Suzanne Fletcher's Blog

I managed to fit in a visit to the Traidcraft shop in between appointments.  This shop, or Aladdin's Cave, is run every year by Jenny Medhurst and her willing band of volunteers.  Everything you buy there will be helping the producers from countries in the Third World, and there really is a wonderful selection of cards, presents, jewellery, lamp shades and so on, to say nothing of Fair Trade goods including all sorts of chocolate.  It is in the Dundas Arcade in Middlesbrough.  If you live locally do go and support it, and enjoy it.  If you live elsewhere see if there is one near you.

I got a number of presents but my most interesting one was writing paper made from shredded bank notes.  A far more ethical use of them than some of the antics in other Parties I can think of !

Focus writing day.  Doing Focus, the leaflet that goes out regularly in our ward, is central to what I do as a Councillor.  It lets people know what we are doing as Councillors, lets people know what is happening in the area, and asks for feedback, as well as making sure people have all our contact details.   Despite all the technological advances, and I use a number including this blog, and "e" newsletters too, you cannot beat a piece of paper through the letter box, everything else in an add on.  I do struggle with the technology, now that we send it electronically to our Print Society Riso.  I am sure it is more efficient, but I do miss happily sticking on bits of holly and robins with pritt, and painfully trying to sort out electronically instead.  Thank you to my "e" friend in Chester who helped me out!

But don't you just love it when you have gone through the pain and the agony, got it put together, and like a bolt out of the blue find that the Doctor's Surgery in the middle of our ward is proposing to move to new premises, well out of walking distance for most people, even if they get a bus to the Town Centre.  Change the front page, squeeze everything up on the back page, and write the story.  People do need to know, but more notice would have been appreciated.

Three events today, not linked, but all the same awful theme, have made me think.

There are people living in fear of drug users and dealers, and want to escape the area they are living in because of this.  Children cannot play out or have friends round.  All agencies seem to be unable to do anything.

And not quarter of a mile away from Stockton Town Centre.

There are people arrested and dragged away from their homes in very undignified ways, with no time to pack possessions.  They have done no crime.  They are asylum seekers being deported.

And not quarter of a mile away from Stockton Town Centre.

There are people in need of warm gloves, scarves, hats and socks that I am buying.

And not quarter of a mile away from Stockton Town Centre.

All of this is not in some other Country, or a big city, or anywhere else, but here.  We have much to celebrate and be thankful for in our area, and a lot of good, even excellent, work is done.  But these things are happening, almost under our noses.  They will be happening elsewhere too.  But who knows ?

I was disturbed to hear of the protests to stop the debate at the Oxford Union with the BNP and Holocaust denial person.  Freedom of speech is exactly what right wing fascists want to deny, and a line up of articulate people with strong anti racist convictions is just what is needed to debate with them.  I have been concerned for some time that the BNP have been sounding softer, and more amenable, playing on fears of the elderly and vulnerable people, and sounding as though they care.  Their real beliefs and philosophy needs to be brought out, debated, and defeated.  For goodness sake we are a democracy, we should be proud of that and acting it out.

Back to basics - or at least watching others do so!  Having spent an hour at physiotherapy with the awful problems with my arms, neck and shoulders I didn't think it a good idea to actually do the tree planting!  However it was good to be there with children from Bishopsgarth School (no wonder they have had such excellent comments from Ofsted, including commendations for work in the community), their teacher, Julia, Bishopsgarth Residents and the Council team.  Hundreds of trees were planted along the side of Bishopsgarth Beck, paid for by the Residents Association and from our Environmental Improvements Budget. Real community, real partnerships, real work, making a real difference to both our environment and community.  Here is the photo to prove it, and prove I was there doing something !

The leadership ballot papers have arrived today.  Every Liberal Democrat member gets a vote in this contest, and every vote is counted equally, and I am proud of that.

Chris Huhne, number one, is in the post.

