(Click to
enlarge)
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Hammerson's previous bridge
('living' or not) |
2012-07-15
Independent on Sunday: "UK's air pollution: Defra accused of doing nothing, despite 30,000 premature deaths"
 |
| James Thomlinson: "I get wheezy walking in London. If I want to live longer, I'll need to move." Link to Independent on Sunday |
"The Government faces a Supreme Court action this week, demanding that it slash air pollution levels by 2015. Lawyers acting for the environmental charity ClientEarth are making a legal challenge to force the coalition to cut levels of lethal nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to within European Commission limits.
"Poor air quality causes the premature deaths of 30,000 people in Britain each year – more than die from alcohol abuse, obesity or [and?] in car crashes. London has the dirtiest air of any European capital, with NO2 levels often double the European limit."
2012-07-13
North London Mums: "In the Night Garden Live" at Brent Cross
"This morning, we caught the Ninky Nonk, and headed off to see In the Night Garden Live at Brent Cross, and we weren't disappointed. I took my eighteen-month-old daughter who is a big fan of the TV show and a friend whose daughter had never seen it. Both children were utterly transfixed by this beautifully staged production, that brings the characters to life.
"There are four showings every day and the show runs until 22 July, so don't miss your chance to go if your children are fans (or even if not)."
Camden New Journal: "This clearly demonstrates, comrades, that Makka Pakka cannot rely on Upsy Daisy, Iggle Piggle, and the Camden state class enemies"
 |
| Link to Camden New Journal |
"At the beginning of the week, Makka Pakka was looking out from lampposts all over Kentish Town. But by last night, after a Town Hall U-turn, there was no sign of the little fellow – to the great relief of local traders.
"They had been angered when posters of the squeaky, stone-collecting character from 'In The Night Garden' appeared on large posters along Kentish Town Road, promoting a live production of the popular BBC programme for toddlers, which is currently being staged at Brent Cross Shopping Centre.
A Question for Boris Johnson | Shelter
"London schoolchildren talk to Shelter about the devastating impact that living in overcrowded homes has on their lives. They ask London's Mayor, Boris Johnson, what he is doing to help."
Evening Standard: "Construction slides despite Jubilee bonus"
 |
| Link to Evening Standard |
"Even an extra day at work failed to help
Britain’s struggling builders in May as construction output sank again,
official figures showed today.
"Steve McGuckin, the managing director of the construction consultant
Turner & Townsend, said:
"What began as a dip has become a dive.
There have been some signs of life in the private sector, and many still hope that it will ride to the rescue of a construction industry that has been hit hard by the decline in public spending. However, these figures clearly show that it hasn’t happened yet."
2012-07-12
Ooh la la! - Fly through Hammerson's £390m French shopping centre site
(Hammerson's fly-through of Les Terrasses du Port site, Marseille, France)
 |
| "Dead in the Water" |
Hammerson's fly-through of Brent Cross Cricklewood scheme (alleged)
Sun 15 & 22 July: Finchley Society: "Waterways of Finchley - The Walk"
"The recent 'Waterways of Finchley' slide shows, where we looked at all of
Finchley’s waterways and water features, proved to be very popular. Many
people were amazed at what we have right here in Finchley, and there were
many requests to do a walk of The Waterways of Finchley. So, bowing to
popular request, here it is, spread over two Sunday afternoons."
Part One
Sunday 15th July at 12noon
A fascinating and picturesque tour of Finchley‘s water features:
Meet outside East Finchley tube station at 11-45am for a 12 noon start.
We will follow Mutton Brook through Lyttleton Playing Fields and Northway
Gardens to Brookland Rise. Then we will visit the water cascade at Willow
Tree Gardens, The Garden of Hope, Briarfield Green Square, Pentland
Centre lake and fountain and stop at Avenue House Café.
After lunch, we will
follow Mutton Brook to Brookdales for a quick look at The Decoy lakes before
setting off along Dollis Brook, to Finchley Weir for a finish at the bottom of
Hendon Lane where we can catch the 143 bus back to Finchley Central and
East Finchley tubes.
4.2 miles to Avenue House. Total distance to finish - 6.4 miles.
This is a very pretty walk and well worth missing Sunday lunch for. Bring packed lunch, or buy food at Avenue House café. For more details contact: Mike Gee 0208 346 5503.
