Seventy years ago this evening, nineteen Lancaster bombers of the RAF's 617 Squadron took off from RAF Scampton near Lincoln to bomb the Ruhr dams in Germany. The anniversary has been marked by events at Scampton and over the Derwent reservoir. The Dambusters raid was an extraordinary act of bravery and a remarkable technical achievement for its time. The military usefulness of the raid was probably limited, but the propaganda value was immense. The casualty rate was high, even by the standards of RAF Bomber Command. 53 of the 133 aircrew who participated in the attack were killed, a casualty ...
This afternoon, I had the great pleasure of attending the 25th Anniversary Party of the Blackness Court Sheltered Housing Complex. There was a great turnout of residents - see below - and it was a lovely event to mark an important anniversary for the complex. The event also marked the 25th Anniversary of Linda Webster as Blackness Court's Scheme Manager. Linda has been at Blackness Court since 1988 and is a much-loved and hard working scheme manager who has made Blackness Court such a lovely place for the tenants to have made their home. Linda gave an entertaining rendition of ...
If you had to set the rules by which you conduct a war then what would you include? You come across these rules in war films when an English POW is asked for information and with their stiff upper lip give only their name, rank and number. Should soldiers be killing civilians? Well the answer should be a no. Should attacks be carried out that harm civilians? Well it should be a no again but 'collateral damage' means that sometimes these things happen, they can't be helped and sometimes they are a necessary part of war. There is a great ...
"Billesdon Coplow is a wooded knoll, 625 ft. high, and is a conspicuous landmark in east Leicestershire," says the Victoria County History. "To the south it is visible for 20 miles." There is something the split in its centre that has always reminded me of a freshly baked loaf. And on Saturday, as I was trudging across the fields from Barkby to Beeby, it was certainly conspicuous to the South East, though not half as close as the zoom lens makes it appear.
Greater Manchester is bidding for £20 million of Government funding to provide a major boost to cycling across the area. Only one large city region will win, but if we get it we'll see major improvements – including a lot of segregated cycle paths – built by the end of 2015. You can see more details of the Vélocity 2025 bid here. For Cheadle and Gatley, winning the bid would see: Gatley Station become a cycling station, with cycle parking facilities and improvements to local roads to make cycling to the station easier and safer. Segregated cycle path along Manchester ...
UKIP are making waves. Never mind that they ended up with fewer seats on May 3rd than independent candidates. Never mind that they raised less than 10% of what the Liberal Democrats did over the first quarter of 2013. Never mind that they have already lost a councillor in Gloucestershire after just 12 days in office. In a climate like this, that is all so much chaff in the wind compared to the effect that this party is having on larger, beefier and much more venerable rivals. Frankly, everyone else seems to be completely baffled by UKIP. Today we saw ...
Last year the Commons held an historic backbench debate on mental health. Historic not just because it tackled what was once almost a taboo subject, but also because a number of MPs spoke about their own mental health problems. The two most prominent were Charles Walker and Kevan Jones - so much so that in today's debate Jones said that they had become "the Eric and Ernie of the mental health conference circuit". (He added: "I leave it to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and the House to discern which of us is Eric and which is Ernie.") Today Charles Walker ...
The May 2013 Anchorpoint newsletter has the usual pages full of potential funding sources for local charities and community groups.
Last year Cheadle residents did a lot of work looking at options for improving Cheadle village and working out what the problems were that most needed addressing. If you sent in a response to that survey last time, you'll be receiving a consultation leaflet next week on the proposals the Council's come up with. We'll be putting all the details on this website too, so everyone can have a say. The proposals include improving pavements throughout the village, safer crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists and some other improvements.
Most of the publicity about today's private members bills' ballot has concerned James Wharton and his intention to promote the Conservative Party's Euro referendum bill. But you may be interested to learn that four Liberal Democrat MPs came in the top 14 of the ballot: 9. Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) 11. Mike Crockart (Edinburgh West) 13. Mark Williams (Ceredigion) 14. Sir Malcom Bruce (Gordon) Even Sir Robert is probably just too low in the list to have a realistic chance of getting a bill all the way to the statute book, but who knows?
