Oakham Receives New Christmas Tree From Chris Hamilton, Rutland Garden Centre, Photographs

Oakham Receives New Christmas Tree From Chris Hamilton, Rutland Garden Centre

The East Midlands most hated tree was taken down this morning and replaced with
a fine new tree donated by Rutland Garden Centre.

Christmas Hamilton took control of events and ensured the lights were placed correctly.

Filmed by the BBC and watched by Oakham Mayor Jayne Woodock and Cllr Adam Lowe
and his wife.

Chris was assisted by members of the Rotary.

Work continued during a heavy rain shower.

Oakham Mayor produced a umbrella decorated with pictures of blue tits. She told
Cllr Lowe her own tits were just as blue, referring to the effect of the cold weather.
I think I shall have to cut that from the video.

Every one was in good spirits, Cllr Lowe was busy attempting to photograph workman
he was especially keen to capture the 'builders bum shots' the men hearing this quickly
covered up and it was suggested the Rutland Times might not be too keen to publish
them.

Oakham Mayor Jayne Woodcock, Mrs Lowe and Cllr Adam Lowe
awaiting the delivery of the replacement tree.

BBC East Midlands Today on standby

The BBC News filming tree arrival.

The delivery

Erecting the tree

Unpacking

Chris at the top of tree starts to place lights

Rutland Garden Centre, A Christmas Carol, Chris Hamilton, Visited by a Spirit of Christmas? Is to give Oakham a Christmas Tree.

Rutland Garden Centre, A Christmas Carol, Chris Hamilton, 
Visited by a Spirit of Christmas? 

Is to give Oakham a Christmas Tree.

Mr Hamilton spotted the Facebook campaign  'give Oakham the Christmas tree it deserves.'

The campaign was given plenty of local media coverage, Rob Persani  interviewed Oakham
Deputy Mayor Cllr Alf Dewis. on his breakfast show
this week on Rutland Radio.

The Rutland Times gave the campaign front
page coverage.

Mr Hamilton has strong connections to our town
council past and present.

Former Oakham Mayor Jim Harrison one of Mr
Hamilton's friends said Oakham residents may
have the tree they deserve?

Mr Hamilton owner of Rutland Garden Center
based in Ashwell, has surely been visited by a
Christmas Spirit of sort. He has told Rutland
Radio news he will donate a new 20 foot tree, this
Sunday morning. 8.00am and is asking residents
to assist at the delivery if they can.

It's great to see the Hamilton family giving back
to the Oakham tax payers after many past years of
taking from them.

Mr Hamilton finds it difficult to recruit staff and is
currently attempting to seek temporary staff using
a Grantham based agency, who say it is highly unusual
for them to do business with Oakham and Rutland
based firms. The agency felt I had the appropriate
skills and experience to work for Mr Hamilton!
I would have liked to work at the garden center, but
I am sure if I had turned up this Wednesday to start work
Mr Hamilton in a drunken rage would have chased
me off site with his shot gun.

Get Lost In Rutland New Outdoor Shop, Rutland Village, Rutland Garden Centre, Ashwell, Oakham, Rutland, Photographs

www.facebook.com/getlostinrutland

twitter.com/Getlost_Rutland

www.getlostinrutland.co.uk

Today I decided to visit Get Lost in Rutland a new outdoor shop at the Rutland Village
Ashwell

The new shop sell a lot for outdoor activities and the staff are nice and friendly.




























There are other trader at the shopping village



Cotton Traders the whit top I think is woman's wear and for just £2 in the sale






Flicker moved from Crown Walk Oakham



Rutland Flowers and Lifestyle



Rutland Village rutlandvillage.co.uk



Rutland Garden Classics rutlandvillage.co.uk/gardenclassics






Rutland Garden Centre Hand Car Wash, whilst you watch the sheep



The Rutland Garden Centre, Rutland Village

Rutland Ashwell Garden Centre up for sale

Rutland Garden Centre up for sale.

Rutland Garden Centre has been put on the market after the owners secured planning permission to expand.


The Garden Centre, on Ashwell Road, Oakham, has been granted permission to build a 580sq m retail shop and extend the car park to include 40 more spaces.


The Rutland garden centre, spread over 3.5 acres is home to over 5000 plants, shrubs and trees.

In addition to the extensive plant range, the garden centre has large stocks of fencing panels and posts, decking, hard landscaping materials, barbeques, patio furniture, hand tools, mowers and a vast range of pots.

In fact they say everything the gardener could need - enthusiast or professional.

Inside the large shop they also stock a wide range of clothing, books and gifts.

