Shipston-on-Stour News
New league starts up in North Cotswolds
Monday, 24 May 2010
A NEW bowls league is set to start in the North Cotswold this season.
The North Cotswold Friendship League will include Northwick (Blockley), Moreton-in-Marsh, Ilmington, Weston-sub-Edge and Chipping Campden.
League organiser Gary Robinson, of Chipping Campden Bowling Club, said: “We always try to win when we get on the green but there was a demand from club members for more officially competitive bowling. So it made sense to use existing fixtures between the clubs to start a league.
“We are a group of clubs who have supported each other over the years and have played friendlies against each other for 100 years.
“In particular, the clubs really helped Chipping Campden when they were without a green for 14 years.
“So that’s why we have called it a friendship league and know that no matter what the outcome, there will be a warm handshake when the match is over.”
The league is to be sponsored by Alpha Accountancy Evesham Ltd and will see the clubs playing each other in home and away fixtures.
Blockley, who continue to perform well in county competitions, will start as strong favourites for the league but the other clubs will be looking to raise their games as the season progresses.
All the clubs would welcome any new bowlers. Potential players can call Gary Robinson on (01386) 854738 to be in touch with somebody at your local club.
Robinson added: “One of the great things about bowls is that it is a simple game to learn and people can progress quite quickly.
“This friendly league will be the ideal vehicle for newer bowlers to gain experience in a competitive but relaxed environment.
“It’s also encouraging to see some younger people come into bowls and I know that they usually enjoy a competitive environment.”
By: Cotswold Journal
£128K-a-year Judge Charles Harris QC backs loan companies over crippling interest rate charges
Monday, 24 May 2010
A top judge has sparked outrage by backing the right of loan companies to charge crippling interest rates.
Judge Charles Harris QC threw out scaffolder Mark Mannion's claim that it was unfair for one high-cost lender to demand 330 per cent A YEAR interest from him.
He ruled that Logbook Loans - which lends cash against the value of people's cars - was not being extortionate in charging £5,000 in interest and late-payment charges from Mr Mannion, who borrowed just £750 against his BMW car.
Incredibly, Judge Harris, who earns £128,296 a year, went on to praise "subprime lenders" - the very people who plunged the world into recession.
He said companies like Logbook Loans perform a "valuable function for some people who are unable to b o r r o w from their banks or mortgages". But shocked anti-debt campaigners fear the test case will give other lenders the green light to charge rip-off rates.
Damon Gibbons, of Debt On Our Doorstep, said: "The judge is basically saying that lenders have a free rein to fleece people. This sends out completely the wrong message because it means loan companies can go charging whatever they like."
Citizens Advice head of policy Sue Edwards, whose charity helped bring the case, said: "It's very disappointing that the judge seems to have taken the view that these loans are perfectly OK. We see lots of cases where people take out really high-cost loans where the full cost only becomes apparent a long way down the line." Mr Mannion, 41, of Banbury, Oxon, only wanted £250 to pay his rent while he was off work with back problems but had to borrow a minimum £750 from Logbook Loans.
He handed over ownership of his £4,000 BMW as security for the loan in October 2006 and paid back the £500 he didn't want.
But Logbook Loans worked out the interest on the full £750 and Mr Mannion quickly got into debt. After seeking help from Citizens Advice, Mr Mannion was awarded legal aid to challenge the repayment charges under the Consumer Credit Act.
Last week Judge Harris wrote off the £5,000 outstanding interest on the loan and ruled Mr Mannion would only have to pay back £610 of the £750 he borrowed because he had already returned £140.
He said Logbook Loans misled Mr Mannion by telling him he would pay less interest if he paid the money back early.
But he said Mr Mannion failed to reveal he was out of work when he borrowed the cash. Awarding the cost of the five-day hearing at Oxford County Court to Logbook Loans, he said: "Having heard his evidence it is not at all obvious that the defendants deserve to be stigmatised as extortionate or unfair lenders."
THE VICTIM
Desperate Mark Mannion turned to Britain's biggest
logbook lender when he fell behind with his rent.
He said: "I had an accident at work and I needed to borrow money quickly. Nothing I had was worth any money apart from my car.
"I only wanted £250 but they said I would have to borrow £750 so I cashed the cheque and gave them back the £500 straight away."
Mark handed over the owner-ship documents for his £4,000 BMW in October 2006 in return for the loan.But the company worked out the interest on the full £750 and Mark got deeper into debt.
He said: "I thought I would only be charged interest on the £250 but I had to pay interest on the whole lot. They never explained the details of the loan agreement.
Shipston children at the cutting edge of technology
Saturday, 22 May 2010
CHILDREN at a primary school in Shipston have helped launch a groundbreaking educational computer product. For two weeks in April, Year 2 pupils tested a device which allows up to four children to work together using one computer, but each having their own mouse. No extra hardware is needed as standard use mice can be plugged in.
Headteacher at the school, Christian Hilton said: “All the children really enjoyed using Story Stage. Having their own mouse and working together on a project is something they have picked up very easily. No such software exists other than this and it’s great for schools that have limited numbers of laptops, as children will no longer have to share.” In a recent survey by Intel, 70% of teachers thought children should be provided with a personal laptop but only three per cent had such access.
Based on Windows MultiPoint Mouse Software Development Kit, Story Stage, encourages collaborative learning through shared resource computing in a the class.
For more info please visit: http://www.apecdoc.org/post/3/6501
More Articles...
Page 1 of 18
