On 7 Feb 2010 at 10:43am Nick Robinson wrote:
If your vehicle has been converted to LPG, an annual residents parking permit costs just £15 in Lewes. I haven't seen any NCP (or whatever) literature confirming this, but it's certainly true. (also, LPG is about half the price of petrol and reduces CO2 output to something close to zero)
On 7 Feb 2010 at 11:11am Merlin Milner wrote:
I have an LPG vehicle and the above is true. The permit form has the details.
On 7 Feb 2010 at 6:31pm Panel Beaten wrote:
Hi Merlin, did you get any more info about the new buckled panels in the Tunnel?
On 8 Feb 2010 at 9:40am Merlin Milner wrote:
Found out who the contractors and the cladding sub-contractors are. Tried calling both but not been able to get through to either properly. Called UK manufacturer and they were asked to quote but explained that it could be to do with the size. Their limit 2.5m x 1m. I need to find out the dimensions before finding out why the panels have had to come from abroad....twice.
On 8 Feb 2010 at 12:22pm Pzanel Beaten wrote:
Thanks. I know you said these were paid for by funding, but we are going to be lumbered with the long term maintenance of faulty panels. personally i don't care where they come from as long as they are professionally made and fitted and they clearly haven't been. I am horrified that the work has carried on, at someone's expense when it is so obviously wrong. Who has been checking it on behalf of ESCC? We are inconvenienced every time they shut the tiunnel to fit faulty panels, and it has maladministration stamped all over it.
On 8 Feb 2010 at 1:02pm Merlin Milner wrote:
As far I know ESCC rejected the original panels, ie they felt that the quality was sub-standard. I believe the additional costs, due to the poor quality, are not being born by tax payers.
I do care where the panels come from. Getting the panels from the UK is good for jobs, corporation tax, reducing transport costs and reacting to the quality problems more quickly. If we do not care where things come from let flog all our industry then. I work in UK manufacturing and am very proud of our it.
BTW an error in my last post, the UK manufacturer was NOT asked to quote! This UK company does most of the London Underground work.
On 8 Feb 2010 at 1:33pm 'ere be monsters wrote:
Couldn't agree more Merlin. Cliffe High Street cobbles from China!! These substandard panels from gawd knows where. Local councils should be made to source locally. Try buying wooden plantation shutters that aren't made in China.
On 8 Feb 2010 at 1:48pm Panel Beaten wrote:
When i say I don't care where they came from, I obviously agree with you, but that decision has been made, so its seems a sensible priotity to me right now, to focus on the current embarassing and expensive debacle. The panels are still buckled, don't fit, and I have never seen anything like it. As I said above, who from ESCC is allowing this farcical situation to carry on?When that is resolved then I think it is definitely worth finding out why no UK company was asked to quote. That is very peculiar indeed. But at the moment it seems to me that with limited time, and resources it would be better to pursue lines of enquirey that would lead to this mess being resolved as quickly and cheaply as possible.
On 8 Feb 2010 at 1:57pm 'ere be monsters wrote:
Have these suppliers been used before I wonder.
On 8 Feb 2010 at 2:09pm Jon Botting wrote:
Dear Mr Mayor of Gatwick North,
My Company is based in Lewes and carries out cladding work using ACM's like the tunnel claddings all over UK. We are one of the bigger companies in SouthEast doing this kind of work. We did not get an enquiry from ESCC to tender the works. There are a number of agents from whom this type of cladding can be bought in UK but unfortunately no true manufacturer. Most of this product comes from Germany, Austria and Spain. The best specification from Japan. ACM (aluminium composite material) is usually used for signage backgrounds and in construction as rainscreen systems. If ESCC gets really stuck I am sure we could help them out!
On 8 Feb 2010 at 2:32pm Panel Beaten wrote:
Hooray, someone who knows about the subject!
Tell me Jon, am I losing my mind or is all the buckling on this job completely ridiculous, and unacceptable? Is there any long term maintenance problems associated with panels that are fitted with buckled areas
and finally have I become a tunnel cladding nerd against my will?
On 8 Feb 2010 at 4:49pm Merlin Milner wrote:
Jon. Trico VE do make in the UK I believe.
A link to their website trico-ve.co.uk