Around ten environmentalists over-ran the Shell Garage in Dalry aiming to chain themselves to pumps while occupying the roof of the building, next to Lidl, amid plans for day-long disruption at the site.
The city-wide protests are in reaction to new attempts to drill for Artic oil – which Greenpeace says would spoil one of the last remaining “pristine areas on Earth” – and part of a national day of action in which 100 Shell garages will be targeted in London and Edinburgh.
It is not yet known how much disruption there will be to motorists in the city.
Speaking at 7.30 this morning, Richard George, climate campaigner at Greenpeace, said: “Currently we have ten people chained to pumps and occupying the roof of the Shell Garage next to Lidl in Dalry with roving teams targeting 13 other Shell garages in Edinburgh.
“Today marks the start of the Arctic drilling window where for most of the year it’s covered in thick sea ice but now there’s a short window where there’s sufficient melt that they can drill for oil.
“Ships from Shell are on their way there at the moment and so we are taking action in Edinburgh and London to send a message to them that this is not acceptable and the only way they feel any pain is through their profits.
Mr George said activists were cutting fuel supply to the pumps by hitting an emergency button before removing pump handles and posting them to Shell HQ. The major raid at the Shell Garage in Dalry is expected to see a day-long occupation of the site.
Mr George said: “We regret any inconvenience this might cause the people of Edinburgh but we are here to send a message to Shell. We have also worked out where the nearest petrol stations might be and have erected signs informing motorists where they are.”
And he added: “The danger of an oil spill in the Arctic is one that needs to be brought to Shell’s awareness.
“Even if you get all the oil out of the Arctic region it only constitutes three years’ demand. So in three years’ time we would be looking for an alternative to that anyway.”
Greenpeace is televising today’s activities in a 12-hour live online special, starting at 8am. The show will be anchored from purpose-built studios in Greenpeace’s London base, and will be going live throughout the day to campaigners as they shut down Shell’s capital city operations. To watch, go to www.greenpeace.org.uk.
Source: www.scotsman.com
Sussex name squad for Kent CB40 clash at Arundel - Chichester Observer
The Sharks, unbeaten so far in this competition, were frustrated in their attempts to move top of Group C by the weather last week as the match with Warwickshire Bears was abandoned due to rain but a win at Arundel against the Spitfires would see them go top of the pile.
Matt Prior is unavailable as England begin their Test Series against South Africa so Ben Brown returns behind the stumps.
The Sussex squad is as follows: Amjad Khan, WAT Beer, BC Brown (wkt), JS Gatting, MW Goodwin, Naveed Arif Gondal, EC Joyce, CJ Liddle, CD Nash, MS Panesar, LWP Wells, KO Wernars, LJ Wright, MH Yardy.
Source: www.chichester.co.uk
Woman killed in Eastbourne cliffs accident is named - BBC News
A woman who was killed when she she accidentally stepped off an East Sussex cliff while walking with her husband has been named as Laraine Goodwin.
Ms Goodwin, 49, of Sundridge in Kent fell 300ft (91m) near the Belle Tout lighthouse near Eastbourne at about 15:00 BST on Saturday.
Her body was found by the Eastbourne inshore lifeboat.
Sussex Police have ruled out suicide or foul play, and have described her death as a "tragic accident".
A post-mortem examination examination will be held later this week followed by an inquest which will be formally opened and adjourned.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Sussex Farepack victims' surprise dividend - The Argus.co.uk
Sussex Farepack victims' surprise dividend
5:20pm Monday 16th July 2012 in News By William Metcalfe
Victims who lost hundreds of pounds following the collapse of the Farepak hamper company have said they never expected to see a penny back.
People who lost money will now receive a total of 50p for every pound spent with the firm after a five-year battle.
Business services firm BDO said it will make dividend payments to Farepak’s creditors, including customers and agents, at the end of next month.
It confirmed that a payment of about 32p in the £1 will be made, including the £8 million which Lloyds Banking Group announced it was making available to former Farepak customers last week.
