Finally the EU Withdrawal Act is in place after over 1,300 amendments and with over 250 hours of debate . All of this of course on top of a Remain bonus of the £ 9m spent on a leaflet sent out by a previous Govt to all households in the UK essentially putting the case for Remain and much spent by both sides on putting the IN / OUT case before the Referendum , ( and no , it wasn ’ t ‘ advisory ’ as we were clearly told at the time that the outcome would be implemented ); as well as frequent leaks and Project Fear / threats Press Conferences by EU and Remain sympathisers . As if any negotiations , let alone something as complex as dealing with a hostile EU bureaucracy and 27 other nations , ( most being net ‘ takers ’ from the EU budget ), wasn ’ t enough of a challenge . The ‘ People ’ s March ’ for the spurious Peoples Vote , ( patronising and arrogant as many of those participants interviewed were ), still tries to present the myth that we didn ’ t know what we were voting for and the likes of Anna Soubry , MP , facing deselection now suddenly bleat about healing division after some of the shocking things she has said from the beginning about those who dared to vote leave , ( and not there is no defence for some of the outrageous threats that she and other Remain die-hards have received ). It is in fact remarkable that in our Parliamentary system she and others have had such a free hand to |
rail and rant and then vote using every attempt to scupper Peoples Vote 1 ie the Referendum . I for one am not falling for the now well tried EU supporters ‘ keep on voting until you vote the way we want ’ as we have seen previously in other nations on various past treaties .
Turning to more immediate local matters I read of the Herts & Essex ‘ groundbreaking ceremony ’, (‘ read ’ as no local Ward Cllrs were invited but HCC and EHC sent senior cllrs ) and I know that the immediate neighbours are concerned about heavy construction traffic and ultimately that there will be genuine community access to the facilities . ( Often with schools this hasn ’ t effectively materialised once Planning has been secured ). The local County Cllr and residents are quite focused on mitigating the inevitable traffic issues and ensuring eventual community use . We also had a small but significant Traveller incursion on Parsonage Field and I must commend our local Safer Neighbourhood Police for their prompt and sensitive containment of the situation and community liaison resulting in recovery of the Field within three days .
Colin Woodward County / District / Town Cllr
colin . woodward @ hertfordshire . gov . uk Twitter : ColinWoodward00
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The theme of this year ’ s Town Carnival is “ Celebrating Bishop ’ s Stortford ”. I am writing this article just before Carnival Day , so I am wondering how all the various organisations that take part will demonstrate this theme . Will there be models of the old Malting buildings ? Will there be floats of narrow Boats , taking our goods to London by river ? What about our Norman Castle and Mound ? or the Roman skeleton in our Museum ? Will St . Michael ’ s Church and Windhill be depicted ?
But , maybe the Carnival participants will opt for more modern items . They might celebrate our excellent Schools , or the Railway station , to signify a commuter town . They might portray some of our flourishing dance and theatre schools or sporting clubs , or our talented amateur dramatic and music groups . There are U3A , Rotary clubs , helping Organisations and Church groups , and many more .
Whatever the Carnival Procession or the Fun Day on Sworder ’ s Field depict , I am sure they will show what a vibrant , active Town we inhabit , and how fortunate we are to have a dedicated Town Council which organises such a lovely event to for everyone to enjoy .
I have a warm appreciation for the Town Council for its work on the Carnival , but , I have no such good feelings towards the Tory-controlled District Council . This
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seems determined to press ahead with spending £ 20Million of tax-payers ’ money on a big new Theatre . I have yet to see any evidence that this might be a viable project . For instance – How many Theatre companies have said that they would definitely come here if we had such a theatre ? How many people have said that they would definitely use it ? How will the money be found to support the Town Museum if the Rhodes Centre activities are all re-located ?
The District Council also seems determined to push ahead with its plans for a huge , 6-storey , car park at Northgate End , in spite of real worries about the increased Traffic congestion , and the closeness to domestic dwellings .
This same Council is now appealing for volunteers to serve on its “ Shaping Stortford Steering Group ”. This meets once a month , on a weekday , from 15.30-17.30 , so no one in full-time employment will be able to attend . What an insult to the working population ! What a farce !
The Conservative District Council ’ s attitude to people and to democracy leaves much to be desired .
Mione Goldspink
Chairman , Bishop ’ s Stortford Liberal Democrats
email : mionegoldspink @ hotmail . com
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