In what can only be described as an act of sheer vindictive vandalism Sandwell sent their tree surgeons to the grass reservation in front of my house yesterday. I have described before what a beautiful outlook my neighbours and I had with three mature hawthorn trees and well kept gardens and lawns we maintain. We had asked the council to trim the trees because they were hanging low in some places and catching telephone wires in others. Well not to put to fine a point on it these so call professional tree surgeons have butchered two of our trees and left the other (it’s not on my list mate) which is obstructing the footpath. They never made any attempt to clear the phone line obstructions. We are all distraught, so Sandwell if you want to reduce the whole area to one where residents don’t care you are going the right way about it. My neighbour complained yesterday and I complained at the time but as usual you might as well talk to yourself (it’s not on my list mate) I don’t know about paying these clowns I am minded to withdraw my council tax until something is done about it. These what used to be beautiful trees will never recover. I one act of vandalism Sandwell have ruined the outlook from my home. Shame shame shame on you. We have asked nothing of you for over thirty years the time we have been looking after this grassed area and for you to take this attitude is well, tantamount to spite.
Do you get the idea Bob is just a touch peed of with his council. I’m going to email this to some councillors to get their reaction.
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Friday, 29 August 2008
Petitions, Public Question Time and Such 2
In my post Petitions, Public Question Time and Such on Friday 27th June, labelled politics and such. I referred to three issues at our last Town Committee meeting. A petition regarding road safety on the busiest stretch of road in our town ( I presented this on behalf of our local neighbourhood watch association) A question concerning transparency with the claims made in political leaflets and a comment about how I thought the leader of the Tories would carry on doing what he does, whatever.
Next Thursday is the next meeting of our town committee so I thought I would remind myself and my readership of the state of play.
At the end of the post I made some predictions:-1) The petition, will get lost in council speak, they will claim that the road is safe and we should all go away and forget it.
2) Question, will largely be ignored on the grounds that they could not possibly submit to things like that because it may compromise their relative political postures.
3) The leader of the Tories will ignore my comments and carry on feeling smug about what he is doing.
The way the system works it that you get a letter telling you they have received your question or petition followed by a detailed answer some weeks later.
Let me deal with item three first, the leader of the Tories is doing exactly what I predicted.
Question regarding transparency and councillors reporting to the committee. I now have detailed reply. This is the longest most polite “clear off you must be joking” letter I have ever received and much in line with my prediction. It will now be seen as a resolution at the next meeting but to me it raises more questions than it answers and basically means we aint gonna change mate, so shove off. The letter to me means scroungers charter. There should/must be a way of challenging some of the claims made in these political leaflets. Hopefully I will make the point at the next meeting that I am not satisfied with the reply. I wonder though if any councillors might decide that it is in their interests to be more open at these meetings and do independent reports. Now that would be breaking the mould. I won’t hold my breath.
The road safety petition is still in there fighting but I am hearing rumours that they are trying to kick it into touch by using the rouse that a Red Route is being planned for that road and this would be the subject of an inquiry during the process of considering the Red Route. This will take months and because a Red Route has already been thrown out once may never happen.
Looks like the predictions were pretty accurate after all. Can’t help feeling that local democracy is the looser here. If you want to change things you have to work hard to do it. Difficult at this stage to see how I might re-group and come back with a different angle for the same problem. The system is not designed to support the little guy but to protect the system. Perhaps we should think about organising a lie down in Newton Road at peak times and inviting the press. And before you think Oh no he wouldn’t, oh yes I would.
Next Thursday is the next meeting of our town committee so I thought I would remind myself and my readership of the state of play.
At the end of the post I made some predictions:-1) The petition, will get lost in council speak, they will claim that the road is safe and we should all go away and forget it.
2) Question, will largely be ignored on the grounds that they could not possibly submit to things like that because it may compromise their relative political postures.
3) The leader of the Tories will ignore my comments and carry on feeling smug about what he is doing.
The way the system works it that you get a letter telling you they have received your question or petition followed by a detailed answer some weeks later.
Let me deal with item three first, the leader of the Tories is doing exactly what I predicted.
