Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Newbridge - Flood Alert!
Monday, 10 November 2008
Flood Watch Today
The River Windrush Catchment
Page last updated: 08:11 on 10-Nov-2008
Flood status checked every 15 minutes.
Current status: | Flood Watch |
Status last changed at: | 08:11 on 10-Nov-2008 |
Location: | The River Windrush from Bourton-on-the-Water to Newbridge and its tributaries |
Friday, 7 November 2008
Job losses at HeidelbergCement
Heidelberg slashes over 4,000 jobs in UK and US
Issue date: November 6th, 2008
Globally, HeidelbergCement reduced its headcount from 68,783 to 64,638 over the year to September, with the majority of workers being culled from operations in the slowing economies of North America and the UK, the German company’s third quarter report highlights.Following its acquisition of Hanson and as a result of slowing growth in the housing market in the two countries, 4,145 jobs were cut “…essentially from location optimisations and capacity adjustments in North America and the United Kingdom,” the report states.
The number of employees at the company on 30 September across Europe numbered 28,873, down from 31,663 the previous September. Meanwhile, the North America headcount fell 1,865 over the same period to 17,970.
The company is seeking to generate savings of €250million a year with its Fitness 2009 program, the full effects of which it expects will come next year, suggesting further headcount reductions could be announced over the coming months. Hanson and Castle Cement in the UK have already announced a range of jobs losses.
HeidelbergCement has been hit hard in the UK and the US. In late October ratings agencies Moody’s and Standard and Poor downgraded the company’s credit rating to sub-investment grade because of the lack of activity in the UK and North America, as well as a lack of further disposals and difficult refinancing conditions.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Message from OUTRAGE
Draw by following this link: http://outrage.express.ts.com
You can also get to the ticket sales page by following the link from our new
campaign page: http://outragecampaign.blogspot.com
The number of tickets will be limited by the capacity of Northmoor Village
Hall, so please buy early to avoid disappointment.
Hot supper, disco, grand raffle draw, many prizes and a chance to help the
OUTRAGE campaign!
Friday, 31 October 2008
MQR
Latest News
Gloom deepens for UK quarry firms
Issue date: October 30th, 2008
Further job losses and mothballing of operations could be necessary across UK quarrying firms as they prepare for worse conditions than during the 1991 recession, according to new figures.
The latest Quarry Products Association (QPA) sales statistics show ready-mix sales fell 21% during the third quarter compared with the same period last year, with sand and gravel sales falling by 17% and crushed rock by 15%.
As if suddenly hitting a wall, Q3 sales fell at a rate not seen since the 1991 downturn. However, warns the QPA, pre-credit crunch market conditions are set to make the effect of the slowdown much worse.
“The accelerating decline in demand seen in Q3 indicates that for 2008 the rate of annual decline of aggregates and concrete volumes will be similar to the 1991 recession – but the fundamental difference in this comparison is that the early 1990s recession followed historically high volumes in the late 1980s, but the current market decline is from much more modest volume base.
“There will be further significant declines in aggregates and concrete markets in 2009 as the downturn in construction output worsens,” it said.
The use of ready-mix and aggregates are often weighted towards the earlier stages of construction projects, says the QPA, and so the decline reflects not just the problems in the housing markets, but also the lack of new work elsewhere in construction, notably in the commercial and industrial sectors.
Bucking the trend, asphalt sales have been steady through 2008. The figures show between January and September this year sales grew by one percent compared with the same period last year – Q3 figures, however, show a decline of two percent.
The QPA said it anticipates a “…significant decline in asphalt demand…given the small number of major roads contracts in progress and inadequate local highways funding”.
Monday, 13 October 2008
Message from OUTRAGE
Meanwhile, OUTRAGE are gearing up the campaign. We have sought the opinion of a QC with experience of minerals applications and have been advised by him that we have a good case against Oxfordshire County Council. Together with the firm of solicitors who have advised us in our case against the Environment Agency, our QC will write a legal opinion on our behalf to all members of the OCC Planning and Regulation committee and will address the committee on the day itself.
All this will cost - but OUTRAGE believes that it will be a sum well worth paying. As laymen we have little power to move a Council so determined to favour this application. If we are to be taken seriously, our arguments need to be delivered by professional lawyers. For maximum impact, we believe that our QC is the man for the job.
WE appeal to you to help us raise the necessary funds. Our four-year campaign against gravel extraction at Stonehenge Farm is now facing its greatest challenge. The possibility of increased flood risk hangs in the balance, together with the fate of our roads, footpaths and countryside. We need to show that we are serious, that our opposition is real and that we will not be rolled over.
Monetary donations of any amount, large or small, would be very much appreciated.
They should be made payable to OUTRAGE and sent to our Treasurer:
John Downes, Greenfields,
PLEASE HELP US TO SAVE OUR VILLAGES!