---

Conservative Conference

The party conference starts tomorrow and a contigent from the Dover Deal association os there to provide a voice for the issues in our district.

Our own Julie Rook will be there to highlight some issues and  readers can see if  she uses the compost heap metaphor  in her speech.

i wonder what other pearls of wisdom will leap forth?

Current mood: Sceptical

No Prison For Dover

No prison i just took part in a protest march about proposals to site a new open prison in dover
Hundreds took part in the march as well as leading local figures from both sides of the political spectrum.

Cllr Paul Watkins and our MP Gwyn Prosser addressed the crowd about how the fight against this terrible proposal will go on.

The only notable policitican absent appeared to be Cllr Rowbotham as this proposal would affect residents in her division however i did spot cllr Newman.

many of my district colleagues were also there including cllrs Nicholas, Collor, Philpott, and walkden as well as Former Dover Mayors Cllrs Ken Tranter and George Alt, and labour members, Cllrs Wells, Munt, and Smallwood

there was also a contigent from the dover town council.

 Cllr watkins describes this as a community action and i feel the large turnout supported this. i hope that the governemnt takes notice of this and is prepared to look at alternatives to this ghastly idea.

--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Current mood: Angry


Eastry

this morning i attended the Eastry drop  in

It is a pleasant ambience that they have created

many villagers

fromall ages drop by

for a cup of tea r coffee

and a chat

and a moan if necessary

about things that need to be sorted out

anything from lights that stay on all day

to the problems of NHS dentists

and lack of them in east kent

and may be we cant sort them all out

but still someone listens

and the parish council

and my colleague and i

as well as the local rural warden

do what we can

to help the community

 

 

 

 

Current mood: Happy


Healthy Eating

There has been a lot of media coverage recently about Jamie Oliver's campaign to encourage children to have healthy eating habits. Following this there has been a move to have our pre council buffet made more healthy too.

i fully support this as i believe that we have a certain responsibity to lead the way in encouraging healthy eating.

i know that our local doctors would agree.

to this end i have asked our officers to see what steps can be taken.

i feel that there would be cross party supportfor this initiative

 

Current mood: Cool


We also work for a living

Today i was doing my other work

i carry out training in management and ICT  for a variety of organisations.

however having a dual life means that often people ask me about council business during the courses so it is another opportunity to help  the community.

Planning is an issue that figures very highly on peoples questions and there are many misconceptions about the way planning functions.

I was also gratified to have a student who had been on a previous session who had actually implemented some of what we were discussing and had found it helped her in her daily work. This is very rewarding to make a difference in peoles everyday life and to give them more control over their lives.

Current mood: Happy


community meetings

tonight i attended the deal Ladies unlimited where i talked about the betteshanger regeneration project.

i then went to the launch of the Lydden Vallley research group report on this area's history and geography.

there is much interest in the natural hisory of our locality and the way we have adapted it for our community.

 

Current mood: Happy


Bus Troubles Continues

a recent entry on another blog on this site mentions the ongoing problems with Buses after the new quality bus partnership came into operation in our district.

today i am sad to say that students were again stranded. this time in the pouring rain for over an hour after one bus allegedly broke down and  a replacement took time to arrive.

I am also informed that the afternoon service is also inadequate with a scramble for places with the biggest getting the places.

There must be a better way!

this problem has only arisen with the use of sinle decker buses when the previous provision used double deckers.

Current mood: Sad

Kent The Garden of England

Kent has a well deserved reputation as the garden of England.

However with the proposals for an incinerator in the district as well as a new prison on the Connaught Barracks site, one of my colleagues remarked that perhaps the Dover District is the compost heap at the end of the garden

Current mood: Angry


Community Arts

East Kent has a long and varied history dating back to roman times with evidence too of prehistoric settlement.

A lesser known part of that history is the coalmining that was carried out here right up until the late 1980.s

So it is of pleasure to learn about a production at the Marlowe Theatre in canterbury.

Promised Land - A Community Opera is a work which acknowledges and celebrates this history.

