A message for the New Year from the CLA President

CAMBRIDGESHIRE farmer and CLA President Tim Breitmeyer looks ahead to the challenges and opportunities of 2019:- "In the New Year, we will begin to see the implications of how the political chaos surrounding the proposed Withdrawal Agreement will affect farming, land management and rural businesses. A No Deal Brexit would be disastrous for the countryside. At the CLA, we will do all we can to avert this eventuality, but it is imperative that in the meantime, the industry, our supply chains and the Government come together to put emergency plans in place. Our work will continue to ensure post Brexit agricultural policy makes farming profitable in parallel with environmental management. It is a priority in 2019 to ensure once transition begins in 2021, that a funding black hole does not appear as the Basic Payment System (BPS) is gradually withdrawn. The CLA shall continue to press the Government to commit to delivering farm profitability and genuine, well recognised public goods as we transition away from current direct payment towards a new system. Another high priority in the year ahead is how the farm productivity proposals in the Agriculture Bill are rolled out. I am confident that with advice and input from the CLA, the Government can set out a suite of measures that farms can tap into to help increase profitability. I am less certain though that Ministers are pressing for a sufficient budget. Driving home the message that this crucial aspect of post Brexit farm policy must be properly resourced is another of my main responsibilities to the industry in the coming year. 2019 promises 3 new Government policies on the environment, food and forestry. Building on the crucial contribution that landowners and farmers already make to protecting and enhancing the environment, food production and tree planting, we expect further support in the Environment Bill and new food and forestry strategies to continue our important work. The CLA will be looking to ensure these are designed to promote the production of healthy and affordable food, restore and enhance the environment, be robust in the face of future challenges and build upon a resilient and sustainable agriculture sector. The year ahead will see further traction in the fight to improve mobile not spots in the countryside. Our 4G For All campaign to increase the speed of delivery of 4G mobile coverage to rural areas achieved strong cross party support across Westminster in 2018. We were delighted by Ofcom's recent announcements that there will 500 new mobile masts in rural areas, greater transparency for the consumer and the very 1st steps towards rural roaming. We will continue to work with the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Rural Business and the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport during 2019, to make sure that these good intentions are acted upon and that the people who live and work in the countryside get to reap the transformational benefits. Of course, I can't predict to know exactly what 2019 holds for us as an industry but I am quite clear of one thing; it involves a lot of hard work to make sure a post Brexit world emerges in the best interests of the rural economy. I will continue to do all I can to ensure rural businesses and communities are allowed to flourish."

Musical extravaganzas to kick start the New Year at Vue Southport

THIS January, 2 huge events will be coming from the other side of the globe to the big screen, at Vue Southport. 'The Kind of Waltz,' Andre Rieu, returns with a major new production for the New Year. 'Andre Rieu's 2019 New Year Concert,' recorded in Sydney, will be a magical evening of music and dance featuring his world class sopranos, The Platin Tenors and plenty of surprises. With show tunes, classical music and plenty of festive fun it will be the perfect way to start year as the show comes to screens, on Saturday, 5 January 2019.

On Saturday, 26 January 2019, an exclusive screening of 1 of the most sought after concerts of 2018 comes to Vue for a 1 day only event. BTS World Tour Love Yourself in Seoul celebrates the 7 members of the Korean boyband and their unprecedented global phenomenon. The high energy pop spectacular is sure to thrill legions of fans and attract new ones in the process.Johnny Carr, Alternative Content Manager at Vue UK and Ireland, commented:- "We kick off 2019 in style with some blockbuster international musical events, along with an unbeatable mix of theatre, opera, sport, gaming and classic film, all presented in incredible sound and picture quality and accompanied by maximum comfort."

Other highlights include:-

► Andre Rieu's 2019 New Year Concert on Saturday, 5 January and Sunday, 6 January 2019.

► NT Live: Antony and Cleopatra (Encore) on Tuesday, 8 January 2019.

► Andre Rieu's 2019 New Year Concert, live from Sydney, on Wednesday, 9 January 2019.

► Bohemian Rhapsody – Sing Along, on Friday, 11 January 2019.

► MET Opera 18/19 - Adriana Lecouvreur, on Saturday, 12 January 2019.

► Andre Rieu's 2019 New Year Concert, from Sydney, Sunday, 13 January 2019.

► NT Live: The Tragedy of King Richard the Second, on Tuesday, 15 January 2019.

► Comedie Francaise - Romeo and Juliet, on Thursday, 17 January 2019.

► Hey Duggee at the Cinema! (Big Screen TV Exclusive) Friday, 18 January 2019 to Sunday, 20 January 2018 inclusive...

► Bolshoi Ballet: La Bayadere (2019) on Sunday, 20 January 2019.

► The Royal Opera: The Queen of Spades (2019) on Tuesday, 22 January 2019.

► Oscar Wilde Season: A Woman of No Importance (En) on Wednesday, 23 January 2019.

► Dragon Ball Super: Broly, on Wednesday, 23 January 2019.

► The Shawshank Redemption – 25th Anniversary, on Friday, 25 January 2019.

► BTS World Tour Love Yourself, on Saturday, 26 January 2019.

► The Royal Opera: The Queen of Spades (2019) Encore, on Sunday, 27 January 2019.

► The Royal Opera: La Traviata (2019) on Wednesday, 30 January 2019.

► NT Live: I'm Not Running, on Thursday, 31 January 2019.

To secure your tickets, visit:- MyVue.Com.

Police Car kills pedestrian on Christmas Day, in Liverpool

A Merseyside Police Car knocked down a pedestrian, on Scotland Road, near to the Wallasey Tunnel, Liverpool, at around 6:50pm, on Christmas Day (25 December 2019), and he was sadly pronounced dead after being taken to Hospital. It has been reported that the local man, Tony Carroll, 70, was carrying gifts home from the near by Throstles Nest Pub when the marked squad car struck him as he was crossing the road.

In a statement, his family said:- "Tony was a much loved brother and uncle and will be greatly missed by all his family. He was always the life and soul of the party, and he lived life the way he wanted to. As a very close knit family we spent Christmas Day together and as he left told us all that he had had the best day ever. Tony was much loved by all who knew him for his kindness and generosity in the local community. This tragedy has devastated all our family and Tony will be remembered in our hearts forever."

Witnesses in the aftermath of the collision have described seeing a clearly distressed Police Officer, holding his head in his hands, sitting in the middle of the road.

In a press statement, Merseyside Police have said:- "Emergency services have attended an incident, that involved a collision between a pedestrian and a Police car. The pedestrian was taken to Hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead. The patrol car was responding to an emergency call at the time. The incident has been referred to the Police watchdog, IOPC (the Independent Office for Police Conduct) Anyone who witnessed the incident to contact:- 101 quoting ref:- '561' to contact MSOC Roads Policing Officers on:- 0151 777 5747 or Crimestoppers UK on:- 0800 555 111."

News reports located on this page = 3.

A message for the New Year from the CLA President

Musical extravaganzas to kick start the New Year at Vue Southport

Police Car kills pedestrian on Christmas Day, in Liverpool