Agent_C

Hello, did anyone visit the new Screwfix store on Queen's Road on their opening weekend 17-18 May? (It was busy as they were offering 10% off). If so you may be able to help. I went to the store Saturday morning about 8.50am. Their car park looked full, but by the KFC car park opposite, there was a sign (similar to the type you get outside newsagents with the headlines on; I can't remember what it's called!) that said something like 'Screwfix customers may use KFC car park' or similar. So I parked in there. I was there about 10 minutes or so. Yesterday I received a parking enforcement notice for parking there, with a fine of £75, rising to £150 if I don't pay within 14 days. I've contacted the store and the member of staff I spoke to couldn't remember the sign and didn't know who put it up, but the manager is off till next week so I am waiting to speak to him. In the meantime, does anyone else remember the sign and did anyone else park there?

I know - mind you, when I've heard how often some parents swear in front of their kids, I start to think that you can't really blame the kids! Perhaps we just choose more upmarket package holidays I prefer the places popular with Germans than those that the Brits prefer - despite the towel thing, they're generally much more polite (and I can speak German so I know whether they're swearing or not!).

I find it offensive when it's used in the sort of context that it was this morning. If it's on a CD and I've been warned about it and I choose to listen anyway, I don't really have the right to then get offended, do I?

I've never said I personally don't like swearing... I just find it offensive where it's used in an environment where there are kids etc about who shouldn't have to hear it, and where people use it regardless of who they might be offending. I do get offended when I hear people swearing loudly in the street because it shows a lack of respect for the people around them. I have been on package holidays and don't remember them being a mecca for swearing, so I'm not sure what you're getting at there. And yes, I would expect to hear swearing if I went into a pub - and I would make that choice whether or not to go there. But I wouldn't take kids or my granny into a pub for the same reason! People should be able to do their shopping on a Saturday morning without being subjected to that language.

The fact that it gets heard everywhere does not make it acceptable. Personally I don't get offended by swearing if I hear it on the TV or on a CD because I will have been warned that it's there and I have the choice whether or not to listen. But people doing their shopping today did not have the choice, and were subjected to this language without warning. That's what I find offensive.

Yes - the council tax payer. The football clubs pay for the policing inside the ground, but not outside. See http://www.met.police.uk/publicorder/football.htm Of course I would rather that the police maintain safety & limit any potential trouble, but I would rather that there was no potential for trouble in the first place - if football-related violence wasn't so prevalent, then there would not be the need for so many police officers. The grouping together of supporters may have been down to the police, but the loud chanting of songs, including swearing, was down to the supporters, and it was this that partly made them so visible - and audible.

Sorry, I didn't mean to offend - I was addressing the previous poster who was part of that group and had said "we was singing blades tunes", and was therefore admitting that he had gone along with the singing.

Why walk to the game in such a big group, and why down the middle of the road? Also, the songs you were singing included using the F word, which IMO is inappropriate when there are kids about and others who might be offended. It's taxpayers money that is being used to pay for the police presence, so we have a right to be concerned when a group of supporters requires such a large amount of police. Why not make your way to the game in a less visible way? The helicopter was no doubt out because of the football in general, of which you were a part. It hovered over Walkley while the road was cordoned off, and then headed over Hillsborough way.

I took this picture at the end of South Road in Walkley: A mob of supporters was marching down the middle of the road, chanting (and using bad language which I think was disrespectful given that it was a busy Saturday morning) and they had a police escort. South Road was cordoned off, there were police horses, vans, dogs, and the helicopter was hovering above. Traffic was brought to a standstill and didn't get back to normal till a while after. I dread to think how much this has cost us taxpayers. I realise that all those policemen were necessary given that there was a high chance the mob would kick off, but having a police escort presumably just makes the mindless idiots feel more important.

The flats in Castle Court are lovely - big, split level, and some have great views. I'm not really sure about the surrounding area but it's very convenient for the tram stop. I had a couple of friends who lived there, one had no problems and loved it, but the other had terrible trouble with noisy neighbours and it was never fully resolved. Also one time I was visiting and someone had done a poo on the stairs!!

Another vote for Gelders, have used them for 10 years and always been satisfied with service and price.

Heh, I think I know the one you mean! I had to take something back as it was faulty and I was treated like she had just found me on the bottom of her shoe. I compiled my letter of complaint in my head on the way home, but have yet to write it...

The website now seems to be saying that there should be no more planned cuts provided we keep our electricity usage low: http://ceelectricuk.com/page/news/current/detail.cfm?articleId=154&mode=current I'd rather reduce my consumption than have another 3 hour cut - get turning off all those items on standby!!

I'm in S6 5 and my power is still on at the moment and has been since I got in at 5.30. The load rationing website now gives times for Friday and Saturday, suggesting Thursday's may be over, but I'm not holding my breath!

Hmm, you could be right... I thought it said it would only go off twice in a 24hr period but maybe 40 mins wouldn't count.

Hopefully that's it for us today! When I phoned the number it was 3.30 but they couldn't say whether it was already off in my area.

I'm in S6 5BD, just called the number and apparently it is likely to go off any time between now and midnight, for a 3 hour slot, but they can't be specific on which one, I'm hoping it's now to 6pm as I'm at work till then!!

Is it the freephone number you're calling or someone else?

The whole of S6?

I reckon 9pm-12pm again as that was the only time on the chart for my postcode where there was no chance of it going off...

Was yours also off 3.45pm-6.15pm and 9.15pm-11.45pm yesterday? If so you're probably in the same block as me - good news if it's been off once already today as it reduces the chances of it being off twice this evening again.

Yeah, I'm in S6 5 and ours was off at exactly the same times, yet those two times were not even showing on the grid for our postcode area as having any possibility of interruption. It stayed on at the times that there was a high chance of interruption. So I'd prepare for any eventuality... difficult I know if you're trying to plan things but hopefully it shouldn't be for too long!

4 pics that Mr Agent_C took at Hillborough Corner last night - showing the very high river, flooded houses, B&Q car park and the water gushing onto the A61. More later! http://www.flickr.com/gp/17598631@N00/36BKQT

Section 193(3) Housing Act 1996. The authority has an ONGOING HOUSING DUTY to someone who is homeless, eligible for assistance, in priority need, not intentionally homeless and has a local connection. The person may waiti in temporary accommodation for a while, and what they get offered may not be from the local authority's own stock, but the permanent housing duty remains. Section 167 has been substantially amended by the Homelessness Act 2002, and the link you provided goes to legislation that is now obsolete. You'd be better using http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk which contains the fully amended legislation. Section 167 now states: (2) As regards priorities, the scheme shall be framed so as to secure that reasonable preference is given to— (a)people who are homeless (within the meaning of Part 7); (b)people who are owed a duty by any local housing authority under section 190(2), 193(2) or 195(2)(or under section 65(2) or 68(2) of the Housing Act 1985) or who are occupying accommodation secured by any such authority under section 192(3); So therefore someone who is owed the statutory homelessness duty will have priority for an allocation. It is indeed true that someone who is pregnant and NOT homeless would not qualify. However, a pregnant homeless person would have priority over someone who is homeless but not pregnant. The latter person, if they had no other priority, would not qualify for accommodation and would be unlikely to get any reasonable preference on the allocations scheme. A pregnant 16 year old kicked out by her parents would qualify as homeless.

'List' does not mean 'queue'. It is simply a list of people who are waiting for an allocation of a property, with details of how many points they have/what banding they fall into/whatever system the council uses.