Have you been for a walk through Scratchwoods open space recently? I went there and decided to play a little game called "Count the Condom". It seems to me that this particular open space has become a "sex theme park". There is even a Facebook page called the Scratchwood Open Space Dogging Appreciation Society.
The catchphrase for this site is "Anything Goes".
Sadly this isn't true. Iranians (and Kurds and Afghanis) celebrating Sizdah Bedar, the 13th day of their new year like to go to Scratchwoods with their families and have a picnic. The Council has shut the park and banned this. The reasons? It causes too much litter.
How hard is it to ask these communities to organise a committee to manage the picnics and clean up the litter? A couple of PCSO's on overtime paid for by the Iranian community could easily manage a family festival. Maybe they could go and clean some of the condoms away before as a gesture of goodwill. A few years ago I was stuck on the A1 for nearly an hour due to traffic caused by a huge police operation to shut down this festival.
I'm no prude but I wonder where society is going when we have a culture where Dogging = good and Family Picnics = Bad. This week I've been looking at issues of community and how we need to develop it. I can think of nothing better than family picnics. If there is a large enough community to enforce a ban, then there is a large enough community to engage positively and have a joyous celebration for all of the community. Until 1829 it was illegal to be a Roman Catholic in Great Britain. Now St Patricks day has become a major part of the London calendar. Lets work together as a community to make people who want to stage such celebrations have a pleasant and safe environment. What would be better. A ban for the weekend or a happy festival where all of the litter, condoms, plastic bags and mess were cleaned up afterwards by responsible citizens in the community staging the event.
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Friday, 2 April 2010
Mill Hill - Sport at the centre of our community
If you just want to find out about the sports facilities and clubs in Mill Hill, feel free to skip the rambling preamble and scroll down to the list of links to Mill Hills Sports Clubs below :-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Every Thursday I follow a ritual. At 8.15pm I set off to Powerleague in Pursley Road. Every other week, I pick up big Paul and the following week he picks me up (He's off in Ireland for Easter, so it didn't happen this week). At 8.30pm, we march onto court 1 and kick a ball around for an hour. We then (at least the less smelly ones) have a shower and retire to the Three Hammers pub. I'll have three pints of shandy if I'm driving and something stronger if I'm getting a lift. We talk rubbish for a couple of hours and then set off home. The youngest member of the squad is Julian who is in his thirties, the oldest is John who is 61. Most of us are in our 40's. I've played football at one level or another since I was old enough to kick a ball and along with music is one of my passions in life. Of our squad, Steve, Adel and Russ were friends from my days at Orange Hill Senior High school. Over the 13 years I've been playing with this particular group, I've made some good new friends and it is one of the weeks highlights. I always feel the weekend starts on Thursday night.
I'm sure you're all thinking "very interesting, what the hell is he on about". Well I'm illustrating the point that sport is one of the best ways to keep in touch with old friends, make new friends and stay fit and healthy. My family is very sport orientated. My eldest daughter is a national swimming champion with Barnet Copthall swimming club and my son is the first team goalie with Watling FC under 10's. Whilst sport isn't for everyone (middle daughter prefers art), for those who do play it regularly, it is a vital part of life. Sports build communities. It gives us common goals and interests. It can give us a support network to fall back on. In this, my second in a series on life in Mill Hill, I thought I'd focus on a few of the sports clubs in the area. If you enjoy sport (or have children who might), then hopefully this blog will help you find something to do.
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http://www.barnetcopthall.com/ - Club website
http://www.barnetcopthall.blogspot.com/ - Club blog
Football - Mill Hill Village football Club
Founded in 1868, Mill Hills oldest football team. Play at Burtonhole Lane Sports Ground.http://millhillvillagefc.intheteam.com/modules/page/Page.aspx?pc=home&mid=30539&pmid=0
Hockey - Mill Hill Hockey Club
Based at Mill Hill Sports Club, Aerodrome Road. Founded in 1881.http://www.millhillhockeyclub.co.uk/
Squash - Squash at Mill Hill Sports Club.
http://www.millhill.co.uk/squash.htmlCricket - Mill Hill Village Cricket club
Burtonhole Lane, founded 1868.http://www.millhillvillage.moonfruit.com/
Athletics - Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers
Barnet Copthall Stadium. Founded in 1890. Elite Athletics club.http://www.sbharriers.co.uk/
Gaelic Football - St Keirnans
Est 1985http://stkiernans.co.uk/page8.htm
Rugby - Mill Hill Rugby Club
Copthall.http://www.millhillrugby.co.uk/
Golf - Mill Hill Golf Club
Barnet Way http://www.millhillgc.co.uk/
Brazillian JuJitsu
Bunns Lane Works, http://www.millhillju-jitsuclub.com/
There are plenty of other sports clubs in Mill Hill, please feel free to add any you know as a comment. One thing all of these clubs have in common is that over the years I've used their facilities in some way shape or form. Some more than others so whilst I've played football at the Village FC, I've only propped up the bar at the Golf club for a friends Birthday party. The point is that they are local amenities. There is a sports scene and a social scene at some level with all of them. The only way these clubs and the dozens of other clubs will thrive is if people join and take part. I happen to believe that the stronger these clubs are, the better for everyone in Mill Hill and thats a damn fine reason to give them a good plug (and just for the record, none of them paid me for the plug either).
