London Olympics - what a waste!

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Message 1197559 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 0:06:25 UTC

I do however find this absolutely disgusting.....

Ambulances on emergency calls not allowed to use VIP lane
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Message 1197560 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 0:09:16 UTC

...Try massive traffic jams for a start....


Not for long, I have all the access codes for the traffic system.


Can't we just remove all the bulbs, they say traffic tends to move much smoother
when the traffic lights fail....


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belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.
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Message 1197561 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 0:11:35 UTC - in response to Message 1197559.  

I do however find this absolutely disgusting.....

Ambulances on emergency calls not allowed to use VIP lane


I doth suspect this will now get over-ridden....better do. Plenty of spare places
available on the "Copper picking" trip....you know?





The Kite Fliers

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belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.
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Message 1197562 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 0:11:45 UTC - in response to Message 1197560.  

...Try massive traffic jams for a start....


Not for long, I have all the access codes for the traffic system.


Can't we just remove all the bulbs, they say traffic tends to move much smoother
when the traffic lights fail....



Naw, i'm just gonna divert the vips through my favourite stumping grounds....Hackney.....ending up at Homerton hospital...cause by the time they get there they'll need rehydration.....
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Message 1197682 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 9:46:41 UTC
Last modified: 20 Feb 2012, 9:48:11 UTC

[Smirk mode ON]

What's a traffic jam?

Is that a new kind of jam, like strawberry?


[Smirk mode OFF]
It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues



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Message 1197696 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 10:24:56 UTC - in response to Message 1197682.  

[Smirk mode ON]

What's a traffic jam?

Is that a new kind of jam, like strawberry?


[Smirk mode OFF]

I just can't imagine it. I used to commute into London every working day on a motor bike and know how congested London already is. I just can't imagine how horrific it will be if they take away all those lanes for VIP use only, and given that traffic will substantially increase during the Olympics. It can only work if there are hundreds and thousands of people not going anywhere, or spending all their non-working time just trying to get to work, whilst the VIPs and athletes zip around in those empty lanes.


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Message 1197707 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 10:56:48 UTC - in response to Message 1197696.  

[Smirk mode ON]

What's a traffic jam?

Is that a new kind of jam, like strawberry?


[Smirk mode OFF]

I just can't imagine it. I used to commute into London every working day on a motor bike and know how congested London already is. I just can't imagine how horrific it will be if they take away all those lanes for VIP use only, and given that traffic will substantially increase during the Olympics. It can only work if there are hundreds and thousands of people not going anywhere, or spending all their non-working time just trying to get to work, whilst the VIPs and athletes zip around in those empty lanes.

I can imagine what it might be like, I worked about 5 miles down a two lane motorway from a new shopping centre that opened in late November one year. We were reassured many times that this would not cause any problems. On the first day it opened people were over an hour late getting to work and some were then 3 hours late on their journey home.

In a way it helped because our management (300 miles away) then allowed flexible working hours.
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Message 1197785 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 15:15:51 UTC - in response to Message 1197734.  

I am quite sure that no-one here will be very surprised when I say that I disagree with a lot of the views expressed. I do not think the Olympics are a waste for many reasons.

The site of the Olympic Village and the main stadium, are in a previously much deprived area of East London, the lower Lea valley and Stratford. The whole area has been regenerated with the Olympics and after the games, will provide much needed housing and sporting facilities. We have the Olympic Village with 5000 homes, the 80,000 seat stadium itself, the cycling Velodrome, and the Aquatics Centre among others, which will be a lasting legacy. We are also hosting the the 2017 World Championships in Athletics don't forget.

snip


Pure drivel!

5000 homes...yes, but how were they built? Easy, just issue countless CPO's (Compulsory Purchase Orders). kick out the people who have lived in that area for most of their lives - build new homes & when the games are over, sell or let those to high flying yuppies....whhat happened to the people who received CPO'S?

Lower Lea Valley, yeah like Hackney Marshes, where for many a year, thousands of youngsters played football with quite a few going on to play for Arsenal, West Ham, Chelsea, Millwall etc etc. Now theres a dedicated sports site there - Will the locals be able to use it? Hardly likely, not unless they can afford £100's per year in subscription fees.

Now traffic - from Stratford there used to be several shortcuts to enter Hackney - now one has to travel further to work around that, more traffic jams & un-neccessary burning of fuel..No problem, more money for the Government in fuel duty...Nice!
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Message 1197823 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 16:49:13 UTC

Here we go again...didn't Northern Ireland prove that troops are useless used as police officers?

Reservists Part of Olympic Security

Damn, shame I'm over 45, I could've had some fun there.... LOL

What are they going to do when/if police numbers are cut even further? Go back to 1926?
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Message 1197850 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 17:28:19 UTC - in response to Message 1197832.  
Last modified: 20 Feb 2012, 17:28:41 UTC

Here we go again...didn't Northern Ireland prove that troops are useless used as police officers?

I assume that you would not want to risk a repeat of Munich in 1972 ?


The main purpose of Reserve Troops is support the main army in time of war NOT to be used as police officers.

Reservists are comprised of ex forces personnel on a reserve list as well as territorials, who are civilians employed in the market place. What about their families & family committments? Employers won't pay them for any extra time off outside their regular military committments as well as their own committments, so who pays for them?

