Arthur Streatfield's E-Petition against the "Granny Tax" proposals in the recent Budget has now reached over 40,000 signatures within the week.
This is despite a cynical move from the Government to take the site down for "maintenance" for most of this day today (28th March).
The rate of signing has been shown at between 300 - 400 signatures an hour, which is just tremendous!
Please sign here if you are in support of the "Granny Tax" measures being repealed.
Restoration of age-related tax allowances
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Suffolk in Wonderland: Book 1 The Libraries
Rumours are spreading that a group of headless chickens are spearheading an attempt to take over Suffolk's ailing library system:
"We cannot make a worst job of this than the IPS: the Increasingly Perilous Service is failing book lovers. We want the service to remain "INCOOP" instead of in the Co-operative. We are appalled that a FOX has been chosen to manage this service when history has shown so often that this is a) unwise and b) the main cause of headlessness in chickens.
We have consulted with chickens that do have heads and there is 100% support for our INCOOP proposals; this is not about feathering our own nests; we are willing to contribute towards the perch-asing of new books and promise not to crow if INCOOP proves successful.
"We cannot make a worst job of this than the IPS: the Increasingly Perilous Service is failing book lovers. We want the service to remain "INCOOP" instead of in the Co-operative. We are appalled that a FOX has been chosen to manage this service when history has shown so often that this is a) unwise and b) the main cause of headlessness in chickens.
We have consulted with chickens that do have heads and there is 100% support for our INCOOP proposals; this is not about feathering our own nests; we are willing to contribute towards the perch-asing of new books and promise not to crow if INCOOP proves successful.
Friday, 11 February 2011
Swimclub thread on Broomhill Pool
Back in December 2005 I started a thread on the Swimclub website for Broomhill Pool
http://www.swimclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4450&page=20
It's had over 25,000 views now and 20 pages have accumulated as the years went by! Nobody in the campaign group imagined that we would still be plodding on now, with a decade of continuous campaigning coming up in 2012.
Thankfully things seem to be looking up: the Broomhill Pool site was re-advertised on commercial leisure sites just before Christmas 2010 with the offer of a possible contribution of up to £1million from IBC (Ipswich Borough Council). The council have stipulated that the pool must be retained as part of any development of the site.
It's been a hard slog but hopefully future generations (see photo) will be able to enjoy the lido once more.
http://www.swimclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4450&page=20
It's had over 25,000 views now and 20 pages have accumulated as the years went by! Nobody in the campaign group imagined that we would still be plodding on now, with a decade of continuous campaigning coming up in 2012.
It's been a hard slog but hopefully future generations (see photo) will be able to enjoy the lido once more.
Monday, 18 October 2010
The million pound pledge for Broomhill Pool will be renewed.
From the Broomhill Pool website:
CASH OFFER WOULD BOOST BROOMHILL BID Oct 14, 2010
CASH OFFER WOULD BOOST BROOMHILL BID
Ipswich Borough Council is set to reinstate a £1 million lifeline to breathe new life into the bid to resurrect the disused lido.
Councillor Andrew Cann, Culture & Sport portfolio-holder, is to ask Executive to provide the money to the successful private bidder aiming to re-open the pool as a swimming and leisure complex.
Discussions will take place with potential bidders over the next few months, with the aim of agreeing a partner in the new year.
“This is good news for everyone,” said Councillor Cann. “We know any bidder will have to seek Heritage Lottery funding; this grant would give them a better chance of securing that. At least we have a fighting chance of securing a future for the pool.”
Councillor Cann accepted that there would be a delay. “But it will be worth it. My colleagues and I see this as a positive step forward - one that will be supported by the Trust and many local people.”
As to the future funding of the pool, he stressed: “There is no question that the Council will pay for the running of Broomhill if it does re-open. “We are making very clear that any future operator will have to make it work. The £1 million would be a major sign of our continuing support to the campaign but we would not agree to underwrite the project or pick up any debts incurred if things don’t succeed.”
The Broomhill Pool Trust has warmly welcomed IBC’s decision. Trust Spokesman Mark Ling said "The Trust has always reasoned that it is better for local taxpayers to invest £1m supporting an operator deliver a multimillion £ asset than it would to spend a similar amout to mothball or demolish the pool. We hope that an operator will come back to the table and that all parties will work together expediently to reach a deal. It’s a bit like being in the 6th round of the FA Cup, we have a good chance of success, but there is still a long way to go".
