Administrators close another 12 TJ Hughes stores

THE administrators of discount department store chain TJ Hughes have announced that a further 12 stores will close over the next few days and another 585 staff made redundant. 

The stores in Belfast, Bootle, Corby, Coventry, Derby, Oldham, Plymouth, Redditch, Romford and Scunthorpe will close on Sunday, 21 August 2011, the store in Hanley on Wednesday, 24 August 2011, and the store in Warrington on Friday, 26 August 2011.  As has happened elsewhere, staff will be made redundant 2 days after each store closes its doors to the public.  While 6 stores have been bought by Lewis's Home Retail Limited, a total of 42 stores have now been closed by the administrators and around 2,200 staff made redundant.

 John Gorle, Usdaw National Officer said:- "These latest closures are bitterly disappointing but are now entirely predictable despite the claims of the administrators that they are still trying to find a buyer for the remaining stores. They appear to be operating to a pre-determined closure timetable which they have decided to keep under wraps rather than be open and honest with staff and their trade union. Our members are understandably extremely angry at the way they are being treated. Loyal and hardworking staff are keeping stores open and running despite their precarious situation and as a absolute minimum they should be getting regular and accurate information from the administrators and proper notice and consultation before being made redundant. This is yet another example of the urgent need for government to review the laws surrounding liquidation and insolvency. Administrators are able to ignore the legal protections and contractual terms of employees because they know it is the taxpayer who ultimately picks up the bill for any compensation awarded to staff as a result. It is wrong and we shall continue to campaign for a fundamental change in the law, so that workers in these situations are much better protected. In the meantime Usdaw will continue to do everything we can to support and represent our members through this very difficult period. We'll be making sure they receive all monies and severance payments they are entitled to and we will also provide advice and support to help them find another job." 

Email us your views on this to news24@southportreporter.com and let us know what you think about the closures. Also let us know if you are one of the staff affected by the closure of a store.

INFLATION CONTINUES TO PILE ON THE PRESSURE

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, called on the government to help families cope with the high cost of living, as new figures out show RPI inflation stuck at 5.0%, and CPI rising from 4.2 to 4.4% in July 2011.   Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:- "This sustained pressure on family budgets is making life tough for millions of households across the country. We already know the low paid are hit hardest by this government’s cuts – and now they are bearing the brunt of the rise in the cost of living.  Many of those stuck on a pay freeze – which includes even low paid local government workers - already struggle with heavy debt. Cutting back on basic essentials like food, and even spending on their children, are the things people are doing as they struggle to cope. The threat of the heat or eat dilemma is looming large as winter approaches.  It is time for the government to think again about the hard and fast cuts and put in place an economic strategy that helps families to cope at this difficult time."

Mersey Ferry service update

ON Saturday, 20 August 2011, there will be no Mersey Ferry sailings between Liverpool and Wirral due to the current temporary berthing facilities at the cruise liner terminal being unavailable because of visiting cruise liner ‘Crown Princess’  Commuter services and River Explorer cruises will still be operated by Mersey Ferries. Commuters will be able to board at Seacombe and travel to Woodside, from where passengers wishing to cross the river can use Merseyrail services from Hamilton Square to James Street and vice versa. River Explorer tickets will be accepted on trains between Hamilton Square and James Street Stations on these dates.  A new state of the art Mersey Ferries landing stage is currently under construction, scheduled to open in late autumn 2011 and Mersey Ferries are currently operating from the Liverpool Cruise Liner facility at Princes Parade, a short walk from the Pier Head Ferry Terminal.   The Pier Head Ferry Terminal building, including the Beatles Story, H Coffee and Matou will all remain open for business.

Merseyside allocated £5.46m for broadband roll-out

MERSEYSIDE is set to get £5.46 million to help take broadband to everyone and superfast to 90% of homes and businesses in the county, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced.  Mr Hunt set out details of how the English counties can get a share of the Government’s £530 million broadband investment fund, and urged local authorities to play their part.  The private sector on its own will take superfast broadband to around 66% of UK households and businesses - this funding will be used to help take broadband to the remaining one third by making it viable for business to invest.  It is now up to local authorities to get on board to access the money. Each county council or local enterprise partnership will lead broadband roll-out in their area. They can secure their share of the Government investment by drawing up an effective local broadband delivery plan, and matching the Government’s investment with European, their own or private funds.  Mr Hunt said:- "Superfast broadband is vital to our economic growth, to the future delivery of public services and has become an integral part of our everyday lives.  But some areas of the UK are missing out with many rural and hard-to-reach communities suffering painfully slow internet connections or no coverage at all. We will not allow some parts of the country to get left behind in the digital age.  The Government is investing £530 million of public money to help bring broadband to every home and business in the UK. But now need local authorities to get on board, and to work with us to secure the social and economic future of their communities.  I urge all those suffering the frustration of slow internet connections to make clear to your local authority that you need broadband, and urge them to play their part to secure the available investment."

Each county’s funding allocation is based on the cost of taking superfast broadband to those premises that would not receive it from the market alone. It is not based on the number of people living or working in a county.  The Government wants the UK to have the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015, with 90% of homes and businesses in each local authority area having access to superfast broadband and for everyone in the UK to have access to at least 2Mbps. 

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:- "In the 21st Century it is unthinkable that parts of England still do not have access to broadband. Rural communities should never be overlooked when it comes to services that most of us take for granted.  Decent internet access is vital for the social and economic growth of our rural towns and villages. It is an essential piece of kit for modern businesses, as well as for homes and schools. The money provided to local authorities through this scheme will help end the digital divide that still exists, and allow people living in the most remote parts of our country to enjoy the same online opportunities as everyone else."