Hot on the heels of a sensationalist article about Axminster being called “Crackminster” on the flimsiest of evidence comes another article on horrible things people say (or rather one person about each town) says about 9 Devon towns – including Sidmouth and (again) Axminster:
Seems like DevonLive is re-inventing itself as the Daily Fail of the south-west!
4 Sunday Times headlines on rail travel:
1. 280,000 commuters have to stand every day on crowded trains.
2. FirstGroup reaped a £50m dividend from Great Western Railway last year, thanks in part to government payouts for disruption on the line. The dividend climbed from £40m a year earlier, as profits were boosted by payments from state-owned track operator Network Rail for hold-ups to line upgrades and maintenance.
3. HS2: The cost of the new rail line is expected to rise from £56bn to about £80bn.
r. … all is far from well at HS2. The future of the new north-south rail line — Europe’s biggest infrastructure project — has been thrown into doubt. One of Boris Johnson’s first acts as prime minister was to launch a review. Soaring costs and repeated scandals have made the line a key target for Johnson and his closest aide, Dominic Cummings.
NINE years of Tory privatisation …
“This entertaining novel’s message about the deceitful clandestine plot to dismantle the National Health Service should be shouted from the rooftops.
It exposes the self-serving politicians, medics and compliant media behind an evil venture with hard unpalatable truths. The author draws upon his own career’s experience as a family doctor and his bold approach to writing intertwines real world politics with a compelling story line that is intriguing and scary, but often very funny and touching.
THE DECEIT SYNDROME joins forces with plays, songs and films such as The Great NHS Heist that have all been produced to convince the public of what is happening to healthcare without their knowledge or consent. Paul’s non-profit ethos, sending all royalties to support campaigns to save the NHS, should alone encourage everyone who cares about the best thing this country ever did to buy this powerful and persuasive novel. ~ Dr Bob Gill (GP and film maker)
“Highlights the horrors of NHS privatisation in an imaginative and eye-opening way” ~ Francesca Martinez (comedienne and NHS supporter)” “I cannot wait to promote this wonderful book on our Keep Our St Helier Hospital (KOSHH) campaign stand in southwest London” ~ Sandra Ash (NHS campaigner)”
“Johnson called the assembly members ‘great, supine, protoplasmic invertebrate jellies’ because they had just voted to reverse his decision for council tax cuts, which opponents believed would have forced the closure of 12 fire stations.
He then reacted angrily after the assembly refused to debate him on the issue and moved on to a vote about the budget instead.
Needless to say, people haven’t been too impressed with this old but somehow worryingly relevant clip.”
Image from DevonLive article cited below:
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/how-perfect-devon-town-gained-3267664
Ian Hall (EDDC and DCC councillor for Axminster) has got himself in the news a lot recently with many, many press releases.
He wants all councillors to have (minimal) Disclosure and Barring Service checks at their own expense (even though the council’s officers say it is unnecessary and pointless).
Now, in an article that labels Axminster as “Crackminster” he declares himself an expert in “county lines” drug supply to the town. And disses “incomers” blaming them (and other feckless residents) for the town’s problems.
Rather than look at his town’s problems caused by Tory austerity (closed shops, closed sixth form at the school, closed factory (at which he once worked), large clone estates at every corner with no new facilities, closed community hospital beds, part-time police coverage … all the indications of deprivation and inequality .. . Who does he blame? He he blames the incomers that his party encouraged with its current and future overdevelopment and people who, he says, lack the community ethic and are workshy:
… “Axminster is a wonderful friendly town,” he says. “There is a tipping balance and it only takes one or two coming into the local area to tip the balance. But if they are coming here and adding something to the community I am all for it.” …
… [Ian Hall] says the town needs people who are prepared to work and buy into the community ethic and doesn’t have much time for those that don’t. …”
The article goes on:
“… House prices in Axminster tend to be higher than across the border but wages lower. Ian now travels to Chard in Somerset every day to work, making components for vacuum cleaners. A trip of just 14 minutes. … “
Smacks of ideas well above his party’s reduced police force and closed police stations to Owl. If house prices are high and wages low – who is to blame? Not the incomers who seem to be able to afford the houses with the loans given to them by his party, and who presumably also go to Chard and Exeter to work.
Oh, AND he’s on the town’s Regeneration Board, so he can do something about all these things!
Suddenly, he”s popping up everywhere and has (mainstream, very, very Tory or further right) ideas about everything are everywhere.
So – Police Commissioner? Next Leader of EDDC or DCC? Run against Neil Parish? Ruler of the Universe?
Whatever it is, if dissing his own town and blaming it on lack of community spirit and idleness of some of its residents will get him there – that will be fine, it seems.
East Devon Watch 