Friday, 1 October 2010

Why is Amazon Making an Android App Store

Why is Amazon Making an Android App Store?

Why is Amazon Making an Android App Store?

Judging by the leaked terms and conditions, Amazon plans to swagger into the Android world with an alternative app download store, fists a-whirling. Are they building it to co-exist with Android's Market...or for an Android-powered SuperKindle?

Google isn't exactly a liberal, supportive father when manufacturers want to fool around with their open source software. They actually have some surprising restrictions—though really, they're not that surprising when you consider it's in their best interests to protect the quality of Android and thus, their future lineage.

Google's potential suitor, Amazon, has been very successful with its Kindle range—so successful, in fact, that you can pretty much call the race now. Would they really develop a full-blown tablet, as the same source who told TechCrunch about the app store claims? Or would they rather develop a Kindle device that uses parts of Android—such as the browser but not the Maps—that is still primarily geared for downloading ebooks?

Those rumors about color touchscreen Kindles came from somewhere after all, and we do know that their hardware division, Lab126, was looking to fill 80 jobs back in August, mostly for hardware specialists. Hardware specialists, for new ranges of products.

Imagine if Amazon wanted to launch a Kindle tablet running Android, but didn't want to shell out for camera components. Or didn't want to bother with an accelerometer. Or navigational buttons, or any other features that Google requires of its hardware partners who want access to the Marketplace on their Android devices.

Enter Amazon's app store. Bam! Suddenly developers can get their goods onto this mystery device, and users can play Angry Birds—or at least, the Amazon App Store version of it—in bed until 4am on the guise that they're reading Tolstoy.

It's been suggested that Amazon's app store will only be available to US Android users. Do you remember how long the Kindle took to launch outside of the US? Years. And even then they were still shipping them from the States to whichever countries wanted them. To develop an app store that will never see the drizzle of a cold London morning, or smell the scent of the Netherland's tulips wafting in from the window is absurd. Crazy-talk, when over 25 per cent of Android users live outside the US.

The alternative, of course, is that Amazon really is launching a rival app store to Market. Something for smartphones and tablets.

To say there are a few flaws with the idea is putting it mildly—especially when you consider the helluva hard time they'll have convincing developers to cough up the $99 to join their developers' program. Google only charges $25.

The obvious question I'd like to ask Amazon, if that's what they're really considering, is whether we even need another app store on Android. Sure, we've seen some carriers pre-load app stores on phones before, such as Verizon with their V-Cast. Even the porn store MiKandi does considerably well (racking up 80,000 downloads in its first month)—but another app store offering competing titles to Android's very own Market?

Well, I guess that's what Google meant by "open."

At the very least, we can expect an alternative app store to light the cracker under Google's ass that it so sorely needs. Google's Market is clunky, and while they may've given it a lick of paint or two in the three years since it launched, there's no disputing that it's a mess. I say this as a loving Android user, HTC Desire in-hand.

Given Amazon's proven track record in developing platforms, I'd hope to see a browseable website, something akin to Amazon's Kindle ebook database or even Apple's iTunes website, for searching for apps and recommending to friends.

Time will tell what Amazon has up its sleeve for both developers and Android users, but I have a feeling they've got greater designs on Google's daughter than just the size of her apps.

Send an email to Kat Hannaford, the author of this post, at khannaford@gizmodo.com.


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The Most Creative Jell-O Shots Ever Gallery

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Send an email to Adam Harris, the author of this post, at aharris@gizmodo.com.

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BBC News - Microsoft sues Motorola over Android phones

1 October 2010 Last updated at 18:49 ET

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Microsoft sues Motorola over Android phones

Smartphone using Android operating system Smartphones are increasingly using the Android operating system - and are increasingly subject to legal action

Microsoft is suing Motorola alleging it has infringed nine patents in its Android phones.

The giant software maker said Motorola phones that use Google's Android software are based on Microsoft technology.

The functions include synchronizing e-mail, calendars and contacts.

