A NAILSEA gym will reopen tomorrow (Wed) after being refurbished.
The facility at Scotch Horn Leisure Centre has been kitted out with new cardio vascular equipment and weights equipment.
The work has been carried out with the hope of gaining the centre accreditation with the Inclusive Fitness Initiative.
This will mean the centre can ensure more disabled people know about the exercise opportunities in the area and ways in which they can get involved.
Scotch Horn Leisure Centre is managed by Parkwood Leisure in partnership with North Somerset Council.
www.thewestonmercury.co.uk
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Boat repairer finishes 1957 Trumpy refit
Moores Marine completed a major refit on the 1957 Trumpy M/Y Chesapeake, 60 in what it says is a record two months by combining the top teams from its Florida and North Carolina operations.
A six-man crew of boatbuilders and carpenters in each state, led by service manager Nathan Smith, completed a myriad of projects for the new owner, including replacement of broken ribs and floor timbers, shaft log, pilothouse structural beams, inner and outer planking, struts, cutlass bearings, garboard planks, stem work, as well as painting the hull and bottom, and hand gold-leaf lettering the transom and name boards.
"We got three times as much work done in pretty much the same amount of time by working long days and even weekends, but we didn't have a choice. The owner wanted the boat ready for his wife's birthday," Smith said in a statement.
Smith and his crew have completed more than a dozen projects, including Trumpy, Consolidated and New York Yacht & Launch yachts as well as a Chesapeake Bay buyboat, a Hackercraft, a Burger and a 1909 wooden launch.
In February, Florida's Moores Marine crew completed a two-year total structural refit of a 1929 Alden Schooner. In July, that schooner, Summerwind, won the Newport Bucket in the Grande Dame class.
www.tradeonlytoday.com
A six-man crew of boatbuilders and carpenters in each state, led by service manager Nathan Smith, completed a myriad of projects for the new owner, including replacement of broken ribs and floor timbers, shaft log, pilothouse structural beams, inner and outer planking, struts, cutlass bearings, garboard planks, stem work, as well as painting the hull and bottom, and hand gold-leaf lettering the transom and name boards.
"We got three times as much work done in pretty much the same amount of time by working long days and even weekends, but we didn't have a choice. The owner wanted the boat ready for his wife's birthday," Smith said in a statement.
Smith and his crew have completed more than a dozen projects, including Trumpy, Consolidated and New York Yacht & Launch yachts as well as a Chesapeake Bay buyboat, a Hackercraft, a Burger and a 1909 wooden launch.
In February, Florida's Moores Marine crew completed a two-year total structural refit of a 1929 Alden Schooner. In July, that schooner, Summerwind, won the Newport Bucket in the Grande Dame class.
www.tradeonlytoday.com
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Millions of pounds spent on refurbishing the House of Commons
Millions of pounds spent on refurbishing the House of Commons could be subject to a police investigation after officials warned of ‘financial impropriety’.
In a further blow to the Commons’ reputation for managing taxpayers’ money, the officials voiced ‘considerable alarm’ over the awarding of contracts – with particular regard to money spent on ‘interior design and furnishings’.
Last year, former Speaker Michael Martin was criticised for splashing out £1.7million on a makeover of his official residence, while former Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine famously ordered £300-a-roll Pugin-style wallpaper for his Commons flat.
Andrew Walker, the parliamentary chief who signed off MPs’ controversial expenses claims, has promised police will be called in if ‘criminal behaviour’ is uncovered.
A source said: ‘Given how much we spend, the fear is that the controls over the award of contract have been so slack that someone has had their hand in the till.’
The problem emerged when minutes of a meeting of the Commons Administration Estimate Audit Committee were slipped out in the run-up to the summer recess.
John Borley, a senior official on the Commons Management Board, told MPs of his ‘considerable alarm’ after reading internal audit reports.
The minutes record that Mel Barlex, the Director of Estates, voiced ‘suspicions that financial impropriety could have occurred’.
A Commons spokesman said: ‘Management has committed to address the issues raised by the audits including through the recruitment of a Commercial Director and reorganisation of procurement staff.’
www.dailymail.co.uk
In a further blow to the Commons’ reputation for managing taxpayers’ money, the officials voiced ‘considerable alarm’ over the awarding of contracts – with particular regard to money spent on ‘interior design and furnishings’.
Last year, former Speaker Michael Martin was criticised for splashing out £1.7million on a makeover of his official residence, while former Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine famously ordered £300-a-roll Pugin-style wallpaper for his Commons flat.
