News From Around The FGW Area

[whole diary]

[Lee]

09/06/2008 :

Business leaders have warned that protests over spiralling fuel prices could result in blockades and strike action (link below.)
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232450&contentPK=20823369&folderPk=108202&pNodeId=251466

A ^3.1million project to begin the transformation of Plymouth's West End is to start next January (link below.)
http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133464&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133158&contentPK=20823121&folderPk=78031&pNodeId=133174

[Lee]

10/06/2008 :

The demolition of Devonport's infamous 'Bull Ring' - the Ker Street council flats - began today (links below.)
http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=181429&command=displayContent&sourceNode=229968&home=yes&more_nodeId1=133174&contentPK=20834517

http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133464&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133158&contentPK=20830023&folderPk=78031&pNodeId=133174

Plans for a ^5 million waterfront development next to West Hoe park in Plymouth have suffered a setback. The project has been put on hold until the autumn after its backers decided to look again at the design of the scheme (link below.)
http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133464&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133158&contentPK=20830465&folderPk=78031&pNodeId=133174

[Lee]

11/06/2008 :

Two Westcountry councils have clashed amid claims that one of them is promoting an ^ungovernable^ agenda for the future of local government. Plymouth City Council launched the broadside at the Devon county authority over its proposals for a shake-up of council boundaries (link below.)
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Expanded-county-council-ungovernable/article-187069-detail/article.html

Motorists in the Westcountry are bracing themselves for a fuel shortage at some pumps this weekend after oil tanker drivers announced a four-day strike. Small businesses, tourists and rural communities could face problems if Shell petrol stations are forced to close down for four days (link below.)
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141507&command=displayContent&sourceNode=257390&home=yes&more_nodeId1=257393&contentPK=20840206

A convoy of 54 artic lorries made their way through Warminster on Saturday as part of a day out for autistic children. But police were left fielding calls from concerned motorists, who feared the lorries were holding a fuel protest and blocking the Cley Hill roundabout (link below.)
http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.2333533.0.truck_convoy_sparked_fuel_protest_fear.php

English Heritage has offered an ^80,000 grant to the owners of Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare to help with repair work due to start this summer (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20840219&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

Theresa May MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) has continued to support efforts to prevent development on Badnells Pit. The long-running battle to prevent development has now reached the Planning Inspectorate, following an appeal by Michael Shanly Homes against the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead^s rejection of the plans to develop 402 residential units on the site (link below.)
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-6798-theresa-may-mp-supports-opposition-to-badnells-pit-plans/

The facade of Maidenhead town centre is set for a series of small facelifts this summer in a bid to attract more visitors to the town (link below.)
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-6800-facelift-for-maidenhead-town-centre/

[Lee]

16/06/2008 :

The first phase of a multi-million pound luxury eco development in South East Cornwall has been unveiled. Contemporary eco-homes are currently being built in an 18-month project to transform the Dobwalls Adventure Park site near Liskeard (link below.)
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/homepagenews/eco-homes-ready-buy/article-190706-detail/article.html

Dozens of filling stations across the West have run out of fuel as a strike by tanker drivers began to bite today. Many petrol forecourts were displaying "closed" signs following panic-buying by motorists ahead of the end of a four-day protest which was due to end at 6am on Tuesday (links below.)
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/homepagenews/Fuel-shortage-strike-hits/article-190606-detail/article.html

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Fuel-runs-dry-protest-nears-end/article-190287-detail/article.html

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Forecourts-running-city-feels-pinch-fuel-protest/article-189962-detail/article.html

http://thisisbath.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=180730&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232315&home=yes&more_nodeId1=163047&contentPK=20869590

http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20877675

http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-6854-fuel-crisis-petrol-pumps-run-dry/

http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2342819.0.petrol_strike_starts_to_bite.php

Fuel price protesters hope to create 'the biggest show of unity yet' in Plymouth. Lorry drivers, bikers, motorists, taxi-drivers, farmers and businesses are expected to take part in a massive city demonstration on Sunday, June 22 over the rising price of fuel (link below.)
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/UK-s-biggest-fuel-protest-held-Plymouth/article-189166-detail/article.html

Elsewhere, Pete Doherty is unhappy at fuel prices.....
http://thisissomerset.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=147472&command=displayContent&sourceNode=243687&home=yes&more_nodeId1=242222&contentPK=20881960

Hopes that the credit crunch had halted a housing development on the edge of Oxford have been dashed (link below.)
http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2344935.0.192_homes_plan_still_on_track.php

[Lee]

17/06/2008 :

Changing weather conditions could damage Newquay's rich pedigree in the surfing world. The usual south-westerly wind has begun to back north-westerly more frequently, making less favourable surfing conditions, experts say (link below.)
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/homepagenews/North-westerly-cloud-hangs-resort-s-surfing-future/article-191478-detail/article.html

Fuel tanker drivers ended their four-day strike over pay today ahead of fresh talks aimed at averting another walk-out this weekend (links below.)
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Counting-cost-fuel-strike-ends/article-191254-detail/article.html

http://thisisbath.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=180730&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232315&home=yes&more_nodeId1=163047&contentPK=20869590

http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20885387

http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2345173.0.shell_stations_expecting_deliveries.php

Visitors to Ivybridge will get free parking as part of a council drive to boost local trade (link below.)
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Free-parking-visitors-town/article-191660-detail/article.html

Up to 450 jobs are set to go in a massive shake-up at Bristol City Council (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20885407

Background - New chief executive Jan Ormondroyd, who took over at Easter, has already launched her own shake-up at the top of the council (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=2205.msg16673#msg16673

Homes in Bristol are together worth more than anywhere else in the country outside London, according to new figures (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20884881&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

More than 3,500 shoppers have signed a petition in support of Oxford's Covered Market traders who are facing massive rent increases. Fifty-four traders at the historic market are appealing against a rent review by Oxford City Council (link below.)
http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2347260.0.3_500_support_covered_market_plight.php