Project 6000 will see the Lib Dem team knocking on almost all of the 6,000 homes in Cheadle and Gatley over the coming months, to speak to you and find out what you think about the key issues. This week we were calling on over 300 homes around Foxland Road and Springfield Road in Gatley. If you were out when we called, we left our residents survey – you can complete it and send it to the Freepost address on the back. Many thanks to everyone we spoke to for the warm welcome, and to everyone who's already returned the ...
News reaches me from Leicester City Council of plans for a summer season of Richard III-themed events and activities in the city: Leicester's Guildhall, which is home to the current exhibition Richard III: Leicester's Search for a King, will host talks from some of the key archaeologists and researchers involved in the astonishing discovery of King Richard's body. Visitors will also be able to relive the nail-biting televised press conference at which the discovery was confirmed, as well as savouring the two Channel 4 documentaries following the dig, at special screenings in the Guildhall. Younger visitors can make the most ...
An award winning website coming to Cambridge this summer is looking for local people who would like to turn their hand at becoming volunteer reporters. ShapeYourPlace.org is a ground breaking website that gives local people a say about what matters most to them in their local area. For the first time in the city, residents will have the chance to go online, start debates and campaign, report issues and join in conversations with local public services and each other. ShapeYourPlace links with the local councils, the Police, the Fire and Rescue Service and many other organisations to ensure when issues ...
Cambridgeshire County Council has been named "Local Authority of the Year" in the inaugural "Primary Authority" Awards announced by the Minister of State for Business and Enterprise Michael Fallon MP. As part of the Council's policy to support companies and jobs within Cambridgeshire the award is in recognition of the work officers from our Supporting Businesses and Communities (SBC) service have been doing across the County. County Council Service Director, John Onslow, said: "The County Council is always looking at ways in which we can support businesses and the benefits of the scheme have exceeded our expectations. The ability to ...
Record-breaking BMX riders will showcase their skills to over a 1000 Cambridgeshire students next week to encourage them to pedal to school. The two award-winning Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) freestylers are Matti Hemmings and Keelan Phillips. Matti is the Guinness World Record Holder for the most cliffhanger spins with one foot, while Keelan has won numerous international BMX pro-freestyle competitions and is currently European number one. Eight schools across Cambridgeshire will be visited by the BMX champions from 21-23 May. Students will enjoy a half-hour performance and workshops on simple tricks and cycle safety. The events have been organised by ...
Cambridge Liberal Democrats are pushing for an investigation into the idea of a single council to cover the whole of the south of Cambridgeshire. The suggestion to explore support for a unitary council to cover the entire Cambridge area will be put to the city council's annual meeting next week by the Lib Dem group. "A single, all-purpose council for the whole of the Cambridge area has long been an aspiration of people in the city," says Council Leader Cllr Tim Bick. "It could provide joined-up local government, straight-forward accountability and a focus on the whole of the natural economic ...
South East Cornwall MP Sheryll Murray has come fourth in the annual ballot for Private Members Bills in the House of Commons. This is the chance for a backbench MP to put forward legislation. All the attention will focus on the person who came top of the poll - James Wharton - and the his proposal of an EU referendum bill. But the number four position offers a real chance for Sheryll to propose a change in the law that would really benefit Cornwall. She won't be short of ideas, but here is something that would do a huge amount ...
