E&L Personal Insurance & Related News

MP claims caravan tax ‘disastrous for tourism’

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:52:44 +0000

A welsh politician has claimed the government's proposed caravan tax could be disastrous for tourism in the region.

The Llanelli Star reports how local MP Nia Griffith warned about the negative repercussions of putting VAT up by 20 per cent.

"Caravanning and camping is a huge part of the tourism product in Carmarthenshire, which on 2010 figures is worth a third of a billion pounds to the local economy," county marketing and tourism manager Huw Parson remarked.

Ms Griffith has shown her support for a parliamentary petition against the changes, known as the Early Day Motion.

She claimed the proposals are a "real blow" for caravan manufacturers, parks and local businesses, while caravan insurance firms may also suffer.

Meanwhile, the Western Morning News reports that Westcountry MPs have also lent their support to the petition and want the government to axe the levy.

A cross-party group of MPs have promised to back the Early Day Motion, as they all fear tourism across the UK will suffer.

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Tips on honing a CV to engage a recruiter

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:52:07 +0000

As the summer holiday approaches many students will be looking to secure a job so they can pay for next year's fees, university insurance and living expenses.

In order to attract recruiters, founder and principal of thecvexperts.com David Moran recommends keeping covering letters "succinct and relevant".

According to the expert, this section of an application is usually read before a CV, so it is important to "engage the reader early".

Individuals were advised to pick out key criteria from the job advert and demonstrate at least three of these skills.

"It should be a masterpiece of brevity, so keep things tight – remember this is just a taste of what's to come in your CV," Mr Moran stated.

Using original words and phrases was described as important instead of repeating the same content reproduced in hundreds of cover letters.

Carol Wilson, managing director of Performancecoachtraining.com, recently recommended adapting CVs to suit the position being applied for by using relevant contexts when displaying skills and achievements.

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Burglars cost photographer livelihood

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:51:14 +0000

A professional photographer has described his devastation at having his equipment stolen in a burglary.

Robert Shand told the Leicester Mercury how thieves have left him without the ability to continue his job, as he does not have camera insurance to cover the cost of new equipment.

The 21-year-old is now trying to raise at least £1,500 in order to replace his photography tools and missing laptop.

"I have some weddings coming up in the next few months and I don't want to let people down," he stated.

Mr Shand was burgled while he and his fiancee Chloe Seville were asleep, with the couple's wedding rings also taken.

Two Nikon cameras worth £1,000 each were stolen from the property, along with six Tokina and Tamron lenses that cost between £500 and £2,000.

The news comes after London24 reported that police are appealing for help catching a thief who stole a rare camera worth £130,000 from a film crew in East Ham.

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Edinburgh ‘offers a wealth of history and culture’

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:50:33 +0000

When deciding on where to staycation this year, caravan insurance customers may find the Scottish capital has plenty to offer in terms of culture and historical interest.

Chief executive officer of Marketing Edinburgh Lucy Bird claimed there is a "wealth of museums" in the city that provide people with a vast choice of things to see.

"You can spend hours at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in the city’s West End and the National Gallery on the Mound," she commented.

Meanwhile, history enthusiasts may want to consider touring sites in the Old and New Town, which are recognised as a World Heritage Site.

The former was built from the 12th century onwards and according to Ms Bird is contains plenty of "medieval charm".

While in Scotland, individuals may want to take Glasgow City Marketing Bureau spokesperson Amy Riddell's advice and explore the extensive places to shop in Glasgow.

There are said to be lots of vintage shops, well-known brands and boutiques by exclusive designers.

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Charity cycle event attracts almost 1,000 riders

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:53:13 +0000

Dozens of enquiries may have been made regarding cycling insurance policies by enthusiasts in Suffolk ahead of a charity bike ride.

The Eastern Anglian Daily Times reports how almost 1,000 riders took part in a 100-mile or 100km cycle on behalf of Action Medical Research.

Known as the Suffolk Sunrise 100 event, the fundraiser is expected to raise more than £81,000 for the organisation.

"It was such an incredible day with nearly 1,000 riders arriving to see the early morning sunrise over Framlingham Castle and enjoying riding through the spectacular scenery of Suffolk," event organiser Lucy Hynes commented.

Action Medical Research is celebrating is 60th anniversary this year and is currently focusing on supporting studies into premature birth, epilepsy, meningitis and cerebral palsy.

