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A senior Kent MP has criticised the government for failing to
say how
much rail fares might be when a new franchise is awarded.
Sir John Stanley, the veteran Tonbridge and Malling MP, made a
stinging
attack on ministers for failing to be transparent over what rail
users
could expect when a new operator takes on the job of running Kent's
rail
network.
He said he would be tabling a series of Parliamentary questions
to the
transport minister about his concerns and in an effort to get
more
information.
He was particularly concerned the consultation document made
no
reference to the possible subsidies the operator could receive.
"The document is completely silent on what I believe to be one
of the
most important ways of measuring the customer experience and
satisfaction - the question of the level of fares they will
pay."
The Department of Transport report
outlining what would be expected of a
new operator showed that Southeastern passenger numbers had
broadly
stayed the same over three years but its revenue had shot up, he
added.
"How have they done that? By taking more and more revenue
from
hard-pressed customers. The fare increases are frankly
unacceptable."
He was also concerned the government had failed to indicate the
levels
of subsidy that could be on offer.
"Is the government going to keep the franchise agreement at the same level? What are the arrangements going to be?"
His rebuke follows the launch of the government's consultation
on the
new franchise which will start in 2014 and last six and a half
years.
The MP also said he would continue to push for the restoration
of peak
time services from Maidstone to the City.
Southeastern has alaready indicated that it intends to compete
for the
contract but may face competition from other operators.
The DfT says it wants a new operator to "ensure the overall
passenger
experience improves throughout the life of the franchise, subject
to
value for money and affordability" but says nothing on fares.
Consultation runs until September, with the official
franchise
competition underway in December.
Thursday, June 28 2012
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Source: www.kentonline.co.uk
Bad weather leads to broccoli 'crisis' - Daily Telegraph
Brian Whittaker told Twitter: “Is there a world shortage of broccoli? I’ve been to Tesco, Lidl, Aldi and Sainsburys and there’s none! Are people stockpiling?”
Waitrose said that recent weather has affected supplies of British broccoli across the industry.
A spokesman for the supermarket said it is “optimistic” that things will be back to normal in the next few weeks as more British broccoli becomes available from its suppliers.
A spokesman for Asda said there were “some issues” with the supply of UK-grown broccoli.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Band hope for Wet Wet Wet date after playing Asda aisle - scotsman.com
MOST bands have a back story littered with early gigs in downmarket venues and performing for tiny crowds, but the juice aisle of a supermarket must take some beating.
Aisle 23 in Asda at The Jewel is the unlikely setting for a video by Edinburgh musicians Jamie and Shoony who hope their impromptu efforts for song Anyway will be enough to win them an opening slot for Wet Wet Wet at Glasgow Green in front of 15,000 people next month.
They have reached the final in a song contest set up with Wet Wet Wet to celebrate the Clydebank band’s own big break – opening as an unsigned act for Lionel Richie at Glasgow Green 25 years ago.
Singer Jamie Keir, 22, guitarist Sean “Shoony” Kowalski, 20, and drummer Jeanne Laidlaw, 24, entered their song and video for the competition after hearing about it on the radio.
The group had only popped into Asda to pick up a memory card for their video camera when they decided to shoot the promo video there and then.Former Portobello High pupil Jamie said: “We were about to go and shoot the video in a nearby park when Shoony turned and said ‘let’s do it here’.
“It worked really well and I could see loads of folk popping their head around the corner to check out what the fuss was about. Asda have since been in touch to say they love it and it has received 3500 views on YouTube.”
Jamie and Shoony were chosen as the first finalists for Real Radio’s Open for Wet Wet Wet competition on Monday.
The remaining four finalists will be revealed each day this week before going before a public vote on the station’s website which runs from 10am on Friday until Sunday evening.
Speaking of their chance to win the competition, Jamie said: “It would mean the world to us. We’ve been buzzing ever since being announced on Monday and we’re urging all our fans, family and friends to get online and vote for us.
“The biggest gig we’ve done so far was for around 200 people so to open for Wet Wet Wet in front of 15,000 would be amazing.”
Jamie and Shoony have been close friends since their days at Portobello High and were joined by Jeanne last year. Most of their songs are built up from freestyle jam sessions.
To date the group’s biggest highlight was having their single Anyway played at Tynecastle during last season’s clash between Hearts and Rangers.
Jamie, who works in a building suppliers, said: “That really was amazing. I’d class us as high-energy indie pop. I’ve been writing songs since I was eight years old and so take care of the songwriting and vocals while Shoony supplies the catchy riffs.”
Analysis
By Gary Flockhart
Evening News music writer’s verdict on Jamie and Shoony
HATS off to the boys for pouring every ounce of energy into their performance – and in Asda, of all places. Okay, it’s not going to set the charts on fire, but it’s charmingly ramshackle and unpretentious.
I always like it when bands use their local accents, and maybe that’s why they reminded me a little of The View – before producer Owen Morris made them a lot more slick.
I’ve watched more of Jamie and Shoony’s videos on YouTube and they really seem to have fun performing, and that’s contagious for an audience.
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There are 3 comments to this article
They just go by the name Jamie & Shoony
Do they have a band name?
Saw these guys play at the Banshee last night...brilliant!
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Source: www.scotsman.com
Fifty Shades of Grey Kent graduate author celebrates a million Kindle sales - thisiskent.co.uk
University of Kent graduate E.L. James has seen her erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey become the first to sell more than one million copies for Kindles.
Online retailer Amazon.co.uk says James has already become its best-selling author of the year, and the book is the biggest Kindle ebook yet.
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Fifty Shades of Grey is the biggest Kindle ebook yet
Sales of the history graduate’s saucy debut book have soared in recent weeks – it has become the fastest-selling paperback since records began, beating JK Rowling and Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown to the UK record.
Last week the paperback sold more than 200,000 copies.
The novel, described by James as offering women “a holiday from their husbands”, traces the relationship between a college graduate, Anastasia Steele, and a young business magnate, Christian Grey.
Full of explosively erotic scenes, Steele is required by Grey to sign a contract allowing him complete control over her life, as well as a non-disclosure agreement.
The graduate soon learns that his sexual tastes involve sadism, bondage and domination.
James – whose real name is Erika Mitchell – grew up in Buckinghamshire, and after studying in Kent became a studio manager’s assistant at the National Film and Television School in London.
After years of reading erotic novels, Mitchell put pen to paper and posted her own debut novel Fifty Shades of Grey on the internet.
Two years on she has an enormous following, a six-figure book deal and a Hollywood film contract signed in March, said to be worth $5 million (just over £3 million).
The book is the first in a trilogy - the second and third volumes are titled Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. Her trilogy was published in March.
Mitchell, a happily married mother of two teenage boys, has been on a book tour to the US, and saw her novel make it into the finals for Best Romance of 2011.
Source: www.thisiskent.co.uk
How to save money on your food shopping - money.aol.co.uk
Source: money.aol.co.uk
