There is one obvious peril when you only have five councillors, which that it doesn't take much to jeopardise quoracy and thus the ability to hold meetings. Holidays, ill health and, occasionally, sheer misfortune, can interfere with the smooth running of local government and, tonight, that combination gained me an unexpected evening off. Luckily, we're in a quiet part of the cycle at the moment. Gateway 14 has been approved but there is no sign of activity yet in terms of the infrastructure needed before actual buildings can go up. There are no outstanding controversies, and although there are things ...
This afternoon, the Southern Planning Committee approved the controversial application for more than 1,000 homes at the former Buildwas power station having rejected the scheme at its meeting on 10 August. There was an improved offer on the table, not improved enough in my view, but the committee voted by six votes to four to approve outline planning permission for the scheme. But if it was not for an untoward email, the rejection of the scheme would have stood and an appeal by developer Haworth would be underway. Those who oppose the development, in principle or detail, will rue the ...
The headline from the Sun above appears to represent another broken promise by Boris Johnson. There are many explanations why energy bills are rising but the role of Brexit in that phenomena has not had a big enough profile. According to the Byline Times, this needs to be corrected: As Mark Haller writes for West England Bylines, the UK has elected to remain outside the EU Internal Energy Market, even though a considerable amount of the country's energy needs are met by Europe. As a result, the UK has lost significant control over prices, losing the ability to participate in ...
Liberal Democrats have backed calls from Sir Elton John for the UK Government to urgently resolve the growing crisis facing the UK cultural sector. At their national Conference today, the party has unanimously backed calls for swift action to address the red tape and paperwork that is stopping UK artists, performers, and musicians from being able to tour and perform in Europe. Sir Elton has been a vocal critic of the Government's failure to resolve this issue, which was caused following the UK's withdrawal from the EU without a full scheme in place to enable paperless travel for performers. Earlier ...
Second paragraph of third chapter:Another trawler nosed its way into the circle of piers, hunting for a berth among the gently jostling vessels. The most recent arrival was tying up, a couple of the crew handing off packing crates to be stacked on the pier by a third man.In contrast to the Erimem series, I'm greatly enjoying these set of adventures of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart set just before the arrival of the Third Doctor into his life. Here he is sent off to the Aegean Sea to investigate mysterious threats, with his usual crew of assistants (who all get something to ...
Just a quick update to announce that Amulet of Tears: Book One is now available as a Kindle eBook (99p) and also a paperback on Amazon (£4.99), just click on the title to go directly to the Amazon UK website. I'm delighted to have the first book written in this science fiction/fantasy saga and you can follow my writing process over on my other Twitter account @TearsAmulet or find out a bit more on my Ripplestone Review Fiction Blog, link in the sidebar. Nanu, with the help of his sister Seer and mentor Zoa, is running a gruelling race across ...
Commenting on the gas energy crisis, Liberal Democrat leader and former Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: "The Conservatives have taken their eye of the ball by failing to insulate millions of people's homes and diversify our energy supply. Now taxpayers risk having to foot the bill for the Conservatives' energy policy failures over the last six years. "We now need urgent action to end this crisis and prevent families having to choose between eating and heating this winter. "Today ministers must restore calm to the market and consider creating a Northern Rock style energy company to take on customers of ...
[IMG: Smart Electricity Meter Display] With fuel prices soaring at the moment, it's looking like many people will need any extra help available with heating bills this Winter. The Warm Home Discount is a government scheme which gives people receiving certain benefits a payment of £140 towards their winter electricity bills. It's paid for by energy suppliers. This is in addition to, not instead of, Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments. Some of the above payments you need to apply for, and some are automatic in certain circumstances so I thought it might be helpful to list them (source: ...
The Liberal Democrats have called for more trade with Palestine and Israel, more resources for peace and upholding of international law by ceasing trade with illegal settlements. Liberal Democrat members have today passed a motion at party conference calling for a new approach to the Israel/Palestine conflict. The motion, the first on Israel/Palestine at Lib Dem conference since 2017, reaffirms the party's call for immediate recognition of the state of Palestine alongside calling on the UK Government to commit further resources to peace. The Liberal Democrats have become the first UK political party to formally support the creation of a ...
