More changes to the Withernsea to Hull bus services

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.

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TeenTech - Inspiring Tomorrow's Innovators

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

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A Pan-Humber Local Enterprise Partnership

FOLLOWING MONTHS OF WRANGLING it appears that a solution has been found to the dilemma caused by different approaches and ideas to the formation of a new Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). While some business leaders had called for a LEP that covered the whole of the Humber, East Riding Council leaders had favoured an approach with Hull City Council and Scarborough Council

According to TheBusinesDesk.com today then a proposal to have one pan-Humber seems to have gained support, probably through the changed political priorities of Hull City Council following the election of a Labour majority in the local elections earlier this month.

The new proposal seems to favour a pan-Humber approach but with 'sub-boards' for the North and South Banks to deal with more local issues, such as tourism and housing.

One of the motivating forces behind setting up a LEP was the possibility of securing Enterprise Zone status which will mean simplified planning processes, business rates discounts and other benefits being made available to help the creation of new jobs and new businesses. Such benefits will obviously provide additional incentives to those wind farm manufacturers and renewable industries that have indicated that the Humber could be the base for their new developments.

Only LEPs can bid to become an Enterprise Zone. It is a competitive bidding process and it is not guaranteed that the Humber area - or parts of the Humber area - will be successful in any bids.

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Network with MUD at Hull Fruit!

"No matter what the world’s like outside there’s another place inside yourself and that’s where you go to enjoy music" 

DJ John Peters of Funky Wormhole - Quote from last humberMUD

DIGITAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES NETWORKING and knowledge-sharing group humberMUD returns to Hull's Fruit venue this week (Wednesday, May 25). The first MUD since February is built around the theme Hull – Creative City!

Speakers and performers include Guy On A Rock Recordings' Matt Guy and Emily Tura, local music video maker and creative Sam Lancaster, young creative industry practitioners Ryan Kitching – who produces music graphics for local events and bands and games designer Shay Hulbert - who is working on murals for the Welly Club, live art group The Doomed Patrol and the creator of new augmented reality application Heritage Online/Connect Create Phil Shakesby.

Those that work in the digital and creative industries are also invited to share their news and work (DVD playback and projection, internet and large screen are available) on the night. The night is also a #hullmeetup – a gathering of Hull and East Riding tweeters on Twitter.

May's MUD also includes a discussion on the way forward for humberMUD, finding out what people want from the group, while the evening will also provide a lot of opportunities for networking, socialising and drinking at Fruit's licensed bar.

Admission is FREE from 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

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Popular theatre showcase now a Fruit regular

A THEATRE EVENT THAT SHOWCASES the work of Hull and East Riding writers is set to become a regular fixture at warehouse venue Fruit, on Humber Street, Hull.

Two Scratch@Fruit events have been held already this year and have proved to be so popular with writers, actors and audience members that they will now take place once every two months.

Each evenings is produced by award-winning Ensemble 52 – the resident theatre company at Fruit – and curated by Hull-based playwright Dave Windass. The Hull branch of Script Yorkshire will co-curate this third event. Branch spokesman Mark Walmsley said:

“We're delighted to be able to get involved in an event that promotes and encourages new writing. This is a great opportunity to get work on its feet and in front of the public.”

The showcase sees work being rehearsed and performed, script-in-hand, just hours later. Audiences are invited to provide feedback to theatre makers and play an active role in the development of the work.

Writers are now being invited to submit work for the third Scratch @ Fruit night, which takes place on Tuesday 28th June. Organisers are looking for excerpts from original dramatic writing for the stage of approximately 10 minutes in length and written for a cast size of three. Pieces should require minimal set, lighting and sound cues. The deadline for scripts is Monday, 30th May and full submission details are available from Scratch@Fruit

Scratch @ Fruit #3 : ménage à trois takes place on Tuesday 28th June from 7-9pm. Tickets, priced at £3, are available on the door and also in advance from the Fruit website www.fruitspace.co.uk (booking fee applies).

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Hull to Withernsea 76 bus withdrawn to be replaced by "improved services" says EYMS

EYMS PUBLISHED ITS NEW HULL - WITHERNSEA bus timetables this week. East Yorkshire Motor Services has withdrawn the No. 76 service and replaced it with "improved Services 75 and 77" says the bus company.

