Bridget's plot to block Heathrow expansion

Lib Dem campaigner Bridget Fox has taken action to stop Heathrow expansion by becoming a co-owner of a field in the path of the controversial third runway, in partnership with Islington-based Greenpeace. And now she's encouraging other Islington residents to do the same.

Bridget explains, "I'm asking people to join me and become a 'beneficial owner' of the land. The plot is in Sipson village, which will be flattened if the runway goes ahead. Anyone who wants to buy or develop the land will need to contact each one of us, so the more the merrier!"

The Labour Government has now announced that it will go ahead with a third runway, despite huge protests. The Government has not let Parliament decide, and Labour backbenchers have failed to force a vote.

Bridget says, "Expanding Heathrow is bad news for all of us, including Islington. Local people will suffer with increased noise and pollution if the runway is built; and millions of pounds is being diverted into the massive planning process in the meantime. Grafting an airport the size of Gatwick onto Heathrow will generate the same carbon emissions as Kenya. It's madness.

"Instead of wasting money on a white elephant airport, the Government should be listening to the Lib Dems. We're calling for a Green Road out of the Recession, creating lasting jobs in energy efficiency, zero-carbon homes, and modern high-speed rail links."
Greenpeace's Airplot campaign



Islington residents who want to become beneficial owners of the land can sign up free of charge on the Greenpeace website at www.greenpeace.org.

10.25.00am GMT Fri 16th Jan 2009

Heathrow expansion - disaster for Islington and the planet

Local Liberal Democrats have condemned the Government's plans to build a third runway at Heathrow, which will increase noise pollution in North London as well as being a climate change catastrophe.

The airport expansion plans came as a blow to environmental campaigners, as Heathrow's annual CO2 emissions are set to rise by 10 million tonnes a year.

But the Government announcement also came as unwelcome news to Islington residents who have campaigned against the flight paths that bring low flying jet planes over Islington at unsociable hours- particularly between 5 and 7am. Department of Transport maps show that aircraft approaching the new runway will fly over Hampstead and Islington before beginning their descent over Paddington.

Julia Williams, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hillrise ward, commented:

"I'm a light sleeper and have been personally annoyed and woken up by noisy planes flying low overhead, particularly in the early mornings from 5am. Many residents of Islington - from Crouch Hill to Clerkenwell- have told me they've had the same problems. We've collected petitions and written to the Government, who have obviously ignored us.

"The Labour Government's decision is to support whatever the aviation industry asks for, rather than the needs and wishes of ordinary people. It's now very clear whose side Labour are on: it's clear that they've sold out to big business."

Please sign our 'Quiet Skies' petition at:

http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/IslingtonQuietSkies

The Liberal Democrats have called for investment in new high-speed railway connecting London with Scotland and the north and for more connections between St. Pancras International to German and Dutch railways, instead of more flights into Heathrow Airport.

11.28.00am GMT Tue 20th Jan 2009

The PFI debacle in Camden Social Housing

Five towers on the Chalcots were lucky to be selected for the £150M PFI retrofit 4 year makeover works, or at least the residents had hoped would be the case.

A different story is now slowly emerging that sets the tone of building problems to come over the 15 year PFI contract period.

Click photo left and you will just about be able to see the panels peeling off !

Question: What does a contractor do when faced with an output driven specification to deliver to a quasi "Decent Homes Standard".

You have probably guessed the answer already; build to that standard, especially as it only represents the minimum standards that builders can get away with.

The output specification is met and the client Camden is satisfied.

It now turns out that the cladding system and metal window system which only just meets the thermal insulation levels to pass current building standards is inadequate. As I have reported in previous blogs during the "cold winter snap" levels of condensation on the metal window frames have been unacceptable and black mould fungus has been popping up (mostly on the silicon sealant) everywhere in many of the resident homes during the past months, more are being reported to me every week.

I have started to dig around in the details of the window specifications themselves, it is clear to read that the windows used are the minimum specified by Schüco. That is not to say that the windows are bad but indicates that in the environment for which they have been installed is unsuitable.

All windows are made to a “thermal insulation” standard. A basic solid wood non-insulated frame provides about 1.4W/m2K. Double glazed glass with argon gas is rather better at 1.2W/m2K. (The lower the U value the better the insulation).

However, here is the rub the Schüco window frames installed on the Chalcots are around 3.9 W/m2K which represents a very poor level of thermal insulation. Which when you take into consideration the exposed nature of the “five” towers facing the Primrose Hill, leads to a thermally inefficient design that HAS already presented all the classic signs of high levels of cold bridge condensation on the metal frames.

