Cockermouth flood - too much police power?

[TonyGosling]

Has anyone noticed how the Cumbria cops seem to be delighting in their overarching powers to prevent people getting back to their homes to start the clearup process?

Closing bridges which appear to be fine.

Turning this into a much bigger crisis than it needs to be which fits into the global warming climate panic agenda. And flexing their new found political muscle.

[paul wright]

Well, yeah. There's much more to this than meets the eye. It's certainly a grandstanding opportunity for police and politicians alike.
And part of a constructed drift that seems to have been going on for the last 2 or 3 years in particular

[chek]

This really isn't difficult to understand chaps.

If waterlogging has been found to make more than one bridge unsafe, and it has:
"Structural engineers said last night that there was no chance of saving Calva Bridge after the main deck sank about a foot and a large crack appeared in the central arch over the River Derwent.
The crossing is about half a mile upstream from the Northside Bridge, where PC Bill Barker was swept to his death as it collapsed on Friday. A smaller foot bridge in between the two, known locally as the Navvies Bridge, has also collapsed".
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 927672.ece
then as a safety precaution, all similarly constructed bridges cannot be trusted.
It's a matter of life and death, after all.

A similar thing happened here recently when bad weather exposed corporate neglect of the Malahide viaduct which collapsed into the sea and suspended the Belfast-Dublin train service for ten weeks.
Luckily a trainload of passengers weren't drowned in this instance.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... 63867.html

I'm tempted to add that global warming will cause myriad similar changes in established local conditions, but for now, it's just weather.

[paul wright]

Thanks for the blandishments Chek
The usual from your viewpoint

[chek]

Fair enough, Paul.
Carry on imagining all sorts.
Don't let me stop you.

[paul wright]

Cheers Chek
I don't particularly think that the western British Isles are target for downpours, floods, high winds and storm fronts, but rather that the docile public here will accept this while droughts and forest fires in more southerly climes and more volatile populations require the displacement of atmospheric moisture north, which targets the west of the UK in particular.
This is getting away from Tony's op regarding the implementation of police powers in the face of "natural" disasters, which we should perhaps return to

[TonyGosling]

Yes, I could be a victim of Climateophobia this time.
Anyway the police stuff stands.
Cockermouth gauleiters?

[chek]

Cheers Chek
I don't particularly think that the western British Isles are target for downpours, floods, high winds and storm fronts, but rather that the docile public here will accept this while droughts and forest fires in more southerly climes and more volatile populations require the displacement of atmospheric moisture north, which targets the west of the UK in particular.
This is getting away from Tony's op regarding the implementation of police powers in the face of "natural" disasters, which we should perhaps return to

So if the police are advised by engineers that bridges in the area are to be closed for safety and liability reasons (in our current 'sue'em for everything you can get - no claim, no fee!) culture, that is somehow an expression of them flexing the fascist undertones of their power?

I can't see that, somehow.
God knows what you'll think if some more widespread disaster ever strikes.

But as I say, carry on taking this to where you wanna go.

And sorry, I couldn't make head nor tail of the first part.

[TonyGosling]

People are trying to get back to safe looking washed out homes with their kids but police turning them back.
That has been made clear on the news.
Aren't the police supposed to be there to help the community?

[chek]

People are trying to get back to safe looking washed out homes with their kids but police turning them back.
That has been made clear on the news.
Aren't the police supposed to be there to help the community?

Not if supposedly 'helping them' means that some try to cross bridges that aren't designated as safe and some were to drown or be injured in the process.

If alternative routes back to homes that don't depend on use of uncertified structures to enable access are available, are the police inhibiting them?

I seem to recall both the public and their public services doing everything that could humanly be done including rescuing people by boat.
How fascist is that! Is this some knee-jerk theoretical reaction to a situation that most of us have never (and hopefully will never) have to deal with?
If the copper that got you out of your flooded house next day tells you you can't cross that bridge because it's not safe, are you likely to not believe him?

[paul wright]

Yes, I could be a victim of Climateophobia this time.
Anyway the police stuff stands.
Cockermouth gauleiters?

I wouldn't suppose you a victim
But the gauleiter comment is good
Still, the washing away of long standing bridges is interesting
Suggests that something unique is happening

[fish5133]

Has anyone noticed how the Cumbria cops seem to be delighting in their overarching powers

Perhaps a form of institutionalized Munchausen syndrome

In Munchausen Syndrome, this is achieved by capitalising on, exploiting, exaggerating or feigning illness or injury or personal misfortune. The opportunities for being centre of attention can be increased if feigning victimhood through alleged victimisation, isolation, exclusion or persecution is added to the equation; the Munchausen person can then depict another person (often a family member) as a victimiser or persecutor and herself as the victim. Presenting herself as a false victim is also a Munchausen trait.

http://www.bullyonline.org/workbully/munchaus.htm

More likely the police and others just doing their jobs in awful circumstances.

[paul wright]

Has anyone noticed how the Cumbria cops seem to be delighting in their overarching powers

More likely the police and others just doing their jobs in awful circumstances.

I'd say the threat is very real. The police will make the most of it.
Most interesting is how this comes about

[chek]

Still, the washing away of long standing bridges is interesting
Suggests that something unique is happening

I'm tempted to add that global warming will cause myriad similar changes in established local conditions, but for now, it's just weather.

Well I'll go t''foot of our stairs.
Paul might actually have agreed with me
(pending a stewards' inquiry).

[paul wright]

Still, the washing away of long standing bridges is interesting
Suggests that something unique is happening

Well I'll go t''foot of our stairs.
Paul might actually have agreed with me
(pending a stewards' inquiry).

Sorry, no, mate. The uniqueness is a creation. Not a lax consequence...

[Andrew.]

Still, the washing away of long standing bridges is interesting
Suggests that something unique is happening

I'm tempted to add that global warming will cause myriad similar changes in established local conditions, but for now, it's just weather.

Well I'll go t''foot of our stairs.
Paul might actually have agreed with me
(pending a stewards' inquiry).

'You're a quare geg,' chek

http://www.belfastforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=17551.0

(edit)

In Warwickshire "your having a laugh" hasent got quite the same ring to it.

[paul wright]

http://www.ethericwarriors.com/ip/viewt ... highlight=
The weather fronts always head northerly over the British Isles while the med dries and often burns
Floods, droughts and forest fires- all situations dependent on authority

[Busker]

As someone who has been on the scene I can tell you my impressions are this is simply a big clear-up in operation and reading anything more into it is simply a diversion.

I witnessed plenty of knackered people in all manner of uniforms who were pushing on, just trying to their jobs. No attitude or control freakery. Just advice and sympathy for those who had lost everything.

With at least one dead as a direct result of a bridge collapse, I think people would be screaming if another bridge went down and a relative was killed. There was plenty of debris thrown around by the flood water and don't forget structural damage is not always readily apparent.

People are entitled to their beliefs, but I think you're barking up the wrong tree with this thread.

[paul wright]

I'd agree with you there, Busker. I'm sure those charged with local relief are doing their very best. You need to look at the back of these circumstances to see the problem. The loss of local control due to the elements is worth looking at