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LOCAL NEWS
- Jan 2008
KENT AND MEDWAY
Eurostar Celebrates Record Breaking 2007
Eurostar has announced increased ticket sales and a record number of passengers for 2007. £599 million was spent on Eurostar tickets last year, a rise of 15.5 % on the previous year. The company also reports 8.26 million passengers used the service. Eurostar representatives put their success down to faster journey times; travellers’ reluctance to use air travel due to fears for the environment; and the opening of their new High Speed 1 service from St Pancras and Ebbsfleet International stations. Since the new service opened, regular ticket sales have increased by nearly 20% and business traffic also increased by 12% on the previous year. As reported previously, the Kent area has suffered from the opening of the new service due to Eurostar reducing its stops at Ashford International station, a move widely condemned in the county.
Source: Kent Messenger, 9th Jan 2008
Fifty Six Post Offices to Close in Kent
After a 6 week consultation period, Post Office Ltd has decided to close 56 of the 58 branches they earmarked for closure in Kent. The two saved branches are the Hawkhurst branch and the Cliffsend branch near Ramsgate. Kent County Council have strongly criticised the closures and have asked for alternative provision to be provided for communities that will be adversely affected by the closures. The Government has promised to provide five hundred outreach facilities to compensate for the 2,500 branches that will close across the country but so far, no money has been promised from Post Office Ltd to fund mobile branches. Nor has there been any provision to aid co-locating branches to churches, shops or village halls.
Source: Hawkinge Gazette, 8th Dec 2007
Kent Water Companies to Merge
South East Water and Mid Kent Water are set to merge and form the second biggest water company in the country. The companies only need to wait for final regulatory clearance to go ahead with the proposed deal which will serve 2.1 million customers across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire with 565 million litres of water. The company plans to offer £4 million in price cuts to bills in 2008-9 in a one-off deal as part of the merger agreement. South East Water also plans to move its head office to Snodland in Medway where 150 new jobs could be created if a proposed customer service call centre opens. Unfortunately, the merger could also see as many as 138 jobs lost from other departments.
Source: Kentnews.co.uk, 6th Dec 2007
South East Employers Encouraged to Enter Apprenticeship Awards 2008
Employers from across the South East region are being encouraged to enter the Apprenticeship Awards 2008 run by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The awards seek to highlight and congratulate the work of apprentices who have improved themselves and their organisation’s performance as well as rewarding employers for trying to combat skills shortages. Companies of all sizes can enter the competition and the regional awards will be held on May 22nd 2008 at Ascot Racecourse. The commended individuals will then be considered for a place at the national awards which will take place on July 10th. Entries must be in by February 29th. For more information, call 0800 954 8896 or visit http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/awards.
Source: Kent Messenger, 3rd Jan 2008
Wind Turbines for Kent could Create Jobs
New Government energy plans could see further wind turbines being built in offshore locations around the UK including Kent. There are also plans to build the largest wind farm in the world, the London Array, in the Thames Estuary off the North Kent coast. Both these plans could create a significant amount of jobs in Kent especially if the London Array turbines are to be built at the Port of Rochester. The London Array will house341 turbines and will generate 1 gigawatt of energy. The Government also wants to see 7,000 more turbines built in the UK by 2020 to generate 33 gigawatts of energy. This equates to 2 turbines for every mile of the country’s coastline which is good news for Kent whose coastline occupies more miles than any other UK county.
Source: Kentnews, 10th Dec 2007
Report Claims Employment Prospects in Kent Improving
A new report commissioned by the Royal Bank of Scotland has found that more jobs were created in the South East in November 2007 than in any other month in the last ten years. Other findings of the report show that The South East outperformed most other nationwide business sectors in 2007 but it also reported its slowest rate of expansion for two years. Economists warn that growth may slow down as the New Year has seen credit conditions continuing to tighten and lower confidence in the business community than mid year 2007.
Source: Kent on Sunday, 16th Dec 2007
New Study Highlights Kent’s Growing Business Community
A study published by the independent business specialist Jordans has found that almost 70,000 new companies established themselves in the South East in 2007. Jordans, which specialises in company formations, business information and corporate services, estimate that around 5,706 companies per month were established in the South East last year. Company formations in the region were at their highest in February and March which was probably down to companies wishing to establish themselves before the end of the tax year. In fact, the South East saw the second highest rate of company formations in the country last year, beaten only by London. The combined figures of the South East and London’s newly established companies makes up almost half the companies formed in Wales, Scotland or England in 2007.
