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Post by Clinton Cool on Apr 24, 2020 22:40:10 GMT
I've been out and about on my bike today, getting stuff for my parents, and a bit of shopping. The difference to last time I went out, just 2 days ago, was substantial. While for the past few weeks I've been able to happily buzz along at 35-40 mph, a safe speed during the day in built up areas with minimal traffic, good visibility and dry roads (regardless of what the speed limit is), things were very different today. I was held up virtually all the way by plodders in big cars doing 28-31 mph. Probably driven by coffin dodgers, but that's not relevant.
I also noticed 2 sites building new homes with blokes working on them, they were deserted 2 days ago. Went past B&Q, open now, a massive queue.
I would have expected the government to have a hissy fit about this obvious increase in activity but from what they say, they seem pretty cool about it.
Are we seeing an unauthorised end to the 'lockdown'? If so, is the government showing disinterest because the NHS probably won't be overwhelmed? (the reason given for the lockdown). Or, does the government know it doesn't have the resources to do anything about this so is just putting on a brave face, rather than admitting this?
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Post by duncan on Apr 24, 2020 23:13:59 GMT
I've been out and about on my bike today, getting stuff for my parents, and a bit of shopping. The difference to last time I went out, just 2 days ago, was substantial. While for the past few weeks I've been able to happily buzz along at 35-40 mph, a safe speed during the day in built up areas with minimal traffic, good visibility and dry roads (regardless of what the speed limit is), things were very different today. I was held up virtually all the way by plodders in big cars doing 28-31 mph. Probably driven by coffin dodgers, but that's not relevant. I also noticed 2 sites building new homes with blokes working on them, they were deserted 2 days ago. Went past B&Q, open now, a massive queue. I would have expected the government to have a hissy fit about this obvious increase in activity but from what they say, they seem pretty cool about it. Are we seeing an unauthorised end to the 'lockdown'? If so, is the government showing disinterest because the NHS probably won't be overwhelmed? (the reason given for the lockdown). Or, does the government know it doesn't have the resources to do anything about this so is just putting on a brave face, rather than admitting this? As far as B&Q are concerned, and the other DIY stores, the government never told them they had to close. They did so voluntarily. They have now put in place the measures that supermarkets have in place, so felt that they are able to reopen.
My son is working at Morrisons at the moment and he said today was busy, whereas the last few days have been quiet. It still seems to be a human habit to shop at the end of the week to get ready for the weekend
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Post by Andyberg on Apr 24, 2020 23:15:18 GMT
Traffic has definitely been up last couple of nights, police had a pull in / checkpoint working on the way into Bolton on Tuesday night @23.15
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Post by patty on Apr 25, 2020 5:44:37 GMT
Could be that people traditionally shop Friday when they can for weekend..habits die hard(so 'they' say) Dunno cos here I'm never out during the day though I'm a bit later motivating myself to get out this am Hardware here closed to public but deliver..trouble is you push a note through the door and there is hundreds already there and they cannot cope with demand..however folk will probably avoid this small business when they can get cheaper elsewhere.
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Post by JohnV on Apr 25, 2020 6:22:11 GMT
There have been several businesses that I know about personally that have closed but were not under an instruction to do so.
One of the problems for small companies that have been able to continue working because distancing is possible has been that traditionally they will use B&Q, Wickes etc for small quantities of consumables that they have never bothered setting up accounts with wholesalers for.
(I used to do the same with my company, core materials would be sourced from major wholesalers but many small items including things like office supplies and cleaning materials would be purchased from whichever retailer was close)
One firm I know has been hamstrung by the closure of the steel stockholder they use, up till now they have been able to complete the work in hand with their own stocks but these are now almost depleted. There is no need for a stockholder to close, it does not deal with the public apart from very rare occasions and they make the deliveries or mechanically load the customers trucks.
Right from the start, hardware stores were quoted as being allowed to stay open providing social distancing was observed.
Many retail businesses who's owners or staff were in vulnerable groups, had difficulties because of the size/construction of their premises to provide social distancing or just decided to stay as safe as possible until they could see what was happening, closed by their own choice. (This includes a van hire/repair place near me although as a garage it was exempt from the order)
What B&Q decided was down to their management. Wickes here have been doing a "collect from the carpark at fixed times" for online customers for a while although the range being sold was limited.