There are two meetings at Blyth Town Council next week Finance Committee:- Tuesday 21st May, 6:30 at Arms Evertyne House Planning and Development Committee , Thursday 24th May, 6:30 at Arms Evertyne House Unfortunately the P&D meeting clashes with a long-standing family commitment that was arranged long before the council diary of meetings was published, so I'll not be able to attend
"The Conservative party today is a puritanical beast, railing against the iniquities of the world but struggling to find solutions. Like 16th-century puritans, today's Tories take comfort in purity and isolation and want nothing to do with the murky waters of compromise politics." Giles Marshall asks how many Conservatives truly want to resist UKIP on the Tory Reform Group's Egremont blog. "Childhood trauma and abuse is the smoking of psychiatry. As a risk factor for mental illness it is comparable to how smoking a pack of cigarettes per day increases the risk of lung cancer and heart disease." So says ...
Students across Northern Ireland and throughout these islands are free to assemble in their student unions without fear of arrest for sedition. Sadly, this is not so in the case of students in Swaziland. Former President of the Swaziland National Union of Students, now the Secretary General of the Swaziland Youth Congrees, Maxwell Diamini has [...]
I was away this weekend joining in the celebrations of friends birthday. We were staying in Chipping Camden. Around lunchtime wandering around the town we came upon the village parish church of St James and, as is my habit, I went inside to look around. It is one of the finest wool churches in the country. The church was the venue of the Chipping Camden Music Festival and was laid out ready for a concert with a Steinway Grand Piano alone on the stage in front of the chancel. I sat down for a moment and a young lady came ...
I'm currently in Nigeria on an international ministerial visit. Below is a blog post about the Women I have met here. Throughout my trip in Nigeria so far, I have met several inspiring women leaders. But they have beaten the odds. It is a disadvantage to be a woman in Nigeria. I met with around 15 state government commissioners during my time in Kano in Northern Nigeria. All were men. Nationally, only 4% of local commissioners are women. In a classroom of 50 girls learning the basics of writing, I was told that 80% of women cannot read in eight ...
Now this can challenge your will to live as readers of my previous postings on the subject will realise. I really did think I had found the obvious solution after months of wrangling and procrastination i.e. to add the Maghull boundary sign on the two posts that already exist in the photo below. Then the Maghull in Bloom volunteers could reinstate one of their flower troughs which they place on all the Town's boundary signs. [IMG: rsz_photo0214] BUT.............. then I am told that Maghull Town Council has told the Maghull in Bloom volunteers that Sefton Borough Council has objected to ...
[IMG: rsz_hornby_play_15_05_13] Together with BBC North West News I went to Maghull Town Hall for the launch of Maghull's Frank Hornby Festival last night and enjoyable it was too. The photo shows the cast of a play put together by St Andrews Players all about the life of Frank Hornby the famous Maghull toy maker. Those who know local characters will spot Cllr. Bruce Hubbard amongst the cast – he played the Dad of a little girl having a birthday on 15th May. The play was written very much for children and has been doing the rounds of schools, Brownies ...
Thu 16th
15:54
LibLink: Ed Davey - Eurosceptic Tories are damaging the national interest - and their chances of win...
Over at the New Statesman, Lib Dem energy secretary Ed Davey has a rather perceptive and interesting piece on the Conservative Party's implosion over Europe. Here's Ed's take: The Conservative Party hasn't won a general election for over two decades and its latest infighting on Europe suggests that this trick may get repeated. Internal divisions on Europe haven't been the sole cause of the Tories' poor record. A big reason has been the growth of multiparty politics: Liberal Democrats in government in Westminster; the Scottish National Party in power in Holyrood. And with Ukip moving from a single issue party ...
The idea of a centre ground in politics, where elections are won and lost, is a persistent one, especially here in Britain (and England in particular) and in the United States. Winning politicians are said to "triangulate" a political position in this centre ground; notable exemplars of this idea were Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. David Cameron is supposed to have rescued the Conservative Party from oblivion using this strategy in 2010 to turning it into the UK's largest party, if not outright victory. Now, in Britain, there is a lot of talk about it, and what political strategy each ...
