Wet in Exeter

as I sit in the Central Library Exeter in some very wet clothes listening to the rain come down I was thinking what a brilliant idea it was not to create a completely covered mall in Princesshay because I got absolutely drenched. As for the ice rink it is more like a swimming pool, so maybe Exeter could save the millions it intends to spend on a useless 25m pool, as was discussed at the Exeter City Forum Echo 30th November and instead give us a covered ice rink, or maybe a theatre!

Delayed in the Post

in the light of events within the labour party over requests and returning of money from/to third parties would it not be a good time to teach children and adults the art of actually hand writing their letters to the Echo. In this way there is no paper trail and you can put any date you like on it because surely you can say it was delayed in the post.

Attack Sudan

I hope that many others have noticed the result of poll in the Express & Echo, Exeter in respect of the intended attack on Iran, 20% for, 80% against. I hope that our wonderful PM is informed of this result so that he can advertise it as much as he and Ben Bradshaw are advertising the use of the Echo bags.On a similar point with regard to Sudan I would ask readers to look up in their history books the War of Jenkins Ear to see the parallels with current events over the jailing of the teacher in the Sudan. Surely we must send in the SAS/SBS to take action against these people. The trouble is many people do not realise how busy the Special Forces are in Baghdad performing tasks which are beyond the capability of our American 'allies'.

Labour donations

with regard to the labour party and the source of its funds can I ask a question through the Echo with regard to exactly what are the Inland Revenue and the banks doing about this appalling state of affairs. What monitoring is going on within the Inland Revenue about undeclared income and ask yourself what exactly is happening about the banks and the money laundering rules. Am I missing something or what. How is that somebody who apparently made no donations except through third parties, to protect his identity, can be in the front row when Tony Blair resigns. Can you imagine Mr Griffin being there? Somehow not.

Gordon Brown

as we receive more news through the media about the shinanigans withing the labour party we have to ask what exactly is going on.As readers well know I write an amazing number of letters to the Echo and do my own research into the subjects which I refer to. I do not employ researchers, have no secretary and receive absolutely no money from anybody, I am totally and completely funded by myself and my savings.Now we are told by the Prime Minister,who I firmly believe took power from Tony Blair by way of a bloodless coup, that he does now know how the labour party receives its funding. Harriet Harman receives money and banks it, Hilary Benn questions the source and does not bank it until it comes from the right source. Why the difference?Now Gordon Brown dares not answer any of my questions asked through the Echo about the war in Iraq yet keeps going on about plastic bags, especially with Ben Bradshaw in the picture. Gordon Brown is our PM under false pretences, he should have gone to the country when I said he should have. He is, to put not to fine a point on it, an imposter. He does not deserve to be PM and should resign now, there is no point to him and he really does not have a vision, or if he does it is not one which I believe I share.

Lost data

you have already had various bits of correspondence over the loss of data from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. Now I make particular reference to Her Majesty because I have had no argument as to why a private firm TNT were used rather than the Royal Mail.Furthermore, will people please stop referring to me as a citizen, I am not, I am a subject of the Queen. You want to start calling me a citizen then you overthrow the monarchy and give us a republic.Finally, it has now been disclosed that copies of the information were sent to another private firm KPMG as well as the National Audit Office. Why? What have a private firm got to do with any private and personal data. Surely, somebody somewhere is responsible for the protection of my data. There must have been a contravention of the Data Protection Act. Exactly what is going on! How much is being paid to the private firms to do work which should be done by the National, and I stress, National, Audit Office.

Iraq

I hope the readers notice the lack of any response to my earlier letters to Gordon Brown and Ben Bradshaw.Do you know what appalls me most of all is that all these retired generals now tell us what should be done to protect the covenant between the nation and the forces. Would any of them like to say exactly what were they doing whilst they were in a position to do something about it. To be harsh they took the money and now they collect their pensions, and quite generous pensions as well.As is well known my son had the guts to say that he would not do what he was told. He was given an honourable discharge after serving his country but these generals gave the orders which many of us regard as having been illegal. Gordon Brown was the paymaster for the war and subsequent occupation and now he is the totally failed Prime Minister.For those who ask why Her Majesty made no reference to the armed forces in the Queens speech, could it be because they are her soldiers and the soldiers owe allegiance to her and not any leader of a coup. Maybe Her majesty could not say things which she disagreed with. There is no Ministry of Defence with regard to Iraq and Afghanistan, it is the Ministry of Attack.

