Pithy nature of political truths a retrospective of 2010-14 promises!

Cartoon (c) of http://www.mikhaela.net

It has become a sad reality to us all that politicians whether at national or local level uses a form of English language which at best can be described as "Pithy". It has become very apparent to me reading all the manifestos of the political parties from there barrage of leaflets through our letterboxes here in Belsize Park, that this is happening.

They use words like manifesto, pledge, even daring to utter the word "promise" at out door steps!

What does it all mean, surely we all happy in Belsize "right" well apparently not, they promised us a new pedestrian crossings on a Eton Avenue and Winchester Road in 2010, was it built after the Conservatives were elected, no, they promised us a new community garden at Blashford near the Adelaide Medical Centre was it built well no.

They told us that they will keep council tax down and keep our essential services intact. What did the Conservatives do to Belsize. Close the Hampstead Police Station, not even bothering to secure the property from squatters moving in! They closed "our" beloved Belsize Fire Station, which in the words of Camden Fire Commander places Belsize at the epicenter of highest respinse times in Camden.

All Belsize councillors have written to and sent emails to the 8,500+ voters to explain that Camden is "now" safe from the HS1-HS2 Camden Link. which is true of itself. But for the vast majority of voters that I have spoken to at the door steps there is the mistaken belief that was taken to mean that HS2 would no longer affect Belsize! It will starting 2019.

Naturally, they were very shocked to learn that would sadly not be the case. It must be said that Camden council together with its councillors have been asking residents to sign a petition which must be delivered in person to Portcullis House together with a £20 payment, which I think was an outrage in itself, but in the words of government that is to prevent vexatious claims !

Pithy Politics - The Conservatives and Liberal Democrates back in 2009 through to election 2010 were campaigning "against" HS2. Most of us remember the clear statements back then of that intent that become acceptance !

The party whips have been very busy of late in keeping the party discipline on those key mutated pledges!

Author Nigel Rumble 2014

My "HAPPY in BELSIZE" film for Belsize concept taking seed

A lot of interest is being shared with me whilst campaigning with you since my announcement last week on my idea to do a HAPPY Pharrell Williams film through the streets of Belsize, especially from the students of The Royal Central School of Speeches and Drama based at Eton Avenue here in Belsize.

I have meet a number of students expressing a real interest to do this with me if I can put together the film crew .....

..... Guess what whilst calling on door steps I have meet several local Belsize based film makers so this is now beginning to look as if this project that started as one of my many concept films may grow wings during the summer, hey we need the sun right! 

I am also exploring getting sponsorship for this from film companies so we can get access to a RED epic or BlackMagic with there brand new 4K systems to do this in super crisp cinema quality.

Much to do after the elections, but most important will be the street performers and that's YOU! Calling all the youth from Belsize that have interest in dance, break-dancing and singers. You have seen the multitude of Pharrell Williams Happy music videos, so you know what the look is. 

I am looking to create something hopefully unique for Belsize, something that is a statement of all that is cool in this area of Belsize and especially our treasure of having the world famous "Central" as our neighbours. Perhaps the disused Fire Station and especially that fireman's pole may feature in this film! If I can get filming permission for this Grade II listed building and also the setting tenant still living there.

Just to get all of you thinking here is a great high end example from Berlin that is the sort of take I have in mind, but naturally scaled down for Belsize!

Media links included are copyrighted with original "embedded" website owners

#HAPPY in BELSIZE

Watch my #HAPPYDAY film HAPPY in BELSIZE

#HAPPY in BELSIZE filmed in Belsize Park and surrounding area as part of the International Day of Happiness.

Many thanks for the wonderful music that Pharrell Williams has made available for this #HAPPYDAY event.  It has been the biggest hit ever in its inspirational qualities to all and especially the young that it has inspired to great things.

As part of this I am planning and hope to make a "real" #HAPPY in BELSIZE music / dance film later in the year.  With that in mind I call upon all the local dancers, break dancers and generally fit youth that would like to offer their free time for this venture.  I also call upon all my film making community to again offer their free time to help make this the very best that Belsize community can offer to the world community in the spirit of the Pharrell Williams series genre of countless films from nearly every free country in the world.

Thank You

Nigel Rumble

Postscript: 

It is hoped that the community will be able to enjoy the peaceful and calm atmosphere that continues to draw the multicultural community to wish to live in Belsize Park for years to come and not have this wonderful area "blighted" by a decade of civil engineering madness with HS2 train link.

