JOBS & NON JOBS

Dec 2011 ....

Unipart is due to open a new site near to Burton on Trent, creating a good number of jobs - good news !

However, are these jobs going to be taken by Burton on Trent residents ?

Argos built a huge shed near Barton under Needwood on the condition that the unsightly carbuncle would employ loads of locals, whereas it now employes a good number of Eastern Europeans (Ok, most do work hard).

Unipart in Nuneaton employs Ghurkas for security and mostly Czech, Polish and Lithuanian staff.

So, is Unipart Burton going to create jobs for locals, or just draw another wave of hard working Eastern Europeans to our area ?

Its not a racial slur, just an open question with my calculator to hand.

From the Tax Payer's Alliance www.taxpayersalliance.com

How the TPA saved you £20,000 - It may seem a small victory given the billions of pounds being lost this week, but there was a ray of sunshine yesterday that shows the power of a targeted campaign in the media. We successfully used media pressure to stop Suffolk County Council's £220,000 a year Chief Executive adding yet more members of staff to her personal office team - saving £20,000 a year in one fell swoop. It just goes to show that if you turn the spotlight on wasteful spending, it can be stopped! Read the whole story here.

Your guess is as good as mine with this Non-Job at Tamworth, as advertised by Staffordshire County Council :-

PLANS to build a massive new headquarters for Lotus Shoes have been booted out by councillors blocking the company's move back to the town.

Objectors were gearing up for a potential appeal or revised application but the company says it will not now relocate to Stafford - leaving the council scrambling to rescue the situation.

A full meeting of Stafford Borough Council refused the application for a site in Wolverhampton Road, Acton Gate, by the Jacobson Group, which owns the historic Lotus brand which was started in Stafford.

The plans were referred to them by the council's development control committee after chairman Kenneth Williamson voted to pass the application when the committee was split five/five last Wednesday. Officers had recommended the scheme for approval.

Residents had raised concerns about the size of the development and traffic issues.

Angela Bailey, of nearby Wolverhampton Road, said: "It can go to the Secretary of State, they can appeal or put in a slightly different planning application. It's not the end of the story but it's a good feeling that the council did listen to us and common sense prevailed.

"We are not living in cloud cuckoo land. The applicant has bought the land and will want a good return on it."

At last week's meeting Harvey Jacobson, managing director of the Jacobson Group, which owns Lotus, said: "Lotus is expanding - this gives us the opportunity to expand further."

At Tuesday's full council meeting Councillor Geoff Rowlands said: "Residents accept that this site is likely to be developed for office or industrial use. They want a development that is sympathetic to their needs. The proposed development is 15.5m high, twice the height of the four residential houses closest to it."

Councillor Barry Stamp said: "Those houses are half the size of this building. It is going to overshadow the houses. Why are we putting something this large in a rural area? There are other sites available."

Harvey Jacobson, MD of the Jacobson Group, said: "I feel it's a complete waste of time to appeal. We really do need to relocate Lotus. Clearly we will have to look in other towns."

A borough council spokesman said the authority was keen to promote inward investment.

"The council is disappointed with the apparent change of mind of Lotus Shoes to relocate back to the borough, following the decision to refuse planning permission for the development of the site at Acton Gate.

"The council is very happy to discuss an alternative site."

RECORD PROFITS AND SALES FOR PORTMEIRION

Portmeirion has posted record sales and increased profits for 2007.

The Stoke pottery manufacturer had a turnover of £32 million in 2007 - up more than 12 per cent from £28.4 million in 2006.

Profit before exceptional items and tax increased 15.1 per cent to £3.4 million, compared to just under £3 million the previous year. 
 

Coors pumps cash into its US site by KEITH BULL, Burton Mail

COORS has come under renewed fire - for pumping extra funds into tourism at its American brewery instead of the doomed visitor centre in Burton.

 The company's Golden Brewery, based near Denver, has seen an eight per cent increase in visitors annually thanks to funds being invested to attract people.

Further spending has now been planned, at the same time company bosses are looking to close the Burton Visitor Centre and Museum of Brewing, in Horninglow Street.

Critics say the apparent difference in policy between the American and British breweries shows a lack of commitment by Coors to making its Burton museum a success.

Nick Antona, from Burton and South Derbyshire's Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), said: "It does seem like double standards.

"We're disappointed that Coors wants to invest in attracting visitors in the States. At least they should invest a similar amount over here."

Peter Beresford, Burton representative on Staffordshire County Council, said: "This betrays a lack of understanding of Britain's history and traditions."
 

IS JCB POISED TO CREATE HUNDREDS OF JOBS WITH FACTORY BID?

DOZENS OF JOBS UNDER THREAT AT HOSPITAL