Question regarding transparency and councillors reporting to the committee. I now have detailed reply. This is the longest most polite “clear off you must be joking” letter I have ever received and much in line with my prediction. It will now be seen as a resolution at the next meeting but to me it raises more questions than it answers and basically means we aint gonna change mate, so shove off. The letter to me means scroungers charter. There should/must be a way of challenging some of the claims made in these political leaflets. Hopefully I will make the point at the next meeting that I am not satisfied with the reply. I wonder though if any councillors might decide that it is in their interests to be more open at these meetings and do independent reports. Now that would be breaking the mould. I won’t hold my breath.
The road safety petition is still in there fighting but I am hearing rumours that they are trying to kick it into touch by using the rouse that a Red Route is being planned for that road and this would be the subject of an inquiry during the process of considering the Red Route. This will take months and because a Red Route has already been thrown out once may never happen.
Looks like the predictions were pretty accurate after all. Can’t help feeling that local democracy is the looser here. If you want to change things you have to work hard to do it. Difficult at this stage to see how I might re-group and come back with a different angle for the same problem. The system is not designed to support the little guy but to protect the system. Perhaps we should think about organising a lie down in Newton Road at peak times and inviting the press. And before you think Oh no he wouldn’t, oh yes I would.
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Liberals shoot themselves in the foot.
Gerry asked me to be nice so that is what I am going to try to do with this piece. Focus on Newton No 273 was delivered a few days ago. With the sub headline “working for you year round” I’m reminded of the 3/4 months they had off recently when they never attended council or town committee meetings but I’m being nice, so no more on that.
Recently there have been a couple of stories in our local evening newspaper concerning the closure of Sons of Rest facilities in our Borough. Tory from Wednesbury was one of the leading opponents to this and had some good press over it so it was not surprising that our Liberals thought they would get in on the act. Problem is they messed up just a bit. Headline;- Councillors say they will call in decision for further investigation. The article refers to Great Barr & Yew Tree councillors Joyce Underhill and Sadie Smith. Joyce Underhill represents Newton Ward of course. I have been concerned for some time that her main interests have been outside our ward. It must be that nasty man from the Express & Star getting the facts wrong again. Councillor Mrs. Underhill goes on to claim that the club in Great Barr had a big money revamp less than three years ago. My recollection of this was that it was a face lift low budget paint job with the work carried out by young offenders. I was one of the local big wigs invited to the official opening. She then goes on to claim that as far as Great Barr is concerned we have no leisure centres at all apart from the Sons of Rest and the Tanhouse Centre. Again this is stretching the truth just a tad. We have facilities at St. Bernards, Holy Name community centre and at Allen Memorial Church. Calling in this decision for the scrutiny board may seem to some to embarrass the council but it will only delay the inevitable. We do need facilities for our older people but Sons of Rest is not it these days. If these groups are so vital why are their numbers falling. We need a broader look at what older people need not this knee jerk reaction for a few cheap votes. I remember a couple of years back a council report following a select committee on older people. Time to dust it off and check the evidence again and the recommendations.
Now that was nice for me. If Sons of Rest members want help in organising new groups then contact Bob the Black Country Brummie but it’s no good putting your head in your hands and expecting local councillors to help with this one. We know that if our generation want something doing we better do it ourselves.
Recently there have been a couple of stories in our local evening newspaper concerning the closure of Sons of Rest facilities in our Borough. Tory from Wednesbury was one of the leading opponents to this and had some good press over it so it was not surprising that our Liberals thought they would get in on the act. Problem is they messed up just a bit. Headline;- Councillors say they will call in decision for further investigation. The article refers to Great Barr & Yew Tree councillors Joyce Underhill and Sadie Smith. Joyce Underhill represents Newton Ward of course. I have been concerned for some time that her main interests have been outside our ward. It must be that nasty man from the Express & Star getting the facts wrong again. Councillor Mrs. Underhill goes on to claim that the club in Great Barr had a big money revamp less than three years ago. My recollection of this was that it was a face lift low budget paint job with the work carried out by young offenders. I was one of the local big wigs invited to the official opening. She then goes on to claim that as far as Great Barr is concerned we have no leisure centres at all apart from the Sons of Rest and the Tanhouse Centre. Again this is stretching the truth just a tad. We have facilities at St. Bernards, Holy Name community centre and at Allen Memorial Church. Calling in this decision for the scrutiny board may seem to some to embarrass the council but it will only delay the inevitable. We do need facilities for our older people but Sons of Rest is not it these days. If these groups are so vital why are their numbers falling. We need a broader look at what older people need not this knee jerk reaction for a few cheap votes. I remember a couple of years back a council report following a select committee on older people. Time to dust it off and check the evidence again and the recommendations.
