Graham Plant, the council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said the planning decision marked a major step forward. “It’s fantastic that we’ve now got planning approval for this important infrastructure project,” he said. “We’ve achieved two big milestones this year.”

But he acknowledged the frustration caused by the revised gas diversion costs. “Given the progress we’ve made, it’s incredibly frustrating that costs for gas diversion works quoted to us by National Gas Transmission have shot up, and it’s not clear why it’s increased so much,” he said.

The council is pushing for alternatives. “We’re pressing National Gas Transmission to find a more affordable solution,” Cllr Plant said, while stressing that contingency planning was already underway: “We still need to plan for a different outcome in case the costs cannot be reduced.”

Despite the uncertainty, he said the political and organisational backing for the road remained firm. “The Government wants us to build this road, the borough council wants us to build this road and we want to build this road – so, working together, I’m confident we can make it happen.”

Once National Gas Transmission completes a review of options and provides a confirmed quote, the county council plans to work with Homes England and the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk to identify funding solutions for any additional costs. A further update is expected to go before cabinet early next year.

Norfolk County Council’s cabinet will discuss the latest report on the West Winch Housing Access Road at 10am on Monday 1 December. The meeting will be streamed live, with reports available to view online.