Coleen Rooney slammed plans to build 15 homes next to her mansion WAGwrote an angry letter to the council over the planned new builds The decision to reject the application was announced on Friday Five of the houses would have been 'affordable' homes, plans say Mrs Rooney was brought up in a rough area of Croxteth, in Liverpool

By Jenny Awford for MailOnline

Published: 05:33 EST, 2 November 2014 | Updated: 12:02 EST, 2 November 2014

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Coleen Rooney has seen off a bid to build 15 new homes overlooking her sprawling 5million neo-Georgian palace after saying the development would ruin the village.

She complained to planning bosses saying the development - which included five affordable homes - would damage the special landscape around the mansion she shares with Wayne in Cheshire.

But the WAG has been accused of hypocrisy after she bulldozed the original 1930s Prestbury mansion and replaced it with 'Waynesor Castle' - complete with pink-interior swimming pool.

She was backed by almost 60 neighbours, including former Manchester United defender Wes Brown's wife Leanne and ex-Slade rocker Noddy Holder's wife Suzan.

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Coleen sees off bid by developers to build 15 new houses by her mansion

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 29, 2014

Owner and garden artisan Scott Cohen believes his is the first company of its kind to use drones to capture their brand of outdoor magic. If other people in our industry are using drones, we have yet to see their videos on line or any place else, as of yet, he says.

Using a quad-rotor drone equipped with a GoPro high-resolution video camera, the firm has found a fresh and compelling way to demonstrate design ideas to its client base.

Our designs are typically conceived from an overhead perspective, but in the past we were rarely able to see the finished product from the air, explains Cohen. The drone now enables us and our clients to take in the environment from above. Its a game changer in terms of project presentation and promotion.

The Green Scene enjoys a well-earned reputation for often extraordinarily elaborate projects that typically feature a variety of elements, with a majority including highly customized swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, ponds, streams, waterfalls and other water features.

The companys design schemes routinely include a range of elaborate details associated with luxury swimming pools including vanishing edges, a.k.a. infinity pools, attached spas, perimeter overflows, fountains, Baja shelves, beach entries, and colorful plaster, pebble and tile finishes, often featured on national HGTV shows.

Those aquatic features are usually accompanied by outdoor rooms featuring outdoor kitchens, pool houses, cabanas, arbors, pergolas, shade structures, fire/water features, outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, dining areas, elaborate decks and patios, barbecue counters, landscape lighting, outdoor sound systems and finely tailored planting plans.

Because of that multi-faceted visual sophistication, capturing the scenes in land-based still photographs can be challenging. Now with the freedom of the aerial platform, Cohen and company are better able to show off their work from a variety of airborne focal points.

Cohen explains: An element such as a vanishing edge, for example, is all about visual perspective, but that can be tough to illustrate using strictly land-based photography. The drone enables us to show clients how these features visually enhance the setting in just a few seconds.

In addition, he adds, the smoothly shifting perspective of the drone affords views that reveal the aesthetic relationship between the exterior setting and the architecture of the home itself, as well as the surrounding environment.

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A Drones Eye View: The Green Scene Landscaping & Pools

Chorus, the regulated telecommunications network operator, wants to add another independent director to its board to enhance its capability in what's become a vastly different landscape in just three years.

Shareholders on Wednesday voted on whether to approve a lift in the pool for directors' fee to $1.1 million from $980,000, which was set in 2012 when Chorus was carved out of the then-dominant telecommunications company, Telecom Corp, which has since rebranded as Spark New Zealand.

Chairwoman Sue Sheldon told shareholders the increase won't spill over into higher fees for the current directors, rather, it would allow the company to add another director with "additional skills and perspectives" in a new environment for the company.

The board faced an increased workload in the 2014 financial year, with 33 meetings compared to 14 the year before, and a normal schedule of eight.

In response to a question from a shareholder, Ms Sheldon said the increase was based on the average fee for an ordinary director plus a committee role.

Speaking to BusinessDesk after the meeting, she said when the board was established it was thought Chorus would operate as a typical regulated utility, though that has changed with bedding in of the new regulatory landscape.

"That obviously looks different from what the position looked like in 2011, and we're working through that process," she said.

"It's not just one particular thing we're looking for."

Chorus has been locked in a battle with the Commerce Commission over the past 18 months after the regulator imposed steeper cuts to the regulated price of services over the network operator's copper lines.

The company has been fighting initial determination based on international benchmarks in the courts, while at the same time lobbying the regulator to take a softer approach in its more fulsome review.

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Chorus plans to expand board

By Paul McBeth

Chorus, the regulated telecommunications network operator, wants to add another independent director to its board to enhance its capability in what's become a vastly different landscape in just three years.

Shareholders on Wednesday voted on whether to approve a lift in the pool for directors' fee to $1.1 million from $980,000, which was set in 2012 when Chorus was carved out of the then-dominant telecommunications company, Telecom Corp, which has since rebranded as Spark New Zealand.

