AGM

Yesterday's AGM was the usual bundle of fun. It always amazes the Gorse Fox how much heat can be generated in the discussions without the evidence of light. The estate has a new Chairman (pro temps) who is to be congratulated for handling things with a high degree of sensitivity and   patience, whilst providing clear and firm direction. (He and the other members of the Board are volunteers but often end up pilloried at these meetings).

Not everyone is eloquent, but their point of view is valuable and deserves respect. It is a shame that not all of the attendees had the common decency or courtesy to respect the Chair, the effort put in by the Board, or the views of neighbours and continued to mutter, chunder, and interrupt. There are times when one gets an almost overwhelming urge to tell people to sit down, shut up, and behave.

The major debate yesterday was in regard to installing and electronic barrier, or not. Arguments raged and suffered from fractured logic. The facts, as best the Gorse Fox can determine, are:

• Existing security guards are not performing effectively
  
• Health and safety are demanding better accommodation for them
  
• Health and safety are demanding they take comfort breaks, requiring backup cover
  
• Residents have been complaining

the Board have suggested and electronic barrier

Arguments against seem to be:

• We'll be trapped if there's a power cut - refuted, gate can be backed with UPS and unlocked by master key to fail open.
  
• Emergency services can't enter - refuted, they are provided a master pin code
  
• It removes the Right of Way granted in the Deeds to the properties - GF can't see how this changes the status quo when the security guards have the existing gate down.
• There's no real problem anyway with non-residents parking for the beach - GF thinks that would very quickly change if KG was known to be open instead of guarded.
• Burglars would be able to get through - er! Hello! they can now when the guards aren't on duty.
• Cyclists will be able to get through - er! Hello! they can now with or with a guard.
• People will randomly push buttons until someone lets them in - as opposed to the guards justy waving them through.

Arguments for seem to be:

• Gates will be closed at extra times without costing any more - seems logical
• Won't need to build facilities for the guards - which can't be placed by the gate anyway because KG doesn't own that land.
• Gates will deter or prevent non-residents from parking on the estate

Gorse Fox feels fairly neutral about the whole issue, but is always amused by the logical fallacies that get trotted out in such debate... and it makes him feel mischievous and want to argue the contradictory position just for the heck of it. Anyway, a vote was held and came down in favour of investigating the scheme further. 

Of course we could just build better facilities somewhere and pay for better guards, put in CCTV, or weapons emplacements.