“Me, a lib dem activist? Excuse me while i sew my sides up, i havent laughed that hard in ages, i would vote monster raving loony first!”

“Since Blair won with a landslide rendering the conservatives virtually powerless the real opposition has been the national press. And very effective it can be too as we have seen recently.

In the eighties the Gazette got behind the opposition to our local councils road scheme, running a full page ad devised by SBAG against the councils proposals. There was also editorial comment against their plans.

The Editorial staff on the papaper has now changed completely and one wonders if they have the courage to voice an opinion against the ruling party.

Local newspapers are in a parlous state these days with many going to the wall. Perhaps the Gazette just doesnt want to rock the boat.

In the absence of being able to attack the politics of my party (and I have none) Russell Quirk is all at sea.
Unable to cloud any of the issues, raised, with party politicking, he has no option but to ignore them.

Its just a pity that someone with his energy hasnt been able to divert it in the right direction and do the right thing.
Responsibility to the electorate doesnt end with election. The conversation should be a continuous process.”

“Hi Alan,

My hero. You are so right, yet again. Your comments are spot on.

Quite frankly, it depresses me that we have a regime in place that, from the comments placed on this site from one of their members, pretty much reflects their whole ethos in running Brentwood.

Absolutely disgraceful.

I'd like to see these postings published in the Gazette this week so we could open up to a wider audience the absolute arrogance of the group currently in place.”

“No Russell I am not a Lib Dem. (I object to being put into a category on the basis of having my own view).
It would be better if politicians could accept another opinion without trying to categorise it into a political bracket.
This site is not the Council chamber. Unfortunately we are being shown the face of political dogma and I think we deserve far better than this.

Its not the pseudonyms which count but the views expressed under them!

Sue - dont forget to factor into your accounts the cost of a guide Dog for the return trip from Damascus. Maybe the money for that could be found from the sale of Keys Hall.
Which brings me to:
a web cast of a citizens panel meeting in the council chamber a few months ago. A humble but bemused citizen was asking why there was a need to redevelop Keys Hall. No tangible answer was forthcoming from official parties who were there.

I, for what my opinion is worth, find this is despicable and disgraceful behaviour from those whom Russell Quirk is supporting so vociferously.

Unfortunately Russell will not be pinned down on anything of importance specifically.

Westminster has nothing on this lot in Brentwood.
They are just not accountable to the public in their arrogance. They really do not understand the principle of Democracy although they bandy the word around often.

I have often wondered why some people want the authority to boss other people about. I have seen similar political power struggles in action at meetings of Model aircraft clubs, Fur, Feather and Fin clubs, Union meetings and all kinds of other committee meetings. The power struggles which take place in even these humble circumstances are incredible. Why do they want to continually get one over on others? Are they hen pecked at home? Do they have inferiority complexes?
Dont they have any homes to go to?”

“Alan

How far away is Damascus? Could you let me know on a pence per mile basis, a carbon emissions basis, a nautical mile basis, an as the crow flies basis, a how long it would take to walk basis, the cost of a one-way ticket and, of course, a percentage (most important) basis please? Only if you've got the time, of course!!

Question to Russell (helloooooo, where are you?)
I don't recall any announcement being made at the time the other car parking charges were hiked up (yet again) that free parking was being taken away from the Town Hall at weekends. Of course, I could be wrong, but it seems to me that this was a bit of a last minute, ill thought out rush decision. Be that as it may, my point is: why the sudden need to start charging anyway? Is it because the Council is running (or already has) out of money? And why, one minute was it announced that the charges were being imposed, and then the next minute they are being amended to just Saturdays. Can't the Tories that run the Council make up their minds? God help us all if there's that much indecision running the Council. What made them change their decision so quickly? Was it because the Lib-Dems actually put people's views into action and represented their disapproval (eeeeek, I'm a Lib-Dem activist now). Do you see my point though, it¿s like ..... we'll do this, no we won't, quick change it, backtrack, make it look as though it was our decision to change it even though we made the decision to do it in the first place..... chicken, headless running around......


