The double glazing and conservatory industry has little regulation.
Whilst standards of product are getting better problems still occur with miss selling methods, badly installed products, unfulfilled remedial work and lengthy guarantees which are not honoured (due to traders going out of business or having an unwillingness to make good on their promises). The general public still have a deep-rooted and long standing distrust of the industry. Many installers believe that the quality of membership of most Trade Associations and Installer Schemes doesn’t lend itself to the grouping of highly professional businesses who are customer focused.
The lack of consumer protection is considered appalling by many who experience problems. Most trade associations/ installer schemes do not have any “teeth” when called upon to intervene with complaints between installers and customers. If the installer has been unprofessional or carried out unsatisfactory work and refuses to co-operate with the customer or trade association there is little any one can do until now.
The only legitimate options left for consumers were: (a) The Citizen’s Advice Bureau, (b) Trading Standards or (c) a trip to the local solicitor or county /high court. The former two can advise but often fail to persuade an intransigent installer to give the consumer satisfaction and the latter can be daunting and very often costly to the complainant.
The Ombudsman Scheme has an extensive Accreditation Procedure. This helps members achieve a higher standard of service, administration and consumer satisfaction. The double glazing Ombudsman Scheme has extensive legal powers to investigate complaints made against members. Any decisions made are legally binding and enforceable under the terms of The Arbitration Act 1996. Members have signed a legally binding contract at the point of entry into the scheme allowing the Ombudsman to investigate and thereby agreeing to abide by any decisions made.
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Using professional house or office clearance companies to conduct clearances has many benefits.
Why should I use a professional home or office clearance service?
You should use one if you want a highly professional, reliable, and swift service that is very competitive on price whilst most importantly, being fully licensed, insured and compliant with EU and UK legislation. You may also appreciate a professional’s commitment to delivering the most environmentally friendly clearance service available.
How is the price worked out for a clearance?
There are three factors that influence the cost. 1. The labour required.
2. The cost of disposal and recycling of the items cleared.
3. The resale value of the items to be cleared. Once the house clearance company have assessed the job they then calculate the price. There should be no hidden extra costs.
Cartmel is a medieval village situated on the edge of the southern Lake District. The 12th century Cartmel Priory typifies this village both in architecture and history. It is still used for worship today as it has been for over 800 years and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
The other main attraction for visitors to Cartmel is the racecourse. With the first recorded race said to have taken place on the mid 1800’s, Cartmel races continues to grow in stature and popularity year on year. The creation of a new grandstand, with the back drop of the beautiful southern Lake District coupled with catering to rival any top race event has really put Cartmel on the map.
Cartmel is very much becoming a gastronomic destination. Cartmel and its surrounding villages have some of the best examples of Lake District gastronomy in the whole of Cumbria and the Lake District. Even though many of the restaurants and public houses are located within historic buildings, the food served is right in the 21st century using the finest locally sourced produce that is found in an abundance in the south Lakeland area.
Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding is one of the most famous exports from Cartmel. The pudding is now sold all over the United Kingdom and even world with high class restaurants in London serving this still handmade in Cartmel pudding.
With its top quality food, beautiful historical buildings, race course and spectacular scenery, it’s not hard to believe that Cartmel attracts a cosmopolitan visitor. Luckily, Cartmel offers some stunning Lake District self catering properties. When attending the races, what better place to stay in than a beautiful Grade II listed Cartmel manor house or a beautiful double-fronted period property in Cartmel.
Nearby attractions also include Holker Hall (a stately home with lovely gardens and grounds and a cafe, Cark-in-Cartmel), the Lakeland Motor Museum (In addition to vintage and classic motors, the museum now features of faithfully recreated period shop fronts and also has a themed gift shop. It is now located at its new site in Backbarrow, on the main A590) and Brantwood (an historic house & gardens which used to be the home of John Ruskin with a shop, café and terrace on the east side of Coniston Water).
