All Latest News articles – Page 329
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News
ACS calls for rates change
The Association of Convenience Stores has called for an overhaul of business rates increases after the results of its latest survey revealed the destructive impact that unpredictable rate hikes are having on local shops. The quarterly Voice of Local Shops survey, which tracks the sales and confidence of small stores, has shown that the impending increase in business rates is more of a concern now than it has been at any point since the start of 2012. Forty five per cent of retailers in the last survey cited business rates as a major obstacle to success for their store – more than those concerned about crime, taxation and obtaining finance combined. ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “If the Government wants to have a long-term positive impact on small businesses across the UK, they must cap the rates increase at 2% - bringing it in line with the council tax cap and the Government’s own targets for inflation. Allowing these unpredictable hikes to continue will send a clear message that the Chancellor has failed to recognise the importance of the retail economy.” When asked what they most wanted from the Chancellor’s Budget, convenience store retailers called for a reduction in the annual business rates increase, but also for action to reduce the level of VAT, currently set at 20%. The survey also revealed that 47% of stores have seen a decrease in profits over the last quarter, with 32% claiming that they have had to cut the number of staff hours in their business.
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Partnership deal benefits Murco members
Murco Petroleum has found a way to cut through much of the red tape involved in dealing with numerous local authorities over petroleum licence and other regulatory compliance matters involving its service stations. The oil company has revealed that a partnership deal it agreed with London Fire Brigade is producing significant benefits across its UK network. Kevin Gardiner, Murco’s maintenance and development manager, said the process of dealing with local authorities was streamlined after Murco formed a Primary Authority Partnership with London Fire Brigade. Gardiner explained: “Primary Authority is the gateway to simpler, more successful local regulation, based on a new relationship between businesses and local authorities. “Regardless of size, a business operating across council boundaries can form a Primary Authority Partnership with a single local authority in relation to regulatory compliance. Once legally nominated by the Local Better Regulations Office (LBRO), partnerships are automatically recognised by all local regulators. “If a problem arises, the Primary Authority can coordinate enforcement action to ensure that our business is treated consistently and that responses are proportionate to the issue. “The benefits of Primary Authority Partnership started as soon as our partnership was registered by LBRO. From then on, it had legal status and is now recognised by all councils when they undertake inspection and compliance activities at our stations.” He concluded: “Some 30% of our network has already benefitted from this Partnership. Visits by petroleum officers are so much easier. “With station information stored on a central web database, information can be looked at and prepared prior to any site visit, saving time for the petroleum officer and the station manager.”
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Bentley driver steals fuel
Police in Lancashire are hunting for a Bentley driver who filled his tank at two petrol stations and failed to pay up. The driver of the green-grey Bentley first struck when he helped himself to £92.80 – just over 70 litres – of unleaded fuel from Cross Roads Garage, on ...
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Hounslow heads fuel thefts in capital
Hounslow has more thefts of fuel from vehicles than any other London borough, according to the Metropolitan Police. A total of 175 thefts were reported between 2009 and 2012, but there were only five prosecutions. Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark and Merton were the other London boroughs in the top five for ...
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New car sales up
New car sales have risen every month for the last year, according to figures released today by the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA). They show that month-on-month sales were up 7.9% compared with February 2012. Fleet registrations decreased by 4.4% last month while private registrations increased by 28.9%. NFDA ...
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RMI in card protection deal
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) and Phoenix Managed Networks have signed a deal to provide the RMI’s 7,000-plus membership with protection for their card payment systems. Phoenix has agreed a special rate to provide RMI members with its PhoeniXSentry system to keep their card data secure. PhoeniXSentry is a ...
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Fairbanks wins Morrisons contract
Fairbanks has announced a renewal of its wetstock management contract for Morrisons’ forecourts, and has also revealed it is extending the range of services it offers. The new three-year agreement with the supermarket giant covers its network of 314 forecourts and 11 regional distribution centres and is a continuation of ...
