Poetry

Here are two poor attempts at poetry. I am very fond of poetry, and love the way sentiments can often be expressed more powerfully in verse. One is an attempt at humour about a really nice girl I met many years ago that kept saying "gosh". The other is more serious and reflects the anguish of losing someone suddenly without warning.

Gosh

I once knew a girl who loved to say "gosh"

She was awfully pretty and frightfully posh.

Daddy worked in the City and made lots of dosh.

Mummy lived in the country and ate fancy nosh.

Never got to say goodbye.

Never got to say goodbye

Never understood quite why

Never wanted you to fly

To a place I could not spy

I must live and get on by

Talk to you without reply

Look, but never catch your eye

Only holding close a sigh

Never think my eyes will dry

Never will stop asking why

I never got to say goodbye

Farnborough Town Masterplan

Urban Practitioners have been hired to put together a Masterplan for the Town Centre. I attended their workshop which was well supported (see my ealier post14th July 2006) and produced some innovative ideas.

The consultants have now set up a new web site http://www.farnboroughtowncentrestudy.co.uk where you can see what they are up to and the progress they are making. If you care about our town, visit the site and tell them you want to be consulted and involved in what happens. You can then make comments and contributions to the people helping us put the plan together.

A veiled threat?

I feel very strongly that people should be able to worship freely according to the dictates of their conscience, so long as it does not impair others of the same privilege. I also believe in the rights of men and women to be able to wear what they want when they are in their "own time", and not at work.

We should not be looking to any western European Country for an answer, least of all France, who has always acted a little odd, and who's President would be behind bars, were it not for his office. (I love France having said this - but love does not = agreeing with).

No, we should look no further than our closest Muslim State. A place where women are banned from wearing not just the veil, but also the headscarf in state controlled institutions like universities and government offices. And they successfully defended this policy to stop women wearing veils and headscarves in the European Court of Human Rights in 1998. The court was supportive of the nations constitution based on secularism and equality. And what sensible forward thinking country was this?....

TURKEY.

... and last time I visited I did not feel they were anti - Islamic!!!

A walk in the Park

Parks are the jewel in any communities crown. Safe clean parks are also a good indicator of how well a Council are doing (much like checking the toilets in a resturant - I always feel better about a resturant if their toilets are clean and well maintained). So I am very keen to see the Parks in the Borough and especially in Empress where we have 3 large parks plus a number of "play areas" well maintained and a pleasant place for families to visit, feel safe, enjoy, relax in peace or have fun at play.

So on one of my regular Park visits in the ward I took a parks specialist with me pictured below and made some observations and put in recommendations to be actioned immediatley. I would also like to thank some residents that also wrote into me. Together we are making a difference in our Parks for the benefit of everyone.

Oli my official Parks advisor

The first Park we have taken action on is Rectory Road Park. Here I have requested the rusty redundant light columns to be removed by the end of this month. I got the awful graffitti removed from the play equipment and had an assurance that if it re appears it will be removed immediately (I think graffitti attracts more graffitti) I have also asked for the mobile CCTV camera's to be placed there to catch any anti social behaviour. I am also having a broken bin replaced.

Alcohol ban in 9 Borough Area's

By popular consent Rushmoor has agreed new powers to crack down on anti social behaviour. These will come into force on 6th November 2006

Police and the new Community Patrol Officers (CPO's) will have power to ask someone to stop drinking alcohol and/or confiscate and dispose of any alcohol in that persons possession. If they do not stop, they can be arrested and fined up to £500.

The Council have agreed to nine areas to be designated non drink zones.Three of them are in Empress:

1. Queensmead.
2. North Camp and Farnborough Park.
3. Cove Green

The other 6 are:
1. Aldershot Town Centre.
2. Manor Park, Aldershot.
3. Mayfield/Totland.
4. Southwood Village Centre.
5. Southwood Playing Fields.
6. Pinewood Park & Irvine drive.

If you see breaches of this order call the new non emergency police number to report it 101