ANOTHER THANET POTPOURRI

The seagulls taking up residence on my neighbour's chimney and the heating up of political sniping between Tory and Labour 'blogs' is a sign that spring is on its way and that we must have KCC Elections soon. What a strange week it has been in Thanet.
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'Thanetlife' is almost back to what it used to be whilst ECR is taking a break and Dave Green on Eastcliff Matters appears to have been silenced again or 'bloggered'. I wonder if Standards are being called in and is it something to do with heaps of rubbish and a 'bin-lady'? Perhaps 'Mauwice' has realised that 'Our Ken' needs a bit of help in countering all the Labour Councillors Blogs and hence 'Life' is setting about Mark Nottingham's sartorial habits. A gentleman should never comment about another chap's sartorial indiscretions; it is just not done, Simon.
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We had TDC talking to 'Euroferries' in Ramsgate Harbour but with whom they were actually in discussion with remains a mystery as Euroferries seems an odd looking set up and a 'name' only; it's whether there are serious investors behind them that is the real question? And if so, who are they?
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BAWC/GSS buzzed into Manston to talk to that nice New Zealander and eye up the real estate whilst residents of Ramsgate were shaken out of bed at 05.30 am last Sunday. I am not really up to all this S.106 business rushed through by TDC last week, but it seems to me that unless you actually have penalty clauses for 747s coming in or going out when they shouldn't be, effectively you have a 106 agreement that is meaningless and Manston, in reality, is 'open all hours'.
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The 'pot-hole' in Grafton Road has not only been filled in but no sooner had I questioned 'Why not repair the whole mini-network of holes there?', blow me down, the whole area in Grafton Road has been given a make-over by KCC! Well done for them .
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On the subject of 'holes', the lack of serious industrious activity in Southern Gas' hole in St Peter's is being closely monitored by locals, even if not by their Tory Councillors. A man watching another man working was heard to say " This elfansafety inspector sez the 'ole size ain't right and we might 'ave to stop'. I hadn't realised they had done that much so far. How's that song go...?
"Don't dig 'ere, dig it elsewhere, yor diggin it round an it outa be square............"
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The move to a new building has obviously taken the Gazunder team time to adjust to, as the screaming front page this week told us about the 'bin strike' that never was. An awful fuss about nothing, (reminds me of China Gateway now), but at least IOTG got its money from TDC for the full page advert advising us 'Friday and Monday people' not to put our rubbish out. How will TDC now collect rubbish for those who obeyed the missive from their Council ? All a bit of a mess for the 'bin-lady' to sort out?

Having speculated earlier in 'Strife' as to the reason behind all these Tory Councillors being roped in by Mauwice to be 'lead members' on portfolios (unkindly described as jobs for the boys and girls) I am still of the opinion that it is to 'bolster' his position. Despite denials that extra 'dosh' was going to be involved, it is interesting that £500 extra for each Councillor involved had actually been agreed by 'The Remuneration wallahs' but 'will not be taken up'. I wonder why not? Nothing about reducing 'dosh' for those with less to do, though, like 'Woger'.
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All is now in place for elections for Ramsgate Town Councillors to take place at the same time as the KCC Elections but should prospective Ramsgate Town Councillor's be wary? Having heard this week about the toxic mess that still has to be sorted at Thor, I was surprised to hear a rumour from Ramsgate that a 'toxic debt' from TDC is coming the new Council's way. It all seems odd but it would appear to be about 'allotments'. Is TDC really about to hand Ramsgate Town Council an immediate financial 'poisoned-chalice' for G'OD and other Councillors who might get elected? Rumour is that the planned 'precept' needs to be doubled. TDC hates the idea of a Ramsgate Council and is this a petty way to nobble this upstart 'body' at its inception?

HOW MUCH LOWER CAN THIS GOVERNMENT STOOP?

This is reportedly a CIA 'extraordinary rendition' aircraft parked at Shannon Airport in Jul 2006.
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Let us be quite clear about this typically American piece of 'New Speak'. 'Extraordinary rendition' is kidnapping anyone whom you think is a 'terrorist threat' and flying them to other countries like Morocco or Afghanistan where they can be subjected to torture as part of their 'interrogation' and thus avoid US personnel breaching the US Constitution (concerning torture and illegal detention) in the USA.
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So now we know that not only did British Forces in Iraq hand over 2 suspects in 2004 to the US military, knowing full well what their fate would be ( they are still 'rotting' in prison almost 5 years later in Afghanistan) but that despite denials by the Foreign Secretary at the time (Jack Straw) this information was relayed to The Home Office and Foreign Office and was contained in written briefings presented to the Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary.
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Here is what Article 49 of The Geneva Convention states in its first paragraph:
"Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are PROHIBITED (my capitals), regardless of their motive."
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Not only did this Government lie in taking us to war in Iraq alongside the USA (clearly lied to by Bush) and thus illegally, but in addition Parliament has been lied to about our involvement in 'rendition'. We are guilty of assisting the Americans in a grave breach of The Geneva Convention.
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Let me explain why this 'grave breach' must have been sanctioned at the highest levels of Government in The UK. Every Service Officer is required to study the Geneva Convention and is required to 'instruct' their troops about The Geneva Convention and certain articles are even required to be read out in full to servicemen, at least once a year. When units or servicemen and women are posted to a conflict zone, such instruction is repeated prior to movement and for obvious reasons.
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Are we really to believe that a UK Commander handed over 2 suspects in Iraq to the US authorities without seeking guidance from the UK? Or is the reality that the UK Commander was 'instructed' by London to hand them over, after London received a request from the US authorities to do so? I suspect the latter was the case.
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How many Labour Party members are as horrified as I am, that a Labour Government under Tony Blair, could be complicit in the illegal removal from Iraq to Afghanistan of two 'protected persons' (under The Geneva Convention) and their subsequent treatment. The sooner Obama and the US lay charges against Bush and we hold an enquiry into these matters, the better.