Chairwoman Sue Sheldon told shareholders the increase won't spill over into higher fees for the current directors, rather, it would allow the company to add another director with "additional skills and perspectives" in a new environment for the company.

The board faced an increased workload in the 2014 financial year, with 33 meetings compared to 14 the year before, and a normal schedule of eight.

In response to a question from a shareholder, Ms Sheldon said the increase was based on the average fee for an ordinary director plus a committee role.

Speaking to BusinessDesk after the meeting, she said when the board was established it was thought Chorus would operate as a typical regulated utility, though that has changed with bedding in of the new regulatory landscape.

"That obviously looks different from what the position looked like in 2011, and we're working through that process," she said.

"It's not just one particular thing we're looking for."

Chorus has been locked in a battle with the Commerce Commission over the past 18 months after the regulator imposed steeper cuts to the regulated price of services over the network operator's copper lines.

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Chorus wants to expand board

Marine manufacturing is a $6 billion industry that's critical to the economic landscape of Wisconsin, according to experts.

About 3,200 people, with two-thirds located in the northeastern part of the state, hold jobs in marine manufacturing. The industry has grown locally and has largely remained local, with most of the money staying in the area, said Jeffrey Sachse, a state labor economist. The average salary of a marine manufacturing worker is between $46,000 and $58,000 per year, he said.

"If you are a first-class welder, you could make $70,000 to $80,000. If you are a finish welder at Marinette Marine, you can make closer to $90,000," Sachse said. Many Wisconsin boat makers either share ownership or are in separate markets so there is little competitive overlap, Press-Gazette Media (http://gbpg.net/1tBwekS ) reported.

"It's really been an industry, as is the case with a lot of manufacturing sectors in the state, where they benefited from attrition elsewhere," Sachse said. "It's down to two or three companies nationally that do what they do. We can meet a lot of market needs with two or three producers, and we have them."

Long-term orders and contracts are commonplace and help keep the industry stable. Luxury yacht contracts are one of the most appealing because they often entail a year to two years of work, according to Curt Prokash at Manitowoc-based yacht builder Burger Boat.

Marinette Marine Corp. is the largest marine employer in the state, with six U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships currently under construction. Two more of the ships are slated to begin being built next year, and other related work will continue through 2019.

"We hire a lot of our workforce in the regional area," said Jan Allman, president and CEO of Marinette Marine Corp. "We have about 2,000 people in our yard daily, and since 2009 we've hired, directly, more than 600 workers . We are one of the key economic development players for this area."

Wisconsin marine companies have joined together to form North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance. The goal is to produce a larger pool of laborers who are recruited from high schools and technical colleges.

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Marine manufacturing industry thrives in Wisconsin

The ultimate in summer treats, and perfect for our hot Australian climate, we love building pools for clients. RHMs pool landscaping team brings its substantial knowledge ofstonework,paving,garden designandlandscapingto the task, to create spaces for swimming and sun basking that will have friends and neighbours clambering for a visit when those 30 degree scorchers roll around. We are also familiar with the regulations surrounding pool areas, and specialise in providing unobtrusive, harmonious solutions to meet safety requirements.

There are many different options when it comes to choosing a pool landscape design that is perfect for you, and our friendly and experienced staff love to help. If you want a lap pool, a circular shaped pool, a square pool or even an odd-shaped pool, we can guarantee an unforgettable service. For all of your garden pool landscaping needs in Melbourne, you have come to the right place.

If you are thinking of incorporating a pool into your home, holiday home or rental or investment, get in touch with us at RHM Landscaping today.

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Swimming Pool Landscaping Melbourne

Lets face it, swimming pool landscaping isnt free, so anything you can do save a little money in the long wrong is worth it. When youre still in the planning stage of swimming pool landscaping, there are a few aspects of your pool landscape youll want to give special consideration to so you end up making one of these common mistakes.

When youre choosing plants for around the pool area, its easy to think What harm can a little plant do? Well, in reality, they can do plenty. Plants that drop leaves or fruit make for maintenance headaches and can contribute to clogged and a damaged filters. A tree that grows larger or faster than you were expecting can send roots through the walls of your pool, costing you hundreds in repairs. Before you decide to plant any tree, shrub, or flower near your pool, make sure you read up on its growth habits.

Unfortunately for unsuspecting homeowners, a lot of material thats pushed as perfect for pool decks is anything but. Aggregate stone may be beautiful and give your pool patio a high class look, but all those bumpy little rocks are murder on bare feet. Concrete may be cheap, but it tends to crack in temperature extremes and gets slippery when wet. Instead, go with pavers or vinyl deck material.

The pool is more than a place to just swim; depending on your lifestyle, it can also be a place to relax, socialize, and exercise. The important thing is to decide what you want from your pool area before you start landscaping. That way you wont waste time and money putting in a bunch of stuff you dont need only do discover you didnt get what you really wanted.

