James Cousins - Latest Comments

Re: Farewell, Formula E

Edward Hunter — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 19:46:12 -0000

It would be considered a victory if the enemy was Formula E; but it's the Council that the protestors were campaigning against James, and the individuals within that council that allowed this situation to happen in the first place are still at large. But still, although I'm happy for the BPAG campaigners I'm more just relieved that there is an end to this rather poisonous and unproductive debate, even if it is a compromise for both sides. I've already said what I think about the agreement on my own blog if you're interested: https://formulaed.wordpress... (Not that I'm plugging that or anything, I just don't like repeating myself ad nauseum)

Re: Why parkrun is good for Tooting and Wandsworth

susan ekins — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:02:17 -0000

I know it has been a long struggle to get this park run, so congratulations to all of you, and it was a pleasure to be able to share the news. That's partly what green spaces are for.

Re: How safe was Battersea Park?

Nicholas Allison — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 10:33:34 -0000

Formula E in Battersea Park is brilliant.I live 12 minutes walk from this lovely park facility.The benefits to the borough are enormous. Bring it on please for at least the next four years . Your time would be better spent sorting out the environmental damage from the traffic queues caused by the new and numerous traffic lights at the roundabout at Queenstown Road/ Chelsea Bridge Road. That would be much more helpful.

Re: Formula E: Residents speak, the council ignores them

susan ekins — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 18:30:06 -0000

Cllr. Walsh - he had a few ITV shares.Or maybe it was a ploy to avoid showing his colleagues that he would have liked to vote against FE in the Park.

Re: Formula E: Residents speak, the council ignores them

susan ekins — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 18:29:13 -0000

For a large majority of people living in the neighbouring wards, the park is their back yard. So, yes, we are all nimbies.

Re: Formula E: Residents speak, the council ignores them

bobby — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 20:25:45 -0000

I love that they call us nimby's - do they somehow forget that we're they ones that elect them? As if someone from Adelaide would really care one way or another - it's obvious that only local people are going to be the opinion formers.

Re: Formula E: Residents speak, the council ignores them

bobby — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 20:19:07 -0000

Who was it that didn’t vote?

Re: Formula E: Residents speak, the council ignores them

susan ekins — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 14:21:46 -0000

James, can you somehow make a short separate section on the Lescott rather surreal dialogue? it's so funny, I want to circulate it.

Re: How safe was Battersea Park?

susan ekins — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 07:00:59 -0000

A policeman slipped on the bridge - damp weather had made it dangerously slippery - and was off work for weeks with broken ribs.

Re: Formula E: Residents speak, the council ignores them

susan ekins — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 18:23:31 -0000

I do not remember Cllr.Lescott adding anything to the debate. He asked a question about wind turbines, and carbon foot prints, that was answered in great detail by Dr.Ekins. He did not follow up on any of it. I remember Councillors Speck, Jones, Anderson and Stokes, plus O'Broin and Torrington (parks are a luxury), and Strickland, plus Hart and his "go somewhere else" contribution. Cllr. Osborn spoke, as did James Cousins. And, of course, there was Kim Caddy's clear declaration that she would be voting for FE, which we took to be the clarion call to her team.

Re: Formula E: Residents speak, the council ignores them

susan ekins — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 13:24:58 -0000

Many thanks, Ed. Your support and that of Jack and others has been very greatly appreciated, and your articles and video very highly valued. Keep in touch. Next year Excel, who knows. I gather Cllr. Hart (he who did not know the difference between a Council website and a petition) has also been insulting people on Twitter. Lucky Tooting residents.

Re: Formula E: Residents speak, the council ignores them

Edward Hunter — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 12:59:55 -0000

That Times article was spiteful. Expect nothing less from the Tory Press; they will play dirty and drag good people like Paul into the mire. But don't let it get to you Sue; ignore it and rise above. Together we can beat them.

Re: Formula E: Residents speak, the council ignores them

Edward Hunter — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 12:31:40 -0000

I felt the only thing the protestors did wrong was that they exaggerated a little bit about how low the numbers of attendees during the race weekend was; but to be honest you couldn't tell very easily unless you brought a ticket and watched the race, which naturally goes against their principles. So I'll forgive them on that one. Those that did have a go at the protestors about their exaggeration tended to ignore the fact that the Council was pretty liberal with the truth as well, not to mention that we still don't know what happened to that risk register. The Tory section of the Council seemed very aggressive; they were more interested in attacking residents rather than trying to address their concerns. Their attempts to justify holding the race in Battersea again (And let's be honest that's all the meeting was for, they'd already made their decision and knew they could pass the majority) rang hollow and pathetic. The promise of all that money being spent on a few lamps and a new shed really wasn't good enough. And even Autosport's Scott Mitchell (Despite overall not agreeing with the protestors) admitted that the damage yet to be repaired as late as November was unacceptable. http://beta.autosport.com/n...

I also resent this idea that these Tory councillors 'saved' FE: They have no passion for the sport, only the money they receive as a by-product of it. They are so, so out of touch that the whole thing was a baffling farce; we knew the decision as early as September when Formula E announced the dates that nothing could be done. At the end of the day, if you complain about something today everyone labels you as a moaner and gives you abuse. We live in a culture devoid of empathy, where the motto is: "I'm right, you're wrong" And really Formula E's lack of presence at the meeting really showed how they care even less than councillors, and that's not nice for met to admit as a big FE fan.