Thu 16th
15:24
Why we all need to rally round and stop the changes to legal aid - sign the petition today
Last night whilst perusing the interweb I was sent a link to the A Barristers Wife blog and promptly spent the best part of the next hour fully taking in all the content on said blog. I won't lie when I say it was an eye-opening read however it is one that doesn't surprise me. The blog is (unsurprisingly considering the title) the blog of the wife of a Legal Aid lawyer. She is writing about some of the cases that her husband has dealt with and why it is vital that changes to the Legal Aid system as proposed ...
Since the Coalition was formed we have lost the impetus with the green agenda. Around two fifths of Lib Dem voters from 2010 have switched to Labour or the Green Party. In Bristol, we sadly lost two ward seats to the Greens in this year's local elections. By 'greening' our liberal, democratic and social reforms we are most likely to achieve our desired goal of a stronger economy in a fairer society. That is why I welcome the Green Liberal Democrats Conference, taking place in Bristol on 15th June. The Conference can prove to environmentalists how we are trying as ...
Liverpool Confidential reports: LIVERPOOL City Council has hired a consultant spin doctor who charges local authorities up to £1,000 a day for his services. PR guru Mark Fletcher-Brown is working three days a week for Mayor Joe Anderson – after the council haggled a discount on his normal daily rate... Last night a spokesman for the cash-strapped council admitted he did not know if the figure included vat and expenses – which Fletcher-Brown normally adds on to his hefty base day rate ... But even without those add-ons, the figure is commensurate with a full time salaried post of £169,000. ...
The other day at work we were discussing dreams. Although they fascinate a lot of people, I've never paid particular attention to them - indeed for years I swore I never had any! This wasn't true, of course, but I genuinely never (or at least very very rarely) remembered them. In more recent years, I have become more aware of waking from dreams but they always dissipate rapidly. Sometimes I regret not writing them down but only if they have been a good story - I'm not interested in psycho-analysing them! At times I've had dreams that those who do ...
The first semi-final was pretty good. Good work, Sweden, and a particular mention to Ireland and Belgium, who both came across much better than I expected. Most of my preferred songs got through – although Serbia didn't help themselves with their bizarre Hello Kitty outfits and didn't make the cut. We rightly said au revoir to Slovenia and Montenegro, with the dreary Lithuanian entry an unexpected qualifier. Tonight it's the second semi final and 10 of tonight's 17 songs will progress through to Saturday's final to join Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Eurosceptic Tories are damaging the national interest – and their chances of winning the next election Ed Davey on Tory backbenchers bending to Ukip: "Conservative appeasers are winning" http://bit.ly/17wds43 Eurosceptic Tories are damaging the national interest – and their chances of winning the next election No holds barred stuff from Ed Davey on the Tories: "Shame on them." http://bit.ly/10zcR9l Cameron's coalition has been a historic disaster for the Conservative Party - Telegraph Blogs .@iainmartin1 channels Tory MPs' despair at Cam's greatest strategic error yet: the Coalition http://bit.ly/13xScYp This House – National Theatre ...
There was a small, but nonetheless very welcome, fall in Birmingham's level of claimant unemployment in April. Seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment fell by 143 to 43,359 a rate of 10.6%. The national rate is 4.8%. Unadjusted claimant unemployment in Birmingham fell by 844 in April (unemployment tends to fall in April, hence the lower seasonally adjusted fall) to 48,110 or 11.9%. This is 2,129 down on a year ago. Long term (12 months or more) unemployment in the City is now 16,590, down 15 on a year ago while youth (16-24) unemployment is 12,255, 460 down on a year ago. ...
Last night MPs voted on trying to bring forward an in/out referendum for the UK's EU membership howeverthey lost 270-130 as Labour and the LibDems voted against. Already the tribal party politics has begun. Even during yesterday's (D)PMQs, Conservative backbenchers tried to label Mr Clegg a hypocrite for pledging for a referendum in 2008 and 2010. On every turn he repeated the party line - which is clear in the 2010 manifesto - Like Nick I've read it, though not wrote any; The Liberal Democrats will push for a referendum if there is any significant treaty changes that will effect ...