As the Dover Distrrict Council rep[resentative to the Coalfield Communities Campaign i am proud to see this event taking place.

I am particularly pleased about the substantial community involvement that has gone into its production

Current mood: Happy


Post conference reflections

Now that the CCC conference is over is time to refelct upon the experiences of the conference.

It was a fruitful event and i had the opportunity to renew friendships with other councillors from around the Uk as well as meet some new ones.

I was very pleased to meet Cllrs Graham Morgan and Frank Beard from the Forest of Dean District Council. I have had close dealings with the council through the CCC and i am keen to support my colleagues. Last year i attended a meeting in the Forest to co present the progress at Betteshanger with Cllr Anne Denne.

i feel that the level of cooperation that exists among CCC members is encouraging as it is across all mthe three ain political parties. joint working can nad does work for the benefit of the wider community.

Current mood: Happy


Prison for Dover?

there has been much discussion in the news recently about proposals for converting the Connaught Barracks to an open prison.

We are strongly opposed to this proposal and i will be campaigning to stop this going ahead.

Dover has a unique position as the gateway to the UK from the continent and i feel that this is the wrong place for such a facility.

Current mood: Angry


Feedback

i notice from the statistics that we have been receiving many hits from around the globe as far off as cambodia and Togo

I also notice that popular entries have been about blackbeard the Pirate, The tiger woods golf shot and mobile phone masts.

i hope you are finding the appropriate information and i would appreciate your comments

Current mood: Happy

Multimedia message

allert riepma from seeda claimed that they had a good strategy and he wanted to focus on delivery

Prof Stve fothergill thanked allert for his contribution and stated that the relationship between SEEDA and the CCC was strong and positive and that this is a bennchmark for other RDAs to emulate.
--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Current mood: Cool

Multimedia message

brin hill challenges the findings that the education gap is closing
he outlined his experiences thta showed no evidence of a closure in the gap.

He was supported by Dr Joan Dixon of the CCC who stated that the main area of concern was in the 14-16 year age group.

Mr McCully conceded that in fact the eduation gap he was reporting was between deprived wards comapring coalfileds wards with non  coalfield wards

He said that previous studies had showed a gap but this was closing.

Prof Steve Fothergill disputed the gap and also stated that the CCC was keen on closing the gap that was evidenced in the GCSE results between coalfield wards and the UK average.
--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Current mood: Sceptical

Multimedia message

andrew mccully says that pupils in coalfield schools are closing the gap at key stages one to three but not at gcse
--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Current mood: Sceptical

Multimedia message

cllr watts from bolsover criticises the view that coalfield communities are secondary to cities
He was disgusted that there was a feeling that governments should concentrate on the cities while allowing the coalfiled areas to become dormitories for the cities.

--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Current mood: Sad

Multimedia message

derek garrity complains that his third sector organisation the aylesham workshop development trust, delivers many services to help nhs meet targets yet gets no funding from the nhs
--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Current mood: Sceptical

Multimedia message

ed miliband mp talked about the limitations of government and how third sector organisations may have a role
ns of government and how third sector organisations may have a role

--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Multimedia message

dermot finch says that regional governance is not working
e is not working

--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Multimedia message

graham meadows has concerns over the uk governments reliance on the rda s to deliver the next round of funding


--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Today was the keynote session with presentations by John Neve, Director of Regional Funds and Devolution at the DTI, and Graham Meadows, Director General for Regional Policy European Commission. The topic was "How should we spend the new European Funding round".

John Neve talked about the 9.4 billion euros that are at stake. Which amounts to a cut of 50% compared to the previous round due to the enlargement of the EU

He talked about how the governments preferred route for this funding was through the RDAs (regional development agencies).

Cllr Bill Flanagan was concerned over this strategy as he warned that RDAs  would be liable to invest such funds in the areas which would give the greatest return rather than focussing on the greater need.

Graham Meadows  told the conference that he thought that the UK government was lagging in formulating a program for this next round. He also stressed that he was looking for an ambitious program.

