Sunday, February 18, 2007

Can you really have a glut of useful people?

Is it only this country that would regard a glut of doctors as a bad thing?


One of the reasons why many Eastern Europeans, for example, are disappointed at the standards of health care in the UK is that we have so few doctors per thousand population.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

The Crowd Chanted "We Want Five"

... and they got their wish.... It really does look as if the fat lady has a sore throat, and isn't going to sing at Roots Hall.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

We'll Always Have Paris (We Hope)

It's been a busy couple of weeks in our neck of the woods.

First of all, an Asda planning application in the ward I represent got passed on appeal. This was disappointing. We thought that the case that the ward members, local residents and traders had produced was quite compelling.

But at least this is the second application that was passed. It has some community uses that weren't included in the first application. So as ward members we feel we may have achieved something, especially as the officers recommended approval of both schemes.

And we've had a planning meeting to decide the application from Southend United FC. Their main stadium/ shops / flats scheme is in Southend Borough. But their proposed training pitches and overflow car park fall in our district. What a night! 300 fans out in a cold car park listening to the debate via a PA system. The scheme did get passed, by 20 votes to 8. (I was one of the 20) . Full report here...

... and a report on an odd photoshoot the next day here. Why would two Tory councillors who spoke very firmly against the application want to be in a photo that makes the public believe that they supported it?

Meanwhile, the best news of the week is that one of our cats, Paris (named after Tom Paris from Star Trek Voyager) is getting better. Although he's only 5, he has a heart condition. After an x-ray, ultrascan and three lots of medication, he's start to look and sound better. So to celebrate, here's a picture of Paris with some election leaflets:

Chris expresses his own views on this weblog.


I write this blog in a private capacity , but just in case I mention any elections here is a Legal Statement for the purposes of complying with electoral law: This website is published and promoted by Ron Oatham, 8 Brixham Close , Rayleigh Essex on behalf of Liberal Democrat Candidates all at 8 Brixham Close.