B12.

The photo above was taken last week in Midfield Avenue in Barnehurst. It shows a ULEZ camera pole that has been cut through and damaged, presumably by an anti ULEZ protester. The camera had been employed to monitor vehicles entering the London Borough of Bexley from Dartford. The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London and other UK cities has sparked heated debate, with passionate opposition voiced by a vocal segment of the population. The anti-ULEZ movement encompasses a diverse range of individuals with varying motivations. Some key groups include:- Low-income drivers: They argue the daily charge disproportionately burdens those who cannot afford newer, cleaner vehicles. Many rely on older cars for essential activities like work and errands. Rural residents: Concerns exist that ULEZ expansion in cities will negatively impact surrounding areas, pushing the financial burden onto those who commute or rely on deliveries from outside the zone. Small businesses: Owners of non-compliant vans and trucks fear the financial strain will harm their livelihoods, potentially forcing them to close or raise prices. Disability advocates: Some with accessibility needs worry the ULEZ scheme might limit their mobility options, especially if accessible vehicles are not readily available or affordable. Critics argue public transport infrastructure and financial support for purchasing compliant vehicles are inadequate, making the transition impractical for many. Some fear the ULEZ will disproportionately harm small businesses and essential services, leading to job losses and economic hardship. Questions linger about the effectiveness of the scheme in achieving its environmental goals and the fairness of its implementation across different demographics. Personally I feel that the implementation of the ULEZ scheme has been deeply unfair and divisive - many of the people directly affected by it have not been able to have a say in it - principally people who live outside of Greater London, but who have to commute to jobs within it. An example recently quoted to me was that of staff at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup. A large number of staff commute from outside of London daily; many are not earning a large salary and have no choice but to run an older, non ULEZ compliant vehicle, which is subject to the daily charge. I ought to make it abundantly clear that I do not support or condone criminal damage or vandalism of any kind. 

The Village Store in Nuxley Road, Upper Belvedere has been closed for over a year, following a devastating flood caused by a serious water leak originating from the flat above the shop. The newsagent / general store has been closed, despite a couple of false alarms suggesting it was to reopen over the months. Finally work to repair and refurbish the newsagent / general store has been completed, and the operators have announced that it will reopen tomorrow - Monday the 5th February. 

Back in November of last year, I wrote quite extensively about the severe cutbacks being made to BBC local radio, and the effects this would have on the listening audience.  BBC Radio Kent has had much of its local content removed. The drastic cuts to the station’s output now sees a single afternoon show broadcast across all of Kent, Surrey and Sussex between 2pm and 6pm. The evening schedule is also now networked, with shared content broadcast across a huge part of the South East. At weekends, a single breakfast show also broadcasts across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The cuts mean some of the station’s most popular presenters have seen their shows moved or axed altogether. Some previously loyal listeners have vowed to boycott the popular station as a result of the cutbacks. Now the latest radio industry RAJAR listening figures have been released, which show how badly the BBC has been performing since the changes and cutbacks introduced three months ago. RAJAR stands for Radio Joint Audience Research and is the official body in charge of measuring radio audiences in the UK. It is jointly owned by the BBC and the Radiocentre on behalf of the commercial sector. Commercial radio has an additional one million weekly listeners according to the latest RAJAR results, and the BBC has lost approximately the same figure in the same time frame. RAJAR listening figures are published every quarter year. The data shows that 39.1 million people listen every week, which is up from 38.1 million in the same quarter last year and sets a new Q4 record. These new figures reveal a sustained increase in commercial radio listening, as there are now 3.5 million more listeners tuning in to commercial stations compared to five years ago, an increase of 10%. The length of time people listen for has also increased as total hours have grown by 19%. According to RAJAR, commercial radio has 7.8 million more listeners than the BBC, as the gap grows from 4.8 million in Q4 2022. The BBC has seen its share drop to 43.2%, down from 47.1% in same period last year. One specific example of the move from the BBC to commercial stations is that official RAJAR data shows that former BBC Radio 2 stalwart Ken Bruce, who now presents the pre-lunchtime 10am slot on Greatest Hits Radio, has increased his audience from 2.2 million a week when he started with the station in the second quarter of last year to 3.8 million. Bruce spent three decades presenting the same mid-morning time slot on Radio 2, where his trademark PopMaster music quiz helped build the biggest audience in British radio. Ken Bruce was also able to take PopMaster from the BBC to his new employer, after personally securing the trademark during the 1990s. The radio host’s success is part of a wider drift of audiences to commercial outlets and away from BBC radio. The combined weekly audience for all BBC and commercial radio in the UK also remains extremely strong at 49.5 million people, representing 88% of the adult population. As a result, the BBC, which until recently dominated the radio market, now only accounts for 43% of all time spent listening to the radio – while commercial stations have surged to 55% of listening hours. The other 2% is listening to other outlets such as local community stations. For its part, the BBC says it is increasingly focused on its BBC Sounds app and commissioning podcasts. The loss of listeners to BBC national and local radio comes at a time when many are questioning the continuation of the BBC licence fee. Comments and feedback to me at hugh.neal@gmail.com. 

