No takers for chips in bins

ConservativeHome.com are reporting that no councils have signed up to Labour's proposed trials of the 'bin tax'.

This would be exactly the kind of scheme that the 'chips in bins' were designed for. I've been opposing the use of this technology and the proposals for this kind of taxation since I was first elected to Bournemouth Council back in 2005.

The removal of refuse from the home is one of the fundamental services provided by local councils. It's one of the services that's been consistently provided by local authorities and it is exactly for this kind of service that local taxation (be it rates, community charge or council tax) has been paid by residents.

If your council doesn't take away your rubbish as part of your local tax, then why have a local tax in the first place?

Good on those councils who have refused to join in the scheme. Let's hope the refusal of local authorities to cooperate with the Government over this will kill the idea for good.

Future 3000 in trouble

Apparently the Wednesday edition of the Daily Echo sold out. This is largely due to the fact that Richard Carr was on the front page of the paper here.

There appears to be a good deal of schadenfreude around Bournemouth and Poole at this news.

I don't share in it. I know from bitter experience how hard anyone in business for themselves has to work in economic times like these. I also know how difficult the decision to take the company in to administration must have been for its directors.

I disagree with Richard Carr about very many things. That's no reason to revel in his troubles, as some are doing. He faces a difficult enough few months ahead attempting to keep his businesses afloat in such uncertain times. As do we all. He deserves our respect for creating a profitable business and our sympathy now that it has run in to problems.

I wish him and all his staff all the best. Let's hope there is a way out of this situation for them.

King's Park Travellers' incursion

Thank you to all of you who were in touch yesterday to warn of the Travellers who had arrived in King’s Park and next to the doctor’s surgery in Harewood Crescent.  My apologies for not getting back to everyone, however as you can imagine we were active in doing what we could to stop the situation escalating and ensure that we began to move them on as soon as possible.

 

To give you a full update on what has happened to date:

A group of 7 traveller caravans arrived in Kings Park early yesterday afternoon. Before they had been reported to us, they had already gained access to the lower part of the Park and had began setting up in the middle of the old railway track on the all-weather pitch. Upon inspection it appears that they somehow ‘dug’ their way through the earth bunding.

Parks Officers reacted quickly to closing the Kings Park gates and soon learned another group of around 6 had driven on to the open space on the corner off Springbank Road and Harewood Crescent. The second group were meaning to join the main group on Kings Park and suggestions of bribes and veiled threats were used during the next 3-4 hours to attempt to gain entry. At this point the Police were called. The other group of travellers from Harewood Crescent then appeared at the top of Littledown Avenue and a van approached the gates from inside the Park – this is a manoeuvre used to require an Officer to open the gates to allow the exiting vehicle to leave, and at this point the incoming travellers would attempt to force entry – however a PCSO arrived on the scene and the 6 caravans went back up Littledown Avenue. I and my colleagues split in order to cover all three gates into the Park.

We were then advised (at around 7:30pm) that these remaining travellers had gained entry to Kings Park and had met up with the other group. The point of entry was found adjacent to the play park opposite the Nursery at the Clarence Park Road end, a traveller was seen chain-sawing a knee-rail post at ground level and removing a section large enough to drive the remaining vehicles through. The Police asked people in the Park if they could identify the man and although it was clear it was one of the travellers, I do not believe (at time of writing) that the Police have sufficient evidence to take any action against the individual.

My apologies for the amount of detail but it is just to show that every reasonable step was taken to prevent this incursion from growing.

From a first look, it appears that this is the same group that occupied the same area last year (August 2007). This group generally frequent the area to stay locally for the Steam Fair at the end of August. As these were working travellers there was a lot of garden and other waste left behind, unlike the other recent group on the East Overcliff. Because of the behaviour of some of this group and the damage that was caused in order to get on to the space, this may be reflected in the speed we can reclaim the land, however the minimum is usually within 7-10 days.

Our parks officers will be carrying out the initial needs assessment later today with a Police Officer and our lawyers will be briefed on Monday in order to start the legal process.

