Stunt of the week
OF ALL the fates that might have overtak- en County Hall, it is this week's way for Richard Branson to get himself into the headlines. He is threatening it with the largest aquarium in Europe. This forms part of his plan, in association with a Japanese developer, to turn it into a leisure and hotel complex, with a conference cen- tre (it used to be the council chamber) and family rooms overlooking the river. I wish he would cross the road and try his luck with the large lavatorial block which, in defiance of Keith Waterhouse and his asso- ciation for apostrophes, has labelled itself St Thomas' Hospital — but perhaps Mr Branson would rather cross the bridge and repeat the trick on the Houses of Parlia- ment. County Hall may yet escape, for not all of Mr Branson's plans survive their pri- mary purpose. Another week, another headline.
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