Councillor David Clifford - Web Log (Blog)

Robbery of Santander, Farnborough

2012-01-11T17:50:00.000Z

There was an armed robbery of two security guards who were delivering cash to the bank. It happened between 2200 – 2225 on Monday January 9^th at the Santander Branch in Eastmead.

One of the guards was assaulted but not seriously injured.

It happened at a time where not many people were around, so the risk to the public was very low.

Police are currently following up enquiries and asking for any one who may have seen anything suspicious in the area. We believe that the offenders used a white car and they may have had a near miss with a White Audi as they left the car park.

PS. One resident said to me today "Now they know what some of their customers feel like". It appears few people have sympathy for Banks these days.

I hasten to add that I was home working on my dissertation - no witnesses unfortunately. I would like to know how much they got away with.

Merry Christmas from our MEP

2011-12-20T15:56:00.001Z

With best wishes for 2012 from Daniel Hannan

Alert

2011-12-14T15:56:00.002Z

***Neighbourhood watch Alert***

Dear Co-ordinators: Please pass this Alert on to your residents:

Last night, Tuesday the 13/12/2011 there where 7 vehicles broken into in the Farnborough area. The thieves managed to steal sat nav's, cash and mobile phones which were left on display in the vehicles.

This did NOT happen on beat one, however I would like to remind everyone to remove all valuables from their vehicles when parking them overnight.

We are carrying out numerous overnight patrols in the Farnborough area including plain clothes patrols. If you should see anything suspicious please call using the 101 phone number or 999 in an emergency or if you see something 'in progress'

If you would like any information on security please contact a member of your beat team:

Kind regards

Beth, Richard and James

beth.pantlin@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Richard.smith@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

James.charlton14502@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Burglars arrested - perhaps!!

2011-12-09T09:04:00.000Z

Good News!

2 persons believed to be involved in the 7 burglaries that where carried out in Abbey Way, Monks Close, Elles Close and Old Rectory Gardens

The 2 persons were arrested in the early hours of this morning after an operation carried out by the safer neighbourhoods team including myself and

PC 22675 Smith.

However, we would like to remind all residents to lock all windows and doors at night as this is a prime example of opportunist thefts.

Kind regards,

Have a great Christmas

PCSO 14266 Beth Pantlin

Burglar Alert

2011-12-08T09:01:00.000Z

***Neighbourhood watch Alert***

Dear Co-ordinators: Please pass this Alert on to your residents:

Last night, Tuesday the 06/12/2011 there where 7 burglaries in the areas of Abbey Way, Monks Close, Elles Close and Old Rectory Gardens; both from the house and sheds, this also includes a theft of a vehicle from one residents address.

Access was gained to some homes through the letter box by using a device to open the door as the door was not locked correctly. The suspects gained access to all other sheds and houses by insecure windows and unlocked doors.

None of the properties and sheds involved where locked properly.

This alert is to remind residents to lock all windows and doors, take any keys away from doors, preferably upstairs and consider leaving lights on or using timer switches when you are out.

In the run up to Christmas there is also some security information to residents:

Please resist from leaving presents under the tree until Christmas morning.

Do not leave any empty boxes from expensive presents in your rubbish - this could attract unwanted attention.

Please be aware of your security at home,

If you would like any information on security please contact a member of your beat team:

Kind regards

Beth, Richard and James

beth.pantlin@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Richard.smith@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

James.charlton14502@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Fox Hunting

2011-11-18T10:43:00.000Z

Cllr Clifford does not endorse, encourage this or find this at all amusing.

Cold Caller Alert

2011-08-24T15:52:00.000+01:00

**** Neighbourhood watch Alert ****

Dear all Neighbourhood watch Coordinators, Please pass this message onto your watches:

We have recently received information from First Wessex Housing in regards to a spate of cold calling:

Below is a sanitised version of the information: In most incidences the unknown people are stating that they are from First Wessex:

· 2 guys round asking to check residents shed doors etc. Nothing on First Wessex system to confirm this, so advised her to go to the police.

· 2 young men claiming to be from First Wessex just knocked residents door to ask if there was any work that she needed doing. One had a woolly hat on and the other had ginger hair and one had a luminous jacket on but she knew they were not from us as we do not work that way. She was advised to call the police.

· 3 men, claiming to be from FWPS, at her Front Door wanting to look at the state of residents shed and fence. They did not have ID and she did not allow them access and has also advised the Police.

· Two young men had knocked on residents door saying they were from the Housing Association and wanted to check her gates and take a look at the rear of her property. Advised to call the police and inform them and that FW were not doing any checks and all their employees have ID, which these two guys did not have.

Please remember that anyone attending your address from a housing association, the council or any agency will be able to produce ID.

If you are uncertain or feel unsure about the legitimacy of a cold caller please dial the 101 number and make us aware.

Thank you

PCSO 14266 Beth Pantlin

PCSO 14266 Beth PANTLIN

Empress Ward Beat Team

Farnborough Safer Neighbourhoods Team

Farnborough Police Station

01256 405190

0845 045 45 45

My boss DC on London Riots

2011-08-12T14:58:00.002+01:00

Easing the load of the injured - all heart aren't they? Obviously the product of loving parents, who have brought them up to consider others.

Coming to a street near you?

Earlier today, the Prime Minister delivered a Statement to the House of Commons on the recent disorder and looting that has taken place in London and other cities. Please find a copy of the Prime Minister’s full statement below:

With permission, I would like to make a statement.
First, let me thank the Speaker and Honourable Members for returning.
When there are important events in our country, it is right that Parliament is recalled and that we show a united front.
I’m grateful to the Leader of the Opposition for the constructive approach that he has taken over the past few days.
I have spoken with many of the members whose constituencies have been affected – and I would like to pay tribute to the Member for Tottenham for his powerful words and unstinting work over recent days.
What we have seen on the streets of London and in other cities across our country is completely unacceptable and I am sure the whole House will join me in condemning it.
Keeping people safe is the first duty of government.
The whole country has been shocked by the most appalling scenes of people looting, violence, vandalising and thieving.
It is criminality pure and simple. And there is absolutely no excuse for it.
We have seen houses, offices and shops raided and torched…
… police officers assaulted and fire crews attacked as they try to put out fires…
… people robbing others while they lie injured and bleeding in the street…
…and even three innocent people being deliberately run over and killed in Birmingham.
Mr Speaker, we will not put up with this in our country.
We will not allow a culture of fear to exist on our streets.
And we will do whatever it takes to restore law and order and to rebuild our communities.
What went wrong
First, let us be clear about the sequence of events.
A week ago today, a 29 year old man named Mark Duggan was shot dead by the police in Tottenham.
Clearly there are questions that must be answered and I can assure the House that this is being investigated thoroughly and independently by the IPCC.
We must get to the bottom of exactly what happened. And we will.
Mr Speaker, initially there were some peaceful demonstrations following Mark Duggan’s death…
…and understandably and appropriately the police were cautious about how they dealt with this.
However, this was then used as an excuse by opportunist thugs in gangs, first in Tottenham itself, then across London and then in other cities.
It is completely wrong to say there is any justifiable causal link.
It is simply preposterous for anyone to suggest that people looting in Tottenham at the weekend, still less three days later Salford, were in any way doing so because of the death of Mark Duggan.

The young people stealing flat screen televisions and burning shops was not about politics or protest, it was about theft.
The police faced lawbreaking on the streets on a scale not seen for decades.
Mr Speaker, in recent days individual police officers have shown incredible bravery and have worked in some cases around the clock without a break
They deserve our gratitude and our admiration.
But what became increasingly clear earlier this week was that there were simply far too few police were deployed onto the streets. And the tactics they were using weren’t working.
Police chiefs have been frank with me about why this happened.
Initially the police treated the situation too much as a public order issue – rather than essentially one of crime.
The truth is they have been facing a new sort of challenge…
…with different people doing the same thing – basically looting – in different places all at the same time.
Mr Speaker, to respond to this situation, we are acting decisively…
…to restore order on our streets…
…to support the victims of this terrible violence…
…and to look at the deeper problems that have led such a hard core of young people to decide to carry out such appalling criminality.
Let me take each in turn.
Restoring order
First, restoring order.
Following the meetings of COBRA which I chaired on Tuesday, and Wednesday and again this morning, we have taken decisive action to help ensure more robust and more effective policing.
There are now more police on the streets, more people arrested and more criminals being prosecuted.
The Met Police increased the number of police deployed on the streets of London from 6,000 to almost 16,000 officers. And this number will remain through the weekend.
We have also seen large increases in deployments of officers in other affected areas.
Leave in affected forces has been cancelled.
Police officers have been bussed from forces across the country to areas of greatest need.
And many businesses also released special constables to help.
More than 1,500 people have now been arrested across the country.
We are making technology work for us, by capturing the images of the perpetrators on CCTV – so even if they haven’t yet been arrested, their faces are known and they will not escape the law.
And as I said yesterday, no phoney human rights concerns about publishing photographs will get in the way of bringing these criminals to justice.
Anyone charged with violent disorder and other serious offences should expect to be remanded in custody…
…and anyone convicted should expect to go to jail.
Courts in London, Manchester and the West Midlands have been sitting through the night – and will do so for as long as necessary.
Magistrates courts have proved effective in ensuring swift justice. The Crown courts are now starting to deal with the most serious cases. We are keeping under constant review whether the courts have the sentencing powers they need and we’ll act if necessary.
As a result of the robust and uncompromising measures we have taken, good progress is being made in restoring order to the streets of London and other cities across our country.
As I have made clear, nothing is off the table. Every contingency is being looked at.
The police are already authorised to use baton rounds.
And, as I said yesterday, while they would not be appropriate now, we do have in place contingency plans for water cannon to be available at 24 hours notice.
Some people have raised the issue of the Army.
The Acting Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police said to me he would be the last man left in Scotland Yard with all his management team out on the streets before he asked for the army.
That is the right attitude and one I share. But it is my responsibility to make sure that every contingency is looked at – including whether there are tasks that the army could undertake that would free up more police for the front line.
Mr Speaker, everyone watching these horrific actions will be stuck by how they were organised via social media.
Free flow of information can be used for good. But it can also be used for ill.
And when people are using social media for violence we need to stop them.
So we are working with the Police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality.
I have also asked the police if they need any other new powers.
Specifically on facemasks, currently they can only remove these in a specific geographical location and for a limited time.
So I can announce today that we are going to give the police the discretion to remove face coverings under any circumstances where there is reasonable suspicion that they are related to criminal activity.
And on dealing with crowds, we are also looking at the use of existing dispersal powers and whether any wider power of curfew is necessary.
Mr Speaker, whenever the police face a new threat – they must have the freedom and the confidence to change tactics. This government will make sure they always have that.
The fight back has well and truly begun.
But there will be no complacency. And we will not stop until this mindless violence and thuggery is defeated and law and order is fully restored on all our streets.
Supporting victims
Let me turn to the innocent victims.
No-one will forget the images of the woman jumping from a burning building or the furniture shop that had survived the blitz now tragically burnt to the ground.
And everyone will have been impressed by the brave words of Tariq Jahan, a father in Birmingham whose son was so brutally and tragically run over and killed.
I give the people affected this promise:
We will help you repair the damage, get your businesses back up and running; and support your communities.
Let me take each of these in turn.
On repairing the damages, I can confirm that any individual, homeowner or business that has suffered damage to or loss of their buildings or property as a result of rioting, can seek compensation under the Riot Damages Act, even if uninsured.
The government will ensure the police have the funds they need to meet the cost of any legitimate claims.
And whereas normally claims must be received within 14 days, we will extend the period to 42 days.
The Association of British Insurers have said they expect the industry to be paying out in excess of £200 million.
And they have assured us that claims will continue to be dealt with as quickly and constructively as possible.
On supporting businesses, we are today setting up a new £20 million high street support scheme to help affected businesses get back up and running quickly.
And to minimise the costs facing businesses, the government will enable local authorities to grant business rate relief, by funding at least three quarters of their costs.
We will defer tax payments for businesses in greatest need, through Time to Pay and other practical support.
And for houses and businesses that have been the most badly damaged we have instructed the valuation office to immediately stop liability for council tax and business rates.
A specific point was raised with me in Wolverhampton yesterday, that planning regulations make it difficult for shops to put up protective shutters.
We will weed out unnecessary planning regulations to ensure that businesses can get back on their feet and feel secure as quickly as possible.
On supporting local communities, I can confirm that the Bellwin Scheme to support Local Authorities will be operational. However to ensure urgent funding is immediately available we are today establishing a new £10 million Recovery Scheme to provide additional support to councils in making areas safe, clean and clear again.
And the government will also meet the immediate costs of emergency accommodation for families made homeless by these disturbances.
The Secretary of States for Communities and Local Government and Business have made available to the House details of these schemes today.
Of course the situation continues to evolve and we will keep the need for additional support under close review.
Tacking the deeper problems
Finally, Mr Speaker, let me turn to the deeper problems.
Responsibility for crime always lies with the criminal. But crime has a context. And we must not shy away from it.
I have said before that there is a major problem in our society with children growing up not knowing the difference between right and wrong.
This is not about poverty, it’s about culture. A culture that glorifies violence, shows disrespect to authority, and says everything about rights but nothing about responsibilities.
In too many cases, the parents of these children – if they are still around – don’t care where their children are or who they are with, let alone what they are doing.
The potential consequences of neglect and immorality on this scale have been clear for too long, without proper action being taken.
As I said yesterday, there is no one step that can be taken.
But we need a benefit system that rewards work and that is on the side of families.
We need more discipline in our schools.
We need action to deal with the most disruptive families.
And we need a criminal justice system that scores a clear, heavy line between right and wrong.
In short, all the action necessary to help mend our broken society.
At the heart of all the violence sits the issue of the street gangs. Territorial, hierarchical and incredibly violent, they are mostly composed of young boys, mainly from dysfunctional homes.
They earn money through crime, particularly drugs and are bound together by an imposed loyalty to an authoritarian gang leader.
They have blighted life on their estates with gang on gang murders and unprovoked attacks on innocent bystanders.
In the last few days there is some evidence that they have been behind the coordination of the attacks on the Police and the looting that has followed.
I want us to use the record of success against gangs of cities like Boston in the USA and Strathclyde in Scotland – who have done this by engaging the Police, the voluntary sector and local government. I want this to be a national priority.
We have already introduced gang injunctions and I can announce today that we are going to use them across the whole country for children and for adults.
There are also further sanctions available beyond the criminal justice system.
Local authorities and landlords already have tough powers to evict the perpetrators from social housing.
Some local authorities are already doing this. I want to see others follow their lead and we will consider whether these powers need to be strengthened further.
Mr Speaker, I have asked the Home Secretary to work with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and other Cabinet Colleagues on a cross-government programme of action to deal with this gang culture, with a report to Parliament in October.
I also believe we should be looking beyond our shores to learn the lessons from others who have faced similar problems. That is why I will be discussing how we can go further in getting to grips with gangs with people like Bill Bratton, former Commissioner of Police in New York and Los Angeles.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, in the past few days we have seen a range of emotions sweep this country: anger, fear, frustration, despair, sadness – and finally a determined resolve that we will not let a violent few beat us.
We saw this resolve in the people who gathered in Clapham with brooms to clean up the streets.
We saw it in those who patrolled the roads in Enfield through the night to deter rioters.
We saw it in the hundreds of people who stood guard outside Southall Temple, protecting it from vandalism.
This is a time for our country to pull together.
To the law abiding people who play by the rules, and who are the overwhelming majority in this country, I say the fightback has begun, we will protect you, if you’ve had your livelihood and property damaged, we will compensate you. We are on your side.
And to the lawless minority, the criminals who’ve taken what they can get. I say: We will track you down, we will find you, we will charge you, we will punish you. You will pay for what you have done.
We need to show the world, which has looked on appalled, that the perpetrators of the violence we have seen on our streets are not in any way representative of our country – nor of our young people.
We need to show them that we will address our broken society and restore a sense of stronger sense of morality and responsibility – in every town, in every street and in every estate.
And a year away from the Olympics, we need to show them the Britain that doesn’t destroy, but that builds; that doesn’t give up but stands up; that doesn’t look back, but always forwards.
And I commend this statement to the House.