Microsoft filed its lawsuit in a federal court as well as filing one with the International Trade Commission.

Microsoft said Motorola licensed some of its mobile technology from 2003 to 2007 but continued to use the technology without renewing the license.

Its court filing specifically mentions the Motorola Droid 2 and the Motorola Charm smartphones, but Microsoft claims that the infringements were not limited to those devices.

It is the latest development in a web of legal actions in the smartphone business.

'Vigorous defence'

A Motorola spokeswoman said the company has not yet received a copy of the suit, but based on its strong intellectual property portfolio, plans to "vigorously defend itself".

The suit is the latest in a complicated web of legal actions between various phone makers and software firms over who owns patents to the technology used in smartphones.

Nokia began by suing Apple last year, and Apple subsequently sued handset maker HTC.

Oracle has filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the search engine giant of infringing patents on its technology.

Oracle says Google infringed patents on its Java software while developing its Android operating system.

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ZBot gang suspects arrested in the Ukraine | Graham Cluley&#39;s blog

Download Sophos iPhone app New! - Download Sophos's free iPhone app"; document.write(AppPromo); } else { var DownloadLink= "http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/free-security-scans.html?utm_source=Non-campaign&utm_medium=Cross-link&utm_campaign=Blog-SS-promo"; document.write(" Download Free virus scan - Download a Sophos Security Scan"); }

ZBot gang suspects arrested in the Ukraine

Security Service of Ukraine
There has been another development in the international investigation into a cybercrime gang believed to have used the ZBot Trojan (also known as Zeus) to steal millions of dollars from banks accounts around the world.

We've already mentioned the charges brought after arrests in the UK and USA, and now it's the Ukraine's turn to round-up some suspects.

The Security Service of the Ukraine (known as the SBU) detained five individuals yesterday who - they claim - are key members of the Zbot gang that has been accused of a large-scale, international organized cybercrime operation.

According to an FBI press release, the authorities in the Ukraine sent approximately 50 SBU officers to execute eight search warrants.

It's perhaps not a surprise that we're now seeing raids in the Ukraine. After all, some of the people arrested in the UK earlier this week were born in the country.

It's certainly encouraging to see the computer crime cops around the globe working closely in partnership to tackle the increasingly organised nature of international cybercrime rings.

After all, these crimes are no small beer. The scam being investigated by the authorities is said to have resulted in more than $200 million being stolen from consumers and businesses.

Posted on October 1st, 2010 by Graham Cluley, Sophos
Filed under: Botnet, Data loss, Law and Order, Malware

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Horse Carts &#8211; Why Horses Shouldn&#8217;t Pull Carts and Carriages

From a pure animal rights standpoint, horses should not pull carts or carriages because forcing them to do so violates their right to be free. However, concerns about working conditions and threats to the health and safety of both people and horses are additional arguments against horse carts and carriages. Although urban centers throughout the United States feature horse carriages for tourists, most of the controversy has centered around New York City, which has the highest carriage horse accident rate in the country.

While some argue for a ban on carriage horses and others believe there is nothing wrong with the industry, still others believe the industry can be humane only under certain conditions.

Working Conditions

According to the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, carriage horses in New York City work 9 hours a day, 7 days a week, sometimes in bitter cold and oppressive heat. Around the country, horses pull carriages through traffic on pavement and sometimes cobblestone, which is hard on their joints. The horses also constantly breathe in car exhaust which leads to respiratory problems. Collisions between horses and vehicles are a threat to both people and horses.

Although there are laws to protect the horses, enforcement is not perfect. In December of 2008, activists recorded video of horses being forced to work through a snowstorm in New York City, despite a law that prohibits working the horses during “adverse weather conditions.” The law required the horses to be recalled if the weather turned bad, but it took nearly two hours to recall the horses after the snowstorm started and authorities did not have the power to recall the horses any earlier.

When not working, the horses are confined in tiny stalls in indoor stables with substandard conditions, such as a lack of water, bedding, air conditioning and fire sprinklers. Some horses are tethered, and are unable to turn around in their stalls, which frustrates their nature as highly social herd animals.

