Tunbridge Wells Retail

When the Royal Victoria Place opened people commented favourably about the wide walkways and general airiness of the place.   Wander through shopping malls in Maidstone and Eastbourne and you are greeted by low ceilings and no natural light.  Soon the rot set in. Additional floor space was created on the first floor by covering over the space between walkways and, even worse, retail spaces created on the walkways.  The original ambiance has been lost to be replaced by a seediness as one is accosted by salespeople at the  stalls (only a few of them but a few too many).

Possibly it would not have mattered had retail habits not changed - but they have.  Over 16% of retail sales take place over the internet.  Big stores are closing nationwide at an alarming rate and RVP  has not been immune.  Woolworths and BHS have gone.  Traffic congestion and car-parking charges have not helped.

The industrial estate in Tunbridge Wells has been turned into a retail and leisure estate syphoning off trade from the town centre.

The improvements to RVP proposed by the new owners look mostly cosmetic and even where they are not are unlikely to do other than slow down the trend away from town centre shopping.

This is the quandary facing Tunbridge Wells, how to arrest the decline in footfall.  The answer in part may be to establish additional activities and facilities for entertainment and leisure.  What is needed is something new and exciting, not patching up existing second-rate facilities.

There are many issues to be tackled but so far none of our opposition councillors nor armchair critics has come up with a coherent set of specific proposals although they have been long on meaningless hand-wringing drivel.

Red Lion Rusthall

Since the new tenant took over the Red Lion on a long lease from the brewery the establishment has gone from strength to strength.  The pub receives excellent reviews  for its food and entertainment. Moreover there are no complaints about noise levels and unruly customers exiting the premises.  Well done, keep up the excellent work.

Tunbridge Wells Theatre and Civic Centre Proposals Debate.

Reactionary forces are at large in Tunbridge Wells opposing the council's plans to replace the Assembly Hall and Town Hall with new buildings which will take up about 3% of a park close to the railway station, taxi ranks and bus stops.  A planning inspector has approved compulsory purchases and in his report effectively demolished the asinine arguments of the scheme's opponents - a motley crew of political has-beens, political wannabees and people with little comprehension of the distinction between revenue and capital expenditure,  Poor reasons for not supporting the proposals, along with totally unrealistic ideas as to what can or should be done makes one despair, well almost.

The town will continue its downward spiral as a sub-regional shopping, leisure and business centre, suffocated by the aspic brigade with little understanding of the realities of the modern retail world and the needs of business.  On the entertainment front the need is for modern facilities, not a patched up inferior, second-class offering.

The majority group on the council has lost its way, fearful of electoral defeat, whilst the motley collection of opposition councillors see their chance for power.  In all this the needs of the town are being ignored as an insidious negative group-think takes hold.

Election fever in Rusthall

The election for the vacant Tunbridge Wells Borough Council seat in Rusthall is being contested by four parties:  Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and UKIP.  Until recently UKIP held both seats in Rusthall, once gaining a seat from the incumbent Tory Council Leader, but lost them.  This time I have not seen any election communication.

The Tories have delivered two leaflets.  Labour and the Lib Dems distributed election leaflets and the day before the election both parties delivered 'last minute' leaflets.


Labour and the Lib Dems both claim that they are the party to vote for to oust the Tories!  Never mind what the parties policies are, vote for us to keep out someone else is the childish message.

Yippee!

Sheffield United promoted to the Premier League and poor Sheffield Wednesday left behind!

Pleased Chesterfield recovered from a shocking first half of the season  and finished mid way in the Conference.

Wakefield Trinity RL are doing well and Wharfedale RFC are safe for another year.

Apathy reigns in Rusthall

Only 6 candidates for the 9 seats on Rusthall Parish Council.  I was opposed to the formation of the council in 2011 and, apart from 2011, there has never been an election for parish councillors.  Councillors have been either returned unopposed or co-opted.  However this year is a first.  The council will start the municipal year with only two-thirds of its seats filled.

The council should never have been formed.  Sadly it is almost impossible to scrap a parish council......but we can hope.

A shared ground.

Talks are at an advanced stage between Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and the planning authority over the construction of a new stadium in the Don Valley to be shared by the clubs.  The limited crowd capacity at Hillsborough and Bramall Lane means that in future neither club would be able to compete with the major clubs in the Premier League, assuming of course that either or both clubs make it to the league!

The new stadium will have easy access to road, tram and rail infrastructure and plenty of car parking.

Currently there are no plans to merge the two clubs.

Parish Council elections

This May all nine seats on Rusthall Parish Council are up for election.  the Council was formed in 2011.  Since the first election all the councillors have been either elected unopposed or co-opted.  So much for the claims by the protagonists for the parish council to be formed that it would lead to an increase in democratic participation.  Instead the electorate has been lumbered with paying for a clerk, offices, website and other expenses and for what?  Answers on a postage stamp.

Rubbish article in The Times of Tunbridge Wells

Rarely have I read such rubbish as published on page 6 of this week's Times of Tunbridge Wells concerning the forthcoming election in Park Ward.  The simpleton who wrote the article doesn't realise that if there are two seats being contended each elector has two votes.  The author of the piece is working on the basis that each elector has only one vote, hence the tripe about 'splitting the vote' should a party put up two candidates.

