|
EEF welcomes
Armitt Review and urges Infrastructure Commission
ON Thursday, 5
September 2013, Commenting on the Armitt Review published by,
David Ost, North West Region Director of EEF, the manufacturers’
organisation, said:-
"This report demonstrates we need a new approach on
infrastructure. We need to take the political wrangling out of
important infrastructure decisions, take a long term view of
strategic priorities and get the key projects delivered faster
For too long, political prevarication and policy reversals have
left Britain in the slow lane in developing our roads, rail
networks and our airports. The poor evidence base and fraying
political consensus for HS2, and the fudging of key decisions on
increasing our airport capacity show that things need to change.
A National Infrastructure Commission can address this but it
must have cross-party backing and report to Parliament. Only
then will we get away from the delays and indecision that have
dogged us for decades."
EEF called for an Independent Infrastructure
Commission to be set up in its submission to the Armitt Review
and on the back of a major report in April this year entitled
‘Transport for Growth’. Amongst the key findings on
infrastructure priorities were the following:-
Key survey findings
·
⅘
of manufacturers identify the road network as critical to their
business.
·
Half of manufacturers say
that the state of the UK’s roads significantly increases their
operating costs.
·
Three-quarters of
export-intensive manufacturers identify aviation infrastructure
as important to identifying new business opportunities.
·
Half of foreign-owned
manufacturing businesses say aviation is a key factor in
deciding where to invest.
·
⅔ of
export-intensive manufacturers identify investment in road
access to international gateways, such as ports, as critical to
their growth.
·
A
⅓ of
the most export-intensive firms say the state of the UK’s port
infrastructure has significantly increased their operating
costs.
Building new
prisons in the place of old ones 'repeats mistakes of the past'
ON 4 September
2013, responding to the announcement by the Ministry of
Justice (MoJ) of changes to the prison estate, Frances
Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal
Reform, said:- "The announcement by the Ministry of
Justice is a mixed bag and I fear ministers are making long
term decisions to meet immediate budget pressures without
underpinning those decisions with bold leadership and
vision. Closing failing prisons is the right move to make
but without a coherent strategy to reduce prison numbers it
will make the problem of overcrowding worse. The government
finds itself closing prisons with one hand while proposing
to build new supersized prisons with the other, prisons that
will be too large to manage effectively and which will store
up many more problems for future administrations. Building
new prisons in the place of old ones merely repeats the
mistakes of the past. Given crime continues to fall year on
year, Chris Grayling should grasp the nettle and start
making the case that we simply do not need to put so many
people behind bars in the 1st place." The MoJ
has confirmed that a 2,000 place prison is to be built in
Wrexham, North Wales. Frances Crook said:- "The idea
that big is beautiful with prisons is wrong. Not our words,
but those of David Cameron before he became Prime Minister.
All evidence shows that larger jails find prisoners more
difficult to control, drug abuse and violence are more
prevalent and opportunities for education and training are
limited in such crowded environments. If the Government
wants to spend £250m on boosting employment opportunities in
North Wales, there are much better ways of doing that than
building a huge jail." The MoJ is also to
embark on a feasibility study focusing on the possibility of
replacing Feltham prison with a large new adult prison and a
new youth facility on adjoining sites in West London.
Frances Crook said:- "Feltham has been a disaster of a
prison for the young people held within its walls. The jail
recently received one of the worst inspection reports in
recent memory and it is right that the government now looks
to close this abysmal chapter in the history of prisons. We
are deeply concerned however that ministers would consider
building a new prison on the same site, a super-sized prison
that would repeat the mistakes of Feltham and amplify them
many more times. The larger a prison the more difficult it
is to control, with drug abuse and violence prevalent and
opportunities for education and training limited in such
crowded environments. Given Feltham’s primary function is to
house children and young people on remand from the London
courts, we would be absolutely opposed to those young people
being crammed into a new super-sized prison for adults as an
afterthought." Do you have any views on this?
Let us know by emailing our newsroom today via:-
news24@southportreporter.com
with your thoughts on this hot topic.
|
 |
End of Season
Dinner a roaring success
Photograph by Ste Jones,
KT8 Photography.
.jpg)
THE Official 2013 End of Season Dinner took
place at The Select Security Stadium on Tuesday, 3 Septmber 2013,
and as those in attendance will agree, it was a roaring success. The
'Sold Out' event celebrated the efforts and achievements of
the players throughout the current season, and commenting on the
get-together, Vikings CEO James Rule said:- "Last night was a
wonderful event. I was delighted that it was supported by all
sectors of our fan base. It was great to see so many of our fans,
including the ever present Pat Price, in attendance. We also had
representatives from one of the Club's supporters groups 'Vikings
Voice', the players and their partners, members of our staff through
to our Board of Directors and key Corporate Partners, with us on the
night. We have made huge progress this year and each of the
aforementioned sectors has had a key influence in achieving that
success. I want to pass on my congratulations to the award winners;
Tim Holmes, Tom Gilmore, Joe Mellor, Willie Isa and Jon Clarke. All
of these individuals richly deserve the accolades they have received
for the commitment, professionalism and performance they have shown
this year. I would also like to express my gratitude to Terry
O'Connor and Roy Basnett, who compared the event so well, Gary
McGrath for his video productions and both Anita Naughton and Grand
Design Wedding and Events, for their designer makeover skills, in
transforming the stadium's Bridge Suite."
► The full list of Award winners is
detailed below:-
► Clubman of the Year - Tim Holmes
► U19s Player of the Year - Tom Gilmore
► Viking Stronghold Player of the Year -
Joe Mellor
► Valhalla Community Player of the Year -
Willie Isa
► Player's Player of the Year - Jon Clarke
Invest to
earn will help grow City
LIVERPOOL City Council is proposing a new deal
with a private developer which could bring the HMRC building on
Queens Dock back into use, and provide the catalyst to bring in
vital funds for the City.
The city council is in talks with Glenbrook Property Limited, over
the City providing loan finance to the developer to convert the
building; which has been empty since last year; into residential
properties for private let.
If approved, the deal would breathe new life into the building and
contribute to the on-going regeneration of Kings Waterfront,
including the delivery of the new Exhibition Centre and Hotel on the
adjoining site.
It forms part of the Council’s new approach to investment in
difficult economic times, helping generate vital funds which can be
ploughed back into delivering vital services.
The proposals are subject to legal clearance and will have to be
fully risk-assessed and scrutinised by the district auditor before
they can be given the go-ahead.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said:- "This is a strategic
investment opportunity which has the potential to bring a major
waterfront building back into use and deliver much-need new homes.
It would also provide continued momentum for the regeneration of the
Kings Waterfront, which is being transformed through the delivery of
a world class Exhibition Centre and which is set to be further
revitalised through the Kings Dock Master Plan. At a time of inertia
in the economy, it’s vital that we work creatively with the private
sector. These proposals are the latest example of how we are seeking
to use our borrowing power and target our resources effectively to
help kick-start development and invest in assets that bring in new
income streams for the Council. We will be making sure we receive
all the appropriate legal and financial advice to commence the deal
so we are satisfied that we are getting value for money and the
proposals will also be scrutinised by a council select committee."
|