Andrew Walker, the parliamentary chief who signed off MPs’ controversial expenses claims, has promised police will be called in if ‘criminal behaviour’ is uncovered.
A source said: ‘Given how much we spend, the fear is that the controls over the award of contract have been so slack that someone has had their hand in the till.’
The problem emerged when minutes of a meeting of the Commons Administration Estimate Audit Committee were slipped out in the run-up to the summer recess.
John Borley, a senior official on the Commons Management Board, told MPs of his ‘considerable alarm’ after reading internal audit reports.
The minutes record that Mel Barlex, the Director of Estates, voiced ‘suspicions that financial impropriety could have occurred’.
A Commons spokesman said: ‘Management has committed to address the issues raised by the audits including through the recruitment of a Commercial Director and reorganisation of procurement staff.’
www.dailymail.co.uk
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Bakers Bar is about to bring in a new Element
BAKERS Bar in Southend town centre is due to reopen next month after undergoing a £2million refurbishment.
The club, in Alexandra Street, closed on June 28 and will be renamed Element. It will feature top-of-the-range sound and lighting equipment and there will be capacity for 1,500 clubbers spread over three floors.
The refit has taken over a year to plan and the owners have taken inspiration from as far afield as Ibiza, Spain and California. Club bosses, as well as council chiefs, are hoping the refurbished club will boost tourism in the town.
Ben Levy, company director, said: “The plan was to offer our customers something new and exciting which cannot be found anywhere else. But we wanted to maintain the things everyone loved about Bakers.
“We feel the new club will boost the town’s night-time economy and will bring people in from far and wide. This, we feel, will benefit the town as a whole.
“This project is set to give our customers something to talk about with some unique features.
“At this stage, we’re not revealing anything. We’re keeping it very much under wraps.”
My Levy said 50 builders had been working seven days a week to carry out the refur- bishment since the club closed.
John Clayton, of Essex Chamber of Commerce, said: “Recession doesn’t affect businesses equally. If this is a successful business, good luck to them.
“Refurbishing a business is a way of attracting people to it. Southend has a very varied economy and nightclubs are one aspect of it. People like to go to places which look nice. It is a business where you have got to keep spending.”
The launch party will be held at the end of September.
www.echo-news.co.uk
The club, in Alexandra Street, closed on June 28 and will be renamed Element. It will feature top-of-the-range sound and lighting equipment and there will be capacity for 1,500 clubbers spread over three floors.
The refit has taken over a year to plan and the owners have taken inspiration from as far afield as Ibiza, Spain and California. Club bosses, as well as council chiefs, are hoping the refurbished club will boost tourism in the town.
Ben Levy, company director, said: “The plan was to offer our customers something new and exciting which cannot be found anywhere else. But we wanted to maintain the things everyone loved about Bakers.
“We feel the new club will boost the town’s night-time economy and will bring people in from far and wide. This, we feel, will benefit the town as a whole.
“This project is set to give our customers something to talk about with some unique features.
“At this stage, we’re not revealing anything. We’re keeping it very much under wraps.”
My Levy said 50 builders had been working seven days a week to carry out the refur- bishment since the club closed.
John Clayton, of Essex Chamber of Commerce, said: “Recession doesn’t affect businesses equally. If this is a successful business, good luck to them.
“Refurbishing a business is a way of attracting people to it. Southend has a very varied economy and nightclubs are one aspect of it. People like to go to places which look nice. It is a business where you have got to keep spending.”
The launch party will be held at the end of September.
www.echo-news.co.uk
Friday, August 14, 2009
Library reopens after £500K refit
The public library in the centre of Bangor, Gwynedd has reopened after a £500,000 refit.
The building now features a mezzanine floor to enable the library to offer more facilities for children and young people.
Gwynedd councillor Dewi Llewellyn described the new-look library as an important boost for the city.
Nia Gruffydd, from the council’s library service, said it was intended to appeal to a new kind of user.
Mr Llewellyn said the library had been transformed, and the improvements should encourage children and young people to use the library.
“I hope that local residents will go along and have a look at what Bangor library has to offer them - it will hopefully have something to offer everyone,” he added.
Different zones have been created inside the building
Ms Gruffydd said the “expectations and needs of library users” had changed over the years.
“In years gone by the local public library was a place to go to loan a book, but nowadays, more adults and children visit the library and stay there for a while - to socialise, read magazines or newspapers, or use the computers,” she said.
As part of the changes there are now 16 public access computers at the library and the hope is that it will offer more chance for users to follow online courses, she added.
www.news.bbc.co.uk
The building now features a mezzanine floor to enable the library to offer more facilities for children and young people.
