Opinion – Page 542
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Comment
A bit of light pressure
In an attempt to meet the targets set by our government for a CO2 reduction of 20% by 2010 and a 60% reduction by 2050, we should embrace pressure testing as a way of demonstrating that the performance and construction of our dwellings is improving (3 June, page 64).
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Comment
An attack on adversaries
Nick Henchie (20 May, page 39) suggests Tony Bingham’s proposed “arbitral investigator” may be possible but is unlikely to succeed as it requires consent.
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Comment
A pragmatist writes
Ann Minogue’s recent article “You know it makes sense” (27 May, page 47) listed the wholly unilateral benefits of the new British Property Federation form of consultancy agreement compared with the forms of the Association of Consulting Engineers, the RIBA and the RICS.
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Comment
BIW vindication
Last year, you published a potentially misleading article concerning my company (“Inland Revenue probes IT provider BIW”, 24 September 2004, page 14) and a subsequent letter from me (8 October 2004, page 32), relating to BIW Technologies’ claims for some £400,000 worth of research and development tax credits.
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Comment
Counting the cost
I read with interest the news that the Health and Safety Executive is to target injuries caused by manual handling with a view to “promoting the use of mechanical handling equipment”.
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Comment
Missing: One ombudsman
When I took up the tenancy of a flat from a Berkshire housing association I gave them a snag list of various items including health and safety breaches.
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Comment
In defence of management trainees
Although I agree that there are many young management trainees who clearly exhibit a worrying need to proclaim their greatness in front of anyone they meet, I would also ask that John Smith (27 May, page 31) acknowledges the many other hardworking, enthusiastic and motivated young individuals whose aim is ...
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CommentWonders & blunders
No-nonsense broadcaster Robert Elms adores Lasdun’s austere Thamesside masterpiece, but has no time for showy St Pancras
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CommentA hard way to make a living
It defies logic really. We’ve had 12 years of sustained growth, PFI contracts are going begging and any client you talk to says there aren’t enough good contractors to go round.
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Comment
The cost of copyright infringement
Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) exists to enforce and protect the exclusive right to play in public, and to authorise the playing in public of, copyrighted sound recordings that have been issued to the public. Mr Reader was part of a partnership that owned a club in Brighton. In 1999, ...
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CommentWatching their own backs
Designers have been terrified into assuming responsibility for site safety – so much so that they now have to spend more time saving themselves than the workers
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CommentThe Dickens of a case
Mr Bumble had a point when he said the ‘law is a ass’ – as was borne out recently by a High Court battle that could have been settled with a phone call
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Comment
How to sing like a canary
The Office of Fair Trading is putting firms who operate cartels in a dilemma: do they keep shtoom and hope nobody finds out – or blow the whistle first?
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CommentGo back to square one
The law dealing with negligence and defective buildings is a mess, and every time the courts look at it, they make things worse. We need to start again …
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Comment
Bingham bashing
I was the architect involved in the case that Tony Bingham wrote about in his article “Too much to ask for” (27 May, page 48).
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Comment
Nice NEC does it
Ann Minogue (27 May, page 47) wrote: “At last, someone has produced a consultancy agreement that applies the same terms for each member of the team.”