Carless in Rusthall

We have decided to part with our Renault Clio bought in 2004.  A new fan belt, broken spring, MOT coming up were all factors in the decision.  We shall not be replacing the car.  The cost of insurance, road-tax, servicing, fuel etc. is not worth paying as we do not use the car for days on end.

The local bus services are adequate for our needs (and free when we need to use them).  The occasional journey where public transport is not available or at inconvenient times will see us using taxis.  Over a full year a lot cheaper than running a car.

Rusthall 20mph zone

Aided and abetted by our unnecessary and useless parish council  a few local residents have taken it into their heads that it would be a GOOD IDEA to have a 20mph zone in the village.  Never mind that the evidence indicates that the effect of such measures is nil.  Never let facts get in the way of a feel-good campaign.  I have not seen any indication of the cost of signs, enforcement, humps and chicanes from either the parish council or the campaigners.

East Retford memories.

Officially the title is East Retford but in common parlance Retford is sufficient.  I had relatives whom we visited   For me the attraction was that the garden backed onto the engine sheds!

Our school chess team visited Retford each year and as a member of the team I was fortunate to miss afternoon classes on that day.

Far more exciting though was the family's regular visits to the trackside at Ranskill about five miles north of Retford.  A succession of A4s, A1s, A3s, A2s, the lone W1 and V2s stormed past.

Chesterfield FC sack manager

Last May I doubted the wisdom of Chesterfield appointing as manager the person who had just overseen the relegation of Barnet.  My doubts were well-founded.  Chesterfield are in the relegation zone of the National League.  No surprise then that the club has sacked the manager.

Another year gone

Another birthday recently, another year chalked off.  No new health problems to be concerned about.  Rather an uneventful year apart from one major celebration -our 25th. wedding anniversary in April.

Planning botch-up

It was obvious immediately on its opening that there was insufficient car parking at the hospital at Pembury. Tales abound of people driving round for up to an hour to find a space.  For my part I arrange for a lift to the hospital and make my way home by bus.

The problem for many people is that the bus is not an option.  Apparently the NHS Trust knew there would be a problem and pressed for more parking spaces.  The idiots in the local council's planning department, backed by councillors, refused. to agree to extra places citing central government 'green transport criteria'.  Bonkers.

More railway ramblings.

Just looked at a post on Facebook of a shunter having difficulty joining up the pipes between a steam locomotive and carriages.  His problems were compounded by having to connect not only the brake pipes but also the steam heating pipes.

Watching the video I was reminded of dark cold early mornings at Chesterfield Midland.  A train would pull in, detach a van,  shunt it into the bay platform, reconnect to the main train and then head off.  The shunter had passengers watching his every move as a delay would cause the following passenger train to be held outside the station much to the annoyance of passengers for Derby, Birmingham and Bristol.

In the 1970s-80s the railway carried much of the mail, often in the guard's van of passenger trains, or sometimes in a van the length of a passenger carriage added to a passenger train.  A train I caught from Birmingham New Street added a van to the front at New Street.

One train had a mail van at the rear.  One night at Derby there was a problem with a passenger carriage in the middle of the train. Rather than split the train and send the front portion on its way it was decided to detach the errant vehicle, join the train up and then send it on its way.  The reason for this manoeuvre was that the mail van had to go on.  Sadly, over an hour passed and the re-formed train failed to move.  An HST was pressed into service to take us on to Sheffield.  The van stayed in Derby.

Bev the Rev

Beverley Mason became a curate at St Paul's Rusthall in 2000. Clearly she rustled a few feathers as two years later she moved to Rainham. Not one of Rusthall's glorious moments.  After Rainham she became vicar at a church in Upper Norwood.  A small group of us attended her induction.  Since then Beverley has advanced to being an archdeacon and recently it was announced that she is to became Bishop of Warrington, a suffragan in the Diocese of Liverpool.

Well done Beverley.  One in the eye for the critics in Rusthall, one of whom managed to attract opprobrium for his domestic arrangements.

Chesterfield FC - a tale of woe.

After two successive relegations hopes were high that Chesterfield would at the very least put up a good showing in the National League. Indeed promotion was anticipated by the bookies and more optimistic fans. I was not so sure, the new manager had just overseen the relegation of Barnet to the National League.

The season began well with three wins, then the rot set in.  Two draws and eight defeats leave Chesterfield above the relegation places on goal difference. Difficult times.  Tomorrow Chesterfield visit fellow strugglers Maidstone United.  Must secure at least a draw.  Defeat and who knows, the manager may be shown the door.

A day out

I ventured out on a train trip today, to Gravesend, to meet a mate of long-standing and see how The Bench cafe was performing.  It was my first train trip since my heart problem was diagnosed.  Had a most enjoyable day.  The highlight was seeing the 'new' London Bridge station.  Amazing change and a huge improvement on the old infrastructure.

Liberal Dozycrats and 'Peoples Referendum'.

So, the Liberals want a second referendum as they didn't like the result of the one held in 2016.   Poor dears.

Why the Liberals should use the tag 'Peoples Vote' is beyond me.  Didn't people  vote in the 2016 referendum?

