Gordon Brown said that government's first responsibility is to protect its citizens.
However, as more and more details are revealed following the missing CD-Rom affair I don't see how this can be true.
For example: the package containing the CDs could have been lost by one of three carriers, not TNT as originally stated; six weeks ago another package of CDs was lost in the post, this one containing records of phone conversations to an HMRC helpline; the Scottish government has also lost the pension information of another 200 people; since 1997 various government departments have lost approximately 1987 laptops, containing who knows what volume of personal data.
And all this information has to be teased out of the government, as if they were some naughty schoolboy, rather than the body responsible for protecting the country.
It really is difficult to understand the levels of incompetence shown by them
Wednesday 28 November 2007
Tuesday 27 November 2007
Another Waste of Taxpayers' Money
You would need to have been living in a cave over the last week for you not to be aware that the personal details of 25 million people have been 'misplaced' by HMRC.
Why then, at a conservative estimate of several million pounds, was it deemed necessary to write to every recipient of child benefit to apologise?
I'd much prefer that my tax money was spend on slightly better security (such as recorded delivery!) to ensure this didn't happen again.
Why then, at a conservative estimate of several million pounds, was it deemed necessary to write to every recipient of child benefit to apologise?
I'd much prefer that my tax money was spend on slightly better security (such as recorded delivery!) to ensure this didn't happen again.
Tuesday 20 November 2007
Party, Brewery, Organise...
'Tis the season of goodwill to all, and down in government do they mean all.
Firstly the Chancellor loans £24 billion to Northern Rock, more in hope than expectation of seeing the money returned.
Then, should any of the 25 million names of the 'lost' computer discs be defrauded, the government will reimburse their losses. As usual the long-suffering tax payer will pick up the tab.
Just when we thought they couldn't get any worse, Alistair Darling's statement in the Commons today exposed greater levels of negligence and incompetence than I thought possible. Gordon Brown states that a government's first priority is to protect its citizens and then they manage to lose the personal details of 25 million people, including National Insurance numbers and bank account details - exactly the kind of information of use to terrorists.
As always with 'New Labour' the buck will stop at some poor middle or junior ranking civil servant, and the elected Minister will announce an enquiry and cling to his job.
If you ever defined power for its own sake you would see a picture of the Labour cabinet.
Darling said that the van carrying these discs belongs to TNT, who work for the government carrying internal mail. I've seen these vans displaying a sign which reads 'carrying internal mail only' and have assumed this was TNT's own post; I never realised this internal mail was highly confidential information about you, me and our loved ones.
As Eddie Mair said today on Radio 4, would you trust this 'bunch of incompetents' (his words not mine) to run an identity card scheme.
I've said this before elsewhere, but I'll say it again: this lot no longer have the moral authority to govern us, and it's time they gave all of us the ability to vote whether they stay or are replaced.
Firstly the Chancellor loans £24 billion to Northern Rock, more in hope than expectation of seeing the money returned.
Then, should any of the 25 million names of the 'lost' computer discs be defrauded, the government will reimburse their losses. As usual the long-suffering tax payer will pick up the tab.
Just when we thought they couldn't get any worse, Alistair Darling's statement in the Commons today exposed greater levels of negligence and incompetence than I thought possible. Gordon Brown states that a government's first priority is to protect its citizens and then they manage to lose the personal details of 25 million people, including National Insurance numbers and bank account details - exactly the kind of information of use to terrorists.
As always with 'New Labour' the buck will stop at some poor middle or junior ranking civil servant, and the elected Minister will announce an enquiry and cling to his job.
If you ever defined power for its own sake you would see a picture of the Labour cabinet.
Darling said that the van carrying these discs belongs to TNT, who work for the government carrying internal mail. I've seen these vans displaying a sign which reads 'carrying internal mail only' and have assumed this was TNT's own post; I never realised this internal mail was highly confidential information about you, me and our loved ones.
As Eddie Mair said today on Radio 4, would you trust this 'bunch of incompetents' (his words not mine) to run an identity card scheme.
I've said this before elsewhere, but I'll say it again: this lot no longer have the moral authority to govern us, and it's time they gave all of us the ability to vote whether they stay or are replaced.
