The sad case of a councillor that has lost her way

I suspect that Helen Irving can't cope with her work load. She's now taken on not only the post of Town Councillor but now SLD Councillor. It's quite a commitment when you're an active grandmother with many family and other commitments.

Why "lost her way" ?

Well she's missing the opportunity of earning some great brownee points (yes she's aiming to be a full girl guide eventually). She has the opportunity to associate herself with a team of 50 people who would sing her praises with only a little encouragement if she became known to them. The group call themselves the BUGs and are behind several community projects in the town :

Looking after Mill Dam Park which is attracting visitors from all over Furness because of its friendly and well cared for environment. They have, over the past three years and out of their own funds, provided three picnic tables, transformed the flower beds planted over 2000 bulbs and 1000 bedding plants. Now the wide variety perennials are becoming established. Pottery made in the park on several occasions is decorating one side. They have even rescued the fencing that was discarded by the adjacent sheltered housing with a view of renovating the fencing in front of the park which is looking rather tired. They are working behind the scenes to treat, paint this wood ready install with their own labour now that funds for work on our parks is drying up.

Creating the pottery on the Railings at Gill Banks. This has come about over many years now through many opportunities for both children and adults to make pottery which has survived the attentions of vandals and the weather.

Creating Pottery for personal use. A group of seven meet every Monday evening. See below

Running numerous workshops for children : making kites in the summer and flying them in Ford Park, making Candles as Christmas presents and other craft projects.

Supporting the Ulverston Flag Festival by making well over 50 flags which are flown not only on people houses in and around The Gill but in a circle around the Cumbria Way monument and in front of the Coro during Printfest.

The Candlelit Walk which has just been celebrated for the fourth year. Successfully handed over by the BUGs to a new team just this year.

Chess every Saturday in the Ulverston Market Square in a cooperation with the chess players at the Stan Laurel pub. The purpose here is to liven up the Town Market and provide the means of encouraging chess players all ages from six upwards.

Music as above at the Thursday Market where the aim is to supplement the music played by the Town and other bands, aiming again to provide interest at our Ulverston Market Days.

The successful removal of the intrusive Himalayan Balsam from Gill Banks one of seven species that the government had made it illegal to spread in the wild. Here a small team from BUGs worked nearly every Friday for four months with 99% success removal last year - over 1000 plants were removed.

Sadly Cllr Helen Irving couldn't spare 5 minutes yesterday for her first time, when some of the BUGs were working in the park and she was passing it. Instead of coming in to learn a little of what was being done she chose to recount her on site conversation with the SLDC Parks officer about plans to remove the fencing - something they already knew about from our regular contacts over the past three years resulting in assistance with the providing of two lots of compost from SLDC - the last lot being seven tonnes - which again was shifted off the road by a ten strong BUGs team in two ours. Also the provision of timber to repair one of the benches again done by the BUGs.

How can she represent the views and activities of this active group is she can't give even five minutes to becoming better informed of their activities on her patch? What comes across from Cllr Irving is a top down approach to management where we the public are told what is good for us rather than supporting and encouraging  the active members of the community to do more.

In these times of financial hardship you would have thought that a group that has provided in the region of £2500 out of their own funds  to help with the above activities would have been welcomed by our SLD Councillor when so many services are being cut back because of lack of finances. Surely the purpose of a councillor is to represent her constituents and be well informed of their activities when they are providing so much to the community.

I fear that unless our SDL Councillor changes her attitude then she won't be re-elected next time when the theme for the country is "We're all in this together".

The offer is still open: "Would you like to spend a little time becoming informed of BUGs activities and encourage them so that they can to sing your praises and compliment your  welcome support ?". Note we're not asking for money but simply for assistance in good communication between the BUGs and local government. Isn't this your job as a councillor, both town and district?

Note: you can spot a BUGs supporter by the fact that they have a pottery 'bug' - a small Ladybird beside/above  the front doors of their houses all over Ulverston. To keep in touch with their activities email Geoff at gd at tygh.co.uk or Facebook. At the moment we're organising Christmas Present candlemaking activities for children.