The Darlington Tory

I'll be back

2007-10-25T22:11:00.001Z

Well not quite I can be found here until the end of FEB 2008.

TTFN

A Sad Day

2007-09-28T22:19:00.000Z

Well unfortunately it is a NO vote, I think we have missed a great chance to refresh our town, but that is the way the vote went.

To all those in the YES camp well done.

I could be nasty and say that the NOs voted for a monkey in Alan Charlton, but he had very little to do with it, just a front man for DBC, it was they and the echo who were behind this.

I should send Peter Barron a toothbrush, with his head so far up the backside of JW, AB et al, he could clean their teeth.

I just wonder what they were so scared of.

Remember to use your VOTE

2007-09-25T22:14:00.001Z

First UK Case of Blue Tongue

2007-09-24T21:48:00.000Z

Nuff said!!!

(hattip to the spine)

I'll get me coat

2007-09-16T22:19:00.000Z

That's it time to get me coat, Ming the meaningless has spoken sense and I agree with every word.

How on earth can this of happened, but as he pointed out a referendum on the new eu treaty (CONSTITUTION) is pointless, he goes on what is required is a referendum on whether we stay in europe or come out. You could have knocked me down with a feather.

If only the Tories had such a policy, such a position they could stand by, who knows where it could lead, if only a proper political party had this as a policy (please listen Dave)and not the Lib/Dems.

Such things dreams are made of.

Not as young as they used to be

2007-09-13T21:53:00.000Z

The NO campaign have been out buying up the towns supply of epsom salts it seems.

Poor old Cllr Ron Lewis has been complaining that delivering leaflets is tiring him out, good job the young(er) Cllr Nick Wallis was there to give him a piggyback home.

Sponsorship deal for NO campaign

2007-09-07T22:03:00.000Z

And judging by the photo in todays echo it is Stanner the stairlift people (only joking).

Good to see them out and about, as long as the NO campaign do not try and kid us that the present system is as old as the combined ages of those in the photo.

In the text of the piece once again they have got it wrong, putting into peoples mind that we will lose a position for the most senior councillor, this does not have to be case, but this is the only thing they have so it will be repeated and repeated and it will still be untrue.

Nick Wallis is back and blogging, and judging by his latest post he seems to think the YES campaign is Tory, now whether he done the artwork I do not know but he seems happy to use the image, within the main group I am the only declared Tory, we have Labour supporters and Lib/Dem supporters it is a cross party group with plenty of neutrals, but someone has to plant a seed and it appears to be Nick.

The official Conservative view is that the people should decide and the Conservatives will abide by the decision, the conservative individuals may campaign for which ever side they wish, as we see myself in the YES camp I am deputy chairman of the association, we see the group leader Heather scott with the NO campaign along with Cllrs Ron Lewis and Eric Roberts, all of us will campaign as individuals, these are our views and we shall fight to see them come to fruition.

The membership of the association were sent questionaires seeking there views, the results came back as 58% for an Elected Mayor 42% against.

We tories at the very least are trying to be open within the Darlington party, but what of the New Labour Cllr that wants an Elected Mayor, will they be allowed to come forward, I suspect not, it is a shame that they do not feel strong enough to stand up against there leadership and fight for what they believe in.

Now it begins

2007-09-02T21:51:00.000Z

01/09/07 and the campaign for an elected Mayor has kicked off successfully with a baloon release
Here Fast forward to 05:00 minutes and watch.

those who are against had no one available to speak, it is my understanding that Cllr Nick Wallis is to be the spokesman for the 'NOs', now that he returned from camping holiday in Tory Territory (hattip to Cllr Cartwright for that).

I have to be honest here I am not sure how much the New Labour party machine will be behind Darlingtons Labour group as Elected Mayors are after all an important part of New Labour Policy and it is this Darlington Labour group that is going against its parties own policy.

Perhaps the clunking fist of Gordon Brown does not reach this far.

No need for this

2007-08-20T16:03:00.000Z

In the 'Shields Gazatte' a story appears about a Councillor who has been both verbally and physically abused, from whatever side of the political spectrum these people start off with wanting to help the local people of the ward, this type of behaviour is not on. It amazes me that the people who try to help in whatever capacity have to face this sort of thing, it makes you wonder why people do it...

Full story here

What is all the fuss about

2007-08-19T20:38:00.000Z

It has come to something, when we cannot even have a laugh. The uproar that has been caused by the silly film below is pathetic.

If Little Britain had done it we would all be laughing, Monty Python had 'the upperclass twit of the year', those who find this funny film offensive or like the BBC trying to spin it in a way that was not intended, need to remove there heads from their backsides, book themselves into a Harley Street clinic and have that sense of humour bypass reversed.

ELVIS Duke box special

2007-08-17T21:46:00.000Z

We couldn't allow this to just go by now could we.

Conservative proposals for reform

2007-08-05T21:43:00.000Z

I must firstly apologise for not posting recently.

The proposals below were presented to the Labour Group who basically tried to ridicule them. In trying to create a more democratic Darlington the Conservatives it seems are putting residents first, the Labour Group on the other hand are showing themselves to be even less democratic than before.

At the local elections in May the Conservatives polled the largest number of votes with the Liberal Democrats polling half as many as Labour. Through the vagaries of the first past the post system at ward level, Labour won most seats but with a greatly reduced majority. Turnout across the town was an average 40.51% and as low as 30% in some wards.

Politicians of all parties need to be concerned about this level of disengagement from politics. A healthy democracy requires the active participation of its citizens. To achieve this, new and imaginative ways need to be found which allows people to voice their opinions and indeed participate in decision making on the key issues which affect them. People need to feel that their vote counts and that their elected politicians will
work together constructively and consensually. They want to see grown up politics which is accountable and scrutinised in a robust and open way.

To meet these challenges the way we do politics needs to change. Indeed the new Prime Minister in his call for a cross party debate on the constitution said “the need for change cannot be met by the old politics”

A clear message from the May elections was that the people of Darlington want to see changes in the way that local politics is carried out. Many are disengaged and have no faith in the process. They see an excellent council at an executive and operational level but not in the way that its politics works. This is also reflected in the frustrations of many hard working councillors across the political spectrum. One expression of all of this is the campaign for a directly elected mayor.

As a result of these pressures proposals are being made to change the constitution of the Borough Council. Some interesting ideas are emerging to open up the process, to get local people more involved and to have the minority parties attend cabinet meetings. This needs to be taken much further to extend the participation of the public and of the elected members. It is here that we have specific and vital proposals to make.

The prime role of the opposition groups is to scrutinise policies being proposed by the executive and to monitor their development and performance. This role is fundamental in a healthy democracy and provides the checks and balances. Many local authorities see this very clearly and lay the responsibilities out in their constitutions. The chairs and vice chairs of scrutiny committees are seen to be the necessary domain of the opposition parties.
The House of Commons with its select committees provides a good model here. The select committees play a vital role in holding Government to account and many of the chairs are provided by the opposition parties. A notable example is Edward Leigh’s much admired chairmanship of the influential Public Accounts Committee.

Here in Darlington, apart from a token chair and vice- chair allocation to the two opposition parties, the ruling group holds the overwhelming majority of the chair and vice chair roles to itself. It holds all of the Cabinet portfolios as well - a fundamentally unhealthy arrangement. In practice this leads to a prime focus on after the event scrutinising of performance and rarely the scrutiny of policy and its development. Cabinet portfolio holders do not appear before the scrutiny committees and the Leader of the Council is never scrutinised in this way. This needs to change.

A fundamental right of any council member should be that they can ask questions in the Council Chamber on any subject relating to the portfolio of Cabinet Members. Under the current constitution they cannot do this and must restrict themselves to the specific subject that the Cabinet member chooses to report on. This is an abrogation of democracy and must be corrected.

So along with pressing on to achieve a much more participative involvement of local people, as we called for in May, the Conservative group are calling for changes in the constitution of our Borough Council to make it more democratic and accountable by:

- strengthening the checks and balances in the scrutiny process through all chairs and vice- chairs being made the responsibility of the opposition groups

- directing the work of scrutiny as a matter of course to incorporate policy review and development as well as performance

- making it the practice that the Leader of the Council and Cabinet members appear before the scrutiny committees

- making the Council a place of robust debate where every Councillor as of right can ask questions which are of importance to them and the people they represent.

Finally we believe that it is important to incorporate into the constitution a duty of public involvement which underpins the right of the residents of Darlington to be consulted about and involved in the decision making on the key issues which affect their lives.

Author: Cllr Alan Coultas [ Conservative group summary ]

Endorsed by: Cllr Heather Scott Conservative group leader

Endorsed by : Cllr Charles Johnson South Durham Conservatives Chairman

Fantasy Elected Mayor

2007-07-16T12:10:00.000Z

On the 28/09/07 it has been decided by the people of Darlington we are going for an Elected Mayor, what would you do if elected. Join in and play Fantasy Elected Mayor;

Why I think an Elected Mayor would be good for Darlington;
Democracy, or a return to it.
Accountability.
Participation.