Lying to the west of the Coniston Mountain Range, between the southern reach of the Duddon Valley and the wide gentle plains of the Duddon Estuary, Broughton is a bustling town, full of activities, and a perfect base for exploring one of Cumbria’s most unspoiled and dramatic landscapes.
The history of Broughton dates back many centuries with the oldest building thought to be the church of St Mary Magdelene, first built as part of an eleventh century Saxon settlement. The church today is the result of a major restoration taken place in 1873 by the firm of Paley and Austin.
Over time, Broughton became an important market town, a centre of the wool trade and the manufacture of the oak baskets known as swills. Among the little back streets you would have found blacksmiths, millers, tanners, dressmakers and cobblers carrying out their crafts in readiness for the weekly markets.
During the reign of Elizabeth I the town was granted a charter giving permission to hold fairs. To this day, each year on the 1st August, there is the ceremonial ‘Reading of the Charter’, where pennies are thrown to the children.
Today many of the houses and buildings are Georgian, centred on the elegant town square, built by the Lord of the Manor to resemble a London Square. The Market Hall, a fine structure, was built in 1766, originally housing small lock up shops and is now the home of the Tourist Information Centre, exhibiting locally produced glassware, ceramics and paintings. In the centre of the square is a fine obelisk, erected to celebrate the silver jubilee of King George III in 1810, and stands next to both the ancient fish slabs, used to sell fish caught in the River Duddon and Estuary, and the village stocks for those who broke the laws or behaved in an unseemly manner.
For day to day needs Broughton is perfectly self contained with some good shops, inns and restaurants. On Prince’s Street there is Melville Tysons Grocer and Butcher. The shelves groan with preserves, chutneys, wine and pastas; the deli counter has a fabulous selection of cheeses, hams, salami, olives and pastries and the butcher sells the finest cuts, many from locally produced fell bred stock. Next door is the Village Bakery and Cafe. Using only the finest produce to bake their wonderful fresh breads, pastries and cakes the aroma as you pass is enough to draw anybody inside. Finally on Prince’s Street, is the Post Office selling local maps, books, ice cream and general goods.
To take full advantage of Broughton in Furness visitors should look to stay in one the area’s fine Lake District cottages and self catering holiday homes.
Oldfield House is a former Victorian Gentleman’s residence that now offers high quality bed & breakfast accommodation in Windermere. The house is set in a quiet residential area away from the busy main road, yet is still within easy walking distance of Lake Windermere. This Guest House in Windermere is the ideal location for your short break in the English Lake District, whether you are walking in the Mountains, exploring the world of Beatrix Potter or taking in all the other events and attractions the area has to offer.
The location allows a for very quiet night’s sleep, so if its relaxation you are after, then Oldfield House is place for you.
All rooms are appointed with many creature comforts with high quality linen, luxury Egyptian cotton towels, LCD Tv’s, beverage tray and bathroom ammenties. And for those worried about car parking, they have ample spaces available for guests.
For more details please visit www.oldfieldhouse.co.uk
Hansons Used Caravans specialise in the buying, selling and transporting of quality used mobile homes and static caravans throughout the UK and Europe.
They provide used static caravans and quality second hand touring mobile homes to a varied customer base including;
- Full ownership on or off a holiday park
- Additional storage units
- Temporary accommodation
- Self build / renovation projects
- Staff accommodation for companies with seasonal work
Mobile homes range in price from £500 to £20,000 and should they not have a suitable caravan in stock, they guarantee to source one.
Various layout options are available (e.g. 2 or 3 bedrooms, double / single glazing) and all used static caravans and secondhand tourers are fully cleaned and prepared to a very high standard before they are delivered, enabling our customers to be able to move straight in.
Hansons Used Caravans are always looking to purchase static caravans and touring mobile homes. If you are looking to sell your mobile home or tourer, then please call Hanson on 01759 304996 / 07980 669774 for a quotation.