The Horrors of basement excavations and extension works in Belsize

Whilst out campaigning and talking to many of you yesterday I have picked up a disturbingly high level of case-work all to do with property basement excavations and extensions in and around our wonderful leafy and normally quiet neighbourhood. It appears that not only are planning permissions now due to the changes introduced by Conservatives to local laws having become more relaxed with local consultations to our local areas appearing to be cavalierly dealt with by Camden local planning officers who to be fair are over stretched and overworked due to reductions in there numbers, in relation to affected local neighbouring properties.

What is so sad is that the lives of many of our long standing Belsize citizens now in retirement and naturally wishing to enjoy the tranquility of their Belsize homes are being "bulldozed" into a frenzy of required complaints and potential legal challenges to these property developers that have in recent years moved into Hampstead, Frognal and Fitzjohns and Belsize with apparent alarming ease as a way to earn higher rates of returns on monies that receive virtually nothing from the banks. Most of these repackaged homes are not actually lived in whilst these works can last many months or years.

Some examples of the issues that I have picked up yesterday are:

Concrete sludge being dumped into street drains, causing blockage and local flooding with very expensive repairs being required to be actioned by Camden council services.

Excessive environmental noise and dust pollution to local area. Some residents have reported to me that sound recording meters designed to measure noise have recorded at times in well in excess 100db of sound and this is in a residential area. By way of an example I have researched that close proximity to a jet on take off is around 120db!

One of the biggest complaints however is hours of building works being extended by contractors outside of the consulted permitted times, again with total disregard to local residents who may me home retired or those many residents who seek to work from home locations who find that they are unable to do so for months if not years with out disruption from noise pollution.

I had another particularly sad example last week of two older retired homeowners living in a row of three houses, where the middle house owner (who naturally does not actually live there) wish to develop an over the garden extension between the two very lovely gardens who will not only lose their valued garden views and being able to exchange in dialogue but have a virtual brick wall out house for a view with loss of security by enabling would be criminals to cross over the erected garden house roofs to enter upper level windows.

On this particular example it is hoped that by pending legal mitigation will be prevented from happening!

I would love to share actual examples with you but for legal reasons must refrain from doing so as most are or may enter a legal proceedings.

It is clear that I will have a busy time with Camden council planning officers next week after the holidays.

It is hard to be photographed in leafy Belsize without someone recognising their own house. So in the avoidance of any doubt the background in my photograph bears no relation to this piece.

England's Lane "Time-Lapse Belsize "and HS2 facts.

Time-Lapse Belsize

Many of you may have seen and engaged with me in England's Lane when shooting my film "Time-Lapse Belsize" on March 9th 2014.

1 Day, 1 Junction, 3855 photographs, 1 film and 1 Independent.

A Day at the central hub of Belsize life, which will if HS2 goes ahead could be devastated for up to 10 years, with all Adelaide (main road) traffic being re-routed around this already busy junction.

Please join me on my venture and support me to become the first ever "true" Independent councillor in Belsize, Camden representing the area which is my home for more than 45 years.

The film has started to be widely seen and has earned a lot of hits on my YouTube channel. Which was the whole point to help raise awareness in and out of Belsize of the beauty of Belsize and to set the scene of allowing people to imagine the whole of Adelaide Road traffic being diverted through one of the hearts and souls of Belsize. We may not be able to enjoy a cafe late post 2016 / 17 with 100s of juggernauts driving in the area and diverted traffic past constantly.

It is highly expected that the Sulphur Dioxide SO2 and nitrate pollutants known to be responsible for thousands of premature deaths each year and countless asthma bronchial related diseases from vehicular construction and re-routed traffic will actually force many of these business to have to close there doors and have installed air filter scrubbers to purify the air to meet the "strict" European Health and Safety standard for air quality.

The so-called wise politicians of the Conservative and Liberal Democrats parties  "fail" to fully comprehend either the health risk associated with heavy re-construction in built up London areas namely Camden, or simply don't care. Other "No 2 HS2" campaigners like me are scattered up and down the whole planned route from Euston to Birmingham.

I am all for improvements to essential infrastructure in my country and to build for the future but at what cost? This "white elephant" of a project is in the view of Conservative Boris Johnson Mayor is quoted as saying;

HS2 'will cost over £70billion', says Boris Johnson

The cost of building the high speed HS2 line will cost around double the planed official estimates, according to Mayor Boris Johnson.

I would venture further, in my analysis of any very large government infrastructure project the start estimate always goes up by three to four times. Why? you may well ask, its because the scope of the project uses a linear planning model, it does not have a time line dependent and non dependent modular "Sand Boxed" build concept as is used by large multi nationals like Microsoft, Apple or Google. I should know,  I have worked for multi nationals as a project manager for many years and have actual "real-world" experience at project delivery.

