Implications of DSEAR on autogas Installations

Explosives and Fireworks

28 Aug 2003 Cardiff

4 Sept 2003 Bournemouth

17 Sept 2003 Milton Keynes

18 Sept 2003 Sheffield

25 Sept 2003 Durham

30 Sept 2003 Manchester

2 Oct 2003 Crawley

7 Oct 2003 Dundee

9 Oct 2003 Birmingham

Please note: Courses will be designed around the new TCB Document, Design and Construction of Service Stations.

Non-members can purchase copies through either the APEA Business Manager or at course venues at £90.00 each or £30.00 each to APEAmembers. It is strongly recommended that attendees have access to this document during courses.

Bespoke courses can be made available provided the minimum number of Delegates is 8. This offers a discount.

For details of this and any other training enquiry, please contact: Jane Mardell - Training Coordinator (contact details on page 3) or Brian Baker, Training Chairman 1 Brookside, Hodge Lea, Milton Keynes MK12 6JW Tel: 01908 252332/ Mobile:07932 785 166 Fax: 01908 252319/e-mail: brian@bpbaker.fsnet.co.uk

Training Course Sponsors

The APEAwould like to thank the following companies that have added to the ever growing list by choosing to send delegates to APEAtraining courses:

UK unless otherwise stated;

Birmingham City Council Blackburn & Darwen Borough Council Carrickfergus District Council (Northern Ireland) Cornwall County Fire Brigade David McLean's Ltd East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Gloucestershire County Council Greater Manchester County Fire Service Leicestershire County Council Limavady Borough Council (Northern Ireland) Lotus Engineering Ltd Michael O'Kane Associates (Dublin, Rep of Ireland) Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service Petrol Express Ltd Power Plan Ltd (Malta) Statoil Ltd (Ireland) Suffolk County Council Warwickshire County Council West Midlands Fire Service

This makes 162 Organisations that have sponsored APEA Training since April 2002.

To all our sponsors, thank you for your support without which it could not have been possible.

Delegates from the recent Petrol Filling Stations: Construction and Environmental Awareness course at Kegworth

By Brian Baker, Chairman Training Committee

For the first time in its 46 year history, the APEA ran courses outside of mainland UK which took place at Portadown in Northern Ireland from 2023 May 2003. The course title was Petrol Filling Stations; Construction & Environmental Awareness that each of the two courses planned, ran for 2 days.

It was several months (if not years) in coming and much depended on my friend, Tom Duke, Senior Petroleum Officer of Castlereagh Borough Council, who is close to Belfast and has excellent links with colleagues.

Tom was very instrumental in getting most of the 26 Petroleum Licensing Authorities interested, as it had been many years since any formal training had been conducted for Petroleum Officers, most of which (though not all) reside in Building Control Departments and provide multi-skills along with Entertainment Licensing. Thanks Tom!

So it was down to Jamie Thompson and I to come up with the goods.

We set off from London Stansted and felt quite honoured as on that flight was Pat Jennings, the former Spurs and Northern Ireland Goalkeeper whom I had to admit I saw play when I was I nipper nearly 40 years ago.

Well, we landed at Belfast International to be greeted with what turned out to be heavy rain for most of our time spent in the Province. We set off in the pre-arranged hire car and managed to get lost about 500 metres from the airport (Good start I thought)

Finally we picked up our bearings and found our way to our destination, The Carngrove Hotel in Portadown.

On the first course that was to be held over the next 2 days was George Farrugia, a Project Consultant from Malta whom we met shortly after arriving. Yes, you have guessed it, we ended up talking about petrol stations in Malta.

One of the delights of Portadown turned out to be McConville's, a typical old traditional pub that probably has not changed much since it opened its doors 100 years ago. Friendly locals with wonderful tales about this great part of this market town.

The next morning it was up and hit the ground running as we prepared the training room. We had 16 delegates to greet and as each one arrived we are able to have a chat with each one briefly, quickly discovering that in Northern Ireland, the legislation compared to the rest of the UK is slightly different and laws appear to come a year or two after hours.

For example it is the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1929 as opposed to 1928, the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1978 as opposed to 1974 and the Carriage of Dangerous Substances by Road 1998 as opposed to 1996. Get the picture. It became even more bizarre as we related to Building Regulations as the lettered Approved Documents are different. Never mind, we got by OK.

The next 2 days were tough for both tutors and delegates but by the end of the first course we had a few delegates interested in founding a new Branch in Northern Ireland and some pleasing end of course review comments. And still it rained!!!

Late in the afternoon, Tom Duke of Castlereagh Borough Council and over a couple of beers talked about how things are in Northern Ireland and the mounting prospect of returning to conduct more courses. It was a pleasure to meet Tom after several months of telephone calls and e-mails.

The next course arrived the following day and we did the whole thing all over again. I did see "Mr T" wilting by the fourth day and have to say I was too. Again, more interested delegates to found a Branch, new members and more pleasing comments.

Eventually Jamie and I were able to get out on our last evening to take in some of the truly beautiful countryside and as we made our way back into the

opposite side of Portadown we came across Lavary's Filling Station a delightful site that boasted a Fish & Chip Shop on one side of the Forecourt and the sale of coal, stacked 2metres high between the Dispensers. You guessed 'David' Thompson Bailey, quick as a flash had his camera out snapping like fury. You can see he had 'Front Cover of the Bulletin' all over his face.

A productive few days was spent in Northern Ireland. Yes we saw signs of tension between the communities and even met a former Dealer saying that he gave up after 17 years having seen his Forecourt Shop blown up 5 times. Thankfully the locals are saying that the troubles of conflict have reduced significantly over the past year or so. Let us hope it continues

Believe me, Northern Ireland is a wonderful place and we were made very welcome and looked after by everyone we met. For me it was my first time there and I am left with the thought of when I can return, for business or pleasure.