Source: Kent on Sunday, 9th Dec 2007
Developer Chosen to Refurbish Fifteen Kent Secondary Schools
A partnership between Land Securities Trillium and the IT company Northgate Information Solutions has been chosen as the preferred bidder by Kent County Council to redevelop 15 Kent secondary schools. The project will cost £600 million and will focus on secondary schools in the Gravesham, Swale and Thanet areas. This initial project is part of a wider fifteen year £1.8 billion initiative to redevelop all of Kent’s secondary schools. 3 schools will be funded through PFI, and the other 12 through Building for the Future. Phase two of the project will concentrate on schools in Ashford, Canterbury, Dover and Shepway. Phase three will focus on schools in Dartford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. Three of the schools in the first wave of the project, Northfleet Technology College, Thamesview and St John’s Roman Catholic School, will be demolished and completely rebuilt. It is hoped that the deal between the partnership and the council will be finalised this coming June, with an estimated project end date of 2014.
Source: Kent on Sunday, 23rd Dec 2007
Developers Named for Medway Regeneration Project
Crest Nicholson plc and BioRegional Quintain have been named as the developers who will take charge of the first six hundred houses to be built as part of the £108 million Rochester Riverside development. The decision, which will need to be ratified by the full council this January, was made by landowners, the South East England Development Agency and Medway Council. The site is seven hectares in size upon which homes will be developed. Later developments will add 1,400 homes onto the initial development as well as community facilities including a primary school and healthcare facilities. Bars and hotels will also feature in the developments. A quarter of the housing will be affordable. At a total of thirty hectares with flood defence work required, the development will be one of the biggest brownfield sites of the Thames Gateway Regeneration project. The council expects that the redevelopment project will ultimately create 16,000 homes and 20,000 jobs for the area.
Source: Kent on Sunday, 2nd Dec 2007
Medway Power Station Plans Opposed
Plans to build two new coal fired power stations at Kingsnorth near Rochester, creating potential job opportunities, have been opposed by environmental protestors who claim it is old technology. Medway Council recently put forward no objections to plans submitted by the energy company E.ON UK for the new power stations and must now wait to see if the final go ahead is given by the Government. If given approval, the coal fired power stations will be the first the UK has seen in twenty four years but the proposed development has already received nearly 9,000 objections from members of the public who claim that the stations will damage the environment. E.ON UK claims that if construction is allowed, the power stations will be able to provide energy to 1.5 million homes by 2012. There is debate over whether E.ON’s proposed ‘cubic capacity’ is viable in the first half of the century.
Source: BBC website, 3rd Jan 2008
London Firm plans Move to Dartford
London-based company Moss Electrical has bought a 150,000 sq ft warehouse facility in Sandpit Road, Dartford for £8 million. The company, which is one of the UK’s largest independent electrical wholesalers, hopes to treble its storage capacity with the new facility. Since being bought from previous owners AXA Real Estate, the warehouse has been re-fitted to provide extra work and stock space as well as training facilities. The company has added four locals to its existing 80 strong workforce and will employ several more in the near future, with the promise of more job opportunities to follow.
Source: Kent Messenger, 3rd Jan 2008
Sheerness Dockyard Plans in Danger
Twenty seven flats planned for Sheerness Dockyards and sixty nine further houses to be built at Harbour Estate have been put in jeopardy after Swale council looks set to reject plans submitted by the developer. The refurbishment, which would also include a car park and an access road look set to be rejected due to the fact that they don’t meet the high quality design standards expected by the planning officer and fail to meet with aims and objectives relating to structure and local plan policies. The plans have also met with considerable opposition from the general public who claim that the development would spoil an area of historic beauty.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 4th Jan 2008
Faversham Brewer Hopes to Expand Trade to India
Shepherd Neame, the popular real ale producer, is looking to expand business by exporting its beers to India. The company’s export manager, along with 6 other British brewers, recently held a tasting session at the British Embassy in Delhi to encourage Indian importers to take an interest in their products. The event was hosted by the British High Commission and organised by the British Beer and Pubs Association with over seventy Indian agents, distributors and importers attending. Repesentatives from Shepherd Neame believe that there is a substantial amount of money to be made for the Kent region by breaking into the lucrative Asian market particularly since India has halved import duty on beer.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 12th Dec 2007
Faversham to Keep National Fruit Collection
Jobs were saved in Faversham recently after it was announced that the National Fruit Collection is to stay in the town. This news comes after a rival bid was launched from Brogdale Horticultural Trust, Imperial College and East Malling Research to take the collection to East Malling after fears were expressed for the collection’s safety in its current location. Despite the fact that the rival bid was supported by Kent County Council, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs decided not to move the collection and has appointed the University of Reading to take over its curation and maintenance as of next April. Brogdale Farm, the collection’s home, is currently undergoing a £1 million refurbishment to make its premises more attractive to tourists.