The taxpayers again! Why not have all those VIP funds cover the costs? surely with all the cons & money made already should be able to cover the security costs!
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Message 1197878 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 17:50:59 UTC - in response to Message 1197867.  
Last modified: 20 Feb 2012, 17:51:49 UTC

Joining the Army as a TA Territorial means that you do all your training and military duties in your spare time. It makes it possible to get many of the benefits of Army life and combine them with your civilian life and career. You’ll be paid for all the time you spend with the Army, and you’ll also have the chance to go on operations.



you missed the point! I'm well aware of that. I'm talking about time off from their employment. One cannot take more than one's legal entitlement to hoildays + 2 weeks for military committments. As the government has issued/will be issuing "Call up notices", these are presented to one's employers & the government pays the employers. On top of that payment, the government has to pay the reservist the difference between their salary & army pay.

With that amount of funding (especially in the current economy), those funds could have been used to fund more police rather than keep cutting back on police numbers.

Also, the government has to pay the employer more funds if that employee was a key member of staff requiring a temporary replacement for the business to continue.

Edited for spelling
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Message 1198004 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 21:59:34 UTC - in response to Message 1197878.  

Not quite, depending on the firm one can usually get 'unpaid' leave for military purposes.. I did several times, and then MOD in no way made up the diff between civi pay and service pay.. If they do now it should make things rather interesting in that barsteward of a chancellors office:-)

Used to have an entire firms staff in my Sqdn, they took it in turns to remain at work keeping things ticking over, and had for years arranged for their 'slack' period to coincide with annual training etc..


Regards,
Cliff,
Been there, Done that, Still no damm T shirt!
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Message 1198026 - Posted: 20 Feb 2012, 22:53:02 UTC - in response to Message 1197867.  

Joining the Army as a TA Territorial


I tried to join the TA when I was starting university but they turned me down. I was stateless and didn't have British nationality. The British Army is so picky. I even thought about representing Britain in the Olympics at the time, but it's a bit difficult travelling without a passport.

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Message 1198049 - Posted: 21 Feb 2012, 0:00:01 UTC - in response to Message 1198026.  
Last modified: 21 Feb 2012, 0:01:09 UTC

I tried to join the TA when I was starting university but they turned me down. I was stateless and didn't have British nationality. The British Army is so picky. I even thought about representing Britain in the Olympics at the time, but it's a bit difficult travelling without a passport.



It's not a case of being picky. It's a case of security. I'm neither English or British & that caused me problems for 4 & half years as I constantly applied at least 3 times per year to enlist in the British Army. During those attempts, the British mainland was frequently attacked by some of my countrymen, which made my enlistment attempts difficult.

However, I did manage eventually to enlist & I'm glad I did. Wasn't easy but looking back, best days of my life.
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Message 1198155 - Posted: 21 Feb 2012, 8:54:44 UTC - in response to Message 1198049.  


It's not a case of being picky. It's a case of security.

Sorry, I was trying to be humorous. I discovered the thorough security aspect when the British Home Office went through my background to determine if I could have British naturalization. They certainly had their work cut out and eventually decided I was "an alien of uncertain origin". I now hold a British passport but still claim I am originally from Pluto.


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Message 1198225 - Posted: 21 Feb 2012, 13:38:59 UTC - in response to Message 1198155.  

It's pretty clear that every Olympic games held in the last 30-40 years has cost the local cities Gov't and people more money than it brought in from the Olympics.


In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
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Message 1198245 - Posted: 21 Feb 2012, 15:13:37 UTC - in response to Message 1197559.  

I do however find this absolutely disgusting.....

Ambulances on emergency calls not allowed to use VIP lane

I loved this bit from that link
Blue lights can only be switched on by those specifically trained to do so

So how much training do you need to flick a switch??

The world is going/has gone totally crazy....

T.A.
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Message 1198299 - Posted: 21 Feb 2012, 22:11:27 UTC - in response to Message 1198245.  


I loved this bit from that link
Blue lights can only be switched on by those specifically trained to do so

So how much training do you need to flick a switch??

The world is going/has gone totally crazy....

T.A.

I think the police should stop every emergency vehicle displaying blue lights and examine the certificate of blue switch flicking awards held by the drivers/operators. In fact a plaque of flick excellence credentials should be displayed in every vehicle fitted with flickable blue lights, and appropriate insurance should be held for such extras fitted to said vehicles.

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Message 1198304 - Posted: 21 Feb 2012, 22:40:42 UTC - in response to Message 1198299.  


I loved this bit from that link
Blue lights can only be switched on by those specifically trained to do so

So how much training do you need to flick a switch??

The world is going/has gone totally crazy....

T.A.

I think the police should stop every emergency vehicle displaying blue lights and examine the certificate of blue switch flicking awards held by the drivers/operators. In fact a plaque of flick excellence credentials should be displayed in every vehicle fitted with flickable blue lights, and appropriate insurance should be held for such extras fitted to said vehicles.



LOL Be funny to see them stopping themselves....
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Message 1198477 - Posted: 22 Feb 2012, 13:37:37 UTC - in response to Message 1198319.  

refers to drivers having been trained to drive emergency vehicles at high speeds with the Blues & Twos operating.

I don't think any ambulance of fire engine driver is trained to drive at high speeds through heavilly populated towns or cities like London. An ambulance driver is a medical officer who does not go into Ferrari driver mode when driving an ambulance. He is subject to all laws and speed limits the any driver in London. If a fire engine driver exceeds the speed limits he is subject to causing death by dangerous driving the same as any London driver. He has no right to go through red lights and is breaking the law if he approaches a zebra crossing with people nearby too fast, the same as anyone driving recklessly. The same applies to police car drivers. They are not above the law.

There is one exception, who train to drive vehicals at high speed through towns. They are the motor cyclists who get VIPs at high speed from, e.g., Heathrow to Buckingham palace without the VIP vehicals stopping even once, racing past the VIPs again and again to bar the traffic for the continually moving VIP vehicles.


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Message boards : Politics : London Olympics - what a waste!


 
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