Having been suspiciously quiet in the letters pages of the Herald of late, FromUnderTheStone was beginning to worry that all was not well with our favourite Labour PPC, Donald Worsley.
Fears were allayed on receiving this rather wonderful Christmas wish list. The timing is right, although it looks as though the ‘goodwill to all men’ sentiment has been lost along the way:
Donald Worsley's Christmas List
A time to be magnanimous and hand out gifts to the needy, so in the Spirit of Quantitative Easing this Christmas may they all enjoy my Bankers little Bonuses. T’is the Season to be Merry;
1. To Cllr. Bliss and his faithful band of traffic counsellors - A Pre-Privatisation British Rail Car Park Pass with Japanese High Speed Sat Nav to guarantee them a speedy exit from Folkestone.
2. To Cllr. Carter and his Stack of cronies at County Hall - A second Sea reclamation scheme to house his troublesome Lorry Park in Mid Channel and save us all the cost of Michael Howard’s funeral.
3. To the Lib Dems - A Crystal Ball to see if their next Parliamentary Candidate will survive until the General Election or be cut down by Johanna Lumley and her Kukri.
4. To the good citizens of Calais - A fleet of Red Crescent JCBs to keep the Jungle clear and levelled in a humane manner.
5. And finally to Michael Howard on his last Christmas in the House of Commons - A post Kelly Expenses Claim Form to remind him of the Green Green grass of home he had cut at our expense over the past 26 years.
Merry Christmas to one and all.
Tuesday 22 December 2009
Thursday 17 December 2009
Recriminations Fly Over Hythe By-election Campaigns
Liberal Democrats and Conservatives are each accusing the other of unfair campaigning during the run up to the recent by-election in Hythe held on December 10. Conservative Rosemary Griffiths won the seat with 556 votes, Liberal Democrat Neil Matthews being the only other candidate polling 466 votes.
A statement on the Conservative website described Cllr Matthews as ‘some former Parliamentary Candidate who already had a track record of costing Hythe West residents plenty of money when last he was a town councillor,’ and called the Lib Dem campaign ‘malicious and outrageous.’ (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=452) while the Liberal Democrat announcement was more genial in tone (http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/news/001700/big_swing_to_lib_dems_in_hythe_west_but_conservatives_retain_seat.html).
Asked for comment, Cllr Matthews attacked Conservative campaign literature as distasteful and inaccurate.
When asked if these statements were fair and reasonable Chairman of Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives and Shepway District Councillor Russell Tillson hit back, describing the Lib Dem campaign as ‘a mix of irrelevance, unsubstantiated claims, scaremongering and empty promises,’ and stated the party was looking into the legality of Liberal Democrat methods.
‘Two LibDem propaganda exercises circulated on polling day itself these were deeply irresponsible and of questionable legality - we are currently reviewing the latter.’
‘The first was an A4 flyer, printed entirely in blue, delivered early in the morning, and purporting to come from the Conservatives, offering an 'apology' for statements made in a Conservative leaflet about the Olivers and the claiming of allowances, statements which were in fact entirely accurate.
‘The second was an official-looking envelope, ostensibly a council tax demand from the Hythe Town Council, which when opened contained further LibDem propaganda.
‘Both exercises in negative campaigning naturally backfired, as the significant Conservative margin of victory appears to testify.’
Cllr Tillson also defended remarks comparing Liberals to cancer as ‘innovative and witty,’ adding that ‘the properties attributed to the herb [Rosemary] can be sourced in any encyclopaedia, and are wholly authentic.’
‘Given the LibDems' appalling past record of wasting taxpayers' money in Hythe, I have no difficulty in making the public comparison, and believe it requires no defence.’
The by-election was triggered when the Conservative incumbent Richard Carroll stepped down in October in protest at the granting of permission by Shepway Development Control Committee for a large development on the grounds of the Hotel Imperial.
