tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post3410237075075160516..comments2023-06-17T13:23:01.194+01:00Comments on Old North Mill Avoncliff - The Blog: Rattle Ejected From Pram (Part 1)northmillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10212716700413694184noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-24455984227087215892013-10-27T22:54:19.109+00:002013-10-27T22:54:19.109+00:00Check out HENRYS blog just click on HENRY. Looks l...Check out HENRYS blog just click on HENRY. Looks like a lot of jobs going at the EA a shame the ones who do a good job will suffer due to EA being highlighted to the MINISTERS. Get rid of the of the ones earning more than the PRIME-MINISTER now that would save a packet. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-9966713138862300092013-10-26T00:06:12.046+01:002013-10-26T00:06:12.046+01:00ONWARD S AND UPWARDS JOHN?ONWARD S AND UPWARDS JOHN?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-70924726906931914052013-10-26T00:01:42.529+01:002013-10-26T00:01:42.529+01:00The ministers just sit there as usual and do nothi...The ministers just sit there as usual and do nothing OWEN PATTERSON sort out the waste do your job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-73475286053530969142013-10-25T16:46:36.967+01:002013-10-25T16:46:36.967+01:00A recent comment from a chap called John Green bac...A recent comment from a chap called John Green backing up my stories - seems more and more ex-EA staff and giving their thoughts:<br /><br />In my time at the EA over 20 close colleagues were forced to leave because of bullying. The situation was terrible and there were tears in the toilets almost every day. Some of the better managers had breakdowns. But those responsible for the bullying moved onwards and upwards within the organisation to take salaries most taxpayers can only dream about. With the exception of a few stories in the ENDS report this is the first time the lid has been lifted on what has really been going on within the EA. It’s a great site and I hope other present and former members of the EA will use it to share their awful experiences. I hope journalists will also use it to launch an investigation that is long overdue.<br />Henryhttp://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-89482108869534151092013-10-25T16:40:06.720+01:002013-10-25T16:40:06.720+01:00Some positive news in the press about the EA for o...Some positive news in the press about the EA for once (http://www.endsreport.com/41255/environment-agency-job-cuts-bigger-and-quicker-than-expected#!). Seems the message is actually beginning to sink in with ministers. I find it laughable that some of the staff responding to the article believe it will impact their main mission of protecting environment and human health. As I, and many others have witnessed, there is much fat to be trimmed and whilst the mission of protecting the environment and human health can in fact be enhanced whilst reducing the large scale waste and accompanying abuses. Done correctly, and in the right areas (particularly regulation), will go a long way in improving the Agency's effectiveness whilst improving the economy. If the ministers would like detailed accounts of where the waste and abuse is taking place with evidence and examples, feel free to get in touch. Although many of the most important ministers are already in possession of them.Henryhttp://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-66699190917532090652013-10-21T09:13:11.027+01:002013-10-21T09:13:11.027+01:00How about some of the below getting their hands di...How about some of the below getting their hands dirty ?<br /><br /><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/people/george-eustice" rel="nofollow">George Eustace </a><br /><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/people/dan-rogerson" rel="nofollow">Dan Rogerson </a><br /><br />or even:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/people/lord-de-mauley" rel="nofollow">Lord de Mauley</a><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-45789353699214328072013-10-21T06:44:39.508+01:002013-10-21T06:44:39.508+01:00Looks like muzzling people with uncomfortable thin...Looks like muzzling people with uncomfortable things to say extends to the highest reaches of gubmint - <a href="https://twitter.com/OwenPatersonMP" rel="nofollow"><strong>Owen Patterson has been banned from tweeting by DEFRA </strong></a>- how does that work - if he's da boss?<br /><br />/facepalmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-27664839793620173282013-10-21T05:36:49.500+01:002013-10-21T05:36:49.500+01:00That'd be why some folk are so keen to licence...That'd be why some folk are so keen to licence/muzzle blogs / Twitter....<br /><br />Wrongdoing is one thing - cover up is quite another.<br /><br />We understand that considerable PR effort has been expended by the EA in the matter of Avoncliff keeping the matter out of the mainstream media with only tidbits like the libel threat to Narrowboat World coming to light. We know that the EA has been out and about suggesting editorial policy to the copy 'n pasters of their press releases.<br /><br />It's going to be an interesting few weeks......