This was the last public train to use the Folkstone Harbour Branch. It was drawn by BR Class 7P Britannia 70013 (Oliver Cromwell) on 14 March 2009 (with a Class 47 helping from the rear). Wikipedia suggests that an occasional inspection train used the line until the line was officially closed on 31 May this year.
I have always had a fondness for classical music and, thanks to a former neighbour, Ian Harwood, I discovered a previously untapped love of (relatively) early music. Ian was a lutenist, and an inspiration to many in the world of Elizabethan and Jacobean music. And it was his passion for the work of the likes of Henry Purcell that acted as a bridge from there to the works of one of music's great pioneers, Claudio Monteverdi. And so, as a distraction from the rather chaotic, often unnecessarily harsh world of politics, I offer you L'Arpegiatta, performing the Vespro della Beata ...
Every time David Cameron could show leadership he doesn't, says So Sam said.... University tuition fees must be high on the agenda before the election, argues Dorothy Bishop on the Council for the Defence of British Universities site. "The rise of ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions for stimulants over the years coincided with a remarkably successful two-decade campaign by pharmaceutical companies to publicize the syndrome and promote the pills to doctors, educators and parents. With the children's market booming, the industry is now employing similar marketing techniques as it focuses on adult ADHD, which could become even more profitable." A New ...
Fri 24th
21:25
It's time for another absurd microstate... Welcome to country number 56, the Vatican City
I am in Rome, sort of not really accompanying Ros as she attends a meeting of EU Agriculture Scrutiny Committee Chairs - her Committee Clerk, Patrick will be by her side there. And yes, before anyone asks, my flights, trains and hotel accommodation are met out of my own pocket in this increasingly Puritan environment that exists these days. I have, curiously, never been to Rome, and whilst I only have two days to look around, I intend to 'collect' another of the great Catholic sites, the Vatican - I've already been to Lourdes and Jerusalem (I've walked the Stations ...
A chieftan tank has been parked outside the Vickers tank factory in Scotswood, Newcastle for years but Vickers recently wanted rid of it. They offered it to Tyne and Wear Museums (I am a member of the the Museums and Archives Committee) and we agreed to accept it and relocate it to the car park of the Discovery Museum. Some people impress the neighbours with an expensive, flash car on the drive
The latest edition of our monthly email newsletter was published last night via Mailchimp. This edition leads with the latest on Labour's greenbelt building plans but also features some of the work being done by volunteers (and Lib Dem councillors) on planting and maintaining up flower beds and verges in the area. Lots of other news as well. You can read the newsletter here.
You've probably had enough reminders to put your clocks back an hour at 2 am on Sunday. But what will our street lights do? When will they go off? You may remember all the fuss when faulty photocells meant that street lights went off much too early for a couple of weeks. Crews from the council's StreetCare team have been replacing thousands of faulty photocells on South Gloucestershire's streetlights - they were still doing parts of South Yate today (24 October) The faulty units have been replaced by the manufacturer at no charge to the council and by this autumn's ...
#73915741 / gettyimages.com As you may have guessed from the blizzard of electronic messages today, it was expected that emails for electronic voting in the Liberal Democrat federal committee elections would be going out today. However the original timetable has been delayed a few days due to other work taking priority, such as sorting out the Presidential candidate nominations. Expect the list of candidates to be published soon with the emails going out a few days later. Meanwhile – here's why I'm standing again for the Federal Policy Committee: [IMG: Mark Pack - Federal Policy Committee manifesto 2014]
Fri 24th
19:22
Ed Davey MP writes...Signed, sealed and delivered, an ambitious climate change deal for Europe
[IMG: Wind turbine - Some rights reserved by thomas vl] We've done it! For Liberal Democrats in government, this EU climate deal is our most significant green win so far. While Liberal Democrats are passionate about tackling climate change, the likes of Owen Paterson and UKIP seem to delight in talking down the threat that it poses, but that should make us even more determined to tell people why this deal is so crucial. What have we achieved? An ambitious Europe-wide climate change deal that will see greenhouse gases cut by at least 40% by 2030. Other countries wanted a ...