ASPCA Statements

The official position of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is charged with enforcing the laws that protect carriages horses in New York City, is that it “is not opposed to the use of horses and other equines in pulling carts and carriages for hire.” However, ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres stated in November, 2009:
We have said time and time again that neither the New York City environment nor current law provides carriage horses with the fundamental necessities to ensure their safety and well being . . . The use of carriage horses in New York City is not only a safety hazard to city residents, tourists, pedestrians, motorists and the horses themselves, but horses must often work seven days a week in heavily congested traffic and extreme temperatures.

Arguments for Horse-Drawn Carriages

Carriage operators argue that the horses are their livelihood, that they love their horses, and that they have every incentive to treat the horses well. Some argue that horse-drawn carriages are an important tradition that deserves to live on, and improved conditions and regulations can address health and safety concerns.

Ban on Horse-Drawn Carriages

Various cities in the United States and around the world have already banned the use of carriage horses. Over the years, New York City has considered several bills banning the use of horse-drawn carriages, but none have become law. Some argue that the horses will be sent to slaughter if the ban becomes reality, but at least one version of the bill has required the humane disposition of the horses. Also, spent horses are already sent to auction and uncertain fates. Several former carriage horses have been rescued from auctions and/or slaughter, despite the industry’s claims that retired horses go to private farms and sanctuaries. The ASPCA believes that the phase-out of carriage horses in NYC is "much-needed and past-due."

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Ed Miliband - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Right Honourable
 Ed Miliband 
MP


Miliband in his campaign for Labour leadership.

Incumbent
Assumed office 
25 September 2010
Monarch Elizabeth II
Prime Minister David Cameron
Preceded by Harriet Harman
Incumbent
Assumed office 
25 September 2010
Deputy Harriet Harman
Preceded by Harriet Harman (Acting)
In office
3 October 2008 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Chris Huhne
In office
28 June 2007 – 3 October 2008
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Preceded by Hilary Armstrong
Succeeded by Liam Byrne
Member of Parliament
for Doncaster North
Incumbent
Assumed office 
5 May 2005
Preceded by Kevin Hughes
Majority 12,656 (40%)
Born 24 December 1969 (1969-12-24) (age 40)
London, United Kingdom
Political party Labour
Domestic partner Justine Thornton
Alma mater Corpus Christi College, Oxford
London School of Economics
Religion Atheist

Edward Samuel Miliband (born 24 December 1969) is a British Labour Party politician, who is the current Leader of the Labour Party and the Leader of the Opposition of the United Kingdom. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Doncaster North since 2005 and served in the Cabinet from 2007 to 2010 under Gordon Brown.

Born in London, Miliband graduated from Oxford University and the London School of Economics, becoming first a Labour Party researcher, and rising to become one of Chancellor Gordon Brown's confidants, being appointed Chairman of HM Treasury's Council of Economic Advisers. Miliband was elected the Member of Parliament for the South Yorkshire constituency of Doncaster North in the 2005 general election.

As Prime Minister, Gordon Brown appointed Miliband as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office in his first Cabinet on 28 June 2007. Miliband was subsequently promoted to the post of Secretary of State at the newly-created Department of Energy and Climate Change, a position he held from 3 October 2008 to 11 May 2010. On 25 September 2010 he was elected Leader of the Labour Party with the support of 50.654% of the electoral college.

He is the son of Marxist theorist Ralph Miliband and the younger brother of David Miliband, a leading Labour politician who also contested and was narrowly defeated in the 2010 Labour Leadership contest by his brother. Together the two were the first siblings to sit simultaneously in the British Cabinet since Edward, Lord Stanley and his brother Oliver in 1938.

