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Hammersmith Bridge - yet again

I had looked forward to Fleur Anderson’s opening speech in the debate on the bridge that she had organised (https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-04-21/debates/5ECDA129-8BFA-423F-853B-4B36F0114E7C/details), but it wasn’t very impressive: full of completely over-the-top hyperbole: “seven years of disruption, frustration and avoidable hardship …. profound and far-reaching consequences …. The impact on daily life has been severe, sustained and deeply felt …. a fundamental barrier to daily life” – for goodness’ sake, that’s all rather a lot for what is actually only a genuine nuisance for some, don’t you think? There were also some very dodgy figures to support the lack of evidence for her claims (quite apart from their muddling in the effects of the much more significant remodelling of the Putney Bridge junction). To take just three of these:
·       “Before the closure, around 22,000 vehicles crossed the bridge each day. Those journeys have not disappeared; they have simply been forced on to other routes.” Not true: as Freedom of information request FOI-1103-1920  has shown, the 25,000 daily crossings of Hammersmith Bridge before (partial) closure were replaced by an increase of only15,500 on neighbouring bridges after the closure. In other words, 9,500 river crossings evaporated and were not “forced on to other routes.”·       “Cyclists are put off cycling through Putney because of the higher congestion and heavier traffic, making it feel more unsafe.” In fact cycling across Putney Bridge increased by 27% between 2017 and 2023. ·       “The latest snapshot data from the Department for Transport shows that, between 2020 and 2023, the overall number of motor vehicles on Putney bridge increased by 16%.”  This is an embarrassingly and shamefully bogus claim on two counts: firstly, the because the 2020 figure came from the height of the covid shutdown when travel was artificially reduced so of course there was an increase on that, and secondly, by using those two figures, she was claiming the bridge closure caused problems by comparing traffic after the bridge was closed (2020) with traffic after the bridge was closed (2023). On both counts, 2018 would have been the appropriate initial data point. The interruption to bus routes could have been a problem, but it surely isn't beyond the wit of TfL to arrange for buses on one side to drop passengers so people can walk (or, if of restricted mobility, be carried) across in sustainable transport to the bus on the other side. And all this doesn’t even begin to deal with the huge cost (£300 million at the latest count) and length of time (at least a decade) before completion, by which time attitudes to the car are likely to have been significantly affect by the growing effects of climate change. Altogether, not a very impressive set of arguments

Richard Carter ● 42d1 Comments ● 33d

The horrendous consequence of DEI

A sickening report but this is what DEI and 'gender equality' can lead to.Note that  the accused perverts have not been found not-guilty, only that the trial has been postponed to be restarted at a later date.https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15758847/Jury-discharged-trial-baby-allegedly-sexually-abused-murdered-teacher-process-adopting-boyfriend.html"Jury discharged in trial of baby allegedly sexually abused and murdered by teacher in process of adopting him with his boyfriend"'The jury in the case of a baby boy allegedly sexually abused and murdered by a teacher who was in the process of adopting him with his boyfriend was today formally discharged.Jamie Varley, 37, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, were on trial at Preston Crown Court accused of sexually abusing Preston Davey, aged 13 months.Varley was also accused of murdering the tot, who was suffocated and died four months after being placed in the couple’s care.The pair applied and underwent a ‘robust’ vetting process via Oldham Council to adopt a baby and social workers expressed ‘no concerns’ about their suitability as parents.But over the course of the following four months Preston was ‘routinely ill-treated, sexually abused and physically assaulted,’ Peter Wright KC, prosecuting, said.He was taken to hospital by the pair on three separate occasions before he died, including once with a fractured arm.But each time the couple explained away suspicious bruises to doctors, who failed to raise any safeguarding concerns.A post-mortem found the tot had suffered 40 internal and external injuries – including severe bruising to the back of his throat. A pathologist concluded he had been smothered and had died of an ‘acute upper airway obstruction.’Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were arrested later that day on suspicion of neglect. Varley claimed he had been bathing Preston when he nipped away for a short time and returned to find him drowning.But Mr Wright said the pathology evidence did not support that and it was the prosecution case that, earlier that day, Preston had been subjected to two serious sexual assaults by Varley which caused his death.Varley denies murder, sexual assault, assault by penetration, inflicting GBH, four counts of child cruelty, 14 counts of making and taking indecent images of a child, and one charge of distributing an indecent image of a child.McGowan-Fazakerley, a sales rep, denies causing or allowing the death of a child and two counts of child cruelty.The pair face two further joint charges of sexual assault and child cruelty.(Note the description of some of the acts using the baby's mouth).The trial, expected to last six to eight weeks, is expected to start again with a fresh jury panel on Monday.'How these men were given custody of the child is not explained.But the real issue is that any man or male couple should want to and can be given such a responsibility under any circumstances.In my view it displays freakish desire and behaviour.What is their real motive ?As commented in the Spectator -"But in Britain, since 2019, single men have also been allowed to buy babies. In that time 170 men have applied for parental orders.This is even worse than allowing men to work in nurseries. We know that men are vastly more likely to abuse unrelated children than women are. We know that 91.3 per cent of child sexual abusers are male. And we know that paedophiles relentlessly seek out opportunities to access victims. The chance of single parent abuser being caught will be very low, given they may well be the only adult who has regular contact with the child.'The balance between 'individual rights' and 'gender equality' and ordinary common sense is totally skewed in the wrong direction.One can only hope their new friends in Wandsworth jail give them a loving and warm welcome.