Earlier on this year I was invited by my local GP practice to go for a free health check as I was about to reach the grand old age of 50. "What a great idea!", I thought. Life, work and extended birthday celebrations got in the way of me doing very much about it, so a second invitation arrived a few weeks later. This one was slightly more – persuasive – in its tone, but I still managed to do nothing about it. About three weeks ago, a much more strongly worded letter arrived. I took the hint, went for ...
A fascinating new exhibition has just opened at The Atkinson gallery, part of the transformed library and theatre performing arts complex adjacent to the Town Hall on Lord Street. It's a free chance to see what life was like in Ancient Egypt thousands of years ago. On display is a beautiful painted sarcophagus that's around 3000 years old, a full size mummy, wonderful intricate jewellery and beadwork, plus everyday objects like sandals, baskets, toys and perfume storage bottles. All well worth a visit with lots of interactive activities for all the family with fun things for kids to do. Opening ...
Since launching my app, I'm glad to say that I've had several hundred people download it! And only two of them are from the USA! :) Q: So what's the point in having an app? A: Well, there are a range of reasons, but mainly its so that, no matter what mobile device YOU use, [...]
Maghull in Bloom Volunteers scoop Gold Medal at North West in Bloom Awards – time to celebrate well deserved success.
With the clocks going back this weekend Stockport residents are being reminded that any street lighting faults can now be reported quickly via the council website. Reporting a problem online allows residents to pinpoint the street light on a map, providing accurate information on lighting faults. This is a quicker and more convenient system for residents, whilst helping the Council to deal with problems more efficiently. Once faults have been reported a 'progress checker' allows residents to check back on the status of the job, in real time. This intelligent reporting will help keep repeat contact to a minimum.
HMP Liverpool Last Thursday night I went to a Dinner with a Difference. The food wasn't different. I had an excellent 3 course meal of soup, lamb shank and a cheesecake dessert to die for. It was delightfully served by ... Continue reading →
[IMG: Green wind farm] This week, European leaders including David Cameron thrashed out an agreement on the EU's climate change targets up until 2030. The EU has been a world leader in the fight against climate change, becoming the first region to set binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But in the face of the financial crisis, leaders have become more nervous and the momentum behind the drive towards a greener economy has started to wane. That is why we need to be shouting about what the Lib Dems in Government, particularly our energy secretary Ed Davey, have done ...
Following a recent report in the Hampshire Chronicle, there's been quite a bit of confusion about whether 20 mph will be enforced in Winchester or not. In order to sort this out, I wrote to the Police Commissioner and the Chief Constable – and now I have their answers. First, the letter: Dear Chief Constable / Mr Hayes, As you might have seen in the Hampshire Chronicle, there is now some confusion amongst residents in my area about the police's policy on speeding. As I'm sure you know, in the most recent year for which we have figures, 597 people ...
LDHQ have launched another Bulk buy deal, this time for magazines. It's based around the target parliamentaries and the wuick turn around is prsuably to aloow delivery before the dstart of the long cmapaign on Decembver 18th You will provide artwork and we will organise for the magazine to be printed and then delivered back [...]
Yesterday saw eight principal by-elections take place in England and Scotland. The Conservatives secured a gain on Gloucestershire CC in the Mitcheldean by-election, a ward which previously had an Independent Councillor. In Durham, Labour gained a seat in Burnopfield and Dipton, defeating the Derwentside Independents by just a single vote. In Shepway, the Conservatives successfully retained [...]
[IMG: Mark Pack - Federal Policy Committee manifesto 2014] If you've got any questions, please do ask – and if you'd like to support me please share this page or head over to my Facebook page and hit Like. You can also see my previous posts about the party's policies on that page, which should give a good idea of my attitude on lots of the key questions coming up for the FPC, or again – by all means ask away.
I've been told by residents in recent weeks that there have been ongoing issue relating to anti-social behaviour outside the convenience store located at the bottom of Amberley Slope/Storring Way. I now understand that a new owner has taken over the store, from Ali, and I therefore hope that the problems will cease? The bottom [...]
