Rhiannon Whitaker

Into photography, bridge and enjoying the lovely Welsh scenery. General lefty, used to run academic clinical trials, so very pro health evidence, NHS and EU.

[Jonathan Cook @Jonathan_K_Cook]

The BBC spent 20 mins of its evening news on the Holocaust commemorations at Auschwitz, telling us that the message of 'Never again' from survivors was still coming across 'loud and clear'.

It then spent 4 mins on the 100,000s people in Gaza returning to the wasteland that were once their homes, family members still buried under the rubble.

Clearly, the message of the Holocaust has not been heard by western leaders, who colluded in that 15-month orgy of destruction – nor by the BBC, which gave the genocide in Gaza the most cursory coverage possible.

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

Today's #ROHOG a real collection of "who's that"!

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

@HumansNoContext 27 +50=77 and knock 2 off.

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

@HoareZoe @nworth_ctu Wow, 16 years. Congratulations Zoe.

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

Is there any road in the universe duller or more tedious than the #A50 going towards Stoke on Trent?

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

@LinesLarry9442 @20splentyforus You are incorrect. No one means no one. I support the policy, therefore you are just plain wrong.

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

@HumanBollard @KatyJayne101 Fun fact n. Your Dad certainly made a tool!

[20's Plenty for Us @20splentyforus]

The 20mph default limit in Wales making communities better places to live, walk and cycle. Those benefitting most are the young, elderly and those outside of cars. The slight inconvenience to some is small compared to the benefits. See our report https://t.co/KOqRjwiX1r

[20's Plenty for Us @20splentyforus]

The default 20mph limit for urban/village areas is working well in Wales. For the 6 months since implementation casualties are down on the 20/30mph roads. This aligns with data from other 20mph implementations and insurance claim data See https://t.co/3D5PyC3oJu

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

Roll on the football season when these thugs get to let off their adrenaline screaming insults at the opposition team's bone head fans in a controlled environment.

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

I have been round long enough to recognise #SummerRiotSeason for what it is. An excuse for bored, thick, over heated, beered up blokes (mainly) to let off steam by jumping on an excuse for violence. The excuse changes over time. This time its more nasty than most. (1)

[20's Plenty for Us @20splentyforus]

This graph compares the year on year casualty reduction (29%) on 20mph+30mph roads in Wales since the default 20mph limit was introduced with the minimal casualty reduction (2%) on Welsh roads with other speed limits.
#20splenty makes your place a better place to be

[20's Plenty for Us @20splentyforus]

We welcome the updated guidance in Wales on increasing a restricted road speed limit to 30mph.

It is absolutely clear that place, movement and road characteristics must be aligned favourably, including consideration of segregated provision for pedestrians and cyclists. If these are not present then engineering can be considered in order to make such an increase acceptable.

On bus routes where no such alignment or engineering is possible then an alternative to increasing the limit is to give buses priority over other motor vehicles.

In setting this guidance the Welsh Government is maintaining its key principles of both a Safe System approach to setting speed limits and that :-

"a 20mph speed limit should remain where pedestrians and/or cyclists and motor vehicles mix in a frequent and planned manner, except where strong evidence exists that higher speeds are safe."

Highway Authorities will be aware that setting speed limits that ignore this guidance and increase risks to road users could expose them to civil liability in the event of subsequent road user errors which resulted in consequences that would have been mitigated or prevented had the speed limit not been increased.

Contrary to some reports, the default 20mph speed limit for built-up roads in Wales is alive and kicking. This guidance update makes it even more fit for purpose and maintains the benefits for Welsh community life and safety that come from the default 20mph limit.

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

@Susan9122656826 @RachelA1892 But not a waste of time for those children who need it! Parental neglect happens, and since early years schemes like sure start were vandalised we have less of a safety net for young people. This initiative is good, cheap will make a big difference for children who need iy most.

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

Idealistic or ideal?

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

@JimmyMayB @latimeralder Dinorwic pump storage has worked for years to store energy, and turns on in 10 s from zero to full tilt. Solutions to storage are well known.

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

@latimeralder Hydro pump storage helps.

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

@Jenny_1884 It's perfectly right, and there are many previous examples. Best expertise round the cabinet table makes good gov. Better than the soft play area the last lot had in the cabinet room!

[Rhiannon Whitaker @rhianwhit]

This!

[Ian Dunt @IanDunt]

Take it in. The first female chancellor. The first housing secretary who's actually lived in social housing. The first education secretary who was on free school meals. An energy secretary who actually believes in aggressively fighting climate change. Not a bad afternoon.