Now we have two great but very different places to enjoy a coffee

Poppies is a great place to feel part of the Ulverston Community and now the Novel Cafe´, on the Market square, provides something completely different and very special.

Several snug places to chat or browse through one of the books, or read the paper.

Not only will you find hundreds of books but art work of every kind to take home with you at reasonable prices.


Then there's computer access - it may be free , I'm not sure. Certainly you can access the internet from you laptop.


Books , books and more . . . .books.


Then there's a children's play area
And an unusual Mural on the top floor.

Taking this home may prove a little difficult.

Maybe a clock to help remind you it's time to return home. To vacate a seat for someone else.

And buy that book you're a quarter way through.

And yes that picture would look good on our wall. All for the the price of a Concert ticket at the Coro and way below that of a seat at Anfield to watch Liverpool once more fail to get that winning goal in.
And it's open till 5:00 pm and on Sunday.

Instead of buying a Sunday paper we've decided to come here to read the writeups in beautiful surroundings.

Who's had babies then

Haven't we seen Mom before?

Yes, that was in December.

Quick worker!

Why are we hooked on getting out of a recession

What we all need is to stop growing and adjust to a recession which could be a good thing for all of us.

A lack of growth, an acceptance of a "lower standard of living", fewer "things" - cars, larger houses, gadgets is a good thing for most of us.

Materialism has widened the gap between people. People - good friends - have become less important than "things".

Don't we need a new direction - "backwards" ?

The world's resources cannot sustain "growth" - we're already consuming too much.

Isn't it more important to be thinking of completely new concepts of satisfying some of our basic needs?

Aren't these :

Having a safe roof over your head - preferably your own?

Having satisfying work that brings us into contact with other people in a stress free environment?

"Doing" less, "working" less, with more time for reflection?

Living contented lives?

Not being hung up with "fairness"?

Not feeling an overriding need for something: drink, clothes, sex, money, drugs, "friends" ?

Any others!

We all need to think in a completely different way.

I don't believe you can legislate this - which is top down thinking.

What we really appreciate is bottom up thinking:

Start with ourselves : think what we really want.

Plan out with those immediately around us how to achieve this.

Then encourage others in our locality to adopt this new way of thinking.

.

B & Q donate bulbs to Barrow and some come to Ulverston's public places.

These 540 bulbs need planting as soon as possible!

Passed on to us by the Ulverston Community Police Officers they are heading for Ulverston Pulci places.

The location is up to you.

At the moment the idea is to focus them on Mill Dam Playground where they will be followed up with plants grown from seed. Some will also go in the Gill Banks planters!

Want to get involved ? They could perhaps go in a patch of ground near you!

Warning to Driver for Dodd's Florist

You were seen driving down a steep road covered in ice whilst on your mobile phone. Previously you were also seen reversing up the road at a dangerous speed by someone else.

Please don't do it again as I often have my camera ready to film and will attempt to get a conviction of similar drivers in Ulverston. I only just missed one guy by a split second a year ago!

Ulverston Rock Salt Grit Boxes

"James Airey and Peter Hornby,

In view of the cold spell forecast for this next week, the above subject has come up again, on my blog.

It would make a really good impression on everyone if at least the boxes all over town are again replenished this next Monday!

It was good to see the NHS Health Centre Car Park being gritted all over today!

Geoff Dellow"

Email just sent out to our county councillors.

Reply received straight back from James Airey:

"Hi Geoff

I think your right, I will make some calls and hopefully get them filled up.

Happy New Year.

Regards James Airey
Campaign Manager
Westmorland & Lonsdale Conservative Association
Office: 01539721010
Mobile: 07734265963"

Let's see what that produces!

"I enjoyed that - it was quite a challenge"

Was the remark I heard at the top of Hoad - in amongst talk where conquering Everest had been mentioned.

Was




The paths had been very slippery in places with the rain on top of compressed icy snow.

It's the time when we overcome obstacles, particularly through our own abilities that give us a buzz.

Being reliant on sophisticated complex services is the downer.

We've unfortunately come to believe that humans can solve every problem.