ONE HOLE FILLED; A FEW THOUSAND TO DO STILL?

BEFORE
Readers might recognise this picture of a pot-hole in Grafton Road, Broadstairs that closely resembled the gas main excavation in St Peter's.
AFTER

The picture below was taken 24 hours after my post and shows that some-one who read 'Strife' was able to get some fast action. My only concern was that no running repairs were made to nearby holes at the same time!

I am afraid that lack of maintaining the surface integrity of Thanet's roads over the past few years has now caught out KCC badly this winter , after many nights where wet conditions were followed by frost. Rather than pretty coloured concrete; new tarmac on pavements and costly 'traffic calming' obstructions in the road, I would prefer to see the road surfaces maintained to a satisfactory standard.

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I have counted 12 holes of various sizes that have now appeared in about 200 m of Approach Road and they have been getting noisily and shudderingly deeper over the weeks. They are not alone.

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I suspect there are thousands of small pot-holes growing into serious suspension shuddering monsters, all over Thanet.

THE SCANDAL OF THOR IN THANET?

It is time for TDC, KCC and the Environmental Agency to wake up.

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Readers will be unaware perhaps, that Tim Garbutt has been trying to get to the bottom of Thor's polluting activities in Thanet at its now 'closed' site on Ramsgate Road and has been consulting with and asking questions of The Environment Agency.

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Please visit http://www.thanetonline.blogspot.com/ where Michael Child has linked to information released by the Environment Agency. The information makes harrowing reading.

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Simply put, we still don't know the extent of pollution of the ground at this site and we don't know the extent of the pollution of the aquifer (which provides much of our drinking water) because the 'plume' of contamination would appear to be running northwards away from any extraction boreholes. The identified pollutants are highly toxic.

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I find this situation alarming and the focus given to this whole issue in the past 6 months by Rick Card, Micheal Child and Tim Garbutt does them credit. I think that those who have accused them of being eccentric 'sad cases' might do well to rethink their opinions of them.

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Thank goodness, Thanet has some who are not motivated by greed , personal gain or political expediency but by altruistic motives in bringing to our attention matters of very serious concern to the environment we all inhabit; Planet Thanet!

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I urge our Councillors to get themselves aquainted with pollution in Thanet caused by 'industry' providing 'jobs' and to catch up with the serious issues we face because of lax attention in the past. What seems to have happened is a lack of 'monitoring' and 'enforcement' caused by ignorance or lack of 'political' will.

FOUR REASONS WHY I FEEL ASHAMED TO BE BRITISH TONIGHT.

ONE.

Let me start with the Iraq War and Blair's sycophantic relationship with George Bush that led to the British Armed Forces being sent to Iraq without proper equipment and with no political plan in place for the 'occupation'. I am presently reading 'The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder' by an eminent US attorney called Vincent Bugliosi. In light of Jack Straw's decision to suppress release of Cabinet Documents from 2003 (roll on a Public Inquiry) Bugliosi makes an interesting point that Bush ignored the 'Famous Downing Street Memo'. These were minutes from a pre-invasion Cabinet Meeting that quoted Sir Richard Dearlove describing his meetings in the US; " Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the Intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy". The question is why did Blair then mislead Parliament about the '45 minutes' and an imminent threat?

TWO

Whilst I have sympathy for some-one with terminal cancer, let us be realistic for a moment. Jade Goody is not only lacking in any talent other than self publicity but she was seen by millions to be the worst type of arrogant racist on 'Big Brother'. Have we forgotten that her bile against a talented, educated, charming, sophisticated and highly succesful actress was driven by the base idea that the crude, ignorant, uneducated Jade was superior because she was 'white'? This woman has become a member of Britain's new, wealthy and worthless 'aristocracy' on the basis of notoriety and 'celebrity'; not for talent, ability or philanthropism. Our media, with our support has created this travesty of 'greatness' where a wedding to a criminal who assaulted another with a golf club is now an 'iconic moment' worthy of a £700,000 cheque and the support of a British Prime Minister!

THREE

I remember with utter disbelief that a murder victim, Stuart Lubbock, could be found floating face down in a swimming pool with injuries of physical and sexual assault with blood levels of alcohol and drugs at a private party in Mar 2001 and no less than 8 years later, no-one has been found responsible. This beggars belief and the fact that Essex Police have been found to have failed in their duty in so many areas worries me. Was their investigation lax due to the 'celebrity' status of the party holder combined with a desire not to be seen to be 'homophobic'? We need the same rigorous enquiry as ocurred in the Lawrence murder.

FOUR

I am ashamed to live in a country where an Animal Rights 'bomber' gets 10 years for actually setting off bombs and yet misguided and fortunately inept Muslim Fundamentalists are awarded 30 year prison sentences for just contemplating acts of terrorism. Add to this the fact that our Government not only allowed the US to subject a 'British Resident' to improper arrest, detention and 'rendition' but would now seem to have been compliant in his torture and mis-treatment. I am delighted that Binyam Mohammed has at last got back to the UK with all charges dropped by the US i.e. he is an innocent man. His story, when he tells it should shame us all.

Have we sunk so low under almost 12 years of Blair and Brown that we now have a distorted perception of worth, integrity and morality or would this situation be the same under any Government.?

'STRIFE'S ' ANNIVERSARY ALREADY?