20 years already

2011-07-29T11:09:00.001+01:00

Mayor pinning 20 year medal on chest - its not all 'knives in the back' locally... and I have hardly put myself in 'harms way' for this medal, as many of our residents in the military have and are doing.

Still it was gracious of the Mayor to remember.

20 years service!

2011-07-29T00:32:00.001+01:00

Got a gong today hip hip hooray.... 20 years on the front line in local government...thick skin and metal shoulder blades have helped

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

EU Debt Crisis explained

2011-07-27T08:50:00.002+01:00

Blogger on the run

2011-07-23T20:59:00.001+01:00

I can now add blogs from my iPhone! Woppie ...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Aldershot

Murder in Aldershot

2011-07-20T13:27:00.002+01:00

Murder investigation launched following Aldershot death

Detectives from the Major Crime Department have launched a murder investigation following the death of a man in Aldershot during the early hours of Wednesday, July 20.

Just after 3.15am, officers were called to Basing Drive to reports of an altercation.

On arrival, a man was discovered with serious injuries and was taken to Frimley Park Hospital by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.

A post mortem examination is due to be carried out this afternoon.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Fitchet, said: “This investigation is still in the very early stages and we are carrying out a number of enquiries.

“I would ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or has any information that can help with our investigation, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, to get in touch with us as soon as possible.

“There may be some unavoidable disruption within the local community while we conduct these necessary enquiries and we’d like to thank residents for their co-operation, and would appeal for calm while we establish the exact circumstances of what has happened.”

A 43-year-old man from Aldershot has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody.

Anyone with any information should contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101 or 0845 045 45, via the website at www.hampshire.police.uk/internet/contact/message_officer.htm or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111. Minicom users should call 01962 875000.

Rowhill Nature Reserve - well done.

2011-06-22T16:22:00.000+01:00

Members of Rowhill Nature Reserve Society in Aldershot are proud to be one of the 130 winners nationwide of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for groups who work in their local community for the benefit of others.

The award is in recognition of the Society’s work in conserving the 55 acres of woodland and other habitats for the benefit of wildlife, education, particularly of children, in the importance of the natural environment and improving the area for the enjoyment of local people.

The group has also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

This prestigious UK national honour recognises outstanding voluntary contributions and sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged to be of the highest standard.

The Rowhill Nature Reserve lies on the Surrey and Hampshire border and the Society has been looking after the reserve for more than 40 years.

Speaking of their success, Kathy Spink from the Rowhill Nature Reserve Society said, “We are proud to receive this award, not only for of all the current volunteers and members of the very strong team here at Rowhill, but also on behalf of all our supporters in the past who have helped make RNRS what it is today.”

Rape and Sexual abuse support

2011-06-17T16:37:00.001+01:00

One of my residents is a volunteer at this charity that provides a valuable service to rape and sexual abuse victims. There is something special about volunteers, many of whom, are involved with not just one good cause as this resident, but do a number of valuable things that contribute to a better community. They are people that spend their time thinking of how to help others rather than how others can help them. A lesson for us all....

RASASC [Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre].

The Office is in Guildford. The charity provides confidential helpline and counselling for male and female survivors of rape and abuse .

http://rasasc-guildford.org/

Office 01483 452900

Helpline 01483 546400

admin@rasasc-guidford.org

Telephone line is open for callers is between 7:30pm and 9:30pm every day except Saturdays and Bank holidays.

Trend Micro - an awful company to deal with

2011-06-14T16:01:00.000+01:00

Trend Micro Pacific House
Parkway, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1YL
016284 00500

Has anyone had the same awful experience I have had with TREND MICRO?

I am working away at work quite happily when all of a sudden my emails to suppliers and customers start to bounce back, with a message telling me Trend Micro have decided to block my emails until they hear from my ISP! What a cheek - just because they are an American company I suppose....

They suggest I have been asked to explain the spam but have not responded. Well we are very easy to contact - and I have not received any emails - unless of course my spam filter thought they were a malicious email!!

So I call the office - and get thru to someone in Ireland struggling with English to explain. I get given an email - to rbl@mail-abuse.com. Guess what - yes - it bounces back.

I am completely irritated by such systems and companies that play God in this way. Guilty until proven innocent and dealt with so heavy handed and insensitively. Good job they are not in Government isn't it?

CO2 emissions - a thought!!

2011-06-13T10:17:00.000+01:00

Professor Ian Plimer (a member of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Adelaide. He is also a joint member of the School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering) could not have said it better!

If you've read his book you will agree, this is a good summary.

Are you sitting down?

Okay, here's the bombshell. The volcanic eruption in Iceland, since its first spewing of volcanic ash has, in just FOUR DAYS, NEGATED EVERY SINGLE EFFORT you have made in the past five years to control CO₂ emissions on our planet, all of you.  Of course you know about this evil carbon dioxide that we are trying to suppress, that vital chemical compound that every plant requires to live and grow, and to synthesize into oxygen for us humans, and all animal life.  I know, it's very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience and expense of: driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags, sitting up till midnight to finish your kid's "The Green Revolution" science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies, using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, vacationing at home instead of abroad, nearly getting hit every day on your bicycle, replacing all of your 50 cents light bulbs with $10.00 light bulbs...well, all of those things you have done have all gone down the tubes in just four days.  The volcanic ash emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in just four days - yes - FOUR DAYS ONLY by that volcano in Iceland, has totally erased every single effort you have made to reduce the evil beast, carbon. And there are around 200 active volcanoes on the planet spewing out this crud any one time - EVERY DAY.  I don't really want to rain on your parade too much, but I should mention that when the volcano Mt Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it spewed out more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the entire human race had emitted in its entire YEARS on earth. Yes folks, Mt Pinatubo was active for over one year, think about it.  Of course I shouldn't spoil this touchy-feely tree-hugging moment and mention the effect of solar and cosmic activity and the well-recognized 800-year global heating and cooling cycle, which keep happening, despite our completely insignificant efforts to affect climate change.  And I do wish I had a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud but the fact of the matter is that the bush fire season across the western USA and Australia this year alone will negate your efforts to reduce carbon in our world for the next two to three years. And it happens every year.  Just remember that your government just tried to impose a whopping carbon tax on you on the basis of the bogus ''human-caused'' climate change scenario.  Hey, isn't it interesting how they don't mention ''Global Warming'' any more, but just ''Climate Change'' - you know why? It's because the planet has COOLED by 0.7 degrees in the past century and these global warming bull artists got caught with their pants down.  And just keep in mind that you might yet have an Emissions Trading Scheme (that whopping new tax)imposed on you, that will achieve absolutely nothing except make you poorer. It won't stop any volcanoes from erupting, that's for sure.

But hey, relax, give the world a hug and have a nice day!

PS: I wonder if Iceland is buying carbon offsets?

Armed Robbers attack our Co-Op

2011-06-10T10:02:00.000+01:00

Detectives appeal for witnesses after armed robbery in Farnborough

Detectives in Aldershot are appealing for witnesses following an armed robbery at a Co-Op store in the North Camp area of Farnborough.

Police were called to the shop in Queens Road at about 1.45pm on Wednesday, June 8, following reports of an armed robbery.

Two men entered the shop – one was wearing a white crash helmet and the other was wearing a black balaclava – while a security guard was loading money at the cash machine.

The guard from the security van was told to put the containers of cash into bags, which he did.

The men made off in a black Volkswagen Tiguan which was later found abandoned in Yeovil Close, a short distance away.

Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who was in the shop or the surrounding at the time of the incident who hasn’t yet spoken to a police officer. They would also like to speak to anyone who saw the car in Yeovil Close.

Detective Inspector Dave Sackman said: "This was a frightening ordeal for those who witnessed it, but fortunately no one was hurt.

"There were lots of people in the area at the time and I am keen to hear from anyone who saw any part of the incident or who saw the car in Yeovil Close."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Aldershot CID on 101 or via www.hampshire.police.uk/internet/contact/message_officer.htm

You can also contact the charity Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously.

Help the Homeless - Its a dogs life

2011-06-03T14:24:00.001+01:00

Some muts looking for love..... drop me a line if you know a home they would be happy in or contact the Kennel direct:
Tel: 01268 770402
Acresway Kennels, Great Burches Road, Thundersley, Essex SS7 3NE.