Thursday, 1 April 2010
The changing face of Mill Hill
On my travels through Mill Hill recently, I've noticed that a few changes are taking place to well known local landmarks.The Union Church at Mill Hill Circus on the corner of the Broadway and the A41has been surrounded by hoardings. I was aware that there were plans to redevelop this site and it seems that soon this distinctive brick building, with the adjoining Harwood Hall will soon be no more. The Harwood Hall has a special place in my heart as my band, the False Dots played our first three gigs in this building. I organised these gigs in 1979 to give local young bands a chance to play. This clip is of "The Vektors" from Edgware school performing "Sound of the Suburbs" by the members. A grainy clip from the early days of video, but highly entertaining none the less.
Sadly the situation for young bands wanting to do gigs in Mill Hill is no better. Another landmark building undergoing a huge change is the distinctive government building in Bunns Lane. This has a typical 1960's appearance with regulation blue tiles. This building featured in several film/TV shows in the late 1960's after it was built, where they wanted to feature "a man from the ministry". Sadly I don't have information as to which films these were, so if you know please post a comment. I notice that the distinctive blue tiles have been painted grey???? Why????
On the subject of TV shows, Station Road was featured in an episode of the late early 1970's TV series Budgie, featuring Adam Faith. I remember arriving back on the 240 bus fromSt Vincents school and watching the filming. A scene was also shot in the alley afrom Millway to Hale Grove Gardens, featuring the footbridge Bridge over the M1. I saw the footage a couple of years ago and came over all nostalgic when I saw the front of "The New China Garden" Chinese restaurant, which has been replaced by the Hees takeaway outlet. Next door is the Launderette, which has also recently closed and is up for sale. Pondering these recent changes, I thought I'd run through a few other distinctive landmarks which have gone forever.
The Sacred Heart Church on Mill Hill Broadway was rebuilt in the mid 1990's. There is an interesting write up on the church website.
The Methodist Church in Goodwyn Avenue was also knocked down. This was on the corner with Newcombe Park. A little bit of Mill Hill rock and roll history. I first saw The Polecats, Mill Hills Rockabilly sensation, who had several chart hits at the youth club on this site. The site is covered in houses.
Another landmark which has long gone and who's site is being developed is "The Royal Scot" pub. This was at Apex Corner. The site is currently being turned into a Kentucky Fried Chicken. When I was a youngster, the Mill Hill Churches used to have their Easter procession from Mill Hill Broadway to the Royal Scot pub on Good Friday. A short service would be held in the car park, with the Priests, vicars et all on the 1st floor balcony of the pub. This ended the year Fr Dowley, Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart announced that "Jesus said I Thirst". The assembled Irish contingent decided they also thirsted and nipped in for a pint. The walk now ends in a more appropriate setting in a Mill Hill Church.
Another local landmark which disappeared is Featherstone Garage on Bunns Lane. I guess it's fair to say that not too many people are nostalgic for garages, unlike churches. No one gets married in a garage. It does strike me that many sites which used to provide work for people have gone. So many more people and so many less industrial sites? Is this healthy.
Another thing which has disappeared from many parts of Mill Hill are front gardens (see picture left). I think I'm one of the very few people in my road who still has a front garden and hasn't paved it for a car port. People come from miles around to admire it. This is one aspect of the changing face of Mill Hill I hate. I'd love to see people get a huge council tax discount if they kept their front garden, but I doubt that anyone would ever adopt this bonkers idea.
Should we have frozen Mill Hill in time and never allowed any of these things to change? Of course not. There has to be progress and development. Whilst I hate the destruction of front gardens, there simply wouldn't be any parking in Mill Hill if people didn't have car ports. Keeping a Methodist church which no one attends would quite clearly not be in anyones interest. We need to get the balance right. As I talk to people in Mill Hill, a reprise I hear all the time is "Isn't Mill Hill getting ugly". The sad truth is that the answer is yes. How many of the changes I listed above have resulted in an improvement to the street scene?
Recently the I had an exchange of correspondence with the Mill Hill Preservation Society. They posted a guest blog explaining how the organisation is evolving. I realised that what Mill Hill needs isn't "preservation" but "protection". There is no point preserving purely for the sake of it. There is a massive point in "protecting" the best bits, improving the worst bits and most of all rebuilding the sense of community we are losing. We most certainly had this when I was growing up. Earlier in this blog I mentioned the Methodist Church Youth Club. Whilst the church wasn't well attended, the youth club most certainly was. A lady called Rene Bampton ran it and was one of the things which kept me on the straight and narrow as a teenager. The Sacred Heart Catholic Church has in recent years started building a youth club on Sunday night at 7pm. Youngsters play table tennis, pool, table football etc. Betty Turner (who's husband Steve was at the Polecats gig with me at the Methodist Church hall all those years ago) runs it. I was out with Steve discussing the whole issue over a few beers recently. We both believe that the local community, through Churches, youth clubs, community groups and organisations such as the Scouts, guides, cubs etc are needed now more than ever. My nine year old son plays for Watling FC and I can see how much good this has done for the boys involved in the club.
If you are a parent, if you have time on your hands, if you care about where you live, even if it's only an hour or two a month, please consider getting involved with a local group. If we can pull together and work together as a community, we can have a great future and guarantee a great future for our children. If we are too lazy, decide that we'd rather sit in front of the telly with a glass of wine and let our children run riot, then we only have ourselves to blame if it all goes wrong. A community centre isn't a bulding. It is the people in it, they are what matter. The old Sacred Heart Church, Methodist Church, Royal Scot pub, etc may have gone, but the people of Mill Hill are still here. Lets make the best of what we have got.
