As I've implied, I think this issue is different from many of the 'attempts to find loopholes' which we see (and which, like you, I don't really approve of).
For a start, it sounds as if your are talking about 'loopholes' in terms of the Wiring Regs (i.e. BS7671), but that is not what we are talking about. We are talking about the notification rules in Wales which, per eric's interpretation, mean that if, in a Welsh kitchen, he used a cable clip to remove the potential trip hazard created by the cable of an extension lead, he would have to pay £000 to the LA, but that if he left the cable as a trip hazard, he would not incur that expense.
Whether in a Welsh kitchen or anywhere else, in terms of electrical common sense, there clearly is no (electrical) difference between a plugged-in extension lead the sockets and/or cable of which are in some way 'attached' to the building and one where they were not so attached. Indeed, the only potentially safety-related difference I can think of it that if the extension and its cable are NOT 'attached', then there is increased risk of damage to the cable and/or sockets outlets (not to mention the 'trip hazard' presented by a non-attached cable). It therefore seems (in terms of common sense) a little odd that, in relation to Welsh kitchen, if one wants to avoid the cost of notification one has to go with the slightly less safe option!
My personal version of common sense says that the Welsh law should decide whether or not plugging an extension lead into a socket in a Welsh kitchen is, or is not, notifiable, and then stick with that decision whether any part of the extension lead is, or is not, 'attached' in some way.
Kind Regards, John