I have been 'slammed' by networkservices.com

2011-05-09T11:05:00.000+01:00

I have learnt a new word today. Slamming. This is when you are taken from your telephone provider without your consent.

networkservices.com Ltd has just slammed me, and because BT were late in advising me that my service was being removed, I lost the line for a brief period.

I rang BT and the first advisor told me there was nothing that he could do.

So I rang Ofcom, who said the best thing to do was to get BT to take it back by immediately placing an order with them. Why did the BT advisor not tell me this?

So I went back to BT and got a more helpful advisor that was aware what to do.

I then complained to Ofcom, who said that they would get networkservices.com to call me within 5 days (from 20th April 2011). They did not. So I then called Ofcom again.

networkservices.com are not under any legal obligation to call me so they didn't. And Ofcom said as networkservices.com do not have an ombudsman, they cannot take any further action, but said they would note the complaint and take action if there were more complaints from others.

I am of course free to take my own legal course of action!! Hey thanks for the support Ofcom.

I am taking this matter up with our MP and would be interested in any other slamming issues residents have experienced.

A solution at last? How to solve the financial crisis - a resident view.

2011-05-09T09:03:00.000+01:00

Dear Mr. Cameron,

Please find below our suggestion for fixing England 's economy.

Instead of giving billions of pounds to banks that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.   You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:

There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force. Pay them £1 million each severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire - ten million job openings - unemployment fixed

2) They MUST buy a new British car. Ten million cars ordered - car Industry fixed

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - housing crisis fixed

4) They MUST send their kids/grandkids to school/college/university - Crime rate fixed

5) They MUST buy £100 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week.....and there's your money back in duty/tax etc

6) Instead of stuffing around with the carbon emissions trading schemes that makes us pay for the major polluters, tell the greedy bastards to reduce their pollution emissions by 75% within 5 years or we shut them down.

Other points you might consider:

Put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home, then the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks. They'd also receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc. They’d have constant video monitoring so if assistance was needed they’d have immediate help. Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be washed and ironed as needed.   There would be a guard to check on them every 20 minutes and staff to bring their meals and snacks to their cell.

They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.

They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counseling, pool and education.

Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on request.

There would be private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens for anyone who felt the need to exercise.

Each senior could have a PC a TV radio and daily phone calls and there would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and all guards would have a code of conduct that would have to be strictly adhered to.

The criminals would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised day and night. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week; live in a tiny room and pay £600.00 per week without any hope of ever getting out.

                                    Think about this (more points of contention):

                                                            ******

COWS

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that, during the mad cow epidemic, our government could track a single cow, born almost three years ago in Appleby, right to the stall where she slept in the county of Cumbria?   And, they even tracked her calves to their individual stalls.. But they are unable to locate 125,000 illegal immigrants wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each illegal immigrant a cow.

                                                            ******

Local Enterprise

2011-04-12T10:21:00.000+01:00

Local Enterprise Partnership

· The Business Launch for our new Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership was held at the Princes Hall at 8 am last Tuesday. The event was extremely well attended with over 180 delegates and the consensus was that it had been a success. The event was focussed specifically at businesses and, as well as increasing their awareness of the LEP, its main purpose was to identify their priorities for economic growth and to get them to consider nominating representatives to sit on the Board. The voting on priorities was carried out through an electronic system a little like “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” and the results were -

70% of businesses at the conference expected their business to expand over the next two to three years which shows the high levels of confidence in the local economy.

Businesses believe that the most powerful enablers of growth are;

· getting people with the right skills

· access to customers and markets nationally

· initiatives to improve business productivity and efficiency

Businesses believe that the biggest barriers to growth are;

· a shortage of skills

· poor broadband speed and availability

· difficulties in accessing finance

· red tape.

Say no to AV

2011-04-08T13:56:00.000+01:00

Why should the small party supporters get to choose who our MP is? This is a referendum to give more power to minority parties - a dangerous path to tread.

The launch of the No to AV campaign in Rushmoor.

We hear about the Have's - well above is the No Av's

I think that means 'no av' good taste in T-shirts

On a more serious note - this referendum must get a clear NO from residents, it is the slippery slope of taking power from the majority and giving disproportionate power to minority groups. Do we want to see the minority groups playing king maker up and down the country? I have and always will trust the majority to make the right decisions for this country, anything that encourages horse trading and deals with minorities is the politics of the asylum. Which brings me back to the T-Shirts!

Well done to Gareth (Cllr Lyon) on the far left (picture only I might add) my bright young colleague in Empress who is leading the local campaign against AV.

If I don't publish this I could face a hard time from my local beat officers...

2011-03-31T13:06:00.000+01:00

Prime Minister the Rt Hon David Cameron, MP, speaking in the House of Commons on 16^th March 2011 and commenting on policing stated officers should be ‘well paid and well-motivated’

· Tom Winsor has produced a report to reform policing – this report has looked at pay and conditions of Constables & other ranks. It says nothing about how to police our communities in the 21^st century; as such it is not a reform of the service.
· The government is unable to tell us what frontline policing is.
· The report is not about fair remuneration for police Constables, it is about savings to reduce the budget deficit. The police service is taking the biggest cut of all public services. As a result the safety and security of our communities are being put at risk.
· Constables understand they have to take their share of the financial pain but the proposed cuts will leave the service vulnerable &many Constables in debt.
· ACPO say we will lose 12,000 officers over the next 4 years. Crime and anti-social behaviour in your constituency will not reduce as officer numbers are cut – if anything crime & anti-social behaviour will increase.
· We police with the consent of our communities. This ethos is being lost as we are being reduced in numbers and becoming less visible.
· As Constable numbers reduce more overtime will have to be worked to deal with incidents reported to the police, yet Constables will not be fairly rewarded for the additional hours they are ordered to work.
· The enhancements to overtime pay that are currently in place prevent management abuse will be removed. Work/life balance will be lost and Constables’ health & safety will be breached. Officers who are tired and stressed will be expected to work longer hours.
· Constables do not get paid extra for working weekends, it’s just another working day. Many only get one weekend in four off work.
· Constables do not get paid 4 hours overtime for taking calls at home.
· Constables who are ordered to stay on at work at the end of their shift do not receive enhanced pay for the first half hour worked on 4 occasions each week.
· A 2-year pay freeze in real terms equates to a 10% pay cut.
· Constables, who we know are the frontline, will be hit hardest by the proposals as any who are not on the top of their pay scale (10 points for PCs) will also be hit with a freeze on the incremental scale for two years.
· Due to the timing of these changes Constables will experience the worst reduction in living standards since WW2.
· The competency related pay (which can be removed for poor performance) is to be removed. This payment supports and recognises the career Constables as the frontline of the police service.
· Data from the Police Mutual shows some officers already face financial stress.

Support your local Constables’ health, well-being & motivation

· Say No to the incremental pay freeze.

· Say No to the removal of the competency related threshold payment.

· Say No to the reduction of enhanced overtime triggers.

Constables in England & Wales are proud to hold the Office of Constable and protect our communities. We have real concerns for their safety if Winsor is implemented.

Constables – We are the frontline

Wish this guy had taught me history - Yeoman Warden

2011-03-16T09:16:00.001Z

Who said ex military personnel would not make good teachers?

Big Society - my thoughts

2011-02-28T14:15:00.000Z

Big society is not simply an emphasis away from big government which has become the hallmark and legacy of New Labour. Thanks to the New labour agenda and legislation, we now live in a society where youth clubs are closing down because volunteers refuse to be youth leaders fearing retribution from powerful state legislation should a malicious or false accusation be thrown at them from a youngster, many of whom are very familiar with their ‘rights’ but care little about anything or anyone else. A society where parents are told by the state what is best for their family, and how to bring up their children. A society in which the state has become the shelter to manipulative citizens that use the state not only to protect themselves, but provide themselves a lucrative living, free of work or responsibility.

We have now reached the frightening point, by incremental and subtle legislation and cultural attitude, that whenever there is a problem, the state is seen as the only agency able to give or provide a solution. Family, friends and neighbours are free of any obligation or responsibility.

The real cost is more than just an inappropriate additional obligation to the state, it has come at a severely detrimental cost to our society, who has now become accustom to looking constantly to the state every time there is an issue that needs to be addressed. This is for two appalling reasons, first, not getting involved for fear of breaking or breaching some article of social legislation, or worse still because the first agency that comes to mind when they need help is the state over family, friends or neighbours.

Another sad aspect of the big society debate, is the confusion, and those that seek to create confusion. This is not a measure of the idea but a measure of the need for an urgent change in direction, not by government, but by a society that is over legislated and controlled and where innovation, enterprise and philanthropy have been smothered by big government.

Where my icebreaker socks come from

2011-02-15T09:26:00.002Z

Link Up Ltd (company I work for) have just got a contract with Icebreaker who supply a range of high tech woolen wear, which have a bar-code on each packet that tells you the location of the sheep that have supplied the wool. I am only glad I cannot do the same for the lamb shank I ate yesterday.

Here is where my new hi tech and absolutely fantastic socks come from:

David Cameron cleaning the mess left by Labour?

2011-01-14T12:11:00.001Z

A new follower on twitter has a picture that looks like David Cameron cleaning a carpet..

This calls for a caption competition (no rude ones will be published...):

Village Hotel

2011-01-13T12:40:00.001Z

As a result of a food hygiene inspection back in September, the Village Hotel was published as “Unsatisfactory” on our www.safe2eat.com website.

I am very pleased to advise that as a result of considerable effort on behalf of the company supported by a number of interventions from the Council, the business has now been re-inspected. Following a reassessment of the food hygiene and food safety conditions at that time, the Village Hotel is now scored as an “Excellent” business on the www.safe2eat.com scheme.

Credit crunch is really biting

2010-12-21T14:12:00.000Z

one has a wedding to pay for

2010-12-20T09:28:00.000Z

Princes Hall panto

The Princes Hall's three panto shows are all going ahead as planned today (Saturday).
Sunday's performances will also go ahead. We do not expect this situation to change, but if there are any changes, we will update our website as soon as possible.

Our town centres and car parks
Following the heavy snow on Saturday morning, we are doing our best to help clear the main areas of Aldershot, Farnborough and North Camp and we have crews hand-clearing the town centres. In Farnborough town centre, we have ploughed the main routes through to Asda, Princes Mead and Queensmead car parks.
In Aldershot, we have ploughed the main routes to the High Street, Warburg and Birchett Road car parks.
We have also ploughed the access route to the Aldershot Centre for Health, access to Aldershot and Farnborough railway stations and Camp Road in North Camp.
We have carried out some clearance and treatment of the North Lane shopping area and the footpaths in North Camp

Winter weather and bin collections
If our bin collections are affected by this weekend's snow, we will update this web page as early as possible.

Roads and pavements
For details about which roads Hampshire County Council will salt in bad weather, grit bins and safe winter driving, visit www3.hants.gov.uk/roads/winter-maintenance.htm.

Schools
For details about school closures, visit Hampshire County Council's website, http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/schoolclosures
Being prepared for snow
Following the heavy snowfalls of last winter, we have made our own preparations to deal with extreme snowy and icy conditions.
We now have increased salt stocks in place and extra staff have been trained in snow clearance. We have also added a Land Rover to our fleet of vehicles, complete with snow plough attachments and a towable gritter, to help keep our car parks and the town centres open during snow.
Where we can, we will also support Hampshire County Council to help keep local roads and footpaths clear

Government Grant - 25% cut to Rushmoor

2010-12-14T17:12:00.001Z

We will do all we can to protect key public services, but there will inevitably be significant cuts.

That is the stark warning from Rushmoor Borough Council following the Government’s finance settlement announcement on Monday.

While the Government’s quoted reduction in grant to Rushmoor is 7.41%, the Council believes that in cash terms, this will actually mean a cut of 25% for 2011/12.

Over the next two years combined, the reduction in grant looks likely to be 32%.

And while the Council has already made significant savings of £1.1 million and planned a further £1.5 million in anticipation of a 10% grant reduction, it will now have to consider further, major savings.