A statement on the Conservative website described Cllr Matthews as ‘some former Parliamentary Candidate who already had a track record of costing Hythe West residents plenty of money when last he was a town councillor,’ and called the Lib Dem campaign ‘malicious and outrageous.’ (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=452) while the Liberal Democrat announcement was more genial in tone (http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/news/001700/big_swing_to_lib_dems_in_hythe_west_but_conservatives_retain_seat.html).
Asked for comment, Cllr Matthews attacked Conservative campaign literature as distasteful and inaccurate.
Referring to a box titled ‘Rosemary Is Good For Your Health’ in one Conservative leaflet, which included the phrase ‘Your DNA is particularly prone to injury from liberals. Left unchecked, this damage can eventually lead to cells proliferating out of control, which greatly increases the risk of local cancers,’ Cllr Matthews stated
‘Many people have spoken to me about her opinion. Those people, particularly those who have lost close relatives to cancer have difficulty understanding how she sees the world…to dislike a political party because of her belief people's DNA are at risk, frankly I find truly uncomfortable and alarming.’
Cllr Matthews also noted the case of Linda and John Oliver. Both were Hythe town councillors and Mrs Oliver was a district councillor. They remained in position drawing expenses even after they had moved to Bath, becoming the focus of much comment (http://www.yourshepway.co.uk/kent-news/Tory-Oliver-defends-council-role-in-Somerset-newsinkent24541.aspx?news=local and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7256243.stm), and were repeatedly mentioned by Liberal Democrats during the campaign.
When asked if these statements were fair and reasonable Chairman of Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives and Shepway District Councillor Russell Tillson hit back, describing the Lib Dem campaign as ‘a mix of irrelevance, unsubstantiated claims, scaremongering and empty promises,’ and stated the party was looking into the legality of Liberal Democrat methods.
‘Two LibDem propaganda exercises circulated on polling day itself these were deeply irresponsible and of questionable legality - we are currently reviewing the latter.’
‘The first was an A4 flyer, printed entirely in blue, delivered early in the morning, and purporting to come from the Conservatives, offering an 'apology' for statements made in a Conservative leaflet about the Olivers and the claiming of allowances, statements which were in fact entirely accurate.
‘The second was an official-looking envelope, ostensibly a council tax demand from the Hythe Town Council, which when opened contained further LibDem propaganda.
‘Both exercises in negative campaigning naturally backfired, as the significant Conservative margin of victory appears to testify.’
Cllr Tillson also defended remarks comparing Liberals to cancer as ‘innovative and witty,’ adding that ‘the properties attributed to the herb [Rosemary] can be sourced in any encyclopaedia, and are wholly authentic.’
‘Given the LibDems' appalling past record of wasting taxpayers' money in Hythe, I have no difficulty in making the public comparison, and believe it requires no defence.’
The by-election was triggered when the Conservative incumbent Richard Carroll stepped down in October in protest at the granting of permission by Shepway Development Control Committee for a large development on the grounds of the Hotel Imperial.
Tuesday 15 December 2009
Controversial Sainsbury's Application Passed
Shepway Council’s Development Control Committee has passed a controversial application to build a Sainsbury’s supermarket on the old Smiths Industries site in Hythe.
After almost 2 hours of heated and sometimes unruly debate, the committee voted to accept the application.
A vocal public gallery gave support to those who spoke against the issue and repeatedly heckled those speaking in support.
Dr Wendy Le-Las, chartered planner and researcher, spoke strongly against the application, saying the committee were “spoilt for choice on grounds for refusal” and that the building would not conserve or enhance the area.
Sezen Zeki, from the Channel Chamber of Commerce then spoke for the application, stating the Chamber’s belief that the store would increase trade for existing high street traders as shoppers would make ‘link trips’ from the store to the high street.
Cllr Lyons spoke at length, often to applause from the public gallery. Attacking the proposal on grounds of increased traffic, the size of the carbon footprint and the quality of the research he said “I’m an economist. Statistics can say many things - we are being conned.”
