Mid-term crisis
With the new Council approaching its mid-term it was interesting to hear their robust replies to questions put to them by members of the public and Labour councillors at the last full council meeting.
A Sidcup resident Mr Ray Hutchins asked the Leader of the Council Ian Clement to explain what the conservatives had done for Sidcup. He replied that they had kept Council Tax to a 3% increase and talked about keeping future increases low - no question of them being reduced! This affected the whole borough not just Sidcup. He said the conservatives promised to sort out Sidcup’s traffic problems - this is still under consultation! They introduced seven day removal of graffiti, another borough wide issue not just for Sidcup! The conservatives helped to resolve issues of supported living homes they sold to L&Q Housing who wanted to close six of them- another borough wide problem not just Sidcup! The Leader said the conservatives had repaired 32 roads and pavements in Sidcup spending £1m! We asked where these were but have received no answer yet! He talked about safer policing, car parks and saving music/dance tuition in Sidcup which was also a borough wide problem!
The Mayor invited Mr Hutchins to put a supplementary question. He said he had done so five years ago to Cllr. M.Slaughter and was still awaiting a reply!
The conservative Leader also seemed very out of touch when he commented about the Morrison supermarket having no affect whatsoever on the High Street and what did it matter that they sold other than food items etc. Clearly he is not aware of the Conditions his planners put on the store before giving them permission to build then, when challenged to to enforce Condition 22, wouldn’t!
Bexley First
At the same Council meeting the driven desire of the council to establish new offices for themselves and changed working conditions for their staff was also discussed. Also about the buildings they now want to dispose of. Cllr. John Eastaugh reminded members that the idea of building 400 houses on the Howbury site in Slade Green could be flawed having only two roads serving it and the industrial estate! Cllr. Colin Campbell answered some of the criticism of selling the Manor House Register office. He said the cost of upkeep was about £140,000 a year which included salaries of staff. “We can’t ignore these costs...we were elected to make decisions... get rid of it”! He said he had received more e-mails favouring closure than keeping it open. Cllr.M Slaughter said he was getting mixed messages and he didn’t mind the Manor House being sold off provided something of equal stature could be found elsewhere. Someone suggested Hall Place seemed the likely option. Only Cllr. J. Slaughter spoke in support of keeping the Manor House and she said she was surprised to learn that Cllr. Campbell had received such positive support when her post (and the Chronicles) said the opposite.
Getting the hump!
I sent a perfectly polite letter to the councillor Mr.Craske who never acknowledged it but sent it to a council employee who in turn referred it to another. Our problem is that sometimes a vibration is felt when heavy lorries pass over the road hump in The Drive outside our house.
A letter finally arrived quoting ancient writings from the Highways Authority. It’s so easy just writing a letter quoting outdated information. Why not do as we do and stand beside the road and see for themselves. After just fifteen minutes they could see what we (and, I suspect, the two councillors who live in the road can also see) very few, if any regular road users, bother to slow down. This includes buses and heavy transport. The hump is clearly making no contribution to its intended purpose so scrap it!
Sidcup Traffic Review
With fuel now at £5 a gallon (remember when it used to be 7/6d!) Sidcup’s carbon footprint continues to escalate and air quality gets worse due to the conservative councils prevarication to come to a decision regarding the traffic review they promised residents before they were elected a few years ago.
Now we learn that the most recent questionnaire, which unfortunately was not distributed very widely according to readers who have written or called the Chronicle, is now being ‘consulted’ and gaining approval for a way forward. When? March 2008!
Why no more public meetings to make sure what is proposed is acceptable?
After so many delays it might be the best option for our ‘Listening Council’ or will they do what they usually do - what they want leaving the town grid-locked but one way!