WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Big Kev]

Craven Herald

Let's hope government inspectors don't overrule any sensible decision...

[Stanley]

Ken is right about leisure activities there, this was in 1958. David is also right, a determined developer with enough assets to pay the lawyers and push the system to appeal has a very good chance of getting a result. That also means that Pendle would have legal costs as well and that could be a factor. Gaming the system indeed!
What struck me about the Californian case of the 12 abused children is the speed the US system has got them into court on trial. Couldn't happen that fast here......
I've been watching the progress of the search for the two fishermen lost in Loch Fyne. See THIS BBC report on the continuing search but it looks as though there is little hope for them now.

[Tizer]

I'm pleased to see David Whipp making his contribution to the debate in that Craven Herald article. I wonder if he still looks at OGFB?

I found this little gem in The Times last Saturday...

[PanBiker]

I'm pleased to see David Whipp making his contribution to the debate in that Craven Herald article. I wonder if he still looks at OGFB?

I'm sure he does Tiz. The development is a huge issue in the Coates Ward and there has been a lot of comment from all quarters. David is quite active on the local Facebook sites of late as his seat in Craven Ward is up for election this May. The local Facebook sites have a much wider local audience.

[Stanley]

He'll get my vote as usual. He is the epitome of what a local councillor should be.

[Stanley]

The change in the weather! We have got rid of the wintry weather for a while.....
Something I noticed the other day but it kept slipping my memory. During the furore over the terrible report on conditions in Nottingham Gaol it was announced that the local health service were resigning from the contract to provide health services because the contract price was too low. The national Health body immediately advertised the contract at a lower price but with the proviso that increases 'could be looked at' once the contract was in place. Who was it decided that this offer was attractive enough to attract a bidder? Were they relying on a private contractor to move in? If so the ploy failed miserably. Something is very wrong here. The obvious thing to do was sit down with the contractor on site and find out what was needed to provide a viable service.

[Stanley]

Puzzles are very popular today and according to an R4 programme at noon each weekday this week they always have been. I was a bit miffed yesterday when it was stated that puzzle-solving was essential for the well-formed mind and that by implication anyone who wasn't intrigued by them was deficient! But, on reflection, I came to the conclusion that my antipathy only extends to abstract puzzles, my attraction is to puzzles which, if solved, have a practical outcome. Playing about in the shed is a good example, I am constantly facing small problems and solving them. So I shall continue to avoid abstract puzzles with a clear conscience!
News that the log jam we have been experiencing for more than a year with Janet's estate has broken. HMRC have gestated and produced a good result for us, probate can now be completed! I know that won't be quick but we are now in control again and can move towards a conclusion.

[Big Kev]

I'm pleased to see David Whipp making his contribution to the debate in that Craven Herald article. I wonder if he still looks at OGFB?

I'm sure he does Tiz. The development is a huge issue in the Coates Ward and there has been a lot of comment from all quarters. David is quite active on the local Facebook sites of late as his seat in Craven Ward is up for election this May. The local Facebook sites have a much wider local audience.

From Facebookland
David Whipp
9 hrs ·
The planning application for over 100 houses on land overlooking Greenberfield Locks was refused at this evening's meeting of Pendle Council's development committee.

Councillors unanimously rejected the proposal due to the impact on the canal heritage, on countryside and on highway grounds.

Councillor Claire Teall was the first of 10 speakers voicing opposition to the development. The Coates Ward councillor told the committee of the strong reasons to refuse the application. She headed up a team from Barnoldswick Town Council which had submitted detailed reasons to refuse the plans.

Members of the committee spent over two hours deliberating the decision with many probing questions to Pendle's planning manager Neil Watson, who set out the Government's position on housing numbers but assured the committee of the strong grounds for refusal - which he recommended.

The applicants can appeal to a Government Inspector to try and get the decision overturned or, submit a further application to try and overcome some of the reasons for refusal.

[Tizer]

The applicants can appeal to a Government Inspector to try and get the decision overturned or, submit a further application to try and overcome some of the reasons for refusal.

In the village where we used to live we had several experiences of the effect of `the man from London' (the Government Inspector) over-turning the councils decision. In one case his report stated that a development was acceptable partly because there were two access points to the site. In fact there was only one which shows that he either didn't visit the site or, if he did, he must have forgotten his glasses. The error didn't stop the development getting approval. I hope you get a better result in Barlick.

[Stanley]

These appeals very often go the apellant's way.....
The problems in Venezuela... Why does this remind me of the CIA backed coup against Allende in Chile.....?

[plaques]

A reminder from the Pendle Core Strategy the projected number of undefined outstanding residential houses is 3,280 over the period 2011-2030. This is a total nonsense figure since the growth in population in Pendle over a 11 year period 2001 -2012 has been zero. With pie in the sky figures like these its virtually open season on any piece of land the developers choose to build on.