Gwynedd councillor Dewi Llewellyn described the new-look library as an important boost for the city.
Nia Gruffydd, from the council’s library service, said it was intended to appeal to a new kind of user.
Mr Llewellyn said the library had been transformed, and the improvements should encourage children and young people to use the library.
“I hope that local residents will go along and have a look at what Bangor library has to offer them - it will hopefully have something to offer everyone,” he added.
Different zones have been created inside the building
Ms Gruffydd said the “expectations and needs of library users” had changed over the years.
“In years gone by the local public library was a place to go to loan a book, but nowadays, more adults and children visit the library and stay there for a while - to socialise, read magazines or newspapers, or use the computers,” she said.
As part of the changes there are now 16 public access computers at the library and the hope is that it will offer more chance for users to follow online courses, she added.
www.news.bbc.co.uk
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Anniversary plans for museum
SCARBOROUGH’S Rotunda Museum is preparing for a special anniversary later this month with a host of events planned to commemorate its 180th birthday.
The museum was officially reopened in May last year after undergoing a two-year, £4.4 million refurbishment.
Prince Charles visited the museum in September 2007 as work neared completion.
“The Rotunda – the William Smith Museum of Geology”, as it is now called, first opened its doors in 1829 and it is one of the oldest purpose-built British museums.
Shirley Collier, chief executive of Scarborough Museums Trust said: “Our 175th birthday marked the start of the fundraising for the refurbishment of the museum.
“It’s wonderful that on our 180th anniversary we can see the transformation that’s taken place.
“The redevelopment has see an increase in visitor numbers and we hope people in Scarborough will come along and help us celebrate our 180th birthday by taking part in the wide range of activities we are providing for everyone in the community.”
The museum is marking its anniversary with tours, party games, activities and special exhibitions on Bank Holiday Monday August 31 from 11am to 4pm.
Part of the celebrations will be an exhibition of work by Mel Scott.
The programme also includes face painting, Dinosaur Balloon man, costumed hosts, a birthday trail, party hats workshop, pin the head on the Plesiosaur, guess the size of Gristhorpe man’s feet and new Railway Poster costumes with tours throughout the day.
Experts will also be on hand to identify fossils and there is so much happening events will take place in marquees in the museum garden as well as in the building.
Will Watts, head of public projects said: “Our 180th anniversary celebrations have something for the whole family.
“We want the whole community in Scarborough to come and see what we have on offer.”
www.scarborougheveningnews.co.uk
The museum was officially reopened in May last year after undergoing a two-year, £4.4 million refurbishment.
Prince Charles visited the museum in September 2007 as work neared completion.
“The Rotunda – the William Smith Museum of Geology”, as it is now called, first opened its doors in 1829 and it is one of the oldest purpose-built British museums.
Shirley Collier, chief executive of Scarborough Museums Trust said: “Our 175th birthday marked the start of the fundraising for the refurbishment of the museum.
“It’s wonderful that on our 180th anniversary we can see the transformation that’s taken place.
“The redevelopment has see an increase in visitor numbers and we hope people in Scarborough will come along and help us celebrate our 180th birthday by taking part in the wide range of activities we are providing for everyone in the community.”
The museum is marking its anniversary with tours, party games, activities and special exhibitions on Bank Holiday Monday August 31 from 11am to 4pm.
Part of the celebrations will be an exhibition of work by Mel Scott.
The programme also includes face painting, Dinosaur Balloon man, costumed hosts, a birthday trail, party hats workshop, pin the head on the Plesiosaur, guess the size of Gristhorpe man’s feet and new Railway Poster costumes with tours throughout the day.
Experts will also be on hand to identify fossils and there is so much happening events will take place in marquees in the museum garden as well as in the building.
Will Watts, head of public projects said: “Our 180th anniversary celebrations have something for the whole family.
“We want the whole community in Scarborough to come and see what we have on offer.”
www.scarborougheveningnews.co.uk
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
£1m u-turn for homes revamp
DOZENS of families who feared their homes would end up like slums are to have their properties refurbished after forcing the city council into a U-turn.
New doors, windows, walls and drains are to be added to up to 160 homes in a £1.2 million scheme.
It is a major victory for Middleport residents who petitioned the council after being told their homes would not be improved after all. News of the investment comes as concrete plans for the redevelopment of the Middleport area were finally being revealed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council later today.
Mother-of-one Sharon Black had taken on the council after learning her home was not being improved, despite promises six years ago that the homes would be knocked down and then rebuilt, or spruced up.
