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Not in the UK currently but I hear you are concerned about the current heatwave

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33316985

Jun 30, 2015 at 2:23 AM | Unregistered CommenterRob Burton

@Phillip Bratby

indeed ... we've just told HM Planning Inspectorate to stuff "their" inquiry - on the grounds that they were colluding with "the opposition" (The EA - 20 minutes brisk walk away) to truncate both the terms of reference and the timescale to exclude the primary reasons that the inquiry was sanctioned in the first place. PINs are not - and never should be regarded as honest players when other bureaucrats are in play - rather like the Local Government Ombudsman....

As far as councillors and planners are concerned it's S106 that gets them drooling for the most part. Some believe it's carte blanche for extortion.

Jun 29, 2015 at 8:42 PM | Registered Commentertomo

Top activist organisation the BBC subheaded its report as 'Triumph for democracy' accompanied by the usual dodgy graphics

Jun 29, 2015 at 1:10 PM | Registered Commenterstewgreen

They have also reported the US supreme court making a decision the BBC doesn't like. Thus, "pollution" is no longer good enough and is now "toxic pollution"

And, wait for it, there is the mandatory picture of a stack emitting steam. Nothing unusual by BBC standards, I hear you say. But instead of the usual trick taking of the photo at sunset to make white steam look black, the photo is taken from low in long grass. Thus the vegetation itself appears to be clouding the sky with a darker smoke.

I wonder if they have some greenpeace intern working full time to produce a didgy-dossier of "pollution" photos for the BBC?

Jun 29, 2015 at 8:32 PM | Unregistered Commentermichael hart

I too have seen many councillors in action and they are very much a mixed bunch. Some very good and well-informed ones and lots who you wouldn't ask to organise the proverbial. A lot are just plain thick, ignorant or stupid.

I've also seen a victory for democracy (overwhelming local objections, 7 parishes voting against and a unanimous refusal by the planning committee) being overturned by a single Government-appointed Planning Inspector. What did the BBC say about this local democracy? I leave you to guess. PS it wasn't a small fracking site but a large wind farm.

Jun 29, 2015 at 8:18 PM | Registered CommenterPhillip Bratby

@Observer

half may be an exaggeration

I'm careful about insulting people and I differentiate between ignorance ( a curable condition) and stupidity which is a chronic condition. No amount of education would have the slightest effect on some (far too many) councilors I've seen in action.

Like the motto of a blog some of you might know:

"Never try to teach a pig to sing - it wastes your time and it annoys the pig"

Jun 29, 2015 at 8:04 PM | Registered Commentertomo

Having observed several planning meetings from the press gallery, I can endorse tomos' comment (1.30 pm).
The sad fact is that local councils are stuffed with half-educated (half may be an exaggeration) numpties whose only interest is to get themselves re-elected.
Greenies who don't understand the principles of constitutionality call it "a victory for democracy" when in fact it is nothing more than mob rule.
These same fans of "democracy" don't have any compunction about wrecking GM trials endorsed by our democratically elected government.

Jun 29, 2015 at 7:39 PM | Unregistered CommenterObserver

@stewgreen/greensand

I note that the Plumpton anti-fracking decision was subheaded by the beeb 'Triumph for Democracy' but the Windy Edge decision against the windmills was not (an altogether briefer report albeit on perhaps a less newsworthy event). Maybe the Windy Edge was a triumph of nimbyism.

As to the anti-frackers, one wonders whether any of them have gas central heating at home...

Jun 29, 2015 at 7:18 PM | Unregistered CommenterJit

More green ideas drifting into the shallows of unintended consequences...

There's an article over at The Register about smart meters where there's some interesting comments.

One consequence of the proposed UK smart metering system (beyond costing more than a replacement Trident submarine fleet ) is that it'd possibly require 4 to 5 London Array (O.K. likely even more than that!) sized windfarms to power the meters and associated IT infrastructure to operate it....

Whose idea were these things? really?

Enron in hindsight now look like rank amateurs. There's no truth in the rumor that eBay are in talks to list individual electrons for home delivery.

Jun 29, 2015 at 7:05 PM | Registered Commentertomo

Through gritted teeth BBC report:-

Windy Edge wind farm scheme rejected

" Councillors have refused plans for a wind farm south of Hawick due to concerns over its landscape impact........

.......The project had attracted more than 300 letters of opposition, along with more than 100 in support of the scheme.
Planning officials recommended refusal, saying it would be "incongruous and anachronistic". Councillors voted by six to two to reject the proposals.......

........ Supporters of the scheme claimed the turbines would have less of an impact on the landscape than forestry, and that it would help combat climate change......"

Less impact than forestry?

Jun 29, 2015 at 5:49 PM | Registered CommenterGreen Sand

Tiny

"None of which happened."

But that doesn't mean it might not tomorrow. There's always hope doom.

Jun 29, 2015 at 3:45 PM | Registered Commenterjamesp

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