Alan Dransfield's Blog

Email sent – 08 March 2015 07:01

Dear Mr Bradshaw

It is most disconcerting (but not surprising) that new cracks have been
identified in the Dawlish Sea Wall.

No doubt the SW rail link will be closed down for another 12 months to
enable repair works.

May I suggest you ask Network Rail to produce a copy of their As Built
Health and Safety Files for the recently completed works, and we might be able
to identify the exact problem.

I strongly recommend you also enquire if any Lafarge Cement was used on the
Dawlish Sea Wall in the last 10 years.

The next time you are in Exeter, would it be possible for you and I to
cycle to Dalwish and check this wall out but only if you promise to wear a helmet.

For your information, action and files.

Yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield

Dear Mr Bradshaw

As you are aware, I have copied you in on a number of health and safety issues during the
Dawlish Sea Wall (DSW) repair programme last year, and it comes as no surprise
to me the BBC have reported yet further serious structural cracks in the DSW – quelle surprise.

As you can see I have made FOIA requests to the Office of Rail Regulator
(ORR) which were ignored.

I call upon my MP to seek a public inquiry into the DSA repair programme
and I am absolutely astonished to learn the that Network Rail conduct a monthly inspection of the DSW defence. Under the circumstance of the previous cowboy builders and negligence of NR and ORR, these inspections need to be carried out
on a daily basis.

Network Rail cannot continue these miracle escapes eg London tunnel collapse, the previous DSW collapse. It is only a matter of time before a packed
commuter train runs of of track

It might be possibly thought that both NR and ORR are complicit and covering up serious health and safefy issues on the DSW and nationwide.

With thanks

Yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield
—————————————

Email sent – 08 March 2015 07:40

Network Rail

FOI Department.

Dawlish Sea Wall

Dear Sirs

Under protection of the FOIA 2000 please provide me with the following
information re the subject title:

1. A copy of the NR monthly report of the Sea Wall Inspection.

2. The total cost breakdown of the above.

3. A copy of the Health and Safety File for the DSW which was completed last
year.

4. A full cost breakdown of the # 3 above.

5. A copy of the Lightning Risk Assessment for the new cycle bridge near
Powderham Castle Dawlish.

6. A copy of the NR action plan of all my H&S complaints sent to Mr
Robert Beveridge in the last 5/6years.

With thanks

Yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield

Email sent – 29 October 2014 14:29

Dear Mr Bradshaw

I recently had to drive up to Bristol on the M5 and I must say how shocked I was to see so many missing Cats Eyes on both sides of the M5.

The cats eyes are an invaluable safety aspect of highways and motorways.

I appreciate this is outside your constituency remit, bbut I would envisage many of your constituents use the M5; hence I call upon you to write to the Ministry of Transport and ask for an explanation why there are numerous stretches of the M5 which are devoid of cats eyes.

In my view, sections of the M5 are unsafe and unfit for purpose due the omission of cats eyes. I appreciate there are 3 various Highway Authorities involved, DCC, Somerset and Avon .

No point in me submitting a FOIA request to the DCC ref this matter, as they will surely refuse it under vexatious exemptions.

Whether or not missing cats eyes on the M5 were a contributing aspect of the terrible fireworks accident in 2001 I know not.

For your information ,action and files

with thanks

Alan M Dransfield.

Email sent – 05 November 2014 03:00

Dear Mr Bradshaw

I really don’t think that you are setting a very good example for a paperless office are you? You insist on sending out hard copy replies to your constituents, which quite frankly beggars belief from a former Environmental Minister

I was under the opinion that Government Offices were supposed to operate a paperless office. It’s fairly obvious that these guidelines have not filtered down to the ICO/FTT or UT Courts Yyet.

Drawbacks with hard copy records are:-

1.Environmental Impact.

2.Fire hazards ref paper records.

3.Large storage area required.

4. Expensive storage cabinets etc required

5. Time and expense searching hard copies

6. Expense of post and package and stationary

7.More expense option

Quite frankly Mr Bradshaw it beggars belief that a large number of Government and public authorities are still using the antiquated hard copy paperworks system.

What is the Shadow Government view on paperless offices please?

I would be most grateful if you would cease from sending me hard copy replies to my letters, as it disturbs my environmental conscience.

I am trying to operate a paperless office but my MP insists on sending hard copies of correspondence, ditto for the ICO/FTT and UT.

I can’t imagine how much the Devon County Council costs are for their hard copy paper documents system. Ditto for the ICO

Can you advise me when your office is expected to achieve a paperless office please?

With thanks

Yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield

Email sent – 02 December 2014 09:11

Dear Mr Bradshaw

I am currently preparing a case for the European Court of Human Rights and was horrified to learn they only accept hard copy application forms.

No wonder the EU are spending billions of Euros of taxpayers’ money if they don’t have a basic paperless office and are solely reliant upon hard copy files. For God’s sake man, we are in the 21st Century, not the 17th.

Please see the ECHR application form and in particular the box at the top of the page.

Please raise this matter with the appropriate oversight authorities.

With thanks

Alan M Dransfield