Alexei Navalny's probe & Vladimir Putin's 'palace'

Diana Magnay Moscow correspondent @DiMagnaySky

He may be behind bars, but the Kremlin has not succeeded in silencing Alexei Navalny.

On his first full day in Moscow's Matrosskaya-Tishina prison, Mr Navalny's team have released a huge video investigation into the construction and alleged slush fund behind what is known as "Putin's palace", a £1bn private residence on Russia's Black Sea coast.

Calling it "Putin's biggest secret", Mr Navalny and his team reveal new details about the sprawling complex near the resort town of Gelendzhik which has long been rumoured to belong to the Russian president.

Drone footage over the grounds, which the team says are 39 times the size of Monaco, shows an underground ice hockey complex, 2,500 square metre greenhouse, and underground tunnel leading out to the Black Sea.

Architectural floor plans secured from a contractor shocked at the extent of the luxury reveal a lavish indoor theatre, fully-fledged casino and purple-tinted "hookah bar".

It is "the most expensive palace in the world", Mr Navalny says in the narration. "A new Versailles, new Winter Palace."

Mr Navalny says the idea for the investigation, which he presents from Germany, came during his time in intensive care.

He travels to Dresden to trace Vladimir Putin's path from lowly KGB operative on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain to the pinnacle of power in the Kremlin, showing how the friends he made in the 1990s have remained the principle beneficiaries of his kleptocratic regime to this day.

"Putin's personal money is kept by those he met 30 years ago", the investigation says. "In search of sponsors for the most corrupt ruler in the history of Russia, you need to go to his past."

He calls the Gelendzhik property the "biggest bribe in the world" and claims to have uncovered a scheme by which money for its construction is funnelled into offshore accounts by Mr Putin's cronies as payment for lucrative state contracts he has handed them over the years.

"The standout for me is how bizarre and cuckoo-in the head our president is," says Vladimir Ashurkov, a close ally of Mr Navalny and executive director of his now disbanded Anti-Corruption Foundation. "Why do you need a billion dollar palace which you would never really use, as president?"

The Kremlin has denied that Mr Putin owns a palace in Gelendzhik.

The almost two-hour video investigation ends with a plea to the Russian people to go out and protest. "If 10% of those who are disaffected take to the streets, the government will not dare falsify elections," Mr Navalny says.

It is a call he repeated in a video message from a Moscow police station on Monday, shortly before he was taken to jail.

In a hastily convened court session inside the police station, a judge ruled that his detention should be extended for 30 days, until 15 February.

On 2 February, a court will decide whether to convert a three-and-a-half year suspended sentence he was serving for an alleged embezzlement charge into a custodial sentence on the grounds that he violated the terms of his parole whilst convalescing in Germany.

Mr Navalny says all the various charges he has faced over the years are politically motivated.

His team are calling for a nationwide day of protest this Saturday. Mass gatherings are banned in Russia because of the pandemic and so far in Moscow, just two thousand people have registered as going on the Facebook page.

"The message about Putin's property will reach people in different formats and different channels," Mr Ashurkov says.

"It's unlikely that the regime will change tomorrow and we'll see hundreds of thousands of people on the streets but it's a campaign of constant pressure and history teaches us that the only constant throughout the decades is change."

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National Trust 'Somewhat Stuffy & Middle-Class'

 by
JEFFERY GREEN

"Yes the NT [National Trust] is a somewhat stuffy and middle-class group, which recently found that there was much public interest in the kitchens and servant quarters of the grand houses that it owns.  I think so much is due to that arch-snob Lees-Milne* who negotiated with the financially straightened owners - in Pulborough's Petworth House NT enabling the family to stay in the front portion of the grand house whilst the NT kept up the deer park and permitted visitors to the rear.  They finally allow access to the kitchens.  But they did purchase that Chartist cottage near Bromsgrove and the workhouse at Southwell so slowly the NT became slightly socially aware. 

"Apart from the tracts of land, these grand houses suggest to me the creation of a history that would, say in the case of France, be as valid as one based on the Loire chateaux."

