HU12.Net

HU12 Online at www.hu12.net

2011-10-04T09:25:00.000+01:00

FROM TODAY this website will be re-directing readers to the new HU12 Online website at www.hu12.net.

The new website is still in the process of development, however, it hoped that readers can help us in that process by giving suggestions and ideas.

The new website will be able to better serve our purpose of providing local news, views and opinions of relevance to the communities and area covered by the HU12 postal code.

Visit: HU12 Online at www.hu12.net

Rural Community Council Annual General Meeting in November 2011

2011-10-03T08:15:00.000+01:00

HUMBER AND WOLDS Rural Community Council (HWRCC) is holding its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 2nd November 2011.

The event, which takes place at the Goxhill Memorial Hall from 1pm - 3pm (registration from 12.30pm) will be an opportunity for visitors to find out more about HWRCC's work across the region.

HWRCC is an independent charity and one of 38 Rural Community Councils across England and Wales. It works to improve the sustainability of rural communities in the East Riding of Yorkshire and offers infrastructure advice and support to rural community organisations.

Registration will be from 12.30pm.

Please contacts karen.weeks@hwrcc.org.uk or joanne.greenfield@hwrcc.org.uk to book your place by 24th October 2011 on e-mail or telephone 01430 430904.

Find out more at www.hwrcc.org.uk

Try out East Riding Council’s new website

2011-09-30T08:54:00.000+01:00

New website - "great improvement"

THE NEW WEBSITE for the East Riding of Yorkshire Council is available to preview at http://preview.eastriding.gov.uk/welcome/

Using a new format of ASK, DO and FIND the new website certainly seems easier to navigate than the existing one (which is still up and running as normal during the preview period).

HU12 looked for information on a specific Council Committee, for Hedon Library, our local councillors and we searched for a map of the South West Holderness Ward. We found the first three pieces of information in four clicks - the Ward Map, however, could not be found within the limits of the preview site.

ASK is your starting point. You should be able to find what you are looking for through clicking on one of the frequently asked questions. If not, then you can do a more detailed search through Browse our site menu which lets you search through 7 popular headings. You can opt to go straight to FIND - which uses an A - Z search facility first, but unless you are very clear on which heading letter to use then you could be searching for some time. You can also use a Sitemap search which lists useful services under the 7 headings. The DO part of the site is the action orientated part of the website - here you can Pay, Apply, Book or Report.

The MyEastriding feature is particularly useful and accessed through entering your post-code. After clicking on your address from the list which conveniently pops up, you are then presented with a page listing more local options. You can search for your local facilities (including Hedon Library and local councillors contact details), and you can report any local issues directly online without visiting the DO part of the website. There is also a useful search facility in conjunction with NHS Choices which allows you to search for local GPs and dentists.

In short, the Council's new website - in this Previewer's opinion - is a great improvement on the old one!Please note: The Council is keen to let previewers know that test site is not complete. Some pages, information and documents may be missing and some buttons may not work at the moment.

Preview at: http://preview.eastriding.gov.uk/welcome/

Autumn Family Learning Opportunities

2011-09-29T07:06:00.000+01:00

AWESOME AUTUMN ACTIVITIES taking place at South Holderness and Withernsea Adult Education Centres in October 2011 include Families Online, Magic Movie Makers and the return of the popular Family Cupcake Creations:

Autumn Family Learning Activities

If a toxic gas alarm sounded now...?

2011-09-28T08:58:00.000+01:00

Harmless water vapour from Saltend

IF YOU HEARD the Toxic Alarm from Saltend Chemicals Park sounding off now... what would you do?This is the question that residents living in the proximity of Saltend should ask themselves and ask their neighbours:

You are out shopping in Hedon Town Centre; you are at a bus stop waiting for a bus; you are driving into Hull or on the way home after dropping the children off at school... when you hear the siren from Saltend begin to wail!

Sounding like a World War II siren, the sound is familiar enough to send the proverbial shiver down your spine. Your first reaction is likely to be "Is it a Test?", and if you can get within sight-line of Saltend, your eyes would probably turn towards the distinctive landscape of towers and chimneys. Is there any sign that anything is wrong? Is there a distinctive cloud of poisonous, toxic gases visible?
It might not necessarily be the case that vapours you see - if you can see any at all - from the site are poisonous. The atmospheric conditions around the site quite often creates dramatic subjects for local photographers and these vapours are quite harmless.

You ask people around you if they are aware of a test taking place - everybody else is experiencing the same quandary: Is it real or a test? Should we head off back home, pick the kids up, shelter in the nearest shop.....???

In the event of an actual toxic gas release and the sounding of one of the five emergency sirens from Saltend, then the above scenario of confusion will probably be experienced by the majority of people hearing any toxic alarm alert. Rather than decisive action a state of uncertainty would exist.Yet the advice from the five major companies based at the Saltend Chemical Parks is clear and unequivocal. It was published in a booklet Major Emergency Advice booklet that was distributed to residents locally in May 2010 (do you still have yours?):

You should GO IN, STAY IN, TUNE IN and wait for the ALL CLEAR.

GO IN doors. Do not collect your children from school, they will be properly cared for;

STAY IN and switch off ventilation fans, air conditioning units and all sources of ignition including gas and electrical heating appliances. Block incoming draughts and close windows. Do not light matches or naked flames. Do not smoke. Stay calm and rest;

TUNE IN to a local radio station; BBC Radio Humberside on 95.9 FM or 1485 AM, KCFM on 99.8 FM, Viking FM on 96.9 FM, MAGIC 1161 AM or GALAXY on 105.8 AM and follow the instructions given. Do not use the phone to contact the companies, keep their lines free for emergency use;

ALL CLEAR. Wait inside until the all clear is given or you are given other advice. Messages giving the all clear will be issued by the Emergency Services, Company Representatives or local radio.

At the time of publishing this in 2010, the Hedon Blog asked:

"DO YOU FEEL RE-ASSURED BY THIS BOOKLET? CAN YOU HEAR THE TEST ALARMS? WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF AN ALARM SOUNDED NOW?"

In light of a minor release of non-toxic vapour from Saltend on Monday 26th September 2011, and calls from concerned workers that the toxic alarm should have been sounded, then perhaps we need to re-visit the Major Emergency Advice booklet - and ask some pertinent questions: In the light of a major release of toxic vapours from Saltend - then are we really prepared?

PhotoSaltend: Andy Beecroft

Village SOS Roadshow for Yorkshire and Humber

2011-09-27T07:25:00.000+01:00

VILLAGE SOS is staging a Roadshow for the Yorkshire and Humberside Region. The event at Doncaster Racecourse on Wednesday 19th October 2011 is one of 24 being held across the country with the aim of inspiring people about the benefits of Community Enterprise.

The roadshow events will present a unique opportunity for communities to get hands-on advice from rural and enterprise specialists from the Plunkett Foundation and its partners Co-operatives UK, Locality, and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)..

Inspirational examples of community enterprises will be on-hand to share their journey with other communities, and there will also be appearances from those featured in the BBC1 series Village SOS. The event in Doncaster will include appearances from Taste Tideswell’s Pete Hawkins and ‘village champion’ Tim Nicol. See the video below about Taste Tideswell.

For more information about the event see: Village SOS Live in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Taste Tideswell: Village SOS winner- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

East Riding Photo Competition Deadline draws near

2011-09-26T06:50:00.000+01:00

Holderness Big Freeze by Jim Uney

THE DEADLINE for the Capturing the East Riding Photography Competition is on Friday, 30th September 2011, with residents urged not to miss the opportunity to show off their creative talent and be in with the chance of winning a great prize.

Entries have been coming in steadily and are being uploaded to the online gallery of the competition website.

The competition is open to all amateur photographers. Eligible photos must have been taken in the East Riding on or after 1 October 2009. They should be a minimum of 300 dpi or 5 MB. Full details are available on the website.

After the competition closes, entries will be judged and the winners exhibited at the Beverley Art Gallery in 2012.

Organised by the East Riding Cultural Partnership, the competition has received generous support from a host of partners: East Riding of Yorkshire Council, arvato, Burton Agnes Hall, Coast, Wolds, Wetlands and Waterways LEADER Programme, Hull and East Yorkshire Mind, National Centre for Early Music, Pocklington Arts Society, Press Association, Stewart’s Burnby Hall Gardens and Museum and South Cliff Caravan Park.

For more information about Capturing the East Riding, visit the website http://www.eastriding.gov.uk/test-pages/capturing-the-east-riding/ or contact Annabel Hanson, leisure, tourism and culture policy officer, on (01482) 391678 or email senseofplace@eastriding.gov.uk

Also see the Hedon Blog.

Survey on ERDF funding

2011-09-24T08:54:00.000+01:00

The Humber Technical Assistance Partnership is undertaking a survey of views to help inform the next phase of the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) programme 2007-13.

The ERDF is a funding stream that can be used to help develop opportunites to grow the renewables sector and the HTAP have emphasised the importance of engaging the voluntary and community sector in ERDF bidding.

The survey should take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete.

The deadline for completion is Wednesday 28th September. Please click on the link below to get started...

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HumberERDF

Source: Hull CVS

Launch of the East Riding Association of Rural Community Buildings

2011-09-23T07:39:00.000+01:00

A NEW NETWORK for Rural Community Buildings is to be formally established by the Humber & Wolds Rural Community Council (HWRCC).

On Saturday, 24 September 2011, an event will be held at Tickton Village Hall to celebrate the launch of the newly established East Riding Association of Rural Community Buildings. The Chairman of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Kay West, will formally welcome the Association and wish it well. This will be followed by its inaugural Annual General Meeting.

Almost 160 rural community buildings exist across the East Riding of Yorkshire and the majority of these facilities are charitable trusts managed by local volunteers. In many villages the community building/village hall is the only place where local people can meet and, in many cases, is providing access to a number of services and activities that otherwise could not be provided within these localities.

Over two years ago HWRCC established two Community Building Networks in the East Riding to provide management committees with a peer support mechanism. These networking opportunities have allowed committees to share ideas, concerns and receive training on relative subjects.As a consequence of their success they will come together under the newly formed Association.

The new Association will provide the legal structure and a ‘bigger voice’ for individual management committees. This will allow them to negotiate cost-savings and income generating initiatives, as well as influencing rural policy at a local, regional and national level.

New members are welcome.If anyone wants to know more about the Association or become a member please contact Margaret Kirk or log on to www.hwrcc.org.uk.T: 01430 430904 E: margaret.kirk@hwrcc.org.uk

Try something new in South Holderness!

2011-09-23T07:20:00.001+01:00

More changes to the Withernsea to Hull bus services

2011-09-22T07:58:00.000+01:00

EYMS LTD have now issued a new timetable to commence from Sunday 30th October 2011 for the Hull to Withernsea bus services following, what they describe as passengers being "unhappy" with the recently changed service.The details of the changes have been published by the bus company in its newsletter:

"We understand many of you have been unhappy with recent changes to our Withernsea buses, so we have listened to your views and from Sunday 30 October Service 76 will return, Service 74 is replaced by Service 77 (meaning more buses for villages between Keyingham and Withernsea during the day), there will be an extra Service 77 journey from Hull at 9.45am during the week, and an extra Service 77 journey from Hedon on Saturdays, and there will be minor changes to times on all journeys, including some Service 277 journeys. Service 71 will also be retimed slightly so that it can continue to connect with buses to Hull. Download the new Withernsea timetables now."

It is certainly good news that EYMS have been able to act to change services in response to 'passenger power' in this way. But it remains to be seen how long the company will be able to act in such a beneficial manner.

The company faces increasing pressure on its services due to: cuts in national Government funding available to subsidise services; increasing fuel prices; and the need to replace its fleet of buses by 2017 to ensure that they all meet the requirements of the Disabled Discrimination Act.

Tough times ahead for the company - and indeed for passengers who perhaps now need to embrace passenger power and community activism as something that can help preserve services and even improve them.

Have Your Say on East Riding Council's Budget

2011-09-20T07:16:00.000+01:00

RESIDENTS ARE INVITED to have their say on the council’s budget priorities for the forthcoming financial year 2012/13 at its annual budget events.

In November and December, budget events will be held in Beverley, Brough and Bridlington, which aim to get residents involved, see what the council’s plans are for the coming year and find out more about how the budget is used.

Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of the council, said:

“We recognise that residents have their own views on what they think our priorities should be and would like to invite people to join us and share those opinions. Large scale reductions in Government funding mean that setting a budget for 2012/13 which enables us to continue providing quality services to residents will be more challenging than ever. However, due to good financial planning the council is in a better position than most comparable councils to meet the challenge.”

The events will take place on:

Monday, 21 November 2011, 10am-1pm, at Beverley Leisure Centre
Thursday, 1 December 2011, 1-4pm, at Bridlington Spa
Friday, 9 December 2011, 10am-1pm at Brough Business Centre.

Comment: So what about an Holderness event?

Village SOS Competition Awards

2011-09-19T07:59:00.000+01:00

VILLAGE SOS, an initiative from the Big Lottery Fund and the BBC, is running a competition which will make awards of between £10,000 and £30,000 to support community enterprise in villages (with populations of less than 3,000).

The competition seeks to give money to enterprising ideas that will use the skills of local people and the area’s natural resources, land and buildings.Community enterprises are businesses that are owned and run by villagers themselves, such as village shops and pubs.

Village SOS highlight the fact that there are around 260 community-owned village shops currently thriving. They are distinguishable from private-sector enterprises by the fact that they re-invest any profits back into the community.

Entry forms for the competition can be submitted online, but must be done so by 5pm, on Thursday 20 October 2011.Find out more at www.villagesos.org.uk/competition

Yorkshire Water - Bricking it!

2011-09-16T08:57:00.000+01:00

YORKSHIRE WATER are "bricking it!" That's official!

It's not because they are scared of local anti-pong campaigners. No, it's for an altogether different reason!

Yorkshire Water are making building bricks from their incinerated sewage. The building bricks and blocks are made by combining ash from incinerated sewage with vegetable oil.

Jon Brigg, Innovation Development Manager at Yorkshire Water said:

"We are always looking for ways in which we can make the best use of our waste to have a positive impact on our environment and this project is a great way to reuse incinerated sludge ash which has traditionally been sent to landfill. With new building regulations coming into force in the next few years home builders will need to reduce the embedded carbon cost of all new homes - the bricks and blocks will provide a perfect alternative to traditional house bricks."

The product is currently being tested by the company in Leeds and aims to provide an alternative to traditional cement, which is responsible for around five per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Hmm... I'm sure that local anti-smell campaigners will have something witty to say about this!?

Source: Yorkshire Water

Rogue Traders: Police warning to residents

2011-09-15T09:42:00.000+01:00

POLICE IN THE EAST RIDING are reminding residents to take care when purchasing items or agreeing building work from doorstep traders.

