As many of you will know, Cllr David Kendall has been campaigning for better bus and rail transport for over five years now. With other members of the Brentwood Bus & Rail Users Association, and especially Chair Wendy Way, David has spent a lot of time on this issue. Tirelessly I would say.

For information, Labour’s Cllr Mike Le Surf and his wife Julie Morrissey are both on the committee. No Conservatives have joined, despite many invitations being offered.

So, we were a bit surprised to get a call from Wendy whilst at conference to tell us that County Councillor John Roberts (Hutton Division) had launched an attack on David in the press. Why? Because David dared to campaign on something that he very much sees as a “Hutton issue” - the 81/82 bus (which is now saved).

I’m very disappointed because I thought Cllr Roberts was above this sort of behaviour. The 81/82 bus is used by many people in Hutton, including many members of the association who live there, and many people across Brentwood. In fact, I’ve had a number of queries from residents in Brentwood West who use the bus to get around town.

The thing is, surely we are elected to get results for residents. Cross-party, we all agree that we don’t want to lose this vital bus service so why is Cllr Roberts warning David off? 

It would be lovely to have a discussion about parking without it descending into name calling from the Tories, but sadly not the case (we’ve been called Catwoman and The Riddler, which I didn’t actually mind, but Delboy and Rodney/Trigger was a bit unnecessary).

The Lib Dems were looking into changing the system to a one hour free parking offset with charges in the evenings. As far as I am concerned, an idea with legs which could have been piloted, but no, the Tories just want to take 20p off your parking charges for the first hour. and tinker about making it more expensive to stay longer. We have supported this now, because it was the only offer on the table and something is better than nothing, but I’m not sure this will bring people flying back into Brentwood, especially as out-of-towners will now be charged more!

Funny, when David Cameron became leader of the Tory Party he wanted an end to “Punch & Judy politics”. If he comes to Brentwood, he’d better make sure he’s stocked up on strings of sausages. So much for a “changed” Tory party and delivering promises.

According to some Tory councillors, parking isn’t an issue anyway and it’s just the fact that the Lib Dems keep raising the issue. I beg to differ!

Whilst I was at the Health, Housing & Leisure Panel tonight, Nigel Clarke went along to the Police meeting.  These are held for residents to air their views on policing matters.

Nigel asked about enforcement of speeding limits and was successful in getting Honeypot Lane made a priority for speed enforcement as the traffic goes way above 30mph here and it is a 20mph. 

We know there are many problems with speed limits not being introduced but if we can start getting a few places enforced, news will soon travel that the speed limit signs are not ornamental.

Well done Nigel for speaking up for Brentwood West residents!

So incensed was I about the debacle of the icy High Street, I wrote an angry letter to the Brentwood Gazette on Sunday.  It has been published, amongst many others on the same subject.  Here it is:

“Dear Editor
 
As sure as winter follows autumn, resident calls about the ice followed the fall of snow.  And you can hardly blame them.  Back on 22nd April 2009, I had a letter published in the Brentwood Gazette, from which I quote:
 
“….many roads and pavements across Brentwood went un-gritted in February’s snow, with Brentwood and Shenfield high streets left as skating rinks and some roads rendered impassable……Not surprising as the budget for gritting across the county was just over £2.5million. However, the Marketing and PR budget was £4.8million - the ninth highest spend in the country.�
 
With Saturday being heralded as “the busiest shopping day of the year� and heavy snow forecast, I would have hoped that our Conservative-run councils with their “joint partnership� would have learnt a lesson from February’s snow fall and gritted the pavements prior to these events.  But it would seem not, having slipped twice in the High Street myself there were also many accidents and near misses.  The casualty in one accident was a 30 year old female friend of mine, pretty sure of her footing, so you can hardly blame infirmity, age or “the wrong shoes�.
 
Nigel Clarke, long time Crown Street trader, has never known of so many ambulances called to the High Street in one day and, given the number of calls and emails we have had from residents who have struggled to keep upright after these “improvements�, I would suggest that the first test for our “non-slip� paving has not been a resounding success.
 
It seems that as long as the PR machine keeps on rolling, residents can roll over.”

Let’s hope that they start to take some notice.  We will continue to challenge them.

In February, when it snowed, Brentwood and Shenfield High Streets turned into ice rinks.  Your Lib Dem councillors asked for action to be taken, but nothing happened on the basis that they would only grit pavements if they had enough left, and they didn’t.

I’m astounded that this year, exactly the same scenario.  I slipped twice myself outside Peacocks today and know of at least three incidents where ambulances have been called. 

I have asked for urgent action to be taken because this cannot keep going on.  Why has the administration not made this a priority, given that we have had problems once this year already?  It’s hardly as if this snow was unexpected - we all know winter follows autumn……

However, on the positive side, I drove home from my sister’s down The Avenue and Eagle Way and Thorndon Park just looked glorious!

UPDATE: I’ve just heard from a very good friend of ours that she was the lady who slipped on our ungritted high street and ended up flat on her back this afternoon.  She says just the same as me - why is winter such a massive surprise and why wasn’t the High Street gritted for safety when we had days of snow warnings?

Earlier this year, residents in Warleywoods Crescent asked for a path to be extended on health & safety grounds.

Despite the problems experienced by a disabled resident and a young family with a buggy, this was rejected by all Conservative councillors (including the chair, one Tory Brentwood West councillor, supported by the other who wasn’t a voting member but spoke about it).

