SPREAD THE WORD - NOTJUSTLONDON.COM
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CULTURE,MEDIA AND SPORT, TESSA JOWELL, THAT A "CLOSE SCRUTINY" WILL BE MAINTAINED WITH REGARD TO THE COSTS INVOLVED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES, PRESUMABLY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORTS COMMITTEE. IS THIS STATEMENT SUPPOSED TO MAKE US LONDONERS FEEL MORE AT EASE WITH OUR 10/12 YEARS OLYMPIC TAX PENALTY AND OUR SHARE OF THE LOSSES WHICH THEY ARE TELLING US WE WILL HAVE TO PAY ? I THINK NOT.
IS THIS THE SAME CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORTS COMMITTEE WHICH PLAYED A LARGE PART IN THE PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTAINING OF THE DIANA MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN, AND WHICH, ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO, FOUND ITSELF UNDER SCRUTINY FROM THE COMMONS PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE OVER THE SCANDALOUS DELAY, OVERSPEND, AND EARLY REPAIRS OF THIS INSIGNIFICANT LITTLE WATER FOUNTAIN. (insignificant in comparison with the olympic games programme of £5.4 billion but probably nearer £10/12 billion)
ESTIMATED AT A COST OF AROUND £3 MILLION THE TOTAL COST OF THIS LITTLE FOUNTAIN IS NOW ESTIMATED AT ABOUT £5.2 MILLION. THE OPENING CEREMONY COST £318,OOO - THE ENHANCEMMENT WORK, ( us little people would probably call this correcting the mistakes) AFTER THE GRAND OPENING, COST A FURTHER £700,000. LAST BUT FAR FROM LEAST THIS LITTLE WATER FOUNTAIN IS GOING TO COST £250,000 PER YEAR TO KEEP IT RUNNING (ALMOST £700 PER DAY) - IT'S UNBELIEVABLE ISN'T IT - WHERE WAS THE "CLOSE SCRUTINY " IN THIS INSTANCE ? THE FOUNTAIN HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS " AN OPEN DRAIN " - AND A " MUDDY BOG "AND CLEARLY DOESN'T INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN LONDONERS OR ANYONE ELSE WHEN IT COMES TO "CLOSE SCRUTINY " OF HOW OUR MONEY IS SPENT.
TO MAINTAIN BALANCE HERE IS WHAT THE DEPARTMENT'S PERMANENT SECRETARY IS REPORTED AS SAYING, IN ANSWER TO A MEMBER OF THE COMMONS PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE WHO DESCRIBED THE FOUNTAIN AS A "FIASCO". SHE REPLIED " There were some difficult lessons to learn but I don't think it can be described as a fiasco ". SHE WENT ON TO SAY "It has been a troubled project with a good and lasting outcome ".
DIFFICULT LESSONS TO BE LEARNED !! WHAT, WITH A LITTLE WATER FOUNTAIN IN A PARK ! PLANNED BY EXPERTS, AUTHORISED BY EXPERTS, AND CONSTRUCTED BY EXPERTS. A £2.2 MILLION OVER BUDGET "OPEN DRAIN" AND "MUDDY BOG" IS NOT A FIASCO ? WHAT WORLD DO THESE PEOPLE LIVE IN ? " A TROUBLED PROJECT WITH A GOOD AND LASTING OUTCOME " - MORE LIKE MONEY IN THE BANK FOR THE COMPANY THAT WILL CLEAN THE DRAINS AND SWEEP THE LEAVES AWAY FOR £700 PER DAY, NOT COUNTING SPARE PARTS THAT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. £700 PER DAY TO KEEP THE WATER RUNNING ! I WONDER WHOSE GOT THAT NICE LITTLE EARNER AS A LIFETIME CONTRACT ?
IF IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO KEEP A "CLOSE SCRUTINY" ON A SMALL "TROUBLED PROJECT" LIKE A £3 MILLION WATER FOUNTAIN WHAT CHANCE IS THERE OF KEEPING A "CLOSE SCRUTINY" ON £5.4 BILLION, INCREASING TO £10/12 BILLION, SOME OTHER EXPERTS SAY WILL BE THE COST OF THE 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES ?
LONDONERS SHOULD NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THE ASSURANCES OF POLITICIANS THAT THE GAMES WILL MAKE A PROFIT (which Londoners will not share) BUT TO KEEP IN MIND ALL THE OTHER "TROUBLED PROJECTS" IN THE PAST WHICH POLITICIANS HAVE APPROVED AND WHICH HAVE COST MILLIONS MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATES.
IF YOU SHARE THESE VIEWS CONTACT YOUR MP AND LOCAL COUNCILLORS AND DEMAND THAT THEY REJECT THE AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BY THE MAYOR OF LONDON AND THE GOVERNMENT IN 2003, WHICH MADE LONDONERS ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR AN OLYMPIC TAX, PLUS A SHARE OF ANY LOSSES.
THEY DID NOT SUPPORT US SO IT WAS RIGHT THAT
WE VOTED THEM OUT AT THE LAST GENERAL ELECTION