He too echoed Cllr Flanagan concern over the RDAs as he said "letting the RDAs run the programs is like letting the lions and tigers run the zoo". He was also concerned over the amount of centralised control the UK government had over the RDAs while he preferred that the regions should have a greater stake in the "partnership of decisions" that was necessary.

Mr Meadows also indicated that the Kent coalfields should do better out of this round of funding compared to the previous round.

Prof Steve Fothergill, the CCCs director summed up the session voicing his suspicions of the RDAs and also indicated that the CCC was more in agreement with the EU position rather than the UK government. He also threatened a battle with the UK government over this issue.

Current mood: Sceptical

Multimedia message

peter hetherington claims there is a policy vacuum at the heart of government
He said that england lacked connectivity. He contrasted this with some of the successes of the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales.

--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Multimedia message Faith Capital

faith capital was the work shop i chaired . The rev mike wagstaff discussed his work
I was particularly interested in a comment of Mike's that faith groups must remain authentic to the ministry and primary mission  of that faith group.

I was thinking of this statement in relation to my church's plan to investifgate the possibility of putting a mobile phone mast on the church tower.

 

The church has much to offer every community but only if it adheres to its stated mission.

--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Current mood: Sceptical

Multimedia message Damaged Goods - PCTs to blame

dr adrian phillips says that councils should complain to their pct that they are delivering damaged goods in terms of start of life outcomes

he said that due to poor results by PCTs in terms of Smoking during pregancy, and a lack of breastfeeding, many babies start out life with inequalities that lead to poor educational attainment.

He also said that these outcomes affect the more deprived communities hence advocated that local authorities should be putting pressure on their local PCTs to do more to improve these measures.

 

He said that although the NHS was very good at access and in times of crisis, it was less good at prevention.

Health Minister Caroline Flint confirmed that only 2% of the NHS budget was spent on prevention.
--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Current mood: Angry

Multimedia message Chairmans address

opening address by the chairman

Cllr Bill Flanagan opened the conference in his own unique style with a clever blend of humour and experience.

Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Current mood: Happy


Multimedia message

our first event is a walk around the town looking at town centre regeneration
It is a great opportunity to look at how other authorities tackle problems which are common such as supporting a night time economy and and facilitating a vibrant town town centre.

--
This Orange Multi Media Message was sent wirefree from an Orange MMS
phone. If you would like to reply, please either text, phone or send
a photo message to the sender directly by using the phone number listed
in the sender's address. To learn more about Orange's Multi Media
Messaging Service, find us on the Web at http://www.orange.co.uk/mms

Conferences

It is conference season across the country at the moment. This week i am in Doncaster for the Coalfields Communities Campaign (CCC) Conference.

I am keen to share the proceedings of the conference via my blog and hope to have photographs too.

Current mood: Cool


Time Out

"Dont you ever stop doing your council business" is a comment i get from my wife. "cant you take a break from Blogging for just one day?"

Yes i am proud of the service i offer to residents. Last night i was at a party in the village and i had a couple of people asking me questions about the running of the council and about recycling.

Yes some may think im a boring old codger for liking to discuss the council at parties but it isn't a 9-5 job.

i am pleased to say i was able to report back to that particular resident today.

 

Being a councillor may be considered something of a vocation in that we are on call 24rhs a day although i let my mobile phone voicemail handle calls when i am sleeping or otherwise occupied.

 

Current mood: Happy


Flytipping

we have a countryside of considerable beauty. so it always comes as something of an frront when people spoil it by inconsiderate flytipping. Today i saw yet another example of this on a road down towards Whitfield. What is particularly galling is that the inconsiderate people only had to travel another mile to dispose of this rubbish legally at the waste depot in Whitfield.

.

 

I can only surmise that it was thoughtless people who have no concern for the rural dwellers nor property owners whose land they spoil.

I have reported this instance to the DDC flytipping team and hope that they will clean up the mess and hopefully find evidence to help convict those responsible.

