It's the entire procurement and tendering method used by TfL and govt funded authorities.Smaller and local companies, usually every bit or more capable than the contractors that these contracts don't get a look in. They never get invited to tender and if they do a whole raft of criteria is expected that effectively shuts them out.Most specialists are deemed "Too small" so only huge companies or conglomerates get the contracts.All around us we see their end results, poor standards of materials and finish and very often improperly finished works which a few years later are already in decay.Yet anything TfL specify costs way in excess of it's true cost and yet falls way short of the quality or innovation used in neighbouring countries.Ironically much of the difficult work is farmed out by these conglomerates too smaller companies but at rates which result in these companies having to do the work using minimal labour and materials. Whilst the conglomerates take the cream.So when it all goes to pot, you can guess where the buck gets passed to and who will pick up another lucrative contract.Of course the real blame is TfL and local authorities who fail abysmally to take a hard line on delays, slack working, fiddles and poor quality works.This though is nothing new and has gone on for generations in this countries utility and construction trade.Every now and then the chickens come home to roost i.e. Carillon, but nothing fundamental changes in the way smaller and local businesses get shut out, even those long established and with excellent reputations.But given the current attitude of TfL induced by the Mayor and some of his sidekicks, causing delays to all traffic and public transport is the "blunt tool' justifiable to force people to walk or cycle.
Raymond Havelock ● 2386d