I have just taken a quick break from making up sandbags to update my blog. At the last count we have done 443 sandbags in preparation for the weekend flooding. There blitz spirit is well and truly alive and I am really enjoying it.
I've even been given my own little patch to 'flood watch' for over the weekend. I just hope the rain stays off, latest forecast however says there could be another two inches over the weekend and rain until Wednesday.
Archive - Jun 2007
Sandbags For All
Submitted by andrew on Fri, 29/06/2007 - 16:34.Balls to Education
Submitted by andrew on Fri, 29/06/2007 - 09:08.Well it looks like I have a new boss! Ed Balls is now in charge of schools in England. I actually quite like Ed Balls, I fought him at the last General Election and always find him to be most polite and quite funny. Certainly he was much friendlier than the local Labour Party in Brigg and Goole whose reign of nastiness towards me personally continues unabashed.
I do remember doing one hustings with him where it was he and I on one side of the room and a stand in for the Lib Dem candidate (who never appeared anywhere, even at the count!), the BNP candidate and some random bizarre Independent on the other side. I found Ed's under his breath comments most amusing. He certainly came across better in person then he does on TV or radio. Now I've been nice about him will teachers get a pay rise I wonder!
I do remember doing one hustings with him where it was he and I on one side of the room and a stand in for the Lib Dem candidate (who never appeared anywhere, even at the count!), the BNP candidate and some random bizarre Independent on the other side. I found Ed's under his breath comments most amusing. He certainly came across better in person then he does on TV or radio. Now I've been nice about him will teachers get a pay rise I wonder!
Yet More Water?
Submitted by andrew on Thu, 28/06/2007 - 21:37.I have just been speaking to people in one of the flooded areas from this week who are concerned about what the weekend may bring with the weather. Apparently there could be another inch or two of rain which will be a disaster to those still pumping out.
Yesterday when I visited one of the flooded areas the water was still up to my knees in places. I've offered my help if they need a hand with sand bagging!
Fingers crossed the rain will pass over quickly.
Yesterday when I visited one of the flooded areas the water was still up to my knees in places. I've offered my help if they need a hand with sand bagging!
Fingers crossed the rain will pass over quickly.
Up to my thighs in water!!!!
Submitted by andrew on Mon, 25/06/2007 - 22:50.I am sat here drying off after having just spent 3 hours evacuating elderly residents from a complex of OAP bungalows.
Someone called me and asked if I could take a look at the complex as there were reports that the water was knee high and had flooded the bungalows. I turned up and talked to what I thought were 'officials'. It turned out they were residents from near-by streets who were trying to help.
Anyways, a few calls later and I am pleased to say that we got some land rovers down and evacuated many of the residents, including one we had to get an ambulance to. What appalled me about the situation was that the elderly residents had simply been abandoned by their housing association landlord to their own devices. With floors lifting and toilets throwing sewage up, I simply can't believe that nobody official had turned up to help.
The only upside is that the weather seemed to bring out the best of British in other residents and between us we got the situation sorted. With all the noise that goes on in politics you can sometimes forget that politics is about helping people. This evening I feel I got things in perspective and did some good for people who needed help.
Watching Gordon Brown on TV when I got in my feelings of satisfaction quickly passed. I soon realised that once the floods subside, it will be back to dealing with his nonsense and the silliness of the local Labour Party in North Lincolnshire, who seem more interested in silly political games than helping people. Alas!
Time for a referendum on the EU
Submitted by andrew on Mon, 25/06/2007 - 22:45.I don't need to say much other than that clearly the British people need a referendum on the Euro sell out done by Blair at the weekend. With the Irish Prime Minister saying that the treaty contains 90% of the failed Constitution then it looks like Labour's pledge on a referendum needs to be honoured.
The Telegraph has launched a petition which can be signed here. In case anyone was wondering, I would be voting NO to the Treaty. If I can adopt American speak for the moment, I think it's fair to say that I have 'issues' with the EU.
The Telegraph has launched a petition which can be signed here. In case anyone was wondering, I would be voting NO to the Treaty. If I can adopt American speak for the moment, I think it's fair to say that I have 'issues' with the EU.
Oh dear, Gordon Brown ...
Submitted by andrew on Sun, 24/06/2007 - 15:28.I know everyone is getting very excited about Gordon Brown but I really don't see what all the fuss is about. At the end of the day, what's actually going to change? I wish there was just a little more emphasis on what else has happened this week which I think more honestly reflects Blair and Brown's contribution to Britain over the past ten years.
- Just this weekend, three brutal killings on the streets of London.
- This afternoon I heard that a teenager had been stabbed to death in a gang fight.
- A boy in Lincolnshire was this week allowed back into school despite having made serious death threats against a female teacher. The Head's decision was over-turned on appeal.
- Then there is the EU Treaty of course.
So while Gord stands up and says how well he and Tony have done over the past ten years, I just hope some in the media will look at the three violent incidents that have happened in the past week and objectively compare Labour's spin to the reality on the ground.
I know that when I and thousands of other teachers return to the classroom tommorrow, we will be operating in a more violent and disruptive environment than we would have been 10 years ago. An environment where Government targets force schools to cover up what's really going on.
So when I next come across a pupil being violent to another pupil or, as increasingly seems to be the case, to another teacher, I will know that the reason no action will be taken against him/her is so that Gordon can stand up in a conference hall and say how fantastic Labour has been for Britain and for our education system.
Thanks Gordon, it's really appreciated.
Lodgemoor Young People Litter Pick
Submitted by andrew on Sat, 23/06/2007 - 19:12.
