Go Skegness - Who?

Ever heard of Go Skegness? No? Worryingly neither had I until today.

Why do I say worryingly? Well this organisation, Go Skegness, has been given £5,700,000 (5.7 million pounds) to improve the transport infrastructure in the Skegness area. That is an awful lot of money being given to an organisation that has, what I believe, such a low public profile.

I am really pleased to see the money being allocated but would question some of the projects that it is being allocated to.

• A cycle route to Gibraltar Point.
• A cycle route Skegness to Chapel-St-Leonards.
• Measures to improve cycling connections within Skegness Town Centre.
• Enhancements to the public realm within the town centre and at Skegness Interchange.

There are also several aspirational things going forward.

I am always happy to see money being invested in our town and local area but this does seem to be a bit "off the wall" in its priorities.

If you want to get more information about this then have a look here: http://www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk/funding/view-growth-deals/go-skegness

Murderous Intent

Just when you think you have seen it all.

Just had a blooming great long-haired ginger tom in the back garden. It was stalking a squirrel. Never seen that before. Luckily the squirrel was one step ahead of the aforementioned potential murderer.

Have to say this incident has just hardened my, already, concrete view of moggies. I really cannot stand them. Horrible creatures which will kill anything furry or feathery and smaller than themselves. I know that there are many people that love their cats but, for me, I just wish they loved them and kept them in their own gardens.

Sorry if that has annoyed anybody but it is the way that I feel!

Ruffians In My Garden _ ASBO Required

My wife put some new bird food out yesterday in the garden. Something like a log of fat, the same kind of stuff that you can buy as fat balls. All of the birds seem to like it but unfortunately it has attracted the ruffian element. Forceful and aggressive creatures that bully each other and the other species that we attract.

The starling. Nasty little herberts they are. It is bad enough that we have the big fat wood pigeons hoovering every bit of food up in sight, now they can eat, but at least they are not nasty with it. I only wish we could have a say in who comes to eat at our table but it is all or nothing.

That's nature I suppose.

Bringing The Seaside To The Seaside

Saw this rather remarkable vehicle parked across the road from my house. Excellent paintjob I thought. It is a Bedford CF van, fairly rare nowadays.

I live about 200 yards from the beach in a very quite avenue so was very surprised to see it parked up.

While I was looking at it and snapping these images the chap that owns it came over and told me something about it. Very interesting tale. You can find all the information about it on a blog that is dedicated to Trevor. Yes it has a name. Have a look here to find out about this great project:
http://trevorthevan.blogspot.co.uk/

Independent Councillor - Such A Thing?

I ask this question simply because I cannot find one on the East Lindsey District Council and this has always been something that I am confused by.  

My view of an Independent Councillor is one who is free from party allegiance and is free thinking, allowing them to vote independently of anyone else. I think that is a logical view. This definition would back up that view:

Politics. a person who votes for candidates, measures, etc., in accordance with his or her own judgement and without regard to the endorsement of, or positions taken by, any party.

Now as I say I cannot find such a being in the ranks of ELDC councillors. Nobody actually listed as Independent. We have East Lindsey Independent Group and we have Independent/Liberal Democrat, but no actual Independents. 

Firstly I have no idea what an Independent/Liberal Democrat actually is but it certainly does not read as Independent. Secondly. If you are Independent then why would you join a group? Surely once you have joined a group then you are part of that group and are therefore, by definition, not Independent? The leader of the group, yes there is one, strange isn't it, is responsible for representing the group and responsible for allocating councillors to particular roles and committees within the council. Just as the leaders of the party groups do. So what is the difference between a party group and an Independent group? Nothing in my eyes. Are the group members going to vote on items independently?

To cap this off I would refer to an email I saw sometime ago when an Independent councillor informed the council that he was no longer and Independent but would be joining the Independent Group. Confused? 
As I said at the beginning. So am I. 

24/7 GP NHS - Sorry But It Won't Happen

As most of you will know I am a committed Conservative supporter but I have to say that I believe the 7 day a week GP service et al that has been announced today is a promise too far.

I really would love to see it happen but it cannot. Why? Simple matter of funding and logistics. There are nowhere near enough GPs in this country to make this a nationwide promise. It can take anything up to 10 years to train a GP which includes medical school, so where will they come from? In Lincolnshire the GP surgeries are struggling to provide the service they do now because of poor GP retention and the lack of GPs wishing to come and work in this area.

Secondly funding. It will take more money to provide a 7 day GP service than the government can provide. It is not just a case of providing the monies to enable GPs to work over the full week but there is also the additional cost of the support staff, administration, nursing, etc.

There is absolutely no problem with aspiring to provide all of this but to do so is, in my opinion, is beyond the ability of both the government and primary care.

I hope I am wrong but this does seem a promise too far!

A Big Thank You - 15,000

I would just like to take this opportunity of thanking all who have visited my blog. To all who have read my ramblings, rants and drivel and viewed by photos - A Big Thank You.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would attract this much interest.

Regards, Steve.