Our local District and County Councillor really looks like a member of the Green Party! It's the beard that does it.
He's a good bloke and does what he can for the villages he represents. He has lived in the same local village all his life so knows the area well.
The government wanted to abandon local council elections until they'd decided how Local Government in Suffolk was going to be reorganised. They've been persuaded to let the vote go ahead. Labour and Conservatives are frightened they're going to lose many Council seats to Reform - that won't be a happy outcome. I'm not sure it will happen here - we shall see.
It's quite funny, or it would be if it wasn't costing ratepayers money, but this will be the second local government reorganisation in my lifetime. We might even go back to what it was before it was all changed in 1974.
Anyway Andrew has come up with one idea that I heartily agree with.
A few weeks ago, when I went across to the coast there were Road Closed signs every mile for 4 miles before the place that was actually closed - no diversion - most people in cars carried on regardless and then did a detour down a tiny lane around the obstruction. I have no idea what large trucks did.
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I put the TV on Saturday midday to see what was on in the evening (nothing much except athletics) and discovered Ipswich Town were about to kick off - playing Millwall live and televised - Surprise! and a rare occurrence. I find it hard watching as it means holding my breath half the time! The result was a 1- 1 draw.
Ipswich is on the shortlist for City of Culture 2029 which is odd because Ipswich isn't a City. Last time I went into the town centre there were dozens of empty shops and everywhere looked very sad. I'm not sure what a chunk of money for 'Culture' would do to help.
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I'd vote for him, on that alone :) Those signs are really frustrating, and we have so many of them around here just now. X
ReplyDeleteI like that everyone knows who he is as he gets involved with many local events etc
DeleteI agree about the road closed signs, especially when it is an A road. There's been a 90 mile detour somewhere up above Newtown, but that was well publicised. SO many roadworks right now, as they try to use the budget up before 6th April. I hope some of those are filling in potholes and not just to do with the water board digging up the road.
ReplyDeleteWe seem to still have so many potholes even though they keep closing roads to fix them
DeleteFor a town with such a magnificent history it is sad to see the decline. It seems to reflect what has happened in so many areas of our country - lots of investment in some areas, insufficient investment in others. The harbour area is lovely though. Christine
ReplyDeleteThere has been some very odd spending "prettying up" the town centre.
DeleteThose signs always annoy me too.
ReplyDeleteI just keep driving in hope!
DeleteLike Jules, he'd get my vote! I was taking my husband for a cataract eye op, and we made a 10 mile detour because of a road closed sign, only to find that the road was closed immediately AFTER the clinic; 10 miles back again round our detour and then along 5 miles of lane to arrive at the clinic only just in time... good job we left home very early. I'm still bit peeved 5 years later!
ReplyDeleteThat was exactly the reason I was late for the start of my Auntie's funeral last year!
DeleteLocal councillors are invaluable, most work for their area in a positive way, I don't think reform will do well here either.
ReplyDeleteI hope Mid Suffolk people are sensible enough to not vote for a 'party' that is just really one person.
DeleteHere we have the opposite issue: no warning till you arrive at a barrier, with a detour sign, but no instructions after that. I think you're supposed to guess.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for people who don't know the area - they wouldn't have a clue
DeleteWe have these signs here as well. On a recent trip to my son's, I saw several signs warning that a flag man was ahead. The signs eventually stopped and I never did see a flagman.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing a flag man is for Stop and Go - they used to have men with signs doing that job for roadworks years ago until someone got killed in an accident and now they have to close the road
DeleteNothing ever seems to get done, apart from digging holes in roads, filling them up, then digging more holes, sometimes even the same ones! Always and forever, diversions and temporary traffic lights.
ReplyDeleteIt's always difficult to know if it's Ok to drive on or not
DeleteAgree, there needs to be more clarification on road closures, not just the bare minimum Road ahead closed!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
'Where' would be really helpful!
DeleteIt's important to vote in local elections as that is where many politicians start. It's surprising how many people don't bother to vote and then later complain about what is being done.
ReplyDeleteA trip to the Polling Station is something to put in the calendar!
DeleteI like people that work to solve a problem that everyone can see. Andrew seems excellent and wants to work on behalf of the community.
ReplyDeleteRoad closures are infrequent here, but when they happen, the signage is good and the detour route is marked very clearly. Temporary streetlights and a police officer are often at the location.
You are very lucky with your system .
DeleteHe would get my vote on the road signs alone. It used to be much worse when we lived in Wales, just a road closed sign and a long detour on a back road, only to be told at the other end that our house was still on the right side of the diversion the other way, and then having to battle traffic for 30 minutes to get back the other way. All around our town we now have traffic cones stood in the deepest of the potholes, it's getting ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI seem to spend every journey trying to avoid potholes and puddles in case they are hiding a deep pothole.
DeleteWe have those signs here too and I often wonder how we are to get where we are going if they don't have detour signs up as well.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Sounds like a good idea with the road signs! Sometimes, they 'forget' to take them down here and there is no need for a diversion at all!
ReplyDeleteIpswich does look rather sad. I'd much rather shop in Bury. The town there just seems so much more vibrant and inviting with a large variety of shops and, of course, the Abbey Gardens. I remember when Ipswich was very vibrant with a huge market and lots of shops (really dating myself here lol)