The only thing that put a smile on my face was when Mr. Lewis of Battersea society chose to quote my article, crediting me as a "Knowledgeable FE enthusiast", which made me blush. He probably did not know that I was there in the gallery, and as flattered as I am it was probably not the best idea to quote my article as I am not particularly famous, respected or influential so the Council could just easily reject my concerns about modifications being made to the track to keep up with car developments as: "Formula E did not bring this up with us."

Anyway, thanks for your piece James: I also didn't boo you like the others when you commended the council on their bravery. I think you were right to do that, because right at the start it did seem like a great idea. How did it all go so wrong?

Re: Formula E: Residents speak, the council ignores them

susan ekins — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 11:56:03 -0000

They are all cowards. Then Cook follows Govindia's example and insults one of the protesters in the Times, a statement that is tantamount to libel.

Re: Formula E: Residents speak, the council ignores them

Cyril [CJAG] — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 10:26:35 -0000

It was a sad moment for Battersea and for localism. But I am glad you finally acknowledge what we have been saying for years: the Tory majority ignores residents. Putney Society, Wandsworth Society and CJAG have already accused by the Council of being nimbys last April. Now Friends of Battersea Park, the Battersea Society and a few more groups have been accused of "lying and inflating their support". This is sad, very sad indeed.

Re: How safe was Battersea Park?

Paul — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 05:03:58 -0000

For those of us working in the private sector it defies belief that Captain Mainwaring and his chaotic team are allowed near matters of public safety and reminds me of the management team that allowed its ferry to leave port with its bow doors open.
Risk Management is designed and used to protect people, us, park users, children, yet this solemn responsibility is not understood by outdated management sporting fancy job titles and over egged Hay Grades.

Re: How safe was Battersea Park?

bobby — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 16:27:53 -0000

No surprises here, the report already says it all "the site is handed over to the event operator" (p32).

Wandsworth council is trying to construct for itself a legal defence before a claim has been made - the problem is their defence will not work: they owe a duty of care to all visitors to the park, they have breached that duty, and they know, or should have known, that the construction involved in running the Formula-E event posed a health and safety risk to the public.

Re: How safe was Battersea Park?

Cyril [CJAG] — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:32:21 -0000

It is very similar to the excuses that developers give for not disclosing their viability study to justify scraping affordable housing.
Basically the same way that Council and residents are told to trust a developer saying they need such and such and scrap that because otherwise it's not viable, here we are told to trust that the risk assessment has been undertaken, without any possibility to verify and even question it.
For the record, last time a court asked a developer to disclose it viability assessment, it was proven completely that its only goal was to safeguard their own huge profit. I fear that the same might be true for the safety assessment here...

Re: How safe was Battersea Park?

Temporary ID — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:03:27 -0000

The safety or otherwise of children in pushchairs is "commercially sensitive" information? I think not.

Re: How safe was Battersea Park?

susan ekins — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:52:43 -0000

A well-constructed analysis of a situation that reflects very badly on the council.

Re: Council delays Formula E decision

susan ekins — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:28:49 -0000

Motor sports magazine seem to know more about new dates, new deadlines and so on than does the Council. Either the Council is completely disorganised, or else these are leaks designed to muddy the waters. Could there be a mole in the Leader's Office?

Re: Battersea Park re-opens after Formula E

Paul — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 04:34:07 -0000

Did you have to follow a safety runner around the carriageway James?

Re: Formula E in Battersea Park: never again?

Paul — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 05:55:43 -0000

WBC have ominously indicated (recent FOI) they want an option to re-compete after the five year contract expires, so I think it unlikely Formula E will ever leave Battersea Park if it survives this nightmarish first experience. The residents will then timeshare Battersea Park for 11 months a year and hand it over for a month, at the height of Summer, for the next decade.

The park revenue received barely covers a single (Hay Pay Grade 2 or 3) salary of a WBC director who then avoids direct contact with residents endangered during this casual, chaotic and dangerous construction phase.

It is an unnatural and perverse act to squeeze technology into a historic Heritage 2* Victorian Park given the size of London and then behave like Nero by hiding in an office at a time of danger to residents preferring tweeting idyllic park scenes as a grand act of self-denial and hubris.

I read that I am represented in consultations by "The Friends of Battersea Park", I don't know who they are or why they supported this destruction, but with friends like that, Battersea Park and I really don't need enemies.

Re: Back seat councillor

James Cousins — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 09:17:24 -0000

Sorry, you are quite right. Having checked you actually said "the overwhelming majority who give up their time for free are Labour supporters." More than happy to correct that error.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Re: Back seat councillor

Candida Jones — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 08:11:22 -0000

By the way, for tips on how to promote community activity, can I refer you to my maiden speech? There's a long list at the start of stuff that constituents in my ward do to encourage community. The (Labour) ward councillors are always involved and often from the outset. As well as offering their time, they advise on grants and offer guidance and information to get local groups going. These things snowball. From small acorns, large oak trees grow (the Furzedown Oak Project is a case in point). Come and visit and you'll see what thriving community activity looks like. I'd be happy to show you first hand how to acheive it. It wasn't always like this in furzedown. It's grown...