Cllr Clifford says " This is the inevitable fallout from the gross mismanagement of Government finances over the last few years of the Labour Government.

The new coalition Government is working closely with Local Government to ensure front line services are protected and local authorities are being given more freedom from central government control, which they need to introduce innovation, so they can deliver to local residents better value for money.

This will involve some tough choices, but local Conservatives will ensure necessary public services are protected and the best interest of residents considered above anything else."

Conservative Councils do more for less.

New Look - Farnborough

2010-12-13T15:23:00.000Z

Another image conscious retailer invests in Farnborough...actions speak louder than words...

University Poster Boy? Surely not?

2010-12-08T14:58:00.000Z

I came - I saw - I struggled to understand...

Get the facts and not fiction about student fees...

2010-12-08T14:54:00.000Z

Click here to see facts

A must see - Flash Mob strike in Canada - angelic music

2010-12-02T11:44:00.002Z

Lads of the Village

2010-11-26T13:23:00.000Z

On Wednesday evening together with the Mayor, the Leader and Chief Exec I was pleased to be invited to a ceremony at which the Lads of the Village were formally dissolved. It was a sad event as the Lads have been in existence for over 80 years having been established originally on the invitation of a former Mayor of Aldershot Borough Council to help[ raise funds in support of the Aldershot Cottage Hospital. They had continued since those days with a maximum membership at any one time of 40 and has raised many hundreds and thousands of pounds for local charities. The decision to end was not taken lightly but they had found it harder to maintain interest in membership and they had reduced to only 12 members. The Chief Lad formerly handed back to the Mayor their symbols of office. We will see whether they can be displayed in the Aldershot Museum together with a wide variety of scrapbooks that have already been handed over. I am very proud of the fact I served a few happy years with them when I lived in Aldershot.

Royal Aeronautical Society

2010-11-26T13:20:00.000Z

On Tuesday the Royal Aeronautical Society held a ceremony at their national library at The Hub on the SEGRO estate behind us with the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the life and achievements of Anne Burns. Anne, who would have been 95 on the day, was a distinguished aeronautical scientist and champion glider pilot. She worked for many years at the Defence Evaluation and Research Establishment and its predecessors and had an international reputation for her work. The plaque is mounted on the outside wall adjoining the entrance to the library which is open to the public and well worth a visit.

Help for Heroes Calendar

2010-11-26T13:19:00.001Z

The Princes Hall Team led on this occasion by Edward Haversham, the Marketing, Box Office and Information Centre Manager, have produced an Aldershot 2011 Calendar with pictures chosen from a local competition open to local residents. Over 60 people entered and the calendar reflects the quality of the entries. The calendars are being marketed at £5 a copy with all of the proceeds being donated to the Help for Heroes Charity and are available from Princes Hall and shortly elsewhere within the town centre.

Weather update

2010-11-26T13:17:00.000Z

As you will have picked up from the various weather forecasts we are moving in to a cold spell which could well last for several weeks. There is no snow forecast for this area this weekend but there is a possibility of snow next week. We are given regular direct briefings by the Met Office and their current advice is that there is an increased risk of some sleet or snow reaching the south-west of Hampshire and perhaps the Isle of Wight for a time early on Monday morning but it is not expected to be significant. The rest of Monday should be largely fine across the south-east although a bitter east to south-east wind will pick up during the day. They have said that there is the possibility of a major area of snow coming in to the south of the U.K later in the week but this is far from certain.

The Borough CEO is extremely pleased with the level of our preparedness for snow this year and grateful to all those who have developed the plan and also to the Member Task & Finish Group. John Trusler organised an exercise last week and our Land Rover with snow plough and gritting attachment is all ready and Members are being provided with copies of the salting route in the post today.

Salisbury Road, Farnborough On Street Parking Recommendations

2010-11-22T09:10:00.000Z

Background

A report to Cabinet in January 2007 described a history of vandalism to signs (to allow unrestricted parking), and frequent use of the 25 space ‘car park’ for visits to town centre shops (that in turn reduced capacity for access to adjacent shops and medical facilities).

Cabinet approved a proposal to retain the existing 2-hour waiting restriction and to overlay a 10p/20 minute charge from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (subject the statutory process for consultation). The resolution has yet to be implemented.

The construction of Concept House caused parking problems between 2009 and 2010. The car park was subject to repeated abuse by contractors, and parking space outside the surgery was frequently abused by delivery lorries awaiting site access.

Of late, complaints have been received from residents and traders about on-street parking by residents of Concept House. It is claimed this impairs local trade and is the outcome of unfair parking allocation within the development.

Survey Work

Regarding Concept House, a ‘before and after’ survey has been carried out by the Transportation Strategy Officer.

Regarding trader concerns about the adequacy of parking, a survey has been carried out by the Parking Manager.

Summary Findings

Concept House Survey

The survey suggests there has been no change to residential parking levels on Abbey Way, Monks Close, Douai Close, Carlyon Close, Rapolio Close and Clockhouse Road.

In contrast, there has been an increase in residential parking on Salisbury Road, Church Avenue, and Salisbury Road Car Park. This does not appear to originate from Concept House during weekdays, but other evidence confirms this is likely be the case regarding evening/overnight/early morning parking.

Parking within Concept House appears to be underused, but contractual arrangements between the developer and residents are significant and to a large extent determine occupancy. A parking management contractor has been appointed by the developer who, we understand, is proposing to introduce and enforce a residents’ permit parking scheme. With this in mind, it would be inappropriate for the Council to involve itself directly in the management of parking within the complex.

Trader Survey (ADP Dental Care, Alexander House Surgery, Lloyds Pharmacy, Currylicious, Mattik Polish Shop, Ford Mears Undertakers)

The consensus view of traders is that:

- the existing 2-hour waiting period is too long – medical practitioners have their own parking for longer appointments;

- the 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Saturday restriction is too short and there are calls to extend this to 10 p.m. and to Sundays to protect local trade and deter overnight parking;

- traders will support a structured parking charge to deter ongoing town centre parking and residential parking;

- medical practitioners are calling for more disabled parking, more protection of entrances (double yellow lines), and better bay markings (i.e. general improvements)

- Lloyds described an early morning parking problem caused by overnight parking (residents are not in contravention until 10 a.m.)

- Lloyds and Currylicious described ‘wall-to-wall’ evening/overnight parking from 4 p.m.

- Alexander House Surgery and ADP advised of overnight residential parking in their own car parks, plus a lot of town centre parking that reduces capacity for patients.

Conclusions

The Salisbury Road (on-street parking and car park) restrictions fail to meet the needs of local businesses and their patrons, and require adjustment.

Daytime congestion on Salisbury Road/car park/A325 does not appear to originate from Concept House. It appears to arise from shoppers visiting the town centre. A reduction in the waiting time and a parking charge will overcome this, which in turn will increase turnover and available parking space.

Evening and night parking on Salisbury Road car park and in the immediate vicinity (largely by residents of/visitors to Concept House), is the result of convenience parking, not necessarily arising from the inadequacy of parking within the complex. The extension of parking restrictions and a charging regime will deter residential parking, and in all probability drivers will then utilise the parking available within the complex.

We need to improve parking standards by increasing the number of disabled parking spaces on-street, laying down double yellow lines across dropped kerbs, improving markings, and introducing better regulation of the area.

Recommendations

We propose to:

(i) reduce the existing duration of parking from 2-hours, to 1-hour

(ii) extend the restriction from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Sunday.

(iii) introduce a charge of 20p/20minutes up to the proposed maximum 1-hr limit, initially on the car park, and possibly on Salisbury Road and the A325 the latter subject to further review and consultation (we will offer a two-part ticket if traders wish to offer a full or part refund to customers).

(iv) while making the proposed changes, to improve disabled parking and entrance protection.

Mike Bamber Jim Pettitt

Parking Manager Transportation Strategy Officer.

17/11/2010

Rushmoor Boundary/ Electoral Changes

2010-11-19T11:30:00.001Z

Electoral Review

We have received confirmation from the Local Government Boundary Commission that they have decided to adopt a Council size of 39 (we currently have 42 councillors - 3 in 14 wards) for the purposes of the next stage of the review which will commence formally on 30 November. At that time they will invite all interested parties to submit proposals for new wards based on a council size of 39 and the consultation will run until 21 February 2011.

The Commission received three submissions on council size – including the Council’s own submission – and these are all available to view on their website http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-east/hampshire/rushmoor-electoral-review

We are continuing work on preparing the council’s submission together with the Electoral Review Group.

For more see http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-east/hampshire/rushmoor

Mayor Brian Parker - school visits

2010-11-19T11:24:00.000Z

Mayoral School Visits

The Mayor has placed high priority this year on engaging with young people and has carried out a number of visits to schools which he has found to be extremely rewarding and beneficial. If any members would like the mayor to visit schools in which they are governors or otherwise have an interest, do contact Sharon Woodman on 398824 or email sharon.woodman@rushmoor.gov.uk.

Police Changes

2010-11-19T11:23:00.000Z

Empress Beat changes

We are sorry to loose PC Lee Jeffers and WPC Bev Woodhead, who have now been assigned to St John's in Farnborough and Aldershot town centre respectively. They were our first 'police partners' in Empress and we have built up a great working relationship with them, and I am grateful to them for all the hard work they have put in making our Ward a better place to live.

However, we are really pleased that we keep our PCSO Beth Pathin, and get a new PCSO and new beat manager WPC Emma Fidler. So a warm welcome to Emma, and we look forward to working with and is already making a difference.

Hampshire Police

The Borough currently sits within the North & East Hampshire Operational Command Unit which is commanded by Chief Superintendent Mark Chatterton. The Force is currently carrying out a review of their operational structures to reflect the predicted reduction in their government grant and it is likely that there will be a rationalisation leading to fewer command units. This is currently under discussion and there will be further consultation over the next few months.

In the meantime, Chief Supt Chatterton is making some local changes and has decided to combine the District Command roles for Rushmoor and Hart into one. Work will take place to harmonise the management arrangements over the next few months with a view to commencing the new arrangements in January. At that time, Chief Inspector Sarah Jackson, currently the District Commander for Hart, will take over responsibilities for both areas and our existing District Commander, Duncan Weston, will be moving on to a specialised role within the force. I am relaxed about these changes and am confident that we will be able to work well with Sarah who has an extremely good reputation.

Oak Farm School

2010-11-19T11:14:00.000Z

Oak Farm School

We received confirmation yesterday that Cllr Perry, Hampshire’s Member for Children’s Services, has approved the proposal to transfer the Samuel Cody School from the Wavell site to Oak Farm. This is good news for the school which has an excellent reputation and has grown beyond the space it currently has on its existing site. The move will not only enable it to improve facilities but also to maintain the community facilities currently provided at Oak Farm. Wavell will also benefit as it will provide space for the school to expand in the future. The governing body at Samuel Cody and the headteacher, Anna Dawson, have always worked well with the Borough and I am confident that they will embrace the community elements on the site.

Thames Water

2010-11-19T11:13:00.000Z

Thames Water

We have been contacted by Thames Water who have confirmed their commitment to taking steps to tackle leakage from pipes in our borough ahead of what they believe could be another colder than average winter.

They have stated that they have made significant progress having hit four consecutive annual leakage targets, but they recognise that they have more work to do on their ageing network. The problem is apparently worse during the winter months as water drops below 5^OC which leads to a dramatic increase in leakage and pipes burst as the cast iron pipes contract. They intend to step up their activity over the coming weeks and throughout the winter as this will enable them not only to get a large reduction in leakage but also to tackle problems before they become more significant and disruptive. They believe it will also minimise leakage to road surfaces and be less disruptive to road users.

We are likely to see more activity on the ground and they are asking for our understanding and support and they will do all they can to minimise disruption to residents and streets. They have also confirmed their intention to provide more detailed plans as soon as they become available and I will ensure that you are kept informed.

Post Scan - be warned!!

2010-11-19T11:10:00.002Z

Postal Scam:

Can you circulate this around especially as Xmas is fast approaching - it has been confirmed by Royal Mail. The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the following scam:

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate number).

DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize .

If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £315 for the phone call.

