My personal thoughts and comments on matters of interest
Friday, 11 February 2011
Progress continues on Phase 1
The second open section of the critical drain after clearing and installation of retaining boards is shown below on the left , the picture on the right shows the same section prior to the work.
A vast improvement. Still the section which is going to be piped with those 3 foot diameter pipes stored near the medical centre to go so lets hope for some dryer weather for the men to work.
I am afraid so. I spoke to the contractors and their site man said there were now facing two obstructors. As a result they were pulling out until matters were sorted out once and for all. Who can blame them for not hanging around waiting for a change of mind from a man who has dedicated himself to causing dissent and delay since he emerged from obscurity?
The residents who, gave written permission of access and then withdrawing same causing the project to stall, once again, are causing grief to fellow residents. They can take the morale high ground. Did they suffer from flooding? If the whole project was scrapped would they be affected by high rainfall ? Do they panic when high rainfall is forcast? These people must have a hidden agenda What is their goal, recognition? For those that the cap fits, come clean!!!
A little bird told me that the drainage board had finally lost patience with our problem resident and served him with a legal notice to gain access to do the work. Can you confirm this?
At a recent meeting of the Parish Council the following information was given to the council -
FLOOD PREVENTION
Phase 1. The work has been stopped and the responsibility lies entirely with Mr XXXXXXX rescinding written permission for access: this stoppage has nothing to do with either ERY Council, LOID Board or the parish council.
The contractors have left the site pending enforcement notices being progressed.
Regarding the rescinded written permission – legal action has been instigated under the Land Drainage Act: The required notice of 7 days has been given and if workmen are obstructed on their return there is a risk of conviction and/or fine at level 4 on the standard scale which I understand is £2,500
Many Gilberdyke residents have asked why the work on the flood relief project has stopped and the contractors have left the site. The answer is quite simple - one resident and his family had gone back on the written consent they gave to allow access for the work to be carried out, and told the contractors that they were not to enter his garden.
The resident then received a letter from the Lower Ouse Internal Drainage Board (LOIDB) asking for written clarification, unfortunately no reply was forthcoming. As East Riding Ward Councillor I then attended a meeting with the LOIDB Clerk and Officers of the ERYC where the decision was made to proceed down the legal route. The Drainage Board then worked closely with the Council to pursue this option.
Matters then moved on and a legal notice to enter the land was issued by the Drainage Board and received by the resident. This gave a seven day notice period after which the Board can take the contractors and equipment and enter the land as is necessary to carry out the work. This period has now passed.
Now if the resident intentionally obstructs or impedes access, they would be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale – this is currently £2,500.
It is important to distinguish between the Lower Ouse Internal Drainage Board and Gilberdyke Parish Council; the legal notice had to come from the Drainage Board since the powers under the Land Drainage Act 1991 are available to the Board and not the Parish Council.
I am saddened that after many, many months, agreement to proceed could not be reached with the one resident and his family. It has been very frustrating, and has incurred many man hours costing a considerable sum of money for the rate payers of Gilberdyke.
I did not want the LOIDB to take the legal route but it was left with no option. For a Parish Council, made up of unpaid volunteers, to have been threatened with court injunctions, inundated with freedom of information requests, and some of its members subject to repeated complaints to the Standard Board for England and Wales – all of this from one individual is not acceptable.
What is even more unacceptable is the worry, concern and flood risk to those residents who were flooded in June 2007 to which the project seeks to address. It is not fair for them to have had to wait for what is almost 4 years.
I am led to believe that the contractors will return to site in the coming weeks.
This same resident has taken to walk his dog down Westbrook, the scene of the worst flooding, as bold as brass. Is he taunting us??? His actions has caused unknown grief,mental and financial, to residents.
Most local people will by now have read the article in the Goole Times. The identity of Mike Whitley as the obstructive resident is now in the public domain. It seems strange that he wishes to stand for election to both county and Parish Councils in the area where he has caused so much misery to the victims of the 2007 flooding and cost to the council tax payers of the village. The electorate will have the final word but suffice it to say I sincerely hope that the community take this opportunity to reject his candidacy with an unequivocable verdict.
Re-anonymous on the 2nd April, I agree this is a free country and people can walk the streets but some people put their time to good use, such as Paul Robinson and the parish council who work very hard for this community rather than oppose much of what they do or challange and and obstruct progress and cost the rate payer money in the process. Care in the community for this gent is collecting dog dirt from his dog that he is walking, what goods that.