“Sainsbury’s are not interested in Hythe at all. Sainsbury’s left in 1969, against the wishes of a petition. Now they want to some back. I wonder why? It is nothing but a disgrace, Sainsbury’s should hang their heads in shame.”
Cllr Lyons stated that people he had spoken to were “aghast” when shown the size of the development. Taking issue with Ms Zeki’s speech, Cllr Lyons remarked “I wonder what planet she comes from?” and the chairman had to intervene on the grounds that the debate was becoming too personal after Cllr Lyons termed Ms Zeki a ‘minion.’
Cllr Russell Tillson also spoke strongly against the application, calling the claim that the potential for shoppers to visit Hythe town centre would increase “an heroic assumption.”
Taking issue with many of Sainsbury’s claims and repeatedly questioning the basis of Sainsbury’s research, Cllr Tillson received a round of applause when he finished.
Other councillors supporting the application, saying competition was no bad things and for offering choice.
Cllr Copping said “as a born and bred free trader, high streets have to look after themselves. Competition is good,” later adding “I’ll go anywhere to make the money in my pocket stretch and I believe lots of people feel like me.”
Cllr Barker called on existing shops to have courage, saying “supermarkets have done their damage. The people who support local shops will not go away.”
Cllr Matthews claimed one survey showed that 80% of people wanted the development and that the 3 hours of free parking was more than enough for shoppers to visit the high street.
Eventually, a motion to approve the application was passed with Cllrs Lyons, Tillson, Clifton-Holt and North voting against. Cllr Tillson asked for his vote to be recorded, a move which requires 5 people to endorse. As none of the councillors voting for the proposal agreed to have their vote counted, this was not passed with a heckle of “you’ve got no balls” clearly heard from the public gallery.
The application has mobilised groups of active and vocal residents into groups to oppose the proposal. Since deferral from the last meeting the proposal has been a constant source of letters and discussion, but perhaps it was telling that there were still a few spare chairs in the public gallery.
After the decision Dr Le-Las said the application and debate were flawed and she “had enough to write a book.” She will write to English Heritage while further action is considered.
After almost 2 hours of heated and sometimes unruly debate, the committee voted to accept the application.
A vocal public gallery gave support to those who spoke against the issue and repeatedly heckled those speaking in support.
Dr Wendy Le-Las, chartered planner and researcher, spoke strongly against the application, saying the committee were “spoilt for choice on grounds for refusal” and that the building would not conserve or enhance the area.
Sezen Zeki, from the Channel Chamber of Commerce then spoke for the application, stating the Chamber’s belief that the store would increase trade for existing high street traders as shoppers would make ‘link trips’ from the store to the high street.
Cllr Lyons spoke at length, often to applause from the public gallery. Attacking the proposal on grounds of increased traffic, the size of the carbon footprint and the quality of the research he said “I’m an economist. Statistics can say many things - we are being conned.”
“Sainsbury’s are not interested in Hythe at all. Sainsbury’s left in 1969, against the wishes of a petition. Now they want to some back. I wonder why? It is nothing but a disgrace, Sainsbury’s should hang their heads in shame.”
Cllr Lyons stated that people he had spoken to were “aghast” when shown the size of the development. Taking issue with Ms Zeki’s speech, Cllr Lyons remarked “I wonder what planet she comes from?” and the chairman had to intervene on the grounds that the debate was becoming too personal after Cllr Lyons termed Ms Zeki a ‘minion.’
Cllr Russell Tillson also spoke strongly against the application, calling the claim that the potential for shoppers to visit Hythe town centre would increase “an heroic assumption.”
Taking issue with many of Sainsbury’s claims and repeatedly questioning the basis of Sainsbury’s research, Cllr Tillson received a round of applause when he finished.
Other councillors supporting the application, saying competition was no bad things and for offering choice.
Cllr Copping said “as a born and bred free trader, high streets have to look after themselves. Competition is good,” later adding “I’ll go anywhere to make the money in my pocket stretch and I believe lots of people feel like me.”