Trading standards investigations have found these traders often travel into the area from all over the country, and will give a price for work to be done but rarely give any cancellation paperwork that is required. Halfway through the job they will try and inflate the price, often intimidating the householder into paying the higher price. Rogue traders have also been known to accompany victims to the bank to obtain their money.

Detective Inspector Emma Heatley, Goole CID said: "Residents are still being targeted by traders who knock on the door without warning, trying to sell goods and services. They often offer to carry out free checks hoping to sign you up there and then. At this time of the year, it could be cutting down trees, paving driveways, resurfacing, replacing fascias, repairing roofs, damp proofing, general building work, guttering insulation or even selling motorised scooters! These criminals are ruthless and determined to make money regardless of who they approach and how unsuitable the product or service is."

DI Heatley added: "We would like residents to say no to doorstep callers in an attempt to protect them from unscrupulous salesmen and distraction burglars."If you need work doing to your property you should preferably use someone who has been recommended to you and who you will be able to contact if anything goes wrong."

Rogue traders often skirt very close to breaking the law but sadly sometimes do not cross the line legally, instead choosing to con their victims out of significant quantities of cash by using unethical hard sell tactics. The law says that if anyone enters into a contract away from business premises then the trader must give a notice advising that there is a seven day period in which the other party can change their mind.

To report doorstep crime to trading standards, call Consumer Direct, on 08454 04 05 06 or to report an incident to Humberside Police, call 0845 60 60 222.

New Nippon Gohsei plant - What does it do?

2011-09-14T10:32:00.000+01:00

NIPPON GOHSEI UK, as observant locals will have noticed, have built a new plant at the former Humbrol factory site on Hedon Road.

Peter Brown and Noriaki Hamada managing directors

The new manufacturing, storage and distribution facility, built by the Japanese-owned chemical company in conjunction with Neill & Brown Global Logistics, will produce, pack and distribute Soarnol.

Soarnol is most commonly known as the plastic wrapping used for food packaging which seals in produce, keeps oxygen out and maintains freshness. But the product is also used to produce the plastic fuel tanks for cars. Nippon Gohsei say Soarnol emits no toxic gases when burned, which has attracted a great deal of attention as an environmentally-safe green material.

Neill & Brown will occupy two-thirds of the site and will store and distribute Soarnol throughout Europe.

Nippon Gohsei UK was established in 2001 and began operations in Hull in 2004. The company employs over 90 people at its Saltend base. Neill & Brown Global Logistics Group were established over 90 years ago, when the first cargo handling operations took place in the Port of Hull, and currently employ 90 people at its Hessle premises

Thirteen new jobs, eleven with Nippon Gohsei and two with Neill & Brown will be created at the new Hedon Road plant.

Links:
Nippon Gohsei (UK) Limited
Neill and Brown

Hedon and HU12 ONLINE - Issue 4 published

2011-09-13T09:18:00.001+01:00

THE LATEST EDITION of Hedon and HU12 ONLINE has been published.

Download as a PDF file at Hedon and HU12 ONLINE – Sept 2011 Issue 4 or view on Scribd.

Beverley and Holderness Parliamentary constituency to be broken up under proposed boundary changes

2011-09-13T08:44:00.000+01:00

THE REVIEW of Parliamentary constituency boundaries starts formally today with the publication of the Boundary Commission for England's (BCE) initial proposals, which sets out to reduce the number of constituencies and equalise the size of each.

If implemented the proposals will introduce substantial changes leading to the break-up of the Beverley and Holderness constituency. It will reduce the number of constituencies in Yorkshire and the Humber from 55 to 50. Major changes proposed, include:

South West Holderness ward will be included in the East Hull Constituency (see Hedon Blog);
the wards of Mid-Holderness, North Holderness and South-East Holderness will be included in a new Bridlington constituency;
A new Beverley constituency will be formed covering three Beverley wards and the wards of Driffield and Rural, Pocklington Provincial, and Wolds Weighton.

Karl Turner MP for the East Hull constituency had already expressed his discontent at any proposed changes with a page (published prior to today's BCE announcements) on his website stating his opposition:

"The Bill that is being forced through parliament is arbitrary and partisan. It is a cynical ploy designed to protect coalition parties and to hurt the Labour Party. I believe it disenfranchises young people, minority groups and low income voters. In other words, it neglects to count those who need counting the most. The arbitrary nature of the Bill means the redrawing of constituencies takes no account of local authorities or even natural landmarks."

The proposals for Yorkshire and Humber have been reproduced below. Copies are also available from the East Riding Council's Customer Service Centres.

The initial consultation about these proposals closes on 5th December 2011.

Boundary Changes 2011-08-23 Yorkshire-humber Online

Olympics 2012: Chinese athletes to train in the East Riding

2011-09-12T09:21:00.000+01:00

CHINESE PENTAPHLON team members will be training for Olympics 2012 at Bishop Burton College.

Qian Chen - a world champion

Modern Pentaphlon consists of five sports: pistol shooting, fencing, swimming, horse riding and running. The College is already home to the Yorkshire regional training centre for the sport, but will now be constructing a new outdoor shooting range on its campus to enable the Chinese team to train for the sport’s shooting discipline.

China’s modern pentathletes will stay and train at Bishop Burton College, where they will fence in the new sports hall, ride at the equestrian centre, and train for the run/shoot using the new shooting range. China boasts as a team member one of the sport's world champions Qian Chen, who is a contender for the gold medal next year.

College principal Jeanette Dawson said: "We are absolutely thrilled. The team of around four athletes will be training here and staying with us in our accommodation. It helps raise the profile of the College, both home and abroad, and firmly establishes us as a National sporting venue. It's great for Hull and the East Riding and helps put the region on the map."

Are you aware of any other local links with Olympics 2012? Let us know at hu12@gmx.com

Residents online: opportunities for councils?

2011-09-12T08:33:00.001+01:00

THE LGiU (Local Government Information Unit) is conducting some research into how local councils are making use - or not - of citizen-run or 'hyperlocal' websites.

LGiU Blog Editor Rob Dale has studied the research into citizen online networks conducted last year by Networked Neighbourhoods. Rob is now asking Councillors and Council Officers to take part in a survey as part of ongoing research:

"Of people who use these sites, the study found only 13% were involved in ‘formal political’ activity, 59% felt able to influence decision-making processes and 42% felt their attitudes towards local councillors had improved. Importantly, nearly all councils identified such sites as being somewhat or highly ‘constructive or useful’.

Their work showed how local, citizen-run websites bring social benefits to residents and the potential for co-production and public sector savings.I am therefore very excited to be collaborating with Networked Neighbourhoods on a follow up exploration of how councils are making use of these local websites.

We expect this research to add further insights of importance to members and officers as local government adjusts to new relationships with citizens."

Want to get involved?

If you are a councillor and would like to take part in the research you can do so here: Councillor Survey.

If you are an officer and would like to take part in the research you can do so here: Officer Survey.

An event is being held later in the year at which the findings of these surveys will be discussed. Find out more at Rob Dale's article on the LGiU Blog or contact rob.dale@lgiu.org.uk

Family History Advice Sessions

2011-09-08T09:12:00.000+01:00

EAST RIDING COUNCIL'S Archives and Local Studies Service, based in the Treasure House, Beverley, is continuing to host family history advice sessions on designated Saturdays throughout the year.

Volunteers from the East Yorkshire Family History Society are on hand to give members of the public free advice on family history matters.Sessions are open to all levels, from a beginner wanting to further research their family to those who may simply have come up against a blank wall.

The next session is on Saturday, 10 September, from 10am–12noon.

Booking is essential.To book or for further information, call (01482) 392790.

Related information: People searching for their family roots in Paull will be interested in the Heritage Open Days taking place at St Andrew Church, Paull over the weekend.

EYMS: Bus service cuts and higher fares

2011-09-07T12:48:00.000+01:00

IN BRIEF.... EYMS (East Yorkshire Motor Services) is warning that service cuts and fare increases are coming reports the Hull Daily Mail.

Every service will be reviewed, and it is likely that late night and rural services - those that carry fewer passengers - could be hit the hardest.EYMS Chief Officer Peter Shipp says in the Mail that raising fares will be the preferred option to cutting services. An increase in fares is almost certain to be introduced before the end of the year.

In more positive news, the Mail also reports that EYMS Bus Service No. 76 will be re-introduced from October 31st. The half-hourly service is being re-instated following protests and petitions by passengers who felt they had been left isolated, following recent reductions and changes to bus services.

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Awareness Event

2011-09-07T09:03:00.001+01:00

AN ERDF AWARENESS EVENT, organised by the Humber Technical Assistance Partnership, allow those attending to find out what types of activity this European Funding stream can support and what is involved in making an application.

The event takes place on Tuesday, 20 September 2011 at Hull Truck Theatre, 8-10am, and includes a networking breakfast, with an optional tour of the theatre available.

This is a FREE event but booking is essential.

The European Union has provided €583 million for the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber, with over €300 million of this being made available for North, East and West Yorkshire, North and North East Lincolnshire.

For further help and support in accessing ERDF, call the Humber Technical Assistance Partnership on 01482 391685 or email pip.betts@eastriding.gov.uk.

MP joins bid for Humber offshore energy research facility

2011-09-06T07:49:00.000+01:00

GRAHAM STUART MP, for Beverley and Holderness, has urged the Government toselect the Humber for a national research centre into offshorerenewable energy.

TheUniversity of Hull is applying for the investment on behalf of theHumber area, with support from key partners in both the public andprivate sector. The facility will be a Technology and InnovationCentre, specialising in offshore energy production.

TheOffshore Renewable Energy centre will be the third of a network oftechnology and innovation centres to be established by the Technology Strategy Board, with a government investment of more than £200million over the next four years.

Graham Stuart said: “I have officially registered my support for the Humber bid with the Technology Strategy Board and also written a letter of support to the University of Hull.

“The Humber region has a lot to offer in terms of offshore renewable energy. With the nearby University of Hull renowned for its research excellence in this field and a proximity to the major offshore wind super cluster, we can offer a perfect location for the centre.

“This facility could aid regeneration in the area by creating jobs and attracting national and international investment. We have a unique chance to create employment opportunities that can be targeted at the local population, forming a platform for inspiring young people to become the next generation of skilled experts in this expanding industry.

An 'Expression of Interest' has been submitted by the University. The Technology Strategy Board and theGovernment will now draw up a shortlist of bids, which will be asked tosubmit final full proposals. The successful bidders will be announcedin December 2011 and the centre will begin operations in the summerof 2012.

Anti Smells Protest - Media Reports

2011-09-05T09:54:00.000+01:00

FOLLOWING the Day of Action last Saturday 3rd September 2011 against the Yorkshire Water Smells, reports have been posted on the Hedon Blog: Day of Action - Report and in the Hull Daily Mail: Hedon Street Protest. The BBC website previewed the day at: Protest mounted over Saltend odour problem.

The petition closes on Wednesday 7th September - and will be considered by the East Riding Council on Wednesday 21st September at a Committee Meeting to be held at County Hall, Beverley,10am.

Anti-smells campaigners will be lobbying councillors from 9:30am.

Day of Action - Yorkshire Water Smells!

2011-09-02T09:39:00.000+01:00

SATURDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER 2011 local people are being asked to support two events on a Day of Action against foul smells from the Yorkshire Water Waste Water Treatment Works at Saltend.

Location: Paull Car Boot Sale at 9:00am and later in the Hedon Market Place at 12:00 noon (for 30 minutes at each location).

Stand with us in opposition to Yorkshire Water’s stink. Make and bring your own banners, placards and signs showing what you think of the foul smells! Write down your comments about your experience of the smells on post-it notes, and add them to the Wall of Shame.

Get involved in Exploring our Heritage!

2011-09-02T09:22:00.002+01:00

EAST RIDING RESIDENTS are being urged to take part in England’s biggest national heritage event.

Heritage Open Days, which takes place from 8th -11th September 2011, is a celebration of England’s cultural heritage, providing an opportunity to discover hidden treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities, bringing to life local history and culture.

Find out more about sites to visit in our local area at the Hedon Blog.

Enhanced holiday destination in the East Riding

2011-09-02T09:12:00.000+01:00

SAND LE MERE Holiday Village at Tunstall between Hornsea and Withernsea has been granted planning permssion for a new £4m complex to enhance the £1.3 million they have already spent on accommodation.

Artist's Impression of new complex

The new centre will host daytime and evening entertainment, a bar and restaurant, a show lounge, arcade, shop, cafe and takeaway. There will also be an indoor pool, kids' soft play area and a gym as well as outdoor leisure and play areas.

The decision by East Riding of Yorkshire Council to grant planning permission means the 100 acre complex will be open in time for the 2012 season.

Sand-le-Mere offers pitches for tents and touring caravans as well as offering holiday homes and static caravans to rent and buy.

For further information visit the Sand le Mere Holiday Village website.

“Lives at risk”: MP urges Yorkshire Ambulance Service to reconsider changes to first aid training

2011-09-01T09:14:00.001+01:00

COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS in Holderness have criticised YorkshireAmbulance Service for reducing their regular training sessions from monthly to bi-monthly training. According to the Hull Daily Mail a number of the volunteers active in the Holderness Community First Responders have resigned in protest.

CommunityFirst Responders are unpaid volunteers who are trained to providelife-saving aid before an ambulance crew arrives. These volunteersare first on the scene and provide emergency care to patients in thefirst vital minutes of a medical incident. There are currently groups in Bilton, Hedon, Hornsea, Keyingham and Roos.

Graham Stuart

Now Graham Stuart MP has taken up their case. The MP is concerned that changes to local first aid training may put lives at risk, especially in rural areas. He said: “The Yorkshire Ambulance Service is quiteright to look for efficiencies and must do everything possible todeliver more for less, but I urge the trust to look again at theimpact of these training reductions. Inmany rural areas where the response time for ambulance services canbe significantly longer, it is the excellent work of Community FirstResponders that saves lives."

Mr Stuart added: “The reduction in training has understandably leftmany of these volunteers disillusioned and it is a shame that the number of volunteers across the East Riding has been dwindling as a result."

Yorkshire Ambulance Service are still recruiting volunteers to the scheme and were advertising for people in Withernsea to get involved last month and have assured that full training will be given to successful applicants.

National Citizen Service piloted in East Riding

2011-08-31T08:39:00.000+01:00

YOUNG PEOPLE in Beverley and Bridlington have been helping out in their communities as part of a Government pilot scheme.

The 15 and 16-year-olds, who have finished year 11 at school, have been volunteering and organising in a number of events throughout the summer holidays to make a difference to the area they live. They are working under the National Citizen Service (NCS), a national pilot scheme announced by Prime Minister David Cameron in February 2011.

The NCS is a flagship Government initiative, offering a fun but challenging voluntary, personal and social development programme for young people which will enable participants to become confident and socially active young adults. Piloting in summer 2011, it offers places for 15 to 16-year-olds at the end of school year 11.