Pendle Housing Requirement 2011-2030
A Overall housing requirement (2011-2030) (298 x 19) 5,662
B Completions (2011/12-2013/14) (from AMR) 154
C Reduction of empty homes (net) (2011/12-2013/14) 748
D Residual requirement A - (B+C) 4,760
E Strategic Housing Allocation 500
F Existing commitments (permissions) (from AMR) 980
G Remaining requirement to be met through housing site allocations D - (E+F) 3,280

[Stanley]

Do you remember the old army saying; "bullshit baffles brains"?
I see that Great Ormond Street are returning the £500,000 donation to the President's Club. As it has now dissolved that might be difficult. Why don't they just give it to an organisation supporting the fight against discrimination and abuse of women?

[plaques]

I can't see why they feel they have to reject the donation. Possibly the vast majority of men who attended this fund raising event are decent upstanding people who have made very generous contributions to the fund. To contaminate their goodwill with those of a lower moral standard is applying collective punishment which is totally unwarranted. The reporters have made their point that these 'hostessed' functions are unacceptable in there present form.

[Tizer]

Surely the charities should keep the money? Giving it back would seem to be endorsing the Presidents Club, letting them have their cake and eat it!

[Stanley]

Problem they see is that it is tainted money and accepting that could cause a reaction in other more acceptable funders. If political parties used the same criteria on donations they would all be broke!
PE worth reading this week if only on the subject of PFI. They have been banging on against it, pointing out the flaws and possible consequences, for years."Eye Told You So".

[Stanley]

The fact that I misread the bedside clock with no glasses on and got up before 2AM by mistake. By the time I realised my mistake I was fully awake so not much point going back again! An early start even for me.
I heard a very competent woman on World Service this morning talking about the meeting of the 1% at Davos. She made the point that one of the biggest problems in modern business affairs is that Investor Return and profit drive everything that they do to the exclusion of other considerations like pay levels for staff and ethics. I think she might have a point! Good to tell who is running today's world.
News this morning that the entire board of the US gymnastics governing body has resigned after the recent case about abuse by the team doctor. The US Olympic Committee has said that a completely new start is needed.

[Stanley]

The news that Trump has lost another appointee, the Treasurer of the Republican Party. Accused of sexual impropriety he has resigned voluntarily because "he didn't want to hinder the President's good work". Significant that he is yet another super rich white man who made his money running casinos....

[Tizer]

While all the claims of sexual impropriety continue we haven't heard much recently about the claims against Donald Trump, but there's enough to fill a long Wikipedia web page: LINK

[Whyperion]

"in modern business affairs is that Investor Return and profit drive everything that they do to the exclusion of other considerations like pay levels for staff and ethic"
I am sure this was the situation 30 years ago and I guess Stanley etc can give plenty of examples from decades prior to that.

[Stanley]

The difference today is the size and global scale coupled with new technology and erosion of ethics. Read 'Shock Doctrine' by Naomi Klein. Then add higher levels of built in stress due to over population and climate change.

[Stanley]

I heard an interesting piece on World Service this morning about a man fleeing repression in Albania. He was on holiday at the seaside when he heard that a group of people had hijacked a ship and were going to sail to Italy. He joined the rush and about 20,000 people crammed onto the ship carrying sugar from Cuba to Albania. See THIS Wiki article about the Vlora and her voyage to Italy.
See THIS report of the appointment of Phil Neville as coach of the UK Women's football team. I've just heard him say that what he said has no bearing on what sort of person he is..... Really? This is rubbish! Of course what he says is an indicator of character. How else do we assess people? What he is reported as having said may have been a lie but that makes it even worse!

[Stanley]

The lousy weather!

[Stanley]

THIS is worth a read. A very persuasive report with evidence detailing the relative underfunding of education in the North.
We once had a very active topic on the site about the North South Divide. It might be time to revive it because the gap seems to me to be getting worse.
See THIS report on the troubles Capita have run into. Private Eye was forecasting this in the current edition. The pundits are rushing in to assure us that a 50% fall in share price doesn't mean that this is another Carrilion. However, the business model that is going wrong here is outdated, using notional values on future income from contracts to borrow money and buy up other firms to expand can work in a benign business climate and indeed it did. These days are over and the future of outsourcing itself is under threat as the government is forced to look at the sums and this has produced reports that show quite clearly that some very bad deals were struck. This is what Capita specialises in. Incidentally they are major sub-contractors to Pendle Council. It remains to be seen what the shareholders will make of the suspension of dividends and the call for £700million investment from them. Watch this space.....

[Tizer]

There was something about the lady who designed our road signs on the radio this morning, Margaret Calvert. I looked her up on the web and found this article from a few years back. LINK

And here's an important analysis on a different topic - the extent to which our biscuits and chocolates are shrinking. This could be the end of life as we know it... LINK

[Stanley]

I heard that Tiz. It was in a segment about a poll to identify the woman who had changed our lives the most.
The fact that I didn't need to go to the shops when my current stew finished and I needed two meals. Nothing spectacular about that but the thought did cross my mind that there must be many people these days who couldn't do that. Their cupboards are bare.