Because it is morally wrong that the ordinary public are victimised to pay for the greed of the banking elite
by a vicious Tory-led government of millionaires!
17.4.13:THE FINAL INSULT.
AUSTERITY BRITAIN SUSPENDED TO ALLOW THE PLEBS TO PAY
£5m? £8m? £10m?
We don't actually know yet because they aren't making the public cost public knowledge until after the event ! Regardless...one public penny on her funeral is an outrage.
The canonisation by the establishment in the last week has left me nauseous. She may have been the first woman PM but she ruled like the most aggressive and arrogant of men; and never in her 3 terms did she promote any women to any senior positions. She may have been elected 3 times and was undoubtedly loved by some but she was also the most reviled and divisive PM of the 20th century. A state funeral was her long planned vain glorious wish and in these times of brutal Tory austerity, her final insult.
THE ABSOLUTE SHAME OF BRITAIN.
15.4.13:
GALLOWAY ON FARCICAL STATE FUNERAL
8.4.13:THATCHER DEAD & THATCHERISM IN TATTERS.
APRIL 8th 2013:NO TEARS FOR THATCHER HERE
The thing I hated more than anything about Thatcher and the Tory establishment was, and still is, their absolute contempt for the working class. I'm talking about those who were NOT fortunate to be born into priviledge or with prodigious talents and rare gifts of genius AKA the ordinary, decent, grafting multitude. Without them the wheels would have never even been made let alone turned. The Tory elite would have never made their millions, built their industrial empires and expanded their political and business interests to rule over half the world. Without the loyalty, courage and mass bloody sacrifice of ordinary people, everything that the great nobility presided over would have NEVER been saved once let alone TWICE!
It was the children of those who fought in those wars and those born subsequently into hard-won freedom not fascism, that Thatcher beat down in the 80s with her grey suited policy executors and her boot boys in blue with ID numbers removed. Britain was NEVER GREAT like it should have been. It was NEVER a country fit for heroes. And as long as Thatcherism, Conservatism and Monarchism prevail, we will NEVER be a United Kingdom and "all in it together". There will be few tears on Teesside for Mrs. T. but I can confirm that there were a few fireworks let off on Saltburn beach by a tall man in a mask ;-)
APRIL 10: GO GLENDA ! Simpering Miliband upstaged at heinous Parliamentary Tribute to Thatcher ... GLENDA FOR LEADER & THE FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER WITH A HEART !
A Toe Tapping Salute from Chumbawamba
To the bleeding heart liberals bemoaning the fact that were daring to celebrate someone’s death...
Pah! Tomorrow we can carry on shouting and writing and working and singing and striking against the successive governments that have so clearly followed Thatcher’s Slash & Burn policies, none more so than the present lot. But for now, we can have a drink and a dance and propose a toast to the demise of someone who blighted so many people’s lives for so long.
If we must show a little reverence and decorum at this time, then so be it. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of all Margaret Thatcher’s victims.
Despite causing RCBC to scrap its parking plans, the march planned for March 30th is still going ahead but has now been changed to a "March of No Confidence" in the RCBC leadership !
FEB 26:COMMUNITY STOPS COUNCIL
SALTBURN CELEBRATES AS PEOPLE POWER FORCES COUNCIL TO SCRAP ITS CONTROVERSIAL PLANS FOR SWEEPING PARKING RESTRICTIONS & CHARGES ACROSS THE TOWN. THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AS NEVER BEFORE. THE LABOUR MP SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE LABOUR COUNCIL. THERE WERE LABOUR COUNCILLORS VOTING AGAINST THE LABOUR CABINET AND EVEN LEAVING THE PARTY. BUT THIS WASN'T A PARTY POLITICAL FIGHT, IT WAS A COMMUNITY FIGHTING COUNCIL TYRANNY AND THEY WON JUST LIKE COATHAM 3 YEARS AGO. THIS IS REAL PEOPLE PRIDE AND PROGRESS !
FEB 15:THIS IS REAPING WHAT YOU SOW !
REPORTS COMING IN OF CLLR GOLDSWAIN (PICTURED BELOW IN SPOOF POLITICAL SUICIDE POSE !) "IN FLOODS OF TEARS" AT A COUNCIL MEETING IN RECENT DAYS...REAP WHAT YOU SOW YOUNG MAN...AND THINK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT DOING YOUR PUPPET MASTER'S DIRTY WORK ON THE RADIO AND IN THE PRESS... Eeesh talk about a donkey being thrown to the lions by an ass !