<br /><br />Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13985591514320408224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-62839221696426353352013-10-20T23:38:17.936+01:002013-10-20T23:38:17.936+01:00Police culture will change, says Home Office minis...Police culture will change, says Home Office minister - hopefully, DEFRA will learn something from the Home Office and start improving the culture of the EA: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24601002Henryhttp://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-26225131902722880152013-10-20T18:27:34.729+01:002013-10-20T18:27:34.729+01:00surely OWEN PATTERSON has knowledge of all this wa...surely OWEN PATTERSON has knowledge of all this waste?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-51157919250980713472013-10-20T18:04:32.277+01:002013-10-20T18:04:32.277+01:00Apparently they are proposing to up the licence fe...Apparently they are proposing to up the licence fee to £1500 pounds. I have got news for the ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY you will not be able to do it for that looking at this lot. Cut your costs get rid of some staff that would help parasites . Start with LIENSTER and JORDANAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-43200396038290485132013-10-20T17:54:07.434+01:002013-10-20T17:54:07.434+01:00Scratch that - seems the website has dropped down ...Scratch that - seems the website has dropped down the listings for now. Fact is, the word is getting out, both online and offline. There are now many links coming back to inside the EA, and I am sure it is the same for this Avon Cliff blog. Many people have been isolated and unsure of what to do with the incompetence of the EA. Now that people are becoming more vocal, more and more are gaining courage to also say something.Henryhttp://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-78917520801783224642013-10-20T17:44:42.414+01:002013-10-20T17:44:42.414+01:00I think the penny is dropping for many people. Web...I think the penny is dropping for many people. Websites and blogs like ours is beginning to open up the EA like never before. The EA has always espoused transparency, but during my time there, it was never practised - more lip service than anything else. Inside the EA is now listed on the second page of Google search for "Environment Agency" and the documents I have built up about the waste, bullying, harassment, victimisation and mismanaged have been sent to over a dozen MPs. We can only hope that, after the millions of wasted tax payer funds, perhaps there maybe a silver lining to these shenanigans through the light it has cast. One can only hope.Henryhttp://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-91966007022200844532013-10-20T16:21:29.602+01:002013-10-20T16:21:29.602+01:00WOW THE MOST HITS EVER ON THIS SITE so much inter...WOW THE MOST HITS EVER ON THIS SITE so much interest just in the last post .northmillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10212716700413694184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-982659157473613302013-10-20T16:05:35.373+01:002013-10-20T16:05:35.373+01:00Would not like to forget PENNY SOWTER she said we ...Would not like to forget PENNY SOWTER she said we cannot run the water wheel .Another lie join the merry bunch.northmillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10212716700413694184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-78836015838807989892013-10-20T15:55:34.787+01:002013-10-20T15:55:34.787+01:00oh yes that really worked DAVID the response was r...oh yes that really worked DAVID the response was reasonable must be a job requirement lying to the public..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-62250832601414189042013-10-20T15:25:03.995+01:002013-10-20T15:25:03.995+01:00He is being paid to much he obviously has no contr...He is being paid to much he obviously has no control, he would do a better job directing kids over a zebra crossing if he allows all these people to LIE and act corruptly .NO ACCOUNTABILITY Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-84219383115300325212013-10-20T13:43:41.797+01:002013-10-20T13:43:41.797+01:00David Jordan makes vague reference to what his min...David Jordan makes vague reference to what his minions have been up to and gets back 20 instances (and more that didn't immediately spring to mind ) back - where they've erred or worse - looks like he should have stuck to apology and delay - oh, yeah - that didn't work out did it?<br /><br />How much is he being paid?<br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-56009831988346737922013-10-20T09:44:48.125+01:002013-10-20T09:44:48.125+01:00Not only is Weevers Mill up for sale but there is ...Not only is Weevers Mill up for sale but there is no mention of hydro power in the supporting sales documentation - or any mention for that matter of the property's liability for the mechanical integrity of the weir insofar as that is covered by the ownership laid out in the deeds.<br /><br />Quite a turn of events really.