On 29 January I noted that the two Rusthall councillors on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council are contesting parliamentary constituencies at the general election on behalf of UKIP. One of the councillors, Piers Wauchope, has resigned so there will be two seats up for grabs in May. The other seat is held by Victor Webb. His period of office ends this year. Will he be contesting a Rusthall seat as well as the parliamentary constituency of Derby South?
TYKE IN KENT'S THEOLOGICAL RAMBLINGS
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Friday, 27 March 2015
Over the garden wall.....
A lady of more mature years enjoyed sunbathing naked in her garden. Her neighbour, a bachelor in his sixties, took exception to this and contacted by telephone his local councillor. Could the Council do anything? The councillor decided he wished to gaze upon the naked lady (for evidence purposes, of course) and hot-footed round to his constituent.
Search as he did the councillor could not see the naked lady. He turned to his constituent and asked why he had telephoned him and wasted the councillor's time. 'But I haven't' came the reply. 'Climb on that chair, lean over the fence and crane your neck to the left.'
Search as he did the councillor could not see the naked lady. He turned to his constituent and asked why he had telephoned him and wasted the councillor's time. 'But I haven't' came the reply. 'Climb on that chair, lean over the fence and crane your neck to the left.'
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Post 2015 General Election
A few days ago I wrote this:
'With a hung parliament the most likely outcome of the 2015 election it is likely there will be more horse-trading, only this time not only will the Lib Dems be involved but also the Scottish Nationalists, UKIP and a few other minor parties. The interests of the political parties will be paramount. The electorate will have no say in the matter. The political parties should inform us before the election of their intentions in the event of a hung parliament, who will cosy up to whom, which policies will be abandoned? Fat chance of it happening.'
Below is a a link to the editorial in today's Daily Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11475957/Ed-Miliband-could-still-do-adeal-with-the-SNP.html
From the above:
'Since another hung parliament is the most likely result, voters are entitled to know precisely how far the parties will go in post-election dealings with possible coalition partners. The favoured brush-off that “we are not anticipating anything other than an outright victory” will not be good enough. Setting out the red lines for coalitions and pacts will be the principal theme of this campaign so the party leaders better get their explanations ready'.
'With a hung parliament the most likely outcome of the 2015 election it is likely there will be more horse-trading, only this time not only will the Lib Dems be involved but also the Scottish Nationalists, UKIP and a few other minor parties. The interests of the political parties will be paramount. The electorate will have no say in the matter. The political parties should inform us before the election of their intentions in the event of a hung parliament, who will cosy up to whom, which policies will be abandoned? Fat chance of it happening.'
Below is a a link to the editorial in today's Daily Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11475957/Ed-Miliband-could-still-do-adeal-with-the-SNP.html
From the above:
'Since another hung parliament is the most likely result, voters are entitled to know precisely how far the parties will go in post-election dealings with possible coalition partners. The favoured brush-off that “we are not anticipating anything other than an outright victory” will not be good enough. Setting out the red lines for coalitions and pacts will be the principal theme of this campaign so the party leaders better get their explanations ready'.
Monday, 9 March 2015
Rusthall Public Conveniences: Down the Pan
Some of the candidates for the Rusthall Parish Council elections in 2011 stated they would seek to promote the reinstatement of the public lavatories in Rusthall. They remain closed and it looks likely they will be demolished. A planning application seeks permission to build a private dwelling on the site.
The Parish Council is hell-bent on turning the old fire station into a parish office and a space for youth work. Why does the Council need an office? It is not as though the Council does much; many parishes do not suffer for lack of an office.
The Parish Council is hell-bent on turning the old fire station into a parish office and a space for youth work. Why does the Council need an office? It is not as though the Council does much; many parishes do not suffer for lack of an office.
Rusthall Parish Council: Whopping tax rise
Today I received a letter from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council setting out the details of my council tax bill for 2015-16.
Kent County Council, Kent Police and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has each raised its demand by 2%. Kent Fire and Rescue's demand comes in at 1.9%.
