Well done to the Lord’s who have just voted against extending the pre-charge period from 28 days to 42 days.
Common sense finally prevailing after an intriguing debate, with cross party condemnation of this proposal!
I’m glad the Government has now shelved this aspect of the bill, rather than trying to push it through using the Parliament Act.
I watched the Tory party conference in Birmingham and I have a few questions for the ruling Conservative group on Walsall Council.
In one of his earlier speeches David Cameron laid all the blame for the credit crunch and rising oil / petrol /food / gas / electric prices at the door of Labour. He said he understood the difficulties being experienced by “hard pressed families” and had policies that would help – although he gave no detail.
Next day though George Osborne said that the credit crunch, rising oil / petrol /food / gas / electric prices were international problems and he was not able to offer any help! The one promise he did make however was to freeze Council Tax bills for 2 years, although this did have a catch: “We are going into partnership with local councils. If they find matched savings in their town hall, we will give them these savings from Whitehall … Every council tax bill of every family in every council that takes part will be frozen.”
This brings me to my questions to the ruling Conservative group:
a) Do they intend to join Cameron’s partnership, if the Tories become the next government?
b) If so can they produce full details of the savings they would make (ie services they would cut) to achieve the freeze on Council Tax?
c) If there are savings identified (that can be made without having a detrimental impact on services) why have they not implemented these and set a lower Council Tax increase over the last few years they have been in charge?
The general election is likely to be in 2010, the same year we have the next council elections, so it seems reasonable to ask these questions so that we the voters are in full possession of the impacts of voting Conservative.
I read with interest the article about Councillor Anthony Harris’s much publicised campaign to oust “unsightly yellow Speed cameras” from Walsall. He claims that the cameras do not cut accidents but are simply targeting motorists to raise money for the Treasury.
I asked myself what action has been taken, as part of his review, to (a) consult residents who may have campaigned for a camera to be erected or (b) alter upwards the speed limits on the roads where cameras are being removed? If the cameras, which are set to catch people exceeding the set speed limit, are to go then by implication he believes the speed limits on those roads must be set too low. Perhaps he feels there should be no limits? If the limits are however to remain because they are felt to be right in the circumstances, how can he claim that the cameras are just cash raising items? What deterrent does he see being used to ensure drivers stick to a speed determined as “safe” for the prevailing road conditions? We’ve all seen people driving at stupid speeds, without any thought for other road users or pedestrians.
Personally I have little sympathy with many of the drivers caught speeding (some on several occasions), they can clearly afford to be hit in the pocket by a speeding fine. I know it is a popular view to dislike speed cameras (even being promoted by some as clever to vandalise them), but I wish we could have a rational debate about their use. What does Cllr Harris attribute the continuing decline in road deaths to, particularly as we have an ever increasing number of cars and drivers?
It’s a pity that the 3 day planning hearing (APP/V4630/V/08/1202859) that started on 15th July had to be adjourned and is not now due to be heard until 20th & 21st November.
The proposal, submitted by Bliss Sand & Gravel Co in 2006 (06/0169/OL), will see a new entrance to the quarry which means the lorries will not have to use Branton Hill Lane.
Let’s hope that the application is approved the Planning Inspector so the problems residents have been protesting about recently can be eliminated.
There is a lot being written about getting kids involved in more sporting activities and getting youths off the streets.With this in mind I wrote to the council about the tennis courts at Aldridge Airport. One is not set up to use at all, whilst the other needs work to repair the surface and remove vegetation.
Here is the reply I’ve received:
“The reason for there only being one tennis court erected is that we are looking at developing the redundant tennis court, in the long term, into a Multi Use Games Area. Short term works that will be occurring in the near future to improve the one tennis court include the removal of all encroaching vegetation plus repairs to the hole in the tennis court fence.
Unfortunately Aldridge Airport is not categorised in the Green Spaces Strategy as being as site of borough importance & therefore there are no current plans to majorly develop the site or to produce a Maintenance & Management Plan.