"The second part of our Waterways of Finchley tour takes us to the western and northern part of Finchley where Dollis Brook forms the western boundary. We will venture as far north as Totteridge Lane, and our walk will take in several little-known water features on our journey north along Dollis Brook. By the end of this tour you will have seen over 40 bridges." [That's enough bridges.]
Part Two
Sunday 22nd July at 12noon
A fascinating and picturesque tour of Finchley’s water features: Meet outside Finchley Central station at 11-45am for a 12 noon start.
We will head for Finchley Weir at the bottom of Hendon Lane and continue
north along Dollis Brook, through Windsor Open Space and Finchley Garden
Village, continue past the magnificent viaduct in Dollis Road, to Rocklands
Lake, Lovers Walk and Nether Court House, on to explore Folly Brook, back to
Dollis Brook, through Whetstone Stray with a grand finale at The Redwood
Café in Swan Lane Open Space.
3.6 miles to Woodside Park tube. Total distance to finish - 5.1 miles.
Another pretty walk well worth missing Sunday lunch for. Bring packed lunch, Tasty food
available at The Redwood Café. For more details contact Mike Gee.
2012-07-11
The Guardian: Homes for Hobbits? [(c) Brian Coleman]
 |
| Link to The Guardian |
"In an attempt to address the city's housing
problems, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has launched a challenge for developers to
transform a lot in the city into a building that will devote at least
two thirds of its space to apartments measuring no more than 300 sq ft.
"Bloomberg boasted in a news conference that his first New York City flat was
roughly 600 sq ft and cost between $120 and $140 each month. 'I would
have taken a smaller one, if I could possibly have found it,' he said."
2012-07-10
Daily Telegraph: "Is the British economy going back to the 70s?"
 |
| Link to Daily Telegraph |
"The Queen's Jubilee, a double-dip recession and sky-high fuel prices – those with long memories might be tempted to think that history is repeating itself, with just the small matter of 40-odd years in between.
"Before you dig out your brazier and start hoarding candles, it is worth remembering that there are plenty of differences between that turbulent decade and the current economic problems. Petrol price rises, pay freezes and a dysfunctional economy are as much on our radar today, but thanks to rock-bottom interest rates and muted wage growth, the sensible responses are not always identical."
2012-07-09
[Reposted] Croydon Today: "Mayor could prove kingmaker" (Brent Cross's Hammerson -versus- Westfield's, well, Westfield)
 |
| Link to Croydon Today |
"In Croydon, fears are already emerging that the battle for control [of Whitgift shopping centre] between Hammerson and Westfield could lead to a stalemate.
"... Westfield has made it clear it is keen to see improvements to and expansion of its existing centres in White City and Stratford, while Hammerson is keen to upgrade Brent Cross.
"And achieving their ambition could perhaps persuade either Hammerson or Westfield to think twice about Croydon, with the Mayor sweetening the pill of their disappointment of leaving the redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre to the other."
Link to
Croydon Guardian: "Westfield ups pressure over Croydon Whitgift development" (Compare to Hammerson's useless BX consultation, by London Communications Agency)
 |
| Link to 'Croydon Guardian' (it always rains in Croydon) |
"Westfield bosses have unveiled plans for Croydon, and argue aggressive tactics are key to quickly breaking the deadlock [with Brent Cross's Hammerson] over the redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre.
"A public consultation was held in the town centre between July 5 and 8, where the retailer set out its £1bn masterplan, including 1.5m sq ft of retail space, a cinema [Hammerson already has planning permission for 11 screens, in its neighbouring Centrale Centre] and bowling alley, about 500 homes and 5000 new jobs."
"John Burton, Westfield’s director of development, said:
"This just increases the pressure, not just on Hammerson but on everyone, including us.
There were two ways to do this, sit and wait around for the dispute to be settled, which could have taken years, or push on. Croydon doesn’t have years, it needs this development now."
Link to Evening Standard:
Whereas...
(Croydon and Brent Cross transport links)
[Reposted] Barnet Eye: "Nick Walkley and conflicting interests"
Nick Walkley - "Well Bozzer [Boris], in Barnet we are planning to abolish pay-and-display parking, hike up parking charges and drive all the customers away from local businesses, and into large shopping centres like Brent Cross, which we want to see double in size. They have to get their customers from somewhere, you know!"
... ...
"... As you can see, the board contains the chief of police, and the managing
director of Brent Cross. They meet informally, and so no minutes are
taken.
"Who was the only private-sector representative? Not someone from
small business, or a representative of small traders. No, it was the MD
of Brent Cross [pictured here].
