AN ERROR of historic proportions was how MP Norman Baker chose to describe the decision to grant planning permission for 190 homes and an Asda in Newhaven.
The MP warned that Lewes District Council planning committee approving the Eastside Asda scheme from developers Avalon, but refusing the Railway Quay Tesco scheme from developers Arrowcroft, would have serious long-term consequences for the town.
The Eastside scheme divided opinion on the planning committee, where it was voted through by a 6 to 5 majority on Wednesday May 23.
Since then the move has prompted a flurry of letters to the Sussex Express, outlining their differing views on the decision, from the MP, cllr Rod Main, cllr Steve Saunders and others.
Mr Baker said: “The planning committee has ignored its own officers’ recommendation to defer the decision for two months, and taken a bizarre decision which I fear may be very harmful for the future of the town and for the port in particular. They have made an error of historic and far-reaching proportions.”
The MP argued the Eastside scheme would fatally undermine the shops in the town centre, damage job creation by allowing housing and retail on industrial land and divert scarce planning gain money into phase one of the port access road, which the port said it did not want or need. He added it would pull the rug out from under the port master plan and threaten the future of the port.
But leader of the district council James Page said: “Newhaven deserves the best. It has huge potential and I had hoped that the opportunity to hear both planning proposals together would have allowed members to weigh up the benefits of both schemes before coming to their decision.
“Frustratingly, the transport solution for the Railway Quay development could not be agreed by the Highways Authority and with such strong objection in place members’ hands were tied.
“I attended the committee meeting and was impressed by the detailed questions from councillors around the possible transport solutions and wider regeneration benefits. The deferral option lost credibility when East Sussex County Council stated they could see no workable solution ahead.”
Cllr Page said Lewes District Council worked hard to get all the facts before the committee and to look at the very important issues around: keeping the existing town centre alive, growth and business opportunities and the relationship with the port and helping deliver its master plan.
He said the council took seriously the feedback from the public consultation and considered the schemes against its own published regeneration strategy.
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Hard-pressed motorists see 3p drop in the cost of a litre of petrol as Sainsbury's and Asda start forecourt price war - Daily Mail
- New prices will come into effect tomorrow
- Move comes after a warning from Government that it was looking at ways to ensure petrol retailers do not delay price cuts when wholesale costs fall
- Lowest price in over a year as prices have fallen 11p since their peak in April
- But cost of petrol will start to rise again in the summer because of Government plans for fuel duty increase in August
By Jill Reilly
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A fresh supermarket price war on the forecourts is underway with giants Asda and Sainsbury's cutting up to 3p a litre from the price of fuel.
The retailers said the new charges would come into effect tomorrow.
The slash follows April’s record high petrol prices, which pushed the price of filling a family car to 100.
Slashed: Supermarket giants Asda and Sainsbury's are cutting up to 3p a litre from the price of fuel. The retailers said the new prices would come into effect tomorrow
The cuts mean that filling a typical car will be the cheapest since February 2011, according to experts.
Asda said an ease in global oil prices has enabled it to pass those savings on to motorists.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening said the Government would be prepared to introduce new laws to control prices
Drivers filling up at any of Asda's 195 forecourts nationwide will now pay no more than 129.7p per litre for unleaded and 134.7p per litre for diesel.
Andy Peake, Asda's director of petrol trading, said: 'Motorists will be pleased to know fuel is now at the lowest price in over a year as prices have fallen 11p since their peak in April.
'Unlike other retailers, our price cuts benefit everyone across the country, meaning that no-one filling up at Asda will be forced to pay a premium for their fuel.'
A Sainsbury's spokesman said: 'From tomorrow we will be cutting petrol and diesel prices in our petrol stations by up to 3p per litre. Sainsbury's is committed to delivering great value and helping customers cut down on cost wherever possible.'
A spokesman for the AA welcomed the cuts, saying that motorists would be getting a 'good price' for fuel.
But the cost of petrol looks set to rise again in the summer - in August the Government has planned 3.02 pence per litre rise in fuel duty.
