JOHN TAYLOR’S WARNING OF ‘GLOBAL WARMING’

In last week’s communication it would seem that Cllr Taylor intimated to some of his more gullible readers that the huge iceberg, approximately the size of Manhattan which broke away from the Antarctic glacier (Pine Island) was all about ‘climate change’

Pine Island is a spot in the frozen continent where ice constantly moves from the interior of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to the open ocean and dumps about 19 cubic miles of ice into the sea every year!

Although some scientists have announced that this ‘calving process’ appears to be speeding up and fear it will add to rising sea levels, other well respected glaciologists have said, that this “event” was just one of many and reiterated and cautioned that just blaming ‘climate change’ may not be the contributing driving factor.

For instance, in July 2015, another huge iceberg broke away that was 10 times bigger than the current one, stretching to a size of 225 square miles

If the writer had a little more perspicacity, and bothered to indulge in a little research he would have known that!... or maybe he did, but the facts didn't suit his agenda.

He also heaped praise on our young people who protest about ‘climate change’ as part of The Global Strike 4 Climate movement and Extinction Rebellion protesters, and said ‘it was great to see!’ He went on to talk about the scourge of plastic and pollution in general, adding on his visits to very young pupils in Dukinfield schools, that lots of young people care about the environment. However, john, it’s not only the youngsters who share their concern, but older people too.

If he really wants to know about general littering and pollution in and around Tameside, may I suggest that he stands outside the gates of our secondary schools, as they pour out after a stressful day and see the litter, plastic bottles, fag ends and other detritus they litter the streets with.

We’ve all heard the mantra how Tameside council takes the public's concerns about litter very seriously, now if that truly is the councils stance, and wish to step-up to really drive home their message, why not try a much harder hitting system by initiating a hard-line crackdown of issuing fixed penalty  notices to these juvenile litter louts of say £75.00 ( with the usual offer that the fine will be reduced to £40.00, if paid within 10 days.

The fine together with an accompanying letter, should be issued to the culprit to give to their parents, explaining why and where the offence was committed.

This scheme, would also add extra funding to the council coffers or, better still, given back to the secondary schools, to help their funding.

However, as I expect that should this idea is actually offered up for scrutiny at the next council committee meeting, it would more than likely be discussed by the same group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide that nothing can be done!

I await Cllr Taylor’s reply.


CURMUDGEON

…THOUGH COWARDS FLINCH AND TRAITORS SNEER, WE’LL KEEP THE RED FLAG FLYING HERE.

Immediately after the Supreme Court ruling which decided that the government’s attempt to prorogue parliament was unlawful, we saw dozens of MPs and others whose interests depend on remaining in the socialist controlled EU, saying how ‘they were delighted’ and announced that they were now scurrying back to Westminster to urgently debate the way forward regarding Brexit.


Then as the Labour conference finishing early on Tuesday following the court ruling, those people who later would be accusing Boris Johnson of being a ‘traitor’ finished their conference by enthusiastically singing the communist and now the Labour Party anthem of The Red Flag’ whose lyrics are as follows: Raise the scarlet standard high. Beneath its folds we'll live and die. Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we'll keep the red flag flying here!


The song is about armed proletarian youth revolution, with the song symbolising how the youth must bring about a new age and wash away that of the old capitalist regimes of the modern world. Red Flag in the title itself has its roots firm entrenched in a communist/socialist revolution.


However, the line ‘cowards flinch’ sounds like a perfect description of the election-dodging Corbyn.


Then, as the camera’s rolled, the SNP, Liberals, the Greens and those that had recently broken away from their socialist comrades and joined other groups, along with the Labour MPs together with many vocal members of the Trade Unions, collectively delivered their epistle to the masses and returned to Westminster ready for Parliament to reconvene on Wednesday. I believe our own MP Jonathan Reynolds was photographed and was published on ‘social media’ looking like the cat who’d finished off the cream, sitting smugly in an empty commons chamber.


So, the much-vaulted Brexit crisis; the very subject of the UK leaving the EEC was not to be! Instead, they used this ‘urgent time’ to plan further scrutiny of the government and undermine both the democratic Brexit result and rather than trying to find a solution to Brexit, spent their 'urgent time' plotting further spoiling tactics and instead engaged in a programme of mud-slinging and dragging spurious historic accusations to further undermine the Prime Minister.


Although there was not the usual Wednesday Prime Minister's Questions, the Speaker, Mr Bercow said, ‘there would be "full scope" for urgent questions, ministerial statements and applications for emergency debates’ to which Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn suggested that “This unelected Prime Minister should now resign, with the SNP leader in Westminster, Ian Blackford saying, “Once it’s clear that Parliament has blocked a no-deal Brexit, the opposition parties should combine to pass a vote of no confidence. And MPs again try to seize control of the Commons timetable from the Government.


With the Prime Minister speaking to the UN, he too was forced to curtail his intended international meeting schedule and returned from New York to address parliament.


Watching the proceedings I soon realised the atmosphere was turning positively toxic with remainers from all the opposition party’s shouting throughout his delivery from the despatch box where the PM was attempting to speak about the Benn Act, calling it the ‘Surrender Act’ and saying the word ‘betrayal, as in “We will not betray the people who sent us here; we will not." His speech was met by opposition members shouting out, that the PM was acting like a ‘tinpot’ dictator, and of being a liar; - words that are usually pounced on by the Mr Speaker as being ‘unacceptable parliamentary language’.


As the slanging match continued with screeching accusations being slung back and forth, each side were increasingly escalating the stretching of the English language to denigrate their opponents.


