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SALFORD GRENFELL VIGIL HEARS THAT PENDLETON BLOCKS HAVE NUMEROUS FIRE SAFETY ISSUES KNOWN OVER ONE YEAR AGO
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Star date: 14th June 2019 SECRET SURVEY SHOWED AN AVERAGE OF 4-5 FIRE SAFETY ISSUES IN EACH SAMPLE PENDLETON FLAT This evening a vigil was held for victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, on land facing the Pendleton high rise blocks still covered in dangerous cladding. Malus Court resident, Graeme Langton, disclosed to the gathering that when consultants inspected sample flats in the wake of Grenfell, they found an average of four to five fire safety issues per flat in Pendleton. That was over one year ago and nothing has yet been done. Full details here...
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On the second anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, a vigil was held this evening on land opposite the eight Pendleton Together blocks still covered in dangerous cladding. One of the speakers was Malus Court resident Graeme Langton, who told of a meeting he had this week with Tom Miskell, Chair of Pendleton Together Operating Limited, which manages the blocks for Salford City Council under a PFI agreement, and Matt Clare, from Trident consultants, which carried out surveys of sample flats in the blocks in the wake of Grenfell... "When their people inspected the flats they found an average of four to five fire safety issues per flat" he said "Surely this is alarming as it is now over a year since those Trident inspections were carried out. "We feel no further on" he added "Only one block has had all the cladding removed – and that was not one of the taller 22 storey blocks but a mere seven floor one. They do not feel safe from the fear of fire spreading." Graeme listed numerous issues, from fire evacuation problems, to fire doors that don't work properly, to "older people, those with disabilities or mental health issues, parents with babies and young children still marooned up to 22 storeys in the clouds"... "For the most part, little has happened" he explained "We share with all Grenfell survivors in wanting the authorities to resolve issues, to finally give the answers we long to hear, and to find ourselves living in properties that are secure, warm and free from any fear of horrific fire..." At the vigil, a message was also read out from Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, who wrote... "Here we are two years on and still no justice for the survivors of Grenfell and unfortunate families across Britain still living with dangerous cladding. "It is my understanding that Greater Manchester is the worst affected area in the country for cladded high rise buildings" she added "...I understand the worry and frustration that many residents feel and I will always do what I can to help to raise your concerns and fight on your behalf...Today we need to remember the terrible tragedy and tomorrow dust ourselves down and carry on the fight for justice." Broughton resident, Maria Brabiner, put the blame on the Tory Government... "We're stood here remembering Grenfell, and knowing there are flats with cladding makes me angry; angry because the Tory Government hasn't provided money for removal" she said "The magic money tree has funds for their pet projects but not this; it's downright wrong. I don't know how they can sleep at night, they've no conscience whatsoever." Paul Kelly, President of Salford TUC, called the cladding paralysis a "disgrace...it shows the contempt that the ruling class have for working people in this country, and goes back to how we've been treated for the last 35 years" he said "It's time to change society fundamentally." Hilda Palmer from GM Hazards, concluded the vigil by reading out the 72 names of those who died via Grenfell, followed by a minute's silence... "We remember the dead and we fight for the living" she said.
* This week, Pendleton Together put out a newsletter to residents of the Pendleton blocks stating that new 'survey work' of flats will begin in July by Wates Construction, with drop-in meeting during 'late summer' "where more specific details will be available". The Salford Star understands that work to remove the cladding won't begin until September at the earliest. See also previous Salford Star article: Salford Council in Ironic Call For Confiscation of Dangerously Cladded Blocks – click here
Main photo shows Hilda Palmer of GM Hazards
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Salford Star wrote
at 06:30:36 on 23 June 2019 |
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| Please note that any personal insults on any article that add nothing to the original story will be blocked. |
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jon wrote
at 06:54:13 on 22 June 2019 |
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| Rossi, I have not been bellicose (aggressive or antagonistic) towards you, and it does not make you sound clever when you use words that are not in common parlance. Especially when the rest of your post is littered with spelling and grammatical mistakes.
I have simply given a personal account of how a TMO could be to the advantage of the residents of your block of flats. Others may read this website and find our experience informative, even if you do not. It takes time, energy, tenacity and resilience and a whole lot of effort to start a TMO.
