黑洞社区

Bob Neill, hoarse whisperer

We journalists hear all kinds of excuses for people not returning our calls, but one from Bob Neill, the shadow planning minister, last week caused me to raise a sceptical eyebrow. It seems the MP was struck with a viral infection that caused him to lose his voice for two days. With most developers, planners and housebuilders still at a loss as to what the Tories鈥� policies are 鈥� including lingering confusion about their plans for the Infrastructure Planning Commission 鈥� some may be asking what the excuse is for his silence the rest of the time.

Number鈥檚 up for MPs 鈥�

It seems MPs are still getting perks. Last week, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering held its annual reception for industry figures and MPs at the House of Commons鈥� riverside terrace, the climax of which was a surprise raffle. I say 鈥渟urprise鈥� because none of the guests had actually been given a chance to buy a ticket 鈥� except, that is, the politicians in attendance. Whether this was a ploy to lure MPs to an industry event or an elaborate scheme to spite Sir Christopher Kelly was not made clear.

Either way, the Daily Telegraph is bound to be on the case.

Stop the coach please

If you thought engineers were too absorbed with concrete buttresses and glulam beams to bother with the softer side of working life, engineering firm Conisbee may surprise you. The firm鈥檚 management is set to swap spreadsheets and CAD drawings for chats about drawing on positive energies, fostering deeper self awareness and, possibly, transforming their very lives. Confused? Let me explain. It seems Conisbee has enlisted the services of a life coach to work with the firm鈥檚 executives, presumably to instil them with ideas, motivation and general zest for life. But judging by the reaction of one senior staffer last week, the coaching will have the opposite effect. 鈥淚鈥檝e never heard of anything so ridiculous,鈥� he sulked.

鈥楻oome鈥� for improvement

Oxford鈥檚 historic Ashmolean museum finally has premises worthy of its incredible collection of artefacts. Rick Mather Architects鈥� 拢61m extension features a building services system that accurately controls temperature and humidity (previously temperatures had varied from zero to a toasty 45脼C). The museum鈥檚 founder, Elias Ashmole, will be pleased. In 1675 he proposed 鈥渢he building of some large roome, which may have chimnies, to keep those things aired that will stand in need of it鈥�. Thanks to head of conservation Mark Norman for unearthing what is probably the earliest environmental control brief ever written.

Hold the babysitter 鈥� I鈥檇 like a new home

Who says regeneration schemes take a long time to come to fruition? One architect, working on the latest attempts to improve council housing stock on the South Acton estate in west London, was speaking to a resident at a community consultation event. 鈥淢y son is 36 today,鈥� she told him, in a somewhat exasperated tone. 鈥淭he day we had the first consultation over improving our homes, I had to organise a babysitter.鈥�

Blazing saddles

Anybody who enjoyed watching Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton powering their way to cycling glory at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup last weekend in Manchester will be disappointed to hear of the state of the iconic Herne Hill velodrome in south London. The cycle track has, of course, been the site of two of 黑洞社区鈥檚 magnificent cycling competitions over the past two summers. Oh, and the 1948 Olympics. However, issues over the lease mean there is still no funding to repair the velodrome鈥檚 dilapidated buildings.

As a result, youngsters are spending their fourth winter training in marquees. VCL, which runs the facility, is appealing for any unwanted site huts or 20ft storage containers to house bikes and riders. Email alex.smith@ubm.com