I’m very grateful to Brian Heppenstall from the King’s Park team who has provided much of the detail for this information.

You may be aware that Jane has already arranged for wooden stakes to be placed around the green space in Harewood Crescent to stop incursions in the future, to be paid for from our ward fund.  We will be pressing the Council to put these in place as a matter of urgency next week to ensure that once moved from the park the travellers can’t move there.

I’ll of course keep you up to date with any further developments.

David Cameron and the Regional Spatial Strategy

David Cameron was in Bournemouth today, to speak at the Local Government Association Conference at the BIC.

I had to pick him up from Bournemouth Airport and take him to the conference centre. I therefore managed to get 20 minutes with him to talk to him about how important the Regional Spatial Strategy is to our area. He was horrified to hear about the proposals from the Examination in Public which would result in enormous incursions on to the Green Belt in East Dorset, Purbeck and Bournemouth.

He agreed entirely with our campaign to ensure that local people, through their local councils decide where, how many, of what type and for whom this housing should take place. He also agreed to confirm that a Conservative Government would overturn these plans if we were elected in time to stop the planning permissions being granted.

When we reached the BIC demonstrators from Lytchett Minster and Lytchett Matravers were already outside the building. I had a chance to talk to them while David Cameron went in to do his speech. It was great to see both Conservative and Liberal Democrat Councillors from Purbeck and the County Councils there demonstrating side by side. They were joined after a little while by people from Bournemouth, Christchurch and East Dorset.

David gave an interview to the Daily Echo, which I understand is going to be front page news tomorrow. He confirmed our position over the RSS in the interview. Good for him.

More importantly he also took a few minutes to meet and speak with the demonstrators outside. Again he emphasised the party's opposition and told the demonstration that if we're elected in time we would over turn the plans. He also confirmed that a Conservative Government would do away with all regional bodies, handing responsibility back to local councils to decide what kind of development should take place in their own areas.

Mobile phone mast protest

Thanks to everyone who came along to the mobile phone mast protest on Monday.  It was reported in the Echo today.

The link is here.

The proposal is to build a mast at the busy junction of Holdenhurst Avenue and Christchurch Road. We've suggested an alternative site, about 800 yds away in Riverside Avenue, at the back of Tesco, which would give similar coverage but would be well away from any local housing and close to the masts built by other companies.

We've succesfully fought off other applications in Southwick Road, in this location and by the Iford Tavern.  Hopefully we'll have the same result again. 

When will the mobile phone companies learn that rather than taking the easy option they should properly consult with local people first to ensure that they are taking their opinions on the site in to account. It would cause them (and us) a whole lot less trouble!

Holdenhurst Avenue/Christchurch Road Mobile Phone Mast Protest

We're holding a short protest against the proposed mobile phone mast on the corner of Holdenhurst Avenue and Christchurch Road tomorrow afternoon, (Monday 16th June) at 2pm. We're meeting at the proposed site, opposite the Post Office on Christchurch Road.

Hopefully the Daily Echo and local radio stations will be there to report on the objection.

Do please come along (and bring a sign showing your opposition) if you can.

Congratulations to Iain Dale

Quite possibly the best known political blogger in the UK, Iain Dale, is getting 'hitched' to his long term partner John Simmons at their civil partnership ceremony today.

Congratulations and best wishes to them both.

I am Legend?

We've just watched 'I am Legend' on the DVD. It was scary (I'm not a fan of scary films - Shrek, Love Actually and the Railway Children are more my type of thing).

I vaguely remember an old Charlton Heston film called, I think, 'The Andromeda Strain', this film appeared to be a remake of that.

In common with many post apocalyptic films of its type, it had a common theme, that he end of civilisation will be caused by a virus caused by genetic experimentation. It may seem fanciful, but to me it would appear to be a salutary lesson in being cautious with allowing genetic experimentation.

1300 Christchurch Road

This is the house on the corner of Colemore Road and Christchurch Road which was the subject of an application for varying numbers of flats. I’m pleased to confirm that the council has also turned down this application.