Now that was nice for me. If Sons of Rest members want help in organising new groups then contact Bob the Black Country Brummie but it’s no good putting your head in your hands and expecting local councillors to help with this one. We know that if our generation want something doing we better do it ourselves.
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Blog Action day
It’s going to have to be campaigning for all stores above a certain size to be compelled by law to provide toilet facilities.
I’m not proud of this but I use this example to make my point. With my health complaint and for many of us oldies we have to pee more frequently. I plan for this eventuality but sometimes the best laid plans fail. Recently I was in the Staples store in West Brom when I needed to go. I asked the check out guy if I could use the loo. “sorry mate” he explained we don’t have a customer loo. But it’s urgent I explained and it was. He didn’t seem concerned just rephrased his response. West Brom is not well served for public loos so I know that without some urgent action “Huston we have a problem” It’s too far to get in the car and go home so nothing else for it but to pee in the bushes at the front of the store and take my business elsewhere. Not very pleasant for other customers and although I tried to conceal my activities from the public I fear this was not totally possible. It’s now Bob the Black Country Flasher courtesy of Staples narrow minded approach to customer service. So a big raspberry to them and a campaign to get toilet facilities in all stores. A private members bill perhaps we could call it the Provision Of Toilets in Stores bill POTS or POTTY bill. Oh that’s a relief.
I’m not proud of this but I use this example to make my point. With my health complaint and for many of us oldies we have to pee more frequently. I plan for this eventuality but sometimes the best laid plans fail. Recently I was in the Staples store in West Brom when I needed to go. I asked the check out guy if I could use the loo. “sorry mate” he explained we don’t have a customer loo. But it’s urgent I explained and it was. He didn’t seem concerned just rephrased his response. West Brom is not well served for public loos so I know that without some urgent action “Huston we have a problem” It’s too far to get in the car and go home so nothing else for it but to pee in the bushes at the front of the store and take my business elsewhere. Not very pleasant for other customers and although I tried to conceal my activities from the public I fear this was not totally possible. It’s now Bob the Black Country Flasher courtesy of Staples narrow minded approach to customer service. So a big raspberry to them and a campaign to get toilet facilities in all stores. A private members bill perhaps we could call it the Provision Of Toilets in Stores bill POTS or POTTY bill. Oh that’s a relief.
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Some people just hate you
There’s nothing you can do about it. They take an instant dislike to you because you are what you are.
About 7yrs ago just after I retired I started to take more of an interest in local politics and in community activities. We had initially thought that because our area had declined we would look for a house outside Sandwell and move. Eventually though we both agreed that we liked our little home and perhaps we should spend more of our time trying to improve things for our community generally. We started to attend community forums and it was when we attended one of these that we met one of the most obnoxious people I have had the misfortune to know. It was our first time and during the discussion she interrupted many times, challenged mine and my wife’s contribution or copied it and stressed the point endlessly as though it were hers. At the tea break my wife said how do you know that women? I don’t I replied, then why is she behaving so badly towards us. Another member explained that it was her style anyone she considered to have a superior knowledge of a subject falls into that category and clearly your knowledge of computers and new technology is enough for you to be top of her hit list. I didn’t believe this but I’m afraid it was not a bad description of the state of play. We thought that it was because she was so much older than us she was forgetful. Since that date she has spread out into many areas of our community life and I have to say that the loathing has now become mutual. These days I don’t want to spend time with people I dislike let alone those who behave badly towards me so I tend to avoid her if possible. This restricts some of our activities but in the main I think it is better for all concerned. The problem arises if we have arrived for a meeting or event and she turns up. I’m faced with a choice, stay and suffer or leave I’ve often chosen to leave but this is not always possible if you want to get something done. I’ve tried being nice, that was seen as weakness. I’ve tried dropping the intellectual level, that’s seen as being patronising, I off course have hit back in my in your face way and although she backs off when this happens “ignorance is bliss” takes over and she comes back. Nowadays I just try to ignore her but how do you deal with someone like this? My new strategy is surprise. No prizes for naming this individual. Most local people active in our community will know to whom I refer.
