I read with interest the letter from P Davies in the July/August issue and would like to add my own grievance. I was a member of CIOB before the merger and head of one of the earliest Chartered Building Consultancies. Quite happy, no complaints.

I was also a member of the ASI and the only thing that prevented me having a free year as a CBC (worth about £300, I think) was the fact that I was already a member of CIOB. To me this was grossly unfair and I did complain about it at the time only to be told that there was absolutely nothing that could be done - tough! Between us P Davies and I can account for about £400 of the half million pound bonus the CIOB has acquired.

When we multiply these sorts of figures by membership numbers it is easy to see where the rest comes from.

Graham Woodall

K M Hubble suggests that the CIOB could increase membership by providing a home for disaffected QSs (Letters, CM, July/August). As a Chartered Building Surveyor I recommend the same for BSs. The RICS is full of auctioneers, valuers and estate agents. We have been swallowed up by an Institution that merely wants to increase members and is happy to take on anyone. They certainly don't have to be surveyors.

Source

Construction Manager

Postscript

Alan Broadway