An eventful journey

I caught the 281 at Meadow Road to travel to Rusthall.  As we turned left at the traffic lights at the top of Goods Station Road two young idiots walked out in front of the bus. The pedestrian lights were at red. There followed an altercation between the driver and one of the idiots.  We proceeded to the Metro Bank bus stop whereupon the driver got off the bus seemingly intent on meeting up with the lippy idiot.  Meanwhile passengers boarded the bus  without paying or showing travel-cards.

As we approached Sainsbury's an elderly passenger rose from her seat and started to walk to the front.  When the bus stopped she catapulted forward and hit the panel behind the driver.  Fortunately she did not break any bones and managed to walk off the vehicle, but she will have a few bruises to show for her failure to wait until the bus stopped before getting up.

Off we went again.  When we reached the Major Yorks Road roundabout we should have turned left. Instead we sailed on towards the town centre. Realising his mistake the driver turned round at the King Charles roundabout and thereafter the journey was uneventful.

Fine tuning

I have received a letter from Maidstone Hospital calling me in for an appointment on a Saturday morning.  My pacemaker needs a software update.  My life depends on a mini-computer functioning correctly.

Health update.

My pacemaker is working as it should.  My sugar diabetes count is back in 'normal territory', so all is well.  However must keep to my very low salt and  sugar content diets.

Kent police a laughing stock.

Interesting priorities.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/06/cat-thieves-warned-against-feeding-neighbours-pets-pensioner/

Name and shame

The link below is to an article.  The article shows how stupid some of our councillors are.

https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/fed-up-residents-fail-stop-1601142

Chesterfield FC

Bottom of League 1 in 2017 and bottom of League 2 is 2018.  Not an enviable record.  So what does the club do?  It appoints a manager who was in charge of Barnet when it too was relegated from League 2 in 2018!

See:  https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/02/chesterfield-relegation-from-football-league

Doomed to the Conference!

Another defeat for Chesterfield at the hands of fellow-relegation contenders Grimsby Town leaves the Blues in a perilous position.  Relegation to the Conference is seemingly inevitable.  At least I shall have the opportunity next season to watch them play in Kent!

However the problem is that the downward spiral may continue.  A number of former League clubs play in Conference North.

What has gone wrong?

The Fish

Earlier this week I watched a video on YouTube about railways in the Grimsby area.  Many lines served the fish docks.  All are closed, mainly because road transport took the traffic away.  Now the road transport has gone as the trawler fleet has been decommissioned as a result of government and EU fishing policies.

My memory of the railway fish traffic is that of a train of empty fish vans being returned to Grimsby by way of Chesterfield and the 'Old Line' towards Barrow Hill. The van doors were left open for the return journey. The stench lasted for minutes after the train had gone.

Tunbridge Wells FC on the move?

It is reported that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is so strapped for cash that it intends to buy out the lease to Tunbridge Wells FC and sell the land to a property developer for housing. In return the council will provide the club with a well-drained pitch, a practice pitch and modern dressing room and club facilities

The playing fields in Southwood Road, Rusthall and adjoining fields have been identified as a possible location.  One advantage of the move is that the proposed ground is close to a bus route which cannot be said of Culverden.

What Rusthall FC will make of the proposals is not difficult to determine and doubtless local residents will complain about noise, traffic congestion and parking issues.  Should all go well the move will take place in time for the 2020-21 season.

This time of year is interesting!

Chesterfield FC: doomed to non-league football?

Six points adrift from safety and matches running out it is increasingly likely Chesterfield will be relegated from the Football League for the first time in its history. What has brought about this sad state of affairs?  The first match I saw was in the 1950s when Leeds United played Chesterfield in Freddie Capel's benefit match. John Charles played for Leeds.

I lived within the sound of cheering from Saltergate when Chesterfield scored.  I saw Gordon Banks play and in the late 50's early 60's I remember seeing Powell, Clarke, Sears, Havenhand, Hutchinson, Blakey, Smallwood, Lewis, Frear, Rackstraw, Randall, Frost, Fenoughty, Kettleborough, Moss and Maddison.  I saw Neil Warnock play a few times.

Chesterfield only once challenged for promotion to the second tier and failed through being caught up in the Anglo-Scottish Cup, beating Rangers. The very idea that Chesterfield could lose its league status was anathema.  But it has come to pass and it is probable that Chesterfield will join the long list of clubs relegated to the Conference, or even worse a further relegation to Conference North.

Opposition to Rusthall Parish Council

On the bus into town yesterday two people sat behind me expressing vehement opposition to having to pay money to the useless parish council.  Oh joy.

Parish Precept up again!

Rusthall Parish Council has increased its precept by an inflation busting 7.6%.  The effect is that I am forced to pay £43 per year to the parish council, whilst the borough council will receive £165 per year.  The parish council serves no useful purpose and should be ashamed of its charges.

Apathy in Rusthall

I mentioned recently that three of the nine parish councillors had resigned.  There has been no call for an election and the vacancies will be filled by co-option.  No surprise. There has not been a vote for a parish councillor since 2011.

