Thanks to Briohny Williams and BBC Online News for the Headline
The trial of automated driverless vehicles being currently run in London by the Wayve in conjunction with Uber has resulted in a protest by taxi drivers and bus driver unions outside Wayves offices in Kings Cross, London.
Not only do people who workin “driving” vehicles want to protect their jobs , but they also say that by adding “driverless vehicles ” onto the roads that this will increase congestion in London and they thought that Tfl’s (Transport for London’s) plan was to reduce the number of cars driving in Central London not increase them.
Wayve argue that driverless cars will be safer, but how about if one of the passengers gets ill, will a driverless car change it’s route to get to the nearest hospital or can it stop and offer first aid. What happens if the person using the vehicle needs assistance to get into it?
I’m no luddite but sometimes it’s nice to have a human presence, even if they can talk the hindlegs off a donkey.
I remember about fifteen years ago standing under a phone mast in a misty field surrounded by sheep on high ground in a farmers field in Cornwall. There was still no reception.
The masts are essential for rural areas and I’m sure connectivity has improved but it seems that the rental contracts between the farmer and the Telecomms operators have not been honoured and the monies the farmer’s receive have been greatly reduced.
This is due to changes made to the Electronic Communicatons Code in 2017 which has exposed people renting their land to host a ‘Phone Mast’ to lower rents in order to make the infrastructure investment cheaper and in theory increase coverage, but in fact could do the opposite.
This is definitely a David versus Goliath scenario , with the Telecoms operators unwilling to negotiate and saying “see you in court”, which of course the farmer will in most cases be unable afford. It’s risking time and money to try and get fair treatment.
Again common sense should prevail, you cannot cut a rent that was agreed fifteen years ago, just because you want the infrastructure to be cheaper.
Also the farmer’s land is his and who he gives access to it is up to him. To have a decent infrastructure the masts need to be maintained and located where they can provide the best coverage.
Surely at the very least there should be an arbitration service to act as a go between between the landowner and the telecoms operator.
Thanks to Conor Hunt and RTE News Online for the Headline
Doubling rents is normally associated with the profiteering private sector, however, in this instance it’s one of the largest local authority estates in Wicklow in Ireland. One woman’s rent has gone up from €200 to €400 euros /month. For someone on a fixed income this is crippling.
The local authority are saying that this is the first review since 2019, but this is not the tenants fault. Inflation and economic changes over the years should be looked at each year as doubling someone’s rent is bound to hit the headlines.
Also as part of the tenancy agreement , the tenants are required to keep the local authority informed of any change in their financial circumstances. Wicklow County council has said its rents are based on the ability to pay.
A local councillor has argued that the rent rise is too steep and along with other cost of living increases such as heating and energy rises it will push people over the brink and into debt. Wicklow Council should reconsider their review .
The Council have said that although they planned to introduce the increase in October ’26 , it will now be moved forward to November ’26.
Thanks to Deborah Haynes of Sky News Online for the Headline.
Tell me when a politician ever had a ‘frank conversation’ with the public about anything, generally they are trying to talk up their performance or reassure everyone that everything is going to plan.
Sir Roy Walker was addressing 700 troops on a visit to Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire and he talked about Citizen sacrifice and that the general public had to support the soldiers by making sacrifices ( does he mean paying more tax?) or having curfews and not travelling anywhere. Doing a collection for the British Legion or knitting socks as people did in World War One and Two. Have no fear Sir Roy whatever you need us to do we will do.
Sir Roy says that the Citizen support is necessary and that the army can do what ” it only can do” by bringing the fight to the enemy. Strong words .
The reality is modern warfare has changed beyond recognition with the introduction and use of drones and the amount of spy software , satellites and intelligence makes bringing the fight to the enemy quite a different scenario.
Perhaps Sir Roy was just rousing the troops, it’s his role , however , Media outlets can use these words as rabble rousing and scaring people into believing that another War is imminent , when the reality is that there are a lot of people working for Peace and perhaps we need to support them too.
