CARS NOT MOWERS
I hear that the Subura Corporation (recently renamed from Fuji Heavy Industries) is to focus its future attention exclusively on cars and automobile development, and plans to close its Industrial Power Products division according to a report in the US trade magazine Construction Pros. The Industrial Power Products division includes the supply of Subaru generators, water pumps and lawnmowers. All product development, new and ongoing, has been halted, but production is expected to continue until September 2017. The news only broke this week so we will update on developments as soon as possible.

NOT IN MY BACK YARD
NIMBY-ISM even extends to the genteel world of lawnmower dealers it would appear. Respected Shropshire dealer Morris Bufton want to build a new showroom on a derelict site alongside the main A49 route into Ludlow. They have submitted plans for a 9000 sq ft unit constructed with cedar wood exterior panelling and steel roof. “The timber cladding will be from natural sources and blend in with the existing environment” said the estate agents acting for Morris Bufton. However, Shropshire Council have deemed the proposed building as ‘jarryingly obstrusive’, despite the site being a vacant, gravel-covered plot between two industrial buildings. The planners say “The site fronts an important gateway into the historic core of Ludlow with key views of the town”.  Several councillors have however asked for the plans to be reconsidered.     

LEAVE MY MOWER ALONE
GARDENS apparently make for easy pickings for thieves according to a recent report from the insurance division of the Co-op. They say that garden related claims have risen by 48% over the past 4 years and the total currently runs at £517m a year. Garden plants (including turf) accounts for 25% of the claims followed by thefts of garden machinery (18%). That still makes £93m, and if you add the value to thefts from dealerships, it would be an eye-watering sum being ‘half-inched’ every year. No good nicking turf I suppose without a good mower to go with it.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Well at least we got a mower into the EU Referendum debate when BBC1 News this week asked the head groundsman at the Caribbean Cricket Club in Leeds for his verdict. It was to remain. Elsewhere I’m surprised that the farming community is not getting more focus. Obviously subsidies are a major issue but then so is the availability of food, food prices and the production of food much of which is harvested by workers from eastern Europe, without whom food costs would presumably be higher (even if school leavers in this country were attracted to spud picking as a career option).