Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Jarrow toilet
Is someone taking the p155?
I don't normally blog about things that happen in Jarrow, simply because this weblog and it's associated sites have a particular reference to my hometown South Shields and how politics affects us. However, there was an amusing little story in tonight's evening paper which illustrates only too well what happens when politicians and public servants get there heads together in this part of the world.
The story relates to Cllr. Tom Hanson's annoyance that a new public convenience in Jarrow, for which he has campaigned for over a year to be put in place, is still not completed and ready for use. It begs the question "how long does it take to spend a penny?"
Jarrow is rather short of places to go when you are "caught short"; as Cllr. Hanson points out, there is only Morrisons - and they have more reasons than one for why you should spend more than a penny!
The sad fact is, of course, that South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council is not exactly renowned for making things move fast, add their talents to those of another public body (Nexus) and you have a recipe for lethargy.
Some examples
* The land either side of the Western Approach dual carriageway between Tyne Dock and Laygate has stood empty since the mid 1970s.
* Vacant land alongside the river in East Holborn has stood empty for even longer.
* Plots of land behind the north side of Fowler Street have stagnated for over thirty years.
* Despite the efforts of a number of people over the past twelve months, Redhead's Landing remains locked to the public, and looks likely to remain so for ever!
* Public consultations for a new "super school" have now been in progress for at least twelve months without any signs of coming to a conclusion.
* Gypsies Green Stadium has been left under-developed for at least thirty years.
* Prime development land all over the centre of Jarrow has remained fallow for the duration of my lifetime.
* Consideration of the application to give "village green" status to Temple Memorial Park has moved at the pace of an average snail.
* The controversial Draft Report on Trow Quarry lay gathering dust for over a year before seeing the light of day.
Yet, the electorate has been so forgiving to Cllr. Hanson and his colleagues in the Labour controlled Council by blindly offering faith and votes to them year after year!
Will the advent of a new invigorated opposition change things? We will have to wait and see, but like the people of Jarrow we are used to waiting.
I just hope that Cllr. Hanson's bright idea for a public convenience hasn't turned out to be a "flush in the pan!"
Link
The Shields Gazette
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Curly Born in 1956
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