Thanks to Colletta Smith and Elaine Doran and BBC News Online for the Headline.
There are two sides to every story, Royal Mail Management are firm in their belief that they are doing the right thing and introducing working methods that will bring more efficiency Apparently it is code named DM26.
In truth I think I paid £1.36 to send a letter first class, and actually the local post office in a big Supermarket is always very friendly and efficient. However, I only send letters once in a blue moon and restrict myself to close family when it comes to Christmas Cards.
So I’m sad to see that the Communication Workers Union say that on a weekly basis a significant number of the 83,000 workforce of Royal Mail delivery workers are leaving, because their job is becoming more and more difficult with the priorities of making first class letter deliveries every day , whereas second class are now delivered every other day, and they’ve got to fit in parcels too.
An average of 25,000 steps a day to deliver mail is for some a great way to stay fit, but for some it will wear them out. Also , some are upset because they say that first class letters get left behind because they need to catch up on all the second class that they have got behind on. Actually it seems a bit daft, if they all arrive at the sorting office together , why not just deliver them. I thought all the sorting was automated anyway.
Ofcom have fined Royal Mail more than £37million over the last three years for missing delivery targets. I wonder what happened to that money? Actually I think anyone who criticises Royal Mail should have to do 25,000 steps a day and see how they like it.
And now with the advent of Christmas , which is a terrible time for posties, the weather is bad , everything has to be delivered in time for Christmas and people still forget to put their Post Codes on their addresses. Royal Mail recruit about 22,000 temporary staff to help out, but it’s still a pretty tough time to try and hit targets.
Thanks to Holly Phillips and BBC News Online for the Headline
This headline helped answer a very important question ,what do people with Stoma bags need when they are out and about and need to access Public Toilets ? According to Colostomy UK there are more than 200,000 people in the UK living with a stoma.
A campaigner in East Yorkshire has successfully achieved her goal for more Stoma friendly toilets in the local hospitals, where shelves and mirrors have been installed in the facilities as well as coat hooks and a disposable waste system. This is to enable a change of bag when needed.
These are not expensive alterations, and could be accommodated Nationwide and even Globally.
Thank you to Helen Gregory and LandlordZone for the Headline
Facts,statistics and Lobbyists. In this particular instance an ex-Housing Minister (during Grenfell Tower Fire) who also held the post of Chief of Staff in Downing Street under PM Theresa May is leading the Prosper UK Housing Commission’s lobby to get the recently passed Parlimentary Law, the Renter’s Rights Act, changed to encourage investment in the Public Rental Supply.
The argument is that the only way to ensure rents are affordable is to ensure supply and that new landlords will not invest in property unless the conditions are right for them. The lobby is asking for a statutory exclusion preventing rent controls, backed by a ten-year agreement between ministers and the sector on rent indexation, to give investors greater certainty and clarity over future returns.
In reality they are not looking to offer “affordable rates ” but are looking to guarantee their investment and indeed control rents for ten years and then foist whatever they want on the poor renter for another ten year period. So a hike every ten years.
Whatever your thoughts on this, the professional lobbyist, particularly with the pedigree of an ex-MP who admirably managed to raise a Private Members Bill ( on Mental Health Discrimination) and successfully got it through Parliament is well placed to head this campaign.
It is just unfortunate that their career is a bit checkered by the fact that in the run up to the Grenfell disaster, they largely ignored warning from the All- Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Fire Safety and Rescue chaired by David Amess MP. They were contacted seven times about the dangers of Class O fire rated materials , and received the last letter 26 days before the Grenfell Tower fire and took no action.
Whatever your thoughts on “investment properties” or how we organise Public Housing, relying on a market that is “controlled ” by Ministers and the sector rent indexation is extremely dangerous.
Perhaps for the future what people can afford to pay for decent housing needs a practical problem-solving approach not a percentage monetary gain approach.
