Food Banks

I've finally made contact with the Foodbank chain. The one in Barrow which feeds satellites in Ulverston and Millom is extremely well run by Ann Mills. The organisation behind the scenes is incredible. I get the impression that no one needs be without emergency food - this could mean no one in the whole of the country - if the chain of food banks are as well managed as the one in Barrow. Apparently food is moved across the country from food bank to food bank as required. Furthermore only a minute bit of food is wasted and very little goes to those that don't really need it.

They have a Facebook page here.

What's your record?

For the number of times you microwave your coffee because it's got cold - again?

I'm up to four.

.

So - what next ?

Ulverston - 'Let people take control of assets'

NW Evening Mail
“What this shows is that this issue is really cut and dry for people – the clear majority want control of these assets returned back to Ulverston."

Many of us will want to ask : What took you so long?

This result could have been obtained nearly ten years ago when the cracks  began to appear in our position within the SLDC. Certainly seven years ago we started to complain about the disastrous Car Park charging policy and it's effect on our Market - now the latter has nearly gone - we wake up. Furthermore the initiative for "Getting our Assets back" started way back :  Our Car Parks - the money makers - handled these so badly by the amateur SLDC who have been shown a bit of business sense that reducing the car park charge actually generates more money" A request for information about the running of the hardly used Stockbridge Lane Car Park to the full council by a member of the public  five years ago secured an earth shattering compulsory response of: "The matter is under review". Where up the matter was dropped until the then Cllr Jack Rice prised information out ofSLDC using Freedom of information and published the damning information in his report. Since then Everyone and his goat has claimed the credit: John Clough in true councillor style, secured a photo-opportunity in the Evening Mail.

Even the present movement has come about through behind the scenes action from a diplomatic councillor who isn't even on the SLDC. One who was sickened about the squabbling amongst the two main parties that resulted in - total inaction. Isn't it time our councillors stood up to be counted and worked together and put in some hard graft. Even now you should ask -which councillors are leading the fight for us at the SLDC?

With leadership like this - what next:

• Low Furness : James Airey :e - j.airey@southlakeland.gov.uk - trying to do to much at County Council as well?
• Mid Furness : Caroline Airey, James' wife: e - c.airey@southlakeland.gov.uk attendance 33% what does she do?
• Ulverston Central: Bharath Rajan: e - b.rajan@southlakeland.gov.uk
• Ulverston East : Mark Wilson : e - mark.wilson@southlakeland.gov.uk another like James doing too much?
• Ulverston North: Helen Irving : e - h.irving@southlakeland.gov.uk  60% attendances future
Our future mayor!
• Ulverston South: Amanda Rigg :e - a.rigg@southlakeland.gov.uk What  - attendances last year 33%
• Ulverston Town: John Clough : e - j.clough@southlakeland.gov.uk attendances 29%
• Ulverston West: Janet Jenkinson :e - j.jenkinson@southlakeland.gov.uk the only one that I'm aware of that speaks up well for Ulverston and even then she could be better informed of what here electorate are really saying and when she speaks to put forward a more cogent argument.

Check them out on google with their name like this: "Joe Bloggs" SLDC and see how active they've been. There attendances at SLDC are there.

 You're more likely to get somewhere with

Mid Furness: Janet Willis : e - j.willis@southlakeland.gov.uk she's Deputy leader of the Council and fights hard for Greenodd

Grange South : Tom Harvey : e - t.harvey@southlakeland.gov.uk he's the leader of the opposition - a real fighter for Grange.

If we're going to go down the Local Government route then isn't it time to team up with all the other councillors outside Kendal - Sedbergh, Grange, Coniston Windermere, Broughton, Holker : support them and get their backing something Phil Lister stated publicly could never work. Something immediately disproved by Cllrs from Sedbergh.

If change is going to happen we could realise it won't come from the Cllrs but there's no harm spending a few minutes to prod them like cattle and they will run.

However what does work is the hard graft put in by Stan Walmsley who worked steadily in Dalton, 3-5 hours per week for 15 years (and he's still at it) heading a team of fund raisers to build and run Dalton Leisure centre with its Swimming Pool and now superb equipment packed park in front . Stan could tell us all a thing or two if we could be bothered to listen - ( but most of us can't). Wake up Ulverston we all need to get real. If we want something done forget Cllrs.  "We don't borrow money" states Stan and he states he's ready to help others with his vision of how to get things done on a secure footing.

Come on: get writing a few emails  - you can even use copy and paste - it be done in less than five minutes : pick your target they can't tell where you're from. They will all be wanting control over their car parks.

Just a brief message  "Please keep me informed on your progress in getting our Car Parks back from SLDC - they're extremely important to us"  could set the ball rolling and see what reply you get! Write to them all individually and judge for yourself who you would back at the next election by their response. Play them all off against each other. Let's play their game for a change! I'll have a few copies of your replies to print here, please!

Also worth checking out is the amount councillors spend on their local people. They all have £1,000 to allocate - - but do they seek out to support them and spend it?

(Councillors at South Lakeland District Council have been allocated £1000 a year to support community projects in their local areas. Councillors can use the funding to:

• support community groups in their wards
• help purchase equipment, hold events, or
• run services that will benefit local residents.)

Some of the above councillors spent the full amount but James and Caroline Airey, MarkWilson, Helen Irving and Amanda Rigg could find nothing to support their local people.

The Ulverston Food Festival some Cllrs allocated money to sounds interesting - allegedly it will attract thousands- do we support them or could we have spent it better supporting our regular market?