To me, the whole sorry affair smacked of screeching hypocrisy.


CURMUDGEON

HYDE TO BE REVIVED WITH A GRANT OF £100,000! …REALLY?

"They say 'Money Talks' but within Tameside Council, it just waves goodbye!

It was reported and trumpeted recently that plans to revive Hyde town centre have been given a huge boost as Tameside Council have received £100,000 in funding.


Apparently, the council is to receive the financial boost through the British Property Federation's Futures Challenge, whose stated aim is to put real estate’s future leaders and the Public Sector’s next generation of professionals at the heart of the challenges facing our towns. The council claims that these ‘young’ people will suggest new ‘innovative’ ideas on how to breathe new life into urban centres. The idea being to kick-start Tameside Council’s ‘vision’ in creating a thriving town centre in Hyde.


Tempted to ask why the council’s ‘vision’ to create a thriving town centre in Hyde was not kick started many years ago, unfortunately they do not explain.


Need it really be said; the council, who have been suffering from what is called ‘analysis -paralysis’ for years, will control the monies granted for the express purpose of breathing ‘new life’ into this dire urban centre. However, to accomplish this ambitious task the authority is now looking for bright and forward-thinking ‘young people’ to come up with new and innovative ideas to revitalise the town.

Yet, the council do not explain on what, exactly, the £100,000 will actually be spent on, and how and to whom this £100,000 will be allocated!


If it is purely to fund a full colour glossy brochure and a hastily shot video, and no doubt generous ‘allowances’ for the 9 members of the still to be chosen ‘think-tank’ - who will collectively help to guide Tameside council’s totally talentless members of the cabinet, to develop a policy of urban regeneration and guide them on a sane and beneficent course, to return Hyde centre – from its current moribund state to a newly restored popularity destination, seems totally surreal and promises to produce yet another flagrantly outrageous waste of money!

Tameside Council’s executive leader in announcing, that she was delighted that they had been successful in the council’s bid for £100,000 as part of the British Property Federations Future Challenge, said, “The fund - which is in partnership with the Office of Government Property and the Local Government Association’s One Public Estate Programme - will certainly kick-start our ‘vision’ in creating a thriving town centre in Hyde.

“We want our residents to be at the heart of our plans, making better use of the existing public assets while capitalising on new developments being built around the centre.

“We’re excited to develop fresh and innovative proposals that will be a solid foundation towards a sustainable, accessible and community service-rich centre that will really take Hyde forward into the 21st century.”


She went on to say, “The money will go towards a ‘masterplan’ for a thriving, sustainable, successful town centre. There will also be chance for residents to have their say, so it's great news!"


So, to be clear, the £100,000 will be used to fund a ‘master plan’ for Hyde; developed with new ideas and ‘young professional thinking’ which will be the base from which to move forward in securing further investment.


Six to nine people who are seen as Tameside Council future leaders, have knowledge of housing and regeneration, and within 10 years of graduation, will be chosen by to formulate proposals for Hyde, and will be judged by a panel including Tameside Council’s chief executive, Steven Pleasant and a winning proposal will be announced in October at the MIPIM UK Summit in London.


Throughout the council’s press announcement, there seems be a great emphasis being placed on the fact that only ‘young people’ will be the ones who will be the leading group who will be engaged in this ‘blue sky’ thinking, with scant mention of the older residents and the town centre’s long suffering retailers, and loyal, yet dwindling shoppers who may have a far closer reason to voice their suggestions to add to the plan.


However, given the timeline, I would not be at all surprised if the ‘young panel’ not only had been chosen, but the formulation of the ‘masterplan’ had already been completed. So, much for listening to the opinions of the residents and traders of Hyde.


Don’t misunderstand me; I’m great believer in encouraging innovation by young thinkers but, it must also be managed, tracked, and measured as a core element in delivering the final object of regenerating the town centre. Having worked closely with young creatives, I have found that often their emphasis is almost always on the thoughts themselves. Moreover, the ideas are often judged more by their novelty value than by their potential usefulness, either to retailers, consumers or indeed to the residents and shoppers.


Only with oversight of an experienced organizational insider - in other words an established conformist, who has the practical intelligence to overcome bureaucratic impediments within set timescales and on a pre-determined budget, can bring a good idea to a fruitful conclusion.


Let’s face it, without economic boundaries, anyone can table a masterplan. So, one must ask whether a total budget has been established to carry out these proposals?


As the council has announced that their plans for Hyde will be presented in October; which is precious little time to produce a comprehensive workable plan, one might ask whether a timescale has been established to prepare a fully detailed plan and its eventual regeneration completion costs, because without this guidance, whatever the chosen plan – to be forwarded to the panel at the MIPIM UK summit, it is bound to fail.


Be honest, the systematic erasure of Hyde’s attractiveness, especially its town centre as a commercial, retail and attractive place to live and visit has been presided over by a predominately Labour council, influenced by a cabal of local councillors over many years; and just throwing a mere £100,000 to publish a master plan, will not even scratch the surface. The successful regeneration of Hyde will cost £millions!


For the council to now try to prevent, halt and rectify Hyde’s problems after the damage has already been done, by spending £100,000 on a masterplan, is a perfect example of shutting the stable door after the horse has not only bolted, but has dropped dead of old age and neglect, been dragged to the knackers yard and been rendered into glue!


