DECEMBER 5th

The Eve of Saint Nicholas

11 days after the 24th November farce at the Town Hall, the dust has partially settled. I say partially, because dozens of letters are still being sent to councillors and sponsors, not to mention newspapers. In respect of this, I thought you might be cheered by the following letter written to BMW by a financier, whose name is often seen on the FT letters page:

The organisers are, as you know, interested in your (and the other sponsors’) money.  You should not ask the organisers to minimise the environmental damage done to the park; you should understand that your money is causing the damage in the first place.  While your investment in electric cars is admirable your failure to reject being involved or associated with any unnecessary environmental damage to a city park is merely short sighted. It points to a position best described, colloquially, as having no shame. What is the point of a park?  To be turned into an advertising hoarding for BMW? The irony and shame of cars (even if electric) now being taken, by BMW, into a park seems too obvious to have to point out. There are countless racing circuits in the UK.  I understand corporate speak. But this is not a Powerpoint presentation.  Your green credentials and awards would not be at risk from doing the right thing and sponsoring car races in racing circuits, not parks.  In any event – I will cancel every BMW order and begin the process of divestment from any direct and indirect investment in BMW.  I will also try to make a contribution to forcing companies, such as BMW, to behave responsibly by ensuring that the point of your involvement in the damage being done to a London park (which by the way does not affect me directly) is brought up as often as possible and hopefully lead to more BMW customers and investors thinking again about wanting to be associated with the brand.

So there are powerful people out there who are on our side. And I doubt that Cllr. Cook could call him a nimby.

WHO’S BEEN A NAUGHTY BOY, THEN?

Talking of Cllr. Pinocchio Pantson-Fyre, it is St. Nicholas Day tomorrow, and after a year of fudging, insults, omissions and fibs, maybe he should take care when looking in his clogs on Sunday morning. We probably all know about Schwarze Piet and his rods, but since poor old Piet is now considered politically incorrect in the Netherlands, maybe the Austrian equivalent, the Krampus, might slip in through the window in his place. No rods though, just a set of chains.

Everyone at the Town Hall heard the discussion about the missing 1800 letters, and full marks to Cllr.O’Broin who did his best to get at the truth. “Mansion blocks” very difficult to access” was the excuse. Were they really suggesting that Mansion block residents do not receive any post? Given that the phantom letters were supposedly sent out round about the middle of December, maybe they should have given the job to Santa Claus and his merry elves.

Let’s talk about “we always knew that FE would benefit local businesses”. Well, that’s another statement that has now been buried deep in Cook’s waste paper bin, though unfortunately, some councillors and pro-FE residents continue to repeat this piece of fairytale nonsense. I have discovered that the Council did indeed send out a questionnaire, though when is another question. I await a response on this.

But one thing is clear. It was sent to 800 businesses who were on the council’s business e-bulletin list, which covers the area of SW11 and SW8. Fair enough. But only 300 replied, and none of them reported any increase in business as a result of FE. And what about those people who were not recipients of the e-bulletin? One hypothesis is that they included businesses in the area nearest to the Park, a total of 86 who all denied that the Council had ever contacted them. Of the 43 food outlets, more than 16% said that business was, in fact, worse.

To be fair to Cllr. P-F. it wasn’t he who denied having heard disquiet about the use of the Peace Pagoda for photo-opportunities, which, with the cars and other paraphernalia, greatly disturbed Buddhists and their supporters. Very simple detective work unearthed a letter sent to the Leaders, to HLF, and to all members of the OSC, on 12th October last. Three councillors, including Cllr. Caddy, the Chair, actually acknowledged it, and the points therein. So why did not Cllr. Caddy, who was a Director of Enable at the time (since resigned in order to allow her to vote for FE on the 24th) report it to Paul McCue? After all, she was working with him at the time.

Do we waste time on P-F’s new career as press officer for WBC? Do we skim over his insults – double standards, as he described one of our most active supporters? Well, no, because although the subject of his insults could never be described as having double standards, I am afraid that the same does not apply to Cllr.P-F, who said that he shared the concerns of residents about damaging impacts to Wandsworth Common with regards to the Cross Rail project. Nimbyism, Cllr. P-F? Nimbyism?

I could go on – 200 demonstrators described as 140. Until recently, he was still insisting that there were 200 people at the

public meeting in November 2014 – this in spite of his own Council’s Minutes. He had counted 200, so 200 there were. Thousands of objectors were called a “very small vociferous minority”. It certainly seems that he has a problem with figures.

Then we all heard Cllr. Torrington’s remark that parks were a luxury. She is busy trying to deny this, or else to say that it was in reference to a government report, and to finish by not answering any more emails. Rather like Cllr. Govindia to whom a letter was sent by a local Safer Neighbourhood Panel back in mid-October, and who, despite two further emails, has still not replied.