Does CEO of Apple Tim Cook give out a blank cheque no off course not, but it appears the UK government does! Not in name but in practice. Once the HS2 tunnels core boring starts, does it stop no it goes on until finished, it can't stop. Any problems or snags on route will have to be reprogrammed into the project plan - called project creep, also known as "Cost PLUS" Cost PLUS was actually used by the UK government in project procurement, especially the Ministry of Defence projects back in the 70 and 80s. Later it became the favoured modus operandi for the Thatcher (last term of office for Conservatives) and even through the Blair and Brown Labour Government. But under a new name PPP (Public-Private Partnership) better known as PFI.

The commercial risks are still present but deflected away from the public body (Government) to private investors. But then as I have said above does a project like HS2 stop half way between Euston and Birmingham, no off course not. Again Cost PLUS and the TAX Payer pays the meal at the end of the banquet!

Oh did I write that the private Investor taking the risk is ultimately the British TAX payer, well it is each one of us will be footing the final bill one way or another for many years to come.

Will the HS2 "white elaphant" project truly create British jobs for British people, well no, why should it? Private enterprise will use thousands of contractors to deliver against the aggressive delivery schedules. Personnel will be brought-in, in ways that is completely out-side of Government's control.

The workforce will come from accross Europe all the way from North America and Canada, specialist workers with special advanced skills sets. It is expected that workers will come mostly from Europe, where the skill to wage ratio is at a premium currently in the construction industry.

An old adage. It is not the flow of the worker from deprived and unemployed UK to deliver but it is the flow of the cheapest wage ratio to employment market work force that will dominate. It is not expected that the UK jobs for British workers will feature as an overriding concern of the private investment companies wanting to bring in the project on-time and in-budget, especially where fixed delivery contracts are in force. 

Nigel Rumble, Cinematographer, Filmmaker and Photographer

Copyright (C) 2104 Nigel Rumble

The concept of first Independent candidate resonates in Belsize

Photo of me as photographer doing a shoot of Recall of House of Commons for vote on Syria

Nearly all the Belsize residents and business owners that I have so far met really love the idea that a "true" Independent who actually lives and works in the ward that he wishes to represent.

When I tell people that the Rumble family has lived several generations in Camden and that here in Belsize has been my family home for more than 45 years, I can sense how this really resonates with people.

Many of the older Belsize residents would have known my Family well back in the day, especially as my Mother Denise Rumble was a very long standing member of staff working for Camden Libraries, although she was based principally at Kentish Town Library, she worked on rotation at both Swiss Cottage and Belsize Libraries often for nearly 40 years of service. In fact she was awarded a long service medal from the Camden Mayor of the day. We were all very proud of her amazing achievements and dedication.

I love Belsize and always have and always will, since owning my own home here I have helped many other leaseholders and residents in general as I am a co-opted member of a large successful TRA in trying to get a "fair" deal from there landlords, which at times is not always very easy!

I am particularly proud of my work with the Belsize SNT Police panel which I first made attendance back in 2007/8. I never realised that after all those years that first that I would still be making regular attendance and that second that I would be elected vice chair of the panel, a position I still hold today.

Served as School Governor for a full term at Primrose Hill where I had many very gratifying involvements there. I am especially proud that was selected to be on the recruitment board for finding, interviewing making selection of the new head for the school. It was a full time commitment spanning several weeks at the school and was very gratifying to have the honour of selecting an outstanding head teacher. My term of appointment which was as a LA school Governor sadly came to and end in 2013 following my resignation from the Conservative Party, since I was an Conservative appointed LA Governor. But I leave Primrose Hill school in the sound knowledge that I had made a real difference there.

Back in 2009 I started my No 2 HS2 campaign that I still do today. Back then I was a Conservative and actually I am not afraid to admit was proud to have been associated with the local Hampstead and Kilburn Conservatives back then when the Conservatives actually campaigned against HS2!, having been personally head hunted by Chris Philp where we got to know each other very well at the Housing and Adult Scrutiny Committee were Chris was Committee Chair and I had made several high level deputations representing all residents of the Chalcots here in Belsize.

I will always be pleased of working together with Chris and allowed him to convince me of joining the Conservatives and actually stand as a Candidate for Belsize in 2010, where I very nearly made it only losing out by a mere 52 votes.

I was also honoured to be selected to stand in the Camden Town and Primrose Hill By-election in 2012, where I was allowed to campaign independently in regards to my No 2 HS2 campaign, which was why I was selected especially in Primrose Hill area of CTPH.

