Our old "friends" in the Health and Safety Gestapo are up to their old tricks again.
This time they have put their interfering size 10's into the positioning of a bench for a bus stop.
Helen Greenough and Vera Clews had been badgering Stoke-on-Trent City Council for two years to install a bench, so that they could rest their legs as they waited at their nearest bus stop.
Two years on, and it finally arrived.
One small problem, the dimwits in the council (local councils, what are they good for?) installed it back to front; so that it faces a hedge, rather than the road.
The elderly passengers who use the bust stop are getting stiff necks from having to look over their shoulders all the time, to see if the bus is coming. When they do spot the bus, they often can't get round the bench quickly enough in order to catch it.
Now why did Stoke-on-Trent City Council put the bench back to front?
Health and Farking Safety!
Quote:
"The bench was put in this position
because it would be dangerous to have it facing the road.
Some elderly people are unsteady on their feet
and would risk falling into the road or getting
splashed if it was facing the road."
For fark's sake!
How many elderly people are falling over in front of buses in this country?
Mrs Greenough and Mrs Clews said the position of the bench on the Leek Road was "ridiculous". Mrs Greenough, 84, said it had become a "laughing stock".
Quote:
"We are nearly all pensioners on this road
and the bus only comes every 85 minutes
so you can be waiting a long time.
I've been on at the council for almost
two years trying to get this bench put in,
but if they can't do it right then they might
as well take it away.
There is nothing wrong with me,
I'm perfectly capable of getting on a bus without
falling into the road.
We are not all doddery old dears".
Nanny and her minions really are a bunch of patronising bastards!
By the way, it cost £50 to fix the bench in place. However, in order for it to be turned around it will cost £1000.
What a great country we live in!
Dear Ken,
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to the council I know that road and the bench was in a really dangerous place - the picture in the paper was a con.. wide angled lens makes it look further away from the kerb than it really is. They've moved it now and are putting something better in so the old ladies win in the end. Don't forget, it's not the council which makes the Health and Safety rules it's the kind of people who look for every opportunity to sue when they are incapable of getting off a bench without "falling" into the road.
The problem with the likes of the 'elf & safety departments of local authorities, is that they almost have to justify their position. They have to be seen to be doing something, many of these government type appointments are like this. I wonder how many 'elf & safety officers have actually taken the trouble to ask the people they claim to be protecting whether they agree with their recommendations. It's like government reviews on policy....they have to find something to change just to justify the review, they could not actually say that everything is fine and no change is necessary.
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