Latest news with #closures
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Toilet charging may increase 'public fouling risk'
Public toilets in seaside resorts and other towns and villages could be closed or have an admission fee District Council says it wants to save about £250,000 a year by closing or charging at toilets in places like Dawlish, Shaldon and Teignmouth and in rural villages on council has given a rating to 20 public toilets with the lowest 13 to be closed or transferred to town and parish councils and the possibility of charging for entry for the seven highest rated.A report setting out the plans to be debated by councillors on Tuesday acknowledges closures could lead to " an increased risk of fouling in public spaces". The council's report also said it recognised a potential "impact on tourism and businesses" and that "a reduction in public convenience provision could deter visitors". Several petitions have been launched by campaigners who want to keep services open, gathering thousands of signatures between local authority said it was a "difficult" decision to "reduce any valued service" but the impact of closures or charging "must be balanced with the council's requirement to remain financially viable".A decision on whether or not to go ahead with the plans is expected to be made by members at a full council meeting on Tuesday. Petitions have been launched by campaigners who want to keep the blocks at those locations Connett, Lib Dem councillor for Exminster and Haldon at Devon County Council, set up a petition to save the public toilets in Starcross, which is in his said the number of petitions launched showed how important the facilities were to many."They may not use them every day or indeed every week but they like to know they are there," Connett said."I hope Teignbridge think again and abandon this plan."
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Beer Store closing locations in Morrisburg and Sharbot Lake this fall
A Beer Store location is seen in this undated photo. (The Beer Store) The Beer Store is closing its stores in Morrisburg and Sharbot Lake this fall, as the retailer continues to close outlets across Ontario. On Monday, the Beer Store announced 11 more locations will close on Sept. 28, including the location on Main Street in Morrisburg and on Highway 7 in Sharbot Lake. 'The Beer Store is adapting to changes in the retail market in Ontario. This is an ongoing process and includes making the difficult decision to close some retail locations. We know this is difficult for customers, employees and the communities where we operate,' Ozzie Ahmed, vice president of Retail at the Beer Store, said in a statement. 'As the Beer Store modernizes, we'll continue to be the best place for ice-cold beer, friendly customer service and a deposit return system that gets consumers their money back.' The Beer Store has announced the closure of dozens of places across Ontario this spring. Earlier this month, the Beer Store said its location on St. Laurent Boulevard in Ottawa will close on Sept. 14. The Glebe location closed on July 20 and its Manotick outlet will close in August.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Beer Store closing more locations across southern Ontario
A Beer Store location is seen in this undated photo. (The Beer Store) The Beer Store has announced another round of closures, effective Sept. 28. Locations closing Bala Brampton Clinton Morrisburg Norwich Red Lake Rodney Sharbot Lake South Porcupine Wawa Wingham The Beer Store encourages customers to continue returning more than the 1.6 billion alcohol containers we process annually to one of our local Beer Store locations or an empty return dealer located close by. 'The Beer Store is adapting to changes in the retail market in Ontario. This is an ongoing process and includes making the difficult decision to close some retail locations. We know this is difficult for customers, employees and the communities where we operate,' said Ozzie Ahmed, vice president retail. 'As the Beer Store modernizes, we'll continue to be the best place for ice-cold beer, friendly customer service and a deposit return system that gets consumers their money back.' All grocery stores that sell alcohol will be required to accept the return of empties and refund customer deposits starting Jan. 1, 2026.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Are China's private art museums in crisis? UCCA's struggles are the tip of the iceberg
A wave of closures and cutbacks is sweeping through China's private art museums, ringing alarm bells about the sector's sustainability and raising questions about the outlook for one of the world's biggest art markets. The Jupiter Museum of Art, in Shenzhen, announced its shutdown in June. Days later, Qingdao's TAG Art Museum followed suit. Others, such as Ennova Art Museum in Langfang, founded by the company behind Hong Kong-listed ENN Energy Holdings, have been dormant for months. Even the Beijing-headquartered UCCA Centre for Contemporary Art has come under financial pressure. Insiders say the pioneering 18-year-old institution withheld wages from January to June, and that its plans for its Shanghai branch, which opened in 2021, are unclear. The current crisis in China is a result of corporate backers tightening their budgets , consumers curtailing their discretionary spending, and rising costs, people working at the museums tell the Post. The UCCA was founded in Beijing's 798 Art District in 2007 by the late Belgian collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens and is one of the oldest non-profit contemporary art centres in mainland China. Under long-time director Philip Tinari, it has maintained a solid international reputation for its ambitious and timely responses to contemporary trends. UCCA's third museum, in Shanghai, opened in 2021 and occupies three floors of the Edge (pictured), a commercial building. Photo: UCCA The non-profit foundation, backed by private investors, has expanded its footprint aggressively, opening three more branches: in Beidaihe in 2018, Shanghai in 2021 and Yixing in 2024.