The NCS in this area is run in conjunction with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and led by young people’s charity Catch22. It provides 15 and 16-year-olds with a voluntary, personal and social development programme throughout the summer holidays. Each participant will get a certificate signed by the Prime Minister and those completing the ASDAN Community Volunteering Qualification will earn themselves 30 UCAS points to help towards university.

The young people from Bridlington and Beverley who volunteered for the scheme have taken part in a course on team-building skills, have learned about their own local communities and have developed their own social action plans.

Young people in Beverley have taken part in a healthy lifestyle event at Beverley Leisure Centre, helped to create a sensory garden in Coronation Gardens after stray cows caused damage as well as volunteering at the Humberside Fire and Rescue open day at Beverley Fire Station.

In Bridlington, the young people have organised a sun awareness campaign in conjunction with Cancer Research UK and made UV bead bracelets to give away, they have organised a litter awareness campaign in conjunction with Keep Britain Tidy, which included beach cleans on the north and south beach. Both events have been supported by the Bridlington Lions and Christ Church Community Action Team.

Councillor Julie Abraham, portfolio holder for children, young people and schools at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “I am so impressed by what these young people have achieved in their community. Young people have had a bad press after recent events in parts of the country and this proves that they should not all be labelled the same. It is a great example to demonstrate the hard-working and community minded children and young people we have in the East Riding.”

Kevin Allen, youth support service manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “It shows that, given the chance, young people can make a real different to their local community. Activities of this sort certainly help to promote a more positive view of young people in their communities at a time when news items often feature a more negative one.”

Fix My Transport

2011-08-30T09:27:00.001+01:00

CHARITY CAMPAIGNERS mySociety have launched a new transport-fixing website today called FixMyTransport which will work in tandem with their hugely popular FixMyStreet neighbourhood reporting website.

FixMyTransport, is a website specially built for public transport users in Britain who want to make public transport better for us all. The new website has the by-line Euston, we have a problem! which is taken from the famous words supposedly uttered by the crew of Apollo 13 when they had a life-threatening technical problem - but you don't need a degree in rocket science to use the new website.

In an interface which is easy to use, you can report (for example) a problem with the Withernsea to Hull route 75 by clicking on the relevant buttons which takes you to a page where you can tell the responsible people (in our case EYMS) about the problem.

You can use the website to report problems - or give compliments - about a particular STOP or STATION, or a JOURNEY or a ROUTE.

We've had a browse around the site - the only fault we have found to date, is that the new EYMS service No. 74 does not yet appear on the site.

Now we just need to wait for the first problem - or reason to say something nice - about our local transport providers to materialise....

www.fixmytransport.com

Community Arts Challenge - bringing the natural world into the hospital!

2011-08-30T08:29:00.000+01:00

"See your artwork displayed in the new Community Hospital for the East Riding"

ARTISTS from the East Riding, whether established or a newcomer, are being invited by NHS East Riding of Yorkshire to enter a Community Arts Challenge where they will get the chance to exhibit their work in the new East Riding Community Hospital which is being built on Swinemoor in Beverley.

The theme is bringing the natural world into the hospital based on the subject of your favourite place in the East Riding. Work can be in the form of photography, painting or sculpture.

Challenge organiser, Katrina Hunt, said: “The Challenge has been devised by the Local Community Liaison Group set up to support the ongoing development of the new Community Hospital. The Challenge is themed around bringing the natural world into the hospital, and we particularly welcome entries that focus on peoples’ favourite place in the East Riding.”

There are six categories:

* Towns and buildings
* Coast
* Countryside
* Wildlife
* Plants and flowers
* The weather.

How to enter the competition: The Community Arts Challenge is free to enter and is open to all people living or working in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Up to five entries per individual can be submitted and there are 6 age groups which will be judged separately:

* Under 5s
* 6 to 8
* 9 to 11
* 12 to 15
* 16 to 18
* 19 years and over.

For more detailed information and an entry form please visit East Riding Community Hospital - Community Arts Challenge.

The closing date is 3 January 2012. Please return your entry form and artwork by post or in person to:

Katrina Hunt
Community Arts Challenge
NHS East Riding of Yorkshire
Health House
Grange Park Lane
Willerby
HU10 6DT

If you have any queries, please contact Katrina on tel: 01482 650700.

Community health Watchdog to investigate Waiting Times

2011-08-26T08:10:00.000+01:00

THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE LINk is to look into an area of health and social care concern that will be an issue for most people - waiting times! And the health watchdog wants your stories and experiences to help carry out its task.

The latest newsletter from the ERYLINk (Local Involvement Network) says that Monitoring of Waiting Times for Health and Social Care will be one of the major issues that the group's leaders will concentrate on in the coming months.

Under the NHS constitution you have the right to start consultant-led treatment within a maximum of eighteen weeks from being referred by a GP. If it is not possible to be seen within the maximum waiting time, then this must be investigated and you must be offered a range of suitable alternative options.

Patients with urgent conditions such as cancer and heart disease, should be seen and receive treatment more quickly. For example, you have the right to be seen by a specialist within a maximum of two weeks from GP referral where cancer is suspected. The Government has also made a pledge that there should be a maximum four-hour wait in A&E (Accident and Emergency Departments) from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge.

But what is the reality on the ground? What is your experience of waiting times? Is the 18 weeks rule of relevance to you? How long have you been kept waiting in A&E? And what is the experience of waiting times for social care?

If you have a view on this and a story to share for the ERYLINk study - then contact them at:

ERYLINk Office
Challenge House
35 Eastgate North
Driffield East Riding of Yorkshire
YO256DG
Telephone: 01377 232135 or 232136

Email: erylink@hwrcc.org.uk
Website: www.erylink.org.uk

NOTE FOR DIARIES: The ERYLINk is holding a meeting of its Lead Group in the Holderness area on Tuesday 15th November 2011.

Fightback Britain! - A Social Enterprise Fightback Hull and Holderness?

2011-08-25T09:34:00.001+01:00

FIGHTBACK BRITAIN, published this month, documents the largest analysis of the social enterprise sector in the UK. It has revealed that a new breed of younger social entrepreneurs are starting businesses in the country's most deprived communities. These social businesses are tackling deprivation and social problems whilst becoming accountable to their customers, involving them in decision-making.

The report published by Social Enterprise UK and supported by the Co-operative Bank details that three times as many social enterprises as mainstream businesses are operating in the UK’s poorest areas (39% compared to 13%) – where a third of all social enterprise start-ups have originated.

In what is termed as "The start-up explosion", the report states that 14% of all social enterprises are start-ups, less than two years old – which is more than three times the proportion of start ups among mainstream small businesses. The recession, rather than putting people off this form of enterprise, is acting as a catalyst. Fightback Britain says:

"The UK’s economic woes have hot-housed the need for a business model that delivers sustainable economic growth while fostering social change and innovation. Damage to the reputation of important parts of the UK economy in the wake of the financial crisis, cuts to public services, and concern for how civil society can suffer cuts and continue to care for its most vulnerable members, have brought social enterprise to the fore."

Hull and Holderness could be on the verge of its own enterprise revolution - the ingredients are all there:

The recent announcements about the Enterprise Zone and the KC Invest fund;
a recession-hit population in which deprivation and social problems have been highlighted;
mass unemployment and the threat of unemployment convincing would-be entrepreneurs that now just might be the time to try something different.

Social Enterprise - and support for social enterprise - now needs to be factored into this mix!

You can download the Fightback Britain report for free from the Social Enterprise UK website.

Yorkshire Water to 'drop-in' to Hedon

2011-08-24T07:53:00.000+01:00

YORKSHIRE WATER are holding a series of presentations and question and answer sessions in Hedon today about the water company's efforts and investments to tackle the ongoing odour problem from its site at Saltend.

On its Hull and Saltend News website Yorkshire Water say:

"We're holding a public drop-in about our waste water treatment works at Saltend. Come along and talk to us about the works and our planned investment to reduce odours. The event will be split into five hour-long sessions, starting with an overview presentation on the hour, every hour, followed by a chance for you to speak to key staff."

Details: Yorkshire Water Public Drop-in - Wednesday 24 August, Hedon Town Hall, 3pm - 8pm.

MP: New enterprise zone could create 4,850 jobs in the East Riding

2011-08-24T07:45:00.001+01:00

GRAHAM STUART MP has congratulated the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) after its proposal for a Humber Estuary Renewable Energy Super Cluster was approved as one of the 11 new enterprise zones in England.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, last week finalised the second wave of new enterprise zone locations in England in a bid to boost economic growth and create up to 30,000 new jobs by 2015. These enterprise zones will aim to attract hundreds of new start up firms by simplifying planning rules and providing super-fast broadband with businesses enjoying over £150 million tax breaks over the next 4 years.

GrahamStuart MP said: “I want to congratulate the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership for all their hard work in bringing this unique opportunity to the area. We need new businesses to create economic development in this country and this scheme could provide budding entrepreneurs with a great opportunity to kick start new companies. The go-ahead for a new enterprise zone is positive news for the East Riding. It has been estimated that 4,850 jobs could be created in the area by 2015. This needs to be celebrated. This is a chance to bring prosperity and growth to the region and I hope we can utilise this opportunity to its fullest potential.”

Proposals for the enterprise zones were drawn up by Local Enterprise Partnerships. The announcement brings the total of enterprise zones to 22 across the country and each one is expected to specialise in a different industry. The Humber LEP proposal concentrates on the Renewable Energy industries and at 375 hectares is the largest of those approved.

On its temporary website, the Humber LEP Manager, Richard Kendall said: “The fact that our Enterprise Zone has been approved at more than double the size originally suggested by the Government prospectus shows that there is faith in the level of our ambition and the capability we have to deliver on our plans. However, the Enterprise Zone is not the limit: it is only the beginning of what we hope to achieve. If we are successful there will be many more developments around the fringe, particularly in the supply chain and related industries, and the effect on our economy will be transformative.”

The Humber LEP has already started the job of recruiting its own staff team and are seeking individuals in the following areas:

PA/secretarial/administrative
PR/marketing
Policy/research

Local website links:

Graham Stuart MP

Humber LEP

HU12 Comment: One of the concerns held by local people, is that the jobs created will be taken by people who already have the skills and will move into the area from other parts of the country - those already in work will look at opportunities for promotion and local unemployed people will not reap the benefits.

One of the perceptions of success - or failure - of the Enterprise Zone will be judged on the extent to which opportunities for training, re-training and employment can be targeted at the local population. We can not just expect these new opportunities to automatically ripple-down and benefit local people: Measures must be but in place to ensure that this happens!

KC Community Grants - Deadlines 2011

2011-08-23T07:35:00.000+01:00

SMALL COMMUNITY GRANTS of up to £500 are available from KC to groups in the Hull and East Riding area.

The KC Community Grants are awarded every three month months and are used to support community groups, schools, charities and organisations.

The Hull-based communications company has established a local Community Panel which assess applications and makes three small grant awards every three months.

There is a simple online application process in which the applicant group needs to outline how a grant would be used and how communities would benefit.

The deadlines for submitting applications for 2011 are Friday 2nd September and Friday 2nd December.

Find out more at the KC website at KC Community Grants.

If you are a local Holderness-based group and you apply to the KC Community Grants - let us know how you get on at hu12@gmx.com.

In case you didn't know!? Yorkshire Water Drop-ins in Hedon on Wednesday 24th August

2011-08-22T09:34:00.003+01:00

YORKSHIRE WATER, besieged by complaints over the odours emanating from its Saltend Waste Water Treatment Works, have responded to public and political pressure by organising a series of drop-in sessions on Wednesday 24th August 2011 from 3pm - 8pm.

The sessions take place at Hedon Town Hall which is a rather small venue considering the hundreds of people that have taken the time to complain or sign a petition about the ongoing odour problem from the Treatment Works. Yorkshire Water say that they will hold five separate sessions, starting on the hour, each hour, from 3pm. This will include a presentation, followed by a chance to speak to key staff. So those people that know about the event can presumably choose which one they wish to attend - it would be just unfortunate for them if everyone decided to turn up at 6pm!

The key phrase in the last paragraph was "..those people that know about the event...". And therein lies a problem! Yorkshire Water announced the drop-in sessions on its website and subscribers were informed that "new information had been added" to that site on Wednesday 17th August. Those who studied the website would have realised the 'new information' was the one-week notice that the drop-ins were taking place. It may have been naive of anti-smell campaigners to expect follow-up publicity and letter to local customers about the drop-ins - but that naivety seems to have been rewarded with an event that the public seem largely unaware of?

The Yorkshire Water Smells Campaign will do what it can to advise customers of the drop-ins - but it seems that the decision to book a small venue for the event was probably correct given the foresight that notice was short and publicity scarce!

Local Councillor John Dennis has urged people to attend the drop-ins in a comment on the Hedon Blog: "I hope all you Hedon bloggers' take this opportunity, and that you tell all your family and friends to turn up too... it is not acceptable that the company that has given us the problem should be allowed to get away with it, at least without facing the people affected by their actions."

Fellow Ward Councillor Mike Bryan has given his apologies and is unable to attend the drop-ins, but has also encouraged people to turn up and have their say!

So just in case you did not know...: Yorkshire Water Public Drop-in - Wednesday 24 August, Hedon Town Hall, 3pm - 8pm

Fair Fuel Campaign appeals for E-petition support!

2011-08-19T09:34:00.000+01:00

THE FAIR FUEL UK campaign has utilised the Government's new e-petitioning website to get its case for 'no fuel duty rises' to be debated in Parliament.

According to FairFuelUK then high fuel prices are hurting all of us: Supermarkets are seeing footfall and sales down as people drive to their stores less; people are filling up less resulting in more than 16,000 motorists running out of petrol on motorways; some motorists are giving up driving completely.

While some environmentalists will claim that the above affects of high fuel prices are not necessarily a bad thing, it is certainly the case that public behaviour is changing as a result. FairFuelUK's Quentin Wilson says on his Blog:

"Not only is the government's dogged reluctance to lower duty harming our economic growth but its changing our behaviour. Sometimes dangerously. One of those 16,000 people who ran out of petrol on a motorway was killed on the hard shoulder... FairFuelUK has been warning the government and Treasury for months that their fuel duty policy is having a huge social and economic cost. But they're not listening. That's why its critically important that we force a government debate by hitting the 100,000 signature mark"

FairFuelUK have already obtained over 200,000 signatures on their own petition about the subject, but are now calling for supporters to sign the Cheaper Petrol and Diesel E-petition on the Government website.

It will be interesting to see if the campaign reaches its target figure of 100,000 signatures and does indeed trigger a Parliamentary debate.

