The system 3 Residents 0

On Thursday we went along to our local residents’ community forum. This is usually attended by a mix of our local councillors and concerned residents. Agenda includes police report, planning issues, education and young people and health issues. Yesterday the Tories had a table of their own with three councillors present sat in a line. Lib Dem councillor sat at the back and gave apologies for other members. Labour bloke asked me to give his apology.
The planning issues part of the agenda thru up some alarming news if what was claimed is true. It is claimed that two significant building projects in our ward do not meet with the approved plans. Residents have complained about the adverse effect these changes are having on their lives. The Tories insisted that nothing could be done despite my wife pointing out that private residents dare not stray from a plan. We were told the planners are not responsible to anyone.
A concern from a resident that a newsagent and off license is to opened in an area that it is alleged is a hot spot for underage consumption of alcohol. It was claimed that no planning permission had been given and no advisory notices published locally. We were told that this had been approved under what are termed discretionary powers and as it was only a change of use no planning permission was required. “ Get up a petition is what you need to do” One councillor claimed he could not help because he is on the planning committee another because she was on licensing committee and another said he would receive the petition but no guidance on the best way to go about it to ensure success.
The real body blow though was from the man from our PCT who advised us that they were not going to replace the doctor who had closed his branch surgery. This was despite reassurances in the past that he would be replaced. My wife had done some research into the project timings for a clinic which as also been promised for our ward. She identified that despite having written confirmation on the start date the project had slipped by two years. Yes I know said the man it’s all in the plan. When will we be getting our clinic I said? It is now alleged that a date as yet to be fixed. 2011? 2012? Sometime never?
The real tragedy here though is that not one of our councillors challenged this slippage or indeed showed any interest in the position with our clinic.
Remind me again! Why do we need councillors?

Culture for kids.

The government announced plans today to introduce culture into the schools curriculum. When I was a kid this would have been frowned upon. We were lucky if we got to the kids matinee on a Saturday morning. My wife and I though always felt that culture was an important part of life and subsequently introduced our kids to many cultural activities. We have also tried to do the same with our grandchildren. For a birthday treat for us the whole family went to the opera in Birmingham. Eldest granddaughter age twelve grandson aged eleven, mom, dad and us. I took the time to research the synopsis and explain to them the story line. At the end of the show I enquired how they enjoyed it. Granddaughter- “don’t they take a long time to die in opera” grandson- “why couldn’t she have died in the second act and we could have all gone home early, great dinner though granddad”. We got a much more enthusiastic response after Fred Clause at Christmas. We clearly have a lot to do.

Bus passes resolution or is it?

Local evening newspaper had a report on this yesterday. It seems Centro the organisation that is West Mids Passenger Transport Authority are concerned that thousands of us have not applied for our new passes. They listed a phone number in the article which I subsequently rang. The number charges you, does not answer and then cuts you off. I tried their web site and got the following info which I think satisfies our concerns. Web site lists the same phone number.
What is the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme?
It is a new scheme which is to be introduced by the government from 1st April 2008 giving all Senior Citizens and eligible people with a disability free travel, on bus only, between the hours of 9.30am to 11.00pm Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays anywhere in England. Please note that this concession does not include coach services.
If you are a resident of one of the seven districts of the West Midlands County (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall or Wolverhampton), you will also be able to travel free on Ring & Ride and rail and Metro services within the Network West Midlands area until the end of daytime service.
I’ll tell my mates but continue to monitor. Why are we so distrusting of our local services providers?

The texting laureate

I got to thinking about texting and how a couple of my grandkids had used by blog in text format to communicate with me. If I could encourage the others to do the same it would be good. Unfortunately when I rang the eldest grandson yesterday he said “sorry grand I’m at a sleep over can’t talk bye” and put the phone down, it’s pretty clear where I stand in his order of priorities. Texting though seems to be the way to go. Being a bit of a poet I got to thinking about writing a poem in text just for them well here goes.

Texin 4 dumys this cld b fun
2 tlk 2 my grd daughters + grd son
They don’t spk English the way I do
But som of d lingo do come thru
D tings dey do keep dem on de go
To talk to der grd dad I don’t no
I no dey rite poems and they nt bad
So cum on u lot do a poem 4 grdad
In tex o corse hav yor say
Or nex time del be hel to pay

The first ever published poem in text! Or is it?

Bus passes II

There might be something in my earlier post on travel passes. I have been doing a little research and it appears that the new CBT Act (Concessionary Bus Travel Act) which comes into force on 1st April will help many people. But! It sets out minimum requirements; there is no requirement for local authorities who at present provide services above the minimum to continue to do so. Without a statement from West Midlands local authorities we should be vigilant. I know with my own local authority that pensioners are distrusting of their motives. So if you hear of any changes to our scheme please post it here. I will be monitoring it and lobbying my councillors.

Pensioners’ concessionary travel

I’m hearing rumours that the new national travel pass scheme for us seniors might not be what we thought it was going to be. Our dearly beloved Prime Minister in one of his last acts has chancellor announced an improved scheme for pensioners across England. This scheme was heralded by Better Government for Older People, The National Pensioners Convention and a few other bodies as being a big improvement. I suppose for many it will be but I am hearing that here in the West Mids where we have an excellent scheme which gives us access to free travel on trains and metro system; we may be in danger of loosing free trains and metro travel. One union I am advised is telling its pensioner members to be vigilant and hold onto their existing passes when the new ones arrive in March. I hope this is not true but if it is I predict our Midlands MPs and mine in particular will get a rough ride leading to the next election. Better get a repeat prescription for my blood pressure pills, my banners prepared and chants rehearsed. How about for starters “hands of my travel pass you stingy ass” I’ll do better given a little more time. Watch this blog for updates on this story.

Poop! read all about it

I swear our local dogs can read. Since the posting of my notice not a single blob anywhere. I have surprisingly been asked for copies of the poster for display in other areas of our ward. I better start making a modest charge for this service. It got me thinking though how difficult it is for the wardens to actually catch the perpetrators in the act. It took a long time and some heated debate before the council got this far so I shudder to think what the following suggestion will do. If the emphasis was changed so that the dog walker had to prove they were carrying facilities to clean up after their pet and the warden had the power to request to see this evidence then if no evidence was available the fine was administered. We would see a completely different picture. So come on councillors let’s get the bye law changed and really get our borough cleaned up. Paws here from telling the tail (if you will pardon the pun). This blog doesn’t get any better. Latest on the perpetrator it is a Golden Lab.
I wonder which party will have this suggestion in their manifesto first. This could go national. It’s a break though from the rest of the crap in the news.