I would imagine the government is quite sanguine about businesses opening, that they never instructed to close in the first place
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Post by lollygagger on Apr 25, 2020 6:39:32 GMT
Just wait, in a few weeks time it'll be an end to furloughs, no more tax payers money wasted and up to everyone to find a way to work "safely" or get fined for working "unsafely". That would be more recognisable as the UK I'm familiar with.
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Post by Gone on Apr 25, 2020 6:53:06 GMT
I think it is part of the government strategy to get the public used to the COVID deaths and to see them as the new normal, at which point we can remove all mandatory restrictions leaving the vulnerable the option of self isolation if they wish. So a slow drift back to work, mixing etc will take place over the next 6 months. Whilst this may sound callous, it isn’t, as continuous lockdown will so damage the economy that poverty will damage and shorten many lives and longer term will reduce life expectancy far more than Coronavirus ever would.
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Post by JohnV on Apr 25, 2020 6:56:23 GMT
I suspect that is a scenario they have envisaged however I think what actually will happen is not yet decided. It all depends on the success or failure to produce some form of treatment or vaccine
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2020 7:05:35 GMT
Maybe 67 million people have finally had enough of the hypocrisy.
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Post by Mr Stabby on Apr 25, 2020 7:06:48 GMT
It's a bit disingenuous for the Government so say that they never ordered businesses selling non-essential goods to close while at the same time instructing people to stay at home and only go out to buy essential supplies. Nothing has changed with regards to the daily figures yet the Government are obviously having second thoughts about the way they are handling this.
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Post by JohnV on Apr 25, 2020 7:13:27 GMT
It's a bit disingenuous for the Government so say that they never ordered businesses selling non-essential goods to close while at the same time instructing people to stay at home and only go out to buy essential supplies. Nothing has changed with regards to the daily figures yet the Government are obviously having second thoughts about the way they are handling this. The government specifically stated hardware shops can stay open providing they can insure social distancing .... You are being disingenuous by suggesting otherwise. That does not in anyway conflict with the instructions to only go out for essential supplies ..... many of the products at those stores fall clearly into essential maintenance supplies
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Post by Mr Stabby on Apr 25, 2020 7:20:32 GMT
It's a bit disingenuous for the Government so say that they never ordered businesses selling non-essential goods to close while at the same time instructing people to stay at home and only go out to buy essential supplies. Nothing has changed with regards to the daily figures yet the Government are obviously having second thoughts about the way they are handling this. The government specifically stated hardware shops can stay open providing they can insure social distancing .... You are being disingenuous by suggesting otherwise. That does not in anyway conflict with the instructions to only go out for essential supplies ..... many of the products at those stores fall clearly into essential maintenance supplies "You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can."
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Post by JohnV on Apr 25, 2020 7:28:29 GMT
The government specifically stated hardware shops can stay open providing they can insure social distancing .... You are being disingenuous by suggesting otherwise. That does not in anyway conflict with the instructions to only go out for essential supplies ..... many of the products at those stores fall clearly into essential maintenance supplies "You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can." When your toilet cistern packs in or a radiator valve snaps or your front door lock breaks or any one of a hundred vital things in the home that can break ...... they are essential to allow "staying at home" to continue. To suggest they are not is silly
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Post by lollygagger on Apr 25, 2020 7:30:30 GMT
I'm with Stabby on this one. Back pedalling to avoid the blame for the economy damage. It's notable when that Nick idiot does his press conference that a politician will still not answer a straight question even when they really could and should. They must be wired that way.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Apr 25, 2020 7:31:20 GMT
"You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can." When your toilet cistern packs in or a radiator valve snaps or your front door lock breaks or any one of a hundred vital things in the home that can break ...... they are essential to allow "staying at home" to continue. To suggest they are not is silly Indeed but I'd wager a fair sum that the vast majority of B&Q's sales would come under the umbrella 'home improvement' rather than 'home repair'.
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