The developers have now made two fresh applications, one for 4 houses to be built on the site, each with one parking space, and the second for a single, large house to be built in the garden. Again, traffic concerns are of paramount importance with the site, being on such a dangerous corner. If you wish to comment on the applications you have until 30th March to make your views know to the Planning Department at the Council.

AFC Bournemouth Planning Application

If you remember there was an appeal lodged against the Council’s decision to turn down the application to knock down the house in Thistlebarrow Road and build a small estate of 10 houses alongside the football ground.

 

I’m pleased to say that the appeal was also refused.  Given the financial problems at the club, it may be a little while before a further application is made, but I would suspect that a fresh application will eventually be forthcoming.

Environmental Small Grants Scheme

The council has announced that a further allocation has been made available for this financial year for the Environmental Small Grants Scheme funded through the Safer Stronger Communities Fund.

The funding is available for up to £1000 for community groups in Bournemouth. The projects must contribute towards improving the environment, green spaces or promote awareness or contribute to recycling targets. The funding can only be used for capital not revenue (so no wages or services) and the group needs to be a constituted group with a bank account in the name of the group (in some instances we may be able to work around this by asking for invoices to be sent directly to the Council).

Applications can be submitted at any time but the project must happen this financial year. The application process is intentionally simple if you would like to apply then you should contact Cat McMillan e-mail:Cat.McMillan@Bournemouth.gov.uk.

Littledown and Iford Forum

The AGM of the Littledown and Iford Forum will be held at St Peters School next Thursday, 17th April, at 7.30pm. The guest speaker will be John Beesley who is the chairman of the planning board in Bournemouth and also the deputy leader of the council. Everyone is welcome to come along and there will be the usual question and answer session for your local councillors.

1085 - 1087 Christchurch Road

A further application has been made for this site, to include a block of two shops and six flats, with a further block of 5 flats situated behind it. This time there is no parking provision on the site. Again we will be opposing the scheme because of its lack of parking, the potential for road hazard which results from this and the scale and size of the buildings.

1300 Christchurch Road - Application for 9 Flats

Hard on the heals of the planning application for housing on the site, a fresh application for 9 flats with only two parking spaces has come forward. To our mind this falls in to the same category as the previous flat applications. Too little parking, too out of keeping and much larger than the current building.

We would recommend residents oppose the application and have circulated our our usual letters explaining how to object.

Planning Application Notices

Cyril Baker and Roger Ansell, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Ward Forum have been in touch over a general concern about the length of time planning notices are visible before they are either taken down or disposed of.

I’m taking this up with the planning department.

Seasonal Drunkenness

I read today that, astonishingly, there were a number of churches who held their midnight mass at 6pm on Christmas Eve.

The reason?

Because of the fear of disruption from drunken people.

This fact was used in the context on a commentary about 24 hour licensing policy.

Undoubtedly the introduction of extended licensing hours has played its part in the increasing problem of drink related anti social behaviour and disruption. However, I do wonder how many of those who attend church on Christmas Eve inebriated have at the very least begun their drinking at home, if not completed it there too.

Until we control the sale of cheap alcohol through supermarkets and off licenses we will be unable to control the problems associated with excess alcohol consumption.

Nostalgia for Hartland

I watched part of Sense and Sensibility on BBC1 on New Year's Day.  Good, but not as good as the film version on first viewing.  That's actually an unfair comment probably, the tv version clearly has neither the budget of the film, nor of course the sublime Emma Thompson.

I thought I recognized the cottage to which the family move and indeed my recollection proved correct with this article in the Daily Telegraph today.

I spent my teenage years living on this part of the North Devon coast.  It's near Hartland and made me feel very nostalgic for Summers spent in Westward Ho!, Hartland and Bucks Mills. 

Polly Toynbee

Polly Toynbee was on Start the Week on Radio 4 this morning.  Andrew Marr was asking his guests to make predictions about the year ahead.  

Ms Toynbee made the prediction that we would become wealthier, healthier and safer next year, as we have done in each of the past ten years.  

