Jul/090
Local Governement: One in Five Local Authorities Report Growing Pressure on School Places
There are a few reasons for this but the recession seems to be the cause of most of them.
1) Parents are turning their backs on private education for their children, choosing instead to use the money they have saved up as a contingency for bills and general living costs.
2) The housing market slump has meant less people are moving house meaning a miscalculation in the size of the catchement area.
As a result, the government has announced that they are to throw £200m into the education kitty to combat this shortage. The government is set to announce £200m to overcome the shortage of places as well as a sharp rise in free school meal requests.
The LGA’s survey indicates that that 20% of councils are experiencing this pressure currently and another 13% are advising that they too will soon be experiencing the same situation.
Jul/090
Wirral Partnerships Homes leave residents living in unstable conditions
The WPH are undertaking major refurbishment on many of the homes in the Wirral, aiming to install over 8000 kitchens and 7000 bathrooms. However, the Wirral news has been inundated with complaints from residents saying that their houses have been left in disrepair, work was not finished and that they have been left in unstable conditions.
Many are being left with no heating in the cold months, workers aren’t coming back to finish work started and no one can get a return call from the WPH. Bidston Councillor Harry Smith has contacted the WPH, but they are not acting on his complaints, and if they are they are taking their time in doing so.
It is thought the shabby work is due to the WPH’s decreasing budget, but people should not be expected to live in these conditions and still have to pay rent.
Jul/090
Rascals to close and leave consumers out of pocket
The owners of Rascals Nursery World in St Helens have filed for bankruptcy leaving consumers hundreds of pounds out of pocket. Trading Standards have been inundated with calls from customers who have purchased goods at the store, only to find it closed down before they have received them. Trading Standards confirm they are doing the best they can, are urging those who bought goods on a credit card to claim from their providers and that they will put customers on the creditor list just as soon as they know who the receivers are.
Jul/090
Consumers in Abergele complain about the post
Consumers in Abergele have complained about their post arriving late, going to the wrong address, and miserable postmen.
The problem arose after a resident sent out a protest letter to sign. All letters came back to the local campaigner signed and with comments stating that since their regular postman was given a different area, they have had countless different postmen who delivered as late as 6.30pm, if they even came at all. She took these letters to the radio station Clwyd West AM, Vale Road post office in Rhyl, Chester main post office, and her county councilor. Most residents think it is an outrageous service, especially considering that Royal Mail have hiked up prices.
Royal Mail have issued an apology to the Abergele residents and have asked them to contact customer services if they have any other problems.
Jul/090
Complainants to improve mobile phones
Mobile phone users in North Wales are being urged to send in their complaints about mobile phones. The consumer group, Consumer Focus, have launched an investigation into the mobile phone sector after it has emerged that consumers do not understand tariffs and are unhappy with providers. The consumer group are hoping to improve the mobile phone sector and restore consumer faith.
Jul/090
Liverpool Community College issue qualifications for exams not taken
The Learning and Skills Council has discovered that Liverpool Community College has been issuing qualifications to students who never took the particular exam, or even attended the college.
The college is strongly denying the claims, but more and more people are coming forward to say they received a qualification for an exam they never took. One student went to the college and complained that there was at least 20 qualifications he had not taken. They then took off 18 of the qualifications but left him with two more he claims he never took. The college insists he took the remaining two.
The college is being investigated at this time and the LSC are unable to comment. They do, however, reiterate that they take fraud extremely seriously.
Jul/090
Galaxy Presenter and Producer suspended
The Producer and presenter of Galaxy radio station has been suspended whilst an investigation commences. The investigation is to take place after a song by Busta Rhymes was aired on Saturday 29th November that caused controversy. Consumers are complaining the song ‘Arab Money’ is extremely racist.
Galaxy has apologised for playing the song, and say it never intended to offend their listeners.
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