His theme was the present 'spendaholic' Government 'which wasted billions of taxpayers money on a swarm of unaccountable quangos that has infested our country under Labour'.
He picked out individuals on high salaries, including Ofcom Chief Executive Ed Richards on £400,000 and British Waterways Board bosses Robin Evans, Nigel Johnson, James Froomberg and Phillip Ridal, whose combined salaries, he commented reach £900,000, which was enough to employ 30 nurses.
However, David should get himself better advisers, for James Froomberg, for one, left that position last year.- Details
- Details
- Details
ELEVATE, the housing market renewal for Pennine Lancashire, has earmarked over £9 millions of Government funding to regenerate housing in Pendle, much by the side of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
How the money should be spent is now being discussed, with much of it going towards canalside development on the Brierfield Canal Corridor site.
- Details
Volunteers and veterinary surgeons at the Yorkshire Swan Rescue Hospital, based at Brandsby, near York, have seen 27 swans injured so far this month as a result of dumped fishermen’s lines and hooks in the Ouse.
The same problem as been found on the Selby Canal with fishing lines and hooks discarded by anglers.
The charity workers had to launch their rescue boat for a third time in a week on the Ouse last Friday when they were alerted to a severely injured nesting swan near to Naburn Lock.
The swan was found suffering with a triple-barbed fishing lure lodged in its neck, and line wrapped tightly around its wings and feet. It was treated on the banks of the Ouse and was later returned to it’s waiting mate and eggs.
- Details
This project will undertake the development work needed to test the feasibility of rebuilding a working Inclined Plane. This, it is believed, would provide a landmark attraction of national importance and aim to increase annual visitor numbers to half a million by 2016.
James Clifton, Regeneration Manager at British Waterways enthused:
"We are delighted that the study is to be supported. Assuming that we have a positive result and get over the relevant hurdles, the project could commence on site in five years and be delivered in two more."
- Details
A team of engineers inspected the site, which was then fenced off from the public, though passage is still possible, and we are told the hole will be filled in during the week. The navigation is not affected.
- Details
WORK is well under way on expanding Lower Park Marina, at Barnoldswick on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal from its present capacity of 15 to 50.
This is due to open in June, with berths for wide beam as well as narrowboats, with electricity and water points on the jetties, with ample parking.
Planning permission was granted way back in 2002, but explains Manager Wayne King:
“We got planning permission for the expansion back in 2002 but we suffered a series of set-backs and had to raise enough money for the build. We also intend to put in hawthorn hedges interspersed with trees, which we are hoping will look really nice when it is finished."
The marina will not however accommodate residentials.
- Details
Roy Sandison of the Green Party has described the plans to build the plant next to the river as ‘sheer madness’ and that if the plans get the go ahead it could mean that the Avon becomes ‘one of the most polluted rivers in the country'.
He believes that every town and village downstream of the plant, including Evesham, Pershore, Bidford and Tewkesbury, will feel the effects in terms of the river’s cleanliness, flooding, tourism factors and the health of wildlife, stating:
“This is a disaster waiting to happen, whereby communities along the river, wildlife and also national tourist attractions across Warwickshire, Worcestershire and beyond, face the real danger of our historic Avon becoming one of the most polluted in the country.
“We are also very concerned that water taken from the Avon for drinking could also become contaminated.”
However, Cemex refuted the allegations of the plant causing pollution stating that the scheme would be good for the environment.
The proposals are to build a plant to turn rubbish into fuel for the Cemex cement plant, and will go before Warwickshire County Council later this year.- Details
THE case of a boat building company Fairline, charged with two breaches of health and safety has been adjourned.
The company is charged with failing to organise its boatyard at Nene Park site in a way which pedestrians and vehicles could move in a safe manner, and also failing to ensure a sufficient assessment of health and safety risks relating to the movement of vehicles and pedestrians was in place.
The were brought by the Health & Safety Executive after an employee was dragged under a forklift truck that was being driven across the site by a cleaning contractor in December 2007.
At the hearing this week the magistrates adjourned the case until the 3rd June when it will be heard at Northampton. The maximum fine the company could receive is £5,000 per charge.
- Details