This
project is financed by the LSC, SEEDA and
the European Social Fund
LOCAL
NEWS
HAMPSHIRE-WIDE
NEWS
Children Find Out Their Secondary School Places
Children across the county have been finding out which secondary school they will be going to next September. While the majority of children in Hampshire got their first choice of school, more than 1,000 children have missed out on their first preference. This year has seen an overhaul of the admissions system with a new “equal preference” system where parents can express a first, second and third choice. Children who live in the catchment area are given first choice, followed by those at link primary schools and then those with siblings at the school.
Source: www.dailyecho.co.uk, 5th March 2008
Charities Can Receive Free Training in Typetalk Telephone Communication
RNID Typetalk is offering charities in Portsmouth and south east Hampshire free training to help them communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. So far the training has been offered to staff at Age Concern, Samaritans, the Salvation Army and Help the Aged. The aim is to encourage people with communication difficulties to use the telephone. Typetalk uses a combination of text and speech and lets people have telephone conversations.
Source: www.portsmouth.co.uk, 28th February 2008
Changes to the Running of Fire and Rescue Control Centres
Nine fire and rescue services in the South East, including Hampshire are to be run by a new company. Earlier in the year the Government decided to close 47 county-based control rooms and have them replaced with nine regional centres across the UK. The nine services in the South East include Buckinghamshire, Royal Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Hampshire, East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent and Isle of Wight. All of these services were opposed to the regionalisation of fire and rescue control centres and preferred a more localised service. However, the Government has decided that the South East control rooms will move into a centre in Fareham, Hampshire. The local services will move one by one over a period of 14 months starting in 2010.
Source: www.aylesburytoday.co.uk, 5th February 2008
Portsmouth Scores Low on National Truancy Table
Out of 150 local authorities in the country Portsmouth has been ranked 14th lowest in the national truancy league table. Andy Hough, Portsmouth City Council Head of Wellbeing and Targeted Services has stated that the figures were being disputed and claims that progress was being made. It is estimated that 63,000 pupils across England skip lessons every day.
Source: www.portsmouth.co.uk, 26th February 2008
Race Event Will be a Cash Boost for Portsmouth
The Round Britain Race event will be taking place this summer and is expected to bring a huge cash boost to Portsmouth. The event starts and finishes at Gunwharf Quays and up to 50 teams are expected to take part in the 1,600 mile event. The event starts on June 21 and competitors will call in at eight venues around the UK’s coastline before returning to Portsmouth on June 30.
It is hoped that the event will attract thousands of race fans which will mean good business for pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and shops in Portsmouth.
Source: www.portsmouth.co.uk, 5th March 2008
Opening of Women-Only Gym
Hayley Currell has recently opened a gym in Waterlooville which caters for women-only members. The gym is called H30 Workout and is situated at Locks Heath shopping centre. Hayley also has another outlet at Airport Services Road in Portsmouth. The new gym has also created jobs for seven new members of staff.
Source: www.portsmouth.co.uk, 26th February 2008
Charities Can Receive Free Training in Typetalk Telephone Communication
RNID Typetalk is offering charities in Portsmouth and south east Hampshire free training to help them communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. So far the training has been offered to staff at Age Concern, Samaritans, the Salvation Army and Help the Aged. The aim is to encourage people with communication difficulties to use the telephone. Typetalk uses a combination of text and speech and lets people have telephone conversations.
Source: www.portsmouth.co.uk, 28th February 2008
Plans for Tipner Regeneration Project
Portsmouth City Council will be spending £1.4 million to redevelop Tipner. At the end of March the council will have spent £600,000 on staff time and consultants. Plans include 1,600 new homes, business space, community and leisure buildings and a waterfront area with bars and restaurants. Councillors are in the process of approving a deal with the Tipner Regeneration Company and the South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA). Once the deal has been approved a planning application could be submitted by September.
The partnership for Urban South Hampshire has welcomed the plans for the new homes as their creation will help Portsmouth meet housing and job targets.