Road delays in Tunbridge Wells

Major York's Road in Tunbridge Wells has been closed to enable carriageway repairs and the installation of a pedestrian crossing.  The road is busy all day and its closure has resulted in diversions of traffic onto other busy roads.  The bus services using the road have been diverted and the extra mileage, together with traffic jams has resulted in the timetables being rendered useless.

The cost to the bus companies and the cost of extra fuel used by road users, together with lost time, will add up to an enormous sum.  Yet there is a lack of urgency about completing the work.  No overnight work and no weekend working.  Poor show.

Demise of Essex Savers credit union

This week Essex Savers went into voluntary liquidation.  All savings are protected and will be paid back within seven days,

I have known for some time that Essex Savers was short of  operating funds.  I have no knowledge of the size of the shortfall.  The social cost of liquidation will be enormous as disadvantaged people will go to lenders who charge astronomical interest rates.

In Kent, the county council was the major player in the development and funding of the credit union - up to £500,000.  In Essex the county council did not contribute a penny.  Surely it was not beyond the wit of various councils and housing associations to come up with interest free loans or other mechanisms to support the credit union?  The cost to these bodies of the loss of the credit union will outweigh the cost of rescue as pressure will mount on social services, social security and housing.

Rusthall Parish Council loses 3 councillors

The parish council should have nine members.  It is down to six with the resignations of Fraser, Benoy and Punyer.  Should ten electors ask there would be a by-election to fill the vacancies.  Otherwise the council may fill the vacancies by co-option.  By-elections cost a lot: co-option opens the door to cronyism.

Since the first council election in 2011 the electorate has not voted for a parish councillor, seats have either been uncontested or filled by co-option.  Clearly apathy reigns, as I surmised it would.  Unlike some I did not go along with the hype generated by the likes of councillor Blackburn.  The parish council is a waste of money and would not be missed if it ceased to exist.  Unfortunately abolishing a parish council in virtually impossible.

Red Lion closes - again

The Red Lion in Rusthall has closed again.  A note on the door states it will reopen 'under new management'. Today the pub sign on the green opposite the pub has been taken down. Rumour is rife:  the brewery has sold the pub, it is being turned into a restaurant with an oriental theme.  Time will tell.

Still here!

It is just over two years since I was diagnosed with heart failure.  Since then a pacemaker has been fitted, I have type 2 diabetes and my cholesterol level has been too high. A daily intake of pills has reduced markedly my sugar and cholesterol levels and my pacemaker is doing its job.  I am told I look well!

Indeed I do feel well.  However my diet is restricted: very little salt and sugar and no more than two litres of fluid a day.  But I am able to get about and walk long distances - including uphill.

The NHS has done me proud - my GP, heart failure nurse, diabetes nurse and the staff at Maidstone and Pembury hospitals.

So what does the future hold?  Two years ago I doubted I would make it into 2017.  Now I expect to keep going for a few more years.

It's all in the head.

Here is an assertion:   a right is not an objective fact, it is a subjective human construct.  'Rights' are human constructs imposed by social pressure or legal force.  There are no objective standards of morality or rights, they are inventions of the human mind.  Rights are not self-evident, god given or inalienable.

Bridge Trust retires from retail.

Once upon a time the Bridge Trust had a furniture sales warehouse in Tonbridge, a charity shop near Tonbridge railway station and a charity shop in Tunbridge Wells.  The Tonbridge shop rarely made a profit but the other outlets were profitable.  It was decided to close the Tonbridge shop as there is little point in running an operation at a loss.

The furniture warehouse premises had to be vacated.  After much searching it reopened in premises in Paddock Wood. Sales fell substantially so it was decided to close the warehouse.

In Tunbridge Wells the shop in Camden Road was small so it was decided to relocate to larger premises on Camden Road closer to the town centre.  It was decided also to open a further outlet in Grosvenor Road selling clothes.  Both Tunbridge Wells outlets have closed.

Health Update

An appointment at Pembury Hospital for my pacemaker to be monitored.  Working well and doing its job.  No 'murmers'.

Next day a visit to my GP surgery for blood test results.  My cholesterol is back within the range of normality and my diabetes is under control.  Must keep taking the pills.

More Liberal Democrat hypocrisy

Dr Bullion has had a letter published in  The Times of Tunbridge Wells in which he criticises a Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillor who has moved to Norfolk and continues to represent his ward, travelling to and fro for meetings.  He is a Tory councillor.

Before Dr Bullion started throwing stones he should have considered the damage to  the Lib Dem glasshouse.

See below:

https://kentcommunityactivist.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/

Dear me.  Nothing like cheap political point scoring.

Twerp of the year award

It's that time of year.  Many potential winners but this year the outstanding candidate is David Lammy who is a serial performer in the stupidity stakes.

Overpowering 'music' at Rusthall Fireworks

Most enjoyable firework display this year.  Only downside music blasting out from the loudspeakers used for public address.  So loud one could hardly hear the bangs from the fireworks!

A sad sight

A letter received today from NHS informing me that my eyes are nor affected by my diabetes.  Then off to Southborough for an eye test.  All well.

However Southborough is a sad looking place.  No banks, a big void where once the council offices and theatre stood, closed pubs.  All very depressing.