Exeter Ice Rink

what a fantastic idea to have an ice rink in the castle grounds. However, should we be told as to how much energy is being used to produce the ice required for people to skate on. Ask what chemicals are being used and how will they be disposed of. So much for a Green City, sorry to be a killjoy but am I right? Answers on a postcard to the editor of the Echo.As for the German market, how to upset the largest immigrant group into Exeter, namely the Poles. Having lived and worked in Warsaw do you really think that this is a good idea!Also is there not some sort of drinking restriction for the people in High Street and around the Cathedral Green. Yet somehow there is a bar serving German beers and lagers. Can somebody explain the process by which this has been allowed to happen. Are the police in favour of this licence or did they object as I think they should have done, because if they haven't then I can't believe it!

Larkbeare House

I would ask the readers of the Echo to keep abreast of proposals over the future of Larkbeare House near to St Leonards Church.This is a fantastic site with a substantial number of mature trees and I would hate it if anybody allows any new homes to be constructed and that the trees were not preserved. Accordingly, I have today written to the City Council requesting Tree Preservation Orders be placed on the site with immediate effect. What happened to the trees on Cathedral Green is a disgrace and I still await any news as to which trees will replace those which were destroyed.Finally, with regard to the destruction of our City when will be told exactly what will happen to the site previously occupied by Debenhams. We know it served its purpose for the Christmas firework display but to leave such a site unused for so long cannot be cheap. I hope the taxpayer is not picking up the bill in the form of some subsidy being paid to the owner.

Exeter Unitary

so this is the City which wants to be a Unitary Authority and will look after tax payers money. Let us look at actions rather than words.The Echo today brings us the front page news about the Chief Executive and his training/learning in South Africa at great expense to not only local but also national taxpayers. I think it fair to ask exactly how old is Phillip Bostock because I sincerely hope that if Exeter is granted Unitary Status that he does not retire and take all that experience with him or that he is felt to be so necessary that he is employed as a consultant to help the process to completion.As for increased car parking charges and the Climate Change Levy. This is the council which is installing an ice rink in the car park at the Castle. Exacly how much energy will be used to freeze the ice throughout the period of its installation. What chemicals will be used?Tom Arnold in his excellent piece on Mr Bostock also draws attention as to how much the Unitary bid has cost so far and the City Council has the cheek to criticise the County Council!Finally, the City Council keeps referring to IT costs and savings and all I will refer to is the complete waste of money by HM Revenue and Customs and will the Council give caste iron guarantees that all the savings will in fact materialise. Money was saved by HMRC but at what cost.

ID Cards

so our wonderful new Prime Minister, who has taken power as a result of what I regard as a bloodless Coup d'Etat, apologises for the loss of some personal data. Oh how sorry he is. In the meantime our troops are still in Iraq and Afghanistan and they are still being killed for the sake of the politicians.There must be an immediate complete withdrawal of soldiers from Iraq and a date given for the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Where is your apology for Iraq Brown, come on apologise.Just like Tony Blair and weapons of mass destruction Gordon Brown is up to his neck because he paid the money for the war and subsequent occupation of Iraq.Oh and with regard to loss of data just ask how secure the information is with regard to the store cards which you use. Is the data given to HM Customs and Excise. You bet it is. As for your medical records? Who has access to those? As for Identity Cards I would rather go to jail than have one.

Trees in Iraq

on Tuesday November 27 the Executive of Devon County Council will be discussing a report on the future of Larkbeare House in Exeter.All I will say on the subject at this stage is that I remember what has happened to the trees on Cathedral Close. Accordingly, I am writing to have Tree Preservation Orders placed on all the trees within the grounds of Larkbeare House. I do not know the process so it is a big learning curve for me but I am not going to allow the grounds to be destroyed, it is time to stand up and be counted. Save the trees of Exeter, mammon of the West.