This is what I would start off with.

We have it is true to say excellent Council services, they are rated highly, but this has really nothing to do with politics it is down to hard work of the staff.

The recent local election the share of the vote came out;
39.1% Conservative.
37.4% Labour.
18.9% Liberal Democrat.
3.9% Other.

As Elected Mayor I would take this into account, after all the elected mayor is repesenting the Town, therefore my Cabinet would consist of;

CABINET
5 Conservative
3 New Labour
1 Lib/Dem
1 Business person elected by business people - Non Voting
1 voluntry Services person elected by that sector - Non Voting

All cabinet portfolio holders to hold a forum where they can be questioned directly by the public. They would also be questioned by scrutiny committees (this does not happen at the moment).

SCRUTINY
2 Lib/Dem
1 Conservative
1 New Labour
1 Independent

Scrutiny would play a bigger part in council, where as at the moment scrutiny looks at things already on going, I would have scrutiny looking from the beginning, when a policy document is produced this is when scrutiny will start(prevention being better than cure).

As already stated portfolio holders will be questioned by scrutiny, very much like select committees do in Parliament, the Chairs of scrutiny committees will question the Mayor.

OUTSIDE BODIES
This would be looked at carefully, are there Councillors or others with particular skills/knowledge that can represent Darlington better than at present.

PARTICIPATION
We in Darlington voted 7 - 1 against an elected regional assembly, with the help of local media setting up a phone poll, should we continue to send any representation to an Unelected, unaccountable regional assembly, if NO, then should we claim monies already paid back and any future share of monies going directly to Darlington. The same system could be used over the merging of services with Stockton.

As said this is what I would do, I do not believe there another way of making local government in Darlington more democratic, more consultative, and more inclusive and has more public appeal.

Anything done now will appear as to little to late, the present ruling party has let it be known that they have no desire to lose the control they have now. They may well offer other parties something, but will it be only until a referendum has decided whether or not to have an elected mayor, if a no vote is returned how long can the other parties expect to be part of the decision making process.

At this moment in time the ruling party are suggesting change, they will sell it as a change due to the Local Election Results and that they have listened to the people, this is an untruth, new government legislation requires these changes to be made, so do not be fooled. It offers none of the changes outlined above, the changes I feel would make a big difference to the people of Darlington.

An Elected Mayor is a big constitutional change, but it is one we should embrace, it is after all the future well being of Darlington we are talking about.

The weekend

2007-07-16T12:04:00.000Z

Spitfires, cannons, fireworks, not forgetting great company and plenty of good food and wine!

The Battle Proms, if you have never been make a point of going, if G Brown wants to learn of 'Britishness' he need look no further. From chav to toff, labour and tory (no new labour, as patriotism is unfashionable)sausage roll to pheasent terrein, from lager to bollinger, all colours all creeds, all British.

Graham Robbs campaign website

2007-07-05T21:10:00.000Z

Here is the link to Graham Robbs campaign website.

Well worth a read. A link in the sidebar as well for this excellent website.

The campaign is going well and Graham and the team are very upbeat.

Today was Newton Aycliffe and a positive response from all Graham spoke to.

The Campaign Starts

2007-07-02T20:03:00.000Z

A couple of video clips from Graham Robbs Sedgefield by-election campaign launch

here and here

A dedicated website will be set up within the week.

An excellent Candidate

2007-06-30T13:41:00.000Z

I have just returned from Middleton St George, where South Durham Conservatives have launched the Sedgefield by-election campaign.

The Conservative Candidate is Graham Robb, who lives in the constituency, has a successful business and employs local people.

Here is some of what Graham had to say;

I've thrown my hat in the ring because I am passionate about the North East and believe we need a proper debate about the way our region has been taken for granted by Labour.

The Government has had the best possible opportunities to serve the North East and change our position relative to the rest of the UK. It has failed.

At one stage there were six cabinet ministers with seats in the region, with all that patronage and power you'd think things would have improved. We got no favours.

Labour's record is one of wasted opportunity, increased bureaucracy, higher taxes and a failure to deliver on important promises.

In the villages around Darlington only 2 police officer are on duty at any one time. At the same time the Government is giving early release to 25,000 prisoners.
There are fewer young people who are in training or employment than before 1997.
Manufacturing jobs in the region increased under John Major but have come down under New Labour
We haven't got value for the extra taxes we gave the NHS – GPs don't often make home visits and finding and NHS dentist isn't easy!
There two many public funded agencies often following illogical instructions from London.
People working in the public sector front lines of education, health, police and housing are often demoralised by constant change and politically inspired 'initiatives' as one public worker said on the BBC this week "We've got more 'pilots' than British Airways!"
Most damning of all, a recent academic study found that the North South divide has actually got worse under the economic policies of Gordon Brown.
Being passionate about the North East shouldn't stop me being critical of Labour. We live in a region that is still the worst off in the country, lacks a thriving small business sector, has lost even more manufacturing jobs and has seen its relative position compared to the rest of the UK decline.

A few years ago Labour's flagship policy for the North – a Regional Assembly – was rejected in a referendum that cost £10million! Yet today we still have a Regional assembly. It is bureaucratic, costly and is actual slowing down our progress. In the course of the campaign I'll demonstrate how.

This by-election presents and opportunity to be honest about the state of our region and to give a platform to new ideas.

The time has come to challenge Mr Brown and the assumption that Labour can have it all their way in Sedgefield.

For once a Conservative vote in Sedgefield is not a wasted vote. It can be used to demand change, not the cosmetic changes of cabinet personnel but change in policies that can get us the results we expect and deserve.

A video of Graham can be found here.

William Hague echoed much of what Graham said, adding "the people of Sedgefield will at last have an MP that cares about Sedgefield".

I know Graham will campaign vigorously, I wish him all the best in this endeavour and will be joining him on the campaign trail.

Sold Down the River

2007-06-25T20:45:00.000Z

Well that Bastard Blair went and sold out his country, what a spiteful little turd this man is.

There is a petition on the PM's 10 Downing Street site please pass the link below to as many people as possible, do not let them get away with it.

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to guarantee that the British people will be permitted a binding referendum on any and all attempts to resurrect the EU "constitution" (and any or all of its content) regardless of nomenclature

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/EU-treaty-NON/

Sign it. It is a start.

What a day

2007-06-24T22:32:00.000Z

Harriet bloody Harmen, well I don't think that was in the script, was it.

Sky boobed running a story that Johnson won, oh dear sky news.

A few unhappy bunnies tonight, in the shape of the other candidates, some plotting ahead me thinks.

Will Harmen draw back from all the leftie rhetoric she has been espousing, I wonder?

New Labour do like incompetent people in high places don't they.

As a look to the future and the backstabbing that lays ahead, I thought Alice Coopers 'poison' would make a good duke box this weekend, I would have used 'elected' by the same artist, purely for the performing monkey in the vid, so apt for Harmen, but 'poison' it is.

Bye Bye Tony

2007-06-18T11:44:00.000Z

And now, I give you the "END OF BLAIR" show

The Right Thing To Do

2007-06-15T22:47:00.000Z

In what has been a week of remembering those who died during the Falklands War, an interview that will never be aired has been bought to light, why the left leaning media still wish to demonise Thatcher is beyond me. Margret Thatcher can sleep soundly, can Blair with the blood he has on his hands?.

A recent interview between ITN's James Mates and the Captain of the Belgrano, Hector Bonzo, in which the good Captain tells it how it was. Astonishingly, ITN has chosen not to let the interview see the light of day. James Mates asks whether it is true that his ship posed 'a real threat' to the task force.

Captain Hector Bonzo: "Yes, I agree with that statement. I think we posed a real threat... we never had any intention of going back to shore; we were only waiting for the right moment to act."

The full piece by Charles Moore can be read in the Spectator

Weekend dukebox3

2007-06-10T00:11:00.000Z

I remember this song from my young days, my grandmother from Maynooth liked it and it brings back nice memories (though I think it was the Chieftans version she liked)

This version is from a Serbian band and they do the song justice.

A Letter To The Echo That Says It All

2007-06-07T09:17:00.000Z

I CALL upon people of the town to attend Darlington Borough Council's carnival weekend of celebrations to officially open the Pedestrian Heart scheme on June 30 and July 1 - but to wear black armbands, lest we forget the price traders have paid.

The business closures, those of us still struggling month to month, week to week, after the shoppers have deserted Darlington. The people who have been hospitalised during alterations and still falling on badly planned and laid out steps, slopes and silly chamfers.

The fact that 20 per cent of the elderly and disabled feel they cannot access the town centre for fear of falling.
Yes, let's all join in - but not to celebrate, rather to commiserate the worst thing to befall our town.