When added to the 17.5p in the pound given by the Farepak Response Fund charity, set up by the Government in 2006, customers will have received back a total of approximately half of what they invested, BDO said.
The liquidators said they will aim to make dividend payments to Farepak’s 114,000 creditors at the end of August, which will for them mark the end of the liquidation of Farepak.
Sussex victims have said they had given up hope in ever seeing a return.
Greater cost
Susan Reid, of Shoreham, works as a nurse, has 28 grandchildren and lost £400.
She said: “I’d paid in for years.
“When it collapsed it ruined Christmas – you rely on that money, you know it’s coming.
“The money I lost, it’d be like someone else losing thousands.
“At the time we got a paltry amount back.
“Four years on and we’ve barely had anything.”
Many customers believed their money was lost for good.
Julie Hamon, of Shoreham, worked as an agent for ten years and had nine clients. She lost £400 along with thousands of pounds from her clients.
She said: “I’ve had a lot of texts from customers saying ‘Anything is better than nothing’, we had all given up hope.
“I lost £400, my son and daughter each lost £400.
“What annoyed me at the time was the way all the directors went abroad – it was disgusting.”
However, Louise McDaid of the national Farepak Victims Campaign was unimpressed.
She said: “I want an inquiry into the liquidation. I want to know how much money has been wasted.
“I’m trying to fight for regulation, not voluntary regulation but statutory.
“I think the whole episode has been appalling.”
Comments(3)
All 9 of me says...
7:57pm Mon 16 Jul 12
FAREPAK VICTIMS COMMITTEE says...
9:17pm Mon 16 Jul 12
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Source: www.theargus.co.uk
CRICKET: Three Bridges, Ifield and Crawley games all ruined by wet weather - crawleyobserver.co.uk
A result was achieved in just one match, that was the Premier League game between relegation candidates Eastbourne and Bexhill.
The game saw former England paceman Ed Giddins, 41, bowl Eastbourne to just their second victory of the season but it allowed the Saffrons club to just 13 points below Bexhill with a game in hand.
The result could also set a few alarm bells ringing for East Grinstead and Brighton and Hove who are the two clubs immediately above the East Sussex pair.
In a game played to 100 overs rules Eastbourne, after being put in, moved to 224 for 9 declared with 69 from skipper Mark Tomsett,47 from Sussex wicketkeeper Ben Brown and
26 each from Aaron Mullins and Matt Cooke.
For Bexhill their teenage spinners were the pick of the bowlers, Calum Guest took 3 for 59 and Jamie Bristow-Diamond 2 for 47.
Bexhill then had to contend with several weather interruptions and also two overs reductions in their chase for the runs, not to mention the skills of Giddins.
They were eventually bowled out for 91 with the former England man taking 7 for 27 including one spell of five wickets in 12 balls for no runs !
Andrew Harriot was top scorer for Bexhill, he made 34. There was a dogged 21 not out from Tim Hambridge and also 21 from skipper Mal Johnson.
A start was possible at Brighton and Hove where visitors East Grinstead were in trouble at 21 for 3 when rain brought an end to the game.
At Hastings the home side were put in by Horsham and reached 227 for 6 from 46 overs withKirk Wernars hitting 87 not out. David Draper made 33 and Toby Finzel 32 as Michael Munday, for Horsham, took 5 for 71.
In Division 2 all matches were abandonded, including Three Bridges’ visit to Glynde and Ifield’s trip to Pulborough.
Promotion candidates Crawley’s home game against bottom of the table Lindfield was abandoned as were all the games except for one in Division 3.
Only one game got underway in the whole of Division 3 as the wet weather continued to wreak havoc with the Sussex League programme.
Seaford were asked to bat first by visitors Hellingly and they set about building a total on a very slow and low wicket with openers Oli Smith and Ryan Hodkinson adding 98 for the first wicket.
From 139-3 at 40 overs the Seaford innings accelerated at such a pace that they finished 235-6 at the end of 53 overs.
