neighbours and the hosepipe ban
Last post 20-10-2012 3:57 PM by headfullofbees. 17 replies.
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05/05/2012 10:49 AM
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- Julie
- London
- 28 Apr 2009
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410
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I was surprised to see a neighbour washing down his large greenhouse with a hose today. Rather than report him I thought it would be nicer to approach him directly. I thought he might say something like "sorry, you're right" or "sorry, I just wanted to give it a quick rinse" or something concilliatory. Instead he said something inaudible and went inside. I heard his son ask him "what did she say?" but I couldn't hear the response. What a bad lesson to be teaching his son, ie, no you don't need to follow the rules (no matter what we think of the water companies and the ban). I don't know if I should report him or not. I'm tempted to just because of his rudeness (and he built that **** huge greenhouse without planning permission but then got it retrospectively in spite of neighbours' complaints - it's just rubbing it in to ignore the hosepipe ban to clean it). Has anyone else seen neighbours flaunting the ban?
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05/05/2012 01:53 PM
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- sue1002
- Ipswich, Suffolk
- 06 Sep 2005
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9,470
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Go for it Julie, I'd do exactly the same if I was in your shoes just to teach him a lesson. I haven't seen anyone around here flaunting the ban but there are plenty of people around here that would grass us up if we used ours. My OH is always moaning that he can't use the pressure washer because I've locked the hosepipe away in my shed and he doesn't know where I've put the key
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05/05/2012 02:12 PM
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Hi Julie, Sorry to hear about your neighbour's lack of consideration. Unfortunately, I think that the only person who will be troubled by reporting them is you.
I think that this post pretty much sums up my feelings on the subject: http://www.hosepipeban.org.uk/2012/04/06/the-great-hosepipe-ban-swindle/ It seems that even people who admit to ignoring the ban & who can clearly afford to pay up won't be fined: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1533154/Rod-Stewart-defied-ban-on-watering.html Using water carefully is a necessary, sensible measure. Putting myself in their shoes, I can well empathise with your neighbour if they are rankled by the principle of the hosepipe ban, which is perceived as a threat imposed by a private company on its customers for using a service for which they are paying. I think that a lot of people would be more willing to abide by the ban if it came with a reduction in their bill. Ed
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05/05/2012 03:45 PM
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- miranda
- Oxfordshire
- 17 Nov 2004
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4,072
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I'm not using a hosepipe and think that water needs to be used carefully, despite all the leaks, but I'd be wary of dobbing in the next door neighbour. If you think he's rude now, what will he be like after a fine that you helped to give him? Agree with the writer of that blog that the water companies want to use the likes of us to do their spying for them, whilst they carry on making huge profits, and it leaves a bad taste.
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05/05/2012 04:21 PM
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- courierdude
- cambs/suffolk border
- 14 Feb 2012
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215
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so having rained quite consistently for the last month or so, do you think all those highly paid experts at the water companies have worked out a way to capture some of that rain water that this country is internationally famous for? not a chance-so how do they hold themselves accountable to the stock holders? create revenue (take loans on the imagined potential income) by fining bill paying consumers...and they do it because we let them get away with it...though i think that there is a little more conspiracy to this. for example, a police force is bank rolled x amount of pounds on the promise that it can pay back the borrowed amount from revenue created by fines..so, they have a quota of how many cars they have to fine for having a driven 4 mph over the speed limit say..so they borrow money on the promise that the public will pay it back in the form of fines! so have the water companies borrowed also on this promise? many many 'public' services (all police forces are companies with directors and such) operate in this manner. As i write this it now actually makes sense why the water companies continue to let water drain away through leaks etc...false scarcity! mass non compliance i say! )...i cant believe so many people are so eager to comply to this snitch culture..and for what benefit? NONE! )...oh..increased water bill!..blame your neighbour-but it wouldve happened anyway. snitching merely pays for the gold plating toilet seat of some guys yacht parked up in barbados that he never even uses...but as long as it makes you feel all warm and righteous! buy a water butt, offset your hosepipe use and mind your own business. init?
