Apr122017

New lease of life for town centre Inns

Welsh Government
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Plas yn Dre, Bala has been a family run restaurant since 1990 but has undergone a transformation in 2017 with a complete re-vamp and the addition of 9 Guest Bedrooms, with support of £72,000 from the Tourism Investment Support Scheme.

The Grade II listed building is now fully open for Easter with a restaurant, lounge and bar area. The main works were to convert the upper 2 floors into the 9 en-suite bedrooms.  Having opened the restaurant for the Mother’s Day in March, owner Sion Williams is delighted with the feedback to date and is looking forward to a busy season, he said: 

“The finished article far exceeds our expectations and the customer feedback is unbelievable with rooms being sold out for much of the Easter weekend.”

The Erskine Arms in Conwy will open in May, following a redevelopment which will see the historic inn transformed to include a restaurant and 10 high quality rooms.  The redevelopment of this traditional Georgian Coaching Inn has been supported by the Tourism Investment Support Scheme with £140,000 and will create 23 jobs. 

The Erskine is owned by Stange & Co. Ltd who also own The Cottage Loaf and The Snowdon in Llandudno and The Glengower in Aberystwyth. Stange & Co. Ltd. is a family owned group of character pubs and inns independently run and focus on homemade hearty food on their menu along with local cask ales at the bar.  There will be a strong emphasis on both local and seasonal produce throughout the menu. 

Economy Secretary, Ken Skates, said: 

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support the redevelopment of these two traditional Inns.  It’s fantastic that they’ve been given a new lease of life and transformed to become a very high quality product providing employment for the area.  Both are also at the heart of the town in Bala and Conwy – which adds to the appeal and vibrancy of the towns.  I wish both developments the very best for future success.”

Apr122017

News story: World War 1 soldiers finally honoured after over a century

HM Government
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In a moving ceremony at Hebuterne Military Cemetery in France, new headstones were dedicated to Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) James Thomas Spencer, Private (Pte) Joseph Turton Cleaver, Pte Walter Jennings and Pte Reuben Kimberley at a service arranged by the MOD’s Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCCC) and led by the Reverend Justin Bradbury, Regimental Chaplain of The Queen’s Royal Hussars.

Bob Bristow relative of of Pte Cleaver with Rev Justin Bradbury, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved

All 4 soldiers were killed on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme but their final burial location has until now been unknown. War Diaries from the Warwickshire Regiment provide evidence that 14 soldiers of the 1/7 Battalion were killed that day and whilst it was believed all were buried in Hebuterne Military Cemetery, it wasn’t possible to confirm this positively for each individual.

However, a more recent review of the evidence, including historical records, has allowed JCCC to be able to say there is now firm evidence the 4 soldiers are indeed buried at Hebuterne. Although it still hasn’t been possible to confirm in which of the many unknown soldier’s graves they are buried, the new headstones, provided by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), mean there is now a permanent memorial to them within the cemetery.

New headstones at Hebuterne Cemetery, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved

All 4 men were from Coventry. Two of them, Pte Kimberley and Pte Cleaver, had been friends from childhood, joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment together, served and later died together.

Rev Justin Bradbury conducting the service, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved

Rev Justin Bradbury said:

It has been a privilege to conduct this rededication ceremony in such a beautiful cemetery and finally recognising their final resting place.

Nicola Nash, from the Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCCC), said:

We feel very lucky to have been able to attend such a moving ceremony for these four Warwickshire soldiers, made even more poignant that two were very close friends and died together on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Apr122017

News story: World War 1 soldiers finally honoured after over a century

MOD
image_pdfimage_print

In a moving ceremony at Hebuterne Military Cemetery in France, new headstones were dedicated to Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) James Thomas Spencer, Private (Pte) Joseph Turton Cleaver, Pte Walter Jennings and Pte Reuben Kimberley at a service arranged by the MOD’s Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCCC) and led by the Reverend Justin Bradbury, Regimental Chaplain of The Queen’s Royal Hussars.