In additon to caravan sales, Hansons also provide caravan transport throughout the UK and Europe and they provide timed deliveries. This is a very specialised service, which can be difficult to source as various “wide load permits” are required. Hansons offer free quotations and site surveys regardless of whether you purchased your static caravan from them.
Radio or wireless fire alarm systems first became available in the early 80’s. In these days the early radio or wireless fire alarm systems began to gain a poor reputation for reliability, mainly related to the radio transmissions and battery life of the devices. However over time the technology involved in these systems has steadily advanced to where we are today. Today’s Radio or Wireless Fire Alarm Systems are light years ahead of their early 80’s ancestors. Interestingly the advance in technology with the radio fire alarm systems has occurred as a bi-product of major advances in technology in the computer, battery and mobile phone industries. Radio Fire Alarm System designers and engineers have embraced and harnessed this technology to create a new generation of radio fire alarm systems that are much more sophisticated in terms of performance, fault monitoring and reliability. These new systems are fully compliant to BS5839 and EN54 and are fully monitored.
One of the main benefits of A Radio Fire Alarm System is that they reduce the needs to run cables to each individual device on the fire alarm system. Modern radio fire alarm systems will only need cables to be installed to the control and signal booster panel positions to provide a mains supply. This benefit of radio fire alarm systems means that have been ideally suited to listed type buildings. It allows the installation of a fully functioning fire alarm system within the building while not ‘running’ cables where it is impractical to do so. Examples of installations of this type are in Windsor Castle and The Ritz Hotel, both of which have radio fire alarm systems installed. In some instances conservation bodies would also prohibit the installation of cables within protected buildings and radio fire alarm systems may be the only solution to allow the building to comply with current regulations and standards.
There are many different reasons why shipping is now required to the United Arab and Emirates to areas such as Abu Dhabi and Sharjah for example.
The property boom over there has been a huge lure for UK investment property buyers. It has also become a hot destination for UK residents wishing to relocate on a permanent basis. This has been coupled with many large international companies setting up offices. They have either relocated or require the need to be visible in the UAE for business purposes. These include UK banks, property consultancies and large international corporate organisations.
Migrants, emigrants, ex-pats, overseas students and corporate movers to the United Arab Emirates will all required shipping to United Arab Emirates. A professional and reliable international moving and shipping company can take away all the worry often experienced with a large relocation.
• excess baggage shipping and forwarding by sea freight, airfreight, road, worldwide
• cartons, boxes and packing materials should always be supplied by the shipping company for self packed consignments
• international household removals/ international relocations/ overseas removals by shared or exclusive containers
• antiques and fine art packing and overseas shipping
• motor vehicle shippers (autos, cars, motor bikes etc) containerised , roll on / roll off, over crating and case packed.
• long and short term storage facilities
• international freight forwarding
It is quite evident from the examples above the people and situations requiring shipping to United Arab Emirates are very varied. It also shows how popular shipping to these areas has become.
The Lodore Falls Hotel played host to ladies from Lancashire and the Lakes at a luncheon where over 100 guests enjoy a three course lunch and fashion show. The event raised over £750 which will be donated to Keswick Mountain Rescue.
The event was organized by Kit Graves in conjunction with Hilary Cookson from the renowned dress shop Maureen Cookson from Whalley in Lancashire and a regional a lifestyle magazine. Whilst there were a number of ladies from Lancashire, Liverpool and beyond, there were also tables of local ladies from Cockermouth and Keswick.
The fashion show was presented by Hilary Cookson from the Maureen Cookson shop and during her show she also gave a humorous talk about what to pack in a suitcase for holiday.
Local ladies include Susan Farrell and her team from Solway Heaters in Workington, they regularly book their Christmas parties but took the opportunity to have a look at the autumn clothing from Maureen Cookson. Her collection included a mix of practical and very stylish clothing and of course, some sparkle for Christmas.