KC investment fund - Sirius to support new digital and technology businesses

2011-08-18T07:05:00.000+01:00

KC INVEST is the name of a new investment fund of £300,000 established by KC to provide start-up and growth financing for businesses in the digital and technology sectors. This funding will be matched by European Regional Development Funds creating a potential investment pot of up to £600,000.

KC Invest aims to help stimulate the local economy and business growth in Hull and the East Riding. It will be administered by two enterprise agencies, one of which is the Hedon-based Sirius Business Advice Centre. Sirius will receive £150,000 from KC Invest to distribute as loan financing to business start-ups and businesses that are expanding in the East Riding.

People who apply for KC Invest funding through Sirius will also be able to access to mentoring and support to make sure their fledgling business has the best possible chance of long-term success. Feasibility grants will also be available to explore business ideas where more market research is needed before financing is agreed.

Alan Gordon-Freeman, Managing Director of Sirius, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for those involved in technology to develop and grow their own businesses. The funding can help to attract other forms of finance as well as bring other specialist support such as business management and marketing. KC should be applauded for this innovative community support; it will certainly go a long way in helping to create new businesses, new jobs, local wealth and more career choices in the future.”

KC is hosting a seminar on Friday 9th September at the Hallmark Hotel in North Ferriby where local businesses and business support agencies can find out more about how KC Invest is set up and how it operates. The seminar will be opened by Alan Johnson MP. To register to attend email invest@kcom.com or call 01482 602396.

People in the Holderness and East Riding who are interested in applying for KC Invest finance can contact Sirius at 01482 890146.

The contact enterprise agency for the Hull area is the Acorn Fund on 01482 324976.

Find out more about KC Invest at the KC in the Community website.

Humber Enterprise Zone approved

2011-08-17T07:50:00.005+01:00

FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENTS are expected today confirming that the bid for a Humber Enterprise Zone, aimed at attracting new renewable energy developments to the Humber, has been accepted by the Government.

The 375 hectare Humber Renewable Energy Super Cluster covers both banks of the River Humber and includes the site of a Wind Turbine Manufacturing Plant proposed to be built by Siemens at Alexandra Dock as part of a Green Port Hull initiative, and a 2,000-acre energy park construction by ABLE UK Ltd near Killingholme.

As part of the Humber Enterprise Partnership, a separate North Bank group will bring together the East Riding, Hull and Scarborough to focus especially on tourism and the rural economy.

It is believed that up to 10,000 new jobs could be created with the further development of land as part of the Enterprise Zone proposals.

Enterprise Zone status will help the local economy and employment through £7.9m worth of business tax breaks, fewer planning restrictions and other incentives.

Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of the East Riding Council, said: “I am delighted that the Government has given the green light to the new Enterprise Zone, which will help us promote the local economy. It will be particularly useful in developing the Humber ports and the emerging renewable energy sector centred on Siemens’s proposed new wind turbine manufacturing plant in Hull.”

As reported in July this year the land under consideration for the Humber Enterprise Zone also includes “a largely undeveloped 49-hectare site at Paull east of Saltend”.

Neighbourhood Watch networking event

2011-08-16T08:55:00.001+01:00

THE SAFER COMMUNITIES TEAM at East Riding Council, are joining with Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue to host a Neighbourhood Watch networking event in the East Riding.

The event on Tuesday, 4th October 2011, will take place between 7pm and 8.30pm in rooms 2 and 3, County Hall, Beverley.

Please contact Safe Communities to confirm if you would like to attend by 12th September 2011 on (01482) 396301 or email safe.communities@eastriding.gov.uk and you can find out more about Neighbourhood Watch at the Safe Communities website.

Council replacing old power-hungry lights

2011-08-16T08:37:00.000+01:00

Glow from sodium orange lighting

EAST RIDING COUNCIL has begun removing old, low-pressure sodium orange lighting and replacing them with fluorescent white lights as part of a commitment to reduce carbon emissions.

Residential lighting is also being looked at, with work already underway in the Anlaby area and extensive changes planned for Kirkella, Hessle and Cottingham later this year. There are no plans announced for the Holderness area, but the Council has said that work to replace lighting in other residential areas will be undertaken in future years.

John Skidmore, head of streetscene services, said: “This is the start of a major project for the council’s street lighting team and will hopefully see the removal of all low-pressure sodium lights within the next four to five years."

The switch on Boothferry Road alone has reduced energy consumption by 44 per cent, says the Council, and will save over 19 tonnes of carbon each year. The schemes will also include the use of LED lights in some areas, which will afford further savings of over 50 per cent.

East Riding Council - Bus Service Subsidies

2011-08-15T09:47:00.000+01:00

IN OUR ARTICLE Save Our Buses in July 2011, HU12 reported information from the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) that in the East Riding, transport funding was cut by nearly £3 million in 2010/11. The CBT claim that transport budget cuts by the Council are close to £7K in 2011/12.

Following a Freedom of Information request the CBT has received the following information update on this from the East Riding Council which reveals that despite a 13.9% cut in Government funding for subsidising bus services, the East Riding Council has managed to preserve services.

The amount spent by the Council on subsidising bus services in the last financial year was £1,883,035. This will increase to £1,962,000 this year. No services have been lost due to subsidy cuts. However, the Council does point out that three services on the commercial network - which carried over 26,000 passengers - (i.e. non-subsidised services) have been cut and "work is ongoing to ensure all villages still have some bus connections."

You can view the Freedom of Information request and full response at WhatDoTheyKnow.com.

Job seeking? Seeking staff?

2011-08-14T08:07:00.002+01:00

WOULD YOU FIND JOB SEEKERS PAGE useful on the HU12 website?

This might be of interest to those residents locally who are seeking work, and also provide a low-cost service to local employers seeking staff?

For example the following local jobs have been notified in the area this week:

Cook, Granville Court Hornsea, 5 x 7 hour shifts, £7.64 pw. Deadline 23rd August 2011.
Data Administrator, Hedon Group Practice, 16 - 20 hours pw. Deadline 25th August 2011.
Cleaner, Thorngumbald Primary School, 10 hours pw, £6.30 ph. Deadline 8th September 2011.
Part time Office Administrator, Sirius, 18 hours pw. No other info provided.

This would cost employers £10 per advert. Contact hu12@gmx.com if you would like to advertise for staff.

Village SOS - Support for your village community enterprise!

2011-08-12T09:34:00.000+01:00

VILLAGE SOS is a new campaign that has been launched to help people in rural communities tackle the trend of decline by helping them set up and run community enterprises.

The campaign, financed by the Big Lottery Fund, will see a national advice line and expert support rolled out to rural communities that are starting a community business.

The campaign was launched on Wednesday 10th August as part of a new six-part television series from BBC One. The Active campaign will see expert advisers provide support and guidance to people who have been inspired by series to set up and run their own community enterprises; e.g. shops, pubs, libraries, broadband services and community transport.

Find out more at the website www.villagesos.org.uk which includes details of the Advice Line which will be open 24-hours-a-day and signpost you to business advisers that can help with issues such as legal structures, funding streams or marketing your enterprise.

To access resources and help through Village SOS you have to become a member - membership is free and takes 2 - 5 minutes to join online via the website.

Find out more about Village SOS via the BBC trailer:

Source: Locality

East Riding Council Tenants - Online!

2011-08-12T07:55:00.000+01:00

COUNCIL TENANTS in the East Riding now have their own website at www.ertol.co.uk which contains information for tenants and useful contacts, including who your tenant representatives might be.

The website has been created through a working collaboration between Goole College students and Tenant Representatives. The result is an easy-to-navigate site that allows you to find out about the work of the East Riding Tenants' Forum. A map of the 'East' area will take you to a list of tenant groups in South Holderness which includes informal groups in Preston, Roos, Thorngumbald and Aldborough, plus the only formal Tenants Association which is the St Patrick's Green TA in Patrington.

There is also a Guestbook that you can complete (although I took too long to complete my message and got timed out after only a few minutes - Ed) which can be used to leave comments and opinions. The website also contains a useful link to the House Exchange which is the national tenants home swap scheme.

Perhaps a useful development now, would be creating more hyperlocal-type websites for those Associations and informal groups that wish to play a more pro-active online role in their areas?

Visit www.ertol.co.uk and see the website for your self.

"One million square metres" worth of pot-hole and road repairs in the East Riding

2011-08-11T08:50:00.002+01:00

A MAJOR ROAD SURFACE REPAIR and dressing programme will soon be completed on the East Riding’s roads after the worst winter in 30 years according to John Skidmore, the East Riding Council's head of Streetscene Services.

The programme started on 9 May and will be complete by the middle of this month. John Skidmore commented:

“In that time our highways teams will have laid in excess of one million square metres, which equates to an area the size of 220 football pitches. The work was earmarked to take a further few weeks, but the repair teams have got on so well with it that they should have completed the programme by 15 August."

The damage to the 3,500km highway network this past winter was so severe that many roads needed emergency repairs. The council applied for, and received additional government funding to enable the council’s highways engineers to carry out the surface dressing programme to repair damage and replace thousands of temporary pothole repairs.

Surface dressing is an important road maintenance process which has four main purposes: it seals the surface; it provides texture and skid resistance to an existing worn surface; it arrests disintegration; and, looks better than lots of patches.

Humberside Police Authority: Reassurances to local community following national riots

2011-08-10T07:33:00.000+01:00

FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL RIOTS Humberside Police Authority have acted swiftly to reassure local communities that rioting has not taken place in the Humberside Police area and that 'contingency plans' are in place to deal with any incidents.

In a letter circulated to community groups (PDF) yesterday, Kevin Sharp the Chief Executive of Humberside Police Authority writes:

"The purpose of this letter is to reassure you that the Police Authority and the Force are working together to ensure local people and communities remain safe." in this area there "...have been no reported incidents of organised disorder and criminality so far. However, it would be unwise to assume that some sort of 'copy cat' events could not occur locally. Humberside Police are therefore making contingency plans to deal with any events that take place locally."

The letter sent to Kath Jones the Chief Officer of the North Bank Forum was circulated to community groups by e-mail yesterday. Mr Sharp comments upon the decision to deploy some Humberside Police officers to deal with the London disturbances:

"Humberside Police, like many other forces received a specific request to provide police officers to support the policing operation in London. A number of local officers have been sent to the Capital and are working with the Metropolitan Police to deal with the disorder and criminality... the Police Authority is satisfied that the absence of these officers will not impact upon the Force's ability to continue to serve local people and provide a high standard of policing."

The letter was intended to reassure local people - however it will in itself raise concerns that some areas in Humberside are not immune to the disorder seen elsewhere in the country.

Whilst no one can condone the actions of looters and criminals engaged in the self-destruction of their own communities, there needs to be a full investigation into the causes of the 'disaffection' that seems to have gripped an entire section - albeit a small minority - of our younger people and prompted them into self-destructive actions. The 'ingredients' that have fermented this disaffection - and into riots - obviously need to be analysed and understood so that we can tackle the underlying problems.

The Huffington Post (internet newspaper) has asked the questions:

It's surprising how little has yet to emerge about the rioters themselves: What are they after? What drove them into the streets, for four nights straight, to burn buses and shatter windows?

Demanding action against criminals and looters is needed - but if we fail to tackle the underlying causes of the current disaffection, then we will all suffer the consequences.

Assistance for projects seeking European funding

2011-08-09T08:06:00.000+01:00

THE ERDF - European Regional Development Fund, is - as the name suggests - a European funding scheme that is provided for regional development.

ERDF funding is perceived by many voluntary organisations to be extremely difficult to access and manage - so it will be interesting to see if the new drive by the Humber Technical Assistance Partnership can change that perception.

A new prospectus that details what this funding can be used for, is available to download from the Partnership. It was issued in Yorkshire and The Humber on 1st July to accompany a call for funding applications. The European Union has provided €583 million Euros for the whole of Yorkshire and The Humber with over €300 million of this being made available for North, East and West Yorkshire, North and North East Lincolnshire.

In order that ERDF is allocated and spent according to the current economic needs of the region, prospectuses for what ERDF can be spent on in the Yorkshire and The Humber are regularly updated and released. ERDF is available for a wide range of research, development and enterprise activities.

There are three broad priorities for investment, which apply in The Humber:

1. Stimulating and supporting successful enterprise
2. Promoting innovation and research and development
3. Developing sustainable communities

The Humber Technical Assistance Partnership itself receives funding from the Yorkshire and The Humber ERDF programme to support organisations within the area that are looking to make an ERDF bid.

For further help and support in accessing ERDF, call the Humber Technical Assistance partnership on 01377 208413 or email pip.betts@eastriding.gov.uk

Source: East Riding Council

Yorkshire Water Smells - Confident of a solution after residents declare 'Enough is Enough!'

2011-08-08T09:38:00.000+01:00

Campaigners - Jamie Cook, Debbie Taylor Peacock and Jo Gardner

THE CAMPAIGN against Yorkshire Water's smells from its Waste Water Treatment Works has certainly captured the local mood of opposition that exists in both East Hull and South West Holderness.

After eleven years of 'putting-up' with unpleasant odours then the recent weeks of penetrating, foul smells from the Saltend site - spuriously accredited to the "Pea Harvest" - has been the last straw! The reaction has been 'Enough is Enough! No more!'.

Different campaigns starting independently have captured the imagination of residents and there is an emerging confidence that this time the matter will be sorted once and for all. HU12 reported on the petition launched by the Hedon Blog. At that time we were unaware of other resident campaigns being established.

On the same day that Hedon residents were lobbying their Town Councillors for support, Jo Gardner of Paull was contacting the local BBC Radio Humberside on behalf of angry residents in the village. Debbie Taylor Peacock from the GRIN Community Group (Greatfield Residents Improving their Neighbourhood) was gearing up to tackle the smells in Hull while Jamie Cook was setting up the Facebook Protest Group Yorkshire water needs to sort the smell out.

In one week of campaigning over 800 people have signed the online petition. Shops and businesses have stocked up with copies of petitions. Hundreds more signatures are being collected by those who have simply printed off the petition form and approached their friends and neighbours to sign. The campaign has been featured on Radio, TV and the Hull Mail - and in a form of action called 'crowd-sourcing' Facebook has been used to encourage people to meet up, show their support and sign the petition.

Showing the willingness of people to think of this as a longer term campaign, residents in Paull are making a skunk costume which will act as a 'mascot' during future activities.

Up until now the campaign has taken on a spontaneous nature - but from Tuesday 9th August it is expected that an organising group for the campaign will be set up which will help drive the campaign forward.

The East Riding Council admitted last week that they have received an unprecedented number of complaints on the issue of Yorkshire Water's Smells. This is in contrast to the findings of a council report in July 2010 that said "there is no evidence that significant odours from Hull WwTW are reaching Hedon or Preston to the point that a statutory odour nuisance is being or likely to be caused." and "no officer during any odour assessment concluded that a statutory odour nuisance existed at the time of the assessment".

