My OperaWhatever Floats Your Boat
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 10:42:11 PM
Model boats only at this stage I might add but given time ..........
This is a story of greed, stupidity and government confusion.
Once upon a time there was a greedy speculator who bought up a piece of land and gained permission to build 9 houses on the site. Not content with the phenomenal profits they would make foundations for 10 houses were put down. This was spotted and reported to the powers that be. Forced to act the local council put a stop to this development. The site has been idle for over a year and rumour has it the speculator filed for bankruptcy.
So the villain of the piece got his come-uppence and all is well with the world? Unfortunately not.
The reason you see is that in order to build that extra house a tiny beck had to be diverted. It turns out that this watercourse had previously been straightened. Now with the site deteriorating, and the waterway blocked in a number of places, I can look out onto a small lake.
All it needs is a digger to remove the wire-caged stones and to dredge the channel. Local council to the rescue? What do you think? Everybody is passing the buck. It's not my responsibility! We have no budget for this sort of work!
Government advisers tell us that flood control should be more co-ordinated. More joined-up thinking is required (the usual plattitudes). But what actually gets done? Nothing of course.
Two houses are in particular danger. Prior to the beck being channeled they were often flooded. No doubt their insurers will try to sue the council. We will then see a flurry of activity as officials duck and dive, avoiding any responsibility. An "it wasn't me" culture.
Luckily the rain has stopped and the water levels falling. This time we have all escaped the deluge but it is only a matter of time. How much damage has to be done before governments wake their ideas up? When will they stop building on flood plains?
Of course I wouldn't dream of suggesting that in order for this to happen officials and politicians would have to forego their brown envelopes. What corruption in high places - impossible!
Meanwhile there's a keel to be laid and I'd better get on with it......
This is a story of greed, stupidity and government confusion.
Once upon a time there was a greedy speculator who bought up a piece of land and gained permission to build 9 houses on the site. Not content with the phenomenal profits they would make foundations for 10 houses were put down. This was spotted and reported to the powers that be. Forced to act the local council put a stop to this development. The site has been idle for over a year and rumour has it the speculator filed for bankruptcy.
So the villain of the piece got his come-uppence and all is well with the world? Unfortunately not.
The reason you see is that in order to build that extra house a tiny beck had to be diverted. It turns out that this watercourse had previously been straightened. Now with the site deteriorating, and the waterway blocked in a number of places, I can look out onto a small lake.
All it needs is a digger to remove the wire-caged stones and to dredge the channel. Local council to the rescue? What do you think? Everybody is passing the buck. It's not my responsibility! We have no budget for this sort of work!
Government advisers tell us that flood control should be more co-ordinated. More joined-up thinking is required (the usual plattitudes). But what actually gets done? Nothing of course.
Two houses are in particular danger. Prior to the beck being channeled they were often flooded. No doubt their insurers will try to sue the council. We will then see a flurry of activity as officials duck and dive, avoiding any responsibility. An "it wasn't me" culture.
Luckily the rain has stopped and the water levels falling. This time we have all escaped the deluge but it is only a matter of time. How much damage has to be done before governments wake their ideas up? When will they stop building on flood plains?
Of course I wouldn't dream of suggesting that in order for this to happen officials and politicians would have to forego their brown envelopes. What corruption in high places - impossible!
Meanwhile there's a keel to be laid and I'd better get on with it......