 *  (George) James Henry Lees-Milne (6 August 1908 – 28 December 1997) was an English writer and expert on country houses, who worked for the National Trust from 1936 to 1973. He was an architectural historian, novelist and biographer. His extensive diaries remain in print.

                                                                                                  

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Northern Buildings at Risk:

From HUT Newsletter - Thursday 18 January 2018:

Building of the month - Hexham Workhouse, Northumberland 

THE Hexham Union at Peth Head was erected in 1839, and is an early example of a purpose-built workhouse complex with large parts of the original buildings surviving.

Located within the Hexham Conservation Area, the buildings have been unoccupied since September 2015 and have suffered from neglect and vandalism. The council took action in 2017 to force the owner to repair a collapsed wall and clear some of the debris from the site, but the buildings remain at risk with an uncertain future.

A group of Hexham residents would like to convert the workhouse buildings into genuinely affordable community-led housing, and they are encouraging the County Council to acquire the site through compulsory purchase. For more information click here.

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When is a product banned?

Tim Clark, acting news editor, Construction News (Monday 19 June):

When is a product banned and when is it not banned?  Responding to a question on The Andrew Marr Show yesterday, chancellor Philip Hammond said it was “his understanding” that the cladding used on the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower was “banned” in the UK.  Hammond’s assertion was clarified by a Treasury official who said the chancellor was commenting on buildings “above a certain height”. Mr Hammond’s comments have been rejected by the boss of CEP Architectural Facades, which fabricated the rainscreen panels and windows for Harley Facades, the subcontractor appointed to install the cladding on the tower block. CEP Architectural Facades’ MD John Cowley said that the product in question, Reynobond PE, is actually not banned in the UK. So which is it, and why is the chancellor becoming involved in a story which is a long way from his brief at the Treasury? Industry expert and chief executive of Cast Consulting Mark Farmer told CN that he was “astonished” by Mr Hammond’s remarks. Mr Farmer said: “How can a senior member of government misrepresent the position like this at such a sensitive time? The inquiry will shine a public spotlight on the construction industry as perhaps never before. “It is bound to identify many of the systemic failings that we suffer from in the industry but there are some simple regulatory facts that should be identified quickly – ie whether the cladding was indeed banned in the UK or not under Building Regulations when used as part of a refurbishment.” As far as Construction News understands the chancellor may be correct – if the terms of his comments are applied to the narrow view of how the particular materials were used on Grenfell Tower itself. The chancellor’s views can be backed up by technical requirements for tall buildings which are found in the depths of Part B of the building regulations code. To explain we need to take a short history lesson. In the aftermath of the great fire of London in 1666, the capital drew up some of the most stringent fire regulations anywhere in the world. However, after being in force for around three centuries, the London Building Regulations were superseded in the mid-1980s when national building regulations came into force. According to former chief fire officer Ronnie King, the cladding used at Grenfell “may” not have been allowed if the previous London building regs were still in force today. Mr King, who now acts as group secretariat for the Parliament’s all-party parliamentary fire safety and rescue group said that, the current rules – which were probed in depth during the coroner’s report into the Lakanal incident in 2009 – were however “ambiguous”. Par 12.7 of part B2 of the building regs says that “in a building with a story 18m or more above ground level any insulation product, filler material (not including gaskets, sealants and similar) etc. used in the external wall construction construction should be of limited combustibility”. Mr King says that, if the core of a building has a combustible material contained within it, then the cladding of the building has to be non-flammable for buildings above 18 m. Mr King says: “The proviso that Hammond went to, is that one table in the Approved Documents relating to dwellings said that when the core is combustible – the cladding would not have been compliant if the building was above 18 m. “It would seem that those officials who confirmed that were right. “However it is complicated as the coroner from Lakanal said was that the building regs themselves were too confusing, the lawyers can’t interpret them. “After Lakanal, we had all these QCs at the inquest and they were all confused over what was applicable and what wasn’t.”  A key issue here however is to establish whether the core of the tower at Grenfell did have a combustible material, and whether this meant that using the type of cladding would be banned. However these issues are usually established through forensic investigation, either by an inquiry or through a London Fire Brigade report into the causes of the fire. Having these facts established from a senior minister on national TV on a Sunday morning within days of the national tragedy has understandably raised eyebrows.