In the past 11 years people have become tolerant to underlying odours from the site. They have been reluctant to report the smells for a variety of reasons. Many did not know who to complain to. Others became cynical believing that complaining was not worthwhile, it would not make any difference. Others running businesses or services in the area were also probably concerned that making complaints would draw attention to an unsavoury problem that might undermine those businesses or services.

People seem to have regained the confidence to complain! Those complaints and the hundreds that are signing the petitions and organising against the smells are making a difference! The petition will be presented to the East Riding Council's Environment and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny sub-committee on Wednesday 21st September 2011.

Swifter justice for victims of 'neighbours from hell'

2011-08-05T09:13:00.003+01:00

Grant Schapps MP

NEIGHBOURS FROM HELL will be evicted much more quickly than at present if new proposals from the Government's Housing Minister Grant Schapps are accepted.

Grant Schapps MP is proposing to introduce a new mandatory power for possession, which will speed up the possession process by allowing previous convictions for serious anti-social behaviour to trigger eviction proceedings and short-cut the often long and expensive process which often requires landlords to prove again the 'yobbish' actions of their nightmare tenants.

"I am clear the eviction should only be pulled out of that toolkit as a last resort. But where other remedies have been tried and failed and serious antisocial behaviour has already been proven, I am determined that seeking and obtaining possession of the property should not be the start of another long process." Grant Schapps, Housing Minister

Under current regulations, it takes on average seven months from applying for a possession order to being granted one. And with some defendants deciding to not turn up or cases being adjourned several times, it can sometimes take much longer.

The Government is consulting on these proposals. You can find the consultation document at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/antisocialbehaviourconsult

Community and Voluntary 'Health' Grants available - up to £1,000

2011-08-04T08:09:00.001+01:00

SMALL GRANTS FOR HEALTHY ACTIVITIES are available for community and voluntary organisations from the Hull City Health Care Partnership (CHCP).

Hornsea Scouts - 'new' canoe

The CHCP social enterprise delivers NHS health care services in Hull and the East Riding. It has grants of up to £1,000 available for projects that contribute towards the health and well-being of people living in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

In order to apply for a grant your organisation must have been in existence for at least a year and have an annual income of less than £30,000. Applicant groups must have a written set of rules, governing document or constitution.

The grants can only support activities or event that relate to health or wellbeing. This could include dance, drama or sport. The project needs to be led by volunteers.

Previous small grants have financed the following (examples):

£250 to buy a second-hand canoe for Hornsea Scout Group
£450 to purchase old and traditional table-top games for a Withernsea Community project
£500 to buy a new football kit for Thorngumbald Boys AFC

So what are you waiting for? Let us see some local Holderness-based groups benefit from these small grants.

Visit: CHCP Small Grants Programme

NOTE: Deadlines for applications for grants this year are 1st September and 1st December 2011. £10,000 is available to be spent on all projects in any one grant round - and applicants will get to know if they have been successful by the end of September or December (depending on which round you apply).

If you have any queries regarding the CHCP Small Grants programme then please e-mail: engagement@chcphull.nhs.uk

Yorkshire Water - "Saltend Smells" Campaign Resources

2011-08-03T15:35:00.003+01:00

PUBLIC RESOURCES used as background information and to help and inform the community campaign titled "Yorkshire Water Saltend Smells!". These will be added to as we build these resources up:

Vivergo Fuels v Redhall Engineering - Dispute goes on

2011-08-03T06:49:00.001+01:00

FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENTS made on Monday 1st Aug 2011 that Redhall Engineering was claiming a victory in the ongoing contractual dispute at the Saltend bio-ethanol construction site, Vivergo has now hit back with a counter claim that the same adjudicator had found that Redhall was in "material breach" of its contract.

Vivergo Fuels has said it stands by the decision to terminate its contract with Redhall Engineering and disputes any claim for damages for up to £16.7m but accepts that it failed to give Redhall adequate notice of its termination of contract.

In a statement yesterday published on TheBusinessDesk.Com, Vivergo said "We welcome the finding of the adjudicator that confirms that Redhall was in material breach of the contract, and are disappointed that, in the adjudicator’s opinion, we failed to give the correct notice."

Community groups to be charged for playing music!

2011-08-02T07:58:00.000+01:00

NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisations, such as charities, churches and community halls are to face new charges in order to play music at events. A licence is required and fees will be payable for any use of recorded music for public performance.

Community groups were previously exempt from paying public performance fees for recorded music, but PPL the music licensing company introduced new charges at the beginning of this year which will take effect (in most cases) from 1st January 2012. This will mean that public venues, including those used by charities and not-for-profit groups, will need licences in order to play music from records, CDs, the radio or television.

PPL say that they hope to be able to bring the cost of a licence, to cover uses by charities and not-for-profit groups, down in most cases to approximately £1 a week, but have announced that organisations with an income above £10,000 will have to pay 1 per cent of their “defined income” in order to play music at licensed events. Those with an income below the £10,000 threshold will pay a flat year annual fee of £42.

Any third party hire of a community building by an individual or organisation that is earning a commercial income from their use of the building (e.g.Weight Watchers, self employed aerobics instructors, and antiques fairs) will need a relevant licence in place. But it is the responsibility of the operator of the hall to ensure that the person/organisation has a relevant licence in place as they can be held liable under law for any unlicensed usage in their building.

If you only run live music events, you will only need a PRS for Music licence. A PPL licence is only required when recorded music is used.

For specific information relating to your community building or use of a community building where recorded music is played - then read the information contained in the PPL media statement.

Source: CivilSociety.co.uk

Redhall: will "vigorously" pursue damages totalling £16.7m against Vivergo Fuels

2011-08-01T09:53:00.000+01:00

REDHALL ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS LTD has claimed a victory in its ongoing dispute with Saltend based Vivergo Fuels.

Redhall had its contract ended by Vivergo Fuels in March 2011 for falling behind on its contractual obligations. But an independent adjudication has found that Vivergo Fuels had unlawfully attempted to terminate its contract with the Company and, by denying the Company's workforce access to the site, had repudiated the pipework contract for the new bio-ethanol plant at Saltend.

In a statement on Insider Media Redhall has said it will "vigorously" pursue damages against Vivergo Fuels totalling £16.7m. This includes the costs of settlement with the Company's former employees on the Vivergo site and legal fees.

Local people and commuters became aware of the dispute in March as a result of massive queues and tailbacks on the roads leading up to the Saltend construction site. The dispute between the two companies had prompted industrial action by unions acting on behalf of 430 workers who were effectively 'locked out'.

Hedon Blog launches Petition against the Saltend Smells

2011-07-31T20:50:00.005+01:00

THE HEDON BLOG has taken the unusual step of launching a petition to help galvanise local action against the foul odours, from Yorkshire Water's Waste Water Treatment Works. The persistent stink has been making local residents life almost unbearable during the whole of July 2011.

The Blog usually tries to take a neutral position on most matters, but on this occasion has felt compelled to act as a local mouthpiece. Ray Duffill the website Editor explains:

"The smells from the Saltend site have become unbearable during the last 5 weeks. Comments on the Blog, on Fix My Street and on Facebook have shown the disgust and revulsion of local residents. Anecdotal evidence from local people reveals that people have been physically sick from the stench, and local asthma sufferers have experienced breathing difficulties. While the area has basked in glorious sunshine and heat, residents have been forced to close windows and abandon their gardens because of the stink."

Ray continued: "At the presentation about the waste water site I attended in May, Neil Dewis, Yorkshire Water's Manager of Central Control and Optimisation, apologised for his company's 'no-smell' claims made prior to the site being built in 2000. It was "obviously wrong of the company to have made those claims" stated Mr Dewis who then want on to explain that the new £3.5m odour control unit - which he hoped would be operational by November, rather than December as originally scheduled - would see a "significant reduction" in odours but he could "not give a guarantee" that odours would be completely eliminated."

"Whilst people living and working in the proximity of the site continue to experience the impacts and effects of the Treatment Works, they need some recourse to force Yorkshire Water to act to reduce incidents. The petition calls upon local councils to treat the odours as a 'statutory nuisance'. If a statutory nuisance exists in your area then legal action can be taken to force the 'polluter' to act. Failure to act can be a criminal offence."

"The Treatment Works do carry out an essential service. Local councillors, officials and community leaders are willing to work with Yorkshire Water to improve things - and have been doing so for 11 years. But at the moment local people and communities are powerless to act. However, if the smells from the site are deemed a statutory nuisance then we can start to fight back and force improvements!"

Residents are asked to sign and share the online petition on the Hedon Blog and reproduced below. *Note: Please do not sign if you have already signed a paper copy.

Climate Report - Hull and East Riding properties at 'significant risk' of flooding

2011-07-29T10:39:00.000+01:00

HULL AND THE EAST RIDING have the highest number of properties at risk from flooding of all local authorities in England. In the last 10 years the East Riding has seen a 12% increase in developed land that that is considered to be at significant flood risk.

This stark assessment has been presented in a report published by the Committee on Climate Change who are independent advisers to the Government. The report Adapting to climate change in the UK comments on how well the UK is prepared to deal with climate change and risks.

“The results in this report demonstrate how a sharper focus on the UK’s current vulnerability to climate can improve the way we prepare for climate change. By taking steps to manage this vulnerability, local communities, businesses and households can save money today and reduce the costs of climate change in the future."
Lord John Krebs

Points of local interest to note from the report are:

Hull and East Riding have the highest number of properties at risk from flooding of all local authorities in England and one of the most rapidly eroding coastlines.
The Environment Agency categorises a 'significant risk' of flooding as one where there is a greater than 1 in 75 chance that weather severe enough to cause a flood, will overwhelm defence structures or lead to their failure. The East Riding has seen a 12% increase in land at significant flood risk since 2001.
Good practice is recognised in the Holderness District Local Plan which imposes strict controls on developments near its eroding coastline in order to reduce vulnerability to flooding.

The report sets out a series of actions, which if implemented more widely could reduce the affects and costs of climate change. These include:

Flood protection - package of measures to reduce damages from flooding e.g. air-brick covers, door-guards and drainage bungs.
Tighter regulations on new housing to improve their adaptability.

You can download the report Adapting to climate change in the UK from the Commission on Climate Change website.

Community Organisers - could you be one? Could your group help train them?

2011-07-29T07:27:00.000+01:00

THE COMMUNITY ORGANISERS PROGRAMME is a £15m Governnment funded scheme to recruit and train 5,000 'home grown' community organisers.

There will be up to 500 senior Community Organisers who will be trained and given bursaries of £20,000 for their first year, along with a further 4500 part-time and voluntary organisers who will support them.

Community organisers will listen and work with residents, public and voluntary sector workers,and small businesses to help develop their collective power to act together for the common good, as identified locally.

The programme is being delivered by an independent community network called Locality. Read their website for information on becoming a Community Organiser: How to become a Community Organiser?

Locality are also looking for 100-200 host organisations between now and 2014 to recruit and support trainee community organisers.

Hosts, according to Locality, will be rooted in their local communities, locally controlled and accountable. Hosts, must have the capacity to train and support 2 - 5 trainee Community Organisers, and be able to help them ‘hit the ground running’ straight after their introductory training. Hosts will be contracted by Locality and receive a £3000 fee for their work. See: How to become a Host Organisation?

The Goodwin Development Trust in Hull is already involved in recruiting the first senior Community Organisers.

MP backs bid to bring Minister to celebrate progress of Burstwick Flood Defence scheme

2011-07-28T09:08:00.001+01:00

2007 Floods

GRAHAM STUART, MP for Beverley and Holderness, has backed the Burstwick United Flood Action Group’s invitation to the Floods Minister officially to open the new flood defence scheme in the village.

Ron Smith, Burstwick United’s Chairman, wrote to Richard Benyon MP to ask him to visit the village to help spread the message that Burstwick is a desirable and dry place to live.

The invitation was sent following the construction of new earth embankments in Burstwick, which reduced Burstwick’s flood risk from around 1 in 7 to better than 1 in 200.

The work at Burstwick was part of a £3 million package which also included improvements to defences at Hedon. The Environment Agency said the work will reduce the chance of flooding in Burstwick and Hedon from Burstwick Drain to 0.5 per cent in any one year, comparable to the flooding in summer 2007

Graham said “Ron Smith and Burstwick United have done an amazing job of promoting the needs of the village and getting everyone together to make Burstwick safe from flooding.

When Ron told me he’d written to the Minister to ask him to visit I agreed with him that this would be a great way to celebrate the progress made and send out a message about Burstwick. I’m also grateful to the staff at the Environment Agency who have listened to residents and acted to deliver the improvements. It would be good to tell the Minister about that as well.

“I’ve written separately to the Minister and hope that he will come and help signal the changes that have been made that make Burstwick somewhere safe, dry and desirable to live.”

Sources: Graham Stuart MP and the Environment Agency.

Councils and Councillors - using Social Media effectively

2011-07-27T07:46:00.001+01:00

FOLLOWING ON from earlier articles about local councils and councillors using social media and a hyperlocal approach, HU12 is sharing this presentation created by Adrian Capon at North Lincolnshire Council. The presentation - although rather long - explains itself:

Digital Marketing & Social Media Presentation North Lincolnshire Council Scrutiny Panel July 2011

View more presentations from AdeCapon

Our old blue wheelie bins - what happens to them?

2011-07-27T07:18:00.001+01:00

THE NEW BLUE BIN SERVICE in Holderness should now be operational with all households having received a letter from the council informing them of the start of the scheme. You can now recycle glass, a wider range of plastics and Tetra Pak cartons in the blue bins.

Most residents will have exchanged smaller blue bins for larger, 240 litre bins to help them recycle as much as possible. But what happened to the old blue bins? We put this question to the Wastewatchers at the East Riding Council:

What are you going to do with the old blue bins?

They will be recycled into pellets and reused. Once the old smaller blue bins go through the process outlined below they will be made into new wheelie bins.

The recycling process for most plastics is a heat based process where the plastic recyclate is melted down and either reformed into new product or compounded with additives and colourants and pelletised into a high quality raw material that can then be used to manufacture new products. Before these heat processes can be used it is usual to have to reduce the plastic waste down in size. This is generally done by one of the following processes:-

Shredding - Shredding is a quick and efficient way of reducing large items of plastic into a manageable size. The process involves a spinning rotor which rips the plastic apart. The resulting output is an irregular shaped, roughly cut - approx. 60mm (can be smaller) - product that is generally still too large to use into a heat based compounding or thermoforming process.

Granulation – This process is similar to shredding, whereby spinning blades cut the plastic components into irregular shaped pieces usually 10-12mm in diameter. Unlike shredding however, the use of grids in the grinding process allow us the plastic recycler to control the resulting size of the reground, which can then be used as a raw material for subsequent heat based processes.

