James Cousins - Latest Comments

Re: Why the Local Data Company is wrong on Wandsworth

David Curran — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:33:41 -0000

Southside in Wandsworth don't really help themselves to be honest - until fairly recently anyone walking down the Arndale Walk part of the centre would see a huge number of boarded up units with no real explanation as to why it was such a mess or what was on the way. This is bound to filter through to investors and people scoping units, and may have more weight than LDC's reports in practice. This seems to have improved under the current owners - but they're still fairly quiet about the signings (Wagamama, Cattle Grid, Rossopomodoro confirmed and - subject to planning - a huge M&S) - I'd have thought they'd have artists' impressions of what is in planning all over the boarded up parts of the centre, but curiously not.

Re: Council wastes money on jargon shock

Jinny2 — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:15:26 -0000

I think the council tax is down right robbery, we pay 20% of our wages in council tax every month, and when we can't find the money, we get nasty letters, of demanding we should or goto court and pay the courts, or have the ballifs, or they black list you so you can't get credit. If we are to have council tax, It should be paid, on peoples annual income like working tax credit . For people on low wages of 12,000 a year, We should not be paying council tax of 1,500 pound a year, it should be less, or scraped altogether

Re: Why the Local Data Company is wrong on Wandsworth

James Cousins — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:19:33 -0000

My apologies if you misunderstood my concern.

In order to be fair, the independent methodology involves hiring people to walk high streets and shopping centres, noting the status of shops and taking photos where they are permitted.

In many ways like a shopper, who I'd argue are able to see whether shops are opened or closed as well as an LDC researcher.

Indeed, a quick straw poll of shoppers this morning (which are most people, after all) showed that they don't need a report to know the state of their high street, but they are concerned about what the future holds, will it improve or decline?

However, as I'm sure you know, what is more important is that potential investors have confidence in places like Wandsworth. That confidence is not created by a report that fails to provide any local context or analysis (and I recognise your previous offer to look at that if we become a client) but instead results in a media narrative of decline and crisis.

I stand by my point that by failing to provide any context to your data you fail to give an accurate picture of Wandsworth, and many other town centres. And if wanting to see the borough's town centres accurately is "political self-interest" it's a badge I will wear with pride.

With regards to the Southside redevelopment, planning permission was granted last year and work starts this year, with some tenancies already signed. You will have to ask the owners, Metro, for the precise timings; I'm more than happy to try and set up a meeting if it will help you produce a more accurate product when you come to republish.

Re: Why the Local Data Company is wrong on Wandsworth

Matthew Hopkinson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:52:41 -0000

As ever Mr Cousins fails to acknowledge our independent methodology that I have explained many times. Mr Cousins please take a shoppers view and not one of political self interest. All towns are in transition but you need to know where you are and not hood wink the public with 'but it will be' etc. I look forward to reporting a national lowest vacancy rate once you have redeveloped - when will this be?

Matthew Hopkinson

Re: Battersea Poems

Alan Summers — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:02:21 -0000

I'd be happy to call it a haiku.

Summer in battersea park

picnics and cricket

and two names in bark.

It has a strong seasonal reference, although we don't need the season mentioned by name because picnics and cricket place it in Summer so well.

As haiku aren't 575 constructs in English, only Japanese, this works well as we have the first two lines as a phrase giving us a great general picture, and then we zoom into a specific close up image.

I haven't heard an update about the book, is it now in print?

Alan, With Words
http://www.withwords.org.uk

Re: Things I like to see 2

Totallydriven4 — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:39:39 -0000

Interestign post!London is a city where you could have a blast and spend great time!

Re: How do you get rid of foxes?

Greg Theo — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:47:44 -0000

Having had my cat attacked the other day by a fox I am with you entirely on this, the foxes used to be fine, never caused problems for us but recently they have changed their behaviour and have started to rip holes in our poly tunnel and also have started digging things up in the garden. They cause numerous problems and have cost us hundreds of pounds to have our cat put right by a vet because of the damage the fox did to it.

Re: Police innovation…

Ian Freeman — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:52:43 -0000

"Make sure your phone is visable" - no spelling lessons at police college, clearly!

Re: Action! Image! Exchange! *

James Cousins — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:17:21 -0000

Indeed, from 'Vic Reeves Big Night Out' in the 90s.

I couldn't actually tell what they were projecting. I don't think it was scenes from the riots (although they did have sounds from them) but because of the uneven surface the picture wasn't clear.

