Birmingham Bike Polo Chat & BS Thread

Yeah, it's blatantly the Council's labyrinthine 'structure' (that seems like too strong a word when it takes a month to even find the person responsible for fixing some lights...) and buck-passing culture that is to blame.

Fairly sure a contractor would happily do it if they were to get paid, but it's common knowledge the Council will take 6-12 months to do that, which hardly helps cash flow. Businesses must be masochists or desperate to do work for them.

I wouldn't read too much into Zhor's email though - even those few sentences are riddled with grammatical/syntactical errors so maybe he can't express himself that precisely. The sentiment isn't bad - *he *can't really do anything beyond tell the people whose job it is to fix the bloody things.

Oh, and well done Kat. I reckon if this goes on much longer we'll have enough of a paper trail to spread it out into a week-long serial to stick in the local rag.

'Council Stuck in the Dark Ages'

OH MY GOD!

"Hi Kat

All the chasing has finally paid off I have finally had a list of works required & a costs for the lights at Calthorpe. I have approved it & I am just waiting for a work start date which I am hoping will be next week, I will confirm as soon as I know.

Thanks

Vicki Wolverson"

Yeah, it's blatantly the Council's labyrinthine 'structure' (that seems like too strong a word when it takes a month to even find the person responsible for fixing some lights...) and buck-passing culture that is to blame.

Fairly sure a contractor would happily do it if they were to get paid, but it's common knowledge the Council will take 6-12 months to do that, which hardly helps cash flow. Businesses must be masochists or desperate to do work for them.

I wouldn't read too much into Zhor's email though - even those few sentences are riddled with grammatical/syntactical errors so maybe he can't express himself that precisely. The sentiment isn't bad - *he *can't really do anything beyond tell the people whose job it is to fix the bloody things.

Ha! I love Dan's image of hard working contractors being ripped off by the nasty council. Would you be a contractor perchance?

Of course, I am biased, but it's hard to see it any other way. All of the delays so far have been due to the council. And we shouldn't be required to point out these malfunctions anyway! If we (actually, kat) weren't making such a fuss they would probably never get fixed.

I will happily take it back if/when the contractors fuck up the repair mind.

phoning the contractors every day and they said that they work is currently under way but they haven't told her what that means so she is persevering with trying to get info out of them.

I feel like I should clarify, when she said currently under way, I'm not sure if that is contractor speak for "we're drinking lots of weak sugary tea and contemplating going at some point in the future". I think it is.

I know Middleton's have been and looked at the job they came with a Cherry picker and are aware of the work that needed to be done.

I am also aware that Vicki has been trying to contact Acivico the contractors who are supposed to get the work done by email and phone. For some reason she is not receiving any response.We have done everything that is required from us to do, Acivico are responsible for the work to be done. I will try and contact them and will update you.

OH MY GOD!

"Hi Kat

All the chasing has finally paid off I have finally had a list of works required & a costs for the lights at Calthorpe. I have approved it & I am just waiting for a work start date which I am hoping will be next week, I will confirm as soon as I know.

Thanks

Vicki Wolverson"

interesting reading of the situation Dan...

It took weeks to even get to the first part. That's all on the Council.

Then, it seems like inter-departmental communication is the issue (two contractors being contacted, maybe?)

It's hard to read between the lines of what has actually[I][/I] happened, but it's clear the Council hasn't covered themselves with glory. I'll say again that it shouldn't take us to report it, and I doubt they would be sorted at all if we weren't hassling them - witness all the other decrepit parks and MUGAs around. They can always find money to build new stuff, but not to maintain the stuff they already built...

I agree, no one (except Kat) comes out of this looking effective.

Kat for President!

Thanks guys! Although let's not get ahead of ourselves. When they're actually fixed then you can all tell me how awesome I am!

money to build new stuff, but not to maintain the stuff they already built...

Fine Birmingham Tradition!

"The lighting parts are now on order & they are specialist fittings so this can take up to two weeks before they are ready for collection. We estimate work to commence wk com 25th Nov. I will keep chasing for a definite start date but at the moment we are waiting on the specialised supplier."

THEY COULD HAVE ORDERED THESE 6 WEEKS AGO. Grrrrrrr!

Thanks guys! Although let's not get ahead of ourselves. When they're actually fixed then you can all tell me how awesome I am!

"The lighting parts are now on order & they are specialist fittings so this can take up to two weeks before they are ready for collection. We estimate work to commence wk com 25th Nov. I will keep chasing for a definite start date but at the moment we are waiting on the specialised supplier."

THEY COULD HAVE ORDERED THESE 6 WEEKS AGO. Grrrrrrr!

Hi Kat

As a non-Birmingham poloist, I am impressed by your resolve and defiance. We in Manchester have been making do with 3 out of four floodlights for months, albeit with a corresponding suspension of fees.

Once this issue is resolved, can I interest you in further demonstrating your exemplary organisational skills by organising a low-key one-day tournament?

Thanks,
Emyr
MHBP

Hi Kat

As a non-Birmingham poloist, I am impressed by your resolve and defiance. We in Manchester have been making do with 3 out of four floodlights for months, albeit with a corresponding suspension of fees.

Once this issue is resolved, can I interest you in further demonstrating your exemplary organisational skills by organising a low-key one-day tournament?

Thanks,
Emyr
MHBP

That's very nice of you to say but so far I've not ACTUALLY achieved anything. My main organisational skill is pestering so I'm not sure how popular that would make me among polo people but I'd be happy to give it a go if other Birmingham people are interested.

Anyone else interested in a bench tourney next month? Voting on which weekend ends this Friday: http://www.lfgss.com/thread116938.html#post3932921

Polo shafts (Guts and Glory bike polo) have arrived this morning! Birm players get one at no cost. DM me if you want more. Birm players will get mates rates. Others can buy for £10. Will have a site up soon to buy online.

Tell me more...

[QUOTE=Landslide;3938029]Tell me

http://gutsandglorybikepolo.bigcartel.com/

put my name down lucas!

Chris, I believe they are 0.9mm. I've had a knock around with the proto, they feel light yet firm, perfect for shooting.

Sweeeet!

What's the taper like, and what do you expect the weight to be for a shaft of about 102cm/40"?

Seamless tubing?

I'll snap some pics this sunday and do some weighing. The shafts seem to be staying nice and true, but haven't been tournament tested.

Hyper got the spinning shot and goal you hit today on Vimeo. The slow motion is great but still needed to watch a few times to believe.

Link below
https://vimeo.com/79616219

Seamless tubing?

Yes seamless