The move to pass on lower prices to drivers comes after a warning from Government that it was looking at ways to ensure petrol retailers do not delay price cuts when wholesale costs fall.
Two weeks ago, Transport Secretary Justine Greening said companies should develop a code of practice to stop the 'indefensible' practice of petrol companies raising prices at the pump as soon as wholesale petrol and oil prices rise, only to delay lowering them again when costs fall.
She said the Government would be prepared to introduce new laws to bring about the change if companies failed to come up with a code of their own.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
London in focus as JP Morgan chief Dimon faces Congress - Daily Telegraph
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
GMB seals staff deal with Asda - The Independent
The GMB said the deal, covering 10,000 of its members employed in transport and warehouse operations in 20 depots in England, Wales and Scotland, was the first of its kind anywhere in the world involving the United States-owned company.
The agreement, signed at the GMB's annual conference in Brighton today, follows 14 months of negotiations and was described as a "huge step forward" by the union.
GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said: "The growing confidence in the benefits collective bargaining can bring to productivity, staff retention, growth and positive and stable industrial relations is there for all to see following all the hard work of all the parties involved over the past few years."
Ian Stansfield, director of distribution at Asda, said: "This is a ground-breaking agreement that brings our practices up to date and creates the framework for the way Asda distribution and GMB will work together.
"It secures jobs, supports growth and ensures our operation is as efficient as possible at a time when our customers are relying on us more than ever to save them money every day."
GMB national officer Mick Rix added: "This agreement is truly ground-breaking and historic. The agreement delivers a new relationship of working together to enhance the job security of GMB members, enhances their skills and has created a benchmark in terms of health and safety that will move standards in this highly complex logistics sector, where safety is paramount, to new levels."
The Asda depots covered by the deal are at Grangemouth and Falkirk in Scotland, Skelmersdale, Wigan, Warrington, Washington, Doncaster, Wakefield, Lymedale, Lutterworth, Erith, Bedford, Bristol and Chepstow.
PA
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Jodie Marsh has turned into the world’s scariest mermaid and got a medal for it - Daily Mirror
We always knew that Jodie Marsh deserved a prize for something. We just weren’t exactly sure what. We thought that it have something to do with starting arguments with people that we’d quite like to have arguments with too, or just for once dating someone from Blazin’ Squad. Or brightening up rather rainy Tuesday afternoons with some photos that we’re definitely not printing off and sticking to every spare surface within a ten mile radius.
But now, after putting our journalist hats on and investigating really really hard*, we know what it is. Jodie Marsh has taken Gaston-from-Beauty-and-the-Beast, Ariel-from-The-Little-Mermaid, and Hercules-from-Hercules, and turned into them all at the same time. And if there was ever anything which deserved an award, this would be it.
It’s a task which we imagine has taken a lot of hair dye fake tan freerange eggs hard work. And which has now finally been rewarded with a shiny gold medal at the International Natural Bodybuilding Federation Championships, which were held in Washington DC last week.
We're not entirely certain what part of the championships was the "natural" bit, but we're too busy looking at the photos to find out.
Coincidentally, we were chatting to Jodie's mate Dave this weekend, who told us that Jodie has loads more competitions coming up this summer, both in the states, and the UK. "She's in amazing shape," he said. "I'm going to cheer her on from the sidelines all summer." So as soon as we find out where to buy pom poms, we'll join him.
Jodie, who presumably got in shape by repeatedly lifting up her own eighty tonne breasts, has been pretty busy recently in America, filming wittily titled Brawn in the USA , and not drinking or eating anything fun.
“To be honest, I am on such a strict diet for the bodybuilding that if you offered me a choice between pizza and sex with Brad Pitt right now, I’d choose pizza,” she confessed recently.
Which we imagine is a huge load off Angelina Jolie’s slightly-less-muscular shoulders.
*Google Image searching Disney characters.
Source: www.mirror.co.uk
Plymouth's Tom Daley so excited after getting call for London 2012 Olympic Games - this is plymouth
TOM DALEY admitted he is already getting 'really excited' after the city diving superstar was named in the Great Britain squad for this summer's Olympics.