The council never asked for our opinion or consent to take the soul out of Darlington and give us a grey, same as any other place, characterless town centre.

I wish from now on the opposition swelled in numbers after May's local elections. Remember unlike the old guard, their job is to oppose from time-to-time what this council puts forward if it is not in the best interest of Darlington people. -

Timothy Hinton-Clifton, Darlington.

Independence not bloody likely

2007-06-06T20:02:00.000Z

We were led to believe that the Mayoral referendum would be free of political interference, how wrong we were!

Councillor Swift said the political independence of the mayor was an advantage of the system.

Her comments in the echo on May 31st show how this is not the case
New mayor believes an elected mayor would be "terrible" for the town.
Councillor Swift said: "This system is beneficial to the public, as often these long-standing councillors relate better to the local community." This, after the fiascos of Hurworth School, Tesco and the Pedestrian Heart to name but a few. I do not think that councilor Swift or her colleagues would know how to relate to the local communities anymore, for so long they have done as they choose and ignored Darlington residents.

She then goes on to insult all those that care enough about the town to campaign against the councils ‘do as you are told’ attitude towards us lesser mortals, by claiming "There are a lot of single-issue groups out there who will probably disappear into the woodwork when those issues have been resolved."

If Councillor Swift cannot carry out her role with the political independence that she claims is a plus, should she not pass on the role to someone who can.

We should let them know

2007-05-30T22:58:00.000Z

In the latest town crier, a three page spread on the pedestrian heart.

We can show our displeasure at the celebrations by attending complete with black arm bands, after all this work has detroyed what was an unique Market Town, black arm bands show that we are mourning its passing and lets those in power know our true feelings.

Back again

2007-05-30T21:42:00.000Z

After the election campaign in which the company I work for were excellent allowing me to run and take time off, I felt I should repay them so I have been catching up on paperwork, health & safety tours etc, but now I am back again.

Listening to radio 4 this morning I was aghast to hear a news item suggesting we should all become vegans, what a horrible thought.

There is a place for all of Gods creatures

Right next to the potatoes and gravy.

Weekend Dukebox

2007-05-11T21:21:00.000Z

This weeks musical offering, Guns N Roses, "sweet child 'o mine"

A thought occured to me

2007-05-11T21:07:00.000Z

A rumour is doing the rounds, that our ever absent MP Alan Milburn is going to the Lords. Apart from this being the best ever advert for a fully elected upper house, it could explain his multitude of consultative positions, after all the way that New Labour do peerages, they do have to be paid for don't they.

The price of principals

2007-05-10T20:19:00.000Z

Milburns onto another few pennies, this time from Pepsico.

This is the same Alan Milburn that shortly after his resignation as health secretary said in Oxford "that the greatest threat facing world health was chronic illness caused by processed foods such as crisps and fizzy drinks". " remove crisps and fizzy drinks from schools".

Aren't Pepsico a world leader in making urm, oh crisps and fizzy drinks.

The price of Milburns principals run at £25000 per year.

Get me a bucket

2007-05-10T20:05:00.000Z

The affront of Blair is quite shocking, his resignation speech was sheer snake oil salesman.

"I did what I thought was right" I felt physically sick.

"In our innermost thoughts we know this is the greatest country in the world" but he was and is willing to sell us out to the EU.

To top it off he apologised for the things he got wrong.

This man is as guilty as a puppy sitting next to a pile of pooh.

The whole speech was degrading to the people of this Nation.

Weekly Dukebox

2007-05-04T22:04:00.000Z

Once a week I will now be adding music vid, why? who cares but it will be an ecclectic mix.

Here's "Toploader" "Dancin in the moonlight"

A BIG THANK YOU

2007-05-04T21:43:00.000Z

A big thank you to Pierremont residents, we ran the buggers close, we are of course sorry that those residents are lumbered once again with 2 Labour councillors, one of whoms only concern was to be Mayor.

We worked our socks off but didn't quite make it.

How do you turn over a 15% margin, we worked as a team, we personally knocked on every door within the Pierremont ward as we made a decision that the residents deserved to see a candidate not a party worker, we used modern tecnology (internet) and came within a gnats whisker.

Tim and myself are incredibly proud of Kates win and know that we could not do any more, a 15% swing is an incredible achievement in its own right.

It is possible to overturn and get big swings, if you have the right people, doing the right things.

But it has not finished for Tim and myself we will be there to support Kate in her work for Pierremont and of course Friends of the Denes, we left well alone during the campaign so as not to turn it political, Tim and myself no longer have those concerns and the "friends" needs doers not talkers.

US & THEM

2007-04-27T21:23:00.000Z

One rule for us another for them

If you are New Labour your voice is listened to, if you are not it isn't.

A planning application approved though there were objections in Hurworth, yet if it is a Labour ward like perhaps Haughton it gets deferred for a site visit, this is just typical of this New Labour Council and its self serving Councillors.

Shameful !! I do think so

2007-04-26T22:35:00.000Z

Tonight whilst out canvassing Orchard Road an old gentleman told me a sorry tale of a broken promise.

Due to mobility problems the gentleman wanted a postal vote for himself and his Wife, New Labour had been canvassing two weeks before ourselves and a lady canvasser handed the gentleman two postal voting forms with the promise to pick them up the following evening and take them to the Town hall so as to make sure the gentleman and his wife could vote.

Of course you already know the end to this story, the forms were never picked up.

Who this lady canvasser is, we can only guess, the trouble is we should be used to broken promises by new labour, the residents of Pierremont are.

Shameful !! I don't think so

2007-04-26T22:05:00.000Z

We have once again been accused, this time we have "shamefully" suggested that Darlington Memorial may close.

Actually we did not, Nick Wallis has it wrong, the closure was never suggested but we ended our letter to press with an open ended question (below).

"Is our hospital to close ward by ward until it is no longer viable, the land being sold to developers?"

Nick has had one comment so far left on his blog (below), it appears to back up and perhaps even answers our question. Staff at DMH are concerned, we will continue to question on their behalf and the people of Darlington.

Anonymous said...
"The Memorial is buzzing with grapevine news that a super hospital is to be built in Sedgefield area replacing Darlo , Bishop & Durham's hospitals. The health staff fear for their future. Never mind "the NHS is safe in Labour's hands" !!!. Roll on May 3rd when NHS staff can have their say on this, & their derisory pay award, via the ballot box" !

Happy ST George's Day

2007-04-23T14:23:00.000Z

Today is our patrons saint day, not that you would know as being English is frowned upon nowadays.

Watch the video, lyrics below.

Roots

Now its been twenty-five years or more
Ive roamed this land from shore to shore
From Tyne to Tamar, Severn to Thames
From Moor to Vale from Peak to Fen
Played in cafes and pubs and bars
Ive stood in the street with my old guitar
But Id be richer than all the rest
If I had a pound for each request
For Duelling Banjos American Pie
Its enough to make you cry
Rule Britannia or Swing low
Are they the only songs the English know?

Seed, bud, flower, fruit
Theyre never gonna grow without their roots
Branch, stem, shoots - they need roots

After the speeches when the cakes been cut
The discos over and the bar is shut
At christening, birthday, wedding or wake
What can we sing until the morning breaks
When the Indian, Asians, Afro, Celts
Its in their blood and below the belt
Theyre playing and dancing all night long
So what have they got right that weve got wrong?

Seed, bud, flower, fruit
Never gonna grow without their roots
Branch, stem, shoots we need roots

Haul away boys let them go
Out in the wind and the rain and snow
Weve lost more than well ever know
Round the rocky shores of England

And a minister said his vision of hell
Is three folk singers in a pub near Wells
Well Ive got a vision of urban sprawl
Its pubs where no one ever sings at all
And everyone stares at a great big screen
Over-paid soccer stars, prancing teens
Australian soap, American rap
Estuary English, baseball caps
And we learn to be ashamed before we walk
Of the way we look and the way we talk
Without our stories or our songs
How will we know where weve come from?
Ive lost St George in the Union Jack
Its my flag too and I want it back

Seed, bud, flower, fruit
Never gonna grow without their roots
Branch, stem, shoots we need roots

Haul away boys let them go
Out in the wind and the rain and snow
Weve lost more than well ever know
Round the rocky shores of England

Labour candidates facing arrest

2007-04-22T23:32:00.000Z

This from Labour Watch, New Labour Old Dirty Tricks.

Word reaches LW of an incident in Lemington ward, Newcastle, scene of a Lib Dem bye-election win a few months back. A LD deliverer was out delivering letters when he was approached by a man and a woman who said they had been sent out by the agent to take over from him.

On returning to base, the deliverer explained what had happened, to the confusion of the agent who said no such instructions had been given. On describing the two people, the deliverer gave a description matching the two Labour candidates who, not being from the area, the deliverer didn't recognise. However he was soon able to identify them from a Labour leaflet.