It is with some horror that I realise I have been running Thanet Strife for one year! For nostalgia's sake I have copied my first posting of 24 Feb 2008.

ALL QUIET ON THE THANET FRONT

Well, what an interesting two weeks in Thanet's blogsphere! The allegations have been flying in the local press and radio and I show an exclusive picture of a 'legal beaver' being consulted about the libel laws.
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As he is only a B.A Bombay (failed) he is unlikely to offer sound advice but who cares; its all got personal now and he is cheap at 100 rupees per call.
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Thom Morris is on the case at The Isle of Thanet Gazette and the set grimace of Air-Ads director, chief pilot and Westgate Councillor, Simon Moores in the photograph attached to last Friday's article looks suitably hands on hip serious.
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We have one suspended site; OVIT closed for business and ECR gone up-market but with 'the gazunder.blogspot.com' still an avenue for blogger chat to the Eastcliff Mansion resident. Whats all the fuss about? There has been some sharp exchanges in the past few weeks but nothing that we flitters around Thanet's blogs have not seen before. It will all come out in the wash in due course but as some have found in the past, dirty washing is best left to the 'dhobi-wallah' to look after, not our friend the legal beaver.

Posted by Bertie Biggles at 19:42

ECONOMIC RUIN FOR ST PETER'S TRADERS AND WHERE ARE THE COUNCILLORS?

We all know that gas main work is a night-mare but has enough consideration been given to the traders and residents of St Peter's?

Work was due to start last Monday but was 2 days late in starting and the signing gives the impression that the centre of St Peter's is now cut off.

My contacts tell me that Eastonways have cancelled their bus service that went into the Co-op Car Park in Hopeville Avenue which is still accessible and thus confined many elderly residents without cars to a 2 month misery. Why cannot Eastonways still provide a service?

This picture taken at 10.00am today shows no-one working on the site at all.

At 3.00pm, there were two men working; or to be more precise, one watching another working!

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This is a disgraceful state of affairs. Businesses in St Peter's are barely hanging on due to Westwood Cross and the present recession and are already reporting trade down by 40% since the road was closed off.

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We have the unsavoury situation of a Gas Company carrying out its business at an incredibly leisurely pace for a period of 8 weeks whilst the businesses and residents of St Peter's suffer as well as the road users of this critical route.

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This is where local citizens expect their Councillors to get involved to come and talk to them, find out their concerns and then use what influence they can to improve signing; get the contractors to put more men on the job and bloody well get this job done in a couple of weeks rather than the ridiculous 8 weeks allocated at present.

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So where are KCC Councillor Bill Hayton and TDC Councillors Zita Wiltshire, Jason Savage and 'Our Ken' ? Are they talking to businesses and residents who they represent? What are they doing to see if this work can be done in a faster and more effective way? Can they not take up issues with Eastonways and the gas contractors?

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If they are twiddling their thumbs, the small businesses of St Peter's will go under and all it needs is the pet supplies or butchers to go and others will follow. For goodness sake, can we not do essential work like this in a speedy and effective way? Get to it, Councillor's, elections are on the way!

WE ARE UNLIKELY TO SEE THE FLAG AT MANSTON

A 'friendly bear' in Ramsgate has confirmed a snippet a reader left on 'Strife' at the week-end.

We are not going to see BAWC B747s 'carrying the flag' arriving and taking off from Manston, it would seem.

We are more than likely to see Global Supply Systems aircraft currently based at Stansted.

GSS was set up in 2001 at Stansted and its principal business is providing aircraft on long term leases to other airlines (in this case BAWC). I do not understand what is meant by a 'dry' or 'wet' lease but the GSS lease to BAWC seems to be the Aircraft, Crew, Maintainance and Insurance or ACMI lease.

BAWC was Global Support Systems first customer and operates on BA's behalf scheduled services to the Far East, India, The Middle East, Europe and the USA.

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What was more interesting to hear from a 'contact' though, was that it would seem that BAWC has been in discussion with Infratil at Manston for quite a few months concerning freight operations moving to Manston. If that is the case, why was TDC 'rail-roaded' into a 14 day window to get the S. 106 agreement and changes to night-flying hours?

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We ended up with what could only be described as a rushed affair with Councillors having to 'adjourn' to read reports during the Extraordinary Full Council Meeting itself. Surely some questions need answering here?

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Whilst supporting the controlled and careful expansion of Manston, it seems to me that the support of the local community would best be earned by sensible information provision, consultation and involvement rather than 'rushed' moves that do not inspire confidence.

THE NERVE CENTRES OF EUROFERRIES?

I would love to see a Ferry like the 'Spirit of Ontario' (shown above) operating out of Ramsgate to Boulogne in a few weeks time. I can only leave you to consider how likely this is and perhaps you might wonder if our Council, MP and media should be more cautious when 'trumpeting' an issue that is so important to Thanet and Ramsgate in particular, when you have read on.
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You will have to make your own mind up about the likelihood of Euroferries delivering a ferry service or whether you think it is a 'kite flying' operation that in these troubled financial times will have difficulty staying in the air.

I am not a financial expert and do not really understand what the implications are of the information I place before you. You must seek your own counsel. Anyway, it would seem that a Private Ltd Company called VER Nominees Ltd, owns 3 other Private Ltd Companies called Euroferries Holdings Ltd; Euroferries Lt and Euroferries Shipping Ltd.