As important is the increased energy costs to heat these new refurbished buildings, energy is basically going out the window and with it an increased CO2 footprint for Camden. Compared to what could have been achieved with improved insulation provision.

To add double insult to all the residents of the Chalcots, heating cost are set to increase by 13% over the year for Camden housing properties.

One of the key “selling features” that was used to get buy-in from the 717 resident homes was the fact that an energy efficient saving design was put forward.

Also the level of thermal cladding itself is only what has been described to me as a bare minimum, the architects HTA publicly state in press articles that their design concept is “London Borough of Camden is aiming to deliver a 30% cut in CO2 emissions”

When one considers that the original 40 year old buildings with high prevailing winds facing the Primrose Hill with no double glazed windows (using only one single sheet glass) literally losing up to 50% of heat through the old single sheet windows and cold concrete walls. Then 30% reduction represents only a small improvement of energy efficiency in the wider perspective.

Yes it is a welcome improvement but does it represent good value for a £150M PFI project that is the big question still to be answered.

Author: Nigel Rumble 20 January 2009

Clegg voices school leaver fears

School and college leavers aged 16-24 will "bear the brunt" of Gordon Brown's "economic mismanagement", Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has said.

He accused the prime minister of "pointless initiatives" and warned against a "poisonous legacy" of unemployment for the next generation.

At a one-day conference in London he also outlined plans for better college funding and tackling student debt.

Last week Mr Brown announced a scheme to create 35,000 more apprenticeships.

But the prime minister's efforts will not create a single new permanent job, Mr Clegg added.

Today's school leavers could be the first generation in living memory "to end up worse off than their parents", he claimed.

'On the scrapheap'

According to the Lib Dem leader, two million young people who grew up under a Labour government live in poverty and are now being "hit hard by the recession".

He added: "After having already suffered under Gordon Brown's failure to sort out our education system, this generation now bears the heaviest brunt of his economic mismanagement.

"We have to make sure this recession does not leave a poisonous legacy for teenagers and young adults. We must not allow a whole generation to end up on the scrapheap of long-term unemployment."

He also questioned the effectiveness of Mr Brown's efforts to boost the economy - including a £140m government scheme to boost apprenticeships - claiming it would not lead to a single new permanent job.

Promising internships to graduates does nothing to address the fear of permanent unemployment, he said.

He also claimed the government is creating new apprenticeships when "thousands of existing apprentices are being thrown off their courses".

In a reference to Mr Brown's plan to help 500,000 people into work or training, announced at a "jobs summit" on Monday, he added: "He tries to bribe businesses struggling to keep their heads above water with £2,500 to take on the long-term unemployed - that won't create a single job."

The Lib Dems say they would scrap that plan and put all additional funding into new apprenticeships.

Mr Clegg told the BBC he wants to transform the entire education system, starting with the very young and improved childcare and smaller infant class sizes.

He also said the Lib Dems would provide better college funding to give students the same support as in universities and would tackle "crippling" student debt.
Source: BBC 17th January 2009

Member of Parliament stopped for taking photos

"A MP taking photographs in public has been stopped and searched under Terrorism Act powers.

According to Croydon Guardian, Andrew Pelling, MP for Croydon Central, aroused suspicion when he was taking pictures of a cycle path in his constituency as he was collecting evidence about the problems caused to cyclists by maintenance works.

Despite showing his Commons pass, the MP was questioned and searched by two police officers. They issued him with a stop-and-search notice before letting him go." Source BJP 8 January 2009

I reported on the 9th January about the arrest of photographer Reuben Powell who had been held in detention for almost five hours before being released on the involvement of MP Simon Hughes. The loss of liberty to take photographs is a very serious emerging "social disaster" it is verging on a totalitarian "Orwellian" state. It is clear that as we are in a heightened security world we must exercise caution. The MI5 "Threat levels advisory" states "The current threat level is assessed as SEVERE" (as of 4th July 2007). Does that mean for a member of the public let alone a MP taking photographs of a cycle lane as way of example of a “long-neglected bicycle and pedestrian route” is to be considered a potential act of terrorism, I think not but it must be clear what is and what is not permissible to photograph, especially for the Police who have to enforce the law. The Police are stretched to breaking point as it stands with gun, knife and drug related crimes.

In many countries around the world it is generally not permitted to photograph Airports, Train stations and Government buildings without permission. It would appear that this is a sensible precaution during these dark times, but to extend this to "cycle lanes" is one step too far! The point I make is that there must be "proper guidelines as to what is classified non permissible photography.

