Hello again,

Not much to report from the last 7 days due to the Easter break.

The IKEA site

I’ve been spending sometime in Kimberley with Shane Easom who lives and works in the town. Shane is new to politics and stood successfully for the Town Council last May. Shane is a member of SOBS (Save Our Brewery Site) and is largely responsible for the revival of the town’s Pram Race/Push.

Anyway, I took the opportunity to look at the retail development at the Ikea site. It is huge and should be of concern to everyone who lives in the area. Despite planned improvements to the surrounding roads by Notts. County Council, I am by no means convinced they will reduce traffic congestion to an acceptable level. The congestion on the Giltbrook side in particular is intolerable and in my view is set to get even worse.

 

Broxtowe Borough Council gave planning permission for the new retail development and should have ensured that the road system serving the site was once and for all “sorted out” with the County Council. Shane and I are keen to do everything we can to resolve the situation once and for all.

I will give credit where credit is due, and I support the local LibDem Councillors who have raised concerns about the threat the retail park will pose to local shops. I am very much a fan of small local shops and try to use them where they exist and when I can (like my butcher who lives in Nuthall and has his shop in the city near to where I live). There are currently restrictions on what can and cannot be sold at the retail park to protect shops notably in Kimberley and Eastwood. I support the LibDems in their opposition to any change to the restrictions.

 

The Government often asks us to define “Britishness”. Well part of the answer is an appreciation and enjoyment of our villages and towns; small communities where people know and support each other and gather in communal areas. That’s why local shops and Post Offices are so important – it’s not just about money it’s also about community and quality of life. Call me old fashioned but I find huge “out of town” shopping centres pretty depressing and much prefer shopping in my community where you are guaranteed to bump into a neighbour or friend, get to know the shop assistants and generally feel you belong. Of course I use supermarkets but prefer the smaller ones because they are much friendlier and usually more “local”. In France, Spain and Italy they seem to have got the balance right between the provision of supermarkets but not at the expense of small local shops.

Finally, you can only reach most “out of town” shopping centres by car so how does that square with our desire to reduce carbon emissions? 
Facebook

I am now actively involved in my Facebook page. You may share my oldest daughter’s view that I am “too old” for Facebook but as I now know it’s not the exclusive domain of the young. Anyway, it has provided me with many hours of fun – notably contacting or being contacted by old friends some from far away. If you are minded please take a look and even better become a “friend”. Just a small point - I did a quiz about my politics which determined I am a “left wing liberal”. This has caused some consternation amongst fellow Broxtowe Tories but in my defence this quiz concludes my political views are almost identical to Ghandi’s; the “problem” is that they are almost diametrically opposed to Margaret Thatchers…..

 

I have visited your local Labour MP’s Facebook page. When asked to describe his politics he has indicated “very Liberal” (!) which not only must be a contradiction in terms but especially so given he has voted with his Government on every measure to restrict personal liberty, will no doubt support his Government’s attempts to increase the number of days a suspect can be held without charge and thinks ID cards are a truly wonderful idea.
Well enough of politics. For me, the real value of Facebook is that I can read what my oldest daughter is up to and keep tracks on her. Now I understand why my youngest refuses to subscribe.

Keep in touch and keep on sending me your comments. 

As ever
Anna