16 December - Cockeyed optimists
As
you probably know, I live in the ‘poor’ end of the borough, Lesnes Abbey ward to
be precise. There’s not a lot wrong with it, my neighbours are all good,
Bexley’s only Zone 4 station is close at hand and Lesnes Abbey park is kept
looking beautiful all year round. What’s not to like about the Lesnes area? I’d say
it is the fact it has no heart; no centre and no shops to speak of. If it does
have a centre, it’s a rat infested bomb site, the erstwhile Harrow Inn. Demolished
about four years ago and Bexley council has
refused every offer to redevelop it.
There is now a branch of
ASDA a mile away which has helped bring a bit of life
to the downtrodden north despite the best efforts of councillor Kerry Allon to
have the plans rejected. He succeeded first time around! Now
he plans to stand for election
in Lesnes ward (previously Belvedere). It’s a brave move, all the local Tories have
done a runner for 2014. Unsurprising, their majorities were as low as six in 2010
and they are going to struggle next time around.
Nothing very obvious has improved within the Lesnes ward since the Conservatives came to power.
Parking has become more difficult and much more expensive and we now have a main road on which two
buses have difficulty passing. That’s about it if you don’t count the silly eight
inch high fence around the park which is supposed to keep motorcyclists out. At
least it works against wheel chairs. If anyone can think of a single improvement
in Lesnes ward since 2010 (or even 2006) for which Bexley council is directly
responsible please tell me about it.
You
don’t usually see politicians around these parts, not even on polling day outside the
polling station but if Twitter comments are to be believed both Conservative and
Labour have been out in force canvassing. I suspect a degree of optimism has
been employed, both claim support. Neither party has knocked on my door and I would
have been happy to give the Tories a warm welcome too.
Probably the Labour candidate knows he doesn’t have to call, we‘ve spoken
at council meetings so he will know my views already. His Tory counterparts
Elizabeth Anderson and Keima Allen
showed up once at the Civic Centre but only to crawl up cabinet members’ backsides with
planted questions.
The only politician I have seen on my doorstep in the past eight years, it could be longer, is
Chris Attard of UKIP.
Lesnes Conservatives.
Lesnes Labour don’t seem to have a website.