Banks assure EEDA of their continuing support for small businesses

EEDA has received assurances from regional banks that they are there to support small businesses and says the best thing for businesses to do is ‘keep in touch’.

Richard Ellis said:

“We all agree that businesses need to seek advice early if they are having problems; from their bank, professional advisers or Business Link. There is £30 million of public sector business support available and our innovative Business Map of how to find this is at www.bizmapeast.co.uk.

“Of course businesses will be aware that the deadline of 31 January 2009 for submission of tax returns is looming, so if there are any businesses concerned about their cashflow, I would urge them to talk to someone now.  If businesses are experiencing difficulties with their bank, let us know, by contacting Business Link. If you want to discuss your situation with me personally you can, email me on Richard@eeda.org.uk.”

The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) met with top regional banking representatives recently to discuss the current state of the regional economy and to work together to provide the best level of support to region’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Richard added:

“I called the meeting with the banks because by coordinating efforts between our different agencies - with our advice and support provided through Business Link - we can work together to support the region’s economy and to restore business confidence which is key to continued investment in the region.”

“EEDA monitors the regional economy very closely and takes action to target support where needed with our partners.  While it is the case that more firms are getting into difficulty in these testing economic times, the clear message to small businesses in the region is to speak to their banks before they get into trouble. 

“The banks who attended the meeting were clear that they do not want to see the businesses they support fail due to a perception that money is not available.  We heard how the banks and their staff are spending more time with individual businesses to work with them to find the best way through the current economic climate. 

“With the East of England being one of only three regions which makes a positive contribution to the Exchequer the economy of the UK depends significantly on the survival of the region’s 430,000 businesses.”

Michael Large, chairman of the East of England Business Group, said:

“The banks need to put into action the assurances they are giving. Many businesses are still being asked to reduce their overdrafts at a time when the financial pressures on them are greatest. This is unacceptable and I hope more genuine consideration will be given to those businesses that provide much needed employment and are the backbone of this country. Rate savings are also not being fully passed on and that trend needs to be reversed if the Banks are to retrieve their credibility with business. “

Businesses can contact Business Link to talk about any difficulties they are having with banks on 08457 171615 or email healthcheck@businesslinkeast.org.uk

New Creda electronic panel heater is the fuel of the future

Creda, leaders in electric heating solutions, have announced the arrival of the TPRIII Electronic Pilot Plus range of energy efficient panel heaters, incorporating electronic thermostatic controls to give precise regulation of room temperature – essential for energy saving and comfort. 

Boasting a long-life, superior performance and elegant good looks the TPRIII is also utterly reliable, delivering trouble-free use with virtually no maintenance. Even installation is quick and simple with a detachable wall bracket.

Richard Scott, Director of Marketing for the company said, “Electric heating is the fuel of the future. At a time when more and more distributors, installers, contractors and specifiers see the benefits of modern electric heating we have launched one of the most advanced panel heaters available in the UK”

The new TPRIII from Creda builds on the success of the previous generation TPRII and has become available at a time when new reports are showing how low carbon electric heating has a very bright future in the UK, helping to support Government actions on climate change and energy security. In addition to the very latest technology in electric heating, Creda provides information for industry professionals on compliance with the latest regulations.

In addition to forming part of fully compliant building designs, the TPRIII Electronic has been designed to meet and even exceed the needs of most domestic and light commercial applications. This latest generation of panel heaters can be controlled by a new range of plug-in timers or simply controlled centrally by pilot wire signalling from the Creda 4 zone central programmer.

Key Features of the Creda TPRIII Electronic panel heaters are:

• Electronic thermostatic control - +/-0.3ºC.

• Optional plug-in electronic timer modules, including:
–24 hour digital timer
–Single zone pilot wire 7 day timer
–Runback timer

• Compatible with Creda 4 zone, wall mounted pilot wire central controller.

• Contemporary design including forward facing louvre grille for best possible heat circulation.

• Styling to complement the advanced Eco- Response radiators, with pure white finish.

• Pre-set background temperature at 5ºC below thermostat setting.

• IPX4 rated (Splashproof), for use in bathrooms or wet areas.

• Completely silent operation.

• Simple detachable wall bracket for easy cleaning / redecoration.

To find out more about Creda electric heating products simply call 08709 000 540 for a copy of new Directory - or download the information at www.creda-heating.co.uk

If everyone in the world were as wasteful as we are in the UK we would need 8 worlds to keep going

Peterborough Energypark has been designed to remove our reliance on landfill and reduce the amount of pollution created by our daily lives.

The energypark is a 66MW electrical power generating station that incorporates technology before and after electrical generation to ensure that the power produced is clean and green and that value from all materials is gained with nothing being wasted.

The thermal capacity of the plant is 234MW. The park will include a combined heat and power distribution grid to feed power and heat to the research and design building, the administration and vehicle maintenance and Compass Re-Use buildings.

