Stop Smoking Flashmob

Burma Way Phone Mast Update

Phone mast application passed the Conservative-dominated Planning Committee

You win some you loose some, but am extremely angry that the phone mast application for Burma Way passed through Planning Committee last week.

No one wants a phone mast in their back garden and we all have to accept that if we are to modernise our telecommunications infrastructure that we need new and better masts. There is also no evidence to suggest that these masts cause cancer.

When this mast application was submitted the community spoke with one voice to oppose the mast. We even suggested alternate sites would be better keeping for such a structure.

This mast remains utterly out of keeping with the surrounding land and residents had made it clear that other more industrial / commercial locations would be better suited. Not only that local schools, MPs and Councillors had communicated in no uncertain terms that the mast was utterly unwanted.

We were all snubbed.

We have at present agents running roughshod over local public opinion. Our Conservative-Council had made it clear that phone masts would be considered very closely and in this case they made the wrong judgement.

Please find below our letter to residents on the news:



Burma Way Phone Mast

Fair Game

Just finished watching the truly excellent political drama Fair Game based on a true story.

Well worth a watch.

Fire No. 3

Arrived on Corporation Street - immediate shot (poor quality) of Fire hydrant dowsing flames...

Different angle showing damage to building extensive. Fire hydrant just finished dowsing at this point

Fire officers surveying building. Twitter reports from Kent Fire & Rescue that building could collapse

Winding down panoramic. A number of appliances on scene.

It seems that my post yesterday on the fire on Rochester highstreet, stating that we needed to remain aware was not without reason. At exactly the same tonight Rochester saw its third fire at the vacant Market Cafe on Corporation Street, in what on the face of it looks very similar to the incident which happened last night.

I rushed to the scene after becoming aware via twitter. There were a large number of onlookers from the Casino Rooms and the Police had cordoned off the traffic light junction at Blue Boar lane.

This cafe has been burnt down once before and at that time structural issues coupled with rubbish were also raised.

John Ward has done a graphic of the fires with ward boundaries which show that the three fires stretch across River, Rochester East and Rochester West wards.

I suspect Police will be trawling through CCTV footage shortly to identify any suspicious individual or vehicle movement in the vicinity. Individual (s) carrying baggage and equipment or wearing dark coloured clothing will be noticeable. Given we have seen three fires within a small geographic distance it could be that we have a very local arsonist who is walking to the premises. Police may also be looking through any individuals with 'form' or perhaps identifying those who may have been released from prison, or young offender's institute, with a profile for Arson who may have located to urban Rochester very recently.

Alternatively, given these fires have been vacant premises it could also be the case that this could be drug users or squatters who have set fire to keep themselves warm or for other purposes.

They say two is a coincidence and three is a trend. People living in the highstreet area need to remain aware of any suspicious activity.

Fire No. 2

Fire brigade arrive

Mid-way though incident. Smoke from second floor window. Ladder extending

Towards end of Fire. Several appliances in situ. Police cordon in place

An eventful bank holiday weekend yesterday with the farewell party for fellow blogger Alan W Collins leading to this blog witnessing a major fire on Rochester highstreet.

The incident itself was noticeable after a series of suspicious fires had been noted in Gravel Walk in Rochester, and apparently nearby properties according to KM. A second major fire in a small area is perhap a coincidence, but given this fire is seen as suspicious it is something we all need to keep a watching brief.

My involvement was very limited. After drinking in the Ship pub opposite, after attending the farewell party for Alan W Collins, was with a few friends when a man ran into the bar claiming the opposite Curry house was on fire. After leaving the pub it became apparent that the second floor of the empty restaurant was indeed alight; there was a signficant amount of smoke billowing from both floors and a small crowd was standing in the vicinity; many of whom speaking with the fire brigade and Police.

The fire brigade responded quickly, within 10 minutes, sending a number of appliances from Strood (later discovered) and proceeded to assess and then enter the building with oxygen equipment. A further number of appliances arrived and the Police proceeded to attend advising spectators to step back whilst the fire brigade engaged in their job. I was rapped on the knuckles by a young Police offier after being spotted trying to get a photo; for which apologised.

After tweeting the photos I was quickly followed by the Twitter feed of local politico's and the Kent Fire & Rescue twitter feed which kept residents updated with developments.

I spoke to several fire officers who indicated that this was seen as a suspicious incident because of the fact the building was not in use and the fact that a number of locations may have been identified as for being the start location.

Obviously Kent Police and Kent Fire & Rescue will advise but this is most certainly a public interest story.

The media responded very quickly indeed and were speaking to a number of witnesses and the Fire Brigade themselves. I suspect a number of less blurry shots will appear in the Messenger next week.

Will be keeping a watching brief on this development.

Luton Primary needs support

Luton Primary School suffers from Cameron Tory cuts

One of the areas of contention since the election of a Tory-led government is the budget cuts being inflicted on local schools and their staff.

