Awkward for the sake of being awkward

Russ · 18-01-2005, 13:15

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4182109.stm

Now this really annoys me. Any building in the area which puts up a flag pole requires planning permission from the council which I think we can all agree is common sense if those are the rules.

So when a pub is ordered to take down a 'rainbow' flag (used as a symbol of gay and lesbian 'pride') as it had not sought planning permission, it is deemed "deeply offensive to lesbian and gay people"!!

Political correctness 1, common sense nil.

AndrewJ · 18-01-2005, 13:26

Agreed there Russ, now if they had taken consideration of the local people into thought, and got permission from the council they would have a leg to stand on perhaps.

But seeing as they have just installed the pole, and raised that flag, the council has every right to say take it down. But using the feeble excuse of "its a attack on gay and lesbian rights" sort of politically correct rubbish is just stupid. And shows the people who plan these things are not professional and are just being childish.

nffc · 18-01-2005, 13:42

What about the gay flag being offensive to straight people. The PC brigade hadn't thought of that!

PC annoys me, there's no such thing for starters. The whole PC brigade is inherently un-PC.

Stuart · 18-01-2005, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

What about the gay flag being offensive to straight people. The PC brigade hadn't thought of that!

PC annoys me, there's no such thing for starters. The whole PC brigade is inherently un-PC.

I have to admit, I personally don't see why Ken Livingstone has a problem with Westminster Council doing this. After all, they were following their planning laws (any council is perfectly within it's rights to ask that any structure without planning permission be removed - gay symbol or not), and IMO, he has far more important things to worry about than a mere symbol (which is all any flag is).

When he has sorted out crime, traffic, health provision and various other things, he can then start moaning about minor stuff.

BTW, don't get me started on the PC brigade. I personally believe that all people are equal. I do not believe one group of people is generally any better than any other for whatever reason. I certainly don't agree with the discrimination practiced by many PC types (even by positively discriminating for one group, you may be discriminating against another group, and in these instances, any discrimination is wrong).

Paul K · 18-01-2005, 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by scastle

When he has sorted out crime, traffic, health provision and various other things, he can then start moaning about minor stuff.

What

you mean he hasn't already sorted those out? I am disgusted with his slackness

18-01-2005, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

Now this really annoys me. Any building in the area which puts up a flag pole requires planning permission from the council which I think we can all agree is common sense if those are the rules.

However the rules themselves are nonsensical.

How *exactly* is putting a flagpole on a building a "structural change"??

Knocking out a wall or building an extension is structural, a flagpole is cosmetic.

This just sounds like some jobsworth with a little bit of power deciding to exercise their ego to show how important they are.

"Awkward for the sake of being awkward"? Yep, I can agree with that.

Russ · 18-01-2005, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

However the rules themselves are nonsensical.

How *exactly* is putting a flagpole on a building a "structural change"??

Knocking out a wall or building an extension is structural, a flagpole is cosmetic.

This just sounds like some jobsworth with a little bit of power deciding to exercise their ego to show how important they are.

"Awkward for the sake of being awkward"? Yep, I can agree with that.

Whether you agree with them or not, rules are rules and procedures are to be followed. The establishment in question has not done this so the council has rightly told them to remove the flagpole. The 'jobsworth' in this would be the people who see it as some kind of attack on gays and lesbians.

Stuart · 18-01-2005, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

What

you mean he hasn't already sorted those out? I am disgusted with his slackness

You know what I mean though. He has more important stuff than a flagpole to worry about..

AndrewJ · 18-01-2005, 13:57

It is rather annoying that local councils and goverments find the little things and make a molehill out of them, yet permit more hurtful subjects to be ignored such as public transport, anti terrorism equipment, hospitals,schools we all know drill.

What is going to stop them doing this though, I mean they are just taking the easiest road to there pay check and sod the country, and Tories will be worse, if they are anything like there last term in power.

SMHarman · 18-01-2005, 14:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

However the rules themselves are nonsensical.

How *exactly* is putting a flagpole on a building a "structural change"??

Knocking out a wall or building an extension is structural, a flagpole is cosmetic.

This just sounds like some jobsworth with a little bit of power deciding to exercise their ego to show how important they are.

"Awkward for the sake of being awkward"? Yep, I can agree with that.

Putting a flagpole up, well first they are generally tall and unweildy, they are also pretty heavy.
Second if you attach it to a building then you are changing the way a load is applied to the wall or roof.
E.g. A wall is designed to take the weight of the floor / roof etc and distribute it downward to the foundations. If you attach a flagpole to that wall you are now creating a force that is pulling that wall sideways, a pressure that could lead the wall to bow in high winds and pull the building down.

Planning rules benefit us all, if a council starts ignoring breaches, then enforcement gets harder and more breaches occour.

Whats the problem here, why can they not just apply for PP and put it back up. Nobody has said they will be denied PP.

luftys · 18-01-2005, 14:08

Found a place for Kens flag pole

Bend over Ken

Raistlin · 18-01-2005, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by luftys

Found a place for Kens flag pole

Bend over Ken

Oh if only !!

AndrewJ · 18-01-2005, 14:17

SOSAGES · 18-01-2005, 14:46

there should be a number i can call 24/7 and order a group of heavily armed people to go slap silly people in power

AndrewJ · 18-01-2005, 14:53

like a rentokill for stupidity.

Snag is we would loose most of the goverment and there would be BMW cars parked and dumped everywhere, ..