Sadly the situation for young bands wanting to do gigs in Mill Hill is no better. Another landmark building undergoing a huge change is the distinctive government building in Bunns Lane. This has a typical 1960's appearance with regulation blue tiles. This building featured in several film/TV shows in the late 1960's after it was built, where they wanted to feature "a man from the ministry". Sadly I don't have information as to which films these were, so if you know please post a comment. I notice that the distinctive blue tiles have been painted grey???? Why????
On the subject of TV shows, Station Road was featured in an episode of the late early 1970's TV series Budgie, featuring Adam Faith. I remember arriving back on the 240 bus fromSt Vincents school and watching the filming. A scene was also shot in the alley afrom Millway to Hale Grove Gardens, featuring the footbridge Bridge over the M1. I saw the footage a couple of years ago and came over all nostalgic when I saw the front of "The New China Garden" Chinese restaurant, which has been replaced by the Hees takeaway outlet. Next door is the Launderette, which has also recently closed and is up for sale. Pondering these recent changes, I thought I'd run through a few other distinctive landmarks which have gone forever.
The Methodist Church in Goodwyn Avenue was also knocked down. This was on the corner with Newcombe Park. A little bit of Mill Hill rock and roll history. I first saw The Polecats, Mill Hills Rockabilly sensation, who had several chart hits at the youth club on this site. The site is covered in houses.
Another landmark which has long gone and who's site is being developed is "The Royal Scot" pub. This was at Apex Corner. The site is currently being turned into a Kentucky Fried Chicken. When I was a youngster, the Mill Hill Churches used to have their Easter procession from Mill Hill Broadway to the Royal Scot pub on Good Friday. A short service would be held in the car park, with the Priests, vicars et all on the 1st floor balcony of the pub. This ended the year Fr Dowley, Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart announced that "Jesus said I Thirst". The assembled Irish contingent decided they also thirsted and nipped in for a pint. The walk now ends in a more appropriate setting in a Mill Hill Church.
Another local landmark which disappeared is Featherstone Garage on Bunns Lane. I guess it's fair to say that not too many people are nostalgic for garages, unlike churches. No one gets married in a garage. It does strike me that many sites which used to provide work for people have gone. So many more people and so many less industrial sites? Is this healthy.
Should we have frozen Mill Hill in time and never allowed any of these things to change? Of course not. There has to be progress and development. Whilst I hate the destruction of front gardens, there simply wouldn't be any parking in Mill Hill if people didn't have car ports. Keeping a Methodist church which no one attends would quite clearly not be in anyones interest. We need to get the balance right. As I talk to people in Mill Hill, a reprise I hear all the time is "Isn't Mill Hill getting ugly". The sad truth is that the answer is yes. How many of the changes I listed above have resulted in an improvement to the street scene?
Recently the I had an exchange of correspondence with the Mill Hill Preservation Society. They posted a guest blog explaining how the organisation is evolving. I realised that what Mill Hill needs isn't "preservation" but "protection". There is no point preserving purely for the sake of it. There is a massive point in "protecting" the best bits, improving the worst bits and most of all rebuilding the sense of community we are losing. We most certainly had this when I was growing up. Earlier in this blog I mentioned the Methodist Church Youth Club. Whilst the church wasn't well attended, the youth club most certainly was. A lady called Rene Bampton ran it and was one of the things which kept me on the straight and narrow as a teenager. The Sacred Heart Catholic Church has in recent years started building a youth club on Sunday night at 7pm. Youngsters play table tennis, pool, table football etc. Betty Turner (who's husband Steve was at the Polecats gig with me at the Methodist Church hall all those years ago) runs it. I was out with Steve discussing the whole issue over a few beers recently. We both believe that the local community, through Churches, youth clubs, community groups and organisations such as the Scouts, guides, cubs etc are needed now more than ever. My nine year old son plays for Watling FC and I can see how much good this has done for the boys involved in the club.
If you are a parent, if you have time on your hands, if you care about where you live, even if it's only an hour or two a month, please consider getting involved with a local group. If we can pull together and work together as a community, we can have a great future and guarantee a great future for our children. If we are too lazy, decide that we'd rather sit in front of the telly with a glass of wine and let our children run riot, then we only have ourselves to blame if it all goes wrong. A community centre isn't a bulding. It is the people in it, they are what matter. The old Sacred Heart Church, Methodist Church, Royal Scot pub, etc may have gone, but the people of Mill Hill are still here. Lets make the best of what we have got.
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
The Important questions for the Barnet Council elections in May - Number 5
Today is question no 5 in our series dedicated to looking at the important questions which face voters in Barnet as we approach the Council elections on May 6th.
Question No 5.
Standards of behaviour in public office
Is it important to you whether the people who run for public office maintain high standards of behaviour whilst in office. I am not talking about their sexual preferences or what they do behind closed doors. I am talking about how they conduct their business. This shows whether they are honest, decent and trustworthy. The two highest posts within Barnet Council are the Leader of the Council and the Mayor. Both of these positions were appointed by the Conservatives using their larger block vote. How have these people conducted themselves and their business in the time they've been councillors.