The police have been called and are investigating. Any such investigation may not be good news for Labour's Antoine Tinnion, who is a practising barrister (and Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard educated). The Law Society may not take too kindly to such activities.

Any further reports of Labour dirty tricks welcomed.

They had not started

2007-04-22T22:40:00.000Z

I had several phone calls yesterday from Pierremont residents just letting me know that New Labour were out and about in the ward, one also pointed me towards Nick Wallis's blog (here). I do sometimes have a look at the babbling of Nicks, several thoughts occurred to me.

Firstly this photo was taken at the beginning of the canvass as from what I have heard they were not smiling as much when they left.

Secondly celebrity is hitting even local politics, on first inspection I thought the fella in the red jumper was Geoffrey from rainbow, but later realized it was in fact Stephen Harker.

Thirdly and this point was bought up by three of the callers, that no effort had be made as to turn out, not of the electorate, but of those who want your vote. It is to say the least a pretty scruffy bunch it shows a lack of respect in my eyes.

I wonder how long it has been since they have had to have the "big guns" out in Pierremont, the Council Leader, John Williams no less and of course Nick Wallis along with Rod, Jane Freddy and Bungal (or should that read BUNGLE), but a hattip to Williams a man whose reputation is in tatters as a leader for Darlington, for him to be out on the doorstep the new labour lot must be a tad worried.

We have been told that we have no chance of winning, admittedly this was by Marion Swifts daughter and you must respect that she is supporting her mothers endeavors, my message to her is that there are three excellent Conservative Candidates, any two of which will be happy for her other two votes.

Win or lose, one thing is for sure, they will know they have been in a fight.

IS THIS Mr SAXBY'S PARTING SHOT

2007-04-18T22:42:00.000Z

News reaches me today, that the gynaecology ward is to close at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Staff have been told to look for other jobs.

All treatments will be done on "general wards", another nail in the health care coffin of Darlington residents.

Once we have lost these specialists, we will not get them back.

It has been said by ourselves in the press that there is a risk of losing DMH, ward by ward, floor by floor until it is no longer viable.

We see this closure as proof positive of above statement, what next A&E.

Will our ever absent MP now speak up for Darlington or along with this New Labour run council will the silence be deafening.

IT'S NOWHERE NEAR FINISHED

2007-04-16T22:25:00.000Z

A story in the Echo today stating how close to the end of the pedestrian heart scheme we are (here)has got to be a joke.

Just exactly when will this scheme come to an end, not for many years to come. Repairs are already required, this Labour council in its usual way to make itself look good just before an election has rushed the contractor to finish, the poor workmanship shows that.

This council has landed the Darlington tax payer years of maintainance costs for this farce.

Cowardly Councillors

2007-04-12T15:22:00.000Z

"Last week, just before lunch on Wednesday, a man fell down the steps in the High Row area....just as John Williams and Nick Wallis were taking an inspection of the said area and no doubt thinking to themselves how wonderful they are, don't know about wonderful i can think of a word that describes these two better and funnily enough it begins with a "W" as well.

An ambulance was summonsed" but these two councillors being the dispicable human beings that they are turned tail and ran, oh how the milk of human kindness pours out of these two.

I wonder just how many accidents, claims and complaints have been sent to DBC and if there are any court cases pending for compensation.

But these are sort of idiots running our town, a contract for the pedestrian heart which gave DBC 90% of the liability, just how much is this going to cost Darlington tax payers in the long term, repairs are already needed.

Just out of interest, were you ever asked???

'Fuck Milburn', Said Lord Levy

2007-04-08T21:42:00.000Z

This from, DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM by Piers Morgan. How about this our erstwhile MP had delusions of grandeur, funny I have always thought Milburn more of a LAPDOG than a TOPDOG, Lord Levy must have agreed.

Picture the scene. Piers is at a jewish fundraising dinner at which the Blairs are present. Lord Levy comes over to Morgan's table and the following conversation takes place...

'Hi mate, how are things?' he said cheerily.
'I'm fine thanks, Michael. How's it going your end? I see Milburn's beginning to make a few leadership noises...'
'Fuck Milburn,' said Levy, with a steely glint in his eye. 'If he makes any attempt to make a move on Tony then I will guarantee that none of the money in this room goes anywhere near him. let's see how he gets on then, shall we.'
I laughed. You'd want Michael Levy on your side, definitely.

I wonder how many of his consultant position he owes to the people who were in that room.

Leaf it out.

2007-04-06T20:28:00.000Z

Darlington Council, in Autumn, used to collect and deliver Leaves to all the allotments in the town, since Street Scene has started NO LEAVES. Where have they gone??.

This of course will be of little interest too many, but those who have allotments found this very useful. You would think it would fit in well with green/recycling issues.

Come on DBC, bring back the leaves..

Cowardly Candidates and New Labour Lapdogs

2007-04-05T08:50:00.000Z

In Yesterdays Echo a letter sent in by S Gibson (If I had a link I would have put here) was published that acussed Pierremont Conservative Candidates of using a Non-Political group for political gain, the offending piece reads;

“Kate has been working hard with the Friends of the Dene to help secure funding for a fun day on 28/04/07, it is hoped this will raise the profile of the group and gain more support for the work ahead. This is well worth supporting”.

How these few lines give a political connotation is beyond us. We praise the group for their hard work, we hope that the groups profile is raised, we advertise the fun day and say that this is an event that should be supported.

When New Labour degenerate to using party activists (S Gibson forgot to mention she is a New Labour activist) to send grubby little attack letters to the press, it shows that New Labour are devoid of ideas and have little or no ambition for Pierremont.

New Labour candidates have also used their work with the Friends group in their election literature in fact reading the literature some could be forgiven for believing that it is only the New labour Candidates that have ever done anything for the Denes.

Will S Gibson be exercising her freedom of speech and writing to the Echo again condemning New Labour, somehow we doubt it.

One thing's for sure it's Grey

2007-03-30T12:42:00.000Z

Has anybody else noticed how "Grey" and ghost like the Town centre appears?

I know the New labour Councillors haven't because of the rose tinted specs they all walk around wearing, after all Cllr Stephen Harker says "it will make Darlington a unique, vibrant place to shop".

Perhaps he has not seen all the empty units, perhaps he has not heard of the many Darlington branded independents that have closed, relocated or are struggling. Perhaps he is unaware that since the work on the Pedestrian Heart started we have lost shoppers to Northallerton, Richmond and Middlesbrough.

Or perhaps as I think, he and his New Labour friends could not care less.

Back from London

2007-03-30T12:24:00.000Z

Just back from a work related course in London.

I was lucky enough to be asked to appear on "18 Doughty Street" VoxPolitics with Iain Dale and others, I very much hope that I "Bigged Up" Darling ton and the North East, which was the idea. From the feedback I have had I did just that.

18 Doughty street is an Internet television channel, it is a tool that all politician should be using, doughty Street is a Conservative channel, whether or not Lab, Lib/Dem ones exist I do not know.

But when I think that the MPs have voted themselves even more money to communicate with us poor souls in the real world (only TWO Conservatives voted for it), it shows me that the MPs really do not have any idea about what technology is out there, and how many,many people wish to communicate in this day and age.

Our Politicians need to drag themselves into the 21st century.

Quentin Davies, Conservative MP for Stamford & Grantham and Castle Point Tory MP Bob Spink are the two Conservatives that should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves, we expect it from self serving New Labour and the Lib/Dems, not Conservatives.

Brainless laws we would like to be rid of

2007-03-26T21:16:00.000Z

The Telegraph asks what laws would we want repealed, full story linked.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/26/nlaws26.xml

here are the top five

Not much to argue with there, but the "Civil Contingency Act" sneaked in behind the ban on hunting would be at the top of my list

Harry Potter and the Poisoned Chalice

2007-03-26T15:14:00.000Z

What a sorry choice, a dour Scot or Harry Potter

And we must assume young Potter will be in the mix, because he says he not interested. It is a sorry state if this is all that is on offer.
We citizens deserve better.

Things can only get better - VOTE CONSERVATIVE

2007-03-25T13:56:00.000Z

We do not love the EU

2007-03-23T23:54:00.000Z

The Political elite really need to get it into heads that we do not love the EU.

50 Responses to the Independent
The Independent this week lists 50 reasons why we should love the EU. Donal Blaney has something to say about that.

Today’s Independent has sunk to new depth of vacuous journalism by posting on its front page “50 reasons to love the European Union”.

1.The end of war between European nations – the EEC came into being in 1957. World War 2 ended in 1945. And US involvement in Europe through NATO, and the threat of invasion by Soviet Russia, may also have had something to do with it…

2.Democracy is now flourishing in 27 countries – how fantastic that we in Britain can put our democratic society down to the EU. There was I thinking that we, and our European cousins, all had democratic traditions that pre-dated 1957 but it goes to show how bad my education was.

