Essex: Police hunt masked burglars who left victim in a cupboard

Essex: Police hunt masked burglars who left victim in a cupboard - essexcountystandard.co.uk

5:42pm Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in Countywide news

Detectives have appealed for information following a burglary at a west Essex golf club in which a member of staff was threatened and left tied up in a cupboard.

Two masked men armed with a knife and crowbar called at the home of a caretaker and forced him to open the clubhouse at North Weald golf course in Rayley Lane, North Weald.

The thieves escaped with a safe, cash from tills and a number of golf trophies.

Police were called to the scene at about 11.50pm on Tuesday May 22 after the caretaker managed to free himself and raise the alarm.

It is believed that the thieves struck about an hour to 90 minutes earlier.

The caretaker was taken to hospital and treated for shock before being allowed home.

Detectives now want to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity near the golf course, especially along the fence near the driving range where the thieves are thought to have got on to the site.

Anyone who can help should contact DS Patrick Mullan at Harlow Target Offender Team on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Source: www.essexcountystandard.co.uk

Sussex business chief's shock exit stuns bosses (From The Argus) - The Argus.co.uk

Sussex business chief's shock exit stuns bosses

4:30pm Tuesday 22nd May 2012 in News By Bill Gardner

Business leaders have reacted with shock after Sussex’s chamber of commerce announced the departure of its chief executive.

Sussex Enterprise last night announced that after an “extensive review of all operations”, boss Mark Froud would be “moving on to new challenges”.

Trevor Freeman, chairman of Brighton’s Federation of Small Businesses, said he was “very surprised” by the news.

He said: “I personally thought that Mark did a really good job. He was excellent at what he did.

“We had noticed that he had stopped coming down to the local economic partnership meetings so we were wondering what was going on.

“But you always knew where you were with Mark and it’s certainly a shame that he’s gone.”

Mr Froud led Sussex Enterprise for almost ten years after first joining in 1996 as director of economic research.

In 2001 he became director of policy responsible for planning and media relations before becoming chief executive in 2002.

When the coalition government scrapped regional development agencies, Sussex Enterprise lost a contract to deliver advisory services and a large chunk of its income.

Mr Froud caused controversy in February when he said residents and businesses in East Sussex had “lower aspirations” than those in West Sussex.

Peter Jones, chairman of East Sussex County Council, said he had disagreed with Mr Froud on many occasions but was sad to see him go. He said: “When he said what he said about East Sussex we had a face-to-face conversation and sorted it out. That’s the way it was with Mark. He has put a lot of effort into his work so I’m surprised that he has gone.

“But I would say that in Sussex we are seeing a resurgence of local chambers of commerce so I think Sussex Enterprise now has to find a real role for itself.”

A Sussex Enterprise spokeswoman said: “Sussex Enterprise has over the last few months undertaken an extensive review of all operations and concluded that major changes are needed to re-emphasise and expand our core membership services.

“In today’s difficult trading conditions companies of all sizes need the opportunities to come together regularly and share information, learn from each other and find new ways to improve their businesses.

“Mark Froud who led the organisation for many years will be moving on to new challenges and we all wish him well.”

Comments(5)

Hovite says...
5:21pm Tue 22 May 12

Well if you checked out the Sussex Enterprise website you will see that it lacks enterprise full stop. Hovite

Morpheus says...
10:54pm Tue 22 May 12

What had he actually done? Morpheus

michael.evans says...
12:02am Wed 23 May 12

Mark Froud and Sussex Enterprise have served business in Sussex well. With the changing climate the organisation may have its challenges but it is a shame to see Mark go. It is also a shame that the chairman of SE could not take responsibility for this change, rather than leaving it to an anonymous corporate spokesperson - not a sign a good leadership! michael.evans

Tailgaters Anonymous says...
1:30pm Wed 23 May 12

Actually in recent years SE has been quite a 'vanilla' organisation. Prided itself on being one of the largest Business Chambers but seemed to lack sharp, professional expertise. Found that even one of the business advisers was unaware how direct debits worked! Tailgaters Anonymous

onedaytheleftwillburn says...
2:15pm Wed 23 May 12

He left because we get too much sunshine in Brighton and his ginger haired white face couldnt take it. onedaytheleftwillburn

Source: www.theargus.co.uk

Essex fire crews to vote on strike action - thurrockgazette.co.uk

Essex fire crews to vote on strike action

12:42pm Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in News By Matt Abbott

THE Chief Fire Officer in Essex has urged firefighters to think carefully before they cast their vote in a ballot over strike action.

Firefighters across Essex are to vote on potential strike action from today as ballot papers are sent out.

By law, crews cannot strike before June 20, seven days after the ballot closes but industrial action could be taken on or soon after this date.

The Essex Fire Brigade Union says the ballot is necessary because the fire authority is imposing changes whilst also planning further cuts.

If proposed cuts to crews are implemented, it would mean that since 2008, one in five frontline fire crews have been cut.

Firefighter response times in Essex are already down one minute on the national average since 2008 and Essex FBU is warning that response times might increase again with the next wave of budget cuts.

In Thurrock, a wholetime specialist rescue crew has already been removed from Grays since 2008 and Del Godfrey-Shaw is concerned that there could be more cuts in the future.

Mr Godfrey Shaw, a firefighter at the Grays station and regional official for the FBU said: “We can’t specifically say where job cuts will be. It could be any where where managment may reduce watch.

“That could be here in Thurrock, it could be in Tendring it could be anywhere. We don’t know.

“There is lots of uncertainty and lots of frustration amongst firefighters here.”

The FBU say that whilst there have been cuts to front line fire crews, millions of pounds of tax payers money is being spent on expansion of the headquarters.

In a short video to firefighters, David Johnson, the Essex Fire Brigade chief officer called potential strike action “unfair on communities we serve”. He said: “We are a very good fire rescue service with some of the best firefighters and best equipment in the world.

“I need you to work with me to keep that going. We are ready to sit down and talk to to the FBU to resolve this dispute.

“I would urge you to support us in that.”

Mike Rogers, FBU brigade secretary said: “Essex fire crews are furious at what is going on and will be giving their verdict on cuts and imposed changes.

“Managers need to get their heads out of the sand and realise the strength of feeling.

“There is still time enough to resolve the issues between us and we are now asking the Chair to the Fire Authority to use his good offices to remove the barriers to serious talks getting underway.”

Source: www.thurrockgazette.co.uk

Sussex Police plans to scrap compulsory retirement policy - The Independent

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Minister opens East Kent Access Road - Kent Online

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East Kent Access Road from Minster to Pegwell.

East Kent Access Road during construciton, from Minster to Pegwell

An £86m road is to be officially opened today by local transport minister Norman Baker.

The front bencher will join Kent County Council leader Paul Carter and South Thanet MP Laura Sandys to officially open the East Kent Access Road.

Its completion aims to help support economic growth and create jobs across the eastern part of the county.

It also means better transport links to such sites as Manston Airport; the Discovery Park on the former Pfizer site, Eurokent - a mixed-use site - and Manston Business Park.

Eurokent and Manston business parks are joint initiatives between Kent County Council and Thanet District Council that have the potential to deliver 550 homes and 4,000 jobs.

The new road was built by Kent County Council with £81.25 million funding from the Department for Transport and £5.75 million from KCC.