It ain't so.

The Christmas travelling public became angry to find that the Eurostar trains couldn't cope with the snow and cars on the Basingstoke ring roads couldn't cope with gridlock caused by undrivable conditions.

Perhaps we need to start resetting our expectations of everything working smoothly at every turn.

The Floods here in Ulverston and Cumbria made us rethink whether we could rely on public services.

But we can expect this sort of thing to happen more and more in the future.

Global warming, I believe has upset the natural sequence of the weather and there will be an increasing number of situations where we will find ourselves to be helpless.

The result of the Copenhagen summit left me very depressed. There is no chance of the human race surviving at this rate of progress.

So what can we look forward to?

Lots and lots of opportunities of working together to becoming self reliant.

Whilst we can't rely on the weather, we can develop friendships that endure.

We can also become more self sufficient and less dependent on others.

Take keeping warm for instance.

Anyone with a fireplace that can support a coal fire or better still peat could preserve it even if it's not used now. With a stash of fuel - you can bury a few tons of coal- that won't deteriorate - so that you can be warm for a while even when the national grid brakes down. It's good to feel that one doesn't have to rely on other anonymous services.

Is this acceptable?

We are pleased to welcome new management of a pub in the town. They seem to be making a go of it and I've received several good reports about it. Some of my friends use it regularly.

However they have chosen to park their commercial rubbish bin on the pavement at a place that is generally regarded as dangerous for pedestrians because the road is so narrow and there is considerable traffic..

The previous owners of the pub parked their bin in a recess on their own land without blocking the public footpath though I suspect this wouldn't have been popular with the fire service as it blocked an exit.

The present owners say they will have difficulty finding an alternative but surely that is their problem.

Yesterday when I found this bin crammed full to overflowing, I called in to talk to Sarah the manager - I talked to her previously by phone. I got the message that she was there but too busy to see me.

I agreed not to kick up a stink about this issue until the New Year but the present reaction is not promising.

What do people think?

Should we make a fuss about this?

If not - where do we draw the line of businesses encroaching on our safety and the appearance of the town?

Since posting the above, the bin has been full to overflowing several times; this suggests that they may be needing two large red bins soon. I gather they are picked up daily by Wicks who promise 100% recycling which is good.

Is Art useless?

Yes.

What's wrong with that?

Think of the 'Art' that's around us.

Hoad Monument - a giant useless sculpture.

East Enders a useless fictional set of stories.

The Dickensian Weekend - lots of stalls selling useless objects - of course some of them were selling essentials - like Mulled Wine.

Man U vs L'pool - a pointless 'battle'.

Yes they're all useless but could we live without them?

In fact would we want to live without them or something similar.

Art is ultimately what we live for. It feeds our emotions. It helps us feel good.

It leads us to choose how we decorate our rooms - the type of furniture, the wall paper, carpet bed cover, plates and cups. How we plan our garden, what car we choose.

So can we stop knocking it - different people like different art - but to say that its useless misses the point.

Without it, it would be pointless, which of course if you stop and think, it really is!

An abomination is dumped on Ulverston

What clown imagined that when you came round this corner




in a traditional lake district town with Kirby Slate everywhere in the town, you would meet these monstrosities from China?






This smacks very much of a financial scam.

Who has ended up with money in their back pocket ?

Del Boy comes to Ulverston!

" Fancy some beautiful marble paving stones ( that fell off the back of a Lorry straight from Ying Tong Ying Tong Idli Po) "

"Suits you sir . Yes Suits you sir."

"A perfect match. Just what 'Up and Coming' Ulverston needs. Just like the County Square"

I conducted a poll and got a 100% result from one lady -

"Aren't they awful ! "

So what happens next. . . .

Someone's head needs to roll (?)

James Airey - the new guy in the hot County Council seat - what are you up to?

The issue of a consistent design policy for Ulverston was raised with him, months ago.

Nothing will happen unless Ulverstonians speak up.

So start with your comment here.

Do nothing and in the long term, the town is doomed.

Just see what inaction has done to South Ulverston.