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13985591514320408224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-9785862664283983012013-10-20T09:38:50.730+01:002013-10-20T09:38:50.730+01:00Michael Meacher's investigation is one of the ...Michael Meacher's investigation is one of the first things I found several years ago after Avoncliff had a toe-curlingly embarrassing (for his unfortunate accompanying colleagues) site visit by John Aldrick who "came on" with quite appalling arrogance and had the effrontory when challenged mildly - to go off on a shouty one and IIRC state that "you have to do <strong><i>anything</i></strong> *we* tell you to" - which, needless to say was not well received :-)<br /><br />Google Environment Agency and bullying an Mr Meacher's report is always there. Other examples of internal abuse of staff papper the search results together with other victims of the culture extant at the EA.<br /><br />One might have some sympathy for a regime that instituted very strong controls and sanctions on errant officials - but it's abundantly clear that is not the case with the EA. <br /><br />The present EA culture is toxic and needs sorting - it also has to be said that Natural England is displaying autocratic and perverted tendencies in the dysfunctional quango league tables - and worrying that it's being touted by some in positions of influence as a worthy successor to the EA and I don't mean that in a positive wayTomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13985591514320408224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-33072553623327925412013-10-19T23:32:26.845+01:002013-10-19T23:32:26.845+01:00It is true the agency should no better it is clear...It is true the agency should no better it is clear they have created a monster by the wrong doing at avoncliff , instead of backing off they make this worse with letters from high up agency managers to the very people they have wronged. The tone of his letter shows clear contempt towards Northmill and bias against them and this from a director means no fare decision is capable of been made.<br />WHY has this not been nipped in the bud by a minister in charge it looks like a team in the agency is out of control at the loss of the public purse and the environment and have brought the agency into dissrepute against our own code of conduct ! I for one am not surprised by the tone of the response David Jordan walked straight into it and should know better. It is clear John Sweeney was not the man for the job with his do as I say attitude he should have been removed first time around, I am ashamed of what has happened at Avoncliff and what we have put both applicants and their families through along with many others in the agency this makes us all look incompetent . The more you try to cover up mistakes the worse it will get the agency must come clean and put it right now. SORRYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-11963760119540648862013-10-19T19:58:16.542+01:002013-10-19T19:58:16.542+01:00After all this hassle, and Weevers is up for sale?...After all this hassle, and Weevers is up for sale? If the EA was doing it's job properly, Avon Cliff would be operating with it's licence and Weever's may be positively doing something else. Now, millions of pounds later, neither is the case. I wish this was the only case I have seen, but there are countless up and down the country, perhaps not as higher waste (more like the lost of thousands to hundreds of thousands), but it all adds up and it affects real lives.Henryhttp://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-38800710430247565612013-10-19T19:55:55.381+01:002013-10-19T19:55:55.381+01:00I must concur with anonymous. He's always been...I must concur with anonymous. He's always been a figure head with no real power, more a protector of staff than anything else. He's certainly not known for anything other than positive PR and strategic political planning for the EA (read greasing leading DEFRA minsters with falsified statistics).Henryhttp://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-49485592772880314402013-10-19T19:53:19.657+01:002013-10-19T19:53:19.657+01:00Seems I'm not the only EA employee raising con...Seems I'm not the only EA employee raising concerns about the organisation. Just had a message from Anne Alkham - not a name I am familiar with, so not sure what function she serves/served in. She has posted the following:<br /><br />As an ex-employee of the Environment Agency I can only commend the originator of this blog for the brave action they are taking in exposing a situation that has for far too long been hidden from the public eye. I urge politicians and all who believe in the environment to read very carefully what is being written here. A great deal of what is being said rings true and is not just the views of one disaffected employee. In my experience the EA management encourages a culture where bullying of staff and the public is rife. Anyone who complains is treated with total ruthlessness by the management despite the many years of service they may have given to the Agency and to the environment. In 2001 Alan Dalton who was a member of the Agency’s national board sent a 29 page dossier to Michael Meacher, the environment minister outlining cases of stress among employees and poor management practices. In my experience the situation after that time got worse and not better and it would seem continues until the present day.Henryhttp://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6200793801449095993.post-6372811574340901772013-10-19T15:33:07.200+01:002013-10-19T15:33:07.200+01:00ooh-err - this is more entertaining than a TV soap...ooh-err - this is more entertaining than a TV soap operaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com