Council Leader Lynne Hillan. In 2006 the company Lynne Hillan ran, Ashurst Direct Marketing Ltd was liquidated, leaving debts of over £100,000. As a result, the creditors were significantly out of pocket. The largest creditor was you and me, the taxpayer. Whilst not illegal, if Ms Hillan cannot run a small company successfully and thinks knocking the taxman for tens of thousands pounds, whilst serving as a councillor is a good grounding for taking over as leader I'm flabbergasted. What is even more amazing is that a majority of her Conservative Councillors don't seem to mind either. It is worth pointing out that Ashurst Direct Marketing went bust before the credit crunch bit and the economy was in good shape and growing. It is also worth pointing out that Lynne Hillan has displayed the same grasp of economics when setting the Council budget. She has raided the council cash reserves to institute a Council Tax freeze in an election year. This means that the Council, like Ashurst Direct marketing is running at a loss under her tenure. If she'd raided the reserves for a genuine purpose to deal with an emergency, such as an emergency road resurfacing program, to deal with the pothole crisis in Barnet, I would have agreed that this is sensible. To raid them purely for an election bribe is scandalous.
Mayor of Barnet Brian Coleman. Brian Coleman is the only Mayor of Barnet to be found guilty of a breach of the Barnet Council code of conduct whilst in office. How did he react to the verdict? He went out celebrating with other Conservative Councillors. Mr Coleman also stated that the Standards Committee was a waste of time, rather hypocritically, given that he had reported an opposition Councillor to it (a complaint that was slung out). Mr Coleman has publicly supported disgraced Brent Councillor Bertha Joseph, who was suspended for using charity donations to buy ball gowns. He was banned from driving for speeding offences. He described Middlesex University as "crap", insulting thousands of hard working tutors and students. He insulted the successful British Olympic team for taking part in the Olympics in China, stating they had "blood on their hands" whilst not saying a dickybird about Mayor Boris Johnsons embassy in Beijing. Everyone in Barnet knows exactly what sort of a person Brian Coleman is. The Conservative group thought he was the best man to be Mayor.
I was talking to a local Councillor last night. He told me that an ex Barnet Councillor now holds office in St Albans. He is an opposition Councillor there. He said that in St Albans, party politics plays very little role in Council politics. People just want to do a good job. He said that after Barnets toxic mix, it was a very pleasant change. Mayors are selected from all parties as recognition of their long service and civic mindedness. Sadly this isn't what happens in Barnet.
Question No 5.
Do you believe that Councillors should have a track record of good judgement and good behaviour, especially in senior positions within Barnet Council?
REMEMBER - WHETHER THE CONTEMPT FOR STANDARDS IN PUBLIC OFFICE CONTINUES IS DOWN TO HOW YOU VOTE ON MAY 6TH
Question No 5.
Standards of behaviour in public office
Is it important to you whether the people who run for public office maintain high standards of behaviour whilst in office. I am not talking about their sexual preferences or what they do behind closed doors. I am talking about how they conduct their business. This shows whether they are honest, decent and trustworthy. The two highest posts within Barnet Council are the Leader of the Council and the Mayor. Both of these positions were appointed by the Conservatives using their larger block vote. How have these people conducted themselves and their business in the time they've been councillors.
Council Leader Lynne Hillan. In 2006 the company Lynne Hillan ran, Ashurst Direct Marketing Ltd was liquidated, leaving debts of over £100,000. As a result, the creditors were significantly out of pocket. The largest creditor was you and me, the taxpayer. Whilst not illegal, if Ms Hillan cannot run a small company successfully and thinks knocking the taxman for tens of thousands pounds, whilst serving as a councillor is a good grounding for taking over as leader I'm flabbergasted. What is even more amazing is that a majority of her Conservative Councillors don't seem to mind either. It is worth pointing out that Ashurst Direct Marketing went bust before the credit crunch bit and the economy was in good shape and growing. It is also worth pointing out that Lynne Hillan has displayed the same grasp of economics when setting the Council budget. She has raided the council cash reserves to institute a Council Tax freeze in an election year. This means that the Council, like Ashurst Direct marketing is running at a loss under her tenure. If she'd raided the reserves for a genuine purpose to deal with an emergency, such as an emergency road resurfacing program, to deal with the pothole crisis in Barnet, I would have agreed that this is sensible. To raid them purely for an election bribe is scandalous.
Mayor of Barnet Brian Coleman. Brian Coleman is the only Mayor of Barnet to be found guilty of a breach of the Barnet Council code of conduct whilst in office. How did he react to the verdict? He went out celebrating with other Conservative Councillors. Mr Coleman also stated that the Standards Committee was a waste of time, rather hypocritically, given that he had reported an opposition Councillor to it (a complaint that was slung out). Mr Coleman has publicly supported disgraced Brent Councillor Bertha Joseph, who was suspended for using charity donations to buy ball gowns. He was banned from driving for speeding offences. He described Middlesex University as "crap", insulting thousands of hard working tutors and students. He insulted the successful British Olympic team for taking part in the Olympics in China, stating they had "blood on their hands" whilst not saying a dickybird about Mayor Boris Johnsons embassy in Beijing. Everyone in Barnet knows exactly what sort of a person Brian Coleman is. The Conservative group thought he was the best man to be Mayor.