This time last year, I was preparing to start work on the government's independent review into barriers to choice in public services. My pencils were sharpened, my only suit pressed, my plans not quite formulated. I eventually reported to the Cabinet Office and Treasury in January, and the result has become known - rather embarrassingly, but this is the way they do things in government - as the Boyle Review. It received an unexpectedly enthusiastic response from the Cabinet Office ministers, and from Danny Alexander at the Treasury who had been so involved in commissioning me. I went away relatively ...
Today's Independent reports the appalling fact that Amazon paid less in UK corporation tax last year than it received in government grants. The paper says that its official company accounts have revealed that last year it paid just £3.1m in total taxes on sales of £4.2bn. Its corporation tax bill was £2.44m, less than the £2.5m it received from the Scottish Government in inducements to build a new distribution warehouse in Dunfermline. And it is not just them: The news comes as MPs say Google employees have turned whistleblower to describe how the Internet search giant misleads Britain's tax authorities ...
This morning, along with many other guests, I had the pleasure of attending the West End Schools' Campus Official Opening at the magnificent new home for Balgay Hill Nursery School, St Joseph's Primary School and Victoria Park Primary School. The musical and dance contributions by the pupils were excellent and it was a thoroughly enjoyable morning. Here's a couple of photographs from a most memorable and enjoyable event: A welcome from pupils from all three schools The talented choir that contains pupils from all years from all three schools
Dundee Liberal Democrats held our AGM last night and Craig Duncan was elected as the new local party Convener with Joe Setch of Dundee Liberal Youth being elected as Vice Convener. Thanks were expressed to Allan Petrie who has stood down as Convener. Allan remains on our local party Executive and we are delighted at welcoming new members to the Executive too. The photo (right) is of (from left) myself, Liberal Democrat President Tim Farron MP, Craig, Scottish LibDem Leader Willie Rennie MSP and Joe during Willie's and Tim's visit to Dundee last year.
Thu 16th
11:22Opinion: The same sex marriage bill is not perfect, but Lib Dem MPs should get behind it
In the next week it is likely that The Marriage (Same Sex) Bill will pass it's third reading in the House of Commons and then will go up to the House of Lords. This is without hesitation good news for Liberal Democrats - a key part of the fight for equality will move forwards, it's party policy and something that many members, individuals, charities and support groups have been pushing for. The debate has been loud, full and genuine and sincere - the first debate in the House of Commons was emotional, real and heartfelt as members on all sides ...
A few weeks ago I asked the Question If David Cameron only entered politics now, would he even be a Tory?over at The New Statesman... And now it would appear Private Eye thinks the same...
A hung parliament against the backdrop of a teetering economy. Parties divided over Europe. The cracks in the UK fuelling separatist demands. The whips are desperately trying to maintain order. It's not hard to see the appeal to current audiences of James Graham's (no, not that one: this one) hit play, This House. It's 1974 and the corridors of Westminster ring with the sound of infighting and backbiting as Britain's political parties battle to change the future of the nation, whatever it takes. In this hung parliament, the ruling party holds on by a thread. Votes are won and lost ...
The ruling Bootle Labour cabal at Sefton council are keen to pile on to Southport residents extra taxes. We will soon have the Green Wheelie Bin Tax- a flat tax of £46, then we have the massive hike in car parking charges aimed at bring in £500,000 which will hit Southport's economy hard-85% of all parking charges are paid in Southport. John Pugh and IBB outside the Town Hall So here are a few ways the could save some money. Southport Town Hall has been practically empty for months. I have raised this several times. I am repeated told ...
Local MP Lynne Featherstone, along with Liberal Democrat Councillor David Winskill, has met with Whittington Board members to discuss their public engagement programme, and to ask for updates on their Foundation Trust application. The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green has been pushing the Board to engage fully with the public ever since they announced controversial plans to make changes to the Hospital. Over 2,700 residents have signed a petition, supporting the MP's call for engagement. At the meeting, the Board informed the MP about their engagement process, which has involved open weekends, seminars, public meetings and liaison with local ...
