Paul Beech Ex Mayor Speaking at Oakham Town Meeting About Bunting Which Sets Us Apart
The First item raised at the Town Meeting was the important issue of the
Towns Bunting which has cost thousands.
Mr Beech complimented the Mayor for her "Panache" an interesting word of french
origin although these days if you Google the word you would be forgiven for
thinking he was complimenting her for her choice of knickers, he then went on to
thank the town council for putting up bunting in the town saying it sets us apart from other towns.
It certainly does that. Plastic bunting always adds a sense of quality to any town.
Putting up bunting in our town to make it look pretty is not addressing the towns
reals issues, I am sure we have all noticed when a person paints a window frame
with poor preparation, a few will compliment the person who carried out the work,
but when what is underneath starts to crumble, peal and flake people become unhappy
with the result and this is what Oakham Town Council fails to see.
Just because the town council throws out some colourful bunting it is not fooling anyone.
Only this week a concerned resident wrote to the town council and described
the bunting as dilapidated. The bunting not the town council, although both might be true.
Extract from Email sent to town council from one of the many concerned
residents:
"The Odd House - another old and attractive building - gathering dust and
rubbish (like Flores House) with dilapidated bunting draped across the front
of the building. Are there no incentives available for prospective
businesses to open in Oakham?"
I can always tell when public opinion is against the town council, because
they always drag out one of their few supporters to compliment at
a public meeting. They just don't want to hear any form of criticism.
The proof was evident after this meeting Cllr Alf Dewis spoke to me and told
me of, "you are a Councillor now, it is wrong for you to criticise
the council in public"
It is not wrong Mr Dewis. Yes I am now a Councillor and I represent
the people, some of whom hold very strong critical opinions of their
council. If you cared to listen to the people a little more you might
learn this is the case. Other members of the public present at last
nights meeting raised concerns which will be addressed in posts to
follow. Cllr Stan Stubbs is still suggesting I should not blog?
he added I am guessing anything I say tonight will end up on your
blog. Fortunately for Mr Stubbs, he did not say anything of any relevance
or importance so this is his only mention today.
As for the flags many are now dirty and even torn in the wind, the worst
being the one on the empty betting shop premises not far from the Town
Council Office, closely followed by the West End of Town.
Mr Beech would like to see the "expensive shops" in Mill Street enhanced
with bunting.
I wonder if Mr Beech realises the cost of this decoration? Cllr Joyce Lucas
did hint on that by saying, we will put up extra, we need the money.
There would be an extra costs involved agreeing with all the property owners
to fix brackets and fixings to their buildings.
The First item raised at the Town Meeting was the important issue of the
Towns Bunting which has cost thousands.
Mr Beech complimented the Mayor for her "Panache" an interesting word of french
origin although these days if you Google the word you would be forgiven for
thinking he was complimenting her for her choice of knickers, he then went on to
thank the town council for putting up bunting in the town saying it sets us apart from other towns.
It certainly does that. Plastic bunting always adds a sense of quality to any town.
Putting up bunting in our town to make it look pretty is not addressing the towns
reals issues, I am sure we have all noticed when a person paints a window frame
with poor preparation, a few will compliment the person who carried out the work,
but when what is underneath starts to crumble, peal and flake people become unhappy
with the result and this is what Oakham Town Council fails to see.
Just because the town council throws out some colourful bunting it is not fooling anyone.
Only this week a concerned resident wrote to the town council and described
the bunting as dilapidated. The bunting not the town council, although both might be true.
Extract from Email sent to town council from one of the many concerned
residents:
"The Odd House - another old and attractive building - gathering dust and
rubbish (like Flores House) with dilapidated bunting draped across the front
of the building. Are there no incentives available for prospective
businesses to open in Oakham?"
I can always tell when public opinion is against the town council, because
they always drag out one of their few supporters to compliment at
a public meeting. They just don't want to hear any form of criticism.
The proof was evident after this meeting Cllr Alf Dewis spoke to me and told
me of, "you are a Councillor now, it is wrong for you to criticise
the council in public"
It is not wrong Mr Dewis. Yes I am now a Councillor and I represent
the people, some of whom hold very strong critical opinions of their
council. If you cared to listen to the people a little more you might
learn this is the case. Other members of the public present at last
nights meeting raised concerns which will be addressed in posts to
follow. Cllr Stan Stubbs is still suggesting I should not blog?
he added I am guessing anything I say tonight will end up on your
blog. Fortunately for Mr Stubbs, he did not say anything of any relevance
or importance so this is his only mention today.
As for the flags many are now dirty and even torn in the wind, the worst
being the one on the empty betting shop premises not far from the Town
Council Office, closely followed by the West End of Town.
Mr Beech would like to see the "expensive shops" in Mill Street enhanced
with bunting.
I wonder if Mr Beech realises the cost of this decoration? Cllr Joyce Lucas
did hint on that by saying, we will put up extra, we need the money.
There would be an extra costs involved agreeing with all the property owners
to fix brackets and fixings to their buildings.
