High speed folly

I have always had doubts about the HS2 scheme.   

The amount of passenger time that will be saved by the project is not that great, the economic benefits are uncertain,  and I feel that the money would be much better spent on improving the rail network as a whole.  I also sympathise with those who have homes near to the route and who will be affected by the unacceptable level of noise and disruption.

It has also become clear that the construction of the high speed line will do irrevocable damage to wildlife too.   According to the Wildlife Trust (of which our own Suffolk Wildlife Trust is a part):-

‘Four Wildlife Trust reserves, 10 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), more than 50 ancient woodlands and numerous local wildlife sites lie in the route of the proposed High Speed Rail HS2 route.

It will fragment populations of butterflies, bats and birds, and compromise the natural movements of large mammals such as badgers that cannot cross the concrete and steel barrier of railway infrastructure.

This comes at a time when the Making Space for Nature report called for integrated, connected landscapes to link up and extend habitats for rare and endangered species. The very last thing we should be doing is creating new linear barriers to the movement of wildlife.’

Concerned about the destruction of ancient woodlands, the Woodland Trust, a separate body, is also actively campaigning against the project.  They have pointed out the very high noise levels that will be generated by the railway, which will not just be damaging to wildlife but to human beings too!

What is becoming clear is that in their misplaced, and somewhat mystifying, enthusiasm to build this white elephant the Government is failing to mandate a sufficiently detailed environmental assessment (a familiar story that we are increasingly hearing with regard to other developments closer to home).

The Woodland Trust has launched a campaign to press for a proper environmental assessment to be carried out.  If you wish to participate in this click on this link.

After the poll

It is wonderful to be able to do some normal things once again!

Living through a political campaign, if you are trying to do the job properly, is like operating in a strange parallel universe.  Doorsteps, letterboxes, envelopes, maps, lists, all take on a significance that they normally never have.   Other, far more important things cease to matter for a few weeks. 

The process is like a strange quest in which you never quite meet the dragon, but glimpse him in passing, flashing down country lanes, or on the front of leaflets that people insist on showing you. When I finally met my chief opponent, at a very early hour in Bildeston on polling day, it was odd to meet a stranger who I felt I had already got to know quite well.  Robert, and his numerous supporters, proved on closer inspection to be reasonable people, and I have little to complain about with regard to the way in which they campaigned.

Both sides worked very hard to get our respective messages across.  Our effectiveness in this can be measured by the relatively high turnout at the election of 42%.  This is a good deal higher than that seen across the county which I think was closer to 35%.   Voter apathy is a sad thing, and taken to extremes can be a dangerous one.

So what now?  After a bit of a rest this weekend I shall be setting off for Ipswich on Tuesday morning for a meeting with those Conservative councillors who have been elected.  I hope to sign my Acceptance of Office, and then I shall be sorting out matters such as IT support, passes and training schedules.  I shall also be contacting parish councils across the Division, unless they get to me first.

 I shall also be responding to the two residents of Cosford who have already contacted me about pressing issues, both of which are really District, rather than County Council matters!

  

No cold calling

One of the five pledges for Suffolk that has been made by the Conservatives ahead of the County Council elections in early May is to promote No Cold Calling Zones across the County.

These schemes are sponsored and organised by Trading Standards, and are really aimed at preventing unsolicited calls on the doorstep from tradesmen.  Signage displayed both in the street and on residents’ properties makes it clear that the neighbourhood has decided that it does not want to receive door to door uninvited callers offering goods and services.

Making an unsolicited call in a No Cold Calling Zone is not in itself a criminal offence,  However, Trading Standards will contact the perpetrator if asked to do so and request that residents’ wishes are respected.

Setting up such a scheme must be done through the County Council with co-operation from the Police and residents ‘groups such as neighbourhood watch.  In general a Zone will only be established if most of the people in the area agree.  An application form to start the process is available on the County Council website.

  

No Cold Calling Zone schemes have been proved to reduce crime, particularly distraction burglaries and fraud.  In addition, where a scheme has been adopted, people find it easier to say no if, despite the scheme, unwanted goods or services are offered to them on the doorstep.

One or two residents have commented that by knocking on their doors during the current campaign we are not practicing what we are preaching!  Personally, I do not knock on a door where someone is displaying a ‘No cold calling’ sign. In fact however No Cold Calling Zones do not apply to those who are undertaking political campaigning, religious groups, people carrying out market research, or people collecting for charity.

Caught napping.....

I should not have made the mistake of saying on this site that I was 'out and about delivering leaflets unrelated to the Police and Crime Commissioner elections on 15th November'.

I now find myself the proud owner of about 1000 flyers promoting the undeniable charms of the Conservative Candidate, Tim Passmore.

I will be scattering these about liberally over the next few weeks, but if anyone wants to be sure to receive one please let me know!