The proposed changes caused controversy last month when it was revealed that services between Withernsea and Keyingham would be reduced at off-peak times and that the altered services will no longer pick up and drop passengers off at Ryehill or Bridge Bungalows bus stops.

The new services operate from Sunday 15th May.

A special Bus Surgery will be held outside St Stephen's Shopping Centre in Hull on Friday morning 20 May from 6:00am - 9:00am. This is the chance to make comments and suggestions on bus services in and around the Hull area. You'll be able to speak to representatives from bus operators (including EYMS) as well as impartial public transport experts.

Radio Humberside will also be broadcasting their entire breakfast programme from the surgery. Look out for the 'Bus It' bus, which will be parked at the front of St Stephens, near the entrance to the Interchange. No appointment is needed, just drop in.
Eyms Service 75-77 Timetable

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Rats! Is the rodent problem about to get worse?

RATS ARE A PERSISTENT PROBLEM in the East Riding. But while complaints about rats are falling - possibly due to severe winters killing many off - there is a real fear that the problem may be about to get much worse!

Official figures from the East Riding Council show a downward trend in the number of overall complaints received by them about rats in recent years. There were 2,443 complaints in 2007/08, 1,148 in 2008/09 and only 626 complaints in 2009/2010. However, there is a concern from public health professionals that problems with rodents - and other pests - will increase as public expenditure cuts bite into local authority budgets.

The Royal Society of Public Health brings together practitioners involved in championing public health and on the issue of Pest Control has warned:

Local Authority cuts will bring about widespread changes to the way pest control is delivered across the country. New and different approaches need to be found if we are to continue going forward in the way we deal with the pest problem, which remains at the forefront of the fight for improving public health.

Hull has seen an increase in rat infestation in its city centre and riverside areas in recent months - but the Council's ability to tackle this will be severely hampered due to the public spending cuts that the authority is facing. Is this a scenario - an increase in rat problems, and a decrease in funding to tackle them - one that we are likely to face in the East Riding?

Rats are considered a public nuisance. They can carry a wide range of diseases that are potentially harmful. Leptospirosis (Weil's disease) can be fatal to humans. Other diseases, such as Toxoplasmosis and Salmonella, affect both humans and animals, and parasites living on rats can present a further hazard. Rats are omnivores and will eat almost anything and they contaminate everything they encounter with droppings, urine and hairs.

Rats use the sewers as a convenient route to travel through - a rats 'tube system'. Yorkshire Water are responsibile for keeping them clear of rats, but there is also a duty on local authorities to ensure land and buildings in their district are kept free from the rodents.

The East Riding Council says on its website that it has no statutory duty to investigate or treat any pest infestations, and therefore only provides a chargeable pest control treatment service. It says that it can take up to 8 weeks to treat an infestation. Further information is available at: East Riding Council - Pest Control.

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Did you know...? 

BRIDLINGTON HAS SEEN MORE COMPLAINTS about rats than any other area in the East Riding over the last two years! 

With 111 complaints about rats reported to the East Riding Council then the seaside resort has emerged as the area with the most problems. Beverley was next in the 'rats league' with 88 complaints, Hessle had 85 complaints and Cottingham had 72.

This compares to only 13 complaints in Hedon over the same two-year period, while in Hull, between August 2009 and July 2010, there were 592 total rat complaints.

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Hull CVS website - good for the East Riding

THE HU12 WEBSITE aims to bring news and information that is useful to those actively involved in local communities. There are of course several organisations and websites already doing this. One very useful website to add to your "favourites" list is the Hull CVS website (designed by Media Blocks).

Whilst principally geared towards Hull, the CVS (Community and Voluntary Services) website is also very relevant to the East Riding. There are news items and notices from local, regional and national organisations and notification of key consultations taking place that are relevant to the voluntary sector.

Whilst the organisation has yet to realise the full potential of using Twitter, Facebook and social media, the Hull CVS does have an excellent e-newsletter highlighting what is new on the site. The latest is available at Newsletter, February 2011 (provided by ConstantContact). Note: Finding the Sign-up page for the e-newsletter on the website is currently problematic, however, you can sign up from previous newsletters.

