Support Your British Farmer

Today an old family friend is selling up his Dairy Herd that has been in the family for nearly 80 years. The reason, he was losing money on every pint of milk he sold. Each cow was giving around 7 gallons of milk a day.. he had a herd of about 350.. that amount of milk will now come from Europe!

As an aside, he is now going to produce... Electricity!.. Grow maize and use a Anaerobic digester to convert it into gas, then gas into electricity. And make money at it.

Seeds

All right... Anyone who has viable vegetable seeds to spare. contact nicola@hartsdown.kent.sch.uk to donate.. This is a good community cause.

Community Engagement

Attended the neighbourhood engagement meeting at Garlinge Primary School this evening. Good to hear that the crime levels are falling across north Thanet.

Sad to hear all the political sniping going on from some of the Birchington delegates!!!!

These meetings are supposed to be constructive, and IMHO they are being hijacked by folk who should know better. People attend because they want to get results for problems that affect them, not to hear some, who have, what appears to be little grey matter, spend the time bleating about who did not do what. ( and in case you are wondering..No no one had a go at me).

We have loads of people who are doing good work in our communities... lets support them!

Diversity , What Diversity?

Following a recent meeting of councillors who represent the northern communities of Thanet (we are talking Parking here!) It was interesting to note that the Councillor who had thrown his dummy out of the pram regarding a half hour 'Free' parking, in Birchington , was not there!

What was also interesting to note was that his proposal would, actually, impose a tax upon the disabled and non car owners.

The reason for this is that the plans, he proposed, would mean an extra cost on all ratepayers in Thanet. This means that those with 'Blue badges' , who currently pay nothing for two hours parking, would have to pay some of their rates toward this concession! (as would those who do not own a car).

Councillors present came up with a suggestion that would give the residents of Birchington free parking in a carpark on saturdays... similar to the scheme proposed for the other town centres.

Day of Action!!!!

I see that the public sector unions are on strike today... Good luck to them , but it would help if they were on the picket lines!!! I know at least 7 families who are involved. 3 are doing 'Home Improvements' and four are doing 'Christmas Shopping'!! Says it all really. They just don't get the idea of Strikes.. and Picket Lines....

Is It That Long?

I have noticed that I have not posted since August! I could use many excuses, but the only reason was that I could not find anything positive to say!

Now I can. How nice to see the Royal Couple giving Margate the boost it needed! How good to see that the China Gateway is still going ahead, and How good to see that Thanet is getting the rail links it deserves!

There is so much positve going for Thanet... Lets get behind that and give our isle the support it deserves!!

Not a Riot....Just criminal low life

Sadly there is no reason, other than criminal intent, for the actions of a few morons who caused the horrible events of the last few nights.

It is something that needs dealing with, and quickly!, by Government. I see the police now have authority to use 'baton rounds' .

This may help,along side the vast increase in numbers available, but more importantly it is so good to see the local communities rallying together to clear up the mess left by these sad gits.

Phone tapping

So the News of the Screws is in the barrel over phone tapping! What goes around comes around!

Bigotry

This is a copy of a letter I received today.... I am sorry, but I do not support the comments , and cannot understand the sentiments... But I can say that these people live in my ward, and I will continue to represent them in matters other than this!
A question I have to ask is '' Is this a Christian point of view'' .

I believe in a supreme being, but obviously not the same one as these folk!

To those who do not know these letters are quite regularly received by councillors, and so far, Most councillors treat them with the right amount of attention!

Election Results

So thats it! Another four years before Local Authority elections! Result No Overall Control. Lets hope us Councillors can use the result to work better for the folk of Thanet. I also hope that we will have a less confrontational Council chamber, though I somehow doubt it. Its a shame the public do not often visit some of the working committees of the council, where the real work is done. I think they would be surprised at the harmony that exists.

Rumours

As I promised a few weeks ago, I now can publish a link to prove that the rumours are true.

For some years rumours of Large Wild Cats stalking the parks and open spaces of Thanet have been rife, with reports of Panthers etc well published in the Local and National Press.

Follow the link below to read about the possibility that these stories could really be true!

New Evidence for Big Cats Cryptozoology Strange Days Fortean Times UK

EGYPTIAN Democracy ?

I do not know enough about the system in Egypt to pass a valid comment, but as an outsider it seems that somewhat less than 7% of the population made a fuss and the President was forced into exile.

If this is true, what was the view of the other 93%?

It make me glad that Great Britain is a Democracy!..

Parish Councils

As you all wait with baited breath for the end of the rumours, just think on this...... Monkton Parish Council take around £7k from the village residents a year. Of that over £3k pays the clerk! That means it costs £3k to spend £7k.

Is this value for money? how does it compare with Ramsgate Town Council?

So whats new?

Those of you who are waiting for new postings, ...... hang on for another few days and all will be revealed...... the truth about the rumours, and who is behind it all !!!!

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer!

I was interested to see the article in the 'papers' about how Harriet Harman plotted to remove Gordon Brown as leader of the Labour Party!

In the last few years I have not had much respect for Labour, either locally or nationally, but now hats off to them, they have a consistancy I did not realise!

Nationally they have their plotters to seize control of the Party, and locally it seems the knives are out as well. In the interests of the Conservative Party I wish Clive Hart well .

Driving Standards

Following a trip to canterbury today, where are people buying their driving licences now that Woolworths has closed?

Has a new highway code been published that says its ok to turn right without indicating, turn left whilst indicating right, or overtake on a blind bend?

I thought the driving test was getting harder, it appears not.

The Clocks Go Back!!

According to the news today some of the resident UK population are ''Worried about the reversion to GMT."

Is it not time to get a real perspective upon life on Earth and worry about real things, not those subjects that the media think we should worry about,? (so as to enhance their viewing figures or circulation figures)

Monkton PTFA

Well , as I said, I speak for villages, rural or not, How does the Monkton School PTFA defend its stance on the changing of the name of the 'All hallows eve' celebration planned by the PTFA? I would suggest that they have denied the local children the chance of celebrating one of our traditional occasions.
Any religion would be wise to extend the arms of support to any other, on the grounds that they all support the same principle of a 'supreme being'?

A Good Man Has Gone

Roy Ford, the man who told me to get interested in Planning, has finally left for the great brewery in the sky! Roy was intense in his love of good planning (from a Local Authority perspective), and equally passionate about Local Planning committee's being non corrupt, but forward thinking. He taught me all I know about the principles behind planning, and for that I will be forever in his debt.

He also taught me how to enjoy real ale, and for that I thank him more.

More importantly he taught me that politics is not about being nice, its about winning. I will forever respect him and his memory.

Thanks Labour

They have done it, given the Tories 10 years in government!! Ed Milliband, The best weapon the Tories now have!!!