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Calling time,
first to venues in 2014 to close in Southport
THE first night licensed
premises of 2014 to close in Southport are the George Hotel and
Reuters. The George Hotel, Southport, on 7 January 2014, posted on
its Facebook
Page that:- "Just to put
some rumours to bed, Yes ,the George closed. No, we have not 'done a
runner'. It was hard decision to make, but it was the only one. The
rising costs of running the business, made it no longer viable. I
would like to thank all our staff for the service they have done us,
our customers and the pub in the 4 and a half years we have been
here, we could not have asked for a better, loyal, trustworthy and
hard working staff. If there are any employers reading this, inbox
me for contact numbers if you have any bar/kitchen positions
available. To our customers, thank you for all the support you have
given us over the years, without your custom we would never have
survived as long as we have without it. We have made a lot of
friends and met a lot of great people in the time we been here,
thank you all..."
Rueters had placed in its window and on it's door this week a notice
saying:- "Dear Valued customers, Due to constantly rising
costs it has become unfeasible to continue traiding at Rueters. We
would like to thank all our sustomers and friends for their support
and look foward to seeing you in the future. Many thanks and goodbye
from everyone at Rueters."
Already, many more people are beginning to aim the blame at the
Supermarkets, who can sell drinks far cheaper than most Pubs and
Clubs can. Also others are pointing out that Brewery's and Landlords
are often charging daft money. Others blame the smoking ban pushing
up prices and for the decrease in people going out. Whatever the
issues faced by venues the consequence is that Pubs and clubs will
continue to close, even if they revise their pricing structure,
unless they can get help. "If licensed premises and off
licences were the only ones who could sell alcohol, I think we would
see far less alcohol related problems. Sadly, the last Government
and this Government are hell bent on giving Supermarkets the ability
to undercut us and then wonder why we have an alcohol problem. When
you turn on the news and you hear alcohol related in the item, you
nearly always hear a politician saying it is Pubs and Clubs who are
to blame. They also forget that most are struggling and many more
have closed or are calling in receivers, so how do they get it is
our fault. I think many more venues will be closing this year. It is
also seen more far more profitable to sell the land or convert a
venue to housing than it is to provide entertainment for locals.
Losing venues like pubs and clubs means that areas are losing their
identities and attractions for tourists to visit. If you stay
overnight in a Town you want to go out. How can you if all the
venues have closed down? Then we have issues about local Councils
putting extra blocks in the way, just to raise cash through people
trying to set up in business. I do not want my name quoted as I fear
the repercussions for saying this... So what I really want to say I
can't. That is how bad the situation is getting!" said one
local Licensee.
This news comes as CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, on 6 January
2014 launched their national "Pubs and the Economy"
campaign which aims to promote the benefits of pubs to the British
economy and encourage more people to use their local during January,
which can often be a quiet period for the industry. The UK wide
campaign will feature various pub owners and staff, including The
Derby Arms in Rainford, The Caledonia in Liverpool and the
Freshfield, also in Merseyside. CAMRA selected pubs from around the
UK after being inundated with responses following an email and
Facebook request for photos and stories of pub staff.
Billy Evans, Licensee at The Derby
Arms in St Helens, was chosen to feature and had this to say on the
difficulties facing pubs:- "When we took over in June [2013]
there was one part time member of staff, now we have five and would
like to employ more, but the current economic climate doesn't allow.
So we work all hours to try to keep our heads above water."
Student Amie Morris has worked in
The Caledonia in Liverpool since she was 18 and relies on her job to
support her University studies:- "I joined the pub industry as
a part time member of staff when I moved to Liverpool for
University, it seemed a perfect way to meet different people and to
gain a better understanding of the City I moved to. It is also a
great job for flexibility and raising a little extra cash to support
my studies."
The pub industry employs over half
a million people and the pubs and beer industry adds £19 billion a
year to the UK economy, but the lack of trade in the month after the
festive season could prove to be the nail in the coffin for
struggling pubs up and down the UK; with 26 pubs a week currently
closing nationwide. "Pubs play an important part in the UK
economy and need to be protected and supported. The 'Pubs and the
Economy' campaign does not only call on people to use their locals
in January, but also highlights the importance of the pub industry
overall and encourages people to support CAMRA's call for a freeze
in Beer Duty in the 2014 budget. This support could play an
important role in saving many British pubs."
Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief
Executive. CAMRA is calling on the Government to freeze beer duty in
the 2014 Budget following the unprecedented 1p cut in 2013 and
scrapping of the much hated beer duty escalator; which added 2%
above inflation to beer tax year on year. To back CAMRA's call for a
freeze in Beer Duty in the 2014 Budget, people should contact their
local MP and ask for their support. "Alongside contacting
their MP and asking for a freeze in Beer Duty, the best way people
can help the pub industry is to use their local pub during January.
Many of us only visit pubs over Christmas but if we want British
pubs, which are such an important part of our economy and way of
life, to survive then we need to support our local all year round."
CAMRA has issued free promotional
packs to around 7,000 pubs across Britain to help raise the
awareness of this important campaign. Included in the packs are
posters featuring real pub staff and landlords from around the UK.
To find out more about Pubs and the Economy month visit:-
communitypubscampaign.org.uk.
What are your views about the
closures of venues in Southport and across Merseyside in recent
months? Who or what do you think is to blame? Do you think we
need pubs and clubs?
Please do let us know your views by
emailing our newsroom via:-
news24@southportreporter.com.
