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*** BREAKING NEWS ***EARTHQUAKE in MargateAn earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale hit Margate in the early hours, with the epicentre hitting the town centre. Victims were seen wandering around aimlessly, muttering "Fuuuckinell".The tremor decimated the area causing approximately £30 worth of damage. Several priceless collections of mementos from Ramsgate and were damaged beyond repair.Many locals were woken well before their giros arrived.  The gazette reported that hundreds of residents were confused and bewildered and were still coming to terms with the fact that something interesting had happened on  this day - Karen Karenson from Cliftonville , a 15-year-old mother of 5 said, "it was such a shock, my little Chardonnay-Mercedes come running into my bedroom crying. My youngest two, Tyler-Morgan and Victoria-Storm slept through it all. I was still shaking when I was skinning up and watching Jeremy Kyle the next morning".The British Red Cross has so far managed to ship crates of White Lightning to some of the stricken locals.Rescue workers are still searching through the rubble and have found large quantities of personal belongings, including benefit books, jewellery from Elizabeth Duke at Argos and Bone China from Poundland.HOW CAN YOU HELP?There is an appeal to raise money for food and clothing parcels for those unfortunate enough to be caught up in this disaster.Clothing is most sought after - items most needed include:Snap back hatsFull matching tracksuitsNike Huarachi trainersTartan pyjamasUGG Boots and any other items usually sold in Primark.Food parcels may be harder to come by, but are needed all the same.Microwave meals, Pot Noodles, Tins of baked beans, ice cream, Cans of Strong Bow or Special Brew and of course pies.22p buys a biro for filling in compensation forms.£10 buys B&H and a lighter to calm the nerves of those affected.£15 buys chips, crisps and Panda Pops for a family of 9

Georgina Flint ● 2293d14 Comments ● 2291d

Hounslow's tone-deaf licensing fees

For all the talk of healthy streets and current measures being taken to provide for distancing, take this into consideration when wondering why businesses remain shut, continue to shut or don't avail themselves of outdoor space: Hounslow hasn't changed its pavement licensing fees.Their only concession is to reduce the consultation from 28 days to seven. All other fees remain as they were before the pandemic. Translation: pay what you normally would but don't use it to the same extent. Info I had to struggle to find. Other councils have loads of easily available info to help businesses recover, maximize potential and provide distancing. Not so LBH.Westminster abides by the current draft guidance kindly shared by Michael Robinson on another thread. Venues can pay a flat £100 fee for a 12-month pavement license. Available adjacent space can also  be accessed be it pavement or roadway. This mimics the policy in New York City.Just this week, Hammersmith publicised its "Our Space is Your Space" scheme allowing, among other things, venues to spread out across neighboring frontage to provide distancing and/or more tables. I have yet to learn what related fees are in LBHF.For comparison, the cost to use two square meters of pavement for 12-months in LBH would be £462 versus the £100 flat fee equivalent in Westminster. Take a look around, folks. Two square meters allows for nearly nothing in normal times, even less now. A table for two uses roughly two square meters. So to provide outdoor, socially-distanced seating for ten requires a minimum of 20 square meters. Perhaps more. Fees in Hounslow are as follows: £123 for application (6-month license) and £54/square meter used. So, for a twelve-month license it would run any Hounslow business £2406 per year. It would cost any Westminster business £100. This from an outer borough. At a time of crisis.Do the math.It doesn't add up.

David Lesniak ● 2302d63 Comments ● 2294d