John Hawkes ● 41d27 Comments ● 33d

I've been having second thoughts about Trump recently....

Until recently, I’ve thought that the best thing for the world would be for him to be carried off by the men (and women) in white coats. But since the consequence would be the installation of JD Vance as President, I’ve been having distinct second thoughts. Consider a few of the things Vance has been up to lately: Firstly, he fetched up in Budapest to interfere in the Hungarian election, explaining that he was there to condemn “one of the worst examples of foreign election interference I have ever seen or ever even read about.” It’s often said that Americans don’t do irony, but this was absolutely off the scale. Then he opted to popesplain to Leo that “I think it’s very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology. If you’re going to opine on matters of theology, you’ve got to be careful.” Yes, indeedy. Finally, he addressed a young MAGA audience this week (he'd need their votes in a future presidential run) about his achievements in office. “One of the things I’m proudest that we’ve done in this administration was the decision to end US military and financial support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. “Note the language,” Gerard Baker writes in the Times today, “he chose not to frame the decision as, say, a difficult but necessary choice about the best use of American resources. For Vance, it is a source of pride — a cause for moral self-approbation — that he helped cut off assistance to a free nation fighting against its continuing rape by an international predator. It almost makes the odd stupidity seem quite appealing.” Almost? In view of all this and other pronouncements by this Titan, I’m looking forward to Putney’s very own Make American Gaga Again chapter to explain to us how such a man would make an excellent US President.

Richard Carter ● 46d33 Comments ● 42d

Is Trump completely unhinged?

I think you know the answer to that: a resounding YES! First he launches a massive war on Iran because of its (nonexistent) imminent threat to produce nuclear bombs, or to produce regime change, or to stop it producing long-range rockets, or something – the supposed threats keep changing so no one really knows what the aims of the war are, except for the aggrandisement of President Donald J. Trump...
Then when the regime reacts with its only effective countermeasure (which anyone with a brain in the White House should have predicted), to close the Straits of Hormuz, he walks away saying he didn’t care, nothing to do with him, and someone else should clear up the mess he’d just made.
Now he’s been issuing ultimata (several times postponed!) to bomb Iran into the stone “ages” [sic] by bombing its energy sites and, by implication, its desalination plants – a war crime in itself.
Finally, we get yet another postponement: in an expletive-laden rant he has threatened Iran with “hell” if it doesn’t back down – to which the response is likely to be to destroy the desalination plants of the Gulf allies, which would render life there unsupportable.
You don’t have to be a supporter of the vile regime in Iran (and I’m certainly not one) to regard this as completely unhinged, the behaviour of a frustrated toddler, lying on the ground and kicking his legs in a temper - except that it is much more serious than that. Time to invoke the 25th Amendment I think, if anyone in Congress has the bottle to do it.