Cllr Barker called on existing shops to have courage, saying “supermarkets have done their damage. The people who support local shops will not go away.”
Cllr Matthews claimed one survey showed that 80% of people wanted the development and that the 3 hours of free parking was more than enough for shoppers to visit the high street.
Eventually, a motion to approve the application was passed with Cllrs Lyons, Tillson, Clifton-Holt and North voting against. Cllr Tillson asked for his vote to be recorded, a move which requires 5 people to endorse. As none of the councillors voting for the proposal agreed to have their vote counted, this was not passed with a heckle of “you’ve got no balls” clearly heard from the public gallery.
The application has mobilised groups of active and vocal residents into groups to oppose the proposal. Since deferral from the last meeting the proposal has been a constant source of letters and discussion, but perhaps it was telling that there were still a few spare chairs in the public gallery.
After the decision Dr Le-Las said the application and debate were flawed and she “had enough to write a book.” She will write to English Heritage while further action is considered.
Conservatives Claim Success on Parking Charges in Shepway.
Shepway District Council has said that the introduction of car parking charges at Castle Road car park, Hythe, could net over £20,000 which will benefit the local community.
Previously Sandgate Parish Council paid Shepway District Council £1800 to keep the carpark free.
In a press release on the council website (http://www.shepway.gov.uk/content/view/200886/1922/), Conservative Council Leader Robert Bliss said, ‘The figures so far have been positive. Our projected income from the time the parking charges were introduced to the end of the financial year was £8300 and so far we have taken almost £6000. Obviously we recognise that during these winter months, the amount taken will be lower than in warmer times.
‘It is expected that the revenue from this particular car park, which is already significantly higher than the amount previously paid yearly by Sandgate Parish Council, will be put towards funding of future community based projects that will benefit the whole of the District."
Pushed through by the Conservative controlled council, Liberal Democrats have consistently campaigned against the introduction of charges and questioned their effectiveness.
Town, District and County Councillor Tim Prater, in articles on his website (http://www.prater.org.uk/news/000121/sandgate_castle_road_car_park_falling_short_on_income_targets_shock.html and http://www.prater.org.uk/news/000104/shepway_council_misled_sandgate_on_car_park_income.html) says ‘The figures clearly show that Shepway will fall well short of the predicted £25,000 a year take on the car park, as many of us predicted when the scheme was introduced.
‘Despite assertions by Shepway Council, the introduction of parking charges has hurt most Sandgate residents and businesses, without looking like it'll even raise the income they hoped. What a way to treat a village.’
Commenting on plans to introduce charges at other car parks in the area and raise fees (http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/news/001694/revealed_shepway_plans_to_end_free_hythe_parking_and_increase_pay_and_display_charges.html), District Councillor Neil Matthews said ‘If you tried to put together a plan to hurt Hythe more, it would be hard to do.
‘Last year Council parking charges went up, and the total amount of money earned from its car parks went DOWN as users voted with their feet.’
Cllr Monk was contacted for his opinion on Liberal Democrat views via the council website, but has yet to respond.
Update - the Lib Dem group have responded to this, which unfortunately went in my Spam folder. Apologies to the Lib Dems and others. The above post remains accurate, and another post will detail the response shortly.
Previously Sandgate Parish Council paid Shepway District Council £1800 to keep the carpark free.
In a press release on the council website (http://www.shepway.gov.uk/content/view/200886/1922/), Conservative Council Leader Robert Bliss said, ‘The figures so far have been positive. Our projected income from the time the parking charges were introduced to the end of the financial year was £8300 and so far we have taken almost £6000. Obviously we recognise that during these winter months, the amount taken will be lower than in warmer times.
‘It is expected that the revenue from this particular car park, which is already significantly higher than the amount previously paid yearly by Sandgate Parish Council, will be put towards funding of future community based projects that will benefit the whole of the District."