In the East Riding, other useful 'infrastructure' websites worth bookmarking are:

• Humber & Wolds Rural Community Council
• East Riding Voluntary Action Services

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National Citizen Service for 16 year olds launched

THE NATIONAL CITIZEN SERVICE has been launched by the Government. Involving tough physical challenges and community projects, it will aim to help 16-year-olds to learn new skills and develop the attitude needed to become active, responsible citizens.

The Service has been launched by twelve groups to 'pilot' ideas in different areas. Field Studies Council will provide some places for 16 year olds in Hull, while those in the East Riding have been directed to national providers, Catch 22 - although they have no projects listed in this area at the time of writing.

National Citizen Service will take place during the summer after school students finish Year 11. It will run for three weeks full-time, including two weeks away from home. After that, you’ll need to complete another 30 hours on a part-time basis.

Activities like mountaineering, canoeing and abseiling will be on offer, and the young citizens will get the opportunity to design and deliver their own community project to improve the area where they live.

David Cameron has helped launch the Service on Facebook. This is what he had to say:

"I want National Citizen Service to inspire you to realise what you can achieve. This summer you will be able to spend two months mixing with other young people, learning new skills, and putting something back into your community. NCS will be available to 11,000 people in 2011 and 30,000 in 2012. Over time I want all sixteen year olds to be able to take part."

The first pilot programmes will start in July after the end of GCSE examinations and will end in National Citizen Service graduation ceremonies attended by family and friends.

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Put your local Business in the Spotlight

A "BUSINESS IN THE SPOTLIGHT" networking event has been organised for Wednesday 16th February 2011 in Hull.

The networking events, organised by the Federation of Small Businesses, are open to member and non-member businesses and representatives of the enterprise-support sector. This is your opportunity to get together with other organisations to network, buy, sell, and seek out joint trading collaborations.

The "Business in the Spotlight" idea is simple: there are no star guests, no speeches.... just over 100 organisations each spreading the word about their respective companies - including social enterprises - meet, mix and mingle. Business-to-business trade stands and access to help, advice and information on all business issues will be available at the event.

Refreshments are provided throughout, and the event is FREE. It takes place between 4pm and 6pm at the Makro Cash and Carry, The Junction, off Clive Sullivan Way, Hull, HU3 4SA.

To book contact the FSB on telephone 0114 261 7132 or email ro.southandeastyorks@fsb.org.uk with the names and contact details of those wishing to attend.

A poster for the event is available via the HU12 Box.net.

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Wind turbine manufacturing plant will bring local benefits

HULL HAS BEEN CHOSEN by Siemens as the location for a new wind turbine manufacturing plant, which could bring local benefits to Holderness.

Siemens and Associated British Ports (ABP) have announced that they have signed up to the idea of the proposed Green Port Hull development at Alexandra Dock, Hull and will work to develop plans for a new the construction of a new offshore and wind turbine manufacturing plant.

Green Port Hull, a partnership formed by ABP, Hull City Council, East Riding Council and the University of Hull, was set up in December 2010 to attract turbine manufacturers to locate in the city. It is believed that up to 10,000 new jobs could be created with the further development of land owned by ABP if the vision of Green Port Hull is realised.

Local MP Graham Stuart has welcomed the announcement: 

“This is fantastic news and shows just how well placed Hull and the East Riding is to become the heart of the green energy revolution in this country. I am sure that when Siemens does come to the docks it will be the start of a rapid expansion of businesses in the area which could well see important Associated British Ports land in the Beverley and Holderness constituency developed with many new jobs being created.”

The news of new jobs and investment will be generally welcomed in the HU12 area, although people will want to see more details of what the proposals will mean in terms of increased local traffic and inconvenience. Also, following the scrapping last year of plans by DONG Energy to build a new bio-mass power station at Hull docks, local people will want to see more firm plans in place before making their voices heard.

Claims  of thousands of new jobs being created will also be taken with a large pinch of salt. It was clear from the discussion with DONG Energy that claims of a 'jobs bonanza' were a media invention - while some local jobs would have been created, the actual effect would have be an import of people into Hull and Holderness from other areas of the country and from Scandavian countries were the essential job skills needed already existed.