This blog has posted previously on the Tory threat to our local Acadamies, mis-spent millions on capital projects and for a number of Primary schools the cuts to teachers and teaching assistants. As a member of the public in April, I was also able to reveal the fib at the heart of the Conservative Party local manifesto which claimed that Sure Start was not being cut. However, the truth came out when budget figures showed that there was a both a cash terms cut, and a real terms cut of £281,000. Add into the cuts to EMA and the introduction of tuition fees to £9,000 per annum and only the most naive of readers cant see that the next couple of years will be difficult for all those who teach and educate our children. From primary to tertiary the Tories are cutting and slashing important services.

Luton Primary School in the ward I represent is a struggling school and is a case in point. On the latest DfE statistics only 42% are achieving level 4 or above in English & Mathematics (down from 58% in 2009) and way below the Medway average of 67% which itself sits below the national average of 73%. English results have consistently worsened since 2008 where 65% achieved level 4 or above to a 2010 figure of 54%. This sits below the Medway average of 76%, which itself sits below the national average of 80%. Mathematics results have also worsened where only 48% are achieving Level 4 or above when compared to a 64% figure in 2009. The Medway average id 79% which is consistent with the national average of 79%.

The school is in need of investment and parents wanted the improved buildings. They opposed a rushed merger because of the history of school closures elsewhere in the ward.

The school has a challenging demographic from not only economically disadvantaged communities but also one which has a transitory mix from newly integrated communities from Eastern Europe. The school also sits in a ward which will require additional provision in future years.

The Labour Government had proposed significant investment in the site subject to an appropriate proposal being put forward by the Conservative-controlled Council. As we know the Primary School proposal put forward by Cllr Wicks was rejected because of poor research and proposals which were totally unwarranted.

As Councillor I was expecting a new set of proposals to be forthcoming for Luton Primary because the provision of new facilities on this site was actually supported by residents, parents, pupils and staff.

Much to my anger the latest cabinet paper is worrying in that it seems like the Council is examining options to step back and wash their hands of responsbility.

4.2. The council's anticipated capital allocation from central government, from which the project to build the schools was to be funded as part of the primary capital programme, has been sigificantly reduced by the Coalition Government's spending review, meaning that funding is no longer available for a number of projects including the one to rebuild Luton

4.3. In addition, the level of devolved capital funding to schools has been significantly reduced from almost £5m un 2010/2011 to less than £800,000 for 2011/12. The impact of this reduction to the local authority will need to to direct a much higher proportion of our capital funding to routine condition and maintenance issues which schools themselves would have previously funded

It is imperative that we do not allow buck-passing of responsibility over this school, because the outcome will leave hundreds of children in my ward in a position no better than before. In my mind also, not only is Luton Primary in this position because a Conservative Portfolio holder failed to do his job properly on the original Primary School programme, but now it appears that one of the options being suggested is that no new proposals should be forthcoming for improvements because Conservatives (supported by Liberal Democrats) are slashing building budgets.

In times of economic difficulty we can not spend on all schools and I am aware that opposition members can challenge on the fact that 'Labour spent all the money' and that we can afford these improvements.

However, there is an ethical and moral obligation to target resources more effectively and especially where we can see the best improvement in results.

When you see huge sums wasted on mismanaged capital programmes and new projects in wealthier wards still going ahead; the question is not about whether we have the money. It is about how it is allocated, and quite frankly we see all too many cases of money not being spent on areas of most need.

Luton School is currently struggling to fulfil its obligations; it has a great teaching staff and some fantastic pupils but it can not strive for greater success without resource and given its demographic and clear need for investment buck-passing can not be allowed.

Lodge Hill, whats that?

Regeneration is a word that can be seen on billboards across Medway. It is supposed to be a byword for what was supposed to have happened over the last decade, but with delays caused by Tory tardiness over planning, coupled with the downturn in property market post 2008, has failed to materialise.

One project which is raising a few heart beats on the Peninsula and Strood is the Lodge Hill development.

A development which is being persued at pace by the Conservatives in Gun Wharf.

In case you were not aware, and I certainly wasnt prior to becoming a Councillor, Lodge Hill is a multi-million new town development that is being planned for a huge site encompasing Chattenden and the Lodge Hill Valley.

It is something you should have on your radar

Comprised of 5,000 new homes it will be situated between Strood and the Peninsula villages and will see huge swathes of land given over for residential usage.

On door knocking in Wainscott over the weekend I was surprised to find that not a single resident I spoke with knew about the proposed new town on their doorstep. It seems Tory communication in these parts has been utterly lacklustre at best; I wonder why...

Regeneration only works when you take communities with you; this project has the air of secrecy about it because of its scale. But it is because of its scale that the public need to be aware of exactly what is happening. And quite frankly, they are not...

For more information on the proposal please visit the Council website or the Developers website or indeed the Facebook page which shows current views of fields that will be built over.