I was talking to a local Councillor last night. He told me that an ex Barnet Councillor now holds office in St Albans. He is an opposition Councillor there. He said that in St Albans, party politics plays very little role in Council politics. People just want to do a good job. He said that after Barnets toxic mix, it was a very pleasant change. Mayors are selected from all parties as recognition of their long service and civic mindedness. Sadly this isn't what happens in Barnet.
Question No 5.
Do you believe that Councillors should have a track record of good judgement and good behaviour, especially in senior positions within Barnet Council?
Barnet Conservatives: The appointment of Lynne Hillan and Brian Coleman to their jobs says it all.
Barnet Lib Dems: The Barnet Lib Dems will support all measures to improve and strengthen the quality of Barnet Councillors, the sanctions for serious breaches of the standards code and the improvement of the public image of Barnet Council. Note : No London Lib Dem MP was found to have claimed second home allowances or flipped property allowances in the recent expenses scandal.
Barnet Labour Party: Sadly the two local Labour MPs in Barnet featured promenently in the criticism of MPs behaviour in the expenses scandal.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------REMEMBER - WHETHER THE CONTEMPT FOR STANDARDS IN PUBLIC OFFICE CONTINUES IS DOWN TO HOW YOU VOTE ON MAY 6TH
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Other parties and independent candidates are welcome to leave comments outlining their position on this issue. Comments will only be deleted if off subject, racist, sexist or abusive. This is a debate we must have
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Welcome additions to the blogs of Barnet
As regular readers of this blog will know, we keep a keen eye on what is going on in other blogs. Sadly Don't Call Me Dave, Barnets most sensible Tory has put away the keyboard and has given up blogging. Several conspiracy theorists have contacted me to ask whether he's been nobbled by the local Tories in the run up to the election. Appealing though this theory is, sadly it isn't true. He took his blogging very seriously and found it was interfering with his studies as he was trying to build a new career. David felt that if he couldn't do the job properly, he shouldn't do it at all. Anyway having cleared that up, lets have a look at a few new blogs.
http://wwwbrokenbarnet.blogspot.com/ - Written by Mrs Angry. A tale of awful neighbours and ASBO's. Not party political but very pissed off.
http://davidkallin.wordpress.com/ - Otherwise known as chopped liver - This is the diary of David Kallin who is a Hendon resident awaiting a liver transplant. It is a compulsive read, if a bit harrowing and upsetting.
http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/mohamed_zain_dada/ - A blog by 17 year old Mohamed Zain Dada. He's a young guy with something to say about the world.
Finally, not a Barnet blog at all, but if you like your blogs to make you feel itchy and shout yuk, you should check this out :-
http://www.rentokil.com/blog/ Now generally I don't promote corporate blogs because they are like watching paint drying, but this one is actually quite entertaining at times. The comments are the best bit. I should declare an interest here. I own a grands worth of Rentokil shares (which is how I knew about the blog). I hope my little plug of their blog leads to an instant quadrupling of their shareprice!
Anyway, enjoy. If any of you are writing blogs out there in Barnet please feel free to contact me for a plug. Finally on the general subject of London bloggers, Dave Hill of the Guardian has now got a regular slot on BBC London to discuss blogs - read more here -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/29/london-bbc-guardian-top-london-bloggers
Again I should declare an interest, being nominated as one of Dave Hills Guardian Top London Bloggers.
http://wwwbrokenbarnet.blogspot.com/ - Written by Mrs Angry. A tale of awful neighbours and ASBO's. Not party political but very pissed off.
http://davidkallin.wordpress.com/ - Otherwise known as chopped liver - This is the diary of David Kallin who is a Hendon resident awaiting a liver transplant. It is a compulsive read, if a bit harrowing and upsetting.
http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/mohamed_zain_dada/ - A blog by 17 year old Mohamed Zain Dada. He's a young guy with something to say about the world.
Finally, not a Barnet blog at all, but if you like your blogs to make you feel itchy and shout yuk, you should check this out :-
http://www.rentokil.com/blog/ Now generally I don't promote corporate blogs because they are like watching paint drying, but this one is actually quite entertaining at times. The comments are the best bit. I should declare an interest here. I own a grands worth of Rentokil shares (which is how I knew about the blog). I hope my little plug of their blog leads to an instant quadrupling of their shareprice!
Anyway, enjoy. If any of you are writing blogs out there in Barnet please feel free to contact me for a plug. Finally on the general subject of London bloggers, Dave Hill of the Guardian has now got a regular slot on BBC London to discuss blogs - read more here -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/29/london-bbc-guardian-top-london-bloggers
Again I should declare an interest, being nominated as one of Dave Hills Guardian Top London Bloggers.
The Important questions for the Barnet Council elections in May - Number 4
Today is question no 4 in our series dedicated to looking at the important questions which face voters in Barnet as we approach the Council elections on May 6th.
Question No 4.
Respect for our war dead.