Submitted to the CURMUDGEON Blog by a Hyde resident

NEVER ASSUME AN IDEA IS TOO STUPID FOR LABOUR TO SUGGEST IT

There are fits of deceit which terrify: you open your ears, you rub your eyes, not knowing whether you are awake or asleep. When the imperturbable individual to whom you owe such assertions starts to speak, you are unsure whether the man has not received some authority from on high giving him the power to recreate or annihilate the truth.

Watching Andrew Marr interview, John McDonnell’s revealled his party's latest bright idea, which is that private sector tenants should be granted the right to buy the homes they are currently renting for below the current market price.


On hearing his twisted logic, one could only surmise that this ‘bright idea’ is yet another example of the Shadow Chancellor and his team are lacking in the incapacity to think through an economic problem; or more frighteningly, it’s another veiled step in crippling the UK economy!


Entirely unchallenged by the arrogant and totally biased Marr, Mr McDonnell said he wanted to “tackle the burgeoning buy-to-let market” to make it easier for workers to buy the homes they live in.

He suggested the sum paid by tenants would not necessarily be the market price! “You’d want to establish what is a reasonable price, you can establish that and then that becomes the right to buy,” he said. “If elected the government would set the criteria. I don’t think it’s complicated.”


So, following on from Gordon Brown’s Pension grab in 1997, where he abolished the tax relief pension funds earned on dividends from stock market investments, which crippled the return on British pensions over the last few decades, John Macdonell now has set his evil Marxist eyes on those hard working people who have reinvested their retirement pots by buying into the local property market.


Let’s take an example: Let’s assume that a chap who retired in 2000 with a pension pot of £100,000; decided not to rely on his bank’s interest rates going up, and instead decided to buy a small terraced house in Dukinfield for £80,000. He rented it out to a young couple, charging them £200per calendar month. That investment returned a reasonable annual income of £24.000pa. (of which he pays income tax.)


Over the next 19years that small terraced house, is now valued at £145,000. However, if McDonell’s policy ever came into force, the new Labour government could revalue that house at a mere £100,000, and force the property owner, (the Landlord) to sell it at that price to the renter.

The result of this would penalise the original investor by totally cutting off his monthly income (£200pcm) whist reducing his appreciating investment down to £100,000.


Should the ex-renter, now the house owner; assuming he’s got half an mathematical brain, he could immediately put that property back on the open housing market at the current market value of £145,000 to £150,000, and upon its sale, pay off his mortgage (even at a 100% lending rate) and walk away with a cool £45,000/£50,000 grand in his pocket, and look for another house to rent!


Also, Tameside Council would also suffer on this brilliant ‘new idea’ as the current Council Tax banding based on the government’s re-valuation, would fall from E to F - resulting in an annual loss to the council of £387.67!


As we read weekly from our Labour councillors - they are quick to call the current government for cutting their central government grants, but he’s one coming from their own party!


One wonders how Tameside Councillor’s, Brian Wild who have declared in their lists of interest owning in 8 properties in Dukinfield, Cllr Jackie Lane, who has revealed 2 properties and her husband Cllr Dawson Lane, who has another property in Hyde, feel about this Labour proposal?

JONATHAN ALSO DISPLAYS THE POLITICS OF ENVY

After  appraising Cllr Taylor’s weekly message exposing his lack of intellectual honesty,  I was mildly amused to then read Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds’s latest letter to his constituents, regarding the lack of social mobility, and criticized the fact that many Tory Members of Parliament come from privileged backgrounds’ which invariably leads to an ‘easy passage’ to them acquiring power in Government and other influential positions.

He told us, “He, (Boris Johnson) is the 20th Prime Minister who had attended Eton College”. And went on to say that “it demonstrates a tragic failure of social mobility that in millennial Britain, it remains the case that if you’re from the right family, with the right money and you’ve been to the right school, your chances of acquiring further power and wealth are dramatically magnified, even if you are dangerously lacking in the skills and achievements necessary for the posts to which you are appointed.” –  Quelle surprise!

What I can’t understand is why those on the left constantly display a combination of inverse snobbishness and ignorance by advocating that state educated students cannot get in our Top Universities without demanding they lower the bar.

However, his fixation that it’s only those from Tory ‘privileged backgrounds’ that seek to climb up the greasy pole, is clearly not true.

But of course, whilst it is indeed true that many top Government people; ranging from Civil Servants to Special Advisers, did attend ‘fee-paying’ independent schools, many more did not. They were the ones who got their heads down at state schools, studied hard, realised their potential by listening to influential teachers, and backed by ambitious parents or guardians who actively encouraged their children to aspire to reach their full potential.

If Jonathan needs conformation of this, the he need look no further than some of his colleagues sitting on the opposition’s front bench; it might well come as a real ‘eye opener’ to some of his readers just how many fall into the ‘privileged’ few and those who set their sights high, when attending their state schools.

Starting with Jonathan; (who is a qualified Solicitor), he first attended the University of Manchester before moving on to the BPP University Law School, which is a private, ‘for-profit’ provider of professional and academic legal education.

Looking back in recent history; take Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson. He first attended a Grammar School (these are schools that the Labour Party are desperate to dispose of!) before attending Jesus College Oxford. Tony Bair; was privately educated at Fettes College then he too graduated to St John’s College Oxford. Jeremy Corbyn, attended the fee-paying Castle House School. John MacDonell, - attended St Joseph’s College, another fee-paying school, then went on to attend the University of London and Brunel University - a public research university located in Uxbridge.

Deputy Labour Leader, Tom Watson attended the University of Hull as did former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. Even the arithmetically challenged Shadow Home Secretary, Diane Abbott attended the fee-paying Newnham College before graduating to the University of Cambridge!

