tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post616497324583625290..comments2023-08-10T12:55:23.427+01:00Comments on SUBROSA: 'It's Our Water'subrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-2959538870310511382011-01-03T12:27:43.198+00:002011-01-03T12:27:43.198+00:00I know where you're coming from Subrosa but I ...I know where you're coming from Subrosa but I also think he figures it will win him friends both here and over there. There are links between there and here remember. I'm wondering if he's appealing to that? <br /><br />I found the consultation section on the SG website. I'm going to have a wee shifty at it. <br /><br />http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/12/14111932/0Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-3004403411103459002011-01-03T12:21:38.358+00:002011-01-03T12:21:38.358+00:00Yes I read that Jo and I think you're right. ...Yes I read that Jo and I think you're right. But, with the current economic situation here, I think he could turn off a few folk with his largesse. As one person mentioned, would the N Irish government give me free food if I needed it.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-16287312162452896712011-01-03T12:13:30.628+00:002011-01-03T12:13:30.628+00:00Subrosa, on the billing issue, reading Salmond on ...Subrosa, on the billing issue, reading Salmond on the matter, he seems to be approaching it in a neighbourly way but he's also highlighting how both NI Water and Scottish Water could invest more if they were allowed to borrow in order to raise the capital. I wonder if he's hoping to do a joint approach to Westminster on this with NI?Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-57970166371748768282011-01-02T20:26:34.695+00:002011-01-02T20:26:34.695+00:00That's why it shouldn't be privatised Jo. ...That's why it shouldn't be privatised Jo. The financial cost of course is the treatment of it before it comes from a tap.<br /><br />When I was a wee lass we used to picnic in the hills and I never thought anything of drinking from a burn. Nowadays that's a no no because of 'pollutants'. A local farmer still insists his burn water is fine and he diverts it himself. Has a tiny hydro up there.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-33767445815274748112011-01-02T20:22:32.942+00:002011-01-02T20:22:32.942+00:00Well said Strathturret. In the last few years the ...Well said Strathturret. In the last few years the Scottish government have done a good job improving SW. Long may it continue to stay in public ownership.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-15285570432860994482011-01-02T16:54:05.663+00:002011-01-02T16:54:05.663+00:00And actually its when I read comments like that th...And actually its when I read comments like that that I understand why community and vision died!Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-8044629366865557162011-01-02T16:52:17.404+00:002011-01-02T16:52:17.404+00:00Joe Public
"They might choose to have more f...Joe Public<br /><br />"They might choose to have more fags or booze - their decision; but I'm sure their newsagent or off-licence wouldn't keep supplying them after payment for a previous lot wasn't paid."<br /><br />Water is not a debate where we should throw stereotypes around. It is more important thatn than. If you are for privatising such a resource say so, but back off the stereotyping. I'd like to ask you tho, whose water is it exactly?? Because that is the 64,000 dollar question when it comes to water and ours falls out of the sky!!!!Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-90773540701295364352011-01-02T16:14:31.172+00:002011-01-02T16:14:31.172+00:00Water available to all is a major positive health ...Water available to all is a major positive health issue. I dont want my neighbours using their garden as a toilet or spreading cholera.<br /><br />Hence it should be provided by the state to all.<br /><br />Warer is an essential natural resource that should be used for public benefit. Most people in Scotland support that point of view.Strathturrethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02824645626620377993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-28529719680205237112011-01-02T14:37:09.636+00:002011-01-02T14:37:09.636+00:00You say you're not suggesting meters Jo but so...You say you're not suggesting meters Jo but some of my friends in England say they're the best thing that's happened to them and their bills have reduced, some quite considerably. I don't see why we shouldn't introduce meters. It may make younger generations become aware of something all of us take for granted.<br /><br />The SNP need to make water a priority in their campaign as you say and we mustn't forget to bang the drum about how the income from oil hasn't benefitted us in the least.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-89914747705960293882011-01-02T13:42:29.181+00:002011-01-02T13:42:29.181+00:00Indeed Subrosa, we are also the only country withi...Indeed Subrosa, we are also the only country within a country who contributes a massive amount to the UK economy and still gets treated like a passenger.Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-73651732366109753162011-01-02T13:40:32.242+00:002011-01-02T13:40:32.242+00:00Subrosa, you said something earlier that is worth ...Subrosa, you said something earlier that is worth taking forward on water: the waste is unacceptable yet we all pay the same water charges. I think we need to look at that. I'm not suggesting meters but I'm certainly comfortable with doing something to assess usage and wastage. My dad was awful about wasting water. He would go daft at us kids for wasting it. So I'm still aware of wastage because of that but I think that sort of mind set is dying out. I'm 52 now so there are two generations behind me who simply don't care about these things. I think they need to be educated.Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-70539901957740266822011-01-02T13:38:29.913+00:002011-01-02T13:38:29.913+00:00I'd agree with you there Jo. SW is only just ...I'd agree with you there Jo. SW is only just coming 'good'. When the then labour/libdem Scottish government reorganised it in 2006 (I think it was), my first thought was they were preparing it for a sell off, but as you say they backed down because of public anger.<br /><br />We need to hold onto our water. It's our richest resource. We've lost our oil to the south.<br /><br />What annoys me most is way in which N Sea oil has been stolen and without much protest from the people. Have we benefitted? No. We're the only oil producing country in Europe yet we have a large part of the country which has the worst record for health and financial security.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-38456099119032371992011-01-02T13:35:40.632+00:002011-01-02T13:35:40.632+00:00Subrosa, well it is now something for the SNP to b...Subrosa, well it is now something for the SNP to be clear about. They want SW to stay in public hands. If they make it clear the other Parties are thinking about selling it off I think it would have a major impact. Get Gray and Scott on the spot and force them to state exactly what it would mean. I am certain Scots will not wear it.Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-21587923440946476692011-01-02T13:33:23.363+00:002011-01-02T13:33:23.363+00:00Oops, that should be "sell it while it will f...Oops, that should be "sell it while it will fetch a higher price". (See what I mean about being riled? Means typos.) ; )Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-49381600791137295342011-01-02T13:30:25.808+00:002011-01-02T13:30:25.808+00:00And another thing: the "sell it now while it ...And another thing: the "sell it now while it can fetch a higher place" suggests a lack of understanding of one thing some of us have already realised. Scottish Water has not remotely yet reached its true potential! <br /><br />Sorry to be riled this early in the New Year but people who speak this way of water truly do rile me.Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-22883480654792431242011-01-02T13:27:44.466+00:002011-01-02T13:27:44.466+00:00I do hope you're right Jo. I see today's ...I do hope you're right Jo. I see today's Herald has an article about it. http://bit.ly/f6V40a<br /><br />Since when was Scotland wealthy enough to be giving water free to other countries? N Ireland should be paying for the amount sent to them this past week. <br /><br />It's possibly not a vast amount of money but N Ireland can well afford to pay for their water company's incompetence.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-30570604846905951092011-01-02T13:27:42.820+00:002011-01-02T13:27:42.820+00:00"The idea that water is vital for life and th..."The idea that water is vital for life and therefore should be run by the state is silly. What about food, housing, clothing and sex? Sooner or later SW will lose its efficiency under public ownership and so should be sold now while it'll fetch a higher price. Ultimately, there is no reason for the threat of violence that underpins the state's every move to be required in the management of water in Scotland or anywhere else. It should be left to private individuals to manage among themselves."<br /><br />I have never disagreed more with a statement in my life. If there are threats towards those who allude to taking water out of public hands they are made for good reasons. And they are entirely justified. Water is NOT for the profit of private individuals. It does NOT belong to them. And it IS indeed vital in ways the other items you mention are not which is why it must be kept public.Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-11716024717882027542011-01-02T13:21:40.460+00:002011-01-02T13:21:40.460+00:00Subrosa I can't see any of them trying it for ...Subrosa I can't see any of them trying it for real. There would be a major uprising. And I'm not exaggerating there. There is a precedent here and a referendum conducted Strathclyde wide. 97% of people warned Thatcher that our water was staying in public ownership. That is a massive statement and I believe it would still stand today. <br /><br />People have seen what Thatcher's privatising of domestic fuel took us. We created companies that exist for profit and for shareholders. We cannot ever do that with out water. I want Scottish water to work for Scotland not for shareholders and private companies. We should never have been placed in a position where cartels of power companies hold us to ransom and where domestic fuel bills now come second only to a mortgage in terms of costs. They do not own what falls from our skies into our rivers in Scotland. <br /><br />As far as I know the SNP once were thinking along such lines and then quickly abandoned them because it was felt the public wouldn't wear it. I think that's an accurate assessment. Within months of English water being privatised it was 95% foreign owned. That's a fact. <br /><br />Our water is the key to a great deal still to come here. I remember when I fist went to the Highlands and toured the Hydro schemes. It was fascinating and the engineering that went into it was amazing too. The sheer power of the stuff! My late father worked on the dams a long time ago and had told me all about the construction. <br /><br />The SNP government has used plentiful Scottish resources to set out plans for our future and along with wind-power and sea-water power natural water has a major, major role to play too. It is a fabulous natural resource and I hope Scots will go on the streets in protest rather than allow politicians to hand it into private hands. It would be sacrilege. <br /><br />As I said the statistics in the Strathclyde referendum made it clear what many Scots thought then. 97% said don't even think about it!Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-58011377596907502902011-01-02T00:46:53.512+00:002011-01-02T00:46:53.512+00:00Happy New Year IPP.