However, the final words of encouragement for this initiative come again from Graham Stuart:

“This is both an ambitious plan and one which could really put the area on the map as a centre of excellence for renewable energy.”

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Make a Job, Don't Take a Job! - Global Entrepreneurship Week

IT'S GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK this week. The key message coming from the promoters is the call to individuals to Make a Job, Don't Take a Job!

Peter Jones, of Dragon's Den fame has said that the week is vital in helping to inspire thousands of people to pursue their ideas and dreams. He says on the Global Entrepreneurship Week website that "Entrepreneurs are not born, they are made. Entrepreneurship is a skill that can be taught just like any other". 

Of particular interest is the week's 'Myth Busting' campaign. The typical entrepreneur is not your Richard Branson or Alan Sugar, but is more likely to be a woman - and a young woman at that. (Bullet points via GEW website).

• The rate of female entrepreneurship in the UK has risen by 15% in the past decade, male entrepreneurship has stayed the same.
• Level of youth entrepreneurship (aged 18-34) have risen by 20% in the last decade.

Also, Entrepreneurship is not necessarily just about making money. Many now start social enterprises to tackle social and environmental problems and to "make a difference".

• 64% of entrepreneurs think that entrepreneurs have a key role to play in addressing global issues such as climate change and poverty.

New entrepreneurs are as likely to start their business from home as from other premises. Working from home can not only cut costs, but open up new more flexible ways of working that might suit those with families and other daily commitments.

Global Entrepreneurship Week hopes to inspire a change in how people approach the world of work. Talk about an 'entrepreneurial revolution' might seem a little ambitious - but the week has identified some support and funding available to help.

Find out more: A report is available to download from Make a Job, Don't take a Job. Locally see the Youth Enterprise Hull website.

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Wigster.com - New legal price comparison website. And it's a local idea!

WIGSTER.COM is the new comparison website for legal services, providing help and support to both private individuals and businesses. The website founded by local entrepreneurs in Hull looks set to do for the legal profession what Meerkats did for insurance!

Wigster.com explains on its website what it offers:

"People often don’t know where to turn when they need legal advice, but with wigster, we do all the hard work for you! Through one unique and easy to use website, we give you the confidence to make an informed choice, so legal matters don’t have to be intimidating anymore!"

The website will offer an impartial service and put people in touch with the particular registered legal advice they need. Wigster.com will be free to use. And after people have used the service, they will be able to rate the law firms they have used and give testimonials and recommendations.

Law firms can sign up to wigster.com for free and the website will then charge a small fee for each referral.

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East Riding LINk publishes 'Enter and View' Reports into hospital wards

COMMUNITY HEALTH WATCHDOG the East Riding of Yorkshire Local Involvement Network - or ERYLINk - has published its first reports resulting from 'Enter and View' visits into health services.

LINks were set up by an Act of Parliament in April 2008 and funded through Local Authorities in England. One of the activities carried out by LINks is 'Enter and View'. This activity includes training individuals from the community to visit hospitals and care homes, on behalf of patients and the public, to observe and assess service provision. These should then lead to positive recommendations to improve services.

The ERYLINk has published six reports on its website as a result of visits to hospital wards at Castle Hill Hospital and Hull Royal Infirmary; and residential care homes Lindum House and Old School House in Beverley, and Wold Haven, Pocklington.

The reports are available to download from the ERYLINk website.

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New Hedon (including parts of Hull) and Withernsea Parliamentary constituency?

"HEDON AND WITHERNSEA" might be the name of a new parliamentary constituency that would embrace areas as diverse as Bransholme East in North Hull, Ings, Longhill, Marfleet, Southcoates in East Hull and Holderness. The new constituency would be formed if proposals from the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) are adopted by the Government.

Plans to reduce the number of parliamentary constituencies by 50 and to equalise the size of constituencies are already being discussed by the House of Commons. The ERS have attempted to demonstrate how this can be done fairly using a state-of-the-art mapping technology. The new political map they have drawn up will create 598 new constituencies. Each new parliamentary area will be based on the number of voting age people within it and gives an average size constituency of 85,300. The average Ward will contain 5,400 people.