"Now I've attended a presentation by Tom Nathan, and he is
a superb speaker. One has to [ask]: In his role on the board, is he
likely to favour measures which benefit:
- his business, or
- local traders?
Link to Barnet Eye
"Should Carmarthenshire be Twinned with Barnet?"
 |
| Click above for 'Carmarthenshire Planning Problems' |
"... I suggest you have a look at the Barnet bloggers, notably Mrs Angry's and Mr Mustard's. They, along with others in the London borough, set something of an example to the rest of us about the role of citizens bringing a local authority to account.
"The similarities with Carmarthenshire Council have often been noted here, and it has been suggested that a twinning arrangement could be set up, whereby senior officers and members could exchange positions for a week or two, to bring each other up to date with the latest methods of withholding information and avoiding scrutiny by members of the public.
"Of course, Barnet has a slight difficulty in that it is beholden to publish spending details over £500 and, under the English Public Audit Act, has to provide an inspection period every year, for the electorate to view all the accounts. Carmarthenshire council, of course, doesn't have to worry about any of that nonsense. ...
"Not that Barnet is any more welcoming to armchair auditors than our friends down the road, and their recent trip to study the accounts (remember this includes receipts, invoices etc) was reminiscent of a trip to view the register of member's interests undertaken by 'Mrs T' last year.(see The Sacred Parchments)
"Also reminiscent is the way the Barnet bloggers were treated, rather like suspected terrorists, being marched around the building and escorted to the loo and back, as well as being faced with material which was so redacted it was unreadable.
2012-07-08
Hammerson claims to be friend of the High Street, but only when fighting out-of-town British Land
 |
| Link to 'Sheffield Telegraph' |
"BACKERS of the proposed Sevenstone retail quarter in Sheffield city centre
are objecting to plans to develop land adjoining Meadowhall for a large Next
'Home and Garden' store.
"They fear if the council gives the go-ahead, it will send 'a clear signal' to retailers that the shopping centre can grow, weakening confidence in the city centre.
"London-based developers Hammerson have lodged a protest, in response to an application by Meadowhall co-owners British Land to build on an overflow car park at the Sheffield Road/Vulcan Road entrance to the shopping mall."
"They fear if the council gives the go-ahead, it will send 'a clear signal' to retailers that the shopping centre can grow, weakening confidence in the city centre.
"London-based developers Hammerson have lodged a protest, in response to an application by Meadowhall co-owners British Land to build on an overflow car park at the Sheffield Road/Vulcan Road entrance to the shopping mall."
Daily Telegraph: "A New Kind of Bleak by Owen Hatherley: review"
 |
| Link to web site |
"You’ve got to feel sorry for Owen Hatherley. Being a Marxist in the 21st century must be exhausting. Lined up against you: the world. Tories and Lib Dems, Blairites and Brownites, the flag-waving working-classes, the comfy middle-classes: you hate them all.
 |
| Verso Books |
"... The story that this book attempts to tell is important. But it isn’t about evil developers versus heroic town planners, or about a rosy semisocialist past versus a bleak neoliberal future. It’s a story about how our values have changed, how our economy has changed and how we have tried to respond to this. A complicated story that deserves more than this childish rant."
Other reviews:
Avoiding Corruption in Croydon: Croydon Advertiser (that's new), Croydon Guardian (ditto), and Barnet Times (whatever)
(Click on, or copy, images to enlarge)
 |
| Favours to be granted? |
2012-07-07
Evening Standard: "Shoreditch to come up with the goods for [Brent Cross's] Hammerson"
 |
| Link to web site |
"Towards the end of the year, a planning application will be made for a 3.75 million-square-foot space, on what the developers call 'the largest undeveloped site in central London'. Well, nearly central London.
"The 10-acre site, named Goodsyard, is situated 400 yards north of Broadgate, to the east of Shoreditch High Street [and around the London Overground station].
"Hammerson has pledged to turn itself into a retail-only business. But a spokesman says they 'are not selling'. Why? Getting planning on a site this size will take a year or so. But once that happens, the Goodsyard land will become pretty valuable. No doubt Hammerson will then think again."
2012-07-05
Trolley Buses back in UK: Leeds gets Go-ahead Today
 |
| Link to 'Leeds Tbus' web site |
Yorkshire Post:
"Video: Leeds trolleybus system gets green light at last" (Link)
"THE government today finally green-lit a long-delayed £250m electric trolleybus system for Leeds.