Opening times:
Mon - Sat: 9am - 5:30pm
Sun: 10am - 4pmTel: +44 (0) 1572 723 583
Web: rutlandgardencentre.com
Email: info@rutlandgardencentre.com

Oakham Town Council Standards Complaint Rutland Garden Centre

Dear Mr Pook

Oakham Town Council Standards Complaint

At last nights council meeting most of Oakham Town Council members declared an interest by declaring they were close friends or knew the applicant relating to the Rutland Garden Centre. Also the applicant was previously employed by the Town Council as the assistant clerk. The Clerk also declared an interest.
As none of these members have declared an interest in the past I wish to raise a standards complaint.
Rutland Garden Centre benefits from a very lucrative and frankly expensive contract. Now it is clear why, the town pays what can only be considered retail prices for the baskets and watering.
When I was a Councillor I questioned this contract and was told by the clerk no one else was interested.
I find this shocking and require standards too take action. Because of the confusion last night I have not included the names of councillors in case of error in this email I suggest you refer to the parish members interest register.
Last meeting Cllr Walters made his view known to many groups comes to the council and expect guaranteed hand out.
I believe this is the same with contractors. You only have to look at how poorly the toilet cleaning contract was awarded.
And dare I go back to the bandstand. This council or the Clerk? Is corrupt and no one will stop it.
From
Martin Brookes

Blogged

Oakham Town Councils planning and general purposes committee met last night
They discussed a number of applications this included.
APP/2010/1138/PG Rutland Garden Centre
Retrospective application for change of use of part of first floor of retail unit from storage to living accommodation.
Rutland Garden Centre Rutland Village Ashwell Road
At this point the meeting turned into a complete shambles mess!
All but four member declared a personal and prejudicial interest.
It took some time for them to leave the chamber along with the clerk.
Who all knew the applicant as she was once the assistant town clerk employed by Oakham Town Council. And it was also stated she was a close friend.
This is a very interesting development because this has never been declared at any time in the past.
The garden centre receives huge sums of money for the hanging baskets and watering throughout the summer.
When I was a councillor I question the high cost and the possibility of tendering and the clerk told me no one else was interested.
I can not see why when the contract runs into thousands of pounds it is a very lucrative contract.
Any way when they finally departed the chamber the remainder did not seem to want to deal with the application.
The members needed to elect a chairman so Cllr Dewis proposed. Cllr Charles Haworth because he was a senior member. He accepted of course this is total rubbish all town councillors are meant to be equal clearly not the case at Oakham Town Council.
Cllr Dewis was unhappy the council was being asked to consider the application, because they had not considered the original.
What does he not understand about a retrospective planning application? It means the applicant has already implemented the change without planning consent or any previous application.
Members were not happy to consider the application because it was outside the parish boundary and it was suggested it was solely a matter for Ashwell Parish Council.
The four members agreed not to comment on the application. It was clear they did not want to upset anyone.
As they returned to their original seats Cllr Haworth suggested they could have considered the matter further if they had ambition to expand their territory .
Cllr Alf Dewis added yes back into Leicestershire!

Ashwell Garden Centre & Oakham Town Council Freindship and Public Funds

Oakham Town Councils planning and general purposes committee met last night

They discussed a number of applications this included.

APP/2010/1138/PG Rutland Garden Centre
Retrospective application for change of use of part of first floor of retail unit from storage to living accommodation.
Rutland Garden Centre Rutland Village Ashwell Road

At this point the meeting turned into a complete shambolic mess!

All but four member declared a personal and prejudicial interest.

It took some time for them to leave the chamber along with the clerk.

Who all knew the applicant as she was once the assistant town clerk employed by Oakham Town Council. And it was also stated she was a close friend.

This is a very interesting development because this has never been declared at any time in the past.
The garden centre receives huge sums of money for the hanging baskets and watering throughout the summer.

When I was a councillor I question the high cost and the possibility of tendering and the clerk told me no one else was interested.

I can not see why when the contract runs into thousands of pounds it is a very lucrative contract.

Any way when they finally departed the chamber the remainder did not seem to want to deal with the application.

The members needed to elect a chairman so Cllr Dewis proposed. Cllr Charles Haworth because he was a senior member. He accepted of course this is total rubbish all town councillors are meant to be equal clearly not the case at Oakham Town Council.

Cllr Dewis was unhappy the council was being asked to consider the application, because they had not considered the original.

What does he not understand about a retrospective planning application? It means the applicant has already implemented the change without planning consent or any previous application.

Members were not happy to consider the application because it was outside the parish boundary and it was suggested it was solely a matter for Ashwell Parish Council.

The four members agreed not to comment on the application. It was clear they did not want to upset anyone.

As they returned to their original seats Cllr Haworth suggested they could have considered the matter further if they had ambition to expand their territory .

Cllr Alf Dewis added yes back into Leicestershire!