Mark Anthony’s Post

Transcript

Have you ever heard something so laughable, so ridiculous, so utterly preposterous that you're convinced the person speaking to you he's joking? So yesterday I was speaking to a Better Mind in the demolition industry. He was telling me about a project he's waiting to start just a few miles from where I'm at right now, and he invited me to a site the site visit when the project gets underway. When are you due to start? I asked innocently. His answer was surprising. I have no idea, he said. All the kitties there but we're waiting for. He then told me that his project was held up by the absence of a single piece of paper. Now, before I tell you what that piece of AER is and what it stands for, let's wind back a bit to just before the general election, when Sakia Starmer pledged to build 1.5 million new homes in about the first fortnight of his new reign. There is no question it was a very good sound bite and the left-leaning media leapt upon it as if Mr. Starmer was the saviour of the huddled masses. Those in the construction industry however shrugged and sniffed at the mere notion. We have never hit the existing house building levels So what makes him think we can hit even higher levels? Some asked. Doesn't he realize we have an industry wide skills shortage? Asked us who the hell is going to build all these new houses? And then there were those that pointed to the glacial pace of local authority planning departments or to the house. Builders who so enjoy sitting on great swaths of prime house building land until the price suits them best. Yet amidst all of that, there was not a single mention of an apparently vital piece of paperwork that could conceivably prevent one or multiple houses being built. All of which takes me back to my original story about the demolition contractor. The vital piece of paper that he is currently waiting for is. Wait for it. A mouse licence. I want to say that once again, just in case you think you misheard me. A mouse license James Bond 007 license to mouse Apparently the project is currently stalled because they need a mouse license to proceed and they need a mouse license to proceed because there is evidence that the site is on or more door mice. Now my first house after I left the family home was located right by a river and I can tell you that door mice and voles had no issue whatsoever was coming into my house but it. As it transpires, we can't enter the years without a license. Are we so staggered? But this notion that I had to check and there writers rain. On the golf.uk website is an entire page dedicated to how you apply for a Dormice mitigation license. So now it's called an A-35, just in case you ever need one. Now it's important to say at this point I am an animal lover. With the possible exception of Wasps and Jack Russell Terriers, which are obviously the Wasps of the dog world, I love all animals and I certainly wouldn't want to see any of them harmed during demolition or construction works. But have we got our priorities just a bit skewed here? We've identified the need for 1:15 million additional new homes for humans, but those humans are required to play second fiddle to mice and lights, dogs and frogs, Bats and cats. Neutralizes birds, rodents, and a variety of furry and feathery creatures that fly, crawl, or scuttle about in an unsettling manner. Imagine you're one of the many that is desperately seeking a new home for yourself and your family. You've paid your deposit, chosen your curtains, and you've informed the post office of your imminent change of address. And then you get a phone call to tell you that you're moving in. Date has been pushed back because Mickey and Minnie Mouse fancy a line after a night on the source round at Goofy's house. Sakir Starmer's house building pledge was already set in a fantasy world in which there are no skill shortages or planning delays, or world in which buildable land is readily available and warehouse builders frolic in the sunshine just waiting for their next big adventure. Seemingly, his fantasy world is devoid of dormice, too. I just wanted to say well done on making it all the way to the end of this video. If you liked it or if you got value from it, please hit the like button. If you really, really liked it, please consider subscribing. But if you really, really really liked it, then perhaps you'd like to leave us a tip over it. Buy me a coffee.com/demolition News. Those tips and donations really do help to support this channel. It's not compulsory though. Please only do so if you can afford it. Now while you're here, why not watch another one of our films?