Another Labour ‘high -flyer’ Keir Starmer was first educated at Reigate Grammar, before he too graduated to Oxford University.

On the other side of the coin, local MP Andrew Gwynne, like many hard-working MP’s who grace the benches on both sides of parliament, came through the state school educated sector. Andrew was educated locally at Egerton Park Secondary School in Denton, before graduating to the University of Salford.

Contrast his educational background with that of Barry Gardener, who not only attended Corpus Christi College Cambridge, but graduated from there to the fee-paying Harvard University.

So, therefore it is ludicrous to characterise all those exclusive public schools, as those who educate only the rich. This appears to be yet another leftist dogma advancing a wilful mischaracterisation. Their tendency to minimise the public benefit provided by independent schools and institutions like Oxbridge, is often malicious.

Could this be because it so much easier to place the burden on Universities, than to accept that the state education system needs to be totally overhauled? It’s a sorry fact that in some areas of the UK, fewer than one-in-five children currently leave school with decent GCSEs in the core “English Baccalaureate” subjects – English, maths, science, languages and history or geography.

No wonder why people are asking just what is wrong with the educational system in this country? And ask what can be done to fix our educational system; the obvious answer is that we need to return to the concept that to receive a public education is a privilege, and not a right. Give back the disciplinary authority to teachers, give them the backing of the schools Governors and the Senior Management Teams and put an end to teachers and more importantly, other students having to endure disruptive, disrespectful, and dysfunctional kids who hinder progress, on a daily basis. Admittedly, there are special needs students who legitimately need special services – and they should not be deprived. But there are many more kids who have parents and Senior Management administrators who are making excuses for their bad and sometimes dangerous behaviour. Little wonder teachers are leaving the profession in droves!

Let’s get a grip and not reduce our children’s’ education to the lowest possible denominator.

PUT ANOTHER RECORD ON JOHN

I see Cllr Taylor was singing the same monotonous tune last week; you know the one, Tax cuts for the rich whilst imposing cuts on the people who can least afford it!


A fine example of Labour’s politics of envy and spite, which history tells us never benefits the poor; it just drags everyone down and they then call it equality!


Please, John, remind us of some of your great achievements, I seem to have forgotten them somehow!

      

Oh, hang on; wasn’t there the scandal regarding wasting taxpayers' money on their £36,000 virtual town hall.?

·       

And the iPhone application at a cost of £5,731 to the taxpayer – an application that only managed a paltry couple of hundred calls?

·      

 Latterly, the council introduced their controversial 'cashless parking' system in Ashton town centre, which had to be 'suspended' following a backlash from shoppers and traders, who claimed it was killing business! It’s now been scrapped for good – but will have cost the council £28.000 of taxpayers’ money.

That's nearly £70,000 wasted!  Spent on annual maintenance, that could have saved the Stamford Park Conservatory!

There have been many more examples of waste over the last few years. Perhaps our readers could sight a good few of their own?


I feel sure that some of Tameside council’s councillors think that we; the 'little people' are all unsophisticated knuckle draggers, with short memory spans; unable to comprehend anything more advanced than 'Janet & John'… but we're not!


So, I’m sorry to ruin the Cllr Taylor’s narrative by dragging facts of reality into it but, he really should cease his continuing belief in what he sees as our gullibility.

TAMESIDE COUNCIL TO RENAME POPULAR GARDENS, ‘BRASSIC PARK’

It is hard to see why anyone would indulge in mindless acts of vandalism in our town centres and parks, but in Tameside it appears that one of the most malicious and serial culprits are the bureaucratic council officers, ably abetted by the councillors themselves.

Not content with letting once proud buildings stand empty; flattening Hyde’s Victorian Baths and latterly Hyde’s iconic Grammar School building, they now seem hell bent on demolishing the Victorian Conservatory that once stood proudly, open to the towns folk and visitors in Stamford Park, Stalybridge.

Now you might think that calling our councillors ‘vandals’ is a bit strong but, if you have the time and inclination to look it up, the definition of the word states: Vandalism is a malicious act and may reflect personal ill will, although the perpetrators need not know their victim (that’s us, the taxpayers) to commit vandalism. The recklessness of the act imputes both intent (which they have announced as their intention) and malice.

Because the destruction of public and private property poses a threat to society, modern statutes make vandalism a crime.

To obtain a conviction the prosecution must ordinarily prove that the accused damaged or destroyed some property, (that’s what they have passed in cabinet) that the property did not belong to the accused, (it belongs to the people of Tameside and is only held in trust and maintained by the council) and that the accused acted wilfully (which they have announced in the press) and with malice.

It would be interesting to know; perhaps from one of esteemed solicitor practices, whether a public body that commits ‘vandalism’ may be sued in a civil tort action for damages, so that the damaged property can be repaired or replaced.

The imposing Stamford Park Conservatory, which sits in the Grade-Two listed park, was closed to the public in 2015 over safety fears about its deteriorating state. A fact that in February 2018, whist commenting in the Stalybridge Correspondent, Cllr Welsh, whose ward includes Stamford Park, said he was unaware of! - Nice to see that our elected councillors are on the ball!

Also, ironically, back in January 2011, £1.3 million was spent on the award-winning parks pavilion, which was funded through a Heritage Lottery funded scheme as part of a major multi-million park restoration project. On its completion in March 2014 - Cllr. Lynn Travis Tameside Executive Member for Neighbourhoods said, "We are delighted that the project has received this award for this is a fantastic amenity for the people of Tameside to enjoy. Now the current generations can enjoy Stamford Park in the same way previous generations have."