However the most depressing sight was the notice in the window of the erstwhile Cafe Bliss.  Premises to let. The cafe was a community asset but when shove came to push the support of those prepared to bask  in the glory in better days was not to be found when the going got tough.

In happier days:

Health Update

Had a blood test earlier this week.  Results in.  I have type 2 diabetes.  Ah well, more diet changes.

Worsening bus services

From 27 July the 402 service between Tunbridge Wells and Bromley will terminate at Dunton Green.

Some time ago the Tunbridge Wells - Ashford service was cut back to Tenterden.

This year the 6A route between Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone was terminated at West Peckham.  The loss of two buses an hour between Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone is compensated  partially by the provision of an extra bus on the route between the two towns via Tonbridge.

Pacemaker Update

An appointment with the heart failure nurse today elicited the good news that my heart is working towards the bottom of  the 'normal' range for heart activity, an improvement of over 100% pre my medication and pacemaker implant.

Pacemaker Diary 3

A year ago today I had an angiogram. Two months ago  I had a pacemaker/defibrillator fitted.  I am making good progress and the heart failure nurse is hoping to discharge me from her care next week.  the care I have received at Pembury and Maidstone hospitals, the heart failure  nurse and my GP has been excellent.

General Election 2017

How will the results pan out?  A few suggestions:

1.  The UKIP vote will collapse

2.  The Conservatives will win an overall majority of between 80 - 100 seats.

3.  Labour will lose seats.

4. The Liberal Democrats will win a few seats.

5. The SNP will lose some seats.

Update:  3 out of 5  :)

Two casual vacancies

Rusthall Parish Council has nine members.  However two have resigned creating casual vacancies to be filled by the remaining councillors choosing from people who apply rather than have the expense of a by-election. Will there by a mad rush of applicants?  I have my doubts.

Pacemaker Diary 2

Coming to the end of my course of antibacterial pills - 4 of one type and 3 of another per day.  Hopefully they have worked.  The dressing over my incision comes off tomorrow.  It itches, but no pain.

What is a pain is not being permitted to drive for a month. Dressing, undressing and combing my hair is difficult as I must not raise my left arm above shoulder height.

Pacemaker diary

I had a pacemaker fitted on 2nd. May 2017.  The device is called an ICD as it has a defibrillator function as well as the usual pacemaker function.  Fitting the device was at the end of a long road that commenced in November 2015 when I visited my GP with symptoms of breathlessness and very rapid weight gain caused by water retention.

I have received excellent service from the NHS: from my GP, the heart failure nurse and staff at Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone hospitals.

Now for the next steps.  I must not raise my left arm above shoulder height for 6 weeks and I am not permitted to drive for a month.  In June a further visit to Maidstone hospital has been arranged to enable the settings on my device to be changed should It be deemed appropriate so to do.

Early days.  I walked to and from the polling station today to vote in the county council elections.  No adverse effects, indeed I felt far more comfortable than I have for some time when walking a similar distance.

My diet has not changed.  I am limited to 2 grammes of salt per day and two pints of fluid and I have to continue taking the pills.

Election literature

Two clear days before Kent County Council elections. So far only the Labour candidate's election address has been posted through my letterbox.  Come on Greens, Lib Dims and Tories: where is your literature?

UPDATE:  Conservative leaflet received.  Have seen better, much better election literature from the Tories.

Bureaucracy gone mad.

Rusthall Parish Council  has nine members. It has also the following committees or working parties: allotments, finance, planning and highways. The council has an office and a paid part-time clerk.  The  council precept takes £72,000 out of the pockets of residents and for what?

The traffic calming measures have not been successful, indeed at least one of the signs has disappeared. I have never seen the 'speed gun' in action.  The Rackliff Centre is not needed.

The Rusthall electorate did not have to vote at the last parish elections as only nine people stood for election. Apathy reins.

The Labour candidate for my county council division trumpets that she is vice-chair of the parish council and a member of the newly formed highways committee.  That should lose her a few votes.

Big day this Friday

This Friday I shall be at Maidstone Hospital to have a pacemaker/ defibrillator fitted.  Cannot claim to be looking forward to the experience but the benefits for me far outweigh my mild anxiety.

UPDATE: postponed to next Tuesday.

General Election 2017

So, 8th June it is.  The Tories are going to the country with a  massive lead in the opinion polls.  Should Mrs May return with a  large majority she can claim a further mandate for Brexit legislation.  Labour is in disarray and will fight the election on an anti-austerity prospectus.  The Left will not be able to deselect sitting MPs in the time available.  I expect the Lib Dems to pick up some seats on a pro-EU ticket not withstanding the oaf of a leader.

Bad news for UKIP given their current internal strife.

Kent County Council elections 2017

When the election was contested in 2013 the English Democrats fielded a number of candidates who either did not exist or had not consented to stand.  One of the leading lights of the party was jailed recently for his part in the farce.  This time round there is not a single English Democrat candidate.

In 2013 UKIP ran the Conservatives a close second.  The UKIP bubble has burst and as a consequence the Tories can feel confident of retaining control of the council.