Pushed through by the Conservative controlled council, Liberal Democrats have consistently campaigned against the introduction of charges and questioned their effectiveness.
Town, District and County Councillor Tim Prater, in articles on his website (http://www.prater.org.uk/news/000121/sandgate_castle_road_car_park_falling_short_on_income_targets_shock.html and http://www.prater.org.uk/news/000104/shepway_council_misled_sandgate_on_car_park_income.html) says ‘The figures clearly show that Shepway will fall well short of the predicted £25,000 a year take on the car park, as many of us predicted when the scheme was introduced.
‘Despite assertions by Shepway Council, the introduction of parking charges has hurt most Sandgate residents and businesses, without looking like it'll even raise the income they hoped. What a way to treat a village.’
Commenting on plans to introduce charges at other car parks in the area and raise fees (http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/news/001694/revealed_shepway_plans_to_end_free_hythe_parking_and_increase_pay_and_display_charges.html), District Councillor Neil Matthews said ‘If you tried to put together a plan to hurt Hythe more, it would be hard to do.
‘Last year Council parking charges went up, and the total amount of money earned from its car parks went DOWN as users voted with their feet.’
Cllr Monk was contacted for his opinion on Liberal Democrat views via the council website, but has yet to respond.
Update - the Lib Dem group have responded to this, which unfortunately went in my Spam folder. Apologies to the Lib Dems and others. The above post remains accurate, and another post will detail the response shortly.
Friday 11 December 2009
Conservatives Win Hythe West and Slam Lib Dems
Conservative Rosemary Griffiths has won the Hythe West Town Council seat with 53.5% of the total votes cast. Neil Matthews of the Liberal Democrats polled 44.5%.
A statement on the Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives website (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=452) carries the result and launches an astonishing attack on the Liberal Democrats for having a 'dinosaur approach to campaigning.'
The statement, intitially unauthored but updated to include the name Gordon Williams Conservative Party agent, continues; 'They [voters] wanted a representative who cared about the community, not some former Parliamentary Candidate who already had a track record of costing Hythe West residents plenty of money when last he was a town councillor.
'For my own part, I hope the LibDems continue with their pathetic style of campaigning - it garners additonal votes we wouldn't normally get from people who know exactly where the dividing line exists between decency on the one hand and the LibDems on the other!!'
The Liberal Democrats are drawing some comfort from the result. In a statement on the Lib Dem website (http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/news/001700/big_swing_to_lib_dems_in_hythe_west_but_conservatives_retain_seat.html) Campaign manager and councillor Tim Prater congratulates Rosemary Griffiths and commends Neil Matthews for a 'sterling' campaign.
"It's never good to lose, but the result shows how competitive Hythe West has become - we've seen a big swing from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats since 2007.
'Going into the New Year, we're confident and upbeat about our prospects across the area.'
The by election was triggered when Conservative Councillor Richard Carroll resigned in protest over the granting of planning permission for a major development on the Hotel Imperial grounds by Shepway's planning committee.
A statement on the Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives website (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=452) carries the result and launches an astonishing attack on the Liberal Democrats for having a 'dinosaur approach to campaigning.'
The statement, intitially unauthored but updated to include the name Gordon Williams Conservative Party agent, continues; 'They [voters] wanted a representative who cared about the community, not some former Parliamentary Candidate who already had a track record of costing Hythe West residents plenty of money when last he was a town councillor.
'For my own part, I hope the LibDems continue with their pathetic style of campaigning - it garners additonal votes we wouldn't normally get from people who know exactly where the dividing line exists between decency on the one hand and the LibDems on the other!!'
The Liberal Democrats are drawing some comfort from the result. In a statement on the Lib Dem website (http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/news/001700/big_swing_to_lib_dems_in_hythe_west_but_conservatives_retain_seat.html) Campaign manager and councillor Tim Prater congratulates Rosemary Griffiths and commends Neil Matthews for a 'sterling' campaign.