Monday 19 November 2007
Welbeck Part 2
Unfortunately the application to extend the opening hours was granted recently.
We can look forward to more rubbish, more vermin, more traffic & more noise.
Thank you Wakefield MDC
We can look forward to more rubbish, more vermin, more traffic & more noise.
Thank you Wakefield MDC
Support Your Local Soldier, Sailor & Air Crew
Wakefield MDC was established in 1974 & has always returned a Labour council. In the last 33 years the council has never adopted any policy proposed by the Conservative group, irrespective of its merits.
This suggests to me that the Labour group acts on its own narrow self interests, and doesn't therefore always act for the benefit of Wakefield's population.
A case in point: at the last council meeting a Conservative councillor suggested offering free access to sports facilities throughout the district for serving armed forces personnel & their dependents living in the WMDC area.
This seems to me a way for us to show support for military personnel irrespective of our views on Blair's cavalier wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, and at minimal cost to the council & tax payers.
The ruling Labour group paid lip service to the idea & then put forward several weak objections, which meant that the suggestion was kicked into the long grass, never to be seen again.
This suggests to me that the Labour group acts on its own narrow self interests, and doesn't therefore always act for the benefit of Wakefield's population.
A case in point: at the last council meeting a Conservative councillor suggested offering free access to sports facilities throughout the district for serving armed forces personnel & their dependents living in the WMDC area.
This seems to me a way for us to show support for military personnel irrespective of our views on Blair's cavalier wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, and at minimal cost to the council & tax payers.
The ruling Labour group paid lip service to the idea & then put forward several weak objections, which meant that the suggestion was kicked into the long grass, never to be seen again.
Wakefield Youth Conference
On Saturday 24th November a group of young people have organised the 1st Wakefield Youth Conference (www.myspace.com/wakeyyouthconference) taking place at City Limits Young People's Centre on Thornhill Street.
The event is to establish a Youth Council for Wakefield which will then be able to lobby the full council ensuring that young people have an input on decisions made locally that will have an effect on them.
Food and refreshments are provided totally free, and it starts at 10.45am, and there are, amongst others, media, environment and drama activities taking place.
As CJ Cregg said in The West Wing (but probably someone else said first) 'decisions are made by those who show up' so I hope anyone eligible reading this turns up, and encourages others to do the same.
The event is to establish a Youth Council for Wakefield which will then be able to lobby the full council ensuring that young people have an input on decisions made locally that will have an effect on them.
Food and refreshments are provided totally free, and it starts at 10.45am, and there are, amongst others, media, environment and drama activities taking place.
As CJ Cregg said in The West Wing (but probably someone else said first) 'decisions are made by those who show up' so I hope anyone eligible reading this turns up, and encourages others to do the same.
Sunday 11 November 2007
David Who?
During his recent interview with Michael Parkinson, David Cameron told the story of his chat with Kate Moss.
Cameron said he was lost for words as he approached her, so started waffling on about flooding. If only he'd asked me, I could have given him some opening conversational gambits such as: 'Finally dumped the junkie boyfriend then?' or 'Given up cocaine yet?' or even 'What do you actually do?'
I'm not sure who comes out worse from this tale; Cameron with his Blair-like desperation to be 'cool', or Moss demonstrating a lack of awareness of the 'wider world'.
One thing is for certain though; I don't want my Prime Minister to behave like some tongue-tied sycophantic teenager, but rather to act statesman-like with authority and gravitas.
Cameron said he was lost for words as he approached her, so started waffling on about flooding. If only he'd asked me, I could have given him some opening conversational gambits such as: 'Finally dumped the junkie boyfriend then?' or 'Given up cocaine yet?' or even 'What do you actually do?'
I'm not sure who comes out worse from this tale; Cameron with his Blair-like desperation to be 'cool', or Moss demonstrating a lack of awareness of the 'wider world'.
One thing is for certain though; I don't want my Prime Minister to behave like some tongue-tied sycophantic teenager, but rather to act statesman-like with authority and gravitas.
Wednesday 31 October 2007
La Vida Espanola
I've just enjoyed a week's holiday with my wife & daughter in Andalucia and, as usual when I return home after a break, I've been reflecting on the sad decline within the UK.