A vast improvement. Still the section which is going to be piped with those 3 foot diameter pipes stored near the medical centre to go so lets hope for some dryer weather for the men to work.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that the large pipes are starting to migrate into the site from the storage compound this morning (14th Feb)
ReplyDeleteI understand its come to a halt again?????
ReplyDeleteI am afraid so. I spoke to the contractors and their site man said there were now facing two obstructors. As a result they were pulling out until matters were sorted out once and for all. Who can blame them for not hanging around waiting for a change of mind from a man who has dedicated himself to causing dissent and delay since he emerged from obscurity?
ReplyDeleteThe residents who, gave written permission of access and then withdrawing same causing the project to stall, once again, are causing grief to fellow residents. They can take the morale high ground. Did they suffer from flooding? If the whole project was scrapped would they be affected by high rainfall ? Do they panic when high rainfall is forcast?
ReplyDeleteThese people must have a hidden agenda
What is their goal, recognition?
For those that the cap fits, come clean!!!
A little bird told me that the drainage board had finally lost patience with our problem resident and served him with a legal notice to gain access to do the work. Can you confirm this?
ReplyDeleteAt a recent meeting of the Parish Council the following information was given to the council -
ReplyDeleteFLOOD PREVENTION
Phase 1. The work has been stopped and the responsibility lies entirely with Mr XXXXXXX rescinding written permission for access: this stoppage has nothing to do with either ERY Council, LOID Board or the parish council.
The contractors have left the site pending enforcement notices being progressed.
Regarding the rescinded written permission – legal action has been instigated under the Land Drainage Act: The required notice of 7 days has been given and if workmen are obstructed on their return there is a risk of conviction and/or fine at level 4 on the standard scale which I understand is £2,500
Many Gilberdyke residents have asked why the work on the flood relief project has stopped and the contractors have left the site. The answer is quite simple - one resident and his family had gone back on the written consent they gave to allow access for the work to be carried out, and told the contractors that they were not to enter his garden.
ReplyDeleteThe resident then received a letter from the Lower Ouse Internal Drainage Board (LOIDB) asking for written clarification, unfortunately no reply was forthcoming. As East Riding Ward Councillor I then attended a meeting with the LOIDB Clerk and Officers of the ERYC where the decision was made to proceed down the legal route. The Drainage Board then worked closely with the Council to pursue this option.
Matters then moved on and a legal notice to enter the land was issued by the Drainage Board and received by the resident. This gave a seven day notice period after which the Board can take the contractors and equipment and enter the land as is necessary to carry out the work. This period has now passed.
Now if the resident intentionally obstructs or impedes access, they would be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale – this is currently £2,500.
It is important to distinguish between the Lower Ouse Internal Drainage Board and Gilberdyke Parish Council; the legal notice had to come from the Drainage Board since the powers under the Land Drainage Act 1991 are available to the Board and not the Parish Council.
I am saddened that after many, many months, agreement to proceed could not be reached with the one resident and his family. It has been very frustrating, and has incurred many man hours costing a considerable sum of money for the rate payers of Gilberdyke.
I did not want the LOIDB to take the legal route but it was left with no option. For a Parish Council, made up of unpaid volunteers, to have been threatened with court injunctions, inundated with freedom of information requests, and some of its members subject to repeated complaints to the Standard Board for England and Wales – all of this from one individual is not acceptable.
What is even more unacceptable is the worry, concern and flood risk to those residents who were flooded in June 2007 to which the project seeks to address. It is not fair for them to have had to wait for what is almost 4 years.
I am led to believe that the contractors will return to site in the coming weeks.
This same resident has taken to walk his dog down Westbrook, the scene of the worst flooding, as bold as brass. Is he taunting us???
ReplyDeleteHis actions has caused unknown grief,mental and financial, to residents.
Being a "free" country means that even pariahs can walk through the streets. Maybe this is just a case of "care in the community" not working?
ReplyDeleteMost local people will by now have read the article in the Goole Times. The identity of Mike Whitley as the obstructive resident is now in the public domain. It seems strange that he wishes to stand for election to both county and Parish Councils in the area where he has caused so much misery to the victims of the 2007 flooding and cost to the council tax payers of the village.
ReplyDeleteThe electorate will have the final word but suffice it to say I sincerely hope that the community take this opportunity to reject his candidacy with an unequivocable verdict.
Re-anonymous on the 2nd April, I agree this is a free country and people can walk the streets but some people put their time to good use, such as Paul Robinson and the parish council who work very hard for this community rather than oppose much of what they do or challange and and obstruct progress and cost the rate payer money in the process. Care in the community for this gent is collecting dog dirt from his dog that he is walking, what goods that.
ReplyDelete