If you want to create a quite, secluded spot to get away from it all, youll need an attractive privacy fence and a well landscaped patio. If youre planning on throwing regular pool parties, youll need a large deck area with plenty of comfortable furniture and good lighting.

Invest a little time in planning your swimming pool landscaping and youll be able to avoid mistakes that could cost you plenty of money and time to repair. Start by deciding what youre going to be using the pool area for (parties, relaxation time, water sports, etc.), then choose the landscaping plants and materials that will meet your needs best

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Perfect Pool Landscaping

This train station is the centerpiece of the urban plan for Vinge, Denmark, a small town that by 2033 will be a full-fledged city. Illustration: Henning Larsen Architects

This train station is the centerpiece of the urban plan for Vinge, Denmark, a small town that by 2033 will be a full-fledged city.

Designed by Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen in collaboration with landscape architecture firm Tredje Natur, the station blends seamlessly into Denmarks hilly topography. Illustration: Henning Larsen Architects

Designed by Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen in collaboration with landscape architecture firm Tredje Natur, the station blends seamlessly into Denmarks hilly topography.

An elliptical-shaped concrete structure will function as a pathway, bridging the two opposite sides of the platform, preventing the wrong side of the tracks mentality. Illustration: Henning Larsen Architects

An elliptical-shaped concrete structure will function as a pathway, bridging the two opposite sides of the platform, preventing the wrong side of the tracks mentality.

A nice added touch? The lines you see on the concrete renderings are tracks that gather rainwater and direct it into a pool on the platform. Illustration: Henning Larsen Architects

A nice added touch? The lines you see on the concrete renderings are tracks that gather rainwater and direct it into a pool on the platform.

The station is slated to open in 2017. When it does it will be a proper city center where residents can lounge on the platform, use it as an amphitheater or have a picnic. Illustration: Henning Larsen Architects

The station is slated to open in 2017. When it does it will be a proper city center where residents can lounge on the platform, use it as an amphitheater or have a picnic.

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This Clever Train Station Doubles as a Part of the Landscape

Candles placed in front of the graves during a first World War centenary commemoration in Ploegsteert, Belgium, on October 17th . Events commemorating the war are continuing in Belgium and further afield. Photograph: Stephanie Lecocq/EPA

Last Friday evening, quietness descended over a corner of northern Europe as Belgium paused to remember the 600,000 victims of the first World War who died on Belgian soil.

From Nieuwpoort on the North Sea to the town of Ploegsteert, 50km south on the French border, 8,400 torchbearers lined up to honour those who fell between 1914 and 1918.

The front of light illuminated the arc of the western front, the line between allied and German powers which, though no longer visible, is etched into the Flanders landscape like a scar.

Though the position of the front shifted periodically during the four-year war, reflecting the advances made by each side, it was the relative stagnancy of the western front that was one of the great tragedies of the war, as it became a battle of attrition rather than conquest.

While commemoration of this years centenary of the outbreak of the war reached its peak during the summer, as countries marked the chain of events that began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28th, 1914, and culminated with the outbreak of the war less than six weeks later, commemorative events are continuing in Belgium and further afield.

The approach of the traditional armistice date of November 11th in a few weeks time is likely to bring the issue of commemoration back into focus.

The Republic will be taking an active role in the commemorations, as the country continues its engagement with a chapter of history that had long been hidden.

Perhaps of most significance will be the participation of Irelands Ambassador to Britain, Daniel Mulhall, in the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the cenotaph in London for the first time this year.

s involvement But there is also a flurry of events in Belgium that will mark the Republic

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Attrition of first World War etched like scars into Flanders landscape

CAMIRA amateur photographer Glenys Passier was the big winner in this year's Ipswich Enviroplan Photographic Competition, taking out the overall winner's prize, two prize categories, a runners-up award and a special mention for four of her entries.

With more than 1100 entries received this year for the popular competition, the result was a coup for the keen photographer, whose love of nature comes through in her images.

Her winning entry titled Fairy Lamps captured a close-up view of a delicate fungi growing out of an old tree stump, creating its own magical landscape.

Living on a couple of acres in the leafy suburb of Camira, Ms Passier said her passion for photography started with capturing images of her pets and bird photography.

"I just take photos when the opportunity arises," she said. "The camera is never too far from me and I just keep both eyes open.

"I don't often get the opportunity to photograph fungi but I just noticed these tiny bumps coming up on an old chinese elm tree stump and the flowers were just so dainty and the colour was unreal."

Judged over eight categories, the competition also highlighted stunning work from students including Indooroopilly State High School student Matthew Watson who was named the overall student winner for his work titled Golden Wings.

Environment and Conservation Committee chairwoman Heather Morrow said the competition was getting bigger and better each year.

"From over 1100 entries, 69 have been presented with an award or an honourable mention, and all will be up for the People's Choice award, decided by the public," Cr Morrow said.

"Whether it's natural landscapes, flora, fauna, or the Bremer River, entrants have captured the natural beauty of Ipswich in surprising and creative ways."

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Nature lover scoops the pool for photography competition