"Transport Secretary Justine Greening said the service - the UK’s first modern electric trolleybus system - would generate up to 4,000 new jobs.
"Commuters from Holt Park in the north of the city to Stourton in the south will be able to travel into work on a network of modern, electrically-driven buses powered by a network of overhead cables. The system is modelled on those in Athens and Lyon."
"Westfield at Whitgift" - A Third London Shopping Centre (Hammerson now on the back foot)
 |
| Link to web site |
"Our plans will bring an outstanding shopping, leisure and residential development to the centre of Croydon, and will kick start the wider regeneration of the town.
"We will ensure that countless [countless?] job opportunities are also created for local people. Croydon needs action now, not further delays, or unfilled promises. We are therefore bringing forward our development plans, and are working as quickly as possible to bring them to reality.
"But we want to work with you and hear your views to ensure our vision for Croydon’s future is the one that you want, for you and your family. We would therefore be grateful if you would take some time to look at our plans and let us know what you think, by filling in our online questionnaire. This will also enable us to keep in touch with you about our proposals."
BBC: "[Hammerson's rival] Westfield unveils plans for Croydon shopping centre"
 |
| Link to BBC web site |
"... Retail giant Westfield has unveiled plans to build its third shopping mall in the capital - in Croydon, south London.
Westfield promises a £1bn redevelopment of the Whitgift shopping centre, which would offer 1.5 million sq ft (0.46 million sq m) of retail space, a multi-screen cinema, a bowling alley and a multitude of restaurants.
An alternative scheme by retail developers Hammerson, which already owns the neighbouring Centrale shopping centre, is expected to be unveiled later this month.
2012-07-03
"Air Quality in London – briefing note to GLA Environment and Heath Committee" (sic. As in Hampstead Heath?)
 |
| Link to PDF file |
"This note provides results from air quality monitoring carried out in London during 2011 and looks at changes in nitrogen dioxide and PM10 [particulate] concentrations since 1998.
"Provisional results for 2011 indicate that the annual mean National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) Objective (which mirrors the EU Limit Values) for NO2 was breached at the majority of locations close to roads and at five locations away from busy roads.
"The NAQS objectives for PM10 which are in line with the EU Limit Values, although the assessment method for the EU Limit Value allows several factors to be taken into account, including the influence of natural sources."
Hammerson plc: Notification of Transactions of Directors
"On 20 June 2012, Hammerson plc (the "Company") was notified of
the following transactions in its 25 pence ordinary shares on behalf of Timon
Drakesmith, a Director of the Company, in respect of the vesting of a
conditional share award of 250,000 shares made to Mr Drakesmith in June 2011 as
part of his recruitment terms:
Number of shares vested |
Number of dividend shares accrued |
Shares sold |
Shares retained | |
Timon Drakesmith
|
250,000
|
8,478
|
134,679
|
123,799
|
Shares were sold on 20 June 2012 at a price of 431.26 pence per
share to cover Income Tax and NIC liability. The retained shares were
transferred to Mr Drakesmith's designated nominee account."
That is all.
2012-07-02
Not enough light-rail in London? It's Jimmy Carr's fault
 |
| Light-rail, sauf of the river. Link to 'Croydon Today' |
"[London MP] Tom Brake has declared war on comedian Jimmy Carr and others who fail to pay their share of tax.
"He is now backing Labour MP Michael Meacher's Private Member's Bill that would outlaw any financial transaction where the primary purpose is tax avoidance.
"Some estimates put the loss of revenue due to tax evasion at £42 billion."
 |
| Link to web site |
NEW CROYDON ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN EXHIBITION
FAIRFIELD HALLS, SUN LOUNGE, CROYDON
25 JUNE - 6 JULY 2012
"An exhibition and event programme celebrating Croydon's architecture and architectural talent as part of the London Festival of Architecture"
 |
| Link to Croydon Guardian |
Croydon Guardian:
"Developers hoping to shape Croydon show off their plans"
"A leading architect believes Croydon needs to recapture the spirit of the 1960s to move away from its 'concrete jungle' image.
"Ken Shuttleworth, whose practice Make has drawn up plans for an iconic
55-storey residential tower in [Croydon] was speaking at the launch of the New Croydon
Architecture & Design Exhibition in the Fairfield
Halls on 25 June.