Of the many questions we have to ask ourselves as we decide who should run the council, maybe the most important is "What are our values?". Her Majesties armed forces are staffed by volunteers. Men and women who are prepared to sacrifice their lives to protect their loved ones. For this risk how much does a squaddie in Afghanistan get paid? Less than the CEO of Barnet Council, Nick Walkley who pockets £200,000 a year. Less than his deputy Brian Reynolds who pockets £180,000 a year. Less than all of the executives who make up the management team at Barnet. Less than the "allowances" Councillor Lynne Hillan gets to do what a previous Leader of Barnet Council called "a part time job". Less than the allowances of any Barnet Cabinet member for their part time job. Less than the £60,000 a year that Mr Robeson, the Conservative Political officer for Barnet Council gets from the Barnet taxpayer, to advise Conservative Councillors to ignore their consciences and follow the Tory party line. I think you get the idea. Now you may say "fat cat bosses always get more than squaddies risking their lives in far off lands". Well actually no. In the aftermath of the second world war, Councillors were not paid for their services, they did it out of a sense of civic duty and the concept of "local authority paid political officers" was an alien concept in Great Britain, being seen as a Stalinist construct. In Barnet these servants of the public, who gave their time for free recognised the huge sacrifice of the local servicemen and women. They erected war memorials from the public purse around the Borough. Finding the cash for these was never a party political matter, it was just done because it was universally recognised as the right thing to do.
How times change. This blog recently reported how Craig Cooper, Commercial manager of Barnet Council (not even an elected officer), on a salary many times larger than any squaddie in Afghanistan, signed an order banning the addition of names of fallen servicemen, killed since World War II from the council owned war memorials on cost grounds. Council Leader Lynne Hillan was asked about this by the local press and she said "We are doing something else to commemerate them", whilst admitting she hadn't a clue what. In our house we call that being caught with your knickers round your ankles with the postman, pretending to look for a stamp.
This writer of this blog contacted the Leader of the Local Lib Dems, Jack Cohen and insisted that the Lib Dems take some action. Jack immediately proposed a budget amendment to set aside £2,000 (a tiny sum in the billion pound council budget) to cover this work. Jack said that he expected the local Conservatives to nick the idea and pass it in a fanfare of good publicity. In an act of spite, as it was a Lib Dem amendment they voted it down.
REMEMBER - WHETHER THIS INSULT TO OUR BRAVE FALLEN SERVICEMEN CONTINUES IS DOWN TO HOW YOU VOTE ON MAY 6TH
Question No 4.
Respect for our war dead.
Of the many questions we have to ask ourselves as we decide who should run the council, maybe the most important is "What are our values?". Her Majesties armed forces are staffed by volunteers. Men and women who are prepared to sacrifice their lives to protect their loved ones. For this risk how much does a squaddie in Afghanistan get paid? Less than the CEO of Barnet Council, Nick Walkley who pockets £200,000 a year. Less than his deputy Brian Reynolds who pockets £180,000 a year. Less than all of the executives who make up the management team at Barnet. Less than the "allowances" Councillor Lynne Hillan gets to do what a previous Leader of Barnet Council called "a part time job". Less than the allowances of any Barnet Cabinet member for their part time job. Less than the £60,000 a year that Mr Robeson, the Conservative Political officer for Barnet Council gets from the Barnet taxpayer, to advise Conservative Councillors to ignore their consciences and follow the Tory party line. I think you get the idea. Now you may say "fat cat bosses always get more than squaddies risking their lives in far off lands". Well actually no. In the aftermath of the second world war, Councillors were not paid for their services, they did it out of a sense of civic duty and the concept of "local authority paid political officers" was an alien concept in Great Britain, being seen as a Stalinist construct. In Barnet these servants of the public, who gave their time for free recognised the huge sacrifice of the local servicemen and women. They erected war memorials from the public purse around the Borough. Finding the cash for these was never a party political matter, it was just done because it was universally recognised as the right thing to do.
How times change. This blog recently reported how Craig Cooper, Commercial manager of Barnet Council (not even an elected officer), on a salary many times larger than any squaddie in Afghanistan, signed an order banning the addition of names of fallen servicemen, killed since World War II from the council owned war memorials on cost grounds. Council Leader Lynne Hillan was asked about this by the local press and she said "We are doing something else to commemerate them", whilst admitting she hadn't a clue what. In our house we call that being caught with your knickers round your ankles with the postman, pretending to look for a stamp.
This writer of this blog contacted the Leader of the Local Lib Dems, Jack Cohen and insisted that the Lib Dems take some action. Jack immediately proposed a budget amendment to set aside £2,000 (a tiny sum in the billion pound council budget) to cover this work. Jack said that he expected the local Conservatives to nick the idea and pass it in a fanfare of good publicity. In an act of spite, as it was a Lib Dem amendment they voted it down.
Question No 3.
Do you think that the Council should add the names of heroes who have fallen in action since the end of World War II to their local war memorial.Barnet Conservatives.
No, at £2,000 per annum it costs far too much money.Barnet Lib Dems.
Yes, and there is a budget amendment on public record to prove it.Barnet Labour Party
The position of the Barnet Labour party on this issue is unclear.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------REMEMBER - WHETHER THIS INSULT TO OUR BRAVE FALLEN SERVICEMEN CONTINUES IS DOWN TO HOW YOU VOTE ON MAY 6TH
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Other parties and independent candidates are welcome to leave comments outlining their position on this issue. Comments will only be deleted if off subject, racist, sexist or abusive. This is a debate we must have
Monday, 29 March 2010
Normal service will be resumed tomorrow
Today, I am really in no frame of mind to blog about Barnet or nice things. I had to accompany a friend to Oxford Crown Court to provide some moral support today. Not being sure of exactly when the case we were attending was taking place, we sat through all the mornings business (our case was the last before the recess for lunch). The case before the case we were attending rather disturbed me. A young man was being sentenced for the rape of a 9 year old boy. The rape occurred 10 years ago and had apparently had a devastating effect on the victim. The perpetrator was 19 at the time, with learning difficulties and a troubled home life. As the judge heard submissions from the prosecution and the defence, we heard how the police had asked that an order be placed on the perpetrator. We then heard from the judge that he felt that it wasn't appropriate for the police to request such orders and that it should come from a lawyer. We heard from the defence of the terrible effect that incarceration would have on the perpetrator. How he would become institutionalised if he was inside for too long. We heard how he'd not been convicted of any attacks in the intervening 10 years and we heard how he'd had a job.