"It's never good to lose, but the result shows how competitive Hythe West has become - we've seen a big swing from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats since 2007.
'Going into the New Year, we're confident and upbeat about our prospects across the area.'
The by election was triggered when Conservative Councillor Richard Carroll resigned in protest over the granting of planning permission for a major development on the Hotel Imperial grounds by Shepway's planning committee.
Wednesday 9 December 2009
The People's Darling
OK, it's not strictly 'local news' but FromUnderTheStone was delighted to receive another missive from Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Donald Worsley with his reaction to Mr. Darling's pre-budget announcement.This also caught FromUnderTheStone's eye as it represents Mr Worsley agreeing with the party line. Mr Worsley notably slammed his own party over the decision not to consider Dungeness as a site for a new nuclear power station.
Letter in full:
The Chancellor’s tax on Bankers Bonuses is long overdue but spot on.
Long seen by themselves as “Masters of the Universe” this bunch of shysters with their over inflated egos and short term memories have at last been brought to book.
Not content with leading the country to the edge of financial meltdown, a year on , led by the board of The Royal Bank of Scotland, they still have the nerve to threaten to resign en bloc if their Christmas Hampers are not stuffed with gold bars and caviar from Harrods.
Alistair Darling has now served notice on these 10,000 plus mercenaries in the City of London that henceforth they have a simple choice. Pay up and shut up or ship out to Dubai, the Cayman Islands or whatever other tax archipelago will tolerate their arrogance until a second financial Tsunami sweeps them away as some overpaid flotsam and jetsam.
Never again can we allow Bankers or their like to hold the Government or the Country to ransom to bail them out.
Northern Rock, The Halifax and RBS may go down in history as financial failures of the 1st order but nevertheless thanks to Alistair’s courageous decisions their customers still retain their savings, despite their directors best efforts to gamble them away on the stock market.
The Chancellor may not be The City’s favourite person after his budget but by emphasising that Bankers should have more in common with Captain Mainwaring than Sir Fred Goodwin he is most certainly the Peoples Chancellor.
His tax on bonuses may only raise £500m but it brings home a very clear message; greed and avarice have no place in our society when millions are out of work and millions more fear for the future of their homes, jobs and families.
It’s money nevertheless that will go a long way towards helping our 16 -17 year olds in Shepway remain in full time education or training and may just possibly help unemployed bankers find their way back to work with a social conscience.
Donald Worsley
Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Folkestone & Hythe.
9th December 2009
Prater defends Liberal Democrat Dungeness Vision
Conservative councillors and other observers have attacked Cllr Prater’s vision of the future of Romney Marsh without the power station
In response to questions from FromUnderTheStone Conservative Councillor (and Kent County Councillor for Romney Marsh) William Richardson wrote ‘The community at Dungeness does not accept the government’s decision as quickly as Cllr Prater has done,
‘We are always looking at measures to regenerate the Romney Marsh even after the final decision on Dungeness has been made, any alternative will be second best to employing 600 people, 200 contractors and twenty apprentices.’
In a letter on the Conservative website Cllr Russell Tillson, echoing his comments during a debate in the Council meeting of November 25, (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=448) terms the vision ‘cloud cuckoo land.’
‘It is clear that the Liberal Democrats are living in a fantasy world of windmills, cycle paths, B and Bs on stilts and loss-making water lifts. And a low paid fantasy world at that.’
Malcolm Dyer of the former Romney Marsh Regeneration Partnership, in comments made to FromUnderTheStone, said the Liberal Democrat’s position is ‘as shiftable as the pebbles on Greatstone Beach.
‘I will be surprised if they do not completely revise their national position and Mr. Prater will instantly gain a nuclear glow to his cheeks!’
In response to questions from FromUnderTheStone, Cllr Prater hit back at these accusations, saying the comments did not fully understand the Liberal Democrat suggestions for the Marsh.