I had fun this week taking part in a litter pick on the Lodgemoor area of the constituency. The litter pick was organised by the Resident's Association and the idea was that young people in the area would collect sponsorship for clearing litter in the area which could then be used to pay for summer activities. I was invited along by Cllr Rob Waltham who won this seat (Labour's former safest seat) for us in the May elections.
I was surprised by how many young people turned up and the event was really successful. We cleared many bags of litter and made sure that all the cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles we collected were recycled. A fair sum of money was also raised along the way which could pay for a trip to the National Railway Museum in York.
I really enjoy community events like this and I hope to be of use to the residents in the near future. Thanks also to Cllr Waltham, although I definately collected more litter than him!!
I was surprised by how many young people turned up and the event was really successful. We cleared many bags of litter and made sure that all the cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles we collected were recycled. A fair sum of money was also raised along the way which could pay for a trip to the National Railway Museum in York.
I really enjoy community events like this and I hope to be of use to the residents in the near future. Thanks also to Cllr Waltham, although I definately collected more litter than him!!
Barts House Petition - 440 signatures in 2 hours!
Submitted by andrew on Tue, 19/06/2007 - 10:00.
The petition against the proposed closure of the Bartholomew House mental health in-patient facility gathered pace this week with 441 names gathered on a petition in just two hours. The signatures were gathered by carers and friends of the facility along with myself.
We gathered the signatures from a street stall we set up in the shopping precinct on Saturday morning. Despite only gathering signatures for just two hours, we managed to attract 440 names. More importantly, we were all staggered by just how much awareness there was about the Barts House issue. We were all taken aback by the number of local people who said they had either friends or family who had relied on the facility in the past. A number of patients have also signed the petition and the hope is that one of the carers will hand the petition over to the Humber Mental Health Trust this week. We all hope that they will take account of the strong support there is here in Goole for this facility to remain here.
I understand the difficult financial position the Trust is in but I really would appeal to them to speak to the carers, many of whom rely so much on this facility so much. Removing the facility would also remove one of their greatest comforts; knowing that if everything does break down, they have a facility here in Goole which their loved ones can access.
These proposals are causing untold stress and worry to both patients and their families. The Trust is right to talk about different ways of delivering care but the truth is that if Barts House closes that will be it for in-patient care in Goole and the beds will instead be transferred to Hull.
Signature gathering will continue this week and we hope that the final total will be much higher.”
Barts House Petition Gathers 440 Signatures In Just 2 Hours
Submitted by andrew on Mon, 18/06/2007 - 12:00.
The petition against the proposed closure of the Bartholomew House mental health in-patient facility gathered pace this week with 441 names gathered on a petition in just two hours. The signatures were gathered by carers and friends of the facility along with Prospective Goole MP Andrew Percy.
Andrew Percy explains, “We gathered the signatures from a street stall we set up in the shopping precinct on Saturday morning. Despite only gathering signatures for just two hours, we managed to attract 440 names. More importantly, we were all staggered by just how much awareness there was about the Barts House issue. We were all taken aback by the number of local people who said they had either friends or family who had relied on the facility in the past. A number of patients have also signed the petition and the hope is that one of the carers will hand the petition over to the Humber Mental Health Trust this week. We all hope that they will take account of the strong support there is here in Goole for this facility to remain here.
I understand the difficult financial position the Trust is in but I really would appeal to them to speak to the carers, many of whom rely so much on this facility so much. Removing the facility would also remove one of their greatest comforts; knowing that if everything does break down, they have a facility here in Goole which their loved ones can access.
These proposals are causing untold stress and worry to both patients and their families. The Trust is right to talk about different ways of delivering care but the truth is that if Barts House closes that will be it for in-patient care in Goole and the beds will instead be transferred to Hull.
Signature gathering will continue this week and we hope that the final total will be much higher.”
The Trust’s consultation closes this week and they will then take some time to consider the responses they have received to the consultation. The East Riding Council’s NHS Scrutiny Committee has already rejected the proposals but as a consultee their decision is not binding on the Trust.
By-election success!!!
Submitted by andrew on Sat, 16/06/2007 - 22:13.Well, after a hard fought by-election in the Brigg and Wolds Ward I am delighted to report that our three candidates John Berry, Nigel Sherwood and Carl Sherwood were elected with MASSIVE majorities over Labour. The Labour MP was out all day with a neighbouring MP and the Labour party were busy predicting Labour success on the day. The final results were -
John Charles Berry Conservative Party 1476
Trevor Richard Fordham Labour Party 669
Thomas David Glossop Labour Party 890
Samantha Jo Hadley British National Party 134
Sean Patrick Hadley British National Party 121
Harold John Porter Labour Party 711
Carl Graham Sherwood Conservative Party 1576
Nigel John Sherwood Conservative Party 1691
Michael Wilson Independent 424
The turnout was 30 per cent.
I'm not good at working out swings but I think it works out to a 7-8% swing to us. Certainly, our share of the vote was well up on last time and Labour's was well down!
It was the wettest poling day I have ever know but people seemed really keen to vote.
John Charles Berry Conservative Party 1476
Trevor Richard Fordham Labour Party 669
Thomas David Glossop Labour Party 890
Samantha Jo Hadley British National Party 134
Sean Patrick Hadley British National Party 121
Harold John Porter Labour Party 711
Carl Graham Sherwood Conservative Party 1576
Nigel John Sherwood Conservative Party 1691
Michael Wilson Independent 424
The turnout was 30 per cent.
I'm not good at working out swings but I think it works out to a 7-8% swing to us. Certainly, our share of the vote was well up on last time and Labour's was well down!
It was the wettest poling day I have ever know but people seemed really keen to vote.