Feb 10: RANCID & CONTEMPTIBLE! Council earmark £20k to spend
on parking consultants, despite 99.9% objection
Council info leaked yesterday ahead of release...Despite unprecedented objection from Saltburn businesses, tourists and residents regarding the parking proposals, the Council are now planning to spend up to £20k on an "independent market research study". This is "to provide the council with a comprehensive understanding of the needs and attitudes of those who live and work in Saltburn". After the greatest response to any consultation exercise ever carried out in this borough where 2,018 objected and just 5 were in favour...
it is utterly reprehensible.
Council leader George Dunning and his merry basket case cabinet are utterly beyond contempt. The Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop reacted immediately with a damning statement against calling it "ridiculous" and "a waste of £20,000".
I sent George Dunning a one line email in disgust yesterday and I got TWO very interesting replies, see below...
Not sure how you got this when it only went to councillors and the MP and officers?
"This independently gathered information will provide an economic footprint for Saltburn, and will be vital to assist the Council with decision making in relation to this issue. A sum of £20K has been identified to fund this work."
"The aforementioned is what the people of Saltburn requested along with the MP, i.e. an independent economic assessment."
To: Dunning George, Craig Pancrack
From: Tom Blenkinsop
Dear George,
When I have written to you about the Saltburn Parking proposals, I have never demanded an “independent economic assessment”, unlike what you told Mr Hornby, the Cabinet, EMT and Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish council.
When I wrote to you initially, on 10 December, I made no reference to this, whilst on 2 January, I also made no reference to this. Similarly, in the press release I issued on 21 January, I said that “if the proposal reaches full consultation the council must assess the economic impact of any such changes”. On 3 February, my email was about potential legal risks faced by the Council.
As such, I never requested that an Independent Economic Assessment be carried out, but that an in-house one be carried out if the proposal reached Full Consultation. As Saltburn is so clearly opposed to these proposals, I see no reason why it should be taken to Full Consultation and no reason an assessment be carried out.
Furthermore, on 31 January 2013, I wrote to you and Cllr Goldswain to ask whether a consultant was being hired. I never received a response to this until 6 minutes before the Council put out its press release today; had you or Cllr Goldswain replied sooner, I’d quite obviously have objected to say that £20,000 is a ridiculous amount to pay.
I did release a copy of the briefing, after the Council distributed its press release, though Parish Councillor John Lambert and Cllr Stuart Smith also released a copy of it. It was not protectively marked and there was no indication that it wasn’t for public release. In addition, I think the public have a right to know what is going on.
I seriously urge you not to waste taxpayers’ money by carrying out independent market research and hope that the Executive decides to just withdraw the proposals.
I’m sure you didn’t seek to misrepresent my stance, so hopefully this will clarify matters.
Dear George,
You are either playing politics really badly, worryingly out of touch with reality or just plain old lying through your teeth.
Either way your leadership MUST be questioned.
You have NOT listened to the people OR your party MP; and you have obviously learned NOTHING whatsover from your previous belligerent attempt to ride roughshod over democracy at Coatham. NO confidence here and obviously
I am not alone.
CH
Jan 2013: THE COUNCIL vs SALTBURN
Dear George & Co,
You want to consult? You want our opinions? You want to listen? Then here's some graphic food for thought because a picture is worth a thousand words...and even more with words attached !
Following the unprecedented onslaught of objections that you have recieved, please don't waste any more of your time and ours; and any more of our money, on a statutory consultation that is clearly NULL & VOID.
Can you confirm that you are hiring or seeking to hire a consultant at a cost of around £10,000 to try and find ways to change the minds of Saltburn people? If consultation and democracy are worth anything, you will junk such an idea and act swifty on behalf of the 99.999% of the people who objected to your nonsensical parking proposals. Anything else would be a travesty as well as political suicide for Labour in Saltburn. Sincerely, Craig Hornby,
Milton Street.
The tyrannical and belligerent local authority that brought you 6 years of the Coatham disaster at the cost of £3m+ in public money, and got a deserved bloody nose in the Supreme Court in 2010, looks to be heading into another war against democracy and another sure PR disaster! Redcar & Cleveland Council is plotting to introduce sweeping parking charges and restrictions across Saltburn (Pay & Display on all the main streets with limited waiting plus residents parking permits in all the side streets and an annual £11 charge to follow). The fact is Saltburn has NO parking problems! What it does have is a thriving town centre of independent shops and businesses bucking the national trend of High Street decline ! NO VIRTUAL SHOPS HERE! This council's plans, are as usual full of holes. They will CREATE a raft of problems, drive away trade and tourism; and inconvenience EVERYBODY, EVERYDAY, FOREVER ! It is an attack on our town and on freedom itself and they're gunna charge us for the priviledge! THEY MUST BE STOPPED !
