As of this late Thursday afternoon I can see no Bexley related news this side of Christmas so it’s yet another fall back on brief snippets.
If I don’t see you within the next two weeks, then Happy Christmas to you all.
Lessons will be learned
With news headlines once again reporting the appalling death of a young girl at the hands of a parent
and Social Workers bleating on the radio that they are too overworked to heed
the constant reports of screaming made by neighbours, maybe it is time to remind
ourselves that similar things have happened here in Bexley.
It is an oversimplification but nevertheless true that Bexley Council
ignored medical notifications and reports that Rhys Lawrie was attending
school covered in bruises and one of the Council’s excuses was that it was the
Christmas party season and they would look into the situation after the holidays in January.
By then Rhys was dead.
The post-mortem revealed 39 separate injuries. The police said they were caused
by natural childhood playfulness, falling off a sofa etc. The blood on the wall was of no interest to them.
Something is very wrong with child care arrangements nationally and on past performance,
nothing will be done about it.
Broken refuse bin
A
quick return to a recurrent theme. The bin that has been
without a working lid for several years causes
huge expense and Bexley Council simply doesn’t care.
The bent hinge could be fairly easily fixed and maybe the brakes could be looked
at too so that Storm Darragh does not blow it down the street.
Methuen Road
The
residents of Methuen Road have received an answer to their Freedom of
Information request as to why their road was singled out for double yellow lines
on their only junction.
“We will listen to our residents” said the Tory election candidates. (Photo 1)
Were residents in favour? No, they were twelve to one against.
Had Country Style complained of access for their refuse trucks being difficult?
No, not even once. It was however suggested that an ambulance might not be able
to get through. Another act of desperation was that pedestrians could more
safely cross the road which is debatable to say the least given that traffic will
have been slightly speeded up.
Who was consulted? Everyone on Methuen Road so the Council said but of the group I met
all but three residents denied they were given any warning. Would I believe a word that the
Highways Manager says? Answers on a postcard…
Two of the pictures above are of the junction nearest to the busy Abbey Wood
station. No double yellow lines. What’s different to Methuen Road?
Bexley Box
I
have been on the receiving end of emails from within Bexley Council on the
operation of the Bexley Box scheme. Some disquiet is expressed; I wouldn’t put
it stronger than that but I too am beginning to harbour suspicions.
Council Leader O’Neill has been
trumpeting its success with references to the
donations from her favoured businesses. That is difficult to criticise although
the Council insider does. Why is there little or no observance of charity law
and what does Capita expect from their £10,000 donation after they made it
public knowledge?
How many ordinary Bexley residents donated? Not even in general terms has the
Baroness thanked them, only businesses and similar groupings. I don’t know how
much each Box is worth but I would hope that my own donation might pay for a dozen or maybe twenty.
Cabinet Members know about it; I didn’t expect thanks as such, but an
acknowledgement might have been nice. They could have claimed the income tax back if
they had any sense and that is something the Council insider is worried about too.
Is it just a political stunt to get one over our two ‘wicked’ (© Peter Craske) MPs?
I don’t regret sending the money, but I wouldn’t do it again.
’Tis the Season to be Merry
Two celebratory meals with friends this week.
Christmas Dinner booked well in advance in
the Woolwich Beefeater. No turkey or
roast potatoes or Brussels sprouts available. Only grills, steaks and fish
and chips except that they had no chips either. I waited one hour and
54 minutes for my meal to arrive. Nice but tiny.
Impromptu meal in Dartford Wetherspoons earlier today. Served in six minutes, two
thirds the price of Beefeater, much bigger serving and a pint of beer thrown in. The
Beefeater had run out of orange juice too. Why did they agree to take the
booking? Never again.
Octopus Energy
I have several times moaned about
Octopus
Energy wanting to debit me £172 a month when only once in the several years
I have been with them has the total gas and electricity bill gone into three
figures - and that was before I took steps to get the total down. I ignored
their recommendation and paid only £25 a month all year round which builds a
Summer surplus and is just about enough to see me through the Winter. Last week
I moved to a slightly cheaper tariff - from Octopus Go to Octopus Intelligent Go - and whether
coincidence or not I do not know, but the phone app changed slightly and now it
recommends £25. Electricity is charged at only 7·5 pence a unit overnight. I use
almost none during peak hours.
Apart from that single issue Octopus has been very good.