If You Build It....They Might Not Come!

A box which appeared in the Chantry Centre months ago, but has remained empty, could finally be put to use. The large black box, outside Boots, has been vacant for months, but was initially installed to be used as a customer service point.

Before they realised that 'customer service' wasn't something they wanted to spend money on?  

This plan was not progressed with and questions have been raised about what it will be used for. 

 Answers on a postcard...

A council spokesperson said: “The pod was initially installed in the Chantry Centre to be used as customer service point. The pod has since attracted interest in being let out and documentation is currently being agreed between legal teams to progress this.

Giant aquarium? 

H/T: IanJ via email 

'It's Only Taxpayer's Money' Pt 7871125

A new cat cafe has received a £1,200 grant from a local council. Andover Catfe on Winchester Road, Andover, was awarded an Independent Retailer Grant from Test Valley Borough Council.

Owner Stuart Waue said the money was a "great help to get us off the ground and up and running".

Jennie Pell, principal economic development officer at Test Valley Borough Council, said the cafe was a "unique attraction" for Andover and that the council was "delighted" to support it.

A pretty niche 'economic development' there, I think! What's its longevity?  

The Andover Catfe was first proposed by Mr Waue's son Jack at the Youth in Test Valley Awards. It was not the winning bid but attracted substantial interest, so the family decided to pursue it.

With other people's money... 

H/T: IanJ via email

And It Took A Year To Establish This?

Families of two girls killed when a car slammed into a school party have told of their 'disappointment' after the CPS revealed the motorist suffered an epileptic seizure behind the wheel and will face no criminal charges.

Claire Freemantle, 47, had a seizure while driving her Land Rover, sending the £80,000 4x4 ploughing through a fence and into an end-of-term celebrations at The Study Prep school in Wimbledon, south-west London, on July 6 last year.

If it's true that she had no previous episodes, then no matter how hard for the families, it's the only possible decision.  

Trevor Sterling, lawyer for the families, said: 'This is disappointing; justice must not only be done, but seen to be done.

'In the absence of a process, how do we interrogate the evidence? What does this message send to the public that deaths can arise in a road traffic situation, and there could be no sanction because there is no process to interrogate the evidence?

'The next focus will be on the inquest, and there will be a deep and thorough review of the evidence, which will be examined by a jury if necessary.'

Now that the police investigation is finally over - it took nearly an entire year to find this out? - the inquest will no doubt come to the same conclusion. 

Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor with oversight of the Crown Prosecution Service London Homicide Unit, said the incident was a tragedy. She added: 'We have carefully considered this complex and sensitive case, taking into consideration all the material gathered as part of the lengthy and detailed police investigation.'

Perhaps too lengthy and detailed?