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Top story
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North West councils escape Icelandic collapse
A string of local authorities in the North West have this morning confirmed to Insider that they have no money invested in stricken Icelandic-owned banks Landsbanki and Kaupthing. The Local Government Association, which represents over 400 councils in England and Wales, has identified a number of authorities that have deposited vast sums of taxpayers’ cash in the banks, but councils including Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Cumbria and Chester are not involved. David Smith, Wigan Council’s executive director of business services, said the authority had a policy of not investing with foreign banks since the collapse of Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) 17 years ago. He said: “Our experience with BCCI in the early 1990s led to the adoption of a more cautious investment policy. While this may not have achieved spectacular returns, by managing our cashflow we have still exceeded benchmark rates.”
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Deals
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Funding line for Axiom
Failsworth-based Axiom Displays has invested £160,000 in new technology with an asset finance line from Lombard. The company, based on Mersey Road North, has purchased a new computerised Biesse router machine, which will improve the efficiency of its manufacturing process and increase the number of different designs it can produce. Axiom's sales have grown to £5m thanks to a combination of new business wins and continued investment. The company was founded in 1955 and employs 70 people.
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Business
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First acts named as Bernstein hints at annual festival
The first three major events at the Manchester International Festival 2009 have been unveiled. Musician Rufus Wainwright will premiere his first opera, while superstar architect Zaha Hadid has been commissioned to create a special event space for the performance of Bach's music. Theatre director Neil Bartlett will devise an interactive piece based on bingo, at the Royal Exchange. Speaking this week at a Pro.Manchester event, council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein answered a question regarding Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture by saying that Manchester is developing the festival. "We're looking at taking the festival annual," he said. At the launch of the first three 2009 commissions this morning, festival director Alex Poots said: "We made a good start in 2007. We've learnt some lessons and need to be more visibile. The first part of that will be having the festival pavillion in Albert Square."
Manchester feels the Rippleffect
The world's richest football club Manchester City has commissioned Liverpool-based digital agency Rippleffect to redevelop its conference and events website. The Premier League club hopes the redeveloped site will increase visitor frequency and encourage users to book matchday hospitality as well as non matchday events, such as weddings, anniversaries and conferences.
New hospital for Cumbria
Leading decision-makers in west Cumbria will meet tomorrow to discuss plans to create a new hospital and health campus in the region that will offer medical research and teaching facilities closely linked to the area's nuclear expertise. Maggie Chadwick, chairman of NHS Cumbria, said the creation of a facility could help to diversify the area's nuclear sector skills into health-related fields such as medical technology and decontamination.
Take part in the great transport debate
Insider is hosting a round table forum on the plans for transport in the region. At the heart of the debate is the current bid for funding under the Transport Innovation Fund and the introduction of a congestion charge. We are working closely with supporters of the bid from within the business community and with the Greater Manchester Momentum Group, who oppose the bid. We would also like to invite four Insider readers, who are NOT part of either campaign, but wish to make their point. This will be a round table discussion at a venue in central Manchester from noon on 23 October. Email us at insider@newsco.com with the point you wish to make and we will choose the best four.
Airport hotel set for expansion
One of Manchester Airport's busiest hotels is set to expand after it confirmed plans to construct a further 150 rooms by 2010. The expansion will take the number of rooms at the Radisson SAS Hotel Manchester Airport to 510, making it the largest hotel in Greater Manchester. General manager Yilmaz Yildirimlar said the move will allow it to hold larger residential conferences and events.
Diamonds are forever
Bolton-based dabs.com, the internet and IT technology retailer owned by BT, is to hold its first ever industry awards on 30 October at the Palace Hotel in Manchester. The Dabs Diamond Awards 2008 will recognise computing and home electronics manufacturers and service providers who have excelled in the past year. Winners will be judged by an online vote.
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Property
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EP tries again in Preston
A deadline of 12 November has been set for bidders looking to take on English Partnerships’ (EP) 30-acre site by the M6 near Preston. The national regeneration agency returned the site to the market after a deal with HelioSlough fell through. Robert Dunston of GVA Grimley, representing EP, told Insider: “There’s been no fall-out. It’s just a reflection of the market we’re in. EP has a duty of care to the public purse and felt they had to re-tender. We had strong interest first time round but haven’t been helped by planning, which has taken from November 2006 to get this far.”
Co-op reveals eco-town plans
Manchester's Co-operative Group has announced more detailed plans for a proposed 15,000-home eco-town in Harborough, Leicestershire. The masterplan includes a waste-powered energy station, seven new primary schools, two new secondary schools and wind turbines at the Pennbury site, which it co-owns with English Partnerships. The government is expected to announce early next year which of the 13 planned zero-carbon, eco-towns will be built.
Muse appoints HOW in Blackpool
Muse Developments has appointed Manchester-based HOW Planning to act as lead planning and environmental consultant on the £220m Talbot Gateway regeneration scheme in Blackpool. The company will launch an extensive community consultation programme, which will then lead to the submission of a detailed planning application to the council. Muse is working in partnership with Blackpool Council to create a new business district in the town that will combine commercial, retail and leisure uses with residential accommodation.
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