Current mood: Angry


Eastry Drop in

This morning i attended the Eastry Village drop in. Members of the parish council volunteer time to make cakes and home made pie to serve to local residents. One of the councillors has trained to replace hearing aid batteries. The lcal community warden also drops in the listen to local concerns and of course my colleague and i are frequent visirs to listen to residents concerns as well as enjoy a chat. Today i was discussing the effect of the incinerator on the villages of Tilmanstone and Eythorne which i have mentioned previously.

Current mood: Happy


Meetings

This evening i attended the Great Mongeham Village design statement group. This is a group of dedicated volunteers who are trying to put together a design statement which if it is adopted by the district council will play an important role on guiding development in the village. I see this as an important way for the community to have more control over planning decisions within the parish. We are fortunate to have finacila backing from both the parish council as well as a significant grant from our local county councillor cllr Rowbotham.

 

I then attended the Northbourne Parish council meeting .

I enjoy being able to provide support to the parishes and i trust that they appreciate my support.

 

On last night's entry i highlighted an instance of Anti social Behavour. I can report that a meeting is scheduled with an officer from DASBU and the  housing section next week.

 

On the plight of the farmer, i have contacted one of our MEPs who has kindly offered to support the farmer in his case. I have also asked for advice from my colleague Cllr Kenton to see if he can provide any more practical advice.

Current mood: Happy


Anti social behaviour

Today i visited residents in one of the village about anti social behaviour. This is a small but difficult problem and i am keen to support residents in their campaign against it. the problems stems from continual loud and rowdy behaviour include  the unnecessary revving of motorbikes and threatening behaviour to other residents.

I have raised this matter with the DASBU (Dover Anti Social Behaviour Unit) who are working with the housing and environment health departments to get a resolution to this situation.

 

i am also campaigning with a resident who has had his livestock business closed by new EU Rules. The gentleman concerned has worked  tirelessy over the last 7 years to establish his business only to have it closed due to unrealistic animal welfare fears. The business had a good reputation in the local community and to see it ripped away like this is heartbreaking. The animals are were well housed  and  free from disease. It is yet another case of city folk imposing their unrealistic notions on hard working rural communities

Current mood: Mad


Scout Executive meeting

This evening i attended an executive meeting of one of our local scout groups. I am on as a parent member although my children have recently left the movement however i still try to offer what support i can.

Tonight one of the issues was the effect of the new child restraint law on transporting children. there was discussion on the possible effects of this legislation and how it will cause added difficulties in thsi area/

This is another example of well meaning people and legislation causing more problems to thsi well known organisation. Would our national politicians like to get rid of the scouting movement as an outdated and politically incorrect  organisation with its ideals of community service through volunteer work.

Our National leadership is good at talking about a respect agebda but then tries to cause problems for volunteer workers doing their bit for the local community.

Current mood: Angry


Feedback and Tiger Woods

 

Earlier today i had an email exchange with one of our local reporters on a range of topics.

I was able to highlight the importance of this website and i am hoping that he will visit this site with his colleagues frequently. 

 

My son has also looked at this site and suggested that i needed more links to popular issues so he asked me to put this link in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnRCENCYMcw

 

enjoy

 

your comments are appreciated

Current mood: Cool

Cabinet Meeting

This morning i attended  a cabinet meeting.

There was discussinabout a range of topicsincluding the shoreline managemnt plan. This is looking at coastal strategies over a longer horizon, out to 100 years to lok at possible long term effects in change in sea levels. options included no intervention required, intervention required to protect coastal assets (Hold the Line) and no active intervention.

We also discussed the new nnemergency phone number "101" This is a number for all nonurgent calls to the police which will be routed through to a call centre beforebeing tasked(maybe) to the appropriate force. I have concerns over such a development as i believe that it diminshes the link between the community and the local constabulary. A regional call centre in some far offlocality will no staf with an understanding of the lcalcommunity and will further alienate the community. It may be economically beneficial but it oddes little to further develop the idea that our local police are active members of the local community.

 

the cabinet also agreed to fund a grant to the Timeball Museum in Deal, a delightul attraction  which is well run and deserving of support from the council.