I know that in October we don't enjoy weather to enable outdoor socialising; however, one of my favourite activities is to sit outside a local bar talking to my family, and watching and listening to several generations of the same family enjoying time together - no-one is texting or talking on their mobile, and the young have respect for their parents and grandparents.
Even when groups of teenagers (it would be wrong to call them gangs) were out together their enjoyment was not based on aggressive, intimidating anti-social behaviour, they didn't need to hide behind either hoodies or the excuse of being bored.
We were pleased to see several individuals, sitting in a square (wi-fi enabled!)using their laptops; I'm sure that at home there would have been the constant fear of being mugged. Whilst walking back to our hotel around midnight we passed several women on their own who were quite safe.
As a society we really do seem to have lost our way.
I know that in October we don't enjoy weather to enable outdoor socialising; however, one of my favourite activities is to sit outside a local bar talking to my family, and watching and listening to several generations of the same family enjoying time together - no-one is texting or talking on their mobile, and the young have respect for their parents and grandparents.
Even when groups of teenagers (it would be wrong to call them gangs) were out together their enjoyment was not based on aggressive, intimidating anti-social behaviour, they didn't need to hide behind either hoodies or the excuse of being bored.
We were pleased to see several individuals, sitting in a square (wi-fi enabled!)using their laptops; I'm sure that at home there would have been the constant fear of being mugged. Whilst walking back to our hotel around midnight we passed several women on their own who were quite safe.
As a society we really do seem to have lost our way.
The Lottery of Life
For me the saddest story of the week concerned David Hill & his 6 year old daughter Chantelle.
Mr Hill, from Darlington, is suffering from lung cancer and needs a drug called Tarceva to help prolong his life. However, this drug is not available on the NHS in England, where it is deemed not to be 'an effective use of NHS resources', although it IS available in Scotland, home obviously of the Prime Minister.
Determined to help her father, little Chantelle has been fundraising in her hometown and has so far raised £4000 to pay for her father's treatment for two months.
Cases like this, and that of the Velcaid Three, and even Jane Tomlinson (who was denied a life-prolonging drug shortly before her death because she lived in the wrong area) demonstrate again and again that the Labour government has lost the moral authority to rule over us.
I wonder how people like Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling & Alan Johnson sleep at night.
Mr Hill, from Darlington, is suffering from lung cancer and needs a drug called Tarceva to help prolong his life. However, this drug is not available on the NHS in England, where it is deemed not to be 'an effective use of NHS resources', although it IS available in Scotland, home obviously of the Prime Minister.
Determined to help her father, little Chantelle has been fundraising in her hometown and has so far raised £4000 to pay for her father's treatment for two months.
Cases like this, and that of the Velcaid Three, and even Jane Tomlinson (who was denied a life-prolonging drug shortly before her death because she lived in the wrong area) demonstrate again and again that the Labour government has lost the moral authority to rule over us.
I wonder how people like Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling & Alan Johnson sleep at night.
Sunday 28 October 2007
No Wonder Voters Treat Politicians With Contempt...
...because the politicians treat their electors the same way.
Let me explain: recently I took my daughter to an event at Xscape, Castleford in support of the Mayor's charity fundraising. At the same event were many local councillors, including husband-and-wife team Clive & Heather Hudson.
Like me, I believe that both Cllrs Hudson are in rude health and DO NOT possess a disabled badge for their car, which displays a distinctive personalised registration plate.
I was therefore, surprised to see this car parked in a disabled space.
Given their positions of local prominance, perhaps they could both show a little more consideration to those less fortunate.
Let me explain: recently I took my daughter to an event at Xscape, Castleford in support of the Mayor's charity fundraising. At the same event were many local councillors, including husband-and-wife team Clive & Heather Hudson.
Like me, I believe that both Cllrs Hudson are in rude health and DO NOT possess a disabled badge for their car, which displays a distinctive personalised registration plate.
I was therefore, surprised to see this car parked in a disabled space.
Given their positions of local prominance, perhaps they could both show a little more consideration to those less fortunate.
