Local Colour

Hatchings 23rd August 2011

Brian Riley Local Colour, Nice Things, Political - Local

In early June I was buttonholed by a fellow parishioner at church drawing my attention to the parking arrangements opposite the Eight Bells in Angel Street. There is a raised portion behind the zebra zig zag lines (see photo) which is meant for no parking but which is often used for parking to the detriment of pedestrians wishing to cross the road.
When cars are parked on the raised portion the visibility of oncoming traffic is hindered which causes problems (in this case) to persons using mobility scooters but the problem applies equally to young children and adults.
Together with the local police constable we referred the matter to the County Council. The good news today is that the white lines have been painted.
So all in all – good news all round!

Hatched area

Misleading Headlines 25th July 2011

Brian Riley Local Colour, Political - Local

The SFP headlines herald the non story of the year. You would imagine the rules are already published or else are about to be published as soon as the Council can impress the seal on the order. Not so. Two thirds through the article we learn from Paul Little (Babergh’s Community Safety and Leisure Manager) that “the plans were in their “early stages” and required further consultation”

I was first brought into this matter just after I was first elected in 2007. Hadleigh Town Council had sponsored a meeting to discuss the desirability of making our High Street (and its environs) an alcohol free zone. The meeting was overwhelmingly in favour and now nearly four years later we learn that the plans are in their “early stages” and required further consultation.” The last time I enquired I was informed that draft orders would come before the Council in June/July (just gone). What’s the betting that we’ll still be sitting around this time next year talking about early stages and further consultation?

Lorry Watch Friday 22nd JUly

Brian Riley Local Colour

For over twenty years there has been a weight restriction  on Benton Street. The restriction is for environmental reasons as there are many fine old buildings in the street (our own house, for example,  is late Georgian/early Victorian).
On Tuesday I was inducted to take part in a pilot scheme for Lorry Watch in Hadleigh. This is an initiative from Suffolk County Council Trading Standards Office following much work done by the Benton Street Squeeze ( see link http://www.bentonstreetsqueeze.co.uk/index.html) .
Since Tuesday I have been out and about every day but there seems to be a golden rule that whenever I have my camera at the ready  I can hang around for what seems hours waiting for a miscreant driver to come to my notice.Sometimes, however the mere presence of someone with a camera at a strategic junction can cause a driver to weigh up his chances and decided to take the long way round (see map and the proximity of Hadleigh to the A12).
But on Friday I may have got lucky. I managed to photograph a furniture van from Glasswells  making its way down the street. It may have been delivering to a resident (which is allowed) but then on the other hand it may have been making its way to the A12 to deliver to someone in thehinterland.
Doubtless the Trading Standards Office will get to the truth – meanwhile the word goes out that the Benton Street Irregulars are on duty.

 

 

Tesco Wednesday 6th July 2011

Brian Riley Local Colour, Political - Local

 Babergh District Council Development Committee hear an application by Tesco to build a supermarket just off the Hadleigh High Street. The voting went eight seven in favour of a refusal. Mainly because of local democracy as nine out of ten people do not want the supermarket.

When we look at the voting make up, the pro’s include what I call the payroll vote (the Chair and Vice Chair) who realistically cannot be expected to vote against the Officer’s recommendation. Others include those who are never known to vote against the Officer’s recommendation, those who are so far away that they never visit Hadleigh except for meetings and have very little interest in the outcome (and can’t understand what the fuss is all about) and finally those who are bullied and cowed and frightened of thunder (a.k.a. fear of being on the losing end of an appeal).

The objections ranged over a number of issues and in each case but one we were told that the reasons for declining the application were inappropriate. Consequently the committee was advised that if the application was to be turned down then the only valid reason could be that the design and materials were inappropriate.

The objections and the Council Officer’s rebuttals were as follows: •

  • The Retail Study was flawed to the point of being defective – Retail Studies no longer for part of the planning approval process.
  • The application is not economically appropriate to Hadleigh and experience in other market towns in East Anglia suggests that High Streets die when Tesco opens up.- What happens or does not happen to High Streets are not matters for consideration by the Development Committee
  • Flood – retail usage of flood plain is allowed. The base of the building is to be raised to meet safety requirements – the car park unfortunately will be under water from time to time.
  • Traffic density – not a problem according to Suffolk Highways (see also road safety).
  • Road safety – not a problem according to Suffolk Highways – despite inappropriate splay lines for vehicles entering and egressing the site and every access into the town being single lane at some point
  • Local democracy – despite nine out of ten people not wanting the development – local democracy is not a factor in the planning process.
  • Wrong site – the town is growing towards the north. The development will bring people from the outskirts into the centre of the town. The site is designated for retail development and that is that!

