Morrisons submits formal planning application for Weybridge site
10:30am Sunday 17th June 2012 in News By Louise Robertson
Food chain Morrisons has submitted an official planning application to develop the former Focus DIY store in Weybridge.
The company hopes Elmbridge Council will determine the application later this year, so that the food store can be open in time for Christmas 2013.
Morrisons held a public consultation on its plans to redevelop the former Focus DIY site in May, which received strong local interest.
The proposed design was altered as a direct result of the feedback received. The chain reduced the height of the entrance feature in Monument Hill and changed the design of part of the rear section of the store near Baker Street.
Richard Haynes, development executive for Morrisons, said: “Our proposals will revitalise the former Focus site in Weybridge, creating jobs, delivering investment and helping to boost the town.
“It is a strong proposition for the town and will increase affordable fresh food choice for local people.”
The opening is expected to create 300 new part-time and full-time jobs will be created and £3.5m of local investment is expected.
The scheme includes 220 car parking spaces, with 1.5 hours of free parking, for shoppers using the store.
Visit elmbridge.gov.uk to view the plans.
Source: www.thisislocallondon.co.uk
Wet prospects for Ascot and Wimbledon - Daily Telegraph
The country was battered by winds which reached speeds of 56mph in Southampton on Saturday.
Across most of southern England and south Wales there were gusts of 45 to 50mph and in Threave in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland there was 69mm of rain in 24 hours.
Two nine-year-old boys suffered serious head injuries after a tree fell on them while they were waiting for a turn to play cricket in Earlsfield, South London.
A third boy, also nine, had leg injuries and was described as “walking wounded” after the tree fell at the Spencer Cricket Club in Fieldview. All three were taken by ambulance to St George's Hospital in Tooting.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the boys were waiting for a turn in the nets when the tree fell.
They were named as Lewis Gaston, Aidan Oakley and George Roberts and the club said: "Aidan has been discharged from hospital whilst Lewis and George are remaining under close observation.
"We understand that their condition is improving and we hope that they will continue to improve and make a full recovery. Our thoughts are with them both and their families.”
The statement added: "The Club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to those people who responded so quickly to this terrible accident and who ensured that the injured boys would have the best chances of recovery.
"The coaches and parents who were at the training session who reacted so quickly to a very serious situation; the players and spectators from Cheam and Spencer cricket clubs who were playing at the ground at the time who were able to lift the tree and free the trapped boys; the doctor who was present at the ground who administered emergency care; and the police and ambulance services who arrived within minutes to take the children to hospital.
"We are extremely grateful to them all. The Club would also like to thank all those people from around the world who have sent the boys their best wishes. We have been very moved by the messages of support from the wider cricket community, and are passing them on to the boys and their families."
The inaugural concert by Sir Elton John at the new a new Blackpool Tower Headland outdoor arena was cut short by strong winds on Saturday night.
Among the favourites he played were Candle in the Wind as the temporary stage was buffeted by the weather.
But nearly two hours into his set, Sir Elton told a disappointed crowd of almost 11,000 that on police advice he had been told to stop playing.
"I have been told there is some really bad weather on the way," he said.
"The police say you need to leave right now in an orderly fashion. I'm sorry but I don't want anyone to be hurt. I'll make it up to you."
In Bournemouth a 10km Cancer Research UK charity run was cut short when a layer of sand up to foot deep was blown off the beach on to the seafront course on Saturday.
Travel agents say the long spell of cold, wet weather has boosted bookings to destinations like Spain, Greece and Tunisia.
Thomson group Tui says summer bookings are up in every country by an average 17 per cent and Butlin's and Pontins have responded by halving some of their high-season prices.
Guernsey's tourist bosses say the island has missed out on up to 7,000 visitors already this year, due to cruise ships cancelling visits.
Of the 34 ships booked in 2012 and due to have visited by this week, 11 have cancelled their visit or have been unable to off-load passengers because of strong winds.
Miles Quest of the British Hospitality Association admitted: "The weather is a huge problem. When it's pouring down it deters people from having a holiday in the UK. We know consumer spending is down, but we want some decent weather to encourage people to stay here."
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Why Wimbledon is so important for Tennis - sportsnews.com.au
In today’s world of men’s and women’s tennis, the game’s history and traditions are constantly ignored and replaced by more modern and glamorous solutions.
A fine example of this is the grasscourt. Known as the origins of tennis, Wimbledon began in 1877 played on grass and, as we know, it still is today. Four years later, the US Open was established, also adopting the grass surface.
Ten years later, the French Open began and, in 1905, the Australian Open with both Majors following suit and adopting the grass surface. That’s all four majors using the grasscourt as their playing surface.
However, things changed and 1912 marked the first year of Red Clay in action at the French Open, which brought about the US Open’s brief three-year stint with har-tru clay (An American designed clay, that is harder and made of crushed stone) before it made the famous switch to Hardcourt in 1978.
With the Australian Open and Wimbledon now the only Grasscourt Grand Slams remaining, the Australian Open succumbed to pressure when it opted out of the surface in 1988. At that time, it changed surface to Hard Rebound ace, (also marking the first year it switched venues from Kooyong to Melbourne Park) before switching again in 2008 to the more TV-friendly blue coloured Hard Plexicushion.
This left Wimbledon as the last man standing; it was the only significant tournament that showed off tennis’s great history and traditions to the sporting world.
Unfortunately, Wimbledon today is almost like a museum showcasing the sport’s past. In 2012, only 7 out of 64 tournaments on the ATP calendar are played on grass – a meagre 9 percent of all tournaments.
Wimbledon is the only one of those seven that can boast any decent following other than the Olympics which will be hosted by the All England Club, with all of the other 5 grasscourt tournaments 250 events; the lowest tier event on the ATP calendar, which is miles behind 500, Masters 1000 and 2000 points events which are your Grand Slams.
The story is not much different on the Women’s side with only 5 Grasscourt tournaments on the WTA schedule this year out of 57 tournaments, including Wimbledon and the Olympics. That rounds off to a tiny 9% of all tournaments. However, when Wimbledon and the Olympics aren’t included that leaves only 3 out of 54 tournaments played on grass – a percentage of only 6% of tournaments when rounded.
Statistics don’t lie and we must all face the sad fact that the grasscourt is a dying breed. This is evident in playing styles where the day’s of serve volleyers (A playing style most common on grass) such as Pat Rafter, Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras and John Mcenroe’s dominance of men’s tennis well and truly behind us. Nowadays, baseliners who rarely move forward such as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are dominating the men’s game with levels of baseline play never seen before in the history of tennis.
This is why Wimbledon is so important. Without Wimbledon the world would never see a glimpse of the serve volley-style play that dominated men’s and women’s tennis for over a century. It is also vitally important in recognising where tennis came from and its orgins. Wimbledon’s famous grass courts take us back in time to what tennis used to be like.
Bring on Wimbledon! The greatest Grand Slam of all.
Latest Articles:
Source: www.sportsnews.com.au
Comment now! Register or sign in below.
Or