Although this was raised seven months ago, little had happened on the issue and a H&S assessment had not even been done, the officers had not been in dialogue about sharing the cost with the residents and information about land ownership was not even available from the land registry.

But it still got thrown out by the administration.

Just reporting back from a very lengthy Full Council meeting!

The main debate, lasting nearly two hours, was about a planning application in Beads Hall Lane.  It resulted in a temporary application for two years against the wishes of ward members and hundreds of residents who have turned out time and time again to show how they feel.

This site was under an enforcement notice that hadn’t been dealt with.  I was informed, earlier this year, that there were 700+ outstanding enforcement notices and I tried to ask a question about it.

Despite the mayor stating that, on this matter, members could only speak once on the matter and for three minutes for about, oh, the twentieth time the Leader of the Council, Cllr Louise McKinlay, leapt to her feet once again and shouted me down.

This would never happen under the previous leader of the council (whatever your view of Brandon Lewis he would let the opposition speak) so I politely asked the Mayor to intervene.  Which he did.  Then she leapt to her feet again for another statement!!!!! 

What really amused me is that I got a round of applause for my request to the mayor, so it can’t have just been me who was getting fed up with it!  On a serious note, it’s just not on - you elected me to speak up for you and hold the administration to account so I shouldn’t be shouted down for doing just that because the points I raise don’t suit them

I never got an answer, but I have since written to the officers to ask for the information I sought.  It makes good viewing if you have a chance to watch (webcast on www.brentwood.gov.uk at 1hr 30 mins).

I also asked five questions:

1. When will the Information Centre be open on Saturdays permanently?  Hopefully this isn’t far off.

2. Where are the terms of reference for the “Champions” and when will the Diversity Champion call a meeting of the group?  Soon, apparently (although it is now three months since the announcement was made to the press, even though there were no set objectives for the group or terms of reference set then!)

3. What processes are in place for those businesses who wish to claim compensation due to the High Street improvement works?  Contact Lisa Stroulger but it is not a decision for the borough council.

4. When is the bus stop in Vaughan Williams Way being removed? The officer will revert back to me when he knows (this was first raised three months ago).

5. A resident is appealing against parking restrictions in Clements Park and has now been to see Eric Pickles MP.  Mr Pickles said he would write to the council over a month ago.  Has the letter been received and what action is being taken? No letter has been received by the chair from Mr Pickles.***

Finally, I tabled a motion on planning to improve the notice that is being given to residents around an application.  I am pleased to say, that in the spirit of cross-party working and a desire to improve this issue, Cllr William Lloyd seconded the motion, albeit he is moving two slight amendments to it which are accepted by me.

It was a lively meeting for sure!

*** Update from Mr Pickles office - I’ve now been informed that a letter was written to the Chief Executive on 30th September.  However, what has happened to it in the three weeks since I don’t know, the Panel Chair certainly had no knowledge of the letter.  As our Chief Executive didn’t attend full council last night, she wasn’t able to update the meeting but I will be chasing it up. 

Minnie’s Campaign

Ever since I became involved in Brentwood West and talked to residents, I’ve been concerned about the speed on London Road.  This is why I campaigned for speed measures and for the VAS signs, which are now in place outside South Weald Parish Hall.

However, this doesn’t seem to be having the desired effect.  This was brought home to me on Monday when I learnt of the sad death of a resident’s cat, Minnie (pictured here), at the wheels of a speeding driver.  Many years ago, a woman lost her leg on London Road under a similar circumstance and this can’t go on.  People are frightened to cross the road there because it is so fast. 

Yes, perhaps to some just a cat, but could this happen to a child tomorrow?

So, today, Nigel Clarke and I have launched a “SLOW DOWN” campaign in London Road and issued each house with a poster.  We feel that many are unaware that this is a 30mph zone and we hope that residents will display a poster to get the message across.  You can download additional posters here.

In addition, County Councillor David Kendall has spoken to the police about enforcement of the 30mph speed limit.  I have written to ask that the issue is on the next Highways Panel and I have asked for consideration to be given to an additional VAS sign in the Kavanaghs Road area, which is what we originally wanted (rather than a double sign outside the Parish Hall).

Let’s hope that we don’t hear any more sad stories in the meantime.

George Osborne, Tory Shadow Chancellor, stunned everyone today when he said a tory government would force a year’s pay freeze on all public sector workers who earn £18,000 p.a. or more. 

What?  Perhaps George didn’t do his sums, but earnings of £18,000 will mean you take home £1,195.35 per month.  Hardly a fortune is it now?  If, like many residents in Brentwood, you also travel to town you pay £265 to National Express for your season ticket and you’re left with £930.35. 

That’s for the mortgage, bills, food, clothes…but go on George, you freeze that princely pay rise of about £500 a year and let everyone struggle.

Most civil servants are hard working, decent people trying to make a living and not the fat cats rolling around in crisp fivers that the Tories seem to think they are.

Now, Vince Cable’s mansion tax, that’s a better idea…..

We hear, on the grapevine rather than a notification to members, that the Conservative administration has finally listened to us and decided to make Saturday car parking free until the end of the year.

Yes, good news (and well done to the Brentwood Gazette [who took some flack from the Tories on their campaign], residents and retailers who joined our campaign), but with only 10 weeks or so of the improvement works left, it is a case of “too little too late”.  It’s welcome, but it should have been introduced much earlier, at the start perhaps, rather than towards the end.

Full story here - pictured above are Nigel, David and me campaigning against increased car parking charges about six months ago…..