Scotland's geography make...Happy New Year IPP.<br /><br />Scotland's geography makes the organisation of water perhaps more costly rather than less.<br /><br />It's only in the past 6 years or so that SW has 'regrouped' and that has now resulted in the excellent service we have here today.<br /><br />As far as I can gather, there is no subsidy.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-70817332608545013642011-01-01T23:53:22.531+00:002011-01-01T23:53:22.531+00:00SR - SW may well be efficiently-run. The state doe...SR - SW may well be efficiently-run. The state doesn't consistently run companies inefficiently any more than private enterprise consistently runs them well. These things are partly down to co-incidence and passing luck. But I suspect there might be something missing. Is there a subsidy? Ought water in Scotland be managed far more cheaply than in England (I'm thinking less droughts to prepare for, lower population densities and lower salary costs).<br /><br />The idea that water is vital for life and therefore should be run by the state is silly. What about food, housing, clothing and sex? Sooner or later SW will lose its efficiency under public ownership and so should be sold now while it'll fetch a higher price. Ultimately, there is no reason for the threat of violence that underpins the state's every move to be required in the management of water in Scotland or anywhere else. It should be left to private individuals to manage among themselves.Idle Pen Pusherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08319222131717187999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-81768962355513644142011-01-01T23:13:00.806+00:002011-01-01T23:13:00.806+00:00There is a safety net I think Joe, same as there i...There is a safety net I think Joe, same as there is for other utilities. Unfortunately some of those who do need it don't use it, such as the elderly.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-71140279974211737332011-01-01T23:12:09.196+00:002011-01-01T23:12:09.196+00:00As far as I know Strathturret, there is help avail...As far as I know Strathturret, there is help available for those who have difficulty meeting their bill.<br /><br />I agree with your second paragraph.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-83018134006762390832011-01-01T16:00:53.900+00:002011-01-01T16:00:53.900+00:00@ Strathturret 15:22...
"One of the problem...@ Strathturret 15:22... <br /><br />"One of the problems about privatising water is what do you do if people do not pay?"<br /><br />Why should you or I pay, if someone else can't be bothered to pay?<br /><br />They might choose to have more fags or booze - their decision; but I'm sure their newsagent or off-licence wouldn't keep supplying them after payment for a previous lot wasn't paid.Joe Publichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07829909061904690380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-81911441564693423922011-01-01T15:22:57.436+00:002011-01-01T15:22:57.436+00:00One of the problems about privatising water is wha...One of the problems about privatising water is what do you do if people do not pay? Cut off their water? It doesn't really bear thinking about!<br /><br />I think lots of these 1980's utility privatisations were so misguided. As Harold Macmillan said at the time it was selling the family silver. Now we've lost control of so many with HQs being abroad.Strathturrethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02824645626620377993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-86182669944324375942011-01-01T14:42:41.822+00:002011-01-01T14:42:41.822+00:00Well said Strathurret but I have a feeling if the ...Well said Strathurret but I have a feeling if the unionists get in at Holyrood, they'll have another plan.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.com