Time to relax with friends.  A busy day with meetings about housing and bulb plantings, but nice to have something to look forward to.  The restaurant, Kilimandjaro, on Newport Road, Middlesbrough, by Radio Tees, has opened recently and is a delight.  It has an interesting menu of African food, all of which is explained.  The food is lightly spiced, very tasty, and we really enjoyed it.

The owner, Apollo Ouedraogo, is a former professional footballer from Burkino Faso, and it was he who somehow encouraged me to don an African football kit whilst I was Mayor and to become Patron of the African Sports Embassy.  His encouragement to eat good food was more appreciated.  If you like locally - try it !

At last it was hospital day to see about the itching psoriasis.  But how to get there ?  I had spent quite a lot of time working out how to get there by bus.  The hospital, James Cook Hospital, is notorious for having nowhere to park so I started with their website, but didn't get far.  A phone call wasn't a lot of help in finding where buses actually arrived at the hospital. The Arriva website gave some different information to the Council's helpful looking book.  Traveline couldn't even give me the location of a bus stop to use in Stockton High Street.  Eventually I decided on a through bus from Stockton High Street to the hospital, calling at Middlesbrough bus station.  I went to the stop directed by Traveline, but it did stop at an earlier more convenient one with a seat!  I asked if it was going to the hospital, and the bus driver gruffly told me that is what it said.  I was glad I didn't have to share a seat, they are so close together it knocked my bad knee, but I was able to sit sideways.  Journey to Middlesbrough fine, even though it did swing round many corners, and even more in the bus station.  From there on I am sure we went over every speed hump in Middlesbrough, to say nothing of how many estates.  Still, it had turned up and wasn't late.  On arrival at the hospital, 50 minutes from leaving Stockton, I had no idea where I needed to be, but various helpful people directed me along the 7 minute walk from the bus.  On the way I came across the Air Ambulance which was taking off.  Not a nice bus journey, but at least I wasn't so ill as to come that way. 

On the way out I had no idea where the entrance for the bus stops was, and nor had a number of people I asked.  I did get out and on a through bus eventually, and getting wise to the detours, changed at Middlesbrough instead of a long detour round Ingleby Barwick.

Now I know why the hospital car park is over full of cars !  Surely a decent bus service direct from Stockton to Middlesbrough, and Middlesbrough to the hospital on routes a lot of other people want to use isn't too difficult to deliver.  And information on the letters from the hospital.  Or is it ?

One of those days where you dash from one meeting to another in the rain.  Fortunately the first meeting was only about mud, a we discussed plans for Hardwick Dene, the meadow, Elm Tree wood, and Newham Grange Park.  Lots of tree planting and wildflower planting is going on, and I'm sure the mud will make sure they are well bedded in.  Unfortunately I had no time to change my shoes before the 3^rd meeting, which was a site visit to a building in the ward.  Yes, you've guessed, it was very muddy indeed.  I wonder if anyone on the planning committee will ever speak to me again!

Lots of talk about the exchange the day before between our leadership candidates.  People do need to realise that we are electing a leader who will be pulled apart and tripped up every minute possible, and we need someone who can deal with whatever is thrown out at them.  I am still convinced Chris Huhne is the one.

A day off, shopping.  John needs some clothes befitting a Mayor, so it was a good look around York, but I must admit it was nice to have a few minutes away from the shops as we walked through the gardens of the Merchant Adventurers Hall.  Even nice to see our family again afterwards.  Councillors are human beings with real families !

A miserable day.  I had gone to bed exhausted, not slept most of the night with the psoriasis itching, and then dead to the world in the morning.