3.Once-poor countries, such as Ireland, Greece and Portugal, are prospering – thanks to subsidies paid for by wealthier countries that have held those wealthier countries back from keeping up with American rates of economic growth.

4.The creation of the world's largest internal trading market – but we keep being told that India and China are now free market economies and, therefore, internal trading markets that are far greater in size than the EU.

5.Unparalleled rights for European consumers – which are harming businesses from remaining competitive as the pendulum has swung too far.

6.Co-operation on continent-wide immigration policy – this is a reason to LOVE the EU? Seriously?

7.Co-operation on crime, through Europol – I am sure those British plane-spotters arrested in Greece feel relieved to learn that we are adopting such levels of co-operation.

8.Laws that make it easier for British people to buy property in Europe – but higher taxes to pay for the EU mean that any profits earned are eaten up.

9.Cleaner beaches and rivers throughout Europe – these Europhiles claim the credit for everything, don’t they?

10.Four weeks statutory paid holiday a year for workers in Europe – and this is a good thing for our economic growth how, exactly?

11.No death penalty (it is incompatible with EU membership) – it was actually blocked by the European Convention of Human Rights.

12.Competition from privatised companies means cheaper phone calls – I think Lady Thatcher deserves the credit for privatisation, not the EU. But it’s nice to see The Independent come on board and embrace privatisation!

13.Small EU bureaucracy (24,000 employees, fewer than the BBC) – that’s like saying I am a better person because I only beat my wife once a week as opposed to someone who beats his wife every day. The EU bureaucracy is growing, not shrinking.

14.Making the French eat British beef again – wow, The Independent has even begun bashing the cheese-eating surrender monkeys now!

15.Minority languages, such as Irish, Welsh and Catalan recognised and protected – they were protected anyway! They managed to survive centuries without the help of the EU!

16.Europe is helping to save the planet with regulatory cuts in CO2 – or, alternatively, it is reacting prematurely to climate change without any certainty that CO2 emissions are the problem and by failing to do enough to encourage technological solutions to climate change.

17.One currency from Bantry to Berlin (but not Britain) – and yet still the economic growth rate of the EU and the United States are higher than those in Bantry or Berlin.

18.Europe-wide travel bans on tyrants such as Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe – which he is ignoring and he remains in power terrorizing his fellow Zimbabweans.

19.The EU gives twice as much aid to developing countries as the United States – that is simply untrue. Sorry guys. Of course the fact that EU countries have any spare money to give away to the third world is only thanks to the fact that those EU countries don’t spend enough on defence because they sit back like spoiled children relying on the US to defend them.

20.Strict safety standards for cars, buses and aircraft – as if these would be less strict if the EU didn’t exist.

21.Free medical help for tourists – it’s not free, guys. It’s paid for out of taxation. Have you still not learned that there is no such thing as government money, only money previously belonging to taxpayers until it was appropriated by the state?

22.EU peacekeepers operate in trouble spots throughout the world – doing the easy jobs so that the US does that tougher ones; this seems to miss out on noting that EU peacekeepers fail to intervene lest they get a graze on their elbows.

23.Europe's single market has brought cheap flights to the masses, and new prosperity for forgotten cities – but these cheap flights blight the environment, oh Independent. Surely “the masses” (as you so charmingly refer to us) are supposed to stop flying to save the planet?

24.Introduction of pet passports – I might give you this one although I have yet to use my dog, Bella’s passport to go overseas.

25.It now takes only 2 hrs 35 mins from London to Paris by Eurostar – and there was I thinking this was paid for by the British and French taxpayers. Did the other EU states chip in to pay for this?

26.Prospect of EU membership has forced modernisation on Turkey – now THAT is satire, surely?

27.Shopping without frontiers gives consumers more power to shape markets – but it isn’t truly a market without frontiers. There are limits on the amounts of goods we can bring into the country so consumers don’t actually have this power.

28.Cheap travel and study programmes means greater mobility for Europe's youth – they are only cheap because they are subsidized by taxpayers.

29.Food labelling is much clearer – again, as if this wouldn’t be happening anyway!

30.No tiresome border checks (apart from in the UK) – nice and easy for terrorists and jihadist sympathizers to move freely around Europe (apart from when entering the UK).

31.Compensation for passengers suffering air delays – we are getting to the meat now, aren’t we?!

32.Strict ban on animal testing for the cosmetic industry – thereby causing the cost of cosmetics to rise and some companies to go out of business.

33.Greater protection for Europe's wildlife – yes, because all those nasty member states wanted to ruin wildlife until the EU came along.

34.Regional development fund has aided the deprived parts of Britain – by subsidies instead of encouraging true economic growth.

35.European driving licences recognised across the EU – you have GOT to be joking. An Italian’s driving licence is worth the same as mine? Have you SEEN the way people drive in Rome?

36.Britons now feel a lot less insular – yes, the nation that conquered a quarter of the globe and which trades with every corner of the earth is such an insular little country, isn’t it?

37.Europe's bananas remain bent, despite sceptics' fears – but the EU still spent time and money passing pointless regulations on the curvature of bananas…

38.Strong economic growth - greater than the United States last year – one swallow does not a summer make.

39.Single market has brought the best continental footballers to Britain – and brought in wage inflation, diving, dissent and decimated our national teams.

40.Human rights legislation has protected the rights of the individual – ECHR, not EU. Sorry guys!

41.European Parliament provides democratic checks on all EU laws – ROFLMAO.

42.EU gives more, not less, sovereignty to nation states – oh come ON!

43.Maturing EU is a proper counterweight to the power of US and China – and there was I thinking it was simply an economic union without aspirations of being a superpower in its own right!

44.European immigration has boosted the British economy – just ask people who have lost jobs to Polish plumbers and Estonian waitresses.

45.Europeans are increasingly multilingual - except Britons, who are less so – ah the joys of English being the global language of business!

46.Europe has set Britain an example how properly to fund a national health service – wrong. Switzerland has shown Britain how to run and fund a health service.

47.British restaurants now much more cosmopolitan – with smaller portions, menu items no one can pronounce and waiters with attitude problems.

48.Total mobility for career professionals in Europe – again, simply nonsense. As an English lawyer I cannot simply go and work elsewhere in the EU.

49.Europe has revolutionised British attitudes to food and cooking – yes, those great European companies that are ubiquitous such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, Burger King…

50.Lists like this drive the Eurosceptics mad – they just make us more Eurosceptic!

By: Donal Blaney | 21-03-07 16:41

Haematology unit

2007-03-23T21:42:00.000Z

1300 signatures on High Row in two hours, just two hours this is fantastic, the people of Darlington paid for the Haematology Unit it should remain at DMH.

We have written to the Echo on this matter, it provoked a reply from John Saxby himself (letters below), urged on by staff we have written again we hope it will be published but if not it is here.

HAEMATOLOGY UNIT (24/02/07)

ONCE again, MP Alan Milburn needs prompting to speak up for the people of Darlington. Is he more concerned with making money outside of politics?

He earns £60,000 - plus expenses and pension - as an MP.

According to The Londoner's Diary column of the Evening Standard newspaper, he also raked in up to £95,000 through non-parliamentary work over the past 12 months, plus £25,000 from writing newspaper articles.

The column said he had recently set up a company, called AM Strategy Limited, for the purposes of his "media/consultancy work", and one of his biggest money-spinners, generating £25,000 to £30,000 a year, came through sitting on the Lloyds Pharmacy Healthcare Advisory Panel.

We, as a town, face more closures at the Memorial Hospital (the inpatient haematology unit). The Conservative group leader speaks out, but where are the New Labour voices?

What of the council leader? Where is his leadership, or is it that Bishop Auckland General Hospital being a PFI (Private Finance Initiative) has to be filled at all costs and New Labour has told its councillors to keep quiet on contentious issues?

Is our hospital to close ward by ward until it is no longer viable, the land being sold to developers? - David Davies, Kate Davies and Tim Hinton-Clifton, Conservative Candidates, Pierremont Ward, Darlington.

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (05/03/07)

THE letter from David and Kate Davies and Tim Hinton-Clifton (HAS, Page 10, Feb 24) questions the future of Darlington Memorial Hospital (DMH).

Over the past several years, the clinical position of DMH has been strengthened.
Orthopaedic trauma surgery for the south of County Durham and Darlington was centralised at DMH in 1999.

Following the Darzi report into services in County Durham and Darlington, consultant-led obstetric services, gynaecology services, as well as emergency and major elective surgery, have also been centralised for the town and the rest of South Durham at DMH.

Centralisation of these services was clinically-driven and was designed to ensure these vital services remained in the south of County Durham and Darlington.

Our plans to centralise inpatient haematology services at Bishop Auckland are also clinically-driven, and are a relatively small move in the opposite direction.

