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Friday, 15 March 2013

Ian Liddell-Grainger Boinks EA about Avoncliff

Well,  praise The Lord 'n pass the ammunition. 

Back on the 27th February Ian Liddell-Grainger MP for Bridgewater and West Somerset was nipping the EA in Westminster Hall about their abysmal performance on river maintenance and flooding on his (squelchy) patch in the Somerset Levels and invoked Avoncliff as an example of incompetence, waste and worse.

He confronted Richard Benyon the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at DEFRA who gave a pretty weak and platitude ridden response to Ian's questions - and we are given to understand he's not a happy bunny being prodded about Avoncliff. 

Ian invoked / mocked even... Chris Smith, the chairman of the EA's poetry expertise :
“Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.”

(We can't even begin to address the consequences of The Environment Agency's incompetent water "management" policy regarding drinking water and the world of hosepipe bans and drought...)
Richard North has some pertinent posts on water that are rewarding reads...  here and here and here
You need Microsoft Silverlight (or latest WMP) to view Parliament Live TV as they control the distribution quite tightly one assumes to try and hang onto their dignity after all the Gordon Brown nasal McCavity excavation / bogie / tie wiping stuff got out.... Duncan Hames MP actually alludes to MP's personal hygiene in the video !!

As of this evening (Fri 15th March 2013) - the Parliament Live! TV streaming for the event appears to be broken - hopefully they'll fix it soon....
EDIT:
Another recording of the debate is on the BBC Direct Democracy web site - enjoy....
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Undoubtedly uncomfortable viewing for certain folk at Horizon House and Millbank Tower.

We'd suggest that anybody with a serious interest in this talks to South East Power Engineering about their Pershore hydro scheme or people involved with The Small Hydro Company (defunct) - esp. Sean Westrope - about how the Environment Agency handles water licences.

For those new to all this - a slightly aged primer is here

19 comments:

  1. Well the EA talk do JACK SHIT lie deceive pull in large salaries have no care on the environment just look after themselves.They screw every business they can, they are are power crazy.Shut it down filter out the good honest guys, let the others join the dole queue it would be cheaper than keeping them on,how much has this cost.LET THEM PICK UP THE TAB. They should not waste public money that could be better spent elsewhere ,start at the top..

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  2. Thank you IAN for mentioning AVONCLIFF we have written to every man and his dog,including MP RICHARD BENYON---OWEN PATTERSON---LORD SMITH none of them even had the decency to even respond.

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  3. Well done That MP The Avoncliff situation makes the EA look like a bunch of idiots, the North Mill has had a huge water wheel since before the year 1246 the other Mill has a small leat and a tiny turbine. What are the idiots doing not giving the North Mill the licence.Sack Them All

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  4. Maybe Mr Benyon should visit this web-site and speak to the builders at North Mill and listen to their version of the EAs unlawfull incompitence and complete waste of public money.It is quite obvious that the EA are going to try and stitch them up or try to send them bust.!! Keep Fighting! MIKE B-ON-A

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  5. Have listened to RICHARD BENYONS response sounds like he is being misled also. No discussions with NORTH MILL as usual must speaking to TARRANT (biased). Really complex £150 licence three and a half years GOD HELP THE COUNTRY just a re- determination must be clearing £100,000 make them accountable!I agree RICHARD BENYON as your good name will always linked to AVONCLIFF as you are aware.SPEAK TO THE BUILDERS.This is a simple licence and always has been....

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  6. GREAT CHALLENGE Mr RICHARD BENYON come down and see what you think,I think you would blow a blood vessel.Its so ridiculous not sure if you would laugh or cry.What a waste and nobody cares, YOU ARE BEING MISLED.... We have the evidence.

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  7. what a challenge maybe our MP can pass this on,I bet he could sort this out in a morning but that would make those stupid fools at the EA sit up 3 years and £100,000s of thousands of pounds wasted. Come on Mr Benyon show us tax payers why you are in the job you are in.Lets see how hard it is to sort out a £150 licence without EA officers trying to cover their back sides, Dave from Bath

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  8. Well Richard i would get get the facts right, this will help with any revues and rather than just re branding the EA with the same individuals you can sack them. That will help the economy you are being misled!!!!!!

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  9. Richard Benyon says that "The EA are working actively with the applicants to resolve this complex case as soon as possible" - erm... that doesn't square that well at all with the assertion on this blog that the EA are refusing to actually talk to the applicants at North Mill!

    The EA being a bit inventive with their excuses to "the boss" maybe?

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  10. The plot thickens,going up the food chain.

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  11. WELL DONE IAN keep digging on AVONCLIFF you will need a chair, prepare to be SHOCKED. Speak to the developers............

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  12. Is it EA policy to send people BUST or is it government policy. Sack the culprits.

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  13. Well it looks like these builders may have been under estimated by the EA, it looks like this fight is set to continue. Maybe the EA should realise this mill was and is the best position for any turbine compared to the other.WHY ARE THEY SO BIASED against the NORTH MILL owners???? Can they stop wasting tax payers money and sort this out.

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    Replies
    1. Always been the same nothing changes.They always preferred the scheme that could not be done,nothing changes why did TARRANT get the licence not what you know but who you know?

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  14. Sounds dodgy,budget day get rid of the EA. Some questions have to be asked.
    1. Who paid the fee and made full aplication first ?
    2. Who supplied all correct info first ?
    3. which application went through public consultation first ?
    4. Which application was in a position to be determined positivly first ?
    IT IS SIMPLE the answer to these 4 questions tells everyone who should have the licence. anything else is unlawfull HOW MUCH PUBLIC MONEY HAS THIS COST ????? Mike

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  15. ABUSING PUBLIC FUNDS make them pay it back PROSECUTE

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  16. BENYON SAT ON THE FENCE. CAMERON WILL NOT BE PLEASED.He does not have a magic money tree, give him a loan.

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Get it off yer chest - please keep it civil