Plymouth Diving's Daley will lead the Great Britain charge in both the men's individual 10m platform and the synchro events at the London Games.
Daley made certain of his place in the teenager's own 'dream Games' by winning a gold medal at the British Championships which doubled as Olympic trials at Sheffield's Ponds Forge at the weekend.
The former world champion scored a total of 547 points in the individual, outscoring Waterfield who ended the dive-off with 452.
Britain's new national champion will be joined in both events by individual runner-up Peter Waterfield, while Daley's club-mates Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow have both been picked for the women's 10m synchro.
Although the most casual observer of diving would have assumed Daley was a shoo-in for London 2012, for the 18-year-old European champion to see his name on the list was clearly a relief.
And, he said, a reward for the self sacrifice and long hours spent training for the globe's biggest sporting event.
Daley said: "It is very exciting. It feels really great to be finally named in the Great Britain Olympic team.
"After all the training hours I've had to put in and all the thousands of dives, it feels so good to know I'm going to be there."
Daley acknowledged that because of his own excellent form this year the level of national expectation for him to medal will have been cranked up a couple of notches more.
But the teenager insisted his rivals, notably China's number one Qiu Bo, will also be feeling the strain the closer the Briton gets to him at world-class tournaments.
Daley said: "The pressure is going to be massive for everyone. It comes down to whoever deals with it the best.
"Qiu Bo has never been to an Olympic Games, so he's not going to know what it's like.
"There will be a lot of pressure on him, because he's the favourite and from China.
"And, gradually, everyone's scores around the world are getting higher and higher and therefore, closer to him."
The Plymothian believes having taken part in one Olympic Games already will work to his advantage.
Daley said the experience could be key to how he handles the pressure in London.
He said: "I think it helps massively to have been able to compete in the Olympics in Beijing.
"I've gained the experience of being at one. If I hadn't gone there (Beijing), it could have been a little bit overwhelming, being at home and all."
Daley admitted his own form in the lead up to next month's Olympics had been very pleasing, to say the least.
The 2008 Olympic finalist in Beijing, at the age of just 14 years and reigning Commonwealth Games champion ended this year's prestigious World Series as number one and then reclaimed the European individual crown in Eindhoven last month.
Daley, though, while delighted with those awards, said he is looking forward, with all his thoughts concentrated on the Aquatics Centre.
"The Olympics is the major event of the year and that is what you want to peak for. Everything is focused and concentrated on the Games in London," said Daley.
"Yes, I want to do well in every single competition I take part in, because I'm competitive.
"Everything I do, I want to do to the best of my ability: I'm a perfectionist.
"I go into every competition trying to win, because that's my nature.
"The only thing I can focus on is myself as diving is such an individual sport, not like tennis, for example, where you can hit a ball in one direction and your opponent will hit it back in another.
"With diving, you do what you do and hope it's good and the other divers will do exactly the same for themselves."
Daley said he is becoming confident at mastering what he considers his most difficult dive – the forward 4½ somersault, but insisted he will not be resting on his laurels.
"To be honest, I find all the dives very hard but the forward 4½ I consider my hardest. But I've been doing them a lot more consistently and doing them better," said Daley.
"It's difficult making sure I get that dive right and the others in (his tariff), too, and going into every competition trying to do the best I can."
Ever the realist, Daley said that while it is his goal to top the podium at the Olympics, he does not dream about medalling, just competing.
He said: "Obviously, it's my dream to win a gold medal, and that's any athlete's dream, isn't it?
"But whenever I dream about appearing at the Olympics, I'm just doing my dives, but I never see the scoreboard so I don't know where I'm going to end up.
"For me, it's all about doing everything I can beforehand to make sure I'm well prepared to compete at the Olympic Games."
Daley said his next event is the Olympics but that his schedule is showing no sign of relaxing.
"No, it's kind of scary knowing that the next competition I take part in will be at the Olympics," said Daley.
"It's all very busy for us. We're going to be training twice a day, five times a week.
"We (Team GB) all go to Majorca today for a training camp and then we go to the Olympic pre-camp on July 24, which is a complete lock-down and focused on preparing for the Games.