Source: Kent Messenger, 3rd Jan 2008
New Boss for Kent Science Park
Kent Science Park, which is based near Sittingbourne and is home to 80 businesses, has a new boss. James Speck will take on the role of site director and will help to develop plans to expand the site by building 4,500 homes. In turn, the park hopes that revenue from these homes will go towards funding a business expansion that could generate a possible 5,000 new jobs for the area. Plans, which include a new link road to the M2, are likely to be controversial at this rural site.
Source: Kent Messenger, 3rd Jan 2008
Medway and East Kent to become Property Hotspots
New research, recently published by Halifax Estate Agents, claims that parts of Medway and East Kent are set to become property hotspots once high speed commuter train services become operational in the region late next year. It is thought that the infrastructure improvements made to East Kent and Medway will mean that these areas will outperform the South East as a whole in terms of average house price growth. It is also believed that seaside towns in Kent will benefit from the improved commuter links due to the fact that many potential home buyers see proximity to the sea as highly desirable. Coastal locations also benefit from having large amounts of affordable housing. High house price growth can lead to social and labour market difficulties in recruiting public sector workers.
Source: Kentnews, 3rd Jan 2008
Bus Station to Replace Chatham Flyover
A £5 million bus station is set to replace Chatham flyover after Medway Council halted months of debate and public consultation by approving plans for the flyover’s demolition. The Chatham flyover was initially closed in September 2006 but was re-opened in 2007. The decision was made to demolish it after it was established that the flyover was not helping to ease congestion in the town. The new bus station will replace the current station located at the Pentagon with the latter then being in a position to benefit from an £80m revamp. The development is part of Medway’s £1 billion regeneration plan in which Chatham will play a key role.
Source: Kentnews, 19th Dec 2007
Five Care Homes to Close in Medway and Sittingbourne
Medway Primary Care Trust (PCT) has decided to close five care homes for the mentally ill in Medway and Sittingbourne meaning that more than 80 social care workers seem set to lose their jobs. The PCT is closing the homes after a review concluded that the homes did not cater to the individual needs of residents. The homes, which currently look after 24 residents, will close in October 2008 and as of yet, Medway PCT does not know what type of care will be available for these residents in the future. Additionally, council representatives are not able to confirm that there will be alternative employment for the 84 staff members who will lose their jobs.
Source: Kentnews 13th Dec 2007
Derelict Herne Bay Shop to be turned into Italian Restaurant
£1 million is to be spent refurbishing a derelict seafront shop in Herne Bay, bringing both new jobs and housing. The shop will be turned into an Italian restaurant and nine luxury flats will be built to replace five bedsits and two flats located above the shop. The property developer, who also owns an Italian restaurant in Whitstable, was given planning permission on Christmas Eve. Work on the site at 64-65 Central Parade will begin this January with the flats, consisting of two one bedroom and seven two bedroom apartments, being put up for sale when they are finished.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 4th Jan 2008
Littlebourne Pub Care Home Conversion Plans
The King William IV pub in Littlebourne could be converted into a day centre. The day centre would be linked to the Littlebourne House Residential Care Home which is currently over-subscribed and in need of extra space. Additional rooms and cottages would be part of the proposed conversion. The owners of the King William IV pub are considering selling their property to Littlebourne House because they have lost business in recent years to other local pubs. The owners of Littlebourne House have high ambitions for the pub, promising to convert it into a day care and community centre from which the whole community can benefit. They plan to install entertainment facilities and new kitchens for the benefit of residents. Canterbury City Council is currently considering the plans.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 4th Jan 2008
Thanet Council Considers Changes to Port of Ramsgate
Conservative councillors in Thanet are expected to recommend that changes be made to the way that the Port of Ramsgate is run in order to unlock its potential as a major contributor to the local economy. Any plans to build the London Array wind farm at the port could be jeopardised if improvements, such as dredging a sandbank blocking the entrance, are not made. The council, alongside all local authorities that manage ports, has been asked by Government to assess options for future port management. The first option is for the council to take a lesser role in the running of the port and form a local authority company, turning the port into a commercially run business. The second option is to completely remove the port from council control and make it into an independent trust with the proviso that all profits are routed back into the port and other local projects. Option three is the port management committee harbour board model which is favoured by the Government. If the London Array wind farm is built at the Port of Ramsgate, it will generate an estimated 800 jobs for the area.