Grenfell Tower - THEY WERE WARNED

Wednesday, 14 June 2017

LONDONERS awoke this morning to find that the Grenfell Tower, a 24-story block located near the Westway and Latimer Road Underground, had suffered a major fire during the night.   As many as 40 fire appliances and 200 firefighters attended the blaze, which broke out just before 0100 hours.  At least six people are known to have died, with the grim knowledge that “the death toll is likely to rise”.

Grenfell Tower - still ablaze this morning

And while residents, many still in shock, are comforted by their fellow locals, charities and places of worship representing many faiths, the speed at which today’s news media operates means that the questions have begun to be asked.  Why did the fire spread so rapidly in a building that had been recently refurbished?   And if, as has been suggested, the Grenfell Tower was compartmentalised, why was staying put not a good thing?

That refurbishment is already coming under scrutiny, and for good reason. The external cladding applied to the building we know all too well: it was specified as “Rayondbond”, but this is a mis-spelling. The cladding is called Raynobond (the use of the term “Raynolux”, another trade mark of the same company, gives the game away).*

 For more go to: 
www.zelo-street.blogspot.com/2017/06/grenfell-tower-they-were-warned.html   
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* The nature of Reynobond aluminium composite panels according to their own blub.  It seems that the aluminium sheets are the thickness of aluminium foil and that it melts when exposed to heat as would be experienced in a fire:
  Discover the many features of Reynobond aluminium composite panels.   Reynobond aluminium composite panels is a aluminium panel consisting of two coil-coated aluminium sheets that are fusion bonded to both sides of a polyethylene core.
Almost unlimited diversity of surfaces:
Reynobond aluminium composite panels offer many advantages:

• Extensive selection of colours and gloss levels, non-standard design surfaces and special coatings.

• A broad palette of dimensions:Reynobond aluminium composite panels can be delivered in five standard widths up to 2,000 mm. Other dimensions can be supplied, on request.

• Comprehensive service:Short delivery times, even for small quantities and advice, before and during your project.

• Convincing product benefits:Lightweight, high bending stiffness and flatness, little expansion, highly resistant to corrosion, weathering and warping, can be used in a variety of ways and is easy to install.

Reynobond aluminium composite panels are perfectly adapted to inside as well as outside applications thanks to their excellent weather protection. The fields of applications for aluminium composite panels are Architecture, Corporate ID, Sign & Display, Industry and Transport.

Other benefits can be achieved by combining Reynobond aluminium composite panels with our prepainted aluminium Reynolux. This unique one-stop product range allows our partners to acquire aluminium composite panels and coil-coated aluminium in identical colour, yet with similar quality. Combinations of both products, such as in facades or roofs, make for a simple, attractive—and high quality solution.

High Court Planning Decision

A Judicial Review is took place at the High Court, London on the 12th, February, at which SAVE Britain’s Heritage challenged Gateshead Council over plans to demolish 300 houses in Saltwell and Bensham in a blatant continuation of the destructive Pathfinder policy.

SAVE is challenging Gateshead Council over retrospective planning permission that they granted themselves last summer for the demolition of 115 houses two years previously without the requisite documents, and for permission to demolish a further 180 houses, some of which are still occupied. In order to secure retrospective planning permission, the Environmental Impact Assessment dictates that ‘exceptional circumstances’ must be proved.

In addition Richard Harwood QC has argued that Gateshead council failed to consider the views of English Heritage, is in breach of regulations and the EIA directive. Gateshead consulted English Heritage after it had decided to grant planning permission and did not consider EH’s reply. EH indicated that the information provided by Gateshead on the significance of the housing to be demolished was inadequate in planning policy and EIA terms and that the housing in question has heritage significance. Gateshead Council also failed to take into consideration conservation advice from their own officers.