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UK manufacturers
to top EU growth league in 2014 – EEF / Aldermore Executive Survey
GOOD News is predicted for
Britain's manufacturers, who are expecting an improved outlook in
2014 which should lead to growth in exports to emerging markets and
a turnaround in investment, according to a major survey of senior
executives published in the first week of January, by EEF, the
manufacturers' organisation and Aldermore Bank.
The survey of 200 senior executives paints a more positive outlook
than the very muted picture of 12 months ago, with growth
expected in all markets and across all sectors and sizes of
companies. The relentless pursuit of growth opportunities in new
markets, sectors and technologies looks set to be more focused for
firms in 2014, but they are far from certain that risks to growth
won't return this year.
The survey shows that the efforts necessary to remain competitive
and grow in an uncertain world will continue in the year ahead.
Topping the list of strategies for manufacturers in the year ahead
are actions to improve productivity, greater supply chain
collaboration, strong communication with employees and increased
overseas marketing efforts. All of which will support growth plans
and help to mitigate any emerging risks.
These actions will be coupled with much-needed investment in new
capaCity in the UK. Two fifths of companies said they plan to invest
moderately in the UK, with a further fifth saying their investment
would be significant. Overseas, one third of large firms plan to
invest compared to a fifth of SMEs.
Flexibility and a focus on growth tee industry up for a strong 2014
performance, with our forecasts indicating output expansion of 2.7%.
As ever, if the investment pick up is further delayed there will be
consequences for both supply chain capaCity and growth across the
wider economy; a downside scenario that policy makers must not lose
sight of in the year ahead.
Commenting, Darrell Matthews, North West Region Director of EEF, the
manufacturers' organisation, said:- "Manufacturers are telling
us they expect to make a greater contribution to growth, investment
and jobs this year. Innovation, energy and diversifying into new
supply chain remain key opportunities, but the UK and the eurozone
are also looking better. However, global uncertainty and rising
energy costs pose significant risks and, the challenge for industry
and government this year will be to get industry's investment plans
over the line."
Mark Stephens, Deputy CEO and Group Commercial Director at Aldermore,
said:- "This report from EEF is both welcome and timely. 2013
has seen a growing sense of cautious optimism emerging amidst signs
of a slowly improving economy. This is particularly good news for
smaller firms, and vital within the manufacturing sector. At
Aldermore we work closely with manufacturing clients across the
Country and are seeing first hand what the findings of this report
suggests. Clients are certainly more positive about the future of
their businesses than this time 12 months ago, with a determination
to capitalise on an improving UK market and to secure more business
in new export markets."
According to the survey 70% of companies expect the UK economy to
improve in the next year (2015), with a similar number (62%)
expecting manufacturing prospects to improve. This is mirrored in
the outlook for the global economy where 57% of companies expect an
improvement. However, the perception of global risk is highlighted
by the fact just 3% of companies expect this improvement to be
significant.
This improvement is being driven both at home and abroad with two
thirds of companies expecting their domestic sales to increase and,
55% of companies expecting their exports to increase, with almost
10% expecting this to be significant.
The Middle East has seen the largest increase in prospects with over
half of companies involved there (40% in 2013). Regarding the
eurozone, the balance of companies expecting growth rather than
contraction has improved from -5% to +28%. Asia continues to offer
UK firms robust prospects with the largest proportion across all
markets, 12%, expecting significant growth.
The extent of the importance of emerging markets is underlined by
the fact increased demand from these areas has returned with two
fifths of companies viewing this as the best source of growth.
Companies in the transport sectors were most positive about emerging
market demand reflecting the prospects for goods such as luxury
vehicles and civil aircraft where the UK is well placed.
However, despite this positive picture, the impact of the prolonged
downturn on manufacturers is highlighted by the fact three quarters
believing 'economic uncertainty is the new norm'. A
range of specific risks were also identified with rising input costs
being the largest (61%) of whom a third said it was their most
significant. This reflects the impact of rising energy costs in
particular although pay pressures, a factor not seen for many years,
were also identified as a risk by a quarter of companies.
Almost the same number reported 'insufficient supply chain
capaCity' as a risk, reflecting the hollowing out of the UK
supply base and the need to build it back again, a key factor in
encouraging inward investment in sectors such as automotive and
aerospace. However, half of companies said they planned to work more
closely with their suppliers in order to address this risk.
Fined for
fly-tipping asbestos!
A woman who fly-tipped
asbestos tiles near to junior football teams' changing rooms has
been fined. Elahe Zakavi, aged 46, of Isleham Close
Allerton, was found guilty at Liverpool Magistrates' Court of
fly-tipping asbestos.
The court heard that at
approximately 10pm on 30 January 2013, Zakavi was seen taking bin
bags from the back of her Honda 4x4 hatchback, with the help of an
unidentified man, and dumping them over the railings near to the
changing rooms used by the local junior football clubs on Jericho
Lane. The bags were found to contain asbestos tiles. Zakavi denied
that she had dumped asbestos, but said that the bags had been full
of cardboard. She said she had mistaken the changing rooms for the
waste reception Centre for which she had obtained directions from
the Council's website and had not noticed that its opening time in
January was 8am to 5pm.
District Judge Wendy Lloyd fined Zakavi £200 and awarded costs of
£500 with compensation for the specialist clean-up required to
safely dispose of the asbestos of £712.80
Councillor Steve Munby, Cabinet Member for living environment and
localism, said:- "This was a particularly nasty case of
fly-tipping. Asbestos is a dangerous material and to dump it near
changing rooms used by children is appalling. Asbestos is not
accepted at the waste reception Centre at Jericho Lane and there is
a cost to its disposal. This case sends a clear message that
Liverpool City Council will not tolerate fly-tipping and will take
action against anyone caught."
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