Tuesday 15 April 2014

Too little, too late

The unwillingness of councillors to 'keep their eye of the ball' results in the kind of fiasco that we have on our market at the moment.

Yes, we now have ideal conditions for people on foot to enjoy the market and help it thrive now that New Market Street and Market Street itself has been pedestrianised - sadly one thing is missing - a market. How many stalls did we have last Saturday? Was it four in the Market Square and one in New Market St?

Sadly we don't have people on the council that know how to get on with a job when they start it. Worse still they refuse to be helped by others with more business experience. In fact how many people think that the council actually stops a job getting done rather than helping? ( An example could be what has happened at Mill Dam Park where community spirit has been all but squashed completely by the actions of our SLDC Councillor)

The Super Saturdays were much enjoyed last year - where have they been this year?

James Airey was dragged over the coals a year ago because the paperwork for the pedestrianisation of Market Street had got buried in a County Council back office. This project was kicked off a full two years ago and is only now being implemented. It was the police that had to draw the council's attention that nothing was happening eighteen months ago and even then they had to quietly have a word with certain councillors to put them straight as to what the real problem was.

James Airey practises a philosophy echoed by councillors time and time again. They think the job is done once they've raised it. It doesn't occur to them that any project travelling through either SLDC or the County Council has to followed not perhaps weekly but certainly monthly. Officers need agreed deadlines set and then checked that they are kept. When a deadline is not kept some penalty or other needs to be imposed. All that may be needed is to have the inaction made public. The other attitude that can really make a difference is praise. It's like training dogs and encouraging children: praise and in the case of children, lots of hugs, works wonders. For council officers to work well they need to be in constant touch with their bosses - the elected councillors. How is this possible with power mad people who persuade the public to elect them to be not only Town Councillors but District Councillors and not only these two but County Councillors. How can people like James Airey and Mark Wilson who profess to do all three possibly give the effort that all three jobs require if done well?

What did Catherine Thompson have to say on the subject of Super Saturday Markets back on January 26th

" I don't think Ulverstonians or visitors know what Ulverston is about anymore, new blood in the council would help !!"

2 comments:

Gladys said...

I wish people would stop using the phrase, 'Too little, too late'. It is used by politicians constantly - especially the opposition. I simply 'switch off', It is too easy to say without thinking. Structured argument is required (which you so often do) , not throw away phrases. When the former is applied the latter is superflous,
As for walking to town. First I have to avoid dog poo, but when I enter town, I have to negotiate pavements that trip the unwary, and the elderly, especially those with poor sight. Am I just a moaner?
I admire a lot of locals who work hard for the town. Well done all of you. Sorry I am in no position to help, except to give folk a friendly smile. It is quite uplifting to get a smile in return. Shop people also can be very kind to us oldies. These things matter. Cheerfulness and friendliness cost nothing and yet mean so very much, especially if we feel 'low' within.

Geoff Dellow said...

What a lovely comment Gladys. Yes I love walking around town for the reaction I get from the people I meet. Smiles and a cheerful "Hello Geoff" abound even though I often don't recognise the speaker - but then there are so many people from my varied past that I don't recognise. I often get "You don't know who I am do you" remark to which I have to say "No". They can then say "It's John" and I'm left with trying to figure out "John who". The last time it happened it took three days to figure it out only to find it was "Doyley" - Now I know from my past who Doyley is.

As for road surfaces I must agree: I regularly negociate my route through town to avoid uneven surfaces often walking on smooth asphalt. It may appeal to tourists - maybe there should always be a smooth route as an option, provided like a cycle track. A 'poorsighted track' for those with just that as well as a precarious sense of balance.

As for the catch phrase - occasionally I use them deliberately because they are over-used by politicians. This fitted well with my idea of how the person I referred to actually speaks- he, in my opinion, is a right 'smoothy' and sadly may go far as a politician but he's not a patch on MP Tim Farron who he tries to redicule occasionally - unsuccessfully.

I'm gald my 'post' provoked your reaction: it's great to have a comment from someone who dares use their real name - you're the only one in the town who is brave enough to do this consistently. Thank you. Your views , as ever, are much appreciated and are challenging when this is called for.