Sunday 14 October 2007
Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS
90 patients die from MRSA & C.difficile infections in hospitals run by Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
In a move possibly unique within this government, where abject failure and lack of responsibility are watchwords, Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, has ordered the NHS trust to withhold severance payments from its former Chief Executive, Rose Gibb.
Johnson described the deaths as 'scandalous' and Medical Director Dr Malcom Stewart said that the trust 'was changing the way it offered services internally and externally, opening an independent sector treatment centre, managing a financial deficit as well as applying for foundation trust status.' Silly me, I thought doctors were interested in making the sick better!
One of the causes of the huge increases in hospital infections is the constant pressure from both this government and the previous one, to reduce costs within the NHS. This led to cleaning being subcontracted, the removal of the all-powerful Matron, and hospitals employing armies of paper shufflers. Hospitals exist to make us better when ill, and every patient MUST be treated with basic human dignity.
Ms Gibb, previously Chief Exec of North Middlesex Hospital when it was labeled the worst in the country for cases of MRSA, was this week described as being obsessed with targets. Given that the Labour government is itself obsessed with targeting and measuring everything, but not actually improving much, I would have thought that she would have been Labour's poster girl, not its scapegoat.
In a move possibly unique within this government, where abject failure and lack of responsibility are watchwords, Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, has ordered the NHS trust to withhold severance payments from its former Chief Executive, Rose Gibb.
Johnson described the deaths as 'scandalous' and Medical Director Dr Malcom Stewart said that the trust 'was changing the way it offered services internally and externally, opening an independent sector treatment centre, managing a financial deficit as well as applying for foundation trust status.' Silly me, I thought doctors were interested in making the sick better!
One of the causes of the huge increases in hospital infections is the constant pressure from both this government and the previous one, to reduce costs within the NHS. This led to cleaning being subcontracted, the removal of the all-powerful Matron, and hospitals employing armies of paper shufflers. Hospitals exist to make us better when ill, and every patient MUST be treated with basic human dignity.
Ms Gibb, previously Chief Exec of North Middlesex Hospital when it was labeled the worst in the country for cases of MRSA, was this week described as being obsessed with targets. Given that the Labour government is itself obsessed with targeting and measuring everything, but not actually improving much, I would have thought that she would have been Labour's poster girl, not its scapegoat.
Saturday 13 October 2007
Thursday 11 October 2007
Wednesday 10 October 2007
Election 2007
During today's Prime Minister's Questions (soon to be renamed Prime Minister's Inability to Give a Straight Answer) Gordon the Ditherer poured scorn on the country's desire for an election, saying only 26 people had signed an on-line petition requesting an election this year.
There are now just under 3000; to add your name click on the link below:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Election-year/
Obviously a politician's primary responsibility is to cling onto power and status for as long as is humanly possible, so I wouldn't expect a petition with 10 million signatures would sway Brown & his cohorts, but you can't blame us for trying.
There are now just under 3000; to add your name click on the link below:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Election-year/
Obviously a politician's primary responsibility is to cling onto power and status for as long as is humanly possible, so I wouldn't expect a petition with 10 million signatures would sway Brown & his cohorts, but you can't blame us for trying.
Saturday 6 October 2007
If Parliament Is Not Dead, It's Certainly Not Very Well
At about 4.15pm today the BBC announced that there would be no General Election held this year or next.
Throughout its 10 years in power, the Labour government has consistently and continuously ignored parliamentary process and chosen to unveil its plans by talking to its friends in the media.
Today's news, which should have been announced in the House of Commons where the Prime Minister would have been subject to more stringent questioning than that of Andrew Marr , is just the latest example of this.
When anointed PM, Gordon Brown promised a return to trust & integrity in politics; his cynical photo opportunities and spin-driven press releases highlight that the emperor has only acquired some new clothes
Throughout its 10 years in power, the Labour government has consistently and continuously ignored parliamentary process and chosen to unveil its plans by talking to its friends in the media.
Today's news, which should have been announced in the House of Commons where the Prime Minister would have been subject to more stringent questioning than that of Andrew Marr , is just the latest example of this.