Repeating his vision of tourism playing a major role in the future Marsh economy, Cllr Prater stated ‘I'm afraid neither Cllr Richardson or Malcolm Dyer seem yet to understand what we're suggesting for the Marsh economy.
‘It’s not a question of tourism or nuclear power station. If we can have both - fine: I'm not personally fundamentally anti-new Nuclear build. But it seems less and less likely that we'll get new Nuclear build. We're looking at other options. What else would a rational person do?
‘"Cloud-cuckoo land" is waiting for a one-off solution that may or (increasingly likely) may not happen.’
The decision by the government to not consider Dungeness as possible site for a new nuclear power station has been a hot topic for debate. Polls conducted by other websites and Romney Marsh FM appear to show that public opinion strongly favours a new nuclear power station on the site, although many of the links are through Conservative web pages. Commentators have termed the decision a ‘hammer blow’ to the Marsh economy.
Liberal Democrat policy of ‘no to nuclear’ appears to fly in the face of popular local opinion and as a result appears to be placing the Shepway Liberal Democrats in a difficult position.
Cllr Prater's full vision for the Marsh: http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/articles/000124/dungeness_the_real_nuclear_option.html.
Tuesday 8 December 2009
Sunnier Side of Folkestone
Discover Folkestone have produced a video showing the more pleasant aspects of life on the South Kent coast. featuring video and still photography, anyone interested follow the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HheVJt92OM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HheVJt92OM
Saturday 5 December 2009
Folkestone Gig Tonight - Higher State - Bar Below
Souvenir Circus event tonight features local band Higher State are at the Bar Below tonight. Expect avant-garde short films and awesome 60s tunes. £3 on the door, 9 till late.
Higher State - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmBpTuB5qHw
Souvenir Circus flyer and info - http://www.souvenirshowbox.co.uk/
Higher State - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmBpTuB5qHw
Souvenir Circus flyer and info - http://www.souvenirshowbox.co.uk/
Friday 4 December 2009
Tim Prater Not In PPC Race
Over the course of the last few weeks, since Neil Matthews stepped down, the future Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Lib Dems has been the source of much discussion for those interested in local politics (all three of us).
Not since the iron curtain was up and members of the Politburo lined up to oversee the victory parade has there been such furtive speculation as to who is in which position!
Observers noted Cllr Tim Prater's views and pronouncements on Marsh based development with interest. Perhaps, in commenting on the Marsh Cllr Prater was spreading wings in an attempt to bring Martians (is that right?) into the Lib Dem fold.
"I'm now a Councillor at 3 levels, and very happy to be so - I'm going to try to do the best job at those that I can."
Presumably the way is open for Cllr Lynne Beaumont, as the Herald predicted some time ago. Unless there is a surprise waiting in the wings...
Thursday 3 December 2009
Blueskypie Secret Party Roundup
Guests of the latest Blueskypie ‘secret party’ enjoyed a wide variety performances encompassing mime, music and even a bit of stand-up comedy in Googies Arts Café in Rendezvous Street on Wednesday night.Featuring acts either based in or with ties to the area, the entertainment ranged from the bizarre to the thought provoking. The Subterraneans, performing for the first time, produced an engaging set of what can only be described as ‘yet-uncategorised-turbo-revolutionary-folk’, at one point incorporating a loud hailer. Local singers and guitarists Dan Lucas and Marty Radcliffe performed, with a stand-up comedy slot from James Abbot.
Compere ‘Henry 18th’ and mimes from Shhh! Productions kept the audience amused and perplexed in equal measure during the breaks, and the evening was rounded off with a 20 minute DJ set from Pete Blue which brought guests onto the dancefloor. Normally performing in clubs around the world, Pete Blue accompanied a projection of poetry and images, along the theme of Apathy, created by Blueskypie organiser and promoter Louie Burns.
Typically coy about the next event, scheduled for late January, Mr. Burns would only reveal “It will be called Revive. It will be a bit more relaxed next time!”
To book tickets or get involved in other Blueskypie events follow the link on the right.
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