Shine a light! The claim game for accidents involving Fishergate Bollard has left County Hall more than £3,000 out of pocket. And even though most drivers who smash into the infamous road marker have to cough up to repair it, two costly collisions have left the county council in the red. Both came at night. And in both cases the illustrious Bollard was nowhere to be seen.The highways authority took the blame because the plinth on which concrete landmark normally stands was not lit up.The two claimants were paid £2,744 and £2,284 for the damage done to their cars. An LCC spokesman said the authority had settled because “the lighting on the plinth was not working and we accepted it was more difficult to see at that time.”Fishergate Bollard was first cemented into place in 2014 as one of six pedestrian markers at the busy junction of Preston’s main shopping street with Corporation Street and Butler Street. Council staff say they have lost count of the … [Read more...] about Picking up the bill for Preston’s infamous Fishergate Bollard
Bills
Scots Brexit Bill ditched after Westminster “limits” Holyrood powers
0 Have your say The Scottish Government has ditched plans to re-introduce its own Brexit Bill at Holyrood after the proposal was rejected by the UK Supreme Court last year. Brexit Secretary Mike Russell says the decision has been taken after the UK Government moved to "retrospectively limit" Holyrood's power, without consent. But new laws will be brought forward to allow Holyrood to "keep pace" with the EU after Brexit, it was confirmed today. The Scottish Government brought forward it's own UK Continuity Bill amid concerns that the UK Government's own Withdrawal Act was an attack on the powers of the Scottish Parliament over the way responsibilities returning from Brussels were to be repatriated.Read more: Parts of Scottish Brexit bill ruled to be outside Holyrood’s devolved powers Holyrood's Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh ruled it was outwith the powers of the Scottish Parliament. However, the Uk Supreme Court found the Bill had been competent when … [Read more...] about Scots Brexit Bill ditched after Westminster “limits” Holyrood powers
Westfield family and vet in dispute over bill
A mother has accused a veterinary surgery of holding her son’s cat ‘to ransom’. Sarah Tough said Sussex Coast Vets was refusing to release the pet until her 27-year-old son, Tom Hide, who lives in Westfield, pays a £1,200 bill. Sarah said: “The cat was hit by a car in De La Warr Road in Bexhill last Friday (March 29) just before 8pm.“It was taken to the Sussex Coast Vets in De La Warr Road.“The cat had to have an X-ray done, which will cost £300. “But the following day we were told the cat needed an operation due to suffering a broken jaw, which means the whole bill now comes to £1,200.“My son hasn’t got that sort of money and offered to pay monthly instalments to the vets. But they wouldn’t accept that.“My son has gone on benefits because he suffers from mental illness and the cat means so much to him. Most vets take a monthly payment.“I phoned Sussex Coast Vets telling them we didn’t have … [Read more...] about Westfield family and vet in dispute over bill
Russia Vows to Respond to US Bill on Moscow’s Alleged Influence in Venezuela
The comment was made after in late March the US House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill, dubbed the Russian-Venezuelan Threat Mitigation Act, that targeted Russia's alleged influence in the Latin American nation. The document insisted that Russia had an "increased presence in the Western Hemisphere," which constituted a major concern for the United States and its allies in the region. The bill still has to be approved by the Senate and then by President Donald Trump. © REUTERS / Eric Thayer/FilesNumber of UN Staff in Venezuela Increased to Over 300 Prior to that, a group of Russian military personnel arrived in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas to take part in talks on defence cooperation with officials. During the consultations, Russia repeatedly stressed that their presence was fully legitimate and in accordance with the defence agreement between Moscow and Caracas. … [Read more...] about Russia Vows to Respond to US Bill on Moscow’s Alleged Influence in Venezuela
“Boyfriend can pay bills’
Fiona Bruce has revealed a BBC boss once told her she did not need a wage rise because her boyfriend would pay her bills. The Question Time and Antiques Roadshow host said the incident happened early in her career in 1989 and did not reveal who her boyfriend was at the time. Miss Bruce, 54, told Vogue magazine that instead of assessing her work performance, her manager quizzed her about her living arrangements, her boyfriend's job and who paid the bills. She said: “My boss said, ‘Do you really need it? What does your boyfriend do? You live with him, don’t you? Doesn’t he pay for most things?’” Bruce recalled that she had replied: “Well, I do the supermarket shopping, so I need to pay for that.” She added: “How ludicrous is that?” Change She did not reveal when the pay rise discussion took place, nor who it was with. Bruce, 54, also said that the BBC has changed over the years. “If the six o’clock (news) had a story … [Read more...] about “Boyfriend can pay bills’