Current mood: Sceptical


Blackbeard the Pirate

over the last couple of weeknds there have been mini series on the televison about Blackbeard the pirate. Our village's claim to fame is that his captor Lieutenant (Later promoted to Captain) Robert Maynard has a plaque erected on our church - St  Martins Great Mongeham

see this link

http://uk.geocities.com/great_mongeham_pc/MongehamGraveyard.htm

Current mood: Cool

Feedback

lately i have been spending more time reading other bloggers experiences on this website as well as leaving comments when appropriate.

I believe that by doing this we can help build a real online community where we share best practice as well as keep in touch with concerns throughout the country.

I have been particularly interested in othe members experineces in recycling, campaigning against incinerators and faith discussions.

I hope my fellow bloggers also take up this opportunity to participate in such cross party discussions

Current mood: Happy

Green Points?

Tesco have been advertising their new greeen points system recently.

But are they really concerned about giving incentives to customers about not using carrier bags. After my experience at their Whitfeild outlout today i think i can say no.

I purchased a trollye full of groceries but was willing to carry them without any carrier bags yet the anonymous staff insisted that they could not award green points unless i reused old carrier bags as they said. "otherwise how do we know how many carier bags you didnt use"

 

It seems Tesco is not concerned about customers attempts to help. Their advertising words seem to count for nothing at the till.

Current mood: Sceptical


Friends of Kent Churches Bike Ride

Today was tha annual Friendsf Kent Churches Bike ride. This is a chance for people to ride round to churches and raise sponsorship for our churches to help maintain the buildings. It is also a chance to share time with people in other churches across the county.

This year i managed tovisit 12 churches as well asspending time manning our village church to greet riders and sign their sponsorship forms to prove they had visited.

It was excellent weather for the rideand i noticed many others out as well.

I hope the event was as successful across the county andi would encourgae others to join in.

Current mood: Happy


Lydden Valley Research

Today i recieved the report of the Lydden Valley Research Group. This report covers the geology, Archaeology and History of the valley and sandwich Bay.

It is a fascinating read covering the sedimentary deposits and  the way human occupation has taken advantage of the geology over the last 250,000 + years.

I was particulary interested in the reporting of finds from the neolithic  period, Bronze  age, Iron Age and roman occupation.

 

The  report also has extensice reporting of settlement of this area during the Anglo-Saxon period and thge medieval period. The role of the three manors, namely Lydd court, Northbourne and Eastry is detailed. The  forward by Lord Northbourne  gives us a timley reminder of the  ancient links with the land that his family enjoys. 

 

There is much in this report for  all to  read and delight in and i look forward to the further work of the Lydden Valley research group and their contribution to ongoing development in the district

Current mood: Happy


Betteshanger Regeneration & Great Mongeham Parish Council

This afternoon i attended a meeting about the Betteshanger regeneration project. There was some nervousness about the current progress as memebsr felt that they had little inofrmation from SEEDA (southeast England Development Agency) Officers from seeda came along to discuss recent developments as well as future activities which greatly encouraged the group. There has been a close working relationship between SEEDA and the team and we are all keen for this to continue.

In the eveneing i attended the Great Mongeham Parish council on which i am aklso a member.

We had a  an interesting discussion with  Jane davis from the Rural Housing Trust about an affordable Housing sceme within the village and we are still interested in taking this forward.

There was also a discussion of waste so i was able to give an update following last night's meeting in Eythorne.The issue of traffic calming in Cherry lane was also discussed.

Current mood: Happy


Tilmanstone Waste

Tonight i attended a public meeting to discuss the proposed siting of a waste facility (read incinerator) at the Tilmanstone colliery site.

There were over 100 people there including representatives from surrounding parishes, local politicians and business leaders. Residents turned out in force to oppose this proposal.

I was appalled to see the possible effect that tthis proposal would have on one of the key businesses in the regeneration project carried out at this site namely Tilmanstone Salads. They we concerned over the proposal and would have to consider moving if the waste plant went ahead.

this would effectivle destroy the good work that has gone into this regeneration project leading to a huge waste of the publics money.

waste plant?

to see it go ahead here would be a real waste!