In another radio related news item, You may not be aware, but the 13th of February has been declared World Radio Day by UNESCO. UNESCO’s Executive Board recommended to the General Conference the proclamation of World Radio Day, on the basis of a feasibility study undertaken by UNESCO, further to a proposal from Spain. Radio is the mass media reaching the widest audience in the world. It is also recognised as a powerful communication tool and a low cost medium. Radio is specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. Furthermore, radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief. There is also a changing face to radio services which, in the present times of media convergence, are taking up new technological forms, such as broadband, mobile phones and tablets. However, it is said that up to a billion people still do not have access to radio today. A wide consultation process started in June 2011, carried out by UNESCO. It included all stakeholders, i.e. broadcasting associations; public, state, private, community and international broadcasters; United Nations agencies; funds and programmes; topic-related NGOs; academia; foundations and bilateral development agencies; as well as UNESCO Permanent Delegations and National Commissions. Among the answers, 91 percent were in favour of the project. The objectives of the Day will be to raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio; to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio; as well as to enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters. The consulted stakeholders also proposed ideas for the programme of celebration: extensive use of social media, annual themes, a dedicated website enabling virtual participation, special radio programmes, radio programmes exchange, a festival involving key partners, and so forth. You can read more about UNESCO World Radio Day by clicking here.

I was sent the images above on Thursday; they were taken from CCTV footage from a property in Avenue Road, Erith, hence the slightly fuzzy quality. A single deck B12 bus on its way to Erith Riverside Shopping Centre, where it terminates, had collided with a car. The accident would appear to have been quite serious - an ambulance, fire engine were quickly at the scene, followed shortly thereafter by a police car. The police quickly closed Avenue Road whilst the emergency services worked. Some time later a tow truck arrived to remove the B12 bus, which was not able to move under its own power. Strangely the story was not picked up by local newspaper the News Shopper. Thanks to regular reader and occasional contributor Miles who brought the incident to my attention. 

Remember Y2K? The millennium bug that was supposed to plunge the world into chaos as the clock struck midnight on December 31st, 1999? While the predictions of widespread doom and gloom thankfully never materialised, there is another, less-publicised time-related glitch lurking on the horizon: the Year 2038 Problem. The Year 2038 Problem, also known as Y2038 or the Epochalypse, is a potential malfunction in some computer systems that could occur on January 19th, 2038, at 3:14:07 UTC. This issue arises from how certain systems store and represent time. Many computers measure time using a system called Unix time. This system tracks time as the number of seconds elapsed since midnight on January 1st, 1970, also known as the Unix epoch. If a system uses a 32-bit integer to store this value, it can only represent up to 2,147,483,647 seconds. On January 19th, 2038, at 3:14:07 UTC, the number of seconds since the Unix epoch will reach 2,147,483,647. At that point, a 32-bit integer will overflow, and the counter will wrap around to a negative value. This can cause affected systems to misinterpret the date and time, potentially leading to a range of malfunctions. The potential impacts of the Year 2038 Problem vary depending on the specific systems and software involved. Some possible consequences include:- Financial transactions: Incorrect timestamps on financial transactions could lead to errors and fraud. Critical infrastructure:- Systems controlling power grids, transportation networks, and other critical infrastructure could malfunction. Healthcare:- Medical devices and healthcare systems that rely on accurate timekeeping could be disrupted. Data loss:- Dates and timestamps on stored data could be corrupted, leading to data loss or inaccessibility. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to mitigate the Year 2038 Problem. These include: Upgrading affected systems: Switching to 64-bit integers for storing time can prevent overflow. Patching software: Software developers can fix their programs to handle dates and times beyond 2038. Raising awareness: Increasing public awareness about the Year 2038 Problem can help organizations and individuals prepare for potential disruptions. While the Year 2038 Problem may not be an immediate threat, it's a time-sensitive issue that requires proactive attention.