CNA
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Gaia Series 96: Delicious food! Don't lose that taste
A poignant Japan Hour episode journeys through closures, successors and the preservation of culinary legacies. In this week's episode, viewers are taken on a deeply human journey through the kitchens and communities of three unique establishments, each confronting the poignant question of legacy and the challenge of succession. The programme explores the intimate stories behind Ramen Sanchin, Curry House Indoya and Restaurant Eiraku, institutions that are not merely places to eat, but cultural landmarks whose closures signal more than the end of a business. The episode begins in Tokyo's Itabashi ward at Ramen Sanchin, a local favourite that once had over 100 locations. Today, only one remains. Owner Naruhito Yamazaki, 69, has run the shop for over two decades. Despite its signature Tonkoku Ramen and a loyal customer base, he has decided to close the shop due to the physical demands of the work and the lack of a successor. 'I just don't have the confidence to keep doing that every day,' Yamazaki admits. The shop is set to close on 30 March. On its final day, 200 servings of ramen sell out before the designated closing time. One customer remarks, 'It's sad thinking we might not see each other again.' Reflecting on the people he has served, Yamazaki says, 'I'll probably think of... so many different faces. That's what I'll miss most.' The narrative then shifts to Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture, where the once-thriving Curry House Indoya recently closed its doors. Founded in 1983 by Ryuhei Araki and his wife Chinami, Indoya had been a local icon, known for its popular Baked Cheese Curry. In 2023, the restaurant was handed over to Yuichiro Shuto, then 28 years old, who had trained under Araki before taking over operations. 'I really want to make sure this flavour that everyone loves gets properly passed on,' said Shuto at the time. He invested about 20 million yen (S$175,000) into the venture, which included 3 million yen for the business transfer, 1 million yen for the lease agreement and 1.5 million yen for equipment. The rest was used to cover operating losses. Despite initial support and mostly positive reviews, the restaurant struggled to regain its momentum. Chinami Araki later shared in a written message, 'Out of the blue, Mr Shuto told us he wanted to close Curry House Indoya. I felt overwhelmed with a deep sense of sadness.' She added, 'If you could occasionally mention Curry House Indoya in conversations from time to time, I think that would make my husband very happy too.' The restaurant officially closed on 24 February 2025, just one year and ten months after the handover. The episode ends in Setagaya, Tokyo, with a glimmer of hope at Restaurant Eiraku, a Western-style eatery run by 82-year-old Mitsuo Sato and his wife Miyoko, 83. Founded in 1967, the restaurant is known for its signature dish 'Chicken Fantasy', a creation of chicken thigh wrapped in egg and topped with demi-glace sauce. With their daughter unable to take over and age catching up, the couple had been preparing to close. However, an intervention comes in the form of 'Atotsugi Restaurant', a successor matchmaking service initiated by Yoshinoya Holdings. 'It's a service that helps find successors,' explains project manager Arata Fujita. 'For people seeking a successor, and those who want to take over a long-established restaurant, we help match them.' Pub Furusato in Shinjuku illustrates how the scheme works. Owner Toru Ochi, 71, had taken over the establishment eight years prior and was seeking a fourth-generation successor. Among the applicants, Ochi selected 42-year-old chef Takao Yamada, who currently prepares meals for a corporate athletic dormitory. Yamada said, 'I'm nervous, but mostly excited.' Fujita, who facilitated the match, joined Yamada on his first day at Furusato. The new chef immediately began learning the restaurant's signature dishes, including its mustard-loaded potato salad. 'This feels like a good fit,' said Ochi. 'It might just be for now, though. You never know, right?' Through these stories, the episode highlights the looming succession crisis in Japan's super-aged society. 'This is not a distant future problem. It's happening right now,' the narrator reminds viewers. Fujita underscores the urgency, saying, 'We can't let them disappear. There are fans out there, customers who care.' In a country where more and more baby boomers are turning 75, the need to preserve culinary heritage has never felt more immediate.