Ours doesn't have a general secretary, the company secretary is provided by the managing agent. We have resident directors. I was one at the beginning but have since stood down last year due to ill health. I have merely pointed out to you that there is a solution to your housing issues, but it requires more effort than sitting at a computer complaining on a website that can in no way effect a change for you. However you have used any excuse as justification for your inaction, even making the racist claim that it is because your neighbours are "foreign". It is not as if you have work commitments as an excuse for indolence. Just stop blaming others for the fact that you can not be bothered to make changes to improve your life, blaming others for your poor choices. You prefer to spend time attempting to make amusing (they are not) posts on a regional website, whilst insulting other contributors. And if you are going to use names to attempt to belittle and insult me please try and spell them correctly, there is only one l in Dzhugashvili. |
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Rossi wrote
at 13:31:24 on 21 June 2019 |
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| There's no need to be bellicose, Jon. There's no need for this pugnacious talk coming out of your mout. I merely asked a question is all. You're obviously very proud of yourself. Chances are your the Gen Sec of your tower block. A real Dzhugashvilli, but there ain't no need for you to take that tone with me, talking down to me like I'm one of the alcoholic bums panhandling for change outside Mrs Wyatt's church on the Broadwalk. Just be civil is all. A bit of civility, a bit of politeness, it's cheap see, it don't cost nothing. |
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Rayofsunshine wrote
at 13:30:53 on 21 June 2019 |
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| Bob the regular,whether its four or forty years,in the absence of government funding,tenants under a TMO would be faced with a massive bill for cladding! |
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Rayofsunshine wrote
at 13:30:42 on 21 June 2019 |
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| Bob the regular,whether its four or forty years,in the absence of government funding,tenants under a TMO would be faced with a massive bill for cladding! |
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bob the regular wrote
at 16:27:24 on 20 June 2019 |
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| Missed the point Ray makes about the cladding. If residents owned that block, they could get long term finance over say 40 years to sort it out.Anyway ,the problem is not really the plastic and alluminium cladding.That is slightly less burnable as the plastic windows,and nobody is suggesting getting rid of these. The problem was the whole construction of the cladding facade with the insulation behind and the chimney effect of the cavity. A bit back ,I though of an aplication for a german technology that could make this cladding safe at a cheap cost, and still retain the insulation values. I talk to a lot of people in the construction industry who have research budgets,and a few thought my idea worthy at least of a trial. A trial indeed we will conduct, if we can get hold of a few discarded panel systems when they get ripped off. I have a friend who has a demolition company who will endevaur to find a tall wall on a suitable site.However ,this will only take place after the problems on all the blocks in Salford have been rectified. Many great ,expensive minds are busy working on this problem. Huge legal fees are about to be earned in the forthcoming battles.Who am I to interfere with all these knowledgeable people? Talking about knowledgeable people, I bet a lot of you lot think I am a bit of a nutter,but I know a bit about how fires work. I had a great teacher.40 Years ago,I had cause to come across a senior fire prevention officer at gm fire service, based at the crescent his name if i remember right was MCsherry.He was a fantastic guy,and if you were prepared to listen, he was prepared to teach.The things that have come out so far at Grenfell go against what he taught me. My idea could be patentable, but these things cost a fortune.Anyway , I have a feeling these germans must have thought about already, and its just that we have not heard about it. If we indeed get round to doing a test we will video it for all to see. |
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jon wrote
at 16:27:09 on 20 June 2019 |
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| Learned Friend, really, that is what you take from Rossi's tirade of gibberish on The Star? Either you haven't been reading it for long and witnessed Rossi's ridiculous comments on diverse subjects covered, or you are just naive. Diagnosing mental health issues by reading a few posts really does stretch credibility. Once again the advice you supply is that of accepting victim status, rather than taking control. If people allow themselves to be perpetual victims that is how they will always stay. How about encouraging empowerment? How will 2 to 3 grand make everything right for Rossi, will it somehow reverse the mental health issues that you think are affecting him/her? If it was as easy as you say, then ever resident in every affected block of flats will be taking action. Then all that money being taken from social housing providers will ensure there is no money to address the many issues that affect the tenants. How will that help anyone? You say help is provided by young law students, those that will go on to milk the system by charging huge and excessive amounts for legal representation in the future. You state that Rossi won't have to pay for legal costs, no that will have to be paid for by taxpayers. So that doesn't count, even if the legal action is spurious or vexatious. It is the compensation culture, which throws a bit of money at someone to shut them up, that is infecting this country that is the problem. |
