[Youngian]

However poor an area is in terms of private sector jobs, central government can at least make sure it's got a nice hospital and roads.

This approach benefits everyone, unlike subsidies for car plant buyouts that end up in director-shareholder pensions.
Defence is the strongest sector where ministers can push a button and plants open at locations of their choosing. And public sector regeneration in metropolitan city centres since the 80s have been mainly successful.

[The Weeping Angel]

[Yug]

The London equivalent of those wankers who buy the house next to the village church and complain to the council about the noise of the bells.

[Boiler]

Although we haven't lost the bells, we did lose the church clock striking the hour...

[Tubby Isaacs]

Good news here. Sounds like Westminster Council (which the Tories won back) can't do anything about it.

Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, has suggested he will overrule a residents’ society that has vowed to challenge all new applications for pubs and restaurants in Soho.

The Guardian revealed last week that the Soho Society, a residents’ group established in 1972 aimed at “preserving the character of Soho”, voted for a new licensing mandate, meaning it will challenge all new applications for bars and restaurants in the area, including renewals of existing licences.

It will also object to any venue that wishes to open beyond “core hours”, which Westminster council decrees end at 11pm. Many have complained that it is very difficult to get a drink or a meal in central London after 11pm due to the “core hours” policy.

Khan said this is “bad for London” and that new powers granted to him by government, coming into force later this year, will allow him to “extend London’s late-night offer”.

[Youngian]

The Guardian revealed last week that the Soho Society, a residents’ group established in 1972 aimed at “preserving the character of Soho”,

Pornographers, jazz and Maltese cosh gangs?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Pornographers, jazz and Maltese cosh gangs?

You ever seen this? It's great.

[Youngian]

Pornographers, jazz and Maltese cosh gangs?

You ever seen this? It's great.

Jack Spot, former king of the underworld Was he born on probation like the Pirahnna Brothers?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Jack Spot seems like a nice chap in that film, doesn't he?

[davidjay]

Jack Spot seems like a nice chap in that film, doesn't he?

He wore hand-stitched suits and wound up with a hand-stitched face.

[Youngian]

I take it Jack's interned rivals weren't Japanese or German mobsters.

[Tubby Isaacs]

News from Falmouth, where an expansion of the port to allow more cruise ships to stop there is being planned.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... uise-ships

The environmental arguments are above my pay station, so I leave those out. But some of the other arguments here are pretty ridiculous. Are we really to believe that people who arrive in Falmouth don't spend money in shops and restaurants? The writer did find one shop where they don't spend money, so it goes right in to the article. The increased footfall maybe exaggerated- it seems like a booming business this year, with 80,000 passengers expected. We can probably assume that the predicted 200,000 a year is exaggerated. But if it isn't and it's agreed to be too many, can't the port restrict numbers to what it's comfortable with? This sounds like an opportunity that lots of coastal places would kill for. If, as a couple of people say, the passengers just get off the ship and go somewhere else, which sounds unlikely, couldn't the town get some more attractions together.

I went to Falmouth about 5 years ago in mid summer and it was nice. I don't recall it being Padstow-like in overcrowding either. I don't get the problem really.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I take it Jack's interned rivals weren't Japanese or German mobsters.

They were Italians, the Sabinis from Clerkenwell. The main Sabini, Charles (known as Darby), was 50 when the war broke out and would have been pretty anglicized, having been born in Holborn. He was interned for about a year only, but then got nicked for handling stolen goods and sent to prison for three more years.

[Yug]

This sounds like an opportunity that lots of coastal places would kill for.

Who's up for a cruise to Jaywick?



Not saying Jaywick couldn't do with the money, mind.

[The Weeping Angel]

Insulting!

https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hi ... -insulting

Rosie Pearson, Founder of the Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons Action Group, said the move is "pathetic":

"The government's presenting it as though it's really a great thing to have this discount off your bills, but it's £250 a year off your bill. And it's like saying basically, we're going to come in and destroy your area, destroy the nature, we're going to destroy businesses, we'll destroy communities.

"When people are harmed financially, they need full financial compensation for any loss, not this tokenistic, insulting, pitiful amount off your bills.

"£250 off your bill is so insulting. There's no polite way of saying how insulting it is to these people who are suffering so much through this project - a project that doesn't need to happen in the form which is happening and which we have given alternatives for that are better for the environment, better for communities and better for bill payers and yet we get ignored.

Ms Pearson says the group wants compensation for people who suffer financial losses because of the project.

She argues homeowners who struggle to sell their properties, businesses affected by the scheme and others who experience financial losses should receive what she describes as "financial justice".

[davidjay]

On the face of it they do seem to have a case.

[The Weeping Angel]

What case? The pylons aren't going to destroy the community, businesses, or the area.

[davidjay]

They could also be laid underground or the money spent on renewables. I don't suppose I'd want pylons next to my house either.

[The Weeping Angel]

Laying them underground would cost more money and take longer, plus they're needed because our network needs to be updated.