Now a bit more number-crunching for you - a month or so ago you told me the Council had about £1M in reserves. How are we placed on the reserves front now? And, if you really feel like going to town, you could also let me know how much was in reserves in 1996, to date. Also, could you let me know how much money the Council has received from the sale of any assets (public buildings, etc) since 1996, and how that has been allocated? Lastly, why is the current ruling group still pushing ahead with the decision to sell Keys Hall, especially when there has been an offer by an independent businessperson to take on responsibility for that facility and upgrade it to a level which far surpasses any of the other venues we have in the town. Why are they so keen to sell off this building at some stage when it is the only one that can cater for bigger parties / functions / events / conferences in the whole area? Is it because they need the money?

Your views, as usual, would be most welcome.

Alan : I¿m going out for the day now ¿ to the seaside. Perhaps that¿s where Russell¿s gone. I thought I¿d pop down to Hemsby and take in the views, whilst they last.

You have a good day!”

“Hi Russell,

Oh dear - didn't mean to set this trail in motion, but some might say you've only got yourself to blame, my friend.

Your (some could conceive) somewhat blinkered view that anybody else who makes a post on this site is a Lib-Dem activist hell-bent on causing trouble for the wonderful Tory administration currently ruling Brentwood is so misguided. The point has been totally missed that all residents of Brentwood are entitled to an opinion! In turn, they are as entitled to make that opinion known as you are. The fact that they DISAGREE with most of what the Tories are doing to this town is just an irritant, and incomprehensible concept, to the current ruling group, but is nevertheless part of 'democracy'.

I hope that 2010 will indeed be a pivotal year, and one which will at long last see Brentwood return to that much needed democratic position.

My fear beforehand, is the untold and irreparable damage that will be inflicted on this once beautiful town.

By the way, I know Alan is bored stiff with the percentage vs. figures lark, but I would welcome a response to my earlier posting.”

“It's flattering to have the attention of so many Lib Dem activists all in one go!
It seems that the 2010 borough elections will have no shortage of candidates amongst you, queuing up against Conservative incumbents.
That will be the true test of what people really think in Brentwood, rather than a few misguided statements made by pseudonym contributors to this site.”

“Yes, under the Tories, this is 'broken Brentwood', as Tony rightly states.

Unlike other medium to large towns in Essex, Brentwood's 'planning' is always cack handed. We have a dying High Street, no cinema and a proposed joke of a cinema, which will attract yobs like mad, a crap swimming pool etc No the Tories take away free parking, just as they have free drain clearance for pensioners. What else will these fools cut !
It is time for a change alright - a change of those running the town hall - especially that idiot, Cllr Quirk, who claims he doesn't knopw what's going on !”

“Russell, where have you gone?

Are you perhaps on the way to Damascus?
Or perhaps you have gone off to some monasterial retreat in order to meditate on some fundamental change of heart.
Are you perhaps considering emulating the example set by Winston Churchill and crossing the floor of the Council chamber?
I am sure a man of your undoubted ability would be welcomed by the Lib Dems with open arms provided you genuinely repented your former sins.”

“100% spot on, Andy, well said and you are just scratching the surface of what this council has done to destroy the character, history and heritage of this town in recent years and what they have instore for our towns future looks increasingly horrendous, with the underhanded attempt at pedestrianising the high street in the guise of 'improvement' and at a cost of £6million and every penny of it aimed to benefit stockland halladales proposed, unwanted and un-needed william hunter way monstrosity and to the cost of the high street traders by forcing every poor sap passing through town down william hunter way, with the recent 'road safety improvements' (the joke that they are) and the forthcoming 'improvements' instead of them driving down the main street through town (the high street) and seeing what shops we have or as the case will increasingly be, havent got to offer them.”