I had read what sounded like a sneering comment in the paper earlier that week that some people with skin problems had used that as a reason to be off work, sick.  Well the writers and analysts obviously haven't had the horrible experience.  If I did a "real job", meaning one with set hours and an employer, rather than being what seems to be 24/7 at everyone's behest, I would certainly be needing to have time off work at the moment

Elm Tree Community Centre Open Day.  It was with great trepidation that we arrived, had the last minute dashing around to get ready, and opened the doors at 10.00 am.  We had tried to advertise it, but would anyone come along ?  It was the first chance for people to see the new extension where Sure Start will be able to deliver their services, and also alterations and additions elsewhere giving us new rooms and kitchen.  People streamed in all day, children happily played in the "stay and play" in the new room, hopefully local people will be interested in starting new community activities.  I had wanted to take more photos, but just didn't have time.

A seminar on "e" democracy along with other Councillors and officers in the North East doesn't sound that exciting, but it was very interesting, with a number of new ideas as to how to connect with our constituents and each other better.  To say nothing of how to check what our elected representatives in Westminster are up to.  I don't consider myself to be very "techy", so was surprised to find that I am well in there with this blog ( a picture with it on even came on the screen!), our local Party website; a facebook entry (only 2 of us put our hands up for that one, even though I am just beginning, the other person present being Mike Barker from Darlington); most casework by e-mail; and the "e" newsletter to constituents in between our regular Focus newsletters.  To me it isn't about technology, it is about communication.  Constituents need to know what we are up to, we need to let them know information about local or other relevant matters.  And we need to talk to each other.

I walked to the station with Tom Steinberg from "My Society", him using a hand held device with the streets of Newcastle showing on it.  Very impressive.  He has added our "Bishopsgarth and Elm Tree News", our "e" newsletter to residents, to his prototype website, Groups Near You, and it is the first "e" newsletter from the UK to be listed.  Wow!

The venue was St James Park in Newcastle.  I'm not a football fanatic so allowed myself to go into the opposition territory.  I was really struck by the huge picture on the wall in our room.  Certainly another way of communicating !

In the evening it was our farewell dinner for Mike Cherrett, who had served on Stockton Council in our group for 8 years, much of that time as deputy leader.  It is good to say thank you.  In a real way, not "e"!

At least the day started off in the fresh air and sunshine as again we were planting bulbs, this time in Bishopsgarth, with the help of local residents and Bishopsgarth School.  Well done, thank you, and I look forward to seeing them bloom in spring.

At a Housing Partnership meeting in the afternoon I heard about allocation of funding for our region, and it sounded good - an 8% increase on previous years.  Hooray.  However when all the rules, criteria and detail had been gone through, there is significantly less than in previous years for essential services like disabled facilities grants.  Boo.  It just goes to show that you really cannot believe headline figures from government announcements.

A difficult day, being awake so much of the night with the psoriasis itching.  I've been surfing the web after a non stop day of voluntary work, meetings, meetings and all interspersed with getting ready for Elm Tree Community Centre Open Day and AGM on Saturday.  If you live locally you must come along, after all this effort and see what there is!

I came across this petition for the Scottish Parliament, which I thought was very good.  Can you sign it please to show solidarity with people who suffer this illness that is not talked about, not in anybody's list of targets, and is so easily forgotten.

I am wondering about setting one up on the Westminster site - anyone technical out there that might help out ?

It seems to have been a very long day, starting at 3 in the morning with raging itching psoriasis that I couldn't sleep with.  Eventually I put the World Service on, and the problems of female genital mutilation did put my discomfort into perspective.

It was just one of those "Councillor days" when so much went wrong, I was not given proper information; people let me down, misinformation, impossible deadlines were given, opportunities missed, people let down, and no progress where there should have been.

However there were some bright slots!  Along with Julia we planted daffodil bulbs opposite the new development on Darlington Back Lane.  The developer had given the money for the bulbs, and we had hoped for some residents to join us, but it was the middle of the working day which is all we were able to book the Council for.

Then I got 3 friends on face book - my first.  A whole new world to disappear into that doesn't involve community centre problems - if only I had time, of course.

Best of all, a text to tell me that an asylum seeker that I know who was absolutely terrified that she was going to be deported back to an unsafe Country in Africa and had suffered terribly there, was going to be allowed to stay with her 2 lovely children.  A huge relief, and her situation really matters.

