Britain's Lindsey oil refinery to close after no buyer found
"After a thorough process to determine whether a sale was possible, no credible offers have been made to purchase the entire refinery, and it will be winding down operations," Shanks said.
The refinery was placed into the hands of an official receiver after its owner Prax fell into insolvency at the end of last month.
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BBC News
34 minutes ago
- BBC News
Is Brighton Pride still meaningful or just big business?
Members of the LGBTQ+ community have claimed Brighton Pride has become too commercial, lost its meaning and no longer feels like their space, although others dispute this."Pride has been turned into a massive money-making exercise," Ben Tindal said. The Brighton resident added "expensive" ticketed events excluded working-class or low-income LGBTQ+ people, who needed the "visibility and inclusion" of Pride the most. Paul Kemp, Brighton Pride managing director, told the BBC there were "practical realities of the cost of putting on a safe, accessible event for tens of thousands of people". Organisers have done everything they can to ensure the event was inclusive, with discounted tickets available, he spoke to the BBC about ticket prices, with final release Saturday tickets for Pride on the Park costing £64.50. Mr Tindal said Pride should go back to being a "protest" aimed at bringing about change. "That's when it actually meant something," he continued. Mr Kemp said Pride would always be about protest - raising awareness, platforming LGBTQ+ voices and campaigning for equality. This year's theme - Ravishing Rage - was a "direct response to the global pushback on LGBTQ+ rights", he added. 'Corporate pride' Hermione La Chapelle told the BBC that Pride had lost its "radical spirit in favour of corporate interests" over the years. She claimed businesses sponsored Pride as a "huge marketing opportunity". The 26-year-old added companies also used the event for "pink-washing", a practice of pretending to support LGBTQ+ causes to boost their image while also having discriminatory practices or poor human rights records."It is a betrayal of the anti-oppression values that should be at the heart of LGBTQ+ liberation," she said. "Everyone I know is boycotting Pride this year." Brighton Pride organiser Mr Kemp said the event "simply wouldn't be possible without some level of sponsorship" as the costs of delivering events had "skyrocketed" since the pandemic. He said all partnerships were reviewed annually. Mr Kemp said the event had also raised more than £1.4m for local LGBTQ+ causes. Gary Pargeter, who runs Lunch Positive, a community organisation supporting people living with or affected by HIV, told the BBC funding from Pride was "absolutely essential for the survival and growth our work". He said the money was all the more crucial against a backdrop of reduced funding for LGBTQ+ groups elsewhere. Pride also brings a "massive boost" to Brighton's economy, according to a report by the city's council. It generated an estimated £20.5m in revenue in 2018 from visitors to the city, the council's latest figures show. 'Not our space' However, Pride has increasingly become a music festival, according to Ms La change, she said, meant it was attended by big groups of straight people who were there "solely to party without reflecting on the reason why we have Pride". "It doesn't necessarily feel like a space for the LGBT community anymore," Ms La Chapelle added that allies supporting their LGBTQ+ friends were welcome. More than 300,000 attend Brighton Pride, according to Pargeter, who grew up in the city, said the "high profile" nature of Pride could give people - especially those still coming to terms with being LGBTQ+ - the comfort and confidence to be who they are. "It's a real mainstay of celebrating our identity," he added. Though she wished it had concessions for elderly people, 80-year-old Betty Gallacher said Pride should focus on education through workshops and talks. It would enable younger generations to understand the history of the LGBTQ+ movement and the discrimination people faced, she said. But she said the most important - and valuable - part of Pride was the free parade, which she was a part of until two years ago."It says we are out and proud," she added.
BBC News
34 minutes ago
- BBC News
Herefordshire Council offers grants to grassroots groups
Grassroots sports clubs and community transport groups in Herefordshire are being encouraged to apply for grants through two schemes run by the Sports Club Development Grant Scheme is offering £500-£5,000 to groups in the county, particularly those run by running local transport services that improve access and reduce social isolation are being offered similar grants through the Community Transport Support Fund."A relatively small grant can make a huge difference to grassroots initiatives, helping to strengthen communities, improve health and well-being and reduce isolation," cabinet member for economy and growth Graham Biggs said. The transport grants are particularly targeted at voluntary and social enterprise Council said all projects bidding for funding had to show "clear community benefit" and be delivered by a not-for-profit organisation or group. The closing date for applications is Friday 15 August, while projects must start after 31 August and finish by 20 February. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
34 minutes ago
- BBC News
Dorset Museum says it 'cannot subsidise' Taste cafe in fees row
A museum has issued a new statement after the operators of its on-site cafe blamed its fees for the demise of a late night which runs the cafe in Dorset Museum, said its Night at the Museum supper and tours had become unviable after a 550% fee increase from the museum, which disputes the 550% figure, said the "modest contribution" it requested was to cover its costs, adding it could not "subsidise commercial activity".Taste Cafe said it stood by its original announcement but declined to comment further. According to museum bosses, Taste has a commercial licence to operate the cafe, retaining revenue and catering for events, while the museum receives a rental museum, in Dorchester's High West Street, previously said it had supplied staff and tours for the supper pilot scheme and charged Taste £50 per event - however its latest statement says the charge was actually £120. It said the "nominal amount" did not cover its costs but "was a supportive gesture to enable this pilot".The statement said: "Our insurance requires at least two members of museum staff on site during all events. "This makes any out-of-hours events a cost-bearing exercise for our charity."Unfortunately, the modest contribution we've requested to cover these costs and ensure the financial sustainability of the museum has been deemed unviable by Taste and they didn't take up an alternative model that was offered."While we regret this, we cannot subsidise commercial activity at the expense of our charitable activities."In it's previous statement, Taste said: "Sadly we will no longer be able to host these evenings due to a cost increase of over 550% from Dorset County Museum."Unfortunately it is not sustainable for a small business like ours."We're incredibly disappointed, as these nights were a real highlight for us." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