In Tunbridge Wells the long serving James Scholes is not standing for re-election. One interesting snippet. Terry Cload, a former Conservative borough councillor, was expected to stand as a UKIP candidate in Tunbridge Wells West.  In fact he is standing as an Independent in Tunbridge Wells East, the only seat UKIP holds in Tunbridge Wells.  A plot to split the Tory vote?

New rails

The DfT news of improvements to the rail system is welcome.   The key criteria for the works are better connectivity between and within regions and acceleration of services.

The eye-opener is the re-opening and electrification of the Bedford-Northampton line. Thameslink services will be extended from Bedford to  Rugby.  This, together with the building of the eastern section of the Varsity Line between Bedford and Cambridge, will open up new travel opportunities between the West Midlands and East Anglia.

In the East Midlands the Erewash Valley line between Trowell and Trent will again see regular express services between Sheffield and Leicester as  attempts are made to reduce journey times between Sheffield and London.  London-Derby services will not continue to Sheffield.

Preliminary work is to commence on re-opening the line between Plymouth and Okehampton to provide a diversionary route to the coast route via Dawlish.

No progress has been made in the attempts to re-open the Uckfield-Lewes line.  The negative report, commissioned by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has not helped, nor the news that consideration is being given to developing a fast service between Ashford and Reading via Tonbridge, Redhill and Guildford. However, there is talk of a private consortium prepared to meet the cost of the proposals for BML2.  What would happen to the Spa Valley Railway?

On a more positive note, the go-ahead has been given to the reinstating of passenger services between March and Wisbech.

Finally, the biggest beneficiary is Chiltern Railways.  It will take on the franchise for the Varsity Line services and also will gain running rights on the line between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton.  The latter will enable the operation of a through service between London Marylebone and Chester without having to detour round the outskirts of Birmingham.  Chiltern will also take on the operation of the NUCLE route from Nuneaton to Leamington Spa via Coventry as a precursor to the development of a London-Leicester service via this line.  To deal with the problem of capacity at Marylebone it is proposed that the line from South Ruislip be reinstated to enable some services to terminate at Old Oak Common and thus provide an interchange with HS2 and Crossrail.

Wheels coming off?

It has been a bad few days for Robin Tilbrook, chairman of the English Democrats.

One of the party's leading lights has been sent to prison following conviction on nine counts relating to nomination papers for the 2013 Kent County Council elections.

Tilbrook complained to IPSO about the use of the words 'far right' to describe the English Democrats. He lost. The link below is to the IPSO ruling.

https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=14258-16

Poor Uncles: confused as ever.

Between his conviction and sentence Steve Uncles published this tweet.

Ah well, probably cannot tweet from jail.  However Uncles published this in 2015:

I "was about to be exposed on your Anna Cleves 'joke'."

Well I wasn't as there was nothing to be exposed.  At the trial the judge stated that there was no April Fools joke.

Let me put the record straight for the benefit of Uncles and his followers.

In April 2013 I was perusing the list of candidates for the Kent County Council elections.  I have had contact with many officers and councillors in the course of my activity in the voluntary sector and was keen to know who was standing for re-election.  Something looked 'odd' about the names of a few candidates in the Tonbridge & Malling area so I arranged to visit the offices of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council and inspect the nomination papers.

Later an article appeared in the local press on 26th April 2013:

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/police-probe-english-democrats--a53478

I contacted the police on 30th April to inform them of my concerns.

Yes!!!

Steve Uncles to serve a prison sentence and pay £1,000 costs.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/far-right-activist-jailed-for-cheating-122138/

Joy unconfined!!

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/politician-facing-jail-for-cheating-121205/

Improving railways.

Four trains an hour off-peak to London, two trains an hour off-peak to Hastings and that is the sum total of passenger services from Tunbridge Wells for most of the day.

Good service should London be your destination but woeful should you will to travel to Croydon, Bromley or Brighton.

Croydon involves a change at Tonbridge and then an hourly service to Croydon via Redhill or a trip via London Bridge.

Bromley can be reached by changing at Orpington, but not all London-bound trains stop at Orpington, so an additional change at Sevenoaks It is possible to reach Bromley by changing at Sevenoaks and then heading out to Bromley via Swanley. Miles further and slower.

To reach Brighton there are three routes all of which take about  the same time.

1.Via St Leonards (change) and along the line to Brighton.  You might be lucky and catch a through train - otherwise change at Lewes.

2. Via  Redhill.  Change at Tonbridge, Redhill and Gatwick.

3.Via London Bridge.  More expensive than the others

Well, he would say that wouldn't he?

One of our parish councillors has written the following gushing guff.

'Finally I do hope that readers of Rusthall Life appreciate the work the parish council does in the community and realise that it has made a significant difference to the life of this lovely village.'  Bilge.

The village has acquired a hall and council office and pays for a clerk.  All quite unnecessary. Back in 2011 this particular councillor was keen to reopen the public conveniences.  Has it happened?

Smashing New Year

No sooner had the fireworks stopped than there was a bang, a whooshing sound followed by a skidding sound and finally a metallic clunk, all accompanied by a police siren. A car, driven presumably by an idiot, had hit a wall, careered down the road, over the green and into the side of a car.

Cue for one of the people in the car to leg it up the road at some speed before vaulting over the six foot wall into the pub garden!