If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 020 7239 6655

Impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review by Roger Martin-Fagg

2010-11-04T10:30:00.000Z

Economists disagree on the likely impact of the proposed changes in the pattern of government spending. The media keep talking of cuts whereas in fact government spending over the next four years in total will rise by 5%. However if the economy grows faster in nominal terms than 5% a year, the share of government in GDP should fall from the current 47% to a level of 40% over the next few years. It is worth recording that in 1997 the share of government was 36.6% of GDP.

I am one of those economists who believe there is no alternative to the current policy. The reason I have this view is that for the government to keep spending at the rate that was established in 2007, the cost of raising that money would be one and a half percent higher than today. This means that long-run interest rates instead of being just under 3%, as they are now, would be 4.5% and in my view rising.

The government has to cut its deficit because of the impact that a 4.5% long run interest rate would have on the mortgage holders in this country. We know from the FSA that 48% of UK households with a mortgage have no money left after interest payments and normal living expenses. We are talking here around 6 million households. The current spending plans as announced will reduce the effective spending power of these households by around £500 a year over the next four years. A 1.5% increase in the mortgage rate would reduce their spending power by around £900 a year over the next four years. The average debt per household including mortgages is £58k. It is clear to me that the governments plan is preferable to the alternative.

Government has no money of its own. The only money it has is that which it taxes from its people. The current administration realise that the limits of taxation both direct and indirect have been reached. They also know that in a slow or no growth economy tax receipts do not increase. That is why the reduction in borrowing is primarily being achieved by reductions in planned expenditure. The money that government taxes and spends is actually produced by entrepreneurs running businesses. But the original source of this money is bank lending. This is where I am most concerned. If we look back at the last recession from 1992 onwards bank lending grew at an annual average rate of 5% in the first five years and then subsequently at 8% and then from 2003 onwards at 10%. Since August last year each month the rate of increase in bank lending has slowed until in September of this year it actually fell by 1.6%.

This money supply data tells me that there will be a recession next year. It will not be caused by the current government's spending plans. Instead it will because of a lack of growth in money both in the UK, the United States and Western Europe throughout this year. (There is a lag of about 9 months between changes in lending and changes in nominal GDP). Is there anything that can be done to increase the money supply? Well there is quantitative easing. This is when the central bank creates money and with this new money it buys existing government securities. The new money flows into the banking system's balance sheets and then it is hoped that they parcel this new money up and lend it to SMEs and also for new mortgages. In fact although quantitative easing has allowed long-run interest rates to fall below 3%; most of the new money created has either flowed back to government through the issue of new debt or flowed overseas, as the investment arms of the banks take positions in high yielding currencies. In particular the Brazilian Real is being subject to substantial speculative purchases. Indeed the Brazilian government have announced a 6% tax on the purchases of Brazilian assets by overseas agents. The reality is that we in the West will most likely experience a mild recession next year (real GDP minus 1%), and then very low rates of growth (under 2%) until around 2015. By then the Western Banks should have much stronger balance sheets, (that is unless Greece defaults) and lending should be growing strongly.

Suspicious Callers in the area

2010-11-03T11:55:00.000Z

On 18/10/10 Two males were knocking on doors in the Basingstoke rural area claiming to be from Southern Electric.

They were offering what they said was a new service to Southern Electric key meter customers and asked a resident for money at the door so they could top up her meter.

This isn't a service that Southern Electricity provide and they are aware that bogus cold callers have been in the area recently.

1st Male: White male in his 20's, wearing black trousers, black fleece, short/shaved hair.

2nd Male: White male in his 40's, Brown Hair going grey in a side parting style, wearing grey suit, white shirt, red tie.

Both males were carrying black clip boards.

They got into a new looking small silver car - no further details.

Please be mindful of this as they do travel the County and report any such 'visits' to Police asap.

Noah's Ark re-creation. Does this guy know something we don't?

2010-11-02T09:13:00.001Z

For more details visit http://arkvannoach.com/

A letter from Hampshire County Council ...

2010-10-25T15:14:00.002+01:00

23^rd Oct 2010

Dear Councillors,

Further to the government’s public spending review, and the impact which it will have on public sector funding, it has been decided by the Director of Environment that it would be advantageous in extending the current bus contracts for the Black Water Valley from April 2011 until October 2011, when the Council will have a clearer understanding of the budget implications and would ideally be better placed to tender your local bus services.

Thank you for all your comments received via the questionnaires and this information will be used in due course when we issue tenders in this area.

Burning butts make burning bins - extinguish before you bin it

2010-10-22T12:40:00.001+01:00

Last night Thursday 21/10/10 , some time between 9pm and 9.47pm an unknown person has set fire to a wheelie bin outside a house in Abbey way in Farnborough.

A passing motorist stopped and alerted the householder and fortunately no one was hurt.

PLEASE if anyone has witnessed this incident by seeing someone recklessly throwing away a cigarette can you let me know.

David Levey - RBC staff member, resident and Cove Brook volunteer

2010-10-21T09:18:00.000+01:00

Fantastic job, well done and thank you David and all the people that help keep this area clear. A good example of voluntary action.

Armed and dangerous

So much collected, help is required

Well done and thank you David

Tour of leisure facilities

2010-09-09T18:03:00.000+01:00

The Chairman of the Leisure Panel decided it would be a good idea to visit and examine the sports facilities in the Borough. So we made a start the other day and visited the Rugby Club HQ in Aldershot, the Lido and then the Recreation Centre in Farnborough. It was exhausting!!

Aldershot & Fleet Rugby Club -
Great plans for the future - they have 200 youngsters playing, a great achievement

Duncan welcomes the Councillors and explains plans for the future

Cllr Clifford caught playing a game he can cope with, and is not too tiring, encouraged by the Chairman

Leisure Facilities in the Borough provide the best food I have eaten.
There is an awful lot of guilt eating it though...

Message From Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice - Supporters Please Be Aware!

2010-08-11T11:02:00.002+01:00

Dear supporter
It has come to our attention that some local people have been receiving unsolicited telephone calls from a bogus caller saying they are ringing on behalf of the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and asking for a donation over the phone. We would like to reassure you that we would never ask directly for donations over the phone or for personal credit card details to be given during an unsolicited telephone call.

From time to time, however, we may use the telephone to update our current supporters on some of the many developments currently going on at the Hospice but we would always direct them to our website and / or the Hospice itself should they wish to make or change their donation - we would never seek personal banking or credit card details over the phone.

If you have any queries or are in any doubt about the bona fide nature of a telephone call on behalf of Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice we would encourage you to contact us directly on 01252 729446 and one of the team here would be happy to help or to advise.

If you would like to support the Hospice in any way please visit our website at www.pth.org.uk where you can find lots of different ways to help us continue delivering specialist palliative care to people in your area.

Thank you for your continued support of the Hospice - we really do rely on this to keep our many and varied services going.

The Fundraising Team

Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice

(01252) 729446

What is wrong with women these days

2010-08-09T18:19:00.000+01:00

Sent to me by a female resident....

Some pun play - well it is the summer.

2010-08-09T18:14:00.000+01:00

The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.

She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.

No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'

I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'

The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

A backward poet writes inverse.

In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

A note from my mate David (The Prime Minister)

2010-07-31T12:48:00.001+01:00

Dear David (Clifford)

Parliament has risen, summer is here and this coalition government is nearly at the three month mark. It's a good time to take stock of what we've done so far and where we're going. Eleven weeks in and I believe we've made a good start.

We said we'd take the tough decisions needed to rescue our economy and we've been doing that. We've scrapped Labour's jobs tax, completed an in-year spending review to save £6 billion of waste and presented an emergency Budget that will balance the books within five years.

We promised radical reform of our public services and we're delivering, with a big expansion of the academy programme in our schools and unprecedented reform of the NHS - £1 billion of bureaucracy cut, pointless targets scrapped, whole tiers of bureaucracy abolished and real power for GPs and patients.

We campaigned relentlessly on pushing power out from the centre and we're making it happen. Eric Pickles' department has been busy dismantling the architecture of top-down control, scrapping Regional Assemblies, Regional Strategies and the bureaucracy of RDAs.

We said we'd do the right thing by our troops and we've been doing that too. We have established a National Security Council, made sure we have a clear strategy on Afghanistan and doubled the Operational Allowance for our Forces.

This isn't an exhaustive list, but it does show our intent to hit the ground running as a great reforming government. And just as we've started, so we'll go on - taking the tough decisions on our economy, radically re-thinking our public services, pushing power out to people and doing all we can to restore Britain's standing in the world.

But however frenetic the coming months and years will be, however busy life in government is, I will never forget how we got here - through your hard work and your tireless campaigning.

Thank you for your continuing support - and have a great summer

Aldershot Credit Union branches out to Farnborough

2010-07-29T17:38:00.000+01:00

From August more people living in the Rushmoor area will have easier access to the Credit Union.
Currently located in Aldershot Town Centre, the Credit Union will soon operate from two locations: First Wessex offices in Gordon Road, Aldershot and Rushmoor Borough Council offices in Farnborough.

• From Thursday 12 August (and every other week) Gordon House 1-4pm

• From Thursday 19 August (and every other week) Rushmoor Borough Council offices 1-4pm

The Credit Union offers secure and ethical banking and loans on a not-for-profit basis for local people. It is controlled by its members and offers a genuine alternative to high interest credit, loan sharks and doorstep lenders.

This joint venture between Rushmoor Borough Council and First Wessex is an important part of tackling financial exclusion in Rushmoor and providing local people with safe options for saving and borrowing.

Nicky Barham, Manager of the Aldershot Credit Union explains: “One member was paying £30 a week to doorstep lenders – which barely covered the interest. A loan from the Credit Union has helped reduce her weekly repayments by half. We’ve now set up an Xmas Savings Account for her, and she’s paying into it weekly to save for Christmas.”

Matt Smith, Community Regeneration Manager at First Wessex hopes more local people will join thanks to the expansion: “We’re working really hard to deter people from turning to loan sharks when they find it hard to get credit or loans elsewhere – and this really is a genuine alternative. We hope that having the Credit Union based in both these offices will mean we can catch lots of people’s attention and raise awareness of this crucial facility.”

Councillor Paul Taylor, Rushmoor Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Corporate Services, said: “The Credit Union offers a valuable service in providing residents with a safe way to save and borrow money. We are extremely pleased to be able to offer an additional base at the Council Offices so the service can expand into Farnborough and I’m sure local people will appreciate the easier access.”

Councillor Clifford thinks Credit Unions are a great community asset, that offer competitive interest rates to borrowers and cuts out greedy bankers and loan sharks. Those that borrow from them often save with them, so borrowers are less likely to default on payments as they are essentially borrowing from neighbours.

New Look in Farnborough

2010-07-24T13:19:00.000+01:00

Some news hot off the press – KPI have been working hard to secure tenants for the new retail units adjoining the Sainsbury. I am pleased to confirm that they have now announced agreement on a lease for a new NEW LOOK store which will occupy one and a half of the new units and extend over two floors. NEW LOOK currently trade in Princes Mead but the new store will be significantly larger and one of their national “model” stores.

Housing Benefit Fraud Prosecution - Farnborough

2010-07-24T13:17:00.000+01:00

A couple from Farnborough who fraudulently claimed more than £25,000 Housing and Council Tax Benefit have been prosecuted at Winchester Crown Court and given a nine month suspended prison sentence. The couple, Andrew and Sarah Beck from Blackthorn Crescent Farnborough, were accused of claiming in excess of £60,000 in both local authority and DWP benefits and admitted 11 counts of benefit fraud. The prison sentence has been suspended for two years and Mr Beck was also given a 150 hours unpaid work order and Mrs Beck a supervision order. This is an important message to those minded to defraud the benefit system and makes clear the Council’s commitment to taking prosecutions when this arises.

Interestingly, this successful prosecution was as a result of a two year investigation involving a number of council services and Department of Work & Pensions staff and shows the real benefits to be gained from collaboration and partnership working.