"That'll be at the Aquatics Centre and it will really be make or break time for me."
Source: www.thisisplymouth.co.uk
London 2012 Olympics: Athletes let down by UK sporting system over selection for Team GB - Daily Telegraph Blogs
Athletes by their very nature like to be in control of their destiny, which is why, on the eve of the London 2012 Olympic Games, there have been so many selection appeals – in taekwondo, fencing, triathlon, rowing, rhythmic gymnastics, diving and modern pentathlon.
Many are opportunistic and understandable or wild last-minute stabs to ensure no stone has been left unturned in the battle to make the GB team.
But many others have great legitimacy. Many athletes, not just those involved in high profile cases such as taekwondo player Aaron Cook, can rightly feel that the UK sporting system has failed them badly.
This is because some of the country's top athletes have had no control. Their sporting careers have been determined by blazer wearing officials whose opinion overweighs any objective criteria.
Circumstances in taekwondo over the past fortnight have exposed the flaws in this system. UK Sport has being missing in action – it has distanced itself from any responsibility over national governing bodies – even though the taxpayer and national lottery player are contributing the £100 million a year to keep many of these sports solvent.
For nearly four years UK Sport has been monitoring each sport to extract the optimum chance of Olympic medals but now, on the eve of that performance, worryingly significant governance issues are bubbling to the surface.
The British Olympic Association has tried to enforce some responsibility, by demanding adherence to the various selection policies, but its power is largely limited to Games-time operations once the team has been selected.
The Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson has been relatively quiet too, claiming to want to have the best team to win medals, but his Ministry has been lax in its oversight of many of the smaller sports procedures.
In this vacuum of scrutiny, many national governing bodies have instituted secretive, and on occasion, completely subjective policies where there is zero accountability.
Seemingly the one fundamental value – athletes' rights – has been overlooked within these policies. The sports appeals system restricts objections to whether the selection policy has been implemented fairly, but then sends the selection back to the same group of selectors for more clandestine meetings.
What happened to the notions of justice, procedural fairness and transparency? Surely the Olympic team shouldn't be a function of how good a lawyer an athlete can hire?
In the United States most of the team selections are objective. It is a cruel one-shot chance. Compete in the Olympic trials, finish in the top two (for swimming) or the top three (for track and field) and you are in the team. Injury or illnesses are not considered.
World rankings, Olympic medals, having a relative as a sponsor / selector / coach are immaterial: it all comes down to a single performance. Athletes in combat sports earn their place with victory at a selection tournament. Such a black and white approach has its failings of course, notwithstanding that the country's best medal hope might dip out by 100th of a second, but athletes are accepting of such a model simply because they know where they stand.
In Australia and Canada many of the sports have adopted a similar performance-based system. But those that haven't are required to publish their selection criteria openly on websites. Appeals are heard by quite separate selection panels. It may well have been the case that Cook's rival, Lutalo Muhammad would have been selected by both selection panels if such a system existed here in the UK, but at least Cook, and the public, would have some faith that the system was fairer.
GB Taekwondo has come in for particularly harsh criticism of late and rightly so. Even after three selection meetings, the taekwondo selection policy has remained secret. As outsiders we are puzzled by the decision and can only infer it has included an overweight “subjective'” component. For how else could a relatively inexperienced Muhammad, ranked 59 in the world, earn the Olympic berth repeatedly ahead of the world number one Cook?
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Aldi Süd and affiliates enter into MPEG-2 licences with MPEG LA - ITWeb
MPEG LA announced today that Aldi Süd and affiliates (Aldi Süd) have entered into MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio Licences with MPEG LA.
Under the licenses, Aldi Süd is responsible for paying royalties on its own branded MPEG-2 products.
As a result of this agreement, several companies that licence their essential MPEG-2 patents through MPEG LA have settled their patent enforcement actions against Aldi Süd before the District Court Düsseldorf, Germany.