The picture above shows you what looks like a block of flats in a residential area of St Albans. I can inform you that this is the registered Main Trading Address of VER Nominees Ltd. Details from searches through the internet reveal the following about VER Nominees Ltd:
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VER NOMINEES LTD
Private Ltd Company – Line of Business: Miscellaneous Business Services.
Issued Capital: I share
Director: Mr Graham Hedley of Adam Close, Cippenham, Slough SL1 9AP
Director: Mr Raymond Hedley of Kings Keep, Beaufort Close Kingston upon Thames
Surrey, KT1 2HP.
Main Trading Address: 47, Cedar Court, St Albans, Herts AL4 0DL
Registered Office: 11 Adam Close, Cippenham, Slough SL1 9AP
Ownership: Mr Graham Hedley
Accounts: 31 Mar 2006Assets at 31 Mar 2006: 0 (at time VER Nominees Ltd appeared dormant).

The picture above looks like a typical suburban close in Cippenham, Slough, with its fair share of 'white van men' living there. This is the registered office of VER Nominees Ltd who own all the 'Euroferries' Companies mentioned earlier and the home of Director of VER Nominees and Director/Company Secretary of all 3 Euroferries Companies, Mr Graham Hedley.

The picture above shows the 'nerve centre' of Euroferries Holdings Ltd, Euroferries Ltd and Euroferries Shipping Ltd. It is King's Keep in Kingston upon Thames and my contact in London tells me it appears to be a warden assisted block of flats for the elderly. I have asked him to confirm this. It is the 'Main Trading Address' and 'Registered Office' of all three companies and the address of 87 year old Mr Raymond Percival Hedley shown as a director of VER Nominees Ltd.

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Details of the 3 'Euroferries' Companies through internet research are shown below and with the exception of Mr Adrian Gillan, it does seem to be a 'family firm' with Mr Hedley Snr and Mr Hedley Jnr involved.

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EUROFERRIES HOLDINGS LTD
Private Ltd Company – Line of Business: Miscellaneous Business Services.
Issued Capital: I share
Director: VER Nominees Ltd (Mr Graham Hedley?) of Adam Close, Cippenham,
Slough SL1 9AP
Director Mr Adrian Gillan of Main Street, Sutton at Hone ,Dartford ,Kent DA4 9HB
Main Trading Address: 2 Kings Keep, Beaufort Close Kingston upon Thames
Surrey, KT1 2HP.
Registered Office: : 2 Kings Keep, Beaufort Close Kingston upon Thames
Surrey, KT1 2HP
Ownership: VER Nominees Ltd.
Accounts: 31 Jul 08
Assets as at 31 Jul 08: 0 (at the time Euroferries Holdings Ltd appeared dormant)

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EUROFERRIES LTD
Private Ltd Company – Line of Business: Miscellaneous Business Services.
Issued Capital: I share
Director: Mr Adrian Gillan of Main Street, Sutton at Hone ,Dartford ,Kent DA4 9HB
Director/Company Sec: VER Secretaries Ltd (Mr Graham Hedley?) of Adam Close,
Cippenham, Slough SL1 9AP
Main Trading Address: 2 Kings Keep, Beaufort Close Kingston upon Thames
Surrey, KT1 2HP.
Registered Office: : 2 Kings Keep, Beaufort Close Kingston upon Thames
Surrey, KT1 2HP
Ownership: VER Nominees Ltd.
Accounts: 31 Jan 08
Assets as at 31 Jan 08: 0 (at the time Euroferries Ltd appeared dormant)

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EUROFERRIES SHIPPING LTD
Private Ltd Company – Line of Business: Miscellaneous Business Services.
Issued Capital: I share
Director: VER Nominees Ltd (Mr Graham Hedley?) of Adam Close, Cippenham,
Slough SL1 9AP
Director Mr Adrian Gillan of Main Street, Sutton at Hone ,Dartford ,Kent DA4 9HB
Main Trading Address: 2 Kings Keep, Beaufort Close Kingston upon Thames
Surrey, KT1 2HP.
Registered Office: : 2 Kings Keep, Beaufort Close Kingston upon Thames
Surrey, KT1 2HP
Ownership: VER Nominees Ltd.
Accounts: 31 Jul 08
Assets as at 31 Jul 08: 0 (at the time Euroferries Holdings Ltd appeared dormant)

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In thinking back to the non-appearance at Dover in 2006 of 'The Spirit of Ontario' a source has told me that Mr Geoffrey Ede (ex Hoverspeed Chief Exec) is no longer involved as an adviser to Euroferries and has retired to the West Country where it is rumoured he now runs a pub.

Mr Adrian Gilland (a Director of all 3 Euroferries Companies) was quoted in 2006 when pressed on the operations of Euroferries said "We have a clear and well thought out strategy for this project.......and one that we are not at this stage prepared to share."

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To make enquiries with Euroferries yourself either go to their very scant website or to save you the time, e-mail addresses are below. I don't have a clue who will answer your e-mails or where they might be located but I hope it will not be the eldery 87 year old Mr Hedley in Kingston upon Thames . (There are no telephone numbers listed)

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Marketing - marketing@euroferries.co.uk
Enquiries - enquiries@euroferries.co.uk
Coach Operators - coaches@euroferries.co.uk

Good luck!

WHO WILL PAY THE FERRYMAN?

I have a reputation for being a bit sceptical about 'Good News' stories and the news that was trumpeted a few weeks ago about a new Euroferries service from Ramsgate to Boulogne was no exception.

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As many 'savers' have found in recent times, if the 'return seems to be good to be true', then it generally is. So what are we in Thanet to make of The Euroferries announcement on its pretty cheap looking and uninspiring 'website' ( http://www.euroferries.co.uk/) ?

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Try and ring them; not possible.

Do they have an office anywhere?: cannot find it.

Do they actually own a ferry? : won't believe it until I see it.

Can I make a booking for the summer?: no details at all.

Do they run Ferries anywhere else? : don't think so.

