Member Since: 24 Oct 2006
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 669
Today's missive from the Environment Agency
Had l letter today from those charlatans at the Environment Agency to the effect that if I live within 8 metres of a river, or stream - which I do - I must inform them before starting any of the following activities:
decking or putting up fences
erecting buildings or other structures
planting trees or shrubs
storing any other materials.
As I step out of my conservatory i will be within 8 metres of a stream. So, I will be contacting this quango immediately to inform them of any shrub plantings in this area. So, I will require an inspection several times a week for the next 3 months. So, 12 weeks x 2 = 24 inspections x £100 per hour x 2 people for verification - £4800.00 per 3 months per household potentially.
I religiously dredge the stream, which the local NT wardens are unable to do because they cannot get their hands dirty, so well i give up. country and government.
24th Apr 2009 11:37 pm
robsmith
Member Since: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 2393
So this is the latest slant on stealth taxes.
Nice little earner, the trouble is with those sort of costs most are going to "forget" to fill in the paperwork and the scheme, which no doubt has good intent, will join others that cost more to run than it will recoup.
What of the old boy who has a nice row of spuds, a few fruit trees and bushes backing onto the stream at the bottom of his garden who decides to replace some of the old trees and bushes with new ones. Is he going to pay £4800 extra just to keep his trees up to scratch - I shouldn't think so, but its he's the sort of victim this tax will hit.Rob Smith
Silver rools OK
25th Apr 2009 8:18 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
PeanutBob,
can you redirect the stream Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
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25th Apr 2009 8:27 am
SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
Maybe peanut bob can clarify this, but my reading of his post was that it was an example of government wasting money rather than additional taxation.
Either way it is a complete joke, and another example how much this government are wanting to control every aspect of our lives, and monitor everything we do. I fear that President Blair, comrade Brown and their cohorts have up this country as a decent place to live forever I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
25th Apr 2009 8:29 am
AndrewW
Member Since: 06 Aug 2007
Location: Saddleworth
Posts: 2302
It's that word "forever" that strikes a chord - and a chill in the heart...
I used to say "the lunatics have taken over the asylum" (OK - it's not very original but pretty apt) but I've replaced that with "the monkeys have taken over the zoo".
Difference is, you have NO CHANCE AT ALL of reasoning with monkeys. All they do is chatter, fight among themselves, have sex everywhere and screw up their/our surroundings. Forever.
QED
PS Happy St Phaebadius' Day (missed St George... b r!)2006 D3 finally swapped for a 2016 D4 Graphite in Graphite grey. No mods
25th Apr 2009 8:43 am
PeanutBob
Member Since: 24 Oct 2006
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 669
SJR,yes I was indicating the potential cost to the taxpayer of two EA inspectors arriving to inspect any shrub or whatever that I may plant in the future. I am sorely tempted to ring them every other day to request inspections until they get fed up with me, but I suspect that I will be the loser due to spending hours on the phone pressing this for that and being transferred round the shop. I find it utterly remarkable that this piece of should arrive two days after the Budget. It's probably not remarkable thinking about it, it's just indicative of the complete lack of sanity from Whitehall.
25th Apr 2009 8:54 am
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50951
What a bunch of whiners The Riperian system has always included your rights and responsibilities and the EA has done a great deal in cleaning up the pollution caused by householder tipping their crap into rivers and streams.
And if you want to moan about this government quango then talk to the conservatives ...because they created it
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give up. 
The Riperian system has always included your rights and responsibilities and the EA has done a great deal in cleaning up the pollution caused by householder tipping their crap into rivers and streams.