The Hawkeye Initiative IRL! nice sorry about how to deal with sexism in the workplace effectively and with humour (tags: ) fair phone an ethical smart phone. We need to be living phone companies to stay offering this on contact (tags: ) If I Admit That 'Hating Men' Is a Thing, Will You Stop Turning It Into a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy? (tags: ) New add campaign for sure deodorant Just as it's important to complain to huge multinationals when they get things wrong is important to praise them when they get things right. This ad campaign features lots of diverse women ...
[IMG: Old computers - photo courtesdy of Brother Magneto on Flickr. Some rights reserved http://www.flickr.com/photos/brothermagneto/3802039480/] I first started doing online political campaigning before the first tweet about breakfast was sent, before the first Facebook status update about reality TV was posted and before the first cute cat appeared on YouTube. All through that time questions along the lines of, "But is it worth it?", "Can you win elections by using the internet?" and "Aren't elections all about leaflets?" have been a regular feature. Over the years I've come up with a variety of answers, all pretty much of the same ...
Thu 16th
09:51Opinion: Adonis's complaint - Ashdown was not mind-numbingly stupid with the memory span of a goldfi...
Andrew Adonis's account of the days after the public voted in a hung Parliament in 2010 have already received a rightful savaging by Andrew Stunell. Given that we already know the Mandelson/Balls preparation for coalition talks with the Liberal Democrats was a quick cup of tea, you might think that not even Andrew Adonis's account could make Labour's preparation for a hung Parliament look even more amateurish or non-existent. Yet his 5 Days In May manages that. His book kicks off with a complaint from Peter Mandelson that his attempt to sound out Paddy Ashdown on a hung Parliament in ...
We were promised an engineer to come and *finally* connect our internet this morning. We live on a tiny cul-de-sac with about twenty houses. I just saw a BT Openreach van drive *out* of our street, from in front of our house. I am now 99% sure that they have connected the people upstairs again, [...]
Forget the EU referendum faffery and PMQs. When people wake up in the morning, their first thoughts are unlikely to be anything to do with the internal wranglings within the Conservative Party or any sort of parliamentary panto. They will be to do with their health or thir job or any other problems they or their family face. However, at 11:30 or thereabouts today, MPs will talk about something that most people will find real and relevant. There's a backbench debate on mental health. I doubt it will be as powerful and intense as the debate we had at Scottish ...
Ever since standing as a councillor many residents in East Dulwich have been very clear that they agree we should ensure our shopping streets don't become clone zones. The New Economics Forum have come up with a method to measure this. This methodology involve counting the number of independent stores versus the number of shops and the different types of shops. We've surveyed Lordship Lane northern main shopping area, Lordship Lane around Dulwich Library and Grove Vale. The measures is that areas 0-50 are called Clone Towns, 50-65 Border Towns and 65-100 Home Towns. Lordship Lane (northern/main area) = 73 ...
[IMG: clegg cameron miliband] 116 Tory MPs last night backed an amendment to the Queen's Speech and called for an EU referendum bill. Here's six thoughts from me on what it all means... This wasn't about Europe (much): this was about Cameron's leadership The Tory outers/Eurosceptics had already won: David Cameron capitulated in January, conceding an in/out referendum he'd tried hard to dodge. But that wasn't enough for them. So they forced the Tory leader to capitulate again this week, forcing him to rush out a draft Bill legislating for just such a referendum and saying he'd love to pass ...
Thu 16th
08:21
Closure of Lydiate Ambulance Station – Why did Labour sit on the information and say nothing u...