Bradshaw in Echo

how very interesting it was to read today 16 November the letter in the Echo from our wonderful bike riding MP Ben Bradshaw Scots benefit little from public funds.I wonder if he would care to respond to my letter of November 10 Now some real questions for PM, and our MP and I would like to add to the list! For example, why did he not ban totally the importation and sale of Foie Gras when he was the minister responsible for animal welfare. Fox hunting banned but not Halal and Kosher meat, animal welfare indeed.Can he explain why it took our troops so long to retreat from Basra now that since our withdrawal attacks have reduced by 90%, we were the problem and never were the solution. How much money has been paid to the various militia leaders to stop the attacks. Why do we allow the murder of 40 women for not wearing appropriate dress without intervening.What does he think about any attack on Iran?Can he define what he means by the southwest when he argues that we receive a net contribution of £978 per head, show me the evidence Ben!. I have always thought of the Southwest to be Devon and Cornwall. When he loses his seat at the next general election can we expect him to be sent to the Lords as Lord Bradshaw of Exeter so that he can continue as 'our minister' for the SW. Finally, what about our City elections next year, will we have them or not, and why the continued delays over the announcement of Unitary Status position. You respond to Mr Godbeer, dare you reply to Mr Griffin.

Echo No

a most interesting contribution to the Echo from Dr Coleman Why I say you should keep well away from City's RD&E Hospital Echo November 12.What shocks me is that apparently Dr Coleman 'was absolutely appalled by what I saw' and yet he seems to have waited until writing this article or a book to bring it to our attention. He has failed in his duty if he did not do anything until now. Is this not one of the problems of society today that people have to have copyright over what they 'report'. He calls himself a Doctor which commands respect and yet draws our attention to such drivel as 'But nurses have changed beyond all recognition. Today, too many seem overweight and lazy'. What an appalling comment, bet he does not go up to the nurses themselves and tell them this observation.As for his suggestion that 'why aren't the nurses involved charged with manslaughter' beggars belief. It is the hospital executives and managers who are responsible, after all they pay themselves enough.

Dont attack Iran

I must congratulate Jess Dow on seeing the light over the issue of allowing the BNP to speak at Exeter University Debate on BNP sparks security fears Echo November 8.In the meantime may I draw readers attention to a demonstration taking place on the 24th of November in Exeter High Street between twelve and two. The demonstration will focus on 'Don't Attack Iran'.When people failed to halt the attack on Iraq those who voiced an opinion have been proven right. The government could not plan what to do after the invasion of Iraq because if they did then it would be obvious that they always had the intention to attack. I have always said that once the troops were on the border they could never be withdrawn. The troops must never be deployed without the absolute consent of Parliament. Look at Pakistan which has a nuclear capability and yet cannot be called a democracy. Surely, we must attack Pakistan?

Exeter

may I thank you for the story today relating to car parking charges and referencing Exeter and unitary status. We residents of Exeter should be given more information about the effect of this fatally flawed bid to stand on our own.For example, will we have guarantees that car parking charges will not rise above the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the first ten years of unitary status. Can we have guarantees that no subsidies at all will be given to stagecoach to run services within Exeter. Can we have any guarantees that bus services will not be withdrawn unless a subsidy is paid. Can we have any guarantee that the cost of residents only car parking permits will not rise, again above the CPI. Can we have any guarantee that no Exeter High Schools will effectively 'go private' by accepting Foundation Status or Centres of Excellence.With regard to cancer treatment can anybody guarantee that services at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital will not be transferred to Plymouth. Our own MP, Ben Bradshaw must start one of now famous campaigns to prevent such action. After all he is not only MP for Exeter, he is also Minister for the South West and a Health Minister. If he says he can do nothing because of a conflict of interest then, as I have said before about other issues, 'what is the point' of him being our MP if he can do or say nothing.Will Ben ever write a book, or even a letter, explaining his involvement in the Exeter unitary status bid. Were we on the list or not Ben, your silence on this matter is deafening.Finally, how much will be saved on our council tax by being unitary. Will there be congestion charges. Will there be cahrages for waste collection from private households. We, the residents demand answers o these questions before the decisions are made. This is meant to be a democrac after all, or is it.

Meats

I have said before and I say it again now that I am totally against animals killed by both the Halal and Kosher methods. I find both methods to be totally unacceptable.Now we are told that the most unhealthy diet is one which involves pork, either in the form of bacon or hams. My solution to this issue is to suggest that all meats with pig should be banned completely but that in return the government bans both Kosher and Halal on the grounds that the methods used to kill animals are morally unacceptable.Furthermore, on the basis that we are being warned about the substantial increases in cancers due to being exposed to the sun that women ought to be more modest in their mode of dress and cover themselves to protect their skin from over-exposure. Like smokers and obese people who we are told should not be treated until they change their ways surely logic dictates that the same applies to people who suffer from conditions which result from too much sun.