Last updated 19:44, Thursday, 31 July 2008

PLANS to extend two units on Workington’s Derwent Howe estate have been submitted to Allerdale council.A SCOTTISH company has been handed a £7 million contract to install power cables on the Robin Rigg Solwaywind farm.WOMEN from across the county met in Penrith to discuss the region’s business future.CUMBRIA’S only Storage King outlet, at Embleton near Cockermouth, has attracted so much business since it began operating last year that it has opened up a second floor in its warehouse.BUSINESSES are being warned about a ‘tax refund’ scam which could see them swindled out of millions of pounds.COPELAND Borough Council has kept its Investors in People status.

Land owner Land Securities has lodged an application to extend the Halfords unit and create a mezzanine floor. Under the plans, an empty service area would be stripped back and a steel extension added.

The site’s parking would be reduced from 649 to 601 spaces.

But a company spokeswoman said: “Our application is speculative. The proposal was submitted to protect existing planning permission before it expires. We are keeping our options open.”

It has also lodged a speculative application to split the MFI building into three units.

Subocean Ltd will install 64 power cables between turbines at the windfarm and one export cable to shore.

E.on said Robin Rigg has the potential to deliver energy to 117,000 UK homes and displace the emission of over 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

The Rural Women’s Network set up the event, which allows women in business around the county to meet and build business contacts, at the Roundthorn Country House Hotel.

Graphic designer Hazel Duhy, who spoke at the event, said: “It is about getting women together, building relationships, having fun and doing business.”

It is more than three months ahead of schedule.

The self-storage franchise offers secure indoor units at its base, which it shares with food and drinks suppliers Caterite and Grapevine.

Facility manager Stuart Turnbull said: “The plan was to kit out the upstairs area in August or September but because we had already achieved 80 per cent occupancy downstairs, we decided to bring it forward.” It’s great news for us as it shows there is a tremendous amount of business out there for Storage King.”

The self-storage business now has a second level of 93 additional lock-up units.

The Cumberland Society of Chartered Accountants has warned of the ruse, which starts with a bogus email purporting to come from HM Revenue & Customs.

More than 40 staff were interviewed by assessors at the end of June. He said he was impressed with the team spirit at the authority.