Richard Carter ● 58d117 Comments ● 50d

Newly Planted Street Trees

It is heartening to see that Wandsworth is working with a charity to organise the planting of trees.  This has worked in other boroughs where residents are encouraged to keep an eye on them so that they don't die from drought.  This encourages residents to care for their environment.  It is always good in a city to be able to see the seasons change right outside your door and even better when they are big enough and you can watch the first leaves come out, the bees visiting the flowers, the birds darting in and out and the leaves changing colour and falling as the months pass by all from your bedroom window.Last summer the tree that had been outside my window for nearly 40 years was cut down.  It was tragic and probably unnecessary - many would prefer pruning/pollarding to complete cutting down and chipping.  We suffered pain from its loss but our neighbours suffered  greatly from the loss of its shade during the hot sunny weather.  Our double glazing made a lot of difference.However new trees were planted in the street with the QR codes on them and a message  asking residents to add to the care taken of them.  It's wonderful to see them now covered in buds this Spring.Please everyone cherish your trees and don't let the new saplings being planted die from lack  of water.  It may have been wet recently but our weather has also been hotter and drier too.  Report trees you see suffering to the Council especially in the parks and where no-one else will be able to water them. A plastic milk bottle with a cap and handle filled with water is easier to carry than a watering-can - especially where stairs are involved!

Philippa Bond ● 61d1 Comments ● 60d

Local charity needs volunteers

Do you want to give back to the local community by making a difference that lasts a lifetime?Could you spare 2-4 hours a week to support a local family in need? Home-Start Wandsworth volunteers support families with young children in Wandsworth dealing with a variety of difficulties including: post-natal depression, isolation, physical and mental health problems, bereavement or financial worries. Volunteers work alongside families to give compassionate, non-judgemental, confidential support, tailored to each family. They help families regain their confidence and empower them to build connections with other support services and the wider community to reduce isolation.As a Home-Start volunteer, you will be given all the training and support to be effective and make a real difference to families in your community. Our ongoing training programme helps prepare you to support families in their home, covering a range of topics including mental health, child development, boundaries and safeguarding.Applications will be closing shortly for our next training course, starting on Thursday 7 May and running every Thursdays for 8 weeks excluding 28 May.If you have parental or any other experience with young children, then we would love to hear from you. You don’t need qualifications – all you need is a willingness to help, empathy, enthusiasm, reliability and a little time. Register your interest and we will be in touch: https://bit.ly/3PwjMpi

Melissa Pike ● 69d1 Comments ● 61d

Trump Might Pull Out Of NATO

Donald Trump has told The Telegraph he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of Nato after it failed to join his war on Iran.The US president labelled the alliance a “paper tiger” as he said removing America from the defence treaty was now “beyond reconsideration”.It is the strongest sign yet that the White House no longer regards Europe as a reliable defence partner following the rejection of Mr Trump’s demand that allies send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.Mr Trump was asked if he would reconsider the US’s membership of the alliance after the conflict. “Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration,” he replied. “I was never swayed by Nato. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”Nato partners have been reluctant to help reopen the strait, through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil typically travels. Tehran has effectively closed the strait for weeks, sending global oil and gas prices spiralling while threatening a global recession.“We’ve been there automatically, including Ukraine. Ukraine wasn’t our problem. It was a test, and we were there for them, and we would always have been there for them. They weren’t there for us.”Singling out the UK, the US president rebuked Sir Keir Starmer for refusing to get involved in the American-Israeli war against Iran, suggesting the Royal Navy was not up for the task.“You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work,” he said, referring to the state of Britain’s fleet of warships.Asked if the Prime Minister should spend more on defence, Mr Trump added: “I’m not going to tell him what to do. He can do whatever he wants. It doesn’t matter. All Starmer wants is costly windmills that are driving your energy prices through the roof”

Sue Hammond ● 63d28 Comments ● 61d