“Heartless” Hart thinks everyone can get on their bikes and “go elsewhere”. And if you happen to be a parent with children, a dog owner, have difficulty walking, blind? Heartless indeed.

This all begs the question, just what do we expect from our councilors, those who were elected to represent us? Certainly not the bejewelled words of Hart after the OSC meeting, when he referred to the deputations as “diarrhoea and verbal rubbish”. Do we expect the whining schoolboy rhetoric of Cllr. Lescott? Too long to type here, but do read it. Reads like a comedy sketch. See link below: https://storify.com/jamescousins/cllr-lescott-a-correction

Question: Do we think that a question about wind turbines – a question, mark you, not a comment or discussion, counts as comments? (Answers on a plain email, please)

I think the Krampus is going to be very busy this weekend

Enough of all this. Christmas is coming, so we hope you all get a good rest, see all your friends, neighbours, families, and come back in the New Year ready to take up the cudgels once more. In the meantime, there will be a debate at full council meeting in the Town Hall at 7.30 p.m. on 9th December. The public are admitted to the Public Gallery, although they may not speak. If you can make it, please do, though you may find it depressing, and you will probably hear the same old figures and arguments flung around like confetti. But you will be showing solidarity.

Alejandro Agag continues to say that he has told WBC that he will not be bringing in the break clause. In spite of the fact that bringing FE to the Park is anything but green, he insists on his green credentials. Take a look at this latest statement with regards to the Green Sports Alliance:

“We are proud to have joined in taking part and of the collaboration initiated with business leaders at a world level, whether within or outside motor racing, who have come together to give rise to a shared vision and to promote sustainability. We expect much from the cooperation which we shall initiate with Green Sports Alliance to push forward even more the values of respect for nature and the planet in which we live”.

Only one word for a man that helps to destroy the peace and tranquillity of a beautiful park, and then talks about the values of respect for nature. As Shakespeare put it: “The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”

The Hypocrite. Kalam Patua.

POSSIBLE/LIKELY PLANNING APPLICATION

If the break clause is not effected, then the next step will be the Planning Application. Letters about this should go out to all those affected but, as we saw last year, those were mere figments of the Council’s imagination and have not yet surfaced, even one year later. But since we are now wise to the way the Council operates, we have ways of finding out things. The moment we know, you will all be advised, as will all those who signed the petition. I am hopeful that we could get several hundred objections onto the planning site.

An email with full instructions on how to do this will be sent to you as soon as we know. Normally there are only 21 days in which to comment, which is why it is carried out over the Christmas break. But we can do it.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

This one continues to rumble on and on, and will continue to do so, in view of the Council’s cloud cuckoo land day dream of being able to mitigate against the chaos of last season. Sheer lack of responsibility on the part of the Council. They really cannot push off their incompetency onto Formula E. Terry is waiting to hear whether Private Eye will show interest in the detailed information sent to them. In the meantime here is his recent letter to one of is local councillors, and you may have seen his recent letter in the WG.

I should add that other councillors, including the Mayor, are repeating the same erroneous information. It must have come as a nasty shock to find that amongst our activists are not one, but two, fully qualified, experienced and informed professionals in the field.

Dear Mr O'Broin

           Once again we have been informed by a councillor that Wandsworth Council 'routinely destroys safety documentation....'. Mr O'Broin, no competent, responsible Safety Officer would ever permit such an arrangement. No exceptions. So just who is the Council's Safety Officer? A convicted arsonist? The Council is supposed to appoint such an official. If it does not then I believe the functions of the office fall by default to the chief executive. Could you please therefore provide me with a copy of the executive instruction to destroy safety documentation as a matter of routine.

Yours sincerely, Terence McSweeney.                                           

LUGANO UPDATE

The latest on the Lugano/FE affair is that it has, more or less, fallen through, and certainly for this year. It seems they have failed to raise the SF 10,000,000 fee, nor have they raised the 2.81 million for “roadworks”. There is the possibility that they may go into partnership with Zurich, on a turn and turn about basis, but if they ever get this sorted out – and the chances are very low – it will not be until 2017.

CHRISTMAS READING AND LISTENING

Do remember to visit the website regularly, in order to catch any updates. These go up fairly regularly.

If you have not already seen the London Live video clip, please do. You will recognize familiar faces. Clive Bruton’s children have also put up a video. Start ‘em young.

Ed Hunter has written a well-balanced and interesting article from the point of view of an E-Fan. Another article will be posted shortly.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

Tim has produced a Save Battersea Park Christmas card. It shows Boo, Laurence’s dog, in the Park. See attached PDF. If you have not yet bought your cards, they are £5 for 10. Contact Tim on tedazof@gmail.com

and last, but not least, thank you to James Cousins who has been so very supportive and helpful throughout our campaign, and to our Labour councilors who have also come out in support.

At last, councillors who listen to us. Have you any idea how good that feels?

Design Gabi Tomczyk.