Importantly, 95 per cent of all haematology services are provided on an outpatient, or day-case basis, and those services remain at Darlington.

To suggest the future of DMH is under threat because of such a move is nonsense. Could I ask those people who feel it necessary to make such assertions to contact me so I can acquaint them with the facts. - John Saxby, chief executive, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

Rats and Sinking Ships!! (Yet to be published, at time of blog posting)

We refer to John Saxby’s letter of 5th March. Our reply has been driven by the many people who have come to speak to us about this issue since our original letter, including many staff from Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Many Darlington residents perceive the closure of wards of our hospital as very negative and staff morale at DMH seems very low. We appreciate that emotions in Bishop Auckland are also running high on this issue but our main concern has to be the DMH.

Mr Saxby says that these decisions are clinically driven. We believe that the people of Darlington and those who raised the funds to secure the in-patient haematology unit deserve an NHS that is driven by the demands of its patients.

We, and we suspect many Darlington residents, are not reassured by the platitudes of a man who is leaving to take up a post elsewhere. We sincerely hope that Mr Saxby’s replacement has much greater empathy with their staff and patients and realises how important our hospital is to many in their greatest hour of need.

David Davies, Kate Davies and Tim Hinton-Clifton
Conservative Candidates for Pierremont Ward

I just love this

2007-03-23T21:36:00.000Z

I just love this, it is worth a look.

http://eclectech.co.uk/guantanamobay.php

Cut and Paste or clik on the post title.

Referendum on Elected Mayor

2007-03-23T21:16:00.000Z

Having been at the meeting, several things surprised me.

The Lib/dems got it wrong (nothing new in that), they thought that the Conservatives and independents would vote against it, why they would think that I do not know. Perhaps they thought it would give williams a bloody nose. Swainston it appeared to me read a prepared party political statement, so no candidate from the lib/dems should the vote be won (or do you think that they would forget there opposition and think it was the best thing since sliced bread).

Dixon was harping on about how great the system is at present with a traditional mayor doing mayoral duties in dress up. But i laughed my socks off with his "Grubby Politician" remark, what does he think we have in this new labour run council now, pure, upstanding, listening politicians, he really is taken in by all the spin.

Wallis as already mentioned has managed to put a price on Democracy, we sould not be surprised by this, but he also says on his blog that the

"Labour members had a free vote, although this didn't seem to be the case on the Tory side, where Heather Scott pledged that Concservative Councillors would be supporting Cllr. John Williams' motion".

The council meeting was discussed at a group meeting, there were no desenting voices how this equates to being whipped as Wallis implies is beyond me. The Conservatives felt it was the right thing to do.
Wallis on the other hand has done this for political reasons and like dixon has not had the courage of there convictions, wrap it up any way you like, but in my opinion new labour have done this for political reasons to make themselves look Democratic and not for the people of Darlington.

You would think if you were of a cynical mind that the result was engineered, but surely that couldn,t happen???

We are a Town grown up enough to decide our own destiny.

What will they TAX next

2007-03-23T20:51:00.000Z

Macavity the mystery chancellor

2007-03-23T17:48:00.000Z

AT LAST

2007-03-22T18:59:00.000Z

At last I am back up and running, for some reason my computer has never liked "google", and it has been very frustrating trying to get onto the blog through said google. It now seems to be up and running smoothly, so below this post are a couple of letters published by the Echo from myself and running mates Kate and Tim.

I will be posting regularly from now on.

Where is our M.P.

2007-03-22T18:55:00.000Z

It has struck us, that, once again a big decision has to be made concerning our Town, yet as seems to be the case, our M.P is missing from the decision making process, WHY?. As far as we are aware Alan Milburn is on a lecture tour in the USA, lining his pockets rather than being where he is needed, this is par for the course where new labour is concerned.

Another despicable display by our M.P. who could not care less about his constituents, if the Tesco deal does go through perhaps the photo oppotunity will be a big enough draw to bring him to Darlington once again.

All three of us have attended many of the debates and meetings concerning TESCO. Is it too much to ask that our M.P attends just one? We are only prospective politicians for this town and we have made an effort to safegaurd our town, because we live here, the towns livelihood is our livelihood.

Tim Hinton-Clifton, David Davies and Kate Davies, Conservative Candidates, Pierremont Ward.

Double Standards

2007-03-22T18:52:00.000Z

At the beginning of the Tescogate scandal Catherine Whitehead the Borough Solicitor wrote to all Councillors about – “Council Consultation on Redevelopment of the Feethams/Town Hall Site – Position of Members of Council”. In this letter it is stated that “Any Member who makes a definite statement of their position in relation to the proposal which is yet to come before the Council risks an allegation of bias and pre-determination… If a Member decides that he or she does want to express very definite views about whether to proceed with the redevelopment or indeed join a campaign or lobby group then that Member may need to declare an interest at the Council meeting and consider carefully whether they can take part in the Council decision.”
On Friday 20th October the Echo published the following article – “A Leading councillor has declared his personal opposition to the proposed Tesco development in Darlington town centre - barring himself from future votes on the issue. Councillor Jim Ruck said a survey of his council ward had revealed the vast majority of people are so strongly against the plans from the multi-national supermarket that he felt he had no choice but to speak out. By speaking out now the councillor - the Conservative shadow cabinet member for highways and transport - will be excluded from any further official debate on the subject. And he will be ineligible to vote when the proposals are put before a full meeting of Darlington Borough Council.”
This week on the Darlington Borough Council website an article was published – “Council Leader Says No To Tesco 31/10/06 - DARLINGTON Council Leader John Williams will be urging fellow councillors to reject Tesco’s plans to redevelop part of the town centre – after the scheme was greeted by overwhelming public opposition.”
Is it one rule for New Labour and another for everyone else? John Williams statement is a clear case of predetermination and as such Mr Williams should be excluded from the decision making process alongside Mr Ruck.
We are therefore asking you the current Conservative Councillors and prospective candidates to add your weight of support to this motion as we intend to send this letter to the local press before the end of the week.

Tim Hinton-Clifton David Davies Kate Davies
Conservative Candidates for Pierremont Ward, Darlington.

A LOCAL BUSINESSMANS VIEW

2006-09-21T19:47:00.000Z

As a very worried Darlington businessman of 30 years standing I feel that I can no longer remain silent.

Businesses in Darlington are just surviving, 2 or 3 a week are closing or going under. The Town Crier Sept 06 – The Future Looks Great page 6, this business has subsequently closed since moving into the town centre after 40 years of trading in Darlington. At a recent community partnership forum meeting John Buxton, Director of Development and Environment laid the blame for failure with Lifestyle saying that the products being sold were perhaps not appropriate for the chosen marketplace. However in The Northern Echo on Thursday 14th September

Managing director Brian McPherson, who bought the company from Alan Goodrich in 1995, said that footfall had dropped dramatically since the start of the £7m Pedestrian Heart project.

He said that in October last year, before the start of the project, the Blackwellgate shop's sales had been eight per cent up on the previous year.

He said that during the works, the shop had endured 8ft barriers outside the premises, disruption from digging and traffic, as well as continuous noise and traffic fumes.

He told The Northern Echo yesterday: "The council, who stated in their manifesto they encourage and support independents, have failed badly on this occasion.

"As no financial support was given to traders, this council has turned its back on their manifesto pledges.

How can local businesses even hope to succeed within the present culture?

Soon we won’t need to worry about congestion or park and ride schemes, unless of course people are flocking to see our glorified patio area (once proudly now as the market square), or to shop in our new Tesco/Asda/Co-op…(depending on which multinational has greased the right palms). Be under no illusion that if this council gets its way on this issue then that’s all that will be left of our town.

Anybody who went into Darlington on August Bank Holiday Monday would have been horrified at how dead the town was. Darlington Borough Council can’t tell me that the means will justify the end. Also let us not forget that we are a market town. We must fight to keep our markets and support and encourage the market traders.

I have spoken with a substantial amount of business colleagues, friends and other business people who like me are depressed and disillusioned. All I have heard from them is, who is there to speak on our behalf or even to listen to our concerns?

Never have I in 30 years of trading felt so angry. This town has been raped and pillaged by a council that doesn’t give a damn about anyone or anything other than residing in a new town hall of some grand design, I presume!!! Our town centre looks like a building site and I don’t have high hopes of it looking any better once it has been completed and all it has is national companies and Darlington brand businesses like mine have been allowed to go to the wall.

The council are consulting on Tescogate, I like many others have no faith in Darlington Borough Council consultations. One example being: Darlington Borough Council wrote to businesses on Duke Street on 4/5/06 to consult on changes to Hackney Carriage stand provision as the council wants to designate 75 metres of Duke Street as a taxi rank, part of which runs directly outside of my business premises. Most businesses on Duke Street felt that this would have a detrimental effect on business. I replied immediately as did many other businesses on Duke Street, four months have passed and no replies or updates on the proposals have been received. WHERE is the accountability??