Source: www.portsmouth.co.uk, 23rd February 2008
Developers Want to Rebuild Mill
Developers in Fareham are considering creating a replica of Cams Mill which was demolished in 1920. The mill was one of England’s oldest tidal mills. They would then turn the building into an upmarket restaurant. Proposals for the restaurant include a car park for 72 cars, function room and galley restaurant with a bar. The plans have been objected to by the Portchester Civic Society because they feel the building would destroy essential green space between Fareham and Portchester.
Source: www.portsmouth.co.uk, 22nd February 2008
Summer Food Festival for Hayling Island
Mill Rythe Holiday Village on Hayling Island will be hosting a food and lifestyle festival in August. Normally a food festival is held at Emsworth, but this site is having a year off. The event will be held on August 30 and 31 and local producers will have the opportunity to showcase their produce. Food will also be available from across the globe. There will also be a variety of sporting events held over the weekend such as climbing and abseiling and there will be a lifestyle area selling a variety of goods. It is hoped that the weekend will attract around 20,000 people and that it will encourage people to visit other attractions on Hayling Island.
Source: www.portsmouth.co.uk, 27th February 2008
Big Profits for Marine Firm
A marine firm called Raymarine which is based in Portsmouth has reported massive profits. Last year profits had risen by 66 percent to £23.4m. At the end of the year the firm is due to move into new headquarters in Southampton Road which have cost £14.2m. Raymarine employs 300 staff and the leisure marine sector is currently in good health with British boatbuilders doing very well across the world.
Source: www.portsmouth.co.uk, 25th February 2008
Website to Highlight Alternative Options to University
Tom Marshall, a teenager from Eastleigh, has launched a new jobs website for school and college leavers who do not want to go to university. The website, http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk was set up by Tom because he feels that there is too much pressure for young people to go to university. The website is aimed at students, parents, jobseekers and employers.
Source: www.dailyecho.co.uk, 5th March 2008
School Staff Await Decision Over Jobs
Teachers and support staff at Oaklands, Millbrook, Grove Park and Woolston are waiting to find out if they will have jobs when Southampton’s two new academies open in September. Oasis Community Learning will be running the academies - Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, which will specialise in arts with an emphasis on business and enterprise; and Oasis Academy Mayfield, which will specialise in “global communication.” The teachers and support staff have had the opportunity to respond to a four week consultation on the proposed new staffing structures at the academies. If applicants are unsuccessful in gaining positions then Southampton City Council may consider redeployment at other city schools or offer a redundancy package.
Source: www.dailyecho.co.uk, 5th March 2008
Thousands of People Attend Job Fair in Southampton
Thousands of people recently attended the Daily Echo Jobs Fair which was held at Southampton Guildhall. More than 30 companies exhibited at the event in order to look for new employees. Employers included the armed forces, banks, recruitment agencies, The University of Southampton and Marwell Zoo. The event also offered CV advice clinics and tips on how to gain employment.
Source: www.dailyecho.co.uk, 29th February 2008
The First Business Southampton Annual Conference
A new initiative involving businesses adopting a school was recently launched at the first Business Southampton Annual Conference. More than 200 business people attended the event which was a review of the year and also part of a campaign to increase skill levels in Southampton. Southampton MP and Secretary of State for Innovation and Skills, John Denham, was the keynote speaker at the event. His speech outlined why schools should forge links with local schools. For example Southampton Airport works closely with Bitterne Park School and this link has helped students learn about business, and also helped staff develop their skills.
Originally there were only a few business involved in Business Southampton, but this has now grown to 88. Over the next four years the organisation will be working on six key priorities which are: selling and promoting Southampton, Southampton port city futures, tourism and visitor economy, business leadership, city centre management and city champions.
Source: www.dailyecho.co.uk, 29th February 2008
Increase in Sales Over Fairtrade Fortnight
Retailers in Southampton which sell Fairtrade goods have reported a rise in sales as part of Fairtrade Fortnight. Fairtrade Fortnight ran until 9 March and promoted the initiative which has been supported by comedian Harry Hill and TV presenter Gail Porter. In order to be a Fairtrade-accredited retailer, producers have to be paid a minimum price which covers the cost of sustainable production. An extra premium must also be invested in community development projects. Products available include coffee, chocolate, bananas, clothes and jewellery. The Fairtrade Shop in Southampton has reported an increase in sales by four percent on last year.
