PaulRogan

Bradford, Calderdale & Kirklees Society of St George.

"Raising funds for Charities in the spirit of St George"

Chairman. David Stevenson Vice Chairman. Richard Langford www.saintgeorgetoday.org.uk

26^th May 2007. Press Release

At the inaugural meeting of the Society on 26^th May, attended by some 20 Patriots, the Chairman David Stevenson explained the aims and objectives of the Society and displayed the Presidents silver emblem of office which is suspended from a collaret of red and white. In presenting the collaret and jewel to the Societies first President former Elland Councillor Mick Clarke, David said, "We thank you for accepting this office and hope you will enjoy your term as our President. The St Georges jewel of our Society comes from a much older tradition than our very new Society in Bradford, Calderdale & Kirklees. But, the beliefs of St George who advocated helping the needy irrespective of rank, wealth or creed is as important today as it was when he was martyred."

Mick Clarke said, "I am very honoured and happy to be the Societies first president and will do my very best to promote what we have set out today to achieve. My wife Elaine has been very closely associated with the Elland Overgate Hospice and knows how much relief and essential help such institutions can bring. We already have some ideas for some fund raising events which will help contribute to those already planned in aid of this years nominated charity."

" I would like to announce that, in consultation with The Societies Chairman, David Stevenson, that I have decided to support the West Yorkshire Forget-me-not Trust Ltd., during my year as President. The Trust is raising funds to build a specialist children's respite centre and hospice in the local area and I am sure that St George would certainly approve!"

For further information please contact, David Stevenson, Chairman, 01484 717744, 07704892048

Upon what policy will the traditional Tory voters desert the spinning centre-left Tory top? There have been a string of instances when this might have happened, not the least of which is the alliance with the socialists on Calderdale Council. Perhaps the Grammar Schools issue will provide the final straw.

It is the biggest folly of social engineering to imagine that such schools are only for children of the rich and powerful. They are not. They are for those who are able and talented, irrespective of background. They assist the able to do better, and by encouraging the talented, they are for the benefit of all the people.

I know a number of local successful businessmen who came from ‘socially deprived areas', passed the 11-plus and have gone on from Grammar School to establish local businesses which are the life-blood of the local economy.

It seems ironic, that just days after that unpopular Tory who supported a schools selection system in Calderdale, widely considered to be anti-grammar schools lost his safe Tory seat in Skircoat, the National Tories now also ‘come out' as anti Grammar Schools.

IF, Grammar Schools count with you, and more besides

Don't put your trust in knaves who make spin their master

And risk it all on one game of pitch-and-toss.

If you cant bear to hear the lies they've spoken

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken

And - which is more - you'll become an English Democrat, my son!

I couldn't help picking up on a comment in the Echo's election round-up 10th May by newly elected Cllr Whittaker. He appears to have little patience with his fellow Councillors who 'dare' to change their minds.

The foundation of the democratic system depends upon some people who 'dare' to change their minds. It is this factor which brings about changes in Government and local MP's. A factor, I would have thought as CV Tory PPC, he would be welcoming rather than scorning!

Alternatively, is this another prime example of the usual Tory double-speak?

Finally, in a demonstration of 'Mass Duplicity' didn't the Tories fully endorse their Mayor elect's change of mind when he chose to dump Nick Yates as his Deputy?

Community Diary

23^th May                     Meet your Local Councillors. What are the plans for Brighouse? Black Bull, Thornton Sq. 6 pm

26^th May                     Brighouse & Rastrick Society of St George. Inaugural Launch. Ward Court, Rastrick, 6.30 pm                     

5^th June                     Castlefields Area. Neighbourhood Action Group. Castlefields School, 6.30 pm

6^th June                     Carr Green & Crowtrees Community Action Group. Carr Green School, 7 pm

12^th June                   Brighouse Forward. Open Board Meeting.  BlackBull, Thornton Sq. 7.30 pm

14^th June                   Sport Rastrick. Sports Personality of the Year Award. Holiday Inn, Clifton,

21^st June                   Field Lane All Residents Association. ommunity Group Meeting.   Arncliffe Centre, 6.30 pm

26^th June                   Brighouse Cycle Race

2^nd July                      Rastrick Ward Police Meeting. Castlefields School, 5 pm

14^th July                    Artists of the Future. Sainsbury's Canalside

16^th July                    Rastrick Youth Forum, AGM. RYF, Burnsall Rd. 6 pm

18^th July                    Sing-along-a-Lane, Folk Music. Rastrick Youth Forum, 6.30 pm

Calderdale Tories have dumped popular and well known Brighouse Councillor Nick Yates as Deputy Mayor in waiting. It demonstrates how childish and disfunctional this lot are. I hope this signposts a rough year for the Tories in the Council chamber as they greedily hang onto the power they have no democratic mandate to control.

Read more in the Yorkshire Post article below

Despite evidence given to the Public Inquiry by myself on behalf of Brighouse Forward and by Mark Yates for the 3B's the Inspector has allowed the Tesco appeal.

This means Tesco's non food sales space can more than double from 448m2 to 1029m2. The Inspector concludes that this increase will not ‘cause a significant threat to the vitality and viability of the town centre as a whole'.

Was the Council's lack lustre defence of their own Planning Committee's decision a factor? Was the plea by Robin Drake speaking on behalf of Brighouse Pride to allow Tesco to sell more goods legally instead of flouting the law (as they have been doing) also a consideration? Was the earlier agreement of the Tory Labour Alliance to include the Tesco store within an enlarged Town Centre in Calderdale's UDP (which I opposed and voted against) the unassailable point in planning policy? We will never know.

Will the Town Centre traders suffer more as a result of this decision? Well time will only tell, especially if there is another major closure like Sunwin House.

In the meantime, the Inspector does sound a word of caution about the Council's retail shed plan for Sugden's. He warns that ‘the Council should be much more concerned about the impact of the Sugdens Mill development on existing stores in Brighouse town centre'.

in the Calderdale local Elections were the ENGLISH DEMOCRATS!

The Tories lost what was traditionally their safest seat in Skircoat. Suffered a massive 11% swing against them in Rastrick and a 9% swing against them in Elland. In these wards English Democrats candidates swept either Labour or Liberal and BNP opponents aside.

Liberals lost a seat in their ‘valley' stronghold. The BNP lost a seat in theirs and whilst in some cases the Labour vote held, new Labours vote fell where English Democrats candidates were in most contention.