Chronicle publisher furious with council
Once again Bexley council has bypassed local businesses by placing the contract for a local guide to businesses outside of the borough (and county) to a firm in Surrey who contribute nothing to the Bexley community.
The new ‘Bexley Business Guide & Directory’ has been produced in association with publisher, Burrows Communications Ltd.
Welcoming the new directory, Cllr Linda Bailey, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, said “We are committed to supporting our local businesses. We announced a number of important measures earlier in the year to help local businesses and residents cope with the downturn in the economy. The production of this directory complements those measures and I hope it will quickly become a valuable resource.”
The publishers defend their position claiming it costs Bexley Council nothing! They are given a free office and telephone calls at council taxpayers expense.
Stone Leisure Ltd who own the Chronicle Series believes the council are favouring one publisher over another and Linda Baileys claim that going to a publisher in Surrey is helping local businesses like Stone Leisure is sheer nonsense. But it does prove, once again, just how far removed our councillors are from the council officer decision making centre!
Another example is the Danson Festival for which Stone Leisure also requested tender documents but their request was ‘lost in the post’! Bexley Council gave the contract to a firm in Bristol. Yes Linda, all good for local business, well done!
Parliamentary Election
People have been asking me if I will be standing again as an Independent in the local elections again in May. Some have asked if I will stand as an independent candidate for the Sidcup/Old Bexley constituency. Are you fed up with the present system of party politics where central office (in London) decide who the candidates will be and be sure they will toe the party line. Would you vote for an independent candidate like myself who would be a peoples representative?
Should there be a hung parliament in May the Independents voted in could be in a strong position. If you feel you would like a wider choice of candidates locally to include an independent I’d really appreciate your view. Write and let me know. Bob Griffiths, Andrew House, Granville Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 4BN. Let me know also if you would be a helper in your road/street (Old Bexley and Sidcup only).
Bexley council and 2012
The London Olympics could be a bonanza for Bexley if the ruling council of the day were to seize an opportunity. I’m thinking temporary accommodation. There are thousands of family members who will be participating in the Olympics who also own a recreational vehicle plus thousands more who would like to come to the UK to participate as visitors.
The majority of the owners of motorhomes and caravans are environmentally friendly with a low carbon footprint. There are only two main campsites in London one at Abbey Wood and one at Crystal Palace neither has the capacity to take large numbers of units but in Bexley we have some excellent potential sites that would be an enormous stimulus to local economies and we have time to plan them well in advance.
One site that already has permission for camping is the Meadows, the dog walking paradise in Foots Cray. It is ideal for a large scale temporary campsite that could accommodate up to three thousand units and be a main Olympic attraction.
Has Bexley the will to make it happen or will the London Mayor step in and allow temporary camp sites on Victoria park.
Clement the author
‘My fifteen minutes of shame’ could be the title of an autobiography by disgraced former Bexley Council Leader Ian Clement.
The Evening Standard ran a story that Clement is considering writing a book about his short career in politics.
He once told me “I’m the most unlikely Tory you will ever meet’! He was right.
What has surprised people in the lowly world of local politics is the haste in which Clement was dumped by his so-called tory friends. I wouldn’t want them in a trench if I was fighting for my life.