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Ipswich Borough Council is set to reinstate a £1 million lifeline to breathe new life into the bid to resurrect the disused lido.
Councillor Andrew Cann, Culture & Sport portfolio-holder, is to ask Executive to provide the money to the successful private bidder aiming to re-open the pool as a swimming and leisure complex.
Discussions will take place with potential bidders over the next few months, with the aim of agreeing a partner in the new year.
“This is good news for everyone,” said Councillor Cann. “We know any bidder will have to seek Heritage Lottery funding; this grant would give them a better chance of securing that. At least we have a fighting chance of securing a future for the pool.”
Councillor Cann accepted that there would be a delay. “But it will be worth it. My colleagues and I see this as a positive step forward - one that will be supported by the Trust and many local people.”
As to the future funding of the pool, he stressed: “There is no question that the Council will pay for the running of Broomhill if it does re-open. “We are making very clear that any future operator will have to make it work. The £1 million would be a major sign of our continuing support to the campaign but we would not agree to underwrite the project or pick up any debts incurred if things don’t succeed.”
The Broomhill Pool Trust has warmly welcomed IBC’s decision. Trust Spokesman Mark Ling said "The Trust has always reasoned that it is better for local taxpayers to invest £1m supporting an operator deliver a multimillion £ asset than it would to spend a similar amout to mothball or demolish the pool. We hope that an operator will come back to the table and that all parties will work together expediently to reach a deal. It’s a bit like being in the 6th round of the FA Cup, we have a good chance of success, but there is still a long way to go".
Monday, 20 September 2010
Is Ipswich going to opt for an Olympic cover-up?
Ipswich Borough Council are being pressed to make a clear decision on the future of Broomhill Pool rather than opting silently for continued mothballing of the lido site.
Last autumn they advertised for Expressions of Interest in the site and have been successful! Fusion Lifestyle have put in a bid to restore the pool and all that is needed is for IBC to say "yes" and to keep their promise to contribute one million pounds towards this. Fusion will do the rest.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Campaign for Broomhill Pool enters its ninth year
The campaign to try and save Broomhill Pool in Ipswich moves into its ninth year this September, with no signs that Ipswich Borough Council are going to come to a swift decision on the future of the lido. A year ago they advertised for Expressions of Interest in the pool site and a top class operator did come forward and put in a bid. However, the Council appear unwilling to move on to the assessment and conclusion stage of this process and therefore the lido remains simply "mothballed".
The Heritage Open Days are coming up this weekend and provide a chance for supporters to view the pool site and get the latest updates on this long-fought campaign.
It's just a tragedy that the Council won't run the pool themselves or allow anyone else to, at the moment.
What was the point of advertising for Expressions of Interest if they were not going to progress to the next stage?
The Heritage Open Days are coming up this weekend and provide a chance for supporters to view the pool site and get the latest updates on this long-fought campaign.
What was the point of advertising for Expressions of Interest if they were not going to progress to the next stage?
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Newcastle Lib Dems decimate public access to the City Pool
http://www.newcastleleisure.co.uk/citypool
However, over the last year or so, the council has been relentlessly attacking the integrity of these beautiful Baths by planning to close the learner pool and board it over for a performance space for their My Place project. There must be other possible sites in the city of Newcastle for the My Place scheme, but councillors have insisted on a) using a derelict site next to the pool and b)saying that the site isn't large enough! Their "solution" is to destroy the pool.
The Council's main answer to protests has been that Northumbria University will be opening a new pool and that groups like the City of Newcastle Amateur Swimming Club will be able to use this facility, but now a fresh row has ensued because the Club will not only be using this new facility (which opens on September 6th) but are set to monopolize the main pool five nights a week. From September 6th the main pool in the City Pool complex will close at 4.30pm so that the Club can have sole access Monday-Friday.
Are the Council trying to close the whole facility? It certainly seems so: by limiting public access they will be able to show there is less "demand" and that it is "uneconomic" to continue or some such nonsense.
As usual, the so-called consultation over the learner pool took place only after the My Place decision had already been taken and there has certainly been no public consultation over the greatly reduced availability of the main pool. That's democracy for you.
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