For decades, Thamesmead has suffered from a lack of efficient public transport connections. But a glimmer of hope shines on the horizon with the proposed DLR extension, a project set to transform the area and improve the lives of its residents. The proposed extension would branch off the existing DLR line at Gallions Reach, creating two new stations: Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead. This would not only connect Thamesmead to the wider DLR network, but also provide a direct link to central London and major employment hubs like Canary Wharf. A new tunnel would need to be dug under the Thames to carry the line to Thamesmead - which, if built, would have a claim to be the most easterly Thames crossing in Greater London. There are also proposals to improve bus provision in the area, including new bus lanes along a route stretching from Woolwich to Abbey Wood, going via Thamesmead to enable better connectivity between the Elizabeth line and the new DLR branch. The project is dependent on funding from the Government and the receipt of planning permission, but the aim is to agree on an affordable solution by 2025, in order to enable construction to begin as early as 2028 and opening the DLR extension to customers in the early 2030s. Improved accessibility: Reduced travel times and increased frequency of services would make commuting and accessing essential services easier for residents. Economic regeneration: The project is expected to create thousands of jobs during construction and attract new businesses to the area, boosting the local economy. Housing development: Improved transport links would unlock the potential for new housing developments in Thamesmead, providing much-needed affordable homes for locals. Environmental benefits: Reduced reliance on cars would lead to lower carbon emissions and create a more sustainable transport system.

The BBC recently started transmitting new episodes of Gladiators - not something that personally interests me, but I know that the show is very popular. Many will be aware that the show is a remake of the original ITV version, which ran from 1992 to 2000. What is rather less well known is that one of the characters from the original show had a strong local connection. Michael Van Wijk, better known as the Gladiator Wolf used to live in Upper Belvedere. Van Wijk used to run a gym in Bromley, originally called Matrix and later 'Wolf's Fitness Centre'. It was open until the late 1990s and included facilities geared towards bodybuilders, boxers and general fitness. He and his girlfriend - later his wife, lived in a flat above Fillipo's hair dressers in Woolwich Road, next to the Prince of Wales pub for several years. The character of Wolf was the "Heel" - the scripted villain of the original run of Gladiators. Before his reign as Wolf, Van Wijk was a successful bodybuilder and occasional actor. He even auditioned for a role in "Dances with Wolves," an experience that would later inspire his Gladiator persona. When the call came for Gladiators, Van Wijk knew he had to stand out. He embraced the producer's suggestion of a "wolf" character, creating a menacing persona complete with a leather vest, ripped tights, and a wild mane of hair. Wolf wasn't just a brute; he was a showman. His pre-event growls and intense stares were legendary, and his competitive spirit was often fiery. He reveled in his role as the bad guy, playing up the villainous persona with playful taunts and theatrical gestures. Despite (or perhaps because of) his villainous persona, Wolf became one of the most popular Gladiators. His unapologetic antagonism added a layer of spice to the competition, creating a compelling rivalry between him and the contenders. While some viewers cheered for his downfall, others couldn't help but admire his showmanship and competitive spirit. Nowadays at 71 years old, Michael Van Wijk lives with his family in New Zealand, where he operates a chain of fitness gyms. 

The end video this week is a 30 minute feature on the recent 2024 Erith Model Railway Society Exhibition at the Longfield Academy - with video presenter Dawn Quest. Comments and feedback to me as usual at hugh.neal@gmail.com.