Developer relieved of Watford Fields changing room obligation after mayor calls halt
9:30am Friday 8th June 2012 in News By Mike Wright, Chief Reporter
Politicians have relieved a developer of its £250,000 obligation to build sports changing rooms in central Watford after the elected mayor's dramatic decision to pull the plug on the project.
Mayor Dorothy Thornhill halted building work on Watford Fields in April after it provoked an outcry from residents who said they had no idea it was going to take place.
At a meeting of Watford Borough Council’s development control committee last night, councillors were asked to formally end the developer Taylor Wimpey of its obligation to provide the changing rooms.
The motion was passed but some councillors expressed regret the chance to get new changing rooms on the playing fields had been lost.
Woodside Liberal Democrat, Alan Burtenshaw said: “We had an opportunity to make some big improvements to these facilities and now we have no other option but to approve this recommendation.”
Taylor Wimpey had initially agreed to pay £250,000 to Watford Borough Council to build the facilities as part of its 2008 permission to build the 129-home development on the Watford Springs site.
The changing rooms were to be used for Sunday league teams who play on Watford Fields.
However in 2010 the developer struck a deal with the council where it would build the changing rooms itself instead of paying the £250,000.
Later that year the company received planning permission to build the changing rooms on the eastern end of the northern playing field, but that plan was aborted as it was discovered there were three sewers running under the site.
In September last year Taylor Wimpey was then given the go-ahead to build the changing rooms at the western end of the fields and work started in April.
Yet the outcry from residents was so fierce that Mayor Thornhill, a Liberal Democrat, called a public meeting and then halted the work on the fields.
Following her decision Taylor Wimpey said it had spent £85,766 on the project by the time it was ended. At last night’s meeting councillors asked why residents had not been properly forewarned that work on the fields was due to start.
Paul Baxter, the officer in charge, said he had sent letters out notifying residents near the site of the aborted 2010 plan for the eastern end of the fields.
He said he had received no reaction from those letters and considered that plan more controversial as it was nearer to houses, so did not send out letters for the second proposal.
“The western end seemed a less controversial location,” Mr Baxter told the committee.
“In hindsight I was wrong.”
Opposition Labour and Conservative councillors asked if the £250,000 initially promised could not be used for another changing rooms project.
But they were told it had been agreed solely for the Watford Fields project.
Oxhey Lib Dem Iain Sharpe, the mayor's husband, said he felt the problems with the project had come about as it fell between two council departments, planning and parks.
However he said he felt people in the area should have been given more warning of the plans.
“It’s better safe than sorry with green spaces as it is something that they may not have seen the full impact of,” said Councillor Sharpe.
“Therefore it is always safer to give people more information to draw from.”
In the end all six Liberal Democrat councillors on the committee voted to lift the Section 106 obligation.
The two Labour councillors, Nigel Bell and Anne Joynes and Conservative Steve Johnson abstained.
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Source: www.watfordobserver.co.uk
Asda's New Potatoes: Amcor Flexibles and QV Foods Bring an Innovative, Gentle Steaming Solution to the UK Fresh Produce Market - ThomasNet Industrial News Room
AMCOR Flexibles
747 Bowman Ave.
Hagerstown, MD, 21740
USA
Press release date: May 22, 2012
Amcor Flexibles and QV Foods are passionate about providing the very best quality and taste to consumers. When Asda in the UK decided to develop two new delicious ready-to-cook potato products, QV Foods and Amcor Flexibles worked hand in hand to deliver an outstanding solution.
QV Foods is synonymous with the growing and marketing of high class potatoes. They created two exciting new ready-to-cook offerings for Asda: New Potatoes with a splash of mint oil, topped with melting rich butter and fragrant herbs and New Potatoes with a splash of fiery chilli oil, topped with a melting sun-dried tomato and basil butter. "We wanted to ensure that the packaging which protects the Asda New Potatoes also allows for optimum first time cooking" said Kevin Woods, Group Business Product Development Manager at QV Foods.
Amcor Flexibles provided the perfect solution with its Amcor ProtectValve self-venting system for microwave cooking. This easy-to-use system integrated into the lidding film means that the pack does not have to be pierced. It gives improved cooking results as it allows pressure to be built up inside the pack, steaming the product gently in its own juices and helping vitamin retention. The reduced cooking time versus conventional boiling significantly reduces the amount of energy used and it is also safer for the consumer as steam will only escape from a designated point on the lid - thus avoiding the risk of scalding. Amcor Flexibles has used its well-known P-Plus film in conjunction with the ProtectValve bringing enhanced shelf life as well as superior quality. "Not only have we delivered a perfect solution but also an innovation for UK consumers" says David Mayers, Sales Manager Fresh Produce, Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas. "This is the first time Amcor's ProtectValve has been applied to lidding material for fresh produce in the UK." he added. Asda launched the two New Potato ready-to-cook recipes in April 2012 in both 360g and 590 g for the butter and herbs product and in 360g for the sun-dried chilli product. Amcor Flexibles Fresh Produce division is the original and leading supplier of solutions for the Fresh Produce market with a dedicated team of experienced food scientists across Europe and focus on customer partnership.
About Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas
With 69 plants in 23 countries, Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas, a division of Amcor, is a market leader and the world's largest supplier of flexible packaging. We deliver innovative packaging solutions and provide enhanced quality products for the food, beverage, pharma, personal care, medical and industrial markets. Its award winning approach towards sustainability makes Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas the preferred partner for customers looking for responsible packaging solutions. For more information visit www.amcor.com.
About Amcor
Amcor Limited is a global leader in responsible packaging solutions, employing more than 33,000 people worldwide, operating in 42 countries across 300 sites. Amcor supplies a broad range of plastic (rigid and flexible), fibre, metal and glass packaging solutions to enhance the products consumers use in everyday life. Amcor also provides packaging-related services that help customers succeed through collaboration and innovation driven by art and science. Amcor is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. For more information visit www.amcor.com.
About QV Foods
QV Foods is a wholly owned subsidiary of its parent company, AH Worth, a family business based in Lincolnshire. It operates from purpose built factories in Holbeach - Lincolnshire, March - Cambridgeshire & Inchture - Perthshire, whilst farming 4,500 acres of prime Lincolnshire land. QV offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise throughout the supply chain of fresh and prepared potatoes and vegetables. Our asset base and business structure provide a sound basis for continued growth. We continually reinvest in source development, new product offerings and varieties to ensure that the business remains at the forefront in product development and innovation. The management team prides itself in understanding each customer's unique demands and tailoring services to exceed expectations. For more information visit www.qvfoods.com.
David Mayers
Sales Manager
Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas
Fresh Produce
T: + 44 7966 536394
E: david.mayers@amcor.com
Kevin Woods
Group Business Development Manager
QV Foods/Fresh Approach
T: +44 7740025992
E: kevin.woods@qvfoods.com
Communication Manager
Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas
Fresh, Dairy, Capsules
T: +33 6 07 11 22 86
E: karen.quirchove@amcor.com
Source: news.thomasnet.com
Mariappa and McGinn latest (From Watford Observer) - Watford Observer
Update on Watford's Stephen McGinn and Reading target Adrian Mariappa
12:00pm Friday 8th June 2012 in Sport 
Watford have rejected Reading’s bid for Adrian Mariappa but the immediate future of team-mate Stephen McGinn remains in doubt.
Mariappa was the subject of a bid in excess of £2m, including add-ons, but the Hornets have confirmed the offer has been rejected.
The 25-year-old, pictured, has enjoyed the best season of his career, picking up the Watford Observer Player of the Season Trophy, and with only a year left on his contract, the club are likely to receive more bids in the future.
It is unclear whether recently-promoted Reading, whose first-team coach Nigel Gibbs will know Mariappa from his time at Watford, will come back in for the centre-back.
The father of three’s performances in the first half of last season attracted the interest of Premier League sides Newcastle United and Wigan Athletic, who both made bids for the defender.
We understand there have not been any fresh bids for Mariappa, or any other Hornets players, in the last week.
Whilst Mariappa’s long-term future remains unclear, it is McGinn’s failure to sign a new contract with Watford which will be of immediate concern to Hornets followers.
McGinn’s current deal expires on June 30 and despite a new contract being on the table for some time, the midfielder has yet to sign.
The Hornets hierarchy have not given up hope that the player will put pen to paper though, despite his contract expiring in three weeks time.
The 23-year-old has not played a competitive game since February 2011 after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in a collision with team-mate Adam Thompson and forward Jason Euell.
McGinn, who has scored two goals in 42 appearances since his arrival from St Mirren in 2010, returned to full training in March and played a handful of Reserve matches towards the end of last season, but was not handed a first-team outing.
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Source: www.watfordobserver.co.uk
Watford Community Housing Trust - The Guardian
Established
2007
Regions
Watford
Stock
5,000
Turnover
£22m
Number of staff
170
Key areas of work
General needs social housing; supported housing
Inspection results
One star with excellent prospects for improvement
Chief executive
Tina Barnard
Tina is a board member of Watford & District YMCA and Watford CAB, as well as being on One Watford, the Local Strategy Partnership and a board member of HARI. She is also a member of the National Housing Federation's east regional committee.
Finance director
Julie Robinson, CIPFA
Julie was appointed director of resources in April 2011 at Watford Community Housing Trust, prior to that she was the head of finance at the Trust. Julie qualified in 1996 and has held senior finance positions across the country in LSVTs since then. She is also a member of the CIPFA RSL Panel and is a trustee on the board at Watford Peace Hospice.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
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