Kit Graves, managing director of the group of hotels in the Lake District said “it was a wonderful opportunity for ladies outside the Lake District to experience what we have to offer. The autumn weather was lovely so they had a fantastic drive through the lakes. We were especially pleased to see a group of ladies who had been dropped off by their husbands for a surprise treat – they went on to do some walking and collected their wives on the way home!”
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Who would have thought it? Windermere is not on Lake Windermere! In fact, it’s about 2 miles away, with ‘Bowness on Windermere’ being the small town which is on Lake Windermere.
Strangely, Windermere [town] used to be called Winandermere and before that there were actually three small hamlets [Applethwaite, Birththwaite and Heathwaite] which were combined in the 1800’s when there was a greater attempt to encourage people to visit the area.
The railway arrived in 1857, making the area much more accessible to visitors and with this demand grew a wealth of Lake District Hotels. The railway still exists today and brings people from all over the world to this special area of the Lake District National Park. As well as being a sustainable way to travel, most of the Windermere hotels are only a short walk from the station, or at worst a five minute taxi ride.
Lake Windermere is well known as England’s largest Lake at over 10 miles long and is also the deepest at 65 metres. There are numerous outstanding viewing points within easy reach either by car, or by short walk. Gummer’s Howe is probably the most famous being situated at the south end of Lake Windermere. You can drive most of the way, leaving only a 30 minute walk to marvel at the panoramic views over Lake Windermere and across to Morecambe Bay. To see the Lakes from a different perspective, Arnside Knott rewards those who take this gentle climb with stunning views of the Kent Estuary and Morecambe Bay; simply head for the viewpoint. For a more challenging, but still enjoyable walk for most, take the 2 hour round trip to Brantfell and Post Knott. Take the camera, as there are wonderful views of Windermere, the stunning Langdales and maybe even the Windermere Hotel you’ve chosen. Hope for a clear day and always check the weather forecasts before heading out. Suitable footwear is always important, even on these more leisurely walks.
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In general, the interior design of the home is being taken more seriously and is being enjoyed even by the average home owners. We are starting to see famous and notable designers creating ranges for leading brands which is enabling the homeowner to achieve an individual or more sophisticated look.
To complement the interest people have in cooking and dinner parties the items on a dining table and the settings should be strongly considered. How the food looks on a plate is extremely important as well as how the plate looks within the table setting. The look of the food is the first impression and as is regularly said, you eat with your eyes. The food itself needs to look appealing but what it is presented on can also greatly affect the way the dish looks. Top chefs know the importance of this and they will be the ones that choose the dinnerware range for the restaurant. Only a few years ago, a standard plate would be used to serve all the dishes. Now there are curved, square, rectangle, oval and shallow bowls.
You cutlery then needs to match the dinnerware. A traditional set of cutlery would look out of place next to a modern square plate for example. Likewise, a modern set of cutlery would not feel right with a traditional set of china plates. Leading cutlery brands such as Arthur Price cutlery have been manufacturing high grade cutlery for over 100 years. Their traditional ranges remain popular but they have introduced contemporary ranges in keeping with the modern look that many home owners are requesting.
One of the leading modern cutlery brands at the moment and one which is synonymous with innovative design is Villeroy and Boch. Villeroy and Boch cutlery as with other brands of such stature retain a timeless design but firmly keeping with a contemporary look. Due to the nature of stainless steel, cutlery can be a real statement on a dining table. For a customer wanting to achieve a very contemporary look, modern cutlery perfect finishing touch.
Using a professional house clearance or office clearance company takes all the hassle of clearing a property or business premises. In terms of business use, the minimisation of disruption is paramount.
As with many professional services such as office and house clearances, the company has years of experience and can carry out the service in a quick and efficient manner. Other services that a house clearance company normally provide are transportation, removals, waste disposal, probate valuation and antique and collectables valuations.
Each house or office clearance job is different and is required for different reasons so it is important to use a well established house clearance company that can take care of all the matters concerning the clearance from valuations to the recycling of waste.
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