Six police cars and vans arrived and the occupants began a search of the pub garden, but to no avail.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas to all (well, the few) who read this blog and to my Facebook friends.

Smashed out of sight!

The Greens, Lib Dims and Labour decided to merge their campaigns and support the Labour candidate for the by-election in Trench Ward, Tonbridge.  Fat lot of good it did them as the Tory romped home with  61% of the vote.  Labour secured 21% and UKIP 18%.

What price the 'progressive alliance'?

http://votingandboating.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/winning-elections-isnt-difficult-its.html?spref=fb

Abject failure of child protection legislation and organisations.

Over the years I have acquired enough DBS and CRB certificates to cover all the walls of my office.  Doubtless millions of such certificates have been issued to people working with children or vulnerable adults.  All most commendable one might be led to believe.   The reality is that all this paperwork has failed to stop children being assaulted in Rotherham et al, by churches, by Jimmy Savile  and sundry football and athletic coaches.  Add to this the well-documented failure of police forces and social services departments to deal with cases of child abuse.

The root cause of this sorry mess is political failure, failure to see that pen-pushing form filling is not the answer, failure to fund social services departments and failure to stop police forces from not acting for fear of upsetting minorities.  

Health Update

In late November I had an appointment with the cardiac specialist at Maidstone Hospital.  It has been decided I need a pacemaker and other bits and pieces.  Expect to have it fitted in February 2017.

BML2 Update

http://www.bml2.co.uk/the-news/211-department-for-transport-denies-indecisiveness-over-capacity-time-bomb.html

The government plans to spend millions on HS2, yet states GWR electrification is paused, does nothing about the Brighton line capacity issues, etc., etc.

Richmond Park by-election.

We await the naming of the English Democrat candidate for the Richmond Park by-election.  Surely the party is contesting the seat following the crowing of their chairman, Robin Tilbrook, after the Batley by-election?

Brain-dead idiots on the road

A road near me is closed for repairs.  Plenty of signs warning drivers, yet some persist in driving on beyond the signs and look surprised when their way is barred.  Cretins.

Rusthall Fireworks

Last night the annual firework  display took place on Rusthall Common.  Big bonfire, large crowd and plenty of rockets making very loud bangs.  And yet, somehow not as good as usual.  Maybe it was the lack of variety in the display.  We were 'treated' over the loudspeaker system to the annual rendition of Land of Hope and Glory whilst the fireworks were exploding.  If we must have music let it be an appropriate piece by Handel.

Health Update

I have a date to see the cardiac consultant at Maidstone Hospital - 29 November.  The consultation will determine if I am to have a pacemaker fitted.

What a load of old tosh

You can rely on the English Democrats to publish twaddle.  A good example is this article by the party's chairman:

http://robintilbrook.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/the-english-democrats-come-second-in.html

No mention of the fact that the ED candidate lost her deposit.  No mention of the decision of the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and UKIP not to contest the seat.  No mention of the abject result in Witney.

Shock, horror !!!

An MP who keeps his word.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/25/zac-goldsmith-quits-as-tory-mp-for-richmond-park-over-heathrow-a/

English Democrats - time to pack up.

What a shambles!  The English Democrats came second in Batley and lost its deposit.  The party gained under 5% of the vote.  UKIP, Lib Dems and the Conservatives did not contest the seat so one might have expected the ED to do rather better.

In Witney the result was a disaster.  52 votes and under 1% of the vote. Monster Raving Loony, Bus-Pass Elvis and Eccentric Party did better.

The bells, the bells.

From to-days  Daily Telegraph:

There is a right ding-dong going on in York, where the Dean of the Minster has sacked the entire complement of 30 volunteer bell ringers. The Dean and Chapter apparently want to appoint a professional chief ringer who will then appoint suitably trained and up to speed with health and safety requirements.

I concur with the following from the article:

This seems yet another example of the advance of corporatism over voluntarism.  Dedicated people who give of their time for the love of the task are shoved aside in the spurious pursuit of 'professional' standards.

Twerp of the Year Award 2016

A massive field this year made it difficult to select an outright winner. I have decided on joint winners: Michael Gove and Nicola Sturgeon.

Bridge Trust AGM

I attended the Bridge Trust AGM this evening.  It was held at a new venue - the Old Fire Station, Tonbridge.  Met up with old colleagues and friends.

The saddest part of the evening was the news that housing associations are applying an 'affordability' test to potential residents, thereby becoming associations which provide affordable as distinct from social housing.The effect is that some people on benefits do not pass the affordability test and are precluded from housing association property.

Fact follows fiction?

In 2012 I published this April Fools' Day article:

http://kentcommunityactivist.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/all-change-in-kent.html

This week the Times of Tunbridge Wells has the following story:

 Council split talks 

The splitting of Kent into eastern and western authorities will move a step closer on Thursday (October 6) when five local authorities will meet to discuss meeting to form one 'super council'.

Any moves to combine Thanet, Canterbury, Ashford, Dover and Shepway districts could result in the scrapping of Kent County Council.

It is an option supported by Thanet North MP Roger Gale, who wants to see the county council replaced by three unitary councils, with Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks likely to make up a West Kent authority.