Well so much for that!

Fast forward to 2019, and after 5 years of neglect, nameless council chiefs say that the parks Conservatory cannot not be allowed to ‘rot any further’ and tough decisions have to be made amid a climate of cuts and shrinking budgets.

So now, Tameside’s executive cabinet has voted for the structure to be knocked down and replaced with a new formal garden. Apparently, this represents the best ‘value for money’ and long-term sustainability, according to the town hall!

Admittedly, the 102year old property is in poor condition with spreading dry rot, and has been shut for some time because of “structural issues” but is demolition really necessary? Afterall, the fact that the conservatory is in such a poor and dangerous condition, is entirely due to the total incompetence of the council, through lack of effecting repairs, as and when they were needed!

Have the people at ‘Tameside’s Brains Trust’ ever considered that leaving any building unoccupied and not maintained for a number of years, that critical damage would be the obvious result? In spite of everything, that was their reasoning behind demolishing the 45year old Town Hall and then splashing out £36m to build the New Town Hall phase of the massive ‘Vision Tameside’ development. Not to mention the ‘unpublished amount’ they will now be paying to furnish it!

This is just another example of Tameside council vandalism where the citizens of our borough have no input and no choice while the council officers pay themselves big salaries and the cost inevitably falls on rate-payers to find more, year on year; this year we saw residents paying at least an extra £59 a year in council tax.

Let’s not forget, the council holds tens of millions in reserve. As well as millions invested in shares in ‘private companies’ This dear reader is not their money. It’s come from our taxes, business rates, licences and parking fines and charges. Even the funding that is grated by central government comes from our taxes!

A petition against the decision has already been signed by hundreds of angry residents. You can see the petition at www.change.org/p/tmbc-save-the-stamford-park-conservatory. 

More details can be found at www.facebook.com/events/324298981847962.

Originally built in 1907, the conservatory was completely rebuilt and restored to the original Victorian design from 1982, reopening three years later. And a further extensive refurbishment was carried out in 2003. But the report presented to councillors’ states that it currently ‘poses a risk to the safety of anyone entering the building’.

However, restoring it to its former glory was deemed ‘high risk’ as it was likely that costs would rise and work would be ‘complex and costly’. It is estimated that replacing the rotten timbers and repairs to the windows and doors would set the authority back around £119,000. And costs could escalate further if more deterioration is found during building work. Which suggests that the survey to repair and restore the conservatory was not all that thorough!

Interestingly, despite the latest figures, in February 2018, Cllr Welsh said: “We were shown some photographs that revealed significant damage due to wear and tear and told the cost of repairs could be between £80,000-£100,000, which is a considerable sum.” – just goes to show how estimates submitted to council managers shoot up, whilst they dither!

However, what is really alarming is the council statement saying that repairs could not be guaranteed for much longer than five years, and it would not be a ‘long term solution’.

The article goes on to tell us, ‘Officers say demolishing the structure is likely to lead to some ‘initial reputational risk’ but since when did a bad reputation for ineptitude bother the members of Tameside Council?

Emma Varnam, assistant director of operations and neighbourhoods, told the meeting demolition of the replica Victorian conservatory was the council’s favoured option.

“It’s been in poor condition for over four years, we’ve had to have it closed for over four years due to the disrepair and it’s not being safe for the public to enter,” she said. “This option will give us the most appropriate use of this space within this beautiful park and it will be value for money.”

She went on to say, “We will be able to include many different kinds of community groups in the upkeep, and many volunteers in this new form of garden will be able to use this space again.” This translates to: get some unpaid volunteers to do the work we, the council used to do!

She than goes back to brandishing questionable figures.

“Building a replacement would cost in the region of £250,000 to half a million pounds. By contrast, knocking it down will cost a fraction of that at just £11,250!” How can anybody accept that if they have fully investigated the cost of building a new conservatory, and been told by qualified craftsmen that it would cost £250,000, how could they issue the statement that it might cost double, to £500,000?

She added, “Designs of the proposed formal garden show ornamental planting, benches, paths, and pergolas created from the original ironwork within the conservatory. The new garden would cost approximately £39,654.

Heritage Lottery Fund have been consulted and while they are ‘disappointed’ the conservatory is to be lost, they are ‘realistic about the pressures on local authority budgets and have accepted the proposals’, the report adds.

It had cost £10,000 a year to heat the conservatory as its boilers required oil fuel, and a further £2,000 has been spent in recent years repairing vandalism.

The Council’s website continues to inform us that Stamford Park attracts thousands of visitors every year, and is registered under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953.

Well it won’t for much longer!

Councillors voted to approve the demolition of the conservatory, which will take place from September 2, lasting four weeks, and landscaping and planting will run until the end of the year.

It’s like the once popular Tameside theatre that now stands derelect in Ashton – For years it was running fine, then it closed and the council told us contracts could not be sorted – some 12 months later it need 5million spent on it ?

Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

JEREMY CORBYN TO PROPOSE A FOUR-DAY WEEK

Yet another crazy idea is currently being explored by opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn and his Marxist side-kick John McDonnell, and that is to introduce a 4-day working week!

It was reported by Bloomberg that this investigative report, is being researched by economic historian, Robert Skidelsky, a biographer of John Maynard Keynes, and could, if it is shown that fewer hours would give a boost to 'staff productiveness', may well end up as official Labour party policy.

This follows earlier announcements by the dynamic duo about re-nationalising the country’s rail, energy and water industries, changing the remit of the Bank of England to include a productivity target, and introducing a universal basic income.