I have a nine year old son. How would I say someone should be sentenced for such and attack. Personally I wouldn't take the chance. I would say that raping a 9 year old boy is a lock them up and throw away the key sentence. How did the judge see it? Six years and his name on the sexual offenders register with a life ban from working with children. Oh well, at least a few people will sleep more soundly in their beds tonight - and for the next couple of years until he's released.
Normal service will be resumed tomorrow. I just need to have a long, long shower, a large number of beers and maybe a few cigarrettes (I don't normally smoke). I need to wash every trace of that courtroom from me, kill every braincell that looked at the face of a child rapist and inhale some smoke to hide the taste of breaths of air I took which were breathed by the same monster. I drove back from Oxford with the phrase "Anal penetration of a nine year old boy" rattling around my head. Some things are just too vile to really deal with at all. Sorry for sharing any of this.
I have a nine year old son. How would I say someone should be sentenced for such and attack. Personally I wouldn't take the chance. I would say that raping a 9 year old boy is a lock them up and throw away the key sentence. How did the judge see it? Six years and his name on the sexual offenders register with a life ban from working with children. Oh well, at least a few people will sleep more soundly in their beds tonight - and for the next couple of years until he's released.
Normal service will be resumed tomorrow. I just need to have a long, long shower, a large number of beers and maybe a few cigarrettes (I don't normally smoke). I need to wash every trace of that courtroom from me, kill every braincell that looked at the face of a child rapist and inhale some smoke to hide the taste of breaths of air I took which were breathed by the same monster. I drove back from Oxford with the phrase "Anal penetration of a nine year old boy" rattling around my head. Some things are just too vile to really deal with at all. Sorry for sharing any of this.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Barnet Council : Where have all the Tories gone?
Then there are the Tories who aren't standing at the next election for Council. I've been told that Fiona Bulmer is not standing in Underhill. If you do a search on this blog, you will see that from day one I said that she was a credible Tory who did a good job. I've got three children at school in Barnet and they've all had an excellent education (which was her portfolio). I don't agree with Fi Fi's politics, but she is an excellent administrator and has a track record of doing the job well. She challenged Lynne Hillan for Leadership in December so it is quite clear she wasn't planning to leave. She only lost because Hillan bribed several unscrupulous councillors who knew Bulmer was the best candidate with the promise of cabinet positions (some of which never materialised, Ho Ho Ho). Bulmer knew that Hillan would be a lousy leader and she didn't wish to be associated with a culture of failure. Who can blame her. If you think I'm just saying nice things about her now to make trouble, read this blog, written in December 2008, where I graded the performance of all of the then Tory cabinet and in hindsight was remarkably fair - http://barneteye.blogspot.com/2008/11/barnet-council-cabinet-members.html
If you are a Barnet Tory, ask yourself this question. Just suppose for one second that Jane Ellison had been the PPC for Finchley and Golders Green, Caroline Margo the Candidate for Hendon and Fiona Bulmer the Council Leader. Do you think that the Tories would get more or less votes in the election in May. Do you think that the Council would be better run? Do you think you'd have shown that talent was rewarded in the Barnet Conservatives? Sadly all I see from Barnet Council and the Barnet Conservatives is that talent is stifled and driven out and failure is rewarded. Candidates which would be attractive to the electorate and have good track records are undermined, driven out and destroyed. The only people who prosper are those who kow tow to the ruling junta and don't point out the obvious flaws in the various cunning plans which Lynne Hillan and her cronies have cooked up (just see how many Court battles Barnet Council have lost recently).
It may surprise you to know that The Barnet Eye thinks it is bad for Barnet to see all our most talented Conservative Councillors leaving.It also explains why the Council is doing such a rotten jo
Picture at the top : Ex Barnet Councillor Caroline Margo (now Caroline Clapper) on left, at Jewish blind and disabled charity event.
Picture in middle : Ex Barnet Councillor Jane Ellison (left) at Battersea Park School fair
Saturday, 27 March 2010
The Barnet Eye Post no 1000 - The Kids are Alright
Welcome my friends to the 1,000 post on the Barnet Eye blog. My first blog was posted on Saturday 11th October 2008.Times have changed a bit since then. The top story on that day was a claim in the Daily Mail that affair smears were set to derail Barack Obamas presidential campaign. Finger on the pulse as ever at the Mail. Anyway that's enough of that nonsense, BTW.