And how do you get your prize? That's assuming you've not breached any of the terms and conditions.

Re: Action! Image! Exchange! *

Hugh Williams — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:49:53 -0000

Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer?

Its going to be interesting to see what they are actually showing on the shop, pics please!

Hugh

Re: Does this sort of sign make you think…

YC — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:15:44 -0000

Depends on the Shopping Centre, but generally worse I think as most are fakes. Depends what you believe in I guess and the angle.

1. With my 'business' head on (almost) any registered legal, ethical business that's contributing to our economy is a good thing. They provide a service, pay their taxes and keep people employed.
2. With my 'spiritual' head on, most of these types of services are fake and taking money from people that need some help/guidance/advice/positive attitude given to them.
3. With my 'medical' head on, I believe some people can read/advise on health (mental, physcial, emotional) of others based on some physcial attributes - but these people are few and far between.

The area of palm reading that really bothers me is people that say they can predict the future based on a reading. What's the warranty/liability offered when (if) the advice is incorrect?

I'd prefer to see more professionally staffed advice/counselling/coaching outlets that people in need of guidance can turn to if they need some help (I'm making a massive assumption here that people that turn to High Street/Shopping Centre Palm Readers are looking for help/confirmation of something or another).

I'd expect these types of outlets around Camden High Street, but not in SouthSide or Westfield!

Re: What do I do?

Julia Matcham — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:35:59 -0000

'A simple test I use is to ask whether anyone’s life was improved by my attendance. All too often the answer is no'. Yes I despair of the time I waste feeling obliged to do my citizens duty. On the whole I feel I just meet a need for the Council to have evidence that they consulted people. Very little evidence that they took/take the slightest notice,
I have been amused by your rather unusually honest and refreshing writing. I looked you up because of the Battersea Buzz meeting, which I now assume you were the bright spark behind. Very inventive and good way of doing it. Congratulations. You spoke well too. So explain and defend how the Council justify closing two youth clubs and charging kids for the Battersea Park playground, putting libraries on half time...effectively threatening to close York Library (in the most deprived of all locations) I should have written a placard...isn't this exactly the opposite of what they should be doing? Putting the Council tax up a bit would serve the poor far more than the rich. I don't defend criminal behaviour, but I do see where it comes from.
Julia Matcham

Re: It’s today and tomorrow, not last night, that count

Cyril Richert — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:58:23 -0000

Is anybody able to tell David Cameron that CJ is in Battersea, not Clapham?
See: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/...

Re: The Bolingbroke free school

Caz — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:53:55 -0000

It seems that ARK will be behind the Bolingbroke School. What's not to like? The following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

and worse

http://www.911forum.org.uk/boa...

Re: It’s today and tomorrow, not last night, that count

David Curran — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:21:09 -0000

It's been really heartening to see the community coming together, the atmosphere at the junction yesterday was really unique. Who says London's inner suburbs are full of commuters and don't have a soul? The Clapham Junction cleanup is apparently on the front page of the New York Times.
The next step is for us all, and importantly the Council, to help the businesses that have been affected get back on their feet quickly. The sight at 1st stop & DJ stop on Lavender Hill is really upsetting - everything has been looted, the shop that was refitted two months ago has been terribly vandalised, and the sight of the etam picking up the remaining scraps of what was a thriving business is heartbreaking. Woods Radio - another long established local business - ransacked, and complete with burnt papers littering the doorway - was a terrible sight. And of course the Party Store, famous across London and a busienss that started here from nothing. Just to name three! These are quality local businesses that have steadily built up over the years, without a huge conglomerate underpinning them, and the next few weeks will be absolutely critical for them. I hope the Council can pull every string possible to get them cash and support fast to get back in business, and go door-to-door to help everyone affected deal with the red tape and get insurance help fast (using the Riot Act provision if necessary for the uninsured or underinsured). And down the line, we need to ensure that businesses can stay safe (it's extraordinary that Debenhams still doesn't have roller shutters; which I understand is due to some sort of planning restriction - regardless of planning laws, we simply must allow every shop to install at least the chain link ones). But far, far more importantly, we all need to vote with our feet and support these businesses with our wallets - they are the core of the community, and I think we're now more aware than ever of just how much they matter, and just how fragile they can be.

Re: Fly tipping: the council’s fault?