Bob Bristow relative of of Pte Cleaver with Rev Justin Bradbury, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved
Bob Bristow relative of of Pte Cleaver with Rev Justin Bradbury, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved

All 4 soldiers were killed on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme but their final burial location has until now been unknown. War Diaries from the Warwickshire Regiment provide evidence that 14 soldiers of the 1/7 Battalion were killed that day and whilst it was believed all were buried in Hebuterne Military Cemetery, it wasn’t possible to confirm this positively for each individual.

However, a more recent review of the evidence, including historical records, has allowed JCCC to be able to say there is now firm evidence the 4 soldiers are indeed buried at Hebuterne. Although it still hasn’t been possible to confirm in which of the many unknown soldier’s graves they are buried, the new headstones, provided by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), mean there is now a permanent memorial to them within the cemetery.

New headstones at Hebuterne Cemetery, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved
New headstones at Hebuterne Cemetery, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved

All 4 men were from Coventry. Two of them, Pte Kimberley and Pte Cleaver, had been friends from childhood, joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment together, served and later died together.

Rev Justin Bradbury conducting the service, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved
Rev Justin Bradbury conducting the service, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved

Rev Justin Bradbury said:

It has been a privilege to conduct this rededication ceremony in such a beautiful cemetery and finally recognising their final resting place.

Nicola Nash, from the Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCCC), said:

We feel very lucky to have been able to attend such a moving ceremony for these four Warwickshire soldiers, made even more poignant that two were very close friends and died together on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Apr122017

Statement by the Spokesperson on the executions scheduled in Arkansas

EU
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Seven executions by lethal injection, scheduled by the US State of Arkansas for the period between 17 April and 27 April, would break the de-facto moratorium on the death penalty observed by this US State since November 2005. Arkansas would also become the first State in the US to conduct seven executions over an 11-day period since the resumption of the use of the death penalty in 1977 in the United States.

The European Union opposes capital punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent to crime, represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity and cannot be justified under any circumstances. More than 140 countries in the world are now abolitionist in law or practice.

Today, the death penalty is illegal in nineteen of the fifty US States and the District of Columbia. The number of executions in the US has steadily declined to its lowest level in 2016. The executions in Arkansas, if carried out as planned, would be a serious setback in this overall development.

We therefore call on the Governor of Arkansas to commute the sentences of Mr Bruce Earl Ward, Mr Don Williamson Davis, Mr Ledell Lee, Mr Stacey Eugene Johnson, Mr Jack Harold Jones, Mr Marcel W. Williams, Mr Kenneth D. Williams, as well as the sentence of Mr Jason F. McGehee, which has been temporarily stayed, and grant them relief from the death penalty.

Apr122017

News story: Accelerating innovation with public and private investment: apply

HM Government
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As a UK business you can apply for a share of £8.5 million in grants and venture capital investment for early stage feasibility projects.

The investment accelerator pilot by Innovate UK will provide UK companies with simultaneous grant funding and venture capital investment for early stage projects worth up to £8.5 million.

This competition aims to bring private investors into Innovate UK grant-funded companies earlier. It should give applicants greater confidence that investment will continue, remove the need to chase additional investment and match funding, and award direct access to commercial acumen and market opportunities.

Funding available and eligible projects

There is £3 million of grant funding and £1.25 million of private equity investment for infrastructure systems projects. This includes:

  • smart infrastructure
  • energy
  • urban living
  • connected transport

A further £3 million of grant funding and £1.25 million of private equity investment is available for projects related to health and life sciences. This includes:

  • agriculture
  • biosciences
  • health

Project requirements – what you need to know

We are looking to fund innovative high-risk projects and invest in companies that have real potential for growth. Single small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can win full project costs up to £150,000 for early stage feasibility studies.

We will assess applications using the standard assessment process. Investors will use their own assessment techniques. Both Innovate UK and the investor partner must identify a project as fundable before a grant is offered.

The investor partners

To apply you will need to choose an investor partner based on their interests for this competition. These are:

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Competition information

  • this competition opens on 8 May 2017, and the deadline for registration is 28 June 2017
  • projects should last up to 12 months and range in size up to total cost £150,000
  • single SMEs only should apply
  • a total of 100% of project costs will be provided
  • a briefing event will be held on 15 May 2017 for potential applicants