Source: www.itweb.co.za
Clients tell London exchange to review steel futures - Reuters UK
* Traders want bigger daily billet deliveries from warehouses
* Delisting of some warehouses and cash-settlement proposed
* Queues at Detroit distort prices, traders say
By Silvia Antonioli
LONDON, June 12 (Reuters) - Traders and consumers want the London Metal Exchange to overhaul the way its steel billet contract works, including possible de-recognition of inefficient storage facilities or even creation of a new product, to avoid losing the business to other bourses.
Disgruntled users of the futures contract, frustrated by slow delivery of metal from LME listed warehouses and the disconnect between billet physical and futures prices, drew up a list of suggested changes for the exchange's board to consider at a steel committee meeting late last week.
"Some people are getting very upset because of the queues and are losing their patience," one source at a metals trading house said.
"The relationship with the physical price is broken so the exchange has to intervene. They have to take quick decisions to save this contract," he added.
The London exchange, the world's biggest marketplace for trading base metals such as copper and aluminium, launched futures for steel billet four years ago but they have been slow to gather volume and become a genuinely useful tool for hedging.
One problem is shared with other metals. Firms operating warehouses in the global network recognised by the exchange take their time in releasing metal stored there, pleading logistical difficulties.
Critics say it is more often a tactic to keep charging rent for as long as possible.
They said warehousing companies should be made to ensure that exchange customers needing to take delivery of steel billets - semi finished steel long products mainly used in making construction materials - should be able to get hold of them in a shorter time.
This would ease queues at busy locations, as currently steel needed by users gets stuck behind other metals waiting for delivery, often for months at a time.
One way of forcing efficiency would be to take away approval for storage from congested warehouses such as Detroit in the United States, sources with knowledge of the matter said.
Another measure suggested was scrapping the billet contract in favour of a new one with cash settlement - eliminating the delivery problems associated with a physically-backed, futures-based product.
Physical Black Sea billet BLT-BBE=SB was at $570-575 per tonne this week while the three-month LME billet futures was at $360-$400, a gap that is making it extremely hard for traders to use the contract.
The futures fetch the much lower price than physical steel partly because of the difficulty in taking delivery.
"The LME steel billet contract has now divorced itself completely from the Black Sea billet price and unless action is taken by the LME to ensure that steel billets are moved to the front of the Detroit queue, liquidity will continue to decline and the contract is destined to fail," said the head of a European steel trading house.
"If unrealistic physical premiums and delivery times are allowed to continue, I fear the LME is in danger of losing its reputation as a credible mechanism for pricing physical contracts and delivery."
The LME confirmed it was considering some suggestions made at Friday's meeting but declined to give any information on what was discussed.
WAIT FOR THE SALE?
LME steel billet users say the LME needs to move fast to avoid seeing migration of all of its steel business towards cash-settled contracts offered by other exchanges, chiefly CME Group, or brokers.
A spokesman for the LME said that it will probably take some time before any change to the contract is implemented.
The fact that the LME is in the middle of a negotiation on its potential sale could make changes even slower.
"Often, even with the best will in the world, there is some lag between a suggestion being made and it being researched and taken," said Chris Evans, head of business development at the LME.
"The board has other things to consider as well, so we are not in a position to present anything to the board at the next meeting regarding what was discussed on Friday."
The LME steel contract first came under pressure last summer, when a noticeable rise in cancelled warrants, or material earmarked for delivery, caused concern among some players about the health of the contract itself. Talk swirled that a major market player had become frustrated and wanted to remove their material from the market.
The contract was criticised again last October when the LME decided to suspend the validity of 274 steel billet warrants held by MF Global on behalf of Stemcor, because MF Global's administrator, which had taken control of assets belonging to the bankrupt broker, was unable to adhere to LME lending guidance. (Additional reporting by Melanie Burton; editing by Veronica Brown and)
Source: uk.reuters.com
ALDI Receives National Recognition for Nature's Nectar 100% Berry Burst Juice -- The 2012 SELF Magazine Healthy Food Award - Yahoo Finance
BATAVIA, Ill., June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ALDI is excited to announce that their exclusive brand, Nature's Nectar 100% Berry Burst Juice, won this year's SELF magazine Healthy Food Award under the drink category. Made from a blend of four fruit juices, the 100% Berry Burst Juice is one of 35 varieties including All Natural Lemonade and 100% Apple Juice in the Nature's Nectar brand. Families looking for a refreshing and healthy beverage on that hot summer day can switch to high-quality ALDI exclusive brands and save up to 50 percent* compared to traditional grocers.