RUHEAP — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:18:14 -0000

If anybody is interested, my neighbour authorised fly tipping on my garden 11 years ago..still awaiting
Enviromental dept to help charge my neighbour of criminal activities.

Re: Engaging with the community

Gail Knight — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 06:11:47 -0000

I agree with Cyril - Whilst I thought the list of ward topics on the leaflet (that I didn't get but never mind) was pretty good as 'agendas' go, reflecting the discussion topics that people have instigated themselves on Streetlife, the station and the schools are bigger issues, which makes me wonder why we even (barely) have ward meetings as opposed to neighbourhood meetings.

Several ward boundaries seem to cut through Clapham Junction town centre, thus divvying up issues that are actually relevant to everyone. Basically, no one cares about, knows about, or lives in, wards. Wouldn't a Clapham Junction, or Battersea, meeting be more relevant?

And whilst I'm here, the new format seemed to work well for what it was (mass surgery) but I still see a point in open debate. You described public meetings as a dialogue between council and residents, but they're also (or could be) a dialogue from resident to resident. I'm much more interested in what other residents think than what the council thinks, but think that there's a role in the council for facilitating it (and attending it, and then 'listening to us' and doing something about it)

But you're both right - if you want people to turn up then you do need some issues or topics that hold significant public interest. 'The council' or 'the ward' are not it.

Re: Tooting Together and BATCA

Giuliana Marocchi — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:58:01 -0000

What are people's views on the proposed Broadwater Road Traffic reduction scheme?
Having read the cabinet paper, I am horrified that no consideration has been made of the impact this will have on the main Tooting Broadway junction. According to the paper, an extra 2 million car journeys a year will be forced through this junction plus the same from the Totterdown Road proposals. This is madness - the whole area is already at a standstill for much of the day, and the whole of South Wandsworth will become permanently blocked. Commerce and the quality of local peoples lives will be blighted.

I live in Fishponds Road, and don't get me wrong, I would love a traffic free road. But I am also a Tooting resident, and it is not in my interest to have the whole area gridlocked - that would be far worse than having cars going up and down the road. We do live in London after all, and some traffic is expected. As to road accidents, the figures sited are very low considering the volume of traffic, and moving them onto the upper Tooting Road and Tooting High Street is hardly a solution. I promise you, the that the current traffic problem is not so bad and no worse than it ever was.

Take into account also, that it was tried several years ago to close off the through route, when they originally changed the one way system to Garratt Lane. They soon had to change it back again because the main roads could not take the extra traffic - the whole area became gridlocked.

Wandsworth already has some of the most congested roads in London with knock on effects with pollution, accidents and areas blighted by constant gridlock. Commerce and local residents suffer immensely. This proposal (apart from wasting money in such a difficult climate) will make things worse and is completely against the ethos of the "Brighter Borough". Instead it is pandering to the "Not in my back yard" brigade who want a traffic free street (wouldn't we all) with no regards to the rest of Wandsworth. Please do not take this proposal further.

Many thanks

Giuliana Marocchi

Re: Engaging with the community

Cyril Richert — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:01:56 -0000

Rain and locations might be issues. More likely also because you should have first an agenda, in order to guide some discussions at the beginning, that should then only lead to an open debate.
Main concerns of the ward population (I immediately think of the station, but also the schools as 2 examples) were not even quoted in the note above...

Re: Fly tipping: the council’s fault?