The British Government has been landed with a £1.7bn bill from the EU, to be paid by December 1st. It can only be part of an elaborate plot by new commission chief Jean Claude Juncker to keep Britain in. £1.7bn bill revealed today Cameron says he will no pay the bill by deadline David Cameron [...]
David Cameron and I have gone through the whole range of emotions. Before the 2010 General Election, I had a picture of him on a magnetic dartboard and would wile away the time not spend delivering leaflets quite literally sticking it to the man. Then, as coalition was formed I started to warm to him - he seemed to be a part of a 'new politics' that the Liberal Democrats have talked about for a long time. For the past few years however, he's done nothing but disappoint me. Not because of policy issues as such (though that area's hardly ...
It's really great to see the party's new posters updated to include the phrase "Opportunity for everyone", underneath the standard "Stronger Economy, Fairer Society" slogan. I've discussed this with party workers, who have said that the new phrase should feature prominently from here til the general election. This certainly makes sense, given how opportunity was the theme of Nick's speech at conference. It's great news. "Stronger Economy, Fairer Society" pitched us as a bit like the Tories, a bit like Labour - a split-the-difference party that has no grand vision of its own. It's hard to see why people would ...
[IMG: Canada flag License Some rights reserved by archer10 (Dennis)] What would you want a liberal to say in the wake of shocking and violent events in your country? It must be something pretty close to Justin Trudeau's words, full of dignity, wisdom and empathy. Watch the video and see the excerpt below: They want us to forget ourselves. Instead, we will remember. We will remember who we are. We are a proud democracy, a welcoming and peaceful nation, and a country of open arms and open hearts. We are a nation of fairness, of justice, and of the rule ...
[IMG: Phrenology head - mental health - Some rights reserved by evansville] Today Nick Clegg and Norman Lamb held roundtable talks on mental health services in Sheffield. Representatives from the local NHS discussed the impact of mental health conditions being brought into line with other NHS services, with the introduction of the first ever waiting time standards. For the first time, from April 2015, most patients needing talking therapies - for conditions like depression - will be guaranteed the treatment they need in as little as six weeks, with a maximum wait of 18 weeks. For many patients experiencing their ...
Content moderation is little discussed yet half the employees of social media sites work mainly on it. How do these people cope with spending their working days holding back a tide of extreme depravity? If you report a post on a social media site as being offensive or inappropriate what happens next? An article by Adrian Chen in [...]
A little something put together at work with my colleagues from Open Road, comparing the most Conservative constituency in the country – Richmond, Yorkshire – with the most Labour constituency – Liverpool Walton. Take a look at the Open Road blog for more commentary on the comparison. [IMG: How do the most Conservative and most Labour constituencies compare?]
Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers lived up to his title when he shot dead a gunman who was attacking the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. He returned to the House of Commons to hero's welcome. Former Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer shot dead gunman who was attacking Canadian Parliament Vickers received standing ovation as he opened [...]
The next two years are likely to be a challenging time for the Liberal Democrats, both in the run-up to next May's general election — when the Party is in danger of losing half its seats, on current poll ratings — and in reconnecting with an electorate that is disenchanted with Westminster politics and in [...]
You can edit your Mycouncillor account whilst you're on the move When you look at a MyCouncillor site on a smart phone you can;t see the "wheel" to click on, to log into the administration section of MyCouncillor – you can't do it directly on a smart phone. But you can access your mycouncllor account [...]
Years ago, I remember sitting in the Lib Dem policy committee talking about I meant to call 'preventative health', but which I accidentally kept on referring to as 'health prevention'. Half-way through, Conrad Russell - the much-missed Earl Russell - tapped me on the shoulder, indicated his packet of cigarettes, and said: "I'm just popping outside for a bit of health prevention". All of which is a way to say that prevention as the key to the future of the NHS is hardly new. Even so could you imagine anyone coming out with a report on the future of the ...
[IMG: Che Guevara - Some rights reserved by StreetFly JZ] This is a response to some of the discussion under Shouldn't Parliament Square be for protesters? I am afraid that my experience of various protest movements very much DOES suggest they are mainly composed of people from a social elite background, and many of those engaged in them do seem to me to be motivated at least in part by a sort of poseur mentality. We are constantly being told by various commentators that protest movements are the modern thing, where the political activists go now instead of into political ...