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Roadchef awards £60m contract to Blakemore Wholesale
Roadchef has awarded a contract worth £60m over five year to Blakemore Wholesale.The contract is to provide a range of confectionery, grocery and chilled foods, tobacco and motor oils to forecourt stores and WH Smith shops at 37 Roadchef sites at 27 motorway service areas across Britain.Blakemore Wholesale managing director ...
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PRA stages forum in Belfast
The PRA’s next Regional Forum is being held in Belfast on Thursday 21 March.The event is taking place at Maldron Hotel (formerly Park Plaza), Belfast International Airport, with coffee available from 10am, and a free buffet lunch will be provided.Topics on the agenda include: PRA - Deloitte study into UK ...
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Blitz on red tape welcomed
The National Federation Retail Newsagents (NFRN) has welcomed the news that accounting requirements for micro-businesses are to simplified as part of the government’s latest blitz on red tape.Responding to the announcement from business minister Jo Swinson, NFRN national president Alan Smith said: “Red tape places an unnecessary and unwelcome burden ...
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New drink-drive campaign
A £50,000 pint of beer was unveiled in London today as part of the Government’s latest Think! campaign highlighting the consequences of a drink-drive conviction.The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has calculated the personal financial cost of drink-driving for the first time, pricing it between £20,000 and £50,000. The calculation ...
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Fuel discount deal for RHA and FTA members
Discounted fuel is being made available to members of the Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association through a new joint fuel card from The Fuelcard Company.Operating on the Keyfuels network, which covers one in five of all UK petrol filling stations, the new RHA FTA fuel card can be ...
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Funding to encourage electric vehicle fleets
Energy Saving Trust (EST) is looking to boost the take-up of electric vehicles with the announcement it will be offering 100 organisations in England a free analysis of their fleets to see if and how electric vehicles will work for them. The initiative, funded by the Office for Low Emission ...
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PRA wins emergency planning overhaul
The PRA has won a significant victory in its campaign for the Government to overhaul of the National Emergency Plan – Fuels (NEP–F) scheme.Under the scheme there are about 700 Designated Filling Station (DFS) sites across England, Scotland and Wales which would receive road fuels supplies under emergency conditions.However, during ...
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Grangemouth tanker driver dispute settled
Unite tanker drivers at Scotland’s only oil refinery in Grangemouth have called off industrial action after settling their dispute with BP.The drivers had already staged a three-day strike, and were due to begin a four-day stoppage on Thursday February 28.Following negotiations, the oil company will now recompense tanker drivers who, ...
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AA gears up for ’unlucky’ 13 number plate
The AA says its patrols will be on heightened alert as new cars with the latest 13 number plates begin to roll off the UK’s forecourts after midnight on Thursday, to ensure it is not unlucky 13 for new owners.Traditionally, some new car owners have to call out the AA ...
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Morrisons acquires six HMV stores
Morrisons has added to its portfolio of sites to be converted to its M convenience store format with the purchase of six HMV stores from the company’s administrators, Deloitte.The purchase comes just over a week after the supermarket group bought 49 Blockbuster stores and shortly before that acquired seven former ...
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Diesel thieves caught in the act
Intruders who siphoned off thousands of pounds worth of diesel from a petrol filling site were caught in the act by police after sudden loss alarms tipped off staff.The theft took place at Forest Lane Service Station, on the A614 near Calverton, Nottinghamshire, which is owned by Brobot Petroleum, the ...
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Esso offers Tesco Clubcard points at alliance sites
Exxon Mobil has introduced Tesco Clubcard points on fuel at the Esso sites it runs jointly with the supermarket group, and is looking to roll out the loyalty scheme to its wider service station network, including dealer owned sites. There are 198 Esso-Tesco Alliance service stations in the UK, featuring ...
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RHA calls for action on duty
The UK’s road transport operators are calling on the Chancellor to address the issue of high duty levels on fuel in next month’s Budget as prices approach an all-time high. According to the Road Haulage Association’s latest weekly fuel survey on 25th February, diesel is less than one penny off ...