KFC Millburn

Driving past KFC  at Millburn Road Inverness  again today. Every time I pass it I get annoyed. What hellish ugly signage!  How did HC Planning Services ever allow this eyesore?  It has an enormous twenty foot high sign at the entrance with a six foot picture of  Colonel Saunders ; then a ten foot high sign on the side of the building and  another big KFC in the roof.

If you were driving through a town in the US where there are lines of fast-food outlets all vying for customers you would say the KFC looked totally in place

. The image of *Colonel Saunders suggests a Confederate Army Officer: a kind of Bullalo Bill type of Western hero.  But what does it signify here? Not much. In the same way that Disneyland Paris was described as a ‘cultural Chernobyl’ the KFC franchise signage doesn’t translate to the UK. To me it looks crass and garish.

On the other hand,  I have to admit there seems to be no shortage of people who like to eat  ‘pressure fired’ chicken wings out of a bucket.

*In fact, Colonel Saunders was never in the army. It was an honorary title given to him by a Governor of Kentucky.

Council admit mistake over public entertainment licences

Bouncy castle fee would have cost £435

CONTROVERSIAL fees for public entertainment licences in the Highland look set to be vetoed by licensing chiefs, who admit the proposed charges would be unfair.

Community and voluntary groups, charities and other organisations needing the licence were told by Highland Council in January they would be charged from 1st April because of amended legislation.

The authority said the revised Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 would mean some public events would need a licence which could cost from £153 to more than £10,000 for three years’ permission to hold commercial outdoor events for more than 30,000 people.

However, the changes provoked a storm of protest and groups behind events like galas, school fêtes and senior citizens’ parties feared they would have to stump up hundreds of pounds.

Rosemarkie Amenities Association said it had been told it would need a public entertainment licence costing £153 for a children’s Easter egg hunt.

But the Highland Licensing Committee met in Inverness today and discussed the controversial rules in private after members, including chairman Peter Corbett, received a barrage of complaints.

The board has now decided to oppose the legislation changes and will make a recommendation to the full council to scrap the proposed fees.

Councillor Corbett (Inverness Central), said the board would ensure no community or voluntary groups would have to fork out for the licence.

“It wasn’t on the agenda but we have had a lot of concerns raised to us so decided to discuss it this morning. We want to make it clear to everybody that we are not having this,” he said. “It is totally unfair. We are not going to be charging £435 for a bouncy castle.”

The city councillor added it would meet the local authority’s chief executive Alistair Dodds tomorrow so a recommendation to ditch fees can be drawn up.

If it is not submitted in time for the council meeting on 5th April the board would seek an extraordinary meeting, added Councillor Corbett.

As reported in last Friday’s Northern Times, East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Deirdre Mackay had organised a crisis meeting with the council’s chief executive, Alistair Dodds, urging him to bring in emergency measures to suspend the charges.

* More on this story in this week's Northern Times.

Cable in Hot Water

Vince Cable has been in hot water since his letter to Nick and Dave was leaked to the press. Mr Cable said the government’s economic policy lacked vision.

It’s worth bearing in mind though, that Tories and Lib-Dems have two quite different approaches to managing the economy.

The Lib Dems are more likely intervene at an early stage to channel or redirect the economy. Intervention and redistribution comes quite narural to them

 The market-orientated Tories are more inclined to allow the economy to take its own route and to intervene just to free up blockages.

If George Osborne doesn’t have a ‘vision’ it’s partly because it’s never occurred to him to have one

Highland Council Uncovers Illicit Easter Egg Hunting in the North

A community group has criticised a council after it was told it would need a public entertainment licence for a children's Easter egg hunt.

Myra Carus, of Rosemarkie Amenities Association, said it was ridiculous the group was having to shell out £153 for a free community event.

Highland Council said charges for some free events would be required from April due to changes in legislation.

But MSP Rob Gibson said the council did not have to charge community groups.

Ms Carus told BBC Radio Scotland the association's Easter event included a children's egg hunt and a bonnet-making competition.

I find the idea that a children's Easter egg hunt should require a public entertainment license to be an outrage against common sense”

She said: "It is quite discouraging for local groups to have to pay for free events which are essentially held to encourage communities to get together.

"Our major event is a fun day in July. It is £370 to licence an outdoor event. The whole thing is just ridiculous."

Highland Council said that in January it advised community groups, businesses, charities and anyone requiring a public entertainment licence of legislation changes coming into place from 1 April.

Success at the British Gas Swimming Championships 2012

Hopes are high for the GB Gas swimming Team after the British Gas Swimming Championships held at the week-end at the new Aquatic Centre in London. The trials have been a great success and six of the team qualified for the Olympics

It's great to know that that our gas swimmers are doing so well!

Europe Gets the Hump

Glory Hallelullah! The BBC has spoken! 

A BBC represetative has been sent back up Mount Sinai.   He’s consulted  'The Director General’ and come down with one more stone tablet. It’s all settled. The singer chosen to represent the UK in Eurovision Contest (2012) is to be Englebert Humperdinck.