Mourning month
I guess the growing number of body bags being flown back to the UK from overseas theatres made the annual month of remembrance seem longer and perhaps more poignant. I’m not clever enough to understand the issues why our forces are operating overseas. I have heard it is to combat terrorism at home! It still hasn’t stopped madmen like the American officer who went beserk killing his colleagues, and I suspect the next outrage will occur when one is least expecting it to happen in the least suspecting place.
Unlike conventional wars the ‘enemy’ at home and overseas hide behind the anonnymity of civilian clothes. And why am I embarassed to wear my medals in public?
Savers hit
Another question I keep asking myself is why am I responsible for this country’s debt. And where did the money go? Savers are no longer getting interest to speak of from their banks, who are raking it in issuing bonds. The Bank of England has effectively devalued the pound by printing so many more banknotes and if the banks decide to reward their best people with shares they too will be reduced in value. Has capitalism had its day?
Older people shopping
Reading through another local paper I see their young readers feel older people shouldn’t shop when they do. Shame. Thank goodness I can lay claim to being one of those older people. And let me remind those younger readers at least us older shoppers still say ‘thank you’ and ‘please’ and even give our seats up to others. What a pity your young mothers and fathers haven’t given you the same backbone ours gave us!
Executive Mayor
A number of people have asked me how we can possibly trust our council when they hide behind their web site telling us that the overwhelming number of respondents said they preferred the present Leader, Cabinet system rather than have an Executive Mayor and cabinet.
The Chronicle asked to see the results of the online survey but was told it was anonymous! With barely eighty responses from their (the council) five week advertising campaign in the News Shopper we wondered how many of the fifty three conservative councillors voted online to keep the Leader system! And how many people responded who don’t live in Bexley? And could anyone living in Bexley have responded more than once on different computers?
Residents should take any further ‘consultations’ via the council’s web site with a huge pinch of salt.
Christmas parking in Bexley
Whilst Sevenoaks Council think ahead to help their High Street traders, announcing free car parking for two Saturdays preceding Christmas, Bexley council’s cabinet member for transport is taking a more lugubrious approach and has still not made up his mind. If he leaves it much longer the benefit will have passed us by and our struggling traders will continue to struggle. The full cabinet has known for a year now how the recession has hit traders and all they prefer to do is paint the towns black rather than make simple decisions to help. PARKING IS A REAL ISSUE. Readers please note there is an election coming up in May!
Care for the elderly
My friend (83) reported to hospital for a check up where ‘consultants’ diagnosed a growth on his lung. He was told therapy would be required at St. Thomas hospital in London because treatment was not available in any of the five hospitals nearest to Sidcup.
He began to feel vulnerable because his wife is also not in good health and of a age when nursing a spouse can be trying.
Despite their age no-one from social services on Bexley Council contacted the family to see if they needed a helping hand. Were they young children they might well have been of interest to social services! But the aged don’t seem to figure on the list of help/advice/services.
I have spoken to a number of people aged seventy plus and not one of them has ever been approached by the council to gauge their needs or even to enquire after their general well-being.
When I attended the public meeting to discuss the recent power failure the Leader of the Council, Cllr. Teresa O’Neill said they had contacted all vulnerable people and I wondered how they had been identified if they never contact them? The electoral rolls would tell them of everyone aged seventy plus but that is where the information stays. The elderly in Bexley seem isolated and the Chronicle believes it’s about time they woke up and at least sent a letter of enquiry to everyone of a certain age to monitor their situation perhaps outlining to them help that might be available.
Of course there are many people aged seventy plus who are still quite fit and do not need help. Some who are housebound are rightly offered respite care in places like the Day Centre in Hadlow Road, Sidcup where they have the chance to meet like minded people. Other elderly who are still active prefer to make their own arrangements through places like Pop in Parlours, one of which used to be open next to the Day Care centre in Sidcup. It has been out of use now for more than two years and every promise that it is to be refurbished and reopened turns out to be untrue, so active retirees are left to their own devices without an HQ.
If you talk about the vulnerable in Bexley, the council officers will tell you children and young people are most vulnerable! To prove the point they spend an amazing £243.606.000 on the group, 49.6% of their total budget as opposed to the adult social services where they spend £56,167,000 or just 11.4% of the budget. Some would say the elderly are more vulnerable and in need of help and support yet we are spending almost five times less on them!