She also predicted that we would also not feel any of these things and as a result moan more than we had in the previous year.

Surely that's the point.  It's not whether we are, according to statistics, wealthier, healthier or safe, the salient point is whether we feel that way or not.

National GDP may have risen and the economy may continue to grow, that doesn't mean that I am feeling any wealthier at the end of this year than I did at the end of last.  I also know that my taxes have increased, as has my mortgage, as has the cost of running my car.  

I also know that the turnover of my business has decreased, that I am facing greater costs as an employer due to increased legislation, taxation and regulation.

We may be living longer yet that doesn't mean I am feeling any healthier or that my family is any better off health wise.  I know that my family might be healthy, but also that access to NHS services has not improved and that my mother is still facing a month long wait for an appointment at her local pain relief clinic.

Crime statistics may show that the level of crime is decreasing nationally, however my experience this year has been to have my car broken in to twice, two more times than in any of the previous five years.  I hear daily from people that they feel there is no point reporting minor crime because the police are unable to respond quickly and seem unable to offer any prospect that the culprits will be caught.  

Isn't it about time that commentators like Ms Toynbee stopped talking about the national statistics and started viewing the everyday experiences of real people?  Then she might understand why people are likely to complain more in the coming year. 

Councillor West and chairmanship of the Environment Scrutiny Panel

Councillor Roger West is attempting to present the vote of confidence in him as an issue of bullying, attempting to stop his commenting on the state of Southbourne beach.

It isn't anything of the sort.

The deputy chairman of the panel, Cllr Mark Anderson has issued this statement.  I think it explains clearly and concisely the concerns the panel have:

My main concerns and after talking to the rest of the Conservative councillors on the Scrutiny Panel, theirs as well, is that Cllr West is using the Panel for his own political agenda and this became very obvious during the meeting.

He is not pursuing the agreed agenda of the panel and you must realise that most of the members are new Cllr’s and were relying on Cllr West as the chairman, amongst others to guide them. I am concerned that Cllr West has been using the chairmanship of this panel to add legitimacy to his own agenda.

Typically the report on Urban flooding, this is very important to all of the people of Bournemouth particularly in the light of the recent summer floods and we need to be discussing whether the towns drains can cope with the strain that development is putting on them and what we as a council should be doing. What we shouldn't be doing is concentrating on specific issues in Cllr West’s own ward!

This and his decision to ride roughshod over me and the rest of the panel when he decided to question the wrong Cabinet member, despite being told, on the Coastal defence work was the final straw.

To continue on with the coastal defence work, Cllr West was absolutely insistent that his question be answered by the wrong cabinet member, Quite why he tried to do this I’m not sure, he knows as well as I do and as I tried to point out before he overrode my objections, this was Coastal defence not beach replenishment, beach replenishment was merely a beneficially side effect, and as such it is in the remit of environment not Leisure and Tourism and certainly not Resources and I don’t understand how he could expect to get a suitable answer. I can only assume it was because it fitted his own personal agenda, not even a Liberal agenda as they were the administration that actually did the work!

Additionally the story he gave to both the Echo and Meridian bares no resemblance to the discussion and questioning that took place in the panel’s meeting.

I have always felt that it was useful for the people of the town to have an opposition Cllr chairing the scrutiny panel and in fact I was the person who approached Cllr West and actually asked him to chair the scrutiny panel, I was also the person who proposed him as chairman.

The Conservative groups number one policy is improving our Environment and ALL the other Cllr’s on the panel are committed to doing the best for Bournemouth and its environment, I’m not Sure that Cllr West is! I for example have been involved in environmental issues since the late 1980’s.

Land adjacent AFC Bournemouth and 51 Thistlebarrow Road Planning Appeal

A short note to thank everyone who has responded with letters opposing the planning appeal made by the developers wanting to demolish 51 Thistlebarrow Road to gain access to build housing on the land adjacent to AFC Bournemouth.

We copied and sent off over 80 letters this afternoon and I know many more have been sent directly.

It's unlikely that we will hear a result this side of Christmas, but we will of course keep you up to date with any news.