I've blogged previously about Liverpool's rather brilliant architect Alfred Waterhouse – here's a link back to one of my previous postings:- If you've read my previous posting you'll realise that I mention him being from the Liverpool district of Aigburth but that seems to be wrong as he was actually born in Everton. The background note about him below, which I was given on a Heritage Open Day tour of the Waterhouse buildings of Liverpool University last week, is very informative:- Daughter Jen and I enjoyed, with around a dozen other folks, a 2-hour tour of the University's Waterhouse ...
Conference, I want to begin by thanking Duncan Brack, who led the work on this Principles and Values motion with Alyssa Gilbert, on behalf of FPC. Duncan was kind enough to let me take his moment of glory this morning. And he did so because he felt it was important for a new member like me to share my experiences of the LibDems with all of you. So he handed over this slot to me because he felt it would be good for the party. And so we begin, with our principles in action. Conference, the values put forward in ...
A very good friend of mine from Croatia (thank you, Hrvoje!) has recently invited me to an international online meeting, attended by 40 + different business leaders from around the world. The main theme for the session was the importance of building and strengthening the trust. The meeting, and in particular some of the expressions used, was quite revealing. Whilst going through the process of being approved as a candidate in the next local elections, I had an opportunity to spend one Saturday morning with some of my colleagues, who are very experienced campaigners. After spending a few hours on ...
as the theme of my speech opening Liberal Democrat autumn federal conference this weekend, which you can watch here,
Sun, 15:11: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings https://t.co/bFFc1bMoGD Sun, 18:37: Jack, by Marilynne Robinson https://t.co/jRDfC7WVSF Mon, 10:45: RT @EdnaKB2: UK woman found guilty of false gang-rape claim lodges appeal in Cyprus👇👇👇 Student, 21, who said Israeli tourists raped her, la...
Anthony Lawton on a Leicestershire village's campaign to defend its only open space. I know far too little about my mother who, a single mother after being widowed when I was three, died herself when I was eighteen. I do recall she was a self-professed liberal and Liberal, committed to being active in the community. She also brought me up within the Church of England. However, although the impact of her liberalism and community action endures, fifty years on from teenage confirmation my church going days are long gone. A year of bewildering and stubborn behaviour by leaders and institutions ...
Now, I'm not the sort of person that resorts to hyperbole for a dramatic opening sentence but, in case you hadn't noticed, the future of the planet is hanging in the balance. This is not the statement of a wild-haired fanatic, living with badgers and chanting cross-legged in the woods but a widely acknowledged scientific fact. For the last few years a growing list of eminently respectable people have been warning us that urgent action is required: Sir David Attenborough does it, HRH Prince Charles regularly does it, António Guterres, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations definitely does it, ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2021 A90 Kingsway (at Invergowrie roundabout) - lane closures for 3 weeks for third party works. South Tay Street - temporary traffic lights from Monday 20 September for 2 weeks for footway works. Forthcoming Roadworks Nethergate (West Marketgait to South Tay Street) - closed on Tuesday 21 and Tuesday 28 September for Scottish Water investigation work. Lochee Road (at Balgayview Gardens) - temporary traffic lights from Friday 24 September for one week for SGN work. Blackness Avenue - closed from Monday 4 ...
The last time I spoke to Lord Bonkers he was full of his plans to travel round Britain. Since then I 've received only the odd postcard from him. That is, until this diary was put through my door late one night. I heard it drop through the letterbox and looked to see who had have delivered it, but elves are good at blending with background foliage. How long Lord Bonkers will be away, I do not know. Nor do I know if my flaky internet connection will allow me to post all these entries. But here goes... Meadowcroft was ...
The Climax Chicago Blues Band was formed in Stafford in 1967 to play blues standards. In time, it shortened its name and broadened its repertoire into blues-tinged rock. Couldn't Get It Right reached number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the US in 1976. Wikipedia tells a fanciful story about its genesis: The song was recorded for their eighth studio album, Gold Plated, which was named after Pete Haycock's Veleno guitar and produced by Mike Vernon. The song was specifically written and produced after the manager of the band, Miles Copeland III, demanded that the band ...