I feel that common sense must now prevail, there have been too many cases in past months of innocent people going about their business, such as members of the public, photographers, press and politicians being either stopped or arrested under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (see "Liberty" for a legal explanation)

Author: Nigel Rumble

Photographer arrested under Terrorism Act saved by MP Simon Hughes

An artist and photographer was arrested last week in London as he was taking photos of Elephant and Castle. He was deemed an "unnacceptable security risk".

Reuben Powell was taking a photo of a site at Elephant and Castle when three policemen stopped him. He was handcuffed and held at the nearby police station for almost five hours. According to reports, he was released only after a call from MP Simon Hughes, who had been alerted by residents.

Powell has been documenting the evolution of Elephant and Castle for an exhibition in the shopping centre.

"Reuben Powell is an unlikely terrorist, writes The Independent today. This artist has been photographing and drawing life around Elephant & Castle for 25 years. But, last week he was arrested and detained for five hours because his work posed an unacceptable security risk. He was handcuffed and had his genetic material stored permanently on the DNA database."

Source BJP 6 January 2009

Confiscating savings from the poor is stupid and cruel

The danger now is of deepening recession mutating into deflation

Four months ago, in September, the Bank of England was debating whether to increase interest rates beyond 5 per cent to counter mounting inflation. There were people who thought that crude oil, then $140 a barrel, would soon fetch $200 or even $250. That world now seems light years away.

As it became clear that we faced a serious recession we Liberal Democrats broke the taboo of the political and economic Establishment by calling on the Monetary Policy Committee to cut interest rates by 2 per cent initially. Our call was treated like a rude noise in church. But it has happened - and more - and we now have a two per cent base rate.

The danger now is of deepening recession mutating into deflation and a downward spiral of falling prices and wages. The Bank of England have to minimise that risk. They should cut further today and keep cutting: the classic response favoured by monetarists and Keynesians alike.

The base rate is, however, becoming a secondary concern in banking and monetary policy. The issue is now the supply of credit more than the price. Despite the injection of capital the banks are on strike. They are cutting lending, even to sound business customers, large as well as small. The Government must break the strike. But it should start by sorting out the confusion and contradictions in its own policy.

It wants banks to lend to business but simultaneously wants its investment back as soon as possible. And it demands that banks hold more liquidity in the form of government bonds: that is lending to Government.

Nor is it sensible to demand that banks pass on the full rate cuts to borrowers. They have to earn a margin on the money they get from deposits or the markets. Even mutuals like the Nationwide Building Society have the same concerns, and they cannot be accused of the sins of shareholder capitalism since they are wholly-owned by their depositors.

In the next few weeks the Government must clarify its objectives and direct the banks which it partly owns and has rescued. It may be that one or more of the big, partially nationalised, banks will have to be taken over fully and become a vehicle for new business lending.

Meanwhile, Barclays' eye-wateringly expensive deal with Arab investors has clearly failed to maintain lending on normal commercial terms, even to big British businesses. They must now begin talks with the Treasury about money.

In the meantime, interest rate cuts are provoking a savers' revolt. It is right to balance the immediate requirement for consumer spending with the need to maintain (and strengthen) a long-term savings culture for retirement, long term care - and mortgage deposits.

Savers will benefit from very low, or negative, inflation; their bank deposits have been given an implicit guarantee by the Government; and some - with money locked into good fixed interest deposits - are doing well. The real scandal is the penal treatment of savings under the means-tested benefit and pension credit system. The Government, in effect, is confiscating savings from the poor and thereby destroying their incentive to save: this is a stupid and cruel policy.

Some worry remains too about the effects of interest rate cuts on sterling. The danger of a flight from the currency has not disappeared. But so far the effects of devaluation have been largely benign - except for those poor souls on skiing holidays or living an expat existence in the Mediterranean sun. Coordinated cuts with the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve will help to minimise the risks however.

The big, looming, monetary issue is "quantitative easing": that is, printing money. What happens is that the government borrows from the Bank of England, not from the markets. It expands the money supply to keep the economy going and also to counter deflation without simultaneously increasing government debt. The attractions are obvious, as are the dangers.

The Robert Mugabe school of economics provides a salutary warning about uncontrolled monetary expansion in generating hyper-inflation. The road to Harare is not as long as we might hope. Monetary easing may prove to be necessary but will have to be managed with great skill and care: Too little easing and the crisis drags on - as in Japan. If there is too much, the authorities face the messy task of mopping-up liquidity by issuing bonds which add to the burden of borrowing or else we lurch back from deflation to inflation. So interest rates may soon become yesterday's story.

By Vince Cable in The Independent, Thursday, 8 January 2009