Essex fire crews announce strike dates
11:47am Friday 22nd June 2012 in Countywide news
Fire crews in Essex have announced five days of strike action in a dispute over cuts.
Industrial action will take place on June 28, July 7, July 18, August 18 and October 18, according to the Fire Brigades Union.
The union said that Essex will have lost one in five frontline firefighters since 2008 if the current round of planned cuts go ahead.
It claims that response times to house fires are now taking longer and specialist rescue equipment is not as readily available.
A statement from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) said more than 100 Essex firefighters have declared their availability during times of severe staff shortages.
Assistant chief fire officer Dave Bill said: “Clearly the best result for all sides and for the Essex community is for no strike action to take place and for the union to accept the offer of mediation.
“We remain confident that the FBU will attend talks with ACAS on Monday.
“However, the service has a responsibility to ensure the safety of our communities and that is a responsibility we take seriously and one we are not prepared to leave to chance with the threat of strike action looming.”
Alan Chinn-Shaw, Essex FBU chair, said: “This is about cuts to frontline firefighters and changes imposed on firefighters.
“We’ve had enough and the cuts are now directly impacting on public and firefighter safety.
“The issues are about cuts and imposed and unjustified changes and these need to be addressed. The fire authority must either address the concerns or there will be strike action.”
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Source: www.essexcountystandard.co.uk
Danish Kaneria guilty of corrupting Mervyn Westfield in spot-fixing - BBC News
Danish Kaneria has been found guilty of two charges of corruption by encouraging former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield to spot-fix.
Paceman Westfield was sentenced to four months in prison in February.
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Kaneria, 31, denied the England and Wales Cricket Board's claim that he was a recruiter of spot-fixers.
Who are Kaneria and Westfield?
Kaneria was only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan when he made his Test debut in 2000 and went on to become the country's most successful Test spin bowler. He played for Essex between 2004 and 2010.
Westfield made his first-class debut for Essex in 2005 against Derbyshire at Chelmsford but left the county in 2010. He has played seven-first class games.
But the ECB said his evidence was "plainly lies" and had "no reasonable doubt" he influenced Westfield.
The charges relate to a CB40 match between Essex and Durham at the Riverside in 2009, when Westfield received £6,000 in exchange for conceding 12 runs in his first over.
Westfield, who has since been released from prison, pleaded guilty to the charge of accepting money to underperform.
Punishments for both players are to be announced on Friday afternoon.
The ECB disciplinary panel concluded that Kaneria:
- acted as a recruiter of spot-fixers
- approached a number of what he saw as potential targets at Essex
- cajoled and pressurised Westfield into becoming involved, knowing he was young and vulnerable
- was present when Westfield received his payment for underperforming.
During Westfield's trial Judge Anthony Morris said the scam had been orchestrated by Kaneria, who spent six seasons at Essex between 2004 and 2010.
But Kaneria, who played 61 Tests and 18 one-day internationals between 2000 and 2010, was never charged by the police on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
Both players were charged by the ECB in April for "alleged breaches of the ECB's anti-corruption directives".
ECB chairman Giles Clark told BBC Radio 5 live: "If somebody is found guilty of this sort of thing in a match in England that is a very sad day for cricket.
"All of us involved in this game, be it here or in other parts of the word, need to have a long, hard look at the judgment and make sure we don't have this kind of thing happening again.
"In anything where this type of things goes on, where young men are abused and are foolish, we need to do something to stop it. I want to get something out to those who are abusing them as well - we'll get you too."
The guilty verdict against Kaneria comes the day after Pakistan captain and former team-mate Salman Butt was released from a UK jail, having served seven months of a 30-month sentence for spot-fixing.
Captain Butt, 27, was jailed with seamers Mohammad Asif, 29, and Mohammad Amir, 19, for conspiring to bowl deliberate no-balls against England in the 2010 Lord's Test.
All three were also given five-year playing bans, which they are appealing against.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Vestas scraps Kent offshore wind factory plan - businessgreen.com
The UK's emerging offshore wind sector has been dealt a major blow, after Danish turbine manufacturer Vestas scrapped plans to build a factory in Kent that had been expected to create 2,000 jobs.
Vestas and the Port of Sheerness today issued a joint a statement announcing they had halted plans for the facility at a 70-hectare site where the manufacturer had planned to build its new 7MW V164 offshore wind turbines.
FURTHER READING
The statement said Vestas remained committed to the UK's wind energy market, and stressed that the company would continue to build and test blades at its R&D facility in the Isle of Wight.
"Vestas' strong commitment to the development of both the offshore and onshore wind industries is not affected by this decision," said Juan Araluce, chief sales officer for Vestas. "We will remain active across the two markets in the UK as they both continue to show considerable potential."
But the company provided no indication as to where it will now manufacture its next generation offshore turbines.
The move comes a year after Vestas signed a deal to secure exclusive rights to the land in Kent, with a view to building a manufacturing and installation facility for turbines that would supply the proposed Round 3 wind farms that will be located in deeper waters off the UK coast.
Ditlev Engel, Vestas chief executive, previously told BusinessGreen that the company would push the button on the investment as soon as sufficient orders were confirmed for its 7MW turbine.
A spokesman for Vestas told Reuters that the company had failed to secure any orders so far.
"Such a factory is conditional on concrete orders in our order book and we have not announced any signed orders at this point," he said. "We want a good pipeline of orders before we advance further and we do not have that at this point in time."
Last month Vestas announced that had delayed the pace of development for the 7MW machine. A prototype is now expected to be installed in Denmark during 2014, instead of 2013 as originally expected, with production starting "when the market is ready".