Thanks to Rebecca Whittaker and the Independent Online for the Headline
Wheat , apples and carrots are half as nutritious as they were in the 1960’s a new study as suggested due to declining soil quality.
Researchers found food, such as cereals and bread had lost 20 to 50 per cent of several key nutrients, including potassium, magnesium and copper and that people today have to eat about twice the fruit and veg today to get the same benefits of those 60 years ago.
Potentially, along with the use of weight-loss drugs, this drop in nutrients could mean that 5million working adults in the UK are functioning with below safe levels of essential vitamins and minerals. The worrying trend in working environments of working lunches or no lunch at all will I think contribute to this.
The supplement manufacturers will have a field day based on this research.
Worldwide , the study authors warn more than 2 billion people still have at least one clinical mircro-nutrient deficiency. This is well documented in the UK and US where despite a diet high in calories , diet is still low in nutrients such as selenium and folate.
Apparently soil health is the answer and farmers can achieve this and still be profitable , improving nutrient density, yields and climate resilience all at once . The article doesn’t explain how they can do this or what they have been doing that has caused this situation. Where is Jeremy Clarkson when you need him?
I had a quick look at some recommendations which include less tilling( let the worms do their work).Aiming for better nutrient balance routinely and scientifically test soil and match the status of the soil to crop requirements. Add farmyard manures, digestate , compost and biosolids which can increase soil organic matter in arable soils .ie we need cow manure and chicken manure. There’s just too many ways to improve the soil for me to list here.
So actually organic farming isn’t far off from what we need to do, it’s application of all these principals to get back to where we were 60 years ago. I haven’t watched Clarkson’s Farm but yet again the farmers are the ones who have to put this in place and we have to support them to do it.
Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏
The illustration contrasts drought-stressed soil with a thriving, root-rich garden ecosystem.
Thanks to Sarah Booker-Lewis and Cash Murphy and BBC Online News for the Headline
Sad to see that despite evidence to the contrary not being made available to the decision makers ( or did they just not want to know?) that Wellington House in Brighton which offers care to 21 people is going to be shut with an estimated saving of £336,000 a year.
Although the facility will not close until all of the 21 people affected “have a been transitioned to an alternative service”. Their words.
Some Councillors argued that Evidence should have been made available to the Cabinet meeting of Council prior to them making their decision from Leaders in special schools in the area, who know the numbers who will require Wellington House in the future.
One estimate of costs relating to the needs of these adults currently using Wellington House is £250,000/year for each adult. So for a saving of £336,000 , the Council may end up spending over £5 million/year. Yes I’m scratching my head too.
Not to mention the loss of social cohesion and community that the people of Wellington House currently have. I’d be interested to know what plans the Council have for the real estate Wellington House is part of.
Although this is in Brighton , to be honest decision making like this can be anywhere in the UK or the World for that matter.
Thanks to Victoria Bourne and BBC Online News for the Headline
Maricarmen Escabel 87 ,was carried out on a stretcher from her home of 70 years after being evicted by an investment Company Urbagestión who had bought the apartment building she had lived in all her life and insisted that she paid double the rent for which of course she did not have the money for.
Thankfully her Lawyer in negotiations with Urbagestión have successfully gained their agreement to let her stay at the rent that she was paying and could afford out of her pension.
However Senora Escabel is in hospital and is not well enough to hear the good news, largely due to being traumatised by the process of the eviction. I hope she recovers and is able to move back to her apartment with the confidence that she can live her final years in her “home”.
Who ever owns the investment Company Urbagestión should be ashamed of themselves. The name suggests Urban Management, and I would dearly love to know the owners behind this facade who thought it appropriate to hound a woman out of her home of 70 years.
It’s by no mean definite that Maricarmen will be able to move back to her apartment as she has suffered so much. However, I wish her well and think that she should get some reparation from Urbagestión for their harsh actions, lack of understanding and greed.
