Throwing Brown a Bone
What do the US make of the revised Special Relationship after Gordon Brown’s visit Stateside?
Hat-tip: Guy News TV
Boris in a Nutshell
Boris Johnson’s application for London Mayor was leaked to the Telegraph. Whilst I do not condone a leak that can undermine the process, since it is now in the public domain, it is worth seeing how it illustrates what Boris might bring to the role.
We all know the clown role that he plays on “Have I Got News For You.” This is shown in his examples of challenges faced:-
1. Trying to help raise 4 children in inner London. Outcome too early to call, but looking promising.
2. Taking on Blair and Campbell in the battle of Black Rod’s Memorandum on the Queen Mother’s lying-in-state. Outcome: Total victory.
3. Negotiating Hyde Park Corner by bicycle. Outcome: survival.
But this image belies a razor sharp brain and a way with words that makes his Thursday Telegraph column compulsive reading. This is his view of the top challenges faced by London:-
“As a cyclist, I am daily exposed to the beauty and magic of London – but also the daily frustrations that erode the quality of our lives. I see the yellow billboards sprouting in the streets, pleading for information about the latest stabbing, reminding Londoners that street crime is worse here than New York. I see the hollow-eyed look of people emerging from the Tube after another miserable experience and the rage on the faces of drivers stuck behind a bendy-bus. I move in a trice from the stuccoed villas of the mega-rich to area of real poverty and deprivation, and I see families stuck in grossly overcrowded flats with no hope of a way out. The big challenges facing London are crime, transport and housing, and I will deal with them by keeping the Mayor’s government simple, recruiting the ablest people across London – of whatever political affiliation – to formulate new policies for the core problems that affect our everyday lives.”
Now I would have punctuated it somewhat better and divided it into paragraphs (that’s what comes of having a Telegraph sub-editor to rely on), but as for content, I think it is as good a precis of London in 2007 as I have seen.
Well & Truly Fogled
Sutton hosted a festival called “Move it at the Manor” today. Helping to promote Smarter Travel Sutton, the project to encourage people out of their cars, the event had an impressive centre piece of town centre cycle races. Less impressive was the filler in the sandwich that was the Councillors’ race. Four councillors and one guest celebrity, Castaway’s Ben Fogle, cycled down St Nicholas Way and up the High Street which had been cordoned off.
It was only when I was in some discomfort chasing Ben Fogle up the hill that I remembered that he had recently rowed naked across the Atlantic. Therefore although fully clothed this time, he was very fit. It was little surprise that he won.
It was tremendous fun for a good cause although my daughter immediately commandered my medal when I got home. Unicyclists, plenty of stalls, treasure hunts and Caribbean food entertained the good turnout on one of the few sunny days of the summer. After we had departed the cycling course wheezing, the professionals showed the crowd how to do it with one of the Women’s Road Race Series tearing up and down Sutton for a whole hour. I’m glad I managed to finish the one 5 minute lap.
Water Restrictions Lifted
I have just been informed that the Boil water notice has now been lifted.
From Sutton & East Surrey Water
Please be aware that Sutton and East Surrey Water has lifted its boil water notice with immediate effect, following consultation with the Health Protection Agency and other public health advisers.
The notice was issued yesterday as a result of the recent torrential rain and flooding, to all households and businesses within its Sutton supply area.
Sutton and East Surrey Water’s Operations Director, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to lift the boil water notice. We always believed it was unlikely that there was anything wrong with the quality of the water supplied to these areas and all of our tests have proved that to be the case. However, whenever there is an incident that leads us to question water quality we always follow the precautionary principle. The Health Protection Agency has supported this.
We are sorry for the disruption this has caused and would like to thank everyone for their cooperation and patience during what has proved to be a difficult time.”
URGENT: Water Contamination Warning in Sutton
Following calls from residents today, I have spoken to a spokesman from Sutton & East Surrey Water about the possible contamination of our water supply. He has confirmed the details of the press release below and advises that although the potential risk is low, we should boil all water for drinking until further notice. A leaflet will be delivered with the post to all affected households tomorrow (Monday) morning.
From Sutton & East Surrey water website www.waterplc.com
Sutton and East Surrey Water will be issuing a boil notice to households and businesses within its Sutton supply area. Around 50,000 properties and approximately 125,000 people are affected
The decision to issue the boil notice is precautionary and follows close consultation with the Health Protection Agency and other public health advisers.
Anyone drawing water for consumption or the preparation of food in the affected area supplied by Sutton and East Surrey Water bounded by Morden, Worcester Park, Carshalton, Wallington, Ewell, Stoneleigh, Sutton and Cheam should boil the water before use. This follows an incident at the company’s Cheam treatment works on Friday when the exceptional level of torrential rain that fell caused flooding at the works and a small quantity of rain water entered a tank used to treat water. Unfortunately this water went into supply before it was detected, when the works was immediately shut down.
The water tank involved holds heavily chlorinated water as part of the final treatment process. As such it is designed to automatically eliminate most organisms which may affect water quality. The rain water would also have been heavily diluted.
Mike Hegarty, Sutton and East Surrey Water’s Operations Director, said: We have reason to believe that some of the water which went into supply may not have met our quality standards and, as a precaution, we are asking everyone in the affected area to boil their water before consuming it until further notice.
The water is perfectly safe to use for other purposes including washing, bathing and toilet flushing.
We believe that all the water which may have contained some of the rain water has already passed through our supply system, but we are following the precautionary principal. Some of the water may still be in people’s supply pipes or, if they have one, their water tank in the roof.
Boil notices are being printed and will be delivered, as soon as possible, to every property within the affected area. Sutton and East Surrey Water is also sending vans with loud hailers into the area to warn customers to boil their water.
All this takes time, said Mike Hegarty. We are hoping that our customers will hear about the notice through the media. We have alerted hospitals in the area, GPs and other health officials and are endeavouring to contact everyone in the area who is registered with us who may be vulnerable.
Public health consultant of the south west London Health Protection Unit, Doctor Paul Crook, said: The Health Protection Agency has advised that people need take no further action apart from ensuring their water is boiled before drinking, as described above. The HPA considers the risk to people’s health to be low. If anyone were to be taken ill they should seek medical advice as normal, via NHS Direct or their local doctor.
If customers have any health concerns regarding this advice or require any further medical advice then they should call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
There’s a Stir in Prison
News headlines after Prime Minister’s Questions concentrated on the fact that 344 prisoners convicted of violent offences were amongst the 1700 released early to prevent overcrowding. Gordon Brown attempted to squirm out of the situation by claiming that none had been convicted of serious violent offences.
Another statistic unearthed in a written Parliamentary Question by Edward Garnier MP got less attention. 951 out of 1390 (68%) released over two days earlier this month had previously been refused release on Home Detention Curfew.
These 951 prisoners were not seen as suitable for releasing into the community with a tag on so that they can be found. What do they then do? Release them into the community with no tag on.