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jon wrote
at 16:25:56 on 20 June 2019 |
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| Rossi, I do not have to prove anything to you. I have stated what is to be done, what we have done and the benefits and difficulties it creates. Nothing worth doing is ever easy. I will say that we convinced over 100 residents out of 160 to join the action to gain the TMO. I don't really care if you believe me or not, but it would be easy to find out if you really want to know. It would require you putting in some effort, something you do not seem willing to do. There really aren't that many TMO's locally. It is not as if your time is taken up with gainful employment. I doubt you have tried to get enough people to join you in a TMO. Though if you have and they still do not want to join you, then ergo, they are satisfied with the status quo. Either that or they are just like you, happy to just blame others for their housing woes. And your remark regarding peoples ethnicity is irrelevant and borderline racist, please retract. |
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jon wrote
at 16:25:40 on 20 June 2019 |
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| And Rossi, I never said it was a utopia. Indeed I said I was sick and tired of the small minority that contribute nothing, but complain about everything. I also said dealing with financing created difficult and challenging issues regarding budgeting and prioritising. But you carry on, blaming others for everything wrong in your life. Or how about you take some responsibility? You never know the new found confidence and purpose might be life enhancing. Either that or continue with the situation as it is. Because only you can make changes to your life or keep on living the same life you have now. In what way is it in any way rewarding spending untold hours arguing on a local website with faceless people that have no power to change anything? The least you could do is join an action group to try and put pressure on the landlord to sort out the cladding issue. Just do something positive instead of waiting for others to do it for you. |
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Rossi wrote
at 10:42:50 on 20 June 2019 |
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| If it isn't too much to ask Jon, which building is it that you live in, where this collective of yours runs a modern day utopia. I ask because I have my doubts as to the truth of your comments. I say this because I live in Magnolia Court, and I know how difficult it is to persuade even a handful of people to put their heads above the parapet, especially foreign tenants who simply do not want to get involved with anything.
Prove that you're not a poodle-faker, Jon, which is your building? |
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bob the regular wrote
at 10:42:40 on 20 June 2019 |
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| Jon,That was a good guess of mine about lazy caretakers was it not? There again the housing provider ones are all lazy bastards. does your TMO get all the rent and leaseholder charges? I suspect you may still be owned by the provider who being greedy bastards that they are will still want a big chunk of dough out of the rents. with regard to the deadlegs who moan a bit. the best way to deal with them is to tell them how much better off they would be becoming leaseholders.presuming all of these will have preserved right to buy, and if you did have total control , which I suspect you don't. Then the housing act allows you to keep 100% of the right to buy sale receipts if you lend this money as a mortgage to a resident. So, if joe Potless buys his flat for 25thousand,you can lend him the money to buy it from the money he pays you. it is only a paper transaction. because you have granted him a mortgage, you can if you like impose in his lease conditions on him and any future buyer that flat is for owner occupiers only. Five years down line , joe potless is sitting on a pile of beer money that needs to be pissed up the wall. Joe potless flogs flat cheap to nice young couple who dont moan. Bingo. By the way, has your new caretaker got rid of the council house aroma? |
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jon wrote
at 05:49:32 on 20 June 2019 |
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| Bob, yes we have a full TMO with responsibilities for budget. We hire a managing agent and employ our own cleaner/caretaker, though through TUPE, by law we had to take on the incumbent caretaker. It took two years and several employment tribunals to enable us to get rid of him. Financial responsibility is where everything gets very tricky, as we have to spend within our budget, when the money is gone, it is gone. It is certainly not easy, very few residents are willing to put the time in and the whole lot falls back onto the same small band. And they then get blamed if anything doesn't go smoothly. To be honest I have had enough of the constant moaning of the other residents that do nothing, but expect everything. The small band of dedicated residents are finding out just how difficult it is to please some people. The types typified by the likes of Rossi, all complaints but can not be arsed to do anything to make their lives better. It certainly is NOT easy. |
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learned friend wrote
at 05:48:12 on 20 June 2019 |
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| Rossi,it is obvious to all our readers that all this worry about the state of your block has caused you serious health issues, especially your mental wellbeing. Your landlords obviously do not care about this. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. when you are well enough you should go to the law centre for tennants in moss side.Its free run by volunteers. explain to them all your problems, and they should be able to help you bring a claim in the small claims court against your landlords. because you are on jobseekers it will be free court fees. even if you loose you do not have to pay the other sides lawyers fees, so you are almost certain to get an offer out of court as they know they are on a hiding to nothing.I reckon from what you said it could be 2 or 3 grand.don't just take my word go and see them, a lot of them are nice young law students ect, you will find them great. Good luck old pal |