RUHEAP — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:51:40 -0000

4 YEARS SO FAR TO GET MY FENCE ENCROACHING NEIGHBOUR PARTIALLY OFF LARGE PARTS OF MY GARDEN . HE MOVES HIS CONCRETE FENCE POSTS WHILST I AM AWAY. ALSO LAYING TOTALLY ILLEGAL FOUNDATIONS THEN BUILDING ON THEM. THE COUNCIL, SAYS MOVE THEM. LOANED A BULLDOZER BUT THE FOUNDATIONS BUILT SO DEEP THE REAR OF THE BULL DOZER JUST COMES UP IN THE AIR.
NOW CONCENTRATING A CLAIM AGAINST HIS 100 TONS OF MY NEIGHBOURS AUTHORISED FLY TIPPING, WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 11 YEARS. PLUS TONS OF TOXIC FLUID SOAKING INTO MY LAND WHICH IS A WATER CATCHMENT AREA FOR LIGHTWATER. ITS CONSEQUENT EFFECTS, AS YEARS GO BY.. THE LITIGATION SHOULD START ON 18.07.11 BUT HIS SOLICITOR IS OVERLOADED, REPRESENTING HIM.. SHE DOES NOT ANSWER MY EMAILS ANY MORE CHECKING IF SHE FREE ENOUGH TO ACCEPT MY CLAIM. IN THE. MEANTIME THE FREELY DUMPED TOXIC FLUID WILL WILL EVENTUALLY SHOW ITS EVIL FACE. A .CHILD PLAYING IN THIS PTO & WATER CATCHMENT AREA COULD BE BLEEDING FROM A CUT ON THE RAT URINATED RUBBISH & TOXIC SOIL ETC .INJURED UNABLE TO MOVE HIDDEN IN THE UNDERGROWTH , JUST AS I WAS, BUT. LUCKILY I HAD A BELT ON & A MOBILE. & RUSHED TO FRIMLEY PARK HOSPITAL. NOW CONSEQUENTLY A CRIPPLE FROM TRYING TO REMOVE JUST ONE OF MANY KITCHEN UNITS. A RUSTY OLD WASHING MACHINE. ALL ORDERED TO BE REMOVED BY THE COUNCIL. . RGDS SENIOR SINGLE PENSIONER. NB IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD DO TO PROPERTY PRICES OR IF PARENTS IN THE LOCALITY KNEW THIS DEADLY FILTH IS BEING DUMPED IN AN AREA THEIR CHILDREN PLAY, MAKING DENS OUT OF THIS DANGEROUS RUBBISH. I HAVE ERECTED LARGE CLEAR SIGNS INDICATING THE DANGER AND AS MANY CHILDREN CARRY MOBILES & IF INJURED CALL 999 IMMEDIATELY. CHILDREN ON THE WEEKENDS HOLD SMOKING PARTIES ON LAND COVERED IN PINE NEEDLES & BUSH. WHILST LOCAL DOGS TEAR APART LARGE BLACK BAGS OF KITCHEN WASTE THROWN OVER MY REAR FENCE FROM THE LIGHTWATER COUNTRY PARK CAR PARK .

Re: How not to run a council meeting

Olly — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:56:24 -0000

http://www.bexley-is-bonkers.c...
http://www.youve-been-cromwell... (strong language)

See how London Borough of Bexley subvert democracy and transparency every step of the way. Bloggers issued with Prevention of Harassment letters etc.

Re: How not to run a council meeting

Cyril [CJAG] — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:48:25 -0000

You don't have to respect the chairman’s decision. You have to respect democracy. If the chairman is shown as preventing the normal work of democracy, including encouraging secrecy and undemocratic process, he/she has to be prevented to act.

I know another example where the chairman wanted to prevent a member of the public (but also campaigning with the opposition - successfully at the end - to become a councillor) to attend and record a Council meeting. To the full shame of the head of this Council, the police supported the individual to allow him to attend the meeting in the town hall.

At the end there might be a way of challenging the decision, but also the way the police acted. On the other hand, surely a waste of time and money!

PS: for the record I asked (maybe I shouldn't have ;-) 2 years ago if I was able to record a Planning Committee meeting. The answer was.... NO! I am curious to know your thought on that...

Re: Why Big Brother isn’t the problem with CCTV

Rashid Khan — Fri, 27 May 2011 08:09:00 -0000

Security Cameras are now basic need to control crime and robberies. Now every High Street is cover with CCTV Cameras! I'm in favor to cover all the country with CCTV Cameras.

Regards,
CCTV Camera Pakistan

Re: Fly tipping: the council’s fault?

Ruheap — Tue, 17 May 2011 09:20:55 -0000

Thank you James. Its being going on for 11 years. 100 tons plus. POLICE NOR COUNCIL interested. They just say move it. Have been doing for many years. Now after injury moving it (a cripple ) can neither physically nor finacially afford to move it. Have told the council it can just pile up. I am 80 +ex military. The enemy did not cripple me but my neighbour has done so.

Re: Voting no

G. — Thu, 05 May 2011 06:49:36 -0000

"remain loyal to their party" Is that good? Why should each person have a party? You should stay loyal to the policies you care about, and see which party shares the most of them (and 2nd preference if there is a party that also meets most of them)

"switch or vote tactically to get the result that the nation collectively wants or needs" Voting tactically in switching your vote requires guess work on how the votes are going to go(and this is often done with the aid of graphs designed with lies in them). AV allows you to effectively switch your vote once the information is available (once 1st preferences have been counted).