However, not all was peaches and roses. Although I run my own campaign, for example all electronic social media, such as website, blogs and Twitter, the party wrote most of my paper electoral works, which I had no or very little editorial control.

I became highly compromised and made to feel humiliated at residents doorsteps when people explained to me that they could not understand how I appear such a pleasant and polite candidate would write such negative and slanting comments against the Labour candidate, but yet offer no alternative reasons to vote for me.

I had to agree with them and gave personal apologies for this situation. Towards the end of this campaign I had to carefully judge which leaflets to actually use, unknown to my party I had thrown most of the offensive material in the rubbish recycle bins where it belonged and substituted my own "Independent" version linked exclusively to one of my blogs which I had full editorial control.

The decision worked and paid-off. I got the highest share of the vote that any Conservative had ever achieved for CTPH ward in recent years! Since I was exclusively doing all the canvassing, campaigning and delivery I was able to circumvent an utmost certain poor result at the Poll. In the end despite all the difficulties I managed a highly credible 2nd place.

The most gratifying thing to me personally was that after the postal count was completed when the Conservative group knew that I was doing much better than they had expected I started to get some volunteers "feet on the ground" to help canvass in the last days to election day!

I remember telling more residents back in 2012 I would consider standing probably as an Independent for the 2014 Local Elections next time round.

Never in the field of all campaigns will I ever be managed, told what to say and have no editorial control with campaign leaflets again.

The Conservative party had its chance with me and lost it badly. I will never to this day understand exactly why the Camden Group leadership decided to write such utter contemptuous and potentially damaging leaflets allegedly supposed to bolster the best chances of securing victory in Camden Town with Primrose Hill By-election 2012. It was as if the Tory Camden party only had a hate campaign with Labour. I rather suspect that if H&K CA leadership did same in fighting the Brent (Labour held) wards back in 2010 that almost certainly would explain why sadly Chris Philp lost there by 42 votes, he was a good chap and he may not have known of the "nasty" hate tactics when fighting Labour!

As a matter of principle I later made a stand alongside with Labour on the BIG rally through London on No to the CUTS protests as a way of atonement for the very poor level of respect and dishonourable manner in which "they" were treated in the CTPH By-election. They rightfully deserved to win that election. The Labour leadership personally acknowledged me at the count for all the hard "positive" work that "they" knew had put into my campaign.

So I hope if you managed to get through this diatribe that you understand better why and what motivates me to stand again as your longstanding local active campaigner for Belsize as your prospective councillor for 22 May 2014 elections.

If you have any thoughts or ideas that you wish to share with me don't hesitate to contact me on my publicly advertised email address.

Groundhog Day Reminisces in Belsize Park!

One of the most pressing concerns for local Belsize residents is and continues to be the shambolic HS2 botched plans for carving up Camden and especially the wild scale destruction and disruption to leafy Belsize for at least a decade, which could start from as early as post general election in 2016-17.

Despite what the political parties of the current sitting councillors for Belsize sending out communications by email and letters suggesting that that HS2 will not affect Camden that is only one half of the bigger story. Whilst it is true that the HS1-HS2 Link through Camden Town which would have decimated large parts of Camden Town and the iconic Camden Lock and have caused disruption to the residents there on a scale approaching what many of the oldest in our community there to be reminiscent of the aftermath of WWII blitz, in terms of construction working. Thankfully the boss of HS2 saw the light and cancelled that part of the project as being sub-standard so yes Camden Town is safe.

But that has not changed the "air shaft" in Adelaide Road nor the HS2 tunnel construction through Belsize.

Are you aware that if the proposed route of HS2 goes forward that three large tunnels each larger than the size of a London double decker bus will pass under Fellows Road and that is despite the recent mis-messages from your local Tory councillors and the misleading "fake" HS2 petition from Tory PPC Simon Marcus, which was nothing more that a name, email address and voter intention gathering intel op.

Most concerning is the close proximity of the three HS2 tunnels being constructed under the foundations of the large 22 storey old 1967 concrete towers with mostly unknown and undocumented foundation features with concrete in a declining state of repair in the lower basement areas. 

I have on record from a HS2 surveyor/engineer that the Chalcot "towers" will sink slightly (settle) and can lean over by several degrees over the proposed tunnels and that surface cracking in the structures is a possibility.

I have yet to obtain a more definitive statement from HS2 Limited on this key question concerning the safety and lives of more than 2,500 residents of the Chalcots.

HS2 Limited assures us that all planning permissions have considered these facts.

Do we trust them!

Illustration by (c) Gail Gibbons. My Daughter has approved this illustration for use here!