The 41-year-old, of Morton Street, said: “I’m pleased the council has listened and is doing something. It is good news and shows that if you put your mind to it, you can get something done.”
www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk
New doors, windows, walls and drains are to be added to up to 160 homes in a £1.2 million scheme.
It is a major victory for Middleport residents who petitioned the council after being told their homes would not be improved after all. News of the investment comes as concrete plans for the redevelopment of the Middleport area were finally being revealed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council later today.
Mother-of-one Sharon Black had taken on the council after learning her home was not being improved, despite promises six years ago that the homes would be knocked down and then rebuilt, or spruced up.
The 41-year-old, of Morton Street, said: “I’m pleased the council has listened and is doing something. It is good news and shows that if you put your mind to it, you can get something done.”
www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
School building scheme a sham – MPs
Government promises to rebuild or refurbish almost every secondary school in England have been labelled a sham after MPs discovered one in five projects have only provided schools with new computers.
Five years ago, ministers pledged to rebuild or refurbish virtually every secondary school by 2020, in what they described as the “biggest school building programme for generations”.
As part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme, ministers said schools would be “rebuilt, remodelled or upgraded to provide flexible, inclusive, attractive learning environments that teachers want to teach in and pupils want to learn in”.
But nine of the 41 BSF projects completed last year amounted to little more than installing a new computer suite rather than a full-scale rebuild or refurbishment, the Liberal Democrats have revealed.
They obtained the information through a parliamentary question to the schools minister, Vernon Coaker. Some projects included in the list of rebuilds, upgrades and refurbishments cost as little as £200,000.
David Laws, the Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, said: “The government likes to give the impression that BSF is all about brand-new buildings.
“These figures show that many schemes have been simply upgrading technology facilities and not what many people would imagine BSF is all about.
“The inclusion of such small-scale projects turns what is supposed to be a flagship programme into a bit of a sham.
“Of course it is important for schools to update their technology, but ministers don’t mention this when trying to trumpet their flawed school-building programme.”
“There must be a concern that ministers are including the far cheaper ICT projects in the programme to boost the number of schools involved and make it appear more far-reaching than it actually is.”
A spokesman from the Department for Children, Schools and Families said most schools that were given new ICT equipment under BSF had recently been rebuilt.
He said: “The vast majority of BSF schools are complete new builds, rebuilds or major refurbishments – and we have been clear from day one that, in addition, we will be refurbishing recently rebuilt schools with ICT.
“BSF is building momentum rapidly – the number of open schools has more than doubled since December and it is accelerating so that at least 200 schools will be opening a year from 2011.
“Schools which have benefited from ICT investment are typically schools which were only recently rebuilt, and the ICT investment which comes with BSF has enabled them to provide new equipment and infrastructure to change where and how students learn and teachers teach.”
www.guardian.co.uk
Five years ago, ministers pledged to rebuild or refurbish virtually every secondary school by 2020, in what they described as the “biggest school building programme for generations”.
As part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme, ministers said schools would be “rebuilt, remodelled or upgraded to provide flexible, inclusive, attractive learning environments that teachers want to teach in and pupils want to learn in”.
But nine of the 41 BSF projects completed last year amounted to little more than installing a new computer suite rather than a full-scale rebuild or refurbishment, the Liberal Democrats have revealed.
They obtained the information through a parliamentary question to the schools minister, Vernon Coaker. Some projects included in the list of rebuilds, upgrades and refurbishments cost as little as £200,000.
David Laws, the Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, said: “The government likes to give the impression that BSF is all about brand-new buildings.
“These figures show that many schemes have been simply upgrading technology facilities and not what many people would imagine BSF is all about.
“The inclusion of such small-scale projects turns what is supposed to be a flagship programme into a bit of a sham.
“Of course it is important for schools to update their technology, but ministers don’t mention this when trying to trumpet their flawed school-building programme.”
“There must be a concern that ministers are including the far cheaper ICT projects in the programme to boost the number of schools involved and make it appear more far-reaching than it actually is.”
A spokesman from the Department for Children, Schools and Families said most schools that were given new ICT equipment under BSF had recently been rebuilt.
He said: “The vast majority of BSF schools are complete new builds, rebuilds or major refurbishments – and we have been clear from day one that, in addition, we will be refurbishing recently rebuilt schools with ICT.
“BSF is building momentum rapidly – the number of open schools has more than doubled since December and it is accelerating so that at least 200 schools will be opening a year from 2011.
