So you think we have a little problem?

I was trying to work out how the banking system managed to get itself into the current situation.
They hold all the cards when you either borrow money or even save it. Just try missing a payment or even being a day late paying your credit card.

They convinced the government that it would be much better if wages and salaries were paid directly into a bank account, then they convinced government that you shouldn't have the right to be paid in 'proper' money - guess what, you have to go to a bank for that!
So you want to buy a house? Well, a few years ago, mortgages were on 'allocation' (I won't remind you of the time when you could only take a few pounds out of the country, in case you start to feel your age!) and you went on a list to get the money or went round a number of lenders (normally building societies), to see who had a few bob you could have.

I remember when we bought our present home, we had to wait 3 months for our 'allocation' to be available, only we got caught by the banks' (they who were selling on behalf of the sellers estate) policy of reviewing prices every three months and adding 15% (see, you think you have problems!) on the day we were about exchange contracts.
Since those days, the financial services industry has expanded and been protected from the risks that mere mortals like you and me have to take. They lost the need to take care, by accepting the word of their competitors without a murmur, but if you or I wanted use something as security, then we can expect an inquisition.

Somehow I really have no sympathy for an industry that makes most of it's profits by gambling with other peoples money. This is not the same as investing in business, but allowing 'traders' to buy and sell products/services they have no intention of owning, in the hope the value will go up or down. The latest 'wheeze' is buying shares (or even promising to) in a company, spread a rumour about that company to make the shares move either up or down (usually) and then sell at a profit as well as a transaction fee. They really can't lose,when you think about it.

I wrote the words above a couple of months ago and as time passes, the hole gets dug deeper and deeper and the only people who seem to know what action to take are the general public. Where it all started, in the good old US of A, the public are bombarding their representatives requesting them not to just 'bail out' the banker, but make them pay for their mistakes.
I was watching the spokesman for our own banks just a few days ago and she had the nerve to say they we must keep these 'experienced and well paid executives' in post as they know what they are doing.

After the banks and financial institutions got into trouble, the construction industry found that the promised demand for new homes didn’t actually exist and now we have a number of building supplies companies contracting well down and High Street retailers calling in the receivers.

I’m reminded of a comment by an expert (there are some around, apart from me!!) who summed the situation up thus:
Retailers and businesses will be selling goods and services at rock bottom prices for the next couple of months to pay back borrowings, then they will not be able to either find or afford stock to replace that which has been sold (it takes a good 2 or 3 months to go from order to in grubby hands via China!) and with nothing to sell, income dries up and the business has no alternative but to close. Watch out next spring!

I just hope he is wrong!

I will leave you to decide while you watch the saga unfold during the coming months.

Local Spatial Planning

Local ‘spatial’ planning is coming along nicely and everyone is running around like headless chickens. The planners are currently looking at bits of land suggested by both public and officers for building the ‘required’ homes for the future (see above). Youth clubs, garages, football grounds (no golf clubs?), open spaces, agricultural land with growing crops (transition town?) - you name it, it’s on the list (even the cemetery). The town is expected to expand to the line of the by-pass for some reason. Just think about your street, and how you would fit another 10% in as that’s the sort of number we are talking about.
My road has 17 homes so fitting another 2 in (for example) should be easy. The electricity supply is shaky at best ( power cuts, a monthly occurrence), the water, gas and telephone aren’t bad, but the sewage system is well loaded. I’m on the edge of town and the planners are suggesting the edge should be moved half a mile as the crow flies further out. I haven’t even thought about where these two homes would go as all the ‘spaces’ were built on years ago (it’s a nice place!). This is the problem all around our town. Look at your road, think of the money you could make as you make a killing - and move somewhere else. You may be surprised how difficult it is as we have already been infilled and extended beyond the capabilities of existing services and available ground area.

By the time you read this, you can still make a comment to the County Council and the regional lot (I can’t keep up with all this democracy and consultation), if you are quick. Don’t forget we have to leave space for the new General Hospital in Hemel Hempstead and more open space in Berkhamsted (planners live elsewhere, ya know!) as we already have a shortage.  

In these troubled times, one has to look round to see how we can enjoy ourselves for little or no cost.

I hear the Borough Council are cock-a-hoop over being granted 'green flag' status over an area which is a well kept secret in the town. In order for residents to locate this wondrous place, it is proposed to erect a 8m high aluminium flag pole with a – you guessed it – green flag on top. This will enable visitors and residents alike to wonder at the missing out door swimming pool, the recently removed millennium gardens and the skateboard park. If you want to walk, use your handy rowing boat or even come by train, you should have little trouble finding it. However, if you want to visit by car, then you stand little chance of finding the wee sign that points you towards the tennis club – for it is near this facility that the green flag will fly.

Like many parts of the town, you really need to come during extended periods of dry weather as the small car parking area (where you can gaze in wonderment at the 'flag') is designed for those of us who always wear wellies when walking in the High Street as the slabs are prone to tip over when walked upon and send a jet of water up your leg. The car park doesn't actually have uneven paving slabs, they managed to tarmac the area without using a suitable straight-edge and therefore it is not unknown for an inch or two of water to be available to wash your boot in.
Just another thing while you are in the area, as you cross the bridge towards the High Street, keep an eye on the loose planks on the bridge or the green flag might end up as green canal water.

At the time of writing, the Borough Council is going through the process of identifying possible sites for housing etc. The really good thing is that no stone has been left unturned. Even the Adyfield Youth Club in Hemel Hempstead is being considered. Garages could have houses so that the cars can sit parked on the public highway – this is illegal unless in a designated marked bay and all parts of the vehicle must be within the markings. In my area, the natives are restless in case the Towns football Club moves round the corner – or is that the possibility of a travellers resting place? At the same time, the Primary Care Trust have yet another tribe of land surveyors looking for land to put our new General Hospital on. Indeed, it was actually mentioned at the PCT meeting on Tuesday 25th November (OK, where were you this time?) and another meeting will be held towards the end of January 2009 (instead of the promised end of September/early October 2008) for stakeholders (for I am one) to decide where it will go and start the process of what facilities this fantastic building will provide. More on this if it happens.

I mentioned to one person that we have a nice flood plane on the left as you enter the town from Bourne End and maybe something could be put there. Personally, I don't really mind as it's a very untidy area, not really fitting for part of the entrance to our town. Those of you who have the good  fortune to know the travellers site in Hemel Hempstead (the Buncefield explosion missed!) will know how well managed and tidy it is kept, so perhaps the planners could improve the entrance to the town in this way. Far better than flattening some silly crop up the top of the hill and so much closer to all facilities such as the Bulbourne, Canal, bus routes, sewage plant and railway. Even the electricity supply passes just overhead.