Sources: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 2nd Jan 2008/BBC website, 21st Dec 2007
Possible Redundancies at Ursuline College
Department spending has been frozen at Ursuline College in Westgate which may result in staff redundancies as a result of financial difficulties. Kent County Council has drawn up a recovery plan to help the stricken school which will need to lose the equivalent of one and a half staff members and cut GCSE options if it is to recover from its £100,000 deficit. It is thought that the necessary cut-backs could be achieved by some staff members agreeing to work reduced hours. The head teacher at the school blames its debt problems on serious long term sickness issues amongst her staff and claims that the money saving measures will have a minimal impact on the 778 pupils who attend the school.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 2nd Jan 2008
Herne Bay ‘Eyesore’ Bought by Property Developer
A site on the corner of Bank Street and the High Street in Herne Bay has been bought by a property developer in a bid to redevelop what has been described as the town’s biggest ‘eyesore’. The site was not sold when put up for auction at an asking price of between £900,000 and £1 million. After the auction, the managing director of Baxter Homes bought it for an undisclosed sum. The redevelopment is planned to include 11 shops, 12 two bedroom apartments, 6 one bedroom apartments and 3 maisonettes which will be completed within the next eighteen months. Planning consent has already been granted by Canterbury City Council.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 2nd Jan 2008
Public backs Dreamland Regeneration Plan
Plans set out by Thanet Council to regenerate the local Dreamland fun park have been approved by the public. The council has proposed that the site be predominantly kept as a fun park with some of the land being converted into housing. 97% of the public who were consulted felt that the site should retain a fun park element but only 55% agreed that some of the site should be used for housing. Despite this, council officials have argued that housing is a necessary part of the planning because without it, there would not be enough funding for a new park. 75% of public consultees were also in favour of building a 250 space car park. Potential planning applications are now being welcomed from developers.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 24th Dec 2007
Kent International Airport adds Jersey to its Flight Destinations
Travel company, CI Travel Holdings, will be offering charter flights to Jersey from Kent International Airport (KIA) at 3pm every Saturday from this May. The flight, which will allow passengers to spend a week on the island, will take an hour and CI Travel Holdings chose KIA to host its flights because of its low cost parking, quick check in times and lack of congestion on roads leading into the airport. KIA representatives predict the new Jersey flights will prove popular with the public since many enquiries are made about flights to the island. Other recent good news for KIA has seen travel company, Kent Escapes, renewing their flights from the airport to destinations including Las Palmas in the Canary Islands and Palma in Majorca.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 24th Dec, 2007
Residents Complain Herne Bay being Over-Developed
Another planning application for a derelict site in Herne Bay has prompted residents to claim that there is too much development being undertaken in the area. Great Homes Ltd wants to demolish a bungalow on Sea View Road and build 12 flats on the site but substantial public opposition has been lodged against the application claiming that the height of the building would overshadow other residences. Opponents also claim the does not need any more ‘non-affordable’ housing. The current application replaces a previous plan from Great Homes Ltd to build 14 flats on the site. The original application was rejected and both the public and the developer must now await the decision of the council to decide whether the development will go ahead.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 17th Dec 2007
Whitstable Market Saved from Closure
Canterbury City Council has overturned a recent decision to close Whitstable market and will instead turn it into a co-operative market trader venture as of April 2008. A campaign, spearheaded by the Whitstable Times newspaper and supported by around 1,000 members of the public, led to the reversal of the decision. Fourteen market traders voulnteered to form the management committee and in their business plan, they reafirm their commitment to working with local businesses and town centre planners to promote and improve the market and to provide an economic boost to the area as a whole.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 17th Dec 2007
Medway and East Kent to become Property Hotspots
New research, recently published by Halifax Estate Agents, claims that parts of Medway and East Kent are set to become property hotspots once high speed commuter train services become operational in the region late next year. It is thought that the infrastructure improvements made to East Kent and Medway will mean that these areas will outperform the South East as a whole in terms of average house price growth. It is also believed that seaside towns in Kent will benefit from the improved commuter links due to the fact that many potential home buyers see proximity to the sea as highly desirable. Coastal locations also benefit from having large amounts of affordable housing. High house price growth can lead to social and labour market difficulties in recruiting public sector workers.