Despite Judicial Review proceedings being underway the Council proceeded to commence demolition last November, following which SAVE secured an injunction, that it was necessary to renew following more demolition activity on one of the streets. The Council said they were making the buildings sound following the storm and blamed SAVE for being unable to do so.

1,240 houses in the area were to have been demolished under Pathfinder, which sought to address alleged ‘market failure’ in housing in certain parts of Northern cities. The housing targeted has been predominantly Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing. The issue was not one of vacancy or of uninhabitable homes – prior to the announcement of these schemes, occupation levels were normal, homes were perfectly habitable and the cost of repairs and updating would be modest. The claim of market failure was essentially that house prices were lower than elsewhere. Of the 1,240 earmarked for demolition only 115 have been demolished.

The houses in question are handsome rows of terraced houses built on a hill with an attractive vista opening out towards Newcastle. The repetitive terraces create an atmosphere of order and calm. The area is low-rise and of a human scale. The entire area is made up these houses, most of them ‘Tyneside flats’ and have two main entrances leading to two separate flats. Some residents in non-threatened areas have chosen to knock them through two-into-one. The area, apart from the condemned terraces, are fully occupied and popular homes.

The area of 115 demolished homes is beside Saltwell Road. Residents say that businesses have suffered following the loss of 115 houses. Many shops on Saltwell Road are now boarded up due to the blight. The blight is ongoing on the two other blocks of housing that the council has earmarked for demolition.

SAVE's position is clear: refurbished, the terraces still standing would make handsome homes, as can be found in the rest of the area. This would be in line with the government's line on empty homes and in line with the advice from the Ambassador of Empty Homes, native of Gateshead George Clarke, who clearly states in his 12 recommendation to the government:
'Refurbishing and upgrading existing homes should always be the first and preferred option rather than demolition.'

Planning permission was granted in August 2013. SAVE requested a public inquiry but it was refused, despite the fact that an application of similar scale for the Welsh Streets was ‘called in’ in Liverpool at the same time.

SAVE Britain’s Heritage is standing shoulder to shoulder with the Saltwell and Bensham Residents’Association.

Gateshead homes under threat!

ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE IN LONDON TO DECIDE FATE OF HOMES IN BENSHAM AND SALTWELL on Wednesday 12th, February 2014:

After 8 years of fighting the now discredited Pathfinder scheme Saltwell and Bensham Residents Association hope that lawyers acting for SAVE ENGLISH HERITAGE will succeed in halting the next phase of demolition.

Whilst other Labour Councils have halted demolition of homes since the Tory Government pulled the plug on the money, Gateshead says it still has enough in the kitty to continue?

Local residents want the houses renovated and THE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION think that homesteading is the answer. Homesteading is buying a derelict house for a nominal sum and doing it up yourself.

David Ireland of the Empty Homes Agency has arrangements with a bank for purchasers to have access to funds.

Renovated homes face boarded up houses in Westminster Street

Contacts:- Nancy Bone Secretary, Saltwell and Bensham Residents Association tel: 0191 477 0036 or 07990760920 e-mail nancybone2001@yahoo.co.uk

Clem Cecil, Director Save Britains Heritage.office@savebritainsheritage.org

Charity Shops & Mary Portas

ROCHDALE's MP Simon Danczuk has welcomed recent comments made by Mary Portas in which she indicated that giving local authorities the power to cap the number of charity shops would be recommended in her review of the high street that she is carrying out for the Government. 

Due to report to David Cameron in November, retail expert Portas spoke in Parliament last week and gave a strong indication of the recommendations she would be urging the Government to introduce to help revive the high street.

These include capping the number of charity shops allowed on individual high streets, offering the same 80% business rate relief offered to charity shops to start up retail businesses and urging councils to acquire derelict shops to facilitate their development.

