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Iain Roberts

@slowbikeiain.bsky.social

7K followers 6.1K following 8.2K posts

I run public consultations for big energy & infrastructure projects. Lib Dem, ex Stockport councillor, everyday cyclist, urbanist, The Archers, British basketball, photography. He/him. LGBTQIA+ ally.

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 1h

An early issue of Jackie magazine, telling young teenage girl all about the stars. Maybe those girls would be lucky enough to meet their idol in person one day!

Front cover of Jackie maagzine from 1964, with photo of Jimmy Savile.

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Reposted by Iain Roberts

Ursula K. Le Guin @ursulakleguin.com · 15h

Today, The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin opens at AA Gallery in London! Curated by Sarah Shin and Harriet Jennings, the exhibition presents a selection of Ursula's maps, including some that have never been exhibited before.

A photo of the entrance to The Word for World exhibition, with two banners hanging vertically down outside the doorway to a brick building with white-paned windows. A row of bicycles are parked in front. The banners are purple and white and say the name of the exhibition and Ursula K. Le Guin's name.

A cord-wrapped rock rests on a vivid blue background next to a map of and program for The Word for World exhibition.

A stack of copies of The Word for World book, which shows the title in vivid blue against a black cloth cover.

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 15h

It's why I avoid group hugs - better safe than sorry 😞

Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 15h

It's a small step from group hug to drunken threesome #TheArchers

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 16h

Done

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 19h

All we know is that Amber is credited as being played by Charlotte Jordon on 24 October and Olivia Bernstone on 31 October, so sometime in the week of 27th October, Olivia presumably takes over.

Reposted by Iain Roberts

Kevin St. Alder @kevinstalder.bsky.social · 23h

Statement from the Nobel Peace Prize Committee 👏 🙏

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 20h

How long can you keep a dead body in a freezer? Find out at our free film show and demonstration.

Old UK Print Ads 70s/80s/90s @oldukprintads7890s.bsky.social · 22h

Oct 1970: Freezers ad from Bejam

(+Frozen Food)

«DISCOVER THE FACTS
OF FREEZERS»

Advertisement by a freezer specialist offering a free film show and demonstration about freezers at their Bristol branch. It highlights the benefits of owning a freezer, such as better hygiene, saving money, access to a full range of food, and more leisure time.

DISCOVER THE FACTS
OF FREEZERS

There will be a FREE FILM SHOW
and Demonstration by our Home
Economist at our Bristol Branch
OCTOBER 28, at 7.30 p.m.
Come and learn the benefits of owning your
own Freezer.
Freezer & Frozen Food Specialists
54-62 BOND STREET (Broadmead), BRISTOL
Tel. 28426
Better standards of
hygiene
Enjoy shopping and
save money
Join the budget-
conscious shoppers
Always a full range
of food at home
More leisure time

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 21h

That's more impossible than sensible. They have very different causes and solutions, all of which take time and money to resolve. You can't do everything at once - the sensible approach is to prioritise.

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 21h

She could probably be earning - oh - £5000 a year just from #TheArchers

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 22h

I wonder how they'll manage a new actor voicing Amber in #TheArchers later this month. I'm thinking Amber gets kicked in the head by a cow, affecting her vocal chords. Alastair can do a whole "I've seen this once before" shtick.

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 23h

Moon and cloud #Photography #EastCoastKin

A gibbous moon shines through light cloud

Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 23h

Wow - I didn't realise it could be that big a drop.

Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 23h

Do you have a sense of how much difference that approach makes to building costs? How much cheaper would it make it?

Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 23h

What's the easy fix?

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 1d

That does sound positive. It won't make a big difference to new-build social housing (since it doesn't create the money for it) but it does at least staunch the flow of social housing into the private rented sector.

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 1d

Agreed. Right to Buy leaves gaping holes in councils' Housing Revenue Accounts, and why build new social housing if it's going to be private rented within a decade. I don't oppose people aspiring to own their own home, but we need to find a way that doesn't stop other people having any home at all.

Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 1d

1. We need more short-term empty homes, not fewer
2. Rent controls are many things (some good, some bad) but they certainly aren't a solution to there being too few homes.
3. Same for a freeze on Right to Buy.

Jonn Elledge @jonnelledge.bsky.social · 2d

*sighs*

open.substack.com/pub/jonn/p/n...

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 1d

Congratulations to Maria. If I were her, I'd avoid taking any boat trips off the Venezuelan coast for a few months.

CNN @cnn.com · 1d

The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, described as a "brave and committed champion of peace." Follow live updates. https://cnn.it/3VV7gjc

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 1d

No, it didn't say it was acceptable. Please don't put words into my mouth.

Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 1d

I would say that, when addressing road safety, we should start by focusing on the causes of the most deaths. I would be tackling the issue that causes hundreds or thousands of deaths each year first, and when that's sorted, work down the list until we get to the issue causing one.

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Reposted by Iain Roberts

Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 1d

A stonker of a night for us. Three huge wins, Reform nowhere near us and the Tories down to ten percent in Mel Stride’s own seat.

We are the only party taking Farage on and the only party beating him.

Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 1d

Kenn Valley (Teignbridge) Council By-Election Result:

🔶 LDM: 50.4% (+11.0)
➡️ RFM: 23.1% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.6% (-19.0)
🙋 Ind: 8.2% (New)
🌍 GRN: 5.5% (-13.9)
🌹 LAB: 2.7% (-9.9)
🙋 Ind: 0.5% (New)

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Conservative.
Changes w/ 2023.

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 1d

Does the audiobook reader get danger money?

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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 1d

Director to Olivia Bernstone: "We liked Charlotte, but she didn't squeal enough. When you read for Amber, we'd like you to up the squealing dial to 11...no 12." #TheArchers

md05.bsky.social @md05.bsky.social · 1d

We inexplicably have a new actress playing Amber.
As a matter of fact she switches from Charlotte Jordan to Olivia Bernstone with no weeks/months long break between recasting (as is normal).
#TheArchers

Credits for week ending 24th October 2025:
Writer: Katie Hims
Director: Andy Partington
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Brian Aldridge…. Charles Collingwood
David Archer.... Timothy Bentinck
Josh Archer.... Angus Imrie
Jolene Archer.... Buffy Davies
Ruth Archer.... Felicity Finch
Lilian Bellamy.... Sunny Ormonde
Alice Carter.... Hollie Chapman
Ruairi Donavan.... Arthur Hughes
Amber Gordon.... Charlotte Jordan
George Grundy.... Angus Stobie
Tracy Horrorbin.... Susie Riddell
Adam Macy.... Andrew Wincott
Kate Madikane.... Perdita Avery
Esme Mulligan.... Ellie Pawsey
Oliver Sterling…. Michael Cochrane
Carly…. Louise Brearley

Credits for week ending 31st October 🎃2025:
Writer: Sarah Hehir
Director: Helen Aitken
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Josh Archer…. Angus Imrie
Kenton Archer…. Richard Attlee
Pip Archer…. Daisy Badger
Lilian Bellamy…. Sunny Ormonde
Vince Casey…. Tony Turner
Justin Elliott….. Simon Williams
Miranda Elliott…. Lucy Fleming
Amber Gordon…. Olivia Bernstone
Eddie Grundy…. Trevor Harrison
Emma Grundy…. Emerald O’Hanrahan
George Grundy…. Angus Stobie
Will Grundy…. Philip Molloy
Chelsea Horrobin…. Madeleine Leslay
Tracy Horrobin…. Susie Ridell
Joy Horville…. Jackie Lye
Esme Mulligan…. Ellie Pawsey
Freddie Pargetter…. Toby Lawrence

Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 1d

In 2024 across the whole of the UK just one pedestrian was killed by a cyclist.

Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 1d

One day - *one day* - a UK newspaper will do a similar count of motor vehicles speeding inside a 20mph zone.

In 60 minutes I saw 172 cyclists run these lights – it’s a matter of time before they kill someone

The offenders included Lime bike riders, school children and a woman in high-heeled boots

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