The charity has been involved in a number of medical breakthroughs, including the introduction of the polio vaccine, testing of the early rubella injection and developing the use of ultrasound in pregnancy.

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Police suspect arson after 2 caravans set alight

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:52:30 +0000

A caravan insurance claim may have to be made after a suspected arson attack resulted in two mobile homes being destroyed.

The Portsmouth News reports how the vehicles were parked next to each other on private land in Eastney when the incident occurred.

Fire fighters were called to the scene after residents living nearby were woken by the sounds of explosions.

Detective Constable Andy Holt of Hampshire Constabulary said investigators are working on establishing how – and who – started the blaze.

"The fire wasn't too serious, but the danger with caravan fires is always if there are gas canisters inside which can go up," he added.

One of the mobile homes was completely destroyed by the flames, while the other was very badly damaged.

The news comes after fire crews were recently called to Burnham-On-Sea to tackle a caravan blaze that spread to a gas cylinder and caused several explosions.

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Over 50% of cyclists have skipped red lights, study finds

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:51:10 +0000

A new poll has revealed 57 per cent of cyclists admit to jumping a red light at least once.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) surveyed 1,600 people and found 14 per cent regularly pedal through stop signals.

According to 38 per cent of respondents, they do so in order to make it safer for themselves by getting ahead of other traffic.

Those who regularly flout signals may be wise to invest in cycling insurance as they increase their chance of being involved in an accident each time they ignore red lights.

According to IAM chief executive Simon Best, cyclists are "right" to feel roads are not safe enough for their use, but they should be punished for ignoring road rules.

"The police need to enforce the law as strongly when cyclists put themselves and others at risk by jumping the lights as they do for drivers," he commented.

Earlier this year, road casualty figures from the Department for Transport revealed the number of cyclists injured in traffic accidents rose from 5,466 in 2010 to 5,470 last year.

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Vandals cause extensive damage to 2 US fishing vessels

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:03:09 +0000

Two boat insurance claims may have been submitted in a Maine fishing town after two vessels were intentionally sabotaged.

It is thought the crafts, which belong to Gary Jones of Cushing, were targeted by a rival in the lobster industry as part of a territorial feud, the Daily Mail reports.

The two boats were found partially submerged in the town of Friendship, which is expected to cost the owner tens of thousands of dollars in repairs and lost revenue.

According to the Department of Marine Resources for the State of Maine, lobster landings in the region in 2011 were the highest since records began.

Police are investigating the incident to determine who vandalised the 28-foot Lobstah Taxi and 35-foot Fantaseas vessels.

The larger boat was found to have the most damage as only the cabin was above water when it was discovered, while the small craft escaped serious injury.

Maine offers anglers the chance to catch a whole host of different fish, according to the official tourism site, including bluefin tuna, shark, striped bass and mackerel.

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Kayaker attacked by alligator

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:02:24 +0000

A fisherman has released footage showing how he and his pet dog were attacked by an alligator while out canoeing.

Florida resident Thomas Swaider was trying to hook a fish near Lake Triplet in Casselberry when the beast sprang at his vessel.

The 26-year-old may have been forced to claim on his kayak insurance if it wasn't for his quick reactions, which saw him paddle the pair to safety.

A camera attached to the angler's helmet caught on video the moment the alligator slammed its body into the canoe and knocked the dog Buffy overboard.

"The 'gator really whacked us hard. I felt a tug on my leg and realised it was the leash. I got the dog back in quickly," Mr Swaider stated.

Florida's swamps are known to be home to thousands of alligators, with residents living near large open bodies of water warned about the dangers of walking near the edge or swimming in the lakes.

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Top tips on the best cycling holiday destinations

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:01:22 +0000

Cycle insurance customers looking for inspiration on where to head on holiday this season may want to consider one of Virtual Tourist's biking vacation recommendations.

The members and editors of the travel website have compiled a list of the top ten places to discover by bicycle, Reuters reports.

These include Montreal in Canada, Paris in France, Portland in Oregon, Seville in Spain and Hell's Gate National Park in Kenya.

Other locations to make the list are Prague in the Czech Republic, Austin in Texas, Bruges in Belgium and Kyoto in Japan.

Vietnam and Thailand also made the cut, while Laos and Cambodia were described by members of the website as great destinations to discover on two wheels.

For a similar break closer to home, families may want to consider trying electric bike holidays in west Dorset, as recently recommended by the Daily Mail writer Nick Haslam.

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