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former resident wrote
at 19:22:10 on 19 June 2019 |
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| Jon, great to hear your management group of tennants is working well.I tried to set one up on the block where I lived.This was about 4 years ago. The people just did not want to know.They prefered Salix homes to stay in charge. They had their choice. There was another estate not far away, Riverside, that actually had a vote on it. They voted to stay with Salix.Good luck to you and other tennants groups like yours. One day people will see the light.People have to deceide for themselves, not be told what to do by people who do not know anything. |
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bob the regular wrote
at 19:21:46 on 19 June 2019 |
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| Nice to see Jons hard work is paying off. I do hope that the TMO organisation he has there is one with full control of the money as well. That way ,the management board can install paid managers under them to do all the work, they can have their own caretaker, and get a proper one who knows how to mop floors not lean on mops like the idle FXXXXXS that our favorite housing providers employ. They can also vet the future tennants, and give housing to decent people who dont piss in the lift anddo respect their neigbours.They can then all live in a clean environment that doesn't have that "council house smell". I guess Jon will read this, can I ask him if his block has the "Council house aroma". I bet it doesn't. |
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jon wrote
at 13:27:49 on 19 June 2019 |
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| Why should I "be quiet" Rossi? This publication is not a private platform for your diatribes. It is not for you to say who should or shouldn't contribute. I would suggest it is you that should "just be quiet, okay" until you have a valid and pertinent point to make. You rarely have a sensible or adult input to any article. My comments regarding getting a TMO company was based on fact and personal experience. It has been very successful, however took a lot of effort by me and my colleagues. You prefer to just sit and complain and insult others on this site. |
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Rossi wrote
at 09:46:27 on 19 June 2019 |
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| Jon, Just be quiet, okay. |
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jon wrote
at 06:57:18 on 19 June 2019 |
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| Rossi, you say "You've obviously never lived in a tower block. The idea that we could do what Commander Denno has done is absurd." No, it is you that is wrong. I live on a tower block and have done just that. If you and your fellow residents can't be bothered to form a management group, then you all must be satisfied enough with the current situation. It takes time and effort, If you can not be bothered to work towards a better situation then you can not expect any sympathy. You, by your own admission, are out of work. How about doing what I did (and no, I don't live on Mayor Dennett's block), call a meeting, leaflet, let people know what they can do to take control. No, it is easier to just blame everyone else. Get off your backside and do something. Unless you are suggesting that the majority are happy with how things are. |
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jon wrote
at 06:57:09 on 19 June 2019 |
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| bob the regular, you say " If over 50% of the so called little people on your block who are powerless and poor, want to take over full management of that block, then they can do it." But then who would they have to blame? They want everything done but don't want the responsibility. Typical of most people. My block did just that, took control, and now we have safe and well maintained homes, but it takes a lot of effort and time, something most people do not want to do. It is easier to play the blame game. |
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Rayofsunshine wrote
at 06:56:09 on 19 June 2019 |
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| Bob the regular,how would a tenant self managed block finance replacement of dangerous cladding? Wouldn't the tenant management group have to levy excessive charges,in the abscense of government funding,on its members to fund the work ? |
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bob the regular wrote
at 06:54:44 on 19 June 2019 |
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| Rossi is right.But I wasn't wrong. Rossi is right when he says apathy rules.This has been compounded by people being told how the experts know best about what is good for the people, despite making balls up after balls up. People have been educated ,at great expense, to be thick by our schools ,tv, celebrityism ect. Ordinary people, with a bit of nouse about them, who speak out, are put down by the people around them as being "know it alls" ,"whats in it for them?" "there only after what they can get".We do not respect people in our midst who have vision. People have been educated to be fearful of authority, to be lazy, (because the authorities can't find jobs for them) and to be selfish. This suits the ones in power, because that keeps the money machine going by lending ever more money to buy houses that have already been bought and paid for many times over. The workers who have jobs have to subscribe to this, otherwise they will have to live in social housing shitholes as a punishment. It is all a well thought out scheme to keep the population under control. I hate it ,but I have to admit it works very well. Apathy and stupidity will always rule in Salford. |