Tesco suffering, The Co-op thriving.

Now that Ulverstonians have had time to take stock of the new store, many have realised it is a big disappointment.

The stock is limited. The prices are high. The service not brilliant.

What has been good is that the Co-op have had a shake up for the better and the atmosphere of helpfulness has improved to even higher levels than before.

So for the time being most people are happy. We have a major business learning the hard lesson that Ulverstonians are a canny lot. They quickly see through a bunch of crooks and appreciate the personal contact with people at the Co-op selling goods that are wholesome in most respects.

Other good local stores are thriving if they provide a genuine service and a wide variety of stock.

We should be looking done the road to planning what we will do when Tesco have learnt their lesson and decide to pull out and cut their losses.

County Councillor not to be!

Here are the results!

I thoroughly enjoyed the journey!

Meeting lots of interesting people - it was great fun.

Maybe - sigh of relief from some.

Looking forward to seeing how James Airey, Ulverston West, shapes up!

Sad to feel that things will be going downhill for much of Ulverston East with much alienation on the part of many people . . . . .

I shall still enjoy asking awkward questions here on the blog.

Politics at the moment is in a right state mainly because our lack of involvement.

Will we get a new breed of person getting involved?

What will the Hutton election throw up?

I'll be glad to have a break pursuing other interests.

This blog will continue in some form.

Any ideas for what I should do next?

Many of the replies will no doubt be unpublishable!

Roxy review

I have now talked to an increasing number of people regarding their experiences of what happens at, and in the nearby streets to, the Roxy in the early hours when they hold an event.

I have forwarded to Gary Robinson my concerns. Yet even after this, it would appear that the behaviour last Saturday night (30th May), Sunday morning, was as bad as ever.

If anyone else would like to share their views here or privately by email, they are welcome. I would especially like to hear from you if they are ready to make a signed statement.

Get yourself down to Lightburn Park

The kids are happy but now is the time, right at the beginning, to get them behaving well to all ages.

I was able to talk to the few rogues there and persuade them not to ride their bikes on the grass.

There are enough sensible kids around for an adult to have a lot of influence in guiding their behaviour in a way that is sympathetic and considerate to everyone.

Ignore this scene and the yobos will take over and we're in for a lot more trouble than if we got stuck in now.

Most of the kids are arriving by bike and hence kids from all over are attracted here.

It's a great chance for older ones to have a lot of influence by simply showing an interest and even a bit of admiration for the skills that some of them have.

Health and Safety gone MAD

Sam Braken, Kendal Safety Officer for SLDC, has decreed that the bench that stands here for older people to wait for a taxi, should be removed.

Why?

Because someone bumped into it and complained.

Some Councillors to their credit have complained to the Market Manager , but will they have the perseverance to take it further or will they lie down and play dead?

SLDC have a record for being totally unreasonable regarding Health and Safety.

Any suggestion of a risk and they ban the activity.

This is totally different to Barrow Borough Council who have come to the view that people do not in fact sue and Councils do not lose cases.

Richard Hennah of Barrow has pioneered skateboarding in Barrow whereas Richard Foster of SLDC is overcautious. The latter will not allow kids to bring their boxes into parks to practice their skateboard tricks in case they hurt themselves.

What happens in Ulverston? - The kids are left to practice in potentially dangerous places like Car Parks and the parade on Central Drive, Croftlands.

It's been a real battle for this Health and Safety attitude to be resisted and a stronger stand needs to be made.

Gary Robinson on the new Roxy venue.

The follow recounts a phone conversation with Gary Robinson of the Canteen in Barrow and now the Roxy Music/Arts venue.

This call was made to Gary "out of the blue" yesterday (Saturday 9th afternoon)

His initial reaction was resentment that someone was apparently phoning to tell him his job and what he should do in what was "family time".

My urgency was to catch him before the Saturday night gig so that he could start that night, aware of the views of several people that I have been in touch with in the last few days. (Having stated that it was family time, it was difficult to get Gary off the phone once he had started - he is good at arguing his point of view as those that heard him at the public meeting will know.)