When will the bread and butter businesses like mine be listened to? It feels like the bulldozers are sat on the edge of town with their engines running, just waiting for the nod. Action needs to be taken now before it is too late.

left by Tim Hinton- Clifton

A NEW TOWN HALL ????

2006-09-21T19:45:00.000Z

Are we to get a new Town Hall?? News reaches me that the new Town Hall will be nothing more than a front office. Back up/support staff will be housed at offices in Morton Palms.

Questions then that need an answer:

Will we be paying rent to TESCO for new town hall (have DBC sold all the land for this developement).

What will be the rent for other offices needed to house back up/support staff.

On an ongoing basis how much will be the real cost of this developement.

Rumour has it that on an awayday, 9 cabinet members voted to proceed with the TESCO developement whatever the outcome of the consultation, surely this is "PREDETERMINATION", something that the DBC solicitor has gagged others for. Is there a senior officer or Councillor that can deny this, after all it is just this sort of thing that will come back and bite you on the arse when it becomes public knowledge.

DEMOCRACY AS NEW LABOUR DO IT

2006-09-06T21:22:00.000Z

This is the text of Borough Soliciters "GAGGING ORDER"

06/09/2006 - TEXT OF COUNCIL SOLICITOR'S LETTER

Dear Councillor

Council Consultation on Redevelopment of the Feethams/Town Hall Site – Position of Members of Council

I am writing to provide some advice in order to enable you to alert Members of your group as you consider is appropriate.

I have already provided advice to each member of the Council’s Planning Applications Committee about the forthcoming public consultation exercise, in their capacity as members of that committee.

I understand that a decision will be made by Council whether or not to proceed with a proposal to proceed with the redevelopment of the site. Although decisions of Council are not quasi judicial, when Council is making a decision on particular places or individuals as oppose to broad policy decisions some of the rules relating to planning committee decisions do apply. Any Member who makes a definite statement of their position in relation to the proposal which is yet to come before the Council risks an allegation of bias and pre-determination. This is not any casual statement about the proposal, such as ‘I’m not sure I agree with what’s suggested’ but definite statements about the individual Member’s position on the particular decision under consideration, such as ‘this (proposal) goes ahead over my dead body’.

If a Member decides that he or she does want to express very definite views about whether to proceed with the redevelopment or indeed join a campaign or lobby group then that Member may need to declare an interest at the Council meeting and consider carefully whether they can take part in the Council decision. I am writing to give you the opportunity to alert Members of your group to the consequences of this approach so that individual Members can seek advice and decide which route they would like to take.

Members can take part in consultation meetings and express views, but if they want to reserve the ability to take part in subsequent decisions on the proposal they should avoid making definite statements about whether the redevelopment should go ahead. Manifesto or group decisions are statements of intent and are not binding on individual Members and would therefore not prevent a Member of that group from taking part in a decision.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Whitehead
Borough Solicitor

Well they do not listen and they do not want listen, at last proof positive.

Myself, and my collegues Kate Davies and Tim Hinton-Clifton, prospective Tory candidates for Pierremont are against the Tesco plan.

Why it should matter wether planning committee members speack out is a nonsense, because New Labour Councillors are told how to vote by the militant one and therefore block voting occurs.

IT IS A DONE DEAL, MAY GIVES YOU THE PEOPLE OF DARLINGTON A CHANCE TO RID YOURSELVES OF THESE SELF SERVING FOOLS

AN ELECTED MAYOR???

2006-09-01T22:20:00.000Z

In my opinion yes, the cabinet system now in place gives opposition no chance to stop any policy of ruling party. Our New Labour council will go to any length to make sure there agenda is met especially using a three line whip, this means that at scrutiny committee stage block voting takes place.

The New Labour Councillors do not have the guts to stand up for there ward residents, they lack the spine to stand up for our Town.

May 07, will hopefully see them out.

TESCO - A DONE DEAL???

2006-09-01T22:18:00.000Z

From the Echo;

Council leader Councillor John Williams said: "This proposal is at a very early stage and the council does not want it to go any further without hearing the views of residents, traders and anyone else with an interest in the town."

On hearing the views of "residents, traders and anyone else with an interest in the town" will he actually take note? After all, he and his council had great difficulty in understanding the emphatic "NO" over the pedestrian heart scheme.

I along with many thousands of other residents had always thought that Darlington was a "Market Town", how wrong we were, it is a "Supermarket Town".

How very, very sad that we have allowed this ruination of our great town by those, who in my opinion are just out to line the pockets of themselves and their sycophantic followers.

If this is allowed to go through it will spell the end of all small businesses in the town. The bespoke traders are the reason for many visitors to keep returning to Darlington, they can visit Boots, WH Smiths and most other nationals anywhere, the small businesses are what make Darlington unique.

It seems that you can take the man out of militant Liverpool, but you cannot take the militant out of the man. It may well be that he is after his own bit of history by bankrupting Darlington, after all we must now owe millions. How much of our council tax goes to paying off debt.

New and Exciting - FOR WHO??

2006-07-31T21:37:00.000Z

It appears that much is being hailed about the R.I.O.T.T trial at the needle centre on Corporation Road. What exactly is good about it for the residents of Corporation Road, Elmfield Terrace or in fact any resident of Northgate. There has been no consultation from the Elmfield Centre about what appears to be extended opening hours of this facility. Why should my family have to run the gammit of bad language at a weekend as we do now during the week, why should my children have to hear lurid details of these peoples lives.

At what point, if at all, were the opinions of residents to be taken into account, at any point has it been thought that perhaps a residential area would not be suitable for a facility such as the Elmfield Centre especially now that their remit is being extended. The NHS should have perhaps incorporated this facility into Doctor Piper House when that was being developed or indeed Darlington could have followed Middlesboroughs admirable lead and incorporated this service into the Town Hall facility to completely remove the problem from an already disadvantaged residential area.

One thing should be remembered, these people were not forced to take drugs, they were not forced to become addicts, they had a choice, the residents of Northgate it seems do not. Our Councillors are their usual quiet selves, is it political correctness and new Labour policy of not listening that stops them from speaking out?

This is not an exciting new project for us residents. How would the leader of Darlington Borough Council like it and how would Alan Milburn like it if "UK's first 'shooting gallery' for addicts" was on their doorstep? I can tell you they wouldn't be excited (which is how the R.I.O.T.T publicity describes the project), and neither am I, I am horrified.

Rumour has it

2006-07-17T09:18:00.000Z

rumour has it that, one of nu labour Darlington Councillors is making enough money from us council tax payers that they have cut there (real job) working week to two days.

A stay in a 5 star hotel in Paris for an educational visit. A 5 star hotel is this really necessary, surely a three star would have been adequate and not so expensive, but then again it is not there own money is it so why should they care? THEY DON'T..

It seems sleaze is not just at Government level.

A small update

2006-07-10T22:21:00.000Z

I have added some new links "Save Parliament" the most important of the new links, important because it deals with saving our Parliament from the control freaks now in Government. I urge you all to click the link and join up.

"This says it all" just leads to a song that says it all about this Government.

We may have seen the end of the I.D Card, but not the database state, be aware that these sneaky control freaks still will go ahead with a national database through passport renewal. You can help stop this by renewing your passport now.

Please remember to click on all the links, plenty of information on all of them..

"Every Child Matters", only when it suits

2006-07-06T21:16:00.000Z

I was really pleased by the BBC's reporting today from the Education Village facility in Darlington, it gave positive and well deserved media coverage of this innovative flagship establishment in the North East. I am proud to say that my son is already attending the secondary phase unit at the Education Village and my daughter will be starting in September.

I have however learnt today that the Education Village is to be officially opened by the Prime Minister Tony Blair on 21 July (an event that will no doubt be covered by the BBC), this is a date after the end of term and only a "selection" of pupils have been invited. I am not a parent angry because my child has or has not been selected as of the pupils deemed fit to meet the Prime Minister. I am appalled that a government that introduced the Every Child Matters agenda sees fit to use the opening of this school as nothing more than a photo opportunity, rather than the "inclusive" celebration that it should be.

From darloblog, more trouble in Northgate ward

2006-07-04T21:26:00.000Z

A posting from darloblog, reinforces my view that Darlington has POST CODE POLICING.

I have friends who live just off Gladstone St near North Lodge park, they have told me about the Chav scum who congregate there most days/evenings, they [The Chavs] dont live on Gladstone Street or on North Lodge Terrace, they live up by Corporation Road and along past Salisbury Terrace and towards the Deans, they just seem to congregate on the corner near the park, causing trouble with the local Asian community or throwing stones at passing cars, or dancing on top of the phone box like the morons that they are, or they take their Chav girlfriends into the park and drink a couple of bottles of White Lightning Cider between themselves, this gets about Ten of them legless (1Ltr Bottles), the effect of legless male and female chavs (average age 13) = Teen Mums.