All we ever hear about in papers such as the Daily Mail, are horror stories about immigrants, hoodies, asylum seekers etc. Try a search on the Daily Mail website and just type in the word YOUTH. I got this as the TOP STORY. How often do we hear good things about our youngsters? Well let me tell you about my day. I started it at the Finchley Music Centre for my sons end of term Concert. The standard of play was superb. A special mention must be made of Julian Hinton, who organises the Jazz Strings group. They are truly superb. I must pay tribute to all of the staff. The standard of playing has always been good at the Finchley Music Centre (my wife started her music career there in the early 1970's) what they have added in recent years is an element of fun to the concerts. If you have children who are interested in playing, please check out the centre. As a player myself, I recognise all of the hard work the young people who entertained me today put in. I was especially impressed by one young lady who as part of her Duke of Edinburgh award has assisted with Group 1 in tuning up and encouraging the youngsters. We don't hear enough of this.
When the Concert was finished, I nipped into the office. I run Mill Hill Music Complex and today we were hosting Barnet Community Focus, who were doing a youth radio project at the studio. I cannot praise this group highly enough. They are based at the Arts Depot and this is part of their mission statement :-
There are many great things going on in Barnet but this project is one that I am proud to be associated with. The young people were a joy to host at the studios. The group was diverse in many ways, yet they all pulled together and delivered something special. If you have an interest in arts check it out and if you have a surplus in your bank account, give them some cash (click on the support us in their website sidebar). Having seen the music centre concert and the Community focus project, I was feeling rather proud of the London Borough of Barnets young people. I was going to write a blog saying this, but I decided to be a bit lazy and not bother. As I sat down for my cup of tea, I heard a knock on the door. I wasn't expecting anyone. Who could it be? As I opened the door, I was greeted by the sight of a large black guy, aged about 18 in a hoodie, with a set of headphones. As I opened the door, he said in broken English "Sorry to trouble you sir, is that you car there, the red one". It wasn't. I said "No, sorry it's not". He replied "Oh, sorry to trouble you, but they've left the window open and it could get stolen. It is going to rain and the seat will get wet". I didn't recognise the car, it probably belonged to a shopper in Mill Hill Broadway. I told him I'd keep an eye on the car. He said thanks and went on his way.
They say the good Lord works in mysterious ways. As I shut the door, I thought "yeah, the Kids are alright" and I realised that the least I could do for all the great young people I've met today, is tell you all about it. Then I noticed that it was blog no 1000 - if that isn't a sign, I don't know what is. Have a great Saturday night.
All we ever hear about in papers such as the Daily Mail, are horror stories about immigrants, hoodies, asylum seekers etc. Try a search on the Daily Mail website and just type in the word YOUTH. I got this as the TOP STORY. How often do we hear good things about our youngsters? Well let me tell you about my day. I started it at the Finchley Music Centre for my sons end of term Concert. The standard of play was superb. A special mention must be made of Julian Hinton, who organises the Jazz Strings group. They are truly superb. I must pay tribute to all of the staff. The standard of playing has always been good at the Finchley Music Centre (my wife started her music career there in the early 1970's) what they have added in recent years is an element of fun to the concerts. If you have children who are interested in playing, please check out the centre. As a player myself, I recognise all of the hard work the young people who entertained me today put in. I was especially impressed by one young lady who as part of her Duke of Edinburgh award has assisted with Group 1 in tuning up and encouraging the youngsters. We don't hear enough of this.
When the Concert was finished, I nipped into the office. I run Mill Hill Music Complex and today we were hosting Barnet Community Focus, who were doing a youth radio project at the studio. I cannot praise this group highly enough. They are based at the Arts Depot and this is part of their mission statement :-
CF is a place where people of all ages, abilities, faiths, ethnicities and circumstances cross paths with a common enthusiasm for the arts and a desire to learn new skills in a friendly and welcoming environment.
There are many great things going on in Barnet but this project is one that I am proud to be associated with. The young people were a joy to host at the studios. The group was diverse in many ways, yet they all pulled together and delivered something special. If you have an interest in arts check it out and if you have a surplus in your bank account, give them some cash (click on the support us in their website sidebar). Having seen the music centre concert and the Community focus project, I was feeling rather proud of the London Borough of Barnets young people. I was going to write a blog saying this, but I decided to be a bit lazy and not bother. As I sat down for my cup of tea, I heard a knock on the door. I wasn't expecting anyone. Who could it be? As I opened the door, I was greeted by the sight of a large black guy, aged about 18 in a hoodie, with a set of headphones. As I opened the door, he said in broken English "Sorry to trouble you sir, is that you car there, the red one". It wasn't. I said "No, sorry it's not". He replied "Oh, sorry to trouble you, but they've left the window open and it could get stolen. It is going to rain and the seat will get wet". I didn't recognise the car, it probably belonged to a shopper in Mill Hill Broadway. I told him I'd keep an eye on the car. He said thanks and went on his way.
They say the good Lord works in mysterious ways. As I shut the door, I thought "yeah, the Kids are alright" and I realised that the least I could do for all the great young people I've met today, is tell you all about it. Then I noticed that it was blog no 1000 - if that isn't a sign, I don't know what is. Have a great Saturday night.
David Cameron upsets Hendon Blue Rinse brigade
No doubt we'll soon be seeing truthful election leaflets from Mrs Sparrows association, detailing how the Barnet Tories lost millions in Iceland, how their candidate presided over a the Aerodrome Road fiasco which cost Barnet Taxpayers £11 Million and how they are abolishing sheltered Housing wardens against the wishes of 85% of the elderly and vulnerable people they consulted. Mrs Sparrow is always welcome to write a guest blog here telling us the truth about what a cock up her party have presided over in Barnet.
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