FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: TUESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2004
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
THE PLANNING ORDINANCE 1991
NOTICE OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
Notice is hereby given that the following applications for planning permission have been received:
Application No Address Description Developer
119/04/PB 15 Watson Way, Stanley Erection of conservatory Mr & Mrs G Smith
120/04/P Plots 33 & 37 Lookout Industrial Estate, Stanley Laying of sewer pipe FIDC
121/04/PB 7 Ross Road East, Stanley Extension to dwelling Mrs E Hardcastle
122/04/P Jetty Visitor Centre, Ross Road, Stanley Siting of red phone box Cable & Wireless
123/04/P 9 Biggs Road, Stanley Erection of greenhouse Mr G Cheek
124/04/PB 19 Biggs Road, Stanley Erection of garage Mr K R Jones
125/04/P Canache, near old bunker, Stanley Outline application for creation of ramp to beach, siting of two containers for storage and improvements to access road to public highway. Mr I Berntsen
126/04/P 17 Callaghan Road, Stanley Raising of height of fence (abutting Endurance Avenue) to1.5m, Dr A Douse
127/04/P 5A Ross Road East, Stanley Provision of off-street parking area, Mr K Harris
128/04/P 5A Pioneer Row, Stanley Erection of porch onto dwelling Mr P Chapman
129/04/P Beach south of Sand Bay Abattoir, East Falkland Creation of disposal site for OVS and MHI inspected low health risk surplus abattoir waste Falkland Islands Meat Company Ltd
130/04/PB 13 Hansen Hill, Stanley Erection of dwelling Mr S Aldridge
131/04/PB Hebe Street, Stanley Erection of block of 4 No flats with provision of off-street parking F I C Ld
132/04/PB 1 Short Street, Stanley Extension to dwelling Mrs S Peters
The next Planning & Building Committee meeting at which these applications will be considered is due to be held on Thursday, 7th October 2004 in the Liberation Room, Secretariat, commencing at 9.00 a.m. Members of the Public may attend to observe the workings of the Committee. The public are advised that the closing date for the meeting to be held on 4th November 2004 is 4.30pm Monday 18 October. Environmental Planning Department P.O. Box 611 Stanley
Public Notice No: 09/04 Dated this 21 day of September 2004
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Earthquake activity on Tristan da Cunha: Scientific Assessment
Firstly the tremors felt on 29/30th July and since were volcanic in origin. Nevertheless, a significant eruption is not imminent and there appears to be no immediate threat to the Settlement. The Tristan da Cunha Group (Tristan itself and the neighbouring islands; Inaccessible and Nightingale), is entirely volcanic in origin, representing the uppermost parts of large volcanoes, Tristan being the youngest and still active. The Tristan da Cunha group is accepted by scientists to represent the surface volcanic expression of a deep-seated hotspot.
There is no sign that the 1961 “volcano” is about to re-awaken. Even in recent years there were three sites at the top from which steam would emanate. These sites are now much cooler than when previously examined by my colleague - Peter Dunkley - in 2001, and simply what would be expected for a volcano cooling down 40+ years after the most recent eruption.
Understandably people were concerned when the recent tremor episodes were felt most strongly in houses on the eastern side of the settlement - closest to the old “volcano”. Nevertheless, analysis of the data from the two earthquake monitoring stations (seismometers) installed by the UN indicates is consistent with the source of these earthquakes being c.25km away from the seismometers, the simplest explanation, that they were at depth below the volcano was first given, but it is now considered more likely that they were horizontally displaced to the southeast. Why then, were tremors felts where they were? This appears to be due to the presence of two perpendicular structural axes along which the island was built up, the principle one lying NNW-SSE (N170°). Thus the earthquake energy is preferentially transmitted the along a plane through the centre of the island (i.e. from Stony Hill to the old (1961) volcano). Additionally local site conditions can make a big difference to whether an earthquake can be felt or not and very similar buildings may affected in different ways. Buildings on unconsolidated ground may shake more than those on solid rock.
The pale grey floating rock found at the beginning of August is pumice, a volcanic rock resulting from eruption of gas-rich lava. Old deposits are of similar material can be found to the SW of Hottentot Gulch, and can be seen as a creamy-coloured horizon near the base of the cliffs. It is most likely that this was erupted at some distance away from Tristan, to the SW, given where it was first found and the prevailing currents. The earthquakes of 29/30 July were the type expected from rocks breaking under pressure on the rock [below the seabed] from rising magma (what lava is referred to prior to its eruption at the surface), prior to its eruption as pumice, which then floated to the surface.
Earthquake activity in the region is ongoing at the time of writing, although at too low a level for tremors to be felt and at reduced frequency in comparison with the past two months. Nevertheless, the data from the UN seismometers on Tristan continue to be analysed on a daily basis by seismologists at the British Geological Survey. Prior to any significant volcanic activity, warning tremors of far greater intensity than those felt to date would be expected. Additionally scientists are able to differentiate different kinds of earthquake, which are indicative of different volcanic processes thus allowing a better understanding of the state of the volcano than has been possible in the past. It should therefore be possible to give ample warning of any resumption in volcanic activity on the island.