However, this policy, should it ever be accepted, would, I suggest, instil mass panic and considerable outrage among many public sector staff, as many would need to up their game and increase their current 3-day working activities, for the same pay...!

  

PERHAPS THEY COULDN’T FIND A PEN

As Labour splits in half over the reinstatement of suspended MP Chris’ Williamson, and the letter which emerged demanding his further expulsion; a letter which has now been signed by well over 100 Labour MP’s; what I found most surprising was not the 120-odd names who have signed it - but the missing names of those who hadn’t.


Over the past few years, the likes of Angela Rayner and Jonathan Reynolds have presented themselves as allies of the Jewish community and called for the rooting out of antisemitism wherever it presents itself.

However, along with fellow shadow front benchers like Andrew Gwynn, they now seem to be amongst those Labour MP’s missing from the list of signatories.


As a constituent, one needs to ask whether they are in support of the decision to allow Mr Williamson back into the party or not - or could it be that they are so concerned about their climb up the greasy pole that they are unable to disagree with their leader on this vital issue?

LOCAL MP'S LATEST ATTEMPT TO HIJACK PARLIAMENT...

I am totally astounded that so many MP’s still think taking “No Deal” off the table in the Brexit negotiation with the EU is a good idea, and that further delay in the whole sorry debacle is helpful.

The other day as well as a number of Conservative MP’s who voted with the opposition on this blatant attempt to hijack parliament, in order to secure legislation to ask the government to seek another delay to our exit, I noticed that the usual suspects; Andrew Gwynne, Angela Rayner and Jonathan Reynolds all voted to take ‘No Deal’ off the table, which once again exposes the treachery within them and their party in ignoring the clear and overwhelming wishes of their Tameside constituents, and further underlines their determination to deny the restoration of sovereignty and independence to the UK.

It would appear that their clear intention is to remain under the control of the unelected bureaucrats in the EU; these Labour MP's would be happy to see Westminster reduced to the authority of a local council.

… And we all know how beneficial that would be!

NOW WE KNOW WHAT A PERILOUS STATE OUR POLITICS IS IN.

 

 

 

Judging by last night’s pitiful performance by the 5 ‘candidates’ who are running to become the 77^th Prime Minister of this Great Nation, it would seem that politics has now been reduced to little more than a crass, banal game show. The political class obviously know no bounds when it comes to displaying their inadequacies. We might as well give the keys to number 10, to the emerging winner of Love Island!

The biased policies of the supposedly ‘neutral’ BBC was also there writ-large for all to see, and it has now been confirmed that the BBC catastrophically failed in its editorial duties by giving air time to a questionable ‘member of the public!’ whose controversial  tweets on anti-Semitism were apparently deleted before the show aired.

The whole sorry programme was amateurish in its set up and was chaired so badly that viewers learned very little from these 5 ‘useful idiots’ as there was no serious discussion of the major issues facing the country or their plans to galvanise the electorate and make this country prosper.

All the candidates were continually interrupted, especially Boris Johnson who had little time to offer his comments because of the constant interruptions by the presenter which contrasted significantly with the amount of time they allowed to Rory Stewart; who spoke much but said very little!

A HELIUM-FILLED INFLATABLE BLIMP OF LABOUR LEADER JEREMY CORBYN SHOULD FLY OVER TAMESIDE’S NEW ‘TOWN HALL’ AS HE CONTINUES TO SHAME THIS NATION

I read this morning that Jeremy Corbyn is set to join thousands of demonstrators on the streets of London today (Tuesday 04 JUNE 2019) in protest over Donald Trump's UK state visit.

Apparently the Labour leader will not only attend and speak at the rally, but it is reported that he is ‘gearing up’ to actually lead the demonstration, which has been planned to coincide with the US President's talks with the Prime Minister.

Now let me say now that I don't agree with all his policies. He's not the greatest president in the world, but unlike our politicians, he gets things done!

Let’s be clear, agree wholeheartedly that everyone has the right to demonstrate against policies and laws that they do not agree with, but let’s not forget the reason President Trump is here. He’s here in order to mark the 75th anniversary of the allied D-day landings which signaled the main turning point of the Second World War; freeing Europe from the tyranny of Hitler’s Nazi’s and the beginning of the end for Hitler's Germany. D-day is still to this day the biggest amphibious invasion in military history.

This was a bloody conflict in which over 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded or went missing during the Battle of Normandy.

Something that it seems many of these inflatable waving protesters appear to be genuinely ignorant of. This is probably a subject for another day, but basically I put it down the culture within the current British State schools of cultivating ignorance.

But back to Corbyn and Co’ - I find it quite clear that many of these politicians, who have not had or played any part of organising these events; albeit one as utterly childish, undignified and futile as this one, are always ready to jump on any passing bandwagon, especially when the media circus descends.

You might have noticed that this political equivalent of the ‘photo bomb’ also happens at local level at many organised community events in Tameside.

Look through the pages of the local newspaper and I’m sure you’ll find several community events that have been organised entirely by volunteers, without any involvement from ‘the council’, and who have worked hard to stage an event, only to find their local councillor suddenly appears out of the woodwork, as soon as the cameras come out and position themselves ‘front and centre’ on the publicity shots!
 

As for today’s rally, well I suppose its something for the middle class virtue signalling tree huggers to do before they wander off to Glastonbury, for a well earned week on the lash, bless their little liberal leftie socks...

 

 

WATCH AND WEEP

 

The nature of politics and governments, is to grow and intrude on every aspect of life.