When was the service due to start?: March (but isn't that only a few days away?)

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Rumours abound of a 'state of the art ferry' due to speed up The Channel to Ramsgate in the next few days; presumably to the joy of 'Woger' Latchford and our South Thanet MP Dr Steve Ladyman who have welcomed this news and look forward to the hundreds of jobs that will result. That said, Dr Ladyman seems to be cautious and has said "I'll breathe a sigh of relief when I see the service started. We should save our celebrations until then".

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Bertie, is'nt too optimistic, nor is his contact in The Port of Boulogne; 'Monsieur Bertie, c'est tres difficile "we think it will not happen but will be happy if it does". ( Very laid back chaps, our Gallic neighbours.)

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The veil of secrecy has fallen over this Ferry Business as the veil of secrecy fell over the 'air operator' doing some late freight stuff at Manston. For those who may have been alarmed that Iris Airlines were the people with one plane; fear not. A source tells me BWAC are descending in numbers next week on Manston to recce and discuss.

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I digress. The last time Euroferries were involved 'in secrecy' was all to do with a ferry called 'The Spirit of Ontario'. Let me show you an extract from the Shipping Times in 2007:

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"The SPIRIT OF ONTARIO is currently laid up at Shelburne, Nova Scotia, placed there in December 2006 months after the announcement in May 2006 that a British company called Euroferries Ltd were to purchase the vessel from Rochester's ferry company for $29.8 million.

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Despite papers and emails flying to and fro across the Atlantic, the ferry hasn't done much crossing itself and the mayor is livid.Now Mayor Duffy wants a face to face.The Rochester Chronicle reports: "It really comes down to one thing: My frustration with how this process has dragged on for months and there has not been a face-to-face negotiation," said Duffy, who has told city Corporation Counsel Thomas Richards to make travel arrangements. "I'm putting an end to this endless stream of e-mails and phone calls."

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Euroferries' own website, which appears to have been last updated on the date of its creation, 8th of June 2006, merely states that a press release on its intention to begin operations as "the most innovative, successful and effective high speed cross-channel operator" is 'imminent'. The address for the company is simply given as 'Dover, UK'.

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Last year Euroferries had announced they were to source another ship as well as look to Austal to build them a new vessel. So far nothing seems to have materialised on these intended purchases.

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The newspaper Kent on Sunday reported last year that Mr Geoffrey Ede, the former MD of Hoverspeed, was acting as 'advisor' to Euroferries and was angered by the Mayor of Rochester announcing the sale. The online newspaper quoted him as saying "The mayor of Rochester's blown it all out." Rochester officials say the agreement was not signed by Mr Ede, but a Mr Adrian Charles Gillan.

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Adrian Gillan in a statement, again issued last year when pressed upon the operations of Euroferries, had responded, "We have a clear and well thought out strategy for this project ... and one that we are not at this stage prepared to share.".

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It does not portend well for Ramsgate, is the way I view it. Maybe its time to take a closer look at Euroferries as I am sure TDC has made enquiries into their background and financial probity, hasn't it? I will get back with more info if I can find it out there.

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I hope the ferry, if it materialises, will be a little sharper than the one in my picture. Who knows it might even be the $86.6 million 'Spirit of Ontario' which is now owned by Germany's FRS Maroc and is in service as ' Tanger Jet 11'.

PAY, POTHOLES AND POINTLESS LITIGATION

I was pretty 'de-chuffed' to hear on the radio this morning that KCC employees are demonstrating/lobbying their Councillors today in Maidstone. The issue seems to be about a 1% pay-rise being too small. I think they are lucky to have their jobs, with generous pensions mounting nicely, in these troubled times and there are even 90 jobs being advertised on KCC's web-site. I thought we were heading into deflation and in that case, is a pay-cut in order? If they are really so worried about a 1% pay-rise, they could apply for a job with generous TDC who seem to be offering 2% this coming year.

Rather than pay its staff more, perhaps KCC could realise that our roads in Thanet are in a shocking state compared to the rest of the County. This pothole in Grafton Road, Broadstairs is large enough to damage vehicles but more importantly cause loss of control of a vehicle by the driver to the endangerment of other road users and pedestrians.

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Thanet's road surfaces were in a shocking state before the harsher winter this year got to work; water freezing at night expands and breaks up the structure of cracked and poor surfaces with potholes quickly forming. I hope our TDC and KCC Councillors will tour their wards and then direct KCC Highways to patch and repair before we have some serious accidents.

It would seem that KCC just cannot accept that the idiotic idea to build a Turner Centre on the sea-ward side of Margate Harbour Arm was just that and that the apalling waste of tax-payers money (£8 million) between 2001 and 2006 on that crazy scheme is best forgotten about. Whilst no-one involved has had the courtesy to apologise or resign, KCC continues to rub salt into tax-payers wounds by continuing with pointless litigation against Norwegian Architects Snohetta to try and get money back. This pointless litigation has now cost us all the staggering sum of £644,000! I am reminded of a gambler who refuses to accept he has foolishly frittered his money away but continues to bet in the fond hope of winning the 'big one'.

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When will KCC see sense and stop this further waste of tax-payers money? Snohetta are a prize winning firm with costly prestigious projects all over the world and KCC should have realised that a project with them would be eye-wateringly expensive! Snohetta quickly realised that a cheap wood and concrete structure would not survive and had to go for steel. The picture above( from Snohetta' web-site ) clearly shows that at least the architects realised what sea conditions the project would have to withstand!