Smith went onto make 97 and Hodkinson 37. Jon Pitts added a swashbuckling 36 not out to leave the visitors a formidable chase. Dan Pellett taking 3-56.
Shortly after tea however the rain set in and the game was abandoned with Hellingly 19-1 from 6 overs.
Source: www.crawleyobserver.co.uk
Comedian Steve Coogan to stand trial over speeding offence which could see him banned from the roads - Daily Mail
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Steve Coogan has been cleared of failing to notify police who was driving his speeding Range Rover after he told a court the driver's name had ‘slipped his mind’.
Coogan, who lives in Ovingdean, Brighton, was found was not guilty of the driving offence at Brighton Magistrate’s Court today.
The 46-year-old said he had been busy at the time of the offence with TV and film commitments as well as suing News International and preparing for the Leveson Inquiry.
Scroll down for video
Thumbs up: Coogan pictured leaving court today after being cleared of a driving offence
Coogan's Range Rover was flashed doing 39mph in a 30mph zone on the A259 at Kingsway in Hove, East Sussex, at 11.24am on October 12 last year.
He originally faced two charges but one count of speeding was dropped.
Coogan said he regularly loaned the vehicle out to a pool of around 20 friends, family and colleagues and he could not remember who was using the car when the offence was committed until months later.
The comedian, dressed in a blue suit and tie, said at the time of the offence he was dictating an article to the Guardian over the phone and had later made considerable efforts to find out who was the driver.
Magistrates cleared him of failing to notify police about who was driving after saying the case against him had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
The case against Coogan was brought after Sussex Police sent a letter to him on November 1 last year giving him 28 days to provide information about the identify of who was driving.
Coogan sent a letter back on November 4 claiming he 'could not remember'.
Prosecution lawyer Brian Noel told the court he then asked for the photo to be sent to him which it was on December 19 but it did failed to clarify who was driving.
Relieved: Coogan said the name of the person who had been driving his speeding Range Rover had 'slipped his mind'
Speaking in the dock Mr Coogan said he was busy at the time being involved in the organisation Hacked Off which engaged in the public.
Coogan also spoke about being preoccupied with preparing to appear at the Leveson Inquiry on November 22.
On December 5 he appeared at the Parliamentary Select Committee and he also took legal action against News International for the hacking of his phone which was settled in February this year.
Coogan's barrister Mr Bishop added: 'At the end of 2011 what was going on in his life was absolutely exceptional.
'Prime Ministers, ex-Prime Ministers and very important people appeared before the Leveson Inquiry.
'You don't just pitch up on the day to these events.'
In March this year Coogan did pass the information of the driver - his friend of eight years Australian Jodie Bayly - to the police, five months after the original offence.
He said his memory was jogged after a stay in Brighton's Hotel Du Vin as he has met up for lunch with Jodie there.
His defence is that he passed information to the police as soon as 'reasonably practicable' as his friend lives in Australia and only used the car once on a trip to England.
Chairman of the Bench Anthony Rosenfield said: 'We are satisfied in the circumstances you provided all information as soon as was reasonable practicable.
'We are therefore satisfied that the prosecution have failed to prove beyond all reasonable doubt the charges against you.'
If he had been found guilty Coogan could have been disqualified from driving.
Mr Coogan declined to comment after the sentencing.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
LIVE: Olympic Torch Relay in Sussex day 1 - thisissussex.co.uk
The Olympic Torch Relay heads into Sussex for the first time today, arriving in Chichester and making its way through Brighton, Crawley, Crowborough, Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings.
We have reporters along the route and will be updating this page with pictures and stories as the torch moves through the county.
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olympic torch
Today, the torch will travel from Portsmouth to arrive at its first Sussex destination, Chichester, at around 11.30am.
From there it will make its way to Brighton and Hove where it will remain overnight.
Pictures and videos from celebrations in Brighton and Hove
VIDEO: Olympic Torch Relay in Brighton, by jonnyt01UK
LIVE BLOG (concluded for today)
Your pictures, videos and tweets of the second half of the torch relay's first day in Sussex - Chichester to Brighton and Hove
18:59 Stay tuned for pictures and videos from tonight's celebrations in Brighton and Hove.