Finally, given the nature of the Tristan volcano (the whole island) direct risks to the settlement from volcanic eruption are fairly localised - witness the size of the area actually affected by the 1961/2 eruption. Should an eruption take place, say on the far side of the island, the threat to the settlement would be limited to the threat posed by the accompanying tremors, which could cause damage to property and potentially disrupt power and water supplies, or cause large rock falls from the cliffs behind the settlement.
Dr. Vicky Hards, British Geological Survey
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 19 OCTOBER 2004
TOUR GUIDE COURSE ENDS:
The 2004 tour guiding course finished on Friday and for the first year was arranged by Connie Stevens (CS), the Director of Tourism. We asked Connie if she was apprehensive about her first year organising the course.
CS: Obviously, when you go into anything new, you have to do a lot of homework and ground work and I’ve spent a huge amount of time talking to people who have been on the course before - the existing tour guide badge-holders and also people who have been involved in the organisation of the course before and just learning from them. It was actually a real experience putting it all together. I had a lot of help from people who had been on it in the past, like Phil Middleton, who is running a course on a day-to-day basis. We did our homework and put together as comprehensive a programme we could for the week. It included some of the regular features that you have to cover like maritime history, agriculture and minerals but also this year we had things like SOLAS and the Port Security System. So, there was new information that had to be covered as well as some of the established subjects, which need to be covered on this course.
ARGENTINE WAR VETERAN:
An Argentine war veteran, who returned to the Falklands last week feels that, as a whole, they were treated badly by their Government. I (CG) asked Julio Vasquez (JV) whether he felt the recent increase in pensions for Argentine veterans went far enough to breach the gap.
JV: (translated) Julio said that it’s not enough. The Government said that they will improve the pensions for the soldiers. But a lot of people in Argentina think that the soldiers have, during these 22 years received just a few things but Julio and his company, where he is working, the owner of the company last week said that when the pension was improved, he thinks that the money the soldiers are receiving was enough. He thought there were a lot of people in Argentina that had to receive money and not the soldiers that were in the war. A lot of people think this way.
MUSSEL ADVERT:
There has been world-wide interest in the advert for a Mussel Professional to come to the Islands and provide a key role in providing a mussel industry here. Stuart Wallace, from the Mussel Industry Group, told us there had been several expressions of interest along with one or two serious applications. He said that they are considering the applications, although the process will take some time.
ALADI:
The Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) representatives meeting in Montevideo this Monday for the naming of a new Secretary General gave their full support for Argentina’s foreign debt re-structuring efforts and claim over the Falkland Islands. Members expressed unanimous support for Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Islands. ALADI members include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
COMPOSER:
A man who composed a piece about Antarctica after spending 3 months on the Continent, says the experience has had a profound affect on him. The composer writes in the Antarctic Diary, published in the Guardian that it was, for him, the journey of a lifetime. He experienced the euphoric highs and mind-crushing lows of solitude and the overwhelming presence of all who had come and gone. He explains that the main artistic product of his 3-month journey was “Antarctica” an impressionistic large-scale electro acoustic composition created from an original sound library. He compiled this during his residency, comprising field recordings with the many audible aspects of human life, animal life and the environment.
GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS:
Human Resources announce the following Government appointments. Johnny O’Garu, Building Advisor. Dominique Gudichelli, Environmental Planning Officer. Michelle Turner Chief Accountant.
SEA CADETS OPEN DAY:
The Sea Cadets are appealing for anything you can donate to help make Saturday’s open day successful. They are looking for items for the Lucky Dip and Tombola. They will be pleased to receive books, packets of food, toys and clothes. They also say that fresh cake or anything they can sell on the day will be much appreciated. If you think you can help, they are asking you send your donation along to them tomorrow evening during their weekly meeting.
POLICE NEWS:
There was a report of a disturbance at Lookout Lodge in the early hours of Sunday morning, where a person at the time was concerned saying he had been threatened. There is no complaint made. At 0800 on Monday morning there was an item or ordinance found at San Carlos. The EOD will be disposing of it later in the month.
WEATHER INFO:
Although the snow caught us by surprise yesterday, statistically there’s a chance of it occurring at any time of the year in the Falklands. In October there’s a chance of up to five days of snow in Stanley and, surprisingly, we can expect even one day during the sunny month of January. As the sea temperature is still low at the moment, the Met Office say there’s a chance of snow any time during a southerly wind.
COST OF LIVING COMMITTEE:
The Cost of Living Committee will be meeting at 1000 on Friday morning in the Liberation Room at the Secretariat. Items on the agenda include a review of the price collection sheets
of the quarter ending on 30 September and an oral report from Nikki Buxton about information obtained from retailers. The price collection paper shows a range of data, including the price change from last quarter to this quarter. Noticeable points are that the average price of minced mutton has not changed although the price of frozen beef-burgers has dropped 19 pence to £1.19 on average. The average of buying spirits and mixers has risen .03p to £1.08, with beer being bought in off-licenses dropping .02. to 59p. Tobacco prices are still the same. The paper highlighted the mortgage interest rate has risen on average .50p to £4.75
(100X Transcription Service)
