kevinjohnsonmbe

I agree Stubby, disjointed and contradictory government/EU policy is outrageous, wholly unfair, deleterious to economic stability and damaging to public faith in the political institutions. Genuinely, it is scandalously inept to "encourage" then, so soon after, "penalise." Wether it will result in the business going under, or compensatory reimbursement would be fascinating to know. It would also be fascinating to know if the upscaling was grant or private money funded. How ironic if it WAS grant funded only now to be scaled back - that would be an epic (but sadly common) total waste of public money. There's every possibility that owners of older DERV automobiles will be facing a similar reversal of government incentive quite soon if I understand correctly.

What did we replace oil tankers with when it was realised that flushing out their cargo bays just off shore was environmental suicide? What did we replace asbestos with when it was realised that it had disastrous health implications? What are we looking to replace road diesel with now it's been realised that it's choking the life out of children? What happened when ships reached the edge of the flat planet? I could go on (at the risk of venturing into the ridiculous) but I'm sure you'll grasp the intent..... 😳 Industries evolve, good practice can (and should) get BETTER, safer and less harmful to the environment. I cannot think of any other industry that so vociferously claims to be a custodian of the countryside whilst simultaneously, and with apparent impunity, abuses it. Your question - what would I replace farming with - is (with the greatest of respect) a melodramatic attempt to avoid the actual question which should perhaps be - why are too many cattle run on too little land resulting in depletion of soil nutrients, fertilising and weed killing vast swathes of monoculture fields of grass, over-stocking, excess feed cost, milk being sold below production cost, sickening levels of losses to mastitis, production of slurry far beyond that which can be reasonably managed? Re-wilding.... yes perhaps, in part, maybe in conjunction with a more sustainable, honest and less harmful approach to farming.

Interesting piece on Countryfile regarding slurry discharge and nitrate levels in Holland with the farmers being held to account for that which is leached into the water course after slurry spreading. Also of particular interest was the Dutch farmer who outright refused to accept / acknowledge that slurry was a contributory factor in water course pollution! Also of interest, to note the (apparent) lifestyle / business attributes of an EU farmer in receipt of substantial state aid. Why does it bother me so much.....? Firstly perhaps because I witness almost daily, discharge from slurry into the watercourse (contributing to amongst the highest water rates in the country) and less frequently but consistent year on year slurry / fertiliser spreading in close proximity to tributaries that lead directly to the beaches that are so important to the recreational and economic lifeblood of the Cornish economy. Not to mention the blatantly obvious environmental damage. Secondly, because I am completely at a loss to understand, supposedly in an era of austerity, why those that are so far removed from needing state aid are prioritised over so many that perhaps have a vastly more justified need for state assistance. Interesting that the story was covered on Countryfile (apparently pro-ag) where I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of the UK audience were either ignorant or arrogantly dismissive of the subject and the damage being done. Maybe the bad habits are starting to be more broadly recognised. Will be interesting to see if the NFU start a "positive" PR campaign to counter!

Doesn't sound very nuanced, sounds like the neighbour is full on veggy diet mode.... 😂😂😂 Is that my coat??

Whilst I'd agree, almost unreservedly, that customer awareness, knowledge and the requirement for contractors to demonstrate compliance ARE very relevant and necessary, where it all falls over (often quite unnecessarily - and almost invariably when poorly or over zealously applied by public sector or those not spending their own money) is that, as you quite accurately highlight, is that it turns a simple £80 job into, as you say, a £600 job. This type of behaviour is rife amongst "organisations" but would simply not be tolerated in the private sector where money talks and 🐂💩🚶*♀️(noting that the construction industry probably sits somewhere in the middle)

Ah! Gotcha!! Bloody hell, that was lateral!! 🍦

Brawling WITH your brother or brawling with your brother against someone else??

Whereabouts was that Stefan? I had several years visiting Umea in the mid-late nineties. Loved my time in Sweden.

I'm not with you Mick, am I being dim? Haven't even started on the red - but just about to!! 🍷

On reflection, it's "good" that customers are asking for reassurances, it should be so. No good changing the goal posts AFTER quote / acceptance though, that's naughty!

80 squid wouldn't cover the TPO app! Is this a village church or the Archbishop's official residence 🤔 Maybes worth the admin if there are 00s or 000s, but for 80 quid it's not even worth taking it on the chin in the expectation of future work.... You'll have set the precedent and they'll always be chasing the lowest price.

No TPO, no CA restrictions, possible planning condition - that would be a problem solely for the property owner, that's what I was asking??

👍🏻 Just a supplementary thought as relates to OP situation: If I understand it correctly, Planning condition applies to the property owner rather than a potential contractor. Contractor "could" do as requested by property owner (if, as stated no TPO in effect.) No penalties applicable to contractor for a breach of a planning condition, nor any obligation to check (unlike TPO / CA)

Hell's Bells.... Farron & Abbot.... Pressure rising already!

Tackling "risk".... The All Blacks way:

Looking in: https://youtu.be/bXoJGnAc6LU

RSA credit rating re-assessed to "junk" status. Way to go ANC! You're going down the toilet....

In hindsight..... could be! Surely he'd just park tractor across road though???

Bit confused with the question there Paul. Are you asking - is there a speed limit automatically in force because there are road works in effect? (And I'm guessing you're referring to B roads rather than dual carriageway/ motorway?) If so, (I think) the answer would be "no", but the person licenced to carry out the works in the highway / highway margin would / should have stipulated within the application IF a speed restriction is required / requested, the authority granting the works permit would approve / authorise the speed change and the person doing SLG would implement the appropriate signage. If what you are asking is, should people slow down when someone has put cones in the road (but they haven't got a licence / appropriate SLG) I think the answer would be - the duty to drive with due care and consideration is upon all drivers BUT, putting cones in the road could be deemed as a distraction / obstruction of the highway and could be deemed as a contributing factor if there were an incident. Example: if cones in the road caused a vehicle to cross the centre line and crash with an on-coming vehicle, the 2 insurance companies will be looking for somewhere to off set the blame / cost. If someone has put cones in the road without a permit they are likely to be the target for the insurance, police & HSE. It sounds like you'd like people to slow down as they pass your work site - perfectly reasonable! But is the work site properly signed & licenced? If not, you could be on a sticky wicket if it goes bad.

Fair one. I'd never heard of him until you mentioned it so thanks for that.

I had to "look him up" Mr E. Interesting story. Would / could he be categorised as racist (god rest his soul)?

You drive a hard bargain!!! (Please, no cross referencing! The mental image would be more than I could bear!!)

😄 I was thinking that as I wrote it....!!

Are you INSANE??? How do you even KNOW about washing??? Haven't you got "the basket?"