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Cody wrote
at 06:53:14 on 19 June 2019 |
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| Rossi - Dennet wasn’t responsible for making Albion and the surrounding estate a TMO - it was the residents. They started out holding meetings in each others flats as there was no ‘community room’, something I know Magnolia does have, or used to anyway. You have to be that change want to see, you can’t expect Bob to ride in on a saddled-up Ray to rescue you and the community. |
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Marcus wrote
at 06:52:53 on 19 June 2019 |
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| Be quiet Rossi, no one wants to hear your excuses, just be quiet ok, shush now! |
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Rossi wrote
at 08:43:19 on 18 June 2019 |
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| Bob the Regular, Look Bob, you're wrong. You've obviously never lived in a tower block. The idea that we could do what Commander Denno has done is absurd. The idea that in a block of 96 apartments, we could get 49 of them to work together as a collective and take over the block is ludicrous. In a place like this it would be a miracle if you could get five tenants to raise their heads above the parapet. Apathy rules here. So we sit bound, like hostages, our mouths covered with tape ... Powerless, weak ... This is just how it is. Maybe you and the big shot local tycoon who goes under the sobriquet Wrote, along with Mr Brexit could ride to our rescue, like Steve Martin and his two mates in that crap comedy, The Three Amigos. Psssssst! We're waiting for you, come and save us. |
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bob the regular wrote
at 08:39:22 on 17 June 2019 |
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| Rossi , your wrong. If over 50% of the so called little people on your block who are powerless and poor, want to take over full management of that block, then they can do it. Thats what dennett and his mates do on albion towers. They are in charge there. Dont take my word for it, get off your arse and go and have a chat with miss becky. She is a qualified lawyer, she knows the law. As your Mp, she can advise on housing matters.Listen to her ,and let us know what she says.If she trys to talk you out of it, ask her why its ok for dirty den to do it. Wont cost you one single penny. What about the two girls that were in a Star article a bit back, I could be wrong, but were they not on your block. could you work with them. The problem is the people themselves. Their minds have been conditioned.If they just stood up to these bullies in authority, they would soon find out what shitbags they are. Thing is, they have nothing to fear but fear itself. |
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bob the regular wrote
at 16:56:23 on 16 June 2019 |
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| A little bird told me that Miss Becky knows all about what is going on here. She has been heard chatting about it. One or two of the residents have to write to her asking if she knows what is going on, the question about litigation proceedings involving the council etc. Miss Becky I am told from a very good source, is a very good person. And I believe that. (and you all know my views on Salford labour politicians) .She will not tell lies to cover the arses of the likes of Dennett and Merry. She has great ambitions , and she has stood through thick and thin with that clown Corbyn, who I believe stands a good chance of being PM within months of Knobhead Boris going into number 10 and making one huge balls of things. (we could be in a situation where a British PM cannot set foot in America because of their admitted drug use. In the states, it is use not conviction that counts) .A group of residents should book a meeting to see her, and take the stars editor along to report whats said. If that does not work perhaps we should send for the national press. We need to get Miss Beckys ample bottom off the fence on this one. Is she with the clowncil on this one,or is she with her people who elected her.I would like to think she would choose her people. |
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Kev wrote
at 16:55:35 on 16 June 2019 |
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| The turnout shows that most people do feel safe in their homes. |
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Rossi wrote
at 16:55:06 on 16 June 2019 |
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| Look, the thing is we're the "little people". We can't really do anything about anything, unlike Wrote, the Salford tycoon who made it big with a fifty pee shop, and now is a powerful local businessman with a lodda clout ... Unlike winners like Wrote, we denizens of the high rises, we can't do anything ... We haven't got mouths, let alone voices, we just sit in our little concrete cells, surrounded by flammable cladding, like latter-day versions of Sergeant Howie in 70s horror classic The Wicker Man, not knowing what fate awaits us. I Phil Rossi, living on JSA in Magnolia Court, living always with the knowledge of being only ten weeks away from homelessness, often find myself wondering whether homelessness would be preferable to the endless stress of wondering whether your block will end up as a towering inferno, and knowing that apart from the rain and the cold, the main problems with homelessness are that you run the risk of being pissed on by drunken rugby club types on a Friday night, or potentially being set on fire by yobbo delinquents with low IQ's. You know, I just don't know what's worse. |
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