Paint it black!
A year ago Sidcup traders through the, Sidcup High Street Promotions Group, met with the Leader of the council Cllr. Teresa O’Neill, the chief executive Will Tuckley and other councillors to discuss the future of Sidcup town centre.
There was much talk and a plan of action drawn up. The traders emphasised the crux of their concern was car parking which was met with a deafening negative response from Cllrs. Craske and Bacon.
But the tables are turned when the centre of Bexley’s universe, Bexleyheath comes under the spotlight. There the council are investing £16,000,000 of taxpayers money building their new offices and commissioned two very expensive reports on the daytime and night time economies, engaging top consultants!. The daytime report goes to sixty-four pages and the nightime report no less than 96 pages!
When the Sidcup High Street Promotions Group asked the council for £1,200 to pay for a market research report to find out who shopped at Morrisons, where did they come from and why didn’t they shop in the high street, they were turned down.
If talk could solve the problem traders would all be doing well!
Painting the town black and removing a few signs will not put cash in to tills. Little if anything has been done about increasing parking or freeing up the four roads closed to help Morrisons, and even as we closed for press our December 16 issues, Craske had still not told us about special parking for Christmas.
When the group asked for some funding for the Sidcup Festival it was met with sympathy but no money but they have poured £91,000 into the Danson Festival!
Drunks and the NHS
Read the letter from Ross in Crayford. His idea is to fine drunks who have to be attended by the NHS. I can think of other areas of compassion which need to be addressed. Why is it that almost all of us can manage, however tough times may be without resorting to asking for handouts for this and that?
London Mayor
Do you think it fair that Bexley residents should pay more council tax for the improvements to the underground railway in London? Reading between the lines it seems the underground needs more cash and you and I are likely to pay for it even though we have no underground trains.
I do think the Mayor ought to think some of his ideas through. For the utilities to have to ask permission to dig up a road might work sometimes but when there is a water or gas leak they have no option but to fix it as quickly as they can.
Council Tax
The present Council Tax is clearly unfair with those living in small houses paying less than those living in larger ones.
It takes no account of the number of people living in those properties and whether they benefit from a multitude of services or just rubbish collection, street lighting etc.
All things being equal the amount of material produced by two people living in a small house is the same as a couple living in a larger house.
The disposable income of those living in a small house could be far higher than those living in a larger house.
A fairer way of collecting tax to pay for services would be to divide the total income required by the number of properties in the borough, At the moment one family can pay just £79 a month and at the other end of the scale £237. It is neither fair or value for money. What do you think? Write to me Bob Griffiths, Editor, The Chronicle, Andrew House, Granville Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 4BN or email newsdesk@bexleychronicle.com.
My doves
During the recent exceptionally cold weather I was surprised to see that one of my doves laid two eggs from which have hatched and the mother has since been keeping them warm. They are both doing well and white feathers have appeared, and they don’t seem at all bothered by the cold spell. Usually only one survives. Let’s hope this time they both will.