HAPPY NEW YEAR BELSIZE 2010

This New Year politically promises to be the most exciting in at least 10 years, we have not only a general election to decide the future of our country and is expected to see-in the Conservatives lead by David Cameron but also we have the prospect of the local council elections which is scheduled for May 6th 2010.

As selected candidate and prospective Conservative Councilor it is both an honor and privilege to have been selected and put forward to serve my community of Belsize, an area that I have lived the best part of 40 years.

I will be planning on holding street stalls and making personal door to door canvassing through the upcoming weeks and months.

This is your chance to decide both the future of out great country and also decide on how you would like the wonderful ward of Belsize to be governed at local council level.

The one thing that I have learned in these past “four” years is that strong community driven by good local leadership is key to a thriving local and national sense of well being which drives a strong economy.

So once again may I wish all residents of Belsize a Happy New Year 2010.

Author: Nigel Rumble - New Year at midnight in Jackson Square USA NOLA

The Chalcots "Where Are We"

CHALCOTS: With all what has been going on in Belsize with 133+ children in Camden without primary school places and the near collapse of the Government one may wonder what is happening to the Chalcots with "mould" and other serious problems reported in previous blogs.

So here is a timely update. After many high level meetings with Camden who still has yet to officially report back on all of the concerns raised by representatives of residents through the Housing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny and Hampstead DMC. Through the Operational Forum meeting, which meets monthly with representatives from all sides, it was stated by the PFIC CEO that on the question of “mould” that samples would be taken from THREE flats only and then for the rest of the 717 properties it would be up to the residents to report any re-occurring “mould” for a “TWELVE” month period.

This is in my opinion a disgrace, as I have stated in my previous blogs on “mould” and the problem of the “windows”, I feel that residents deserve better treatment.
I will continue to campaign for this better treatment and to receive acknowledgement that a serious problem exists.

I have received further news that I cannot yet blog about which is as vital and carries a significant H&S risk if unchecked. However, the implications of this particular matter which for legal reasons I cannot go into fully here presents a picture of a Camden Housing department which I have already stated for its failure to deliver "value for money", let alone quality of provision and adding to this an inability to monitor the capital works in the “regeneration” projects on matters of vital H&S standards. As soon as I am legally free to discuss these matters I will inform here in my blog fully the details. Rest assured however, that I will continue to actively campaign to get to the “truth” on these serious matters involving H&S standards.

Author: Nigel Rumble

BLACK MOULD (FUNGUS) hits the Chalcots PFI £150M project

Black mould (Fungus) growing on the NEW window frames hits the £150M PFI "Chalcots" project. This serious and potentially hazardous situation has continued to become worse due to the moisture condensation during these cold and dump winter nights.

The new "state-of-the-art" window metal frames (with poor internal thermal insulation) conduct heat from the warm inside surfaces to the colder outside surfaces. Therefore, all the inside metal frame surfaces become very COLD which acts as a condensing surface for the moisture in the air of resident homes.

It is believed that the condensates (upto 50ml per window) which collects on the lower window frame and window ceils is responsible for the development of black mould spores in the "silicon" sealant, which appears NOT to be the "anti-fungicidal" type which would have helped to control these bacterial growths.

It will be asked at the next PFIC meeting that all 710 properties be checked and repaired to comply with building regulations and Health and Safety legislation of mould spore prevention.

It is widely recognised by medical experts that mould spores are responsible for potentially causing allergic reactions and respiratory problems. Some moulds also produce mycotoxins that can pose serious health risks to humans and animals. Exposure to high levels of mycotoxins can lead to neurological problems and in some cases death. The health hazards produced by mould have been associated with sick building syndrome.
If you are concerned and wish to know more Read Wikipedia here, APSNET

The thermal efficiencies of the NEW window frames is thus compromised by not having any thermal insulation properties, heat (energy) is being conducted straight out from all the window frames in this £150M PFI scheme, this energy conservation inefficient and poor design requires an investigation at the highest level.

PFI Contract info here

Author: Nigel Rumble

Dioxins in "our" food supply chain

Animal feed is one of the most prevalent causes of ingested dioxins. Farmed salmon feed on contaminated pellets with high concentrations of dioxins many years ago. This continues to be a problem also for most seawater fisheries taking fish from the sea, which in many locations around the world have high concentrations of dioxins.

I disagree with the lead story quote from the referred BBC News story that, a Food safety expert Professor Hugh Pennington who told the BBC the health risk was very, very low. He said: "You have to have a lot of these compounds. You have to eat a lot of them, enormous amounts to have any visible effect." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7769391.stm

In an isolated incident such as this it would probably be true, but the Professor is not taking into account the constant exposure to dioxins in our food chain, mostly as a result of contaminated animal feed. In point of fact we do consume considerably more dioxins than “official” reports suggests. It is sustained “life time” exposure to dioxins that carries greatest risks.

Read for further information about dioxins:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/medical_notes/358889.stm

Author: Nigel Rumble 7th December 2008