Contents

Early life

Born in London, Miliband is the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland, Marion Kozak, who was sheltered by a Catholic family in the Nazi-occupied Poland,[1] and Marxist intellectual Ralph Miliband (a Brussels native whose parents were from Warsaw), who fled Belgium during World War II.[2] As a teenager, he reviewed films and plays on LBC Radio's Young London programme as one of its "Three O'Clock Reviewers", and worked as an intern to Tony Benn.[3]

Education

Miliband was educated at Primrose Hill Primary School, Camden and then Haverstock Comprehensive School in the Chalk Farm area of north London. After completing his A Levels, he read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, gaining a Bachelor of Arts, followed by the London School of Economics, where he studied Economics and obtained a Master of Science degree.

Political biography

After a brief career in television journalism, Miliband became a speechwriter and researcher for Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Harriet Harman in 1993, and then for Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown the following year. In 1997, following Labour's landslide election victory, Miliband was appointed as one of Gordon Brown's special advisers with specific responsibility as a speechwriter. In 1999, Miliband was involved in the process of building Labour's manifesto for the forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections.[4] He was spotted leaving the Scottish Labour Party's headquarters on the night that a key policy meeting was held, involving the Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar and senior party officials, to consider the party's election strategy and details of Labour's manifesto. As a result, Miliband resigned from his post as Special Adviser at the Treasury, to work on the Scottish election campaign.[5] It was reported that part of Miliband's Scottish role was to take charge of Labour's rebuttal operation.[6]

Harvard

On 25 July 2002 it was announced that Miliband would take a 12-month unpaid sabbatical from the Treasury to be a visiting scholar at the Centre for European Studies of Harvard University for two semesters.[7] He spent his time at Harvard teaching economics,[8] and stayed there after September 2003 teaching a course titled "What's Left? The Politics of Social Justice".[9] He was granted access to Senator John Kerry and reported back to Brown on the Presidential hopeful's progress.[10] In January 2004 he was appointed chairman of HM Treasury's Council of Economic Advisers, directing the UK's long-term economic planning.[11]

In government

In early 2005, Miliband resigned from the Treasury to stand for election. He beat off a challenge from Michael Dugher, then a special advisor to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon,[12] to be the Labour candidate in the safe Labour seat of Doncaster North. Gordon Brown visited Doncaster North during the general election campaign to support his former adviser.[13] Miliband was elected to Parliament on 5 May. In Tony Blair's cabinet reshuffle in May 2006, he was made the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office.[14]

In June 2007, when Brown became Prime Minister, Miliband was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and promoted to the Cabinet.[15] This meant that he and his brother David Miliband became the first brothers to serve in Cabinet since Edward and Oliver Stanley in 1938. He was given the task of drafting Labour's manifesto for the next general election.

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

Ed Miliband with Richard Lambert, the director of the Confederation of British Industry at a Climate Change Summit in 2008.

On 3 October 2008, Miliband was promoted to Secretary of State for the newly-created Department of Energy and Climate Change[16] in a Cabinet reshuffle. On 16 October, Miliband announced that the British government would legislate to oblige itself to cut greenhouse emissions by 80% by 2050, rather than the 60% cut in carbon dioxide emissions previously announced.[17]

Copenhagen Summit 2009

Miliband represented the UK at the 2009 Copenhagen Summit on climate change, from which emerged a global commitment to provide an additional $10bn a year to fight the effects of climate change, with an additional $100bn a year provided by 2020.[18] The conference was not able to achieve a legally-binding agreement however. Miliband accused China of deliberately foiling attempts at a binding agreement for its own ends, though China explicitly denied this, accusing British politicians of engaging in "political scheme".[19]

Parliamentary expenses

During 2009, Ed Miliband was named by the Daily Telegraph as one of the "saints" of the expenses scandal, for claiming one of the lowest amounts of expenses in the House of Commons, despite being entitled to more than the average MP because of his role as Secretary of State.[20]

2010 Labour Party leadership election

The Right Honourable
 Ed Miliband 
MP
Election date
result announced 25 September 2010
Opponent(s) Diane Abbott
Ed Balls
Andy Burnham
David Miliband
Incumbent Harriet Harman (pro tempore)
Website Official website

Campaign

On 14 May 2010, Miliband announced that he would stand as a candidate for the leadership of the Labour Party, following the resignation of Gordon Brown three days earlier.[21] He launched his campaign back at his alma mater, the LSE, which holds strong family history ties[22], and was nominated by 62 fellow Labour MPs. The other candidates were Diane Abbott, Ed Balls, Andy Burnham and his elder brother David Miliband.

