Councils show squatters where they can find out how to break in Tuesday, Jun 3 2008

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Town halls are referring would-be squatters to a far-Left group selling a £2 DIY guide on how to break into and occupy empty homes. The squatters’ handbook advises them to force entry through back entrances or open windows, carry a crowbar and claim they are ‘clearing the drains’ if stopped. The guide, from the Advisory Service for Squatters, describes how to take apart locks and fit new ones. It also recommends putting a legal warning on the door stating it is a criminal offence to try to remove squatters by force.

Homeowners who threaten to do so should be intimidated by being told: ‘You may receive a sentence of up to six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000′. The housing departments of councils such as Durham and Doncaster as well as Hackney, Islington, Brent, Camden and Hounslow in London, refer those who do not have a house to the Advisory Service for Squatters via their websites. The Home Office also consults the organisation on its equality policies.

The squatters’ handbook advises:

Break in during the day and wear council-style overalls to avoid suspicion.

Deactivate alarm sensors with Sellotape and muffle the sound of alarm bells with a few coats.

Once the home is secured, get the kettle on.

Apply for council tax benefit as soon as you move in.

Cite the Human Rights Act 1998 if the gas and electricity firm won’t reconnect you. Cite the Water Industry Act 1999 if the water firm tries to disconnect you.

The guide boasts: ‘Only a small minority of squatters ever get nicked – squatting is not a crime. If anyone says it is, they are wrong. With a few exceptions, if you can get into an empty building without doing any damage, and can secure it, you can make it your home.’
Squatters handbook It adds: ‘Private houses may provide years of housing to lucky squatters.’ Parliamentary questions by the Conservatives have revealed that Labour ministers have issued no recent guidance to the police or town halls on tackling squatters. Extraordinarily, the Government has no records on the number of squatters, but there is anecdotal evidence that the problem is increasing. Figures from the Empty Homes Agency show that the number of vacant properties in England has risen by 20,000 in the past two years.

The rise is being fuelled by a glut of flats, particularly in northern cities. Government planning policies have encouraged developers to build flats, rather than the family homes buyers want. Eric Pickles, the Conservative local government spokesman, said he was appalled that councils were putting wouldbe squatters in touch with the a advisory service. ‘Homeowners will be horrified that town halls are giving squatters the green light to break into law-abiding citizens’ homes, and that a squatters’ rights pressure group is recognised and consulted by the Home Office on “equality” policies,’ he said. ‘Promoting such lawlessness is breathtaking, but is sadly an indictment of social breakdown that has become rife under Labour and the prevalence of human rights laws.’

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Health and safety zealots tell youngster her 2ft paddling pool needs a lifeguard Wednesday, May 28 2008

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For nearly a quarter of a century, Lourdes Maxwell has celebrated the arrival of summer by putting a paddling pool in the garden. This year, however, her two grandchildren and the children of her neighbours may have to find another way to cool off in the heat. Miss Maxwell’s local council has decided that the pool – which is only 2ft deep – needs a lifeguard. The 47-year-old divorced mother of three has also been told she must have insurance before she can inflate the toy outside her house in Portsmouth.

The health and safety edict came after she wrote to the city council asking for permission to put a bigger pool in the communal garden outside her home. Not only was she told it was too dangerous, but the council told her to empty the existing pool. After her MP intervened, the local authority softened its stance, saying Miss Maxwell could have a pool if she paid for insurance and ensured supervisors were on constant watch. Residents near the communal gardens already have to obey a raft of rules governing their use. They are even supposed to ask the council for permission before having a barbecue. Miss Maxwell, who is a full-time carer to her son Aiden, said yesterday: “It is absolutely pathetic. “I have had a paddling pool outside the front of my flat every summer for 24 years, ever since Aiden turned one year old.

“Neighbours’ children would come and enjoy the pool and I would give them ice lollies. It was always a very social occasion.” She added: “Now suddenly I’m not allowed. “I asked around for insurance and they just laughed at me. No one offers insurance for paddling pools. “I’m always there to supervise but they’re trying to tell me I need lifeguards for a kiddies’ pool as well – it’s crazy.” Nigel Selley, Portsmouth Council’s neighbourhood manager, defended the ruling yesterday. He said: “We did not have sufficient assurances that the risks associated with providing such a facility would be well-managed. “We have since spoken to Ms Maxwell and she is aware of our concerns for child safety and the risks associated with drowning.” Steven Wylie, the councillor in charge of housing, added: “I want to encourage people to enjoy the communal gardens. “We want to help where we can to ensure that it is a fun and safe place for everyone to use.”

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Taxpayers pay £1,000 a week to store 15,000 wheelie bins in a field – while council chiefs decide what to do with them Tuesday, May 27 2008

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It is one of the more unusual crops to be found in the countryside. Rather than cultivate wheat or oilseed rape, the farmer who owns this land has grown a fine display of wheelie bins. Fifteen thousand of the green plastic receptacles have been left in a field near Crook, County Durham, following a political dispute over waste collection and recycling. Their serried ranks have stood there for almost a year.

But the farmer isn’t complaining – since Wear Valley District Council is paying him £1,000 a week for storage. The seeds of the problem were sown in 2005 when the then Labour majority on the council decided to bring in a scheme involving fortnightly rubbish collections and using twin wheelie bins, or tweelies, to collect landfill waste one week and recyclables the next. It struck a deal to buy 30,000 tweelies from Otto Environmental Systems at a cost of £560,000. But with the first half of the order delivered, Labour lost power in last May’s elections, and with the Liberal Democrats now in charge, the problem remains unresolved. The Labour members say the Lib Dems change of heart was purely to score points with voters. David Kingston, former chairman of community services said: “All Lib Dems and Independents voted for this. “Shortly after, they campaigned in the local elections against the £560,000 programme that they had voted for.

“Voting for the bins has committed public money and it is a scandal that someone should play so fast and loose with public money, especially when the environment is such a pressing issue.” He said a lack of landfill sites in the region made twin bins a necessity. Liberal Democrats took control of the council earlier this month after gaining the support of Independent members and the issue is still unresolved. The former deputy leader, Labour councillor Charlie Kay said: “Lib Dems and Independent members backed us unanimously but now they have changed their minds so they could campaign on the issue. “We spent 12 months trying the resolve the situation, but now they have to sort it out. “With power comes responsibility, they cannot just let ten months of the council’s life run out so it then becomes someone else’s problem.”

Labour councillor for Bishop Auckland, Barbara Laurie said if members could not resolve their differences, they risked wasting even more public money and spoiling a previously good record on environmental issues. She said: “We need the twin bin system to meet central government targets. It would be a terrible shame if hte authority was brought down on this point.” However, newly elected leader of the council, Lib Dem Tommy Taylor, does not agree Labour’s version of events. He said the Lib Dems did not agree to switch from weekly to fortnightly collections because there were fears that household waste not collected for two weeks could attract rats and become a health hazard. He said they had inherited the problems from a previously Labour-controlled authority. He said: “They are pointing the finger of blame at us because of sour grapes.

“Labour pushed for this and we have nothing against the bins, but we strongly oppose fortnightly collections. “The bins were bought when Labour were in control and, if they had the full support they claim they had, these bins would have been rolled out by now. “This has only come to light once they have lost control, it’s a complex issue and as one of the grounds on which we were elected was to oppose fortnightly collections, we have to consider our actions carefully – to put them out would be a direct change of policy.” Coun Taylor said he could not resolve the issue until he consulted with his party at a meeting on Thursday. Councillor Vince Perkins, chairman of community services, said: “We accept that the twin bins, recycling and environment need to be death with as a priority.”

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