8 May (Part 1) - A bit more waffle before BiB gets back to business
I was away all weekend and most of the blogging activity was pre-prepared. Now I
am back starting my 31st year in Bexley I find there are lots of little things
to attend to and I’m not sure where to start. My sister’s net connection being
down may have to take priority.
Yesterday I went off on
a largely
off-topic tangent which probably went down
like a lead balloon in some places but on the other hand it produced a few
friendly responses. I have never been afraid to take on DIY jobs and I enjoy doing
them - but maybe not as much as I used to - and refusing help is just not me,
hence lots done for neighbours and the like. I have another job scheduled for about
4 p.m. this afternoon. Obviously not for the finger jabber who blew me out after I
accidentally splashed water on his car.
Among the supportive messages - thanks everyone - was an enquiry about why this
website is called Bexley-is-Bonkers. The reason is buried on some long forgotten
page already but it is an easy one to answer. On 4th June 2009 when I was
contemplating creating a website, Councillor John Davey was on EU election duty
outside the polling station in Fossington Road, Belvedere.
He told me he considered road planning in Bexley was “Bonkers”. I like to be
fair about these things, so in mitigation let me say I believe he was referring
to TfL, then under Ken Livingston’s control. But that is where the name came from.
Creating a website - not a blog at that stage - moved from contemplation to
reality when Andrew Bashford, Bexley’s Traffic Engineering Manager, told me a very big fib.
He said in writing that the road design Councillor Davey called “bonkers” was in
full accordance with Transport Research Laboratory recommendations; when it was no such thing.
I know that because my son was head of the department which produced the TRL
report and when he next visited confirmed to me that the road design was about as bad as it could be.
Not long ago I met one of Andrew Bashford’s underlings off-duty and on neutral ground. I knew
who he was but he didn’t know me so I introduced myself. Quite likely he
regretted it afterwards but Mr. Bashford’s colleague immediately blurted out
“Andrew Bashford absolutely hates you. Something I regards as a bit of an accolade.
I like to think that knowing that there is always a risk that Council
shenanigans will appear on the web makes BiB partly responsible for improving standards on Bexley
Council. It’s a whole year since they last reported me to the police for nothing
and with eight Bexley (and former Bexley) police officers under investigation for their
part in covering Bexley Council’s crimes maybe they will not be so keen to tread
that path in future.
I suspect Bexley Council also knows just how wide news of their activities can
go which is why employees and Councillors have all been told not to talk to me.
Ten days ago when I was taking photos in the street I was asked why. I said they
were for Bexley is Bonkers and the reply was “OK I will take a look this
evening”. No explanation of what BiB is was necessary.
Much the same thing again today. Someone who I know who looks at the blog very
occasionally told me she asked a friend if she had seen Bexley is Bonkers and the
reply was “everyone knows Bexley is Bonkers”.
I frequently feel like giving it all up but I suppose I can’t just yet. Mind you,
much more of this waffle and readers will be driven away. There are more
thoughts about the Erith & Thamesmead Tory dentist to come later and the reason
why the new Assistant Chief Executive will be exactly what Bexley Council is
looking for - but not a breath of fresh air unfortunately. I’m behind the
times with the Crossrail photos too.
Right now, it’s the latest job for a neighbour and touch wood, I think my sister’s net
connection is working again. A broken Netgear router by the looks of things. Good
job I had given her a spare one.