When anointed PM, Gordon Brown promised a return to trust & integrity in politics; his cynical photo opportunities and spin-driven press releases highlight that the emperor has only acquired some new clothes
Wednesday 3 October 2007
Too Little Chocolate Gives Keynsham a Headache
Today's Cadbury Schweppes announced the closure of its factory in Keynsham and the loss of 700 British jobs as they move production to Poland, of products such as Crunchie and Dairy Milk.
Keynsham is a town of about 15500 residents, of whom 500 work for Cadbury (the other 200 jobs will be lost in Bournville). It has been suggested that Cadbury will sell the site for the development of 'much needed housing' in the town; I wonder how the people of Keynsham will be able to afford a mortgage now!
This news set me thinking about men such as Titus Salt, Joseph Rowntree and George Cadbury, men who created large profitable companies, but who also realised that a business was profitable in areas that couldn't be measured in pure monetary terms. They accepted their social responsibility to the communities in which they were based, and set about funding leisure and welfare facilities, and housing for the benefit of their employees.
I wonder how much consideration the Chairman of Cadbury Schweppes, Sir John Sunderland (or indeed Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, the Chairman & CEO of Nestle) gave to his social responsibility before deciding to close the factory in Keynsham.
Perhaps a protest fall in sales would make the company rethink its strategy.
Keynsham is a town of about 15500 residents, of whom 500 work for Cadbury (the other 200 jobs will be lost in Bournville). It has been suggested that Cadbury will sell the site for the development of 'much needed housing' in the town; I wonder how the people of Keynsham will be able to afford a mortgage now!
This news set me thinking about men such as Titus Salt, Joseph Rowntree and George Cadbury, men who created large profitable companies, but who also realised that a business was profitable in areas that couldn't be measured in pure monetary terms. They accepted their social responsibility to the communities in which they were based, and set about funding leisure and welfare facilities, and housing for the benefit of their employees.
I wonder how much consideration the Chairman of Cadbury Schweppes, Sir John Sunderland (or indeed Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, the Chairman & CEO of Nestle) gave to his social responsibility before deciding to close the factory in Keynsham.
Perhaps a protest fall in sales would make the company rethink its strategy.
Monday 1 October 2007
Big Brother IS Watching You
Today the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 became law.
So what, you may ask.
This law demands that data about every telephone call made or received in this country has to be stored for 12 months and be made available, without a warrant or other legal document, to any one of 652 different public bodies, including every local authority in the land, the Environment Agency, the Inland Revenue and the Post Office, and others shown on the link below:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000023_en_12#sch1
Quite why the Post Office or the tax man wants to know who I've been talking to is beyond me.
And don't forget that mobile phone data includes information about your location when you were on your mobile.
Despite the government's claims, this has nothing to do with defeating terrorism, but has everything to do with the state's ongoing attempts to control its citizens
So what, you may ask.
This law demands that data about every telephone call made or received in this country has to be stored for 12 months and be made available, without a warrant or other legal document, to any one of 652 different public bodies, including every local authority in the land, the Environment Agency, the Inland Revenue and the Post Office, and others shown on the link below:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000023_en_12#sch1
Quite why the Post Office or the tax man wants to know who I've been talking to is beyond me.
And don't forget that mobile phone data includes information about your location when you were on your mobile.
Despite the government's claims, this has nothing to do with defeating terrorism, but has everything to do with the state's ongoing attempts to control its citizens
On The Subject Of...
Yesterday in my piece on falling lamp-posts I mentioned Wakefield's Interim Network Manager, and I spent a sleepless night wondering just what an Interim Network Manager does; does he manage networks in the interim, or do we have an interim network, and if so, what on earth is one?
A quick trawl of the local newspaper jobs section, and the council's web-site unearths the following positions available with the council: Support Co-ordinator - Facilities Co-ordination where the role involves managing & developing the Development and Support team, meeting existing and future needs for Neighbourhood Services, Departmental Management Teams and Facilities Co-ordination(!); Social Enterprise Facilitator; Cultural Officer, Heritage Learning and Access, including Renaissance (that's one job!) and Performance and E-Government Assistant.
If anyone can tell me what these positions contribute to our town please tell me; there might be a prize.