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05/05/2012 05:03 PM
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I agree with Miranda: you will probably only cause yourself trouble. I have been unable to find an online record of anyone being fined for using a hosepipe in breach of the 1991 Water Industry Act, which in this matter seems to be a toothless law. At any rate, the water companies do not actually enforce it. http://www.uswitch.com/news/utilities/no-inspectors-to-police-hosepipe-ban-801334774/
For your neighbour to receive a fine, it seems that you would have to do all the work to bring the case to court and be the main witness. Bear in mind that photos & videos made by the public are often inadmissable as evidence. Alternatively, you could try calling the police if you think that they might catch him wet-handed. I suspect that they would not treat the situation as urgent. Reporting him to the water company will, at most, cause them to send a him letter that I imagine will go straight in the bin and generate ill will towards you. Ed
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07/05/2012 06:10 AM
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- Julie
- London
- 28 Apr 2009
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410
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Thank you all for your thoughts. There seem to be various issues going on here, including a very strong "I don't have to follow the rules" attitude amongst some people. Rod Stewart didn't even use his pitch but watered it anyway! Why? I guess I'm old fashioned and think everyone should follow the rules (I was a teacher for 5 years (2004-2009) and it's a nightmare when the pupils (and teachers!) don't follow the rules). My neighbour is a well-known local businessman who owns a local estate agents. I'm still astounded that he'd want to so openly defy a ban - and be rude to me. His garden is overlooked by 4 terraces of houses, 100s of people. I tried to be nice and talk to him directly. It's so much better to talk to people directly rather than go behind their back - which admittedly can be easier.
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07/05/2012 12:53 PM
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- jon jon
- stratford on avon
- 18 Sep 2009
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284
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A photo on facebook would be a deterrent,or put on local notice board
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07/05/2012 03:21 PM
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- courierdude
- cambs/suffolk border
- 14 Feb 2012
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215
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if i follow the rules will it repair the networks of pipe leaking millions of gallons? will it hold accountable the high earners who cant manage their companies for the common good but continue to reap huge profits for the shareholders? so following the rules benefits who? your neighbour used his hosepipe and the only suffering you endure as a consequence is that which you impose upon yourself. as for putting a pic on the CIA/NSA operated facebook, i cant think of a more successful example of how well the snitch culture brainwashing has worked upon the sheeple! lovely facebook yes-court of the people! ..even when they profit from selling the copyright of your family pics to adult dating sites..pic of man with hose in hand yes.... we are not talking about a violent attack on someone here-we are talking about a loss in profits for the fat cats, because the more you comply the less likely they are to invest in a proper infrastructure that can properly retain and conserve water...and they will continue to ignore all the leaking pipes in the country as long as people keep playing along with trivialities like hosepipe bans! i mean come on! its been non stop for the last month nearly! who has even thought about using a hosepipe!
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07/05/2012 09:10 PM
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- Snark
- Suffolk
- 12 Jan 2011
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266
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I hope you all have water meters
For the Snark was a boojum you see
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08/05/2012 04:17 PM
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- Julie
- London
- 28 Apr 2009
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410
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This week I'm going to write to my MP, Thames Water and Ofwat about the leaks, lack of new resevoirs, etc. Still haven't decided what to do about the neighbour.
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08/05/2012 06:04 PM
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- sue1002
- Ipswich, Suffolk
- 06 Sep 2005
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9,470
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It will be interesting to see how you get on Julie, good luck and let us know what response you get.
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14/05/2012 01:15 AM
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- courierdude
- cambs/suffolk border
- 14 Feb 2012
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215
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i think you should definitely be writing to your MP julie! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/9261122/Keeping-the-country-short-of-water-is-now-government-and-EU-policy.html
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10/08/2012 04:55 PM
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- erica67
- London
- 01 Jun 2012
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8
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I dont hold with rudeness or flauting the law but there are a couple of points to remember before reporting anyone. First not everyone can have a meter. I was declared unsuitable for "meteorisation" and photos were taken. I tried to argue this as I am a single occupier and a meter would be better for me financially. I do get a very small reduction now. Secondly I also found out that as I am disabled I am exempt form the hosepipe ban. Yes, I do use the hosepipe to water flowers even during the worst droughts. I am disabled and I cannot even get help from Age UK at £20 an hour so everything in my garden has either been paid for at up to £80 an hour or put there with great pain by me.
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01/10/2012 02:30 PM
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- Sammy86
- Stockport
- 01 Oct 2012
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15
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Ye, you should try and capture him using his hose pipe and then post the picture around the neighbour hood. That will teach him a lesson. It really is a serious thing, most people don't seem to understand that these rules and regulations are in place for the good of the people, including him.
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