For your information : ELY DEMETRICATION OPERATION
The limerick to commemorate the 10 November 'Ely strike' goes as follows: Ely found metric signs hard The U.K.I.P. said: 'They're barred!' So without much ado Using plates and some glue They changed them to miles and to yards. ANGLIA TV BROADCAST: Anglia Television Broadcast, Monday 12th November 2001 UKIP "Guard the Yard" Project - Imperial Ely Transcript of the Three News Broadcasts. Lunch Time News GI - Gulshanah Iqbal, Anglia News Reader. EB - Emma Birchley, Anglia TV Reporter. MP1 - Member of the Public, No 1. MP2 - Member of the Public, No 2. MP3 - Member of the Public, No 3. GI.�� Campaigners have altered signs in Ely to show distances in Imperial units.� Members of the UK Independence Party have changed the signs from metres to yards and it is all perfectly legal. EB reports:- EB��� There were nine sign posts like these [one pictured, with Imperial distances on it] across Ely and for two years most of the walking distances to the tourist attractions have been in metres.�� That's until Saturday when an undercover team from the UK Independence Party decided it was time that changed.� Dressed as council workers they spent the day changing the metre signs into yards. MP1(F)� I was always brought up with imperial so I don't mind it at all. In fact, I prefer it, MP2(M) ...distances, and changing it like that, I don't think it will make any odds at all.� I think the people that come to see the cathedral, they're just going to head off in the right direction MP3(F)� No, I don't Think it makes any difference. EB���� There have been changes to metric in recent years.� Fruit and veg must now be sold in kilos, but imperial weights can also be displayed, but it's not the case for road signs.� The legal measurement is still imperial and that means that the signs showing� just metres were against the law.� East Cambridgeshire District Council wasn't prepared to change them because it would cost too much.� The UK Independence Party said Saturday's campaign was a success and that they are now preparing to change signs elsewhere too. Evening News bulletins CO - Caroline Oldrey, Anglia News Presenter. N�� _� Nick��������� ?������� , Anglia News Presenter. EB - Emma Birchley, Anglia News Reporter. DN - Derek Norman, UKIP. IA - Cllr Ian Allen, East Cambridgeshire District Council. CO�� These days we're used to buying our vegetables in kilos and our fabric by the metre, but our roads are measured in yards and miles, so when sign posts in Ely went up giving directions in metres it was seen by some as metric madness.� Now a secret squad has hit back as a "Guard the Yard" campaign. EB�� There are nine sign posts like this in Ely [signs pictured]. They used to show how far it was to attractions like the cathedral in metres. An undercover team from the UK Independence Party decided it was time that changed.� Dressed as council workers they turned the metric signs into yards. DN�� Imperial is part of our English heritage, our *British* heritage actually, and it is very important to ost English people to������� maintain that heritage.�� In fact, 74% of the British people want to retain the imperial system. EB�� Some things have gone metric.� Fruit and veg must now be sold in kilos, but its not the case for road signs.� The legal measurement for distance is still yards and miles and that means that the signs are against the law when they show just metres.� East Cambridgeshire District Council said they were aware of that, but weren't prepared to change them because it would cost too much money,� Some of the signs have been metric for five years. IA�� They haven't been changed err� back to Imperial because it was thought by the authority that it would be sensible as things wore out and needed replacing, vandalism, damage etc. to bring them into the metric system.� Most of our visitors come from Europe and obviously it helps them find their way around the town. MP1��� I was always brought up with Imperial so I don't mind it at all. In fact, I prefer it. MP2��� Well, I understand yards more than metres, so yes, I would prefer the yards. MP3��� �distances, and changing it like that, I don't think it will make any odds at all.� I think the people that come to see the cathedral, they're just going to head off in the right direction. EB���� The Independence Party says Saturday's "Guard the Yard" campaign was a success.� They are now planning secret swoops on other places too. CO���� Perhaps we should have it in paces? NX���� Yeah, who, who knows!� I am sure its going to go on for some time to come anyway [Indeed - ed].� We'll see what happens. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Find the one for you at Yahoo! Personals http://personals.yahoo.com
