Car Park Charges & Local councillors
There was a time when we elected our councillors to represent our local views to the larger authority. Somewhere along the line we have strayed violently away from this democratic principle. Now we have our elected councillors telling us what is good for us. We are made to choose from artificial options created by overpaid over expensed beauracrats. We mere minions, should not interfer in things we don't understand.
As far as the Car park charges in Driffield are concerned Coun. Temple (the Author of this charging madness) , Fraser & Hall do not speak for most residents.
Since they are unable to represent the views of the Driffield public they should do the decent thing, consider their position and RESIGN.
The public's frustration with M.P's Bankers & civil service pay rises is reaching the end of the road.
Published Date:
08/04/2009
Modified Date:
08/04/2009
Traffic lights and other diversions
Further to the article on Baintons' new traffic lights, perhaps the Times/post reporters should investigate why roadworks have been allowed along the route of the diversion?
Was an order was issued to prevent any road works along the A614 for the duration of the A164 works (as is usual in these cases)? If so why and who allowed the installation of a footpath - which few if anyone will use - whilst this order was in place?
Published Date:
14/11/2008
Modified Date:
14/11/2008
Pants !
I recently came across a situation which has left me wondering if I am becoming a little prudish! It concerns the view in a certain large supermarket (in Bridlington). Now some should say that it is my own fault for being in lovely Brid, however my excuse is that I was helping a relative do some shopping and I'm sticking to that!
The story is pants or should I say underwear, in this case being worn by a couple of teenage lads in the shop. They were filling up one of those machines with loose change in full view of everyone in the store. Apart from being able to see most of their undies in a public place, one of them felt the need to scratch his bottom pushing said undies so low that he may as well not have had any on anyway! I managed to distract my niece who was with us however my elderly relative got an eyeful of his bottom. Rather than her being shocked she seemed to think quite amusing and commented afterwards that it had made her day.
Thing is I don't know if should feel prudish for being too protective towards my niece or maybe I don't understand fashion. Any suggestions anyone?
Published Date:
17/10/2008
Modified Date:
17/10/2008
That Bridge & Those tolls
Having finally summed up the courage to read the 'Humber Bridge Tolls Impact Assessment report' gasp, it has to be said that it is a wonderful piece of nonsense (that’s the nice way of putting it).
Now we all know that reports are commissioned by interested parties and therefore reflect what the interested parties want to say. This one however is rather thin on good reasons to do away with the tolls. Since it was the four councils which commissioned the thing you would think that they could come up with a few more good reasons that they have.
Worse still it is produced by a company in Notting Hill who clearly have no idea of where the Bridge is anyway!
As for the usual environmental patter that is waved about to justify matters the report seems rather minimalistic. To paraphrase 5.4.3 /5.4.4 Bus operators suggest toll reduction is unlikely to change their fares significantly & many trips are by residents with concessionary bus passes so a reduction in tolls would make it more likely that they would use their cars- not what the government wants to hear.
According to the report we don’t live in the East Riding but a 'city region' which includes Scunthorpe and Grimsby, Something that the idiots in London have been banging on about since the last great disaster of 'Humberside'.
Perhaps this would help the local councils out, the conclusions of this report are very clear: The Bridge does not work, it’s an expensive waste of money. Therefore pull it down and develop the region naturally. If we must go to Lincolnshire we can all go around by Goole & Boothferry & then we won't have the tolls to complain about.
That’s that sorted then!
Published Date:
12/10/2008
Modified Date:
12/10/2008
State of the roads - State of the Council
Over 10 years of neglect to the road network is coming home to roost for the East Riding Council.
There is a lot of propaganda pushed about how wonderful the East Riding Council is. In the latest East Riding News (propaganda magazine) there is a carefully worded survey about 'Pride' in the County - note, the county not the administration.
The facts however speak for themselves. There has been no major road improvement in the county since the demise of Humberside County Council.
In the 90's Borough long term strategy there were plans for relief roads to A614 Burton Agnes, Middleton on the Wolds & Bainton together with a raft of improvements to various dangerous bends and cambers. The present draught 10 year plan going through (very quietly) mentions non of these schemes... but does include spending for a road for Beverley. (is money spent anywhere else these days?)
The A614 & A1079 used to be trunked - that is, maintained by the national government Highways agency however a few years back responsibility was transferred to the ERYC, who were given money to maintain these roads. Anyone travelling from Bridlington to the Motorway will accept that the road is in an appalling condition in many parts. The A614 Middlethorpe bends near Londesborough, at Bainton, Kirkburn, Haisethorpe, Thornholme are all sinking. Repairs at Kellythorpe are laughable as the council have patched patches, where there were dips and holes there are raised bumps. What was the money spent on?
According to last years budget the council states it spends £33 million on highways - yet according to the highways department they spend only £1 million on the 'A' road network - what happened to the rest?
One thing the council are very good with is Paint & Signage. A plethora of signs are regularly put up telling us we can't do things. Copious speed limits - some quite ridiculous have appeared - all with horrible day glow signage & acres of paint, lines hatches you name it. Have a look at the artistic work on the road in Newport & Gilberdyke - that could be exhibited in the Tate Modern!
The list of failure of the council is endless. - its time to stop, rethink & have a new policy, attitude - and if necessary a change of management to the Maintenance of the highways.