Sex assault - man wanted

2010-07-08T17:46:00.000+01:00

Detectives have released an e-fit image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with a serious sexual assault in Aldershot on Saturday, July 3.
Between 2pm and 3pm a 15-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl were walking through Aldershot town centre when they bumped into a man. They spoke to him briefly but he didn’t speak very good English and they left.
The teenagers then went to sunbathe in Manor Park. While they were there they were approached by the same man who came and sat down with them.
When the girls went to leave the park at around 4.15pm the man followed them. He then grabbed the 15-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her.
The victim screamed and the man then walked off.
The man is described as:
• 22 years old
• Tanned skin
• Long face and two moles on his face
• Sharp jaw
• 5ft 8ins to 5ft 10ins tall
• Muscular and athletic build
• Short, dark hair
• Spoke with a Romanian accent
• Wearing a brown short sleeve t-shirt with a pattern on the front, blue light coloured shorts and dirty canvas trainers

Detective Constable Andy Panter, of Aldershot CID, said: “This was an unusual but very serious incident that happened during the day at a busy park. “We want to hear from anyone who recognises the man in the image as soon as possible. “The victim screamed during the incident and other people in the park would have heard her and may have seen something.” Anyone with information about the incident should contact Det Con Panter at Aldershot police station on 101 or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.
For more information about policing in your area visit the local policing pages of Hampshire Constabulary at www.hampshire.police.uk

My class in Barcelona doing serious study on the beach....

2010-07-07T22:17:00.000+01:00

Historic Budget

2010-06-22T12:41:00.004+01:00

What a historic picture: Tory Chancellor flanked by Liberal Democrats!!

David Cameron also dropped me a line to keep me updated as he always does when there is something important.

Dear David,

I know how worried people are about the state of our economy and the decisions we have to take as a country. So I wanted to write to you personally about the emergency Budget the Chancellor delivered today.

I'm not going to hide it from you - what the coalition has announced is tough. But let's be clear, it's also entirely necessary and entirely unavoidable. Never forget - Labour left us with one of the worst economic inheritances imaginable. They racked up one of the biggest budget deficits in Europe - with the government borrowing one pound for every four it spends - and they doubled the national debt.

Doing nothing about this isn't an option. Greece stands as an example of what happens to countries that don't deal with their debts. And we cannot afford to be timid either - take just small steps now and confidence in our economy will fall, interest rates will rise, we'll carry on with this debt cloud hanging over our whole economic recovery.

That's why these difficult times call for such decisive action. And that's what this emergency Budget is about. Unlike the Budgets of the past thirteen years it's not a random shopping list of policies to buy short-term popularity. It's a thoughtful plan to pay for the bills of the past while planning for our future prosperity. At the heart of George Osborne's Budget are three principles.

First, responsibility. We will bring some sense and sanity back to the public finances by reducing our deficit by an extra £40 billion over the next five years. The majority of this will come from spending cuts - though as we always said, we will protect the NHS and international aid budgets. But tax rises are required too. I know you won't like that. Believe me, I don't like it either. But there's a high price to pay for Labour's incompetence, so VAT will have to rise to 20 percent to deal with their deficit.

Second, freedom. The economic growth needed to create jobs and opportunities for all will only come when we get enterprise flourishing again, so this Budget sends out a signal to the world that Britain is back open for business. In its pages are plans to cut red tape, stop Labour's jobs tax, reduce corporation tax rates, improve our infrastructure, support a low-carbon economy and spread new industries to every corner of our country.

Third, fairness. As I said, this Budget is tough. But it's also fair. That's what I'm about, what this Party is about, it's what this coalition is about. That's why we have asked every part of society to make some sort of contribution to paying off our debts - with the richest paying most. For example, Capital Gains Tax will rise for top rate taxpayers - but I think most people will agree that 28 per cent is a fair rate.

At the same time, we have also done everything we can to protect the least well-off. So while there will be a two-year public sector pay freeze, we will make sure those earning less than £21,000 still get pay increases. We will also increase the personal tax allowance by £1,000 for low and middle income earners, re-link the basic state pension to earnings and make sure it rises each year and reform the benefit and tax credit system so we reward work and protect the most vulnerable. What's more, we have committed an extra £2 billion in child tax credits for the poorest families - helping to ensure there is no increase in measured child poverty over the next two years. This is what we mean when we say we're all in this together.

David, in this emergency Budget I believe you have the measure of this government. Will it provoke debate? Certainly. Will it cost our coalition some popularity? Possibly. But is this the right thing to do - for the health of our economy, for the poorest in our society, for the future of our country? I passionately believe it is.

South Africa Lunch

2010-06-22T12:40:00.001+01:00

Aldershot Hot News

2010-06-17T14:25:00.000+01:00

The MOD shortlist for the Aldershot Urban extension comprise three companies

Argent Uk
Taylor-Wimpy
Grainger

The contract should be awarded in the autumn.

Pictures of a Parade: Welcome home 101 Logistic Brigade

2010-06-16T19:12:00.000+01:00

It was great to see so much warmth not just from the heavens but from the great and good that had gathered to welcome home 101 Logistics Brigade today. The Mayor and other VIPs even got to pin a few medals on the extended chests of these returning troops that had served in Helmand province, Afghanistan helping communities to resist the oppression of the Taliban and live in peace.

After the parade and medal award ceremony we all gathered in the Princes Hall for refreshments with all the returning troops, where we had the pleasure to meet and talk with them and their families. The overwhelming message from every soldier I spoke to was that despite casualties, they all agreed that they were doing a valuable job and genuinely helping the Afghans, who they spoke kindly of. They were also happy with equipment and speaking to a senior officer in equipment supply I learned that new vehicles are being designed and built and will be put into theatre soon.

I came away from this parade extremely impressed with our troops, and their positive and optimistic attitude. They really are a credit to our nation, and I am so pleased we hosted this reception. I was particularly impressed with a young group of military policemen I spoke to who had gone on regular foot patrols with the infantry. They were bright, positive and sober beyond their years, a real credit to their unit and just a good and descent group of young men. We are sending out to these far away lands fine ambassadors.

This is in stark contrast to the enquiry into 'bloody Sunday' that filled the news yesterday. It is all too easy to make judgements from the comfort and safety of a courtroom on soldiers caught in the 'fog of war' with those they believe or fear may be terrorists. Although I fully appreciate the pain of families that loose loved ones in such a situation.

Today however, having met with some of our troops today I believe Bloody Sundays are now much less likely, and, as some wise commander recently suggested, we should start giving medals out for soldiers that are nowadays showing incredible restraint under fire.

I felt extremely privileged to meet these fine young men and women today, and feel very sad that four that should have been there were not.

Thank you LDS Helping Hands

2010-06-16T11:35:00.002+01:00

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ’Helping Hands’ team acted swiftly when they received an appeal from the police and us local councillors to assist an elderly resident.

The elderly resident needed help clearing the overgrown grounds of her house to make it safe after being recently targeted by heartless vandals, some of whom have been arrested. With the elderly resident unable to cope with her overgrown garden, over 20 keen Mormon volunteers from their ‘helping hands’ action team in Farnborough readily picked up their tools at short notice and went to work clearing paths and overgrown shrubbery.

WPC Woodhead and myself who referred the case to the Helping Hands team were both delighted with the outcome and praised the volunteers for their quick response and the dramatic difference they made.

Before

After - a resident with some of the LDS 'Helping Hands' volunteers

Isabelle and Megan

2010-06-11T18:19:00.001+01:00

I saw Isabelle and Megan this last weekend and got a great photo of them talking to each other. I hope they always stay this happy with each others company!

Megans love of the camera is frighteningly like her grandfathers, another keen photographer or a budding politician perhaps......

Gareth gets married

2010-06-11T18:15:00.000+01:00

Last weekend Gareth my fellow councillor got married. A lovely wedding and a beautiful bride. I hope they are both very happy together. I got a few snaps, but sure we will see much better photos of the wedding later.

Farnborough Football Club approach the Council for money

2010-06-08T10:47:00.000+01:00

I have been assigned to three council committees: Environment Panel, Farnborough Business and Community Panel and Leisure and Youth Panel.

Last night I attended the first meeting of the Leisure and Youth panel. The first meeting of the year we elect a chairman, and I am pleased Ken Muschamp was re-elected with Sue Carter as his vice chairman.

We then had a presentation from Farnborough Football Club, which essentially was a request for £300,000 from the new owner Simon Hollis. Simon is a very nice chap, and obviously committed to football. He has put a huge amount of money into the club and spoke passionately about the game and about the vision he has for a new stadium.

Our panel has no authority to give money. That, under the cabinet system, is left to a group of seven councillors who get most of their decisions endorsed by the council as a whole. Under the political system we have, this effectively means that with a good Conservative majority it is highly unlikely that any decision the cabinet make will be overruled by council. Officers particularly like this system, as one can imagine. So the role of panels that I serve on is to advise or feedback to cabinet. It is a good opportunity to 'test the water' before a decision, and to 'scrutinise' after a decision.

I personally prefer the 'consultation before a decision' approach that our cabinet take. And the football club is a good example of that.

The presentation from the club lacked imagination in my view. I think we have potentially an exciting opportunity to build a 'coalition of support' for an inspirational project drawing on a few important themes:

1. Football Club under new management and with a growing supporter base.

2. Located in a deprived area with challenges that football can help tackle.

3. Close proximity to schools and colleges that can add an important educational dimension.

4. Good location, close access to M3

The challenges are:

1. No money anywhere, in fact it is a time of huge reductions and cuts.

2. Two football clubs in the Borough competing for money.

3. The club is a private company, not a social enterprise.

4. The club already has outstanding debts to the Council.

Positive factors:

1. Council own the land.

2. New management of the club that are enthusiastic and want to make a difference.

I am sure there are more that could be added to the above, but that is just a quick empty of my brain onto paper, which you will not be surprised did not take long.

My view for what it is worth is that we obviously have a talented chairman of the club, that is enthusiastic. The council is also talented and enthusiatic. And I think the two working together could come up with an imaginative solution that could achive a number of objectives that could benefit the club and the community without the Council giving a huge amount of money at a time of radical spending cuts.

The panel under the leadership of the chairman Ken Muschamp had an animated discussion after which the chairman summerised the feelings of the panel which will be passed on to the cabinet.

What would you do? What advice would you give to cabinet?

God's Pharmacy

2010-06-08T10:01:00.000+01:00

Rushmoor Community Mediation Services

2010-06-01T11:10:00.000+01:00

I have taken over recently as the Chairman of Rushmoor Community Mediation Services (RCMS). This is an organisation with half a dozen highly trained mediators that help residents solve a variety of disputes free of charge.

If you know of a local neighbourhood dispute in need of resolving, or would like to train as a mediator contact me.

http://www.rushmoormediation.co.uk/

I like this.....alot

2010-05-27T21:29:00.003+01:00

Update on traffic matters.

2010-05-26T15:37:00.000+01:00

Below are minutes of a meeting we had between Highway officers and police:

Ashley Road

It was agreed that a No Waiting restriction covering 8:00am - 9:00am and 2:30pm- 3:30pm will be implemented to supplement the existing No Stopping restriction, this would be as per the proposed scheme provided by residents. This work is programmed to take place during the summer school break.

Cabrol Road

The problems caused by the commuter parking in Cabrol Road were discussed. Highways have agreed to consult residents on the options for implementing waiting restrictions .We discussed that the most effective option that would not disadvantage residents will be to have a 'No Waiting At Any Time' restriction on one side of the carriageway and a 9:00am - 10:00am and 2:00pm - 3:00pm 'No Waiting' restriction on the other side. We do expect the commuter parking to move further Pierrefondes Avenue therefore we will look to further protect the junction of Pierrefondes Avenue/Cabrol Road, along with other limited restrictions within the area.

Rectory Road

The problem of HGV's ignoring signs and following satellite navigation systems that reach Rectory Road Railway Bridge was discussed. The Traffic Management Team (TMT) are working on a signing scheme to attempt to resolve the problem. TMT agreed to approach HCC regarding an Access Only/Weight restriction as a solution.

I have since had a meeting with HCC and discussed the situation, County Officers do not feel that a Weight Limit is the right solution at this stage; therefore I am continuing to work on the signing scheme.

Pinehurst Cottages

The meeting agreed that a Residents Parking Permit Scheme was not the right approach for residents. It was decided that junction protection and the marking out parking places would be more advantageous to residents. We agreed that a 'No Waiting at any Time' restriction will be implemented on the bend along with'No Waiting at any Time' at the junction extending in to Pinehurst Cottges to protect the junction . The Traffic Management Team will then monitor the situation.