A quick trawl of the local newspaper jobs section, and the council's web-site unearths the following positions available with the council: Support Co-ordinator - Facilities Co-ordination where the role involves managing & developing the Development and Support team, meeting existing and future needs for Neighbourhood Services, Departmental Management Teams and Facilities Co-ordination(!); Social Enterprise Facilitator; Cultural Officer, Heritage Learning and Access, including Renaissance (that's one job!) and Performance and E-Government Assistant.
If anyone can tell me what these positions contribute to our town please tell me; there might be a prize.
Sunday 30 September 2007
Lamp-Post Attacks Man Shock
An unsafe street light at the junction of Wood Street & Westgate collapsed onto a pedestrian, causing him significant injury.
Possibly an unavoidable accident; actually NO. A local businessman reported the street light to the council three months ago.
However, Wakefield MDC's Interim Network Manager (?) hides behind the usual refuge of the inadequate: he has launched an investigation! It's not difficult: lamp was reported; no-one did anything; lamp fell over.
This is yet another example of the cavalier, arrogant and contemptuous way both Wakefield Council and the ruling Labour group run this city. When you get the chance, use your vote & kick them out. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO YOU.
Possibly an unavoidable accident; actually NO. A local businessman reported the street light to the council three months ago.
However, Wakefield MDC's Interim Network Manager (?) hides behind the usual refuge of the inadequate: he has launched an investigation! It's not difficult: lamp was reported; no-one did anything; lamp fell over.
This is yet another example of the cavalier, arrogant and contemptuous way both Wakefield Council and the ruling Labour group run this city. When you get the chance, use your vote & kick them out. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO YOU.
Wednesday 26 September 2007
Dr Omar Butt
Muslim dentist Omar Butt was today convicted by the General Dental Council of serious professional misconduct for refusing to treat a woman patient who wasn't wearing a headscarf.
Is this racial discrimination and if so, will the police investigate?
In his defence the dentist stated that, under Muslim law, it was unlawful for him to look at a woman who was not properly covered up.
Did I nod off? I thought that the law of England & Wales took precedent in this country; again, will the police investigate?
Don't hold your breath!
Is this racial discrimination and if so, will the police investigate?
In his defence the dentist stated that, under Muslim law, it was unlawful for him to look at a woman who was not properly covered up.
Did I nod off? I thought that the law of England & Wales took precedent in this country; again, will the police investigate?
Don't hold your breath!
Monday 24 September 2007
You Couldn't Make It Up!
You may have heard about the three employees of Neath Port Talbot Council who left their posts (1 sacked, 2 resigned) after spending two hours per day on E-Bay whilst at work and being paid by the long-suffering council tax payers.
However, in the brave new world of New Labour the comment from Unison welfare officer Mark Fisher that 'temptation was put in their way' just confirms that the Looney Left is alive and kicking.
Given that presumably it took a while for management to realise that these three were shopping when they should have been working, it makes you wonder how many other staff this council could manage without.
However, in the brave new world of New Labour the comment from Unison welfare officer Mark Fisher that 'temptation was put in their way' just confirms that the Looney Left is alive and kicking.
Given that presumably it took a while for management to realise that these three were shopping when they should have been working, it makes you wonder how many other staff this council could manage without.
Saturday 22 September 2007
The True Cost of Cheap Clothing
Last weekend my daughter bought 2 new t-shirts, each costing about £5. The first came from a shop in Leeds Uni Students' Union and was made in the UK; the second came from Primark, a company which sources clothing in Bangladesh and claims on its web-site that it can sell so cheaply because it doesn't run advertising campaigns, passes on economies of scale and sells simple and therefore cheap to produce clothing.
However they also have stores in prime locations such as Oxford Street, London and The Headrow in Leeds.
A report by War on Want in 2006 discovered that the female workers employed in Bangladeshi sweat shops 'earn' 5p per hour working 90 hour weeks producing clothes for Primark, Asda (who sell a full school uniform for £10!) and others.
Please think carefully the next time you are tempted by the 'too cheap to be true' clothing offers on the High Street and in supermarkets. The price is higher than you think.
However they also have stores in prime locations such as Oxford Street, London and The Headrow in Leeds.
A report by War on Want in 2006 discovered that the female workers employed in Bangladeshi sweat shops 'earn' 5p per hour working 90 hour weeks producing clothes for Primark, Asda (who sell a full school uniform for £10!) and others.