Source: Kentnews, 3rd Jan 2008
New Shopping Centre Boosts Folkestone’s Economic Performance
Owners of the Bouverie Place Shopping Centre in Folkestone have announced that sales have been consistently high since it opened in late November last year, reversing a trend for local shoppers to travel to Canterbury or Ashford for their Christmas shopping. The owners of Bouverie Place, which plays host to such high street names as Bhs; HMV; Body Shop; and Peacocks, have put the popularity of the new shopping centre down to the large amount of parking space provided and its close proximity to the rest of Folkestone’s town centre.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 3rd Jan 2008
Dover Based Ferry Company adds New Ship to its Fleet
SeaFrance, the successful Dover-based ferry company, has added a new ship to its fleet at an estimated cost of £90 million. The luxury craft will be able to accommodate 1,400 passengers, 650 cars and 120 units of freight. SeaFrance made the purchase to capitalise on an increase in cross channel trade which saw the company enjoy a strong economic performance in 2007. It hopes this growth will continue into 2008. It is thought that SeaFrance will lose two of its older ships with its new acquisition, but this will not lead to any redundancies. The company currently employs 183 British staff, most of whom are from the Shepway area.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 3rd Jan 2008
Medway and East Kent to Become Property Hotspots
New research recently published by Halifax Estate Agents claims that parts of Medway and East Kent are set to become property hotspots once high speed commuter train services become operational in the region late next year. It is thought that the infrastructure improvements made to East Kent and Medway will mean that these areas will outperform the South East as a whole in terms of average house price growth. It is also believed that seaside towns in Kent will benefit from the improved commuter links due to the fact that many potential home buyers see a close proximity to the sea as being desirable. These types of locations also benefit from having large amounts of affordable housing available.
Source: Kentnews, 3rd Jan 2008
Dover Regeneration Project set to Start
The multi-million pound Dover Town Centre regeneration project will begin in late January following Dover District Council’s (DDC) agreement to acquire the land. The main element of the project will be an 85,000 square foot ASDA supermarket with extra developments including 53 affordable homes; a 100 bedroom hotel, 35,000 square foot set-aside for additional shop and restaurant outlets; and a 600 space car park. The developers are Bond City and ASDA and with help from the South East England Development Agency, DDC has already acquired land at Dolphin House; the Charrington’s site; and also the Russell Street Stagecoach depot, which is expected to be demolished by the end of May. Stagecoach is set to move to a new depot which is currently under construction in Whitfield. The development is expected to bring 500 jobs to the area
Source: Dover District Council Website, 8th Jan 2008
Deal Pier to undergo Improvements
Dover District Council recently approved plans for a range of improvements to Deal Pier including a new pier end café bar incorporating environmentally friendly features. The project will cost £1.4 million and was part of an architectural design competition to find a suitable regeneration project for the pier. The winning entry was designed by Niall Mclaughlin Architects, with Barwick Construction overseeing the construction. Environmental improvements have already been made to the pier and other regeneration projects are expected to follow. The café bar is expected to take six to eight weeks to build and should be open to the public by August or September.
Source: Dover District Council Website, 8th Jan 2008
Plans for Flats in Tonbridge Criticised
A planned development of three blocks of flats, including a 15 floor tower block for the Botany area of Tonbridge, has been criticised by the local civic society. Plans include 337 dwellings, a hundred and eleven of which will be made into affordable housing. The plans, which are due to be submitted for planning permission during January, have been opposed by Tonbridge Civic Society on the grounds that they are too large in scale and would create local unemployment, unacceptable levels of pollution and social problems. Developer Oracle Residential has promised to take the criticisms into consideration.
