14 February (Part 1) - Khan is a liar
On the left is
St. Paul’s Cathedral from my office window in the mid-1970s. On the right
Wren’s masterpiece in more recent times. Can there be a clearer illustration of
how much cleaner London’s air has become over the years?
How can Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor for Transport, have the gall to say in
today’s Daily Telegraph that poor air quality is killing 4,000 Londoners a
year? (†) The same figure recorded as having died in the 1950s when sometimes you
could literally not see across the road. (Presumably because her job depends on big time lying.)
Switching subjects - but for a reason - I am not a big user of the Elizabeth
line. Once a week basically, every Monday and it may just be bad luck but I find
it unreliable. I don’t think there has been one journey this year which has been
unaffected by minor disruptions, 20 minute service gaps, that sort of thing. On
one occasion I had to find another route home as the public address system was
proclaiming no Abbey Wood trains for the foreseeable future.
Last night was a problem yet again. I walked to Abbey Wood station just after
six o’clock to find Florence Road and Gayton Road pretty much solid with cars, a
sure sign that the Elizabeth line had failed again.
Most were parked on the footpath and most drivers had their engines running in
order to keep warm. I didn’t linger too long as the air was thick with petrol
fumes. I counted 32 cars by the time I reached the Wilton Road steps from which I could see a lot more.
Those I passed in Florence and Gayton Roads all sported registration plates
which indicated they were ULEZ compliant which means that Khan’s abuse of
statistics and power will achieve nothing. Until he tightens the rules still further that is.
The stench was still pretty bad while I waited for a train on Platform 4. A
train eventually left for Reading at 18:38.
What is Bexley Council doing about the problems around Abbey Wood station? I know someone who lives in a house at the station end of
Wilton Road. They are effectively cut off from their home and dare not have the windows open.
Khan is a liar? That is the most polite description I have heard recently. “Evil
little runt” from a pub quiz last week and dare I mention this? Yesterday alone
two ladies, neither of whom has ever met the other, and unprovoked by me were wishing him dead.
(Graphic description censored.)
Maybe I know the wrong sort of lady.
† An FOI request said the true number is one.