General discussion on current situation 3

[radstockjeff]

Has anyone noticed the recent report that the local planning authority for the Durham area has been asked to investigate the lack of a planning permission for a separate dwelling at North Lodge? Apparently, no council tax has been paid for it either!

Depends whether Mr C. Snr. has any "influential" contacts on the Planning Committee.

[Ray T]

Looks to be in the Burnhall Conservation Area which seems not to have been reviewed since its inception. I doubt whether the conversion of part of an existing building would raise any conservation issues though. The buillding containing the "separate dwelling" has been there for some considerable time.

The actual conversion of an existing building doesn't in itself require planning permission unless this materially alters its external appearance but permission is required for carrying out a material change in the use of land - e.g. the use of an existing building as a separate dwelling. The usual problem a local planning authority would have is gathering sufficient evidence to prove that a building has been so used and it must be something of a luxury to have a statement broadcast to the nation confirming this!

The matter of council tax is a separate issue.

[jillruss]

I should imagine that's why Cummings started backtracking when describing where he and his wife and child had stayed. At first it was a home but by the end of his blather it was merely a block of concrete (or words to that effect, Guy, before you correct me).

Oh and, by the way, the face mask thing IS an about turn because they definitely said masks hadn't been proved to minimise the spread of the virus and they still haven't.

Its not a science-led decision but a political one, as are most of the decisions they've been making recently. Get the bu--ers back to work seems to be the new mantra (though I doubt it will appear emblazoned on the front of the rostrums any time soon!) so let them think a face mask will protect them.

I've lost all faith in what they say (I did have some at the start of this, honest!). I defended Boris at the start when most people were calling him a liar but now I get what they meant. Everything they do now is, in their words, 'strictly following the science' and 'world beating'. What world are they living in, for goodness sake? We're the laughing stock of the world. We are no longer 'world beating' nor have we been for quite some time.

Its a pity Woolworths is no longer around. I used to say that the sainted Diana could have done with a stint working in there, but it would have worked just as well for the majority of our so called leaders (if you didn't mind your pick 'n' mix being made a pig's ear of!!!).

[Skoosh]

I see the cardiologist who threatened to resign from the NHS if Cummings was still in post has been as good as his word & resigned.

Skoosh.

[Gadget]

I've been busy so I didn't get to hear/watch the latest briefing but, from my favoured newspaper, I see that Valance has announced that the R is slightly up from last week

The R value in England has risen to between 0.7 and 1, according to the government’s latest official estimates with some regions now at risk of seeing a rise in the number of infections.

The latest data suggests that the north-west of England is an area for concern and that some local authorities may have R-values – the rate of transmission – above 1, at which point the epidemic will begin to grow in these communities.

The Government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance told a virtual briefing with journalists on Friday the R-number - the average number of people that will contract coronavirus from an infected person - for England was between 0.7 and 1, while it remained between 0.7 and 0.9 for the UK as a whole.

[Ray T]

I see that, today, Halfcock has gone the whole cock and, instead of the three stooges he’s just there all by himself!

Is he concerned that the experts at the other two rectums are going to spill the beans and actually tell the truth?

[Maiden Stone]

I understood the general opinion on face masks was that it was very doubtful they did any good in stopping the virus.

So, is this yet another about turn? Where am I supposed to get a face mask? I thought they were supposed to be so rare they were going on the open market for 6 toilet rolls and a packet of pasta?

I agree it is another about turn, but policies change as more knowledge becomes available, as Maiden Stone said.

However Grant Schapps did try to make it clear that the 'science' did not fully support the wearing of face masks/coverings as a way to limit spread of this coronavirus. Indicating that the policy has not been changed for scientific reasons.

There is no agreement on effectiveness. They have been described as "a potentially useful extra tool".  Most important are physical distancing and handwashing.

Information, differing points of view + instructions on making simple face coverings on this web-page:
"Coronavirus: Widen Rules on where face coverings must be used, say U.K. doctors"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52930245
Further down page is analysis by David Shukman, Science Editor under heading "A potentially useful tool"
There are links from this page to:
"Face masks: Should I be wearing one? (5th June)
"Public transport: Is it safe to travel? (18th May)
"Risks at work: How safe is your job? (14th May)

An article in today's "Independent" reports differing views. Quotes Professor Anthony Costello, UCL Institute for Global Health "there is no perfect evidence"; 2 reviews published by "The Lancet" and the Royal Society showed face coverings can help reduce viral transmission on public transport.

Prof. Anthony Costello interview "Today" programme Radio 4.

Scottish SAGE recommended face coverings 28th April. See my reply 21.

Experts give their opinions. It's up to politicians to consider advice and decide whether to apply it to the current situation.
 
 
 

[Llwyd]

I only ever bought one newspaper a week and haven't had one since the start of lockdown. Maybe some links would help.

Try this -
https://www.easylifegroup.com/   
 

[Roobarb]

Thank you LLwyd. Are they all as expensive as that? Nearly fifteen quid for three reusable ones and an extra fiver delivery. Some businesses are going bust but I can't see this being one of them. Just an observation.