"We are very excited to have one of our juices recognized nationally by SELF magazine," said Chuck Youngstrom, president, ALDI. "We work hard to ensure that our exclusive label products meet or exceed the national name brands on taste and quality, and this further proves that healthy, delicious, award-winning grocery products do not have to come with a high price tag."
The Healthy Food Award selection process begins with SELF magazine's registered dietitians who evaluate each product against strict nutrition criteria. Readers then participate in a blind taste-test and vote for their favorite products. The two products in each category with the highest number of votes take home the Healthy Food Award title.
"The Nature's Nectar 100% Berry Burst Juice is a refreshing fruit juice that has an explosion of flavor," said Tara Kuczykowski, founder of DealSeekingMom.com and an ALDI Super Fan. "As a busy mom, it gives me peace of mind knowing that I can give my kids a glass of juice that they enjoy, without having to worry about the added sugar and artificial flavors found in other beverages. It's delicious and nutritious!"
Using Nature's Nectar 100% Berry Burst Juice, blueberries and flavored sparkling water or orange soda, shoppers can create Very Berry Pops – a summer treat that the whole family will love. The recipe below is quick, easy and delicious!
Very Berry Pops
Recipe courtesy of Chef Michelle, ALDI Test Kitchen
Serve these fun treats as ice pops, or use them as ice cubes for a sweet addition to a summer drink.
Ingredients:
- 5 oz. Fresh Blueberries, sliced in half
- 16 oz. Nature's Nectar 100% Berry Burst Juice
- 12 oz. Frut Dazzle Black Cherry or Strawberry Sparkling Water Beverage OR 1 can Summit Orange Soda
- 2 sheets Kwik and Fresh Foil
- 24 Toothpicks (optional)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes plus minimum 1 1/2 hours to freeze
Servings: 2 ice cube trays
Directions:
- Evenly distribute the blueberries among the ice cube trays.
- In a large pitcher, mix together the juice and sparkling water or orange soda.
- Evenly distribute the juice mix among the ice cube trays.
- Wrap the top of each tray with a sheet of foil and puncture the center of each ice cube mold with a toothpick (if planning to serve as ice pops).
- Freeze for a minimum of 1 1/2 hours. Enjoy off the stick or pop into your favorite summer drink!
ALDI stands behind the quality of its exclusive products with a Double Guarantee. If for any reason a customer is not 100 percent satisfied with a food product, ALDI will gladly replace it AND refund the customer's money.
About ALDI Inc.
A leader in the grocery retailing industry, ALDI operates more than 1,200 U.S. stores in 32 states, primarily from Kansas to the East Coast. More than 20 million customers each month save up to 50 percent* on their grocery bills, benefiting from the ALDI simple and streamlined approach to retailing. ALDI sells more than 1,400 of the most frequently purchased grocery and household items, primarily under its exclusive brands, which must meet or exceed the national name brands on taste and quality. ALDI is so confident in the quality of its products, the company offers a Double Guarantee: If for any reason a customer is not 100 percent satisfied with any ALDI food product, ALDI will gladly replace the product and refund the purchase price. For more information about ALDI, visit www.aldi.us.
*Based upon a price comparison of comparable products sold at leading national retail grocery stores.
Source: finance.yahoo.com
3p! Is that all? The price of oil has dropped nearly 25% and this price fall still gives the supermarkets and the garages a hefty profit when the price should be closer to 1.25 - 1.27. The price of oil will continue to fall and the petrol pricing thieves SHOULD keep the price falling. Everyone is feeling the tough end of government measures and it is right that we should not have to pay more than we can afford - while the petrol companies keep their profits high.
- Richard, London, 12/6/2012 21:10
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