18:41 Torchbearers as the flame passes through Brighton and Hove include Ben Le Huray, Alan Wildig, Karen West, Lesley Anne Di Marco, Peter Witcomb, Robbie Heward and Sylvia Baker. The torch will stop off here overnight before making its way to Hastings tomorrow.
17:51 Clare Forbes, 28, our current torchbearer, from Crawley, lost both her legs and suffered brain damage after contracting meningitis at the age of 17.
Our last torchbearer here is Clare Forbes who contracted meningitis when she was 17 years old and lost both legs, some fingers, and suffered a brain injury to the cerebellum which has left her with a condition called downbeat nystagmus which covers balance and speech.
17:40 Torch is now in Lancing - just one more stop (West Blatchington) before Brighton and Hove, the day's finale.
Here we have Stephen Brooks, Alex Fraser and Charles White among those bearing the flame.
17:39 gavinflickr posted this picture of the Olympic Torch arriving in Worthing
17:25 Primary school teacher Tom Kimber carrying the torch in Worthing now. Tom ,27, of Brighton, was nominated by the parent of one of his pupils who calls him "an inspiring and amazing teacher".
17:01 billynom posted this image of crowds awaiting the arrival of the torch in Worthing
16:20 The torch convoy is now pulling into Worthing. Torchbearers will include Ben Wilkes, Anton Calafus, Chris Cannon, Cyril More, Dan Robinson, Jill Keig-Shevlin, Kirsty Bastin, Konstantinos Filis and Lebon Patrick. We are taking a short break from coverage here now but will have an exclusive report and pictures from our reporter on the scene at Worthing soon. From Worthing the torch relay continues through Lancing and West Blatchington before arriving at Brighton and Hove at about 6pm.
Click here for our report - Worthing celebrates the Olympic Torch in Sussex
15:35 After a tour of the 11th century Arundel Castle the next stop for the torch will be Worthing, where it is expected around 16:25.
Click here for pictures by Arundel District Council of the torch as it passes through Arundel and crowds awaiting the relay at Arundel Castle
15:30 Ivy has just passed the torch to Max, 18, of Eastbourne, who was diagnosed with life threatening endocardytis at the age of 15 and after undergoing emergency surgery has recovered and gone on to play tennis, badminton,cricket and golf. He hopes to study sports science at university.
15:25 We're in Arundel now, where torchbearers are due to include Jason Saw, John Barnes, Max Harffey, Murat Yatkin and Ivy Robin. Ivy, 14, from Brighton, is a pupil at Roedean School.
14:57 Off the coach and back on the run in Woodgate, where Kevin Byrne is carrying the torch. Kevin, 48, of Bognor, is the founder and owner of a local business Checkatrade.com which employs 70 people in Selsey, West Sussex. He is described as "a remarkable man and an inspirational leader" by those that nominated him (one of those 70 staff looking for a payrise ?)
He also set up the Checkatrade Foundation which raises money for good causes.
14:50 On now to Woodgate, Westergate and Arundel, before hitting Worthing, from where we can expect a report and pictures from
14:41 Sally Bigg, carrying the flame now, is better know to millions of us by her maiden name, Sally Gunnell - winner of gold in the 400 metre hurdles at the Barcelona games in 1992. She is the only women in history to concurrently hold all four major championship medals - Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European, a feat she completed in 1992.
VIDEO: Olympic Torch Relay in Bognor, by guynormas
14:30 Matt Cooper, carrying the torch now, is doing his turn in his wheelchair, as he suffers from a physical disability which has affected his growth. He is 12 years old and his nominators recognised his cheerfulness, good humour and ability as a sportsman. He is a keen wheelchair basketball player.
This must be one of the most remorselessly wet days of the relay so far - it doesn't seem to have let up for a moment.