COUNCIL REAP WHIRLWIND & SNUB MEETING
Since being unveiled in November, the Council plans have reaped an absolute whirlwind of opposition, indignation and disbelief ! The scheme's "pre-consultation period " which ended on Jan 18th, saw an unprecedented response in terms of both turn out and objection so said one of the council staff in the consultation caravan. Also, over 400 residents packed out a public meeting on Jan 8th. Many voiced their concerns and took apart the Council plans with ease. The Council Cabinet (Lab) shamefully snubbed the meeting but all 3 ward councillors did turn out and all 3 firmly voiced their opposition. (See videos of full meeting above)
A SHAMEFUL SHOCKING BETRAYAL
Just 9 days after the public meeting, a shocking betrayal followed at a full council meeting. A motion had been called by Saltburn Cllr Philip Thomson (Tory) to scrap the plans and not waste any more time and money by proceeding to a pointless "statutory consultation" process. The motion was defeated by 3 votes and one of those votes belonged to Saltburn Cllr. Joan Guy (Lab) who went back on her word and voted with the council! She betrayed the town and its people for the sake of her party and should RESIGN NOW because you will be certainly finished at the next election.
ANOTHER PR DISASTER a la COATHAM ?
At the time of writing (Jan end), the council has retreated to digest the mountain of objections and consider its next move BUT info leaked to residents today (Jan 30th) from a council insider claims the Labour leadership are determined to push this through and are planning to spend approx. £10,000 to hire a consultant to try and find out what it will take to change the minds of the people! If true, this saga is fast becoming another Coatham aka an outrageous war on democracy at the expense of the public purse. AND this time they have got 100% of the community against them; and a community that has a diversity of intellect, ability and character that is unparalleled in any town in the Borough. So if you have any belief in democracy and any sense George, there is only one thing to do - tell the people you have listened and knock it on the head. Otherwise it could well be another bloody nose, more money wasted and another PR disaster...
Hasta la Victorie Siempre !
Political Volleyball anyone?
One morning in mid-December, a crew of workmen arrived with a JCB at Saltburn Valley Gardens and suddenly started ripping up The Donkey Field. In its esteemed wisdom and with NO public consultation whatsoever, the council were installing a BEACH VOLLEYBALL COURT - on Saltburn's best public green space - just 800 yards from 8 miles of beach! Blitzed with complaints, from residents already incensed by the parking proposals, Cabinet member for Tourism & Leisure Cllr. Olwyn Peters told the Gazette (Gazette story)"preliminary work has been carried out at the site but we will shortly be starting a consultation process" Consultation AFTER the fact?!...only in R&C! With their failure to consult and the ongoing public uproar, the council were forced into damage limitation mode and after a week or so they pulled the plug on it. But who was it that gave the green light in the first place??? I emailed Cllr. Peters but got NO REPLY. I have since found out, from a highly reputable council source, that it was in fact the neighbourhood officer for Saltburn, Gary Cummins. So did Cummins or the Council hold up their hand and make a public apology? Of course not! The Council chose instead to spin a story about how a complaint from an 11-year old schoolgirl (my friends' daughter in fact) had tugged their heartstrings and they had halted the project. (Gazette story). In one fell swoop, the Council had shamefully used a little girl to save face; acknowledged none of the other objectors and insulted the intelligence of the entire electorate by putting out such piffle - so let the truth be known! Workmen did return to try and restore the site but it remains an unturfed mess...perhaps the turf has been earmarked for a lawn tennis court on the beach?! Ridiculous & Comical alas...
JAN 2013:Gwen Wadwell & Jack Plews RIP
Two of the last three surviving interviewees from A Century in Stone passed away around New Year. Jack Plews was 99 and almost certainly the last surviving Eston mineworker. Former Eston hospital nurse, Gwen Wadwell, was 97. They are both immortalised on film and won't ever be forgotten.
There is now only 1 of the cast of 12 still living: Pit-Top native Gwen Waldon who will be 90 this year.
JAN 2013:LOST ART LOCATED
My cousin Don Playford, who died in 2010 at the age of 56, had been a gifted wildlife painter (as well as musician). He had succumbed to alcoholism and his artwork was long sold off to god knows where. Over Xmas, I got a call from a man in the Dales who had seen my tribute to Don on this site. He had 10 of Don's paintings and kindly offered to let me make copies and put them up. So for the first time ever on the net, I am very proud to present the lost art of Donald Playford.