Blending – This allows the plastic recycler to create a formula for a required specification from a selection of plastics of the same type but possibly with different characteristics or from different sources. The purpose of blending is to create a homogenous batch of plastic which will produce a consistent quality recycled plastic compound.

For more information on Council recycling - visit the Target 45+ website.

New Adult Education Courses for September 2011

2011-07-26T07:52:00.004+01:00

DETAILS ON NEW COURSES on offer from South Holderness and Withernsea Adult Education Centres (and Skirlaugh) starting in September 2011, including GCSE courses, creative studies and Fast Track European Computer Driving Licence, are published below as a Scribd Collection or at link: http://www.scribd.com/my_document_collections/3163069:

Hyperlocal - a shift from centralised control of the media

2011-07-25T09:10:00.002+01:00

THE PHONE HACKING SCANDAL has exposed the risks involved in having one major conglomerate dominating a significant part of the media industry. The centralised control of the media by rich and powerful tycoons may have directly led to the unsavoury phone hacking practices becoming an acceptable means of gathering news in a competitive industry.

Whilst people have been quite rightly outraged by the invasions of privacy engendered by phone hacking, the whole debacle has highlighted a general - and growing - public cynicism with traditional media. One of the major drivers for this questioning of the current status quo is the availability of free and easily shareable quality news on the internet.

The internet has allowed people to do their own research and quiz what official media is saying. For a growing number of people the net has become their official media. This move towards the net has hit the big media corporations and their profits hard - and as they themselves have moved towards the internet, they have found that space already occupied by a host of bloggers, citizen journalists and hyperlocal activists.

In an article on its LGiU Blog, the Local Government Information Unit has commented on the fact that new technology is making the news a social and local medium. It points out that "hyperlocal websites, now numbering in their thousands, are increasingly becoming the places where people turn to find out, publish and share news about what’s happening in their community."

Whilst no one is writing off the media giants, the LGiU article does suggest that the "emergence of local news nonetheless represents a shift in the centre of gravity away from centralised control and towards a diversity and granularity that the big media companies inevitably struggle to provide."

HU12 is proud to be one of the thousands of unique hyperlocal websites that are acting as a counter-balance to the centrally driven and profit-hungry news organisations. Our focus is to bring news and issues - of a national, regional and local importance - to the attention of local community and business activists. We hope to get better at doing that - and will strive to add some real democratic value to the society and communities that we love and live in.

Pea pong - odour misery!

2011-07-22T16:27:00.000+01:00

YORKSHIRE WATER has written to customers in the vacinity of their Waste Water Treatment Works in Saltend to explain the background to the recent increase in odours from the site and to apologise for this.

Yorkshire Water spokesman and Community Engagement Manager Richard Sears explains that the increase in odours has resulted from the concentrated effluent produced from the seasonal pea harvest. The recent dry weather has further increased the concentration of the effluent and smells. 114 complaints from residents have been logged since 27th June 2011.

The company is investing £3.5 million in a new odour control unit which will be more capable of dealing with odorous material, however, Mr Sears says: "In the short term we are chemically dosing various parts of the treatment process and have stopped any non-essential operational activities on the site in order to lessen odours."

The politicians meanwhile have been attempting to address the recent problems. East Riding Councillor John Dennis states on the Hedon Blog that both he and Graham Stuart MP have been in touch with key officials from Yorkshire Water and the East Riding Council to explain and tackle the current incidents.

Councillor Dennis suggests that people continue to report odours: "My suggestion is that, when the smell arises again – particularly when it can effects your homes, can as many people as possible complain to Yorkshire Water telephone 0845 1 24 24 24 and East Riding Council on 01482 396301. The more complaints they have logged, the higher a priority it becomes."

A useful guide to reporting the smells has been published on the Hedon Blog.

NEW: Business Promotion Service

2011-07-21T16:01:00.003+01:00

THE HU12 BUSINESS PAGE (see link tab at the top of this page) has been provided as a source of information so that local residents can easily find local businesses. Primarily it has been set-up for residents' use.

However, we now want to offer opportunities for local businesses to benefit from new promotional opportunities available through social media.

Our BUSINESS PROMOTION SERVICE will aim to get your business recognised and followed by a new audience of internet customers. You will benefit from:

An enhanced listing on the HU12 Business Page with photos and links to news items about your business from across the internet and the media;
A link on the left-hand side-bar of this website;
Dedicated Facebook and Twitter accounts set up linking directly back to your website for you to use - or we can manage the accounts for you at no extra charge;
Optional: YouTube and Flickr accounts for those who intend to do lots of video or photo promotional work;
Regular posting of your news, special offers and other information to the HU12 website and Hedon Blog, to your Twitter and Facebook accounts and also sent to local media outlets (newspapers, radio and TV);
A monthly report sent to you, listing your number of new followers, friends, 'Likes' and additional publicity gained.

Of course, we encourage you to set up your own social media accounts and engage directly with your new customers and contacts. BUT if you haven't the time or the inclination we can do this promotional work for you at no extra cost.

All that we ask is that you regularly send us at least one e-mail a month outlining your latest news and information that you wish to share. Of course you can send us as much information as you like - but we can only promote the information that you send to us.

We are offering this new unique service at an experimental £1 per month! This amazing low price will allow you to easily test us out.

If you have already got a listing on HU12 then e-mail hu12@gmx.com for further information - otherwise fill in our Online Form and tick the box at the end.

Protect planning permission rights: Having a say when buildings change their use.

2011-07-21T10:33:00.003+01:00

LIVING STREETS is organising a national campaign to protect the rights of communities to have a say on any planning applications that might turn our local shops and pubs into something new.

These rights were exercised in Hedon earlier this year when local people and the Town Council objected to proposals to turn an empty shop into a fast-food take away. See Hot food take away sparks controversy.

The Government's new Localism Bill strives to shift power from central government back into the hands of individuals, communities and town halls. Yet without immediate public support the services that you walk to in your neighbourhood may be at risk.

The Bill is reviewing the planning rules for when buildings change their use. Unbelievably - says Living Streets - a bank can be turned into a betting shop or pawnbroker without planning permission or community say so.

Living Streets, a campaigning charity, is asking people take a few moments to support their campaign and write to Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, to ensure that radical changes of use to local shops, pubs and services are not passed without planning permission or communities having a say.

Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said "The government says it wants the planning system to be firmly rooted in the local community. Empowering neighbourhood forums to have their say on permitted development would be a real step forward towards doing this"

Amendments to the Localism Bill are currently being considered that, if passed, would enable communities to decide locally whether or not to extend planning protection to valued local services, such as pubs, ensuring that planning permission is required for changing their use.

NOTE: Living Streets is a registered charity that is campaigns for the rights of pedestrians. They aim work to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk. They want to ensure that every community can enjoy vibrant streets and public spaces.

Brown bin recycling success

2011-07-20T09:28:00.001+01:00

MORE THAN 4,400 TONNES OF WASTE; garden waste, food waste and cardboard, was sent for composting in June due to East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s successful roll out of the new brown-bin collection services.

Councillor Symon Fraser, the Council's portfolio holder for environment, housing and planning, said: “This is a brilliant result by our residents. It shows just how enthusiastic our residents are when you compare that 4,400 tonnes with the 3,800 tonnes collected from the brown bins in June last year.”

The monthly recycling rate is 55 per cent, meaning that East Riding households are recycling and composting more than half their waste.

The monthly recycling rate is based on the waste collected from wheelie bins, the 10 household waste recycling sites and the 140 recycling sites across the East Riding.

The council’s roll out of brown caddies across the area is now complete and the recycling figure is expected to increase slightly over the summer months.

To check what can be put in the brown bins, visit the council’s waste website, www.target45plus.org.uk

Government's scrapping of EMA criticised by MP

2011-07-19T09:51:00.000+01:00

Students protest the scrapping of EMA

GRAHAM STUART MP is in the national spotlight once again after the House of Commons Education Select Committee - which he chairs - strongly criticised the way that the Government scrapped the Educational Maintenance Allowance.

The EMA was a £560m fund aimed at helping poorer 16 - 19 year olds stay in education by providing a means-tested grant of up to £30 a week. Its abrupt scrapping left many young people unable to work out exactly what funding would be available to them.

The Select Education Committee said in a report published today that the "sudden decision" to drop the EMA and replace it with a bursary scheme was made "far too late" to allow Year 11 students to make fully informed decisions on what they will do the following year. The report states: "That delay was regrettable and should not have been allowed to happen." and "The Government should have done more to acknowledge the combined impact on students' participation, attainment and retention, particularly amongst disadvantaged sub-groups, before determining how to restructure financial support."

Graham Stuart MP, is quoted on Parliament's House of Commons website:

“Young people taking life defining decisions at 16 need clear information on the support they may receive and deserve better than rushed and ill thought through reforms. We accept that changes and savings need to be made but the organisation of the change has been far from smooth. Decisions on how much will be available for distribution by each school or college have been taken far too late, and it is 16 year olds who have suffered uncertainty as a result. That should not have been allowed to happen.”

The Report is available to read online at the Parliament House of Commons website: Participation by 16-19 year olds in education and training.

Small "Business in the Spotlight" networking event

2011-07-18T07:55:00.000+01:00

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO NETWORK at an event being organised by the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses).

In the latest edition of their online newsletter, the Enterprise Express, the FSB tells us:

Businesses large and small cannot survive in isolation; they need to be well connected if they are to create the prosperity and jobs the economy needs. Networking is an important activity for all businesses to get right and, if done properly, can have significant impact for ambitious people to develop their current and future relationships for the benefit of their organisation. For that reason, we serve the business community by staging regular "Business in the Spotlight" networking events.

The next event, also open to non-members of the FSB, takes place on Wednesday 27th July 2011 at Makro Cash and Carry, The Junction,off Clive Sullivan Way, Hull, HU3 4SA from 4:00pm - 6:00pm.

TO BOOK: Ring Neville Martin on 0114 261 7132 or email ro.southandeastyorks@fsb.org.uk

Graham Stuart MP: "You are far too excitable!" says The Speaker in remarkable scenes in Parliament

2011-07-15T11:16:00.001+01:00

"DO NOT SHAKE YOUR HEAD AT ME!"

IN A REMARKABLE EXCHANGE in the House of Commons yesterday, then local MP Graham Stuart was told in no uncertain terms by The Speaker John Bercow to "Be quiet and calm down..." and told to leave the chamber if he could not.

Graham Stuart was attempting to quiz the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown who was making a speech on the Phone Hacking scandal and the bid by News International to acquire BSkyB.

The Beverley and Holderness MP had been trying to intervene in Gordon Brown's speech through the Parliamentary tradition of asking the person to 'give way'. On his second attempt the following exchange took place (reported by Hansard):

Mr Graham Stuart rose —
Mr Brown: I will set out my case and then I will answer questions.
This is the only way—[ Interruption. ]
Mr Speaker: Order. I apologise for interrupting the right hon. Gentleman. Mr Stuart, I am going to say it to you once and once only: you are far too excitable. Be quiet and calm down—[ Interruption. ] Order. If you cannot — do not shake your head at me —then leave the Chamber.

Then later:

Mr Graham Stuart: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. May I ask whether there is any time limit in this debate, and—
Mr Speaker: Order. The hon. Gentleman will resume his seat. If there were a time limit it would be announced;

And later still:

Mr Speaker: Order. I apologise for having to interrupt the right hon. Gentleman...
There will be interventions when the Member who has the floor takes them, and not before. Members will observe basic courtesies and listen quietly and with respect to speakers. That is the end of it. Mr Stuart, if you are not prepared to do so, leave the Chamber. We can manage without you

Alex Stevenson who is a Lobby journalist for politics.co.uk had this to say about the exchange (see: Politics.co.uk - commentary)

As usual, the official record presents a soberer version than the reality. While the above was being said Labour backbenchers were shouting away, roaring "sit down!" at Stuart. At one point an opposition MP went further, venturing: "Sit down, stupid!" Hansard did not record these remarks. Nor did it convey the full extent of Bercow's bile. I would propose they amend their version with this: 'DON'T SHAKE YOUR HEAD AT ME! Stuart gaped, shrugging with his left hand sprawled along the back of the wooden bench. He waited just a few seconds, his eyes never leaving Bercow's - before shaking his head defiantly once more.'

The Telegraph captures some of the exchange on a video posted at its article: Order? How Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow fails to keep control of 'the children'

Unfortunately this kind of pantomime-type behaviour in Parliament grabs all the attention and headlines - and we tend to overlook the important issues being discussed.

Although perhaps - just perhaps - the "Punch & Judy" Parliamentary approach will attract and appall a new audience that will want to investigate our decision-making processes a bit more thoughtfully....?

The Price of eggs in Hedon!

2011-07-14T07:29:00.003+01:00

WE EAT ELEVEN BILLION EGGS A YEAR according to the British Eggs Information service - and we spent over £860 millon on them last year! The egg industry had a retail market value of £868m in 2010. In considering this massive value, then it prompts a question: How come half a dozen eggs in one shop can cost £1.20 whilst only 39p in another?

Fresh and Fruity greengrocers in Hedon town centre sell cartons of 6 eggs for 39p - but in Heron a similar half a dozen costs 55p and at Co-op they cost a whacking £1.20.

The answer obviously lies in the production methods used - some farms and producers put greater emphasis on the welfare of the chickens which in turn raises production costs. There are four key production methods:

The laying cages system is the most common production system. This involves birds being kept in cages. In the UK, conventional 'battery' cages are being phased out and by 1st January 2012 will be banned across the European Union. They are being replaced by larger, enriched or colony cages.

Food is supplied in troughs fitted to the cage fronts and an automatic water supply is provided. The units are kept at an even temperature and are ventilated. Electric lighting provides an optimum day length throughout the year.The cages have sloping mesh floors so that the eggs roll forward out of the reach of the birds to await collection.

In the barn system hens are able to move freely around the house. The EU Welfare of Laying Hens Directive stipulates a maximum stocking density of 9 hens per square metre of useable floor space. Perches for the hens must be installed to allow 15 centimetres of perch per hen. Litter must account for one third of the ground surface. This is used for scratching and dust bathing.

Eggs termed free range, are produced from hens that have continuous daytime access to runs which are mainly covered with vegetation. The hen house conditions for free range hens must comply with the regulations for birds kept in barn systems, with a maximum stocking density of 9 hens per square metre. Hens must be provided with nest boxes and perches.

Hens producing organic eggs are always free range. In addition, hens must be fed an organically produced diet and ranged on organic land.

How do you know which eggs you have bought? All eggs have to be marked with a code showing the type of farming system which will be 3 for cage, 2 Barn, 1 Free Range and 0 for Organic. The code will also show country of origin and farm identification. So a typical Fresh and Fruity egg marked:

3UK16378

reveals that the egg is from a caged bird, produced in the UK from Field Farm Eggs in South Newbald near York.