Source: Kent and Sussex Courier, 28th Dec 2007
Aylesford Company wins Lucrative Government Contract
Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) has won a Government contract to help people across Kent, Sussex and Surrey get off benefits and back into work. A hundred jobs will be created as part of the scheme which is part of the Pathways to Work programme already in operation nationwide. As part of the scheme, personal advisers from a range of organisations will advise people who have been long term unemployed, on how to re-enter the job market. Participants receive £40 a week in work credit and in-work assistance. The adoption of this new service in the South East will mean that the employment solutions division in RBLI will double in size from 100 to 200 employees and it is hoped that the number of people it is able to help will rise from 2,000 to 9,000 per year.
Source: Kent Messenger, 3rd Jan 2008
Kent Hotel Group wins National Award
Hand Picked Hotels, a Sevenoaks-based hotel group that owns 14 country house hotels in both Jersey and the UK, has been given the award for best marketing activity on a small budget. The company won this accolade at the annual Hotel Marketing Association’s awards. The successful campaign, which involved giving hotel booking agents the chance for them and their colleagues to win a luxury house party, is thought to have generated £200,000 in revenue for the group after an initial outlay of less than £5,000 to set up the campaign. It also generated bookings of, on average, at least one event for eleven of the fourteen hotels in the group.
Source: Kent Messenger, 3rd Jan 2008
Kent Insurance Broker gains Special Status
Towergate Insurance Brokers of Maidstone has become the largest operation of its kind to become a Chartered Broker. This means that 1,600 more workers at its head office in Maidstone and local offices nationwide, including offices in Whitstable and Sevenoaks, will be able to qualify as members of the Chartered Institute of Insurance (CII). This development will bring the number of Towergate employees who have achieved CII accreditation to over 3,000. This will go a long way towards helping the company reach its target of having the highest number of qualified employees in the industry. Towergate has expanded from its establishment in 1997 and has acquired 138 specialist insurance businesses. It currently employs over 4,000 staff, several hundred of these in Kent.
Source: Kent Messenger, 3rd Jan 2008
Cash Boost for Marlowe Theatre Refurbishment
Kent County Council has promised the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury £4 million to help with its refurbishment plans. The donation from the council will come in two instalments; with an initial payment of £2 million to be made and a further £2 million payment to be given at a later date. The theatre hopes to use this money to build a three tier auditorium as well as extra performance space and production facilities. It is hoped that the refurbishment will attract more customers to the theatre and help boost the local economy.
Source: Kentnews, 17th Dec 2007
£22 Million Boost for Ashford Regeneration Plans
Government officials from the Department of Communities and Local Government have given Ashford Borough Council a massive cash injection of over £20 million for their proposed regeneration of the town. The Department has also given the council the chance to bid for a share of a further £300 million which will be made available in the next 12 months. The regeneration is being run by Ashford’s Future, a partnership between Government agencies; the local council; and other public and private sector organisations. The partnership must now decide on what projects the most recent donation will be spent. Plans include environmental improvements; a new road; and a multi storey car park; with jobs and housing being placed at the centre of funding priorities.
Sources: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 14th Dec 2008/Ashfordsfuture website 4th Jan 2008
Cineworld in Ashford to Expand
Ashford Borough Council recently granted permission for the leisure company, Leisure II,to expand dramatically its Cineworld cinema complex in Ashford. The expansion will include the building of three new screens and two restaurants. The development, which was previously rejected by the council, must now commence within the next three years, and these plans aim to give the Eureka entertainment centre a large economic boost whilst not taking business away from the town centre. Leisure II hopes that it will also be able to trade in the centre of Ashford when suitable premises arise.
Source: Sevenoaks Chronicle, 12th Dec 2007
Preferred Developer named for Tunbridge Wells Town Centre Developments
Plans to redevelop four areas of Mid and West Kent were given a boost this month as Tunbridge Wells Borough Council named their preferred developer for the projects. The developer Glaedale, along with developer and investor John Laing plc, has been selected to draw up plans for redevelopments to town centres in Cranbrook, Paddock Wood, Royal Tunbridge Wells and Southborough. Developments are likely to include shops, offices and new homes whilst attempting to preserve the historic settings of each town centre. The project is part of a ten year plan by the council to boost the area’s economy, and is expected to create a considerable amount of jobs over the next decade.