Rusthall Parish Council's demand is a whopping 8% rise.
Kent County Council, Kent Police and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has each raised its demand by 2%. Kent Fire and Rescue's demand comes in at 1.9%.
Rusthall Parish Council's demand is a whopping 8% rise.
Friday, 6 March 2015
Post 2015 General Election
Remember the aftermath of the 2010 general election? Like the whore of old the Liberal Democrats jumped into bed with the highest bidder. In the process election promises were thrown out of the window.
With a hung parliament the most likely outcome of the 2015 election it is likely there will be more horse-trading, only this time not only will the Lib Dems be involved but also the Scottish Nationalists, UKIP and a few other minor parties. The interests of the political parties will be paramount. The electorate will have no say in the matter. The political parties should inform us before the election of their intentions in the event of a hung parliament, who will cosy up to whom, which policies will be abandoned? Fat chance of it happening.
With a hung parliament the most likely outcome of the 2015 election it is likely there will be more horse-trading, only this time not only will the Lib Dems be involved but also the Scottish Nationalists, UKIP and a few other minor parties. The interests of the political parties will be paramount. The electorate will have no say in the matter. The political parties should inform us before the election of their intentions in the event of a hung parliament, who will cosy up to whom, which policies will be abandoned? Fat chance of it happening.
Sunday, 1 March 2015
Railway signals
When I was nowt but a lad I liked watching trains. A short walk to line side would be rewarded with a succession of goods trains interspersed with passenger trains to far-away destinations London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Bristol, Leeds to name but a few. Acquisition of a map of railway lines soon provided me with a detailed knowledge of the location of towns and cities. Then came the Beeching Report, followed by the axing of many lines, although one large system, the Midland and Great Northern Joint, closed in 1959.
The trains and steam locomotives fascinated me: Streaks, Jubilees, Crabs, A3s, Black 5s, 8Fs, Compounds, Directors...the list could go on and on. What I was not aware of then was the thermal inefficiency of steam locomotives and the waste associated with their operation.
To keep the show on the road railways use signals to keep trains apart. When I was a youngster railways used for the most part semaphore signals operated from signal boxes. A box kept in touch with adjoining boxes by bell codes. Some boxes were very busy with trains passing every few minutes, but others might see only one or two trains an hour. These signal boxes were known as mechanical boxes. The signalman operated signals by pulling levers attached to wires which ran to the signal post. Signals were lit at night by oil lamps. Foggy weather obscured the signals and the lights, so on foggy days a man would be posted at signals to assist drivers to identify signals and decide if it was safe to proceed.
The advent of colour light signals obviated the need for fog men, although it did not stop all accidents caused by lack of signal sighting. The Lewisham crash was caused by the failure of a driver and fireman to see two colour light signals.
The railway is now mostly operated by colour light signals from boxes which cover many miles of track. Far more efficient.
The trains and steam locomotives fascinated me: Streaks, Jubilees, Crabs, A3s, Black 5s, 8Fs, Compounds, Directors...the list could go on and on. What I was not aware of then was the thermal inefficiency of steam locomotives and the waste associated with their operation.
To keep the show on the road railways use signals to keep trains apart. When I was a youngster railways used for the most part semaphore signals operated from signal boxes. A box kept in touch with adjoining boxes by bell codes. Some boxes were very busy with trains passing every few minutes, but others might see only one or two trains an hour. These signal boxes were known as mechanical boxes. The signalman operated signals by pulling levers attached to wires which ran to the signal post. Signals were lit at night by oil lamps. Foggy weather obscured the signals and the lights, so on foggy days a man would be posted at signals to assist drivers to identify signals and decide if it was safe to proceed.
The advent of colour light signals obviated the need for fog men, although it did not stop all accidents caused by lack of signal sighting. The Lewisham crash was caused by the failure of a driver and fireman to see two colour light signals.
The railway is now mostly operated by colour light signals from boxes which cover many miles of track. Far more efficient.
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