On 23 May, former Labour Leader Neil Kinnock announced that he would endorse Miliband's campaign to become the next Leader, saying that he had "the capacity to inspire people" and that he had "strong values and the ability to 'lift' people". Other senior Labour figures who backed Ed included former Deputy Leader Roy Hattersley. By 9 June, the deadline for entry into the Labour leadership contest, Miliband had been nominated by just over 24% of the PLP, double the amount required.

By September, Miliband had received the support of 6 Trade Unions, including both Unite and UNISON, 151 of the Constituency Labour Parties, 3 affiliated socialist societies, and half of the Labour MEPs representing the UK in the European Parliament[23].

He won the election, the result of which was announced on the 25th September 2010, after third and fourth preferences votes were counted, beating his brother by 1.3%[24].

Leader of the Opposition

On becoming leader of the Labour Party on 25 September 2010, Miliband also became Leader of the Opposition. At the age of 40, he is the youngest of Labour's ten leaders since World War II.[25] Miliband is also the first Jewish leader of the Labour Party.[26]

Personal life

His current partner is Justine Thornton, a Cambridge-educated barrister. They met in 2004, and live together in north London where he grew up. They have one son.[27] [28]

His previous partner was former Blair aide Liz Lloyd, who went to school in Guildford with his former Cabinet colleague James Purnell[29][30]. At the end of July 1998 it was reported that they had split up.[31]

After previously commenting that his religious views were a private matter, in an interview with Radio 5 Live in reply to a question from Nicky Campbell he was quoted as saying, "I don't believe in God personally, but I have great respect for those people who do."[32]

References

  1. ^ Ed Miliband: Labour leader's 2010 conference speech in full, BBC News, 28 September 2010
  2. ^ Josephs, Bernard (22 December 2006). "David Miliband: Red to green in a generation". The Jewish Chronicle. http://www.thejc.com/articles/david-miliband-red-green-a-generation. Retrieved 30 November 2009. 
  3. ^ Benn, Tony (1995). The Benn Diaries. Arrow. ISBN 978-0099634119. 
  4. ^ The Scotsman, 6 April 1999, p. 1
  5. ^ The Scotsman, 8 April 1999, p. 11
  6. ^ The Scotsman, 23 April 1999., p. 13
  7. ^ Fraser Nelson, "Brown confirms adviser's sojourn in Harvard", Scotsman, 26 July 2002, p. 9.
  8. ^ Jim Pickard (2010-09-25). "Profile: Ed Miliband". The Financial Times. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d9dca9da-c893-11df-8343-00144feab49a.html. Retrieved 2010-09-28. 
  9. ^ Richard Adams, "City diary", The Guardian, 30 September 2003, p. 19.
  10. ^ The Scotsman, 6 March 2004, p. 12
  11. ^ Andrew Grice, "Brown shuffles advisers to prepare for Balls' departure", The Independent, 10 January 2004, p. 2.
  12. ^ Yorkshire Post, 26 March 2005
  13. ^ Doncaster Free Press, 14 April 2005
  14. ^ "At-a-glance: Tony Blair reshuffle". BBC News. 5 May 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4976414.stm. Retrieved 3 January 2010. 
  15. ^ "Brown unveils huge Cabinet revamp". BBC News. 28 June 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6247502.stm. Retrieved 19 October 2008. 
  16. ^ Parkinson, Justin (3 October 2008). "As it happened: Brown reshuffle". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7648551.stm. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
  17. ^ "Tougher climate target unveiled". BBC News. 16 October 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7673748.stm. Retrieved 19 October 2008. 
  18. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/20/copenhagen-climate-change-accord
  19. ^ China rejects UK claims it hindered Copenhagen talks, BBC, 2009-12-22, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8425720.stm 
  20. ^ "MPs' expenses: The saints". Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5342811/MPs-expenses-The-saints-Part-i.html?image=8. Retrieved 13 August 2009. 
  21. ^ "Ed Miliband to take on brother David in leader battle". BBC News. 16 May 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8684063.stm. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
  22. ^ "Ed Miliband launches leadership battle with Living Wage campaign". Camden New Journal. http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2010/jun/camden-council-%E2%80%93%C2%A0%E2%80%98morally-important%E2%80%99-plan-raise-wages-low-paid. 
  23. ^ http://www.labourlist.org/ed-milibands-plp-support---running-totals
  24. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11412031
  25. ^ "Victorious Ed Miliband becomes youngest Labour leader since war". The Daily Record. September 26, 2010. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics-news/2010/09/26/victorious-ed-miliband-becomes-youngest-labour-leader-since-war-after-knife-edge-vote-86908-22588207/. Retrieved September 27, 2010. 
  26. ^ "Miliband the first Jewish Labour leader..". The Daily Mail. September 29, 2010. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1316056/Ed-Miliband-Jewish-Labour-leader-But-doesnt-believe-.html?ito=feeds-newsxml. Retrieved September 29, 2010. 
  27. ^ The Independent on Sunday, 7 June 2009
  28. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11433642
  29. ^ The Independent, 14 August 1997, p. 5
  30. ^ The Guardian, 31 December 1997, p. 19
  31. ^ Jasper Gerard, "Separate lives", The Times, 29 July 1998, p. 18.
  32. ^ "Ed Miliband: I don't believe in God". The Daily Telegraph. 29 September 2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/ed-miliband/8032163/Ed-Miliband-I-dont-believe-in-God.html. Retrieved 29 September 2010. 