Source: www.dailyecho.co.uk, February 2008
Praise for Business Courses at Brockenhurst College
Business, law and administration courses at Brockenhurst College have been praised by Ofsted. The business administration department at the college has been chosen by Ofsted as an example of innovative best practice in how it runs its own business centre. The centre at Brockenhurst allows students to gain practical experience. Ofsted visited 23 colleges across the country which had been rated as ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ in recent Ofsted inspections of business courses. The principal at the college believes its success is down to its partnership with employers and its provision of courses which are relevant to the industry.
Source: www.dailyecho.co.uk, 13th February 2008
Council Produce Draft Parking Policy
Council chiefs in Southampton have put together a draft parking policy with the aim of avoiding increasing congestion as the city expands with more homes and businesses. Plans include a cap on new city centre spaces after consultants found that at peak times there were 3,000 unused spaces. Higher parking charges may be introduced to encourage people to use other forms of transport such as bicycles and buses. It has also been proposed that residents should pay for all parking permits.
In the past 12 months parking charges have already increased twice, and £2 overnight charges have been brought in to multi-storey car parks. David Redgewell, a spokesman for the Campaign for Better Transport feels that more investment in buses is needed for the policy to work. He argues that a bus station in the city centre with a facility for people to wait for buses would encourage people to use public transport.
Source: www.dailyecho.co.uk, 11th February 2008
IW College is Awarded Beacon Status
The Isle of Wight College has been awarded Beacon Status following its recent successful Ofsted inspection. Beacon Status recognises excellence and innovation within the further education system. Staff at the college attended an award celebration in London on 28 January. Debbie Lavin who is principal of the college said: “I am thrilled that the achievements of my students and staff should be recognised at national level and that the quality of our provision be described as ‘world class’. This will only act as further motivation to maintain and extend our position and performance.”
Beacon Status has also been awarded to The Isle of Wight College COOLspot (Centres of Open and On-line learning) learndirect centres.
Source: www.iwcollege.ac.uk, 5th February 2008
Fire Damages St Helen’s Youth Club
The St Helen’s Youth Club has been damaged by fire and it is thought that the cost to the building could be more than £100,000. The fire badly damaged the rear of the building and this section may have to be completely rebuilt. The roof and the kitchen area have been destroyed. The building is used as a youth club for the village but also for several other clubs including the horticultural society and the Girls’ Venture Corps.
Source: www.iwcp.co.uk, 27th February 2008
Opening of New Recruitment Company
A recruitment company has opened new premises at Grays Walk, Newport. The company is called The Hire Standard (THS) Resourcing and intends to provide skilled personnel for Island businesses. THS Resourcing specialises in temporary and permanent staff for a number of different industries and it has recently been named as the preferred supplier to the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. The firm was set up six years ago and its head office is in Farringdon, London.
Source: www.iwcp.co.uk, 1st February 2008
Award for Environmentally Friendly Fish Bar
Jude Atrill, of Jude’s Fish Bar in Wellington Road, Carisbrooke Park has won a National Seafish Community Award. She won the award for her policies which aim to make her business as healthy, environmentally friendly and community aware as possible. For example she has swapped palm oil for rape seed oil and her used oil is sent off to become bio-diesel. She uses IW potatoes and buys cod from a British boat with any off cuts being given to a local fisherman to use for his lobster pots. Jude also raises money for the Hampshire and IW Air Ambulance.
Source: www.iwcp.co.uk, 29th February 2008
Campaign to Keep a Motorcycle Test Centre on the Island
A protest was recently held on the Island as part of a campaign to keep the Island’s motorcycle test centre. More than 100 riders attended the meeting. It is thought that the testing centre could close due to changes to the motorcycle test which mean that riders would have to travel to the mainland for their motorcycle examination. The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) are now considering two alternative sites on the Island at Smallbrook Stadium and Rookley HGV testing centre.
Source: www.iwcp.co.uk, 27th February 2008
Refurbishment of Stores on the Island
Hunnyhill Stores Group owns nine shops on the Island and is carrying out a major refurbishment of all its premises. The refurbishments are being supported by co-investment from SPAR’s regional distribution company, Appleby Westward Ltd. Hunnyhill Stores Group did operate three SPAR shops on the Island, but recently acquired 6 more from C I Newsagents Ltd. The company has said that if the current nine shops prove successful they may take on extra staff. They have also done a deal with a local farmer which means they will be offering local produce for sale such as cabbage, potatoes and free range eggs.
