CURRY houses without chefs, beaches without sand – whatever next?

The Government’s tough new immigration laws could spark a curry house catastrophe, Personnel Today (Jan 15) reports. Enam Ali, founder of the British Curry Awards, says that the UK is heading for a curry crisis as Indian restaurants are forced to take on unskilled workers from the EU, rather than experienced chefs from the sub-continent.

“We are facing an unprecedented crisis that, if not resolved, could decimate our industry,” says Mr Ali, who is calling for special dispensation for specialist chefs to prevent shortages.

There’s also a crisis for tourists at a Devonshire beach – they are hard-pushed to find sand. The once golden strand of Dawlish Warren is a shadow of its former self, Local Government Chronicle (Jan 17) reports. Teignbridge District Council says that the poor state of coastal defences has left the sand free to migrate across the River Exe, moving the beach to Exmouth and leaving behind a craggy shoreline.

Time is in short supply too. Recruitment online (onrec.com) says that commuters spend an average of one hour and five minutes getting to work – double the time it took five years ago, according to Peninsula, an employment law firm.

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