More Comment – Page 649
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CommentThe PFI suggestion box …
The Treasury’s review of the PFI can’t come soon enough. The renewal of the grim Whipps Cross hospital was hampered rather than helped by it, and the refurbishment of St Bart’s is demonstrating how much money can be lost in a few weeks.
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CommentWonders & blunders
Roger Protz raises a glass to the London pub that was named after a philanthropist, and pours cold water on a London station
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CommentIt’s about to get messy …
Our thanks to Mike Gosling for this fine example of British improvisation.
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An irregular challenge
The claimant construction company, Kharafi was the main contractor for airport construction works in Ethiopia. Kharafi engaged Protech as earthworks subcontractor. Kharafi terminated the subcontract before the earthworks were completed and Protech made various claims that were referred to arbitration. The arbitrator made several awards in Protech’s favour including a ...
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CommentWhat the forum’s for
The Strategic Forum has recovered well after the rushed publication and unmanageable targets of Accelerating Change. Where should it go next?
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CommentA traveller’s tales
Travel may expose you to diverse cultures, but skills shortages, seem to be the same the world over. If only the same could be said for health and safety …
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CommentPeople who care
A faulty load transfer platform caused a block of luxury flats to sink. The consulting engineer didn’t design the platform, but could it be liable for the problem?
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CommentDangerous liaisons
This week we have two industry reports that reveal contractors’ cavalier attitude to risk, starting with what industry executives will do to secure work …
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Are insurers pulling a fast on
… While Mike Grant of law firm Weightmans says half the contractors it surveyed felt let down by insurers. Does this reflect badly on the policies or on firms’ failure to understand them?
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CommentWho wants 70bn euros?
In the past, the construction industry has missed out on European research grants. But now, with a huge round of funding up for grabs, it's time to stand up and be noticed
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Take some responsibility …
In her article “It’s not their job” (11 November), Ann Minogue has shot herself in the foot by stating: “But surely one-off clients, which make up most customers, cannot be blamed for what happens on site?
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Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation
I was very pleased to be consulted for the article on disease risks to schoolchildren (4 November).
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Alexander grates
I having just read Gus Alexander’s article “A Waste of Energy” (28 October), and it’s had a fundamental effect on my view of the way we go about construction in the UK.
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Jestico’s first
For the record, YRM was not the first architect to transform itself into a not-for-profit trust (4 November).
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A problem doubled
As the old saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved. Peter Rees’ article “Double Your Risk” (4 November), explaining how more than one employer can be liable for the acts of employees, seems to demonstrate a more realistic scenario: a problem shared is two people with a problem.
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Support from The RICS
As chartered building control surveyors, we pride ourselves on being the first port of call for advice on how to satisfy the functional requirements of the regulations.
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Big problem for small firms
There will, I’m sure, be a schemes where the budget allows the hiring of consultants to provide comliant designs, but these will be few and far between.
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More words of support …
It is becoming increasingly difficult for building control to keep up with changes...
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CommentAnd he’s off …
Congratulations to English Partnerships’ boss David Higgins, who has finally been persuaded to take the job of building the stage for the largest sporting extravaganza ever to be seen on our shores.