"... John Burton, director of development of Westfield [rival to Hammerson to redevelop the Whitgift shopping centre], said:
"We are very grateful for this opportunity to be here, and to sponsor this event." ["and it is one in the eye for Hammerson." (We made that up.)]
Evening Standard: "City Comment: Banking collapse will bring caution"
 |
| Hammerson's new Brent Cross Cricklewood, from Finchley Church End. Oh no, wait a minute... (Link to Evening Standard) |
"Ever since the banking crash of 2008 began to unfold, the principal charge against the banks was one of incompetence. ... The bankers ... at the head of many big banks around the world have made huge errors of judgment — so huge, the banks they’d been running were bust, and needed rescuing by the taxpayer.
"Now there is something different. The new charge is that, not only were they incompetent; they were also dishonest."
2012-07-01
The Guardian: "The graduates of 2012 will survive only in the cracks of our economy"
 |
| Link to The Guardian |
"The phrase 'graduate without a future' came into my head while I was
lecturing students in the politics society at Birmingham University.
I drew a notional graph of expectations, curving up."
I drew a notional graph of expectations, curving up."
Here's your income at
21
Then you get rising wages, and rising house prices, once you're on the
ladder
Your pension pot grows, and at the end of the curve you're
comfortable
There's a welfare state to protect you if things go
wrong
"That was the old curve.
Then I drew the new one.
It curves down."
Wages don't rise
You can't get on the property ladder, and fiscal
austerity eats into your disposable income
You are locked out of your
firm's pension scheme, and you will wait until your late 60s for retirement
If it all goes wrong, it's touch and go whether the welfare safety
net will still be there
Evening Standard: Lend Lease: "Eyesores to vanish in Elephant and Castle regeneration masterplan"
 |
| Link to web site |
"Two of London’s least loved landmarks, the Elephant and Castle shopping centre and the Heygate Estate, are set to be reduced to rubble under a huge regeneration scheme.
"The first detailed plans of the long-awaited scheme will be revealed in an application expected to be lodged with Southwark council 'within weeks'.
"Australian developer Lend Lease says it is putting final touches to a £1.5 billion, 15-year masterplan for the Elephant and Castle area to create 2,800 homes, 5,000 jobs and central London’s biggest new park for 70 years."
[Is that for the years 2012-2082 then?
Or "first big park for 70 years"?
Burgess Park was announced in 1943.]
Or "first big park for 70 years"?
Burgess Park was announced in 1943.]
2012-06-30
The Guardian: "How Much Is Enough? by Robert and Edward Skidelsky – review"
 |
| Link to The Guardian |
"The Wall Street crash was still a year away when in 1928, John Maynard Keynes spoke to an audience of Cambridge undergraduates. The great economist told the students that by the time they were old men, the big economic problems of the day would be solved. The capitalist system was capable of delivering such a sustained and steady increase in output, that workers would eventually have all the material goods they could possibly want. They would need to toil for only 15 hours a week, and could then spend the rest of the time enjoying themselves.
"... So what would Keynes make of a world in which lavishly-paid investment bankers work from dawn to dusk, and then decamp at the weekend to country-house hotels where they are waited on hand and foot by a new servant class, paid little more than subsistence wages? Not much, according to his eminent biographer, Robert Skidelsky, and his philosopher son Edward, in a book that draws heavily on Keynes's (rather patrician) views of what constituted the 'good life'.
"How Much Is Enough? argues that the modern world is characterised by insatiability, an inability to say enough is enough, and the desire for more and more money. Economics, a narrowly focused discipline in which there is no distinction between wants and needs, has driven to the end of a cul-de-sac. As in 1930, the Skidelskys say, the short-term need to get the global economy moving again should not deflect policy-makers from reforms that will lay the foundations of a saner, more stable world."
 |
| Link to Daily Telegraph |
Daily Telegraph:
"Kenneth Clarke: Put rogue bankers on trial"
"The justice secretary said that if bankers were found to have breached the law, they should be brought to trial.
" 'We are very bad a prosecuting financial crime in this country,' Mr Clarke said in an interview with Radio 4's Today programme."
Questions to the Mayor on Brent Cross (earlier this year)
Transport for London-owned land
Question No: 920 / 2012
Navin Shah
"The A406 North Circular and the A41 Hendon Way are both Transport for London roads, on Transport for London freehold land, and yet in answer to Question 106/2012 you state that the specification and design of the support piers of the road junction are not the responsibility of Transport for London. How can that be so - if not Transport for London, then who?"