Source: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Website, 9th Jan 2008
Winery buys Land at Bluebell Hill
The Tenterden-based Chapel Down Winery has bought 116 acres of farmland, near Aylesford, in a bid to expand its business and become the biggest vineyard in the county. The company’s new land acquisition means that it will produce enough grapes to make 200,000 bottles of sparkling wine a year. Owners see the planting of their new vines as a long term investment with the first crops ready for picking in 2010 and the first bottles ready in time for the beginning of the Olympics in 2012. Representatives from Chapel Down estimate that around 48 million bottles of champagne are sold every year in the UK so they are hoping that they will be able to cash in on a lucrative market, in which there is an increasing demand for English sparkling wine, with their products. Such high value added agriculture will provide a boost to rural economies and labour markets.
Source: Kent Messenger, 8th Jan 2008
Airport Strikes Called Off
Strikes that would have shut Gatwick and seven more of the UK’s busiest airports were called off after union officials accepted concessions made by managers. The dispute was over BAA’s plans to close the final salary pension plan to new employees. BAA has now agreed not to change the pension scheme without proper talks. The first of the mass walkouts by firefighters, security staff and clerical workers had been planned for January 7th at Heathrow; Gatwick; Stansted; Southampton; Glasgow; Edinburgh; and Aberdeen airports.
Source: The Guardian, 4th Jan 2008
Gatwick Rail Link Changes ‘Short-sighted’
London Boroughs have criticised plans to scrap a direct rail link between Gatwick Airport and London as ‘short-sighted’. Southern Trains and the government plan to replace the Watford to Brighton service that will terminate at Clapham Junction. This would mean an end to direct services between North and West London and Gatwick Airport. Travellers using the West London Line to reach Croydon, Gatwick and Brighton will now have to change trains at Clapham Junction. The Department of Transport wants to take rolling-stock from the West London Line to use on the Thameslink service, which needs trains that can run on two kinds of power supply because of major engineering works in London. Councillors from Kensington and Chelsea; Croydon; Brent; Wandsworth; Hammersmith and Fulham; and Harrow Councils have written to Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, asking her to find a better solution.
Source: UK-Airport-News.info, 4th Dec 2007
Hand Baggage Rule Change
Since August 2006’s transatlantic liquid bomb plot, passengers at UK airports have been restricted to one item of hand luggage. This rule has now been lifted at 22 airports. Gatwick have not yet been able to satisfy the Department for Transport (DfT) that they can cope with the change without a compromise to security (increasing queues). However, the one bag rule has been lifted on some connecting flights there. The one-bag rule is being maintained for economy passengers traveling on some budget airlines including, easyJet, Ryanair and Flybe at all airports (even where the restriction has been lifted). Other restrictions, such as the carrying of liquids, remain in force. Airlines and airport groups fear that the different rules between airports and airlines may cause confusion to passengers and passengers are being urged to check and plan ahead before flying to avoid last-minute problems.
Source: UK Airport News, 6th Jan 2008
Airport Car Parking Take-Over
Holiday Extras is rebranding the Q-Park airport car parks at Gatwick; Manchester; Newcastle; and Glasgow airports. Holiday Extras acquired the car parks in October when it bought rival BCP, and now plans to give them the name of its sister company, ‘Airparks’. At Gatwick the new owners will be offering travellers the option of a Meet and Greet service and undercover parking.
Source: UK Airport News, 13th Dec 2007
Checker Cars Retains Gatwick Contract
Leading airport taxi operator Checker Cars have retained the contract to provide taxi services at Gatwick Airport. As part of the new contract Checker Cars will be making a number of improvements to their service including: replacing a significant part of their fleet with new people carrier vehicles; improving booking information for passengers; and making the booking process more efficient through a greater use of technology. Computerised booking systems, hand-held devices for staff on the forecourts and better computer systems for the taxi drivers are soon to be brought in. Improvements will also be made to other aspects of the service; including pricing structure and developing new business for journeys to the airport (concentration previously has been on providing services for passengers travelling away from the airport). Checker Cars has a fleet of over 1,000 drivers across the six top UK airports.
Source: BAA Gatwick, 11th Dec 2007