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Council considers using bulls to stop 'doggers' - Telegraph

They said that children at the Puttenham Church of England Infant School can see the couples from the playground and demanded the council 'do something about it’.

Surrey County Council, however, refused to shut the lay-by and Hog’s Back Cafe down saying it would be 'unfair on legitimate visitors’, but discussed various tactics to stop doggers congregating at the site – including putting bulls in the field.

Campaigner Jules Perkins said she was 'devastated’ when the council said it would not close the lay-by, adding: “It’s scary that the general public is beholden to people like this.

“They just didn’t seem to have much idea about the issue and we are utterly disappointed with the decision not to close the lay-by.”

Speaking about the idea of putting bulls into the field to deter the doggers, Mrs Perkins said: “I have to say that some of the comments from the cabinet were quite frightening, such as the suggestion to put bulls in the field.

“What a ridiculous idea.”

Local Sarah Green, 32, said today: “How the council can sit there with straight faces and suggest putting a herd of bulls in a field to stop people having sex in it is almost too ridiculous to contemplate.

“There are more than 300 people behind closing the lay-by and the council has just ignored our very genuine concerns and come up with a suggestion which can only be described as moronic.

“Do they really think a bunch of perverts are going to be put off by a few bulls in a field? It will probably make them even more excited.”

Tory councillor Tony Rooth, who sits on Guildford Borough Council, said the decision not to close the lay-by was 'rotten’.

He added: “It’s a rotten decision.

“The cabinet responses made it clear that they really don’t have any idea about the issue. If this is localism then it’s a complete joke.

“They have given weight to the cafĂ© owner and they have ignored the villagers, they have ignored the parents, they have ignored the children.”

Leader of the council Dr Andrew Povey said: “The cabinet is not convinced that closing the lay-by would solve this problem.”

He admitted there had been several 'mad ideas’ to solve the dogging problem, including cops walking their police dogs in the area, but said the idea of putting livestock – particularly bulls – into the field was 'viable’

He said: “Someone also said there could be livestock in those fields.

“This seems to me to be a perfectly viable option.”

A decision on how to deal with the doggers is set to be taken later this year by Surrey County Council chiefs.

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