Written response from the Mayor
"To clarify the previous answer, no decision has been taken on who would be designing the proposed changes to the structures on the A406 and A41 that are part of the Brent Cross Cricklewood development.
Any proposed changes will need to be designed under TfL standards and passed through TfL’s approvals process before any construction can take place as part of a Section 278 (Highways Act 1980) agreement between the developer and TfL. Construction of the structures may therefore not be TfL’s responsibility."
Brent Cross
Question No: 921 / 2012
Navin Shah
"With £4.5-billion, 14-million square feet of approved development at Brent Cross, what are the local transport policies there, for, say, the next 50 years?"
Written response from the Mayor
"The planning application and transport strategy was developed over a number of years and was originally based on the Brent Cross, Cricklewood and West Hendon Development Framework adopted in 2004. The Outline planning application and Masterplan approved by me in March 2010 was developed over a number of years and will be delivered on a phase by phase basis in accordance with the section 106 agreement provisions which include; constitution of a Transport Strategy Group, preparation of Phased Transport Reports and expenditure of a Consolidated Transport Fund. This will allow the relevant highway and strategic transport authorities to plan the development in detail by phase.The application is in accordance with the London Plan. The Barnet Local Development Framework has also been recently updated to reflect the approach taken in the Outline planning application. TfL has also prepared a series of sub regional transport plans which will also be used to help define the local transport infrastructure needs surrounding the Brent Cross Opportunity Area in more detail."
2012-06-29
Evening Standard: "Shoddy and deceitful: Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King blasts Britain's banks"
 |
| Link to web site |
"Sir Mervyn King today lashed the 'shoddy and deceitful' behaviour of Britain’s banks, as yet another scandal heaped disgrace on some of the City’s most trusted [trusted?] names."
"The Bank of England governor demanded a 'real change in the banking industry culture', in a fierce attack on the financial services community."
"He hit out at 'excessive levels of compensation, shoddy treatment of customers, and deceitful manipulation of one of the most important rates'."
Evening Standard: Westfield’s £1bn bid to beat Brent Cross's Hammerson for south London mega-mall
"Shopping giant reveals a £1bn bid for its third London mall"
 |
| At least it's in an existing town centre Link to Evening Standard |
"Shopping centre giant Westfield today revealed a £1 billion bid to open its latest mega-mall in Croydon.
The company, which already has two major centres in London — at Shepherd’s Bush in the west and Stratford in the east — plans to open its third to dominate the south.
The company, which already has two major centres in London — at Shepherd’s Bush in the west and Stratford in the east — plans to open its third to dominate the south.
"... Westfield development director John Burton said:
"In Croydon, there are two very determined companies that want to do this scheme. Our approach is very similar to what we have done before. We are trying to emphasise to the council that we are ready, we are capable, and we can write a cheque for £1 billion tomorrow. Who else in London could do that?" [Barclay's LIBOR-rate fraudsters?]
Daily Telegraph: "Jimmy Carr and the 'tax dodging scum' rant at Jersey audience member" (Hammerson's Brent Cross development is currently using that tax haven)
 |
| "I'm not being condescending; I'm too busy thinking about far more important things, that you wouldn't understand." Link to Daily Telegraph |
"Having performed Scouse, Geordie and Brummy phrases for the crowd, a heckler at the back of the room then shouted: 'Jersey'.
"Carr immediately replied: 'You haven't got an accent, you tax-dodging scum.'
"The response was raucous applause and laughter from the audience."
 |
| "I've got my eye on you." Link to web site |
The Guardian: "Jersey's 'secrecy culture' led to my suspension, says former police chief"
"Before moving to Jersey to take charge of the island's police in 2000, Graham Power had served in the senior ranks of four other forces, in a career spanning more than 30 years. A recipient of the Queen's Medal for distinguished service, he had been vetted by UK authorities to 'top secret' level, and was so well regarded that he had also been appointed an assessor for the body that selects chief officers for UK constabularies.
"But after eight successful years on Jersey, Power found himself suddenly suspended, in what one local politician supporter believes was a:
"coup d'etat, engineered by a small group of powerful people who denied him natural justice".
"The initial suspension, which related to Power's management and supervision of a child abuse inquiry centred around Haut de la Garenne, a children's home on the island, continues to be a hugely controversial topic in Jersey. It's an episode which Jersey's critics see as a prime example of the way the island's elite treats those who dare to challenge their authority."
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