On Feb 5th I posted an article very much in favour of this project. Now I have severe doubts.

On some points during our conversation, I found him unconvincing.

He argues - and he is welcome to correct me here - the following:

He is following the rules and doing all he can and if there is bad behaviour then this is because of the type of people he is dealing with.

He believes it is early days and it will take a while for the irresponsible behaviour to be weeded out by excluding these people from entering the venue.

He is paying high wages to ensure that expert staff are employed to deal with any behaviour problems. He also feels he has a good working relationship with the police.

For my part I ,and many others, look at the situation very differently.

What impressed me about the description of what was to happen with Gary at the Roxy was that something of benefit was going to happen in the town and that there was a need for responsible people to have a venue open till 3.00 am where they could enjoy live music along with an occasional drink. Furthermore the Roxy could become a venue were the artistic interests in the town could be focused and developed.

What has happened so far does not encourage this optimism.

It is essential to me and many others that access to alcohol until late does not lead to drunken behaviour by people that have lost their inhibitions and control of what they do.

At present what is happening sends out messages to me and others that people with too much alcohol inside them are being turned out on our streets in the early hours. People who show little concern for others.

Gary cannot in my opinion duck this issue. It can be argued that the behaviour is linked to drink. This is happening inside the Roxy and is thus the responsibility of those behind the bar. The Roxy must quickly establish itself as a place that will attract the responsible people who go to enjoy good , live music and not the irresponsible who go to drink.

Gary Robinson has total responsibility for the way in which his venue is run and it must quickly become a place for the former.

If the latter take hold; I and many others will join together to force the venue to be closed.

I suggest that a change of direction needs to be implemented quickly. The whole appearance of the venue both outside and in, needs urgent attention in my view. The quality is nowhere up to the standard of the former Buffers at the station and that had its problems.

Your views as always are welcome. I trust that the Councillor for this area - Jamie Samson - with his interests in the licensing committee of South Lakeland is monitoring the situation closely.

County Square

I was out talking to potential voters in the June election last night.

Several expressed strong views about the work that has been carried out here.

What are yours?

Has there been an improvement?

Was it worth over half a million?

Does the emphasis on Stan Laurel make sense?

It was an idea strongly supported by the Town Council; did they get it right?

Why not let them and the press know your views?

This will encourage/discourage them next time!

Click here to write to The Mayor, The Deputy Mayor, the Evening Mail Reporter and me, Geoff Dellow and I'll publish your views here.

Pottering along / a Bypass see comments

With 'flu slowly taking over and slight temperature developing my energies have been lowish to deal with the things that this week has thrown up:

Anger with the Town Council over their total lack of concern over the continued absence of an Ulverston web site that tries to reach potential tourists, with the North East reaping the benefit of an influx coming because of the weaker pound.

Sudden death of a neighbour.

Two New projects for youngsters.

Back to 'normal' soon with the following topics bubbling to the surface:

War in Afghanistan, allotment cheats, G20 Summit, ongoing dialogue with the County Highways Dept, new community Groups, the rape issue and the malfunctioning Sapphire police support, women's uncelebrated successes in Cricket, Football and Tennis

Worrying trend ?

This story which was reported yesterday, disturbs me deeply.

An older man is assaulted by a young white male with two other young people standing by. Here on the main road of Croftlands.

What was happening that led to such violence?

I hope this behaviour never becomes the norm in Ulverston.

It will only stop if we all step in and intervene in some way if we see anything like this happening.

If we just shrug our shoulders and turn our backs then it could be our turn next and none of us want to live in this kind of community.

We need to try to understand why people walk around with such anger; then we need to do something about it. The answer is not the police, the problem is for us to solve. We cannot leave it to 'them' to deal with.

It follows the kind of behaviour that I predict will happen more and more as people get angrier with the world at large, and react to what is happening to them from directions they believe they have no control over.

How much more will Ulverstonians accept ?

'Repairs' in Lower Brook Street.

"Never mind eh. It's only tatty old Ulverston !"

"Sling a bit of asphalt there. No one will notice"