The power and recycled materials produced from the park comes from its ability to process up to 650,000 tonnes of material per year. This material will be a mix of wastes such as municipal, commercial and industrial. In the case of municipal waste the waste received will be that left over after recycling has taken place. Along side wastes the energypark will support local agriculture by providing markets for their straws for use as a renewable fuel. The park will also take agricultural waste, and elements of the construction and demolish waste. Based on pre development discussions with waste providers, the Energypark will be processing in the region of 460,000 tonnes of material from local sources.

 

Norfolk Fens wind farm considered

Ministers are considering granting planning permission for a proposed 19-turbine wind farm in Norfolk.

The Marshland Wind Farm, proposed by German developers Notus Energy, will generate 57 megawatts (MW) from a site near Marshland St James.

According to the developers, the site was chosen in part because of a 2007 report by Arup and Partners, which concluded that the north-west of Norfolk is the best place to site wind turbines for maximum returns in the region.

Notus Energy also cites the fact that no insurmountable issues were raised by the 50 organisations that were consulted as part of the scoping study.

Although the 3MW turbines will each be 139 metres tall to the tip, the company claims that this will not be an issue as according to the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the site is already in an area disturbed by visual intrusion.

Plans for the wind farm were scaled down from an original 26-turbine proposal following the withdrawal of landowner members of the consortium.

If it goes ahead, the wind farm will generate enough electricity for the equivalent of 28,000 homes.

Science centre hit by Iceland bank crash

Plans for a science research park in Norwich have been put on hold as the banking crisis hit Norfolk County Council’s funds.

The council, which looked set to provide £1 million towards the Genome Analysis Centre, had £32.5 million deposited in failed Icelandic banks.

It is unclear whether the council, just one of many organisations with money in Iceland, will get its funds back.

While councillors acknowledged the importance of the science centre, they agreed with leader Daniel Cox’s decision to put off pledging the funds until next month.

Mr Cox told the Norwich Evening News: "This type of project is required to take Norwich forward. But there are concerns about the financial situation facing the council in the very short term, so what I would like to suggest is we agree this in principle, but at this stage, given our uncertainty, to defer making the financial decision until our next meeting in November."

Current estimates suggest around 108 councils, as well as public sector organisations such as Transport for London, had up to £800 million in Icelandic banks.

Fly-tipper gets record jail time

A Hertfordshire man who illegally dumped 85 tonnes of waste was given a record-breaking sentence for fly tipping.

Harvey Gibson received a 32-month jail term for "illegally depositing and disposing of controlled waste in contravention of a Waste Management Licence" and of managing a company while he was disqualified.

The Environment Agency (EA) brought the case against the "professional polluter" who dumped the waste in a field west of Reading.

He was also ordered to pay £20,000 in costs at Reading Crown Court.

Between 2004 and 2006 Mr Gibson dumped waste in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, the court heard.

He buried or burned waste including batteries, solvents and plastic in a pit used to supply a public water supply and was caught after an undercover EA investigation.

According to Get Reading Jenny Thomas, an EA technical specialist, said: "Once a contaminant has entered the groundwater, the consequences for the communities’ water supplies and local river flora and fauna can be extremely serious."

The EA also said that prior to the sentencing on Friday, the longest jail term handed down for a similar offence was 22 months in prison.

Norwich ’should get bike hire’

Bicycles for the public to rent could be dotted around Norwich if Liberal Democrat councillors get their way.

Lib Dems on the city council have suggested a citywide bicycle rental scheme modelled on the projects in Barcelona and Paris.

OYBikes, which already has rental schemes in London, Cheltenham and Reading is to visit Norwich City Hall tomorrow (October 14th).

Judith Lubbock, councillor for Eaton Ward, told the Norwich Evening News that the city should capitalise on rising cycling rates.

"We should be building on these figures and finding new ways to encourage more cycling," she said. "It is a good way to get about in the city, it keeps you fit both physically and mentally and it is cheap."

Boosting the number of journeys made by bicycle instead of car could reduce air pollution in the area.

She added that she would like to see hire points at the Railway Station, the Bus Station, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, University of East Anglia, Norwich College and Park and Ride sites.

The OYBike system sees bikes chained to a special bike stand with a lock operated by a LCD screen and keyboard. Registered users call the OYBike call centre citing the number on the lock display and are sent a pin code to release the bicycle.

Upon returning the bike to an OYBike hire stand, the user is given a pin to send the company indicating their rental period has come to an end.

The city council leader Steven Morphew has said that the problem could be finding funding for the scheme.

Gov’t urged to boost housing stock efficiency

The government has been urged to find a new way of encouraging and funding energy efficiency measures for the existing housing stock.

A new report from the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) claims that improving the efficiency of some 25 million homes is necessary to reach national carbon emissions reduction targets.

While the report notes that the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) has led to installation of insulation at a significant rate, it called for more to be done.

Among the reports recommendations is making available green mortgages for improvements such as new windows or boilers.

Homeowners would be expected to pay back the loans as they made savings on their energy bills, while the loans would reduce the up front costs of making improvements.

"Government intervention is needed to create a market for low-carbon homes and industry is crying out for that certainty," said Paul King, head of the UKGBC.

"We’ve been throwing our money out of the window. Spiralling fuel costs and concern about climate change now call for a revolution in attitude."