Some eggs will include additional information. Eggs with the British Lion mark and a 'best before date' on the shell, denotes eggs produced to a stringent Code of Practice incorporating the latest research and advice from scientists and vets.

The methods used in egg production have obvious cost implications. However, in spite of the obvious, the latest statistics from DEFRA reveal that the average price paid by packers to egg producers for all eggs at the beginning of 2011, was 69.7 pence per dozen - note price is per dozen - which represents a 6.9% decrease on the same period in 2010. This means the average price of half-a-dozen eggs - before wholesale and retail profit and costs is added - should be around 35p!

So perhaps the carton of six eggs from Field Farm, via Fresh and Fruity at 39p, is nearer to the kind of price we should be paying for 6 eggs!?

Public Notice - Citizens right to view and copy East Riding Council accounts

2011-07-13T08:16:00.000+01:00

A PUBLIC NOTICE has been issued by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council stating that anyone interested in viewing or copying the accounts of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, or East Riding Pension Fund for the year end 31st March 2011 can do so at County Hall, Beverley, between 18th July and 12th August 2011, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm. All books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts relating to the accounts will also be available on request.

This public notice has been issued and appears on the East Riding Council's website following guidance from the Government issued in April 2011 reported on HU12 that required councils to publicise to the press and public their rights to inspect councils' detailed financial accounts, ledgers and records.

Under the guidance the Council should publish the following:

the period during which the accounts and other documents will be available for inspection
the place at which, and the hours during which, they will be so available
the name and address of the auditor
the right to make objections at audit; and
the date appointed for the exercise of rights of electors.

See: The Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2011.

Join a Million Mums on the Net!

2011-07-12T07:47:00.002+01:00

NETMUMS IS A UNIQUE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL NETWORK with over 1 million members that contains a wealth of information and advice on being a mum (or dad!). It includes ‘families’ of local websites including a Netmums East Riding website which includes information on parenting as well as ideas on things to do and where to go in the area.

"Netmums is one of the biggest parenting websites in the UK with over one million members and 18,000 new members joining up each month. Membership is free and immediate and members' details and email addresses will never be passed on to anyone else." Statement on Netmums

Since being set up in 2000, Netmums has also become an effective forum and campaigning voice for parents, bringing together their collective opinion. Netmums states that its Mission is:

To help families have fun with and enjoy their children
To bring people together to make our local communities more lively and friendly
To make it unnecessary for any mum to feel lonely or isolated
To make sure every parent has access to all of the local support and advice available - from other mothers and from professionals
To give mothers a voice, locally and nationally, on issues of importance

Netmums has a Parent Bloggers Network which was set up at the beginning of this month. The Bloggers Network gives advice on starting and maintaining a Blog and offers benefits from being part of such a large network. The new Network also hopes to create opportunities for parent bloggers to do paid-for product reviews or otherwise provide essential feedback to companies that supply products or services for parents.

You have to register to become a member of Netmums, but this is free and you will be joining thousands of others who regularly read and comment on the network - an estimated 400,000 comments are added to Netmums each month! You can also choose to be sent regular information by e-mail from the Netmums regional coordinators.

If you are a parent in the Holderness area - then you can only benefit from being a member of the phenomenon that is Netmums!

Save our Buses says National Campaigning Charity

2011-07-11T09:04:00.002+01:00

SAVE OUR BUSES is a campaign aiming to highlight the threat to local bus services across the country. Bus users are facing service cuts and rising fares says the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) who have organised the Save our Buses campaign to protest at Government plans to cut the funding it gives to local authorities for public transport, putting many local buses in jeopardy.

The Bus Service Operators Grant gives funding to local bus operators which lets them operate more services at lower fares than would otherwise be the case. This will be reduced by at least 20% - 28% says the CBT - by 2012-13. The cuts are aimed at reducing the national budget deficit.

The CBT argues that this action by central Government will damage the local bus network affecting the thousands of people who rely on buses every day to travel to work, schools and shops. Without this network we would all live in a less economically active and less fair society.

According to the CBT, in the East Riding, transport funding was cut by nearly £3 million in 2010/11 and free early morning travel for bus pass holders scrapped in July 2010. They have set a target of £1m cuts over the next 4 years and they plan to make savings of £7,000 in the transport budget in 2011/12.

The CBT is asking people to write to their Member of Parliament to make the case for local bus services to be protected:

"MPs are there to represent their constituents, and as the bus cuts start to bite it's time to turn up the pressure. Please write to your MP and ask them to support a Parliamentary motion (Early Day motion 1986) urging the Government to recognise the value of buses."

Those wishing to contact our local MP Graham Stuart about supporting the Early Day Motion can contact him via his website www.grahamstuart.com

Jasmine Chahal of the CBT has submitted a series of Freedom of Information requests asking the East Riding Council to clarify its position regarding bus and public transport provision in the East Riding in 2011. Progress with these requests can be followed at WhatDoTheyKnow.com - East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Additional Sources: Department for Transport

Hedon and HU12 ONLINE e-newsletter published

2011-07-10T11:19:00.002+01:00

THE LATEST EDITION OF OUR COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER is published today.
Hedon and HU12 ONLINE - Issue 3

See the newsletter archive:

East Riding Council: FREE COMPOST given away in Withernsea

2011-07-09T09:01:00.001+01:00

THE EAST RIDING COUNCIL will be holding a FREE COMPOST giveaway on 27th July 2011 at the Pavilion Market Car Park, Withernsea.

The giveaway will start at 5pm and two free green sacks of soil improver will be put in the boot of each car by council staff. Councillor Symon Fraser, portfolio holder for environment, housing and planning for the council, said:

“This free compost is the result of all our residents’ hard work in keeping garden waste, food waste and cardboard out of landfill by putting it in the brown bins. Since April, when we started collecting the additional materials, 7,400 tonnes has been collected, higher than our expectations and proof of just what keen recyclers our residents are.”

NOTE: Compost will not be given away before 5pm and residents are asked not to queue before this time as it causes congestion and inconvenience to those living and working nearby.

Graham Stuart - Following our local MP's news

2011-07-07T08:54:00.003+01:00

GRAHAM STUART MP has released his latest online newsletter covering the last two months of his activities in the Beverley and Holderness constituency. Included was this list of events that have taken place - or are taking place - in July. We've highlighted those of Holderness interest.

Visit Ottringham Computer Club to see the great work they do to educate the public in the use of digital technology
Meeting the RNLI Spurn Lifeboat crew to talk about the problem of brown-tail moth caterpillars (see article on Hedon Blog)
Poetry reading at the Beverley Armed Forces Day celebrations
Street surgery in Beverley on Saturday 9th July
Participating in the television programme, BBC Rip-Off-Britain, highlighting the issues surrounding unregulated will-writing
Attending the SSAFA Fun Day in Swinemoor
Attending the Paté and Pimms party - a family afternoon fund raiser in Withernwick
Hosting a trip to Westminster by constituents.

Graham is certainly one of the most communication-savvy MP's and can be followed through his website, on Facebook and on Twitter.

E-Mail: graham@grahamstuart.com

Or by 'snail mail' (it's slower! - Ed) you can write to him at:

Constituency Office: 9 Cross Street, Beverley, HU17 9AX

Fond of FixMyStreet? Well check out the improvements!

2011-07-06T09:23:00.000+01:00

THE HU12 WEBSITE is particularly fond of FixMyStreet and encourages residents to use the service to report all manner of neighbourhood issues to the East Riding Council. You simply type in your post-code, find your local map and report your problem following the simple instructions.

We feature a local South Holderness report on our right-hand side bar if you have not looked lately.

Have a look at the Summary Reports from South West Holderness on FixMyStreet to see the service in action. Lots on there at the moment about the smells from the Yorkshire Water Waste Water Treatment Works at Saltend.

BUT DID YOU KNOW... FixMyStreet is now even better!

It has introduced new user accounts. So now you can:

» Report problems and leave updates without having to confirm by email each time;
» View all the reports and updates that you have made;
» See a summary map of your reports.

They have also added new zoomable maps allowing you to 'get your bearings', which should make problem reporting much easier.

Fixing Your Street has never been so good!

Humber bid for Enterprise Zone

2011-07-05T09:41:00.000+01:00

THE NEW HUMBER ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP set up last month is competing with twenty eight other similar bodies from around the country each bidding for their area to be included as one of the final ten Enterprise Zone locations.

Eleven Enterprise Zones have already been established and benefit from simplified planning rules, super-fast broadband and tax breaks for businesses to promote growth. When established the new Enterprise Zones, according to a press release issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government, can help make the country the best place in Europe to start and grow a business. But the process will be very competitive and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has said that "only the best will get the go ahead".

The Humber Enterprise Partnership bid to secure Enterprise Zone status will undoubtedly include the proposal by Siemens to open an £80 million wind turbine manufacturing plant on Alexandra Dock. But on a local level there may be some concerns that the Hull part of the Enterprise Zone sites involves developing land immediately North of the village of Paull.

The successful bids will be announced later this year.

Fairer Care Funding report on Adult Social Care published

2011-07-04T11:40:00.002+01:00

THE DILNOT COMMISSION REPORT on Fairer Care Funding has been published today. The independent commission, set up by the Government last July, was asked to recommend a fair and sustainable funding system for adult social care in England.

View the introduction to the report and the report itself below.

Fairer Care Funding Report

See background article on HU12.

New FREE 'Learning with the Family courses' for the summer

2011-07-04T08:10:00.000+01:00

Cupcake Creations FREE course

THE ADULT EDUCATION SERVICE recently published information on FREE courses taking place over the summer with a focus on family learning activities.

At South Holderness Adult Education Centre then the following are on offer:

Family Summer Savers - Use the computer to find money off vouchers, Adult Education discounts and savings ideas for the holidays with your children. On Wed 3rd August;
Family Cupcake Creations - Making, tasting and decorating delicious cupcakes. Please bring a tin to take home your cupcakes. On Wed 10th August;
Family Wardrobe Creations - Customise old clothes to give them a new look Adult Education or learn how to make simple costumes for parties and shows. On Wed 17th August.

Find out about the full Family Learning Summer Programme below. For a complete listing of courses on offer from the East Riding Council visit Adult Education Course Guide 2011/2012 on Scribd.

For more information contact South Holderness Education Centre on Tel No: 01482 897534 or e-mail south.holderness.adult.ed@eastriding.gov.uk

Family Learning Summer Programme 2011

Co-operatives Fortnight Petition

2011-07-02T08:18:00.002+01:00

SIGN THE CO-OPERATIVE PETITION to narrow the gap between rich and poor.

The gap between rich and poor is at its highest since records began. One half of the UK population now owns just one percent of the wealth. A generation ago, they had twelve per cent.

We can change this. Co-operatives Fortnight, is taking place until 9th July 2011, and is the co-operative sector’s national campaign. It aims to show how co-operatives help narrow the gap by giving everyday employees, customers and residents an equal say in decisions and share in the profits.

The central element of the campaign is an ambitious aim of getting 100,000 signatures in support of its petition to trigger national debate on co-operative action to help narrow the gap between rich and poor.

Click to here to sign and share the petition.

As well as signing and sharing the petition there are plenty of ways to get involved, online and offline. Visit www.uk.coop/yourstoshare/getinvolved to get involved. Join on Facebook and Follow on Twitter.

Adult Social Care - Councils urged to provide financial advice now

2011-07-01T10:27:00.001+01:00

A REPORT ON FUNDING THE COSTS OF SOCIAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY will ignite a political row when it is published next week. But while the politics will dominate the news, the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) has suggested that Councils act now to ensure that people receive appropriate advice about how they can fund their future care.

The biggest area of spend for local authorities is caring for the elderly. The population in the UK and the East Riding are living longer and the number of older people is growing. The costs of social care for an aging population will increase.

A new Government commissioned report by Andrew Dilnot published on Monday will say that there should be government investment in social care of up to £3bn and that people should pay between £35,000 and £50,000 towards the costs of their care before the state steps in. Insurance companies should make products available to cover an individual’s costs up to the cap and also any potential extra accommodation costs that may be incurred.

The Local Government Information Unit has issued an early suggestion in advance of the report. They argue that councils could do more to signpost people to independent financial advice that could help them make decisions and avoid depleting their funds by taking out insurance or using their assets more effectively.

Jonathan Carr-West, LGiU, director,said:
“Dilnot’s recommendations are sure to be important but rather than waiting for government to respond to them councils can and should act now to mitigate their exposure to increased care costs by ensuring that citizens receive appropriately qualified advice about how they can fund their care”.

Whilst the political fallout from the Dilnot Commission is likely to dominate the headlines next week, local people need to read between the lines and think carefully about how the proposals might affect them and their loved ones - and crucially what they can do about this.

Perhaps this is something that the East Riding LINk could take up?

Public Sector and Teachers' Unions Strike

2011-06-29T11:34:00.001+01:00

THURSDAY 30th JUNE 2011 will see hundreds of thousands of civil and public servants and teachers on strike.

Whilst the main purpose of strike action is to protest at the government's plans to cut public sector pensions, it is expected to involve thousands of others who will be showing their opposition to the feared impact of public sector spending cuts and job losses.

The main focus of local protests will be in Hull where the PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) will be staging a Strike Day Rally at the Quality Hotel (formerly Royal Station Hotel) at 10:00am.

The effects and impacts of the strike locally are difficult to predict but local Conservative MP Graham Stuart has listed school closures on his website which at the time of writing indicated that Burstwick Primary School, South Holderness School and Withernsea High School are CLOSED. The strikes may affect classes in other schools so it would be best to check with your school if you do not know already.

Also of interest to those following the events will be the debate that took place on Channel 4 News on Monday 27th June between Graham Stuart, who is also the Chair of the House of Commons Education Select Committee and Kevin Courtney the Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers:

Three Hull MPs to meet the Voluntary and Community Sector

2011-06-28T08:01:00.003+01:00

THE HULL CVS has invited local groups to a meeting with the city's three Members of Parliament Alan Johnson, Diana Johnson and Karl Turner.

The MPs have all agreed to come along and update groups on the current situation following the recent Hull City Council budget review and how the cuts in funding have impacted on the voluntary and community sector and also on the government’s Big Society agenda.

The event takes place on Friday 1st July 2011 from 9.30am - 11.30am at the Hull CVS offices at The Strand, 75 beverley Road, Hull, HU3 1XL.

Many charities and civil society groups work in both the Hull and East Riding areas - this event may be of particular interest to them.

Booking is essential - If you have any queries or would like a printed booking form posting out to you then please contact the CVS on 01482 324474 or email sjenkins@hull-cvs.co.uk an online booking form is available at the Hull CVS website.

The Great War record of the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry remembered

2011-06-27T10:01:00.000+01:00

A photo from the album

WHENEVER THE FIRST WORLD WAR is mentioned, thoughts almost instantly turn to the trenches and the horrors of the western front. However during this time, British forces where also fighting in other parts of the world.