 

i feel that the whole waste issue needs rethinking so as to see what opportunities there are to get substantial reductions in non recyclable waste.

My family is looking at a radical rethink in our approach to waste and i would others to do likewise

perhaps then we can cause a radical revision in our waste handling procedues.

Current mood: Angry


Sutton Parish Council

This evening i attended the Sutton parish Council.

The LDF (Local Development Framework) was a key item on the agenda. The prospect of 2000 new homes at whitfield worries the council as does the assocated traffic and its likely impact on the parish.

There was discussion of the meeting with Ray Ball from Kent highways and what role local residents can play in traffic Management.

I have noted the problems associated with increasing traffic and this is an ongoing issue.

 

Planning applications within the parish were also discussed and there seemed to be an optimistic view of the District Council's performance in this area.

 

Today it seems the battle against the trackbacks has been resolved as i note that trackbacks have been taken off the site. this is a small win against this type of spamming and i must thank Griff Wigley for his efforts in this matter.

Current mood: Happy


Merchant Navy day and Eastry Parish Council

Thsi Morning i attended the Merhant Navy Day Memorial service organised by Cllr Pat Hetah in conjunction with the East Kent Merchant Navy association.

I have attended thsi service for the last 3 yeras as i belive that the efforts of these men needs to be celebrated.

This evening i attended the Eastry Parish council which was quite long as there was no meeting in august. This village has a busy community life and i am proud to be able to help in whatever capacity i can.

I also received feedback from the weblog coach Griff Wigley about trackbacks and i am pleased to say that he is taking this issue on board to see what can be done to clean them up.

I know at least one of my fellow bloggers will be pleased at this result.

Current mood: Happy


Recycling Action

Last week we visited the Eden project in Cornwall and were impressed by their attempts to be ecologically sustainable.

We have decided to be more proactive with recycling as well as try out some of the more eco friendly cleaning solutions. We have quite a range of cleaning products full of all sorts of chemicals so perhaps we can rationalise them. There are all sorts of specailty cleaners but what effect does this have upon the environment?

I have also contacted a fellow blogger on this site, Cllr Paul Crossley who is an energetic campaigner for recycling. This is one of the benefits of this site, the ability to network with colleagues on a non party political basis.

He was very supportive in his response although he too was concerned over trackbacks. I dont know what can be done over this.

Current mood: Happy


Internet usage

This week in the news there was discussion about a new bill on Internet porn

on this website there are attempts made to publicise porn sites through the trackbacks facility

In fact theses trackbacks seem to be used for organisations trying to get advertising and fall into 4 main categories.

These are

surgical implants

Porn

Gambling

pharmaceuticals

although there seems to be a growth in insurance ones too.

i try to delete these on a regular basis but i have no control over the posting of them to my blog.

I believe that the internet can be a powerful communication and information tool and look forward to its future development

Current mood: Sad


Various doings

Yesterday i attended the Great Mongeham drop in.

I was able to speak community members about various concerns.

actually i had intended to be in Cornwall this  week but i returned early to attend to a livestock issue on my property.

i have kept sheep and a member of the public complained about an injury that one of them had sustained.

I had  noticed this injury yet i had made a decision that the animal seemed to be recovering and was grazing normally.

The RSPCA was called and they called a vet to attend who confirmed that animals often recover from this type of injury but not in this particulat instance. The animal was put down which caused more distress to the remaining sheep which i have had to book in to an abbattoir.

This situation has caused a lot of distress to my family and to me. i find it a sad reflection that the complainants had not bothered to contact  myself about this.

I have discussed this matter with the RSPCA who  have agreed that no further action should be taken.

 

so at the Great Mongeham drop in there was concern over noise pollution and also questions about the procedure for council properties after the death of the tenant.

i was particulary saddended to learn of this as  i had been trying to get better disabled access for him in  his council property.

Current mood: Sad