Giving these ideas his backing, Rochdale’s MP, who attended the meeting with Mary Portas in Parliament, said he hoped the Prime Minister would take notice of the report and act on its recommendations.

'Rochdale has twice the national average number of charity shops and traders are constantly telling me that this isn’t helping their business,' Mr Danczuk said.  'Last year I asked the local government minister Bob Neill if local authorities could cap the number of charity shops and was told in no uncertain terms that the government wasn’t in favour of this.  I hope David Cameron will now listen to Mary Portas and the views of thousands of traders and act on her advice.  Charity shops have a vital role to play but when they start to dominate high streets then there is a real danger that entrepreneurs and the vibrancy and diversity that shoppers want are being squeezed out.'
(Taken from Simon Danczuk's Labour Party Web page)

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The current printed issue of NORTHERN VOICES No.14, is now available for sale - see below. This issue N.V.14 contains a feature on Rochdale town centre by Debbie Firth and the local novelist Trevor Hoyle. It can still be obtained by writing or contacting the people whose details are below:
Postal subscription: £5 for the next two issues (post included). Cheques made payable to 'Northern Voices' should be sent c/o 52, Todmorden Road, Burnley, Lancashire BB10 4AH.
Tel.: 0161 793 5122.
email: northernvoices@hotmail.com

Clearing the cobbles from Beverley's Market

Work on lifting cobble setts in Beverley underway

Contractors remove stone setts from Beverley s Saturday Market

Published on 24/07/2013 18:30 in the Beverley Guardian

A controversial project to lift the cobble setts in Beverley’s Saturday Market and relay them to provide a more level surface got underway this week. 

The project is a key phase of the multi-million pound scheme to revamp of the area, which started in January this year.  The Saturday Market maintenance scheme has already seen sections of York stone pavement improved and new block paving installed near the town’s Market Cross. 

Mayor of Beverley, councillor Martin Cox, is anxious that this particular phase of the scheme goes according to plan.
He said: “I must admit it was with some anxiety that I stood alongside shoppers yesterday [Tuesday] to see the setts in Saturday Market being lifted by a mechanical digger and dropped to one side.
“Generally the scheme to improve the Market Place is meeting with approval as I talk to those out and about, but clearly it is this phase that East Riding of Yorkshire Council needs to get right as it seeks to blend in these traditional materials with newer choices of stonework.”
He added: “Comments were made at this year’s Town Meeting about the quality of the work and the materials. People were still mindful of this as I spoke to them this week.  There can be no doubt that the market traders are looking forward to the completion of the work, having a consistent electricity supply and an even puddle-free surface to work on.  In the meantime we are watching as this phase develops and the setts that are such a feature of the town are carefully relaid.'

At the beginning of this year, the Beverley Civic Society held crunch talks with East Riding of Yorkshire Council over the stone setts, which followed protests by local residents and an organised petition to save the cobbles.  The council initially planned to remove all the setts and re-use just 30%, but it was agreed at the meeting that almost all of the setts should be taken up and re-laid, by hand.


Nigel Leighton, director of environment and neighbourhood services at the local authority, said: 'Maintenance works in Saturday Market are progressing as planned and the council and its contractor are now moving onto the first phase of works that incorporate the setts.  A raised table will be installed near to Old Waste, opposite the Market Cross, and will require some of the setts to be taken up, as agreed with both English Heritage and the Beverley Civic Society in January.  These setts will be taken up by hand and kept in storage to be utilised later in the project to replace any setts that are severely worn or damaged.'
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The current printed issue of NORTHERN VOICES No.14, is now available for sale - see below. This issue N.V.14 contains a feature on Rochdale town centre by Debbie Firth and the local novelist Trevor Hoyle. It can still be obtained by writing or contacting the people whose details are below:
Postal subscription: £5 for the next two issues (post included). Cheques made payable to 'Northern Voices' should be sent c/o 52, Todmorden Road, Burnley, Lancashire BB10 4AH.
Tel.: 0161 793 5122.
email: northernvoices@hotmail.com