As Harold Wilson once famously said, “A week is a long time in politics”, but for the people of south Yorkshire, it’s been a pretty long time in weather systems, too.
While I’m sure with the week he’s had our new PM feels he’s already been in the hot seat for a lifetime, residents and businesses affected by the floods must feel as though they are in some sort of watery purgatory.
A quick poll of some of the timber companies operating in the region seems to show that the sector has rallied. Companies were able to re-route deliveries and at least one operation was actually able to take advantage of the extra rainfall.
It sounds horribly callous but, of course, the remedial work that will follow will inevitably benefit builders and builders’ suppliers. Just as fencing contractors see a boost in business following stormy weather, so kitchen and flooring manufacturers, along with a whole host of others, will “enjoy” a surge in demand.
As its fortunes run closely in step with the housebuilding and home improvement markets, the mouldings sector, on which we focus in our special feature this week, may well find itself busier than usual.
Meanwhile, back at No 10, Gordon Brown can take some comfort from the fact that, according to those people we contacted at least, his appointment is seen as a positive one.
With his targets for zero-carbon homes he’s seen as a supporter of the drive for sustainable housing – potentially very good news for the timber industry. And his cabinet reshuffle has also met with approval with Hilary Benn’s elevation to secretary of state for the environment being particularly well received.
His experience of working at DfID should help him reconcile the development issues involved in establishing sustainable forestry management and environmental certification in poorer producer countries, according to the TTF’s John White.
If only he could do something about the weather, too.