The solution put forward by the ERS is based on the number of people over the age of 18 in 2015, rather than the number of people registered to vote.  They consider this to be a fairer approach due to fluctuations in the size of the registered electorate in different areas. The new Hedon and Withernsea constituency would have 89,240 people over the age of 18 in 2015.

The new Hedon and Withernsea constituency, under the ERS proposals, would be formed from the following wards:

• Bransholme East, Kingston upon Hull North
• Ings, Kingston upon Hull East
• Longhill, Kingston upon Hull East
• Marfleet, Kingston upon Hull East
• Mid Holderness, Beverley and Holderness
• South East Holderness, Beverley and Holderness
• South West Holderness, Beverley and Holderness
• Southcoates East, Kingston upon Hull East
• Southcoates West, Kingston upon Hull East

The details of the proposals will be debated in the coming weeks. However, local politicians will be weighing up the ramifications of potential voting patterns that might result from the very different mix of Hull and Holderness based wards.

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Freedom Festival bus service criticism

EYMS Ltd has come under criticism for its decision not to schedule extra bus services on the 75/76/77 routes on the day of the Freedom Festival and the Hull KR/Hull FC rugby derby on Saturday 11th September 2010.

Buses into Hull City Centre from Hedon and Withernsea on the afternoon of the festival were already experiencing massive demand. Buses caught in Hedon were already full of festival revellers and other travellers. Buses were full and, at least on one occasion, suspected of being overloaded with people sitting right up the stairway while those standing were squashed up right to the back of the lower saloon.

This early evidence should surely have alerted EYMS that the crowds heading into Hull from Holderness were unusual and that additional services were needed to successfully manage the extra demand?

Journeys home also experienced difficult conditions. This will have been exacerbated by the fact that EYMS does not run a 10:15pm service 75, leaving travellers with the choice of catching the earlier 9:15pm bus or waiting for the last one at 11pm. Mrs Karen Russell commented on the Hedon Blog:

"I think the decision not to put on any extra buses for Hedon – Withernsea was abysmal and resulted in us having to leave early to be sure of getting a bus home which when it arrived was clearly fuller than it should have been with people sat all the way up the stairs. I am sure a lot of people would have been stranded thinking they could get the last bus home, particularly teenagers. Needs to be better thought out next year."

The situation in the Hull bus station at 10:45pm at the 75 bus bay was already quite tense, and made worse, as more people arrived after seeing the Freedom Festival fireworks finale. There was obviously more people than a single bus could transport.

Staff from EYMS were present but there was no announcement that any extra buses were to be provided. People in the disorderly 'queue' were getting agitated. Some left to get taxis, other younger people began to push their way towards the centre and front of the queue. The police were in attendance and pulled at least one young person from the crowd.

One 75 bus arrived and pulled into the adjacent bay - not the scheduled bay - and there was a surge of people towards the new bay. At this point the bus pulled back away without taking on any passengers. This just added to the general confusion of the situation.

Another bus arrived just after 11pm and an announcement was made that an extra bus would be arriving and everybody would get home. The first bus pulled away and a second arrived just after 11:10pm.

Unfortunately, this experience in Hull bus station will have spoilt what was overwise a very enjoyable Freedom Festival. It could also have been easily avoided by a much earlier announcement that EYMS would provide additional services during the day and particularly during the evening.

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Google Director headlines speakers at Digital and Technology Conference in Hull

PETER BARRON, the Director of Communications and Public Affairs for computer giant Google in Central Europe, is the key speaker at Hull Digital Live 2010.

The appearence of this leading light speaking on "The Internet Revolution and Google's Role Within It" is guaranteed to ensure a massive turn out at this major conference held at the Hull University.

The event is for anyone who has an interest in the wonderful world of digital and the web. The speakers and topics will be of interest to designers, developers, small and large businesses, individuals and agencies. The organisers intend that, whatever your level of knowledge, you will find all of the sessions enjoyable and informative.

The event is to be held on Thursday 4th November 2010 and has already seen massive demand for tickets. 'Super early bird' discount tickets sold out within a few days of the announcement of the conference! However, early bird tickets at £75 (normal price £95) are available until September 11th.

The event looks set to stun! If you need any more convincing, just take a look at the Hull Digital Live 2010 website - it is a fantastic design!

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