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A Personal Message
From Chris Gravett
There have been some ‘sensational’ articles in the local rags and on social
media this week. Articles that referred to me both in my role as a councillor
and to me as a private individual. I write this message from a personal
perspective not on behalf of the council. Unfortunately the local press did
not contact me regarding their articles therefore their articles are one sided,
based on what they have been fed by others. Little evidence of balanced or
investigative journalism
I would like to say thank you for the fantastic support I have received from
the community, dozens of messages of support and encouragement not to
give in.
Not that such support should have been warranted – I played no part
whatsoever in the council’s decision (pre the May election) to offer to pay
my defence of the part of the defamation claim against me pertaining to a
time when I was a councillor on official council business. I have had no direct
input in the reviews and other decisions regarding the on-going process as I
have always declared personal and pecuniary interests.
I am proud that I did not shy away from attempting to address/expose issues
in the ATC activities during my first term as a councillor in 2013/2014. The only
regret I have is for the pain my family have suffered as a consequence.
I am proud that I led a campaign with over thirty other active residents
to give Arlesey the opportunity to choose a council to represent them that
offered a new ethos to our community. I am also proud at the response the
electorate gave to that campaign on May 7th 2015.
I am proud that the new council has been addressing the numerous
challenges facing us in an honest and transparent manner. Perhaps
comments to the contrary have been generated through rejection and
bitterness, I don’t know.
I am proud that a suitably qualified and experienced candidate has been
appointed Town Clerk and will be in office from November 2nd. The council
and our staff require such skills and support if we are to move forward and
address the challenges ahead. This was a personal manifesto pledge of
mine at the election.
I am confident that together with my peers we will deliver all the promises
made. I ask that the community reflects and responds objectively to recent
articles. I can understand such sensationalism causing concern. As time
goes by you will see that this weeks news is a gross distortion of what I as a
person am about.
I will not be giving up on Arlesey. I will not be resigning – there is no
reason whatsoever to even consider it.
Chris Gravett 23/10/15
Julia’s Dog Walks
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Good Neighbour Scheme
Just to let you know that the Arlesey Good Neighbour Scheme has
problems! Our volunteers have dropped out and few people are calling. We
are at the point that we may have to wind this up. It would be a dreadful
shame to lose this from our very large community. We need energetic
people for a very short time each week/month to help and promote the
scheme, or man the phone, or distribute leaflets, etc. We desperately need
a SECRETARY. Come along to the Vicars Inn on Monday 2nd November at
7pm . . . or we will lose this valuable resource. Thanks.
Ev Curtis
Ebony & Ivory Drama Group
system and one of the small production team could not be there. But as the
old saying ‘the show must go on’.
With children from the ages of six to thirteen they performed the first act
with poetry and some songs from musicals such as Les Miserables and
Disney’s Frozen. The second act set with scenes and songs from Annie.
It was a great first show and everyone should be proud of their part. The
group are looking for more children to stage more productions in the future.
If you are interested in being part of the group either on stage or behind the
scenes they rehearse on Monday evenings between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at
Arlesey Village Hall.
For the last few months Ebony & Ivory Drama Group have been rehearsing
for a show to be staged at the Village Hall in Arlesey. At the end of October
they took to the stage. There had been many obstacles to overcome and
Producer Bridget Whittiker said before the show “the children are very
nervous, but excited. The have only rehearsed this show for 18 hours”. They
need not have been nervous as it was a great first performance of a group
beset with problems – a couple of days before the show they had no sound
on the button, 32 Stotfold Road, Arlesey. Bedfordshire. SG15 6XT www.onthebuttonarlesey.co.uk
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November 2015
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