And so it goes on until the only valid reason for refusal is that we do not like the design. The developer was allowed five minutes to make his presentation, objectors and supporters were restricted to three persons and three minutes each. As a ward member I had unlimited time (subject to the maxim “the brain can only absorb what the backside can endure!”. So I had the time (about twelve minutes) to develop ideas and themes, (The problems with the three/five minute restriction is that there is a tendency to cram information into the time available rather than as Cicero’s wife advised – “make a shorter speech!).

Royal Anglian Regiment Tuesday 21st June 2011

Brian Riley Local Colour, Nice Things, Political - Local

I receive a very nice letter (see pdf below) from the Assistant Regimental Secretary of the Royal Anglian Regiment acknowledging the donation raised by the raffle at the party Spring Get Together earlier in the month. The Royal Anglian Regiment is the Regiment of the ten Counties of East Anglia and the East Midlands and was the first Large Regiment of Infantry in the British Army. The Royal Anglian Regiment is a line infantry regiment. The 1st Battalion is currently in the mechanized infantry role, the 2nd Battalion in the light role and the 3rd Battalion is a Territorial Army Battalion. The 1st Battalion is also called the Vikings and are a very local regiment. The ‘Vikings’ went to Afghanistan in 2007 with the 12th Mechanised Brigade, as part of Operation Herrick. They assumed full responsibility for the north part of Helmand Province, in the south of Afghanistan. We are aware of acquaintances who have Viking relatives.

The Spring Get Together has been held for three years and each time the raffle proceeds have gone to the regiment.

Royal Anglian 110620

Thorpeness: Police called to food fight at café Wednesday 1st June

Brian Riley Local Colour

A food fight broke out at a Suffolk cafe after enraged customers waited more than an hour for their order – and police sent three squad cars to deal with the messy confrontation. The incident happened on Monday afternoon in The Beach House Cafe and Bistro, Thorpeness, at about 3pm when a table of four customers and two members of  staff fell out with each other with fish, ketchup and mushy peas. According to a spokesperson from the restaurant, the customers – a table of four – were warned they would have to wait an hour for their food because it was full. The
spokesperson said: “Two fish and chips and two burgers were taken to the table and one of the male customers started abusing the waiter saying he was greedy and doesn’t know how to run a business.

“He apologised but said he wasn’t going to take that abuse. At that point the whole table joined in. The lady member of staff tried to withdraw the food and it went everywhere. “The male member of staff got mushy peas down his back and ketchup was in the lady member of staff’s hair. Food was all down her white shirt.” The spokeswoman said customers did not have any food spilled on them and were given a full refund.

However, a diner at the next table claimed she saw the female member of staff spill a plate of fish and chips down one of the diner’s backs. She said: “You don’t expect to see this in sleepy Thorpeness. We walked into the courtyard area of the restaurant and sat down and realised there was something going on at the table next to us. “From what I could gather, the people had been waiting for over an hour and were still being asked to pay full price. A female member of staff was saying: ‘If you wanted fast food you should have gone to McDonald’s’.’’

“She put down a plate of fish and then grabbed it back and put it down a customer’s back. The next thing I knew food was flying. It was a big kerfuffle. “The female member of staff had a streak of ketchup down her face and I had to  snatch a little girl out of the way who was standing near the table.” The observer’s husband attempted to manage the confrontation but this was not appreciated by staff. She said her husband made a comment to staff and they were both asked to leave. The restaurant’s spokeswoman said staff also asked the table of four to leave. She said: “We were within our rights to do that. If they didn’t want to wait for food they should have gone to Burger King.”

Suffolk police received a call about the incident from one of the diners at 3.45pm, a spokesman confirmed. He  said he wanted a refund for his food and was aware it was a civil matter but he wanted police there. Three  squad cars attended the incident and spoke to both parties. Neither side made any criminal allegations and the matter was resolved at the scene.

Taken from:
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/thorpeness_police_called_to_food_fight_at_cafe_1_908213