Closed Circuit

Anti-development campaigners in Tadcaster, north Yorkshire, were delighted to discover that the chair of the organisation behind a controversial retirement home was living just down the road. Cue demonstrations, placard-waving and much gnashing of teeth outside the gentleman’s house.

You might have thought that if you were a peer of the realm and had chaired a panel for government on how to make the design of housing for older people more sustainable, that you may be afforded some slack. Alas no, Lord Best!

One housing association prefers only to be seen with the right people.

We contacted Gallions last week to see if its chief executive would support Inside Housing’s Safe as Houses campaign. After being sent the details, the communications officer called back asking who else had signed up.

Our man said sadly that there were only a few ‘high-profile’ people on the list (apologies Ms Harman) - and Inside Housing has not heard a peep from Gallions since, despite our efforts. Hopefully, the landlord will get on board soon after Safe as Houses obtains its first celebrity backer.
If you want to sign up with the great and the good - if not the famous - go to www.insidehousing.co.uk/safeashouses

The normally sharp as a tack Ian Graham was distinctly bleary eyed when Closed Circuit met him last week.

‘I was up late practising with my band,’ revealed the Trowers and Hamlin legal supremo who plays sax-on-the-side with band The Specs.

Interested parties are promised a night of ‘titillating’ entertainment next month at the legal four-piece’s next gig: The Gunnersbury, Chiswick, 15 December from 9pm. Entry is free, charity donations suggested. (And the lawyers’ bill will be in the Christmas post).

Fellow Spec and solicitor David Mosey has also been staying up late. The blurb on the back of his latest tome - Early contractor involvement in building procurement - includes endorsement from Ian Hunter of 1970s band Mott the Hoople.

The legal eagle is said to have been ‘very persistent’ in persuading a post-gig Hunter to back the book. ‘There was a lot of resistance,’ attests one witness.