Today is the 26^th anniversary of my election to Stockton Council !  My life has never been the same since - and neither has the Council - but that was the point of that by election.  I've spent it where I belong, amongst the community I represent.  Too many issues and problems there still, but, it is where I wanted to be.

I won't elaborate on the problems, the "Inspectors" are in at the Council, but I do hope it won't take another 26 years to sort some of them out. 

The best bit of today was helping to plant wildflowers in Newham Grange Park.  Children from a local school were there doing their bit, and not coming to any harm as they got rather muddy.  Some of my favourite flowers were going in, cowslips and cuckoo pint, along with other wild flowers.  I am really looking forward to spring and seeing them there.  I took a photo of the children eating lunch, but I was so keen not to have them identifiable you can hardly see them through the trees!

Someone else was planting trees, and the Friends of Newham Grange Park were working very hard planting hundreds of bulbs.  They really have worked hard to make the Park more attractive, and deserve all the support they can get.  It should look really good next year.

When I turned up at the Council Offices to do some work there for the Community Centre AGM I had muddy trousers, dirty hands, and struggled in with a pile of bags and a brightly coloured picnic bag ( a long time between meals today).  As I saw the car park with spaces prepared for the Inspectors I did wonder what they would think - but I was doing my work in the community!

Around this I had 2 meetings about the Community Centre; visited it 3 times; met the new students who I had arranged to volunteer with helping the football coaching there; arranged leaflets for the AGM on Saturday, talked to a lot of residents around the Centre about what was happening there, and got a recruit for the new management committee.  Then a "Buildings for the Future" meeting at a local secondary school.

Home to rest ? no, a catch up with fellow Councillor, Julia, and then sending 18 e-mails following up today's issues.

Would I have foreseen so much progress 26 years ago - yes I would have hoped to.  Would I have envisaged doing so much with my mobile phone, blackberry, all those e-mails (39 came in as well!) and the internet - not at all!

Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November 

A strange couple of days as memories ricocheted to and fro.  Where had I, and we as a Country, come from and where were we going ?

At the war memorial in Thornaby, where John was laying the wreath as Deputy Mayor, our thoughts went back to the First World War, through to the Second World War, through the Falklands, and  right up to today when we remember the 82 service personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Have we not learned anything of the fruitlessness of war ?  Do we really look back and think there was no alternative ?  Have we not learnt, as we support the poppy appeals that we should be looking after our servicemen better, both whilst out there with the equipment they need, and when they return home ?

We had 2 visits over to Harrogate where our former Church was celebrating it's 150^th anniversary.  We met people we hadn't seen for nearly 40 years, and more not seen for over 30 years.  Looking through old photos and articles and catching up with other people made me think, and realise how much of my life now has been formed in those early days.  We were part of the youth "go" group, and encouragement to think, discuss, and challenge were surely formative in those days in the 60's and early 70's.  I was heartened to see it still exists too.  There were controversial steps to make radical changes to the Victorian Church in 1966, just before I was involved,  and it was interesting to read an extract written by the then Vicar, Vyvian Watts Jones,  from an old Church magazine " Here is an opportunity which may not occur again for half a century.  We must ask ourselves, how can we best serve the interests of generations to come ? What sort of Church will be needed in Bilton in the year 2000 AD ? If either through lack of thought or imagination, or through selfish conservatism, we throw away this opportunity, our children and  grandchildren will never forgive us."  What immensely wise words.

We must continue to make the sacrifices made by our service men and women in the past worth something by continuing to defend our freedom and our democracy.  And continue with the good foundations we had laid for us and never throw away opportunities that will benefit future generations.

Decision made !  Having heard Chris Huhne at Newcastle tonight I have decided to not just back him for the Lib Dem leadership, but to be part of his campaign.

His delivery was good, he made an excellent case for the points he was putting over, and his answers to questions from the floor were to the point, had substance, and were relevant.    His explanation of difficult issues (economics for me!) was imaginative and it worked.  What really sold me though was not his green credentials, or his grasp of crucial economic issues, but the passion and depth he had on human rights issues.