The thing is apparently, when the Police are called it takes about 15 minutes before they can speak to someone from the Darlo nik (if its open), and then its a lottery if anyone shows up, then TWO days later and they get a follow up call asking if the Chavs are still being a nusiance.

When are the Police going to "Police" in Darlo..! Dont we pay enough council tax in this "mucky town"

THE MORONS ARE BACK

2006-07-02T21:53:00.000Z

It has come to my attention that, the morons of the BNP have circulated a leaflet claiming that "White childrens education is in danger in the Northgate area". LIES, LIES, LIES.

The premise of this pathetic outburst is that Corpration Road School has asked that they become a 30 child intake rather than the 45 at present.

I shall enlighten the thickies of the BNP and the light that shall come forth will burn them, as the name of this light is TRUTH, not something the BNP know much about. (sorry about this sermonising, but I am writing this on a Sunday).

About 18 months ago armed with data from the LEA, it was shown that the birth rate had fallen sufficiently that the school could not sustain its 45 child yearly intake, the Governing body asked that the LEA request that the school become a 30 intake (the LEA promptly forgot to do this, it now sits with an ajudicater at the DFES). The school though, has been working on the premise of a 30 intake.

So for the BNP and those that might be taken in by these lies, here are the facts:

1 - There have not been enough children born to sustain a 45 child yearly intake, so whether you are white, brown, green with purple spots, you have not been breeding enough.

2 - These people have one thing in mind, that is, to cause trouble within this community by putting the blame on the Asian community.

3 - I know exactly what has happened with intakes, as I am a Govenor of the school. I can say in all honesty that the BNP are peddling LIES.

IN THE LAND OF NUMPTIES

2006-05-25T22:05:00.000Z

Well I have been away some time, and I apologise.

In the land of Numpties, this Government would be royalty, Tiny Blur being King Numpty.

Fiasco after Fiasco after Fiasco, Foreign Prisoners on the loose, Lying to the Commons and Presclot (who, in there right minds would want to bonk him????), but all the little sycphants are protected.

What I have found most despicable, has to be the signing of a Hutton report by the wide mouth witch, then auctioned for nu labour funds, what chavs these people are. How these people sleep at night is beyond me, they have ruined my country and I want them out.

The time has come to fight back, we cannot allow this debacle to continue. From parish council to Town council to county council to Government we must fight against the control freakery, the lies and the riding roughshod over our citizens rights and freedoms.

As Conservatives it is our duty, our responsibility to put right what and who has been wronged, it is only we conservatives that can do this, as it only us that have the fundemental belief that the freedoms, liberties and rights of all individuals are sacred.

The sheer hypocracy of Blair and his ilk have awoken this "Dog of War", I for one shall not rest until they have been beaten, routed and then cut down.

Great Britain Deserves Better...

A thank you

2005-11-26T23:00:00.000Z

Last night, Friday 25/11/05, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Durham Union, the meal was excellent, the debate lively and the students and officers welcoming.

If you ever get the chance to speak in a university debate, take it, it is great fun.

So a thank you to the Union Officers, to Anne McIntosh MP and the opposition speakers Dr Tom Hamilton and Jonathan Ferstenberg.

I hope that I will be asked back one day.

ID Cards "A Farce"

2005-10-17T15:38:00.000Z

A stand-alone ID card will cost £30, ministers sayPlans for a national ID card scheme have been branded "farcical" after suggestions it might misidentify people with brown eyes or men who go bald.

Home Office minister Tony McNulty said were some technological "difficulties" with some of the biometric checks.
That was why the cards would employ 13 such features in all, he said.

Tory spokesman Edward Garnier called the scheme an "expensive waste of time". Lib Dem Mark Oaten said ID card plans were "descending into farce".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4348942.stm

Can this highly expensive loss of Liberty and Freedom really go unchecked, let us hope that David Davis (next Tory Leader hopefully), puts aside leadership ambition and rallies the MPs to send this into oblivion, to abstain from voting is not an option.

I have pledged NOT to register for an I.D Card, they are an expensive folly and the price keeps rising, lets be honest, after the foul ups of other IT projects made by this Government do you really want to trust them with this.

Remember, you and your family will be, finger printed and eye scanned, tagged like a criminal, you WILL be responsible for any incorrect data entries (not those inputting), so what happens to your life, if your eyes are brown or you are bald and not recognized ???????.

NOT FOR ME.

Now try this link

http://eclectech.co.uk/swizz.php

A Sad Loss

2005-10-15T21:15:00.000Z

Another needless death an overbearing, control freak nannying Government has caused.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn't always fair. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol to a student; but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I'm A Whinger and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone.

If you still remember him pass this on, if not join the majority and do nothing.

My Apologies

2005-10-15T12:09:00.000Z

Well, I have finally made it back, I have had allsorts of technical problems, hopefully now sorted.

David Davis, poor speech or not, in my view not, it was the only speech with real substance, I can make jokes about Tiny Blur and his sycophants, i want to hear what our next leader is going to do to get us winning elections once again.

What else have I been not able to comment on due to my enforced absense, Turkey - keep them out of the EU, if they come in, we want to be walking out, Straw and his pathetic, crass rhetoric about bridge building of Christian and Muslim faiths does not wash.

We can no longer decide on our immigration policy, thanks to a high court ruling, what now will this weak, lying, dispicable Government do I wonder, it has rather opened the floodgates.

Maggie, happy 80th, love her or hate her, when this nation needed a radical change, only she had the balls to do it, Tiny Blur on the other hand will be remembered for what?, taking us into a war on lies, jumping on every bandwagon which came his way, let us not forget greed of his wife, using his position to better hers, a set of politicians out only for themselves (Alan Milburn, Keith Vaz, Mandelson etc.), control freakery.

Indeed what a wonderful legacy Blair will leave behind. WORST PRIME MINISTER EVER...

More soon.

Have been away

2005-08-29T21:56:00.000Z

I have been on my annual hols, Cyprus, with a jaunt to the Turkish grand prix, will post again soon, first I need to be away with work for a week.

Plenty to talk about on my return.

AN URGENT APPEAL

2005-08-03T08:31:00.000Z

This is an urgent appeal to help those who have been forcefully given neurological irrigation (AKA an enema of the BRAIN).

It has only one symptom, that is VERBAL DIARRHEA.

It affects New Labour people on entering any official position and the Lib Dems are know to be willing participants, but for so long has this been happening that a new strain has appeared and it seems to be contagious, "Blairus Idolizeitus", this strain has been found in some Conservatives.

These people can be helped, if you have any old books, pamphlets or even old Conservative manifestos, then send them now to someone who you know has this affliction, or alternatively, if you wish these people to suffer convulsions and see them foam at the mouth, send them Enoch Powells "Rivers of Blood" speech with the strap line "He was bloody right, wasn't he".

We are in DANGER

2005-08-02T12:11:00.000Z

News has filtered through that Tiny Blur is indeed to stand down at the next election, it is scary enough to think that he will be offered a top job somewhere, where he can ruin things on an international scale, but what of the next 4-5 years.

We now have a Prime Minister who knows he is going at the end of his tenure, what possible use is he for Great Britain, the danger is that he will push a more personal agenda, as he wont have to live with the consequences.

Is this yet another LIE, only yesterday this story was being denied, now his long time agent John Burton:

He told The Northern Echo: "Tony's said he is packing in as leader and he's not going to stay on the back benches - so I can't see him standing at the next election.

"He has spoken to me about it, and as far as I know he is not going to stand."

The full article reached from link below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4737927.stm

A reminder of what has passed

2005-08-02T09:12:00.000Z

This is what we are up against, a dispicable little man.

We all remember the lies, the cover ups, the deceipt surrounding the Iraq war Tony.

We all remember the unstatesman like act of remaining on your holidays when tens of thounsands were dying after the tsunami.

We remember "NO TAX RISES", 67 TAX RISES later, that nose is getting longer all the time.

Education, Education, Education, we remember that aswell, it has got no better under New Labour, a Labour dominated committee of MPs had this say:

"The national literacy strategy, the foundation of the Government's education policies, is almost certainly flawed, fails one child in five and needs to be urgently reviewed".

CAN WE TRUST THIS MAN AGAIN OR ANY OF HIS SYCOPHANTIC MPs.

Return of a prodigal son

2005-07-26T21:21:00.000Z

Well I'm back, a dream to some a nightmare too others, for many years I have been away, WHY? Two words "John Major" (and every subsequent leader there after) why come back now? Two words "David Davis".

Why DD? He is not an apologist for being a Conservative, he has never tried to emulate nu-labour, he believes in the fundamental principals that make the Tories what they are, small government, low taxation and most importantly FREEDOM.