Surely they’re not serious?
Posted by Alan Collins on Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 11:36

I was walking along Goudhurst Road this morning and decided to take a photograph of the road to add to yesterday’s post:

Yes, that is the road in which Cllr Stamp wants to install a zebra crossing - and I was thinking that Council officers would do the sensible thing and cast the request aside.

What the picture doesn’t show, however, is the fact that, hidden behind the white van in the center of the picture, is another white van parked on the corner of Charing Road. I only just noticed it out of the corner of my eye whilst walking past.

I had to look, in sheer disbelief, take a double-take, then finally a third, less-than-subtle glance, but the fact didn’t change. Clear as day, parked, watching the flow of traffic (oh, and me!), was a van clearly displaying the text, on the bonnet, in large blue letters: “Highway Services“.

If you want to do something useful in Goudhurst Road, guys, then resurface the road just below Twydall Shops. Pave over the grass verges, sell them to the owner of the houses they sit in front of and allow them to turn them into driveways, easing the increasing parking problem.

I can commend their efficiency, but this is absurd! I have been talking to various different people, who all agree that there is no point whatsoever in installing a zebra crossing in Goudhurst - even near the foot of Twydall Shops! How much Council Tax will they waste before they realise that?

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When did that happen … and why?
Posted by Alan Collins on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 21:34

Yes I know I said I wouldn’t post until I had finished my coursework, but two things are screaming at me at the moment.

Firstly, I have just read the report of last Thursday’s meeting of the Full Council. Apart from listing under Councillors present Councillor “Ward” (they did a similar thing last year, after the local elections, when Cllr Mrs Prodger had stood down) it hardly makes for exciting reading.

Except, that is, unless you are a resident of Goudhurst Road (I told you it was something screaming at me). For Liberal Councillor Andy Stamp had presented a petition “from 226 residents asking the Council to put a zebra crossing in Goudhurst Road”. 226 residents? I know for a fact I am not one of them, and there’s a good chance not one member of my family signed it.

So when did they collect signatures? And why do they think a zebra crossing would be worthwhile in Goudhurst Road? Could this, per chance, be related to last year’s submission of a petition calling for residents-only parking in Westerham Close, the home of Liberal Councillor Maureen Ruparel? After all, it is the only semi-main road she has to cross to get to Twydall Shops!

The question as to why still has to be asked. Surely even Liberals cannot want to waste local residents’ money. I mean, Goudhurst Road isn’t exactly difficult to cross even at its busiest! The question has to be asked, by myself, by my parents, by other residents: why? What is the point? Well, I think only the Liberals of Medway can answer that - and answer it they must to ensure that their already somewhat dubious credibility isn’t lost forever.

And the second thing? Well, you see there was a teacher’s strike today, and… Oh, never mind, I’ll post it later, once I have completed my Spanish coursework.

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This infantile stunt shows how much of a joke the Lib Dems have become
Posted by Alan Collins on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 at 18:49

A lot can be said about the local Liberal Democrats: some good, some bad. However, when it comes to their Parliamentary counterparts, they appear to be mature, compliant angels.

My comment comes after disgusting scenes in the House of Commons today, in which a Lib Dem MP was thrown out for refusing to recognise the authority of the Deputy Speaker Sir Michael Lord.

Pettily, immaturely, revoltingly, obnoxiously, repulsively, monstrously, even outrageously Edward Davey refused to shut up and sit down, instead arguing with Sir Michael, wasting valuable time on an issue completely irrelevant to the business of the House at that time.

He was given adequate warning, but ignored them all, which led to him being thrown out. Then, as a ghastly stunt, his colleagues on the Lib Dem benches proceeded to vacate the House of Commons, rather immaturely, bowing out of the debate at the time.

Thankfully, it achieved nothing. Well, except for evidence of how Nick Clegg has “shuttled from the sublime to the ridiculous at supersonic speed” and how laughable an “alternative” the Lib Dems are nationally.

So Andy (Stamp, that is), do yourself a favour. Don’t waste your talents trying to associate yourself with that lot. Stay in Medway Council where you belong, fighting for local issues of local importance.

At least locally, here in Medway, the Lib Dems still have some respect!

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Gillingham politicians address the “movers and shakers of the future”
Posted by Alan Collins on Sunday, February 10th, 2008 at 22:31

Politicians from across the defunct political spectrum addressed year 13 students at the Rainham School for Girls.

The event started with a question and answer session involving Labour MP Paul Clark, Conservative G&R Chairman Brigita Amey and Liberal Cllr Andy Stamp, in which several students left hugely disappointed by Mr Clark, and disgruntled by his views on certain topics, however were left largely uninspired by Mrs Amey and mainly unswung by Cllr Stamp.

Perhaps it was that it was politics, or perhaps it was the dull monotony of the censored questions being asked at the compulsory event, which included Howard and Rainham Mark students, that made the session, and indeed the subsequent, more intimate sessions with Green Party and UKIP representatives quite boring.

The Green Party spun half-truths about the new Kingsnorth Power Station. UKIP’s Bob Oakley told one group not to trust anything in the media, whilst complaining to another group of a matter in which he had only been informed the BBC’s version of events.

The Mayor of Medway, Cllr Val Goulden, and her Escort, Cllr Tony Goulden, provided, in my opinion, the best session of the day. She spoke about the role of Mayor and how the Mayor is selected (I refrained from telling her that her predictions for the Party with the Mayoralty were, in fact, wrong according to my own calculations, though).

Overall it was, for me, a highly informative, and very interesting day. For most others, it was a waste of several hours. And Cllr Stamp? Maybe the Alan Collins brand of sarcasm wasn’t really to his liking. Sorry, Councillor.

Continue Reading “Gillingham politicians address the “movers and shakers of the future”” »

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Politics awareness day
Posted by Alan Collins on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 at 18:08

The Rainham School for Girls will play host to a politics awareness day this Friday for Year 13 students. Mumblings of discontent have already been heard amongst students, not looking forward to anything which involves the word “politics”.

Students from nearby Rainham Mark Grammar School and The Howard School will also attend the question and answer session and debate, at which representatives from Medway’s two main parties, and the Liberal Democrats, will attend.

Labour MP Paul Clark will be defending his wafer-thin majority in front of people who, at the time of the next election, may or may not be old eligible to vote in Gillingham and Rainham. The Liberal Candidate Andy Stamp will be fighting the anti-non-renewable energy position.

Brigita Amey, the Chairman of the Gillingham and Rainham Conservatives Association, will be challenging the government’s position on the chosen debate topic: the Kingsnorth Power Station. Students will also be invited to ask pre-submitted questions.

Suffice to say yours truly will be there, and will be asking a question, so be prepared for an article on the exciting day to appear in the afternoon.

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