[IMG: maxresdefault] The European Union has asked Britain to give them a couple of billion Euros by December 1st on the basis that the UK economy has recovered to a reasonable state of health. On a side note, France is getting what amounts to a £790 million rebate as part of the same package, a reward for their economy stalling. It hardly even need to be said how unhelpful this is to the pro-European cause within Britain, both this tax demand and the timing thereof. With the Rochester and Strood by-election a mere twenty-seven days away, and the Tories moving ...
Factcheck: Would increasing the minimum wage to £8 by 2020 leave workers worse off? (tags: ) Student Feminist has her first taste of how TERFs gatekeeping screws things up for all of us (tags: ) Peter Black had some wise words on the Welsh NHS (tags: ) 'Walking Dead' Actress Goes Undercover And Saves 55 Sex Slaves In Real Life (tags: ) Poor kids who do everything right don't do better than rich kids who do everything wrong (tags: ) Ukip's polarising effect: support for staying in the EU hits 23-year high (tags: ) It's Not Censorship to Ignore You ...
[IMG: Pauline Pearce press coverage] Hackney Heroine and briefly a would-be candidate for Liberal Democrat President Pauline Pearce has decided to seek selection as the party's Parliamentary candidate in Hitchin: The Hackney resident, who moved from Hitchin eight years ago, said: "Plain and simple, it's home to me. "I'm a Hitchin girl, I know quite a bit about the issues down there, especially concerning the youngsters. "I want to help kids and let them know what they can do to open their eyes and turn their lives around." Miss Pearce has yet to be formally selected to contest the Hitchin ...
[IMG: Alex Salmond - License Some rights reserved by Ewan McIntosh] Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has hinted he might make a comeback at Westminster, as the BBC reports: Alex Salmond has said he has not made up his mind whether or not to stand for a Westminster seat at the next general election. The outgoing Scottish first minister was asked on the BBC's Question Time programme if he would consider becoming an MP again. Mr Salmond said he had "absolutely decisively" not made up his mind, but agreed that the door was not closed. Alex Salmond made his ...
Tuesday evening Southwark Labour agreed their Southwark Cycling Strategy. It has a number iof flaws. One of the most stark omissions beign around ensuring cycle facilities stay open. One of the key objectives from a cyclsits perspectibe: "Objective 2.6 Maintain cycling infrstructure and surfaces as part of our maintenance work programmes" While they were doing this officers under their direction were arranging the closure, announced in Southwark News on the Thursday, of the closure for 18 months starting 3 November of one of the most key pieces of existing cycle infrasdtructure in Southwark. So much for maintaining cycling infrstructure. Churchyard ...
It is almost as if the Labour Party cannot help itself; today's Telegraph says that Len McCluskey, Unite's General Secretary, becomes latest senior Labour figure to give a less than glowing account of Mr Miliband's leadership since the party's annual conference: "I'm not sure the last time we had a laugh to be blunt, and I don't really know him well enough to say that I like him." "Yeah, any talk about is he the right guy, it really doesn't enter into our vocabulary. You know Ed, and I hope this doesn't happen, could get run over by a bus ...
Here's some of the articles that have caught my attention this week... Latest forecast | Elections Etc Latest @ElectionsEtc forecast, May 2015: Con: 35%, Lab: 31%, LD: 11%, UKIP 14.0% http://bit.ly/1tprDSO 55% chance of Hung P'ment. BBC News – Alex Salmond considers Westminster return Maybe in Gordon (current LD seat)? "Salmond considers Westminster return" http://bbc.in/1sURDUs Revealed: the guest list that proves that Guido Fawkes is a certified member of the Tory establishment – Telegraph Blogs "I was among the mob of free-loading hypocrites who were there," writes Peter Oborne about Guido Fawkes' #GF10 bash http://bit.ly/1ylaxpm In praise of 5-year fixed-term ...