Please think carefully the next time you are tempted by the 'too cheap to be true' clothing offers on the High Street and in supermarkets. The price is higher than you think.
Wednesday 12 September 2007
Paper Chase
Spot the odd one out:
- Household shredded paper from Wakefield
- Council shredded paper from Wakefield
- Household shredded paper from Leeds
Those who guessed 1 get a pat on the back. Quite why my or your shredded documents are any less worthy of recycling than our neighbours in Leeds, or than our local elected representatives is yet another inconsistency from our beloved council.
Tuesday 28 August 2007
Welbeck
Tucked away amongst the planning applications for new garages and crown cleaning, is an application by Welbeck Waste Management to extend the operating hours of one of Europe's biggest landfill sites.
Below are some extracts from The Guardian from June 2002:
'Through an arch of trees on the bend of Stephen Gray's street is a look-out. Once, it offered a magnificent view of the tumbling fields of West Yorkshire, but the waist-high stinging nettles are evidence that nobody now pauses to look. That's not surprising because the view is of the two-mile-long site of Welbeck, one of Europe's biggest landfills. Its grey contours devour the Pennine landscape and obscure all but the very tip of Wakefield cathedral's spire.'
and
'The site has eaten away at more than just the horizon. Gray, a 47-year-old landscape gardener, says that some days the air is heavy with a stench like rotting cabbages and glue. In fine weather, so many flies get into his home he goes from room to room with a spray can in each hand. He is anxious about the litter from the site, which he says ends up on the surrounding countryside. Masses of seagulls feed on the dump and spread their own waste over the red-brick semis and bungalows of the estate.
Gray moved to the area three years ago and has since developed bronchitis. He had always been fit and active, he says, but now struggles to walk 100 yards and has a pounding head. His eldest son now has blotches on his skin, and his daughter's pregnancy is blighted by anxiety about the health hazards posed by the tip. Also, residents have to put up with the constant churning, banging and crashing of the diggers that work on spreading and layering some 560,000 tonnes of waste a year (Welbeck is authorised to take up to 1m tonnes), 60% of which is from household collections in and around Wakefield. "It's preying on us all the time," Gray says.'
The application number is 07/02400/FUL; the officer in charge of the case is Mike Pinder. His phone number is 01924 306586.
I urge you to find out what's going on; your local councillor holds regular surgeries - visit one & tell the councillor your vote depends on this application being thrown out.
Below are some extracts from The Guardian from June 2002:
'Through an arch of trees on the bend of Stephen Gray's street is a look-out. Once, it offered a magnificent view of the tumbling fields of West Yorkshire, but the waist-high stinging nettles are evidence that nobody now pauses to look. That's not surprising because the view is of the two-mile-long site of Welbeck, one of Europe's biggest landfills. Its grey contours devour the Pennine landscape and obscure all but the very tip of Wakefield cathedral's spire.'
and
'The site has eaten away at more than just the horizon. Gray, a 47-year-old landscape gardener, says that some days the air is heavy with a stench like rotting cabbages and glue. In fine weather, so many flies get into his home he goes from room to room with a spray can in each hand. He is anxious about the litter from the site, which he says ends up on the surrounding countryside. Masses of seagulls feed on the dump and spread their own waste over the red-brick semis and bungalows of the estate.
Gray moved to the area three years ago and has since developed bronchitis. He had always been fit and active, he says, but now struggles to walk 100 yards and has a pounding head. His eldest son now has blotches on his skin, and his daughter's pregnancy is blighted by anxiety about the health hazards posed by the tip. Also, residents have to put up with the constant churning, banging and crashing of the diggers that work on spreading and layering some 560,000 tonnes of waste a year (Welbeck is authorised to take up to 1m tonnes), 60% of which is from household collections in and around Wakefield. "It's preying on us all the time," Gray says.'
The application number is 07/02400/FUL; the officer in charge of the case is Mike Pinder. His phone number is 01924 306586.
I urge you to find out what's going on; your local councillor holds regular surgeries - visit one & tell the councillor your vote depends on this application being thrown out.
Monday 27 August 2007
Daily Mail & Violence
Normally I'm happy to announce myself as a regular Daily Mail reader.