We re lucky to have two candidates of a very high calibre, but I was glad that Chris had taken the time to come to Newcastle on his way to the Edinburgh hustings, and he is the one I think will best take the Liberal Democrats forward.

The event was after the meeting I had of the North East Housing Board Voluntary Sector Advisory Forum at the Holy Jesus Hospital in Newcastle.  I had never even heard of this building before, but it is the centre of the National Trust's Inner City Project.  Such a contrast of this 700 year old building which opened a soup kitchen in 1880, and the brassy bold buildings around with clubs, bars, and the busy main road only yards away.  As we sat in the meeting room looking at the copy of the notice about the soup, discussing the problems on homelessness today amidst a deluge of Government plans, papers and strategies, I did wonder how proud we should be of our "progress". ?

"Do not allow anybody to make you feel that you are nobody - ALWAYS FEEL THAT YOU COUNT.  Always feel that your life has ultimate significance"

Martin Luther King Jnr.

This was the quotation on the wall in large print in the hall at Blakeston School, where I was listening to what people there had to say about the options for "Building Schools for the Future".  I thought back over the day, and give "yes" and "no" to different activities

Husband John driving me to hospital as I thought I wouldn't be able to drive afterwards and delivering some leaflets for me whilst I was there. "yes"

Visit to hospital, thinking I was getting an injection for my knee.  A cursory glance and another appointment for the injection. "no"

Site meeting and walkabout round the Council estate with fellow Councillor Julia.  It was very wet and windy whilst we waited and relevant officer didn't turn up. "no"

At least the Police gave us shelter! "yes"

Seminar I had heard before (but didn't know that beforehand!) on Emergency Planning.  "yes" to good plans, but "no"  to time spent being there.

Frantic round of phone calls and e-mails sorting out Community Centre problems. neutral !

Listening to and trying to advise on problems of a number of constituents. "yes"

Building Schools for the Future. Government rules, "no" , Council trying to make most of what is on offer "yes", so far!

There has to be compensation for our area having large areas of dereliction that no-one has been able to deal with for years.  There is an area either side of the River Tees in both Stockton and Middlesbrough, and there are great plans for making it our "Green Blue Heart" with both Councils working together under the Stockton Middlesbrough Initiative.  There is such a lot of scope for developing the area to bring life, culture, hope, and be part of changing the image of the area.  I only hope that every single piece of development is at least carbon neutral and the buildings are of a very high design quality too.  Not everywhere has the opportunity of such a large piece to develop, let us make the most of it.  There was support and interest in the idea of a purpose built concert hall for the south of the region too.

I fell in the street in the way to the High Street from a committee meeting.  I was shocked, shaken, my glasses flew off and were broken, and yes, it hurt a lot.  All of a sudden there was no-one around, one lady walked past, then suddenly a car stopped and someone got out, and a number of people came quickly.  People can be very kind, I was picked up, the pieces of my glasses picked up and a very helpful parking assistant helped me to walk to the opticians where I was able to sit quietly whilst they performed miracles and mended my glasses.

It is good to know that when you are helpless there are good people out there.  What must it be like for people who live in a society where people walk by on the other side?  Of you aren't a fairly respectable (even in unspectacled) looking Councillor ?

Bonfire night.  All our paper (much from the detoxed desk!) is neatly lined up for recycling and not thrown on a bonfire, which would be rather satisfying if not very ecological.  We celebrated the night at a friends house and an interesting conversation about "reduce and reuse", before you get to "recycle".  How many people have got equipment and gadgets for the garden that they don't use all of the time, but want to be able to access easily ?  Why don't more people share such with neighbours ?  A good question.  Also how many of us have tins of paint stored away in garages that are half used, and when we finally decide to put out are useless.  Why not have a "paint swap" and take part used pots along for others to use ? And why, whilst thinking of it, do manufacturers only produce paint in certain sizes, and not the one's that would lead to less wastage ?

