Act Local

We're getting active; involved; grass roots.

Right on, brother.

Yesterday evening, P attended a Hackney planning open house and was the only non-NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) in attendance. Amid a mass of ill-informed, knee-jerk busy-bodies, she was the only reasonable, sensible, level-headed home-improver there.

The reason: we want to extend, and extend big stylee. Upwards, which means mansard roof extension.

So the scheming, conniving "Gordon Brown will make a great interim Prime Minister ahead of David Milliband" lobbyist that she is, managed to work her slick brand of spin on the council's head planning officer.

..Though we also think he was just pleased to speak to someone not berating him for national government housing policy (something he has no control over), refuse collection (again, beyond his p-l-a-n-n-i-n-g remit), or the lousy weather (God's department, I believe..).

At issue is the fact that the council has held an unoffical moratorium on granting permission for mansard extensions in our neck of the woods for about two years. Only now is outlining a clear policy. This is good for us as we now know what will and will not meet with planning -- an important consideration if you're going to pitch-up a wad of cash for an architect only to go nowhere..

But not to be out-done, I'm getting in on the act too and must cancel my attendance at lunch with friends tomorrow in favour of the totally mega 'Composting In The Park', which, as the Hackney junta put it, promises to be "A great day out in Clissold Park."

Hey, I really, really want to win a wormery.

..Spectrum is Green