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Messages - Old Goat

16
That they were founded in Newbury and born out of West Berks Council one could be forgiven for thinking that they do know something.  These credentials and the nature of the business mean that in my book this is a shocking indictment of the Council and its capability of actually delivering it's published vision.
17
Contractor - Nothing to do with me, we asked the Council, they said yes, they know the area,
Council - Contractors fulfilled the agreed criteria, so of course we agreed.  It's the Police
Police - Its pretty low on our priority list for a busy Saturday, try the centre managers
Parkway - We've got no authority to do anything outside our building, try town council
Town Council - Dont have wardens now anyway WBC are responsible, see if a traffic warden will help
Parking Wardens - sorry, not permitted to direct traffic - HSE, don't ask me tell your Councillor
Councillor - 2 hours isn't long, why, I waited 3 at IKEA, you should have walked or biked...
Me - thanks, really useful suggestion, can all this stuff on line and have rest of day free.

Newbury; the town time forgot and no one is too keen to remember.....


18
Wouldn't disagree with that!
19
Interesting one this.  Of course, last thing any 'decent' shop wants is even a few old dossers lying about the town.  So, what to do?  Parkway is an excellent example; their security people seem to keep the area clear of all undesirables; including the odd tv company! The new developments inevitably open with a permanent maintenance/security contingent and thus at no extra cost, problem is solved.  The areas which aren't regarded as prime shopping - back end of Bart. Street can push the BID for a warden.  Anyway, it's going to be a minor issue because WBCs recent pronouncements suggests that the issue is overstated and the existing arrangements work well....
20
It's all part of the Vision, the more businesses that fail, the more land in the town centre up for new flats development. Triples all round.
21
Got something to say? / Re: Wasting taxpayers money
December 21, 2018, 10:00:02 pm
Why shouldn't I think a very small mainly rural Council have significant property development skills? 
22
Got something to say? / Re: Wasting taxpayers money
December 19, 2018, 12:44:33 pm
Yes, do,you should be, it's your money they are draining away; not even on stuff that has even a minor use, but now apparently just keeping legal pockets bulging.  This last spurt of independent initiative, 'partner planning developments' is supposed to make the town better and more attractive. Turning pigs ears into silk purses; trouble is WBC tend to use the whole sow. 
23
The impetus to look at this again wasn't exactly expected but reading this again shows how much things have progressed locally!  What's changed now that austerity us behind us?  Well, nothing.  I suppose the saddest thing is going to be the result of next year's elections, I can see NWNs headlines now - ' Newbury votes no change '. 
24
Got something to say? / Re: 'They' win!
December 17, 2018, 06:08:22 pm
Indeed!

The powers that be think we shouldn't be worrying our little heads about such things! Let's be really honest, NWN is now really a paid for 'free paper'. Probably it's costs mean the journalist is now simply the receptionist who takes the ads in whatever spare time they can find.  So, for paper news, as the old saying goes 'the end is nigh '.
25
Got something to say? / 'They' win!
November 27, 2018, 07:02:38 pm
Well, for me, the watch is over!  Pretty clear that social media has just about wiped out any pretence of local involvement in local politics; if ever there was any in the first place.  Sadly, this forum seems moribund and the other is kept just alive by ultra right wingers and Facebook, lets just not go there.  At least it saves a walk to the polling station every few years.
26
Got something to say? / Re: Wasting taxpayers money
October 25, 2018, 09:42:12 am
No one is ever held to account.  Yet we continue to pay vast salaries to people who take no responsibility, bear no risk, and are demonstrably failing to manage even the small amount of work they are left with after austerity cuts and process transfers. Self generated rules protect from removal and why would anyone even consider resignation?  As the saying goes, 'you couldn't make it up'.  Mind,
27
Absolutely!   What commercial organisation would be permitted to get away with such a mess? 
28
As has always been, one man's safety net is another's profit.  Ironic really, deep blue Tory Newbury invented the precursor to the modern welfare state.  Of course, once our forefathers saw the cost, the next step was to introduce workhouses; is that next on today's political agenda?
29
Even now and even if they were pushed together, our local councils are lush with office space.  Moving to Beyer offices would simply enable the paper empires to grow.  They are both wholly unnecessary and as out of date as the old nationalised utilities.  Today's Newbury isn't big or important enough to need its own local council, let alone administrative offices.  Just let Reading or Wokingham suck the few remaining responsibilities and spend the money saved on the NHS - not luxury offices....please!
30
About as prepared as they are when they see the effects of the Districts commercial downturn on the famed business rate retention experiment.