About 7yrs ago just after I retired I started to take more of an interest in local politics and in community activities. We had initially thought that because our area had declined we would look for a house outside Sandwell and move. Eventually though we both agreed that we liked our little home and perhaps we should spend more of our time trying to improve things for our community generally. We started to attend community forums and it was when we attended one of these that we met one of the most obnoxious people I have had the misfortune to know. It was our first time and during the discussion she interrupted many times, challenged mine and my wife’s contribution or copied it and stressed the point endlessly as though it were hers. At the tea break my wife said how do you know that women? I don’t I replied, then why is she behaving so badly towards us. Another member explained that it was her style anyone she considered to have a superior knowledge of a subject falls into that category and clearly your knowledge of computers and new technology is enough for you to be top of her hit list. I didn’t believe this but I’m afraid it was not a bad description of the state of play. We thought that it was because she was so much older than us she was forgetful. Since that date she has spread out into many areas of our community life and I have to say that the loathing has now become mutual. These days I don’t want to spend time with people I dislike let alone those who behave badly towards me so I tend to avoid her if possible. This restricts some of our activities but in the main I think it is better for all concerned. The problem arises if we have arrived for a meeting or event and she turns up. I’m faced with a choice, stay and suffer or leave I’ve often chosen to leave but this is not always possible if you want to get something done. I’ve tried being nice, that was seen as weakness. I’ve tried dropping the intellectual level, that’s seen as being patronising, I off course have hit back in my in your face way and although she backs off when this happens “ignorance is bliss” takes over and she comes back. Nowadays I just try to ignore her but how do you deal with someone like this? My new strategy is surprise. No prizes for naming this individual. Most local people active in our community will know to whom I refer.
Monday, 25 August 2008
Virtual water
This was a new one on me but apparently 40% of our water is now coming from some of the most at risk water areas in the third world. We import too much food which is produced for us in these countries and there are now growing (pardon the pun) concerns that this trend is not sustainable.
This got me thinking (always a bad sign) Over here in UK don’t we have too much of the stuff? Which is causing us a lot of problems. Oil tankers arrive daily at our ports unload tons of the stuff and then return home empty. Why can’t we fill em with H20 and sell it to whoever wants it. I know oil and water don’t mix but it is more than possible to devise a method of covering the tanks to allow the water to be kept clean enough for treatment at the port of arrival. Eh might earn us a few bob in foreign currency to. Or am I now totally of my trolley?
This got me thinking (always a bad sign) Over here in UK don’t we have too much of the stuff? Which is causing us a lot of problems. Oil tankers arrive daily at our ports unload tons of the stuff and then return home empty. Why can’t we fill em with H20 and sell it to whoever wants it. I know oil and water don’t mix but it is more than possible to devise a method of covering the tanks to allow the water to be kept clean enough for treatment at the port of arrival. Eh might earn us a few bob in foreign currency to. Or am I now totally of my trolley?
Saturday, 23 August 2008
For Gerry
I’ve had a complaint. I know you can’t believe it but we all face criticism from time to time. My friend Gerry tells me she is unhappy with some of my more recent posts containing too much anger. In my state of health she feels I should be thinking positive thoughts. She of course is right and as she represents about 30% of my regular membership I better pay attention. So Gerry this is for you and thank you for taking the trouble to call and tell me.
I better shelve the idea of doing “Liberals shoot themselves in the foot” and I was saving the best to last especially after receiving Focus on Newton No273 and I’m just warming to Nick Clegover.
Apparently The Pensions Minister who I criticised the other day is her MP and a very good local MP. My apologies but when he talks on pensions its Gordon who speaks and its utter twoddle. Oops slipping to anger here again. Enough grovelling.
This picture from my friend Brian Tuckwell lightens the mood and pretty well sums up things I think for me these days. Enjoy and keep sending the comments.
I better shelve the idea of doing “Liberals shoot themselves in the foot” and I was saving the best to last especially after receiving Focus on Newton No273 and I’m just warming to Nick Clegover.
Apparently The Pensions Minister who I criticised the other day is her MP and a very good local MP. My apologies but when he talks on pensions its Gordon who speaks and its utter twoddle. Oops slipping to anger here again. Enough grovelling.
This picture from my friend Brian Tuckwell lightens the mood and pretty well sums up things I think for me these days. Enjoy and keep sending the comments.
Have a nise day
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