Round 3 developers are planning to start building the first wind farms in 2014-2016, however the bigger 6-7MW turbines are likely to be used for the later phases in 2018 onwards.
Trade association RenewableUK said it was disappointed by the news, but insisted the industry should not be downbeat as other manufacturers had factories in the pipeline, including Areva, which last week announced its ambition to set up a UK offshore wind turbine plant.
"Naturally we are disappointed with this decision, but as the world-leader in offshore wind, the UK remains an attractive place for manufacturers and members of the supply chain to have a base," said Maria McCaffery, chief executive of RenewableUK.
"Investors in both projects and employment are poised to follow through on pledges but delivery on green jobs needs certainty and confidence in the market, with clarity on implementation arrangements and timescales."
Mark Whitworth, chief executive of Peel Ports, said it would continue to seek contracts with other renewable energy companies.
"We are extremely disappointed that we have been unable to conclude the agreement with Vestas," he said. "However, we remain fully committed to the strategy outlined for the Port of Sheerness of attracting major renewables manufacturers to complement our valued heritage business within the significant footprint of the Port."
However, Vestas' decision will crank up pressure on the government to confirm the policy environment offshore wind developers can expect to operate in and take further steps to live up to its pledge of making the UK the world's most attractive investment environment for renewable energy.
A number of wind turbine firms, including US giant GE, are still mulling plans for new manufacturing facilities in the UK, but frustration is mounting at the government's failure to clarify the level of support renewable energy projects can expect through its electricity market reforms and the growing criticism the sector is facing from some Conservative MPs.
Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Guy Shrubsole said the news should act as a wake up call for the government to boost its support for offshore wind energy.
"The government is costing the UK jobs by failing to come up with a decent Energy Bill that supports renewables and gives investors certainty," he said. "Instead it's committing the country to a costly dash for gas that will bust our carbon targets and keep us dependent on imported gas.
"The government needs to see this as a dangerous warning that it's on the wrong path - and ensure it radically reforms the draft Energy Bill to deliver us clean, British energy and green jobs."
Source: www.businessgreen.com
Pakistan spinner Kaneria found guilty of corrupting shamed spot-fixer Westfield - Daily Mail
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Danish Kaneria has been found guilty of 'cajoling and pressurising' Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield to become involved in spot-fixing.
The England and Wales Cricket Board disciplinary panel found the Pakistani guilty on two charges, one of inducing and encouraging Westfield not to perform on his merits during a Pro 40 match for Essex against Durham in 2009, and one of bringing the game into disrepute.
Westfield pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving a reward which could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute.
The former Essex duo are expected to be sanctioned by the ECB later on Friday.
Guilty: Former Essex cricketers Danish Kaneria (left) and Mervyn Westfield (right)
Westfield was jailed for four months earlier this year after pleading guilty to spot-fixing at the Old Bailey in January.
A statement from the ECB read: 'The ECB disciplinary panel today announced that Danish Kaneria has been found guilty of two charges under the ECB's regulations following a contested hearing which commenced in London on Monday, June 18.
'Mervyn Westfield was also charged with one offence under the ECB's regulations to which he pleaded guilty.
'The panel will now consider the appropriate sanction against both players and a decision is expected to be announced later today.'
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Lauren's looking lovely as the TOWIE gang party - The Sun
The 25-year-old looked lovely as she headed to favourite club The Sugar Hut in Brentwood, Essex, last night for a Surf Party.
Lauren went for a sophisticated look for the evening out wearing a white fitted knee-length frock, which showed off her trim waist.
The salon owner has spent months attempting to slim down after dubbing snaps of herself on a holiday in Miami in March "horrific".
She has been on the Cambridge Diet and put herself through gruelling workouts at bootcamps in Spain.
Lauren was joined at last night's party by a host of her ITV2 reality show castmates.
Jessica Wright, 26, who released her first music video this week to new track Dance All Night, arrived looking every inch the budding pop star in a tiny blue mini-dress with a plunging neckline.
Newly-engaged Lucy Mecklenburgh and Mario Falcone also joined in the fun, arriving hand in hand.
Lucy, 20, looked stunning in a pink lace and ostrich feather outfit, while Mario looked more like a waiter than a party-goer dressed all in black.
Chloe Sims, 30, pulled herself into a figure-hugging full-length black lace number, which showed off her every curve.
While her cousin Frankie Essex, 24, added a splash of colour to the night in a purple dress with black accessories.
Her brother Joey, 21, was also at the bash, dressed in a buttoned-up shirt, jeans and shades.
Lauren Pope, 28, squeezed herself into yet another pair of black leather trousers, which she matched with a cute white top.
While show newcomer Danni Park-Dempsey, 23, showed off her enviable assets in a strapless animal-print floor-length gown.
Bobby Cole Norris, who was spotted clutching pal Lauren G's hand, sported a blazer over his T-shirt and casual rolled up jeans.
Even Nanny Pat, 72, and Jess' mum Carol Wright, 51, attended the party. Carol looked glamorous in a floor-length black and silver gown, while Nanny Pat opted for a colourful orange frock.
TOWIE pals Tom Pearce, James "Arg" Argent, Charlie King and "Little Chris" Drake were also at the bash.
Tom P tweeted: "waiting for car to pick me up and take me to the surf party! #suitedandbooted."
Later Lauren G, Joey and Bobby carried on the party by heading to Anaya nightclub in central London.
Source: www.thesun.co.uk
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