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Green Synergy Lincoln reunites childhood friends in warm space group
Sarah-May BuccieriLincoln
BBCA pair of childhood friends who were reunited at a community support hub have praised the “vital charity” which runs it.
Alan Thompson, 71, first visited Green Synergy in Lincoln two years ago where he met Jane Innes, 70, and they have been “best friends” since.
“We’d gone our own ways and bumped back into each other,” Thompson said.
The charity on Roman Pavement offers offers warm space sessions as well as advice and support.
“Two years ago I wouldn’t have thought of coming to one of these places. Getting to know Jane again has been brilliant,” Thompson added.
Innes, who has attended sessions for more than five years, said she enjoyed talking to people in her community.
“You meet people, neighbours who you’ve known since you were a kid,” she said.
“You try and help people if you can.”
Green Synergy was awarded £5,000 by National Grid to support its warm spaces project which also involves handing out items such as blankets and hot water bottles.
Community engagement co-ordinator Wendy Slater said her team was made up of “real people” which gained the support of people in the city.
“They know they can come here, they trust us,” she said.
Slater said the charity offered various sessions and was “here for whatever people want”.
She said: “I remember being in a situation myself when I felt no one was there to help.
“The rough times I’ve gone through are beneficial to others.”
As well as offering a warm space, Green Synergy supports vulnerable residents living poverty, loneliness and isolation. It also runs community gardens to help improve mental health and wellbeing.
Slater said she felt a sense of pride when someone uses the support to better their life.
She said: “When you see someone walk past the door and they’ve gone from really struggling to have a job.
“I didn’t do it for them, but I gave them that step on the ladder.”
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100% road tax waiver for electric cars, new rules for 2, 3 and 4 wheelers – what Delhi govt’s draft EV policy says – The Times of India
The Delhi government has unveiled the draft Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2026–2030, outlining a roadmap to curb air pollution and promote clean mobility in the national capital. With vehicular emissions contributing nearly 23% of the city’s pollution, the policy focuses on accelerating the shift to electric vehicles while strengthening the ecosystem needed to support their widespread adoption.The new draft builds on the earlier EV policy introduced in August 2020, which had a three-year term ending in August 2023 and has since been extended. Officials say the updated framework seeks to expand on previous efforts to curb vehicular pollution and accelerate the transition to cleaner transport. The draft offers incentives like a 100% road tax waiver for electric cars, along with benefits and updated rules for two-, three-, and four-wheelers. It also aims to expand charging infrastructure, build a stronger EV ecosystem, and encourage a gradual move away from petrol and diesel vehicles. Focused on cutting emissions, which make up about 23% of Delhi’s pollution, the policy is linked to the Right to Clean Air under Article 21, highlighting a stronger push to improve air quality in the capital.
Here’s what Delhi government’s new EV draft policy has proposed:
- Full tax exemption for affordable EV carsElectric cars priced up to Rs 30 lakh will get 100% exemption on road tax and registration fees till March 31, 2030. The policy states, “Electric cars with ex-showroom price above (Rs) 30 lakh registered in Delhi shall not be granted any exemption from road tax and registration fees.” However, vehicles priced above this threshold will not be eligible for such benefits. The draft also proposes a 50% exemption for strong hybrid vehicles.
- What’s new for 2 wheelers?
The government has also listed out intensives for two wheelers. To be eligible for incentives, the ex-factory price of an electric two-wheeler must not exceed Rs 2.25 lakh.
In the first year from the date of notification, buyers will receive Rs 10,000 per kWh, capped at Rs 30,000. This incentive reduces to Rs 6,600 per kWh (up to Rs 20,000) in the second year, and further to Rs 3,300 per kWh (up to Rs 10,000) in the third year. - Push for electric three-wheelers
From January 1, 2027, only electric three-wheelers will be allowed for new registrations in Delhi. Furthermore, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) is also set to provide the following incentives to encourage the adoption of electric-rickshaws in the national capital:
- Slow transition to electric vehicles
The draft has proposed phased electrification of school bus fleets. This applies to all school buses, owned, leased, or hired.