In fact, many of the soldiers from the East Riding in the First World War spent most of that conflict fighting in the deserts of Egypt and the former British Mandate of Palestine rather than the quagmires of northern France and Belgium.

The East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry formed part of the Western Frontier Force, which was sent to Egypt, in 1915, to suppress the pro-German ‘Senussi Uprising’. They later saw action at the first, second, and third battles of Gaza.

It was not until the final months of the war, in 1918, that part of the regiment was regrouped into a machine gun corps and deployed to northern France.

In memory of these forgotten East Yorkshire soldiers and to commemorate Armed Forces Day, on Sunday, 3 July 2011, the East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service has received a photo album, showing scenes from the yeomanry’s time in Egypt, to add to the archive's collection on this regiment.

The photo album is now available to researchers at the East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service, in the Treasure House, Champney Road, Beverley.

Sam Bartle, collections officer, said: “Very often, we forget this part of the First World War and this photo album serves as a reminder that East Yorkshire soldiers were out there in Egypt, fighting for King and Country. As the album doesn’t contain pictures from any of the battles, these images give us a feel for what life was like in between the fighting.”

A small display of copy images from the album has also been prepared and can be viewed in the exhibition gallery from now and throughout Armed Forces Day.

East Riding and North Lincolnshire Councils to explore sharing services

2011-06-24T09:08:00.000+01:00

EAST RIDING COUNCIL MAY OPT TO SHARE SERVICES and management costs with North Lincolnshire Council under a radical proposal for the two Conservative controlled authorities to collaborate.

North Lincolnshire

Councillor Liz Redfern, the newly-elected leader of North Lincolnshire Council has met with the leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Stephen Parnaby, OBE, to explore the possibility of working together with a view to improving services for residents and bringing savings for both authorities.

Both councils face difficult times ahead. East Riding Council has to make £30m cuts over the next four years and North Lincolnshire Council is making £25m cuts over the same period.

East Riding Council had previously supported a plan to work with Hull City Council on closer economic cooperation via a Local Enterprise Partnership plan, but the new proposal could engender a far more formal arrangement with the authorities deciding to share senior management costs.

A press release issued by the East Riding Council has indicated that initial talks have already taken place with senior councillors from both authorities, and they are now to establish a working group where all possibilities will be looked at.

Councillor Parnaby explained: “Many small district councils are already sharing some services, but we believe this could be a first with two large unitary councils looking to work closely together. It will be a huge challenge but an exciting one, building on our excellent working relationship.”

Councillor Redfern added: “Both councils have a great deal in common and it will give us a great opportunity to share back office provision as well as expand front line services, but potentially much more. We are in unprecedented times where we have to look imaginatively at funding public services, so the timing is of the essence. However in this context it is important to retain our own unique identities but I hope we can each bring economies that benefit our residents in each of our respective councils.”

Both leaders stressed that in any change the residents would experience even more tailored services and their prime task is an overall reduction in expenditure through the economies of scale, not a compromise in service.

Graham Stuart MP: National Citizen Service roll-out costs "hard to justify"

2011-06-23T07:36:00.001+01:00

IN A REPORT PUBLISHED TODAY, Thursday 23 June 2011, the House of Commons Education Select Committee warns that extending the National Citizen Service (NCS) to all 600,000 16-year olds could have a price tag in excess of £350 million each year - even if only 50% of young people take part. This would make it more costly than the entirety of youth services currently provided by local authorities.

The NCS launched in February this year and will be available to 11,000 people in 2011 and 30,000 in 2012. The Prime Minister David Cameron has expressed a wish to see all 16 year olds being offered the opportunity to take part. However the Education Select Committee says it "cannot support" the 6-week flagship programme in current form as costs may exceed the entire public spending on youth services.

Local MP Graham Stuart is Chair of the Education Select Committee and had this to say on the report:

"The Government's idea of using the National Citizen Service to inspire young people to engage with their communities, mix socially and build their skills is a good one. However, the pilots are proving to be expensive and full roll-out would be hard to justify when cuts, which the Government itself calls disproportionate, are impacting existing youth services provided by local authorities. The NCS should be adapted so that it accredits existing programmes while introducing a new focus and resources into the sector."

The cost of National Citizen Service in 2011 is around £1,182 per young person. By contrast, the German federal Government spends £1,228 per young person for a whole year's work-based volunteering programme. The Education Select Committee says it does not see how the Government can justify spending the same amount for only six weeks of National Citizen Service.

Graham Stuart MP criticised after contractors surface private road to his home

2011-06-22T09:21:00.005+01:00

BEVERLEY AND HOLDERNESS MP GRAHAM STUART has received lots of attention in the national and local media after council contractors resurfaced the road leading to the MP's house for free.

Articles in The Telegraph, The Mail and The Mirror and in the Hull Daily Mail have reported on criticisms of the MP after his wife, Anne, asked contractors working for East Riding Council to resurface part of the road leading to their home. The work, estimated at a cost of around £2,500, was completed using left over tarmac and waste materials which might otherwise have been given to a farm as waste products.

On his website Graham Stuart has praised the initiative of his wife:

“My wife saw the road workers on Hengate and told a workman that if they had any spare tarmac they would be welcome to put it in the potholes of Seven Corners Lane. The workman said that they might, as it could cost the company money if they had to dump it."

“My wife cycled off and on returning home was delighted to see that they had laid a path of tarmac on the worst stretch of the lane. At no point did my wife identify herself to the workmen, give her name or mention who she was married to. I’m pleased my wife had the inspiration to ask and am glad it suited the company to dispose of its excess material in this environmentally friendly way. At no cost to anyone it will now help residents, walkers and members of the tennis club who all use Seven Corners Lane."

It would seem that the issue here, is not the actions of our local MP who happens to have a wife that uses her initiative, but it is ensuring that all the useable materials available to a public contractor are used carefully and economically for the public benefit.

Our definition of "waste products" - in this case the surplus tarmac, other materials and labour time of the workers - needs to be looked at more carefully and changed to suit the economically difficult times we are living through. The waste products from the Hengate roadworks may have been given to a local farmer to dispose off, used to fill potholes, or used productively in the area in which the workers were operating.

In this case it would seem that local area option - completed at the request of a conscientious good neighbour - was the right one.

Stage set for Scratch Theatre tonight

2011-06-21T08:42:00.001+01:00

THE THIRD 'SCRATCH NIGHT' at Hull venue Fruit takes place tonight (Tuesday, June 21).

Scratch @ Fruit will showcase new work for the stage by six writers. Hull-based writers Gary Clark, Lee Sutton, Lynne Taylor, Lin Whitehouse, Mark Walmsley and David Windle all present excerpts from full-length plays. The pieces will be performed 'script-in-hand' by actors from the region.

The evening is produced by award-winning Ensemble 52 – the resident theatre company at the Humber Street venue – and co-curated by Hull-based playwright Dave Windass and the Hull branch of Script Yorkshire.

The evening is also a chance for theatre practitioners to network and for announcements to be made between performances regarding theatre and new writing projects and initiatives.

Scratch @ Fruit #3 : ménage à trois takes place on Tuesday 21st June from 7-9pm. Tickets, priced at £3, are available on the door.

Your East Riding Summer 2011 - Holderness Edition

2011-06-20T09:58:00.003+01:00

Your East Riding Holderness Edition 2 - Summer 2011

Useful local police information

2011-06-20T08:54:00.000+01:00

THERE ARE USEFUL SOURCES OF INFORMATION about local policing online at the following website pages:

www.police.uk - Will take you to the national police website where you can find crime maps and other local information about the local area. You just need to enter your post code.

The Humberside Police Website - South West Holderness will take you to the local neighbourhood policing team's website pages. You can find out about local police meetings and drop-in surgeries planned and about actions taken by the police in the local area.

The Hedon Blog - Humberside Police category pages aims to record local police news and other information that has appeared on the Blog.

As previously reported on HU12 - you can also follow some police officers on Twitter.

If you have information about local public services that you feel we ought to highlight - let us know at e-mail: hu12@gmx.com

TeenTech - Inspiring Tomorrow's Innovators

2011-06-17T08:00:00.009+01:00

Maggie Philbin

EMPLOYERS FROM TOP COMPANIES in science, engineering and technology are investing in the future of their industries by supporting an event for emerging talent.

TeenTech will give 300 school students from the Humber region a chance to work alongside some of the people behind the gadgets that drive their 21st century lives.

The Humber Education Business Partnership (EBP) is on the look-out for enthusiastic ambassadors to help students get the most from the day, which will take place at the KC Stadium in Hull on Thursday 14 July 2011.

The BBC, BP, British Gas, KC , BAE Systems, Balfour Beaty and Cobus Communications are among the major brands that have already signed up for the event. The Humber is one of two areas in the UK to pilot the award-winning TeenTech event created by Maggie Philbin, science broadcaster (pictured).

“Teenagers dream about owning the latest gadgets but few consider they could be shaping the future themselves," said Maggie Philbin. "There’s a real need to make them aware of the rich opportunities that exist in these areas.”

Students aged 12-13 from across the Humber area will attend TeenTech to conduct experiments, handle leading-edge technology and meet the engineers, technicians and scientists from the world of big business.

The aim will be to tap into their fascination with modern gadgets and encourage them to explore the key subjects at school that can lead to high-tech careers. They will design apps for their mobile phones and map out the technology they believe we’ll be using in 2050.

Sandra Cooper, general manager of the Humber EBP, said: “Teen Tech will show young teenagers how their love for mobile phones and computer games could act as a gateway to a rewarding career developing the next generation of must-have gadgets. But it’s also a big opportunity for businesses in those sectors to influence young people and help develop the workforce of tomorrow.”

The organisers are particularly interested in hearing from businesses who can provide ambassadors to accompany small groups of students and teachers during the event, guiding them around the different activities, exhibitions and challenges.

To get involved in TeenTech, contact Helen Wilson on 01482 391626 or email helen.wilson@eastriding.gov.uk

Fundraising in the Digital Age

2011-06-16T09:33:00.000+01:00

A FREE FUNDING FAIR for voluntary and community groups seeking funding for projects, will be held at Haltemprice Leisure Centre, Anlaby, on Friday, 1 July (9.30am – 2.30pm).

The event has been organised by East Riding Voluntary Action Services (ERVAS), East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Humber All Nations Alliance (HANA). It is sponsored by Humber FAWN (Funding Advice Workers Network) and will host various grant-giving organisations and support agencies.

The main theme of this event will be Using Information and Communications Technology to raise funds, save money and work more effectively. A programme of speakers and workshops will run throughout the day, supported by Virtual Riders, a computer support network for the voluntary and community sector.

There will also be general funding advice available from representatives of East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s external funding team and ERVAS.

Throughout the day, visitors will be able to gather information about funding and discuss their project ideas on a one-to-one basis with the various funders and advisers.

The following organisations will be attending; Big Lottery Fund; Heritage Lottery Fund; Lloyds TSB Foundation; Charity Bank; ERYC’s Adult Education, RefIT Bridlington, Make a Difference Resource, ERYC’s Third Sector Team, Wharfedale Foundation, The Two Ridings Community Foundation plus others still to be confirmed.

Judith McKelvey, support services manager for funding at ERVAS, said:

“This is an excellent opportunity for local community and voluntary sector groups to meet with funders face-to-face. It will offer them the chance to discuss details of their proposals, including how the various funding schemes might contribute towards the realisation of those projects.”

For more information about the event, contact Judith McKelvey on (01482) 871077, email judith@ervas.org.uk (leaflet below):
Funding Fair Leaflet 1st July 2011

Home from Hospital? Tell us your story asks ERYLINk

2011-06-15T09:23:00.000+01:00

WITH THE NHS never far from the national news then it is encouraging to know that there are local ways to influence local health services.

The East Riding of Yorkshire Local Involvement Network - or ERYLINk - has established a group to to study the whole issue of getting discharged from hospital.

Consultation responses in Government discharge 'toolkit'

People should not be discharged from hospital unless they are medically fit and have been formally discharged by a named doctor. Every hospital has a hospital discharge policy. This is a public document that you can ask to see. It should include details of how the hospital will arrange the discharge. But how do these policies work out in practice?

Have you just come home from hospital? ERYLINk want to find out:

What went well and what went badly when you were discharged from hospital?
What ongoing support was available when you arrived back home (or at your residential/nursing home)?
Were all your personal belongings returned to you?
Did you get all your necessary medicines, equipment and advice notes that might have been needed?
What about transport home?

The ERYLINk want to hear your stories so that services can be improved.

The Hull LINk carried out a similar exercise last year which lead to recommendations being made for better communication, less waiting for medication and improved support for patients after discharge.

Contact Ortrud Nield at ERYLINk if you can help with this study on e-mail ortrud.nield@hwrcc.org.uk or telephone at Driffield 01377 232 136.

Note: The ERYLINk Social Care Forum and AGM takes place on Tuesday 28th June 2011.

Over 40 HU12 businesses listed in online directory

2011-06-14T08:04:00.001+01:00

FORTY FOUR BUSINESSES are now listed on our Business Page creating a unique online HU12 directory.

Latest to be added are:

Lucy Beal Cakery in Preston
Hare & Hounds Public House in Burstwick
Songbirds Day Nursery also in Preston.

Entry to the Directory is FREE. You just need to complete the online form on the front page. However, to boost the viewings of your listing then it helps to provide us with a flow of news and information about your business. Send your stories to hu12@gmx.com

Find out more on the Business Page.

Celebrating Unpaid Carers

2011-06-13T18:16:00.001+01:00

THE WORK AND DEDICATION OF UNPAID CARERS within the East Riding is being recognised and celebrated to mark National Carers Week - which starts today.

There are currently 3,179 unpaid carers registered with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, an increase from last year of 850. The majority of unpaid carers are female and 45% of all carers are themselves over the age of 65. Carers deal with a variety of illnesses and conditions, including physical disabilities, mental health issues – including dementia – and learning disabilities.

In the past year, East Riding of Yorkshire Council has increased their support for unpaid carers. There is a dedicated Carers Support Service in Wednesday Market in Beverley, while for a small contribution, a respite cottage is available for carers in Sewerby.

Vicky Taylor, project and practice development officer at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “I am sure the opening of the Carers Support Service in Beverley is one of the reasons we have seen an increase in the number of unpaid carers. The figures we have are for the people we know about but I am sure there is a hidden army of people within the East Riding that we don’t know about who provide care for relatives, family and friends.”

Councillor Richard Harrap, portfolio holder for adult and carer services at the Council, said: “The work that carers do is invaluable and we recognise the sacrifices they make personally to enable the person they care for to remain in the family home. Recent developments include the opening of a new carers centre in Beverley and a holiday cottage in the grounds of Sewerby Hall in Bridlington, which is designed to offer the opportunity of short breaks for both carers and those they care for.”

Also see Local MP supports Carers Week