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Here are some extracts from various articles about the 'litigation':

"In a writ filed at the Technology and Construction Court, the council is seeking £5,943,815 plus interest from Snohetta over the failed design.
It claims the firm failed to appreciate the actual cost of changing the design to steel, did not properly design or appreciate the cost of the gallery’s foundations and failed to realise how much achieving a smooth steel surface – as promised – would cost.
The council also alleges Snohetta did not consider how the 2,000 tonne structure would be installed – particularly since there were no mobile cranes that could lift more than 1,200 tonnes in the UK at the time."

"But Snøhetta accused KCC of wasting public money in making the claim, and blamed its “poor procurement methods” and “faulty project management” for the aborted project.
A spokeswoman for Snøhetta said the council’s claim was unfounded. “Public money [has] been badly spent by KCC,” she said. “By going to court, even more public money will be wasted.
“Our contract with KCC ended before the costs soared. When we left the project, all costs had been approved by KCC.”

I have to say that I have more trust in Snohetta's version of this KCC debacle.

HOW TO HAVE A RANT AT A DISTRICT COUNCIL

For those who have followed the extra-ordinary antics of Wealden District Council in its handling of the exceptional request for a house to be built for Marine Joe Townsend (Joe lost both legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan last year), the clip above has Noel Edmonds not pulling punches about Wealden Council.

You might have a fleeting thought that his comments might equally apply to KCC or even TDC with our Town Hall's new 'self- promotion' campaign -

" You said and we did what we wanted to anyway".

(My thanks to ECR for technical advice in putting up 'Strife's first 'movie' -that's of course assuming all the hieroglyphics I have put in, work!)

WISE BY NAME AND WISE BY NATURE?

As many readers might be aware, Bertie has a low opinion of Our Leader 'Mauwice' resulting from a number of incidents where his behaviour has let down the Office he holds. That low opinion also extends to 'Woger', as they both seem joined at the hip. (What a strange alliance?).

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However, I am re-appraising my opinion of Councillor Martin Wise, our Cabinet 'guru' for Finance at TDC. Last year I described him as 'Ezekiel's rottweiler' in a posting that I then edited and apologised for and I repeat that apology now.

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Cllr Martin Wise seems to bring to TDC the qualities and experience he has as Finance 'chief' for Eurostar. Whilst his fellow Tories at KCC and KPA were unwisely continuing investment with Icelandic banks, 'Our Man' quietly moved deposits out of their clutches and saved us all a great deal of money that would have been at jeopardy. He has also got to grips at Cecil Sq with costs and I am pleased to read in The Thanet Times today that he has got his 'finger on the pulse' and that our Council Tax rise from TDC is going to be pegged at 3.99% (OK, 4%).

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I am beginning to wonder why other Councillors with expertise in areas that would benefit TDC's operations are not 'engaged' actively by 'Mauwice' , like Cllr Wise is? With the exception of Cllr Wise, 'Mauwice' seems to have surrounded himself in Cabinet with 'lightweights.' (This of course is an old leadership ruse to disguise one's own inadequacies.)

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I am now of the opinion that the only wise head at the top of TDC is Martin Wise. If he could be persuaded to give up his 'day-job' and take on the Leader's role, vice 'Mauwice', it might just save TDC from becoming a Labour Council in a couple of year's time. I wonder if the Labour 'Group' realise who the real threat to their sweeping success in 2011 is likely to be?

THANET EARTH - JOBS NEWS

Good news. It would seem that the jobs at Thanet Earth are now beginning to come 'on stream'.

My thanks to a reader, Anon of 15.17) who has posted on 'Peppers & Tomatoes....(2 Feb 2009).

The posting is copied below for info:

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"Here are some Thanet jobs. http://www.kentstaff.co.uk/info/packers-required-for-thanet-earth-marketing-ltd/There's more on the Thanet Earth website too. www.thanetearth.com."

17 February 2009 15:17

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Bertie has had a chat with Thanet Earth over at Seamark Road and it would seem that the cold weather has not delayed growing (although I dread to think of the extra heating bills) and picking will commence in late March. Pickers are recruited by the 3 firms who are running the 3 glasshouses and no-one could tell me how many pickers are being recruited but if you want a warm working environment, log your details into the portal provided on The Thanet Earth Website. No information was forthcoming on HGV vehicle movements as millions of peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers leave Thanet!

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Once the pickers have picked, produce is taken to a central packing station and here 'packers' pack. It would seem that 60 'packers' are needed to start work in early March. Thanet Earth tell me that the response to their website online application system has been such that advertising in local papers was not necessary.

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The packers will be recruited and employed by Kent Staff Services 2000 Ltd who hold a Gangmasters Licencing Authority (GLA) Licence. Martha, in their Folkestone Office, stated that they have some applicants in Folkestone but will be in Kent Staff Services Office at 24 Bellevue Road, Ramsgate, CT11 8LE between 1000 and 1600hrs on Thu 26 Feb and Fri 27 Feb to recruit Thanet 'packers'. The rate is £5.73 per hour and no transport will be laid on to and from work.

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If anyone knows more about the 'picking' situation and jobs as pickers please let me know.

