UK News Daily Cities Urgently Seek Flood Funds, Diana Memorial Playground Unveils Galleon, Nash Leads Red Arrows, Roke Unveils £5M Defence Hub, and more...
Jan 14, 2026
Councils are sounding alarms over urgent funding needs to prevent catastrophic flooding. A major revamp of the Diana Memorial Playground is underway, featuring a stunning wooden galleon set to debut in 2026. History is made as Sasha Nash becomes the first woman to lead the Red Arrows, promising exciting changes. Roke unveils a new £5M defence hub to enhance the UK's defence capabilities. Meanwhile, the energy landscape shifts as diesel demand declines, paving the way for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
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Maintenance Gap Threatens Flood Resilience
- Neglecting routine drainage maintenance risks catastrophic local flooding even if national spend looks large.
- Shifting costs to local levies hides fragile long-term risk and raises future taxpayer and insurance bills.
Fund Maintenance Transparently And Long-Term
- Prioritise transparent, long-term funding for drainage maintenance rather than one-off projects.
- Do fund internal drainage boards properly to avoid higher costs from repeat flood damage later.
Galleon Returns To Diana Playground
- The Diana Memorial Playground will reopen in summer 2026 after a £3m refresh centred on a full-scale wooden galleon.
- Designers Timberplay and Richter Spielgerät returned to recreate the galleon and treehouse to preserve continuity and charm.