“Schools which have benefited from ICT investment are typically schools which were only recently rebuilt, and the ICT investment which comes with BSF has enabled them to provide new equipment and infrastructure to change where and how students learn and teachers teach.”
www.guardian.co.uk
Friday, August 7, 2009
RELAX FACTOR
Simon Cowell is splashing out £50,000 of his own cash to transform the top floor of the X Factor studios into his own private "haven of calm".The multi-millionaire music mogul has hired a team of designers to refit it in time for the live shows.It will be painted all white and kitted out with plasma TVs, a top-of-the-range sound system and a relaxation room.The top floor of the Fountain TV studios in north-west London used to be designated for contestants, presenters and studio guests.But Cowell , 49, will now have it to himself. A show insider revealed: "It will be designed like a sanctuary.The aim will be so he can watch the dress rehearsals in peace."It will be divided into sections so he has a relaxation room for himself and his guests, a shower suite, vanity area and walk-in wardrobe."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/08/04/relax-factor-115875-21569821/
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/08/04/relax-factor-115875-21569821/
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Frigate's £11m refit is under way
An £11m refit of a Royal Navy frigate is being carried out at a Devon dockyard.
Babcock Marine has started a refit on HMS Westminster at its Devonport yard.
The Type 23 frigate is set to receive an update to her Seawolf self-defence missile system as well as the command system which controls her weapons.
The work will also include the frigate having her sonar system updated and the range and performance of her main gun increased.
According to Quentin Davies, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, once the work is done, the ship will become the most advanced frigate in the fleet of Type 22s and Type 23s.
"This refit will boost several of HMS Westminster's systems," he added.
"The Seawolf update that is being rolled out across the Type 23s is designed to combat the increasing threat of faster, lower flying and more manoeuvrable missiles today and also to guard against future advances.
"The system can now track an object the size of a cricket ball at twice the speed of sound from over 20 miles away and launch two counter missiles."
Babcock Marine has started a refit on HMS Westminster at its Devonport yard.
The Type 23 frigate is set to receive an update to her Seawolf self-defence missile system as well as the command system which controls her weapons.
The work will also include the frigate having her sonar system updated and the range and performance of her main gun increased.
According to Quentin Davies, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, once the work is done, the ship will become the most advanced frigate in the fleet of Type 22s and Type 23s.
"This refit will boost several of HMS Westminster's systems," he added.
"The Seawolf update that is being rolled out across the Type 23s is designed to combat the increasing threat of faster, lower flying and more manoeuvrable missiles today and also to guard against future advances.
"The system can now track an object the size of a cricket ball at twice the speed of sound from over 20 miles away and launch two counter missiles."
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
An artistic approach to interior decorating
Suzanne Garuda’s client list reads like a run-down of the rich and famous around the globe. The Belfast native has worked on the interior of the state rooms at the Kremlin, the home of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, and palaces for royal families in Jordan, Kuwait and Brunei.
Closer to home, her mural work is featured at the K Club in Kildare and Peploe’s restaurant and Browne’s Townhouse (now Bentley’s restaurant) on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin.
Garuda began her career as a freelance decorator in England and Italy, working on everything from galleries to hotels. She set up Garuda Design in 1995 and it has grown into a project management and interiors firm with eight staff and a turnover last year of stg£2.2 million.
http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=People+In+Business-qqqm=nav-qqqid=43477-qqqx=1.asp
Closer to home, her mural work is featured at the K Club in Kildare and Peploe’s restaurant and Browne’s Townhouse (now Bentley’s restaurant) on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin.
Garuda began her career as a freelance decorator in England and Italy, working on everything from galleries to hotels. She set up Garuda Design in 1995 and it has grown into a project management and interiors firm with eight staff and a turnover last year of stg£2.2 million.
http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=People+In+Business-qqqm=nav-qqqid=43477-qqqx=1.asp
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Royal College of Art reinstates interior design MA
The Royal College of Art (RCA) has revealed that it will once again be offering a masters course purely in interior design.In 2007, the MA was blended with the college's architecture offering, but now it has come to realise that interior design is too important to be included as part of another subject.As reported by Design Week, the RCA will also start to offer a new course in design writing, as well as a systems and services course.However, due to restrictions caused by a current lack of space, it is not yet clear if all of the course will be launched at the same time.Jeremy Myerson, director of the RCA's Helen Hamlyn Centre, said: "The new course launches will be quite complicated, as we are still working on the new Battersea development."It will take some time to liberate space in the original RCA building, so I doubt that the courses will all launch simultaneously."Find exactly what you're looking for - shop at over 900 home retailers at mydeco.
http://mydeco.com/the-magazine/news/19293928
http://mydeco.com/the-magazine/news/19293928
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