Published Date:
14/09/2008
Modified Date:
14/09/2008
The great plastic bag swindle
This week I was left wondering just how much I had been misled by the drive to be green.
I actively recycle as much as I can, I take reusable carrier bags with me whenever I can, I try to avoid excess packaging and buy fresh food and goods from local traders wherever possible. This week however I am questioning certain businesses who seem to be taking advantage and profiting from people who are trying to go green.
For once I did not have a bag to hand and had purchased quite a lot of fiddly things that needed a bag. At the till I was told that " we only have recycled carrier bags and we charge 2p, is that alright?" It wasn't, I said so & the goods stayed in the basket at the till & I walked out. I know that these days 2p is not much, but I am sure that this 2p is already built in to the profit margin of most businesses. I dislike dishonesty and spin, after all if they will rip me off for 2p how else am I being conned?
I managed to get the goods from another local shop - actually cheaper and got a bag thrown in!
If local traders are to campaign against new shops in Driffield & expect their customers to be onside then they need to sort out their own customer service & ethics before imposing their objections to change and competition.
Published Date:
14/08/2008
Modified Date:
14/08/2008
Silliest media stories ever- until the next one
Once again we seem to be in silly season with regard to pointless and repetitive stories in the newspaper and the TV news. Sadly such is the nature of today’s rolling news and instantanious copy, the quality of some of the journalism is poor, verging on the desperate.
At this time of year desperate hacks open the 'Exam story' file and, as we have seen this week, we have started with the SATS marking fiasco. Next will be "GCSE's have never been so easy, followed" by 'A' level results so good that they must be dumbed down & easier than ever. Taking that argument to its conclusion it’s very unfair on the students, who, are studying what they are told to study, by teachers who are told to what teach, by a Government who is arguably influenced (if not told what to do) by certain large media corporations who have newspaper interests. We will soon be subjected to TV news pictures of the usual giggling, squeeling girls opening their results and the odd glum faced spotty lad who isn't going to Oxford now but the LSE - no steretypes there then!
Then of course we have the annual weather stories. Personally I seem to remember that summers were always a bit hit and miss. We had hot ones and wet ones in the 70's. Of course that’s no good to a poor hack who has to fill airtime or column inches (or is it centimetres now) Since there are no hosepipe bans this year so it must be global warming which has caused one of our British summers - which will no doubt turn out to be one of the wettest ever on record. If there is a nice September we will have a drought and later if a bit of rain and snow falls it will turn into the worst winter for years.
Indeed closer to home the Driffield Show was the busiest ever this year - until the next busiest one! We have the worst housing crisis for years due to a drop in house prices - was it only a few months ago those prices were too high for people to afford? A recession looms like it has never happened before and for the first time we must tighten our belts. Do we not remember the early 90's the early 80's or the early 70's? could this one be just a bit late?
Do the media really think we are stupid or are we so fed up with hearing all this guff that it goes over our heads? Of course the uncertainty with house prices did not happen until the media started talking up the problem saying how bad it will get. But thats another blog can of worms for later.
The point of all this ranting... just a thought,
Can we just have objective reporting - print the facts as they are and let us viewers, listeners & readers make up our own minds?
Ta.
Published Date:
19/07/2008
Modified Date:
19/07/2008
Hole bumps or signs?
It is apparent that the condition of the roads in the East Riding is deteriorating fast. Little new building has been done and the transport infrastructure is starting to fall apart.
All this is surprising since the last council budget showed spending of £33 million on transport. They also made the first of their ‘Promises’ which was to repair potholes within 24 hours. Of course the devil is in the details and in this case in the central office of information’s legal definition of a pothole. A dangerous pothole has to be a certain diameter – which is dependant on the class of road, further more it has to have almost vertical sides. Even better a ‘fix’ means someone popping along with a bit of asphalt and bunging it in the offending hole – usually creating a bump rather than a hole. This has led to patches on patches on patches. The result is that either the hole gets bigger around the temporary repair of it comes out in a few months.
There is absolutely no excuse for certain roads to be in such a poor condition. The (A) roads could be in a far better condition. As I understand the legislation the council receives 50% of the cost of repairing (A) roads of which the A614 falls into that category after the government handed it over to the council a few years back. It is however a primary route - identified by green signage - and is subject to monthly monitoring.
So why are the counties roads in such a bad state? To begin I have to question the ability and ethos of the highways department. They just love their signs, the bigger, the more day glow the more high-tech the better. I understand a flashing speed limit sign comes in at around £10,000. At Bainton & Middlethorpe bend on the A614, rather than repair the foundations and fix the road properly they have put bumpy road signs up. Do we really need a £10,000 flashing sign to tell us there is a mini roundabout in Middleton-on-the-Wolds?
A little forward thinking is and a change of attitude to the road network is requires by this authority. What is the point of promoting Bridlington as a tourist resort if you are so shaken apart on the road getting to it?
I’ll no doubt be muttering about pointless speed limits at another time, however if you need to report something there is a very good website, fixmystreet.com, which you can highlight all sorts of problems. As well as making the report a matter of public record they also report it to the relevant council for you. You can also get to contact your local M.P. & Councillors.
Till next time
Published Date:
09/07/2008
Modified Date:
09/07/2008