Good news

As I wander in Tunbridge Wells I am drawn to planning notices: a must read as I am nosey so-and-so.

Such a notice has appeared outside Zurich House, an empty office block opposite Meadow Road car park.  A planning application has been made by Canterbury Christ Church University for change of use from office to educational purposes.

Unhealthy preoccupation with genitalia

The link below is to an article in the Daily Telegraph and features a Tunbridge Wells clergyman.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/28/church-of-england-parishes-consider-first-step-to-break-away-ove/

Why is it that some Christians are preoccupied with how some people, men and women, have homosexual relationships?  It is an unhealthy preoccupation.

The problem is with fundamentalists who have, at best, a simplistic view of biblical reading and interpretation.

Oxymoron

Best example of an oxymoron in the current political debate on the result of the EU referendum:

Liberal Democrat.

Health Update

Having completed all the tests at Pembury Hospital I am to be sent to Maidstone Hospital for consideration to be given to my being fitted with a pacemaker and defibrillator.  The kit is valued at between £40,000 - £50,000!

Miserable failure

Another English Democrat electoral failure.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/17/labours-rosena-allin-khan-wins-tooting-by-election/

Visit to consultant

Recently I had an appointment with the cardiac consultant at my local hospital.  I have been telling people that if I didn't know I was ill I wouldn't know I was ill.

The consultant has stated that my symptoms have improved dramatically and that I look fit and well!  That said, I have to have a cardiac angiogram followed by the possibility of having a pacemaker.  Could have been much worse.

Afternoon on Spa Valley Railway

Enjoyed a ride on the Spa Valley Railway yesterday.  First time I had been along the route all the way from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge.

At Eridge there is no run-round facility the consequence of which is that a locomotive has to sit in one of the two platform roads whilst a train makes a journey from Eridge to Tunbridge Wells and back.

The waiting continues....

Steve Uncles, he of the ban the burka in Kent and machine gun illegal immigrants notoriety, had this to say in a comment on my blog:

Still waiting for a statement on how he planned to ban the burka.  Still waiting to be exposed "on your Anna Cleves 'joke'".

The Great Central had to close.

Facebook has a number of pages devoted to railway nostalgia. There are opinions stated regularly that the Great Central should not have closed.  In particular many bemoan the closure of Nottingham Victoria station.

The Great Central was the last major route to be built.  Unfortunately all major centres of population it passed through were served already by existing lines.  Duplication of routes is not unusual in the UK  as private railway companies competed for traffic.  Most of the collieries and steelworks in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire were served by two competing railway companies. Nationalisation of the railways in 1947 provided an opportunity for rationalisation and the end of duplication.  The downturn of the steel and mining industries took a lot of traffic away from the railways, as did the expansion of road transport.

So, the Great Central had to close.

Uncles wrong......again.

Mr Uncles regaled Facebook readers with this:

Some humiliation.  The Conservatives won the election.  Uncles came last and lost his deposit.  Time for a celebratory drink.

Twenty years

In 1996 I stood as a candidate at the local elections and managed to win.  In those days all the parties published and delivered election literature.

Fast forward to 2016.  Only one party  (Conservative) delivered election leaflets for the local elections and likewise for the PCC election. Poor show.

Awaiting election literature

The Conservatives have  delivered an election address for the borough council elections in Tunbridge Wells. Nothing from Labour, UKIP, Lib Dems or Greens.

No literature from any of the candidates for the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner election.

A late flurry of activity?

Health Update

Appointment with the heart failure nurse this morning.  Pleased with my progress - no fluid in the lungs, pulse rate down, heart beat ok.  Kidneys working much better.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections

The election season is upon us. Nominations have closed for the borough council elections on 5th May.  Nothing of interest to get excited about.  Possibility of close results in Capel, Rusthall,  Pembury, St John's and Southborough.

http://www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/119960/Borough-Statement-of-Persons-Nominated.pdf

Pathetic drivel

http://steveunclesenglishdemocrats.org/2016/04/03/2016-election-address-steve-uncles-kent-police-commissioner-candidate/

English Democrats in the news.

Two stories - Uncles trial deferred to let him contest the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner election.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/political-leader-has-fraud-trial-93106/

Then a story about the London Mayor election.  A complete shambles.

http://www.mayorwatch.co.uk/twelve-candidates-vie-to-succeed-boris-johnson-as-mayor/

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/14398522._I_m_going_to_give_George_Galloway_a_heart_attack___Winston_McKenzie_reveals_plan_to_get_Mayoral_campaign_back_on_track/

Sauna and Massage in Rusthall

Rusthall was once the home of Easy on the Eye Productions, pornographic films for women produced by a lady who stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Gravesham at the 2010 general election.

Rumours are rife that members of the 'oldest profession' are plying their services at domestic dwellings in Rusthall.

However, the big news in that a sauna and massage parlour will be opening it doors soon at a prime location in the village. Some locals have become over-excited by this development, either as potential customers of the 'services' to be offered or in their role as self-appointed guardians of public morals.

BML2 Update

http://www.bml2.co.uk/the-news/205-compelling-case-for-bml2-expected-in-autumn.html