Lincolnshire Roads - Dangerous? Maybe not?

I remember reading this piece some months ago.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11495938/Lincolnshire-has-the-most-dangerous-roads-in-Britain.html

Lincolnshire has the most dangerous roads in Britain. I thought, looking at some of the accident statistics that must be about right. I was involved in several discussions regarding changing road layouts etc. to make the road safer.

Now this bit of news has come out! http://thelincolnite.co.uk/2015/12/lincolnshire-worst-in-the-country-for-drink-driving-crash-rate/

Lincolnshire is the worst in the country for drink driving in those involved in an accident.

So be a bit of a simple fellah I put 2 and 2 together. Have you?

The next person that says to me that the police should not run campaigns against drinking and driving and targeting those that do and should concentrate on catching criminals may get short shrift!

As the old advert says:

Public Sector Pay - 1% Increases Will Cause Problems

Those of you that know me will be well aware that I am a Conservative supporter. I support the need for austerity in the UK because it is a path that needs to be followed for the long term future of this country. I am, however, pretty concerned with the plan for Public Sector pay going forward. When I say Public Sector I mean across the whole of the Public Sector and not just the NHS which appears to get all of the publicity when this matter is discussed.

Why am I concerned? I am concerned because the level of pay rises in the Private Sector is now running at an average of over 3%. Public Sector pay for the next 4 years will be restricted to a rise of just 1% per annum. This is over and above the pay freeze that has been in place already. This means that the differential in the pay between the Public Sector and the Private Sector that, historically, has been 2-3% in favour of public workers will not only be removed, not a bad thing, but will reverse in a very short space of time. The Private Sector pay will be higher on average than the Public Sector.

What will this mean? I am concerned that there will be a move away from working in the Public Sector by the more able members of staff. I am also concerned that it will make it much harder to recruit into the Public Sector if the pay on offer is not as attractive as in the Private Sector. I know that Public Sector staff are much maligned by some but, having worked with them for the last 4 years as a councillor, I can say that without them this country would grind to a halt very quickly.

Tough decisions need to be made by the government and they will continue to make them. I am just concerned that, perhaps, this extension of pay restraint at this low level is a step too far!

Rotten And Despicable

They are just two of the words I have heard used about two crimes that have occurred very recently in our area.

Firstly a charity shop raising money for injured soldiers had money stolen from it and then a car was broken into and a large amount of stock used for raising money for the People's Dispensary For Sick Animals (PDSA) was stolen.

It is bad enough when people resort to thieving in the first place but when that thieving is done against charities then the words above are only two that should be used to describe both the acts and those that carry them out.

If you are offered any cheap Christmas Cards or other merchandise that have the PDSA logo on them, please do contact the police. They are well aware of this crime.

Footballers Pay.

This is a poem I wrote a couple of years ago. Sadly, but not surprisingly, it is even more relevant and true now than it was then.

Footballers Pay

I dont understand it,

And I guess I never will,

How those that kick a football,

Are worth more than those that care for the ill.

I don't understand it,

I think they have a cheek,

To get more than a doctor gets each year,

In their pay cheques every week.

I don't understand it,

What about the teacher that inspires,

Ambulance crews that save our lives,

And the brigade that puts out fires.

I don't understand it,

It really is too much for me,

Footballers earn millions,

Whilst the Lifeboats do it for free.

I don't understand it,

They get millions just to sign,

What about the brave military,

That are serving on the line.

I don't understand it,

But it really makes me sad,

When footballers are worth millions,

The world it has gone mad.