The proposed closure of Maghull Ambulance Station, with the ambulance based there being moved to Buckley Hill Fire Station, is a concern to us all and that is why Cllr. Andrew Blackburn and I made the issue public via the Champion newspaper (24th April) and this blog site. [IMG: rsz_photo0213] But hang on a minute, Labour run Sefton Council knew about this closure at least as long ago as the 12th March (some 6 weeks previously) when they were written to by the North West Ambulance Trust. On that basis why did it have to take us opposition Lib Dem ...
Today I had a VERY nice note from Zac... Dear Resident, A big part of the job of being an MP involves cooperating and liaising with your local Councillors. These men and women do a hugely important job representing their residents and running Richmond borough. Without their energy and competence, my job would be a great deal more difficult. With the 2014 Council elections now less than a year way, I am writing to ask you whether you have ever considered running as a Conservative council candidate? The Richmond Borough Conservatives would like to hear from committed local people who ...
Chris has called upon the county council to restore the badly faded white lines in the area. He said: 'I am getting increasing numbers of complaints. The lines are there for a reason – to mark out lanes and protect the public, both motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. 'Yet time and time again the county council just neglects them – and in some cases they have faded away entirely.' Illustrated: white lines almost totally gone on Victoria Street. [IMG: IMG_1205] [IMG: IMG_1206]
The agenda has now been published for the next meeting; Open Forum 1. To nominate Chair and Vice-Chair for the forthcoming year 2. To receive apologies for absence and any declaration of interest 3. Approval of minutes To approve minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 18th April 2013 4. Matters for discussion and decisions to be made from Previous Minutes 4.1 Midas Care Ltd - Signing of lease agreement 4.2 The Farmhouse - update on new tenant and requirements 4.3 FOOTPATH Committee - update 4.4 Village Hall - update 4.5 Village Green - update 5. Clerks Financial Report 5.1 ...
From Sharon Dickie and Alice La Rooy who are leading the Friends of Magdalen Green campaign for play improvements at the Roseangle Play Park: We recently kicked off the fundraising efforts for improving Roseangle Play Park and a lot is happening already. Alice La Rooy and Sharon Dickie are leading the fundraising efforts on behalf of the Friends of Magdalen Green and have organised a meeting for anyone interested at Braes Below (Perth Road opposite the University) at 7.30pm on Thursday 23rd May. Anyone is welcome. We hope to gather a lot of ideas for the park improvements and fundraising ...
Despite Welsh Government policy being big on rhetoric regarding green energy and a low carbon transition, we continue to be confronted with relatively little quantifiable progress as a direct result of specific Welsh Government action. While the sector enjoys significant support across Wales, there continues to be a sense that we are a difficult country in which to do business, and that we lack strong leadership at the top of government. In order for Wales to build a long term sustainable economic future we must all ensure that supply chains, community projects and benefits are placed at the very centre ...
I have been travelling so, as usual, blogging is light. In fact I am currently in Hong Kong- my first trip out of Europe for some years, and my first back to this region in over 16 years. The ant hill of Hong Kong is a contrast to the calming silence of unpolluted Estonia. In fact it is what Estonia does not have that makes it a richer place than this city, where money making is the only imperative. Estonia does not have grey skies and pollution, it has crystal clear blue skies and Tallinn has the cleanest air of ...
Child protection expert Eileen Munro is due to speak at special conference in Cambridgeshire this week. Prof Munro, who published an independent review of child protection in England in 2011, will address the Social Work - Working for Families celebration event at Wyboston Lakes tomorrow (Friday). She will be talking about social work practice and the social work profession, and will be giving an update on the national picture since her review two years ago. Social Work - Working for Families represents a fundamental change in the way Cambridgeshire County Council provides social work intervention with vulnerable families. The aims ...
The prosperity of Northern Ireland is dependent on the skills of its workforce and its ability to meet the needs of the local economy, to support a strong export-oriented marked, and to secure the wealth creating opportunities of the future. A joint event is being held by the Chartered Management Institute and the MBA Association [...]
