New operating licence clears the way for Condor's new ferry.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-28806481

Condor Ferries signs 10-year operating licence.

Condor Express

Condor Ferries have signed a 10 year non-exclusive agreement with Jersey Ports, allowing the company to operate passenger, vehicle and freight services until 2024. It is also announced that Guernsey's government have agreed to extend a "memorandum of understanding" with Condor until 2018. These new arrangements made public yesterday, may come as a bit of a blow to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council as the way is now clear for Condor to proceed with their plan to bring into service their new 102 meter trimaran for the UK to Channel Islands routes.

The "new" Condor Ferry: Austal’s 102-metre trimaran

The reason for the concern in Weymouth, is the continuing controversy and discussions regarding the required improvements to Pier 1 at the Weymouth ferry terminal. The improvements to Pier 1 will require a £10million investment programme for the upgrade and expansion and may take up to three years to complete, just to provide a berth large enough to accommodate the new ferry. The improvements and repairs to Pier 3, which caused so much disruption before and during the 2012 Olympics, were late in completion, cost in excess of £4.5 million and resulted in Condor operating out of Poole for almost two years with the resulting loss of income for hotels, guest houses and tourism generally in Weymouth. It is now clearly evident, and was predicted by some commentators at the time, that even with the time and expenditure poured into the Pier 3 repairs, the new berth would only be able to accommodate the existing Condor Vitesse, Express or Rapide.

Condor's original plan was to have the new ferry in operation during October of this year. However, the delay in concluding the agreement with the Channel Islands indicates that the new ship will not be in operation until 2015. Which ever way it goes, there is no possibility of the new ferry operating out of Weymouth in the foreseeable future, and Poole will once again benefit from any extra tourist income that may be generated. Condor have already indicated that the introduction of a new larger ferry , will result in two of the existing fast ferries being taken out of service. This may come as another blow to Weymouth.

With the introduction of the new ship and two of the smaller ferries being taken out, the overall capacity for the transport of passengers and vehicles will be reduced. As the trend of tourism to Jersey remains in decline over recent years, this may not be a problem to the States of Jersey or Guernsey, but it is certainly the case that Weymouth will feel a difference.

Northern Ireland and Brexit. The return of "The Troubles"

Northern Ireland: police attacked in another night of disturbances | Northern Ireland | The Guardian When the "Brexit" debate was still filling our newspapers and our television screens, readers may remember why I had changed my mind since voting to leave at the referendum vote. Apart from the economic arguments, which had become crystal clear after peeling away all the lies and misrepresentations trotted out by Bozo Boris and his "Get Brexit Done" conspirators, there was always the problem of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Would it be possible to have a border between the European Union and the United Kingdom where people, goods and services could pass freely between the two nations without customs restrictions, tariffs, duties and all the other formalities? Would it be possible to have one part of the United Kingdom treated differently from other parts of the United Kingdom, particularly when Scotland for example had voted overwhe

The Parliamentary Labour Party conspirators are hatching another coup.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/corbyn-labour-leadership-rebel-mps-a7202641.html Labour MPs plan for Corbyn victory and plot how to confront an emboldened leader Even for the "Independent", the number and use of unnamed anonymous "sources" in this article is quite astonishing. However, amongst all the usual speculative delusion, there is one factor which causes concern to anyone who believes in the Labour Party, its principles and in he democratic process of the Labour movement. It is abundantly clear that elements within the Parliamentary Labour Party, are even now, planning another coup in the event that Jeremy Corbyn should emerge as winner in the current ballot. The failed coup of earlier this year, has now descended into a sham leadership election, because the conspirators still fail to accept the democratic decision of the Labour party membership and cling to

Plemont development or return to nature?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey- A date has been set for a public inquiry into plans for Plemont Headland. This exceptional location must be sold to the National trust for Jersey, and returned to nature. Any other outcome involving development of the site, can only demonstrate the extent to which greed and self interest have become endemic in Jersey.

Agenda 2019

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