Near or Far the Tories are quite dangerous.

In our local area and noted in these pages, there is a record that the Tories cull trees including Oak. These are the natural inheritance that belongs to us all. So as I write this the future of the England’s Forests are on a blade edge, as the Creagh for the Labour Party acts in Parliament to pull back these Forests from passing away, to become the property of a few and no longer our Countries inheritance. How dare they act in this way.
I understand from the reports, for instance in the Independent that this will cost the Tax Payer 2.2million pounds to have our inheritance snatched away. HOW DARE THEY.

Standing on the edge

Standing, watching, its hard to see if there is order in seeming chaos.
Surely people talking all night in Westminster, giving doctors all our money so that they can give it to consortiums,
yet taking it away from young people who want to grow as people and be educated more, but they are a bit financially poor.

Are we creating a circle where only a few reach the top?

Really interested to hear what the new government has handed down to Southend later today, it will I’m sure give me an idea of how they value local people and communities.

Designing Pedestrians Out

Just come through the town centre.
Its clear and obvious to me that the needs of people are way down on the list for our towns.
By Victoria station the rain is lashing down, yet the cover to protect pedestrians on the escalators is not there. Pretty glass stuff over the top, but no rain protection and a brilliant wind tunnel. Do many of our Councillors get out of their cars and check these things? How often do you see them walking round our streets.
Loads of money went to create this entrance to the shopping area. It was North Atlantic money and was supposed to link the transport to the Towns infrastructure-trouble is as well as being wet, once the shopping area is closed -thats it -it doesn’t go anywhere as the shopping centre doors stay firmly shut! The rain doesn’t drain away adequately off the steps that are adjacent to the escalator either they only take you to the same closed doors. Miles of metal fencing herd people like cattle to walk unnecessary distances to reach places, yet the cars sail through, oblivious.
Wet and footweary, what a sad result when other parts of Europe achieved amazing outcomes with this same, long gone pot of money.
Should we expect more?

Is spam off the menu?

It seems that for the Conservatives and their supporters money is to them as Spam is to the Monty Python Team.
They fiddle as Rome burns in Kursaal ward,children threatened by overcrowded schools,heathy trees felled,alcohol controls relaxed, lights erected on the seafront yet no solar panels, and to add to this, high-rise buildings waiting in the wings for an appearance in Kursaal.
Conservative people expend their energy on backstabbing expeditions against those whose priorities are different. Time spent justifying why their elected representatives gave themselves more money while no expenditure had been incurred to justify this, creating stories that are worthy of the Booker Prize for fiction about members of the Kursaal Community and now it seems according to recent local blogs-stabbing their own in the back!.
Could it be that the enthusiasm that the Conservatives really have for the underprivildged in the town has more in common with the dead parrot sketch than the caring ,compassionate face of Conservatism?.
Footnote: The collision of my computer with concrete floor and the inability to care for it outside of the NHS has and will caused some delays in entries and responses for which I apologies!

The beauty must continue for all to enjoy.

Only through the efforts of local people has the wildlife of Southchurch Hall Gardens made it safely through the blizzard conditions we have experienced in recent days.

I think that this serves to illustrate how the Gardens are part of many people’s everyday lives whatever the time of year.
On a daily basis many of us made sure that the animals there had something to eat, to help sustain them in the sub-zero temperatures.
With sustained effort these gardens will remain an important asset for everyone to enjoy, including ensuring that Southchurch Hall Gardens becomes an Alcohol Free Zone as I have recently petitioned for.

The real deal

As we stand on the threshold,we are waiting, just waiting.
When the Danube burst its banks. we just watched as the slow devastation obliterated anything that stood in its way.
The ideological flood that spews from the jaws of the Tory elite, the undeserving poor, too many children, and those whose promotion means they earn too much for social housing, makes us viewers once more.
The ideology that is so in touch with its youth, that promotes its future as having the above aims and the aspirations of having a vote to Repeal the Hunting Ban.

Few people would argue that there is no link between the Countryside Alliance and the Political Right, and it was this Country Side Alliance that said in May 2009 (Daily Telegraph)-Hunting , Shooting and Fishing should be taught as part of the National curriculum.

The letter from the Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East 10.07.10, says he intends to vote for a reintroduction of Hunting, by repealing the Hunting Act, an Act that the last Government, a Labour Government, introduced.
As the Tories intend to take food from the mouths of people, it intends also to open the floodgates to those who wish to saw off the jaws of live foxes to teach Hounds to Hunt.(League Against Cruel Sports)

Pulling what?

Some joker said that we will all pull together in hard times..at times when we look forward to cuts in community support staff,housing benefit,child tax credit and lots lots more.
There will be some pulling,but it will be communities pulled apart.

As the X Factor is on the living rooms of the houses I pass,the dark streets hold more activity.
People with little left, inside and out.
Possessions in three-quarters of a black bin bag, being led into rooms to let by big fat guys with lots of keys who fall from silver cars of the Lexus kind.
Verbals going on across from house to house about whose let who down ‘cos “we ain’t got no money, so we can visit her even if she is upset”
Who ever she is could be waiting a long time.

Not sure if pulling together feels slightly different from this if you’re looking out over Thorpe Bay or at another millionnaire across the Cabinet table.

All speak…

I understand from the press today that David Cameron wants to build Britain by boosting the tourist industry.(Times 24.08.10)
Someone then should tell the Southend tory administration this news given the article
Kursaal Voice (7.08.10)
Maybe people might take him seriously if he had bothered to come to meet the delegation who decide if Britain should host the World Cup in 2018. Shame on him.
Another tale of tory self-interest. (Kursaal Voice 18.07.10)

Carnival-safe in Tory hands?

There is a noticeable absence of the multinational firms in this years procession.
If this is an indication that companies are not able to be supporters of the arts, central and local government must consider the impact of withdrawing funds from such ventures. While good will and volunteering have a place, the quality of output is vital to stage events such as Southend Carnival. These events are the bread and butter which a prolonged tourist season and upon which Kursaal businesses depend. As can be seen from the photo of the Mexican dancer from”Rampage”(who are in part Arts Council funded) quality counts. I hope that Carnival and art projects in the Kursaal ward can rest assured that the Tory administration will take care of them.

It’s carnival

Just to let you know what seems to be happening in some of our roads on Saturday August 21st during the Carnival Procession.

The entrance and exit for roads on to and from Marine Parade in Kursaal will close.
The anticipated time of closure will from 5pm, (but it could be as late as 7.30pm) until 11pm.
There will be no resident’s passes.
Entrance and exit to and from roads of the residential areas by Hartington Road will be via Lucy Rd/Herbert Rd.
There is not expected to be a manned barrier here, just a single barrier with signage saying:
‘Access for residents only’ with the hope that visitors might not come looking for free parking.
The choice for most residents will be do not even anticipate leaving or returning home using a car on Saturday.
Please have your car parked by early morning and do not move it, as parking spaces will not be available.
Those of us who may need to go to work during those times, especially those nurses who live in the area, maybe your boss might understand the reason why you just can’t make it in Saturday!