This is neither a “dress down Friday” nostalgia trip nor a football related rant about the inappropriateness of the involvement anyone connected with that bit of London with the Mighty Leeds United.
(Though whilst on the subject of nostalgia here are two things which attracted my attention).
Rather this post relates to the growing number of calls I am getting about the “Annex G” proposed new boundaries for Duty Solicitor schemes. Apologies to Mr MacManus for the play on his song title, but it is merged schemes (Keighley is to be merged with Bradford) and the practical problems this will create which has been exercising the more forward thinking of my contacts.
The responses are by no means all negative and there are even contrasting views within the same propose schemes. For instance Andy and I have both had direct discussions with firms in London, for one the proposals are disastrous for the other enticing. The large new West Midlands schemes have attracted most approbation, and inspired the title to this post, although I have obviously changed the town in questions name and not included the swearing. As ever these discussion also demonstrate to me the unerring ability of the profession to adapt to new arrangements quickly, with a wide variety of practical stratagem being considered.
We have neither the local geographical knowledge nor the time to find the most absurd of these proposals so please feel free to use the comments box to do so.
*I however am more than happy to go to Keighley, especially if it involves a pint of the best beer in the world. (Choose “Landlord”).
UPDATE
Friend of the site Nigel Ford draws my attention to the “Drivetime Tables” on which the proposed new boundaries are based. After some searching I find the entry relating to the journey between one of our Bradford clients and Keighley. Subsequent to this I conduct a highly scientific survey of a 3 Bradford solicitors regarding the fastest time in which they could undertake this journey (not an average or at rush hour etc). One says 30, his colleague in the office says 20 an third says 22 to 25 minutes. Lets take the median then (I think) of 22 mins for the fastest one-way trip – 22 mins for 9 miles at an average speed of 25 mph.
Click on the continue reading for the LSC assumption for the purposes of these proposals.
They suggest 14 minutes.
(Interestingly so do the AA – did they supply the estimates?)
For those interested this is a 39 mph average speed. There are some where this is nearer 60mph
These also seem to ignore the provisions of CRIMLA 33 regarding the public transport presumption and travel to an from “railhead” and “terminus”.