However, Saturday 25th August's copy staggered me with its lack of thought: the first five pages were, quite correctly, covering the story of Rhys Davies' murder; its main magazine article about soccer 'hardman' Vinnie Jones is titled 'I may be a thug, but I'm a rich thug'.
Join the dots, children, and see that crime & violence do pay!
However, Saturday 25th August's copy staggered me with its lack of thought: the first five pages were, quite correctly, covering the story of Rhys Davies' murder; its main magazine article about soccer 'hardman' Vinnie Jones is titled 'I may be a thug, but I'm a rich thug'.
Join the dots, children, and see that crime & violence do pay!
Friday 24 August 2007
Rhys Davies
It is difficult to know where to begin to comment about the shocking slaughter of Rhys Davies yesterday.
In the jumble of thoughts and emotions several things have stuck out for me:
- the quiet yet heartbroken dignity of Rhys' dad;
- the pictures on the BBC 10 o'clock news of heavily armed para-military police on the streets of Liverpool (much too little, much too late);
- the shameful fact that the police have had to appeal for help in catching the killer - surely his parents know he's done this and will come forward to give Rhys' parents some tiny amount of comfort;
- the fact that only 150 people bothered to attend a vigil for Rhys - in a city the size of Liverpool 100 times that number would have been a poor turn-out
- and the knowledge that Rhys' murder is not an isolated feature; in England this year 17 other people 18 and under have been stabbed or shot to death
With each dreadful killing we all become a little less horrified.
I don't pretend to know why this is happening or how to stop it but will offer the following observations:
In the jumble of thoughts and emotions several things have stuck out for me:
- the quiet yet heartbroken dignity of Rhys' dad;
- the pictures on the BBC 10 o'clock news of heavily armed para-military police on the streets of Liverpool (much too little, much too late);
- the shameful fact that the police have had to appeal for help in catching the killer - surely his parents know he's done this and will come forward to give Rhys' parents some tiny amount of comfort;
- the fact that only 150 people bothered to attend a vigil for Rhys - in a city the size of Liverpool 100 times that number would have been a poor turn-out
- and the knowledge that Rhys' murder is not an isolated feature; in England this year 17 other people 18 and under have been stabbed or shot to death
With each dreadful killing we all become a little less horrified.
I don't pretend to know why this is happening or how to stop it but will offer the following observations:
- Children need a secure, stable & supportive life to help them grow; they need boundaries and to know right from wrong, and they need to understand praise for good and reprimand for bad
- This comes from both schools (where teachers have the legally supported ability to discipline misbehaviour) and, more importantly, home
- A quick trawl through Amazon or Game uncovers games promising extremes of disturbing violence, without consequence - let's not kid ourselves that age restrictions on PC games work - save the drip drip drip of desensitising of the player. Does this lead to a culture in which it becomes acceptable, encouraged even, for some inadequates to pull the trigger, or push in the blade?
Together, the silent majority must drag the country back towards civility
Introducing Simon
Hello & welcome to some of my thoughts & opinions about the state of life in Britain, and more specifically, in Wakefield today.
I stood as candidate for the Conservatives in Stanley & Outwood East at the local elections in May 2007, and hope to do so again in May 2008, albeit a little more successfully!
In this blog I hope to give you a flavour of where I stand on both local and national issues so that you can form a better idea of who I am and, if you live in the ward, cast your vote accordingly.
Being in my (very early) 40s I'm of the generation that can't write or read 'text' so I will post here using English!
Please give me your responses to anything you read, whether positive or negative, and let's have a proper forum about the things that should concern us all.
Thanks for visiting
I stood as candidate for the Conservatives in Stanley & Outwood East at the local elections in May 2007, and hope to do so again in May 2008, albeit a little more successfully!
In this blog I hope to give you a flavour of where I stand on both local and national issues so that you can form a better idea of who I am and, if you live in the ward, cast your vote accordingly.
Being in my (very early) 40s I'm of the generation that can't write or read 'text' so I will post here using English!
Please give me your responses to anything you read, whether positive or negative, and let's have a proper forum about the things that should concern us all.
Thanks for visiting
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