14:20 Carrying the torch now, David Sheppard, 30, of Worthing. David set up Brighton and Hove's Corporate Social Responsibility Forum which helps businesses come together on issues relating to the community. He has also raised over £3,000 by running marathons, which he gave to Macmillan Cancer Support.
14:14 After a tour of North and South Bersted the torch has arrived in Bognor Regis.
Carrying the flame now is Alistair Harvey , nominated for the work he does with two local charities, Sussex Crimestoppers and Leo House. Before him was Gabby Broadhurst, who lost her 19-year-old son to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. Due to join them running through the town are Kirsty Whiley, Klaus Schumann, Matt Cooper and Michael Bevis-lacey.
13:44 The first torchbearer in North Bersted is Fredrick Barr, 79, who has been a boxing coach for over 60 years. His students include Bobby Wells who won a bronze medal at the Los Angeles olympics in 1984.
13:36 The torch is now heading in convoy to North Bersted.
Your pictures, videos and tweets of the first stage of the torch relay journey through Sussex, from Rogate to Chichester
13:02 Following a break for lunch the torch has arrived in Chichester. Sarah Robinson, Steph Blondell, Katie Mindo, Vicky Scott and Ryan Smith are carrying the flame through the historic cathedral city. Ryan, 26, of Basingstoke, was nominated to carry the torch by his mother, due to the bravery he has shown throughout his life , dealing with 23 operations withing 24 years of his life, having been born prematurely with a cleft lip and palate. She said: "Ryan has not once asked 'why me, why did I have to have this?'
"I was with him for every surgery and to watch your child put to sleep and into the hands of the professionals is incredibly hard for a parent.
"We thank the surgeons and nurses who have helped Ryan succeed into adulthood for their dedication, skill and care.
"Ryan has never let his condition get in his way."
12:10 Hundreds line the pavements to greet the arrival of the torch relay at Chichester Festival Theatre.
12:00 With the flame in Chichester now is Stef Ransley, 37, of Lancing. Stef has volunteered every other Saturday for the last 18 months at St Barnabas Hospice. Other runners in the town will include Aaron Holford-Grant, Alexa Zaddach, Ant Stewart and Ben Stoggles.
11:53 The torch is now passing through Chichester. First with the flame is George Middleton, 35, of Storrington, whose charitable activities have included swimming the English channel.
11:45 Heavy rain as the torch relay heads from the Cass Sculpture Park into Chichester.
11:30 Before arriving in Chichester, the torch has stopped off at the Cass Sculpture Park.
11:20 Torch is now heading in convoy to Chichester, where it is expected at around 11.40am.
VIDEO: Olympic Torch in Petworth by SouthDownsHF
10:30 And on to Petworth - where the torch will pass by the National Trust's Petworth House mansion. Thousands of schoochildren from across the county have gathered to cheer as it passes the 17th century mansoion. Carrying the flame will be Sammie Roden, Martin Vogt, Sara Tremlett and Juliet Starbuck.
Youtube: Footage by crazy4ker of the Olympic Torch being carried through Tillington by Katie Lambert
10:19 Next stop Tillington, where the flame will be bourne by Gerald Gresham Cooke, Katie Lambert and Mark Hughes.
9:24 The torch is now making its was into Midhurst.
VIDEO: Torch in Midhust by lordwilliam63
9:10 The first stop in Sussex for the Olympic torch is the village of Rogate, on the border with East Hampshire.
Those carrying the torch through Rogate will include Annette Sawyer, Dom Raeyen and Ross Harper. Ross, 32, of Hove, carries out volunteer work for three charities , including Rockinghorse, which supports sick and disabled children in Sussex and Surrey, and the Chestnut Tree House children's hospice. He has raised £15,000 for good causes in the last year.
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Worthing
IN PICTURES: Olympic Torch Relay in Worthing, Sussex
REPORT: Worthing celebrates the Olympic Torch in Sussex
Map
Below you can browse our interactive map showing the route and approximate times that the torch will visit each destination in Sussex:
Source: www.thisissussex.co.uk
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