Please note that further works are envisaged to continue the refurbishment of the play area and following the recent completion of the Outdoor Adventure Centre we are looking at implementing wider community activities at the centre.”
I will keep monitoring progress at the Airport.
I was listening to a debate yesterday about whether pupils should be taught about the slave trade.
I believe it is important to teach kids historical events, including the slave trade - if only so they understand how our freedoms were gained and to try and prevent mistakes from being repeated!
With the slave trade the context at the time is important - i.e. lots of nations were involved including many in Africa and Asia who traded their own people into slavery.
Also in UK at the time many of its population where effectively no more than slaves themselves and concern for their welfare, let alone slaves, was not a high priority.
As important is to teach the efforts Britain put into trying to bring the whole trade to an end after it ceased involvement in 1807.
I was surprised to find the toilets at the bus station were closed when I was in the town centre on Tuesday. Looking in Aldridge the public toilets are closed completely on Sunday, as are ones in Willenhall. This creates a number of problems when the public cannot find a toilet open.
At the weekend I visited Richmond and was impressed by the Lib Dem council’s innovative idea to overcome the problem the public faced trying to find a toilet - they simply pay premises like pubs and restaurants a small sum each year (£600) to open up their toilet facilities to non-customers.
I’ve written to Walsall council to ask if Walsall is one of the 100 authorities looking at the Richmond community toilet scheme, as it seems to me that this is a great scheme and one that Walsall should adopt to provide its residents with a much needed increased facility.
If you want to know abouh the Community Toilet Scheme here is a link: www.richmond.gov.uk/home/transport_and_streets/road_and_pathway_maintenance/public_conveniences/community_toilet_scheme
I recently wrote to Travel West Midlands to find out if they have a programme detailing when the buses they operate on routes serving Aldridge will be replaced with the new style buses (like the 997), or at least refurbished in the new red and white livery.
I’m advised that the repainting of the buses in the new colours is being undertaken as quickly as possible, but they have no firm date when this will be completed. In regards to new buses they would only say that their aim is to have replaced all old style buses by the end of 2012 .
Rosie’s Walk & Festival 2008
Saturday 5th July. Friends and former school pals dressed in best summer gear (as bright and as loud as you can imagine), ignored the showers to walk from Aldridge to Walsall (pushing a paddling pool and palm tree) and raised some £500 towards the charity. This was a curtain-raiser to the annual walk.
Sunday 13th July at Aldridge Airfield. Some 2000 people turned out, this time in glorious sunshine to walk - doing either 3 miles or a toddle mile. Whilst it will be several weeks before all pledges are collected, it is believed that at least £11,000 has been raised.
For more details, about the walk and the Rosie Ross charity - Rosie’s Helping Hands click here: http://www.rosieshelpinghands.org
Police-recorded crime in England and Wales fell 9% in the 12 months to March, yet the level of falling violent crime in particular seems at odds with the public’s perception of their chances of being attacked.
The first reliable figures for knife crime showed there were 22,000 offences last year - 2303 of these were in West Midlands force area.
The annual crime report for 2007-2008 reveals the longest recorded period of falling crime in living memory - down 48% from 1995.
It shows there were five million recorded crimes. All the main categories were down, including violent crime and sex offences, but drug offences were up 18%, gun crime was up 2% and murder was up 3%. The latest figures show that offences are concentrated in hotspots and not evenly spread around England and Wales.
It’s sad therefore that while the risk of being a victim is at its lowest ever level, people still think that the rate is going up. I personally don’t think the media help - covering in gruesome detail every instance to sell papers or gain viewers. Until recently you would only become aware of local instances, but now if a person is attacked anywhere in the country it on the news within minutes.
Whilst there is still a lot to do to reduce these figures further - particularly around knife and gun crime, I do think we should acknowledge the progress that has been made over the past 30 years!