Source: www.iwcp.co.uk, 1st February 2008
BCOT Hosts BETA Engineering Employers Breakfast Forum
Basingstoke College of Technology (BCOT) which runs the BETA training centre in Joule Road, recently hosted the annual BETA Engineering Employers Breakfast Forum. The main issue which was discussed was the skills gap in engineering. The national picture shows that there is an ageing population in engineering and manufacturing and that this workforce may not have the skills to meet current or future demands which will be placed on the industry. Chris Wright who is Head of Engineering at BCOT claimed that such forums are important as they help the college to find out the needs of local businesses. The input of businesses can be used to design and develop qualifications that will meet the needs of businesses in the future.
Source: www.basingstokegazette.co.uk, 19th February 2008
Job Losses at Capgemini
Capgemini, one of the world’s leading technology service companies is leaving Basingstoke, resulting in the loss of 95 jobs. The company provides information technology for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and is closing down its operations at Loddon House, Basing View. The chief executive of Capgemini Aspire said: “Aspire is a significant element of spend for HMRC and consequently Capgemini has committed to reduce the costs of IT service delivery and align the operation to the anticipated lower volumes of business.” Across the company there will be 450 redundancies. Capgemini have made it clear that the 95 employees from Basingstoke will be given the support they need to find new employment.
Source: www.basingstokegazette.co.uk, 26th February 2008
Basingstoke in Bloom
Businesses in Basingstoke are being urged to support the Basingstoke in Bloom contest and the South and South East in Bloom competition. In the past these competitions have helped project a positive image of Basingstoke. The competitions encourage residents, businesses and organisations to transform gardens, buildings and shop fronts with floral displays. Businesses can also sponsor the competition and those that do, will benefit from their affiliation with the scheme through different packages that require varying levels of investment. More information about the competitions can be found by calling Liane Green on 01256 845630 or visiting the website at http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/inbloom
Source: www.basingstokegazette.co.uk, 27th February 2008
Butcher Wins Award for Outstanding Customer Service
Sole Butchers in Alresford has been recognised by the local chamber of commerce in its annual awards for outstanding customer service. Local resident Edith Roadnight nominated the butchers because they regularly deliver her shopping to her home as she has difficulty carrying it home. Mark Sole, manager of Sole Butchers said: “To us, this is what makes being part of such a strong community so special, and we’re lucky to have such great relationships with our customers. The award is fantastic news for us, marking our 15th year in the business, and we’d like to thank everyone who thought of us.”
Source: www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk, 26th February 2008
New Homes to be Built in Kings Worthy
The go ahead has been given for 19 new homes to be built on the edge of Kings Worthy. Drew Homes Ltd will develop the site at 122-128 Lovedon Lane. They will first knock down three homes at the location. The development will consist of houses ranging from one bedroom to five bedrooms. About a third of the properties will be affordable homes. 37 car parking spaces will be created and there will be a link through to Broadview Recreation Ground. The developers are giving £31,000 to Kings Worthy’s open spaces fund and £7,000 will given to improve recreation facilities at Broadview.
Source: www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk, 26th February 2008
Student Discount Available at Winchester Cafe
Café de Paris in Jewry Street, Winchester is offering students a 15 percent discount as long as they are able to show a valid student card. Manager, Alex Vassilakis said: “Students today have so many financial pressures on their pocket, but that doesn’t mean they should be left with unhealthy take-aways and beans on toast in their stomachs.”
Source: www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk, 26th February 2008
Litter Fines for Businesses that Don’t Clean Up
Businesses in Basingstoke that do not control the litter that they produce may face fines. This is due to a crackdown by the Borough Council. Traders in the town have received letters from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council reminding them of their responsibilities to provide bins and ensure they clear up any litter which is left by their customers. The council can issue traders a £100 fine if they fail to comply with a street litter control notice. If the trader is convicted in a court case the fine could rise to a maximum of £2,500.
Source: www.basingstokegazette.co.uk, 23rd February 2008