Fri 24th
09:05
CEO of @PeterboroughCC to Trek across #Sahara desert for @ShineUKCharity @athenenoctuara
Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council, Gillian Beasley, is set to trek across the Sahara desert, to help raise funds and awareness for city based charity, Spina bifida • Hydrocephalus • Information • Networking • Equality – SHINE! Gillian Beasley has been Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council for 12 years. There's definitely times when [...]
Could these be the gates to one of the most well known places in the world at least in music rather than seen directly? The Liverpool Echo has the story – see link above.
Press Release from John Pugh MP Southport's Lib Dem MP John Pugh believes Sefton Council has failed Southport and crucially failed to respond to the concerns raised and expressed by the Local Authority Boundary Commission when they last looked at Southport's position in Sefton. The MP, who introduced a bill in this parliament to give local people power to request a review of council boundaries, believes that there is a clear need to re-visit the question of whether Southport's future lies in Sefton. "Sadly recent events, the closure of libraries, the disappearance of council offices and the lack of democratic ...
[IMG: Stroud Green Road water leak] Ah, the sight of plastic barriers means the saga of the (latest) ghost water leak of Stroud Green Road is nearly over. There's been water leaking out at the corner of Stroud Green Road and Tollington Park for a couple of months now, appropriately enough on the other side of the road from where there was the long-running multi-month drainage problem. The cause of the delays? A mystery ghost water supply. When Thames Water first tried turning off the water here so that they could then fix the leak easily, water mysteriously kept on ...
At a well-attended meeting in St Edyth's Hall, Sea Mills, Liberal Democrats selected Cllr Clare Campion-Smith to be their prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) for the Bristol North West parliamentary seat. [IMG: Clare Campion Smith Bristol North West Lib Dem PPC] Cllr Campion-Smith was first elected to represent the Henleaze ward in May 2006. She was re-elected earlier this year, beating her nearest rival by over 500 votes. From February 2009 to November 2012, Clare was the lead member for Children's Services and she is now the Vice-Chair of the Business Change & Resources Scrutiny Committee. She has previously worked as ...
I recently reported that the pathway from Tait's Lane to Peddie Street is in need of tidying, with some weeds require removal and the foliage requires trimming - see right. The council had also advised me that it would attend to overgrown foliage in the Tait's Lane car park area. On the pathway, the City Council's Environment has now advised me that: " ... we will have this sprayed out ... also, regarding the shrubs, this will be carried out at the same time as the car park area."
Southwark Council at last has been exploring licensing private sector landlords. Sadly this isn't proposed so much to ensure better housing conditions and to resolve rogue landlords but rather to reduce anti-social behaviour (ASB). The plan will add landlord licensing for all Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMO's), single family homes in streets with ASB with Lordship Lane being a prime example. To obtain a licence a landlord will need to meet specific standards, pay £60 per bedroom each year but importantly take steps to reduce or prevent ASB. Do you have or have had anti-social behaviour problems from a privately ...
With a new European Commission about to take office, and an updated UK strategy for science and innovation expected in the next few weeks, this is an important moment to debate the future of innovation policy. For followers of innovation policy, these are interesting times. On 1 November, President Juncker and his Commission take up their new desks in Brussels. And while flagship programmes, such as the 80 billion Horizon 2020, which is giving increasing prominence to the idea of responsible research and innovation, provide strong foundations, it remains to be seen if the new Commission will embrace a more ...
The publications of the number of rail passengers shows that 39% of rail journeys in Wales either begin or end at Cardiff Stations. The fact that four in ten rail journeys across Wales begin or end in Cardiff shows that there is a strong and increasing demand for rail travel, which will see overcrowding on many of our routes worsen still further. The challenge now for the Welsh Government and Arriva is to increase this number by adding extra carriages, routes and rail lines. The Welsh Government has announced it's intention to improve public transport across South Wales through the ...
1967 saw the Turtles as practically a new band, with a new sound, and in search of a new song. In early 1966, the band had seen the Lovin' Spoonful play live, and had immediately found the missing piece of their style. The Lovin' Spoonful were one of the most influential bands of the time, [...]