ESTON MINERS' MEGA-HIKE Now Booking for Walking Groups & Schools...
Following much positive feedback, I've decided to open my guided walks on Eston hills to walking groups and schools on a by booking and year round basis. Like the miners...we will walk the hills whatever the weather! For more info please click here
FILM SCREENING:
Sun 9th Dec 2012: VIN GARBUTT-
TEESSIDE TROUBADOUR
plus Q&A with Me @
BREWERY ARTS CENTRE, KENDAL
Tkts £6.00 (not on sale yet - awaiting details) Brewery Arts Centre
Thurs 23rd Aug: 4-People-Not-Profit Film Night
Saltburn Campaign Group 4-People-Not-Profit presents
THERE IS NO AUTHORITY BUT YOURSELF
is a Dutch film documenting the history and do it yourself ideals of anarchist punk band Crass. Whereas The Sex Pistols and The Clash sold their souls to big record labels, Crass maintained a fierce anti-corporate stance. The old Crass commune 'Dial house' just outside of London still exists where 2 ex-Crass members run 'permaculture' workshops - learning to live ecologically and sustainably outside of the corporate meanstream. It is a physical embodiment of the old punk principle: 'do-it-yourself'. Discussion follows film
7.30pm-Upstairs at THE MARINE, SALTBURN ADM. FREE
May/June 2012: COMMON ROOTS From folk icon VIN GARBUTT to a new project with re-united 80s hardcore punk pioneers ANTISECT ...an odd progression you might think but like Vin they sing impassioned protest / political songs and on many similar issues. They were a big inspiration to me growing up so it was great to get to work with them making a video promoting their first American tour; and then join them to film the tour itself. After 16 cities and 6,000 miles, I ended up with 30 hours in the can. Although nothing is concrete yet, a live/ tourfilm will hopefully be the end result.
Saltburn Campaign Group 4-People-Not-Profit presents
COATHAM-A COMMON CONCERN
is the film I made in 2009 which former MP Vera Baird QC tried and failed to stop being shown in Parliament! It is the inspirational story of a victorious campaign by local people against a hellbent local authority and dubious housing development. Three years on and the film stands as a proud testament to people power and a stark reminder of how easy democracy can be undermined by rogue elements within local government. Q & A follows the screening.
THURS 26th APRIL@ 7.30pm-Upstairs at THE MARINE, SALTBURN ADM. FREE
Sunday 8th April : A treat for Saltburn as American folk star TIM ERIKSEN
returned to play his only NE performance other than The Gateshead Sage...
Cheers to Tim plus support act The Tylers and all who came !
1st March 2012: FOR SALE Limited Edition Framed Prints
of my original painting 'WIDOW'S ROW' (Miners Cottages, California, Eston) ONLY ONE LEFT ! 58cm x 46cm = £65SOLD
40cm x 32cm = £40
(plus P+P)
HATE THE BANKS?
HATE THE SYSTEM? BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?!! YOU CAN MOVE YOUR MONEY TO
AN ETHICAL BANK THAT'S WHAT !
MORE AND MORE ARE DOING IT
AND THE BASTARDS DON'T LIKE IT ! I've been with the Co-operative Bank for 14 years and despite having no branch, I can use the Post Office to pay in chqs/cash or just post chqs off. Everything else is done online and/or on the phone.moveyourmoney.org.uk
THE CO-OPERATIVE 20 YEARS OF ETHICAL BANKING
There is only really one high street bank in the UK with an ethical policy, and that’s the Co-operative. The bank has its roots in the co-operative movement that started in the 19th century as a way of creating a fairer model of capitalism through shared ownership. The bank remains committed to those ideals, and members all receive a share of the profits.
A strict ethical policy means no investment goes to companies involved in the arms trade, fossil fuels, animal testing, and so on. Because customers vote every year on how their money is used, new concerns are regularly included, such as genetic modification or climate change. The bank has turned away over 900 million pounds worth of loan applications since it adopted its ethical policy in 1992.
Because the Co-operative is not on the stock market, it is much more stable than other banks, and has actually grown during the credit crisis.
Feb 2012: Barclays in £500m tax avoidance scandal click
BOYCOTT THE CLUSTER BOMB BANKS ! . RBS, Lloyds TSB, Barclays and HSBC have all provided funding to the makers of cluster bombs, even as international opinion turns against a weapons system that is inherently indiscriminate and routinely maims or kills civilians and children etc... (from The Independent)
