Starting to get really optimistic about the Dave & Nick show. Latest is the Government is going to stop centrally funding speed cameras and this means that local authorities will dismantle them - starting with Oxfordshire within the next week or two.
Needless to say the road safety lobby is up in arms but there is precious little evidence to support their contribution to road safety away from urban areas. More than that the British public just views them (rightly in my view) as another means of taxing the motorist. I openly admit I now drive the motorways looking at bridges where they place mobile cameras rather than the traffic around me. I am sure I am not alone in this so how exactly do the cameras contribute to road safety?
Amid some publicity a few months ago Swindon - who had an intensive mobile camera campaign as I know to my cost! - decided to abandon them as there had been no effect on accident figures. Why spend money on something that does not work.
More good news is that Lord Young, who was asked to review health & safety and related regulation is about to recommend:
- banning advertising by no win, no fee lawyers (something that drives me absolutely nuts - these are a bunch of pariahs living off the greed of people trying to make a fast buck)
- regulating health and safety consultants ‘robustly’
- cutting the red tape that prevents the police and paramedics from taking physical risks in helping members of the public.
Yipee! Linked to this is the decision that legal aid will be cut for asylum seekers, benefit claimants, parents suing schools and lots of other time wasters who chew up our money instead of getting off their butts and helping themselves.
At last I feel somebody is listening.
Mr Oldfart Well said sir, time this country stamped down heavily on these seeking to take advantage of others.Just a bit concerned about Lord Young cracking down on ” pariahs..greed… making a fast buck ” etc. Speaking as an IT consultant I feel this may curtail my earning potential considerably. May I suggest an exemption clause for a few chosen professions? Best Wishes Mal
Hey Old fart
Did you see me on TV yesterday ? Just when I have been written off in the UK Ive found a whole new fan club in Africa . They love me they think Im the messiah and of course Im milking it to the full . In fact some of my old mates in New Labour said how relaxed I look - well wouldnt they be if they had a load of African dictators showering them with readies !That silly old sod Andy Pandy should have gone for a bit of this instead of trying to flog his rediculous book to make a few quid .
Anyroad I am a bit miffed really at Dave and Nick . I mean all the great things that took me and my buddies 13 years to implement are being trashed in weeks . And without a moments thought for the consequences . Take Health and Safety - you just wait until all that is dismantled we will have people slipping in supermarkets , putting their waste food in the wrong bin , and people in villages ringing church bells without the proper safety equipment . You know what it will be like Africa !
So heres my plan . Im staying here and Im going to introduce all the New Labour ideas to Africa - at least they appreciate me . And Ive told them they need to invest in IT so if you would like a bit of the action give me a call and you and I can rekindle our friendship .
All the best
Gordie
Dear Mr. Smelly, Proprietor Old Fart’s Blog,
I write to you as Chairman of The Federation of No Win No Fee Lawyers.
It has been reported by our Blog Surveillance Unit that you quoted on your blog that we were ‘ a bunch of pariahs living off the greed of people trying to make a fast buck’. We take extreme exception to this statement and as a result have instructed our legal department to sue for injury caused.
You will hear from them in due course once our Legal Aid application as been accepted.
Yours
Simon Swindells esq.
Am I in a mood or what, Oldfart. The job was mine and I was best qualified. But because of political pressure the board of BP have given the CEO’s job to Bo Didley. Where’s the justice in that eh? Can he sing ” My old man’s a dustman like me ” Eh?
Come on Lonnie you know I was first choice noboby can sing ‘Oil Be Seenin You’ like me!
Oldfart
That silly old bugger Lonnie is all steamed up about me getting to number 1 at BP . The thing is My Old Mans a Dustman was OK but BP have got oil to clean up not trash and they reckon my working all those years down in Chicago with Muddy Waters was more relevent
Bo