Union Street

TMT agreed to re-consult residents on an 8am - 8pm 'Permit Holders Only' parking restriction. JT explained that the proposal has been rejected by residents in the past. Consultation letters will be hand delivered and recorded. TMT is willing to change the restriction if 65% of residents were in favour.

Town Centre

The 'No Cycling' sign in the town centre outside Millets is missing, Cr Clifford informed, TMT will make enquires to replace.

Why my University is so popular

2010-05-19T12:26:00.000+01:00

They say education is not engageing or relevant. Well that is not true at LSBU, as demostrated by this recent popular request for students to engage in some cutting edge (or is it half cut) research.

The Alcohol Research Group in the Department of Psychology is currently recruiting male individuals who would be interested in participating in a current experiment researching the affects of alcohol on psycho-physiological processes.

There are two main studies, the first lasts around 1.5 hours for which each participant will receive £15. The second lasts approximately 2 to 2.5 hours for which the participant will receive £20. Each study consists of a different task and for the purposes of both studies it is required that the participant consume alcohol.

Participation is also not restricted to a single study, for example if you take part in the first study, the second study is also available to you at a later date.

If you are interested in this research, would like further information, or would like to take part in the study please .......

..... form an orderly que outside the student union bar?

I love a good education.

7 signs you will be rich...

2010-05-17T13:55:00.001+01:00

http://www.fool.co.uk/news/investing/2010/05/14/seven-signs-youre-going-to-be-rich.aspx?source=ufwflwlnk0000001

Controversial NHS video - thoughts?

2010-05-17T13:23:00.005+01:00

Free Bus Pass for young people 7-11yrs

2010-05-17T10:13:00.003+01:00

The official Coalition agreement reached 11th May 2010

2010-05-17T09:52:00.000+01:00

This document sets out agreements reached between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on a range of issues. These are the issues that needed to be resolved between us in order for us to work together as a strong and stable government. It will be followed in due course by a final Coalition Agreement, covering the full range of policy and including foreign, defence and domestic policy issues not covered in this document.

1. Deficit Reduction

The parties agree that deficit reduction and continuing to ensure economic recovery is the most

urgent issue facing Britain. We have therefore agreed that there will need to be:

- a significantly accelerated reduction in the structural deficit over the course of a Parliament,

with the main burden of deficit reduction borne by reduced spending rather than increased taxes;

- arrangements that will protect those on low incomes from the effect of public sector pay

constraint and other spending constraints; and

- protection of jobs by stopping Labour’s proposed jobs tax.

The parties agree that a plan for deficit reduction should be set out in an emergency budget within 50 days of the signing of any agreement; the parties note that the credibility of a plan on deficit reduction depends on its long-term deliverability, not just the depth of immediate cuts. New forecasts of growth and borrowing should be made by an independent Office for Budget

Responsibility for this emergency budget. The parties agree that modest cuts of £6 billion to non-front line services can be made within the financial year 2010-11, subject to advice from the Treasury and the Bank of England on their feasibility and advisability. Some proportion of these savings can be used to support jobs, for example through the cancelling of some backdated demands for business rates.

Other policies upon which we are agreed will further support job creation and green investment, such as work programmes for the unemployed and a green deal for energy efficiency investment. The parties agree that reductions can be made to the Child Trust Fund and tax credits for higher earners.

2. Spending Review – NHS, Schools and a Fairer Society

The parties agree that a full Spending Review should be held, reporting this Autumn, following a

fully consultative process involving all tiers of government and the private sector. The parties agree that funding for the NHS should increase in real terms in each year of the Parliament, while recognising the impact this decision would have on other departments. The target of spending 0.7% of GNI on overseas aid will also remain in place. We will fund a significant premium for disadvantaged pupils from outside the schools budget by reductions in spending elsewhere.

The parties commit to holding a full Strategic Security and Defence Review alongside the Spending Review with strong involvement of the Treasury. The Government will be committed to the maintenance of Britain’s nuclear deterrent, and have agreed that the renewal of Trident should be scrutinised to ensure value for money. Liberal Democrats will continue to make the case for alternatives. We will immediately play a strong role in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, and press for continued progress on multilateral disarmament. The parties commit to establishing an independent commission to review the long term affordability

of public sector pensions, while protecting accrued rights. We will restore the earnings link for the basic state pension from April 2011 with a “triple guarantee” that pensions are raised by the higher of earnings, prices or 2.5%, as proposed by the Liberal Democrats.

3. Tax Measures

The parties agree that the personal allowance for income tax should be increased in order to help lower and middle income earners. We agree to announce in the first Budget a substantial increase in the personal allowance from April 2011, with the benefits focused on those with lower and middle incomes. This will be funded with the money that would have been used to pay for the increase in Employee National Insurance thresholds proposed by the Conservatives, as well as revenues from increases in Capital Gains Tax rates for non-business assets as described below. The increase in Employer National Insurance thresholds proposed by the Conservatives will go ahead in order to stop Labour’s jobs tax. We also agree to a longer term policy objective of further increasing the personal allowance to £10,000, making further real terms steps each year towards this objective. We agree that this should take priority over other tax cuts, including cuts to Inheritance Tax. We also agree that provision will be made for Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain on budget resolutions to introduce transferable tax allowances for married couples without prejudice to this coalition agreement.

The parties agree that a switch should be made to a per-plane, rather than per-passenger duty; a proportion of any increased revenues over time will be used to help fund increases in the personal allowance. We further agree to seek a detailed agreement on taxing non-business capital gains at rates similar or close to those applied to income, with generous exemptions for entrepreneurial business activities. The parties agree that tackling tax avoidance is essential for the new government, and that all efforts will be made to do so, including detailed development of Liberal Democrat proposals.

4. Banking Reform

The parties agree that reform to the banking system is essential to avoid a repeat of Labour’s

financial crisis, to promote a competitive economy, to sustain the recovery and to protect and

sustain jobs. We agree that a banking levy will be introduced. We will seek a detailed agreement on implementation.

We agree to bring forward detailed proposals for robust action to tackle unacceptable bonuses in the financial services sector; in developing these proposals, we will ensure they are effective in reducing risk.

We agree to bring forward detailed proposals to foster diversity, promote mutuals and create a more competitive banking industry.

We agree that ensuring the flow of credit to viable SMEs is essential for supporting growth and

should be a core priority for a new government, and we will work together to develop effective

proposals to do so. This will include consideration of both a major loan guarantee scheme and the use of net lending targets for the nationalised banks.

The parties wish to reduce systemic risk in the banking system and will establish an independent commission to investigate the complex issue of separating retail and investment banking in a sustainable way; while recognising that this would take time to get right, the commission will be given an initial time frame of one year to report.

The parties agree that the regulatory system needs reform to avoid a repeat of Labour’s financial crisis. We agree to bring forward proposals to give the Bank of England control of macro-prudential

regulation and oversight of micro-prudential regulation.

The parties also agree to rule out joining the European Single Currency during the duration of this agreement.

5. Immigration

We have agreed that there should be an annual limit on the number of non-EU economic migrants admitted into the UK to live and work. We will consider jointly the mechanism for implementing the limit. We will end the detention of children for immigration purposes.

6. Political Reform

The parties agree to the establishment of five year fixed-term parliaments. A Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government will put a binding motion before the House of Commons in the first days following this agreement stating that the next general election will be held on the first Thursday of May 2015. Following this motion, legislation will be brought forward to make

provision for fixed term parliaments of five years. This legislation will also provide for dissolution

if 55% or more of the House votes in favour.

The parties will bring forward a Referendum Bill on electoral reform, which includes provision for the introduction of the Alternative Vote in the event of a positive result in the referendum, as well as for the creation of fewer and more equal sized constituencies. Both parties will whip their Parliamentary Parties in both Houses to support a simple majority referendum on the Alternative Vote, without prejudice to the positions parties will take during such a referendum.

The parties will bring forward early legislation to introduce a power of recall, allowing voters to

force a by-election where an MP was found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing and having had a petition calling for a by-election signed by 10% of his or her constituents.

We agree to establish a committee to bring forward proposals for a wholly or mainly elected upper chamber on the basis of proportional representation. The committee will come forward with a draft motions by December 2010. It is likely that this bill will advocate single long terms of office. It is also likely there will be a grandfathering system for current Peers. In the interim, Lords appointments will be made with the objective of creating a second chamber reflective of the share of the vote secured by the political parties in the last general election.

The parties will bring forward the proposals of the Wright Committee for reform to the House of

Commons in full – starting with the proposed committee for management of programmed business and including government business within its scope by the third year of the Parliament.

The parties agree to reduce electoral fraud by speeding up the implementation of individual voter registration.

We have agreed to establish a commission to consider the ‘West Lothian question’.

The parties agree to the implementation of the Calman Commission proposals and the offer of a referendum on further Welsh devolution.

The parties will tackle lobbying through introducing a statutory register of lobbyists. We also agree to pursue a detailed agreement on limiting donations and reforming party funding in order to remove big money from politics.

The parties will promote the radical devolution of power and greater financial autonomy to local

government and community groups. This will include a full review of local government finance.

7. Pensions and Welfare

The parties agree to phase out the default retirement age and hold a review to set the date at which the state pension age starts to rise to 66, although it will not be sooner than 2016 for men and 2020 for women. We agree to end the rules requiring compulsory annuitisation at 75.

We agree to implement the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman’s recommendation to make fair and transparent payments to Equitable Life policy holders, through an independent payment

scheme, for their relative loss as a consequence of regulatory failure.

The parties agree to end all existing welfare to work programmes and to create a single welfare to work programme to help all unemployed people get back into work.

We agree that Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants facing the most significant barriers to work should be referred to the aforementioned newly created welfare to work programme immediately, not after 12 months as is currently the case. We agree that Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants aged under 25 should be referred to the programme after a maximum of six months.

The parties agree to realign contracts with welfare to work service providers to reflect more closely the results they achieve in getting people back into work.

We agree that the funding mechanism used by government to finance welfare to work programmes should be reformed to reflect the fact that initial investment delivers later savings in lower benefit expenditure.

We agree that receipt of benefits for those able to work should be conditional on the willingness to work.

8. Education

Schools

We agree to promote the reform of schools in order to ensure:

- that new providers can enter the state school system in response to parental demand;

- that all schools have greater freedom over curriculum; and,

- that all schools are held properly accountable.

Higher education

We await Lord Browne’s final report into higher education funding, and will judge its proposals

against the need to:

- increase social mobility;

- take into account the impact on student debt;

- ensure a properly funded university sector;

- improve the quality of teaching;

- advance scholarship; and,

- attract a higher proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

If the response of the Government to Lord Browne’s report is one that Liberal Democrats cannot accept, then arrangements will be made to enable Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain in any vote.

9. Relations with the EU

We agree that the British Government will be a positive participant in the European Union, playing a strong and positive role with our partners, with the goal of ensuring that all the nations of Europe are equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century: global competitiveness, global warming and global poverty.

We agree that there should be no further transfer of sovereignty or powers over the course of the next Parliament. We will examine the balance of the EU’s existing competences and will, in

particular, work to limit the application of the Working Time Directive in the United Kingdom.

We agree that we will amend the 1972 European Communities Act so that any proposed future

Treaty that transferred areas of power, or competences, would be subject to a referendum on that Treaty – a ‘referendum lock’. We will amend the 1972 European Communities Act so that the use of any passerelle would require primary legislation.

We will examine the case for a United Kingdom Sovereignty Bill to make it clear that ultimate

authority remains with Parliament.

We agree that Britain will not join or prepare to join the Euro in this Parliament.

We agree that we will strongly defend the UK’s national interests in the forthcoming EU budget

negotiations and that the EU budget should only focus on those areas where the EU can add value.

We agree that we will press for the European Parliament only to have one seat, in Brussels.

We agree that we will approach forthcoming legislation in the area of criminal justice on a case by case basis, with a view to maximising our country’s security, protecting Britain’s civil liberties and preserving the integrity of our criminal justice system. Britain will not participate in the

establishment of any European Public Prosecutor.

