I had always understood that water conservation should be attempted whatever the weather, and that it was best to ‘bath with a friend’ or take a shower. Since the only friends with whom I would like to take a bath are currently married to people who might take a dim view of my doing so, I invariably take a shower. Alone. But last week, my electric shower exploded.
On the advice of ‘Which’ magazine, I bought their ‘best buy’ electric shower; it was reassuringly expensive, professionally fitted and I even took out a 5-year warranty.
I soon discovered the meaning of the three settings. ‘Low’ means Cold. ‘Medium’ means Cold. ‘High’ means Cold unless you turn the graduated knob to about three quarters of its distance, when acceptably hot water pours out at an amazing three litres a minute, i.e. a meagre trickle.
Imagine my surprise when a call to their Customer Service department elicited the suggestion that whilst showering I ‘turn on some other taps in the house – that might make it run hotter’. Hmm. I don’t think that this particular ‘advisor’ had got the point of water conservation.
Clearly she was of the same school of thought as the many Dorset County Councillors who actually suggested that it would be in the interests of Swanage for recycling to be taken by car to Wareham recycling centre, so that the Swanage centre could be closed and turned into a …….. well, whatever daft scheme they have in store for it.
Isn’t it sad that it took a huge petition, an awful lot of lobbying, a few threats and the active involvement of several of Swanage Town Councillors for common sense to prevail. We have now been promised £2.25m to build a new centre in 2010, plus £250k p.a. to run it. Why couldn’t they have said that in the first place ?
But once again, just as I expect ‘joined up’ thinking from the manufacturers of a ‘Which Best Buy’, I expect it from County Councillors.
Silly me.
David Hollister
Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 5:06 PM
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How can it cost £2.25M to put down a few yards of concrete and install a portacabin? How can two blokes, a light bulb and a brazier cost £250K a year to run?
As for which? I will have nothing to do with them anymore. Their advertising is highly annoying and withdrawal of services exasperating. They have this sanctimonious attitude and are quick to criticise others which disguises what a poor organisation they are themselves.
A suggestion. Campaign for councils, when they are planning services or changes to services to have to produce a statement of cost to users of the change in both time and financial cost compared to the old arrangement and a statement of total environmental impact, e.g. in this case the CO2 produced be the probable number of extra car journeys. This would involve more effort beyond the box ticking consultation exercises we have at present but might avoid situation in which a small reduction in the cost of a public service leads to a large increase in cost to the users, i.e. us.
Oh David, you´ve always made me chuckle!
¨On the advice of ‘Which’ magazine, I bought their ‘best buy’ electric shower; it was reassuringly expensive, professionally fitted and I even took out a 5-year warranty¨.
When I was going to have a power shower fitted I got the plumber to check the water pressure – he said ´don´t bother, it´ll be rubbish´. P´raps you got bad advice?
¨...... as the many Dorset County Councillors who actually suggested that it would be in the interests of Swanage for recycling to be taken by car to Wareham recycling centre, so that the Swanage centre could be closed and turned into a …….. well, whatever daft scheme they have in store for it¨.
If you´d bother to do a bit of research, you´d easily discover that:
1.having a recycling facility at the Vic Ave Ind Est has been an option for at least 5 years.
2.The ´dump´ will almost certainly be ´returned to nature´.
¨Isn’t it sad that it took a huge petition, an awful lot of lobbying, a few threats and the active involvement of several of Swanage Town Councillors for common sense to prevail¨.
Interesting interpretation – try Democracy in action.
DCC wanted to save money by making us recycle in Wareham – although the expensive plans are there to have recycling in Swanage. If we´d stayed quiet, then we´d have had the Wareham option, but because we took action, democracy has prevailed.
¨We have now been promised £2.25m to build a new centre in 2010, plus £250k p.a. to run it. Why couldn’t they have said that in the first place¨?
Agreed. Plus why so expensive?
¨But once again, just as I expect ‘joined up’ thinking from the manufacturers of a ‘Which Best Buy’, I expect it from County Councillors¨.
Their thinking is joined up.
Yours?
Silly you – indeed!
Will you be commenting the next time our Council Tax bills go up?
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