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The Bradworthy Wind Turbines
Councillor
Christie's Weblog
From your Torridge District Councillor Peter Christie
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31st May '09
When the police attended the monthly town council meeting to give their report on crime in the town we heard about all the usual cases – some up, some down – but councillor Emma Farrington asked about the drinking and anti-social behaviour that goes on in Victoria Park such as when youths had been jumping into the paddling pool and scaring younger children. The policeman said the CCTV camera in the Park was being utilised and that they were looking at the possibility of extending the alcohol free area in the town to include the Park. If this was done it would help – but one has to ask what would happen to the Folk Festival and other events where families turn up and have a picnic with a few drinks as well. Clearly targeting the problem drinkers now would send out the right message and, hopefully, would not see a blanket ban imposed that would catch both good and bad. On a lighter note I would add that at the completion of questions to the police the officer casually asked ‘If you could all show me your expenses claims now….’ Which got a big laugh – and in case anyone is worried only a few councillors take the allowance on offer on the town council – details are in the council newsletter and on our website. Potentially more interesting is that the Sunday Times has used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain details of district councillor’s expense claims. Personally I only take the basic allowance and cannot remember ever claiming any expenses. Councillors who live a long way from Torridge’s headquarters in Bideford naturally claim travelling expenses but I will be as interested as everyone else to see what my fellow councillors have claimed for although I am fairly certain that there will be none of the incredible nonsense we have seen from MPs. I note that our MP Geoffrey Cox will be detailing his £141,000 expenses claim soon – we do live in exciting times.
We are all aware of the poor state of the town’s roads at the moment with large pot holes everywhere. At the last town council meeting one of Bideford’s two county councillors Humphrey Temperley was asked about this and he pointed out that following the bad Winter the number of potholes had doubled across the county and his council had increased its roads budget to try to tackle the problem. Several town councillors did wonder if the roads being used by the Tour of Britain cyclists shouldn’t be tackled first – it wouldn’t do the town’s reputation much good if the expected large television and live audiences saw a rider somersaulting over their handlebars after plunging into a pothole!
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