10. Civil liberties

The parties agree to implement a full programme of measures to reverse the substantial erosion of civil liberties under the Labour Government and roll back state intrusion.

This will include:

- A Freedom or Great Repeal Bill.

- The scrapping of ID card scheme, the National Identity register, the next generation of biometric passports and the Contact Point Database.

- Outlawing the finger-printing of children at school without parental permission.

- The extension of the scope of the Freedom of Information Act to provide greater transparency.

- Adopting the protections of the Scottish model for the DNA database.

- The protection of historic freedoms through the defence of trial by jury.

- The restoration of rights to non-violent protest.

- The review of libel laws to protect freedom of speech.

- Safeguards against the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation.

- Further regulation of CCTV.

- Ending of storage of internet and email records without good reason.

- A new mechanism to prevent the proliferation of unnecessary new criminal offences.

11. Environment

The parties agree to implement a full programme of measures to fulfil our joint ambitions for a low carbon and eco-friendly economy, including:

- The establishment of a smart grid and the roll-out of smart meters.

- The full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity – as well as the maintenance of

banded ROCs.

- Measures to promote a huge increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion.

- The creation of a green investment bank.

- The provision of home energy improvement paid for by the savings from lower energy bills.

- Retention of energy performance certificates while scrapping HIPs.

- Measures to encourage marine energy.

- The establishment of an emissions performance standard that will prevent coal-fired power

stations being built unless they are equipped with sufficient CCS to meet the emissions

performance standard.

- The establishment of a high-speed rail network.

- The cancellation of the third runway at Heathrow.

- The refusal of additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted.

- The replacement of the Air Passenger Duty with a per flight duty.

- The provision of a floor price for carbon, as well as efforts to persuade the EU to move

towards full auctioning of ETS permits.

- Measures to make the import or possession of illegal timber a criminal offence.

- Measures to promote green spaces and wildlife corridors in order to halt the loss of habitats

and restore biodiversity.

- Mandating a national recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

- Continuation of the present Government’s proposals for public sector investment in CCS technology for four coal-fired power stations; and a specific commitment to reduce central government carbon emissions by 10 per cent within 12 months.

- We are agreed that we would seek to increase the target for energy from renewable sources,

subject to the advice of the Climate Change Committee.

Liberal Democrats have long opposed any new nuclear construction. Conservatives, by contrast, are committed to allowing the replacement of existing nuclear power stations provided they are subject to the normal planning process for major projects (under a new national planning statement) and provided also that they receive no public subsidy.

We have agreed a process that will allow Liberal Democrats to maintain their opposition to nuclear power while permitting the government to bring forward the national planning statement for ratification by Parliament so that new nuclear construction becomes possible.

This process will involve:

- the government completing the drafting of a national planning statement and putting it before Parliament;

- specific agreement that a Liberal Democrat spokesman will speak against the planning statement, but that Liberal Democrat MPs will abstain; and

- clarity that this will not be regarded as an issue of confidence.

Church Camp with James

2010-05-16T21:36:00.000+01:00

Had a great weekend, with my grandson James at his local church camp in the New Forest:

Salisbury contingent turn up - one worker four supervisors

Home from home - its much colder than it looks believe me

Some great inspirational talks

The five star cooking facilities

It tasted worse than it looks - don't be fooled by presentation

Who let the horses in???

The happy campers

The warmest spot on the site

A service project - gardening

James digging deep

James on a roll

The longest day..... and it still isn't over.

2010-05-07T16:22:00.004+01:00

A big thank you to the electorate who decided I could stay on for another four years. And a very big thank you to all the helpers who came out knocking doors and delivering leaflets, these included our local party members and supporters, fellow councillors, and the MP and his family. So thank you one and all. Locally we got a great 2010 election result at National and Borough level:

Parliamentary Seat:
1. Conservative: Gerald Howarth   21, 203
2. Lib Dem: Adrian Collett              15, 617
3. Labour: Jonathan Slater               5, 489
4. UKIP: Robert Snare                      2, 031
Then some others not worth embarrassing with the results.

Farnborough Empress Borough Seat:
1. Conservative: David Clifford   1, 844
2. Lib Dem: Derek Wickens        1, 071
3. Labour: Christopher Wright          397
No other candidates

So a big thank you to all who supported us this year. Whatever the national result, we will be working together to ensure our residents are well represented locally and nationally, and we do the very best we can for our area.

Now some pictures....

The local team try and force a smile

The count is scrutinised

Council Leader and wife Jill drop in to vote

Alderman and Mrs Frost come to vote

Ex Lib Dem Mayor Brian Jupp refuses to be photographed with my leaflet after knocking his door.

The Party 'Management' slightly right of 'lefty' Atilla ensure order amongst the troops

Two 'blue belles' chased as usual by paparatzi

The parliamentary vote race - blues win by a 'length'

Some of the winning 'tory team' that stayed up not only to see the result, but smiled and cheered politely after hearing the acceptance speech

Our position on TAG and the airport explained

2010-05-05T10:52:00.000+01:00

Below is dialogue with a resident that has been pretty common during the campaign and worth posting: Name of the resident is witheld to protect the innocent!!

_______________________________________

From: gerald@geraldhowarth.com [mailto:gerald@geraldhowarth.com]
Sent: 04 May 2010 20:59
To: M
Subject: RE: Further expansion of TAG at Farnborough Airport

Dear M

Thanks so much for your good wishes which I much appreciate. Let's keep in touch on the issue.

Best wishes, Gerald

Gerald Howarth
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Aldershot & Shadow Defence Minister
Campaign HQ tel: 01252 323 637 Mobile: 07850 638023
Follow me on Twitter and find me on Facebook
________________________________________

From: M
Sent: 04 May 2010 14:53
To: gerald@geraldhowarth.com
Subject: Re: Further expansion of TAG at Farnborough Airport

Hello Gerald

Many thanks indeed for getting in touch so swiftly and so fully - I appreciate you are a very busy man at the moment!

Thank you also for making your position clear on the the future of TAG at Farnborough. I am heartened to hear of your personal view (and I also checked out David Clifford's blog who shares your view) of opposing any increases in weekend flying.

Good luck with the rest of the campaign and here's to being able to make a fresh start on Friday!

Kind regards
M
________________________________________

From: "gerald@geraldhowarth.com"
To: M
Cc: gerald.howarth@hotmail.co.uk; david clifford
Sent: Tuesday, 4 May, 2010 11:51:51
Subject: RE: Further expansion of TAG at Farnborough Airport
Dear M

Thank you for your email giving me the opportunity to respond to your concerns about the future of the Farnborough Aerodrome / Airport.

I have always made clear my support for the continuation of flying at Farnborough which is the oldest airfield in Britain and still serves as the biennial showcase for Britain's most successful manufacturing industry which generates massive foreign exchange earnings for the nation, as well as contributing to the health of our local economy. Furthermore, had flying not been secured the site would most probably by now have been ploughed up for houses.

That said, I am well aware of some concern locally about TAG's plans. Although I have no official position in the planning process (a matter for local councillors) I have nevertheless made it clear to the company that I am personally opposed to any further increase in weekend movements since the compnay has only recently been through a lengthy planning appeal on precisely that issue. As far as a general increase in movements is concerned, that will be determined by the Inspector, after the public inquiry due shortly, and his recommendation will go to Ministers in the local government dept.

Again, my personal position is that TAG has to make a case for the increase. They were clearly on track to reach the current limit of 28,000 movements but I understand the recession has slowed the rate of increase. If the Conservatives are returned to power on Friday, both here and nationally, I shall of course be pleased to ensure that the views of my constituents are well represented, but that view is by no means monolithic. You may be interested to know that of the 3,000 or so objectors to TAG's plans, only 25% came from Rushmoor residents and it's probably a truism that the supporters of a plan tend to be less voluble than objectors.

I believe that there ought to be a procedure by which the company and the local council could review on a, say, 5 yearly basis what the company's plans entail and how those can be accommodated by local residents.

I hope that reassures you. Just because there is a general election underway I believe that is no justification for ceasing to try to be objective in the interests of all those I serve! Even my Liberal opponent admitted during a discussion on the local BBC radio station that he wanted to see a viable operation at Farnborough, somewhat at odds with the theme of his literature, and it was the leader of the Liberal Group on Rushmoor borough council who was the only councillor to vote in favour of TAG's application.

If you wish to respond to any of the points I have made, please do not hesitate to do so.

Best wishes - and thanks for getting in touch.

Gerald Howarth
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Aldershot & Shadow Defence Minister
Campaign HQ tel: 01252 323 637 Mobile: 07850 638023
Follow me on Twitter and find me on Facebook
________________________________________

From: M
Sent: 01 May 2010 13:22
To: gerald@geraldhowarth.com
Subject: Further expansion of TAG at Farnborough Airport

Hi Gerald

I hope you're well. I received one of your campaigning leaflets this morning, thank you.

As one of your constituents and a resident of Farnborough Park, I would like to know what your position is with respect to TAG's appeal to overturn the ruling on its proposed increase in flight movements at Farnborough airport. Given we live pretty much directly under the flight path and are already suffering with the previous increase in movements, larger aircraft and longer 'flight days', I would be keen to understand whether you would uphold their appeal (which obviously I and all my neighbours would be very disappointed by).

Please let me know as for me this is a crucial election issue.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards
M
Farnborough

Campaigning in Farnborough Town Centre

2010-05-04T17:37:00.000+01:00

Out in Southwood Martin Tennant and Gerald Howarth

2010-04-17T17:31:00.001+01:00

Had a great time canvassing in Southwood with a great new councillor Martin Tennant (pushing buggy) and the Gerald Howarth our sitting or in this case running MP.

The blondes

The Southwood Team

Cllr Tennant (one pushing)

Brian the Street Leader doing his traffic warden impression

Time to be more specific...

2010-04-17T11:42:00.021+01:00

I had an email from a resident that quite rightly pointed out that my "To Do List" on my election literature was not specific enough, and that I should use the SMART process to measure my actions (S - Specific, M - Measurable etc - see table below). I agree with him, so I decided to make up the following table:

Objective	Specific	Measurable	Achievable	Realistic	Time
Town Centre Complete	yes	yes	yes	yes	End 2010
Oppose weekend flying increase	yes	yes	Dependent on Gov. Inspector	Possible	May 2010 when our case is heard
100% N'hood Watch	yes	yes - we are up to about 75%	yes	Tough but possible	End 2010
Park Protection	yes	I want to see Green Flag Awards	yes	yes	2012 as some work needed
Case work solutions	no	yes as either solved or not	Difficult due to National and local legislation	yes past record is about 85%	On-going
Pot Holes	yes	yes	yes	yes with County help	End 2010

Cllr Clifford thanks HTML Tables

And thanks to my resident for some constructive criticism

How fast are your reactions: The sheep test...

2010-04-17T11:27:00.000+01:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/reaction_version5.swf

My Niece Kallie is abducted by aliens....

2010-04-14T14:18:00.001+01:00

A message from my leader.....

2010-04-13T13:55:00.004+01:00

Next month, you'll get to choose a new government. But don't just choose it, be a part of it. I mean it. We've got big problems in this country and the truth is politicians can't do everything on their own. We need your energy, your ideas, your passion to get this country moving.

That's why this email is an invitation to you to join the government of Britain. It might not be embossed on a thick white card, but it's still heartfelt. If we win this election, we're going to give you more control over your life, more power to make a difference to your neighbourhood, more opportunities to change our country for the better.

Watch this video to find out how you can help build the Big Society

Just imagine: a country working together to dig ourselves out of this debt and get our economy moving. A country working together to protect our NHS and improve it for all of us. A country working together to mend our broken society. A country working together to make politics and politicians work better.

So come on then, get involved. The more people join, the stronger the force for change will be. I want millions to be inspired and mobilised to play their part - and that movement starts here. So please, spread the word. I'm asking you to send this invitation on to just three friends, workmates or family members. Get them involved too. Extend the invitation. Together we can build the future.

How fast are your reactions: The sheep test...

2010-04-13T09:32:00.003+01:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/reaction_version5.swf

Party Policies on Crime - a comparison from Channel 4

2010-04-12T09:23:00.002+01:00

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/vote_2010/vote+2010+policy+guide+8211+social+policy/3608087