KENT POLICE AUTHORITY MOUNT A 'SMASH & GRAB'

Apparently, at least according to Tim Thompson of Kent Police Authority, we have been lucky in Kent to get our policing on the cheap! Well you could have kidded me.
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Its Budget this year is set at almost £277,000,000 with about £83,000,000 coming directly from Council Tax payers. The Kent Police Authority has increased the rate we pay by 4.99% this year despite a recession and above the rate of inflation. Put quite simply, Kent Police Authority has just 'grabbed' an extra £3, 600,000.
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Whilst other organisations look at cost cutting in these hard times, Kent Police cannot apparently cut down costs by a measley 2% and find, by doing so, an extra £5,500,000.
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It is of course easier to 'tap' the tax-payer and then explain 'what great value for money you are getting'; 'you are lucky to have it so cheap'; 'we have exhausted alternative options' etc..etc..
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What Kent Police Authority fails to say is that it had £11,000,000 of 'our cash' foolishly invested in Icelandic Banks and that it will be lucky if it gets £8,800,000 back. So, no-one is sacked; no one resigns; no cost cutting occurs but 'hey, don't worry. The Council Tax payer can cough it up!'
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I suspect if you 'refuse' to pay your Police Authority levy, KPA will send round a few chaps, as above, to collect it!

IN THE BLUE CORNER.......IN THE RED CORNER.......!

Having read Chris Wells' 'Opinion' on page 34 of this week's Kent on Sunday concerning the well known difficulties in Thanet of having a large number of 'looked after' children from around the Country, let alone the County, combined with a large number of vulnerable adults, I was surprised to see from our 'local blogs' that this issue has ignited into a 'political spat'.

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Chris Wells seemed highly critical of KCC (Tory controlled) and its Social Services Department. He also found time to praise initiatives in Cliftonville that as far as I am aware, Cllr Hart and Cllr Johnston have been very involved in as local TDC Councillors.

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What I find surprising is that this issue seems to have sparked off a 'political' spat. Both Cllr Wells and Hart, share the same concerns about the issue of Thanet being used as a convenient 'dumping ground' for very vulnerable children and adults and would be expected to be supportive of each other in their common cause. Cllr Hart seems to think that Cllr Wells has 'stolen a march' due to the County Council Elections in May whilst I think Cllr Wells is being outspoken and critical of policies, that having left a Cabinet Post at KCC, he is now 'free' to speak his mind on. .

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I urge them both, and others, to accept that on this issue, they share common cause and agreement on, whilst in other areas they may differ. My understanding is that they are both putting themselves forward as KCC Councillors for the same Thanet area in May and it would be nice for the electorate to see good debate about issues and concerns, including those where a view is 'shared'. 'Political' sparring and point scoring is unseemly and is not the issue; how to ensure a child from Birmingham is not 'dumped' in Cliftonville by its City Council is.

GOLLIWOGGS, CHRISTIANS AND A DUTCHMAN

Having been called a racist in the past by some contributors to 'Strife' I approach this topic with some trepidation and concern.

You may wonder why a Golliwog, Carol Thatcher, Nurse Caroline Petrie, school receptionist Jennie Cain and Dutch MP Geert Wilders are grouped together in this item. Let me explain.

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We have Florence Upton and her book 'The Adventure of Two Durch Dolls', printed in 1895 to thank for the Golliwog. Until the appearance of the revisionists and 'Thought Crime Police' who now stalk the United Kingdom, did a generation of British children ever entertain a rascist thought as they clutched their favourite 'Golly' or collect their Robertson's Jams badges? I doubt it. In fact we are now encouraged to buy ethnic dolls for our children that are in some cases as grotesque as rag doll Gollys have been described.

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So when Carol Thatcher, in a private conversation, describes wanting to hug a tennis player because he looks like a 'cuddly golliwog' the immediate interpretation is that she is racist and has made a racist comment. It clearly has not ocurred to Miss Jay Hunt, controller of BBC 1 that this might just be a middle-aged woman expressing a sexual attraction to a fine figure of a man.

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But of course that was not Carol Thatcher's 'crime'. Her crime as stated by Miss Hunt, when asked to justify Carol Thatcher's sacking, was that she had failed to be sufficiently contrite. For those who have read of the Chinese and North Korean 're-education' brainwashing techniques of the 1950's and 60's and have read Orwell and Huxley, you will recognise that BBC 1's Jay Hunt seems more like a Political Commissar or Thought Police Officer and that Carol Thatcher's 'real crime' is that she has been judged to harbour 'Thought Crime'.

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I am thoroughly disturbed that 'Thought Police' now lurk in every corner of this Land as illustrated by the treatment of NHS Nurse Caroline Petrie who wishes to offer prayer for patients and School Receptionist Jennie Cain who asks friends by e-mail to pray for staff at her school.

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The case of Geert Wilders is also illuminating. We once tolerated free speech, allowing citizens or anyone else for that matter, to speak their mind and have their say however controversial or even offensive their words may have been. There has always been one proviso, a view held and expressed should not foment violence. Our Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith issued a banning order against an EU citizen entitled to free movement in this country on the specious grounds that his film 'Fitna' ' would threaten community harmony and therefore public security'.

Geert Wilders, as a result, has had far more publicity concerning the film and his odd views.

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So, where do we go now that the principle of 'free speech' is no longer upheld? Down the dark corridors of repression and extremism perhaps.

CONNECTED AGAIN!

My apologies to anyone who has posted comments. Bertie has been experiencing further technical problems with his 'machine' and with some help from a family member has now sorted out the problem!

I hope to resume 'posting' shortly!

PLEASE RUSH TDC- JOBS JOBS JOBS!!!

Well, my 'Mole' at TDC sent me some stuff to-day that I feel I must share. It was not in a Tesco bag but you will need to 'click' on each page to read it.
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It would seem that Infratil has learned from CGP that the way to get TDC rushing things for you is to claim that 'hundred's of jobs' are on offer and in the balance. I have no idea how many Councillors will even be able to attend next week's extraordinary Full Council Meeting at 5.30pm but I suspect that many will not be able to.
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I have shown below the case being put by Brian White to Councillors to approve an extension to hours for flying into and out of Manston under a revised S.106 Agreement. I hope that those with an interest will at least have something now to raise with their Ward Councillors in regard to the proposals.
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My view is that as long as TDC exercises tight control in monitoring all environmental aspects concerning flights and is prepared to enforce all breaches ( it has a poor record so far), then would 4 extra early/late flights be such a problem.?

