Ramsgate beach this afternoon - proud to be British
Discussion
So a few days ago a storm in the Channel relieves a cargo ship of a quantity of Russian Pine which drifts onto the beaches of East Kent. There's a recession going on so this is a welcome freebie. Locals arrive by car, van or on foot with a wheelbarrow to claim a bit of timber. It's a bit soggy and a bit ragged but it could patch up a fence or, once dried, could be used as kindling. Given a few days the beaches would be cleared at no cost and everyone would be happy.
Until today..this afternoon at Ramsgate and police patrol the sea wall cordoning off the beach as though it's a murder scene. Countless hard-hatted security men wander aimlessly across the sands monitoring the situation. An excavator and 2 massive Volvo dumpers sweep up the timber and take it away to be mulched - after all there's a Health and Safety issue and we can't have Joe Public taking advantage can we ?
The only moment of levity came when one of the Volvos got hopelessly stranded as it tried to vault a breakwater - for a tantalising 30 minutes there seemed a sporting chance that the Channel would reclaim the Russian wood...
Until today..this afternoon at Ramsgate and police patrol the sea wall cordoning off the beach as though it's a murder scene. Countless hard-hatted security men wander aimlessly across the sands monitoring the situation. An excavator and 2 massive Volvo dumpers sweep up the timber and take it away to be mulched - after all there's a Health and Safety issue and we can't have Joe Public taking advantage can we ?
The only moment of levity came when one of the Volvos got hopelessly stranded as it tried to vault a breakwater - for a tantalising 30 minutes there seemed a sporting chance that the Channel would reclaim the Russian wood...
view of beached Volvo :Whoops! Bit of a Faux-pas by the old driver there.
Had the same thing a while back on Worthing Sea Front. Complete waste of timber, although I know of a few people that claimed some.
It's worthless for building due to the salt apparently and it's good to protect people from this stuff being built into their next extension. However, Joe bloggs taking a bit ro support his shed roof is fair game in my eyes.
If you can carry it and you have no lorry round the corner people should be left to get on with it.
Had the same thing a while back on Worthing Sea Front. Complete waste of timber, although I know of a few people that claimed some.
It's worthless for building due to the salt apparently and it's good to protect people from this stuff being built into their next extension. However, Joe bloggs taking a bit ro support his shed roof is fair game in my eyes.
If you can carry it and you have no lorry round the corner people should be left to get on with it.
Tonker has got it right - no-one is gonna be registering anything are they?
And to be honest i'll be surpised if most of the people there are taking it to "prop up their shed"... they'll be flogging it in the ad mag -
"fresh pine perfect condition - unwanted order £400 ONO"
And some poor sod will pay for it.
Last tiem it happened it wasn't just wood that was being washed up - it was a bit of everythign - including peoples personal belongings that were being shipped around the world.... but its ok isn't it.... go on help yourself......
And to be honest i'll be surpised if most of the people there are taking it to "prop up their shed"... they'll be flogging it in the ad mag -
"fresh pine perfect condition - unwanted order £400 ONO"
And some poor sod will pay for it.
Last tiem it happened it wasn't just wood that was being washed up - it was a bit of everythign - including peoples personal belongings that were being shipped around the world.... but its ok isn't it.... go on help yourself......
moffspeed said:
Can't accept the analogy with the Dorset wreck which involved personal belongings and high-value items such as BMW bikes - the reason behind this post was to question the level of effort and (public)expenditure to protect some soggy timber.
That would be interesting: Value of soggy salt-soaked timber vs money spent to retrieve it. A good question to the local Council/TV?How very British. I suspect that it will only get worse when it turns out that the locals can't clear up the beach for free and recycle it as a source of heating because of environmental concerns.