The deceit of politics is: “of the people, by the people, for the people”, however, as we now know, the lie of politics is that 'your vote matters' and that 'you can make a difference!'

Watch this compilation of our politicians and try to justify their deceit.

Personally, I am shocked that a Westminster politician would ever lie to us.

Even more shocked that the highly principled members of the government as well as those within the Labour Party would do so.

What is the world coming to?

HERE IN TAMESIDE NOTHING HAS CHANGED, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT!

 

In the run up to the local elections, social media is awash with selfies of beaming groups of councillors, decked out in rosettes and waving posters.

However, despite the smiling façade, people on the doorstep told a different story.

As well as being constantly lied to, by politicians, the media, and so-called’ experts; raging apathy at local level over Tameside’s skewed version of local democracy, anger over service decline in the face of council tax rises, not to mention frustration over delays to Brexit, created a massive disinterest in politics at local level, which again saw the voter count decline and those who did find the energy to drag themselves to the polling stations, many either spoilt their voting slips or voted for smaller parties or independents.

Democracy is supposed to be the rule by the majority. This is untrue.

To say that any elected official is chosen by the people through majority rule is blatantly dishonest.

If someone is elected, all it means is that a majority of the voting populace has chosen someone, not the majority of the people subject to the council’s decisions.

 

Let’s just look at what the ruling Labour council call democracy.

 

In Tameside local elections take place every 4 years, but only for 1/3^rd of the council seats. The total number of councillors is 57.The make up being 51 Labour, 5 Tory and 1 Green.

Here are the round numbers of non-voters. Out of Tameside’s 224.000 population: just over 50,000 weren't allowed to vote, and only 45,000 did vote. That means that only 26% took part in the local ‘democratic’ circus and 74% either couldn’t or didn’t! These councillors then go on to decide what is best for all 100% of us for the next 4 years; which is basically the same inertia and piss poor services that they have been soaking us with for the last 4+ decades!

Only in the cloud-cuckoo land of democratic theory can this be called "majority rule."

Two things must change for true democracy to return to Tameside. 1) Is to make voting compulsory, and 2) Is for all the councillors to put up for election at the same time. Then, whatever the result, it would at least carry a close resemblance to a democratic one.

I had to look twice at the slogans and histrionics that regaled their canvassing paraphernalia.

‘Labour Councillors are making a tangible difference to people’s lives, day after day, and how Labour Councillors have made – and continue to make – a difference in local communities, not to mention how councillors have been innovative in finding ways to ensure our communities remain strong and cohesive.'

 

Really?

If they don’t agree with my remarks, perhaps they could put their 51 heads together and furnish this blog with 3 examples of their innovations which has resulted in sustainable community cohesion.

Failing that, could they give examples of how, using their assets creatively, they have reduced the financial burden on Tameside’s taxpayers.

An answer would be nice, but I won't hold my breath! 

 

HOW SUSTAINABLE IS THE RELIANCE ON VOLUNTEERS?

 

We are told that there are great benefits to volunteering for individuals, for communities and for organisations, and many local council’s; having recognised this, now operate and promote a ‘volunteer Strategy’ and get many volunteers on-board by playing to people’s altruistic instincts.

 Apparently the ethos being to help get the most value from volunteering for everyone. But in reality they rely on the help of volunteers to deliver some of the important community services that once they carried out by their own paid officers and staff.

Then we have the ever expanding charity sector, often referred to as 'the third sector' (after the public and private). This sector has grown exponentially over the years and it is estimated that the voluntary sector makes up an estimated 3% of the UK workforce.

You might be shocked to know that according to official statistics supplied by ‘The Charity Commission for England and Wales’, up to September 2018 there were 168,186 registered charities with a combined income of £77.4bn per year. These statistics demonstrate that charities and ‘volunteerism’ is now big business.

As one reads in the national and local news, it appears that many of these organisations have been asking increasingly more from their regular volunteers, so it seems to be a growing trend to "cash-in" on free workers.

However, if you are considering volunteering, rest assured that not all volunteering is bad, and there are still ways people can participate in some genuine volunteering programmes and make a positive difference, provided you do your research.

Therefore before you get involved in any type of volunteering, you should ask yourself a few questions: Why exactly is my help needed? Why is the organization looking for volunteers?

If, after further reflection you conclude that the main beneficiary of your work will be the organisation itself, and not the local community (or another common good), then you must question whether it is worth taking part in it.

Look again at the numbers involved and remember that these organisations can only afford to pay their hierarchy huge salaries on the back of armies of unpaid volunteers, by buying expensive advertising and campaigning for continuous donations. So much so that a large number of charities now commonly exist not only to fight for the cause which led to their original foundation, but to provide salaries, perks and pensions for their top employees.

 If you doubt this just look at the accounts for any successful, professional charity.

The chances are that between 40% and 75% of their gross income goes towards paying the organisations' costs; in other words many organisations exists largely to sustain themselves.

BEWARE OF LOCAL COUNCILLORS

It’s that time of the year when local councillors start posting leaflets containing pictures of themselves smiling eerily while holding party placards and claiming that they’ve just had a ‘great response’ on the doorstep!

Well not at my house they didn’t! The chap who surreptitiously crept up my path to deliver his ‘Vote for Labour’ glossy pamphlet, shot off on his electric scooter so fast, that he was a virtual blur!

Mind you, no other party has even managed to do that!

So much for listening to residents who would like to ask about specific local issues and how since the last election, what impact had they made on the same issues that they again say they are ‘putting at the forefront’ of everything they do!

If our councillors are so damn good at doing their jobs, aka - looking after us, giving us better services, reducing our taxes and generally making life and the environment of Tameside better for all, - something they would have us believe - why then is it necessary to regularly change things?

I’m beginning to believe that the entire political class is comprised of people who are part of a strange power-worshipping cult, obsessed with populism, believing in its own infallibility, tending towards totalitarianism and quite detached from reality!

ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB?

I’ve been of the opinion for a number of years, that many who reside on the benches of both local and national governments are really not quite up to the mark.

This was epitomised in a response via ‘Twitter’ from our very own Ashton MP Angela Rayner who when commenting on the recent eco-youth climate strikers on the Guido Fawkes website, posted the following:

 

So, should we ever elect a Labour government, not only will we be immersed in hard left totalitarianism, by an economy wreaking Chancellor, we’ll also face the prospect of a Home Secretary who can’t do arithmetic and a Secretary for Education who can’t spell a five letter word.

 

 

AN ANSWER TO MY CRITICS

Although it’s often dangerous to pick fights with people who obviously must buy their ink by the barrel; may I respectfully suggest that those writers who wish to present their personal position statements, retire for a short while to a quite and peaceful phrontistery, where they could compose their letters and advance their position with a little more clarity.

I am certain that some who correspond in the readers section of the Tameside Reporter are, in all probability, highly skilled crossword puzzle solvers, and are well used to flip-flopping across several subjects and theorising on imponderables, especially when speculating on uncertain or tentative grounds. However, I feel some have fallen into the trap of galimatias! 'Eh' it happens to the best of us, especially when pronouncing solutions on matters of gravity!
 

Over the years, I've found that when working with large groups of people...there are so many levels of literacy. Therefore I tend to use the most basic language, so that the least literate will be able to understand some of the message I'm trying to get across. I do not expect everyone to agree with me as everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

If this upsets some, then please feel free to not read on any further. However, I suspect that those who’ve criticised recently do so as former holders of civic office, sniping from the ancient battlements of some local authority and others who seem to have succumbed to the siren call of Strasbourg. These people are obviously so used to communicating in a pontificating form of indecipherable nonsense, rather than engaging in 'meaningful dialogue' that I have seen fit, in this instance, to raise my game.

As for indulging in ageist name calling; (crusty, ill-tempered, archaic and ‘old!’- Tameside Reporter 4^th April 2019) well, one would hope most right minded thinkers would agree that ageist terms should be as unacceptable as racist or sexist ones. One would also like to think that those who hold responsible positions in organisations that set educational standards and others who involve themselves in banner waving on behalf of political movements could try a little harder and communicate using positive or at the very least, non-judgmental language.

Every man, whether he is young, middle-aged or elderly, has his trifling pastimes, and every man has those little things that annoy him greatly. Therefore, if I should express my concerns as to the antics of the ambitious politician, or indeed any other subject that I find annoying, and would venture an opinion, then I have every right to do it! Besides, I believe that easy targets should get it in the neck every once in a while, lest they become bolder and more numerous.

AS THE BREXIT DEBACLE CONTINUES… TAMESIDE FIDDLES!

I am full of admiration for Councillor John Taylor! … No, really! Rarely have I seen such agility in someone's writing. The man truly is a master of contortion when it comes to the written word.

There are few who could give the impression of supporting democracy in their articles, when their conclusion promotes the exact opposite. But the 'Bard of Tameside' does this with incredible skill and consistency, usually by launching into political histrionics that has no bearing on the current topic.

He’s become Tweedledee and Tweedledum rolled into one!

Let’s face it; politics across all parties is in turmoil!  We are being led by an unrecognizable shower of career politicians on all sides that are genuinely clueless.

Like all bureaucrats, ‘job for life’ councillors and many who work, or have held managerial positions within the public sector, nobody has to worry too much about real world things like competition, or keeping customers. One only needs to read about our council’s latest ‘money wasting, ill thought out policy on parking in Ashton’ to realise that they’re quite content suckling on the public teat.

Proponents of big government never quite understand that real growth occurs with freedom and trust, and that economies shrink with paranoia and control. The paradox for them is that growth requires that control be relaxed and sometimes relinquished. Of course, many politicos are unwilling to do that, and what we end up with is an economy of nominal growth and real shrinkage based on policies that fuel an ever growing potential for volatility that occasionally; (as in our current position on Brexit) breaks into utter chaos.

Hence we have Labour’s ‘democratic’ economic theory: If it moves tax it, if it keeps moving regulate it, if it stops moving subsidize it. And the Conservatives who supposedly stand for free open markets, low taxation, a strong work ethic, freedom of expression and the right to make our own laws!

Now I'd like to ask Cllr Taylor, to explain without prevarication, what our Labour controlled council actually stands for.

BUREAUCRACY IN THE EU

 

 

The EU’s stance on BREXIT is a “deliberate political choice” by European governments to “overcomplicate matters” and if you don’t believe me here’s an example of their bureaucracy in action.

Pythagorean theorem: ................................................……...24 words

Lord's prayer ...............................................................……..66 words

Archimedes' Principle: ................................................……..67 words

The 10 Commandments: .............................................…..179 words

Gettysburg address: ...................................................…...286 words

US Declaration of Independence : ...........................…...1,300 words

US Constitution with all 27 Amendments: ...............…...7,818words

EU regulations for the sale of cabbage: ...............……..26,911 words

 

If that is how the EU legislate over the sale of cabbages, I think it should be abundantly clear to most right-minded people in the country, whether you're a Leaver or a Remainer, that the European Union were never going to offer us a deal that is acceptable.