7 October (Part 1) - It’s all bull
Yesterday I had to drop
the Belton bomb as the sun came up and then prepare for a day out on the train.
I went from a station that has a ruined abbey, a prison and a river close by to
a station within a few minutes walk of a ruined abbey, a prison and the same River
Thames. Reading in Berkshire at the far end of the Elizabeth line. I’ve not been to Reading station since
trolley buses pulled up outside. The station was totally unrecognisable from when I used to watch
the Paddington express speeding through while slipping its end coach for those who didn’t want to go all the way.
The Lizzie train didn’t break down and was only four minutes late. My appointment was in Reading’s
Town Hall but it was in no way political unless you count unisex toilets as making a political statement. They were spotlessly clean
while the Council run café area was filthy.
I think BiB had the Belton Birmingham news on line before the main news providers and in my rush I overlooked
the point that Ms. Belton had been appointed for her expertise in the housing arena. As former Councillor Hackett says, Michael Gove the Levelling Up
Secretary must be having a laugh. It is not unique as a Council, but Bexley has an appalling record on housing.
The word I couldn’t get away from while Reading bound was ‘obscene’. The jobs for the boys philosophy which
infests government not to mention the pay level for someone whose only achievement has been job slashing is little short of obscene.