10% electric within 2 years
20% within 3 years
30% by March 31, 2030Furthermore, it also mandates electrification of government fleets. All hired or leased vehicles under the Delhi government will be only electric from the date of notification, except exempted categories. New buses inducted by the
Transport Department and DTC will also be electric, with provisions for cleaner alternatives like hydrogen if introduced.Additionally, all new N1 category trucks procured by government bodies and civic agencies will be only electric. Here’s the incentive structure, based on the year of registration:
Year of Registration Incentive Year 1 (from date of notification) Rs 1,00,000 Year 2 (from date of notification) Rs 75,000 Year 3 (from date of notification) Rs 50,000 - Restrictions on conventional fleet operators
Fleet aggregators and delivery service providers will not be allowed to induct new petrol or diesel vehicles after notified timelines, with limited exceptions for certain categories till December 2026. - Expansion of EV charging and swapping infrastructure
Land-owning agencies will identify sites for public charging and battery swapping stations All new buildings and infrastructure projects must be EV charging-ready DelhiTransco Limited will handle planning, deployment, and reliability of charging networks - Battery waste management and recycling push
Strict compliance with Battery Waste Management Rules and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Establishment of battery collection centres across Delhi through partnerships. - Creation of a dedicated EV Fund
A separate EV Fund will be set up under the Transport Department to finance implementation, supported by budget allocations, grants, cess, and other sources. Furthermore, a committee led by the Transport Minister will oversee implementation of the policy and management of the EV Fund. Transport Department to act as nodal agency Environment Department to track emission reductionsUrban bodies to support infrastructure rollout Education Department to ensure compliance and run awareness campaigns. - Fully digital implementation system
All processes including approvals, applications, disbursements, and grievance redressal will be conducted in a paperless digital format. - Public feedback
The government has also invited public feedback for the proposed reforms. In an official circular, the government said, “The draft Delhi Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2026 is hereby uploaded on the official website of Transport Department, GNCTD for the information of general public. All stakeholders including general public are invited to submit their feedback/comments within 30 days from the date of publication through the following modes: 1. By e-mail: evpolicy2026@gmail.com 2. By Post: Joint Commissioner (EV), Transport Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, 5/9 Underhill Road, Delhi- 110054.”
It further clarified, “All inputs/representations may kindly be submitted only through the above- mentioned modes. In this regard, the public is humbly requested to avoid visiting the office premises, as the same may cause unnecessary crowding. No objections or suggestions received after the expiry of the said period shall be considered.”Earlier this year, on March 20, CM Rekha Gupta flagged off 300 new electric buses and announced the launch of interstate bus services connecting Delhi with Ghaziabad. A foundation stone was also laid for a new Delhi Transport Corporation office near the IP depot.Meanwhile, health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh had noted the pace of adoption, stating, “After our government came to power, we registered more than 1 lakh EV vehicles. There are many reasons why EVs are not advancing further. The previous government did not provide subsidies for EVs. We are providing those subsidies, but if the previous government had given subsidies, perhaps the people of Delhi would have made more efforts to adopt EVs.“
A new government ad campaign is trying to persuade gamers to apply for air safety roles.
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A trade body for European airports has warned over a “systemic” shortage of jet fuel ahead of the peak summer season if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen in the weeks ahead.
Airports Council International (ACI), which represents more than 600 airports, wrote a letter to the European commissioners for energy and transport and tourism.
The body’s director-general Olivier Jankovec wrote in the letter: “At this stage, we understand that if the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU.
“The fact that we are entering the peak summer season… is only adding to those concerns.”
Supplies of jet fuel – which is used to fly planes – from the Middle East have been disrupted since the US-Israel’s war with Iran because of Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical international shipping route.
This has led to soaring prices and warnings that flights could be affected because of Europe’s reliance on fuel imports from around the world.
Analysts have also said higher jet fuel prices can be quicker to pass through to airfares than road fuel and household energy costs.
Ryanair’s boss Michael O’Leary said earlier this month that if the war continues, then there was a risk of “disruptions in Europe in May and June”, adding that “maybe 10%, 20%, 25% of our supplies might be at risk”.
Sir Keir Starmer has been visiting allies in the Gulf for talks on how to support what he described as a “fragile” ceasefire between the US and Iran, which was agreed this week.
He spoke to US President Donald Trump about the need for a “practical plan” to get shipping going through the Strait of Hormuz amid suggestions Tehran wants to charge vessels for passage.
In its letter, the ACI says jet fuel supply for the next six months needs to be urgently monitored by the European Commission, including identifying action that can be taken to increase production within the EU.
It also asks them to consider temporarily lifting restrictions and regulations that limit the ability to import jet fuel.
“This crisis has exposed the reduced refining capacity of the EU for jet fuel production, and its acute dependence on imports from other world regions,” Mr Jankovec warned on behalf of the body.
Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist for Wealth Club, said: “Carriers have had to deal with a more than doubling of fuel costs since the conflict erupted and the threat of shortages lingers.
“As the war has put a chokehold on supplies from the Middle East, it has caused other nations which produce jet fuel to impose export bans, causing trade to seize up further.
“It will take time to unwind panic positions, and for jet fuel prices to stabilise, so airlines are likely to continue to pass on the cost to passengers for the foreseeable future.”
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100% road tax waiver for electric cars, new rules for 2, 3 and 4 wheelers – what Delhi govt’s draft EV policy says – The Times of India
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