There is a lot to be done, and a long way to go to change our attitudes and the way we live to make better use of the resources we have.

Harnessing nature, and working with it, especially with water, struck me as we visited Cragside.  Lord Armstrong had installed the very first hydroelectric power house there in around 1868.  I only wish more progress had been made in harnessing the power of water, wind, waves and sun, instead of this mad obsession with nuclear power.

Political problems were put aside for some hours though as we walked through the autumn woods, by the streams and lakes.  It didn't just look beautiful, it smelt good, the sound of leaves gently falling and a stream trickling sounded so good.

Back to earth with a bit of a jolt thought when I noticed an azalea flower coming out next to the ripened blackberries.  Global warming is here, and it isn't just about balmy November days.

Friday 2nd November

First a copy of Hansard arrived sent to me by a friend, for July 10^th.  It gives a verbatim record of how Elected Executives were dealt with in the House of  Lords.  The word "daft" was used twice to describe them, and "barmiest" once, and that was only a brief glance.  Thank goodness they are out of the window.

Then an exciting large parcel arrived.  It was the "Memoir of Brass Crosby", original copy.  I cannot describe how it felt to open it, see the illustration and start reading the words.  What a coincidence that a copy of  Hansard with the word for word exchanges on something I felt so strongly about arrived the same day as the book about the man who made this publication possible.

The article I was writing is finally done, and posted here if anyone wants to read the story of Brass Crosby.  Brass_Crosby_2.doc

Next stage the book!

H'way! To Northumberland.  We were going to support Alan Beith MP at his constituency dinner, and hear Jenny Willott MP for Cardiff, and David Cllr Faulkner, Deputy Leader on Newcastle City Council.  As we were away for the night we made the most of it and went to Holy Island.  It was so beautiful, peaceful, and calm.  Even the sun shone on us.  We had lunch at the Café Bean Goose, attracted by the board saying they were serving Fairtrade and locally sourced food.  Delicious crab sandwiches.   I noticed on the menu that they served local tap water, filtered and chilled, for 50p a glass, and the money went to Christian Aid for projects to bring water to communities in the third world.  What a brilliant idea, everyone benefits, not extortionate cost of water in a café, no transport of bottled water, and people who need it benefit.  The person serving us told us that £500 had been raised last year in this way.

One thing I love about Holy Island is that it is ruled by the tides.  The water comes in, and it goes out, in and out to of its own accord, and man can do nothing about it.  There is so much that man thinks he can be in charge of, and good to know that some things are beyond that!

At the dinner in Alnwick we not only enjoyed listening to some good and inspiring speeches, but had a good time listening to the tales of the assorted present and former local Councillors from the area.  I was particularly pleased to meet the former Councillor for Holy Island, who ran the Post Office there for many years.  I heard that more people than ever before are getting trapped by the tides and having to be rescued - some people obviously cannot accept that nature is bigger than them!

We also heard that Northumberland County Council pays at least £30,000 a year for its supply of bottled water, and goodness knows what the environmental cost of that is.  Quite a contrast to water at the Bean Goose.

thursday 1st November

Building Schools for the Future all sounds to be a good idea.  The Government gives the Council £150 million to make big improvements and changes in the way secondary education is delivered, and every secondary school is going to be brought up to a very high standard by being refurbished, or rebuilt.  I went to the first public consultation meeting at Ian Ramsey School where some options were explained.  But oh dear, many parents had many other ideas, and most were not going to be able to fit into the criteria that the Government lays down.  It is going to be very difficult to sort this out, and if any readers living  in our Borough are at all interested in the future of secondary education I urge them to go along to a meeting if they can, and to fill in the consultation sheets in the booklet distributed to every house.

Thankfully the missing blog from John, Deputy Mayor's, entry has been found.  It had found its way into the archives somehow, but now back where it belongs.  Thanks to whoever found it.