Is there really a 'commercial imperative' here to secure the contract or is it a ploy to get the matter 'done and dusted' before any opposition can be mounted? I'll leave you to decide.

I SMELL A RAT OR IS IT AVTUR?

It would seem that this is what we are likely to see in the early morning or late night at Manston in the very near future. I personally think that careful controlled growth at Manston is a good idea. It is TDC's job to monitor and control this growth and to ensure that all environmental considerations are covered.
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What alarms me and why I smell a rat, is this sudden rush by TDC to whisk through changes to night flying hours at Manston. If we are to believe what we are told, TDC received a request on 29 Jan, a week ago, issued a Press Release yesterday (4 Feb) , that is not on its web-site; did not inform all Councillors and now is to hold a rushed Extraordinary Council Meeting next week on Thu 12 February at 7.00pm.
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Why is there this undue and precipitate haste? Those with informed views are already concerned by TDC's lack of enforcement of noise monitoring; lack of pollution monitoring and flights outside the agreed times and lack of 'fines' collection. In fact TDC's record in this area is regarded by some as lax and even wilfully incompetent.
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There are unpleasant parallels with the attempt to rush an 'Extraordinary Council Meeting for 'Gateway' last year. Are we really to believe that this matter could not be considered on Thu 26th February?
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There is hardly any time for our Councillors to read themselves up on the issues; no time for the electorate to lobby or discuss matters with their Councillors and no possibility for anyone to address the Council as a Public Speaker next week.

If BA World Cargo wants to move 11 flights to Manston to free up 'slots' at Heathrow or Gatwick, I am delighted that some business will thus come to Manston. However, do I really believe it needs to be rushed within a 2 week time-table? I am often accused of being cynical but this smacks of achieving a 'fait accomplis' before any views can be expressed by any residents of Thanet, MAG or SMEG and a typical loose, sloppy monitoring by TDC will result.
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This mumbo jumbo from 'Woger' in TDC's Press Release is Orwellian 'NewSpeak' at its best!:

'Cllr Roger Latchford, Deputy Leader of Thanet Council said: "The application has only just come in and the Council is moving quickly TO ENSURE EVERYONE IS ABLE TO HAVE THEIR SAY ON IT (my Capitals). This is an important issue for Thanet and one that residents would expect us carefully to debate."

So from application to extraordinary Full Council in 14 days meets this description?
Does 'Woger' take the electorate for fools?
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I urge Councillors to give themselves more time and hold an 'Extraordinary Session' prior to Full Council on the 26 Feb. I would also urge them to allow opinions to be heard from the public with interests in the issues involved by suspending normal regs etc. If not, we are about to see a 'railroaded' decision and as we have 18 out of 34 Tory Councillors 'beholden' to 'Mauwice' with the new 'Jobs for The Boys & Girls' will this just be an ill thought-out rubber stamp exercise?

A CABINET RESHUFFLE OR JOBS FOR THE BOYS & GIRLS?

I had heard some time ago , courtesy of TDC's Mole, that a TDC Cabinet re-structuring job was in the wind and now Michael Child has published details on http://www.thanetonline.blogspot.com/ quoting a TDC Press Release that I cannot see on TDC's website!

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Call me a cynic, but what has brought about this sudden need to carve up 'Woger's' portfolio into 2 parts and give Cllr Kirby the half that already has a competent team looking after it?

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What a surprise that Cllr Kirby, after his dreadful chairing of the Extraordinary Council Meeting on 9th Oct 2008 (China Gate)( with a host of complaints to TDC that followed with even LG Ombudsman involved?) should now find himself 'demoted' to having the un-important half of Woger's portfolio! Who will we find 'elected' as Chairman of TDC in his place on Thursday 26th February?

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So we now have a Cabinet of 7. If that wasn't uninspiring enough, it would seem that 'Mauwice' now has a sudden urge to involve more 'back-bench' Councillors in the running of TDC. The idea would seem to be that the now 6 Cabinet members under 'Mauwice' will now have TWO back-bench Conservative Councillors as 'lead members per portfolio'. This will now create 12 more jobs for the Tory boys & girls presently sitting silently muttering on the 'back-benches'.

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What this does of course, is increase 'Mauwice's' grip on the Conservative Councillors. There will now be upto 18 of them 'involved' in Cabinet Portfolios and presumably they will all be able to claim or be allocated extra 'allowances' for the additional responsibility and thus increase their remuneration; I thought that TDC was involved in cost-cutting exercises, or could it be that 'prestige' and 'public service' considerations are at play here, with no extra 'bonce' involved.( An FOI enquiry on the financial implications of these changes could be in order).

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So we could soon see 18 out of 34 (53%) Conservative Councillors 'beholden' to the 'grace and favour' morsels from the discredited Leader of TDC as he faces the ignominy of having already been admonished by The Standard's Board for the Winter Garden's 'F*****G T****R incident and is still awaiting the resolution of ' The Edinburgh Wool Shop Petition Affair'.

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An improvement on the running of TDC or an attempt to secure his position by making sure that a majority of Conservative Councillors will support Cllr Ezekiel if and when the Standard's Board makes a finding that 'Our Leader' was out of order concerning his behaviour towards Cllr Iris Johnston? He will presumably be spending more time in 2009 on a yacht in the Med anyway?

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Make your own mind up. You could, of course, support The Thanet Elected Mayor Petition which is shortly to be rolled out!