Now you've spent a few minutes putting a few rockets up a few backsides, the next really hard bit : Listen to Stan Walmsley's videos - listen to them again, realise there are NO EASY FIXES like GETTING THEM  TO DO IT. Set a long term target over several years moving a little at a time - keep going back to Stan below for guidance and study how he does it and DO IT OURSELVES. It's not easy as I well know, but it is immensely satisfying.

You will know what does work is the hard graft  as put in by Stan Walmsley who worked steadily in Dalton, 3-5 hours per week for 15 years (and he's still at it) heading a team of fund raisers to build and run Dalton Leisure centre with its Swimming Pool and now superb equipment packed park in front . Stan could tell us all a thing or two if we could be bothered to listen - ( but most of us can't). Wake up Ulverston we all need to get real. If we want something done forget Cllrs.  "We don't borrow money" states Stan and he states he's ready to help others with his vision of how to get things done on a secure footing.

There are individuals that have learnt this for themselves like Sarah Williamson with a steadily growing business at this very minute. We in Ulverston need to grab that spirit and change our attitude and work together knowing it will be hard - and very satisfying. It's a bit like shifting a twenty ton pile of gravel with a spade and a wheel barrow. Slowly spade by spade and an hour later or maybe two and the job is done "Wasn't that great".

Lovely peopley smiley Ulverston

Try walking down the streets of central Ulverston with a smile on your face and see what you get in response. Try saying "Lovely day" (when the sun is out) and check out your response.

It worth travelling fifty miles just to do this. Then follow this up with a coffee in Home and Finance on New Market street and sit in the window where you can be seen and smile and wave to all the people who walk past and find out what happens next.

No you won't get arrested instead you're in for a real treat.

On the other hand go out with your usual glum face and try to respond and discover that your face doesn't crack in half - yes it will be a strange experience but try it. It's called Ulverston Therapy.

Here's Rupert doing his best :

Wow the body language!

Old Ulverston

Do you remember this - I do! Bill Clark has just given me permission to use his photos;

A great business to buy

I'm convinced that the person who buys Smith and Harrison, will not only earn a reasonable and reliable living, he/she will look forward to coming into work every Monday morning.

The article in the Westmorland Gazette:

Ironmonger to retire after 35 years

Provides the background.

Having lived in the town on and off since 1960 doing DIY the whole time when here, I remember the original Mr Smith and Mr Harrison in Theatre Street - a great experience. Since then I have got to know Graham since he was young. It is hard to believe he is now 50 and I can see his point that he is looking forward to a break. I will of course will miss his service saving me hours not only by providing the exact tools for the job but even more valuable how to do it. Only two weeks ago I learnt how to replace a fork handle (yes, of course we went through the Four Candles , John Cleese routine) but what I hadn't learnt was how to rivet the new handle back in place - Graham explained and provided the right soft iron nail.

Going to Smith and Harrison is always fun - mainly for the chat that goes with the purchase but with the chance to keep up to date with the town gossip and furthermore to receive advice where to go in the town or sometimes even Barrow to find a particular piece of equipment that he doesn't sell.

So there must be hundreds of people like myself who are keeping their fingers crossed that Graham finds a suitable replacement - hoping of course that the new purchaser can add the personality we expect to be able to cope with we demanding customers but more important the wide range of knowledge and stock held by Graham. Some of us favour shopping with him even when we have found suppliers that are cheaper: we prefer the overall service we receive and want to make sure this service continues!

Our Ulverston Police Force is excellent

I continue to have dealings with our local police and find their quiet persuasive dealings with the public who are misbehaving themselves, and their attention to detail, commendable.

I am now using the recommended procedure for calling the local police; and reporting incidents is working well. From a main line phone, one rings 101 which puts you through to Cumbria Police, then choose option 1 to report the an incident that does not require urgent action. If it does then 999 is the number to use.

Two incidents have required my involvement : one where a traffic crime was taking place the other where young people ages approx. 18 to 25 were congregating in a group of about ten on private property and appeared to be potentially 'up to mischief' eg driving dangerously.

In the first the police will be making a low key visit to the person involved to state that a complaint had be register with them. In the second a police van appeared on the scene after about 20 minutes to assert their presence with the result that the group of young people dispersed quietly in their cars.

The reason I do this is so that people  who blatantly break the law are aware that they have been reported and that in other cases they are aware that their unusual behaviour is being monitored by people around them - if their actions are innocent they will be reassured that the police are very reasonable people; if they are not then they are more likely to behave in future.

As I have said here before a gentle assertive presence of our police over small incidents will discourage criminal behaviour to escalate in the future. At the moment the general behaviour in our town is very reasonable and well within the bounds of acceptable behaviour. ( I find swearing acceptable - others differ).

Let's all work together to keep it that way. Our police, I believe, appreciate the low key support they get from the public at a time when it can be hard for effective policing - in larger cities - to take place with the diminishing resources available to police, a result from cutbacks in man hours available.

Ulverston Market indeed

You must admit this performance provides a bit of entertainment on our Market Square on a Market day.

Did they pay SLDC any money - for parking a car with a Tele in the back?

Was anybody interested?

The Bible bashers had a notice up but obviously couldn't cope with the competition.

In reality it was all happening in the Coro's Supper Room. Yes it was a traditional , very smooth running, Coffee Morning for the Fair Trade organisation. This well honed activity is much loved by a section of Ulverston society. The ubiquitous presence of the  wonderful Cllr Pat Jones was at the inside door selling raffle tickets at a strip of five for a pound. In theory you could buy one for 20p but nobody would dare. The morning ended with her husband, fresh from the kitchen doing the washing up, announced all six winners of bottles of wine, boxes of chocolates and potted flowers with great aplomb.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the tradition upheld by every Thursday Coffee morning in true Ulverston Style.

It's happened while we weren't looking

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