Instead, lots of over paid officials in yellow jackets and hard hats will have to come and do an analysis to confirm that it is indeed wood, then pulp it so that it can be recycled to sit in a subsidised warehouse for 10 years while they look for an EU approved none profit recycling organisation to turn it into paper they can use for speeding tickets. All the while under the watchful gaze of health and safety officials to make sure no one lifts up a stick with a bent back, and that the beach in question is cordoned off for thenext 10 years lest someone gets a splinter.
Coastal settlements the world over have pillaged ship wrecks as long as ships have sailed the seas, and it would take the stupidity of modern Britain to turn this into a multi million pound excersize in petty officialdom.
Instead, lots of over paid officials in yellow jackets and hard hats will have to come and do an analysis to confirm that it is indeed wood, then pulp it so that it can be recycled to sit in a subsidised warehouse for 10 years while they look for an EU approved none profit recycling organisation to turn it into paper they can use for speeding tickets. All the while under the watchful gaze of health and safety officials to make sure no one lifts up a stick with a bent back, and that the beach in question is cordoned off for thenext 10 years lest someone gets a splinter.
Coastal settlements the world over have pillaged ship wrecks as long as ships have sailed the seas, and it would take the stupidity of modern Britain to turn this into a multi million pound excersize in petty officialdom.
There's some good points here.
But, remember that this is going to be one big insurance claim. The loss from the boat and then the tidy up operation on the beach. Couple that to the Police 'occupation' invoice.
What do you reckon will happen to the salvage? I bet we pay a company to dispose of it.
So allowing people to clear it will probably work out a fair bit cheaper....
But, remember that this is going to be one big insurance claim. The loss from the boat and then the tidy up operation on the beach. Couple that to the Police 'occupation' invoice.
What do you reckon will happen to the salvage? I bet we pay a company to dispose of it.
So allowing people to clear it will probably work out a fair bit cheaper....
AJS- said:
How very British. I suspect that it will only get worse when it turns out that the locals can't clear up the beach for free and recycle it as a source of heating because of environmental concerns.
Instead, lots of over paid officials in yellow jackets and hard hats will have to come and do an analysis to confirm that it is indeed wood, then pulp it so that it can be recycled to sit in a subsidised warehouse for 10 years while they look for an EU approved none profit recycling organisation to turn it into paper they can use for speeding tickets. All the while under the watchful gaze of health and safety officials to make sure no one lifts up a stick with a bent back, and that the beach in question is cordoned off for thenext 10 years lest someone gets a splinter.
Coastal settlements the world over have pillaged ship wrecks as long as ships have sailed the seas, and it would take the stupidity of modern Britain to turn this into a multi million pound excersize in petty officialdom.
+2Instead, lots of over paid officials in yellow jackets and hard hats will have to come and do an analysis to confirm that it is indeed wood, then pulp it so that it can be recycled to sit in a subsidised warehouse for 10 years while they look for an EU approved none profit recycling organisation to turn it into paper they can use for speeding tickets. All the while under the watchful gaze of health and safety officials to make sure no one lifts up a stick with a bent back, and that the beach in question is cordoned off for thenext 10 years lest someone gets a splinter.
Coastal settlements the world over have pillaged ship wrecks as long as ships have sailed the seas, and it would take the stupidity of modern Britain to turn this into a multi million pound excersize in petty officialdom.
Some people spout some rubbish on here. This cargo loss has led to an insurance claim, so the Underwriters have arranged to have the wood removed and pulped to at least have some recompense for the huge claim they will receive from the cargo owner. It is quite normal when a ships cargo is damaged due to the fault of the ship that the damaged cargo is sold to limit the claim against underwriters.
Popeyed said:
Some people spout some rubbish on here. This cargo loss has led to an insurance claim, so the Underwriters have arranged to have the wood removed and pulped to at least have some recompense for the huge claim they will receive from the cargo owner. It is quite normal when a ships cargo is damaged due to the fault of the ship that the damaged cargo is sold to limit the claim against underwriters.
By the time they've paid the coast guard to track it, then the Police to protect it, recovery agents to collect it, recyclers to recycle... Doubt they'll be in profit. Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff